Things every new mother hears...

 “Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in, it is what God gave you time for.” —Rachel JanKovic."

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Quite an old fashioned quote according to me.. But motherhood definitely requires lot of time and patience. It's irrelevant whether you are a working woman or a home maker.. there are some things every new mother hears from people of all age groups around her. Having experienced it personally since few months, these lines are stuck in memory firmly. So what better place to jot down than my blog..

So here goes.

1. "Enjoying motherhood?"

If I had a ruppee for everytime I was asked this in last 6 months. Initially this question makes u feel like you have conquered mount Everest. More than the question.. it's the way it's asked. Almost sounds like "welcome to hell" I had literally after a point started answering in sarcasm to this question."yeah.. cleaning potty and changing diapers...I was sooo looking forward to it...my life's aim is achieved" Haha.

2. So..does he let u sleep? 

I don't know if it's generally the case that the baby doesn't let the mother sleep a lot.. and I m sure it differs from baby to baby but I m sure there is adjustment time for both baby and mother so sleep just doesn't remain a priority for the mother. But it's really unfair to ask this question..because it's almost as if motherhood involves NOT getting sleep forever, which is not the case always. Once the sleeping pattern is developed everything falls in place...Ofcourse i.e if you haven't already passed out by then.

3. Has he started
talking/crawling/eating yet? 

Whether the kid is 3 months or 6 months or even newborn...somehow.. everyone is very curious to know the status of their growth. From crawling stages to walking to talking.. they know exactly which stage should the baby be on. Sometimes the question is asked so many times that u start doubting the baby if it hasn't started crawling or talking at a certain age...

4. How many teeth has he got?

The first stage of development for any child would be getting teeth...however I don't understand the curiosity of other people to know how many teeth has my kid got... Ofcourse.. I have no other work but to keep taking headcount of my kid's  teeth.

5. Where is mommy? 

Why is every child supposed to take this test and pass with flying colors. The moment he recognises you as a  mother..that proves you have won half the battle...(or so it seems).

6. When are you resuming work? 

The most common question asked to working women who become a mother. Maternity leaves obviously doesn't allow a long leave for women in India.. but every time this question was asked to me.. it really made me miss working.

7. Hey..join us!!!! Mom groups on social media. 

The moment you become a mother and officially announce it on social media..somehow the cool trending advertisements that used to be visible on your timeline change.. What once used to be sexy lingerie and party wear dresses..now starts suggesting best diaper brand for babies and breastfeeding pumps.

8. Advice and loads of it!!

I don't even wanna get started on how much advice we get during our initial months. How to breastfeed...how to hold the baby.. put the baby to sleep.. what to talk to the baby.. what kind of nappies to use..what to feed them, which massage oil to use.. etc etc. I am sure as wellwishers they want to suggest their expertise on parenting..but too much of anything is not good and can get really overwhelming.

9. How does it feel?

Can anyone describe a feeling. There are days I don't sleep a second.. days I forget to eat.. time is a delusional concept for me.. but overall.. I m feeling awesome.

10. "Is it a boy or girl?" 

Generally within first few months of being the toddler, it's not easy to recognise the gender of the child. So this is a very common question. Ofcourse there are some geniuses who tend to guess the gender.. or just use generic terms like.. "aww.. such a cute baby" and even conveniently avoid he/she in their sentences. "Looks just like you" or "Eyes are just like yours". It's recommended that you help them clarify their doubts by telling them in hints whether it's a he or a she.

11. Why adoption? 

This question is only applicable to certain mothers like myself who chose to adopt..but nevertheless it's the first question on the list for parents who adopt. Unfortunately..we still are in a culture where adoption is not accepted easily..and people instantly start feeling sorry for adopting parents. All I can say is there is no bigger joy than seeing a smile on your baby's face.  End of the day..that's what will form a relation bigger than blood ties.

Hope you enjoyed the blog.. it's been a while since I wrote.. So been a little rusty... but do share with me if there are any things I forgot that you have heard and maybe I can add those up here..

Until next time. 

Ciao

Types of neighbours

Heylo my readers. Thank you so much for being patient with my blogs and i sincerely apologize for all the delay. Its not like i have had requests pouring for a new blog, but with current circumstances,  i have the chance to get back to my very old love of writing.

I have been spending whatever little time i m getting from my schedule these days visiting YouTube and coming across various channels and videos for the pleasure of viewers. Some of my favorites being, AIB, Beingindian, iisuperwomanii, East India Comedy, etc. I have come across a lot of videos describing the variety and categorizing of various species of people we come across in our daily life, types of cousins, every bombayite in the world, types of colleagues, types of friends, teachers, and many more. Seeing them inspired me to write one on my own too so here goes. Here's another set of acquaintance we all encounter in our day to day life.. neighbors.

1. Friendly neighbours:  Now this is easily the most liked type of neighbour and  at the same time the most rare type...You know what i mean. The one who smiles to you every time they meet, offers to hold your shopping bags when you need help, someone who knows your family members and inquires about them everytime. Basically, all qualities of an ideal son or daughter they would have. Decent, well mannered, and co-operative. Unfortunately this type is not easily found and if found is often misunderstood as fake because no one can be THAT nice.

2. Nosey neighbours: Ever felt like someone is continuously watching your every move? if yes? You probably live next door to this type. They might seem very normal to the naked eye, but they will know exactly when you will run out of sugar and have an answer ready if u ever need to borrow. Nosey neighbours can be easily confused with the friendly sorts, but don't be fooled by their innocent looks. They can sort out your entire family history by just few questions and assumptions.

3. Khadoos neighbours: This kind is the most easily found species. The most annoying kind, this species will make your day start bad just by meeting you in the elevator or lobby. These are the kind who will make you feel like the dirt of the building and they are the king or queen. They are the ones who will never participate in society meetings, never shell out money for leprosy drive contribution, and last but not the least the ones who never bear a smile on their face. Stay away from these kinds if u want to avoid negativity. 

4. Know-it-all neighbours: Have an encyclopedia at home...u can be sure this type knows more than your entire collection put together.  From How to manage finances, to how to handle society staff better, how to organize functions, which aarti to sing during festivals,  etc. this kind will always know how to do things better.  The sad part is.. they are only talkers. You can be sure that when time will come to taking up responsibilities,  this kind will back off immediately...on pretext of bank work...or homework..

5. Hot property neighbours: Now these are the kinds who every person has as neighbour, but they will never admit to have... At least once in our lifetime,  we all have that one hot male or female neighbour,  most hard to ignore, and easily tempting. The convenient part is.. we tend to always pretend to not notice them, for the sake of our lives that could be at stake if our spouse or parents find us giving attention to them, so we behave as if their presence has no effect on us.. Unfortunately, this kind is aware of which category he/she is, so knows what effect their one smile or acknowledgement has on people around them. Its quite possible, that awareness might convert this kind into a khadoos neighbor. 

6. Opportunists neighbour: This type is not the harmful kind, unless u are at its receiving end. 'Thodi cheeni milegi?' "yaar pappu ko thodi der sambhalogi?" Mera ipod kharaab ho gaya hai..tera le jaoon?" He/she reminds you of your annoying roommate in college who used to borrow even your toothbrush without the courtesy of asking. Good thing is... this kind has a clean conscience and will never mind if someday you decide to outright refuse them of the privilege of borrowing. On the contrary, they ask so sweetly, that you are barely able to refuse.

I am sure i have probably missed out many kinds, and would love to know if you have any other types of neighbours you stay next to.. Maybe together we can have a 'Types of neighbours part 2 blog' too..

Looking forward to your views and comments. I also need to know if my comeback on blogging has impacted my writing skills..would love to work on them.

Until next time...

See you soon

Types of Old Friends

Hey readers, long time no see.. umm,, read. Well, have been away for a while and I have been following IISuperwomanII these days which inspired me for today's post.

For those who don't know who she is.. Check out her videos on youtube on channel, click on the link IIsuperwomanII.

In today's world of facebook, Twitter, gtalk, hangout, skype etc, its easy to be in touch with old friends, but does being in touch virtually really count? Recently I have had a lot of old friends catch up with me and that brings me to writing this blog. You know there are friends one has from school, college, old childhod buildings, etc that you lose touch with in the years and all you are in touch with them is on fb or twitter or on some random messenger where u see each other online but rarely message since you wouldn't know what to say to each other. Its like the latest version of face to face awkward meets. "Hi, hello, wassup, what have u been upto.. sorry I m kinda busy, can I msg u later?" And that almost never happens. Today I would like to mention few types of friends who catch up after a long time..and categorise them...

Long lost friends: These are the best kind of old friends who you love to catch up with.. they know how u were when u were a kid and they know lot of things about u that u forgot. You both share the stories that only u can understand and laugh at.. However, the sad part is...when u meet them, it makes u feel guilty about not keeping in touch with them all these years. Talking to such friends makes reunion plans possible because these are mostly kind of friends who are constantly in touch with everyone. They have their contact numbers..email address, latest updates, their career graph, and their personal lives. They know everything about every other common friend that you might have. Time flies speaking to such old friends and one loves to keep in touch with them once the bond is made again. Their most common line.." yeah I met him just few days back.. yeah we spoke recently and she is doing great.." Generally this is the type of friends who encourages u to be in touch with everyone else, adds u to all the whatsapp groups of school, gives u links to other school buddies on fb, etc.

Interviewers: These are old friends who when u get in touch with make u feel like u r giving an interview.."so what have u been upto?...married yet? Have any kids..where are u working..who all in family?" And suddenly u feel all u need to do is give them ur passport details next..so they can steal your identity and make a scam.. these are generally those kids in school who always used to be the curious cases, asking all the teachers all kinds of questions.. They remind of Paresh rawals character from 'Judaai'. Chances are that u might never message these friends to avoid the torture of their questions.

Gossip mongers: Usually the fun type of friends only till the time u r not the target to their habit. These kinds seem most interested in knowing about u and try to catch up with u in the most casual way possible, but it happens that u only can diagnose this category of friends after a long time into the conversations, when they start their sentences with."did u know about that girl in our class..? And then u r given all the latest updates on that girl...and her best friend..her husband, her apparent affair with another guy in school that no one knew".& suddenly u feel like "where was I when all this was happening.. how come I didn't notice?" These ppl spend most of their time checking and rechecking their friends profiles on fb or chatting with friends on msngers. Be careful of such old friends, coz whatever information u reveal can be twisted and turned into a gossip by such category. Try not to become gossip material for him/her.

Royal friends: This category would probably be the most difficult to get in touch with if u ever try to track them down. This is the type who wud have been famous in school, cutest looking girl/guy, hottest looking chick, or the most popular kid of class, or toppers of the class. These are mostly ones in prestigious positions in their career and barely have time to be in touch with u, so when u might bump into them on a social networking site or on whatsapp in some random school group,they will first pretend to not remember u, and u will probably end up using every memory of urs from school to remind them. 90% chances are... after all ur attempts to remind them of who u r, they will only remember u when u reach the most embarassing incident of ur school life that u were trying to forget all ur life...something like.."remember when I spilt ink on my dress and u had helped me in the washroom?.....and THEN they will be like,.."OHHH!, yeah hi.. now I remember u.." and that moment u start regretting the moment u thought of starting to converse with them. This types is a blow on ur confidence, self esteem and respect u have for yourself. To make matters worse, u realize very late that these are the kids ur parents used to keep standards as. "Why cant u be more like him/her?"

Troublemakers: Now I don't mean that this type creates a stir in your life when they are back in touch with u..but this type is the kind u were very close with in school. In fact, not just u 2.. but even your families knew each other as meeting-for-evening-tea kind of close. More than these friends, their parents are a torture to u, because when u meet them, they start describing to u everything that made u a loser or got u in trouble in school or college...IN FRONT OF UR SPOUSE/BF.... and God forbid if u ever meet this type or their parents with ur bf or spouse, chances are u might have to do a lot of explaining to ur better half later. "Nooo.. I wasn't punished for writing on bathroom walls.. she is just kidding" *frowns*

Celebrity friends: These are friends who are so full of themselves, that they just can't stop talking about themselves. They will give u all the updates of their life to u, their friends who are big shots, their 7 figure salary,their foreign location vacations, their over achiever children and their ultra modern super hot wife/husband. They will use every opportunity to make sure u end up either depressed, suicidal or worried about your current life. But don't worry about such types. These types are generally the most insecure ones in their lives and they do so only as an excuse to remind them that their life isn't as bad.

All said and done, old friends are the only people who have been with you during your pimple days, your immature days, enjoyed your crushes with you, bunked school or college with you, made fun of teachers with you or been there for you when you were going through a crisis. So make sure you get back in touch with them and relive those times.

As far the blog is concerned, these are the types I can think of right now but if you have more types of old friends that u r in touch with or wanna add any more conversations u have had with your latest school friends, Do share and we can all have a laugh. 

Until next time..

Ciao

Baatein Bhool Jaati hai, Yaadein Yaad aati hai

Now that i have started blogging again, i started thinking that its actually been a while since I recalled my old days, my old pals, and my old life. I don't want to start with a BooHoo-My-life-has-changed blog. This time, I just want to make sure that some things / places /people are remembered for the simple reason that I don't want to end up forgetting them, and whenever I get a chance, I would like to go back and visit them as often as I can.

Mumbai...!!! 

Since the day I can remember, I have always been a proud Mumbaikar. No, I wouldn't say I know everything and every place in this city. But I do know one thing and that is the fact that no matter where we go, There is no place like home. :)

Few places that have been very special to me and no matter where I am, I will always associate these places with the people closest to me or certain chapters in my life which were the turning point for me.

• Powai Lake: This place has been very close to my heart for the simple reason being that as a central suburban resident, that's the closest we could be to a water body, and I love shores, be it a sea shore or a lake shore. It used to give me the serenity I used to look for..away from the chaos of life. Thankfully for me, my travelling route still gives me the pleasure of waving by to it, but its been a while since I had a proper rendezvous with it.

• Bandra Bandstand: Many people associate certain places with certain people and this place just reminds me of the wonderful memories I made with my special someone who later become my better half for life. As I said earlier, I and shores have a special bond, also because I am a water sign,Scorpion (don't be scared, I don't bite) lol. Bandstand is known for its couple antics and "scenarios", but for me its just a place I got to know the most wonderful person in my life. Hence the special mention in this blog.

I also remember the various hobbies that I wish I could continue. 

Dancing, is and has been my life. I remember the days I used to attend salsa classes and the joy I used to get out of it... in spite of travelling 2 hrs just to reach the venue. It used to be all worth it. My first live performance for my classes, and the first time I wore a dress, made me feel alive.
 

Writing, is something I used to do for venting out and emptying the many irrelevant thoughts I used to get which had nothing to do with my regular life. If you don't know what I am talking about, read my previous blogs. They will show you that they are not necessarily conversational topics. They are just topics one thinks in their minds and moves on. I had almost given up on writing, but thanks to my husband, I have got back to writing again and hence the second blog in a week's time. I just hope to continue the same.

Singing. Well I used to be a decent singer but whenever I think about singing, it reminds me of my mother who inspired me to learn singing and pursue it as a hobby. My teacher used to say, singing cleanses the soul of a person, and helps the person open up to many things in life. Maybe not intentionally, but somewhere while singing I used to find myself taking the most difficult decisions of my life. I do miss it.

I miss my dad and my sister the most. My friends who I used to meet every evening to talk about the most absurd topics and still make sense. I miss my friend's ability to narrate stories every evening for hours together. I miss walking through malls with my friend just window shopping and deciding what we would probably buy someday if the occasion demanded it.(we never really bought anything). I miss my friend who could make me laugh no matter what the mood,  and who could make me go hysterical with just 5 words "somebody's gonna get hurt today". I miss people who when I spoke to had codewords only we understood. 

In spite of the long article, I am glad I have been able to jot down each and every one of the things, people and places that matter to me. Though a long blog...I guess for me..it was all worth it.

Have you ever thought about people who you miss, things you miss doing or places you miss visiting? Please do share them in the comments. I would love to know if there are more people like me out there.

Dream to run...Mumbai Ishtyle

Standard chartered mumbai marathon.. I have associated myself with this name since last 3 years and each year this phenomenon ceases to amaze me and liven up my spirit of being a mumbaikar. Three years back I wasn't even aware of this event and thanks to my husband, I took part in it. Category of dream run being the lowest in terms of kms, I had decided to participate in it. I always assumed that we need to actually run in a marathon (obviously due to the research of videos i did after participating the first year). But my doubts were cleared in my attempt and I decided to give it a shot. Mumbai for me has always been equivalent to the sea, marine drive, etc and since the route included both, I was excited to actually try out the route. 

Each year I used to think of writing a blog on my experience, but finally with much pushing by my hubby, have managed to make it possible today.

The dream run is a 6 km category and mostly for corporates and promoters of various fields.  What grabs my attention the most is the amount of preparation done by these groups to actually stand out in the marathon.  From a group of as small as 10 to as big as 50, one needs to really stand out with the costume to be noticed, specially if you are alone. 

The celebrity stand being the most looked forward to my most participants, mainly because it probably gives us one glimpse of our hottie celebrity ( in my case, Juhi chawla, and in case of others, John Abraham) each year.

Few groups that have been regular every year have been tata, bharti axa, icici, etc, but the one that stood out the most for me this year would have to be undoubtedly Indian navy and tata consultancy services-TCS, who had put in a lot of effort for the banners, people management and theme of the group.

What also makes me truly proud is the way this whole event is organised.  From the entrance to the water stalls, from the crowd management to the traffic control, it makes me very overwhelmed to see our mumbaigoodie bags after marathon completion, it is fabulous team effort that one can see. police and traffic control working at every step to make such there is no chaos. Thousands of volunteers working from the day they start distributing the BIB numbers, to the event day for distribution of

Few moments that are memorable for me this year are:
1. the girls wearing a marathi costume 'navvari' shying away from cameraman in typical "issshhh, nakoo" style. It was almost as if they were newly weds. 

2.The Indian navy stage which had the navy officers being the orchestra as well as the singers of the group singing oldies and making heads turn, couples dance and youngsters sing to their tune. Its amazing how much talent exists in one of the most challenging unit of our country. 

3. Unfortunately, the third memory is not a very happy one. While I noticed so many positive things promoted, I noticed a lot of street kids also becoming a part of this event. There were many kids with empty plastic bags collecting empty water bottles, of course without any help asked for by the marathon committee. I saw groups chanting against female foeticide and child labour and NGOs promoting literacy in slum areas. I was surprised that they didn't notice these children on the streets or even give them a second glance. It made me think...are these promotions only for the sake of it?? Whats the point if you dont stand by what you preach? Stop using these topics to stand out in the marathon because it only makes you a hypocrite at the end of it all. What happens to your promotions once the event is over?

This year's marathon also left me with the thought of a decision to change a part of what I saw and do whatever little I could do for at least one kid if not many. Lets hope I can bring the change I want to see around me.

Till next year, this marathon at the start of the year always manages to give me a head start on my resolution to work on my daily walks (unfortunately the start ends too soon) but better little walking than nothing at all? Hehe...

Sharing few pics of marathon..enjoy!!!

10 Day YOU Challenge | 9 Loves

Day two of the YOU challenge brings me to my nine loves. There used to be a time when I used to be able to do things I love, but social commitments leave less room to be able to enjoy everything you love. So here goes...List of 9 things I have and will always continue to love :

1. Family: My family parents, siblings and in-laws have made me the person I am today. From all my happy moments to my most frightening times, they have been behind me all the time. I love them in spite of everything and most of all, I love the one person who has been a part of my life since last 3 years now. My Friend, My partner and my soul mate, My husband. I love you all a lot.

2. Dancing: Dance has always been something to take me to a different world and i know it sounds cliche, but dancing was something that used to make me a more confident person. I used to experience beauty when I used to dance. Music gives soul to my life. Foot tapping on the way to the gym, or on morning walks, I used to always have my hands swinging when I used to hear music on my ipod or radio.

3. Photography: This was a hobby I discovered when I created a new photoblog for myself. The travelling I used to do used to give me ample opportunities to explore and capture some of the unexplored sides of the city. Do check out some of the blogs on Memories are just a click away.

4. Movies / Plays: I am a complete movie buff. any kind of movie, any time, any place, no matter how tired I am, I can catch a show and still enjoy it. There used to be a time when I have seen every movie released in the theatre in every language I know, English, Hindi, Marathi...In every genre I know, Action, Fiction, Romance, Animation, etc.

5. Painting: I love to paint and draw freehand stuff. When time permits, I like to sit back with some paints and explore the different styles of painting and if possible go back to the techniques I learnt during my textile designing days. 

6. Long drives:... and I dont mean only in cars. Long drives could be any long destination drive in any mode of transport. Cars, Bikes, Rickshaws, and most used mode of transport lately...Bus. I like going around the city exploring the different sites of this fascinating place called Mumbai....Also giving me time to click some of the moments on the 3rd Love...Photography

7. Television: As a child and even now, T.V has been my way to escape from the reality called Life. I can sit and watch the Idiot box for hours together. This was one thing my dad always used to dislike and still tends to keep pointing it out to me, but I dont tend to listen anymore. :)

8. Samosa: I am not much of a junk food person, but Samosa is one thing I can trip upon any point of time. This love has come from the college canteen that used to serve this delicacy all day long and with lengthy hours of college with no option to bunk, samosas used to be the only break we used to get from the tedious routine.

9. Last but not the least... Singing. My mom used to say I had a good voice and she got me into the singing classes (which unfortunately don't fit in my schedule anymore). Singing for me, was always something I used to do for myself... No. I dont mean bathroom singing, but when I used to sit in my balcony listening to old songs on radio at night with noone but the company of moon and stars, I used to be able to forget any and every stress that I might be going through. *Sigh* those were the days.

So here are my nine loves. So long...See you again tomorrow, with my Eight Fears.

Adios, Ciao.

10 Day Challenge - 10 Secrets

Lately my blog might have looked like it was obsessed with mumbai city, but it just had run out of things to write posts on. So when I read Shirin's Blog recently, I knew that this was the best way to get the blog back to its rhythm and change its state of mind. I do remember doing this kind of a post in the past 10 things tag, so it will be difficult to find new things but I guess that's why its a challenge.So here goes...

I wonder if this topic really brings out the top 10 secrets of a person's life, or does it just mentions the 10 things that normally people wouldn't know about any general human being? Well, no one shares secrets..specially to strangers...So here goes my 10 "secrets" (aka things) that not many know

1. I am an absent-minded person. Unless the work, or date or appointment is important for me, chances are that I will probably end up not sticking to it. My long term memory is pathetic. Its like the girl in movie 50 First Dates, my memory tends to get refreshed every night as I sleep. It tends to discard the unwanted stuff and only register important data in my life. 

2. I am a person who plans everything. Many people who know me hate this habit of mine. I always HAVE to know in advance my coming week's plans...But with a lot of spontaneous friends, I tend to drive them up the wall trying to ensure that they are available to meet if I m PLANNING something.

3. 

   I love playing snooker. There was a time when there used to be lot of gaming zones that used to encourage this game, but the sport seems to be disappearing with time and its been forever since I played a game with someone. Looking forward to another game...hopefully soon.

4. I prefer being alone a lot, any time any place. I am not saying I am a loner, but if asked if I would prefer company or loneliness, I would definitely chose the later.

5. I love beaches. Don't give me that Oh-gawd-another-typical-girl-look. If I had to settle down somewhere I would always prefer some place near to a water body of any kind (..and i don't mean gutters of mumbai). Beaches, sea, ocean, lakes, anything that makes the soothing sound of the water.

6. I am a day dreamer and by that I mean, I can doze off at any place, sitting, standing, or lying down. Any moving vehicle will instantly put me off to a deep slumber. I have many times ended up missing my bus stops and train stations due to this habit of mine, but with practice the disease is now in control.

7. I want to try backpacking someday. Just pick up my bag with bare necessities for survival, minimum amount of money, and start traveling on whatever mode of transport available...now that's a dream I want to be able to fulfill.

8. I know I have said this before, but it can never be said less... I love my sister. I know she knows it too, but at times I make her life miserable. There is also something that I wish I could tell her, but I see so much of my mother in her. She has a lot of qualities that my mom used to have and seeing her, I miss mom a lot. My sister has always looked out for me and I am lucky to have her.

9. Except samosas (they are my weakness), I prefer home food to any other place to eat. I would trade a plate of junk food to a plate of Dal, chawal, chapati and sabji any day.

10. Lastly, I am scared of heights. I don't mean paranoid, but there are times when I m climbing down and I tend to just stop for seconds with the fear that I might trip and fall down the flight of stairs. 

So these are my 10 things that not many people would know. hopefully I can continue my 10 day challenge without any delays or speed bumps.


Hope to see you tomorrow, Adios, Ciao,
Take care.

Mumbai Meri jaan

'Taxi Nau do Gyaarah'...That was the title of the news article I read recently in the newspaper, wherein they were talking about how the taxis across Mumbai city have reduced and how they used to be the look of Mumbai at one point of time. Being a suburban girl myself, I have hardly ever traveled in taxis except when we used to go towards the extreme end of south Mumbai during college days and could afford a lavish spending on the transport.

This city means different things to different people and being a Mumbaikar all my life, it means lot of things to me too. As i sit looking out my balcony towards a view that once used to be the horizon of vashi Creek, now is blocked by the upcoming complex (apparently an 'address' to peace...???), I ponder over the things that the city is just not complete without.

Mumbai Monsoon:  I absolutely love the rains of Mumbai. No matter where I am, I completely relate monsoon to mumbai. I know people complain about the dirt, the traffic and the muddy roads during this season, but rains have always been special for me and I have always imagined myself walking on beaches, or empty roads getting drenched in the rain, and probably having Tea from the local vendor or the ones who sell them on their bicycles. Mumbai is completely a different scenario during this season and I would be anytime willing to ignore all the other setbacks these 3 months bring for the city.

Vada Pav: I know even the mention of this delicious mumbai treat is supposed to be bad for me (me being on a diet and all...Lol) but vada pav is something that is easily available on almost any busy part of mumbai. An easy snack for any person who isn't weight conscious, or who prefers a nice meal at a mere Rs 10-15. This dish was initially started as the most cheapest form of a meal for low income group, but due to its taste, this dish became so popular that many sophisticated hotels also have started dishing out this wonderful dish, at extra cost of course. However, this dish has still retained its charm as an evergreen dish, and many people have it at breakfast, lunch or even dinner as well. Vada pav can be easily included as a part of my walk in the rain section mentioned above. Tastes heavenly with a cup of tea.. :) Yummy....!!!!

Local Transport: Trains, Buses, Taxis, Rickshaws and a new addition to these old modes of transport are the cool cabs and private call-a-cabs....all add up to the look of mumbai, and the traffic that has become the identity of mumbai. The life-lines of mumbai is the right word for these vehicles, since even one day of strike or petrol-diesel-CNG problem can bring the fast moving pace of mumbai to a halt.

South Mumbai: This is a part of mumbai that every tourist, or a person coming to mumbai from a small town would want to visit, for the simple reason that south mumbai is the hub for the financial buzz in mumbai. For me, it has been the most memorable place to visit, when I saw south mumbai from the eyes of someone else. But that's another story... :P Some Places that make this part of mumbai the most prime location for activities would be:

• Share Markets (Bombay Stock Exchange,Reserve Bank of India,main offices of Bank of India, State Bank of India, etc), 
• Jewellery Markets (Jhaveri Bazaar), 
• Government office in Mantralaya, 
• Cooperage Sports Ground, Wankhede Stadium, Brabourne Stadium,
• Starting points of the Railway lines of Mumbai (Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Churchgate), 
• Defence colony of military and navy personnels - Navy Nagar,
• Prince of Wales Museum, now known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sangrahalay.
• Nariman point & Marine Drive making the beautiful queen's necklace during the night time on the coastline of South Mumbai
• Dhobi Ghat, the famous open air Laundromat located at Mahalaxmi.
• The Mulji Jetha market in Mumbai is the largest textile market in Asia.

These places make south mumbai crucial for the financial, political, and commercial activities.

But lately Mumbai has been going through a lot of torment in the last decade with floods, bomb blasts, and terrorist activities on the rise. Even though for me the places and things that define the city are mentioned above, what makes the city what it is (in a good way or bad) are the people living in it...Mumbaikars, who are known for their never die spirit. However, with the recent events, I am forced to think whether its this Never say die spirit that is leading to the most deaths in the city. Is the reason behind repetitions of these activities the fact that we are not reacting and carrying on with our lives??? I sure hope not. Anyways, its a thought I can't seem to get out of my mind.

Anyhow.....I know I might have miss a lot of things, places and locations that might define mumbai for you, But I give you the chance to discover my city at your own leisure and then share with me your experience. Will wait for your comments..

Till then, adios...ciao.

Trip down memory Lane - Be the Change

Be the change you want to see in the world - Mahatma Gandhi

I had read this line somewhere a long time ago. Honestly? I am not much of a memory person... Ok I admit, I am bad at remembering references, but this line has stayed with me since a long time and that is the reason I chose to share it with you today.

They say school days are unforgettable for everyone and childhood never returns. But 3 years back that myth was proven wrong by my batch classmates who apparently got together via every medium possible, from long-lost hotmail, to most recent twitter and facebook. Somehow the idea of a reunion clicked in the minds of some of us and a series of emails were shot through to every known batch-mate who had access to internet. It was amazing to see how networks work, and one person can make a difference. 4^th May 2007 was decided as the date for the reunion with an approximate head count of 28 people expected to ‘rock the party’ as we called it. What we didn’t realize was that this reunion would end up getting us together for a cause that none of us anticipated.

Most of the people who turned up eventually for the event were US visiting batch-mates who promised to stay in touch, few were the shy ones who only came because of all the insisting we did, some only came to see what the whole big deal was and the remaining were me and my few other friends who stayed back to discuss what we can do as a group.

Me, Mrudula, Jatin, Nihar, Ashwin, were very keen on doing something for the community especially for the school who got us where we were today. The conversation led to the old days and what we as students would have enjoyed having in the school and how much we miss being associated with it. So we decided to visit the school and meet up with the teachers and principal just to re-live those days.

We reached the school one late afternoon, (of course that only happened after several calls to convince the principal the reason why we wanted permission to be in the premises) Old school playground that lay deserted, the classrooms which still bore our names carved on the desks, the staff rooms as always bubbling with conversations, library that hadn’t lost the fragrance of books and polish of the cabinets, reminded us of the Golden days. Apparently the guys even visited the boy’s washroom and re-lived some of their old times and came out with a weird code language that I and mrudula just couldn’t decipher.(it still remains a mystery to me and mrudula, :P but I guess some things are better that way). Meeting old teachers went quite well when we realized that they knew a lot of mischief we used to do around class with the impression that the teacher isn’t looking.

After a tour around the school, we met up with the principal who much to our surprise was very curious to know why we wanted to visit the school. We explained to her our attachment with the school and how we would like to keep our association in every way we can. We were given an idea of how children who cannot afford their education are dropping out of school and even though the school does everything to reduce the pressures for such families, there is little they can do since it’s a school with a board of trustees to reply to.

On our way out, we all had the same look and thought and we barely needed a second opinion on the same. We decided to utilize all the resources to reach out to all our reunion list of batch-mates and do something for the students who could not afford their education. The principal helped us out with the names of 10 unique cases where the child had the talent to learn, but parents were either single parent, or had genuine reasons for not being able to come up with the money. We came up with the money of approximately Rs. 30,000 that year. With the fees of 1500 for the year covered in the contribution, the remaining amount of 1500 was used to provide the remaining necessities to the child, notebooks, pencil box, crayons, pen sets, Tiffin boxes, school bag, etc.

We personally visited the school to give this contribution and the principal had made sure that we get the chance to meet every parent of the child we are contributing for. A mother suffering from cancer, a single mom taking care of 3 children whose father abandoned them, a sister taking care of her brother by doing part-time job while studying herself, and many more cases came to our attention.

It was an amazing feeling to reach out to such kind, and we have continued to do it since last 3 years. This year, we are starting our drive again for this cause and hoping to raise the bar a little higher. Its our school’s 50^th Anniversary and we intend to make sure its special in a lot more ways than just monetary contribution. Sports kits for the school, money for the annual function this year, a prize for the competitions held during the annual celebration and a special something is planned for the teachers in the school from our batch.

We are all doing our bit for the institution that made us the people we are today and we genuinely believe that if every little help counts when it comes to promoting education.

We, students of North Bombay Welfare Society high School, Ghatkopar, Mumbai are doing out bit…Are you?

A Reason to believe....

As children, I know we hear a lot of things that we believe or don't believe. I know its difficult to believe everything we hear even when we grow up but the reason for me to write this post today is because I have believed today 3 lines/phrases that I have heard very often, but never really got anything to authenticate. Of course, this are only few of the lines for me to mention here, but I hope at the end of this post, you might find your three lines too...


I have never been a 'mills and boons' girl, and I used to find the idea of a fantasy man bogus and very childish. I have been of a belief that a couple needs to work a lot on their relationship to make it work. So when I used to be told "There is a special someone for everyone" I used to laugh it off, just like Shahrukh in 'DTPH'. But I genuinely have seen and experienced that we might not find our perfect soul-mates, but whoever we find has a potential to be the man/woman of our dreams. God sure works in mysterious ways to give every person a chance that he/she needs. Its just upto us to not negate everything in him/her and give a chance for our love to unfold themselves.

You know how they say "Distance makes heart fonder" That has somehow been true for me in the past few weeks. I know how people say that they can't live without each other and cliches like that, but with everything I have felt, those lines don't feel like cliches anymore. In our lives, we take a lot of things and lot of people for granted. Of course we only realize their true worth once they have gone away from them. It could be someone as common as our maids, or someone as important as our parents, or even the most special person in our life. I don't mean to compare my parents or my love with maids, but I know every housewife will agree with me with regards to the importance of maids. Anyways, the point I am trying to make here is, whether its a newly married girl missing her parents, or a couple away from each other due to husband's relocation, everyone goes through a phase where they miss each other and realize how the other person used to make us feel. That distance only makes the heart grow more fond of him/her. It's a different issue that we don't let that distance come in between the relationship and work with each other. A small poem based on these feelings sent to me by someone special. :)

I spend my time thinking,
Wishing you were here.
I stop and look around,
Hoping you were near.

Just because You are not with Me,
Doesn't mean a thing.
It's knowing that You know,
That I'm Your everything.

So whenever You feel lonely,
Just look inside Your Heart.
And know without a doubt,
That in our " s p i r i t " We will never be apart...

"Everything happens for a reason". If only I have a rupee for every time someone has told me that. I know people might say how can tsunamis and earthquakes be a good thing? Well, in my defense, I am not talking about things that we don't have control on. But the attitude with which we accept these circumstances. I remember the time when I was down with heavy fever for 3 days and couldn't go to work. On the third day, I came to know that all the people in my office had been asked to stay back in the office for 3 days due to heavy flooding in the city. Yup, that was 26th July, the worst floods Mumbai had experienced.

There are lot of instances for me to share like these but the blog is just not enough. I guess what I am trying to say is that if we are patient and open-minded enough to wait for a while, every bad thing will unfold itself into a good thing and when THAT happens, will you be smart enough to accept it to yourself that I am glad that happened?

These are three lines that I have been able to experience that hold true to their meaning. What are the phrases of your life?


Think about it.

Until next time..Adios, Ciao.

Chai Garam...Chai Garam...

"Chai Garam, Chai Garam....!! I had heard these words several times during my recent travel in one of the long distance trains. If you are a tea person, that call would surely tempt you to respond with a "Oye bhaiya, Ek chai", but those words got me thinking about the national drink of our country (unofficially, of course)

Tea as a drink has now become almost synonym to the small 'tapri' (roadside stalls) in Mumbai. A small stall with the least investment, It's a very common sight to see vendors, workers, middle-class men, and nowadays call center crowd flocking around these tea stalls during their free time.They seem to be around every corner. From outside multinational company complex to railway and bus stations, from new construction sites to industrial areas, these stalls are making their mark everywhere.

Tapri chai is a fix most office-goers can't do without. This is a place where friends gather during the day in true convivial spirit to partake of this hearty brew and catch up on the local gossip. It’s usually served in small tea glasses, but you haven’t really enjoyed it until you pour it on an empty saucer and simply slurp.Tapri also gives solace to a lot of college going kids who find the tapri the most affordable place to pass time between classes (...or during class, hehe). The easiest way to recognize tapri is firstly by seeing a group of people around it, or by their kerosene operated stoves.

 The Mumbai tapri chai is also a relief to many of the mumbaikars who go on foot till Siddhivinayak (A famous temple in Mumbai) on Tuesday mornings. Tuesday mornings, this tea is the energy drink that drives these religious ones to their destination. Many generous stalls provide free cups of tea to these regular walkers at various stops on the way.

 Also, one of the oldest restaurants in Mumbai known for its tea is the 'Tea Centre' at Churchgate, Mumbai. Its not only known for its variety of tea, but more for its ambience. Even though its very different than the standard tapris in mumbai, the experience there, can transfer you from today to yester-years look, with small silver bells on the table to call out to the waiter, beautiful surroundings and old-style furniture. The Tea Centre was initially opened by the Tea Board of India to promote the drink.

I, however have never been able to come to terms with the ability of certain people to spend more than 10/- for a cup of tea. So to find out what is the thrill all about, I decided to once find out how it felt and went to one of the coffee shops and ordered Masala Chai. Eventually I ended up spending Rs. 40/- for boiled water in a stylish cup, milk, sugar and tea bags given separately. But that of course is a different story. At the end of this little social experience, I had to go to the nearest tapri to enjoy the feeling of having a true masala chai.

Mumbai is known as the city of dreams, but the tapri's of mumbai are the alarm clocks that help people wake up to achieve those dreams.

Its just difficult to imagine a city without few of them around the neighbourhood. This article sure has given me a craving for a chai, Anyone care to join?

Making my suffering a "Safar"

Local transport makes up for a great amount of time in a mumbaikar's life when it comes to traveling from and to work. I am one such mumbaikar who spends 5 hours a day in a local bus. A blogger like me just couldn't resist the temptation to write about my experience in this mode of transport since just like our regular interaction gets us acquainted with weird people, this journey also lets us observe variety of human behaviors. I present to you... top 5 kind of people you will see in any mode of public transport:
 

• Conductor: Generally a calm personality, this species tend to show various mood swings during the overall journey. "Chutta nikalke rakho" (kindly give change) seems to be the copyrighted statement of theirs but somehow the change automatically seems to emerge out of the pocket if we stick to the "chutta nahi hai" (sorry no change) line. However irritating they might seem on the outside, I have come to be grateful to these public workers specially for the fact that they are practically on their feet 80 percent of their working hours. I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

 

 

•  Ladies first: Public services have been really nice to us ladies in terms of seating. With 4-6 seats reserved for ladies, we get a lot of envious looks from the opposite gender. Working women who strive to balance personal and professional lives, tend to find their alone time in this very gracious travel, whether its knitting, reading, gossiping or just taking a quick nap this woman can do it all. Hats off to this species. 

 

• Business men type: This species are the most entertaining and educational for me in my journey. Most of these types belong to the gujarati and marwadi clan. Their identities generally include sophisticated mobile phones with either bluetooths or hands-free attached to the ear, loud voices, and lot of business talk "entertaining" everyone in range of their conversation. From how to handle vendors to the optimum resource to how to increase revenue, no detail is confidential for this kind. In fact the louder they talk, the better businessman you are supposed to be. The irony of this kind is that they are the same people adding to the growth as well as the corruption of the country. What contrast!

• Lovebirds: This kind is generally found in buses occupying the last seats to ensure least stares. What they tend to forget is that the cat does not become invisible just coz it shuts its eyes. This kind can be identified easily by their held hands, giggles, whispers and coy smiles. A/c buses help the new generation couples to snuggle up and get cozy, clear misunderstandings, make up their fights and spend a little alone time without the moral police bothering them. If not anyone else, the extra money paid as the ticket cost seems worth it to this kind.

• The men: Last but not the least lets not forget the male population that travels without getting any special privileges, incentives, or reasons to take this mode of transport. They make up for 70% of the crowd that travels in the bus standing for most of the time, sacrificing their hard earned seats to the women and senior citizens. Agreed that they hardly have a choice in the matter, but I have also met some gracious gentlemen who give up their place for uncomfortable lot in the crowd, offered to reduce the weight of our baggage when needed and never fighting over petty issues.

So these were the top five people who stand out on my chart for my daily journey from and to work. These species have inspired me to start my blog today. I can't assure that it will continue, I surely hope to keep this blog alive.

Adios. Take care.