Its all in our mind

Several times I had heard that if you want something to happen, just think about it and believe in your thought – and Lo Behold ! it will come true.

I had not believed this enough. But over the week end, I truly experienced this -

1. I was searching for a particular company’s website that brings teachers (of sports, crafts, any hobby) to learners. I have used their service to learn stained glass and other things 8 years ago. And suddenly I wanted to learn something new, which was the reason I was thinking about them. I thought and thought and thought over the last 3 weeks – their name was lost to me.

But saturday, I talked about this to a friend and also had a positive thought in me when I affirmed that “you know what I am going to find their name soon”. True enough, on my drive back home, as I was searching over google for their name, suddenly, it came back to me. Anyone in Bangalore, who wants to acquire a hobby, please go ahead and check out this company’s website here.

2. Sunday morning, I had a feeling that although my day would go along wonderfully, my maid would be on leave.

And that is exactly what happened – my baby sitter was on leave and maid did not turn up. How did they come to know I was expecting them to take off? God knows…

My husband got breakfast from hotel, I cleaned the utensils and the house, cooked lunch. For the first time in several months, the 4 of us were able to have lunch together and it was good fun. It was truly nice to see my 2.5 years old daughter eat by herself. Thus, the day went on very well, despite smaller hurdles.

It was so amazing to see 2 examples back-2-back where things happened based on my thoughts… I have started consciously thinking positive thoughts so my thoughts can have positive impact on my day :D

Time Turns

Title of a news paper article: Pink Slips in 2009 - Attritions in 2010

How true - last year saw several organizations slicing and dicing hikes, employees, benefits as economy nosedived. Need based hiring was the buzz word and the oxy-moron "Flat Growth" made headlines. But this year, as market is turning around, IT employees are all set to rule the roost. With several organizations hiring, companies are slowly but surely seeing an increase in attrition rates.

"Deemed Universities" - JOKE

Published on television yesterday:

Question: What did one deemed university say to the other deemed university when they met?
Answer: Nothing. They did not recognize each other

New Friend

I met her first during last week of October. We met by accident. And since that time, I have always been intrigued by her looks, her style statement.

I have always wondered how can she be so posh compared to others in the same group? How can she be so smooth? How can she attract so much attention and why so? What is so special in her?

My triast with her continued as I came to know more about her. Well into November, when I took her around my office, my collegues jaws dropped. It was evident that they were as much at awe with her as I continued to be.

She attracted several "eyes" and "comments" from onlookers. 2 guys on a bike commented aloud for me to hear "Maama, Avalanna nodu... sakkathagiddale" (Man, look at her, she is soooo nice). I laughed. I was proud that she was with me.

Eventually, as I got to know her better, I understood and accepted that she would be there for me as long as I wanted her with me. She would safe guard me always. I realized that she was the best thing to happen to me in the last 3 months - she is my new Fiat Punto

Me ghajini?

Here are few instances in the recent past when I had turned into Ghajini. May be I am suffering from Dual Personality Syndrome :p

1. I go into the kitchen, stand near the refridgerator and start wondering how I came here and for what

2. My son reminds me "Amma, you had promised to prepare paneer subji today". I am like "Did I? Was I daft to promise him something like this on a week day?" Why am I not remembering when I gave him this promise?

3. Husband "V, can you please give me my Form 16 from whereever you have kept it?". Me "You kept it in your file this time and I dont know where it is." Husband "I remember very well I gave it to you"... I start scratching my head "I do not remember where I kept it... Am I so forgetful?" (although later it turns out that sir had himself kept it in a so called safe place and forgot)

4. FIL says "V, while you are coming down, can you please bring me 1 soap and 1 oil can from the storage cupboard". I say very obediently "Yes, Appa, I will get it" and next 5 times I walk up and down, I don't remember to bring this

5. Team member during a 1-on-1 meeting "V, you had asked me to schedule this meeting"... I am flabbergasted "Me? I did? Do you know why? did I give any agenda item?"

6. One day, after coming home, I changed into my home wear. Next day morning, I could NOT remember for nuts where i kept my spectacles.... I searched and searched and searched...finally when I opend my handback to remove my office tag, found the spectacles in there.... Second time, I went and bought a new pair assuming that I had lost the first pair. After 1 whole year, I found them in the top shelf of my cupboard.

7. I had back to back meetings at office. I carry my cell phone in my hand along with my laptop and water bottle..... its quite a struggle. Last week, I could not find my cell phone in my hand while I very well remembered carrying it with me. I went into each meeting room to search for it and even went to the rest room to see if I had left it there... no luck... exhausted from all the running around, i came to my desk feeling really sad for having lost this one (a birthday gift from my hubby)... opened my handbag to keep my office tag.... and Lo behold.. there is my cell phone sitting safely... How did it get there?

8. Friday, I wanted a cup of tea very badly... Searched for my mug.. could not find it there... gave up hope of finding the same and did not have coffee... end of day, went to the rest room just before leaving office... found my mug sitting in the rest room mirror cabinet... must have left it there during one of my previous visits... how come I don't remember when?

And yet, I tell my husband "You are so forgetful that one day you will see me walking beside you and suddenly you will turn and ask me "Do we know each other?" phew....

Designer Line :P

Seen outside a designer boutique near Commercial street:
"Tamanna is getting dressed and will open the door soon" :)

Drew a big smile on my face

To Care or Not, is the question?

I have 15 odd earthern pots in which I have planted various plants - flowers as well as vegetables. One of the pots has karela (Bitter Gourd) plant, which has turned yellow towards the root. One look at it and anyone will easily conclude that its "about to die".

Three days ago, when I was watering the plants, my hubby came over and said casually "Hey, I think you should stop watering the karela plant. It is anyway about to die". He made this comment and walked inside without waiting for my response.

While I shook my head and continued with my activity (Ofcourse, I watered the Karela Plant), I could easily draw a parallel between this plant and my FIL. I wanted to ask my husband "Should we stop giving food and water to your father? Anyway we know he is going to die".

And ofcourse, I could not bring myself to ask him this question till today. But his statement keeps haunting me each time I water the plants. I am unable to meet Karela in the eyes.

Escapade

I asked her to stand outside while I made a pitstop to a nearby grocery shop to buy a pack of biscuits. I was on my way home from office and was very hungry. I told her I would come back in a jiffy. And, off I went.

Inside the shop (mini super market), I purchased not 1 but several pack of biscuits, and so many other things. Let me not go through my purchases... all in all, by the time I came out after paying the bill, she was not there... where i had left her.

I was shocked. I did not know what to do, or where to look for her. I called my husband to tell him about this incident. He was equally stunned. He suggested I talk to the traffic cop.
As I proceeded towards the next traffic signal, where i knew I could find a cop, I saw her... someone had dragged her into their vehicle and were taking her by force with them. I was furious. How can they do this to a hapless person?

I ran behind that vehicle like a person possessed. But unfortunately, just at that instant, the traffic turned green and that vehicle sped off. I ran to the stationary cop and said "Look, they are dragging the hapless person in their vehicle... do you know where they are headed to?"
The cop answered, "Looks like they are headed towards ulsoor...why don't you take an auto and follow them?". He laughed at my predicament, which made me even more angry.

I flagged an auto, hopped in and directed the hapless driver to follow the vehicle. The driver was very confused to see a girl flagging him down with such furore. He did not have a choice but to comply.

Luckily as per the cop's direction, that vehicle was indeed going towards Ulsoor. I intercepted them near Ulsoor. I talked to her tormentors and begged them to release her. Seeing the pain in my voice, they relented. "Not without paying a price", they said. I agreed to pay any price to get her away from their clutches. We bargained and struck a price. I paid them. After they went away, I got her home.

I was proud of her and myself for bearing this agony stoically.

As I parked her in our compound, I told her how brave she was to go through such an episode today. I promised her I would never park her recklessly on the road that would lead the traffic cops to tow her away again.

As she settled down after such a stressful day, she seemed to understand and forgive me!!!

Broken Resolution

Few days back, I had resolved to take a long break...
But I am finding it so difficult to keep this resolution... So difficult that I decided to break it :P

Black is beautiful?

"Black is not a color", said Edouard Manet.

Black has always been a synonym to impurity, darkness, bad luck and what not.

1. In south India, we never gift black dress materials or sarees for festivals or weddings.

2. Black Widow Spider is quoted often when referring to a "bad" wife because this spider gobbles up its husband after laying eggs.

On the contrary:
1. During Gowri Festival, the goddess' is offered with "Gowri Butti" or Gowri's ensembles, that contains 2 small black bangles.
2. Black kajal is applied to all kids to ward off evil.
3. We wear black clothes to look glamorous and beautiful - black goes with all colors and hence you can really mix and match well. So, black is a chosen color for all fashion designers.
4. In all romantic novels, it is the TDH (Tall, Dark and Handsome) guy that gets to marry the herione eventually
5. The movie "Black" carved a niche for itself in the history of Bollywood.
6. Our hair, which is called the crowning glory, is indeed black in color and this helps accentuate our beauty.

So, why then are we obsessed with White and Fair? Or is this as hypocritical as India and Article 377? Marcus Aurelius has said it right when he quoted "The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts"