Thank you 2014; Welcome 2015

2014 was a roller-coaster ride - thoroughly enjoyed the ups and downs. 

As the New Year waits, I'd like to thank 

1. Facebook for the timely updates and also for acting as my virtual photo album 

2. WhatsApp for bringing together all my friends from around the world (u r what kept me breathing all this while)

3. Internet, without which nothing would have been possible... 

I have a lot to look forward to in the 2015. Personally, I believe it’s gonna be an eventful year with our home visit in the first quarter followed by the two weddings I hope not miss in the second/third quarter. We (I and my Husband) desire to return to India by the beginning of the second half of the year - to reunite with family and friends. As the list of personal wishes unfolds, I pray there be peace around the world with no natural calamities or human attacks. May the coming year undo the ruthless killing of innocent lives and violence against women and children. May there be no more accidents and flights reach their destination on time safely. I wish it brings with it happiness to everyone. 

Muscat vs. Cochin

The Arabian Sea, the Cornish (Marine Drive), the Souq (Broadway), the green parks, tea stalls and the language Malayalam... you have a lot in common, but you cannot beat the Queen. Kochi is always my favourite. 

It’s been exactly 215 days now since I came to the Sultanate of Oman (Muscat), and there is nothing more I have missed than being in my country. Like I said there are a lot of similarities between this and the place where I come from still the feel is quite different. I mean, yes, this definitely is a much more cleaner and organized place and the scenic beauty right outside my window (a range of rocky mountains running towards the sea) only grows more desirable by the day, the feeling of 'belonging' hardly exist. There are more Malayalees than Arabs here and any kind of Indian food is just a call away - this is pretty much a 'little Kerala' on its own. Yet, every time I visit the city, I am reminded that I am far far away from my nest. Whenever I am informed of a special occasion/event/day, I try to replicate the mood of celebration here but, being with family is definitely a different experience all together. 

Knowing that in a few days, after considerably long time, all my cousins and relatives are meeting up for a family union, I can only sit here and wait for updates. While I am at it, I wish to raise toast to a wonderful and fun loving family like our - cheers. 

Thank you, but...

03 December, 2014. I was completely astounded when I received a Facebook message from a friend of mine – notifying that my wedding invitation has been ranked one of the most creative wedding card in India-Times website. Though my first expression was shock, it slowly subsided. I felt glad that an e-paper found it worth enough to put it up as one of the top 10 creative wedding card they came across.

This wedding card was custom-made two years ago (2012 September) after I carefully ideated and collected the photographs and my good friend (Madhesh ji) put together all the elements visually. It didn't occur to me that one day it will appear in an online-newspaper.

Unfortunately, after I shared the news with my other friend they raised a concern for my privacy as this image was used without my knowledge.  The publisher did not find it necessary take my consent before posting my photograph, personal details (and to an extent my idea) in public forum.  I mean, this might not be a big deal but of course there are a few rules and regulation for posting/writing something about a common person or using other’s property without their permission online, Isn't it? I would have happily said a "yes" if they had asked me prior to posting it as one of the best, I would be thankful too.

Dear publisher,  This time, now that it’s all done and there is nothing offensive about it, I am OK with it, but next time at least, before you flick images/information from social media and other sources, you may as well get their permission to publish them – purely because it is your responsibility.

Article url:  http://www.indiatimes.com/culture/who-we-are/10-creative-wedding-cards-youve-got-to-see-to-believe-228719.html?fb_action_ids=903364743007154&fb_action_types=og.comments

See also: http://www.scoopwhoop.com/inothernews/made-in-heaven/

Beauty of God's Will

One part of the picture is always left incomplete so that we can add our colours to it. Such is the beauty of God's will.

A Realization

On every sleepless night, I dug an inch deeper into my soul and there I saw a new me unfold. 

So if I were to choose what life I wish to live, I would have chosen the one I live now. 

The two faced

He plants a tree in the day light only to cut a hundred at night. He adopts a stray cat and slays the cattle at his store. He eats fresh from his private farm and invents chemical manures. Man - smiles and offers your last supper. 

Shots

Pouring the first measure out the brand new bottle of imported Blue Label, mind rewinds back to the moments spent with her. She was beautiful. Just beautiful – nothing more, nothing less. For 8 years now, it has been a hopeless runaway from her torturing memories. Measuring out the next round, thoughts lingered - the last resort has always been a few shots of whiskey. Sparkling, on the rock and neat – they have soothed the mind, slowly putting it to sleep. 

From a single shot to pegs to large, the transition was smooth and fast. These days the body has grown immune to this lovely friend and even after four-five rounds straight, it shows no fatigue. The focus is still her. The last drop of this ‘royal drink’ poured in; the ice cubes clinked against the glass. This drink in the hand resembles her a lot. The shining crystal cubes ice reminds me of her glowing eyes, the light golden honey colour liquid – her free flowing hair, the transparent glassware - her pure heart. But with every sip of this nectar, she seems to disappear little by little or is it sleep shutting down the system?  

The dim lights and the chill air filled the room with silence. The golden content remains unfinished. The sparkle had long vanished. Waiting for memories to fade - only to remember them better. 

Dead-ends are for a reason

Often, in life, we run fast – towards what we think our aim is. Unfortunately, sometimes we lead ourselves to  dead ends. This is what happened to me in the recent past. I was quiet shocked and confused when I realized there is no way ahead. I kept wondering what to do and even thought of running back to where I came from. But my responsibilities and liabilities had shut that option already. After much thinking, I decided to dig a path myself. Alas! Destiny is a mystery, for we not know what lies ahead. The new path too was a blind alley. Lost and baffled, I sat on the ground while my heart filled with disappointments. My future seemed void and purposeless.

I do not know the amount of time I spent there but as my eyes filled with tear and body grew tired, I slipped into a deep sleep. When I woke up, it was dark. Scary dark. Not knowing what to do, I decided to wait for the light. As I lay on my back staring into nothingness, something caught my attention – the blue-black canvas of nature. The usual night sky, only this time, those twinkling stars and the full moon penetrate my vision. Never before have I experienced the beauty of a dreamy moonlit sky. Slowly my worries vanished and I slipped into a soothing feeling. It was bliss - doing nothing, knowing nothing, saying nothing and expecting nothing. Consciousness sinking into me – I am exactly where I am supposed to be – momentary pause to relish the moment. From here, I have miles to go. The sky is my new destiny.     

Patriots

What all publicity stunts to celebrating independence day!!

It’s 11.15PM, 09 August 2014. Sitting by my dining table sipping a cup of hot cardamom green tea, I received the fourth invite/message to change my profile pic to that of the Indian flag. 

On one side there is Gaza stories and posts filing up the social networking sites – pleading for the life and safety of many innocent children. On the other hand here is this rising need for my friends to show the world their pride by flooding their Facebook wall with pictures of the national flag. (I am quite unsure if promoting any these updates will actually have an impact on the current world issues. Pardon my ignorance).

Ironically, I happened to read an article in one of the online edition of a national newspaper about foreigners cleaning up one of the “most attractive” beaches in our country (name not revealed in order to protect the image of that particular State). The picture showed a few tourists picking up plastic wastes from the beach. The title read (if translated into English) “it’s in their blood to keep their surrounding clean” – mocking at our dear patriots’ love for their country, if I may say so. Had each of us tried to keep our nation litter-free, this news would not have appeared in the papers today.

I do not believe any other country is better than ours, be it in cleanliness or development, because we have the potential – we have the resources and the man power. The only thing we lack is enthusiasm.

Why not start by taking an oath to genuinely love our mother land and protect its natural beauty and historical treasures? That way we won’t just help ourselves or the country at large, but leave a better environment for the generations to come.

Coming back to where I began, no offence to those who chose to change the profile pic; you have your rights to love your country and express it every possible way, but next time if you could try to make it a little humane and nature friendly...

Good night, sweet dreams.