A needed breeze

Me and my girlfriends were already ultra excited to see the Nalin's "Angry Indian Goddesses". The trailer with the chick flick was breathtakingly promising. And turns out, the movie was just what we wanted it to be. There were twisted turns but they lead to a deserving end.

Angry Indian Goddesses starts with introduction of seven BOLD ladies. All of them dealing with problems any female faces in this country. It hurt to watch some brutal scenes but it made me realize something. All of them are real. All of those screwed scenes happen in real life. Around you and me. In our society. In this country. That's the most heartbreaking part when it comes to the movie.

The story isn't simply about those seven females losing their mind. It is much more than that. It is about the reality we need to wake up to. A reality we need to face as a country and cut it off from the roots. As far as the movie concerns, it is more of an eye opener and all I'm hoping is that it succeeds to open many eyes. Many complained it to be short, a little exaggerated, but to me, it is perfect. In fact, too good for us to at least start knowing and accepting the reality.

I also have this gargantuan hatred for censorship but that could be a different blogpost. For now, the main question: Just why haven't you watched Angry Indian Goddesses yet?

Not so messy business

My hair is constantly changing, finding its way to deal with the outer world, just like my life. It's uncontrollable. I have to bun it up to make sure it doesn't sway and mess with the wind. I have similar feelings with my life sometimes. It gets out of control and messes itself. No external force required to screw its otherwise sorted condition. Needless to say, I'm the happiest when they are at peace. Given my hair's curly nature, they tend to tangle themselves harder than earphones. And every morning, it's harder to deal with them. I don't remember the last time I oiled them. They don't seem to be affected by my carelessness much. Unlike life, where I take my eyes away for a few moments and it is already a part of a blunder, trying to find the way out. My hair's dark quality seems to make them shine even when they are just being their normal self. It's a no-brainer that both — my life and my hair — are a very similar breed. Both of them doing things their way, without caring much about the consequences they make up for me. Despite all the bullshit, I love them both. My hair for falling down on my shoulder and showing its pretty side. And my life, for letting me know that it's worth living.

5 things you missed by not attending #SMWMumbai

So, it happened. The Social Media Week in Mumbai. Surely an event that stands out the norm. I'll get straight to the regrets now. Yeah, reasons you'll regret for not attending SMWMumbai.

#1 No boring lectures. Actually, no lectures.

None of the sessions would make you sleep. You can take my word on that one. All of them were fresh and trending. They all fragmented of social media, something we all love. My favourite part was where I almost ran into a debate with Arnab Goswami (Yeah, the newshour's Arnab) and got entertained by Suresh Menon (He's so phunny!) for his take on sarcasm.

#2 The whacking audience!

I personally loved the people who attended this. All of them excelling with social media, sharing their success insights. Amidst the Picassos and Da Vincis of social media marketing, I did feel like a rookie. Conversations were more like learnings for me. Not to forget the inherent friendliness and sarcasm in every talk.

#3 The food and bar.

The irresistible, lip-smacking food was a bonus. I'm pretty sure the people who left early missed it terribly. Can't forget the ambience at the cafe now, can we?

#4 Goodies!

I now have a huge handsome Messi poster in my bedroom. Plus, few one liner stickers, bookmarks and pinning tags. That sure made me happy like a kid at the entrance.

#5 Everything. Period.

You literally missed everything by not attending this. I'm not even exaggerating. A new experience altogether. I don't remember having such a good time at any other event.

Meet you next time or meet you next time at #SMWMumbai?

PS: Huge thanks for the invite to Blogadda. You guys really made my day. :)

Let me burst that bubble for you

This post has been in my drafts folder for too long. The delay was caused because I didn't know if it made sense back in time. But, at present, I have come across a lot of people who believe blogging is hard. I have also met another educated set of folks who blog and boast like they are the chosen ones. So, this post is for people who are taking those trembling steps to blog, falling back before trying and for those who think blogging is only for the few (including them and excluding everybody else).

Spoiler alert: Tongue-lashing ahead.

#1 "Blogging isn't just anybody's cup of tea."

Bullshit. Blogging isn't rocket science. Anybody can blog. You too. Get a topic, break your head around it, gather enough content and arrange them correctly to form a flow. It isn't a big deal. FYI, not that easy too.

#2 "Just write X type of blog."

Another bullshit filled sentence. Types don't matter. You can blog about anything and everything that interests you and your audience. I don't remember following a type for my personal blog. I sure do write content around a theme on my business blog but that's a different story. That blog needs to be written in a certain format. It is related to the work I do. Whereas, my personal blog is just - personal. So, as far as you don't want to follow a theme, paying attention to type is a waste of time.

#3 "Use top-notch vocabulary."

Now, this depends on what you choose and how you choose to write it. Novels tend to have vocab that needs you to use the dictionary a lot of times. The story with blogs is different. Don't use out-of-the-world words. It isn't important. Simple blogs have their way easily into a reader's mind. The more you complicate, the better you get at making them leave. You can always use some new words but make sure they don't have to refer the oxford for every second word. That'll be annoying.

#4 "Blogs take up all of the time."

Again, this changes depending upon the person's skills, the topic, its content, length, etc. There are times when I finish a blog in a day and there have been times when I have taken months to get one together. So, it depends.

#5 "You have written a book. Blogging must be a piece of cake."

Nope. Not at all. And this applies vice-versa too. Just because one has written a book doesn't mean AT ALL that blogging becomes easy. Plus, just because one can write blogs everyday doesn't mean they can write a book. They are two different things and mixing them is plain stupid.

Well, these are all I have for now. There will surely be more to come. Keep an eye out. Till then, happy blogging!

Ctrl+Z

I was reading a post of my favorite blogger. His mention about the moon just brought some childhood memories (read: awesome times) back. I remember how much I fascinated the moon. I still do. I just happen to adore it less. Back in time, I woke up early not to view the sun rise but to see the moon fade away slowly in the sky. The white handsome face has always been my best buddy. Waving it, finding it behind the clouds had become a habit. The calm nature played its charm on me well. With time, my relationship with it lulled. The most surprising part is that it has always been there unintentionally. No matter how far we are, it still has the tendency to calm me down. No matter how less we realise each other's existence, it still manages to prove its existence. I regret not being an active participant of our relationship. Nevertheless, my love for the white beauty will always be a cherished feeling. It's my only childhood crush to have made it this far. Only if I could go back in time and save our relationship, things could have been different. If only.

Rare View Mirror

First things first. Let me define myself for you. I am that chick who hates boundaries, loves freedom and rolls on her terms (regardless of the usual trouble and unusual satisfaction they bring). I have made humongous mistakes, none I regret but all I have learned from. Life has always been this unpredictable roller-coaster ride (I really like it that way). There are times when I have enjoyed and times I have puked. Pink Floyd and Coldplay for life. Followed by Amit Trivedi and Farhan Akhtar. Ask me about my future “plans” and I'll start wandering. I tend to keep short goals. My long term goals include buying a Bentley, a Tesla S, getting a huge terrace apartment on the top floor, tasting every kind of alcohol, running an interesting pub/bar/lounge, opening an ice-cream parlor, keeping my blog updated on a daily basis, writing good, teaching kids to dream, telling stories of my life and listening other's, traveling to places I don't know names of, walking in 4.5-inch high heels, being fit and many such child-like list of things. It's a never ending list. I have changed in numerous ways. Hatred is out. I sure do dislike a lot of things like the horrendous crimes our country has been the victim of but hate? Not sure. I do love cute calm animals. Also, there are very few people who hold importance in my life. I'm just sharing humanity with everyone else. I'm laziest on weekends and a budding sleepyhead. Head massages from mum over anything. Just realized it's been too long since I got one. I have turned out to be a narcissist. (Telling you, I love myself!) I have learned my lessons the hard way. Or to put it the way my intelligent friend likes to state it,"They are lessons because we learn it the hard way." CamelCase > snake_case because I loathe reptiles (Choosy much?) I always try to be calm. Over-reacting, hyper-ventilating isn't my thing anymore. Laughing is my default reaction. I try to analyse things till the end and learn from it. I don't judge. At least not intentionally. I stopped complaining. It's a useless activity. This is me at present. Not a month back, not a week before but today. Pretty sorted, huh? Absolutely. There are times when I have those mind-boggling, breath-choking, life-abhorring thoughts, but I don't let them control me to an extent that can harm or destroy me. I just let them flow and learn from their existence.

Nowadays, I have learned to accept. Acceptance is a heavy word. By accepting, I mean to accept myself for what I did or what I do. I hold my opinions without caring about their quality. I take my own choices. I do my own work. I believe in what I do, why I do and how I do it. Even if I mess up, it's my bloody mess and nobody has any business in trying to clear or ruin it for me.

The only point I have to justify here is our lives are ours. Nobody, just absolutely NOBODY (My brain just shouted!), has the right to make it good or spoil it. Nobody controls it. (At least you shouldn't let anybody do so once you're 18+ and biologically have an adult brain.) Take matters in your own hand. You don't have to explain or prove yourself to anybody but you. The moment YOU get it right, it doesn't matter who doesn't. Nobody punishes you or rewards you for living your life your way. You choose to choose, laugh, cry, be mad at, suck at living it or make it worth. The journey is solely yours. Everybody else is just a counterpart trying to hold you back (intentionally or unintentionally). Make your own new mistakes everyday and learn from them. The road is new and you are young. We have only one life. Forget the past, screw the future, start living today. 

Quirkyalone

I have been in love. Truly, madly, deadly for three wholesome years. The start was good, the end - tormented. I don't blame the counterpart. Not anymore. I've learned a lot, about me, about love. I don't say, I was stupid to be in that zone. In fact, I'm glad for it. It's because of those days, I am what I am today. As of now, it's been almost nine months since I am single. There are a lot of negative emotions, a whole lot of them, given how the situations are between me and the former soulmate. But, there's this peace inside me. Of being free. Of being me. No, this doesn't mean I was captivated by him. According to me, it was time to be in a relationship with myself, more than anybody else. All these past years, somewhere in making us perfect, I had lost myself. Love makes you do that. It makes you do things you wouldn't think of doing. Good and bad. It was purely unintentional. Only when I hit the realisation point, it all fell into place. In the last year of our relationship, it was bitter. Innumerable fights for no good reason, abuses and the demeaning love. I don't recall the exact day when I fell out of it. But, when I did hit the realisation point and chose to not be with the person who I called and assumed as my soulmate, I cried. I shed all the possible tears of happiness. That was probably the best way to express how I feel. The aftermath is pure peace and an inevitable aura of sheer happiness. This wasn't because I had left him, this wasn't because I had ended the relationship. It was because I had finally chosen me over us. And, that changed my life.

Today, when I look back, I have faded memories of the time I was in love. But, they are fresh enough to not let me fall into the same pit. It's time to be happily, hopelessly single. It's time to be lost in Pink Floyd and Coldplay. It's time to achieve things I wouldn't otherwise plan to. And, just in time to be quirkyalone.

Tick-tock

Time and again we have realised the importance of planning. Our attitude and perspectives about it are different but they end up at the same point. Weird but true, not having a plan is also a plan. Our mind is drafted to think in a particular direction. That direction is nothing but plan. Be it planning for life or a short work week ahead. They all are plans. Their effectiveness is varied. At some point of time, you will have to agree with me on this. Planning has its own angles, angels and demons, demeanours. They work, they fail but they don't halt. They just continue to evolve. They too get better with time. Like almost everything else. Makes me wonder, how old time must be to make things happen on/with time. Did it plan our life too or we are just interrupting to create a master plan out of it?

Fifty shades of life

1. Happiness
2. Sorrow
3. Goofy
4. Fiery
5. Guilty
6. Subtle
7. Organic
8. Angelic
9. Satanic
10. Mesmerising
11. Ugly
12. Heroic
13. Sweet
14. Dramatic
15. Hot
16. Cool
17. Sensual
18. Patient
19. Funny
20. Maniac
21. Lively
22. Moronic
23. Thankful
24. Deadly
25. Humanity
26. Lovely
27. Magical
28. Creator
29. Destroyer
30. Social
31. Introvert
32. Smart
33. Friendly
34. Caring
35. Fit
36. Procrastinator
37. Demeanour
38. Foolish
39. Boring
40. Worrier
41. Arrogant
42. Simple
43. Complicated
44. Psychotic
45. Usual
46. Spooky
47. Defective
48. Swoony
49. Imaginative
59. Mathematically blundered

Imperial history learnings

There is this story about Lord Brahma creating humans. He first decided to create male and female in one single body. Each capable enough to reproduce on their own after they mature.

Then, Lord Shiva advised Brahma to separate them and have each of the sexes feel the pleasure of union (simply put, sexual intercourse). Something that Kamasutra talks about. Brahma took Lord Shiva's advice and created two separate creatures — male and female.

Apparently, all that Lord Brahma creates become his children. Seeing the female version of human, he couldn't control himself. He wanted to have his daughter all by and for himself. His lust grew upon him.

Taken aback by this reaction, Lord Shiva ordered Brahma to go back to his original plan but seeing the pleasure two separate bodies could give each other made Brahma stick to this new plan.

The only say I have in this is lust is powerful. You cannot equate it to love. Love is different road and much more valuable and pure than what lust is. While love is straight from the heart, lust is physical. If you are comparing love to lust, your are simply degrading love's value. You can never let one of them rule you. If they do, you are somewhere between ruptured and screwed.

Pro tip: Let love rule, lust isn't that much of a good boss.

Bucket list

I was thinking about all the things I want to do in my short life. Call my life short because the list is too long. Nevertheless, I'm going to try and accomplish some/all of this. Reality is harder than it sounds. Well, here's the list anyway:

1. Discover Bermuda Triangle
2. Know more about stars
3. Adopt a kitten and puppy
4. Taste every kind of alcohol
5. Roam the world
6. Own a Bentley
7. Live on a beach
8. Sail in the oceans
9. Get bald, donate the hair for cancer
10. Sleep for more than 24 hours
11. Write, write good and write good a lot
12. Discover God or spread atheism
13. Learn, learn from life's mysteries
14. Watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S. 1000 times
15. Freeze in the Himalayas all over again
16. Go back and forth in time
17. Get lost in the thoughts of Jude Law, Keanu Reeves, Will Smith, Leonardo Di Caprio and so many more
18. Eat a lot
19. Kill time and not the other way round
20. Teach kids how to live
21. Live free, live young

I have no idea how and why and what and when I would do it. Absolutely, no clue. Someday soon.

Wandering, quite literally

Recently enough, I was a part of a 10 day long trek. No doubt, I enjoyed it to the fullest but more importantly, I learned to live it.

Heights bring the worst out of me. I was accompanied by the peers I made there all the time. And trust me, they had to help every two minutes. Carefree, up there, was just not my style.

But, being carefree was really important up there. (You cannot survive otherwise) I learned this during my last two days. Yeah, it took me 12,800 ft. above sea level to realize how important it is to just let go. And the moment, I did, I knew I was at the top. I was between the clouds, literally. Some of it that were raining and some of it emitting the beautiful sun rays. My realization series has a lot but this one thing nailed it.

The pleasure of letting go is best experienced. I can assure you this one thing - you won't regret it.

It strikes me, isn't life all about letting go? Letting go fears, worries, negative craps? Up there, for once, I let go all my fears. I forgot I had to come down to real life and strive through it. And, it did wonders. I enjoyed every moment and I lived it all.

Down here, in this mere city life, I'm trying to apply the rules that worked up there. In case, they won't, I'm just gonna go up and settle at the mountains. Period.

Read, Think, Repeat.

Everyday I read so many things — blogs, newspapers, books, articles, tweets, snippets, etc. The coolest part about all of them is they have their own story around them. Be it interesting, funny, boring, useless, enlightening or whatever, they make me think something. They make me form my opinions regardless of their quality. It really doesn't matter as long as I'm thinking and moving my head around it, trying to find a satisfactory end. That's probably one of the only reasons I suggest people to read. That's probably one of the only reasons why I'm into content. I believe it wears off a sick life. And, who wants a such a life anyway? The effective part is that things gradually start to make more sense. Meanwhile, you'll change yourself, your perception, your opinions and get better at life. Ultimately, isn't that what we all want?

Going on

Right now, you're a part of this ecosystem. Regardless of the terms where you matter or not while you yourself are matter. You're breathing, eating, pooping, learning, kidding, working, surviving, living. There are endless worries right now, there will be more but we all will make it. It's said that we all live for a reason. That's absolutely true. If you didn't have any reason, you would be in a corpse. At one point of time, we all may lose our reason to live. What then? Then, we'll create or discover one. And, the creating and discovering will be the reason we'll live. Trust me on this one- it has its own ecstasy. There have been times when I've lost hope to live. All I did was give some hope to hope and it's done wonders ever since. I can't say I'm the happiest but I'm happy around all the bullshit as well. And for once, at least, today that's what matters.

From . To _

Communication doesn't cost a lot to mankind but it does mean a lot. Although, it has now being turned into being social. Yes, it has. Facebook started to help people communicate and now? It's helping you socialise. We've actually transformed or should I say, evolved from just staying in touch to updating statuses. The only way we choose to stay in touch is privacy settings. Everybody's stalking each other. In fact, with tech like big data we've even started searching “digital footprints.” Something we forgot we are leaving behind forever. (On cloud.) There was a time when people lived with memories and now, we live with profiles. I'm not against it, I can never be. I've been a part of it and logically, contributed my bits too— be it in terms of these blogs or tweets. That's how I am walking a.k.a crawling on the human created Web. What about you?

Blah and more blah

Weird is what I'm calling life these days. I'm invariably happy. Coming to think of it, I've no reason to be. I've recently made the most seemingly-impossible choices. My soul and mind have finally started to converse. My mind mostly denies what my soul chooses and vice-versa but they at least talk. And may be, that's what matters the most now. I remember both of them taking sole decisions and making me end up in a huge trouble all the time. I guess, it always has been about the balance. Relying on one of them never did me any good. The moment I'm biased towards one of them, I realise I'm fucked. Bloody bitter truth. I've realised this the hard way but it was worth it. The more complicated part is I'm somehow trembling down the same lane again. Having said that, I've controlled myself (Escaped, in fact. Given that I'm writing this whole piece on my hiking trip) regardless of knowing whether I'm right or wrong; for now, I feel it's what I should do. And I've learned from my boss well enough. He says this a lot—“The first time it's a mistake, the second time it proves you as an idiot.” (Not the exact words but you get the gist) I'm unsure, like everybody else, what the future holds but I'm not worried. Whatever it is, I'm sure I won't regret for having to make the wrong choices. Or more of, hope so. Anyway, the road ahead is too long and too young. I'm going to walk, run, probably even take a lift but I'm not going to stop. (Okay, I agree, that does sound like the dialogue from Yeh Jawani hai deewani) Truth be told, that one sentence holds a lot of motivation. If you preach it, you might as well end up really really far in a good way. All said and done, I'm on my way to take the leap ahead. When are you planning to take yours? Whenever it is, just be sure of it. That's all you're going to need to get through it all. Good luck!

The “H” card

So, what's your “H” card?

How well are you playing it?

Oh, I'm assuming you know what I'm talking about.

No?

It's obviously that card we all want to play all the time— Happiness.

The definition surely differs from person to person but the motto stays the same. We all want to be happy. The word is too small given its huge power.

How?

Why?

When?

With who?

These are some basic questions that will define your happiness. The interesting thing is the answers to the questions above are always uncertain and changing.

If you do find the constant answers to them, trust me buddy, you're not happy, you're enlightened. Good luck with that!

Write

This post is for everybody.

And especially for those who say that writing is hard.

Nope, mate, it's not.

It's as easy as a tic-tac-toe game.

There are just some very awesome elements that make your writing beautiful.

Let's dive deep in to those.

• Thoughts a.k.a. Content

For past many years, I've struggled to find the "right mantra" for writing. I've read all possible books and copied all possible styles. Yet, none gave me the satisfaction I was expecting.

What I figured out next was amazing.

I realized to be the "right writer", I had to be the "right thinker".

And by being the right thinker, I mean, to think. Think about what you'd love to write. Think about what you want your readers to think. Think about displaying what you think.

Oh yes.

The first step to this "guide to writing" became a huge success. I remember penning my thoughts down on a white paper. Crunching it, throwing it, re-opening it and doing all of that stuff to find my right thoughts.

Simply put, if you know what you want to write, you can write.

It's that easy.

Content is a very important part of your post. If you don't provide that well, nothing will matter. Your thoughts are your content. You've just got to filter them right.

• Simplicity

Once you know what you want to write, just keep it all simple. Your readers should always feel the ease while they read. Don't complicate it. If you're starting something, be on it. Keep your words on the same track. The more you loiter, the more they loiter. And, once they're fed up of the loitering, you're just going to boo them.

Even if you wish to change track and loiter around, warn them. Indirectly or directly but always warn. So that they are already aware what's next. Surprises are good but you don't want to shock them with what you're going to say next.

Simplicity has its' own charm. Use it right.

If you want to state something important, highlight it.

If you want to make the readers laugh, write something funny.

Explain things with an instance so they have something to get hooked upon.
Keep the sentences short. Make sure your paragraph doesn't exceed 4-5 lines. This gives the reader a break. Long sentences are too much information at once.

For example, if you look at my writing above, you'll barely notice any long sentences. And, even if you do, they are separated with commas (,).

A person concentrates on maximum 7-9 words at a time. Commas and full-stops give the reader's mind a very quick mini-second break. And, trust me, it's needed.

Secondly, I reckon you might find any jargon in my writing. Avoid them as much as possible.

Also, simple is different for everybody. So, always make sure who are you addressing to. A doctor won't get your marketing blog and vice-versa. Hence, it is very important to know and understand your audience.

Keep it simple, silly.

• Connection

Connection is another major thing. Once you don't connect, you've lost it. You've done your part on fleeing them away. Your post must make your readers relate or connect to you.

Every writer must build a bond with their reader. If you've done that, they're hooked. Once, they are hooked, they're all yours.

The most awesome advice I was ever given was to write like I'm talking to my readers.

The moment they start to hear your voice, you've done it. Keep the blog interactive. Make them nod to some of your statements. Talk in their favor before putting your opinions. Keep it neat. Once, they realize that you feel them, they will come back for more.

So there you go! That's all you need to write something amazing!

Go ahead and write your piece! Good luck!

Here or there or where?

Our lives are really a series of unexpected events. Infact, that's what makes it more lively.

I remember a time in my life where I thought I was going to go nowhere with the decisions I took. Instead, here I am. All bold and tall. Knowing and feeling proud that I did the right thing even if they felt wrong back then.

This makes me realise it's really important to be enterprising. Your risks define you. The more you dodge around them, the more you get familiar with yourself. And, trust me, there's a lot to know about self than about anybody else.

There's a problem with us. As humans, we walk behind others and in the trail, lose ourselves while acquiring them. But guess what? It won't be too long until you realise the reality. You miss yourself. The change that occurs during the cycle is what goes unnoticed. And, when you do notice them, you just miss them.

This dilemma creates two kinds of people. People who live with that change and people who change the change.

So, Where do you belong?

Back with a bang?

Hello there! I'm back! Sounds good?

To be honest, I've missed blogging here- in my space.

But, the good news is I'm going to try and re-begin it.

Let's see how I go about with this trial.

Well, stay tuned. I'm cooking some delicacies in my brain for my hood. Have a taste and if you find it good, don't forget to check the whole menu!

Take care and have fun!