Us - A Dedication!

Friendships can be strange. You like someone out of the blue and before you know that person becomes the centre of your universe that at times anything about him or her affects you more than your own. 

Just the other day, he was sad because of something that happened back at home and something he had no role in either. And i realised i prefer him rather angry than sad. His sadness the lost look of his face in contrast to the cheerful teasing mischievous him, it seemed to engulf the whole house in gloom. 

***

You never fail to irritate me with your laughter 

Always with a take it easy attitude pissing me off there after!

You torture me with your non stop blabbering 

This and that, always rambling!

You never miss to give me a headache with all your singing

Always getting on my nerves like a constant tingling!

Buy yet...

A moment of silence pricks more than a scorching sun

The lost look on your face weighs more than a ton

Tears in your eyes suffocates more than a crowded room

The sadness in them cast a shadow of gloom

The constant drifting off to places I can't trace,

Your silent absence haunts more than any frightening place!

You smile when I call your name, a beautiful disguise,

But the sadness lingers, untouched in your eyes.

Heart aches to hold you close and shower you with kisses

Wipe away those tears, and quiet all your misses.

Shake you awake abd remind you that you are loved

I am here, you are not alone, i want to say but... 

Tears fall—not yours, but mine instead,

Crashing against the cold walls where your sorrows tread.

You stare into my eyes, and slowly you see,

No matter the storm, you'll always have me.

To cry for you, to be your voice,

To carry your burden when you have no choice.

The face softens, Lips curl, You smile through the crack

The light reaching the eyes, as we realise - Indeed, we belong

For we may argue and disagree,

And drive each other to misery.

You may test my patience every day,

Yet I'd never wish your smile away.

You may be the greatest pain I know,

But you're also the one I'll never let go.

And if the world should come for you,

It will find me standing there too.

For we may fight with each other through and through,

But we won't hesitate to fight the world for each other too.

We Belong ❤️ 🎶 💕 

Remembering Him on Father's Day, a poetry

 

On this father's day, remembering you... Acha...

Our Guiding star, Gaurdian angel...

With love...

Happy Father's Day ❤️ ❤️


Our dearest Acha, this is for you...

You were the star of our family, shining ever bright,
Filling our hearts with warmth, love, and light.
And now you've become one yourself, so far yet near,
Twinkling in the sky, watching over us from there.

⭐ ✨

In quiet moments, I think of you each day,
Of all our talks and laughter that never seemed to fade away.
Not a year passed by without a wish lovingly sent,
A handwritten note, a piece of art—each carrying what we meant.

🎶 📒 🖊️

We shared our love and gratitude in ways both big and small,
Treasuring the gift of each other through every rise and fall.
Till your very last moment, you remained our guiding hue,
Our hope, our strength, the invisible glue.

💕

It's the second Father's Day since you've been gone,
Yet I feel your presence from dusk to dawn.
You are still our anchor, our hope so true,
Like an angel beside us, guiding us through.

😇

We will always miss your smile and your warm embrace,
Yet we still feel your presence in every place.
And when I glimpse a star winking in the silent night,
I remember your love, still our guiding light.

❤️

Remembering you, Acha...

You are always here...

Happy Father's Day ❤️ ❤️

Promises and Love

 "Ye ho sakta hai, apne dil ke andar ek ladki ko rakhna, jise 78 years se dekha tak nahi?"

One day, we came across the trailer of Imtiaz Ali's Main Vaapas Aaunga. In one particular scene, the character played by Diljit Dosanjh asks:

"Ye ho sakta hai, apne dil ke andar ek ladki ko rakhna, jise 78 years se dekha tak nahi?"

My guy turns to me and asks, "Is it possible? Can you love someone for so many years?" Then he laughs and adds, "That's if we live that long!"

But his question stayed with me.

After a moment, I replied, "Yes. I think it's easy to love someone from afar—with the same intensity and purity—for as long as eternity."

What is difficult, however, is maintaining that same intensity, tenderness, and selflessness in a relationship even for a year. That's where the real test lies.

Individually, most of us are at our best. But when two people come together, it's like a chemical reaction. You can know the elements, but there's no way of predicting whether the compound will turn out acidic, alkaline, or neutral, or somtimes beautifully balanced!

And then again, it's never just two elements.

Each of us carries so much within us—our pasts, our fears, our dreams, our wounds, and the many versions of ourselves that emerge over time. Together, it becomes beautifully unpredictable.

Perhaps the challenge isn't loving someone despite that unpredictability, but learning to love the unpredictability itself—to accept it in all its flaws, contradictions, and weirdness.

So maybe the question I'd ask is:

"Ye ho sakta hai, koi 78 saal kisi ke saath rahe aur usi pyaar aur chaah ko barkarar rakhe?" (Can two people stay together for 78 years and still preserve the same love, longing, and wonder for each other?)

Having said all that, it doesn't mean I think any less of the movie.

🎬 It's a beautiful film. We happened to watch it this weekend, and the amount of detailing that has gone into it deserves applause. 

And the imagination—kudos to that!

And the actors - just amazing! 

With a huge fan of Imtiaz Ali at home, I couldn't escape watching it—and I'm glad I didn't. 

The movie is not just about that one line. It's so much more than the story of two people in love. 

It's an inspiration—a reminder of the kind of love we all dream of finding at least once in our lives. 

Its also about hope, love, loss, survival, sacrifices...

Its about promises...

Its about life itself!

I won't say anything more and risk spoiling it, but honestly, anyone carrying even a spark of love within them will find themselves touched! 

Relationships & Hurt!

What is more pathetic.. that you are hurt or that the person who hurt you doesn't even know that they hurt you and goes about as if nothing has happened.

What are you supposed to do then? Sulk it out within yourself or press the pause button and say, "hey listen, man, you hurt me big time!"

What if, even then he doesn't get it? What if he cannot see the hurt but instead feel that you are over reacting and he goes on as if, again, nothing had happened?

And, you start wondering, 'Am i the crazy one here?' 'Am i really seeing too much into a seemingly non essential matter?'

But the hurt... it's still there simmering and ready to flare up any moment!

11.02.2022

Finally, Me Too!

Finally, it found me!

 

A bright hot sunny morning I decided to do it! Still there was a minute hope in me that I am worrying for nothing! May be it’s just a breeze that would go away but, alas, as the clock stuck 9 at night, my phone buzzed with messages. With prayers on my lips and still not finding the courage to open the messages I pulled down the notification bar and the first thing I see...

"Please isolate yourself and stay at home."

With heart racing and confusion I opened my message app and there 2 new messages awaited me and immediately 2 more followed in Kannada.

 

As I read them I collapsed into the nearest chair and couldn't move! Almost for 2 years I had kept them at bay but at last.

"What happened?” My mom's voice reached me like from afar.

My brother had fever for a few days and then cold and severe cough. A few days later my mother followed suit and I was also feeling unwell! Then one fine morning, the fated day, I decided not to take a chance and went for the RT-PCR test!

 

Well, it's been two days since and yesterday night I felt the first tremors of Fever! Took a Dolo but still after half an hour my feet and hands were dead cold! I took one Calpol 500 after an hour and soon felt sweat breaking and I sighed! Again, yesterday, as the clock stuck 9 at night, my phone buzzed with notification. It was a mail notification. At the same time my brother came to me and said "I am negative!" After my test results we had given other's samples too for testing. I kind of knew what the other's results would be too.

I was the only one positive and to be honest I was baffled! It was unexpected and thank God I was already sitting.

Then things happened so swiftly under the guidance of my brother. 

Fast forward, I found myself in a room all alone! They even closed the door!

Well, yeah, it's for their safety and all and I had been wearing mask too at home since I had started feeling unwell. Thank God for that surely. 

 

But still can't help a sort of helplessness that it brings on you.

You are sick... yes! 

You feel alone... Yes! 

Even though you know your loved ones are just on the other side of the door!

 

I had been sharing my bed with Mom since a few days after her hysterectomy (oh! that was some nightmare, isn't it!). And, Bro fears that she might have got infected through me!

Valid! 

Ah, but this heart!

Our Aunty (Dad's sis) who is a doctor suggested a retest since Bro had loss of smell! So, he went to the health center nearby to get a medical kit for me and a retest for himself. They were supposed to come and visit me. They would have checked me and tested them too. Well, they will come tomorrow it seems, Bro said! They had missed my case, they said!

Today is Sunday, and my Mom says, "When you are at home, even though you don't help me much, I feel relaxed and strong. But today with you sick, I am not able to do anything!"

"I am totally fine, Amma." I say continuing, "And, what was that, I don't help?"

She grins!

My Dad peeps in from time to time just for a glimpse of me and I wave at him. 

He gives me a heart moving smile and my heart goes... 'Oooo!'

 

Ah, my family!

 

Tomorrow is another day. 

Fingers crossed, I hope all are fine... including me.

It’s still a mystery how did I get infected and with others testing negative it’s pointing towards office!

Well, I guess it’s not the time for back tracking. Whatever however it’s here and I should make use of this one week (that’s the minimum isolation period now!) away from office and kind of away from my loved ones and still near! And, yeah, Thank God for the smart phones and technology!

 

Date: 30.01.2022

 P.S.

 

World Samosa Day 🍱

Do you know, September 5th is World Samosa Day?

Photo credits: Internet

Samosa, as we know it, is a popular snack in India. They are prepared using wheat or maida flour with fillings (veg or non-veg) and served with chutney made with mint, tamarind, and coriander. They vary in size and shape depending on where they are from (cones or half-moons but usually are triangular in shape). Just as with their size and shape, their ingredients and spices vary by region (peas, potatoes, cheese, onions, minced meat, beef, lamb, green chiles, ginger, and spices).

According to Historians, Samosa's origin is dated back to 10th century in the Iranian Plateau in the Middle East. The first official mention of samosa was found in Iranian historian Abolfazl Beyhaqi’s work Tarikh-e Beyhaghi, where it was referred to as ‘Sambosa’.

From there they made their way into India through Libya, Egypt, and Central Asia! That was sometime in the 13th or 14th century during the Delhi Sultanate rule. The first mention of samosa in the royal era began when noted poet and scholar of the Delhi Sultanate, Amir Khusro spoke of samosa prepared from meat, ghee, and onion that nobles relished during that time.

Later, in 14th-century traveller, Ibn Battuta, mentioned about sambusak (aka samosa) made with minced meat, walnuts, pistachios, almonds, and spices being served as part of a royal meal in the court of Muhammad bin Tughluq. Even in the Mughal dynasty, Ain-i-Akbari, has mentioned the recipe of samosa known as ‘Sanbúsah’.

 

From then to now, the versions have only increased and each one special! For example, in Portugal, Brazil, and Mozambique region, samosa is known as ‘pastéis’. While in the Arab countries, they call it ‘Sambusak’ stuffed with minced meat or chicken, onions, spinach and feta cheese. In Israel samosas are stuffed with mashed chickpeas and in Maldives, they stuff it with a filling of tuna or fish mixed with onions.

All these names come from the Persian word Sanbosag, which means "triangle pastry." 

 

From Asia, the popularity has spread world wide gaining a dedicated day for itself! Since 2016 September 5 is celebrated as World Samosa Day!

There's even a Guinness World Record in 2017 for the absolute largest Samosa in the world, weighing 153 kg, made in a London mosque as a way to bring awareness to a charity! Way to go on World Samosa Day!

Samosas and Jalebis are much sought after dish in many parts of India!

Oh, all the talk on Samosas has made my stomach growl with hunger or perhaps craving! I am going to do pet puja!

 C U later... Till then, Stay safe and Stay healthy! 🙏

07.09.2021

Me Too Vaccinated!

Day 01.06.2021... Got vaccinated!

I was not going to. I had not even thought of getting the vaccination at least not this week. The drive for vaccinating 18+ got started on 28th May in our office. 

Some one sent a message on WhatsApp group that slots are free and no rush... So people were rushing like an opportunity not to missed. 

Surprisingly, a few of those covidiots whom I have never seen neither wearing masks proper and never missing a chance to gossip were the first ones to get vaccinated! I was under the impression that they considered themselves as superhumans whom the virus could never touch! Guess, superhumans also have weaknesses! 

Vaccination is a safety net for the one vaccinated but they could be a carrier and pass on the virus to others. I wonder should I name them Selfish or am I just over thinking! Left to see how they would be behaving after the vaccination... Because no where any one has said that once vaccinated we can discard the covid appropriate behaviors! 

Neither do I want to be infected nor do I wish to be a carrier! 🙏 

My boss came and kind of informed me of the centre asking me to go if I wanted to. I was literally in a dilemma. 

Should I or shouldn't I? 

The vaccination for 18+ had started on May 1st but due to shortage of vaccines it had not been going on full fledged like when it was for 60plus and 45plus. And, I had been thinking I will do it once my parents second dose is done... Around this month second week! I had all those questions that I am sure many had and still have... doubts... Fears... are they efficient... any unknown side effects? They were so strong almost pulling me back! But, anyway went ahead... some safety is better than nothing, I guess! 

It felt like an invasion... Letting some stranger into my blood stream... Into the core of my body... I could almost imagine my whole inner body gearing up to face this unknown forced entry! All those chaos because of a stranger in the midst! 

Initially for 45+, our office had given Covaxin, developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Virology (NIV). Covaxin is developed using Whole-Virion Inactivated Vero Cell derived platform technology i.e., they are inactivated vaccines which do not replicate and are therefore unlikely to revert and cause pathological effects. They contain dead virus, incapable of infecting people but still able to instruct the immune system to mount a defensive reaction against an infection. The technology similar to those in the vaccines for diseases such as Seasonal Influenza, Polio, Pertussis, Rabies, and Japanese Encephalitis.

But for 18+, they are giving Covishield. I think because of shortage! Covishield - the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine created by the Serum Institute of India. It is a recombinant, replication-deficient chimpanzee adenovirus vector encoding the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) glycoprotein. Following administration, the genetic material of part of corona virus is expressed which stimulates an immune response.

Anyways, time only will tell how efficient they are! For now, I am nursing my injected arm trying to reduce the pain and had a paracetamol for the fever and headache I felt when I woke up this morning. Amma is not letting do any work so it's my absolute day off! 😁

May doze off any moment... dreaming the battle of corona within me! 

Let the good conquer the evil. 🙏

02.06.2021