Friday, September 27, 2013

Bottle Full Of Emotions...

Bottled up


So this one fine day, I find sea shells tucked away in my closet. I remember keeping them safe so that I will come up with some idea to use them in a beautiful way someday. And that idea struck me that same day. So I ask V if we can execute it, and he was more than happy to take part in it.

Although we've reached only half through, we coloured the bottle in this beautiful aqua-blue. And as I was reading one day, there was a ray of sunlight which made me bring this bottle to be kept against it. I love the effect it has created!

The colour, apt to its name, gives a reflection of water inside it... It made me think on how sometimes we bottle up things inside us. The emotions seem to flow smooth as water, and all we have to do is vent out to the right person. Look at the brighter side - it brings out the best in you, sheds you of the assumptions you have, and makes you look beautiful...bringing out the true colours.

Though it's not as easy as it sounds (for me, at least), all we have to do is let go...

Monday, September 23, 2013

The Smaller Picture

It's a beautiful weather here in Nagpur since a few days and I was walking to my in-laws' place today when some good thoughts struck me.

- How great it has been to have such good friends around, both old and new.
- It feels awesome to know friends relate you to good things in life.
- How enormously lucky I have been to be married to a person who I fell in love with, and who loves me back.
- I have been able to work in an off-beat career.
- I am finding so much time to read and relax.
- I am trying to be better at things, every day.

Oh how I love it when I'm happy :)





Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The Everyday Ritual

I don't know why I recall this incident today particularly, but I got reminded of it this morning. When V leaves for office everyday, it is a ritual that I stand in the balcony, till he leaves. Pretty much like any other wife I guess. 

He goes near his bike, adores it for a while and patiently pulls it out. And his part of the ritual is that he should look up at me and wave, before he drives off to office. It's become such a habit now, for both of us! So this one day, a few weeks back, he forgot to look up at me and drove off! I was surprised and felt bad that he left without completing the most important part of his ritual (no, not adoring the bike :P)! A few seconds later, I see him pushing his bike backwards to look and wave at me :) And I laughed heartily while looking at him :)

I doted on that incident that whole day, and I fall in love with V all over again, today :'-)


Thursday, August 1, 2013

A Closet Full Of Memories And Life!

My books have been lying on the table at my in-laws' house. I noticed how they have reduced the space at the table and decided to line them up in V's shelf. As I started taking out books to make space for new ones, there was this whole line of V's books from school and college behind this visible line! I smiled instantly, my geek! He has preserved everything that he has learnt. I find that to be very adorable. But this activity also made me want to clean the whole of his shelf. And so began the annual cleaning ritual; only this time, it's at my in-laws' house :)

All I could find throughout the shelf was books, books and books from college! It reminded me of the study shelf we have at home. All you can find there is books from childhood till college. Though V loves his books, sadly he doesn't have time to rearrange them. Every time I opened that closet, I would want to arrange those haphazardly kept books and stuff. So I did today! Amidst pulling out all his books, I found things from his childhood which he has preserved. A broken miniature van from Hot Wheels (of which I've heard stories from V and his parents), his geometry boxes, rakhis, keychains gifted by friends, lots of fountain pens (yay!!)... And a world which opened up in front of me. At every find, I kept thinking what a sweetheart V is. 

My mother-in-law told me that he preserves everything, even little pieces of paper which might have only one sentence written on them, which I did notice. She also told me that nobody ever touches his shelf and looks through his stuff! I have the privilege to do so ;)

I also found our wedding cards in that stack, it felt so nice to look at them :) An envelope in which I had sent a letter to him during our letter-writing days, refreshed my memory. Although the letter is in another stack, he still kept the envelope! I had completely forgotten about a post card I had sent to him from Fort Kochi. I looked at the message and was happy to realise that I understand him.

After the cleaning up session, I realised how much I love V. That in love, how you have small joys hidden in such small rituals, or closet if I can say! And also how V's home has become mine too :)

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Day 31: My Workspace

It's been 7 months since I got married. After 3 years of work, I wanted to take a break and be a housewife for a while. Because of this wonderful opportunity, my home became my work space. And since I keep visiting my in-laws, I have two work space! Today I am at my in-laws' house, and this below is my favourite spot since I get to sit by the window :)




This is for the July Photo A Day Challenge. Today's prompt is Workspace. With this, the challenge ends today!



Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Day 30: Friendship Is...

Among a lot of things, friendship is also about friends coming home just to wish your mom on her birthday and bringing a huge bouquet of flowers for her :)




--------------------

This is for the July Photo A Day Challenge. Today's prompt is Friendship.



Day 29: My Perspective...

I don't know if this qualifies for the theme of the July Photo A Day Challenge, day 29 - perspective - but this is the best shot I have! This is a small rivulet near V's grandfather's house in Kerala. Whenever I look at this picture, it instantly feels as if I have my feet dipped in this cold refreshing water...






Sunday, July 28, 2013

Day 28: Another New Experience!

If you ask me what's new in my life, it would generally be updates and purchases about new clothes or stuff for the house. But after a long time, lately, my purchases have been books! This is the latest one which arrived :) Loving it so far! Another new experience comes, yet again from a book.




This is for the July Photo A Day Challenge. The theme for today is This Is New!



Saturday, July 27, 2013

Day 27: It's Black, It's White!

Instead of taking a picture and turning it into black and white, I wanted to take a picture of something that is black and white. So today's prompt for the July Photo A Day Challenge is Black + White, and this is my picture for the prompt.


Friday, July 26, 2013

Day 26: Always In Bloom!

These artificial flowers have been at my in-laws' house since almost 10 years now. When I came to this house 6 months back, they caught my attention. They are as pretty as fresh flowers and it makes me happy when I look at them. An everyday beauty that deserves to be appreciated :)


--------------------

This is for the July Photo A Day Challenge. Today's theme is The Everyday.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Day 25: The Ground We Live On...

Since childhood, I've lived in houses that have mosaic tiles. I know it's very common to have mosaic flooring, but it is one of those things which we probably ignore in our every day routine. Today's theme - Ground - for July Photo A Day Challenge gave me the chance to pay attention to it, again :) 


Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Day 24: D Is For Destiny!

Today's prompt for the July Photo A Day Challenge - D is for...
And the idea for the photo was thought of by my better half :) D is for Destiny, he said. Yes, we were destined to be together.


Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Day 23: Sketched Out A Bookmark!

I feel proud of the small achievements and can brag about it for long :P Thanks to the July Photo A Day Challenge, I got back to sketching/drawing after a long time. Today's prompt is I Drew This!

I love this picture I found on the internet a few months back:


And this was what I tried to sketch! I think this is my best shot :D


I got more enthusiastic :D Cut this out and stuck it on another beautiful piece of paper to make it a bookmark!


A close up :D


Yay!!

----------


You like it? Would love to know!



Day 22: Grey It Is!

I cannot associate grey with being depressed. It's a smart colour when it comes to garments. And it is even more lovelier when it comes to monsoon :) Since I've already posted quite a few pictures of monsoon clouds, I took time to pick this one out. This was taken at Calicut Beach in Kerala... I personally think the rocks make this picture very beautiful...


--------------------

This is for July Photo A Day Challenge. The theme for Day 22 was Grey.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Day 20: Sweet Tooth - A Big One At That!

When it comes to favourite food, it HAS to be cake for me! I love cakes (and now, baking them too :D)! I love desserts in general, but cakes especially; cannot resist one if put in front of me! I love trying different flavours in cakes. This one was baked by me :)


--------------------

This is for the July Photo A Day Challenge. Today's theme is Fave Food.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Day 20: Hot And Refreshing!

We finally visited a coffee shop we were waiting to try out. And I tasted something interesting on the menu - maggi noodles in Thai red curry! They were very hot :D I liked it, though V did not :P (I also like the colours of the bowl and the plate; the colours of flame, no?)


--------------------

This is for the July Photo A Day Challenge. Today's prompt is Hot.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Day 19: Standing Tall

Beautiful, sacred and tall. St. Philomena's Church in Mysore, Karnataka.


--------------------

This is for the July Photo A Day Challenge. Today's prompt is Building.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Day 18: The Number Game... On My Clock!

I love different types of wall clocks. Nowadays there are such interesting and fun designs! This one was something me and V had to pick up when we saw it. And I also picked it up since it is perfect for V :) Every morning it's like waking up a child so that he doesn't get late for school :D And every time, this clock reminds me may be this is what is going on in his head!




--------------------

This is for the July Photo A Day Challenge. The theme for today is Number.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Day 17: What Inspires Me?

The theme for today's July Photo A Day Challenge is Inspirational. There are so many things I can list. But then, I was stuck on travelling. I find it inspirational and healing, in a way. I feel better if I travel often, though my often is not very often! I feel guilty of not travelling when I look at pictures. There's so much to see! But at the end, travelling inspires me to do lots of things - to step out and see the world, to be humbled by the people I meet, to try and know other cultures, to dream and to have plans of completing those dreams... And so much more!


This was shot in Kerala, on my trip there in June. It's a picture I love since it is very typical of Kerala too :)

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Day 16: Shadow Play

We cast a shadow on something, wherever we stand. ~ E. M. Forster


--------------------

This is for the July Photo A Day Challenge. Today's theme is Bottle.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Day 15: Sunset From My Window...

With the monsoon being so generous and romantic, the view outside is always beautiful :) This is sunset from my window...


--------------------

This is for the July Photo A Day Challenge. The theme for today is Outside The Window.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Day 14: New For Me!

When it comes to food, it's exciting to see and, of course, taste new things. My father-in-law loves to eat beans. He brought these purple coloured ones which I haven't seen before (!) and we cooked them today. They are essentially the same as green ones, it's just the colour that's different.




Also, these cute heart shaped chocolates were also brought by my father-in-law for all of us :) He knows how much we all love chocolate!



--------------------

This is for the July Photo A Day Challenge. Today's topic is Edible.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Day 13: 4 o' clock

What am I doing at 4 o' clock? Waiting for rains and loving the weather! My terrace gives a beautiful view of Nagpur city...


--------------------

This is for the July Photo A Day Challenge. The theme for today is 4 o' clock.

Day 12: Bad Habit? May be...

I cannot put desserts and beverages under bad habit. But then, I don't have a bad habit either. So let's go with what everybody thinks is one - tea! I love tea, especially during monsoon and winter.




--------------------

This is for the July Photo A Day Challenge. The theme for Day 12 was Bad Habit.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Day 11: Kantha Work

I have always liked embroidery, thanks to my mother. She is really good at embroidery, apart from other things. Though she tried to teach me some, I never could do it well. Anyway, this is an embroidery pattern from the kurta I am wearing today. It is known as 'kantha' work and hails from West Bengal.


--------------------

This is for the July Photo A Day Challenge. Today's prompt is I Wore This.

Day 9 & Day 10 of the Photography Challenge

It's a good time to cover two days of pending photos :)



I like whacky, creatiive stuff. Chumbak is a brand that comes up with amazing Indianised stuff. Love their products! This was a gift from a friend.


Cake designs are another favourites! I like to look at different cake designs, some are interesting and innovative. This is the cake for a friend's son's first birthday.


Nothing fits better and makes one more comfortable than a good old pair of jeans. This one is my favourite pair!

--------------------

This is for the July Photo A Day Challenge. The theme for Day 9 was 3 Things.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

For some reason, when I saw the theme for day 10 - Smooth, I thought of whiskey as it 'goes down smoothly' :D Though I haven't clicked a picture of whiskey, this picture is my best shot at today's theme! What do you think?



Monday, July 8, 2013

Day 8: Staircases

I've been fascinated with staircases since childhood. I used to love playing on stairs as a kid. And now, I usually end up encountering interesting ones while travelling. Most of the times, they provide support to the curiosity of what lies on the other side... 



--------------------

This is for the July Photo A Day Challenge. The theme for today is Path. 

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Day 7: Monsoon Beauty

With the beautiful weather setting over our city, it is only valid to visit nearby lakes (we have around 4-6 in the city), with the monsoon winds blowing in your hair. How much ever I wanted my pictures to be great, my phone camera wasn't doing justice at all. But I like this one best from the ones I clicked...




--------------------

This is for the July Photo A Day Challenge. Today's theme is Where You Are.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Day 6: Reminder of our First Date!

I have always loved Men's perfumes. When I met my husband for the first time, I fell in love with the fragrance he was wearing. I couldn't help but ask which perfume it was and it turned out to be 'Black Market'! I burst out laughing because of the name :) We still have that perfume and every time I look at it, it reminds me of our first date :) It remains one of my favourites too!


--------------------

This is for the July Photo A Day Challenge. The theme for today is Fave Smell.

Friday, July 5, 2013

The Ring of Love

I love my wedding ring! Whenever I look at V's name beautifully engraved on it, it brings a huge smile and my heart skips a beat. It's like falling in love with him, everytime :)




--------------------

This is for the July Photo A Day Challenge. Today's theme is Love.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Photography Challenge Begins!

Something I had read on Facebook last month stuck with me - take pictures everyday, of anything that amuses you. Since my husband had upgraded me to a smart phone, I thought I probably should follow it. So began my tryst with taking pictures from my phone everyday and uploading them on Instagram and Facebook. Plus I read about it when I was in Kerala, what better place to start! Though not daily, I did click a lot of pictures there.

My friend suggested that I should take up a photo challenge and I thought, why not! So here I am, starting the challenge from today. I picked it up from Fat Mum Slim for the July Photo a Day Challenge, via a blogger friend. So here it is! The topic for today is Red, White or Blue.


A fruit I got introduced to in Kerala. Known as Jambakka or Chambakka in Malayalam, the red ones taste sour while the white ones are sweeter. 

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Silent Night...

The silence of the night, brings no respite,
I wait for a cue, for darling drops of dew,
When a new day will rise, and bring me closer to your eyes,
I wait to hear your voice, as if I have no other choice,
The day passes by in your memories, makes me feel weary,
I want you to know you are missed, you are the very reason love exists,
But the silence of the night, brings no respite....

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

I am Grateful For...

It's high time I make a list of things I am grateful for, the everyday things rather. Helps me focus on happy thoughts better!

I am grateful for :
- The chai I get to make everyday.
- The food I am able to savour everyday.
- A laptop to be called my own with an internet connection.
- The small rides sponsored by V to places I like.
- The fact that V doesn't say no to my likes.
- The shelter under which we spend our own luxurious life :)
- That we have electricity in this brutal heat.
- That my in-laws are all darlings :)
- A husband who loves me unconditionally.

That looks like the list for today! I guess it makes sense to appreciate things that certain people are unable to have, doesn't it?

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Half Book Review: Curious Lives

Image source: www.shop9.com

I am currently reading Curious Lives by Richard Bach. I picked this book up back in Bangalore, randomly, also probably because I had just finished reading another book by him. I liked the introduction of the book then, all about fables and adventures, reminded me of my childhood - just the introduction. I did start reading it, but it didn't interest me that much at the time. And now that I opened my bag of books transported to Nagpur, I picked it up again.

And boy am I glad I did! In About the book section, one line that I liked was, "This book is best read aloud at bedtime with your kids, spouse or lover." Though I did not try reading it aloud to V, it definitely is one of those bedtime books. It's like being transported back in time, where you would sleep off listening to or reading a fairy tale, with a curious mind and a happy heart. Every book I read, I read it with a free mind. Especially if it's non-fiction, I let my imaginations flow. This book has made the task of imagination a delight!

And I say all of this even though I haven't finished half of the book! Nowadays, I look forward to my special time with this book at bedtime. I cannot believe it didn't interest me previously. May be work life stress was a big reason for me to find it uninteresting and dragging. Now that I have lots of free time on hand, it comes across as a wonderful delight, this book.

Though I strongly recommend this book (yes, already), stay away from it if you're not a fan of fables and tales.


Thursday, April 11, 2013

The Ingredients Of A New Year

Ugadi Pachadi

I am not much of a traditional festival lover, especially with the number of festivals we (Andhrites) have. A few of my favourites is Ugadi (New Year) and Diwali. Diwali for just the lamps and not the crackers though.

Ugadi for the joy of a new beginning, the excitement of wearing new clothes and the Ugadi Pachadi we make! Ugadi Pachadi, a watery drink, is symbolic of the year ahead, reminding us of how it can turn out. Its ingredients are also the reminder of the summer season and the new flora and fauna it brings. The drink contains - jaggery, raw mangoes, tamarind, ground pepper, Neem tree flowers and powdered green cardamom. These signify that your year ahead be a little bit of all the elements mentioned above - sweet, sour, spicy, bitter and aromatic - a little bit of everything. It tastes wonderful and I like it more because of the significance. 

Today, I recall how mom used to get up early, prepare Ugadi Pachadi and wear new clothes. It's not a festival for my in-laws, but I wanted them to taste this Pachadi and made some for everyone. Though it didn't turn out to be like mom's, it did taste well! I wore a new saree too :D Also prepared some payasam (kheer, a sweet dish). It felt nice to do things that mom used to do. It made me feel as if I've achieved some goal, probably of being the homemaker :)

And the cherry on top of the cake was when V said, thank you for putting in all the efforts. It made my day :)

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Brownie Points Indeed!

I've been experimenting in the kitchen since marriage happened. The one thing that comes out consistently amazing is the cakes I bake! Whether they're with or without eggs, they come out to be awesome (touch wood)! I am satisfied that there's something in the kitchen that turns out to be good :)

So I baked another cake after a long time yesterday, to be sent to my aunt. V wanted a piece of it and I made it clear that he is not going to touch it since I haven't baked it for him. But while packing the cake, it wouldn't fit as whole in the box, so I had to cut it in pieces and pack. As one hindi proverb goes, "Daane daane pe likha hai khanewaale ka naam!", this one piece of cake wouldn't fit in the box. And hence, I saved it for V. He tasted it, loved it, hugged me and said, "You've become a cake expert!"

And then he requested me to bake him a brownie. He loves brownie, completely adores it. At that moment I saw where I was standing. From cribbing about cooking and finding V's support, to getting a request from him about baking him his favourite dessert - I have come a full circle. 

It meant a lot to me, his request. It made me realise what support means, what trust means, and most importantly - what love means. Just grateful for such simple joys and such a lovely husband :)

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Realising What Better Half Means...

In Sync

As I am still taking my initial steps into being a housewife, I find only one factor that is encouraging. My better half, V.

Three months into our marriage, I am still smitten by him. And I know somewhere that I'll always be. There are just days when I end up creating a mess out of the day, in hope of trying out something new in the kitchen. Disappointed and in a given up state, I get irritated with myself. It's only V who manages to bring me to a state where I can restart and give things another try. When he tries my new not-so-good dishes, the first sentence is always, "It's good! May be you should put...." more of this and less of that. I must say, V knows how to frame his words :D

V's first habit, I noticed, was commenting on food. He has strong taste buds - a slight difference and he catches it. I have teased him all through that he is a 'fusspot', for the instant comments he makes on food. I would only realise later that it would help me in improving my cooking skills (not that I am a great cook or anything).

I fight with him on weekends, complaining how boring this city is and how we have nowhere to go. I stay silent to express how upset I am and he bears with me, trying to strike a conversation all through, giving me options of what we can do. But I shoot them down, just because of my foul mood. Women! ;-) And at the end of the day, he looks at me and apologises, for no reason. He keeps saying sorry, urging me to talk, and I realise how stupid I have been...

Sometimes he gets irritated too, and all I have to do is kiss him on the forehead. His face lights up with a smile in an instant... And I realise how blessed I am to be with him. 

There are probably a lot of moments with him which I would call 'small joys of life'. Something I have always banked upon, and wished to do the same after getting married. V gives me more of them each day. Somehow, each day in a new way (or the same way) he makes me realise what being a better half means. He definitely is one :)


Monday, February 11, 2013

Our 6 Minute Wedding!

That's 'the' ring!

Marriage, a word that has always been on my mind since I came to know love. Like any other girl, I dreamt of my prince (nope, not on a white horse though). Someone who would sweep me off my feet. Little did I know that I would find my prince hidden in a long lost friend... Someone who has been with me since KG1!

As the decision to get married was finalised, everything had to be done in a span of two months, including quitting my job, the wedding shopping, and you know – everything! The days passed by in a jiffy. I was especially thankful for the fact that it was a Malayali wedding as I'd heard that it gets over within a few minutes. That actually cut down a lot of stress from the wedding ceremony. My countdown began for the not-meant-to-be-but-turned-out-to-be-destination-wedding! It indeed was a dream come true when the venue was decided to be Kerala! Could I ask for anything else?

As the days grew closer, I wondered how life after marriage would be. Will it be the same as the picture I have in my head? Our long distance relationship was finally turning into a marriage. I kept my dreams of our lives together, intact in my head, cushioned for safety with the memories of our letters...

When I reached the city of our wedding venue, I was frantically looking out of the train window for V (my better half). I couldn't spot him. Was he late? Was he even coming to pick me up? And there I saw him, walking towards my window, looking out for me in every window. He looked as handsome as ever. I have that memory fresh in my head and my heart still races to think about it... I wanted to run to him, hug him and tell him that it's finally happening, our wedding!

Because of the simple wedding, we actually had no pre-wedding ceremonies and work at all. So as we reached two days before the wedding, we had a day off. My father-in-law was pretty cool about V spending the day with us. Around lunch, we headed for a pre-wedding shoot, on the beach!

All through our relationship, I had been teasing V about how neither of us has proposed to each other. As we walked into the beach, I reminded him. And there he was, putting his hand inside his pocket to pull out the box of ring. I still remember his expression, his eyes full of love, as he was looking at me while pulling out that ring... His smile is something that has always been my favourite. There it was, the smile that I was looking for in that very moment, on that very beach. And there it was, the moment, the moment I had waited for all my life. The moment that I had imagined so many times in my head, over and over and over again. It was right there in front of me, with him kneeling down on his knee, holding out a ring in his hand on a beautiful beach. I couldn't be thankful enough for the events happening in my life.

It's been almost two months since we got married and thankfully, it seems as if nothing has changed much in life. At the same time, a lot has changed for the good. From waking up next to him, to having breakfast with him, to having normal conversations, to waiting for him to come back from office – everything is a moment in itself. A beautiful one at that.

My cousin elder brother told me, “I am proud of you that you took this commitment at this age. If I was at your spot, I couldn't have done it.” I must say, I too am proud of this commitment and the man I have married.