Childhood Express : (B)eautiful - (E)xciting - (S)pecial - (T)rue

         Unlimited happiness, exciting fun, carefree approach, undivided attention, playful hearts, innocent minds - everything wonderful, everything precious. Aspects like these describe the most memorable journey in the train called Childhood Express ,a train each one of us has boarded once, a journey each one of us has experienced before. It leaves behind an unforgettable and irreplacable memory. Little did one know that the years soaked in love and protection of parents; care and guidance of elders; affection and support of friends will eventually turn out to be the most remembered, missed and wanted period of life. Childhood years are the foundation bricks over which the construction of an ambitious future gains shape and strength.
         The mind of a child is an absolute, clean and clear slate. It holds no grudges , no pre-conceived notions, no bias,no hatred. All it knows is to learn, explore, make mistakes and rise again.The eagerness and excitement to grow big and know every little thing under the sun drives a child on the path of  continuous learning.This period hands over a training manual and a road map with directions towards a peaceful and successful future.The innocent eyes with which a child sees the world, innocent ears with which the child hears and the innocent words of its speech make children most loved ,valuable and magical gifts of the creator.
           Happiness when showered with love and attention; pretendence to be innocent after dispute with siblings;immediate want of power and freedom after punishment by elders; series of enjoyment,fights ,disagreements with friends save as permanent files in the memory card of life - precious as jewels and safeguarded forever. Irrespective of the manner or the place where childhood is spent, these experiences are very much the same across the globe.No matter how old a person gets, the sight of a childhood picture always brightens up and brings a big, broad smile on the face.
          Though small by age and little by size, observation of a child teach many essential lessons in life .The tireless efforts that a child spends in learning a new act and the dedicated approach in achieving what it needs teaches us to never give up in life. No matter how impossible a task may seem, a child will not rest till it steps on an independent walk or speaks its own version of a language.
         As a child, the prospect of growing up into an adult,always appears attractive but as that stage aproaches, the hearts longs to be a kid once again - to hide under the warmth of mother's love, to get into the protection of father's nest. The joy and excitement of receiving the most awaited pocket money can never be replaced by any figure of salary earned. The warmth and love of the house where childhood was spent is luxurious and holds special memories no matter how far one moves or how big, grand house one buys. Running behind parents for a toy or a favorite chocolate had lot more joy and sweetness than the things we now buy for ourselves. Many factors that were once told to us as kids gain meaning only after we find ourselves matured enough to pass the baton. For the most memorable and wonderful journey of life - this CHILDHOOD EXPRESS certainly rails over the BEST route ...

Khana Khajana…..a Fable of Food …..a Tale of Tastes…..

         It is the key of our life, a switch for our start, a push on our pedal, a fuel for our heart - though just a small four-letter word, it is undoubtedly the most popular,most loved and most spoken about. Across all ages, cultures, religions and nations this feast called 'FOOD' cements everyone together. It is definitely an unbiased creation of nature that regards each one alike, it knows no status, no race, no caste, no gender- all it knows is to bring a smile on the face and contentment in the heart. From cultivating in the farm to harvesting, from selling in the market to buying, from cooking on the flame to eating, this wonderful gift by the Creator assigns work to each one of us. Be it a farmer who sweats on the field to grow it, or a seller who toils in the market to sell it, be it a father who works hard to buy it or a mother who cooks in the house to feed it , each one has to play on this playground called ' Stomach'.
            A variety of ingredients and an even more variety of recipes create a wide spread platter of cuisines across the world. Each spot on the globe has something unique to offer, each land on the map has something delicious to serve.This battle of spices, interplay of constituents and coordination among tastes fascinated me into the game of cooking. The essence of hard work after meal preparation and sense of satisfaction after meal consumption feels nothing less than a mission well accomplished. It needs a lot patience , dedication and a happy heart to create a masterpiece that can never be close to what our mothers make. The flavor of love and seasoning of care by the women in the house not only makes the meal rich with nutrients for a perfect, healthy body but also with positive thoughts for a peaceful ,healthy mind.
            Joy when the efforts taste excellent, sorrow when the hard work goes down the drain, excitement to try out new varieties, boredom when menu is exhausted, experiences like these in and around the kitchen feel like a cocktail of emotions. Waiting for comments with bated breath as soon as one tastes the food is an act practiced since the time I learnt cooking ;) Searching recipes on the internet, watching cookery videos, closely observing mother's skills, asking friends for different styles - all these enter into the mind's cook book with a hope to imitate, create and enjoy it forever. This tale of food can never really end as its a continuous journey to improve, explore,modify and experience all along the way; hence rightly referred to as  'Jaike ka safar'  :)

.....MASTi ki PaTHSHALa.....

          A place that molds one, a place that shapes one, a place that leads one , a place that creates one, a place that guides one, a place that carves one, a place that is just too amazing, a place that is just too wonderful. The greatness of this place aptly qualifies it to be a 'temple of learning'. A pure, sacred land where innocent minds are nurtured, where knowledge is imparted and where responsible individuals are crafted. A second home to all, this magical place called 'School' holds wonderful memories. The love and respect that one harbors for this port of knowledge is universal. No matter what age, gender, caste, religion or nationality one belongs to, this storehouse of education occupies a special, unique and an irreplaceable place in one's life. The time spent under the disciplined, motherly and friendly shadow of school gains entry into one's diary as the best phase of life. If one begins to pen down memories about school, it can definitely run into volumes and volumes of a vast story collection.
         Strong foundation, qualified teachers, co-operative management, energetic batchmates and lots and lots of amazing friends paved the way of my school journey. This school gifted me with enormous opportunities to explore and build myself. It stood there as a coach who pushed me beyond limits and made me experience every requisite for a successful and peaceful future. As rightly said , the value of a place is never realized until one begins to miss it. The long distance and life away from school highlighted all the wonderful factors about it. The things that were disliked back then have turned into memories that make me smile,laugh and love it even more. The equation shared with every teacher was unique,it was governed by happiness when appreciated ; sadness when punished. They were the parents in this second home with unconditional stock of love, care and trust.
         There would be feeling of hatred towards the discipline and the restrictions imposed; only to realize it has made us what we are today. The feel of a trap while in class, the freedom while on the playground, the funtime during recess , the nervousness during exams, the anxiety on the day of results, the excitement of school picnics, the burden of mounting homework, the joy on the last day of school, the eagerness on the first day after vacation- these and many more experiences like these line into a long, extensive and a never ending list.While in school, the eyes would fall on the gate and long to set free and now on the other side of the gate, the heart longs to enter and relive those memories once again- in the class ,on the bench, behind the board and amidst friends!
        Though academics and education is the primary role of school, it caters to a lot more. It is like a multi-faceted training center that makes sure each student owns the key to a happy life and uses it wisely to unlock all the doors ahead .Be it performing arts or fine arts, sports or indoor games , school sets a stage for everyone with a fair and just scoreboard. The values that were knowingly or unknowingly imparted by this second home stay for a lifetime. It forms an unbreakable bond with a strong sense of belonging that even after years of being away , the name alone brings back a smile on the face and glitter in the eyes. A platform for future, a passport for success - this heaven called school will be missed always. Unlimited memories and unforgettable moments reside in this PATHSHALA, that we all call our very own ' MASTi ki PaTHSHALa' .....

Add to shopping cart: a 'HOME SWEET HOME'

             Home is where the heart is, home is where the mind is, home is where dreams are fulfilled, home is where life is built. For anything and everything that happens - good , bad, happy or sad , these four walls stand as support; never willing to leave its dwellers, never willing to part away. Within no time; this inanimate structure of bricks and cement occupies a concrete place in life. It participates as a member of family, contributing its own share of happiness and taking away every possible share of sadness. This architecture called 'House' transforms into a best friend called 'Home' since the moment one wishes to call it as own. The warmth, comfort,peace and protection that radiates naturally from every wall of this sweet and humble home cannot be duplicated or forced into any other place; no matter how grand or exotic, how rich or lavish.
             The construction and layout of a house be it bungalow, flat, palace or a hut is completely unique in its own way ; but what stands alike is the foundation of love, care, trust and safety. With the successful completion of our coast- to-coast transition;began the next big episode of house hunt ! Our shopping cart was all geared up to add one such house and make it our next home sweet home.This shopping experience was a complete fun-filled and an exciting event. From searching communities on the internet to bombarding them with questions over the phone, from asking friends for reviews to actually visiting the location, the entire process resembled an adventurous treasure hunt. After all we were on the hunt of a treasure - a treasure full of happiness, opportunities, comfort and peace enclosed within the walls and roof of our 'to be' dream mansion.
              For every house we looked around, our mind began to dream how life in the place would be like, eyes started to visualize the journey inside, while brain started its calculator for money matters.At times, what appealed to the eyes was opposed by the mind; what felt homely to the mind was rejected by the budget in the brain,  while at times what was approved by the pocket was an unacceptable sight. This shuttle-cock of confusion rattled between the mind, brain and eyes till the three mutually agreed on a wonderful house that made space in our heart as our next home sweet home. With this shopping, commenced a new story, a new journey, a new trip , a new beginning; a step towards weaving a lovely and a lively nest.
             The transaction is processed and payment complete for a unique, special , unusual yet a very essential item we all call - HOME SWEET HOME :)

Lights, Camera, Action!!!!.... a DIVA of the Universe...a STAR in the making......

             She started out with a humble backing, she worked hard as she rose to the top, she won herself the title of Diva, she set on a journey as a star. All this while, it was nothing less than a dream as it unfolded in front of our eyes. A girl with whom we played, danced, sang, ate, chatted and enjoyed every single vacation of childhood; under the warmth and love of our native courtyard, in the care and protection of our wonderful family.The feeling of happiness as her crown glittered in our homeland, the feeling of pride as she stood tall on the global platform, the feeling of joy as she started her march in the cine world, the feeling of satisfaction as she dazzled on the silver screen; were some of the most wonderful moments - unbelievable, unexpected yet very much real and happening. It makes me proud to see my little, lively cousin on her venture to conquer the stars in the sky but with feet firmly on the ground. The modesty she possesses adds to her charm, the confidence she carries adds to her style, the smile she wears adds to her beauty and the hard work she executes adds to her success.
            Sincere approach and dedicated conduct have been her best friends since childhood; friends with whom she has come a long way; friends with whom she has a much longer way to go. The excitement to see our very own person in the limelight and the joy to share it with everyone around was an experience too wonderful to frame into words. She has effortlessly made the camera as her vehicle and stage as her home. Staying glued to the television to watch her advertisements, adjusting the timer to see her interviews, preparing much in advance to view her upcoming dance performances,clicking pictures with her and joking that we are celebrities too, her participation gave us an insight and a first-hand experience of the exciting glamour world. After every assignment she would be flooded with series of compliments and questions thrown by me and in return would be her patient response to all of those.
           With her confidence, devotion, dedication and ability to learn, she can commute her journey to great heights.Her down-to-earth nature is like a seasoning on her success. Wishing her bags full of achievements, happiness and fame for her successful debut on the big screen and wishing her many more such wonders. This Diva is certainly out there to shine. Way to go little sis...the STAGE is all ours......
            

...and that is why they are not just 'Parents'... they are 'GRAND'parents....

          While 'Parents' are the great assets who gift us the package called 'LIFE', nothing can be greater than 'Grandparents' who actually create and provide those assets. Having played the role of parents to our 'parents' they are storehouse of pure love, patience and care that is absolutely irreplaceable. Their rich experience makes them one of the most amazing teachers who teach, guide and support during every stage of life. Irrespective of what job they did in their yesteryears or where they lived all their life, grandparents shine like lighthouse to ignite the path. They are like nature's unlimited free source of encouragement, hope and happiness that is not restricted by a validity period. Their presence triggers a start button to get one going. Blessed with such wonderful grandparents indeed feels like the wealthiest person living on earth;
          Their valuable advice and lessons provide shade from the scorching hardships of life. The warmth of their love and enthusiasm can melt away all the troubles along the path. They have always patiently lend their ears to anything and everything I had to share with them. No matter how impossible a task appeared or how unrealistic a dream felt they were always ready with the capital investment of encouraging words and fruitful advice. They are the coolest buddies to have fun with and the safest partners for any kind of mischief as they become a strong shield from the opposition of parents. Disagreements and complaints of parents safely land into their ears while they give their just and honest judgement. Though in most cases the decision is not in my favor ,being punished by grandparents does not really feel like it. The love that flows from them turns everything happy and joyful.
           Their ability to adapt and learn new things is quite admirable as it strengthens the belief that age is just a number and one should never stop learning. The respect and trust they place while wanting to accept novelty in life makes them the most sincere and obedient students. The sense of pride that grandfather would experience on seeing my progress card, the smile on grandmother's face while feeding me extra portions of love, the talk and walk around the town with grandfather, the words of wisdom shared with grandmother were some of the best memories that walk along with me like a shadow. Dedicated to each of my grandparents for the best form of friendship we share- young by heart. old by experience but certainly 'GRAND' by name
     
         

Departure :EAST............. Arrival: WEST

           While marriage flew me from East of the globe to the West; within a short span of few days, I was once again onboard for a long journey further west. This relocation within the same country, offered a diametrically opposite experience. The coast-to-coast transition presented a platter of changes as the two places stand poles apart. From freezing cold to scorching heat, snow to sun, gloves to sun glasses, heater to air conditioner,the drastic variation in climatic condition justified the 2500 miles long distance between the two. This relocation once again brought us at the junction of cross roads to decide the further course of journey. New city, new location, new dwellers, new atmosphere, and a totally new route to explore. From hunting for an apartment  to finding out grocery stores, from trying new cuisines to discovering new roads it was a back- to-school experience where everything was to be started afresh.
           The farewell phase was difficult as it meant leaving behind friends, acquaintances, places, that crafted beautiful memories within a very short duration. Vacating the house and packing was a task that demanded patience, energy and presence of mind to make sure we took along what meant to be ours as we set our feet on a new march. The job of packing and moving out took us on a roller coaster ride of excitement, happiness, tiredness and mounting tension to shift a life that was 'just set' to a life that was 'to be' set . Being the first ever experience it was a challenging task to fit everything into our bags only to realize that something was left out each time. We filled our luggage full of wonderful memories while discarding away the undesirable ones. What amazed us was till the end we could not bid goodbye to the house as the homely feeling simply refused to part away. The excitement of discovering a new city and staying at a new place to be soon called 'home' carried us away from the sad feelings of distance and departure.

         Though the new place received us with open arms to experience the amazing , enormous and wonderful opportunities it had to offer, the mind could not stop its own set of calculations and comparisons with that of the old. It needed time to accept the new place; like a child hesistant to adjust in a new school with new friends. It also meant readjusting the clock to a further time difference with people back at home.Within no time, this city will occupy a place close to the heart ; following the footsteps of the old. Till then the process of settling down will keep us busy as we begin a new start. With a hope that this place will love us like the previous and a trust that it will be ours forever, we wait to completely blend and transfer the 'VA' to 'CA' ;)

From Casuals to Formals..... a step into the Professional world.....

           As rightly said ' End is the start of a new beginning', with the end of phase 'Education' begins the next big phase 'Employment'. It is challenging and adventurous yet the most awaited phase of life that opens door to a big,fat pay cheque with a bigger, fatter bank balance. Life takes a new route as 'managers' replace 'teachers, 'colleagues' replace classmates', 'salary' replaces 'pocket money', 'laptops replace 'books' and finally 'careful and responsible conduct' replaces 'carefree and immature attitude.' Replacements like these mark the transition from learning to earning. The anxiety and nervousness that one experiences while stepping into the competitive world of making money is exactly how a child feels after leaving the care and comfort of home to enter into a disciplined world of school. Receiving first salary is an achievement that infuses satisfaction, pride and confidence. This valuable and precious amount disappears into thin air within no time,but leaves behind an essence that lingers around forever. Each one holds the memory of first job very close to heart and the mention of it or anything around it gets a big smile on the face. My step into the professional world was like an extension to learning. My debut role in career started as a trainee; in an environment of classroom with company of classmates ;)
         My strong belief that one cannot make friends after departing from school or college was completely broken into pieces as we eight trainees bonded into a close knit group;as strong as childhood comrades;as steady as college buddies.Within no time we shared our joy, happiness, worries, concerns , tensions, excitement with a strong sense of belonging as if we knew each other for years and years together. Anxiety to begin a new job, happiness to be treated as responsible adults, studying together to sail through assignments, complaining to have no rest, satisfaction to read the salary-credited message, excitement to enjoy the benefits of working, sadness to realize we were grown up, sharing the dis-pleasures while working, experiencing the pressure to perform, many such signals were crossed together while driving through the heavy traffic on roads and highways of professional life. It was a wonderful opportunity to share a strong formal but stronger casual bond with these seven, who made the start of my professional journey a very memorable experience.
        This year long journey has carved an irreplaceable place in my life , even though each one of us are now plying on a different route, the happiness of building a strong foundation together will stay forever. As I write this, I feel blessed to make close friends at such a different ,unusual and unexpected phase of life . The time may never come back but the memories will stay strong forever. On a parting note ....'hum rahe ya na rahe, yaad aayenge yeh pal ' ;)

...after all it is a game we all play....a life we all live.....

            Different routes, different modes, different destinations; but the same journey called 'LIFE'. As a child I often wondered about life across the globe. Did it mean living the same way and doing the same thing everywhere? Was it to be played with the same set of rules on a similar playground with similar team mates? Did each one have to jump over 'hurdles' during race to the finish or was it a clear, toll-free expressway for some? Questions like these always floated in my mind . I was curious to know whether people across the world reside like a close-knit family wherein each one contributes laughter, joy, support and love to add happiness while taking away tears, insecurities and fear to substract sadness. The picturesque landscape and hassle-free exciting life as portrayed in movies sowed a childish thought in my mind that everywhere else, life was thoroughly magical. As grass on the other side is always green,it made me believe that struggles of life are pertained only to a specific latitude and longitude and is simply a cakewalk elsewhere. As I now experience life on the other side of the planet I am amused at the innocent, immature picture that was captured in my mind as a child.
          The location and map may be different, the time zone may differ but what remains the same is the game of life. Each one has to play the sport with dedication, determination and a spirit to enjoy it till the end; while at the same time overcome losses and defeat. The happiness and satisfaction after fulfillment of a dream, the joy of being around with loved ones, the willingness to help a friend, the sadness when forced to part away, the sorrow when a near-one is unhappy, the excitement of exploring new things ; all of this is felt by anyone and everyone in this world as we all have a heart that beats, a mind that thinks and a soul that feels.
         The warmth and comfort that a home provides, the materials and facilities that money buys , the security and love that family offers is universally identical be it any town, city or country.
           Each one has to commute through the insecurities of daily life, each one has to work towards achieving a stable yet happy and a peaceful environment. Be it any part of the globe, the love, care, affection, concern that a mother feels for her child;the satisfaction that a father feels as his kid learns new lessons of life, the enjoyment that children get while playing, the happiness that friends experience on meeting, stay the same forever. The nationality, culture, language is different in some way , but the feelings are very much alike in every way. Thoughts like these make us united and  happy to be a part of this huge world because after all  '......JEENA ISI KA NAAM HAIN :)'

Partners in crime.....

               She waited patiently as I opened my eyes, waited eagerly while I crawled around , waited for an opportunity to play with me , waited to shower me with all her love and care. She herself being a child of 3 years, wanted to protect me like a matured adult of 30. I am sure she must have rehearsed the role of playing my elder sister, from the moment she understood, she was to get her very own toy to play with :) a toy no one else would have right over, a toy to be kept safely in her own custody, a toy who would laugh, cry, fight and love her like no one else could. I always followed her religiously as a shadow , imitating whatever she did. If that led to appreciation and praises from everyone, I would bloom with happiness and love her all the more, but if it led to punishment and scolding, I would conveniently blame it on her and safely enter my shell. From being my best friend, best critic, best teacher and a best role model our relation could never limit to just being siblings , we were meant to be partners in crime,who paired up with each other to plot innumerable instances of fun, laughter, joy and happiness.

               She always tutored me in my journey as I set out to accomplish the usual yet essential tasks of life. A pillar to support ,  a light-house to guide , a locker to protect secrets , a mirror to showcase the reality, a map to show the way,this girl has been everything I ever wished for in life.Being elder she was my license permit to go out, explore and experiment new things; even though she was always there to protect me under her wings, at times her deliberate push into the outside world forced me to safely swim on my own and realise the value of independence. The endless fights, arguments, disagreements between us testify the dept of love for each other as the purpose of it was never to hurt but bring out the best that was hidden deep within . Making surprise plans on special events for parents, indulging in some wacky ideas for fun, chatting on and on about anything and everything , we could go about doing this endlessly at our own pace in our own space. At times she would be my tunnel to safely transport ideas through the huge mountainous block of my parents and get their approval in her own unique style. With a heart as big as her maturity and care as pure as her love, I am absolutely grateful to have her as an ALL in ONE package. Her sharp eyes and vigil like a cat make sure I do not commit any mistake; this scrutiny ends up to be of high standard and  turn out much more effective than my parents ;)
                This gift of having an elder sister is an experience too difficult to pen down in words but certainly life's most amazing and precious asset to possess and own with pride,happiness and joy. Whereever we go or whatever we do , I will always hide behind her huge curtain of warmth and protection because after all she is meant to be my 'Teacher, Asset, Inspiration forever.