He said....She said...

  

    Confused by the title of the blog? Well, my aim was not to confuse the reader in you, but to make you think.

What is the most obvious relationship that always manages to engage into interesting and unique conversations?

  While some of you must have guessed it right, let me share my own idea behind this tricky question. Conversation between a man and his woman bonded by the sacred relationship of marriage give way to best unique moments ever. Misunderstanding, confusion, love, care, war, naughtiness, craziness and loads of his and her interpretations mark their talks, as both struggle together as a team.

   Though as a woman, I may tend to lean towards the feminine strength in this conversation, the blogger in me will strive towards delivering a perfect balanced entertainment. Inspired by our own conversations as a couple, I always realize this form of communication is truly the best storehouse of fun.

   While he says something, she refuses to accept or understands it in a different light, giving way to arguments and funny replies. Likewise, her talks are greeted with unusual interpretations and hilarious words.

    This form of entertainment does not apply to every conversation between a couple. While some important decisions and plans demand serious discussion between the two, remaining others are free for unlimited fun and humor. Though it is impossible to generalize every couple under this umbrella of entertaining conversation, it certainly applies to most of the man-woman duo. Probably, the only relationship that allows freedom of speech, leading to arguments and fights; only to be followed by endless love and warmth at the very next instant, this ‘he said…she said’ is truly unbelievable in every way.

     While playing their role as partners and handling the show of the house as teammates, these two characters of husband and wife encounter several challenges. As two minds, but one team; when they engage into their course of activities, there are expected chances of confusion. When one says, the other loves to disagree, and when the other speaks up, this one refuses to agree. Giving way to their own style of conversations, these disagreements decorate the course of the relationship. Though my married experience of 1.5 years is definitely too short to be considered as rich; quiet observation and careful analysis of couples for all these years has certainly added to the value. From parents to relatives, grandparents to cousins, friends to neighbors, as I have witnessed these exciting encounters, it definitely seems significant in every way.

      If you observe carefully, none of these conversations are designed with an aim to win the trophy, they are only meant for having some ‘say’ in every topic. Be it food, groceries, house, children, school, vacation, office, career, relatives, friends or in-laws, each of the two must contribute in their own unique way. With typical instincts of a man or a woman, when the two participate in the discussion, there are expected course of agreements and disagreements. What surprises me is the quick transformation from war to peace. What starts off as a serious form of verbal encounter with unique weapon of words, immediately converts into love and peace, as the two resume with their normal course of life. Programmed to perform in a dynamic environment of love and hatred, God must be designing this unique program for every married couple. 

    

     No wonder these unusual and difficult equations must be preventing all the singles from following the mistake of their married friends, keeping them peaceful and calm. Though I will not blame these singles to think in such a manner, marriage is truly magical in its own way. No matter how many versions of these conversations enter into our daily routine, I believe they truly decorate the course of our married life.

    Let me take you through some of these examples of classic ‘he said…she said’ instances.

Disclaimer: For all the readers: Though I was tempted to take real-life references from our own conversation as a couple, each of these examples are purely fictitious in nature, bearing no resemblance to us or any of my people in the universe.

 For all the men: Though the woman in me shall be tempted to empower the feminine side of the conversation, I am working towards a perfect balance. Any marked bias towards feminine victory shall be a part of the natural flow, purely unintentional.

For all the women: Though you may expect more preference and advantage, I have promised to remain balanced. Stay assured, feminine victory is truly natural and does not need any adjustments!

When he starts the conversation....

1.       He said: “You look different and beautiful today”

  She said: “Thank you, but what do you mean by ‘today’? You mean to say I am not beautiful always?”

  He said: “I said it because of the new dress you are wearing, it suits you”

  She said: “So now, the dresses will decide if I am beautiful or not?”

2.       He said: “Let us do some cleaning of the house this weekend.”

  She said: “I do it every single day, by suggesting a master plan of cleanliness for this weekend, you intend to point that I don’t keep the house clean?

  He said: “No my point was to help you with it, since you do it alone all week round.”

  She said: “Yes right, your cleaning help for a single day will be able to replace all my hard work of the entire week?”

When she does: 

1.       She said: “I have done all the packing for the trip.”

   He said: “But I did the most important job.”

   She said: “Spending the entire day behind making lists and talking about its significance does not constitute important job.”

   He said: “Lists will guide us about the things to carry, this reminds me did you pack all the essential items marked in red in accordance with the list?”

2.       She said: “Help me in kitchen this weekend, we have to cook dinner for the get-together function.”

  He said: “Let us bring food from a restaurant, cooking will be too tedious.”

  She said: “But you yourself proposed home-cooked food for cost and quality.”

  He said: “My friend told me about a new restaurant -economical and excellent quality food, I did not know about it until yesterday, hence I propose the change in plan.”

    Now, I am sure these sound totally funny and avoidable, as we read them as sane individuals; but in real lives, when we enter into the skin of the character, no one can stop us from our unreasonable and enthusiastic participation!

    Though I would have loved to continue these conversations in the natural flow, the blog length demands an exit. Hope you enjoyed this unusual topic that is perhaps an interesting aspect for all the married couples.

    So whether, he said or she said, let both of them continue the game of thrones over words, after all these sweet conversations are symbol of their love, care, trust and togetherness!

   

That unreliable, unfaithful, uncertain, unusual friend called ‘MOOD’

   

     This is the same ‘Mood’ that makes you good, bad, happy, sad, helpful, cheerful, annoying, irritating, embarrassing and unpredictable. An aspect that refuses to part away from your personality, a factor that decides the fate of your experiences and adventures, mood chooses to stay with you as your shadow.

   So, why have I framed it as a ‘friend’? What features of this ‘Mood’ reflect the relation of friendship?

     Mood accompanies, supports, stays and claims responsibility for our mistakes. When people around seem to alienate from us, this crazy, unusual mood comes to the rescue. Forcing us to respect, respond, value and acknowledge, mood makes valuable space for itself. Often prone to misunderstandings and confusion, mood bears the blame for many of our actions. As an integral state of mind that determines our attitude, behavior, conduct and presentation, mood certainly decides a lot for us. As it presents us to the world around, this mood needs to be protected in a flawless manner.

   Many a times, our actions, responses and reactions seem to be out of control. Though we may not realize the real culprit at that very instant, we may conveniently blame it over our mood at a later stage in future. A powerful weapon fueled with the ability to influence our moments, memories and experiences, mood determines ‘the end’ to every activity. Though mood is believed to cast such an influential spell over our living, it is very important to bring it under our tools. By allowing bad mood to spoil a significant event or by letting an overconfident, happy mood take over the charge of a serious responsibility, we may experience failure, troubles, disappointment and sorrow.

     Mood is a temporary player that can bring permanent changes. Words arising from an angry mood can cause undesirable strains in a relation, conclusions made during the state of boredom can form permanent images in our head. Though these are some of the examples of an undesirable mood, there are some happy features, too. Energetic, enthusiastic, cheerful and lively mood can set a stage for power, ambition, tasks and actions. Mood laced with happiness prompts us to think beyond the limits and expand our horizon.

     If you observe closely, mood is a background that can change the overall effect of a picture. When you think about a plan for the future, the same idea may seem exciting, welcoming, possible and achievable during a happy mood; spelling out success and hope, over and over again. Nothing may seem difficult or impossible along the way. Though challenges may present their case, these may appear as achievable in the light of a hopeful mood filled with energy. Now, if we imagine these same ideas in a sad, gloomy and dark mood, every aspect of the plan may come across as an impossible block. By allowing the sad mood to take charge, every happy factor may transform into sadness, every hopeful agenda may turn into hopeless action and every manageable task may convert into an impossible load.

      For a more related example to this thought, I am tempted to ponder about our moods along different times of the day or along different days of the week. Early morning mood reflects seriousness, maturity and an absolutely no-nonsense behavior. Combined with a vulnerable and non-resistant attitude, any major discussions, plans and concerns during the morning can leave a major impact. As the day progresses, the afternoon sun takes away some seriousness from the concern, leaving behind a lazy mood and careless attitude. Setting sun may wipe away all the cares completely. What may seem as a major worry during the start of the day gets converted into a manageable job by the end, leading to a good night and a happy mind. This answers the question why Monday morning talks, plans and actions seem irritating and annoying, but the same aspects seem colorful and bright along the weekends. In each of these experiences, the innocent, yet powerful mood certainly does its job well!

      While talking about mood, we cannot forget to include its famous partnership by the name ‘mood-swings’! Known to be the best friend of females alone, I often wonder about the source of origin of such a false claim. Though women excel in the art of expression, making them the best communicators and emotional members, men also exhibit the shades of mood-swings, quite prominently. As deep bond between women and mood-swings has been depicted since several ages in the past, this norm has been safeguarding men till date. Be it shouting from mother or useful instructions from wife, be it serious advice from sister or sincere words from daughter, men always find it convenient to transfer every single action of women and every single blame on them over the usual ‘mood-swings’.

     With this, let us perform a fun exercise to celebrate this friendship with MOOD.

Think about your reactions to the following ideas, while being in diverse moods:

1.       Suggestion of a vacation trip by family or friends:

i.   When you are broke.

ii.   In the middle of a difficult assignment on a busy Tuesday.

iii.  During a relaxed and lazy Sunday afternoon.

2.       News about a friend’s wedding or birth of their first child.

 i.   When you are being pressurized for these activities by your own parents.

ii.    When meeting friends over a weekend

iii.   While speaking with your thoughts late in the night.

3.       Plans about purchasing a house or a car

i.  When calculating the practical costs with the dealer.

ii.  When dreaming about it with your family.

iii.  When worrying about its expenses and after-effects in the middle of your work.

Each of these thoughts will reflect the power of mood. Though a particular action may seem impossible or weird under the influence of a sad mood that very same aspect will jump with joy during a happy one.

P.S: A note for all the men, though the feminine blogger in me has blamed you all for the misunderstandings with mood-swings, you can continue to pamper your woman under the pretext of her regular, expected, unpredictable friends!

Thank you for feeding the creativity in me.

     

      While you are wondering about the title of this post or pondering about its recipient, let me clear it out for you. This thank you note is meant for every single reader such as yourself. Readers who constantly give me their valuable feedback, readers who prompt me to improve with each passing post, readers who connect with the writer in me, this is an appreciation account for each one of you. Be it in the form of a personal message or a comment, be it through likes and shares on social media platform or through spoken words of encouragement, every single feedback has been extremely valuable for this humble, little blogger.

     Feeding back response, criticism, improvement and appreciation to the creator of an art is the novel task of ‘feedback’ that helps in innumerable ways than we can think about.

   Be it positive encouragement or negative criticism, every form of feedback brings out the best in a person. By offering an honest and true picture, feedback offers scope for improvement. Though the heart in me always longs for words of appreciation and praises, my mind reminds me about the need to wish for a sincere feedback. While some aspects may work in my favor and enable constant flow of appreciation, certain factors may need improvement, prompting me to evolve, develop, flourish and grow. Besides the ability to create and display, it is extremely essential to show sincere willingness towards honest feedback. As a growth supplement that can promote success and satisfaction, feedback is certainly the key player in the game.

      Feedback is a universal factor that works in every single domain of our life. Be it academics in school or work assignment in office, be it arts, hobbies, talents and skills or activities of recreation, feedback encourages the creator within us; bringing out smiles, laughter, happiness and satisfaction. While offering an honest opinion is the rule of the feedback game, false praises and manipulative words with an aim to look good can do more harm than one can imagine. Besides the eagerness to bombard one with feedback, we must also have the capacity to accept the feedback from others.

    Along the journey of a blogger and writer so far, I have now realized the value of feedback closely. Expecting feedback from every single reader for each of my posts, hoping for nothing besides praises and longing for positive comments were some of my incorrect demands as an amateur writer. As I moved along the path, I came closer to the true realities of feedback. Born with an aim to improve and evolve, rather than flatter and look good, the true meaning of feedback presented itself right in front of my eyes. While I appreciate the influence and presence of feedback, I always look forward to the opportunity of receiving it.

    Feedback does not follow any particular pattern or adheres to any specific rules. Be it any form, manner, mode or medium, the job of feedback is to reach to its rightful owner. By offering its message, feedback initiates the job of improvement. As honest and true feedback is more beneficial than false words of praises, one must display willingness to accept every piece of criticism that comes their way. As I evolved with passing time, I understood the harm in crying over negative comments. Though such words shine under the light of negativity, their true aim is to prevent similar mistakes in the future. Understanding the true meaning of feedback and utilizing it for one’s own progress is the key to success. Drawing happiness and joy from positive feedback; analyzing, interpreting and learning from negative feedback and striving towards improvement all along can bring out the best from deep within.

Back to the thank you note, let me spell out every single reason for the gratitude and appreciation:

THANK YOU ALL:

-          For reading my posts and enjoying all its flavors.

-          For boosting my confidence as a blogger and encouraging me to continue this mode of expression.

-          For motivating me to display my love for words.

-          For encouraging me to expand my horizon, as articles and write-ups have entered into the basket along with blogs.

-          For inspiring me to return back with new topics and fresh pieces.

-          For pointing out my weaknesses and prompting me to develop my strengths.

-          For playing along with me in this game of words as readers are the most important components.

-          For strengthening the belief that I can express my thoughts, beliefs, memories and experiences in the written form.

-          For being there for me as enthusiastic readers with patient thoughts, eager eyes and happy heart.

and lastly,

-          For reading my extremely long posts without any complaints!

   Thank you for every single factor mentioned above, besides any other aspect I must have forgotten about.

 Thank you for feeding me with creativity, confidence, happiness and satisfaction, after all your feedback definitely feeds me well! 

Experiences of Indian cuisine on a foreign land!

A guide on what to expect and what not to expect in Indian restaurants for the foodies abroad.

      Though I strongly believe in the thought ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’ and I do enjoy the local flavors of diverse cuisines in this foreign land- the tongue, eyes and stomach can never stop their craving for Indian food. Residing in foreign soil for more than a year now, the excitement and happiness to look around for Indian restaurants continues to stay strong. Though my interest towards cooking inspires me to stay close to the roots of Indian cuisine, it cannot replace the joy of enjoying a ready meal in a relaxing ambiance. With this thought in mind, as me and my husband hunt around for Indian restaurants and fast-food joints, the joy of experiencing diverse flavors of home country, while being miles away add to the overall appeal of the food.

      With increasing demand for Indian cuisine, several style of restaurants have made home in the United States. From authentic South Indian delicacies to true North Indian varieties, from popular street food dishes to interesting sweets and desserts, Indian cuisine has made its way into the hearts of people around. One peculiar aspect of these restaurants that always grabs my attention is their perfect balance between taste and surrounding. While serving authentic Indian food with its unique touch of spices, ingredients, preparation and recipes, these restaurants perform an excellent task of blending it well with the ambiance of the foreign surrounding.

      Relishing Indian cuisine, while being abroad bring back wonderful memories of the home soil. Though enjoying such Indian food in a restaurant may be an affair of a few minutes or hours, the experience and ambiance showers a lot more. The experience certainly seems heart-warming and welcoming, while I admire the same joy back home. The excitement of spotting a favorite dish on the menu card or happiness of searching a restaurant that serves the same style of favorite food truly brings a big, board smile on the face of every NRI!

      Sharing these experiences with family and friends or showing off the happiness of enjoying authentic Indian cuisine in the foreign land soon turns into a matter of pride, as it acts as a means to be closer to the Indian residing deep within. Though these restaurants toil to offer the best possible pure taste with their true preparation, there are several chances of disappointment along the way. Hoping to relish the same taste, yet residing miles away can lead to some troubles as the mind and tongue are still programmed for the flavors from home soil. During times like these, I realize the contribution of water, soil, climate, local harvest and environment in offering the final masterpiece. Though one may mimic these conditions in every possible way, the freshness of air and tanginess of local spice shall certainly differ.

      Besides filling the stomach with delicious food and pampering the tongue with its authentic taste, Indian cuisine always drives me over the lane of nostalgia. Though these restaurants are famous among Indians longing to get a feel of the home land; some of these are equally famous among local folks, too. Offering them a sneak peek view of the Indian land, such restaurants can attract them to experience the real feel of the country.

 Such is the magic of relishing Indian cuisine on the foreign land. While this aspect of Indian cuisine and food may have been taken for granted while residing back home, it has truly occupied the center-stage miles away.

       Though I and my husband love the opportunity to explore Indian cuisine, we always experience a fixed circle of emotions. Starting with interest and excitement, moving towards appreciation, proceeding towards deep observation, analysis and discussion and finally ending the conservation with wonders of taste back home, this order of events is bound to repeat after every adventure. After gaining valuable feedback and suggestions from our friends around, when we look forward to the experience of relishing this Indian food, we are almost sure of the repetition of these events.

   As a guide for my fellow NRIs or as a learning tutorial for all those about to make this land their second home, let me frame certain useful points of advice. Though individual experiences and encounters differ for each one, the blogger in me cannot stop herself from doing the obvious- talking, writing, talking and some more writing. While I share these experiences with you, enjoy every single piece of information – whether you are a prospective NRI who can note these for future reference, or an existing member of the club who can relate with it, whether you are RI (residential Indian ;) who can draw humor with occasional wish to offer sympathy or a person confused to decide which club to enter into, sit back and enjoy this gift of words!

1.       Looks can be deceptive:

  

   While name of a restaurant may tempt the patriot in you, or its online description and reviews may bring out the Indian in you, it may not necessarily turn out to be as expected. Though looks and ambiance may reflect our country in every way, it may just prove as a deceptive magnet for the Indian foodie in you.

2.       Enter at your own risk:

   Now, though your friends, colleagues and neighbors may give you a patriotic speech about the true taste and authentic flavors of food served in an Indian restaurant, do not forget about the diverse varieties within the Indian cuisine and complexities within various cultures. So while south, north, west and east of Indian cuisine shall differ by all means, enter at your own risk to experience the spread as described.

3.       Keep comparisons and analysis at bay:

   An aspect that we learned the hard way, comparing Indian food with the one served at home can lead to nothing besides disappointment. Though Indian restaurants abroad toil to offer the best experience to its patrons with close resemblance to ingredients, taste, flavors and presentation, it is absolutely inappropriate to compare them with Indian restaurants in India. By handling several contrasting factors along the way, they truly bear the brunt of expectations.

    While settling in a foreign land, yet offering a cuisine that can appeal to all, this transaction certainly calls for more hard work and consistent efforts. Enjoying their offered menu without any preconceived ideas and judgments can enhance the overall dining experience. As the only means that can connect an NRI back to the home ground, they certainly deserve the credit, respect and gratitude.

4.       Relish your meal with a pinch of salt!

    Though we may not bother much about the ingredients, style, pairing and presentation of food, while relishing a meal in a restaurant in India, all these observations and analysis come out effortlessly, while at a restaurant abroad. As patriotism and love for the country reaches its peak at such places, it is necessary to savor the taste with a pinch of salt. Disappointment due to over-analysis or impossible expectations from the restaurant staff will only add to the pile of sorrow.

5.       Adaption is the rule for survival

    While Indian restaurants make efforts to survive and flourish in a foreign environment, they have to adopt certain variations and changes. By adapting themselves to the needs, demands, expectations and customs of local land, they may be forced to drift away from an authentic taste. Be it involvement of local vegetables or change in source of spices, be it change in the presentation or inclusion of side dishes, adjusting to the local demands is the need of the hour.

Hope these guidelines can entertain and guide at the same time. As we continue our adventures and experiences, I hope to add some more content in the future! 

The ‘Home Coming’ series….4

     

     After an exciting nostalgic journey of my trip back home, it is now time to draw curtains over this series. While decorating the experiences, highlights, memories and adventures within the scope of words, the blogger in me has enjoyed every bit of the process. As words form the primary components of any blog, framing these interesting experiences with their aid turned into an exciting task. While the series comes to its last phase, final summary of the entire experience would represent a ‘happy and a true ending’.

    Ranging over duration of a month, every single day was filled with its own share of happiness, joy, adventure and novelty. Embracing warmth and love of home country, while breathing its air and walking over its soil was truly exciting by all means as ‘home coming’ brought loads of joy in its stock.

    While I summarize this series along the finale episode, I hope to include every single color and shade that made the trip absolutely wonderful in its own way.

SEASON 1, EPISODE 4: Summarizing the fun, frolic, flavors and feelings

   A trip marked with loads of fun, food, meetings and greetings, the summary deserves to be grand, just as its main content. While each of the episodes have conveyed their message loud and clear, the blogger in me looked around for novel ideas to present the final show stopper. With this, the idea of presenting one thought for every single alphabet from A-Z took birth! Sit back and read through this post, while framing your feedback; after all your words over mine can bring out the best from the blog!

1.       Amazing experience of touching the home ground, the trip was marked with love and affection for its land and people.

2.       Blessed with the opportunity to meet my little nephew for the first time ever, this reason alone marked the charm of the trip.

3.       Continuous talks and endless chats formed the central theme of the trip, as words chose to stay with me right till the end.

4.       Date with little nephew and days spent with him formed the best highlights.

5.       Eagerness to enjoy nostalgic trip over good, old days and excitement to visit favorite places marked the flow.

6.       Food, feast and some more food - as the dominating theme of the entire trip; relishing home-cooked meals and gorging on outside delicacies enhanced the overall flavor of the experience.

7.       Generation of remarkable memories and long-lasting moments that shall always stay close to me as my first trip back home.

8.       Happiness to meet family, friends, relatives and neighbors after long duration of years and distance of several miles.

9.       Interesting analysis between life here and there, giving way to practical differences between lifestyles and experiences of both the countries.  

10.   Joy of being surrounded with familiar people all around, with similarities of language, nature, behavior and thoughts.

11.   Key elements of the trip such as spending time at home, playing around with nephew and seeing the changes in the home city formed the best activities during this vacation.

12.   Long flight and extremely long journey to reach the home country seemed exciting as the experiences on the other end waited for their magic.

13.   Meetings and greetings were undoubtedly the only tasks of this trip, with great scope for photographs, discussions, chats and food.

14.   No scope for boredom or relaxation as every day was more interesting than the previous one and schedule packed to its brim.

15.   Opportunity to celebrate nephew’s first birthday was truly the best highlight of the trip as wishing this little superstar, while showering him with love and kisses was the entire plan since several days. 

16.    Participation in every task of the little nephew was truly exciting- from preparing his meals to playing with his toys, from forcing him to sleep to giving him a special bath, every task was enjoyable to the core.

17.   Question and answer session was one of the most common engagements of this trip, as answering the questions about lifestyle, food, travel, nature, environment, behavior, social life of the experience abroad occupied the center stage.

18.   Replay of old memories and events, while touring the city roads and admiring the life back then.

19.   Satisfaction of spending adequate time with family and friends, since days were limited, while plans unlimited.

20.   Truly memorable, remarkable and enjoyable in every way, a trip to be remembered forever.

21.   Unique experience of holding a little kid in my arms, while behaving responsibly as his aunt!

22.   Vast range of experiences and memories that gave birth to this series.

23.   Wonderful in every way, ‘Home coming’ was all about coming back to the place where the heart is.

24.   X-factor of this vacation was enthusiasm to look at my old belongings, clothes, accessories within my cupboard of my very own room.

25.   Year and a half long wait to visit the home city came to a happy ending as every moment spent was truly worth the wait.

26.   Zooming in all the fun, happiness and joy of the meeting, while zooming out patience for the next trip.

   With this, as the wonderful series of ‘home coming’ comes to an end, it is time to initiate the next phase of pondering soon. Till I return back with my blogs once again, ‘Happy reading and happier living!’ 

The ‘Home coming series’…..3

   

       While describing a journey or soaking into the feel of nostalgia, no series can be declared as ‘completed’, without mention of some of the most interesting aspects of that particular phase. Lightly termed as ‘highlights’, these aspects transform into wonderful memories, longing to stay with us forever. Highlights that dominate the plot of a series, factors that influence our experiences, moments, adventures and realities, such aspects remain close to our heart always.  While thinking about the fantastic memories of my home visit, I could not resist the temptation of penning down my own highlights. 

    

      Listing all the contents that made my visit memorable, as I touch yet another episode of this series, I can only hope for more feedback, comments, happiness and smiles. While writing about them shall open my luggage of joy, I wish to transfer those feelings to you, too!

SEASON 1, EPISODE 3: HIGHLIGHTS- from ‘Welcome’ to ‘See you again’

      From the moment, the eyes were greeted with a heart-warming board of ‘WELCOME’ into the home country to the moment of farewell, until the next meeting - excitement, happiness, joy, laughter, fun, emotions and smiles chose to stay with me. Be it meeting family and friends after a long time or walking over the lanes of the home city; be it gorging on favorite food or being surrounded by familiar faces around, several highlights such as these deserve an entry into the list. Offering the joy of nostalgia, love, warmth and connection, these factors colored the course of my month-long journey.

     As I take you all through this interesting list, I hope to include something and everything of all that resides in my mind, waiting to find a means of expression!

1.       ‘Just like you and me’

   The first observation registered by the eyes and mind was presence of my own country people all around. While residing in a foreign land teaches you the aspects of multi-cultural groups, diverse nationalities, foreign practices and novel beliefs, touching feet at the airport brought me back to the feeling called ‘home’. Though each of these experiences named ‘foreign’ and ‘local’ have their own unique highlights and low-lights, the feeling of being surrounded by familiar faces that sinks at that very instant transforms into the most valuable memory.

2.       Gastronomical ride to the villa of ‘appetite’

    Though my near and dear ones will remark about the incorrect inclusion of food as one of ‘my’ highlights, I do have valid explanation to justify this gastronomical ride! From home-cooked food over the cooking gas to bliss of outside treats, from favorite restaurants for a pre-decided fixed demand to spread of mangoes to the heart’s content, this journey was definitely about food, food and more food. Though I am a self-confessed non foodie, with no additional room for extra food of any kind, I did enjoy every local experience of taste and flavors. 

    Known for the unique blend of spices and traditional method of cooking, preparation of food from local ingredients on the home grounds did enhance the overall taste. While mangoes dominated the flow of this ride, enjoying the king of fruits within its royal kingdom was undoubtedly amazing. Each of the fantastic hands that made such scrumptious meals deserve special credit, after all happiness is where the food is!

P.S: Special mention of cooking gas was due to the practice of electric cooking range in this second home away from home.

3.       About meetings and greetings

     Undoubtedly one of the best highlights of this visit, meeting and greeting my family, friends, relatives and neighbors brought wonderful experiences and amazing memories. From playing with my little nephew to endless talks with his mother, from meeting relatives to making plans with cousins and friends, from capturing photographs as long-lasting memories to sharing experiences of the overseas life, every single moment with near and dear ones was valuable in its own way.

     Showering endless love and warmth, the essence of these meetings and greetings shall definitely stay with me forever.

4.       Flavor of nostalgia

    Revisiting the old lanes, roads, buildings and neighborhood brought back beautiful memories from the past. Thinking about the good, old times, while observing, analyzing, comparing and wondering about the similarities and differences then and now was nothing less than a fun game. Nostalgia and power of memories brought back the joy of past, while fueling the journey for the future.

     Be it the lane leading to my building or range of shops around, be it new redeveloped construction over old ones or the highways and usual traffic, be it local railway station or spread of markets and vendors, every factor forced me to dip into the sea of nostalgia. Probably one of the most engaging highlights of the trip, this flavor of nostalgia enhanced the overall feel.

   Though these four highlights have spoken a lot, occupying the entire space of the blog; several other tiny, little aspects have added their own colors, too. While it is impossible to enlist every single experience of this 30-days adventure, the highlights have certainly summarized it all.

   Hope you enjoyed the striking features of these highlights, as much as I enjoyed framing each one of them! 

     Till we meet again for the last episode in this series, happy reading! 

The ‘Home coming’ series ….2

        After successful transition into the usual routine and happy farewell to the most dreaded jet-lag, as the blogger in me continues pondering and playing with words, ‘The Home coming’ series certainly poses as a much needed fuel. Between packing and moving from the old apartment to settling into a new one, from acquainting myself with the new surrounding to exploring the world around, these new consistent changes have left me with little time to think about the good, old days. With so much to admire, remember, celebrate and share from the days back home, ‘The home coming series’ definitely needs to get back into action. As I unfold the magic of yet another aspect, I hope this episode entertains you, just like the one before.

SEASON 1, EPISODE 2: Rendezvous with the ‘little master’

       The primary reason behind my home country visit; the sole purpose of travelling for miles; the center of attraction right from the moment, I landed at the airport; the boss who framed my holiday schedule – meeting my little nephew for the first time ever and making memories with him were the only driving factors of this wonderful happy month.

      Watching him within the dimensions of a live frame for the first time was indeed a memorable experience, beyond the scope of words. Though words and sentences are assets of any blogger or writer, description of sensitive moments like these tend to fail quite often. Holding the one year old little boy for the first time was one of the most treasured moments, as an instant bond of connection surfaced between us. While several months and days were spent in the thought process about his reaction towards me, and several discussions were made about his willingness to come towards me, one single smile and look from his aunt was all that was needed, as this little bundle of joy picked up the relation instantly!

     This smooth transition from his mother’s arms to my own was truly one of the proudest moments for me, as the eager and patient wait of a year proved to be successful. Though virtual world connected us from the moment he was born, nothing could ever replace the joy of admiring his little features from an arm’s distance. While demanding a constant supply of his photographs, videos and description of little acts was an important job for me along every single day since his birth, magical rendezvous with him after a long duration of 365 days was exceptionally wonderful by all means.

     His parents, grandparents and my husband truly deserve credit for all their patience, as every single member contributed in a great way, along the last year. Be it prompt presence of mind while capturing his photographs and videos as exhibited by my father or detailed description of his cute acts as narrated by my mother; be it immense patience and strength to accomplish an online video session with a moody boss as demonstrated by my sister or patience to admire and appreciate same photos and similar description almost all day long as shown by my husband; each one of them must have been more excited for our first rendezvous.
 
    As I held this little superstar in my arms, I looked forward to cherish every single day in his presence. Determined to be with him all day long and refusing to entertain any distraction, disturbance or diversion, every moment of our time together was truly memorable. Though his enormous supply of energy did defeat me along several instances; losing to a cute, little hero like him was nothing less than a victory in its own way.

        From waking exceptionally early with his unique ‘good morning’ notes to being prepared for his next set of demands, from arranging his meals, milk and medicine to playing around with his toys, from changing his diapers and clothes to hunting for a replacement in-charge for a short break from duties, from staying alert and watchful all day long to finding him deep in his sleep with a calm and serene face, 24 hours in a day were certainly not sufficient. A little life that kept each one occupied, this little master was definitely strict by all means!
   
      Though his presence transformed the routine of every family member, his laughs and cries truly filled the house with happiness. Playing with him as a little companion of his own age was truly amazing, while we disturbed the house with cars, toys, balls and teddies. Sight of a cluttered room with a little mischief-maker running all around was one of the best moments, during this home coming visit.

        Celebration of his first birthday added happiness, joy, smiles and laughter to my trip, as the little boy crawled towards his first milestone. Innumerable stock of selfies, photos and videos with this little master will keep me satisfied for several months ahead. Till I visit him back again, his parents can be relieved from the pressure of sending continuous photos though I feel the urge to demand, quite often! Bidding good-bye to this little friend was undoubtedly the toughest task. Though staying away from family and friends may turn out to be difficult at times, nothing can be more difficult than being away from his little pants, shirts, diapers and toys!

      Though I have toiled to capture every single act of this little kid, getting him along would have been the easiest way to make more memories! While this may involve a difficult, long and a tedious process of pulling his parents along to this home away from home, frequent rendezvous with this little master on his home ground is the best answer to all the troubles.

    Till we meet again for our next session of games, demands, cries and laughter, sending all the stock of love and kisses for the new little hero in my life!

P.S: Dear Sister, as your son is too small is understand the significance of all the fame he has earned through this episode, you are more than welcome to shower the gratitude on his behalf ;) 

The ‘Home coming’ series

SEASON 1

   While you must be wondering about the confusing title of this blog, let me enlighten you about its usage. Though it may sound as one of the series on television, the writer in me has not ventured into script writing or story narration, yet!  As blogs are nothing but thoughts and ideas put into words, an exciting experience in the recent times has fueled this idea of home coming. After spending a month in my home country during the first-ever debut visit, when the blogger in me sat down with words, there was lots to talk about. While one single post would not be able to deliver justice to my flow of thoughts, this idea of series came to the rescue.

    Offering wide array of interesting experiences, this one month visit was truly colorful in every way. From meeting my little nephew for the first time to celebrating his first birthday, from talking about life overseas to relating it with factors back home, from riding over the waves of nostalgia to enjoying the most awaited unique gifts of the home soil, every single experience was wonderful by all means. Crossing the globe over several miles and travelling in the air for numerous hours resembled an adventure in its own way, deserving and demanding a post to its own name. With this, as the series of ‘home coming’ begins to unfold its episodes, I hope to paint the picture as expected.

    A term that stands for reunions, alumni meetings, association of ex-students and recollection of nostalgic memories, ‘home coming’ offered an apt title to the series. By reuniting with old folks and recollecting good, old memories; this ‘home coming’ was successfully enjoyed till the last bit.

     As the blogger in me takes you through these exciting experiences from the recent past, sit back and enjoy the series through these few interesting episodes. While some of you may relate with them closely, few others may have tasted such similar flavors before. So, whether you have lived these memories in the past, or whether you may come across with them in the future, let this series entertain you in its own way.

P.S: All the characters and incidences in the series are non-fictitious in nature! Resemblance to real-life situation is purely intentional.

SEASON 1, EPISODE 1: ‘An aerial affair with a heavy fare’

The ‘to’ journey

      Heavy dosage of excitement, loads of happiness, uncontrollable smiles and numerous dreams - describing the journey to ‘home land’ with the most correct choice of words, the inbound trip was nothing less than an enjoyable adventure. Flying along with parents enhanced the charm, as they posed as perfect travel mates to share my rising excitement. While their happiness reflected the eagerness of reaching back home after a touristy visit and my joy portrayed the essence of touching the home soil, our reasons differed, yet feelings matched.

        From packing the bags since several weeks in advance to accomplishing it as an awaited task, from planning the journey on a minute-to-minute basis to imagining the trip for several times in mind, from excited and sleepless night before the travel to impatient haste on the main day, the entire experience was exciting and entertaining. Eagerness to leave for the airport much before time, coupled with willingness to load the luggage all by self were some of the acts that made total sense back then, only to deliver laughter and smiles as I think about them today!

       Though the journey comprised of 16 long and continuous hours along with additional 5 in short breaks, excitement of touching the home ground erased away all the pain. Be it friendly smile of the airline staff or cold meals during transit, be it high elevation over the ground or company of clouds all around, every aspect of the travel seemed magical in its own way. Starting with excitement, moving through happiness and finally terminating into impatience, every phase of the journey was marked with its unique set of emotions. Eagerness to visualize my city after a long period of absence along with uncertainty of reactions clubbed together into an exciting outcome as every moment offered its own charm.

        From walking inside the aircraft to passing the long duration with entertainment console, from making attempts to catch some sleep to staring impatiently at the clock, every passing moment of the trip gained exciting momentum and interesting acceleration. Finally as the journey dropped us to the destination, my happiness and joy was truly over the moon.

    Stepping out of the airport, standing over the home soil and breathing air of the country combined into wonderful experiences that cannot be framed into words. Riding over nostalgic memories on the way home and admiring the beauty of the city that never sleeps, these fantastic moments were truly magical in every way. With an exciting aerial affair as the ‘to’ journey reached its goal, the next phase of stay welcomed me with open arms!

The ‘return’ journey

       While the ‘to’ and the ‘return’ differed in their purpose, experiences, memories and emotions, both of them were equally interesting. Excitement and happiness of reaching home during the inbound journey was replaced with satisfaction, joy and content of returning back during the outbound, as a home away from home longed for my presence! Loaded with beautiful memories, memorable moments, happy experiences and interesting talks as I boarded the flight back, eagerness to meet ‘the better half’ and narrate him every single experience fueled the return leg of this journey.

     Though traveling alone came across as an interesting learning experience, it was surrounded with loads of memories for company. Smiling over the happy moments of the past and rejoicing under the delight of their occurrence, the journey seemed shorter than expected. Powered with the eagerness to look at the bachelor state of the house, the novelty of every aspect made it interesting by all means.

    Returning back to the second home also seemed heartwarming and welcoming as an invisible bond connects me to it, after all home is where the heart is!

   While this blog is being penned down under the heavy influence of ‘jet-lag’, crossing countries and moving over the globe was definitely a unique adventure. As I frame other episodes of this series over the coming days, I hope to recreate the experience in a live and true manner.

Till then, experience the impact of this aerial affair with a heavy fare; light in its feel, heavy for the pocket! 

While walking inside the proverbial park…8

     With long walks and adequate pondering, as this series comes to an end, it is time to throw light on a last thought, before bidding farewell to the world of proverbs. While it is impossible to greet each of the proverbs from the sea of literature and philosophy, writing about some of the key ones was certainly exciting in its own way. As we come to the last member of the team, this shining proverb will bring a happy ending. A proverb that shall deliver a long-lasting message for a lifetime, this eighth halt has lots to convey.

Halt 8: All that glitters is not gold

     Joining hands with the thought ‘Looks are deceptive’, our next proverb warns us about the dangers of attractive looks with hollow content. Though shining factors attract our attention and appear wonderful in every manner, they may not be the same throughout. Judging someone purely on the basis of looks or relying on a decision for its shiny appeal can invite troubles in the long run. Careful analysis and consideration are the key elements that need our attention. Drawing conclusion on the basis of attractive appearance can fail in its purpose. Though sight is the first factor that greets us while we approach any subject, it may not necessarily paint the complete picture.

    Comparison, jealously, hatred, anger and disappointment due to external look at things can always turn into reasons for sorrow. Though appearance may look attractive, it cannot necessarily translate into success. Glittering shades of any element may have a hidden story to its name. Though attractive looks seem wonderful, they need to be considered in a rightful manner. While every plot in life have their own unique share of ups and downs, each of these aspects can never appear on the surface. Judging a book by its cover can never reveal the contents hidden deep within.

     Understanding every factor from its core and analyzing it with proper knowledge depict signs of maturity. Hasty conclusions and impatient actions reflect our lack of understanding. Hunting for both external and internal knowledge is equally essential as it provides the complete picture, enabling clear perspective.

With these thoughts that shine and glow, what are the factors that demand our attention?

·         Glittering look and shining appeal may not always represent precious content.

·         Deceptive looks are the primary cause of sorrow, disappointment and regret.

·         Though external features may appear attractive and tempt us towards them, understanding the content hidden deep within is equally essential.

·         Judgments and conclusions drawn through external appearance may fail in their purpose, making it essential to rely on proper consideration

·         Attractive aspects may draw our attention towards them, yet proper analysis with deeper thoughts present the real picture.

So while looks may attract you, or an interesting sight may tempt you, it may not necessarily translate into success. All that glitters is not gold, all that appears as gold is not precious and all that seems precious may not be the same from within.

With this shining thought, as the walk in proverbial park comes to an end, this journey was truly interesting. Till the blogger in me returns back with new thoughts and newer words, soak in this philosophical journey and enjoy its influence!