Teacher 2014

I've been meaning to write this post for quite a while now, but due to my impending examinations (just 6 days away) I kept delaying it, putting it off until all my exams got over (that would be 15th of January) but being the impulsive writer that I am I couldn't really contain myself anymore. Too much to ask for.:P


So I've decided to put up what I learned this year in this particular post . Obviously I cant put up Everything, the highlights maybe. This is was typically different for me. I don't even remember this year in a proper chronology! As in what happened when and then what happened and so on (you get it, right? ) I don't even remember this year's festivals properly! (except Diwali somehow :P) So here it goes.

#1 People Are Not What They Seem, Always.
 When we meet someone for the first time we form an impression about them, positive or negative, but we always do. There are many things that contribute to this impression, for example you may have heard about the person from  gossips. And then when you meet them you already have a layer of introduction about them in your mind. As your conversations progress you form a rough idea of how the person perhaps is.
But then here lies the catch. People are not what they seem. The Sweet girl you met may not really be so sweet- well she can even be a serial killer, you never know! And the boy whom you found Super-Rude? probably he has a dysfunctional family and needs you the most.

 #2 Go back to the roots, Introspect.
When I began to really dislike One Direction ( You & I, was that even a proper video! >_<) I started to wonder why I even liked this band in the first place.What Makes You Beautiful came to the rescue, like seriously!
And then I realized as we grow we just keep going on with our choices without re-evaluating them, trusting that the decisions we made in the past were be right and will probably continue to be so. I think that's wrong. We need to sit down with a calm mind, go over the decisions, and think about it. Were the decisions worth it? Were they right? Did they lead you where you wanted to go? Would you, if given a choice, go back in time and take the same decision again?
 Only you can determine your life and your life is a result of the decisions you take, so be careful, decide wisely

#3 People will Always Judge you and your choices.
 
Yes they will. Irrespective of what you do. If you don't talk they'll judge you and even if you talk they'll judge you. You wear outrageously provocative clothes or a burqa, you top the test or score a zero, They Will Judge You. It is human tendency. The best thing to do, thus, is follow your mind, do what you want and not bother about log kya kehenge. Do Not Seek Validation. You are perfect, remember that.
 Your choices, your life, don't let anyone else be a reason why you change your actions or preferences.


#4 Dream big, very Big!

 Wanna score over 90% in the upcoming test? Why not aim for 100% ? you mayn't achieve it, but hey! You may as well. You might end up with a 95%, that's better than the 90% you were aiming for na? Just dreaming isn't of course of any help, you need to work for it. Work hard. "To have something you never had, you need to do something you never did."





#5 Be with the Right Kind of people.


Be with people who share your passion, feed your soul, care about you, understand you and don't ask you to change. That my dear friends, is a simple formula for happiness. Instead of being with people who you think you'll like, be with people who genuinely like you. It's tough to figure out but then nothing is impossible. Life is too short to waste on people who don't deserve you and make you feel bad about yourself. Never let anyone tell you that you're not good enough, you are, they are just too blind to see it.




#6 Don't cry for something you didn't fight for.





If you want something fight for it, give it all you have instead of curling up in a corner and sulking about it. You need to fight your own battles, no one will do that for you. It is your life after all.




#7 Make Peace with Yourself.



Yes, make peace With yourself. Some time ago I had read that acceptance is the biggest teacher and I outright rejected it. The year slowly taught me the same lesson. If you're bad at some sport or at being a good friend or any other thing for that matter, accept that you are bad at it. It Is Fine. Only after you accept it, will you be actually ready to do something about it. Bad at Cricket? Take classes to improve your game. Pat yourself and scold yourself too. But don't let others' words affect you too much.




#8 Take a Break

 In the rush of life today, we so often forget to slow down and be grateful for our lives. We are too busy with work. Take care of yourself first. Your health and mental peace come before any test/project/deal. Ensure it. Once in a while take a break, go out , breathe the fresh air, listen to the birds chirp, feel the ground, the grass, see the vast sky. Remind yourself why you are doing what you are doing and re-energize yourself for it. Put yourself first.

Friends Perhaps

"You're the stupidest person I've ever met" read the What-I-Think-of-You section of her slam book.
That's what he thought of her? The stupidest person whom he had ever met? Really? She read and re-read it, over a dozen times until it became absolutely clear to her that what she was reading was indeed written. She traced the movement of the pen as it had glided over the paper temporarily leaving behind permanent marks which disturbed her thoughts. Not that she had special affection in reserve for him, nothing of the sort. But then they were friends and classmates; she had expected softer and sweeter words, also considering that this was perhaps their last year of being together in the same institution.
They had begun as any two friends begin- as strangers. They were however in the same class and the intersecting set of their common interests seemed to be greater than usual. So they gradually became friends. Then good friends.
Today, on the last day before the impending examinations she had brought her slam book to treasure the few people whom she actually liked in the large fair of different types of people ranging from the simpleton to the queen of faked-ness that her class was. He was among the chosen few.
Though their conversations had decreased over the course of the previous two years she felt an underlying sense of familiarity with him. A sort of connection that didn't need a formal acknowledgment. They were friends.
Yet a lot had changed in the two years. She wasn't the strong person she was at the beginning of the two years. She had turned into something she herself couldn't realize, any attempt to make her comprehend the perceptible changes met with staunch denial from her side. He had changed too, got thinner, better at studies, had a girlfriend now and was probably more widely known.
She didn't really get along with everyone in the group, she wasn't comfortable. So she changed her company but at the same time maintained her friendship with the chosen few.
This sudden distance that was evident from his comment in the book was actually not all that sudden. Though he had always kept a level of friendship and had even consoled her during one of the emotional lows, she felt herself and him as a consequence, to be different.
Her mind began to wander. Perhaps she was imagining all of it, perhaps it hadn't even occurred! She glanced at the slam book and it was the end of these doubt. New doubt cropped up in her head-on maybe she was the only one who felt the connection and not he, maybe she had imagined the entire friendship maybe she was the only one amongst the two who thought the other to be a friend and a sensible person. Maybe the world was a lie.
She started out of the window and saw the sun dipping into the water leaving behind a palette of red and orange. It seemed to be rather rough, as if the last time the brush touched it left it bruised and wounded. She saw the birds flying together in the V- formation, wondering the basis on which the order of precedence was decided. Did friends support friends? She peered down at the fence that surrounded the garden and saw a gray cat lying there on the soft green grass as it mused about thoughts unknown to man. And some, perhaps, known.

Of Stress, Exams, and Me

I am so stressed at the moment, nothing is able to calm me down. I feel like a volcano which is going to explode any second now. So I decided to vent out on the blog. my pre-ISC are due 14 days from now, ...And the syllabus needless to say is humongous & I needless to say, haven't finished it. It is now that I see the glaring loop-holes of our education system  crystal clear, mocking me for falling prey to them. So much theory, so much theory, so much theory, I feel like I'm compiling an encyclopedia in my notes. There are so many concepts, so many finer aspects, so much to understand and learn that it has overwhelmed me right now. 
I have five subjects, out of which Political Science is my least favorite. I mean I love reading about American Congress and stuff but then don't ask me memorize it and reproduce it on my exam sheet. It stresses me out. I mean there is so much we all know which we don't write down but then we still know it na? It is still there in our memory. A few chapters to comprehend and mug up are okay, but then sooooo many? Really? What are we? Machines? or better, Microsoft Word? I am aware that writing long answers is a way of testing our understanding of the concepts and grasp of the subject but hello, there are other ways too, which are less stressful for students like multiple choice questions, weekly tests, practical application tests, etc, etc.
It is my fault also, I agree, I can't remember stuff for long; like I can remember them fairly long but not like very long. I have to read so many chapters that suppose I read chapter one today, by the time I read chapter 20 I will have forgotten the details of the first chapter. It is obviously common with everyone, but it at the moment frightens me.

What if I don't do well in my pre-boards? Some colleges check these marks for admission and, as if there are many seats for a 'general' student. SCs and STs get 50% seats, students of the state get 10% . Considering that there are 60 seats, 60% are already reserved, so I have to compete in the remaining 24 seats where students from all over the country are applying?! Not that I doubt my abilities or my getting into a good college but then it scares me. Other colleges take boards marks into consideration. What if I spoil it there? Then? What next?

And even though it'd be wiser if I stopped writing this post now and went off to study, I don't want to . SEE! That's the kind of pressure I am under -- every second I spend doing anything other than studying I feel Guilty. I feel defeated, like I am cheating my own self into a bad life. My friends say I stress too much but then there is simply no way I can stop it from happening it isn't like I tell myself "Let's start to stress and then I start. No no no. It just kicks in. They say stress is harmful for me but then isn't not studying, scoring low, not getting into the college I wish to, not being to prove myself both as a remarkable female and a human, ruining my life harmful too? My parents are thankfully the cooperative ones. They don't fret if I get low marks but then I fret. They are my marks na! How do I not? There's simply so much to study & learn.

 I feel better now. The magma is receding and the surrounding atmosphere is cooling down. And also when you read this don't take all my words very very seriously, I was stressed after all! ;)

A New Morning #2

This is a continuation of a post I wrote in February, click here to read the preceding part.

It was her first day in the college and she had, in her excitement, forgotten to silence her phone.
The phone rang all of a sudden and everyone stared at her. She was too embarrassed to return their penetrating looks. Her slim hand with the blue bracelet which clearly showed her eclectic preferences in fashion, jerked rather roughly, as if it was awoken from a long peaceful slumber. Her fingers groped the phone and she rejected the call before unlocking her phone and activating the silent mode. She promptly got up after doing this, adjusting her blue jeans which hung attentively at her waist and pulled it up for better fitting and apologized to the professor in the classroom assuring him that such an incident would not be repeated.
The professor spilled a few words in anger and then said to her, "Sit down."
The class was over within an hour and she grabbed her classmate-cum-roommate-cum-friend, took her under the shady tree which was first among the line of a huge number of trees and was nearest to the entrance gate of the college. She pulled out her phone, which bore enough evidence of having been purchased recently, and checked the person who was responsible for the happenings of the day. Seeing the name, her face slowly lit up.

She pressed the call icon on the screen and waited to be connected. Each second of waiting made her more anxious, she hoped it was good news on the other end.

Suddenly a rough voice shook her out of her worries, "hello... Hello?"

"Hey Sam, it's me.", she said rather softly "sorry.. I was in the midst of a lecture, had to reject the call. Any success?"

The jarring voice spoke again, this time more tenderly, " Well yeah, I called to inform you about that. I got the number; should I message it to you?"

"Sure, do."

She saw a petite figure approaching in a saree with a purse at her elbow, the sunlight made it difficult to discern any more. The figure was approaching them and her friend, being the adventurous one rushed to find out who it was. She could see her friend folding her hands into a namaste, then turn to her and wave her hand across her neck to motion her to end the call. She understood the signal and hung up after an abrupt bye. Her friend reached her within seconds of her ending the call. With the figure.

.... to be continued.

Haider: A Movie Review

Haider 

I'm writing this blog almost immediately after having watched Haider (immediately if you don't count my dinner :P) I was awaiting the movie since long and was already mesmerized by it's soulful music. Bismil and Aao na are way too good to not be favourites.


my rating- 4/5  (go watch it!)

About the movie now.
Haider has been directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and is an adaptation of Shakespeare's play hamlet. Vishal Bhardwaj has adapted the bard's play into beautiful movies before too, Maqbool (Macbeth), and Omkara (Othello) were also based on plays by him. Siddharth Roy Kapoor and Vishal Bhardwaj have co produced the film. The cast of the movie includes a melange of talent ranging from Shahid portraying the young Haider, Shraddha Kapoor playing Aisha, a journaltist, Tabu, Haider's mother, Kay Kay Menon, as Khurram Meer , Haider's uncle to Narendra Jha as Haider's father. Irrfan Khan also has a special role in the movie.

The film is set in Srinagar in 1995. Haider's father the life saving doctor brings home a wanted militant to treat him when there is a crackdown. he is taken into custody and then disappears. Young Haider returns from Aligarh to see his mother enjoying her time with Khurram, her husband's brother not long after his father was taken away. He sets out on a search to find his father who has simply disappeared. He tries every legal option and when that is exhausted resorts to unlawful ways. Haider is then determined to murder his uncle, who, he is informed, was responsible for his father's death. The film then explores the various acts of aggression and the mental upheavals experienced by a young boy.

Haider is a bold film. its a fresh piece of daring cinema. it is probably Bhardhwaj's best film so far (don't take my word for it, I haven't seen all his films) the tragic location of Kashmir fits the cinema's atmosphere perfectly and it brings forth several word-less emotions. it goes beyond the entertainment, dance-and-songs and portrays a story worth watching. the characters are all strong in there own ways and they do not try to please the audience. Haider reminded me of the kite runner, the tortured soul,  he is too. the movie calls a spade a spade. the characters play hero as well as villains at different points in the movie. it explores the various facets of the Kashmir problem and does not, at the same time, endorse any particular way or solution.
Bharadwaj explores several themes- violence is Destructive is the most dominating one. Entire families are wiped out, policemen lose their lives within the blink of an eye, the young, the old, the troubled are all a depressed lot and this is somehow augmented by the location. Clouds of smoke against the pristine white snow, pools of blood too contribute to the haunting experience. The director has also dealt with the Oedipal Complex, Haider is a man who loves his mother beyond the normal and at the same time detests her for having betrayed his father.
the dialogues are good too. sentences like 'Hum hai ya hum nahin?', bring out the unconfirmed confused identity of the people. Haider even remarks 'Pura Kashmir ek quaid khana hai'.
The movie flows beautifully before the interval, no overwhelming songs, or dances and no melodrama. The second half however feels extremely long and towards the end one gets impatient due to the lengthy duration of the film.The music is nice and rustic. Some local songs have also been incorporated like Rosh Vallo; other than Khul  Kabhi which feels unnecessary and needless, the other songs blend into the movie and transport the viewer forcing her/him to feel the emotions of the scene.
There is flawless acting on the part of Tabu. she brings out the desire of Ghazala to experience happiness in conflicting, tragic situations and be denied of it every single time. She carries a major part of the film. Kay Kay Menon convinces one of his finesse in acting, he play the villain and the hero with equal grit. Shahid in the beginning feels disconnected however gradually the actor comes to own the role, he cries, screams, laughs, fights with equal passion. Shraddha does not have much role, the little that she has, she portrays confidently.
All in all, Haider is a must watch for people who are tired of entertainment movies. It leaves the audience with food for thought and is haunting and appealing at the same time.                 

Te Amo

( Gosh, my love for Spain and Spanish seems to be spilling into the titles! :P English next time, promise! )

Love. It is really one of the most used and abused word in our vocabularies. Ask a guy who hardly knows English, he will invariably know the meaning of 'love' even if he doesn't know the number of alphabets in the language! Love has been romanticized, idealized, worshiped and what not in the past. There are legendary love stories, pray, who hasn't heard of Romeo and Juliet? Or our very own Heer and Ranjhanna? Bollywood churns out movie after movie on the same theme : love. Our daily soaps cry for change!
(Obviously it's of no avail. )
Here I'm not going to further raise the status of love but rather present my views on it. They may, rather, they are cynical, but are mine and in no way wish to alter your views forcefully on the subject.
Love to me is humorous, silly. 

1. People in love are always consumed in thoughts
Thoughts about? Heavens know what! But you always see them thinking, musing with all seriousness, as if the future of the human race hangs on their pensive thoughts. Break their train of thoughts and they still seem disconnected. You have to repeat your description (from the beginning, yes!) for them all again. 

Yeah!

2. The wrong people always end up together.
The people who you least expect to see together take their vows of eternal love in front of your eyes! The Byronic hero/heroine gets the athlete, the poet gets the cheerleader, the sports king/queen gets the extrovert, and so on.. And even though reading them here does not make you realize the intensity of harm done to the universe by such "couples", you should take my word for it. It is always weird, at times super-funny too!

3. PDA
Need I say more? 

4.Silly names, rituals and wishes
Why on earth will you be liked to be called "puchu", "guchu" or wait, how about "tweety"? There are tons more I've heard people say. Some force you to stifle a laughter and look all serious and continue with utmost normalcy whatever you were doing. Tough.
Good morning, goodnight, good class, etc., etc. The wishes and simultaneous rituals don't seem to have an end. Exhausting. 

5. Stories you don't wish to hear.
Everyone has that one friend who tells you snippets of their life, even though you beg them to stop. From how they picked up their partner's pen to what the other has/had for lunch, nothing is left out and while your friend is telling you about it, you are busy planning an escape route! God be with you!

Lights, Camera, Action!

TV shows? I thought listing them would be easy but man! This was a tough nut to crack. :-P

Finally after a lot of mehnaat I decided on these ten shows (NOT in specific order).  :-D

1. Castle
2. Sherlock
3. Masterchef Australia
4. Brain Games
5. Minute to Win it
6. How I Met Your Mother
7. House MD
8. House of Cards
9. 24
10. Comedy Nights with Kapil

Just 10? Challenge Accepted!

This is definitely one of the most difficult listings that I have done in a long while. Thank you for this one! 

So here are the books in no particular order of fondness. :) 

1. The Shiva trilogy by Amish Tripathy 

2. Deception Point and Digital Fortress by Dan Brown 

3. The Secret Series by Rhonda Byrne

4. The Rozabal Line, Chanakya Chant, and The Krishna Key by Ashwin Sanghi 

5. I Have a Dream by Rashmi Bansal 

6.  Seven Secrets of Shiva by Devdutt Pattnaik 

7. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 

8. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

9. Our Moon Has Blood Clots by Rahul Pandita

10. The Diary of A Young Girl by Anne Frank 

Random Musings

I had planned to write the next blog only after my examinations got over but then blogging is one guilty pleasure I don't mind indulging in. The previous two months have been very enriching for me. When I say this I mean it both ways, in both my personal and academic spheres. I've learned so much that I feel so grateful today for where I am, and to every little part and experience which led me to this spot. It's true indeed that after the darkest hour comes dawn. The two months to which I have referred above were mentally, spiritually, and physically fatiguing for me. I was broken, lonely and disturbed. Academically I was vulnerable, scared, unsure of my capabilities and afraid to even try. Things change, they always do. I learned some lessons, which I was foolish enough to overlook when life threw an opportunity in path to learn them the easy way.
1. There is always someone to talk to.
One thing that really bogged me down was the lack of good company. The are always classmates and friends to talk to, but that talking is not necessarily the talking I mean here. I can speak to them, listen to them even help them out but there is this sense of absence of a connection that fills my heart at several instances. Not that the people in question are inadequate and inappreciable in any way, they just possess a different temperament. Needless to say, it is perfectly alright. I tried in vain to establish a connection with people I couldn't and failed. It started to make me feel deficient at handling social situations. Then one night, egged on by a mad impulse of mine I decided to do something about it. Today I have many friends, old and new, with whom I can actually talk and feel a sense of connection too. What you want is always there, you just have to look hard enough for it to find it.

2. Everyone is beautiful
This is not a new concept to me. I've always been a staunch supporter in believing that everyone is beautiful in their own way. There is no single and fixed parameter by which you can measure a person, nor can you ever understand a person completely. Why would you want to? To scrutinize her/him? Don't. Just because a girl is rude to you doesn't mean she doesn't deserve what she gets. You know nothing about her battles, triumphs and defeats. Also, physical beauty is only skin deep. An attractive face may attract but, it in no way, means that a person who is not good looking is to be judged unfavorably. Everyone doesn't need to be good at a skill that you are good at, they don't even need to have the same priorities. No one 'needs' to be same. They all have an independent existence, and are entitled to live it any way they want to. Every way is beautiful.

3. There is no forcible need to conform.
I had read up a lot on peer pressure before I entered tenth grade to ensure that I don't fall prey to things that I'll regret later. I didn't. In eleventh grade one of my classmates told a girl who had recently become a part of our class, "There is nothing wrong, just be you, we are all fine with it." It was a big lie. No one is going to like you the way you are, everyone is going to see some or the other flaw in you. No group is going to accept you for who you are, the way you are and let you remain that way. You are going to change, and that's not something bad or scary until of course, you change into something negative. It's fine. The truth is that every group, consciously or unconsciously pressurizes you to change to conform to their norms and standards. You may have to improve at a sport or learn to cook or excel in some field or do something to illustrate your daredevil spirit. The examples are innumerable, but it suffices to say that you do not need to conform if it goes against your wishes and principles. If you lose that group of company, trust me, it is for better. You will always find a group whose lines of conformity do not encumber upon you a burden to accept things that you don't wish to agree to.

4. Stand up for what you believe in.
There are certain individuals I know who have absolutely no haters (not any of which I'm aware of). For a while I envied them. When I later sat and thought about it I realized that these people were not hated because they never stood up for anything, they did not oppose anyone in any endeavor be it right or wrong. That is definitely something I can not do. I'm the loud-box and I'm not ashamed of it. I stand up for my dreams, my beliefs, and things that I consider right and just. I'm not afraid of people hating me (now). You have to take a stand for yourself and your aspirations, no one else will do it for you. People might dislike you for your choices but it gives you a feeling of being able and determined in your pursuits. You'll love that feeling. And when you'll look back in the future what you will not remember is the people who opposed you but the decisions you took. You're the decisions you take, therefore they should be decided by careful consideration and not by people's views. And those people who are not hated by anyone are not loved by any either. 

5. It's is absolutely fine to not get along well with everyone you know.
I had frequent problems getting along with some folks I knew. I was worried that it was wrong, that there was something wrong with me and that I should do something about it. I tried to reconcile, tried my best, poured my heart out to them, and did all I could to make myself understand that this time, the friendship would be a lasting one. I tried and they too tried. It just didn't work out for me. I didn't feel at ease being with them, I felt unreal as if I was cheating my own self, depriving it of the reality when I knew in Crystal clear terms what I wanted. I abandoned them. I left the friend circle I had made after so much of hardwork. It was exceptionally tough, also because they had faithfully kept their part of the bargain and I felt devastated doing what I was doing. I left without any explanation, there was possibly no way I could explain it to them. 

After I did it, I felt so relived, so light and happy. I wanted them to know that there were no hard feelings on my side, I can't even hold grudges long enough. The good thing about this random reckless act was that it left me with a sense of inner strength. I respect those people with whom I wanted to be great friends but owing to some mystic reason was unable to do.  All I hope is that the respect is mutual. 

I feel so pacified after having written all this and also for having the courage to put a piece of my life up here on the blog not only for people to read but also to leave it open to criticism. :) 

'The answers are not always clear or easy: The things that one most wants to do are the things that are probably most worth doing.'
 

.........................................

Of Dresses and Sneakers

When was the last time you felt like really laughing out loud over the compulsive habit of someone to follow rules, conventions, regulations and the kind? Mine was yesterday.  A friend of was so utterly shocked and perplexed when I said that I was planning to wear sneakers underneath a beautiful dress; her face went blank, even pale if I take some liberty. But the thing is I do not understand the mad rush to follow laid rules and norms. Why should I not do something because I like doing it and not because the society expects it from me? I've seen my friends slogging over studies to fetch marks, and not for the lure of knowledge or interest in the subject. Some have even decided their course of studies based on the society's expectations and norms (read science stream) Why do it? 

 

We are all but mortals we have just this life to live, the duration too of which we are unaware of, so why waste it trying to make sure the society is happy, the regulations are followed or that your decisions are as close to accepted by all a possible? Why not rather live it to the fullest everyday, follow your passion (irrespective of what others think of it), do things because you want to do them and not cause it's what is "expected of you".
It's not revolt, no no, it's the happiness and joy to follow good own heart. Obviously when I write this I do not mean to indicate the norms which relate to our behavior with others, or to the laid standards of public health and morality. Nor do I wish that everyone break laws or do grotesque stuff or even weird things that they do not wish to do. What I'm talking about here is to listen the little voice inside you and have the courage to follow it provided it satisfactorily passes the test of reason and rationality. 

We are all very special in our own ways, have our own preferences, likes, dislikes, favorites. So why should we, instead of living them, do things that are forcible norms and leave us with no happiness? I'd rather stand out than blend in, if that's what it takes to pursue my dreams.

Borrowing from Vikram Seth - 

"You may as well be yourself, because there's no one else you can be. We're here for such a ridiculously short time, in this ridiculously trivial corner of the universe, that is we aren't ourselves, what's the point of doing anything at all? So I would say it all matters, whether it's your profession, whether it's your beliefs, whether it's the person you love, you must go at heart with who you are. Not what someone tells you, nor what your clan tells you, not even what an unjust law tells you. Go with yourself."

Click Click!

Recently I purchased a new phone, and the best part about the phone is- The Camera. Yes, there are other good features too but I love its lens the most! It actually clicks great photographs. Lately I've been clicking whatever i see :P I thought of putting up some clicks here, so that i could share it with you guys.

1.

 

This is just a set of hair-clips( I know everyone knows that :P) I clicked to verify the fast-setting-focus-speed. And it was indeed great, within a matter of seconds, wait, nano-seconds :P it fixes the focus and gives a great click.

2.

 

We all know this one, too-much-history-is-boring, not that I dislike history rather personally it is one of my favorite subjects, but then the lure of the clicking bug! :P

3.

 

These are the decoration lights that had adorned the whole city for the Ganesh Puja celebrations. This is one of my most random-est clicks (looks that way too, doesn't it? )

4.

 

This is random-the-second photo :P If only the car did not start moving all of a sudden this *could* have been a stunning picture!

5.

 

This is no random picture and as I usually wave my hand in different patterns outside the car window, I had to get a shot of this. FYI, this is upsurge-of-the-shell step -_-

6.

 

Yes i had cold. :P

7.

 

This is no random click, not at all! The field was open, and the sky was beckoning and before I could...

8.

 

That blazing source of light is the street light, I don't know why but I felt like pointing that out :P

 A walk around the campus yields some great pictures, I'm planning to go walks more often now (yes, the Whole Campus!)

And that's it. Eight pictures for a Seven-day-old phone aren't bad, eh? Do let me know what you think of the "Clicks".

Ask and Thou shall be Answered

Sometimes I ask to see if anyone will answer,

 
Sometimes I talk to see if anyone is listening,

Sometimes I joke to see if anyone will laugh,

Sometimes I cry to see if anyone will console.

Sometimes, just sometimes, I be someone else to see if anyone will miss the real. 

And every single time someone is there.

Low Lows

Although the title of my blog says 'My Happy Happening Life' I don't wish to reject the reality that life is a roller-coaster with both ups and downs. It might sound weird coming from a person who has named even her blog 'happy' but truth is truth! And it is good it is that way, how else would we feel joyous if we never experienced pain and sadness? It is good.
Every year in my school we have a march-past parade on Republic day and Independence day. After my doctor advised me against it, or rather any form of physical exercise, I reluctantly had to agree to the inevitable truth that I had to stay away from sports. Sports was and still is like one of the key aspects of my life without which I cannot do. It makes me cry at times.
This week when the whole school was practicing for the parade, I sat away, tucked away under the depressing shade of the huge Bakul tree. It was no new experience for me, I had done it for the Republic day and Sports day too. The only difference was that last time I had a friend beside me. My sports teacher walked up to the tree and addressed all the students sitting there asking them to assemble in the basketball court after the parade practice was over. We did as told. I did not have the school prospectus or a note saying that I was unwell and should be excused from the parade. That was it. My sports teacher asked me why I was not taking part in the parade when I take part in many other competitions without any problem. He even questioned my patriotism for the country!
That was the Tipping Point, I could hold back my tears no longer. All the emotions and memories that were swelling up within me became so overpowering that before I could figure out what was happening to me, my eyes were already moist and vision blurred. I didn't let my teacher know that I was crying, also because I think crying shows more weakness than strength. all I could mumble to my teacher's question was 'hmm', 'yup', or 'okay'.
The same thing had happened to me during the sports day rehearsals. Everyone was running, practicing, dancing or simply jogging, and I? I was sitting under the Bakul tree again. When my teacher questioned me and began to scold me for not taking part that year and being satisfied with my trophies and awards I broke down. Tears weren't rolling down my cheek but I think the expressions my face betrayed were enough to stop sir.
Why don't the teachers realize that I myself am wanting to run, march, play and do every other physical exercise in the world but presently, can't. I wish I could. Well, I can't really blame them, it is a part of their responsibility to check why and who all aren't marching. Every time i have to sit and watch my friends parade in front of me a part of me screams to be a there.
It seems to me that I am ranting. Maybe.
I'll run someday.

Hola Amigos!

We all have friends at school and life seems a bore without them (especially if there happen to be boring classes that day). I'm going to here put together a list of three things (although I have real doubt if I'll be able to stop at three) that make friends indispensable to everyone of us.

They know you in and out.
Whether be it guessing your favorite color or decoding what you went through the previous night just by the look on your face, they do it all. They are the first ones to know when you are not mentally present in the class but are rather dreaming about whatever interests you. Also, when you walk in wearing the brightest smile they instantly know there is some trouble and before you know it you are down to every little detail of what put you off.

Give you Funny and Weird names.
Admit it, we all have had our share of silly and amusing pet names given to us by our friends. Be it borrowing little of other people's (usually sport stars, film stars, or just any other famous person) names or be it creating a completely indigenous name which showcase their creative and your strange abilities they don't shy away(sometimes sadly so :P ).

First ones to Swoop Down on your tiffin box when you bring something scrumptious
Usually the sight of your lunch box does not attract any spark of excitement when you bring something mundane and not very luscious. But the day you have something scrumptious, you won't even know realize before it is already en route your friends' stomach. You feel like you could possibly show this trick at a magic show which shall be titled "Vanishing Food Acts" and it actually won't be a miss!

There! I've compiled three of them and my fingers are already itching to write type more. but. I'm going to try and stop myself (talk of self control :P )

Bucket List: #Birthday

Since my birthday is coming up, I decided to make a list of all the experience  I would like to go through on my birthday once in my lifetime (which does not mean this time necessarily).

A surprise birthday party which is Actually a Surprise! Without any Orange cake or Pink curtains.

Singing "Happy Birthday" in another language, something like Spanish and NOT Hindi,with an acoustic Guitar.

A different location, not some a boring hotel or any closed space for that matter- open sky, meadow, beach, woods or any other wacky place!

Well-thought-of birthday cards with personalized messages.

Some crazy fun games to get through the day which are needless to say, not organized by me. :P

Scrumptious cute-shaped and cute-looking food which does belonging to different cuisines.

Specially customized play-list with great songs and tunes. 

Chance to meet Roger Federer  or Siddharth Malhotra. :P

Most importantly, great companions to get through the day!

Notes and a Good Friend

A little while back I had a different kind of experience with one of my good friends. It was different not in the sense that it was something out-of-the-world sort of but it was different in the sense that it was totally unexpected and it kinda moved the ground beneath my feet. The Friend whom i thought to be a real, good, genuine friend lied, lied and lied to me just so that i wouldn't get the notes to study and complete before our examinations begun. I could have never possibly thought of the idea myself, it's so umm... Cheap! It left me shaken for a while to even believe that what happened was true! I mean the last thing I would expect from a good friend rather Any Friend was surely not this.

So how does this thing work? I score better than you so you try and score more than me by hurting me and depriving me of crucial information sometime before the examination? I don't really think that is Success or even Competition in the right terms, it's Deceit. If you really want to beat me at anything the only way you can is by improving yourself. What about the friendship? All that was all fake too? When I trsut someone, I trust with no limitations or discrimination, but when they break it, I love myself enough to let go of people I don't need.

This incident set me thinking, how could anyone possibly be sure of who the real person behind the Garb of Goodness was? Was it like everyone lived in these garbs and so didn't take a long time figuring out how the garb-thing operates? Or was I too blind to see the evident signs that lay before me to which I did not pay attention? Well, I don't know.

The one thing I can say surely is that I'm definitely going to be more careful about my friends. We don't really get to choose our parents or relatives or even neighbors, but then there are friends whom you can choose and treasure for the rest of your life. Well yes, everyone errs but what makes it a mistake is the refusal to correct it. I do have some awesome friends who can light up the entire city with just their silly jokes (and they have 'never' been cheap). Old is gold, right? I'm not certain how I'm going to trust new people or maybe it's just better that I don't! Thanks  my ex-good friend!
After all people might take away the notes again. ;)

The Tremors

I had no intention of dedicating a post to this topic, I'm not much of a Geography-Geology enthusiast. But. what happened back yesterday deserves a post!

As all my class-mates already know, it's summer-vacation-time and we have our exams the very first day our educational institution re-opens. So yup, we are supposed to study this whole vacation for the tests! Not that I dislike the vacation study part, I personally take a lot of time to understand a single lesson, sometimes even four to five days (yes, that's abnormal I know) and am usually crammed for time to finish all my lessons. My speed, no wonder. So I'm really glad about the vacations. 
Yesterday I wasn't reading any lesson, I had decided to take a Two-Day-Long-Break to just, you know, rewind and refresh (ya, I know that's abnormal too :P ). So I was lying down on my bed wondering about the various ways our new Prime Minister-in-Waiting could change the country within the next sixty months, when my cell phone rang. It was my cousin and we soon began to babble about a melange of issues. After we finished all we could think of talking at that time, I handed over the cell to my sister who had just walked into the room.
I went out to the drawing room to catch up on IPL. Barely had I sat down on the sofa, when I felt the ground trembling. For a moment I felt I was imagining and feeling things that weren't even real.I told dad that I felt the ground shaking, expecting my statement to elicit a roar of laughter from everyone in the room, but thankfully it didn't. Dad said he felt it too. It suddenly struck me that it could be An Earthquake and within no time my mind flashed images of the moving tectonic plates, just like the ones i had drawn in my geography test back in eighth grade.

Without even a moment's thought I yelled "RUN!" and just as soon as I said it there was a second round of shake and this one was way more stronger. I bellowed out to my sister who was on the phone to run out and I dashed out of the house. Almost immediately my sister and parents followed. My neighbors too, rushed down the apartment,all in their night-suits (it was around 10 in the night, what do you expect?). Everyone began asking if everyone else was fine and related things. some of my neighbors who live on one of the higher floors said they saw their furniture moving. My mother was of the same opinion about our house.
After about 15 minutes of a desperate wait for nature's fury to stop all of us decided to go back in. As usual, I was the first one in. I entered my room to check if everything was alright, what hit was another sudden realization- I was shivering.
I don't know since when I had been shivering or for that matter 'why' I was shivering. I blame adrenaline now (fight-or-flight, remember?) . Soon everyone was home and we dined quietly and retired to our beds after having thanked god.

When I think of it now, I'm just so glad to have gone through this experience. It was such a different zone altogether. It makes me think how assured we are about our lives, of  how a slight tremor gets people rushing out of their homes. It makes me wonder about how guaranteed we take Nature and her laws, of how small and insignificant we, as humans, are compared to her.In all the chaos of the earthquake and the subsequent effects it had on people, one thing is crystal clear- The Earth does not belong to the Humans, Humans belong to the Earth.

How To Read Khaled Hosseini

Well isn't a set of hard and fast rules you need to follow in order to read Khaled Hosseini's books, this post might just help you read and understand him and his books better.

1. Khaled Hosseini books are ALWAYS an emotional roller-coaster:

 Be mentally prepared to face a lot of ups and downs in his books. There is a twist here, and then, a turn there. There are even dramatic revelations when you least expect them. Like in The Kite Runner the Truth about Hassan is so dramatic that it took me a while to put the story back together and join all the pieces together. There are moments of elation, even universal happiness if I may so, and within a few pages you might already start feeling sorry for that high you felt.

2.Try To Start Reading On a Weekend:


 This one might not apply for every reader, but it did for most of my friends. They started reading on a week day and they soon found themselves unable to work, play or concentrate on something else wholeheartedly. Their mind kept reeling back to the book, it's story, its characters and what would happen next. That is the Power of a Khaled Hosseini book, it's addictive and it has something for everyone. So try to begin reading when you have enough time to spare. It can be a weekend or a vacation or whenever you feel you'll be able to read the book at a stretch without neglecting your work or play.

3. Keep a Tissue Nearby:

  If you cry at the sad scenes in the movies or at despairing and sorrowful parts in books, it's better to keep a tissue handy. Khaled Hosseini's books are filled with Lilliputian details which might at times get the better of your emotions. and before you know it tears will be coursing down your cheeks. Also at times, the book will get you're adrenaline running, the tissue might help with the sweat too.

4.  Be Ready for Some Farsi and Urdu Words:


  Needless to mention there are word directly from Farsi and rarely even Urdu. they don't fill the entire text up, and it is not like you will not understand the book if you don't know their meaning. Mostly, Hosseini gives the meaning of the words in the context they are being said very soon after they've been used, sometimes it's the immediate next thing after the word. However, in order to get what I call The Feel of The Book, try to get the meanings of the words and find out under what circumstances they are usually used.

5. Let the Story Flow:


 Numerous themes are there in Hosseini books, all interwoven beautifully. Try your best not to abandon the book before it's over. The story might get slow at times but Do Not give up. Don't try to think of alternative tracks for the novel till you finish it, after all the writer put it all there after considerable thought. So, basically just let it Flow.