Love me like you do

3 years ago they had met. 3 months ago they had married. 3 days ago she fell in love with him all over again.

From the office he returned late that night. Last couple of days had been rough on him. He came home laden with guilt. She stood there unable to fantom the cause of his discomfort.

Torn between a loving wife and overwhelmingly attractive colleague, he had finally done it.  Cheated on his wife-   His love of the life, college sweetheart- wife. A mug on the table still declared them the couple of the year.

Late into the night he lay wide awake, finally deciding to coming clean. He woke her up and in a shaky voice told her the tale. "Did she make you happy?" she asked sleepily. "yes! but she cudn't keep me happy". "Good then I still have a chance "

He's not been to office since. & they've had the best vacation in their lifetime the past 3 days.

#lovebeyondlust #someloveisforlife #forever #TillDeathDoUsApart.

And then he asked

She sat in her best sari. Her little bindi shining in her love for him. The best off her kitchen had sat ready on a lace laced table, the bar with the best of the whisky stood waiting for the guys. Her best bake ever was the hit of the day . The playlist had slowly moved towards his very favourite of songs. Her plan for the surprise party seemed to be successful, he seemed to enjoy the company of their friends. He said a heart felt thank you before leaving. Yet now she felt it was wasted as she sat in her best sari.

Terribly tiny tales

"What makes you late again Ms. Bradshaw?" His voice boomed across the floor, shook her out of her haste. She mumbled an incoherent excuse. Unable to tell him it was in his fantasies that she was awake till dawn.

The less common living

What is it like to walk a path less treaded, a life of your values. And what when those values are against the flow of the time?

Attempt to conserve the environment in the age of increasing carbon footprints,  wearing traditions in an age of globalisation.  Put your faith in patriotism over materialistic goals.

Well  it's awesome to live life on your terms,  break the stereotypes,  agree to disagree,  believe in your beliefs. Baby steps shall change the world. Do the undone,  care for your cause  most importantly have  a cause.  For in the end take the emotion out of anything and all you have is a machine.

Past Peeking Presently

That time when decades later a car full of friends, in the dead of the night, at their best of their sincerity ; visit their school.

Hours of talks of classmates, some lost,  some busy and some bonded for life. They laugh the most genuine laughs, they cry the most honest tears make the sincerest of promises.

Each tiny soul followed it's own journey. Had their own share of smiles unaware of the others scars. Unrelated they were all these years long. Each one a different story in the same book.

Looking at them at this moment of rentless reflection one wonders,  who is the real winner in this  game of  time! What do we really win by losing the closest of friends. How much can you  really earn at the cost of relationships.

Decided have you?

What drives your decisions actually?

Decisions that decide your life?
Decisions that give you your direction?
Decisions that might make you?
Decisions that might break you?
Decisions that change your beliefs?

Should you?  Should you not?
Will you?  Will you not?

The action that questions your beliefs. The bold first step to a territory unknown.

Why do you

Hate smokers until that day when you are lost in the same smoke?

Believe in heaven made marriages until you live with that perfect person,  who has 2 kids from an imperfect relationship that's too late to undo?

Quit when you thought you were too addicted to ever care?

Is everything you believe to be wrong actually a right waiting to be proven so?

What does it take to be non judgemental n take life with an open mind?

Roads right

Punjab has done it right : you are forced  to think with the wide lighted roads, glitter &  glamour of the weddings and spotless upkeep of their cities. Interconnecting the major cities,  the likes of Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala; they have an Unfailing infrastructure in place

Family facts today

Families are growing smaller by the day.  No comments on the goodness of it.  But is that a proof of rising intolerance?  Intolerance of each other, incapabilities to adjust,  listen,  trust, care, sacrifice : an inability to love?

Generation gap has always existed in every age. But why were none ever as aloof as us?

Our festivals have lost their colours,  the  relationships have lost their meanings.  We are not sure if we feel anything at all.  Are we numb to all else but our every day routine.  We have mechanised  our lives.

But the question is. How happy van we really be with the stories we speak?  How fast can we run from reality?

I quit my religion

"In an ancient temple, a number of pigeons lived happily on roof top.

When the renovation of the temple began for the annual temple feast the pigeons relocated themselves to a Church nearby. The existing pigeons in the Church accommodated the new comers very well.

Christmas was nearing and the Church was given a facelift. All the pigeons had to move out and look for another place. They were fortunate to find a place in a Mosque nearby. The pigeons in the Mosque welcomed them happily.

It was Ramadan time and the Mosque  was repainted. All the pigeons now came to the same ancient temple.

One day the pigeons on top found some communal
clashes below in a market square. The baby pigeon asked the mother pigeon "Who are these people ?"

The mother replied; they are "Human beings".

The baby asked, "But why are they fighting with each other".?

The mother said "These human beings going to temple are called 'Hindus' and the people going to Church are called 'Christians' and the people going to Mosque are called 'Muslims'.

The Baby pigeon asked, "Why is it so? Look, when we were in the Temple we were called Pigeons, when we were in the church we were called Pigeons and when we were in the Mosque, we were called Pigeons.  Similarly they should be called just 'Human beings' wherever they go"?

The mother Pigeon said, 'You and me and our Pigeon friends have experienced God and that's why we are living here in a highly elevated place peacefully. These people are yet to experience God. Hence they are living  below us and fighting and killing each other".

Reflect!"

Copied but yes the need to reflect.  Yes the need to experience  at the least love n tolerance for each other if not experience god.

I choose to look beyond #religion &  #politics.  I choose never to ask or answer questions about anyone's caste / religion.  I choose to be #human above my religion.

Problems?

When you have to many problems n there's nothing to do about it,  n u feel lost n lonely n the world is shattering around you....

Put up a brave face,  a sweet smile,  n pretend like nothing ever can bother you...  Sooner or later u will forget how to bother sl together...  Live a maya so intense that all you acknowledge is happiness coz everything else anyways is fugitive...  Happiness is the only truth there is.

So y bother?

Just think bout it...  What happens if the problem is solbed?  U get a raise,  s new house,  a better life?  N wat happens then?  You'll b happy,  right?  So,  u might as well be happy today... Being happy doesn't need atms,  banks,  expensive lunches,  or fat paycheck.  Its ur experience,  feeling.  Your own hearts content is something that belongs to you.  Its urs to summon any time any where.

I wanna b happy,  right now and right here,  regardless of everything...  Well who the hell can stop me? Be happy.

Its Raining Colours

Every now and then there is that ardent need to stop by and let things go& you end up with a smile on your face thinking how baseless your worries are. How is life nothing but a river of colours & its constantly raining a lot of colours from somewhere high up, from a world devoid of worries & problems & depression. A world where one can fly, fly into loving arms, embrace the care of the elderly; no questions asked. Where one can dream , imagine and make a world out of those dreams. Where time really is relative, running at your own speed, where you are fast & time is slow & you don't hurry to anything except maybe him! You are good you are Shiva. You make it rain, You make love, you create, you destroy. You make it rain colours, drops in greens & reds , yellows & pinks the purples & blues. doesn't matter the colour, just make it rain, peaches & plums & the sweet shiny reds. Turquoise & olives and the rusts. Each colour bleeds with another only to give a new shade of love! Ah sweet, funny, tricky love ; in all your different shades & tints , dear love, you make the world spin, you make the world shatter! But not always are they contrary! Love in many forms love in all people!

Poketspeak

These guys have definitely pocketed it.  Simplistic tees with pockets of handcrafted fabrics. A wonderful concept towards craft awareness.  Yes not a big contribution towards boosting craft consumption and sales,  there is only so much fabric you can utilise in making pockets on Tees   but definitely a wonderful concept for sensitisation.  It would be a wonderful give away / dress code for symposiums / conferences. Needless to say a wonderful fashion statement n collectible for every craft enthusiast.

Catch up with them here:
https://m.facebook.com/pocketindia

The take off

To fly high you need the take off.  To get up there you must begin sweating it out here. As they say it, the grass seems greener,  for all you  know this take run might be the most interesting part of the journey.  Like the most picturesque part of a flight is the take off leading you to the calm of the skies.  The beautiful clouds you cross but stop not to look at seem like a distant dream down below.  Up there, there is peace.  But no retiring to that pretty cloud whose cherry smile you never returned in your haste to soar up only to look below and regret never living while you could.
Live each moment to have times of peace with no regrets.

Happiness in three little things

Shivani.  Preeti and ruchi.
"aunty do you have toffees for us"
"Not even biscuits?" preeti asked me as i sat in the corner of the road,  waiting. They happily took my no.  Smilled a toothy smile n walked down the road. Their expectant innocence sparkling in the hopes of a sweeter tomorrow.

Living an unfortunate reality

I woke up shivering in fright, a nightmare,  rain of bullets.  I stood watching the skyscrapers fall like a stack of cards in the wind. The flyway i have been watching them build painstakingly for a year,  crumbled at a blast at its far end.  Pillar on pillar it fell,  in a matter of seconds the concrete serpent reduced to dust was now a roadway to the other world.  I stood watching,  wanting to scream,  wanting to run.  Airplanes soared above, finally i ran for cover.  An airbus flying low,  rained bullets on nameless faces in their homes.  I ran.  Too afraid to look behind at the heavy footsteps that followed.  Is that gunman a good gunman? Is he here to help me?  Is he there to kill?  Is he on my side? But which is my side?  This ain't my war i don't care if he is good,  he has a gun,  loaded n is trained to kill.  Run.  The cellphone flashed EOC777. emergency on country.
This was a nightmare.  An off shoot from the reality of manipur.  Coming up in the next post.

White lies n the dark truth

Remember the alien pk?  Descending from a world that had no lies?  If the Concept of lies was to vanish overnight from this world.  Where people had no choice of speaking beyond reality. What a difference it would make.  The absence of lies would mean a total absence of deceit,   and hence the need of caution against fellow earthlings.  The fundamental nature of man would be to trust n believe in everyone and everything,  like a child. Man would have nothing to hide,  proudly flaunting their opinions without tweaking the truth. Half the crimes would be gone.

No fantasies,  no fancied theories,  nothing but that which is real.  Sarcasm would die. And so would a lot of creative thinking.

It would be a better world where "because of a hangover"  would be a legit reason to skip work.

Gandhiji would be the happiest man on earth.  Till then keep happy,  keep bending the truth.

Patriotism or humanity : its not your choice

When the world is without fear
And not broken up by narrow (guarded n armed) walls.. In the words of Shri rabindra nath Tagore i imagine a heaven od freedom on earth.
Too much to hope for real,  but a beautiful world it would be with the disarmament of all world's forces.  Humanity would prevail.

Army men across the world pride in their patriotism. Respects to the energy,  enthusiasm and spirit of all the brave hearts. But is patriotism a justified breach of humanity? Terrorists or criminals once proven deserve being punished.  But how does one rest in peace on killing nameless faces because they are enemies of the "nation"  that's insane political propaganda. Maybe that is also a fuel to many pompous egos of people with power.

With all due respects to my motherland i don't flinch away from saying that i would wish for my brothers in the army to never kill another human. If there was to be a choice between patriotism and humanity i would be proud of my country if her children could choose.

I maybe impractical,  i may even be incorrect,  but i refuse to ever be inhuman. Jai hind.

Safety or charity?

Mud smeared hands begged to make a call. An unknown face asked for help.  Torn between fear n guilt and a desire to help. Placing myself at a safe distance clutching at my purse i ask if he is fine.

What times to live in. We live a life of insecurity, Where compassion is as conditioned as the air around us. Where kindness is donations to your favourite ngo.  And caring is send maximum candy crush lives to your buddies.

Well I did call the emergency services to his location.  But never waiting for their arrival

Safety or charity?

Mud smeared hands begged to make a call. An unknown face asked for help.  Torn between fear n guilt and a desire to help. Placing myself at a safe distance clutching at my purse i ask if he is fine.

What times to live in. We live a life of insecurity, Where compassion is as conditioned as the air around us. Where kindness is donations to your favourite ngo.  And caring is send maximum candy crush lives to your buddies.

Well I did call the emergency services to his location.  But never waiting for their arrival

Are they meant to be?

No I sat listening to the roar of the mighty machines, a constant cacophony in households that were once a home for the humble handlooms. I wondered if its ethical to want these traditions to survive.  In terms of all key factors of profitability,  these looms over power the handlooms.
One weaver weaves around 10 to 15 meters of simple fabrics in a day.  The likes of brocades n balucharis  take weeks for a single saree.
Besides increasing that several times over,  the machines present infinite possilities of designs. Why buy the drab old classics when one has the choice of their flawless counterparts. The Hand crafted  are marked with mistakes,  something that lovers take immense pride in.  But I do ask myself what incentive do I have to buy such pieces apart from my addiction n affliction for the same? And for one who cares little for the livelihood of the villagers they are unjustified,  expensive pieces only fools buy.

Child's play!

Kids wear.
Struggling with a saree for a 6 month oldie niece makes you wake up to an tiny arm of the fashion industry you never knew existed. (Well if you are a bachelor and not a fashion designer that's obvious)
So here's fashion,  glamour,  designer,  photoshoot,  e commerce,  autumn &  spring collections.

Armani junior and

kidology.in

Those little prints of change.

From tiny florescent parrots to the vintage bicycles,  clocks,  a sailors themed anchor &  wheels,  polka dots,  foliage right upto elaborate paisleys. Men are flying free from the caging restrictions of checks and stripes. The Menswear section is flooded with the prints of the ultramodern man. Strong,  no more bound by the imposing definitions of masculine symbols. Free to love,  free to cry,  free to express, free to be. These pallets and prints are one of the expressions of the change.  It speaks a lot of his shifting sensibilities, of acceptance,  of adaptation, of sensitivity, of his acknowledgement of feminine equalities. Three cheers to the conscious males.

Photo courtesy : Suket Dhir , tadpole store, Anerkjendt, fair trade forum,  and a few pinintrest boards

Chai pakode wali khushi

There are some things so beautifully engaging that one never really grows out of it. No matter how big one has made it chai pakode in a rainy day at a roadside rerdi beside your old colony is always a welcoming thought. Happiness is seldom measured by money alone,  and yet all we actually dream of is money. All we really chase is joy but not realizing that makes us wander in wrong directions looking for money. We are deluded to believe we need material pleasures to be happy. Actually if the ultimate goal is happiness, we need nothing. We can be just as happy as we please.

Setting sun on this Sunday

The sun is setting. Slowly into his slumber. He is pulling up the covers of the night, tucking in between the sheets of the shivalik mountains. With him he puts to sleep the ranges. The birds obediently head home. The forest mutely sleeps. The villages nestled put up pinpricks of a stubborn fight against the might twinkle of the stars,  until late when they give in to the slumber of sleeping silence.

Serenading silence

Taking a little time to listen to silence. To ignore the chugging of the chain of thoughts in order to just be we travel miles away from ourselves. To really listen, one has to be really silent. 

Rich enough for charity

What does it take to be charitable?
Good intention and a lot of surplus money right?
And yet not every good man can do what he intends,  and not every wealthy person is marked benevolent.

What does actually inspire the charitable?
Passion for the smiles they spread or greed for the money they make,  right?

And yet not all charities spread happiness nor all charities are become any richer.

Celebrate nationalism the crafts way

Their smiling faces with the warming music makes you wanna dance with joy.  The innocence and simplicity is so calming it just takes off your worries. They don't get any huge pay cheques, no insurances,  no bills,  no luxury or security of any sorts. They eat what their fields provide,  they wear what they themselves fashion and then they sing and dance to the tunes of the soul. Children of the earth.  No elaborate gadgets no complicated words.  They just sing along their lives and what a divine connect. Rest in the pictures. 

W

Women of India.
India is where the divinity of women has long been worshipped. This piece glorifies why.
They fight to survive the numerous evils to survive n win their rights.
They learn to adjust,  to escape,  to live amidst social inflictiions. 
They learn more than what the formal education system prescribes.
They learn to please and be happy.
They strive to do the countless chores.
They fight all odds in a patriarchal life.
They create magic with their hands.
They give life to a house and everything within.
Here is to the divinity of women of India.  I am proud of the fabrics you make, of The flowers you create, of the delicious treats you make, of the soulful music you sing n dance to.  I am proud of you my goddesses.