A grand Stay at the Grand Mercure Bangalore

When visiting the garden city of Bangalore One cannot miss the opportunity to

stay at the Grand Mercure Bangalore.

Why Grand Mercure Bangalore?

When there are so many good quality 5 star hotels in Bangalore then what makes

it different and stand apart and makes me pick and choose the Grand Mercure

Bangalore over other hotels.

For starters I have always experienced that the Mercure hotels are very

business like in their quality of service. When I mean business like I mean

they do everything in their scope of work to take care of the guests. Yet they

give each guest personalised attention and this makes me pick a Mercure group

hotel over other hotels.

On this parameter the Grand Mercure Bangalore gets full points.

Another big reason why I booked my stay in this 126 suite style rooms hotel is

the fact that these suite style rooms come built in with a kitchenettes. Now I

may or my not use this feature yet its presence gives me the feel of staying in

an apartment and not in a hotel. My suite offered me the privacy of being in

my own apartment yet the luxury, comfort and indulgence of a 5 star hotel.

My suite was tastefully decorated and served both as a leisurely staying space

as well as provided me a business like environment to conduct my business. In my

suite I got a flat TV, DVD Player, Music system, Wi-Fi and a 24 hour room

service.

Since my hotel is located in Koramangala which is in the south eastern part of the

city and happens to be on of the largest neighborhood. It is a posh area of

the Bangalore city and a much sought after residential locality. Stepping out

of the hotel and roaming in the sprawling residential locality one can never

miss the attraction of the wide tree lined boulevards.

The hotel offered me a wide range of Restaurants and Bars

The 12Th Main Is the place to dine for a unique global gourmet cuisine.I found

it to be very interesting place to visit and dine in during the evenings when

the restaurant transforms its self into an intimate space for casual dining at

the outdoor al fresco area.

I always had a good time here and would recommend it as a good place to have

breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets. It offers a display kitchen which enhances

the dining pleasure.

By The Blue

By The Blue is a restro bar which offers Indian speciality cuisine and the this

place has not just great Indian tasting food but a wonderful ambience as well.

Since I was here on a Sunday I got the opportunity to experience and savour

their much appreciated and admired Sunday brunch. The Blue offers a gallimaufry

of ambrosial delicacies.Sunday Brunch time is the place to be here as no other

places seems so interesting.

The brunch is dotted with fine salsa, samba music, chilled beverages and

luscious desserts which makes it a gratifying experience.

Here the Sunday Brunch includes a host of live cooking stations such as

barbeque grills, fish station, pasta station and salad bar.

What is fine dining without some fine wines so here I could order from a

choice of sparkling wines, cocktails, mocktails, wines and beers. Thanks to a

gaming console the kids were having a gala time.This place even has a kids play

Image credits : www.grandmercurebangalore.com

“I am blogging about my luxury stay experience for an activity at BlogAdda in association with MakeMyTrip“

Vivanta by Taj Guwahati My hotel of choice

Vivanta by Taj - Guwahati, Assam is a beautiful five star luxurious hotel that offers seven wonders in one cool spot. A complete package of architecture, food, culture, folklore, music, art and adventure experiences. Located on the
Guwahati-Shillong highway in the centre of Guwahati’s government, business and cultural areas. Almost five acres
of manicured greens, interspersed with betel nut trees, water bodies and local flora surround this stylish
structure. The lobby is a unique mix of chic and classic. One cannot miss the cupola inspired by the legendary
Kamakhya temple, which adds a spiritual vibe.

I was attracted to the signature bamboo cane interweave abstraction, the Gamocha pattern, the Xingkhap murals in the rooms, the 1008 sacred bells in the lobby that cascade down dramatically against a stunning backdrop. The marigold motifs that greet you all around.

They have the best wellness amenities. A large spa reception lounge. 1 Couple treatment suite & 2 Single treatment rooms. A large fitness zone. Wet and dry areas. Experience shower. Beauty zone for face, hand, feet and hair. I even found a dedicated manicure and pedicure zone.

Each room features ergonomically designed mobile work desks with task lighting specially designed work chairs.
Very modern. Very in. When it was time to select a room there were many options to choose from namely.

- SUPERIOR CHARM ROOMS
With perfect harmony of comfort and aesthetics, these spacious urban studios feature plenty of charm in smart,
stylish surroundings.

- DELUXE DELIGHT ROOMS
Offering a serene hill view, these rooms reflect a perfect blend of indulgent utility and sleek interiors. Chic.

- PREMIUM INDULGENCE ROOMS
Higher floors. Better views of the city or hills.

- DELUXE ALLURE SUITES
Great for the family with a separate living room set amidst stylish interiors and timber wood flooring. Room guests have exclusive access to Rhythm – the Lounge.

- PREMIUM TEMPTATION SUITES
A separate living room, a walk in wardrobe and a powder room. Can be interconnected to become even larger. room.
The guests have exclusive access to Rhythm the Lounge.

- PRESIDENTIAL NIRVANA SUITE
Best of all in size and luxury, the Presidential Nirvana Suite offers a breathtaking view of the hills. It is
undisputedly the finest suite in the city. Room guests have exclusive access to Rhythm – the Lounge.

Indulge yourself with a variety of Indian and international cuisine.

- SEVEN
It presents the best of regional cuisine across the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram,

Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh. Executive Chef Anirban and his team of inventive chefs have explored cooking

styles, which range from home kitchens. Dig in to an enviable range of fish preparations due to the close

proximity to fresh water rivers and the Bay of Bengal. Don’t be surprised to see live fish in the kitchen and be

invited on occasions to make your pick.  It’s rice at its best in many avatars – roasted, ground, puffed, boiled,

pan caked, sticky soft rice dunked in milk, jaggery and curd. There is so much to explore here that guests make it

a habit to come back again and again.

- UMAMI
A specialty oriental restaurant that celebrates the choicest of Japanese and Chinese fare.Signature dishes include

• DimSum baskets • Bamboo shoot carpaccio • Lotus from Umami • Katsu section

- OCTAVE
eclectic bar with playful décor and sensual music for foot tapping or chilling. This lounge bar with high energy

zones and an alfresco space offers an amazing range of signature cocktails in an unparalleled ambience, perfectly

balanced by a blend of live retro and the latest house music. Must try cocktails include: Red Hot Caprioska

Peppers (RHCP) which is a twist with the fiery Bhut Jholakia chillie and the queen of citrus fruit – Kajinimu.

Long Assamese Ice Tea is another house favourite. The winner however is The Choconutty Martini which combines

muddled peanuts, Hazelnut syrup, Chocolate and Bourbon. Sip these while you admire the inverted decanter lamp

shades which line the bar counter, and soak in the mood created by hanging strings of miniature brass bells.


The hotel also offers car hire. Guwahati Zoo is 5 km from Vivanta by Taj Guwahati, while Assam State Museum is 9

km away. The Vivanta by Taj - Guwahati guarantees guests a pleasant stay whether in Guwahati for business or

pleasure. 

 “I am blogging about my luxury stay experience for an activity at BlogAdda in association with MakeMyTrip“

A Holi to Remember

On nearly every occasion when I switch on my radio I usually hear a Holi song which I have also seen on the TV the scene flashes before my eyes of the hero spraying Gulal on the heroine and the group of dancers dancing to the lyrics of the song. This happens several times a year and gives me a feeling that Holi is just around the corner. I rush to check the calendar for the date when Holi is going to be celebrated. Surely my checking again and again would not bring this festival closer.

At last the much awaited day is about to come and I have not even prepared for it. My shopping is still incomplete as I have not yet bought Gulal or prepared the sweets like the Gujiya which is a must for each and every Holi. The biggest part is that I have to send invites to my close friends and neighbors for a lunch party to celebrate the day of colors.

I am going to do this as my childhood memories of the way I used to celebrate Holi is still fresh in my mind. The celebration would be in the same style but with one major change. It would be a dry Holi. It means that water would not be used seeing the water crisis faced by many households. This would be in direct contrast to my childhood Holi when water and colors used to be my greatest tool.

In those days when I was a child I used to store water mixed with color in large drums. This was my arsenal to be used in my Pichkari for spraying every one who came into sight with the magical colors of Holi. I made sure that the colors were the fast ones so that the recipients would not be able to remove the colors and would remember me when ever they would see their color stained clothes.

Our home used to be full of people, my uncles and aunts my cousin brothers and sisters together constituted to form a big group. There was a great hullaboo as every one was trying to put color on the other and there was lots of chaos as every one was trying to escape the onslaught of colors by running here and there. This proved to be my advantage as I targeted the runners with my Pichkari and drenched them to my hearts content.

My grandmother and my mother had prepared a delicious feast for every one which was greatly appreciated by every one. The whole atmosphere was one of excitement, love and happiness.

I want to relive my childhood memory by recreating the same atmosphere once again so that every one in the present become partners to my old memories. My purpose is to spread love, love and love.

“I’m pledging to #KhulKeKheloHoli this year by sharing my Holi memories at BlogAdda in association with Parachute Advansed.”

Holi Kab Hai Kab Hai Holi

Holi is around the corner and as I am preparing for the Holi get together at my place and ordering for Gulal and sweets as I plan to play  #KhulKeKheloHoli  my mind takes me back to my childhood and a Holi that I will never forget.

As children Holi used to be a special occasion for us. It was the day of no studies and all fun. The only rule that we followed was to have as much fun as possible and color every one in sight as our Pichkaris did not believe in discriminating between the different targets based on age, gender, caste or creed. Who ever came in their range was not spared. Thinking of the word Holi the first thing that comes to my mind is my elder cousin brother and was it his obsession with Holi or fascination of Gabbar Singh of Sholay , I am not very sure. When ever he would come to visit us he would always be carrying his big Pichkari. He would bully us by pointing his Pichkari towards us and asking in a sinister Gabbar style Holi Kab Hai Kab Hai Holi. Our answers did not carry any weight with him because no matter whatever our answers were we ended up becoming the target of gushes of water coming out of his huge Pichkari. Till date I do not know if he thought of us as Jai, Veeeru or Basanti or Dhanno for that matter for there was no escaping the huge drenching we got from the big Pichkari of his. It was the day of Holi and we his younger siblings hatched a plan to get even with him by taking our revenge. We had a large pit that had been dug up and left uncovered in our backyard. We had it filled with colored water and covered the pit with sheets of polythene and sprinkled some mud on it to make it look like the ground. Since I was the swiftest runner the responsibility of luring our elder sluggish fatso bully brother fell upon me. So when the time of his arrival came all of my cousins except me hid themselves. When he came he pointed his Pichkari in my direction and repeated his same old dialogue of Holi Kab Hai Kab Hai Holi. I looked at him and showed him my tongue to tease him and started running as fast as I could. Seeing me running away from him he too started running after me and began to chase me. I made him run all around the house till he got tired and began to pant. This was the moment that I had been waiting for and I began to run towards the pit with my cousin in tow. I knew the exact location of the pit and when I reached it I simply jumped across it. I heard a loud splash and I turned back to find my cousin bobbing up and down in the mud pit completely drenched with mud and colored water. My cousins who were in hiding came out to surround the pit and asked him again and again Holi Kab Hai Kab Hai Holi as they splashed color on him with their Pichkaris. It was a much awaited revenge and from that time onwards he stopped imitating Gabbar and never bullied us again. This was indeed the most memorable Holi of our lives.

“I’m pledging to #KhulKeKheloHoli this year by sharing my Holi memories at BlogAdda in association with Parachute Advansed.”

Bringing about a change

A normal day goes like this in the life of my dear sister, when I stayed with her .She wakes up early in the morning around 5 am. She then prepares the breakfast, makes two or three variations of dishes according to the liking of the family. She packs 3 lunch boxes one for herself, her husband and for a three year old son. All this while her son and husband are still in bed and catching up with their sleep. Then she wakes up her son and help him  to get ready for the school. She is constantly on the run, making frequent rounds to the kitchen, taking milk from the milkman, setting the table, bathing
her little one, ironing the clothes, setting his school bag, providing her husband clothes, tie,handkerchief etc and then setting the breakfast table for them. While feeding her son she keeps answering the phones, briefing her juniors about the work and coordinating with her colleagues for the day ahead in the office. She drops her son to the school then rushes to reach her office in between munching her breakfast as she didn’t get the time to have her breakfast. After reaching her office she arranges things for the day ahead, prepare projects, drafts for the meetings. In the lunch break again her full attention is at home. While eating her lunch she talks to her son who is now back from school. She enquires about his activities at school, about his home work etc and in this her 1/2 hr lunch gets finished. She again gets back to work. In the evening she reaches home tired
and exhausted but as soon as she steps into her home she is a housewife and a mother. Her son demands her attention as well her husband demands a particular dish for the dinner. She immediately enters into the kitchen and starts preparing the dinner. Then she feeds her kid and while her husband is enjoying a movie on TV or playing a game on Xbox she is doing the laundry and preparing for the next day. She cleans that special
white dress for his son and the special lucky shirt for her husband as it’s his important meeting the next day. She manages all this with a smile. It’s the same for her from Monday to Sunday, no incentive or bonus for this job. I recently saw this advertisement of Ariel and I shared this with my jiju, my sister and her kid. It’s an eye opener. Since then my jiju helps my sister with the laundry. And they are managing it well. My sister has now some time for herself and a good bonding with her husband. I hope this brings a positive change in the lives of others too.

 “I am joining the Ariel #ShareTheLoad campaign at BlogAdda and blogging about the prejudice related to household chores being passed on to the next generation.”

Won't you share the load

A pile of clothes for laundry is a common sight at any Indian household. The biggest reason for that is the misconception that laundry is women's job has been passed on from generations to generations so the household leave this laundry job for the lady of the house.
‘Mom! Where are my fresh socks?’
‘Didi! Why didn’t you scrub my shirt’s collar? It’s still grimy!’
‘Dad! If you see mom ask her to keep my football uniform ready, I need it tomorrow!’
is indeed a common conversation which is a part of nearly all households. I am thankful to Ariel and Blogadda for creating awareness about the issue of laundry. You all must have seen the new Ariel advertisement by now. How a father realizes that his little daughter has grown up. He sees her working hard, managing kids, work and cleaning clothes. A multitasker by all sense while her husband is busy watching TV. It’s in our upbringing that we don’t see any thing odd in it when a lady of the house is working outside as well as looking after the house and doing the laundry for herself as well of the entire household. Girls are being trained at an early stage in every Indian household in house work such as cleaning, cooking and doing the laundry. According to a survey conducted by a third party for Ariel reveals some statistics that show a bleak future for the women

.78% of girls in India agree that they should learn laundry as they have to do it
when they grow up. This is what our elders have taught us.

2 out of every 3 children think that washing clothes is a women's job.

But the fact is that when both genders are bread earners then the household work load
should be shared too. In today’s scenario people expect their daughter-in-law to be working so that she contributes to the working of the house due to increasing expenditure and cost of living but at the same time they expect her to do all the household work when she returns home while there is no such expectation from their sons

.This is unfair.81% of married men in India agree that their daughters must learn household chores. Instead the men should encourage both boys as well as girls to be self reliant and tell them that doing household chores and laundry is not a women job alone.

76% of married men in India believe that not helping with laundry at home still
makes them a great role model for their children. This belief is a myth one can
be a true role model only if one takes equal responsibility with his wife in
doing laundry and other household work.


“I am joining the Ariel #ShareTheLoad campaign at BlogAdda and blogging about the prejudice related to household chores being passed on to the next generation.”

A hug to thank my Dad

I am my father’s best buddy. We have a very special bond. I can discuss about anything with him without any hesitation and may be because of this quality I have been able to take the right decisions at the right time in my life. He loves to live life and laugh and because of this nature he is always young at heart. He always guides me to the right path. He is very supportive in everything that I do. He helped me with my homework without any complaint ever. He played with me for several hours. He often took me to movies, water and theme parks and to picnics. He’s been helping me ever since I was born. I can’t imagine my life without him. I wonder what my life would be like without him, it’s unimaginable. Many times my father missed his favorite matches of football and cricket for my sake. Instead he spent time with me to help me in studies or stayed with me constantly when I was ill. He never mentioned or showed his fear but I still remember whenever I was out riding my bicycle his eyes were always on me. My safety was his first concern. My dad is fun to be around. He is a very nice person. Whenever I need him he is always available. He helped me unconditionally and never expects to be thanked or recognized for his actions. He has always being an inspiration for me. He has taught me how to be strong in every sphere of life. He has taught me the lessons of life. He is a very simple man without. My role model is none other than my father. I had many happy & sad moments with him. He pampered me. He encourages me to reach my goal. He is like a VIBGYOR who thinks like a pure white light & provides me a window to see the life in a colorful way. He is a perfect role model. Whatever the situation is one can find him smiling as he says no one is perfect and times keep changing so one should remain balanced in life. He always surprises me with his level of energy and positive thinking. I salute my father for his endless effort for the betterment and ease in my life. I just love you father. Thank you for being with me always. Superman, Spiderman there are tons of super heroes but for me my father is my real super hero. Thank you Daddy.

F – For all things you have taught me

A – And for promising me that you will never leave me

T – To be with me forever and supporting me

H – Helping me in everything

E – Everyday you are there for me

R – Raising me with utmost love and care

I am participating in the '#HugYourDad' activity for Vicks in association with BlogAdda.

Thanking my Dad My Hero with a Hug

You have to simply ask a girl as to who is her hero and her prompt reply would be that its her father. My Dad is my super Dad and my first teacher too. Everybody’s dad in the world is their greatest hero in their lives. He is the first man in our lives who cares for us, protects us, teaches us how to survive in this world provides for us with food, clothes, shelter, money, education, and takes on responsibility to provide everything necessary for our survival and growth. He is always there when I need a strong shoulder to lean on, till I develop my wings and learn to fly. 
My father is a very kind hearted person; he never hurts the feelings of any body. I love my father for treating me like a Queen. I thought that happiness begins with 'H' but my happiness begins with 'U' my dad. For me my dad is my whole world and what I am today is just because of my dad. I am Thank you dad for caring for me and loving me and doing special things to make me happy & the happiest daughter in the world. 
Most memorable moment was when my dad handed the keys of the scooter in my hands. I felt very happy and most fortunate daughter of this world it was a heart touching moment. He worked late to make sure we have a good future. He could never build his dream house so that he could fulfill our dreams. The best advice given by my father is don’t be afraid of doing mistakes but be sure to correct them as soon as you realize them. There is always a U-turn ahead. 
He is my source of inspiration & he is my strongest support. He gives me confidence. He has always supported me in every stage of life. When I was in college my grandmother found a proposal for me and wanted me to get married, but I wanted to study further and stand on my own feet and work. My dad supported my decision of studying further. It was my idea to study further and be an independent working woman. He put in lots of effort and finally sweetly convinced my grandmother. Thus my fathers support helped me achieve my dreams of working & standing up on my own feet Even now, when I am sad, I have to just place my head on my father’s lap and he lovingly pats my head and I am instantly comforted. I hug my father because there is better way than a hug to say my thanks

I am participating in the '#HugYourDad' activity for Vicks in association with BlogAdda.
 

Unlocking joy with maxfresh moments of life

The College is off for vacations and everyone is planning to go on an excursion trip however its only our class who is not going. The reason we are being sent on an industrial trip where we would be attending classes taking notes and more or less it would be like attending regular college. Our spirits are low and we are in no mood to study. Yet we board the bus and our journey begins. The FM radio of the bus is playing the news. None of us is interested and I am looking out of the window staring into no where. The atmosphere within the bus is very serious and somber as if a tragedy has struck. The atmosphere is nothing like what one experiences during a college trip. The atmosphere usually during college trips is of fun and celebration but not this time .We are experiencing a low point of our lives as we have been robbed of the much earned summer break .Perhaps  this cancelling of our vacation is a punishment for not being able to win the cricket tournament for the college as all the players in the cricket team are from my class.
As the bus crosses the city border the news ends and a song starts. The song is the famous Anushka Manchanda song Tu Saala Kam se Gaya from Golmaal returns.
As the song begins to play it has a transforming effect on the occupants of the bus that is us students.
As the first few lines of the song play out
(Maine tujhase pyaar kiya hai, tu hai meri jaan
Meri har dhadkan kehati hai main tujhape kurbaan) - (2)
Tera jara sa bhi dola jo imaan, tu saala kaam se gaya
Huwa tera kaam tamaam, tu saala kaam se gaya
Tera dil jo huwa beimaan, (tu saala -3) kaam se gaya
Sameer and Anil who are sitting in the first row get up and begin to sing along and break into a dance. I am really not much impressed by their antics as these two guys from my class are really very easily excited and first to get up and dance.
By the time the next few lines of the song are played
Teri najaron pe jaan-e-jaan meri najar hai
Teri saari harkato ko mujhako khabar hai
Are mastiyon mein duba huwa hai, tujhe nahi fikar hai
Aaja aaja hosh mein aaja, ???
Tera jara sa bhi dola jo imaan, tu saala kaam se gaya
Huwa tera kaam tamaam, tu saala kaam se gaya
Tera dil jo huwa beimaan, tu saala kaam se gaya
I find that half the bus has joined them The boys and girls are dancing and singing .The girls are moving their lips to the lyrics of the song and the Guys of my class are dancing like Allu Arjun.
I am sure if Anushka Manchanda and Allu Arjun had been here then they would be proud of our performance.
By the time the song ended and the next one began the entire class had got into a picnic mood . We had realized that no one can spoil our fun and as long as we want to enjoy and have fun no one can rob us of the opportunity. To be happy and break into a dance and singing routine like Anushka Manchanda and Allu Arjun is our birth right As it helps us discover hidden moments of happiness that recharge us and make us feel the maxfresh moments of life.

 “I am blogging for #MaxFreshMove activity at BlogAdda.com. Are you?

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Celebration time

We are a group of three friends me, Ananya and Anu. We are best friends who have been together ever since our school days. As we stayed close to each other and went to the same school, it gave us ample opportunity to bond with each other .We would go to the same school and that too in the same school bus. This time together was like celebrating a festival. After school we would play with our dolls and decorate them with ornaments and dress them like princesses. Then we would build doll houses for them that we decorated with our ribbons and trinkets. When we met each other during the recess time at school we would pool money from our pocket money and buy eatables from the school canteen and we would also share our food with each other. After school we would go for ice cream together it used to be the best time of our lives. I remember that time so vividly that how excited we used to be when ever a new ice cream flavor was launched in the market. We would head straight to the ice cream parlor. All the three of us would buy
the same flavor on the very first day of its launch and enjoy it together. It used to be our way to celebrate our freedom from the rigors of a hectic school life.
When we got promoted to a senior class we got permission to go and represent our school at a inter school debate competition. I along with my friends formed a team and we had the most wonderful time together. When we graduated from school we made it a point to get admission to the same college. Being in the same college provided us the opportunity to explore and raid all the eating joints that were near the college. It used to be our routine to visit the famous hangouts that offered the best food and snacks. In our lives a lot has changed from the time we were in school and then in college. Now we are in our respective jobs yet we are still the same group of friends and people still refer to us as the three musketeers. We find happiness and solace in each others company. Just being together is a reason enough to celebrate. We are quite different temperamentally. Even our food choices likes and preferences are very different. Yet the bond
of friendship that we share makes being together so magical and it feels that we are having a celebration. It has stood the test of time and whenever we are together we feel very happy, contented and on top of the world.
“#CelebrateLifeAtIvy by owning a dream home at Ivy estate, an 85 acre estate with 34 acres of greenery and open spaces. Join the 1600 happy families already living here. Check out this walkthrough video and decide for yourself.”

The relocation that brought us closer

After I passed out of my school the only thing on everybody’s mind was my marriage. All my neighbors, relatives and family started searching for my better half. Being
born in a male dominated family it was never considered a good idea for a girl to have her own career. It was not easy to spend time doing nothing while the search for a suitable groom was in full swing. I always had a great interest in interior decoration. I used to purchase books on this subject and tried different styles at home which were always appreciated by my family and visitors. After gathering my courage I requested my elder brother to help me get admission in an interior designing course. As I am his pampered sister he talked to papa on my behalf. My father agreed as he believed that empty mind is devil's workshop. I immersed myself completely in the course which I enjoyed very much. On weekends at least 3-4 prospective grooms came to see me but somehow things didn't work out. It was a 6 months course and time just flew without my knowing. It was my last month of the course when my Mr Right came into my life. He was an IT professional settled in USA. He was dark and handsome and very charming. Everything was right about him except that he was settled in USA and had no intention of coming back to India. I loved India and never thought of leaving my dear country. My family convinced me that it’s a good match and I should not decline this offer as its all destiny and we as humans can’t change the way luck works. I agreed to this proposal and within a month I got married to him. I moved with him to USA. It was a vast cultural change. The weather was harsh as compared to India. My heart was still in India. My husband was very understanding and adjusting. He was more than a good friend. He helped me in the kitchen. We cooked together went to different places, planned picnics and everything was going well. In 2000 he lost his job. It was a testing time for us. The cost of living was too much and soon our money reserves were depleting. It was a time to take tough decisions. My husband tried at many places for a job but without any luck. He did some temporary jobs but it was not sufficient. Being brought up in a male dominated family I mustered my courage and told my husband that I want to start my business of interior decoration in India. I had decided on this bold move to relocate back to India when my husband’s efforts failed to get a decent job He was quiet on this subject but when things didn’t work and seeing our dwindling finances he agreed. We flew back to India to #StartANewLife and with the help of my brother I started my designing studio. My family initially discouraged me but my husband encouraged me I started getting orders soon and my work created sensation. Through word of mouth my client list started increasing. Within 6 months I started earning well even more than what we earned before. This bold step has not only made us well off but our moving to India has brought us even more close. We have now a special bond of understanding.


#StartANewLife
https://housing.com/.

My journey of hope and optimism

We take birth, we grow up and finally grow old. During all these stages we are continuously learning and experiencing new things. We may be of any type from the rugged to the delicate but we must never lose sight of hope and optimism. These are the two rungs of the ladder of life and we not only need them continuously but we cannot do without them. Hope makes us move forward while optimism is the beacon that lights up our path.

Hope and optimism are the sword and the shield without which we should not move ahead. I came to know about this when I was in college. My father worked in a factory and his pay package was just enough to sustain us. One day misfortune befell us and my father was taken ill. He was advised complete bed rest by the doctor. It was a no work no pay situation. My mother had managed to save a small amount for the rainy days. Our financial situation was becoming grim day by day. Life is an incessant journey till our last breath. As my mother had to tend to my father she was in no position to go out and seek a job. My younger sister was still in school and too young to share the financial burden. At least there was no problem of paying her school fees as it had been paid in advance for the whole year. The management of the factory had been kind enough to arrange for the treatment and the medicines for my father. Still day to day expenses of food and milk loomed large before us.

I was in college at that time and thought of doing a part time job. Although I tried my best I could not get any job. This was most disheartening. Then hope knocked at the door in the form of my best friend. She had been my senior at school. In due course of time we had become very good friends. She had gone after college to another city. Now she was back again and had come to inquire about my welfare. It did not take long for her to understand the situation we were now facing. She went to meet my father upon hearing that he was not well and her presence proved to be a calming factor and now my father  seemed more cheerful and more like his old self. She came back with me to my room. She told me that she needed my help. I was greatly puzzled and wondered what help I could give to her. She laughed her musical laugh and said that she was not going to ask for a treasure or money. She told me that she had opened a coaching institute. This institute was just close to my home and she needed me to coach the children the subject of mathematics. She knew that I was very good at it and offered me a handsome salary.

She was sure that I would carry out my task with perfection and she had full confidence in me. This filled me with a new hope and optimism and I knew that I would succeed.

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Thank you Grandma for those moments of togetherness

Togetherness is a gift and spending time with your loved one is like a gift of god. Like the fragrance of a sweet smelling flower it brightens our lives, not just that particular moment but the memories of such time spent #together linger on and revisit us whenever we are in need of comforting or in times of stress. These are the pearls of wisdom that are the inheritance passed on to me from my grandmother. I was the first born of my parents and as the first born of the family a lot of love and care was showered upon me. Yet I was the daughter and like a lot of Indian households there were a lot of restrictions imposed on me. It was my grandmother who stood up for me and helped me fulfill my wishes. Be it getting permission for attending the scouts and guide came or joining NCC at school. Even though she herself was not very educated as she got married at an early age she made up for this shortfall in her life by getting books on loan from nearby students and library and taught herself . She encouraged me to study and   learn the household chores as well. Then when I reached  the marriageable age my parents found a suitable boy and got me married. I got married into a large joint family and my husband had a number of siblings. My in-laws household had very different customs and thinking and I had a very difficult time adjusting to them. Even my mother in law did not take very kindly to the fact that I was a vegetarian. Where as the men in my in-laws home enjoyed non veg food and my mother in law coaxed me to cook and eat non veg food. All this tormenting and coaxing took its toll on my health and I fell ill. Then when I returned to my parent’s home for a few days everybody showed a lot of concern looking at my stressed out state. My grandmother was concerned for me but maintained her calm exterior. She called me to her room and handed me a large plate full of rice that she was about to cook. She asked me to sift it and remove any stones or any other inedible parts that may be present. When I cleaned the rice she spoke with compassion she said. “Your future is like this rice mostly full of good things however the small stones that you see are the obstacles that would come in your life. Just like you are removing them before preparing your meal similarly you would have to remove the obstacles in your life . ” Her calming words were very soothing. She brought me a cook book from her collection and showed me a numbers of recipes that were pure vegetarian but in look and taste would beat any meat preparation.This is what I had needed,this one moment of being #together. This time spent in her company enriched and changed my life for good and when I went back to my in-laws place I won them over with my cooking. Slowly they began to appreciate my cooking and I adjusted to the customs of my new household..I shared with my mother in law my recipes and she too was moved and impressed by my ingenuity. Over time she became like my best friend. The time that I had spent with my grandmother had created a strong bond with her.In this time of togetherness she had passed on to me her life’s experiences and  it had taught me some very important lessons of life . It had taught me how to be myself and win people over with my genuineness and of course my cooking.  Thank you grand Ma !  

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 #together 

चुप रहो

चुप रहो, छिपाने के लिए और बहुत कुछ है

अपने स्वयं के भावनाएँ, और सपने

मानसिक गहराई में

भावनाओं से उपजे भविष्य के इंद्रधनुषी सपने

कुछ दिल से सोंच कर, कुछ दिमाग़ की फॅक्टरी में बुने गये

चुरा ना ले कोई इनको

चुप रहो, छिपाने के लिए और बहुत कुछ है


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नीला आकाश

नीला आकाश धरा के ऊपर झूलता

शायद किसी मज़बूत रस्सी से लटका

गोल गोल चाँद आकाश में अटका

धरा नीचे अपनी धूरी पर घूमती

सूरज की हर किरण और

बारिश की हर बूँद को चूमती

बीच में है इंसान जो सोंचता की वोह

दुनिया चलाता है

पर वो यह भूल जाता है

की उससे बड़ा भी कोई है

जो हर इंसान को बनाता है

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ना कोई शिकायत है

ना कोई शिकायत है
ना कोई रुसवाई है
तू मेरे साथ नही तो क्या
साथ मेरी तन्हाई है
उसी से हम दिल लगा लेंगे


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Friends

Friends are forever
     they come when you are in need
They laugh with you
     and cry in your grief. 
They are the best companions
     who care for your needs.
So take care of them
     as they are like pearls
Got by diving deep.


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Holi

Winter had not even bid goodbye
         when spring peeped in to say Hi.
With it came colors of all hues,
         celebrated as Holi the festival of colors.
Children ran here and there
         filling their balloons and pistols with water
So the passersby be beware.
         they are out for fun
And you will not be spared.
       So come on join in the fun
Take that red color,the blue or the green
       put it on the faces of your friends
And eat sweets to make these moments
        memorable and sweet.

         

The Picnic

The Picnic
Every one was happy
they were going out on a picnic
A garden was selected for the outing
and all began to pack their favorite belongings.
The children put the ball and bat into a bag
while the mother packed sandwiches,fruits and cakes
to feed the children when they were hungry.
It was going to be great fun
as every one was happy and gay.