A joy, A Passion, A Reminder, but never just a Game!

If you stand in a queue for about three hours in the hot sun (and you are probably one of the few girls) and still do not complain then you must have been waiting for something very important. If you are thinking I must have been waiting for such long hours for applying a visa or to get admission to a glorious college, well my intentions had been much nobler! I waited for around three and half hours to get tickets for cricket world cup (2011).
 

Oh yeah! I am one of those billion cricket adorer and is proud to be one. Where did this love which sometimes even gives me a range of symptoms from High BP to missing a beat originate? From my home, I guess, where if Azharuddin gets out my grandpa switches off the TV in his room only to switch it on in the living room.

So I grew up with this sport which has inspired many throughout the world and whose players been considered larger than life in my country. Who could have not had a heart-break when India lost their semi-finals in 1996WC (of course, if you are/ were prejudiced to this cricket loving nation and cricket itself) or had butterflies in stomach when Anil Kumble was a wicket away from taking his and India’s first ten wicket haul?
 

When my fellow class mates found teleserials interesting, a group of us took pleasure in discussing Rahul’s batting style or Srinath’s speed. As I grew old, so did my interest and love for this incredible game.

So you can imagine the mad joy I must have experienced when India did win the world cup. Tears of joy, jumping up and down and texting non-stop to convey my happiness, I can still recall those lovely moments.

Ok, it might not be a big deal for most of the people around, but for me, it truly is a moment which I will be bragging about as long as I live. 

Who knows even in my old age I might animatedly talk about "those times" and like Severus Snape, when someone asks me "after all this time", I would proudly say "always".

How can I ever agree this is just a sport when it has helped me get some really good friends, wonderful moments and a smile every time I watch it? I am not  really good at initiating conversations but few things that interest me, like cricket, is a perfect way to hold me on to person and as a starter, it does help.
 

So when I did get my tickets for the CWC last year, needless to say, I was on cloud no. infinity. I had been telling everyone around any one who would lend me a ear that watching the world cup in India is one of my long term goals (It really was since 1996 CWC). I am not kidding! I am capable of such crazy behaviors.
 

Much has been said of the sport that literally masks other wonderful games. Cricket sure has come a long way  from the time I started watching it, but the happiness of watching a really good match or even just a good over does still grip me to the seats and I hope it always does.

P.S: Now did I thank that soul who pitied on me and agreed to come along to watch a CWC match? Thank You,  Nivedita:)

A Self Rant

I must have read, talked and discussed countless times about change; be it place, person or other illusion stuffs yet what I felt sometime back is something I still ponder over and have not been able to comprehend it completely.

Sometimes I feel you change so much, cannot precisely classify the change- may be thoughts or how your perceive things, within a period of time that you cannot relate to every part of your earlier self. And when you meet people from that part of life, they might have been a piece of cake earlier, you cannot relate to them too. 

Of course, there are a bunch, a very selective bunch of people with whom who you can feel at ease at any point of time in your life but this rant is about those people with whom you have had best of your times and now somehow things suddenly change and it even feels that things just shifted in a jiffy, you know like a hot summer day receiving a swell of rain.

Except that I cannot grade the change as for good or worse because it is easy to classify if it is a rant about another person but when it is about you things look all the more muddled. Well, maybe just wait for the water to stand for a while or just quit bothering. Now, I think the second one is a Herculean task for me. Like my mom says “even if there is nothing to worry, you will worry wondering why I have no reasons to worry!” Yeah, for once I agree. I am fully capable of such a thought.

It's a small world after all

I must be suffering from dementia. I usually self-diagnose having a medical condition only when I read about it during exams (that’s the only time I read). But this one I am pretty sure of the signs. How else can I forget someone who I had known for years? Of course, we have not been in touch after my school days but still how can I not even recognize her?  It should be dementia, I concluded.

Image credits: yhqg.wordpress.com

It is rather embarrassing when you bump into someone on  a road and the other person shows signs of recognizing you with a genuine smile on their face and all you manage is a sheepish smile. You rack your brain thinking hard if you actually know them somehow. Yeah! This is exactly what happened to me. Worse, my mom who was along with me recognizes her but I had no clue about the person standing next to me.
 

Actually I was saved because of my mom. My friend (so what if we are not in touch for a decade?) calls me out my name and asks what’s up with my life and  all I was wishing was that she would give me  some clue regarding who she is. Thankfully my mom mentioned her name while conversing with her otherwise I would have been a goner.
 

Image courtesy: istockphoto.com

It is good to meet people whom you were acquainted with after ages. Just a mere sight of them, after you recognize them like in my case, brings you delight. Like this girl, we had been living in the same locality, studying in nearby schools, going to the same tuition and sometimes had even traveled together. The sheer joy of seeing a person from my happy go lucky days overwhelmed me.
 

A few conversations later I came to know she is my friend’s (with whom I still in touch) sister-in-law. I was surprised. Like a stupid I asked if she is married to her only brother. Come on! I was surprised and shocked bundled with joy. She must have probably thought this girl has not improved even a bit but instead just laughed and told “Yes, I am married to Rakesh”.
 

Wow! All these days, I have been inquiring my friend about her bhabi (sis-in-law) not having even a slightest clue that I know this very girl in person since I was in 5th standard. Now what can I say? We exchanged numbers and I searched her on Facebook and added her. Now we will surely stay connected. Thanks to the technology.
 

This, however, made my day. It made me wonder how small this world is even without the mobile phones and tablets which claim to be shrinking the world. How people can be connected far and wide even without these technologies. It indeed is a small tiny world out there, isn’t it?

Hold on!

"If you're feeling low, don't despair. The sun has a sinking spell every night, but it comes back up every morning. The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."

~ Dolly Parton 

Photo credits: anvari.org

 On a wonderful day, this quote makes perfect sense. On a nice day, this is exactly the kind of life I would want to lead. Never, never give up! Oh yeah, pretty simple. I can surely hold on when things seem worst.

Consider the other side. When I am going through turbulent phases, I ask "hold on, for what? No thank you, I am having a tough time as it is". 

Photo credit: wallpapers-diq.com

I remember the tea cup story during these times. That is when I try desperately and succeed in clearing the dark clouds in my mind.  A speaker had recited this story when I was in school and somehow I have hold on this story. It may not reduce our despair or  make our times better. This story, however, offers a nice perspective on tough struggles or should I say they make you feel "may be I should hold on, its not over yet!"

 I do not know the origin of the story or who the author is but its a nice read anyway. Its a pretty long story but definitely worth a read.

There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups and  this was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup.They said, "May we see that? We've never seen something so beautiful." As the lady handed it to them, suddenly I (the teacup) spoke. "You don't understand. I haven't always been a teacup".

 

There was a time when I was red and I was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, "let me alone", but he only smiled, "Not yet."

"Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the teacup said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around and around.Stop it! I'm getting dizzy!" I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, 'Not yet.'

Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as He shook his head, 'Not yet.'

Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. 'There, that's better,' I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. "Stop it, stop it!' I cried. He only nodded, 'Not yet.'

Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, 'Not yet.'

Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, 'Look at yourself.And I did. I said, 'That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful.'

'I want you to remember, then,' he said, 'I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you'd have dried up'.

I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked.

I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have had any color in your life. And if I hadn't put you back in that second oven,you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you. 

 

Moral of the story

Consider yourself as clay. You turbulent and struggling times are like what a tea cup under goes. If you just hold on to the end, you might become a beautiful, wiser, stronger person just like the tea cup. The key is to Never ever give up- you do not know how close you are.

When your mind is tumbling, when you can't return the smile but only sigh. When you can't  be thankful any more but only doubtful. That is when you need to rest  to get your perspective right but not quit yet.

Story credit: Beautiful Thought on Life and Love

A long cherished wish fulfilled and a few lessons learnt

Many people I know make a list of what they want to do and work accordingly, what do we call them? Ah, yes meticulous planners! (such people do still exist). I always think of planning and have fervently tried making such list without any success. And when I don't stick to such plans, I try to rationalize my laziness (or thoughtfulness) saying that I am must be destined to do better things!

But there are few wishes that are buried deep inside you and silently without any conscious effort you work  on them. Am I right? It could be anything very silly  like most of my wishes or very serious.So I do have a handful of wishes. Yeah,  I am not being modest. :)

One of my wishes! Yet to unfold :)

So this is about one such wish whose seeds were planted in my mind?? or heart??or may be both !!from the time I was some single digit old. Like Chetan Bhagat had mentioned (or ridiculed) in Two States that Tamilians are obsessed with The Hindu.Uff, not the religion but the newspaper!

True, from the time I was studying 3rd-4th standard till I finished school, I do not remember a day where I did not read The Hindu and I had/have my own style reading it. Only, I can come up with such stuff. Sorry, Did I say only me? Not at all, I do know some one who does it the same way. My style, as I call it, is reading the paper starting from the sports column which is the last page. Only then do I have the satisfaction of reading a newspaper. 

So what happened after school? Actually the television media took over the print media temporarily (for me at least) from the time I was in 8th or 9th and moved on to become my only source of new when I entered college. I was fascinated, inspired by them and the charm is wearing slowly even as I write this post. But my love for The Hindu has just grown stronger. Thanks to my two years of post-graduation where I did not have the luxury of television.

Ok now I have tried to establish my love for this newspaper where does my wish come here? I have always had this silly but ever hopeful wish to see my name printed in The Hindu. One of my friend had mocked saying that your name would come in the paper but only in obituary column and sadly you would not be alive to see it. I did feel slightly crestfallen hearing that.

This morning I called that friend to ask her to check The Metro plus (a supplement of The Hindu) and she did when I was still speaking to her over the phone. She offered her congratulations and wow. I was kind enough to return my thanks but also added that its unfortunate isn't it that it is not the obituary column. It was my idea of sweet revenge and she was dumb folded. May be I was rude.

So here is the link to my recipe that was published in The Hindu. Yey! I was ecstatic to see my name printed and even foolishly thought my life can end today which I think must be the side-effect of watching too many melodramatic movies.

I sent this recipe a long time back and never expected it to be published today. Sometimes life doesn't give us a ride in our familiar and trusted route, right? Still you land up in the right place or may be even a better one that what you had in your mind. You plant the seeds of good deeds today and it take years to grow into a tree full of all that you want. Yesterday I was all down and put for some reason and today it seemed to be just the opposite. Also, how we sometimes consider others as good for nothing when indeed every flower has its own appeal. Most importantly, I realized today that patience is a virtue which is taught and achieved only with time. I am still asking time to teach me.

Optimistic Celebration!!!

 Most people would say I am too young to write about this topic. Nevertheless, this is my forum right? So here it goes...

 I have always wondered how is it possible to leave all you have, once for all and walk out with somebody to stay there, most probably for the rest of your life. I wouldn't be exaggerating if I say, it actually scares the hell out of me to even think about it. It takes a great commitment not only with another person but yourself to compromise, adjust and live in a new world, however hard you have prepared for the unknown. Moreover, if you are one of those who had a nicely visible line called personal space drawn all this while, you an understand the further difficulties.

I am always in a confused state whenever I think about this future aspect of my life. The pessimist I am, at least in this case, it does give me some hope when I see people who have made through their thick and thins for about 25 years. sigh! and its a plus when you have seen them all through your life. So cheers to them! Let me dwell on this hope for sometime before more serious questions and uncertainties cross my mind again.

Oh and below is the cake (my ridiculous cooking skills, of course) made for a couple without whom I wouldn't have even existed, literally! Cheers to them.

  

To think about it, nothing comes in a perfect package! Compromise, love, commitment, selflessness, contentment, patience, trust are those that wraps the package into a nice present. Indeed, sometimes they seem to the essence of happiness. What say?

Awesome thoughts

Five awesome things, I learned from people who changed the way I think, for good!

1. You do not have to keep fretting about all the people who walked out of your life. If they have walked out,  it just means they never were meant to be part of your life. It is okay take a part of blame but not make your life miserable by repeatedly thinking of it. I love this quote from one of my favourite movies My big fat Greek wedding (It is  a lovely movie, I should say)

 Do not let your past dictate who you are, let it be a part of who you will become

2. Live for the moment (I know everyone say that). But try doing the following- 

-Choose a day

- Whenever you are thinking about your future, note it down. Oh don't worry, note it down even in your mobile.

- At the end of the day, check how many times did you think about the uncertain future and the number of times you were worried thinking about it. So you see...(if you have not, hats off!!!)

There is a proverb in tamil which loosely translates "Only in the sun, do you know the worth of shade"

I do it most of the times. Only when something ends, do I realise the worth of it.

Instead say thanks to people who made your day. Some one should have made you laugh, made you feel good, re-assured you, when you badly needed it. You may actually feel very good about the kindness they showed, but instead say to them what you feel. Huh?! Oh yeah! we really do not say what we feel most of the time, do we?

3. Just because your life is not taking directions as you instructed it does not mean its unfair to you. Your directions could be one way or worse no-entry. Imagine! Sooner or later, you will know whatever happens, happen for good and once you start believing it, your life is a song (yeah, the secret effect!) I am reminded of a speech by Mylswami Annadurai (who made the Chandrayaan possible) what is chandrayaan?, oh! forget it and move on.   Its again in Tamil, wow! for someone who cannot even write properly in Tamil this is good! So he says Success is not only achieving things you aim for, you are successful if you manage to stay happy with all you have. What a thought!

4. It is never about the other person. Yes, if you are not feeling good, you alone are responsible for it. No matter what your best friend, parents or anyone else says is going to matter. Again, if you think you are not feeling good because of action/denial/ behaviour of another person or  an event, sorry again you are responsible for it. How on earth  is that possible? Oh yeah ! it is. If you are going to feel bitter, take revenge or be doomed, its again your life you have decided to spoil. Like Jesus Christ says"Ask and you shall be given". You shower love, care and affection, sooner or later, will be given and may be more.

5. Read, read and read. One of my friend, inspired me to start reading. We are not even in touch now, but whenever i finish reading a book, I say thanks to her.

 When you give a person a book, you give them a possibility of a whole new life

And I can t agree more! Reading gives you a chance to get into an unknown world and make you realise some beautiful things without even experiencing it. 

And I sign off with this wonderful dialogue from Harry Potter books series

It is our choices that show who we are far more than our abilities

P.S: Thank you, to all those who made me realize these wonderful things to live by. 

Picture Source:crabbycox