nasha

Am glad old tradition-makers didn't know of coffee at that time, else they would have branded it as "nasha" too and banished it from our lives like cigarette and liquor. Phew!

Moral : Excess of everything and anything is bad. You should be educated and sensible enough to know when to stop, no matter what it is. Stop following the rules, apply your mind.

An analogy

“ Man creates machines. He adds artificial intelligence to them so that they can do all the tasks for him. The machines are created so that they can do all the regular chores and give man an easy life.

For fun, man has even started adding human touch to the machines. The machine can cry, the machine can laugh, the machine can give you company in almost everything.

Sooner than later, there will be a time when machines can do everything that a human being can do. They will be replaceable with humans. And, as Artificial intelligence improves further, the machines may become stronger than man.
Then, machines will destroy man and rule the world.

That’s future.”

This is a story we’ve often heard. We’ve even seen movies based on the same.
Now, rewind the time by 1000 years and replace man with ‘God’ and machines with ‘Man’.

Let me explain.

If we let our imagination go wild and forget the story we have always believed, then there may have been a time when the world was lived over by Gods. God created some slaves for his luxury and use. He kept adding powers to the slave to provide more luxury to himself. A time came when the slave became so powerful that he could stand equivalent to God. God didn’t care because he never thought the slave could become more powerful than him. A normal mistake made by every master with his slave. But the slave was now an opponent and no more a slave. Hence, a time came, when Man overpowered God. God’s rule ended and Man’s rule started.
This is called Kalyug and that was Satyug.

Just a thought that crossed my mind today.

My first almost-done-debacle

As the tradition goes, the newly-wed, freshly-brought-home bahu is supposed to cook some sweet for the family before she starts to work full time in kitchen.
In our family (read ‘my sasural’) the first cooking is not just about sweet but a full-fledged dinner, with all the close relatives or family people present. So, in my case the count would have been 15 people for my first cooking.
I don’t know if hearing this brings a big ‘O’ on everyone’s face or not, but it did bring one on many faces I told about. Biggest one was from my Mom. Somehow, when my MIL (Mother-in-law) told me about the ceremony, I wasn’t that terrified. I think it’s because I never cooked a complete dinner for even a count of 4, so cooking for 4 or 40 didn’t make much difference. I practically didn’t know the enormity of the task at hand. I was calm and just heard it as if that’s something big and important that I’ll have to do. I didn’t have a clue how much work it involved. I casually started discussing the menu of the dinner with my MIL. The kind of menu my Mom prepares when a family comes over for dinner, similar kind of a menu, I also iterated in front of her. I think I must specify the menu I was planning.

Starter: Tomato Soup (for 15 people???? Are you nuts!!!?)
Main course: Chhole (will need almost 1 Kg of chhole. That itself would
need boiling them in special cookers)
Shahi Paneer (didn’t even know the recipe of it when I was
blabbering!!)
Aloo Gobhi (the only thing I had ever cooked by myself. Cutting
the vegetables was anyways done by everyone ;) )
Poori/Chapati (hehehe! Everyone helps you in cooking that.)
Salads: Sprout Salad (sprouts take almost a week to come up in winters)
Normal salad of cucumber, raddish and carrot
Raita: Fruit/ Vegetable Raita (okay, not a big deal)
Sweet: Sooji Halwa/ Kheer (hahaha! Would have ended stirring it the whole
night, still would have failed.)

I don’t know if I was a fool or I was in my dreams or I was highly, totally over-confident girl who thought she would make food like she has been doing since so many lives. I mean, now when I’m back to my senses (read ‘got-some-senses) and I have been a part of the kitchen for some time, I understand better that my menu and my dreams were impractical and totally IMPOSSIBLE. My MIL, on hearing my elaborate menu, was looking at me. At that time, I hadn’t understood her look, but now I understand it completely. At that time, she didn’t know I was such a big fool, and she wasn’t able to comprehend how I was planning to manage so much. Now, she understands me better and I understand the look better :D :P
Anyhow, she tried to help. She added that we’ll not prepare sweets at home. We’ll get them from market.
God Almighty works big time for me.
Thinking of it now, I can only smile and smile and smile.

As destiny had, and as God helps, the date of this ceremony kept postponing due to some reason or the other. Now, it’s been 3 weeks to my wedding and the ceremony hasn’t happened. And, the chances of its happening soon are meager. Finally, yesterday, I prepared some sweet casually for my hubby, and my MIL took that as my first sweet and did away with my ceremony. It was high time and I think she understood we better did the ceremony in a homely fashion than the elaborate family way.
Hence, I was saved from a big drama and a big showdown. Everything happened smoothly and in a concealed manner. I hope I’m able to keep my expectations from myself a little low from now on, and perform better, than speak louder. :P

Smiles!

Time to pack up

It's less than a month that is left for me. Last month to call the place I used to call 'home' as my 'home'. Last month to clean up everything.
Yesterday, I was packing my books into a big box. I've collected quite a bit of them, I realised yesterday. MBA preparation books that I'm still hesitant to give away... novels that I've bought...some which have been gifted to me...some history books that I would like to read more... There were atleast 3 different cupboards that got empty once I finished. Then, Mom came and said "There are a few of your books in our room as well. Check those out too." I realised how scattered my stuff had been.......
At dinner, Papa said "Better pick all these up tonight. Don't keep it pending for tomorrow, as you'll leave it for the weekend then." I usually do this and I know he was right. But, there was something else that was bugging me. There was a voice irking me silently. Something that said...."How can you expect me to clean up a mess of 25 yrs in one night? It's going to take some time." A sudden lump rose somewhere. I didn't show it, of course!
Things have suddenly started taking more time than usual. A bag containing my old birthday cards, has been lying in my cupboard since ages. It's not the first time that I saw them. But, yesterday, I read all of them, at length. Some of them came as a surprise to me. I never realised I had such a card too. The cards reminded me of the beautiful time I had spent with my friends. How deeply we used to feel. Each quote, each line, each comment, was coming out highlighted. Everything is making a new sense these days. Something which is more in the heart section than the brain section of thyself.
It's not the first time I'm shifting things and moving to a new place, away from home. I knew I'll have to pack my important things that I may need in my new home. I thought "I've moved in and out so many times. I'm pretty much a pro at it now. If not more, then I've moved in and out of Noida itself, at least thrice. Then, I went to America. So, it should be quite similar." But, it's turning out to be quite different. Something quite unique. A shifting I've never done. Each object I touch, it seems like this is the last time I'm going to touch these things this way.
I always used to miss out on things and then ask Papa to courier them to me to Noida later. Now also, I'm not going anywhere so far that courier would be so much a trouble. But, somehow, it doesn't seem to be that way anymore. It feels essential that you don't miss out anything.
I think "Love Aaj Kal" is making too much sense to me nowadays. We indeed have become habitual of behaving practical. We feel foolish if we're behaving or feeling emotional. We deny it outrightly. But, we forget that the emotions are the only thing which make a moment, a time, special. It's nothing practical or brain-related which makes a moment important. Any achievement, any surprise, any shock is special only because it reached your heart, it touched a cord there.
But, apart from learning these phil stuff, I've realised one more thing recently. Something I never thought, never expected out of myself....
I love my family too much, and I'm going to miss them hard. No matter how much brave I show on the front, I'm going to cry hard at my wedding.

Rain Rain come again!

Sitting outside in my balcony, under a shed, with the sky pouring heavily, I was wondering what makes the Rain so special!? Is it just the water falling all over around you, free of cost, that makes it exciting!? You really need to be a big miser to like it for that. Or, is it something more?

I think it's everything else that makes Rain so coveted..so special.

The cool breeze, the different shades of green in leaves, the swayin of trees in playful mood, everything is just so free! So full of energy and bliss. The sweet smell of soil which starts with the falling of the first drop of rain droplet, and as it grows with the teeming of the rain drops, the frenzy overpowers you. When you look at the sky, the birds are flying and measuring the whole sky. As if coloring the blank canvas of the sky with all new colors.

Then comes the smell of fried pakoras coming all your way, with the smell of ginger in the hot, steaming tea teasing your senses. As if challenging you to hold yourself back. Dare if you can!

Then the whole family gathers around to grab that one last bite of the pakora and the little extra chai, if any.

There is merry, there is laughter in those minutes.

There is togetherness, there is 'harmony' in those moments.

The moments when people forget their worries and just enjoy the moment. Truly, the moment.

That's what makes Rain so special. At least to me. That's why 'I' love the Rains.

Rain Rain Do Come again. :)

Happy Monsoons!

New Blog Thread

This is a new blog thread that I've created to post my favorite quotes. I had made it a few weeks ago and posted the link on my current blog. But, I think it didn't catch any attention. Do check out. :)

http://rubies-on-my-way.blogspot.com/

Swati - ????

I try to understand myself...over and over again.

My mom says I live in a romantic world. Not the lovey dovey mushy romantic world, but the world where everything is good, everything is nice. No matter how bad things are, they are never bad enough for me to worry. My dad worries how I'll manage in my life with the laid back attitude I have towards money matters. I don't worry if I don't claim my medical claims, through fraudulent bills. Everyone in the company does. After all, it's our money that they are deducting. If we didn't fall sick, then we should still get our money. I keep losing my stuff.

In childhood, my mom used to give the purse to my brother, when she sent us to get milk from Mother Dairy. I have dropped quite many purses. So, it was safer that he carry it. My brother is 4.5 yrs younger than me.

My brother says I don't know what I want from my life. Sometimes, I say I want to study Art, sometimes I say I want to quit my job and get into Interior Design. Many a times I say I want to become a lecturer. He says there's no guarantee that I'll want the same thing 5 yrs down the line.

I don't mind asking a stranger on road for directions. I don't mind taking help from people I met 10 minutes ago. I don't think it's wrong if I like to learn more and more from people, even if they are boys. Just the fact that they are of opposite sex, doesn't make them any less knowledgeable. Every time you talk to someone, it doesn't imply that you've something cooking in your mind.

I get happy and excited when cool wind gushes on my face, while travelling in a bus or a bike. I enjoy the drops of rain falling on my face. I like the colorful things they sell in 'melas'. I like colorful things, no matter wat age group they are meant for. I value human emotions more than the rules of the world. I like to talk more to people who're nothing today but who I feel will be 'something' tomorrow...rather than those who're already well accomplished, and sought after. I don't think there's a single person, whom I've met, and wasn't worthy enough to be learnt from. There's always something to be learnt, from anyone and everyone. I don't despise or hate those who are successful, but just being successful doesn't make you important in my eyes. I don't mind laughing out loud if I want to. I don't hide it if I'm happy doing something. Even if that's not a normal course for others. It's clear on my face when I don't like something. Even if I try to hide it, it's tough that it will escape the other person's notice. I advise people as if they are my kids or kins...as if without my help they would really land up in hell. Or, as if, if they make the same mistake then they won't be able to get out of it the way I could. :P

I like to care about emotions. I like to help and be helped. I like people smiling, laughing, sharing together. I like people fighting and coming out hugging each other, at the end.

With all these traits, some people think I'm a fool who needs to grow up. Some believe I'm extra smart and only pose as a fool. And some are there, who believe I've too pure a heart, I still have the spark alive and haven't lost it after coming into the adult world.

For me, I don't know whom to believe!