The big 'Y'

Why do good days fly by and bad days drag on?

Why do birds aim right on target so often?

Why do people point out that you are so thin/skinny/lean etc as if you didn't know and there was no such thing as a mirror to see yourself in?

Why is it that you can think of several interesting things to do when you're employed and don't have the time but you can't think of a thing to do when you're unemployed and you've got the time?

Why do two great opportunities knock on your door at the same time and you can only pick one?

Why is it that a movie you've looked all over for is on TV all the time only after you've already watched it?

Why are all movie birth scenes shown as normal deliveries?

Why do kids pick up on bad words faster than they do on good ones?

Why is it that sometimes two pairs of shoes go perfectly well with an outfit and it's hard to decide which one to wear and sometimes none of the pairs of shoes you own suit the outfit you want to wear?

Why doesn't anyone notice everytime I've been right about something and everyone notices that one time I'm wrong about something?

Why don't all 'why's' have answers?

Why can't you think of more 'why's' to add in your comments?

Book bound

A dog is a man's best friend. Diamonds are a girl's best friend. I'm sure you've heard of all that stuff. But did you also know that a book can be a great friend? If you didn't, this is for you.
I got into the habit of reading right since I was a little kid. It started off with those fairytales every little girl begins with. After that came the Enid Blyton phase of adventure followed by Nancy Drew and then Jeffrey Archer, Sydney Sheldon, Robin Cook, Arundhati Roy, Paulo Coehlo, Khaled Hosseini, Chetan Bhagat... the list goes on as the number of books I read increases. I love how a book can capture me into its world and present before me its scenes and characters that my imagination gives life to. It's a great way to escape the daily grind of reality. A book that holds my attention captivates me to the extent that I can feel the joy and the pain, the tension, the fear and the relief of the characters and their circumstances.
Reading also develops your vocabulary and sentence structure. It increases your knowledge of words and their usage. Of course there's more to reading than all of that. Andre Maurois said, 'The art of reading is in great part that of acquiring a better understanding of life from one's encounter with it in a book.'
With film directors adapting novels, more and more people would rather watch an adaptation than take the time to read a book. But why limit yourself to the director's perspective of the book when you've got an imaginative mind of your own? If you must watch the movie, read the book first so that you enjoy the book from your perspective, free from pre conceived notions about the appearance of the characters, the scenarios and the manner in which the story unfolds.
Modern technology with its gadgets like the kindle, the iphone, the ipod etc enable an individual to download ebooks. It's pretty convenient that way. Although I have to say that I prefer a book anyday. There's something about the rustle of the pages, the smell and the feel of a book that makes reading such a cherished experience for me.

'You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend' ~ Paul Sweeney

Things I wish people would realize

Firstly,
While the world of fashion is opening its doors to the plus size woman, it has not yet progressed in terms of variety.
First the size zero obsession, now a gradual acceptance of curves, but why this slow progress? Is a designer's horizon so limited that he/she can only focus on creating outfits for a certain body type? What about clothes for those women who are under 5ft 6 inches tall or those heavy on the hips alone? Or those with slightly more broad shoulders than the average woman? For the petite frame or the woman who's just had a baby and is looking for some great clothes to camouflage the extra weight? For the woman in the wheelchair? What about clothes for the rest of the world?

Secondly,
The thing about that first interview with a company is first impressions. Many of us take the trouble to put together a smart outfit, to be there a little earlier than required, to brush up on all the info about the company and the role etc, in short, we're on our best behaviour. After all, first impressions do matter. However, you dont always find the same approach on the other end.
How often have you waited at least three quarters of an hour (maybe much more) before they begin with the recruitment process? Has the interviewer ever interrupted you because of an 'important' call and have you waited five minutes wondering which direction to look in so that you don't appear to be eavesdropping while he/she answers the call right there? Have you ever waited a long time only to be told that they cannot accommodate so many people for the written test and that everyone waiting will surely be scheduled for interviews the following week? And that following week never happened till date? Yes we've all faced some of that if not all of it and I'm sure that if not you, then someone you know has had a similar experience.
First impressions work both ways. I wonder if they know that.

Thirdly,
In a country where matrimonials demand fair complexion of brides, States demand a separate entity, people of the west attack people of the north in a certain popular capital, a region of a southern state demands to be identified as a separate state, various types of institutions still have categories like caste and religion in their enrolment forms, regional bias exists when voting for talent shows, when renting out flats etc etc, where is the unity?
Before we talk of the difficulties we face abroad as non natives, let us examine ourselves and the regionalism, communalism, color bias, separatism and other such hurdles we all face right here as natives.

These are the things I wish people would realize, for now. I might just have a part two on it's way.

Untitled

I haven't come up with a title for this one yet. Would love to have suggestions regarding the title. Here goes-

Every wedding anniversary they'd celebrated for the past nineteen years was simple, but special. Tenth October, David and Karen would have dinner with their three kids, Amy, Bruce and Kathy and sometimes the grandparents would come over too. After everyone was asleep, the two of them would settle on the couch with a huge album of photographs from the time they started dating in high school. It had pictures of various occasions, their dates, their wedding, holidays together, and photos of every wedding anniversary that followed.
This time it was different because Karen was no more. It was just David and the kids. After they retired for the night, David reclined on the couch with the album. A wave of sadness swept over him as he wished Karen was there. After months of battling cervical cancer, she'd died on 23rd of December, the previous year. As he went through the album, a folded piece of paper caught his eye. It was Karen's diary entry for the 10th of October the previous year. It read~

'Today is our 19th wedding anniversary. I'm so proud to be married to you David Carter. I'll never forget the day I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. We were waiting in the lobby. I was so scared. Scared because if the report showed that I did have cancer, I won’t have much time left with you and the kids. The mere thought of it devastated me! But then you took my hand and I'll never forget what you said to me that day. "I love you Karen and I'll be with you every step of the way. Every situation you face, I'm gonna be right there."
It was so reassuring. As we sat across Dr.Wickens, his grim expression was all I needed, to know it was bad news. When he confirmed my fears, my heart sank, and tears filled my eyes. All along you had been holding my hand. I smiled as I turned to you. I could smile through tears because God had given me you to face this with.
Today on our wedding anniversary, you came by the hospital in the morning. You got me a gift. A CD that's got a collection of all my favourite songs. How thoughtful of you! I'll have the nurse play them as often as she can. You had to reach Kathy to school and promised to be back with the kids as soon as possible. You left, not before letting me know how much you love me. You tell me that I'm beautiful every single day, even though I'm pale and weak and I've lost all my hair. I probably look ghastly!
As promised, you arrived early with the kids and though it was just an hour we were allowed together, it was special. When Amy took the younger two home, we got to the album as usual. I asked you to leave it by the bedside table for me and to take it home in the morning. That's how I got to slip this day's diary entry into it. I'm not sure about how long I'll live but I know that next year, on the 10th of October, you will see this album and find this in it.
David, I love you and I always will. I'm so grateful to God for the wonderful years He has given me with you. You have been my best friend, my love, my strength and the best husband a woman could ask for. I hope Amy and Kathy find life partners like you. And Bruce is growing more and more like you each day. I'm thankful for these three beautiful children I've had with you, each one, a sign of our love. Thank you for being with me through this ordeal. Your love, support and sacrifice helped me endure it. Thank you for everything. You’re not alone. I know that God and the love we had and the love of our three wonderful children will help you endure. May God bless you and enrich your life with faith, hope and love.
Ever yours,
Karen.

As he finished reading it, the sadness was replaced by a feeling of peace.
"Daddy?" it was Kathy, his youngest who was twelve.
"Hey honey, what's the matter?"
"I just thought we could talk for a while." she said joining him."I miss Mommy."
"I do too, a lot." he said.
"You know why Mommy was so peaceful when she left us? Cause she knew you're a terrific dad so she didn't have to worry."
He smiled. "I see her in Amy, Bruce and you everyday. The three of you have got so many of her characteristics!"
They shared happy memories of her for a while until Kathy fell asleep leaning against him. His gaze fell upon their wedding photograph framed on the wall, Karen looking incredibly beautiful in her flowing white dress and the sparkle in her blue eyes that was so infectious, so hard to miss. Even in ill health, that sparkle was there. He looked fondly at his sleeping daughter. Thank you for giving me three angels. Each one, a sign of our love.

She's not just a pretty face

She's not just a pretty face... goes a line from Shania Twain's hit number with the same title. Oh yes, she's way more than just that. For behind that exterior is a determined, responsible, dynamic personality with a loving and tender heart. No, my writing on these lines isn't triggered by the constant discussion on feminism during class lately. I felt compelled to write it sometime back when I was commuting by auto rickshaw. The driver was playing a hindi track from the early 90s "Tu cheez badi hain mast" and it got me thinking, is this what the world thinks a woman is? "Cheez?" ( meaning "thing" in hindi). A mere "thing" of appeal to a man.
I abhor such narrow minded men who perceive women as nothing but objects to satisfy their lust. And then there are those chauvinists who believe that the kitchen is the place for a woman, that household duties are all she is capable of, hence she must be confined to such chores.
Women are capable of a lot more.They're more hardworking, they can take on several duties and perform them efficiently, in fact they are the best candidates for multitasking. I dont mean to rule out men on that, but women are relatively far more reliable. I admire those women who paved the way for a better future for us women of today. We ought to express our gratitude towards them by keeping up that dynamic unrelenting spirit they were known for.
Every woman must create her own identity. She must leave a mark for herself. Her education must bear fruit, not go in vain. And when she hold the reins over the direction her life is taking, she's not just a pretty face. She's a lady!

Until you were gone.

The dark is here, and now its night,
but I can sleep no more,
cause deep down something’s just not right,
my heart with grief is sore.
I’m losing grip coping with your loss,
its painful night and day,
I’ve never before felt so lost,
even though I know the way.
Holding on to your memories,
I’m still holding on,
never knew how much I’d miss you,
until you were gone.

You knew you were my one and only,
with whom my life I’d spend,
so why have you left me here lonely
and brought this to an end?
I wish I had been there with you every time you needed me,
I regret that I wasn’t all I promised you I’d be.
And now I’ve grown like autumn leaves strewn around all forlorn,
never knew how much I’d need you,
until you were gone.

Let me feel your sweet love again,
the love that was always there,
I know I didn’t give as much,
you thought I didn’t care.
My love for you is in my heart,
but I had rarely shown,
I cared about you from the start,
I wish that you had known.
I didn’t express how much your love and care meant to me,
I never knew that soon enough in such a state I’d be.
Its much too late to go back now and undo what I’ve done,
but Lord please give me a chance, I know I’ll just need one.
I spend the night in grief,
my heart’s still sore at dawn,
cause I hadn’t realized it all,
until you were gone.

You're not the only one!!

So your day started off like crap? Welcome to the club! You decide to hit the snooze button on your alarm clock and VOILA! The dawn of a really really bad day! But only later you realise that those five minutes could have saved you all the trouble!Yeah, i'm sure you get what i'm talking about.
Some days just about everything goes wrong! Bad hair days are passe you can say, cause in this day and age one bad thing follows another in a chain sequence driving you completely insane with rage! Like missing those five minutes implies just coffee maybe and no breakfast, no time to look presentable, you miss the train or bus or if you've got a vehicle, it decides to increase your blood pressure by running out of gas, and you reach your destination looking all flustered and everyone stares (much to your annoyance!) and then the dawn of the biggest realisation! You forgot something very important at home! Pathetic!Now just when you think things cant get any worse, you're proved wrong again! Your burdened with a major assignment that you know is gonna take away the little life left in you! Your colleague's on leave and who else but you, are expected to do the needful and fill in for him as he enjoys a vacation at some hillstation. And that's not it. There's more. But then you already get the picture.
All i'm trying to say is by the end of it, you're tearing your hair out wondering why Mr.X or Miss Y doesnt ever suffer such 'mishaps'. You're wrong again. Bad days are like the flu. Everyone's had em' at some point or the other. How you handle it is the criteria.Put that on your priority list. Learn to face a bad day without breaking under the pressure. I HAVE TO DO THAT MYSELF! So make a start, cause you'll never know unless you try.