Grateful.

World's favourite story-teller @Crossword

 Me: "You know what? Jeffrey Archer is in the town today!"

N: "Wow. I'm jealous. Going then?"

Me: "No, got loaded with work. Stuck in the traffic now."

N: "You're good for nothing."

This conversation at the end of a Monday like Tuesday makes me want to scream at myself and everyone around. Just how I want to when the wi-fi stops working in the middle of a long awaited Skype session. Just how I wanted to when my Team Lead demanded (at 5:30pm) for a shitty excel to be updated by EOD. I could go on with so many just-hows which most of us would resonate with. Hello, corporate biggies! 

I might not be a veteran but I have been a part of corporate culture for quite some time now. Long enough to be a wearer to know where exactly the shoe pinches. Mondays, team meetings, manager, status calls, client escalation. Some of the keywords that touch a raw nerve by their mere existence. In spite of all that, what is it that keeps a corporate tag hanging around the neck? Is it merely a 'Salary Credited' text that we await for the entire month or some appreciation e-mail from our manager? Or maybe a promotion? The answer is subjective. 

No matter how much we crib over our evening coffee breaks, we still would come to work next morning. Because there is something utterly vital that keeps us going. Something utterly important, may be, to your family if not you. Something that makes you gulp the frustration down the throat after a bad day.

So, I would say, while you let the hatred for this job drive you to find your passion, be happy and grateful for at least the time you're around. Value that 'something' and let it be the force behind being tad grateful for this tiny winy job. Thank the pricks in your team for taking your patience to an entire new level. Thank the not-so-likeminded people that made you realize how you are round pegs in square holes. Also, be grateful for the gentler ones who made you believe, no matter how bad, professional the world is, a warm human connection surpasses everything. 

Now while you pin point your different colleagues for each of the scenarios, I'd say, take some time out today, grab a cup of coffee, sit at the happiest corner of your house and prepare a 'Grateful for' list. Because as they say, be thankful, it is when grace follows. 

Losing Him.

Okay, so it has probably been the 9th time I'm opening this, typing a sentence, deleting it and logging out of Blogger. But today morning began with a promotional e-mail from Amazon with a subject, 'Today, do what you love!' and while I read through it, it was about ordering some books and nurture the love for reading. Though, I already have done my part for placing an order for some books, expected to arrive today, so I knew, I had to write something. And promised myself to not log out till I pen down a few words.

Year 2015, you haven't been that great. I lost a loved one. A loved one so close to heart that I have lost a part of me with him. So much so that, it seemed impossible to breathe even for a day on the face of Earth without him. But it was shocking at first and brutal a while later to see that the world continued. Continued in all its glory. Sun rose, flowers bloomed, stars continued to twinkle, people went to work, days passed on. And we seemed to breathe along too.

How could it happen? I questioned myself this. I questioned when I would wake up in the middle of the night, fighting nightmares and praying, I could go back to sleep. I questioned when I would look at his picture kept in my wallet, take a pause, talk to myself and shed some tears. I questioned when I stumbled upon healthy pictures of him, sparkling in the pink of his health, adding to the glory. I questioned when I had a doubt and the first thing that my mind exulted, "I'll ask him" but no sooner, the second thought cheeped in. I questioned when I looked at the date today and realized that it has been almost a month without him.

Whoever said that loss gets easier with time was a liar. Here's what really happens: The spaces between the times you miss them grow longer. Then, when you do remember to miss them again, it's still with a stabbing pain to the heart. And you have guilt. Guilt because it's been too long since you missed them last.

Nevertheless, he will forever be around. Standing silently, guiding us, doing his part as he as always done.

Forevermore!

Hello 2015. While people posted their life-changing posts during the New Year's eve, I was home and thanked the power of Universe, the power up there, for some things that didn't change. For good. For better and the best.

1. As I flew from a warm 26 degrees to bone crackling 6 degrees, it wasn't surprising to find my dog not even moving an inch to show how happy he was to see me. Or may be he wasn't. Well, that's not a question. What was fun to see, he snuggled under a series of blankets sleeping just as lazily as I had bid goodbye to him on my last home visit. He would always remain the youngest sibling amongst us. And younger ones don't grow up. Ever.

2. This vacation, first winter morning at home began with the vegetable seller shouting loudly in the wee hours of the day trying to sell 'Sarso da saag'. Instead of getting irritated, my lips curled into a smile. You don't mind sounds breaking your deep slumber if they end up giving you a ride of nostalgia down the childhood memory lane.

3. Diving into the numerous winter foods was an overall highlight of the vacation. Because when in Punjab with winter acting as the cherry on the cake, you just eat, sleep and repeat. Had I adhered to my resolutions for 2014, how would I have savored the mouth watering dishes that Mommy darling invested time in cooking. Some habits indeed die hard.

4. I have a weird fascination with the whistle train makes. Staying in Pune, all you get to hear in those few moments before falling asleep is the airplanes taking off the runway. But how can it replace the fondness for my very own sound of a chugging engine. So, it was sweet no matter how many miles I may have travelled and back, the train's whistle creating a melody brightened my day. I would never grow up. Age is, of course, just a number.

Flying away from the chic way of celebration, I was home for the New Year's. And began it in the most simple and warm way, being surrounded by loved ones, full of gratitude and feeling blessed. With old age weighing my grandparents down, I was grateful to God for granting them enough strength to fight it back. No matter how, they made it this far. A fair enough reason to begin the new year in an excited manner. Hope this year turns more moments into memories, gives more chances of after-success celebrations and more than anything, fills the air brimming with warm human connection.

Hindsight.

“Meeting a stranger can be totally fleeting and meaningless, unless you enter the individual’s world by finding out at least one thing that is meaningful to his or her life and exchange at least one genuine feeling. Tuning in to others is a circular flow: you send yourself out toward people; you receive them as they respond to you.”

Randomly stepping onto the airport some day with just a handbag, buying an airplane ticket to a place and travelling. Yeah yeah, it was one of those crazy wishes that we all have on our list. Those wishes where just the idea of them coming true are enough to lend us insane happiness.

"I want to speak to your manager. How the hell can you do that with us. She came 40 minutes prior to the flight time, I came 35." 

"Ma'am, we cannot allow you to check-in. You please go and speak at the reservation desk. Get your ticket cancelled. 20 minutes later, this ticket would be equivalent to zero." 

"Don't you have any higher authority person that I can speak to? How can you be so stubborn? None of your passengers has boarded the flight. First time with JetAirways and this is ridiculous."

Standing tall with beautiful big eyes, long hair and warm personality, she was admiringly beautiful as per Punjabi standards. She wore a pastel blue cotton silk suit with a rose gold MK watch shinning on the wrist of her left hand. I observed her as she yelled at the concerned person, there at Chandigarh Airport. While I pleaded him, she gave him even my share of bashing. A strong headed, loud and fierce Punjabi Jatti who roared and roared till they put a 'Closed' board on their counter. Ah! How we miss such fierce conversations in the far fetched land of Maharashtra, I thought to myself.

Amidst all this confusion, while one breath made me excited about extending stay at home, another would flash the dreaded face of my manager in front of my eyes and I knew I had to get back. Hence, I also tried persuading the official with full force. After the pointless discussion, a no-use-at-all spat, I rushed to check if I could find another flight to Mumbai if not Pune. While my mother stood outside the airport, observing everything yet failing to do anything for me instead of doubling the speed and intensity of her prayers, this lady called her dad and hence started another round of shouting.Yes, that's what we Punjabis do. When in doubt, shout! Sigh.

Thinking practically, I tried to figure out what could be done next. I rushed to the airline counters. Costing me a fortune, I finally had a ticket while this lady was still struggling to find a Jugaad. Punjabi, trait number 2. Irrespective of the situation, try and find Jugaad wherever you can!

‘This is the first time I’m going to Pune. Do you mind if I can accompany you from Mumbai to there? How do you go there via road? Taxi? Or bus? Actually I have never been to Pune before. I'll pay for the cab. Would you come along?’ 

She had oodles of questions. You don't have to search hard for spotting a Punjabi, especially, a woman brimming with questions to ask till she falls short of breath. I assured accompanying her which in turn assured her buying a ticket for herself and a peace of mind for me.

A little later, after the formalities, we sat in the waiting lounge. By then, her iPhone, LV bag, flawlessly royal style of carrying herself had already got a whiff of admiration from me. The moment she sat, she opened her laptop. I expected her to begin a session of online shopping or login to Skype, instead, to my utter surprise, she started coding. After having a short conversation, I came to know she was an engineer working for a US based software company. 

‘My nephew was telling me to get the ticket cancelled and postpone the plan. He is here to see us from Canada. I should've got it done. At least, I would've been saved from this sick hassle. ’ 

Pointer number four, see a Punjabi mentioning about his close/distant family living in Canada, fondly called as Kanneda and there you notice the sparkle in the eye as they talk about it. As if it’s the entire country that they own. 

Hours passed. Drawing similarities, we had gelled pretty well. We checked in, boarded the flight. Flew, changed states but one thing that continued, we kept on talking. I came to know that she was going to see her husband who is a Colonel in Army. The very moment she mentioned being an Army wife, I tried hard to concentrate on what she was saying because I just couldn’t focus, so I simply stared in her face, doing my best to hang onto sanity. 

It was quite sometime back when bowing to the Indian traditions, the family relatives start jumping and considering me as a probable daughter-in-law fitting into XYZ family. In spite of my mother agreeing to not marry me off anytime sooner, there were one after another befitting proposals coming in. To put an end to this for a while, I found a perfect escape mechanism. I stated, 'I want to marry an army officer. Talk to me next when you find one.' Annnnnd there was my peace! Having stated it without thinking about it, I didn't seem to care much. Later, even before I could realize, I got caught in my own web. With some of the friends joining Army after college, getting to meet their friends, I knew there was some alignment shift with men in uniform that made them grab-worthy. I was fascinated, mesmerized by Army men, Army wives and all that. And when this lady mentioned being one, Oh my God, all I wanted to do was snap my fingers and trade places with her.

The four hour road travel from Mumbai to Pune that I had dreaded during the former time of the day, all I now wanted was if we could stretch it a bit more. Surely a brief time is better than no time. She had loads to share, I had even more to learn. Yes, when two Punjabi-s strike the cord, there is just one thing. Endless chatter. And when it's women, I need not say more!

From sharing about her college years when she fell in love with this guy who later went ahead and joined Army as per the wishes of his family to how she struggled through the early years of being in US, it was like a pot full of things to unveil, to share and to know. 

Later, as the city drew closer with the journey coming to an end, it was nourishing to find a friendship so beautiful out of an experience so enriching. As they say, it doesn't harm you to shell out a few extra pounds if it gives you a great ride of experience!

Apostrophe.

“Punctuation is to words as cartilage is to bone, permitting articulation and bearing stress.”
― John Lennard

How do you feel when early morning, trying to disconnect from reality, humming onto the tip-toeing music number, cherishing the nature, you are walking to your building in the office and you bump into a team mate? Baaaam!! This was the only thing that you never wanted to happen. The sole thing that makes you realize, life is not that merrier as you assumed just a while ago. The weather, the day isn't that chirpy as it felt sometime back. And what follows next? The elevator trip to your floor and further to your desk would be more than enough to fill you up with the latest office gossip, something that you just didn't want to start your day with. But, sigh! That's how a 'Good Morning' sounds in our corporate world. Real world problems.

Though, this morning was a tad different. The team mate of mine asked me an English grammar doubt, thereby increasing my happiness quotient. Yes, when it's colleagues, talk to me about the language, I'll be more than glad to strike a conversation. Else, have my monosyllable replies served on a silver platter right in your face.

What propped up a question in his mind was a mailer for a team party that I'd sent last week for a tiny celebration. Yes, we celebrate when someone leaves the team. *insert the final cadence* Is it because we're happy to have him off the hook? Or for having a gathering where we get to openly state how envious we're of him as he gets to leave while we're being made to stay? Either ways, it's an occasion worth cherishing for both, the team and the person gaining freedom from it. Why? I still can't pin point onto one reason.

Anyway, the mailer's subject read: 'Tejas' farewell'. The obvious question of this team mate of mine was on the apostrophe. He asked, 'Hey! Did you forgot putting an extra 'S' in the subject that day?' Ask me how I resisted punching him in the face! No, not for the wicked smile he carried on his face thinking, he had pointed out my mistake but for that deadly usage of past tense with 'did'. Can I oblige him with an extra grammar rule apart from the one he has asked for? Oh, the enlightenment! Well, I clarified his doubt. But restrained myself from saying, 'Hey! Your grammar is wrecked. Forget Apostrophe.' and knocking him down a dark alley. 

Nevertheless, I did look up online for what exactly is the story with Apostrophe and if there are some lesser known rules around it. I stepped onto some interesting images from a website: 

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/apostrophe

Here's some of it ->


Closing the post with a quote that would force you to be careful with your grammar next time onwards:

“Be careful of your spelling, if an o can make count cunt, what it might do to you.”

On a lighter note, never underestimate the power of punctuation for that's where all our emoticons originate from! :D

The cheesy lilies.

“Don’t worry if people think you’re crazy. You are crazy. You have that kind of intoxicating insanity that lets other people dream outside of the lines and become who they’re destined to be.”
― Jennifer Elisabeth

Utterly bored in a meeting, I started scribbling on my notepad. An hour later, post the meeting, I got to hear two versions of it. A colleague, startled, came up to me and said, "Were you actually taking down the key points through that meeting? Wish even I could understand enough." And on the flip side, a friend, barging into my cubicle, "What the hell were you scribbling to keep you up through that shit? Show your notepad to me right away." I had the same answer for both of them, "Yes, I was taking down the notes." Though, needless to mention, the further responses were startlingly different. When colleagues turn into friends. Sigh.

Nevertheless, it was that very evening when someone on Instagram tagged me in his sheepishly silly post titled - 15 facts about me. I'm not a person who'll write about it on a social media website but I can seek some attention while putting  up at my favourite place, can't I?

1. 'Hate' or 'Detest' would be too harsh a word. So, I'd put it in simple way, I, pretty much, am not fond of my name. Always pushing myself to leave a trail of glitter, it isn't that great for a girl born and brought up in Punjab, for when 'Aman' is called out and you have more than one heads turning around.

2. I love fresh flowers. So much so that, there have been times when I have run out of cash to buy a roadside snack because I ended up picking flowers on my way back from work for the little vase that rests by my bedside. Doesn't the word 'lilies' in the blog title resonate with this?

3. Now when I've mentioned running out of cash, let me reveal where does most of my salary go into. Fragrances. I, not only, like collecting perfumes but also wearing them. Anything other than that has never found a place in the special corner of my dressing table. It has always been a perfume from being it a normal day at work to being some special Friday night dinner. Just the fragrance varies. And a glowing advantage of being a perfume lover is when you get to have a trip down the memory lane by just a whiff of some random perfume. Yes, I actually associate memories with fragrances.

4. After perfumes, it got to be my love for food. The word 'cheesy' in the title of this beautiful post justifies that. Obviously, I picked up my two most favourite things and here I had the title. As I say, you eat food. Then you eat some more food. You keep on eating till you get high on food. Till you just sway with the wind. Till your body feels light because of ecstasy and heavy because of umpteenth amount stuffed in your happy tummy. If you've ever closed your eyes to divulge deep into the bliss after taking the first bite of your most favourite chocolate rolls, you'd know what I'm talking about. Mmmm.

5. Family comes first. No matter what. Because I somewhere read, you never turn your back on your family, even when they do.

6. Although, I'm a girl but I trim my nails instead of filing them. During teenage, I have fought over this with my younger sister to refrain her from doing so as well. And now, she fights with me to encourage me in joining her in this but alas! Wait till you ask me to apply nail-paints. IT MAKES MY SKIN CRAWL. In caps, yes, that!

7. You start your conversation with 'Dear', I'll gladly greet you with a 'Bye'. Now, I can royally use the harsh word to put it in clear frame. I hate people who use 'dear' in their conversations. English has some better salutations. Google, will you?

8. Flawlessly using the language and leaving me with a velvety feeling, I'm all yours. Caring if you're using the present tense with a 'did' correctly, oh boy, you've won me over. Yes, correct grammar is THE criteria.

9. My mom asked me the other day, "What do you really want to do in life?"All I could figure out in these 20-something years of my stay on this planet is, all I need is a job where I am Paid-To-Talk. Yes, I cannot go without jabbering for even some hours, leave alone days. Communicating is the key to my survival. Damn you, whatsapp! IMs/texting cannot replace the power of voice. You remember the good old warm phone calls on a Sunday afternoon?

10. I might have grown up for a candy floss but I still do believe in those yellow beaked birds merrily hopping in the green gardens which give meaning to my 'One for sorrow, two for joy'. I , in real, have surprised the boys of my life by making them pause for a while, blow a kiss and say it aloud when I see a random 'joy' while walking on the road. Those of you who can connect with me on this, may you always get to see these birds in evens.

11. I have been true to my Gemini character ever since. No, I won't talk about my whims and fancies this time. Let's talk of bigger things. I love change. The idea of it is exciting. Stagnation of any form drains out the energy in me. Be it the career, a relationship or even sticking to same set of clothes for a month. But I am not that fond of transitions too. I go through some serious mental and emotional changes when even my work station or the side of the bed changes. I, sometime back, changed my place of stay in the city. And believe me, for an entire month, people could take me for a PMSing, grumbling teenage girl.

12. Spiritual or religious? I'm too young to pick either of them and abide by it but I do believe that there is a force guiding us the way through life.

13. I love multitasking. The delay in the joining of my job gave me a chance to exercise my passion and be a Citizen Journalist with ToI while being a Verbal Faculty at Career Launcher. Juggling between the two jobs, I was the happiest girl on the planet. Talking about present, being a Systems Engineer alone couldn't help me maintain my sanity. And here I was, a freelancer at CL again. Hence, it has been a while when Saturdays are the most sought after days of the week,

14. Now when I've already mentioned being brand conscious, there is something that required a special mention. Apple. Yes, I'm emotionally, technically and physically attached to my iPhone. There have been days in my life when my eyes would spark up at a mere sight of it. And getting to hold the gorgeous thing in my hand would give me days of pleasure. I still fondly remember the day, I got mine. One of the orgasmic days etched in my memory. Oh Steve Jobs, what blessing have you left us behind. All the techies, I'm in no mood for a technical debate.  It is just my sheer love for the bitten apple.

Sigh. Self-obsession much? Well, thank that dull Monday afternoon meeting that made me scribble random keywords listing down things which are a part of me. Thing that I love. Things that I yearn for. Things that are my true calling.

A place called Home.

December '13. Home visit.

Me to Mommy: If this is not heaven, then what is it?

*wraps her arms around me in a tight hug*

Mommy to Me: This is it.

Home is not a place. It's a feeling. It’s a Sunday. A day off at home. I open my eyes, lying on my bed for a long time, letting my mind wander from one memory to another. You need to remember how there have been days you felt all warm inside, like you’ve just drunk a hot cup of tea. Like a small fire has ignited of you. Hold onto the warmth and never let it go. Mentioning of the warmth, I, immediately, am transported to the place where chaos is soothing, every tiny moment is a celebration and the soul is at peace. Rhythm in steps. Harmony in heart. Symphony on streets. Only a few places have that kind of pin drop silence. And the only music to be seen or smelt is quietness. Home. The year 2014 began with a tattered sweater, getting high on the scent of home and being with family. Someone has rightly said, visiting your hometown is like visiting yourself. Oh what a luxury it was for people to hold their loved ones whenever they wanted.

Without alphabets, world would have been a better and cuter place to live in. With the arrival of the youngest angel in the family, it was fun to see even the oldest member doing crazy things just for that one smile of hers. Warm hugs, nonsensical chatter, short walks and long talks with Mom, hysterical laughter sessions - that's what sums up my home visit this December. The best month of the year in my city when everything was so cold apart from the city and the people. When even your hyperactive dog would snuggle under covers and not move an inch even if you kick his ass. I have learned that we cannot live even in heaven if it is not our hometown. Memories, mainly childhood and growing connects us to the soil, not its beauty. One can never have enough of the time spent with family. It's like the addictive weed, every whiff of it makes you want to have more. But as they say, if you want to travel in the ocean, you will have to leave the sight of the shore.
 
Making a note of the date today, I complete an entire year since I first stepped out of the house to embark a journey that least did I know could churn me from inside. Joining Infosys, Mysore as students on 18th March, 2013 and turning into colleagues of some of the greatest minds of IT industry. What happened suddenly? From an Electronics Engineer to an IT Professional, that too a Java developer. What happened suddenly? A person can spend days, weeks, months and years without feeling anything new. Then when a new door opens, a positive avalanche pours in one moment, you have nothing, the next, you have more than you can cope with.

But as Sultana beautifully puts across in Patakha Guddi, when He is there, we needn't worry. As the songs found place in the mouths and hearts of many, I had my own reasons to beam with pride. It was a pleasurable moment telling people around me how I have met and interviewed these two singers. Film industry produced two back to back hits, Highway and then Queen. Both beautiful in their own ways yet leaving an entirely different impact on the soul.

Queen. What better than a couple of your friends texting you about how they wished they had seen the movie with you. Ranjha from the same movie. Put it on if you are a brave heart and can bear the void and screeching wave of pain it brings with itself. I ain't no movie critic but the simplicity of the lyrics along with the subtle music would instantly attract you to it like RabriFaluda would lure a girl on diet. She knows it's not good for her body, yet haves it and merrily divulges in the pool of pleasure it gives. Similarly, you know it's going to make you cry like a baby yet you are tempted to listen to it.

It was after quite a while that any movie could make you experience those velvety crests and troughs. It re-emphasized how when you are at the lowest, you gather the strength to bounce back with a higher amplitude. And that is when you feel how the entire universe would be in sync to help and guide you through. Then there was this let-go wall where just pinning up a piece of paper could make you drop a part of yourself and hence leave you feeling lighter. Could they have made it simpler? But can letting go be this easy? 

Highway on one side brought back a sweet realization of how your own self comes out differently with varied people. How a meager truck driver, her kidnapper, could reach a under-zillion-covers part of soul so smoothly. Why does it happen that sometimes, words find their way into sentences themselves with some people even when they aren't supposed to? But rather isn't it surprising how he could exude this story from her like a thread coming out of the eye of a needle. Smoothly yet piercing right through the center without letting the needle feel it in spite of knowing it. Many such people would come in your life, altering it in their own unique way, leaving you a more beautiful soul and closer to self than before. As Murakami writes, 'What happens when people open their souls? They become better.'

I think I fall in love a little bit with anyone who shows me their soul. This world is so guarded and fearful. Ripping apart yourself and portraying your soul to someone is an art too. In the world where there are more conversations and less interactions, rawness is much more appreciated. You owe people around you your time as it is more precious than money today. Pause for a while and listen, observe them while they speak, try and see through their souls, show them a place called home.

Memories in spate.

'Be careful what you set your heart upon- for it will surely be yours.'- James A. Baldwin

When your family happens to be at the receiving end of the good things you'd invested in, the attainment of bliss is indescribable. It began with getting the VIP entry upon exulting the three-word label, "Times Of India" and the guard, straightening up his back, bowed and allowed our car to enter the arena.The passes were verified and we were shown the way to the auditorium. Though it was jam packed, we (me and my family) managed to scooch in and sit on some just another seats in the last row. But spotting the heads in the crowd, I managed to see Mr. Manpal Tiwana (the organizer of the event) and went up to see him. Gladly greeting, to my surprise, he informed that the special seats were booked for me in the front row. And when the row had a label of 'PRESS' by its side, I had all the reasons to make merry. Taking my people to the near-to-the-stage row, I am unable to find words that might do justice to the beautiful feeling I experienced. Nooran Sisters, Coke Studio fame, were here in the city to perform and I was here to cover the event on the behalf of ToI. Unbelievable much? Suddenly it felt like being in the Tri-wizard tournament and finding the Goblet of Fire just at an arm's distance.

On stage Nooran Sisters

Apart from the soothing of ears, the two gorgeous girls soothed everyone's souls as well. Sufi music, as it is said, is liberating in its own way. It was visible as Jyoti Nooran sang with all the energy, soul and vigour. The crests and troughs that the sisters created in the air of the Harpal Tiwaana Centre of Performing Arts, it felt like someone had used the Stupefy spell on us. The evening ended on even a higher note. In lieu of the interview, I got to share some candid moments with the celebrities of the evening and what made it so beautiful was the their stark simplicity that they possessed.

Apart from travelling through the streets of Pakistan through their songs as they get the noor of their voice from Bibi Nooran (their grandmother) from that place, I got to see Kashmir and Srinagar as well. No, it wasn't an impromptu vacation. Instead, I got to meet the academic head of Career Launcher who was here in the shortest month of the year yet got himself registered in my memory with the longest list of adjectives besides his name. Mr. Vijay Kalyan Jha, meeting whom revived the dormant learning that when you got to achieve something, you must get away with the deadlocks at all costs. Braving the derogatory remarks, the bloodshed, unannounced curfews, India-Pakistan rivalry et al. Shocking instead of surprising, I learnt how the locals of the state would demarcate in being the residents of Pakistan instead of India. The ordeal to set up a CL center in the region where they won't allow a male to step inside a girls college, leave alone a fact of having a knowledge and interactive session with the students. CL is a company of impeccable heads put together, I tell you!

The past few months have indeed been a blessing in disguise where apart from exploring various avenues of interest, I have explored so many different shades of my personality which least did I know even existed. From being an inch closer to the English language to being able to taste the flavour of something which I always wanted to pursue as a full time profession, Journalism. God has really been great and I just hope that the grace continues. With a destiny-changing mail pouring in a few days ago, I experienced a bittersweet moment. Being made to read 'A Daughter leaving home' by Ray Hansell, I cried like a baby when the first thought of leaving home actualized in front of my eyes. I'll be flying down south in just a couple of days. Along with apprehensions of an entirely new place, new horizon, new latitude and longitude, I'm trying to remove dust from my box of excitement and thrill before I let it open. Apart from all the love and care of my family what I'll miss the most is my first job; wherein a part of me would always stay. Those known faces, smiles, tears, laughter sessions, hugs, sessions, classes and a couple of students. Career Launcher has been far far more than just being a folder's name in one of the drives of my laptop. From a student to a faculty, it has been a long yet a fruitful journey. I wish I had Hermoine's time turner to re-live a few moments before I finally let go of everything I had been holding till now or rather the things which held me together and let me put my head high. Truth to be told, I'm going to miss this baby like a heroin addict out of a failed rehab effort.

Chill outside. Nudging warmth within.

It all began with some parting hugs lending a feeling of incompleteness to the soul because I was set to embark a trip sans my family. But a tiny shining streak of the dormant excitement was enough to sustain my energies. With all such things, I was set for a 3 day road trip to Manali. Just as the phoenix rises from ashes, this trip was planned in one of the lowest moments and this actually made my soul rise like a phoenix. The tigress was back in action. 

Though it's just another place yet another world. Manali. Mountains have always fascinated me.It leaves me wondering about the kind of therapeutic effect they have on my soul. This time, they triggered a photographer in me. I brought home some spectacular clicks to cherish for the times ahead.

En route to Manali

The journey began from Chandigarh in the wee hours of 25th January when the landscape was such that a glimpse outside let some of the nostalgic moments knock my heart instead of the mind. 6 am in the morning, the hour of the day when even nature is at peace. The fleeting car kept on gulping large distances of the bare road sooner than my camera could capture them. The first bout of excitement spurted when we stopped at 'The Hill Top'. The moment I stepped out of the car to stretch myself, I found that the hotel was actually built on the top of the hill and going downhill were those tiny, curvy and self turning roads that exuded of adventure.  I wish I had a small cottage nearby with my daily chore to walk on those roads up the hill to write my dream book. Ah!

 

At breakfast destination.

Choosing to skip this flashy restaurant for a roadside dhaba, we moved further. The reason was that least did we want even the walls of any hotel to act as a barrier between our souls and mother nature. Home-made paranthas (Yes, we are Punjabis and this is our trademark breakfast!) coupled with chai (not tea) in those small pahaari glasses was the breakfast for the day. Jumping onto the terrace of the dhaba and relishing the breakfast with sunlight cutting through the clouds and distant snow capped mountains giving us company, I just felt one thing, "This is what heaven must feel like!" :)
 

Reservoir of Beas

But lesser we knew that we'd yet stepped onto just the wrapping sheet of the gift. The journey had just begun. From passing the Govind Sagar Lake to the very first view of mighty Beas, nature was at its intoxicating best where I managed to click some pictures which will continue gracing my home-screen for days to follow. Going by the belief, we stopped to bow head at Hanogi Mata mandir. It is believed that earlier the cars just used to vanish beyond this point of NH-22. Then this temple was built and by just paying obeisance at this place used to cut the devilish hurdles in the journey. It really did. (Read on to know!) Anyway, I love when Pandits apply the tikka on your temple. It feels like carrying the blessings of the place along with you. 

I skipped putting on my iPod shuffler for the entire journey because I wanted absorb the voices, faces, colours of HP and divulge in them with my 100% awareness. Just a distance further, I came across a very simple thing which was very unique for a person like me who has spent almost of quarter of my life living in plains. Cable car. Though it was not one of those tourist attraction sites but a rickety steel box that was used by locals to cross the Beas. Talking to a local lady dawned upon us how disparate life in hills is. It took her almost 2 hours to climb the entire mountain and then another hour cross the river through this. After all this, she finally could step on the road that connected her to the normal, speeding life. And we thought it was only difficult travelling in metros for hours to reach the destination. Ha!  

Captivating mountains with Manali airport in front

An unforeseen incident deflected our path for a while. In lieu of saving a sick jeep which, I guess, was trying to clear his another level of RoadRash in real, our speeding car came to the unwanted halt when zaaaap, it crashed with a truck. A narrow escape! Our good karma thought of being nice to us. To absorb what had just happened and plan for the trip ahead, we landed at the cutest house in my recent memory. Location: Kullu, here we were. What a scenic beauty the place possesses! Though I'm not a person who'd generally go into finer details of the architecture of the house but believe me, this simply filled the missing links of the oh-so-perfect landscape. The wooden furniture in the wooden house mesmerized me as much as did the small Manali airport with which the house shared a common wall. A large curtain-covered glass window in the living room was the only barrier between me and the writer-provoking mother nature. (I'm running out of adjectives to be used for nature.) Upon drawing the curtains aside, extravagant distant snow-capped mountains greet you. I got to sip my favourite green tea while sitting on a wooden rocking chair and fantasizing the snow capped mountains. It felt good. The temperature of Kullu is inversely proportional to the warmth people bestow upon you.

In the hotel garden.

After spending a while there, the journey to Manali continued. It all began with jumping with excitement upon seeing traces of snow on the sides as our car cut through the silent roads that led to heaven (read Manali). I simply wish to take those scenic snapshots with me to grave. Checking in the hotel and finding out that the entire hotel was submerged in snow was a smile harbinger. The 'distant snow capped' mountains were replaced with the feeling of being IN the snow. There was just a glass window of my room barring me from the adventure that could be had. If not on the beach-sand, I finally fulfilled my #BeforeIDie wish of scribbling my name on the snow. After being a night old in Manali and taking a walk on the Mall Road for a number of times, I practiced the art of walking on snow. Easy as it looks, a tiny trip and stumble of the foot sent a shrill down my spine. The balancing act enforced a belief in me that I wouldn't mind trying a walking-on-the-rope activity in a circus now.

Perfectly laid snow blanket.

26th January. National holidays were never this much fun. The next bright sunny day of the adventure began with a plan to go to Solang Valley and enjoy some winter sports but due to the thick blanket of snow we were unable to. There was a perfectly spread snow blanket forming its own crests and troughs in such beautiful way that I got a feeling that the Manali snow has a Do-Not-Disturb board attached to it. You do not feel like fiddling with the icing that nature has put forth for you. Instead of just snow-capped mountains there were entire snow slabs on our sides. And as our car moved, it felt as if a Bollywood flick was being shot and we being the protagonists. Because on paying close attention, nature plays a self-created melody for you that acts as the perfect background score complementing the scene. I felt requesting nature to play 'Katiya Karun' for me. Stopping the car mid-way, we had our snow-playing session. Snowballs were thrown at, snowman was made. I was never sure if the step I'll take will come back to the surface or will get dumped in the 4 feet snow blanket. Unbelievable but the snow was extremely dry and cotton-y soft which made playing in the snow all the more enjoyable. Without forgetting to mention, I got to fulfill another die-hard wish of skiing at another mountain of snow on the other side. Though I sucked terribly at it but it did not harm; taking a try by getting in skiing shoes, holding ski sticks and posing for some pictures to be kept as a memory. And the moment I just took a step, I had a mighty fall with lower half of my body totally in snow. Despite the numerous falls on snow, the smile didn't leave me. Wish the falls in life were this liberating and smile-evoking.

Yeh haseen waadiya.. yeh khula asmaan!

The final day. I woke up in a normal tempo but just a sneak-peek from my hotel room made me smile as if there was a hanger stuck in my mouth. Packing our luggage and checking out of the hotel, we set for a final sight-seeing place. The famous Hadimba Temple where I got to see some Angoora rabbits and yaks that triggered a childhood memory. It was one place where the minus temperature could actually be felt by the innermost bone of my body. The location and landscape was similar to Harry Potter's Hogsmeade. Just the missing links were my Ron and Hermoine and some butter beers. Nevertheless, I got to step on the specific location where the beautiful movie Roja was shot. I guess AR Rehman actually sat there to compose the song. It felt as if you have to play a treasure hunt game to just search for a 'play' button and every object would start humming this song for you.

How can my blog post be complete without a mention of food and cuisines I hogged onto. The restaurants there had exotic names. From Honey Hut and Chopsticks to Lazy Dog and Viscos, these are few nouns that got registered in my memory conquering their own special place.

Yes, I couldn't actually believe that it's snow in my hands!

Nature communicates to you. Be patient enough to listen. Manali presents a perfect ambiance for that patience to knock, enter and dwell in us. And Oh! Those captivating snapshots. Leave alone my soul, even my camera was grateful to the scenic beauty of the Manali. Looking back at the pictures, I'm yet to believe that I actually stepped onto and created some wonderful memories in that heaven out there. A vacation far more than what I had envisaged.