RESPECT

I know it's been quite some time since I have written here. Being tied up with some things in Life. However, today, despite the fact that it's a weekend evening and the fact that I would love to do nothing other than crawl back into my bed & basically do nothing, I know that I would not rest till I wrote down what is on my mind right now. YES. The most talked about topic during the past two days- Sec 377. Is homosexuality such a BIG crime? I happened to read an article about the topic today on Facebook & needless to say, some of the comments that I read were downright shocking. I mean, seriously, which ERA are we living in? Though we have come a long way in technology & claim to be modern in our thinking & our social lives, is being GAY a crime? Not only were the comments rude, some came across to me as insensitive, thoughtless & downright poisonous. Some people even claim that a person being gay is part of the Western culture & influence. REALLY? Dude, what were you THINKING when you post such stuff on social networking sites? EVERYONE has the right to live his or her own life & your sexual preference should entirely be your own business. Does anything that is not being followed become ABNORMAL or against the law of nature? I kindly request everybody to please think for a minute before passing such unfair comments. 

How come it is OKAY for a man to abuse his wife and children & then portray a gentleman's image in the economy? Domestic violence still EXISTS. So does Child abuse. So does Sexual abuse. Isn't it high time

that the economy paid more attention to those rather than interfering their nose in a person's sexuality? Isn't it time that people paid more attention to bringing up children as good human beings?

 Being GAY is not a CRIME. In a country which is claiming to be forward thinking, Sex is something which is still talked about behind closed doors. What may appear to be different is often termed as 'odd' or 'weird' or 'unnatural'. Most of it is shunned, or worse, ignored. And suddenly, you become the outcast. Yes, the one on whom all the fingers get pointed at. Yes, the one behind whose back cruel jokes are made. The One whom everyone is curious to see. Does he/ she have an extra head or two? My humble request to these people would be PLEASE grow up. As human beings, we all have the freedom to SEXUALITY, irrespective of the fact that you may be straight, lesbian or a gay. It is not OKAY to hurt the feelings of others. It is not OKAY to make fun of others, just because they don't answer you back. It is just that they have made a CHOICE. A choice to choose liberation & stand by it. 

Melancholy

I wish I could tell you how much I love you
How much I miss you more and more
My world was you & life revolved around you
But now, you are so far away, yet so close by

And all of a sudden, my world comes crashing down
Where are you when I need you the most
You miss me, you say....
Will this dull ache ever go away?

Time is gushing past, like an unending tide
The waves carry me afloat...
You are on the shore...
If Life gave you one more chance,
Would you come back and be mine?

Extreme Vs Moderate

If at all there was a comparison between choosing the Extremes or doing something in Moderation were to be there, any sensible person would choose to be moderate. After all, neither of anything in too much is supposed to be good for you. But being the weird & Unique (or so I like to console myself) I am, I sadly beg to differ. The word moderate is not in my dictionary. In fact, I rarely know how to do anything in moderation. Be it eating good food to hearing a favorite song to trusting someone. Yes, I admit is shamelessly. If I like a particular flavor of ice cream, for instance, I make sure I keep eating the same thing until I get sick of it. Same goes to a new favorite song that I happen to come across. I save it on my phone/ PC and keep listening to the same thing in a loop. Weird, right?! And yes, trusting someone blindly, if I take a liking towards someone. And more often than not, extremism has sure landed me in trouble many a time. When I am into something or someone, I do so with a Passion. Can I get away with blaming my Sun sign for that? Being the true Leo that I am, dare I blame it on the Lion inside? Leos, are infinitely capable of exhibiting brutal or extreme behavior. 

I have no complaints, though the people around me could be subject to the after effects of my extreme behavior! But all I know is, it's much better to be weird/ unique (depending on how you see it) to being normal/ boring. I am not calling being normal boring or tedious. It is simply put, a saner version of the YOU inside!

Though we live in a Society where being different often gets labelled as weird, follow your dreams & live life on your terms. Only You know what's is the best for you. Spread your wings and fly high, at least once in a while!

Goodbye Bali...

I am in Bali at the moment, the last day of a short break that I had the luxury of taking. As the internet at the Hotel Cafe is annoyingly slow, I will not be able to upload any pictures at all. Bali is an amazing place which is definitely worth a one time visit. Though finding love cannot be guaranteed, making a lot of memories is bound to happen! And you really don't have to travel all the way to Bali to find true love, it could be there right where you are!

Adorned with temples and seeped rich in art and culture, Bali is sure a visual treat. The blue beaches of Bali is sure to get you tanned and happy.With just a few hours to catch my Flight back home, all I need to say is Goodbye Bali and thanks for the beautiful memories...

Book review - If God was a Banker by Ravi Subramanian

This book by Ravi Subramanian is a typical tale of the good guy vs bad guy set in the background of a bank -  namely, New York International Bank. Sundeep Srivastava is the reckless one who would stoop to any levels to get what he wants. Swaminathan is the one values honesty and ethics and would never dream of compromising his personal values. Playing God is Aditya Rao, who mentors and guides both Sundeep and Swami. Standing by their side are their wives - Natasha and Kalpana who turn into thick friends despite personal differences among their husbands. Ravi Subramanian takes us into the dirty world of office politics and sexual harassment at the work place where many turn a blind eye in favour of climbing the corporate ladder. 

After reading the book I felt that there are a lot of Sundeeps out there and Swami seemed more of a rare individual whom I felt was slightly exaggerated. Are there really such honest persons in today's corporate world ? I don't think so, or more accurately, none that I know of ! 

Overall, a fast paced book which revolves around the bank and its employees, from their desks to the late night parties which one has to attend in order to socialize. I would give this a 3 on 5. Read this one if you like the banking industry or would like to sneak a peak into the lives of bankers. 

The Unexpected

Having lived in Dubai for quite some time now, I have gotten used to the many weather changes that occur randomly in the City. And today's weather was totally unexpected and glorious. Started off as a sand storm which graduated into a cloudy weather which turned into a heavy downpour with lightening. And just when I thought I would not be getting any rains this year! What a beautiful evening. Beautiful, dark, mysterious and unpredictable. Just like the City herself. And driving through the rain (He Drove, I was just enjoying the rains!) was indeed, pure bliss. Keeping my fingers crossed for the next downpour.


Here are some shots that I managed to capture on phone. Forgive the quality, I don't think full justice is being given to the pictures, but here goes.

The Beginning

                                                                   
                                                                      The Drizzle

The Downpour

                                                                      Almost there

A Fast paced Generation !

We live in a time when Apple i pads & Galaxy Tabs are being gifted to infants as birthday gifts. And I am not joking here. I actually found that a new Mommy was updating her status on Facebook that her two year old son was gifted a Galaxy Tab by his Grand parents as a Surprise Birthday Gift. A two year old and a Galaxy Tab? I mean, seriously? Whatever happened to the good old building blocks/ stuffed toys? Though I don't have a kid myself, I can actually think of much interesting gifts than Tablets/ i pads. No matter how clever or advanced the kid maybe I am of the belief that kids should be able to enjoy their childhood the good old way. In an age when kids grow up at an extra fast pace, maybe we should take time out of our hectic schedules and just be with them. And I mean physically and mentally. Definitely something to think about. Are we actually robbing them of their innocence here? 

Why I love to Write

Felt like writing, so I am going to list out a few things that are coming to my mind right now on Why I love to write (Forgive the bullet points, but just felt like writing to the point as of now). So, here goes:

• Writing is relaxing and soothes my nerves.
• Writing is great way to unwind and get things off your mind.
• Writing makes me happy !
• It gives me a sense of power. Never underestimate the power of words!
• Nobody judges you, unless you decide to share it with someone like in a blog or a book. 
• Words make great friends. You can create a new world out there.
• Writing inspires. Yes, you may find a flash of inspiration right here and now.
• Writing is beautiful & soulful when written from the bottom of your heart.
• It is a way of telling your side of the story, whether someone reads it or not is up to them.
• Writing is special. It is a gift that very few get, so embrace it.
• A pencil becomes a magic wand.
• Writing, for me, is nothing short of a miracle...

The Perfect Time

We all wait for the perfect time. The perfect time to fall in love, the perfect time to meet The One, the perfect time to get married, the perfect time to have babies, the perfect time to find that perfect job, the perfect time to retire. But more often than not, we end up being disappointed. Is it because we have convinced ourselves that we deserve nothing but only the Perfect. Talking about the Perfect time, does it really wait for us? Or do we have to run behind it like running behind the train at the last minute? 

Maybe there is no such thing as the Perfect time. There is just now. So, instead of just waiting for that Perfect time and postponing our dreams, we should grasp what we have on our hands this moment :) Who knows, something wonderful could happen for all you know!

10 Things that make me happy

The top 10 things that make me happy are :

1. Watching the rain
2. Eating Baskin Robbins at night
3. The smell of books, new & old
4. A hug from someone special
5. To sleep on a rainy morning bundled up in my blanket
6. The smell of good food cooking
7. To bring a smile on a someone's face
8. The smell of my favourite Perfumes (D & G, Mango- the top 2 )
9. Getting pampered
10. When things go better than planned :)

Now that I have started listing out the 10 things, I actually can count more than 10! Like the way I love the sand being swept under my feet on the beach when a good wave curls around my feet, eating Cadbury's Fruit & Nut, an unexpected holiday, a long weekend, reading a lot and lot in one stretch, spending time with my loved ones, a good adrenaline rush from something as mundane as catching a train the last minute and so on and so forth! Why waste time grumbling when you have tons of reasons to stay Happy Happy?! And I think it took me this post to remember that! 

Missing the rains

These pictures brings a feeling of nostalgia, especially in the scorching summer heat right now. The feel of rains & the beauty of raindrops on leaves are all things that we take for granted until the moment that we stay away from home & realize how much it means to us.

The winds that come after the rains in the evenings are the best ones. They are the cool ones that embrace you, the ones that give you a chill. How much I miss a good rain right now.

Monsoon time is also the best time to go to sleep as hearing the raindrops and the slight thunder which comes before the rains are really quite soothing and assuring. Of things that we can be sure of, of things that are constant in this ever changing world.

Love

This is one of the images that I got when I googled "Love". And I felt I had to share it here.

The smell of Coffee

This picture reminds me of the smell of Coffee than its taste. And somehow I always find the smell of Coffee much more appealing than the Coffee itself. Don't get me wrong, the taste is great, but somehow, nothing can beat the smell of good coffee brewing. I guess it's like comparing the smell of baking to the cake itself. Somehow its the smell that lures us into these small guilty pleasures that we often indulge in.

And what can beat a cup of Coffee when you spend the evening curled up at home with that favorite book? The smell of Coffee is often the reason why we take a coffee break especially when we go shopping. The smell is just too strong to be ignored.

And what can beat a good cup of Coffee during winter? Coffee, I have often felt, bridges the gap between people. Gossip & Coffee do always go hand in hand as well! The smell of hot Coffee is guaranteed to bring a smile on all faces.

Though, the health benefits of Caffeine and Caffeine addiction maybe questioned by some, indulging in Coffee once in a while can definitely give you an energy boost as well.

So, here's wishing everyone a happy weekend & make sure you grab that cup of Coffee!

Rejuvenate

It's a time to rejuvenate, a time to unwind & relax. It's also a time to do what you have been meaning to do for a long long time. It may be that phone call, that letter to a friend, that book that you have been meaning to read. For me, it's also the time to get my lazy fingers back to blogging!!!

And so yes, here I am blogging for the first time this year. Hopefully, a lot more to follow, since I have been reading A LOT!!! So, till next time... :)