#Mission1Million... Come and Make a Difference

After say a month, here I am on my blog… where else do you think would I go, eh? But this time, it is not a random rant post. This time I am back with a selfish reason, not for myself but for all those gentle beautiful souls who aren’t as privileged as we are. So why not come together, join hands and make a difference.

So, have you heard of Robin Hood Army? Stay tuned and find out.

What is RHA?

The Robin Hood Army is a volunteer based organization that works to get surplus food from restaurants across to the less fortunate people.

What does it do?

RHA was started with a vision of eliminating hunger and food wastage globally. It has its chapters spread in 45 cities across 12+ countries and have fed close to 20,00,000 people till date.

How does it work?

A drive includes collecting surplus food from their restaurant partners and then hitting the roads to feed the hungry.

So for example, restaurants in Green Park, Delhi will contribute to the homeless of the locality via volunteers who live in Green Park. Their volunteers are largely students and young working professionals. The lesser fortunate sections we help include homeless families, night shelters, orphanages, and patients from public hospitals.

What are the Rules?

At RHA, there aren’t too many rules. There are just 3 things that are non-negotiable--

1. They do not accept any monetary donations. Donations from donors can be made in kind only (food, clothes, etc.). They have a 10,000+ volunteer base, and to keep things transparent they think its best to steer away from money :)

2. If they have agreed to collect food from a restaurant partner / donor, they ensure that they collect it. They work towards preventing food wastage and therefore cannot propagate it anyway.

3. The quality of the food that they accept must be such that you and I should be able to consume it. Spoilt/rotten/old food items should not be collected.

Apart from that, they are all ears for any feedback.

How you can be a part of it?

The most precious thing that you can give them is your valuable time.

What you can do is share as much as you can, join their drive write on your blog, promote on your social media handles and spread the awareness.

Since, it is that time of the year (Independence Day) where all the Robins in India and Pakistan join hands and work against a common enemy- Hunger.

RHA has its wings spread across various cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Agra, etc.

If you wish to be part of the #Mission1Million, simply visit their website or drop a Hi on Facebook and they will get back to you.

I, personally know people who are associated with this organization and I am here to vouch for their credibility. I hope you all will help these robins accomplish their mission in serving a million people on Independence Day!

Other than that, if you have any queries, feel free to ask

http://robinhoodarmy.com/

https://www.facebook.com/robinhoodarmy/

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This is not a sponsored post.

Cheers

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Day 4: Tick off the Adventures

I’m not sure since when but I’ve always loved adventures. The adrenaline rush in the body, the spine chilling fear of seeing the death from so close (okay maybe this is too much of exaggeration but you got the point), the thrill and the excitement of doing things, going to the dark places, risky places… sure they scare the hell out of me but in some corner of my mind I also have this urge to know what’s behind the darkness, what is it that we fear so much and in the lure of finding out, I always choose such places and feel triumphant after coming out safe :P

There are a few adventures I have ticked off from the list but did I tell you, I have a long list? : P

Scuba diving, river rafting, parasailing, trekking, snorkelling, undersea walking, riding on the world’s fastest roller coaster in the world, go karting, cliff jumping, flying fox, river crossing, zorbing, and free fall are already ticked off from the list but there are many that are still waiting for their turns!

Skydiving in New Zealand and over the Palm Islands (Dubai), bungee jumping, riding that swing in Ecuador, Skiing, attend the Tomatina festival in Spain, go overseas all alone for a trip, are the ones that are yet to see the light of the day (the list is not over but these are the ones I can think of at the moment).

Swimming doesn’t count in adventures but its one thing that is there on my mind from a long time and I’m sure I’m going to learn it someday.

None of them is inspired by Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara but the urge has only grown more after watching the movie.

Are you an adventurous person? Do you have a wish list for them? Share with me and give me more ideas… who knows we might end up doing it together!

Cheers

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Day 2: Take a girl’s trip at least once in year ;)

Now, this is something that I plan every year and I have to tick it off year-on-year. The fad started when I began reading more articles on solo traveling and stuff. While, I’m still not comfortable taking a trip all alone (I don’t fear it but I feel a company would make the trip much better), taking a trip with my girls has done so much more to my soul than I ever thought it would do.

This is something I always look forward to. Sometimes, because of work, A (husband) gets stuck and we’re not able to go around together, but the travel bite in me keeps pestering to take the trip even if it means going without him. I don’t know why, but the idea of going out from the city entices me a lot.

Last year, I took a trip to Kasol with my sister revelation. We learned a lot of things on the trip, which I barely think about when I go with the husband.

Then there was another trip to Calcutta with the ladies in the house (it was my MIL and SIL). More than me, it was them who were more than happy to go without their husbands. It was the first time for them in so many years of their marriage and that trip kind of opened their courage for more trips without their husbands: P

This year, after being stuck in the regular routine along with battling a lot of on stress, I finally gave in to the idea of taking a break from everything and just have some time to myself without giving second thoughts to it.

I’m happy that I have that kind of friends who’re there for you when you really want to be with them and would travel miles just to have each other’s company. This trip was to Bombay and Pune! It was nostalgic and rejuvenating! At least for me. And them, of course… I guess.

Peek-a-Boo

It mended certain irreparable things and this came as a total surprise! Everything went well and left us to look forward to more such trips.

Wherever you are, whatever is happening in your life, try to find a way and take a trip with your girls… it will heal your soul in ways you never knew ever existed. And if you have already taken one, then don’t stop… keep this ritual alive and see wonders happening to yourself.

Cheers

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The Month that went by... #AtoZReflections

I sense relief within me with a little bit of heavy heart at the same time. The blog hopping, commenting, replying, sharing... it was a phase full of utter madness and it paid off! It always does! And it always leaves you with a sense of pride.

The month was all about managing my time better, the discipline that is required to carry it off and the lessons learned.

As the AtoZ fever was in the air when the year started by, I had made up my mind on participating for the third consecutive year. Though, I did not think anything beyond that.

As February went by, a dear friend was getting all paranoid about the theme and asked me about it at the same time and I was like, dude... it’s Feb! I have a whole month to think and plan and write...

What I did not realize was this month wouldn’t just pass but would run like an Olympic athlete!

Coming up with the theme:

As always, I was confused and finally went with my heart. There was a reason behind choosing the theme I chose.

It often happens when there are certain things that happen around me and I don’t really feel comfortable about it. I am not that articulate when it comes to keeping my perspective in a group (especially family) and that is when I feel the urge to put it somewhere, to show the other side, to think from another angle different from the way everyone has been seeing all their lives, that there is so much more beyond the stereotypes, that whatever everybody does is always for a reason and explaining all of that to a bunch of people who will never come to the point of agreement, it is kind of futile.

It was all these thoughts that inspired me to come up with this theme, where I thought of writing down everything that I think, follow and believe.

I often hear, what I talk is impractical (for example, my stand on divorced women or looking beyond looks for any marriage or having a baby or not is completely one’s choice and the likes), that all of it happens in books, television series or movies. In reality, it is much more complicated. I completely vouch for it being complicated but I also vouch for the fact that it exists, that things are changing around us and that we need to change ourselves if we want the change in our society.

A to Z feelings:

Expressing my thoughts this A to Z Challenge was beyond gratifying. It made me happy because I realized I wasn’t the only one who thinks this way. With like-minded bloggers, I got an immense support and motivation, not to mention wings to my thoughts and confidence to express them loud out there.

The Discipline that came with A to Z:

Initially, I had close to 18 posts scheduled (which is so not me!) and I was doing fine but as they were coming to an end, I was panicking because I was falling out of stories but eventually every day in the evening, I sat down and wrote the post for the next day and scheduled it and started with my blog hopping.

It was the first time I had scheduled these many posts and I was happy that I did. Writing every day became kind of a ritual that I would want to continue with. April is now over and this is just the second blog post this month but I am writing every day without fail. I hope to continue this way.

Lessons Learned:

What I understood this month is when we have a deadline coming up or a challenge that we take up, we make our minds continuously think and ponder over things; we push ourselves (beyond our limits) to the extent that we never do otherwise and feel surprised for the way we perform. I, for one, have countless thoughts in my mind which I feel like writing but I don’t. I just postpone (which I am expert at) and make an excuse to myself. I assume on my own that the topic is not worthy of being written or desirable enough to form a blog post.

But this time, even the slightest or tiniest of the idea took the shape of a complete blog post. It was kind of an eye-opener for me and I’d like to keep my eyes open now.

Contented with the numbers:

I’m not a number person. Yes, I do feel happy when I reach a certain benchmark but I don’t get finicky if I don’t have them. This year, during the A to Z, my blog entered the 6-digit figure and it felt contended and worthy of everything, worthy of investing time in my blog and the peace of mind that comes with it.

Readers Choice:

‘Arranged Marriage’ was one post that caught maximum attention with the highest number of views. Other posts that intrigued the readers and compelled them to think over were Beautiful Bride, Extra Marital Affair, Identity, Quit and Understand.

You can read all the posts here.

Verdict:

All in all, it was fun writing all month and I am happy that I survived!

A big Thank you to everyone who stopped by and encouraged me with their beautiful comments and thank you to the ones who did not stop by (it only pushed me more to improve my content).

So tell me, did you participate this year? How was it? What did you learn? Where did you struggle the most?

Cheers

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K-Kitty Party

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So one fine afternoon, after a really long time, you decide to go out for lunch with your friends to a place where you guys can have a good time. And all you want is some good food, a good service and of course, peace so that you can make all the noise in the world!  (:P)

There’s some kind of happiness one feels when you’re about to meet your friends.

The moment you enter the restaurant, you find a bunch of ladies, occupying the center table and making noises that can never be competed! Suddenly, all the happiness seems to vanish away in your head!

But why does the presence of a few ladies, who’re busy chit-chatting and playing their games bother you so much? Because of noise, eh? Yeah... to some extent maybe!

But the point is, most of the people abhor these kitty parties to an extent that even if it’s the last thing to do earth, you wouldn’t be in its favor.

But why so judgemental? They’re just hanging out with their girls... Sure not everyone is everyone’s favorite and sure they backbite or gossip about almost everyone, but there’s more to it!

This once in a month meeting gives them so much happiness and relief, of which we don’t have a hunch! Spending some time away from the kids and the daily routine does wonder to their souls! And this is not it. You do know that these parties keep rotating around various themes like Diwali, Holi, regional themes, fashion themes, color codes and so on. What steals the show is the amount and energy one puts in, in order to win the prize! And mind you, it’s the amount or the prize (it may be as low as Rs 50 gift), but that joy she feels after winning is inexplicable! And how whole-heartedly she worked for it and it was all worth it!

Let’s take an example. So let’s say there’s a theme where one needs to come as a Bengali woman. 

Now let’s go prepare a list of everything she can wear and do to look like a typical Bengali woman!

Draping saree in Bengali style (red and white), putting alta (red color liquid) in hands, hair bun, buying a Bengali saree, make-up, big bindi, to name a few!

There’s of course more that they can do with it, but did you see, how much engrossed they get into it and for this, they think over for the whole month. It’s always in their mind, running somewhere in their head about the preparations they need to make for the D-Day!

And if it gives them so much joy, then who are we to say?

So next time when you see a bunch of women laughing out loud, don’t wear that judgemental hat and give them a smile!

Cheers

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This A to Z Challenge, season I’m going to give you a ride and take you to all the places untouched! My theme this year is ‘Let’s see the other Side’, where I’ll be sharing about the daily nuances that we’ve been seeing in the same way since 1990’s! (:P) But this time you’re going to ponder over it a bit differently.

Stay tuned to find out what's more in store!

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J- Judgemental

A couple of days back, I went for an event in the distant family. It was a ceremony conducted to thank God for the new boy their family had been blessed with. Everyone looked happy. So many happy faces and such joy around never fail to lighten up my spirit. But the thing is it didn’t last for a long time.

I met a lot of people with whom I generally don’t get to meet much. But there was someone at the ceremony that everyone was discussing, and I was intrigued to find out whom.

It was a girl in a dress.

It wasn’t just the dress, it was the tight fitted dress and the girl wasn’t... umm... slim let’s say. Well, that’s not it. She had short hair, all colored in golden, loud makeup and the rings on in her hands were more than her fingers, she had her nose, chin and brows pierced and had a huge tattoo on her arm and on the lower neck... you got the picture? Now did you get why she caught everyone’s attention?

So when you know why there was so much attention, you would obviously know the number of judgments that followed! Conversations like, who is she? Who are her parents? Don’t they say anything to her? I’m sure she’s way too forward! And I’m sure she must be on drugs! Such girls are the ones who’re spoiling our culture and the entire generation! And let me not get started with her character!...

While all the aunties gave her a smug look, all the uncles were having a good time watching her ass! 

They loved having such sights at events... at least there was something stored in for them in the holy ceremony!

Apparently, I knew that girl personally. And she wasn’t a bit these women were talking about! Such a light hearted person who never forgets to carry her radiant smile wherever she goes! She knows what people talk about her but she doesn’t care. She knows they will talk anyway and that’s why she chose to live the way she likes.

But the sad thing is, no one knows that she lost her mom last month! And she is battling a war inside her! No one knows the number of tears she sheds in a day and that’s the reason why she wears so much of makeup.

Her mom always taught her to live on her own terms, to do what she liked no matter what the world says or what the society demands, to dress up because this is something that she got from her mom, to look her best no matter where she is heading and every time she pulled the perfect eyeliner, no one would feel as happy as her mom, they were more like friends! And one fine day, she lost her... to 

cancer!

During her last days, one thing she made her girl promise was to never look sad when out of the house, to always leave the house as if she’s going to walk on a ramp, to never let any power in the world stop her from decorating herself, because that’s what she loved doing!

And that’s what she did! It raised a lot of eyebrows everywhere she went but in the end, it made her mom smile and that is what mattered to her!

Cheers

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This A to Z Challenge, season I’m going to give you a ride and take you to all the places untouched! My theme this year is ‘Let’s see the other Side’, where I’ll be sharing about the daily nuances that we’ve been seeing in the same way since 1990’s! (:P) But this time you’re going to ponder over it a bit differently.

Stay tuned to find out what's more in store!

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H- Happiness

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Imagine a girl. Beautiful, brown girl with brown eyes, short but looks mature and has long hair. You can see the dark brown color on her hands... its henna (mehndi)! You find it peculiar because the hands are full... from fists till beyond elbows! But it looks pretty. You like the ornaments she’s wearing. You notice the red lips and the pink cheeks and the kohl in her eyes! Her fingers are full of rings and hands with bangles. You notice the red vermillion neatly applied in her hair and then you finally fathom the reason behind her radiant smile! She looks happy and that makes you happy!

You give her countless blessings and wish her a happy life ahead!

Now, take another instance, imagine all of the above with the girl’s age as only 17! You’re suddenly bombarded with questions in your head. Happiness is all gone now and you’re wondering about her future! And she’s not even educated, doesn’t earn much and in a year or two, she’ll be having a baby in her hands! Why in the world did she do all this? Couldn’t she wait, a little?

Well, here’s a clearer picture now. The girl mentioned above is your maid’s daughter and she’s had everything but childhood! All she’d done her life is visit huge mansions where her mother worked, cleaned their homes, cooked them food, watered their garden, take care of their children at the time when she herself was a child!

What about the school you wonder? They were a large family and obviously they couldn’t afford.

And she doesn’t mind anything about it because that’s what she’s seen around her. Her elder sisters, brothers, mother... everyone worked in houses and made their living. She too was doing the same.

In her family, marriage happened a little early to some stranger, with whom they spend the rest of their life, in exchange for being raped and beaten all night after he comes home drunk and doesn’t give a penny to spend! At least that is what she saw around her.

It will be the same for her as well, just like her mother and sisters!

Between cleaning houses from morning till evening, one fine day she met a boy and fell in love with him. The boy worked in a factory and made decent money. He loved her a lot and wanted to marry her. She knew there were going to be issues about their marriage in the family, but she was ready to fight for her love! It’s better than being married to a stranger who wouldn’t treat me nice, let alone love me, she thought to herself. 

She kept the boy’s proposal to her family and the family agreed! The boy’s family didn’t demand a dowry. And there she was... the happily married girl who had come to seek the blessings of the aunties for whom she’d worked all life.

What she realized was everyone gave her advice to work and study but no one was ready to actually help her out. No one would be willing to take that extra step that would make a better future for her. Sure they were right, and she was too young to tie the knot, but then at the end of the day, she was with the man who loved her and had great respect for her.

And guess what, he even wanted her to study after marriage! She couldn’t be any happier!

Do you think happiness is all that matters? Or should one follow the social norms and do things the way they’re done?

P.S: The boy, with whom she got married, was only 18! And he is young, married and Happy!

Cheers

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This A to Z Challenge, season I’m going to give you a ride and take you to all the places untouched! My theme this year is ‘Let’s see the other Side’, where I’ll be sharing about the daily nuances that we’ve been seeing in the same way since 1990’s! (:P) But this time you’re going to ponder over it a bit differently.

Stay tuned to find out what's more in store!

Read More

Without You

Without you,

The days would be so blue,

No evening to look forward

No reason to pick a fight or two!

Without you,

Life would be so screwed

With no one around to share the woes

All I’ll have is bad mood!

Without you,

With whom will I share my stew?

And enjoy the beautiful view

And see the night pass through.

Without you,

Shopping would be so boring

No company to roam on the streets

No roaring because of your snoring!

Without you,

Gossips wouldn’t be fun

Nothing to spice it up

No joy in putting a pun! ;)

Without you,

With whom will I cry my heart’s woes?

And throw tantrums for no reason

And get my daily dose! ;)

Without you,

Who will point and tell my flaws?

And who will laugh at my faux pas?

And who will stand for me and applause?

Without you,

The Sunday cookings wouldn’t feel new

And my odd midnight cravings?

They wouldn’t be fulfilled with full credit and due!

Without you,

Who will I tease and get all pleasure?

And the endless tickles that take away your breath

Giving me our priceless laughter together, that I treasure!

Without you,

There will be no perfections

Life will be without directions

Without any connections!

~G

Linking this to Blogchatter Prompt- Without you

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Vice that help me Be Nice ;)

So this post is an inspiration from the one at Mayuri’s blog and it kind of intrigued me to write one for myself. How strange it is right, to always hold back to virtues we want to keep in our lives and yet we stick to the not-so-good-ones as well.

No matter how much we curse a few sides of our personality, deep down our hearts, we’re happy to have them. And sometimes we’re proud of them as well! Don't you agree?

As much as strength is crucial, isn’t weakness equally significant to shape the perfect ‘you’?

There are certain virtues that make our lives and a few vices that save our lives as well. As I write this, I ponder over a few vices that I’m actually glad I have. C’mon, let’s find out.

For starters, I’m too altruistic! Always having this urge to help others, no matter what circumstances may be and this has often caused problems for me. And this altruism is not for strangers, it’s for the people I’m most attached to. If at all anything is wrong with them, my priority is always to help them out and be with them. Regardless of the fact of what I’m going through or what I’m facing/feeling/suffering and all the ‘ings..’ :p At the end of the day, no matter how difficult the circumstances have been with me, being there for my people always leaves me in peace and have a sound sleep at night.

That incessant need to see good in others! Sometimes, it just gets too much! I always try to see the positive side... even in the most negative people. Sure it’s a good thing, but sometimes, it acts like a sheet of a blanket covering their devilish side, used to blindfold my own eyes!

Oh! And my odd cravings for odd things at odd hours! Talk to my husband about it, and you’ll know the details. Real fine details of my tantrums that I throw when I crave for certain things. When I feel like eating something or let’s say I’m famished, I crave for particular delicacies/stuff (sometimes) but those cravings are really high! And they have to be from a particular place only. Period. Or else, my mood is ruined for the next couple of hours! I know deep down you must pity my husband! I too have done that, but nothing changed! I’ve moved on.

I love being random. Being spontaneous is always something that excites me. Doing things unexpected, planning random surprises without any occasion, making sudden plans of trips or vacations or maybe a drive in the night, gives me thrills! I find it really exciting!

I have this thing of doing things aren’t supposed to be done! Yes, I have this incessant need to do and see how it feels. There were times when we were not allowed to do certain things and yet, I did most of them ;) :P :D. And I am happy and proud of it as well! Such events have their own share of fun I feel!

Source

Isn’t the activity fun? Sure these are vices, but the fun factor and the happiness to indulge in them is to another level! I love having them in me and would never want to change it, ever.

You should try it too and jot them down. You never know, what you may get to learn about yourself.

Cheers

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#Valentine'sSpecial

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So I was sulking and ignoring him.

There are days when something happens that I don’t like and I go, mum. Period.

And today, when I got home from class, he was getting ready for work. And I obviously, ignored him again and moved on.

And there, he held my hand!

‘What happened?’

‘Nothing’

‘Then why all quiet?’

‘I’m fine. You say wassup?’

‘Come here, you’, bringing me close, ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’, and in a flurry of seconds, my heart melted away, and sulkiness vanished!

I smiled and giggled and looked a bit surprised and hugged him, wishing him the same!

                                                            

                                                                     ****

This 101-word drabble is written for the occasion you all are drowned in! Happy Valentine's Day to you.

Cheers

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10 things I love about my work

Do you love your work? I sure do. Life as a teacher has been acutely satisfying. So much so that a part of my life revolves around my work and my students. 

C'mon!. Let's explore the perks of being a teacher,

One The World knows my ability to talk! Just talk! And what better place could it be than a room filled with people, younger than your age, who have no other option than listening to you?! ;) :D Okay, jokes apart, I always find it therapeutic to interact with my students. No matter how my mood is, it always gets better after each class.

Two Who doesn’t like to stay amongst the younger crowd? Not that there is much of a difference between our ages, but it’s always a good thing to stay and meet people who’re younger than your age. It sure adds a new perspective to your thinking and involves so much of learning.

Three Isn’t it rewarding to see when someone looks up to you? To me, it’s even more motivating to keep myself live up to the expectations of my students. And that adds another sense of responsibility at the same time.

Four Daily interactions in the class, cracking jokes in order to make the subject more interesting, giving examples and going back to the time when I was a student! It makes me reminisce my old college days and all of this helps in keeping the child in me alive. 

Five Sure it occupies my time and helps me stay busy. And this is so important to keep my sanity alive. I know how miserable I get and how handy I become when I have too much of time to myself doing nothing. Sure, it ensures peace in my life :P

Six Taking one batch after the other and seeing your students come out with flying colors automatically does the due. The sense of respect in the loud and clear, ‘Thank you, Ma’am!!’ after each class is immensely satisfying. Along with the perks of recognition, accomplishing the sense of identity other being someone’s ‘Mrs’ is contagious!

Seven There was a point in my life where feeling worthless was the only sentiment I could sense.  Things changed with my work and helped me come out of that zone. The love that my students shower upon me, I don’t even know if I deserve that, but it feels exceptionally gratifying.

Eight And who can ignore the lifetime relationships and bonding that comes with it?

Nine My profession has taught me to embrace life, to consider the pebbles thrown at you as the stepping stones towards success and above all to feel grateful for changing lives for good, for shaping the thought process and for thriving towards excellence! 

Ten There was a time when I used to lose my cool real soon. But with time, my work has taught me to be patient and empathetic towards my students. Now I know, keeping calm and being a patient soul can do wonder to your class and of course, your life!

Thank goodness, I've not become like this :P

Does it ring a bell to you? Nope, you don’t necessarily have to be a teacher for it. Tell me if this post reminds you of any teacher? How were your experiences back then with them? Share with me and I am all ears J

Cheers

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