Colors of life

Dearest Internet, Ever since your advent, life has changed drastically. Actually way beyond that.   We didn’t realize at that time that we are headed back in the times of slavery. Yes, we are your slaves. The irony is we have willingly surrendered ourselves to you without even us realizing it. Smooth win for you, ain’t it? Its rather funny how you have us entwined around your little fingers that even the thought of getting liberated seems farfetched. You must be smirking at our insanity and how you have us besotted. Completely. Ever wondered, the plight of us humans who rely on you day and night? We cannot fathom even one day without your blissful existence. I don’t know how we even existed before you. You have become an integral part of our daily life and play a vital role in our lives. Even more significant than our family and loved ones. We can probably live without them for a day but would go crazy if we had to even stay apart from you for a few hours. That is how important...

Are we (my husband and I), as parents, parenting from the same page? Of course we are. And we always do. Just that those pages are from different books! Yeah, no kidding. We don’t like to read the same books. So apparently, we can only be on the same page from different books. We are as diverse as day and night. We don’t see eye to eye on most of the aspects of life. So how can the parenting part be any different? Not much. Right. Apparently, our parenting styles are different as we are. While I’m the devil mom; he is an angel dad. While I’m the one who disciplines and make rules; he is the one who teaches her how to bend the rules. While I’m the one who yells and shouts to get things done; he is the one who gets things magically done, without any coercing, like a magician. While I’m the one who controls and reprimands, he is the one who crumbles in front of all her, reasonable or unreasonable, demands. While I’m involved in all her routine (read boring) and insignificant activities ...

People, I’m delighted to announce to you all that after one (or was it more?) year of rigorous training from the most apparent source I’m finally, how do I put it.. umm , in ‘motion’. Plainly put, I’m potty-trained finally at three years of age. Well, almost. Big deal you would think, right? Exactly my point. But who would dare to enlighten that to my feisty trainer, my mom. Yeah, she thinks she climbed mount everest (for some reasons only known to her she thinks mt. everest would have been easier to climb compared to potty train me, now can you believe that?! Neither do I.) and is as elated as if she has won a medal for it.   I mean, grow up mom! No need to make a big deal out of it, right? Everyone gets potty trained by this age so what’s the deal breaker here, is something beyond me. Ok, maybe apart from a few minor glitches. Alright a little more than that. I admit it wasn’t an easy road to reach where we are today. To be honest, it was one ‘shitty’ affair. All the timeouts, ...

I went shopping, few days ago, since my favorite sale season is here! I love to shop during sales which give me immense satisfaction knowing that I managed to save quite a few nickels. Not to mention that in that process of saving a few nickels I lost many a dimes. But never mind that. I am just basking in the glory of grabbing the best deals of the season out there. Retail therapy works wonders on my worked up mind, you see. So, while shopping and browsing through the aisles of a famous mall in my city, I saw a little girl of about 7 or 8 years watching me fascinated. I don’t know what it was that struck her the most about me that she was quietly observing me and noticing my every move. Had it been an adult, it obviously would have sent a panic alarm but since she was a little kid I didn’t pay much heed and was just amused by her fascination. Slowly, she began to approach me, came in front of me and suddenly asked “Aunty, are you a Muslim?” I stood there stunned and shocked at h...

My dear friend, It’s been a really really long time since we became friends first. Our friendship probably is almost as old as we are today. We know each other since kindergarten and today our kids have also passed kindergarten. It’s amazing how our friendship grew with us and is still as strong as ever. Today, when I look back at those days, it feels like a different era.  In those times, friendship was considered to be a beautiful relationship which bonded two strangers into a lifelong bond and an unforgettable journey of togetherness and companionship. And ours, indeed, was a friendship to remember. We behaved and did everything as sisters would do, only that we were born from different mothers. The journey from school to being college graduates only got exciting and thrilling each passing year and it was just because I had you as my companion. For every little thing. We were like partners in crime. And even otherwise. I mean we couldn’t think of doing anything without ...

Amongst all the pics that I’ve had the opportunity to click, this has been one of my favorites. There is something about this pic that screams arty. Or maybe it’s just me who is delusional and biased. But whenever I see this pic it somehow gives me an impression of a beautiful painting which I wish I’d created. At least I had the privilege to capture it on my lens. Even though, as you would have guessed by now, it’s a photo of a reflection in water; it comes across as a creative art or vision through a painter’s eye. And with this the ‘photo of the week’ series comes to an end. Though it doesn’t stop here completely. Instead of the weekly photo we will have a ‘photo of the month’ series starting from next month. If you have any wonderful clicks that you would like to share please feel free to do so in the comments below or on my Facebook page. Till then happy clicking!

We have all seen or heard about the beauty of autumn, when the leaves exhibit a myriad of colors before withering and shedding away. The vivid colors of fall are a photographer’s delight and everyone wants to capture the beauty on their camera. But, rarely would you notice the exquisiteness of the leafless tree which looks more like a skeleton without the flesh. Yet, for some strange reason I find that facet of nature beautiful and fascinating enough to capture it on my lenses. Whenever I see barren trees I feel drawn to it and get mesmerized by the aura it creates. For some it might be spooky or lifeless but for me it depicts life in perspective. A tree is at its pinnacle in terms of beauty when it is nearing its end. It demonstrates how outer beauty is just short lived while inner beauty is eternal. It also illustrates the intricacy and complexity within oneself which is comprehensible once the outer façade is perished. Be it trees or humans. Only difference being that the trees...

We have grown up watching movies where death is often interpreted with white light beckoning us to the doors of heaven. So I was pretty convinced that my end is near when I saw this white light beckoning me from the corridors of this magnificent building that I was visiting. This couldn’t be happening for real, I told myself. I started to convince God that he must have had me confused with someone else. A clear case of mistaken identity you see. He wouldn’t possibly want to take me away from my daughter who needs me more than anyone else does. Or would He? And I surely can’t leave my husband halfway in our eternal journey together. He would be devastated. Well, he better be if he doesn’t want to get spooked by my spirit later on. And my parents! They would be shattered beyond imagination. You can’t possibly do that to them, now can you God? A million such thoughts ran through my mind before my dear hubby jolted me back to the reality. I could clearly see his subtle amused expre...

The first thing that catches your attention in this picture is its vivid colors and vibrancy it exudes. Everything from the colorful bangles to the traditional attire and antique jewellery comes alive in the photo and you can’t help but be contagious with liveliness from within. But as you delve deeper into her eyes, you realize that she may be exuberating liveliness and vibrancy around her though deep inside of her life is colorless.. All you can see in her eyes is worry and distress. Worrying about making ends meet. Worrying about what to feed her children tonight. Worrying if her family will have to sleep hungry again. Worrying if her husband will spend all the hard earned money on his vices yet again. Yet she doesn’t let this constant worrying defeat her hope and she continues to strive to fill her children’s life with all the colors possible.

Not many of you would know my love for photography. I had, a long time ago, written a post on the same which you can read here if you would like. Which also makes me realize what a long way I have come since I started this journey of writing and blogging. No doubt, it has been one joyful ride and it has strengthened my love for writing over all these years and has helped me evolved as a writer, even if I take the liberty to say so myself. Yet I feel there is something holding me back and am not able to write as much as I would like to. When I started off with this blog I whipped up so many posts in a month which is now reduced to just once a month or maybe less than that. So what’s impeding the post flow, you may ask? Well, to begin with I am most of the times stuck for topic ideas. Writer’s block as they say. The topics don’t flow out as often and effortlessly these days as it did when I started. Of course I do have my mommy tales which I share quite frequently on the blog but if you...