Dus Kahaniyan: film review

The good thing about these kinds of collage-films is that you would love at least some of the stories, if not all. So, it would never be a total wash-out if not fully paisa vasool.

Amongst the 10 stories, I liked Strangers in the night the most. It’s the story of a couple who have decided to share a secret moment of their life (over drinks) that had left an indelible mark on them. It’s the lady’s turn this year. As the story unfolds, it appears that the lady had a few moments of lust in the waiting room of a railway station. However, the twist in the tale at the end is beautiful. I won’t disclose it or else you would blame me for ruining the fun.

Others like Gubbare (Nana Patekar is simply superb) and Rice Plate (return of the adorable Shaban Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah pair after a long gap) would also touch a cord of your heart. The former tells to live life to the fullest rather than wasting it on quarrels over li’l things. The later shows how useless religious stubborn-ness is.

Even Matrimony (the film opens with this story based on infidelity), Lovedale (with a ghost touch) and Pooranmashi (how the life of a daughter, about to be married, gets ruined because of the mother who decides to follow her heart) are well-made, though the stories are somewhat run-of-the-mills.

Finally, my opinion on the film: Go ahead and watch it. However, if your interest lies in collage-films, don’t forget to see Teen Deewarein by Nagesh Kukonoor. It’s a lovely film and the way the stories get interlinked at the end is too good to be missed.

Who am I

It's been quite sometime now since I started blogging. I don't remember the exact muhurat when I got hooked to scribbling on my blog. However, one thing is for sure: blogging is now an enjoyable hobby for me and I look forward to putting my thoughts in this space.

So, I thought that why not scribble something about myself today and let my fellow bloggers know a bit more about me (my apologies if you are bored to death when you get down to the last line!!).

To begin with, I am the eldest daughter of my parents (we are three sisters). I had my schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya (in Delhi and Kolkata). School was very boring, mainly because I never had my share of fun as I was the padaku kind. Nevertheless, looking back today, those days seem so much blissful now that I yearn to be back to that time again (sigh...as I can't actually!!)

College was drag as no boys were around for romance (it was a girls' college). Not that I was looking to do that but when I heard my friends seeing some guys, going steady with their partners or getting proposals, I wondered..mera number kab ayega? Well, till date, it hasn't come.

Then came the taste of freedom when I entered the job scenario. I started my career as a teacher in a missionary school. I had to slog hard as we were no better than kolhu ka bail. I spent around 6.5 years as a teacher..teaching science subjects , spoken English, Personality Development and the likes.

I chanced upon content writing and started doing freelancing in between my teaching assignments. I liked the work quite a bit and switched to it as a full timer. I have found, much to my astonishment, how poorly paid teachers' jobs are!! On one hand people and our society glorifies a teacher but when pay packet is considered, it's nothing but peanuts (as a fresher in the content writer's field, I earned more than what I was earning lastly during my role as a teacher). I am on the verge of completing a year as a content writer and I am quite sure that the financial freedom which this field has given me would not have come even after a decade as a teacher. Of course, my love and passion for writing has made it easier. Otherwise, only money would not have been able to bind me for long!!

So, that's what I have to tell about myself at present. Would scribble some more the next time as I ahve a lot of colorful events to share with all of you...events that relate to my childhood, adolescence and .....

Well, keep guessing till I am ready to scribble more.

Quit Smoking

Recently, I read a news that a survey has found a new reason for baldness. People who smoke regularly stand a greater chance of becoming bald as compared to the non-smokers. I can vouch for the truth of this statement as I have seen many IT pros going the same way, thanks to their regular habit of smoking.

So, if the Smoking is injurious to health sign has not done any good to you, think again. To stay away from your regular puff has now got another reason in its favor.

Burnt-face monkey

Yes, you read it right!!!

That's how I would call myself now-a-days (Mukhpora bador, in Bengali). Actually, some rashes appeared around my mouth about 2 months back which has got worse by now (already, saw three dermatologists though). The whole region is in a bad condition now. Hopefully, the doc that I'm gonna meet this weekend would help me get back to my normal self soon.

Till that happens, I would continue to resemble my ancestors (no pun intended)!!!

December Delight

Ever since I have stepped into December, I am feeling quite happy and energized. The reasons are many. Firstly, career wise I'm having a ball. Then, I am preparing plans for a short trip during the end of the month. A lot of adda sessions are on the anvil too. Last but not the least, my li'l sister has returned home from abroad for a month. So, that I believe explains to some extent my being on the seventh heaven.

Mindless Forwards

I often wonder why do we hit the forward button so many times without sparing a thought for the content that we wish others to read. Has it only become a habit or something else lies behind the curtain?

Well, before going further, let me admit that I'm also a culprit. Even some days back, I used to send forwarded mails by the dozens to friends that included a plethora of things: friendship quotes, good luck wishes, to avert being pauper or my own death and blah, blah, blah......

Of all these, I was quite uneasy with the mails that asked me to send it to a limited number of people failing which bad luck or death would stare me. Also, some miracles were said to await me after 10/15 days, which sadly never came. So, one fine day (I don't remember exactly when), it dawned upon me to shut out this mindless fear. The first mail I ignored threatened that the ghost would stare the daylight out of me and leave me dead. I waited for the ghost in the night but alas! she (yes, it was a she-ghost) was too busy to pay a visit!!

The next few mails kept me on the tenterhooks yelling that breaking the forward-the-mail-chain would bring endless bad luck that could be loss of job, poor health, monetary problem, relationship troubles and lot more. Again, my better sense prevailed and I renewed my pledge of sticking to my decision. Thankfully, by God's grace, my self confidence hasn't taken a beating since then and I have been able to conquer this habit of forwarding threat-mails (the name threat-mails coz they threat you of so many things).

Amidst all these, I do forward mails that touch a cord of my heart and which I think would make the reader feel a few things for themselves. But for now, it's goodbye to those mindless forwards!

Last post of the month

It's time now to gear up for the festive season once again as the forthcoming month of December means Christmas and new year eve celebrations. The month of November has been good for me. I settled well into my new job, enjoyed my time with friends and blogged vigorously(taking into account my lazy nature, great achievement....more than a dozen post!!)

So, with a hope that December goes on well.....I conclude my last post for the month of November.

Forced Retreat

Finally, the seasonal change has got me as its victim. From yesterday, I have been confined to home, having a slight fever, sore throat and severe cold. I have got bored already sitting (or rather, lying on bed) idle at home. Hopefully, I would be able to join office tomorrow and again be able to get into the groove of things. Till then, it's nothing but a forced retreat for me.

Weekend arrives

Thank God..it's Saturday again!!!

I love the weekend coz these are the two days when I can sleep late in the morning, laze around the house, listen to my favorite fm channel, have a late bath and then hop on to the road to see a film, a play, chat with friends or simply chill out in my own company.

It was no different today. I have taken my Brunch already(usually, on holidays, I skip breakfast and instead have my lunch earlier) . I plan to catch a play today in the evening though my lazy soul craves for a lenghty nap at the comfort zone of my house. Let's see, who wins, my wanderlust or my lazy soul.

Postscript: (posted on 25th Nov)

I did manage to catch the play yesterday. Today, I would be again heading to the same venue to catch another one. Weekened has really upped my energy levels!!!

Liar Liar

Last week, while chatting with a friend online, the importance of lying dwelt on me. We both agreed that had it not been for lies, life would have been pretty drab (no insult to Yudhisthira, the eldest among the Pandava brothers and his clan though)

In fact, lying is an art. Not everyone can do it with aplomb. However, with the passage of time, you can surely perfect this art and handle situations according to your own sweet will. Imagine how many times a harmless lie has saved you from continuing a useless chat, attending some invitation or bunking school or office. Life becomes a lot easier with the art of lying in your kitty. Even a small lie that lights up the face of someone is an act of goodness to me.

However, don't get carried away by my campaign. A big lie at the wrong place can spell trouble for you. So, exercise restrain and strive to perfect the art of telling a lie!!

The season of nuptials

Finally, the season of marriages has come again when some would gladly give off their bachelorhood while some other would unwillingly offer themselves to be sacrificed on the altar. Looking around, I feel that despite having bugs in their stomach before taking the final vows, people just can't resist but give it a try...

So, someone has truly said that marriage is "Delhi ka laddoo..jo khaye wo bhi pachtaye, jo na khaye wo bhi pachtaye".

Children's Day

Today while going to office in the morning, I saw quite a few kids dressed for the D-Day and going to school for a different experience, their parents in tow. I also craved to be that child again and relive the fun on Children's Day. If only I could.....

A marriage made in heaven (Story)

D-Day:
After the seemingly never ending marriage rituals got over, Indu and Adi finally got a few moments to themselves. “You must be sad for not getting a beautiful wife. Instead, you have me….pretty bad, eh?” Indu said teasingly. And then both of them burst into peals of laughter.

Flashback:
It all started a year ago. Indrani (aka Indu) was checking her e-mails when she came across this personalized message in response to her profile posted on a marriage-site. Aditya (aka Adi) seemed the perfect match. Working as a project manager in IBM, Adi’s profile would have impressed any girl. Indrani sent him a thanks mail. Things flew from there. A few mails and calls later, both decided to meet. After their first meeting, they decided to get their families involved to take things further. Within a fortnight, Adi and his mother came over to Indu’s house to have a formal talk.

Twist in the tale:
Indu was eagerly waiting for Adi’s call when his mother called on the landline number. Indu’s father took the call. Something was wrong. The face of Indu’s father changed color so quickly that even Indu felt tensed. “Aditya’s mother doesn’t approve of Indrani as she is dark-skinned and no match to her Adonis son”, her father declared, somewhat sarcastically.

Destiny’s hand:
“Hi! How are you?” yelled Adi on seeing Indu waiting at the bus-stop. Though both worked in sector V, Salt Lake, they haven’t crossed path until this day. After some customary talks, Adi offered Indu a cup of coffee and she agreed. Over the brewing cuppa, amongst other things, both made it clear that they are no longer a prospective match as both have declared the same to their kith-and-kin. During the next fortnight, the two met four times on various pretexts. Indu was sensing something cooking between the two but was not sure. Finally came Adi’s proposal of marriage to which she readily agreed.

Postscript:
Indu and Adi have been happily married for four years now and have Debasish, their two year old son for company. Indu’s mother-in-law, however, still can’t digest the whole scenario, even after so many years.

A Pawned Life (Story)

Hard times never last:
For the past few months, everything wasn’t hunky-dory on Ajay’s business front. He suffered some unexpected losses and needed a hefty sum to stabilize his ship. Thankfully, his bank loan, which was getting stuck until now, finally got approved. Ajay already had set plans for steering his business into the future-zone.

Man proposes, God disposes:
When everything was set in place, it was time for Jaundice to strike. Ajay lay in his bed, helplessly. His wife, Simran, sensed something wrong with her husband and asked him quite a few times but Ajay shoved the matter aside.

The flexing muscles of the recovery agents:
Six months have passed after Ajay got his loan. He has been able to steady his business somewhat but failed to repay the first loan-installment. Loan recovery agents were causing a lot of disturbance in his otherwise happy family life. Apart from giving him threat-calls on the cell, these agents even went to his house one day in his absence to threaten Simran. Since then, Simran has been living under a constant threat.

The last blow:
One year had passed and Ajay had been unable to repay the pre-decided amount of his loan. In the last week, within a period of two days, the recovery agents had knocked his door twice. How he faced their deterogatory remarks and insults as the neighbors relished the situation and his wife helplessly looked-on, only he knows.

Adieu:
Ajay checked the noose of the rope. Yes, it would not fail him as destiny has. He uttered, “Forgive me Simmy, I am leaving you alone but I just can’t bear this insult anymore.” He tightened the noose around his neck, kicked the stool from under his legs and left this mortal world.

Working from home

I have always envied those who have the fortune of working from home. However, I also know that I would never be able to do a good job sitting at home simply because I lack that discipline. Also, I yearn for that professional environment where seeing everybody at work gives you a moral high.

Thanks to today's bandh, I had to do a bit of official work on my home-PC as this overseas project is time bound and can't take delays. I was quite happy that at last, I would be able to laze around the house after waking up late, have no hurry to beat the dust of the road, no elbowing in the crowded metro compartments and be able to work at my own pace.

Sadly, my own sweet pace turned out to be snail pace; what I do on an average day at office, I did only a fragment of it (considering the task done on per hour basis coz I worked only 4 hrs, instead of the 10 hrs, flexibility, you see).

So, no luck for me regarding working from home. (sigh!!)

Yet another bandh

Kolkata once again prepares itself for yet another 48 hour bandh called as a mark of protest against the bloodshed in Nandigram. Though I don't support the violence meted against the people of Nandigram, I'm equally opposed to these bandhs which are being called at the whims and fancies of political leaders despite offering no solution. Common people like us are the worst hit as we have nothing to do but skip our daily routine and stay idle, thanks to crippled communication.

I hope that better sense would prevail(especially in case of the Trinamool's Mamata Banerjee) and instead of shouting slogans of Bangla Ochol, she would do something fruitful to help restore normalcy in Nandigram.

Cupid's Arrow

I often wonder that why do people never get tired of airing their views on love....what irresistible lure is there that allows a riot of thoughts to pass our minds the moment we come across this four letter word??

Though love comes in many forms - love for your parents, your siblings, your friends, teachers etc. but the one that stands apart is the one that has inspired a plethora of novels, plays and films ....yes, you guess it right....love for that special someone, in whose eyes you find your world, in whose presence, you forget all that is around ......the love for your beloved!!

My best companion

During my childhood and my adolescence, I was a vigorous reader. However, with time, this cherished hobby of mine died a slow death, owing to pressures of studies and then job responsibilities. Though I read sometimes those days, the joy of staying with printed word on a regular basis was missing.

Thanks to my last job as a content writer, I came back to an environment where people loved reading and even infused the energy into you to explore the terrain of upcoming as well as seasoned writers.

So, here I am, again enjoying the revived hobby of mine of reading books. I can vouch for one thing for sure that books are the best and most trusted companion of man. Atleast, I feel that way though opinions of others may surely differ from mine.

Beauty of the soul

I often wonder why do people associate so much importance to a beautiful face or a beautiful body. I have always thought (and believed too) that true beauty of a person lies in one's thoughts. Indeed, a beautiful soul is bound to be an attractive person even though the mirror or the society chooses to spell otherwise.

My solitary lover

I am having a blast enjoying this back-to-back holidays at home, catching up on lots of pending reading and networking with friends. I thought why not pen a few lines about a hillarious experience that I had last year around this time.

That day, I was not supposed to attend office though I had to hit the road for some official business. However, a change of plan of the top brass and a few calls later, I was sitting on a public bus and heading towards office(at Dalhousie) after finishing my official business at Baguiati. Just the day before, I had a hair cut and I really admired my new look. As it was around 1.30pm., the bus was quite vacant. I was sitting on the last seat with only an elderly gentleman beside the window for company.

After two or three halts, this man (would prefer calling him a boy, rather!!) took the bus and chose the seat beside me. I felt somewhat awkward because my sixth sense could tell that he was glancing at me. After a few seconds, he complimented me on my looks, introduced himself and offered a handshake. I responded out of sheer courtesy and had that handshake.

BIG MISTAKE THAT WAS!!!

After that he asked me to be his friend and I told politely that I choose my friends by my own sweet will and I hate any kind of coercion in this respect. Nevertheless, he continued to chatter. After completing his family and professional background, he came to chatter about marriage and all that stuff. The bus was getting filled up and I was chanting God's name to give me a glimpse of a metro station so that I don't have to suffer this anymore(I had already taken the ticket to Dalhousie and this brat beside me was also heading towards the same destination. By then, I had already decided that there was no way that I was going to travel the full distance).

In between, he asked me for my cell number and I refused. As he persisted, I offered him my e-mail id. "What would be the suitable time to mail you?", he asked. (I controlled my laughter coz this guy surely thought mail to be similar to cell that had some suitable timings....thank God for his ignorance, hah!!)

The shock of my life was yet to come. After his bakwaas about marriage, he proposed me and then continued telling how happy he would keep me(Aila, what was this, I thought!!)

I could sense how the people standing nearby were cherishing this and how I controlled myself from giving him a tight slap, only God knows. Finally, I got the glimpse of a metro station, rushed out of the bus, dashed to it, turning back to see in between if I was being followed. After I reached office, people asked me what was the case as my face was wearing a reddish tinge(Blush or anger or a blend of two, I don't know).

Finally, I recounted the whole incident and we had a hearty laugh!! Only sad part was that this was my first and last proposal till date and my solitary lover(I doubt whether I should at all tag this brat as my lover...naah, I would prefer not to)

So, since that day, my friends had an incident to pull my leg (not very often though) .

Though I felt a bit scared at that time, the whole incident seemed very hillarious afterwards. What do you say?

Aging Aunty

Now that the whole world (at least that is what it seems to me) is busy finding a suitable groom for me, I think that I have really grown quite old(No sigh, I'm loving it, to say in McDonald style!!). Being called didi was quite common untill now but recently I was even tagged aunty by two PYTs(Pretty Young Things). My indomitable spirit, however, remains as strong as ever(the evergreen hero, Dev Anand, being my inspiration).

So, my smile remains where it truly belongs to...on my face.

Things I miss about my childhood

Yesterday I read an article that made me quite nostalgic. It was about things that children who grew during the 80s miss now-a days. The article forced me to travel back in time and relive those cherished moments once again, albeit with a sigh!!

So, I would love to list the things that were so much of fun during my childhood and are sorely missed now-a days(though I never spared a thought about the same till I read the article):

1. Summer and winter vacations: My lazy soul craves for those blissful holidays though being a professional has its own demands. So, having the weekends to relax and chill is only something that I get at present.
2. Comic books: I still remember how after every final exam term, I waited eagerly for my share of chacha chowdhary, chandamama, champak and other comic books that were ordered by my parents in a lot. Usually I had the chance to read these comics somewhat regularly but the bulk order was something that gave me immense joy.
3. Visit by my mamas from Kolkata: I spent my childhood in Muradnagar(near Delhi). My mamas(maternal uncles) used to visit us and these visits had special meaning for me. These were the times when I had the Amar Chitra Kathas in Bengali and other children's literature from Bengal. In fact, I owe a lot to my mamas who were hugely responsible for getting me interested in Bengali literature and the language itself.
4. Sweet tooth: I was never fond of sweets but the cheap lozenges and poppins were big attractions for me. Even the tiktiki lozenges that came in various plastic bottles of varied shapes were a big draw amongst my peers.
5. The factory hooter(Siren): As we lived in factory quarters(my father being an employee with the Ordnance Factory Board), every weekday began with the shrill sound of the factory hooter. Sundays sounded a bit awkward as I missed the siren's sound.
6. Load shedding: These hours in the dark were a welcome break from studies. These were also the times when the storyteller in my father took charge of the proceedings. I just lapped up whatever my father had to tell-be it his childhood incidents, his school-escapades, ragging or his job experiences.
7. Rehearsals: Vigorous rehearsals for over 2 months for Durga Puja cultural activities are another thing that has become history now. These rehearsals were also the pretext when boys and girls could meet away from prying eyes(those days, people didn't had a broad mindset regarding such meetings and things were quite different from what they are now).
8. Art of storytelling and Thakumar Jhuli: I miss the stories of Thakumar Jhuli that introduced me to the rakkhosh, khokkhosh, daini, shuorani, duorani etc. I miss my thamma's storytelling art too.
9. Adda and PNPC: Though I still indulge in these activities but those childhood days were simply matchless.
10. Doordarshan: Yes, I sometimes miss the old telly programs, especially so when there's a total chaos on the telly-scene today!!

Pen…..mightier than the sword?

I read an article today and that kept me thinking……are we still in love with our pens or have these pens lost the charm that they held in the yesteryears…..

When I leaf through the pages of my childhood, I could clearly feel the excitement of that first day when I was finally allowed to graduate to pens from pencils…..it was the license that finally I was coming of age and I loved it like anything!!!

However, I never quite liked the idea of writing with fountain pens. Though I began with fountain pens, I shifted to ball points at the earliest chance and have stuck to it till date. I find them much more manageable and easy to write with if you are in a hurry.

However, with the invasion of computers in our life, that habit of writing is on the decline and I am no exception. Perhaps, a day would come again when I would be able to feel that charm of writing with pen, a charm that was an integral part of my growing up years….

Food for thought

We belong to that lucky tribe who take pride in being the employed lot of a third world country (sadly, India still is called that). However, certain things are really needed to be brought to the forefront right now. I would list them as follows (not necessarily in this order of preference though…)

1) Salary: Despite the BPO and KPO boom, we are still paid just a pittance as compared to our counterparts on the western front. Time to shriek out at the top of our voice and ask….WHY, WHY, WHY?
2) Working hours: Though many of my friends are lucky enough to have a 5 day week, most I believe are not (sigh!). After the grueling schedule of 5 days, how many of us really look forward to coming to our work stations and put the best of our efforts is a big question. Can’t we start a movement right now? (Here again, our hands are tied somewhat, thanks to the bleak job scenario….nobody wants to be shown the door…that too for protesting!)
3) Amenities: Is it too much if we ask our employers to be bit considerate and offer some added facilities that would make our jobs a tad easier like proper conveyance facilities, subsidized meals and some incentives(in cash or kind, who minds as long as it lands in our kitty?)

Well, spare a thought or two on the aforesaid and also add noteworthy points from your end that deserves a serious thought from us.

Public Display of Affection

With moral guardians waiting with prying eyes at every nook and corner of the city, how safe or desirable is it to display PDA(Public Display of Affection)??

I wondered a lot about it. However, as five fingers are not alike, so are people with their varied ways of showing affection. Sometimes, even a silent gaze is enough to convey the feelings that you harbor deep within your heart. At other times, it would need that touch, peck, hug or even a kiss to put forth your feelings.

Times have changed a lot since the age of our innocence. As Gen Y tells-it is the time for PDA. I find that Gen Y is a lot more vocal when it comes to wearing their hearts on their sleeves and a lot of kudos to them for the same!!

Really, if you want to hold the hands of your cherished one, want to get lost in the world of each other—why should you get bothered by the world??

There need to be a degree of restraint though!! You need to remember the famous saying which goes as-“with power, comes great responsibility”.

So, with the freedom that you enjoy and cherish so much, accountability should also be an integral element. Enjoy your share of PDA but without getting others annoyed by going on the wrong side of decency.

Mantras to be Happy

Life itself is a great teacher. It has taught me many valuable lessons, blow by blow. Though I don’t boast of having nerves of steel, I have entwined some of these lessons in my own life. Definitely, these lessons have made life more beautiful than it was before. Today, I would love to share a few of these mantras with you (could be applicable to you as well, not necessarily in the same order though)…..

Love yourself more than anything else. Be selfish at times and don’t feel guilty about it. Pampering yourself has its own advantages, which you need to feel on your own.
Develop a positive mental attitude.
Have tremendous self belief.
However outgoing you may be, build a protective wall around yourself that would block majority of the self defeating verses of people.
Set your own benchmarks and strive to achieve them. Be your own competitor.
Don’t have great expectations from others. Give whatever you can and wish to, without any expectation of getting a favor in return.
Do those small things that make you happy.
Nourish your mind and soul by reading quality material and spending time with quality people.
Do your duties with a degree of detachment.
Search happiness within yourself. Don’t depend on external factors.

Teacher’s Day

Of late, teachers from various city and district schools have been in the news for all the wrong reasons- hitting the students nastily, molesting them, getting them involved in sleaze rackets etc. We have indeed come a long way from the days of Gurukul when teachers were revered even more than one’s parents.

When I take a journey back in time, I find many fond memories of teachers who not only guided me in my quest for knowledge but also inspired me to look beyond the obvious and dare to dream. However, most of these cherished moments are from my school life. Even after passing out from school, whenever I went back to my alma mater, I was made to feel blessed by my teachers.

So, my question is what has gone wrong in the present age? Is it the dedication that went missing or is it the system that overburdens the teachers?

I have been a teacher myself for quite long and have seen that students are always receptive to learn things. What they desire is a bit of love and care from the teacher’s end. I have handled classes which were branded as the nastiest senior class in the whole school. However, the students, especially the rowdy ones, became the most disciplined ones during my sessions with them. Did I do anything special? No. I only went into the class sans any preconceived notion and made them believe that they were equally good.

Perhaps the teachers of the modern age need to bring that zeal to teach and inspire the “young minds” which is sadly missing in most of the cases. All this needs to be done before it is too late.

Marriage-is it really worth it?

Lately, this marriage bug has been disturbing me quite a lot. Being the eldest of three sisters, my retired father and homemaker mother are hell bent on my traditional “vidaai”, the sooner, the better.

In the past, a lot of fight and tears have been devoted to this subject, quite a useless one from my point of view. What my parents fail to understand is that why should I tie the knot at all…but all my queries and reasonings have led to naught. My parents want social security for me via the route of marriage.

I, on the other hand, want to have my own say when I decide this question of utmost importance. I don’t want to be rushed into doing things. It’s true that I need a companion but can my parents assure that marriage would give me that? No, they can’t.

Another thing that bugs me is the freedom of my own identity. I want to be known as myself, not as someone’s daughter, sister or wife. Would tying the knot ensure my freedom of choice? Again, no answers!!

So, till I figure out the answers to these questions, wedding bells can wait.

Matters of the heart

Have you ever wondered why do people fall in love? I have but could not figure it out till date.

According to me, you can’t decide to love. It just happens. Being loved by someone is truly a feeling that would take you to seventh heaven.

However, is love always reciprocated? No, goes my answer. That is where the trouble brews. Often the pages of newspapers pronounce jaded lovers taking revenge on their “objects of affection” by throwing acids or murdering them.

From my personal experience, I can say that rejection is really hard to digest, especially when it is your first love. However, rather than loosing a good friend, it is better to be friends with your erstwhile lover (erstwhile, because it was that love which never bloomed or bloomed only from one end)……

Nevertheless, it hurts and a lot at that!!

Friendship

To quote Robert Louis Stevenson: A friend is a gift you give yourself.

It is indeed quite true that family ties are something that we are born with. However, friendship is a choice that we exercise at our own discretion. I don’t know of others but in my life till date, my bonds of friendship have often triumphed over the bonds of blood. In the deepest and darkest hours of my life, when I was on the verge of calling it quits, it were my friends who held fort for me and pulled me back by replenishing my levels of falling self belief.

I am indeed indebted to each and every friend of mine, some who are still with me and some who have drifted apart. Irrespective of wherever they are, I always pray for their well being and seek divine blessings for them, each of them being a special individual in his/her own right.

Men vs. Women

Though the topic is somewhat cliché, I thought it would not be out of place to post some views of mine on the same. I wish to dwell on the emotional aspect rather than the physical one.

Women are conditioned by the society to be multitaskers from their childhood. This trait comes handy in the later stages of life though a woman is often burdened by playing so many roles to near perfection. Though women are portrayed as meek and weak, their strength is subtle and matchless in its own way. Emotionally too, women have a strength that is unforeseen. They may not pronounce it but they are comfortable and confident knowing the fact that they have this reserve of strength which they can fall back upon during their hard times.

Men, on the other hand, need constant pampering of their ego. They even need people to show their faith in their talents and are somewhat insecure without these.

Nevertheless, men and women are not warring parties. Rather, they need to work in collaboration to make this world a better place for the future generations.

Vanishing Conscience

Often I have heard that conscience is a trait of the middle class. Rich people don’t have a pricking conscience as they have no time to think anything else besides money. On the other hand, poor people are so engrossed in earning their daily bread and butter toiling all day long that conscience does not figure in most of their lives. Even then, we do find large sums of lost money returned by the people belonging to the lowest strata of the society or such other noble deeds done under the overwhelming influence of conscience.

What bothers me, however, is the vanishing conscience among the Gen-Y people of the society. Starting from ill treating their parents and elders, getting into the wrong habits without sparing even a second blink, kidnapping and murdering, brawls and other illegal acts-all these and more are pretty rampant in the society. The disturbing thought is that these youngsters are not bothered by their conscience. The bigger question, however, is that do these people really have something called a conscience?

Networking---is it still working on the net?

After a spate of deaths where Orkut somehow was found to be the common link, this is the biggest question on everyone's lips.

Though there is a huge cry demanding Orkut be banned, the situation warrants a careful thinking rather than acting on impulse. Orkut, voted as the MTV Youth Icon, is a craze which has swept the young and the old alike.

However, in the recent times, those who stand in oppostion of Orkut have gained momentum. Some schools in Kolkata have even issued warnings to students to delete their Orkut profiles. These warnings also say that any student below the age of 18 would stand chances of expulsion if found to be an Orkutian!!

The question that pinches me is that would keeping a social networking site like Orkut out of the reach of many make them safer? It is true that a lot of filth is already spread on this site. Even it is weird being bombarded by friend requests from complete strangers or being at the receiving ends of crap scraps. Nevertheless, quality people who are equally responsible about using the site are also there on Orkut.

I believe that people should learn to exercise their responsibilty and sensible judgement if they want to make the optimum use of networking sites like Orkut etc. by getting connected with like minded people.

So, while the debate continues on whether to ban Orkut or not, enjoy Orkuting, albeit in a responsible manner!