Har ek friend zaroori hota hai?

The latest anthem by Airtel which everyone is humming to and posting it as their status messages on facebook. Yeah right Mr. Airtel…each friend is important, you never know when you need him/her. You never know when you are in need of that urgent cash, you never know when you need a help and you badly start missing that dearest friend of yours whom you don’t get time to call in ages otherwise. And then there are those who like to hang out with you as long as you stick that smile on your face and bear all the expenses!!! So each friend is important you see. Yes Mr. Airtel I completely agree with you…each friend plays an important role in teaching you one great lesson i.e. to be happy and contented with YOURSELF!!! No one can know you and love you more than YOU can do. So here I decide to realize the true value of each and every friend of mine and would like show the well deserved love and care of mine, starting from the best friend I have ever got….ME! :P

And Mr. Airtel as you always say, “Express Yourself”. I have. Now back to my own shell. See you until I move on to my next ‘zaroori’ friend.

A Year Older In Advertising! :)

 

First it was Journalism, then it became Teaching, now it is Writing…wot next? No idea…

Completed a year today with Cedilla. Finally able to stick to one place for a year…my longest stint till now!!!

On this very date, a year back I took my first step into this agency. Nervous, excited and with lots to dreams…few turned to a reality and few are yet to.  

When I look back at the journey I cannot make out whether it was a good one or a bad one…..or somewhere in the middle. But certainly a good learning experience I must say.  Not just I learned how to deal with work and deadlines but also how to cope and adjust in different situations and with different people. ‘Cedilla’ may not be the best agency in the world of advertising but to me it will always remain special. For the simple reason that it is my first agency that has taught me the ‘A’ of Advertising and till I reach ‘G’, it will still remain close to my heart. Thank you everyone for all the good and bad times, fights and laughter, screams and shouts, and…yes a lil bit of creativity too.

Did I hear Treat? :P

My Fantastic Five!

One day is not enough to express the love, affection, trust, loyalty, comfort, care and loads of fun that we share with the special ones known as Friends. It takes a lifetime to build this beautiful relation, surviving the trials and tribulations of times, sharing some of the innermost secrets and special moments of life together. Though we mention everyone around us as friends and the advancement of technology and social networking has enabled friendship just a click away, true friendship still remains the rarest element on earth. With every passing day and each friendship request my list of friends and acquaintances keeps growing, still when I count my friends there are only five gems I came across in my life whom I call my True Friends.  Thanks a lot guys for coming to my life and this post is especially dedicated to you as my token of love on this Friendship Day! So, here I go…

To,

My Partner In Crime,                                                                                                  

You are the first one whom I have met out of my fantastic five, so the first letter goes to you. ‘Partner in crime’ because of all the craziest, funniest, loveliest and incredible moments that you have shared with me during our school and college time. Seriously yaar, those were the best days of my life and I know, yours too! Together we have done many small and naughty stuffs that even now when I think of them it brings a smile on my face.

A tomboy with a heart of gold but when someone messes with you, you know how to serve them back in the same coin. I loved the time we had spend together bunking classes, spending endless hours in college canteen and cafes, teasing guys in buses and markets, taking ‘panga’ with almost everyone we disliked, roaming around for no reason, celebrating Diwali and Holi together, listening to our moms complaints about us and then pulling each other’s leg over it. Ufff…there is so much to say that the list just goes on and on and on.

We met in school and then moved apart just to meet again in some other school. And then this friendship took a stronger turn when we joined the same college and the same class. Today you are someone’s wife and the fun times we had shared are nothing but just memories yet you will always remain special to me. I don’t talk to you so often these days, even you are busy dealing with this new phase of your life but one thing I want to tell you that you are one unforgettable chapter of my life that is very close to my heart and will always remain this way. 

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

To,

Miss (now Mrs) Smiley, 

You are the second one who touched my heart in a special way. Exam tension, poor grades, zero performance, no assignment done, yet the smile prevails on your ever smiling face. Touch wood, and hope it always remains this way. It used to be great fun to pull your leg over petty issues and you would never mind. When you and I along with ‘my partner in crime’ come together, it is always a house on fire! You love eating ice cream when the temperature goes below zero degrees and that makes you just perfect to match upto our levels of craziness.

I don’t know whether you even remember it or not.  But I still recollect our fun filled foodie days! The taste of your moms Dhokla still lingers in my mouth and till date I make them the way you had taught me. And that’s not all. Eating paani-puris on the roadside, dahi-bhalls in the market and dosas at ‘Panchavati’, the memories are still afresh. 

A fun loving and jovial person, who beautifully carries simplicity and innocence in her smile and her heart. ‘It’s ok, chalta hai!’ that’s the attitude you always have taken forward and it is this happy go lucky self of yours that I admire in you the most. Whenever I hear your cheerful voice, it brings delight to me. A good girl with a good heart, big enough to love, care and forgive all. Hope you always remain the same and continue to spread joy and happiness to the newly included members of your life too.

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

To,

My Goody Goody Darpok,

Well never named you anything but the goody goody person that you are, I think this name suits you the best. Though I know you may feel otherwise. Darpok, I always call you. And you know that very well. A personality completely contrary to mine, you will always remain close to my heart and this third letter is for you, My Goody Goody Darpok.

A reserved and serious kind for the world, I know how to bring the smile and talks out of you effortlessly. Something I feel glad doing! You say I am your only friend in this world. And I can’t tell you how much happiness that brings to me. It’s a privilege to be your friend dear. But I would like you to explore the world of friendship and add many more names onto the list. And yet not forget this very first friend of yours. Thank you for being my 24x7 technical support to solve all my computer related problems. A technically challenged person that I am, it would have been really tough without those helps. And if you think it’s the end, then let me warn you that I will keep coming back to haunt you for technical helps again!

I like your simple and humble self and it is something I admire in you the most. Yes you have hurt me sometimes but that doesn’t stop me from being your friend. I wish you the very best in life and want you to know that you will always remain a special friend. Thanks for bringing in the sweetness of your friendship in my life.

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

To,

My Friend, Philosopher And Guide,

Once a colleague, now my closest buddy. You are someone with whom I share almost everything and you are always there to listen patiently and guide me on every small and big matters of life. When you chat cracking silly jokes with me, I see a friend in you. When you scold me on my stupid acts, I see a worried mother in you. And when you advice me on life, I see you as a caring elder sister. This letter is for you- My Friend, Philosopher And Guide.

You are reserved and don’t share much with everyone but when you open your heart to me, it makes me feel special. You are my true critic, and I can always trust you on that. In this unknown city surrounded with all strangers, you are a face that always comes to my mind for all my worries. Your presence comforts me and your words make me stronger. Thanks a lot for all the love, care, support and advices that you have shared with me and helped me move out of many adversities in life. With you in my life, I don’t regret of not having an elder sister.

There are few things that I am gonna miss a lot for sure about Chennai and you are certainly one among those. Without you, my life would not be incomplete but your presence has made it even more beautiful and special. You don’t know how much I love you and don’t want to lose this beautiful and loving friend of mine, as I would need you and your scoldings all throughout my life. Be there for me, always! 

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

To,

My Angel,

You are the latest addition in my life and yes addiction too! With you around I can be myself and do every possible craziest and funniest thing on earth. I hated you when I met you first and have been very rude to you many times, but you have always forgiven me for all my badness and shown me the angelic side in you. Thanks a lot for all the smiles and care you have showered on me. A true angel at heart, last but certainly not the least, this letter is for you- My Angel.

Angel. Well you know why I call you this and yes, I mean it. I have always believed in the power of your thoughts and I believe that when you are around sorrow is a far reality. Thank you for sharing all the good and gloomy times together. Thank you for all the small little joys and happiness you brought in my life as a true friend and well wisher.  Thank you for the Saturday rides (even when the petrol prices are touching sky). Thank you for the sweet surprises (Ya I call you a stingy but you are the most priceless possession of my life). Thanks for bearing my craziness and cruelty at times. Thanks for being patient enough to always be there to listen to my bakwaas. Thanks for the Bewada parties. Thanks for making every small and crazy wish of mine come true. Thanks for clinging onto this cord even when I tried to break it away a lot many times.

An addiction you certainly are, and I am in love with this addiction for the moment and wish the euphoria and intoxication of this addiction remains with me for the moments to come in my lifetime. And like I always say and once again I repeat. I don’t care what you are to the world. For me you are an Angel. Always have been, always will be. 

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

I know this is not it and there are many more to be added in this place reserved only for the select few, may be later in my life. But guys no one can ever replace any one of you and you will always remain intact in a corner deep inside my heart especially created just for you.

With loads of love and friendship,

Your Friend 

Broken Thoughts!

You say you want me happy…

Then why you bring me tears?

You say you are always there…

Then why there are these fears?

I show my sorrows and you ask me to smile…

You say you care but I can see it barely there…

You call it love; I name it love remaining just for a while…

A love that you cannot share; a feeling you will never declare…

I touched your life but my marks won’t be there…

I tried my best; And you say not to the core…

Tomorrow destiny will take me somewhere…

You at one edge and I will remain in some other shore!

Paisa Is Powerful!

What’s the value of one rupee? For most of us it doesn’t hold much of a value or the value of one rupee is often subjective to oneself. We often don’t care much on losing a one rupee coin to a waiter in a restaurant or a beggar on the streets but when the same one rupee doesn’t come back to us from the bus conductor or that auto driver who pretends to not having any change, it does make us ponder over it for a while. At least in my case I do. I don’t know about others but I stress on getting my share of change back in the buses and autos. It’s not that I am very concerned about the change and can’t take the pain of separation from my one rupee but it is these ‘cheap tricks’ often played by the auto drivers and conductors to extract a little extra cash from us taking advantage of your helpless and changeless situation is what I dislike. Most of the times you are left with no other option but to let your one rupee (or the change) go. Actually it is not about having not received your share of money back that matters, it is the wrong attitude which is being shown at you by the other person even when you know very well, and so does the other person, that what you are claiming for is the very right of yours. 

Whether you travel in buses and autos like me or drive in bikes or cars. This is something we all come across. May be from different people and as different incidents. Losing money to someone or something is not a big deal. You don’t have to be rich either. For what are you losing it and for whom, is what matters the most. It’s not about stinginess too. It is about spending money at the right place and at the right person who deserves it. 

Money doesn’t hold any value in itself. The value lies in the matter it is subjected to. Losing a small amount on something worthless brings regret while losing money on something or someone worth brings contentment.  Because when you lose your money, however small or big it is, to someone who shows the gratitude and values your care, the losing turns out into a rewarding experience. But those who don’t show any gratitude towards your money or you, they don’t hold any right to own your money either. An experience you often had to repent for.

Just a sincere apology and some softly spoken words are enough to make the other person understand that your intentions are true but just the circumstances are not letting you follow your mind. Yet people often forget to show this small gesture of gratitude and then curse you for nagging about your money. What they fail to understand is that when true and kind words are spoken from the heart, they are bound to make the other heart reciprocate the same. And certainly it does. But an egoistic mind often overshadows the compassion and care hidden inside the heart rooting rigidness leading to broken chords.

Today, like most of my days, the auto driver whose auto I got into didn’t have any change. But this time I let my money go. Looking at his sincere struggle to give me back my well-deserved share of change made me change my mind and yes the mindset too. Though the words were the same, the intention differed. 

“Sorry I don’t have any change”, He told. 

He was enquiring with his fellow auto drivers in the stand for change and was searching hard to get some chillers left hidden inside his trouser pockets to give me back the change. 

When he tried hard and still could not find any change, he asked me,

“Do you have change?” 

I searched inside my purse.

“No”, I replied.

With disappointment on his face, he said, “Ok take it from me tomorrow”. 

I smiled and told him, “It’s ok, you can keep the change”. 

“No take it from me tomorrow”, he replied.

I smiled again at this old man with grey hairs one last time and left the place to catch my bus. I know tomorrow I will get into some other auto and perhaps will never meet him again. All I know is that he was not lying and he genuinely wanted to return me the change but could not do so. And it is this sincere effort by him that made me happy for having not received the change back. Sometimes losing helps you gain happiness!:)

Surprise Surprise!!! :D

Like most of us (except the workaholics among us) I too hate weekdays. Just the thought of going to office makes the lazy self of mine dominate my mind. On top of it is the distance from my workplace to my home that saps my energy levels and makes me exhaust in the beginning of the day itself. And when the mind is struggling between the thought of distance, chaotic traffic conditions, intolerable climatic conditions and unsupported psychological conditions, one face emerges on my mind and helps me regain the lost energy and renews my senses to help me restart another working day…no it’s not the divine energy of almighty I am talking about here…it is something more mightier…it’s the FACE OF MY BOSS!!!...A frowned one of course. :P And I kick started my journey of another day to my office amidst the noisy crowd, the maddening traffic, the scorching sun, the fast moving time and the thought of getting late to office as usual. And then time stopped as I came across an angelic surprise on the way. A surprise, good enough to bring a smile on my face and gracious enough to fill my heart with joy and happiness. Now who cares if I am late by few more minutes…I want to relish each and every moment of this precious gift that just made my day…thanks a lotttttttttttt!!! :D :D

कुछ दिल से...

तेरे बिना हम जी ना सकेंगे...ये तो कभी कहा नहीं 

पर जो तू साथ होता तो ज़िन्दगी के माइने कुछ और होते...

ज़िन्दगी तेरे बिन बेमाइने तो नहीं होगी 

पर जो तू साथ देता तो ज़िंदगी के माइने ही कुछ और होते... 

याद आता है वो बीता हुआ पल...बस कल ही की तो बात थी 

एक बार फिर वो पल जीने को जी चाहता है...

एक बार फिर तुझे गले लगाने को जी चाहता है...

जानती हूँ अब ये मुमकिन नहीं 

पर ये दिल नादान सिर्फ तुझे मिलने को चाहता है...

ढूँढती रहती है ये आँखे तुझे 

शायद किसी गली, किसी सड़क पर तू फिर मिल जाए 

हर एक अजनबी मैं सिर्फ तेरी पहचान चाहता है...

One Day...

One day everything will change

The situation…The emotion...The affection

One day everything will change

The prayer...The care…The share

One day everything will change

The feelings…The dealings…The callings

One day everything will change
You...Me...And the world around

One day everything will change

And will change for the good

For the goodness of now and forever :)

Shoeing It Off!!!

Sometimes buses are crowded…sometimes buses are very crowded…and there are times when buses are very very crowded…but this is the daddy of all!!!

Chivalrous Anyone?

This is to inform all the men in Chennai that the last rows in MTC Buses are reserved for ladies and kindly vacate the seats when a woman urges you to do so.

Nothing is more annoying than when you have to get inside a crowded bus and plead to the men seated on the 'reserved for ladies only' seats at the last row to vacate or even worse when you see the elderly females trying to find a place to stand with great difficulty while the handsome hunk adamantly sitting on the reserved seat turns a deaf ear to their weak protests. Dude, however cool you try to showoff, your entire ‘cool’ quotient goes down when you miss out on the gentlemanliness in your behavior because beauties with brains still prefer chivalrous men who show respect towards women.