Wishfully Whiny : Haiku

Whiny

habituated

wrong in everything they see

complain mode switched on

Wishful

dreamy my eyes

building castles futuristic

smiles momentary

This post is written as a part of April A to Z Challenge 2014. I am doing two posts for every alphabet. The Non-themed posts can be found here.

To Beautiful New Beginnings !!

Yes, the first post of 2014 it is ! *Happy Dance* The moment the dreary old clock on the drawing room wall showed 12 am on 31^st December last year (ah, the happiness of writing 2013 as last year) blaring music all around reached a crescendo, firecrackers lit up chilly December sky, greetings flew down from all corners, telephone networks jammed, Facebook walls flooded with New year wishes, Whatsapp continually buzzed, that very moment, the first thing that came to my mind was ‘To Beautiful New Beginnings’.

Image Source: Google

Yes, the optimist in me was at her highest high totally drunk on the idea of Hope. Yes, Hope that the upcoming year would usher in happiness and its fleet within my life. I did write about how my last year fared here and yet my dear Hope doesn’t seem to leave its premises within my heart. It has found a permanent residence inside me. I too let her be, let her occupy a rent free space inside me. 

We have become kinda best friends - not leaving each other in any circumstances, she always riding on my mind guiding me with her teeny weeny torch through thicker times and me always holding her hand in small and big occasions of life.

As everybody wished me a Happy New Year and I reciprocated with mutual warmth, I asked myself what did I wish for myself this New Year. And this is the answer my heart (which now totally speaks to the tunes of Hope) gave me.

It is the Passion that keeps you burning

May you keep it alive and continue the learning

May of big Dreams your eyes be the carrier

But you reel out efforts to achieve even Bigger

May you meet some amazing People this year

But may you keep the current best ones even more near

May you read some great authors

But may you be able to Pen yourself even better

May your materialistic wishes this year come true

But, may you Grow as an individual in spirituality too

May happiness in your Family ensue

And may you be one the reasons of their happiness too

May within your soul Happiness be found

But may you also spread a lot of Cheer around

May the negativity within you subside

But may you be able to remove fears from other’s insides

  

Life always smooth, may you find

But if it gets stormy, may you find Faith to withstand and fight

May every passing day Outshine the earlier

May this year you be nothing but all the more happier

And now, I would end this post with an ‘Amen’ for all of the above. J J  Happy New Year Friends. By the way, what did your heart wish for?

Gift wrapping a Future Country for my Child !!

I am just another citizen of this country. Yes, the kind who sees the sorry state of affairs of this land, cribs about it, laments at the condition and may be even write about it at times ranting about the happenings around. And just like my fellow Indians, I am cynical. I am cynical about the future of this country. I too worry at times about where would all this stop and how far could the condition deteriorate more.

But, yes, I do dream. Dream about positives. Dream about things getting better. Sensing hope with change in some political movements happening in the country. Feel proud when ‘mango people’ get acknowledged for their efforts.

And one of the dreams of this just another citizen of this country is a dream where some small changes happening in the country, may be, may be would lead to bigger modifications being brought in the political, economic and social  scenario of my country. May be we could be living in a better place.

A country which has fought its battles, a country which has at times been wounded, at times even lost but gradually it has become a country which has not only survived but also emerged victorious defeating the very enemies of its existence. It is such a country that I would want to gift to my child for his/her secure future.

A country free from clichés of Gender based roles: No matter how modern this country grows, no matter how much development takes place, the clichés of gender based roles still remain. It was the same when my mother was a child, it was the same when I was a child. But I hope, whenever my child comes to this world, the situation would have bettered. I wish I could gift my child a country where gender parity exists. I wish my child would not be judged on the basis of his/her sex but on the basis of his/her capabilities as a person. I wish my daughter would be able to guilt-freely handle her multinational company position and my son would not be critiqued as being hen-pecked for helping his wife in the kitchen. Ah, I so wish.

A country which is a Safe Haven: As I told you earlier, yes I have ranted about it before on this blog. But trust me, even writing about the current safety conditions of women in the country seems to be such a mocking exercise at our own self. It’s as if we have become so accustomed to hearing about these incidents these days that any new incident hardly hogs some corner space in newspapers and some quick rumbling by news anchors, leave aside the possibility of it creating some stir within our souls. I sincerely wish my child doesn’t have to see or go through this phase. I wish I could gift my child a country where safety is not a luxury available to few. I wish my girl would never have to worry about her safety while moving to another city or while coming back from her office late at night. I wish my son takes the safety of women around him as his own moral responsibility. I wish just like my wishes for my children, others too would have wished the same and would have molded their children accordingly. I so wish.

A country free from Pollution and Adulteration: Yes we all know about the effect pollution has on us. Yes it is dangerous. But, hazards of industrial pollution? What about the threat the improperly disposed bio-medical waste poses for your health? You don’t even have an ounce of idea about the ghastly effect the pollutants being emitted from those factories have on your body systems. And adulteration. The shocking truths rather not be told here. Because I know, you have read about it earlier, here and there. Because I know you would skim through this paragraph if I rant about it more. But being a part of machinery that deals with these day in and day out as a part of my job makes me worry more. And hence, I wish I could gift my child a country which has its pollution checks under control and adulteration be a word unheard of. I wish my child doesn’t have to inhale those hazardous emissions and would be able to have food that doesn’t reek of adulteration. Yes, I so wish.  

A country sans the Scams: I know I know looking at the current scenario, it seems impossible. I know there are thousands, big and small ones, going on right this very minute. But still I wish. I wish I could gift my child a country free of scams and corruption. I wish he reads about the gory details of scams and corruption in history books. I wish my child is able to trust the people who run his country and believes that they are doing his good and not only their own. I pray that he isn’t cynical like me about the future of the nation and has the flame of hope about the bright future of the nation always alive within him. Oh yes, I so wish.

A country discriminative against Discriminators: Discrimination on the basis of religion as well as promoting people from your own caste, we have seen it all. Communal lobbies exist in all walks of life, be it society, politics or your work life. I wish my child never sees them, rest alone faces them. I wish I could gift my child a country where he is judged, promoted or otherwise only and only on the basis of his mettle as a person and not just because he belongs or doesn’t belong to a particular section of society. I wish I could gift him a country where he is never asked to quote his surname for showcasing his abilities. Yep, I so so wish.

So, these are few wishful wishes for the secure future of my future child. They are here because I believe that if my country’s future is safe, my child’s future would be secured too.

This post is a part of the 1001 Gifts Activity by HDFC Life in association with BlogAdda.

Some Precious Gifts !!

It is said that our bodies are made up of five elements. Panchabhuta as they are called. I read somewhere that the cosmic quest of the universe and beyond begins with Panchabhuta elements that ultimately manifest in an enjoining method forming life force. These five elements are Earth or Prithvi; Water or Jal; Fire or Agni; Air or Vayu and Sky or Akasha. Each of these five elements has its own character and each stands for a certain unique characteristic.

So when BlogAdda gave me a chance to think about the gifts I would like to gift my Child for a secure future, I thought, could I not gift him/her the precise qualities of these elements. Well, so, here goes the list of gifts for my future child.

 I wish I could gift you the stability of Earth

Abundance you ride, never the dearth

Nurture one, nurture everything all

Oh my Child, may you always grow tall

Wish I could gift you the fluidity of Water

May you shape yourself, situations whatever

Wish you to be that elixir, one that is most sought after

Converting people’s sorrows into peals of laughter

I wish I could gift you the passion of Fire

May you hold on, no matter circumstances howsoever dire

Hope you would destroy evil outside and within you

Would stand up always for whatever is true

My Child, I wish I could gift you the power of Air

May you have the ability to blow away unhappiness, worries and despair

Inevitable you be for happiness of everyone around

Well wishes for others in your heart may always be found

I wish I could gift you the limitlessness of Sky

May you succeed always and forever soar high

From within, may you emanate a heavenly radiance

Brightening lives around with your mere presence

This post is a part of the 1001 Gifts Activity by HDFC Life in association with BlogAdda.

(P.S. - The images are obviously from Google God.)

My Dear CC

My Dear CC,

I somehow feel very nostalgic today. It’s been years since we have been together and you know we have been sticking to each other like conjoined twins. Never letting go off each other, enjoying each other’s company and loving each other like truest of lovers.  

Do you remember the year 2009, CC? Ah, how would you? You were not in my life then. But let me tell you a little story. Year 2009 spelled doom for financial sectors across the world. And why just financial sector, it spelled doom for countries, leave aside a particular sector. Two years before that, a starry-eyed girl topping the entrance test tried to catch hold of her post graduate degree dreams.

Little did she know, that by the time she would be about to get hold of her management degree, the universe would have conspired against her dreams of strutting around in business suits with crisp make up, holding interesting meetings with clients, knocking down strategies of competitors, having business lunches and flying to different cities cracking deals for her multinational. Lest she knew, that two years down the line, she would be wearing some of the most humble attires, having conversations with fed up clients, getting knocked down by bosses, having lunch with same old colleagues and most of all, hopping from one city to another every single day but not by some comfortable airline but inside a jam packed, worn out state transport buses.

Yes, the year 2009 gave a 360⁰ turn to my life made a sarkari babu (government officer) out of me with the office located in another city so far away that the most convenient way to reach there was in those buses (no matter how uncomfortable they were).

The hardest part of the travel ranged from being bored to death during the one and half hours long journey, the damage to my eardrums from the noise of those worn out buses, the headache caused because of the constant chatter of passengers around and not to forget the trouble to my legs due to lack of seats.

Three months into my job, I came home complaining my tiresome journey every day. I don’t know whether it was my cribbing or something else but one fine tiring and boring journey later when I reached home, you awaited me. Yes, CC, you came into my life then. My parents made me meet you. I fell in love with you the very instant. I know you did too.

From that day onwards, you became my Constant Companion, my CC. The bored-to-death syndrome was replaced with entertained-to-the-hilt syndrome every single day. With you, I would either be finding out how Ted Mosby’s children got to know about their father’s rather loongggg love story of finding their Mother or I would be lost in the craziness of Chandler Bing and gang.

And CC, don’t you remember, the times when I had exhausted my quota for these shows, some or the other e-book would have found its way with us. Isn’t it? If I was not in a mood to have a book date, I would relieve my stress of going to work everyday by killing some goons in the game of FLV Commando or Crushing some candies :P:P Yeah, yeah I know it was too much for you.

CC, do you remember how proud I was to have you when I showed you around in my bus. Yes, the so called bus that we took everyday brimmed with employees whose average age surpassed forties and whose only form of entertainment was gossiping and poking noses in somebody else’s business which included some very grave concerns about how much I earned, details about my family, why wasn’t I married yet, where did I get my new kurti from and why did I get down at a stop earlier than my usual. The never-be-rude syndrome in me made me answer those uncomfortable questions cringingly. But that was before you.

You came to my rescue like a knight in shining armor protecting me from the volley of those uncomfortable questions making me oblivious to my over friendly passengers.

I know CC, I am somewhat forgetful. Being a writer, it makes things even worse. Coz I used to constantly observe and write things in my head; whilst forgetting half of them while they actually got implemented on paper. But that was also before you CC. You understood this facet of mine and that’s why you were always there with me. You became the place where I poured my thoughts just as they came about in my head; which not only included the time while I traveled but also my office desk, my actual writing table and most importantly near my pillow at night.

Do you know CC that the times have changed so much and sarkari naukri (government job) no longer means aaram ki jindagi. (comfortable life) Which meant more work and more deadlines. (Yes, I know it’s kind of an earth shattering truth but it is) Do you remember, those hard times when I read those long and arduous agreements while I traveled. You wouldn’t believe but I made some gruesome notes and presentations with you in those ghastly buses.

I am getting emotional now CC. You have been truly been my constant companion helping me tread through thick and thin. Whether it was by keeping me entertained or by allowing me follow my passion and even letting me work. You were truly a soul mate, CC.

But CC, today we need to talk. I know it would be hard for you to listen what I am about to say now. But CC, I don’t have a choice. Times change and so do people. I have changed too. My needs have changed too. You were there with me CC, but I need more now. Yes, call me selfish, but I can’t help it.

You have grown old dear. You don’t look as stunning as you looked earlier. You have been hanging up on me quite a few times recently and I just can’t take it anymore, love. And besides, my needs, well, they are increasing CC. I need more out of you which you haven’t been able to give off late. Its hard for me to say this love, but I will have to let go off you dear.

Oh, I know you might be thinking if I have somebody else in my life. I have to confess CC. Yes, I have found somebody else. Yes, I am swallowing hard while I say this but she is better, much better than you.

Now don’t weep CC. You had your days. My new one, oh, she is stunning. Sleek and beautiful. And do you know the best thing about her. She is multi-mode.  

With her around, I know I would be able to read so many books and browse those wonderful blogs with so much ease. You know why CC? That’s because it can eliminate twisting force and create comfortable one-handed holding with its unique battery cylinder. And do you remember how crazy I am about having video chats with my little niece Tyra, I would be able to do that so more often with its unique kickstand which would let me enjoy the comfort of a hands-free viewing experience. And how can I forget my passion for writing. I know I would be able to do that easily now since its battery cylinder provides the perfect angle for touch interaction.

So CC, I guess that’s the end of our relationship. Yes, I have my eyes on somebody else. Ah, how brilliant she is. Oh, I know you would want to know her name. So here it is. She is the Lenovo YOGA Tablet. Wish me a happy life with her.

Once yours, now hers,

Ardent Tablet Lover

This post is written for Lenovo Yoga Tablet - A Better Way in association with IndiBlogger]

Hopping and Shopping in Future !!

The blissful weekend is here. I look at the clock. It says September 14, 2030 and beeps 11.30 am. With the husband being away for his regular golfing practice and my kiddo at her dancing lessons (yeah, we still pursue these small pleasures like learning to dance) I have all the time to myself.

I walk into my study room to see if the book I bought ten minutes back has downloaded. I open my miniature laptop which is connected to the huge screen on the wall. It has downloaded. I do not like the ‘e-thingy’ too much when it comes to reading but with depleting environment, the Government’s ban to produce more paper seems apt. Sigh!! How I miss the smell of new books! I wonder, if we would have been a little careful in our past regarding Mother Earth, things would have been much better today.

Before I have the pleasure of reading the book, a message pops up. It’s from ‘Onestop’ which basically is a personalized shopping destination website. Everybody has an account on it.

The voice says: This is the reminder you had set for shopping. Login Now?

I remember setting the alarm. I pick up the microphone and speak: “Yes, take me in”.

The website opens with my personal page neatly divided into sections about all the shopping I have done in past. Clothes, Gadgets, Groceries etc etc. Every item under each menu is neatly stacked and connected to the respective online shopping website I have done my shopping from. One tab shows the best deals available for items I have entered into. The page also gives me statistics of any type I want. Amount wise, website wise and other such blah blah blah. Not much of my use though.

I mean, which woman calculates all this? We women are still the same in 2030. We love our shopping no matter where it comes from. Ofcourse, the ways of shopping have changed today.

The voice speaks again:

She:   You told me to remind you about buying a new dress for the upcoming office party. What would you like to buy?

Me:  Well, the theme for the party is ‘Retro’. So why don’t you show me    something we wore back in 2010-15? But before that please order me a      double shot espresso from Starbucks.

She:   Ordered. Proceed towards payment?

Me:    Yes.

My bank account opens and I speak my password to pass the voice recognition test and then the retina scan. I love these security features. No hassles of remembering your passwords and changing them often and no worries about hacking.

She:   The payment has been done. Your double shot espresso from nearest Starbucks outlet will be delivered in next fifteen minutes.

Me:    Good. Let’s go to the dress shopping thing.

She:   Yes. The page at Wikipedia says that saris were a popular choice in Indian wear during the time period you suggested. Would you like to see them?

Me:    Aah.. yes the saris !! Long time since I worn one myself. Show me something in black.

She:   What material would you like to buy them in?

Me:    Organic georgette or Chiffon, may be?

Me:    And yes, do add the weather and water proof feature into it.

She:   Sure. Please wait.

20 seconds later

She:   You have twenty nine options to choose from below.  

Me:    Oops.. that’s too many. We need to reduce the number. Cut the products from those fifteen companies whose percentage share of profits towards nurturing the environment is the least.

          

          Something for the environment, eh? I mutter.

She:   Will Do.

A Message pops up my screen:

 Checking the balance sheets of the companies and their profit utilization towards environment nurturing.

1 minute later.

She:   Here are the remaining choices.

Me:    Cool. Put them one by one in the video trial software.

She:   Yes. Please wait.

A minute later, a video reels and I see myself moving around the screen trying every sari one by one. I just need to press the next button and my image would play showing me how would I look in every sari. I found my choice and pressed the select button.

She:   Taking you to the webpage of ‘Organic India’ and logging into your account.

I complete the payment formalities like earlier and mutter into the microphone: “Well, that’s pretty much done, right?

She:   Yes. But I hope you remember that ‘Husband’ has his birthday up next week? You put a reminder for that as well.

Me:    Er.. Umm.. Ofcourse, I do remember. This forgetting birthdays is ‘Husband’ thing, not the Wifey thing. Got it? Anyways, what should I be buying??? Ummm.. Something related to golf?

She:   ‘Husband’ browsed through the ‘Golf Kits’ section two days ago. Would you like to have a look?

Me:    Is it? How do you know? Eh, ofcourse you would know. You have search histories of everyone of us. Did he ask you anything about my shopping?

She:   You have disabled the history button for your profile for everybody else except you.

(Grinning widely) Oh yes, Me.. smarty pants!! That was indeed a smart move. Lest, Husband dearest would have known what would be my next demand and would have thought a new excuse of avoiding me into buying it. (Yeah, husbands are the same too. Whether its 2013 or 2030. Sigh!!) – I think aloud.

Me:    So, anything particular he liked? - I mutter into the microphone.

She:   Yes. He liked this Golf Kit.

Image Source: Google

Me:    Nice. But how are you sure he liked this?

She:   He browsed through several websites. Compared the prices at ‘Compare.com’ and found this as the best deal. He lasted for 22:06 minutes on this page. Read all the details. Asked me note them down as well. And also put a reminder for buying this next month.

Me:    Well that’s pretty cool. Since it’s from ebay I don’t think there should be any problem buying it. The return policies are amazing. The prices are correct and the service is just perfect. I think I would buy this.

She:   OK. Connecting to your account on ebay.

The formalities on ebay finish smoothly. The golf kit is to be delivered right on the night before Husband’s birthday. And I also put a reminder to inform me if he too orders the same kit. Cool Me. Ain’t I? Ok.. Ok.. Cool ebay, Happy??

She:   Anything else?

Me:    Yeah. I think it’s time to change the curtains of the house. But not now I guess. I would rather go and read my book. Keep a reminder about good deals on various stores. Ping me when there is something worthwhile. You know the budget for the curtains. Right?

She:   Yes, sure. The details of the purchases have been added to your ‘Onestop’ account. Have a good day ahead.

Me:    Yeah, you too.

Ahhh.. This shopping thing is tiring. :P

I hear the doorbell... there comes my Espresso !!!

This post has been written for ‘The Future of Shopping!’ contest, organized by IndiBlogger and eBay.in. The topic of the contest was – Tell us how you imagine shopping to be in the year 2030. Do check out their page at bit.ly/eBayCheck_Extention