tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65001156835490305842024-03-13T07:49:56.240+05:30Doc on Andromeda's Trail....as my search for the elusive Princess Andromeda continues,i spread the cosmic dust, from my star trek on Pegasus' wings, on extinct Papyrus scrolls,to brew a potion of words......Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-31532443280823624942018-05-22T23:49:00.000+05:302018-05-23T02:04:10.314+05:30A Selfie with a Canine touch!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
“Woof”! He called out in a short sharp bark, as if to attract my attention. Startled out of my semi-trance like state, I looked away from the trees on which I had my focus all this time. I was searching for the birds all the way in my trek, and had somewhat lost track of my surroundings, except the trail on the hill along which I was going down.<br />
<br />
I, or rather <i>we</i>!<br />
<br />
I had befriended this four-legged fellow at Santhalabari camp in Buxa Tiger Reserve (in New Alipurduar in the north of Bengal), and we had known each other for a total of 24 hours, but still he had no qulams about joining me on my trek to Chunabhati village, nestled somewhere up in the Buxa hills. It was his call now that prompted me to look in his direction.<br />
<br />
In my quest to look for hill avifauna, I had failed to notice that we had turned a bend in the trail & now stood in a clearing. It was a view straight out of a postcard. Three hill slopes converged at that precise location to give birth to a green valley. Scarlet minivets flew in small circles a short distance down. There was a man-made shed-like structure a few hundred feet below on the edge of the hill, its precarious location granting it a feel of eeriness. Some of the lush green pine, juniper trees were swathed in sunlight at places, while the others were shrouded in shadows of their neighbours. The imposing Buxa hills stood proudly. My canine friend looked to be somewhat engrossed in the view too. It was then that i got my phone out and clicked this selfie! The melodious calls of the birds from amidst the trees acted as the perfect background score in such an idyllic setting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLEtLicU3jRzebNwWaTfU7m8om34cVl0x3OKbWWTvbsryqZmz3nDkKBJmdA5qNqyxYPJ0JDDQdnAR47jcJOwTfFEvFtQqbbzd9JCyuIelu0FpQOloRjt02p7LQTbEHyQvJ9FSd7-2xXQ/s1600/DSC_3016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="837" data-original-width="1600" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLEtLicU3jRzebNwWaTfU7m8om34cVl0x3OKbWWTvbsryqZmz3nDkKBJmdA5qNqyxYPJ0JDDQdnAR47jcJOwTfFEvFtQqbbzd9JCyuIelu0FpQOloRjt02p7LQTbEHyQvJ9FSd7-2xXQ/s640/DSC_3016.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The perfect selfie maybe? Man and dog , savouring nature!</td></tr>
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I know not how many minutes had passed, with me admiring the panorama, when a soft nudge on my knees enquired of me whether I had my fill, and urged me to make a move once more. My doggie pal had experienced enough scenery to last him quite some time ; so he was impatient. It was well into afternoon, and I had to make a move, so with one last glance at our picturesque valley, I got going again. On the way down, he enthusiastically chased a few monkeys that were upto some mischief, swinging down onto our path from the trees!! I couldn’t have asked for a better companion for the entirety of the 9 kilometres trek to & from Chunabhati hamlet!! While I was trudging up the hilly trail, I had found him panting too, slowly lumbering up, with his tongue out. As I sat down for some rest, he came and sat down with me........and chewed on candies that I offered him!! In total, I had sixteen candies with me which we shared equally during the course of our trek! It was tiring, but at the same time, it was also a very fulfilling experience.<br />
<br />
I often look back fondly at this selfie. It happens to be one photo which can be termed as close to a 'Perfect Selfie' as possible as it depicts an unusual bonding of two living beings of different species enjoying the beauty of mother nature. But hindsight does enable you to look at things from a different perspective. When I see the photo, what I do miss are the details that were so vivid to the naked eye, but could not be picked up well on my phone's front camera. Also i could not incorporate the whole of the Buxa hills that were magnanimous in their presence in the backdrop. Perhaps, a holistic view with a <i><b>120 ͦ wide angle dual selfie camera </b></i>was what I required and I wouldn’t have had to worry about how to include all of what I could see into one large scale selfie! Still, the photo enables me to reminisce about that magical place in my trek, where i had found so much joy, with an unexpected friend!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6d9E0Vuei5VTHqIw9hBXXJZz1L2UlWSxayh12iwrzhlPT5gOVy5Xv3n9NHy3KerzD1rSXy83Y-yFdhTBPDl-1BcsgxhhSBU6PLvU9wwlUgQJFsJMdFEQjpfCqSlUjexH0PKeUSQnEjQ/s1600/Screenshot+2018-05-22+23.32.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="580" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6d9E0Vuei5VTHqIw9hBXXJZz1L2UlWSxayh12iwrzhlPT5gOVy5Xv3n9NHy3KerzD1rSXy83Y-yFdhTBPDl-1BcsgxhhSBU6PLvU9wwlUgQJFsJMdFEQjpfCqSlUjexH0PKeUSQnEjQ/s400/Screenshot+2018-05-22+23.32.34.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This pic was at our last resting point towards the fag end of our journey</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a><h4 style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: normal;">Written as part of the <a href="https://www.indiblogger.in/drive/mobiistar-india" target="_blank">'A Selfie a day keeps forgetfulness away' </a>contest by Mobiistar in association with Indiblogger. You can find out about how to procure the Mobiistar at <a href="http://mobiistar.in/" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2862c1; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">http://mobiistar.in/</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"> and </span><a href="https://www.flipkart.com/mobiistar-launch-5327-7632-store" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #cc0000; font-size: 13px; outline: 5px;" target="_blank">Mobiistar on Flipkart</a></span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">.</span></h4>
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Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-90301069583505962842016-03-15T17:36:00.000+05:302016-03-15T17:39:48.092+05:30Memories of 'Project Carrot' <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">“This gajar ka halwa
tastes heavenly Maa…..yummmm!” I spoke through a mouth full of Mom’s home
cooked delicacy, finishing off my plate in a few seconds, and pushed it across
the table towards her.</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">“What now?” Mom asked.</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">“Maa ….. Don’t pretend like
you do not know why I’m pushing my plate towards you. Come on, another helping
please!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">“But our son hates
carrots, doesn’t he?” Mom looked mischievously at Dad who nodded in
affirmation.</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">“Maa, it’s been more
than a decade now, how many times do you need to remind me of that?”</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Dad put a dollop of
gajar halwa in his mouth and smirked, “We never tire of that story, son! If not
for my ingenious Project Carrot, you wouldn’t have known what gajar halwa is! So,
we’d continue to play it in loop, from time to time! Consider it payback from
us …….!” He let out a guffaw, and Mom laughed too.</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"> Much as I tried, I could never forget
that for the first fourteen years of my life, I had led a rebellion against
eating vegetables. Any efforts by my parents to force feed me veggies was
countered, using violent tantrums. So, although they despised it, the most
frequently adopted measure opted for by them was ceasefire, by omitting vegetables.
I had been happy with the arrangement.</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">But a hilarious turn of
events changed all that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">
***************************************</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Oct 2002, Ooty: </span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"> We had been to Ooty for the holidays, and
were having a lovely time. Shah Rukh Khan’s “Chhaiya Chhaiya” had been a rage
for the past few years, and I was eagerly looking forward to having a ride on
that toy train, the Nilgiri Mountain Railways, on which SRK had performed his
famous dance steps. We drove around Ooty, admiring its picturesque landscape,
with the train ride scheduled for the late afternoon. All over the town, we had
seen vendors selling bright orange carrots. But I had no idea as to, what was
coming!</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"> At the spot before the train ride, Dad took me
aside and told me, he was sorry they had to keep me off the ride.</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">I was shocked! “WHY?” I
demanded.</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">“That’s because we have
decided not to allow anybody on the train that does not eat vegetables. Start
eating carrots now and you’re getting on with us!” Dad’s demeanour was cool.</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">“NO WAY!” I bellowed.</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">“Then I’m sorry, there’s
no way we are buying you a ticket for the ride!”</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">We had my uncle and aunt
with us on the tour. “I’ll ask them” I pointed towards them, “I don’t need you
to buy me a ticket!”</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">“Try them!” Dad had a
twinkle in his eyes. I feared that this was all set up.</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">“This is cheating!
You’re teaming up against me …..You’re torturing me!” I was about to fly into a
rage.</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">“Now, Titas, Shut up and
don’t be silly ………….. Here’s the deal--- you eat a carrot, you go on the train.
However, to give you moral support, I’ll eat one with you too.”</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">I felt betrayed by all,
but here was something for which I had waited for long, that now hung in
balance. I weighed my options. I couldn’t possibly surrender this coveted train
ride!</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">“Don’t worry son, it’s
not poison we’re giving you. I’m quite sure, once you take the first bite,
you’d love it. These carrots look pretty too…….plucked fresh off the fields
here!” Dad went on.</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">“OK!” I relented,
glaring back, “but I’ll remember your bluff forever!”</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Dad walked over to a vendor,
bought a few carrots from him and held them out to me.</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">“This better be good
…….,”I told myself, ears burning from embarrassment.</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">My mom, aunt, uncle were
trying hard to suppress their laughter. Other members of our bus had now joined
in to have a look at the proceedings. Mom even took out the camera to capture
the moment. “Come on Titas, this is royal treatment being meted out to someone,
just for eating his first veggie!”</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">I felt like a fool, shut
my eyes, and took a bite, trying to chew off the orange stick without even
tasting it. I had prepared myself for some vile taste, and was ready to puke.
On the contrary, the carrot didn’t seem inedible …………it actually tasted good.</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">I proceeded to take
further bites till I had finished off the whole carrot. Now it was my parents’
turn to glare back.</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">“Well, somebody here has
eaten a whole carrot at the blink of an eye! How’s that for a start?”</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Suddenly, I had no
answer but to admire my shoelaces! Our whole entourage had started giggling. I
too smiled foolishly.</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">On the Nilgiri toy train
too, I rode firmly tongue-in-cheek!</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"> **********************************************************</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">“So, on that note Titas
, considering the troubles we had to undertake for making you eat a carrot, we
refuse to sanction your extra helping of gajar halwa!” Dad declared.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;">“….and for making a circus
clown out of me at Ooty, I demand an extra helping!” I winked, as I took the
spoon from Mom and helped myself to a generous amount!</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Have a look at that 'fateful' <a href="https://memories.hdfclife.com/message/YHc3OXRgliVhGhTwyuv42g==" target="_blank">Memory of Project Carrot</a> ! Today, I laugh at the nuisance that i made of myself!<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Share your </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/2016/03/02/memoriesforlife-hdfc-live-blogging-activity-indian-bloggers" style="color: #b85b5a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">#MemoriesForLife</a></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> like I’ve done at </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.blogadda.com/" style="color: #b85b5a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">BlogAdda</a></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> for </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="https://memories.hdfclife.com/" style="color: #b85b5a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">HDFC Life</a>.</strong></i></div>
Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-21020057946749700912015-08-25T01:23:00.004+05:302015-08-25T03:11:37.418+05:30Rice, Water ....and Facepalm !!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.298039); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> </span><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.298039); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">To put it simply, I'm in an illicit relationship with food: It is simply based on lust !</span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.298039); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> I devour good food, but I hate cooking.</span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.298039); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.298039); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">I despise going to the kitchen, and I'm oblivious about how to make even the simplest of dishes.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;"> It's therefore deducible that I have ended up with major face palm moments , whenever I have been forced to give up my indignation at cooking , and prepare something for myself . Speaking from prior experience, I can state that being armed with zero-expertise , you can land in major food fixes , at the most ridiculous of situations. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"> So , with a thoroughly crimson face as I get reminded of <i>this</i> incident, I take you back to December 2002 , when I was in an adventure camp in the rocky hills of Purulia in western fringes of Bengal . I was part of a group of 8 advanced campers, who, </span><span style="color: #660000;">under supervision of two instructors,</span><span style="color: #660000;"> had to spend a couple of days away from the campsite-proper . We had to build our own makeshift shelters , learn to gather firewood and cook our own food , after trekking up a rocky hill trail . </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"> On reaching a suitable spot after 4 hours of toil, I was terribly hungry , but our ration consisted of rice grains , uncooked eggs and a few pieces of potatoes. With hunger gnawing at my intestines, I gathered dry leaves & chopped dry branches and twigs with a vengeance , to assimilate firewood quickly. After a lot of effort sitting hunched down in front of two stones with the fuel material accumulated between them, and guarding the wind blowing across, I could finally light a fire . Taking a saucepan out of my rucksack and putting the rice and some potatoes in it , I placed it on my self-made stove and sat down with another wood piece , occasionally stoking the fire . Looking around , I found some of my fellow campers were already cooking , while a few others were still huffing & puffing over the dry branches, struggling to light up the firewood. The instructors were moving around, checking the progress , and occasionally lending a helping hand.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"> After about 15 minutes, I found no discernible change in my saucepan, but I told myself that I had to be patient . One of the instructors came to check on me , asking me, " How's it going, Titas? Ah.....Nice fire you've done here !" I looked up to say "thanks", but to my surprise, I found him staring at my saucepan with a queer look on his face </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"> " What's this you're preparing, may I know ? " , he enquired.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"> " Cooking some rice ,sir ", I replied coyly . </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"> " Then where's the ........" , he peered more closely into my saucepan ," <b><i>where's the water</i></b> ??" </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"> It was my turn to get puzzled. " What water sir ? " , I enquired .</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"> " Titas , you're cooking rice . Where is the water you have added ?" , the instructor was still incredulous. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"> " Do I need to <i>ADD</i> water to this rice to get it cooked ?" , I was appalled ! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"> The instructor simply slumped down on the grass beside me. By this time people around had also taken notice , and gathered around my oven. A few were giggling . I still could not make head or tail of what was wrong.<i> I had to add water to cook rice ??</i> I didn't have the slightest inkling what they were talking about . </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"> </span><span style="color: #660000;"> The other instructor spoke up, " Titas , haven't you ever seen rice being cooked at home ? It boils , and you have to decant the extra water once it's done .......don't say you haven't seen it ever !" </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"> I had indeed seen it , but I spoke what my mind knew , " Yes sir , but I thought , that the water came out of the rice grains when it was being cooked! " </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"> There was a roar of laughter at this , and even the two instructors were reduced to tears of laughter . I was embarrassed beyond my wits . My ears burned . Here was I, an expert rock climber of the team , who possessed all trekking skills , but even the slowest and worst climber was now having a hearty laugh . The joke was on me! My loathing of kitchen practices had played a cruel game on my prestige ! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"> I remember one of the instructors sitting down with me to help me fix up a dish of sorts. Even then , the rice and eggs were undercooked, but I was too ashamed to complain ! I finished every last bit of it without a word! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"> It is almost thirteen years now that I had got into this food fix , but my epic silliness coupled with lack of cooking concept , ensured that the scars of the public shaming hasn't quite healed yet! </span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="color: #660000;"><i>Written as part of the <a href="https://www.indiblogger.in/topic.php?topic=174" target="_blank">Food Tales with Tiny Owl </a>contest by Tiny Owl App in association with <a href="https://www.indiblogger.in/" target="_blank">Indiblogger</a> . Do download the lovely new food ordering app Tiny Owl from<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/IN/app/id916154166?mt=8&pt=Website-iOS-Download&ct=NONE" target="_blank"> here on iOs</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flutterbee.tinyowl&referrer=af_tranid%3D3ST3WXX81YXXHWD6%26c%3DWebsite%26pid%3DWebsite-Android-1-" target="_blank">here on Android.</a></i></span><br />
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Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-8614505443258709612015-08-21T14:08:00.000+05:302015-08-21T23:26:56.008+05:30Possibilities with 4G <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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phone when it hung while trying to post a Facebook status . In dire situations,
where the page hung while the status was being uploaded , I tried various self
made tricks on it , like holding it out in awkward angles ( as if the net
connectivity depended on it) , talking lovingly to it, coercing it to allow me
to simply post the status and then get disconnected! The few times I got
through , I patted myself on the back that my cajoling had indeed worked, but
majority of the times, it simply fell flat on its face and I had to rethink the
entire status update and write it down, all the while cursing under my breath!
So the relationship between my internet connectivity and me was one based
on compromises . On days, I even wondered whether the 2G connection that I
believed I was being given was a bluff ........as the network seemed more close
to 1/2G ( if ever there was one) ! </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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forward a few years , and we've already rolled on to the Lightning fast 4G ! Airtel
has brought across this treat for all of us netizens who are perpetually
harassed by our internet speeds on the go! Since I spend a huge amount of the
day on my phone , brushing up new medical notes, or reading the newspapers , I
think the agonising days of waiting for a webpage to load is finally over . I
can now seamlessly read a news headline and its main report without having to
stare for an eternity at the headline only , while the body of the news takes its own sweet time to load . Moreover , I can finally dump that dreaded word
called 'buffering' into the recycle bin , as watching videos will now become
a smooth experience . A silly circle rotates forever whenever we need to see a
video on YouTube , and by the time the first part of the video runs, were
already out of patience. There's nothing more frustrating than getting an
HD video to start playing in all its glory , and then quickly move into 144p
quality! Thankfully , all these will be history now, and we would talk about these internet hardships to the future generations. Downloading large videos will now be a breeze . And one of the endless possibilities of a fast internet is that the
attachments in an email would load instantly , removing the grievances that we
might have on a busy day when the mail fails to download the attached
files! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Thus , Airtel 4G ushers in a new era of super fast internet connectivity
on our phones. We get to realise that it's a pioneering deal. 296 cities is a
pretty vast number of cities to start with, but the citizens of these 296
places would savour every bit of this new experience. Hope , whole of India is
4G connected soon! </span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><i>Find out more about Airtel 4G <a href="http://www.airtel.in/4g/" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></div>
Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-15613124666602925992015-08-20T02:00:00.000+05:302015-08-21T23:32:18.860+05:30Within My Sky Room<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.thecollegesolution.com/some-surprising-college-super-stars/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24eFYQZIrj4_WQrQXtYo7PXMyQ1hrt9_5Jc6tNDPMgDTL819m2UR0liDmup1aPtTQEzdaOHizHyv_8SVAnvf9vUOX-XStMHDbmyeQZC4XLEldqH-pvtoiYe_0lzIWxwy-DsCPrm0YOAc/s640/stars_wallpaper_hd_widescreen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">My room is the only place in the whole world that I
can claim to belong solely to me ........inside its four walls is my kingdom ,
where I'm the supreme sovereign ! Every monarch aspires to portray his land in
glorious lights, and so , it's natural for me to have aspirations to make my
room akin to a dream land ! 'Heterogeneity' - that's how I would like to
describe the state my mind is in, most of the time. And my room being the
outwardly extension of the inner mind , would certainly bear the signs that would
reflect heterogeneity in its appearance .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"> I'm a doctor by profession , and so, medicine would
always be my soulmate. However ,I'm equally adept at handling the scalpel , and
wielding telescopes and star charts , because my muse has always been the SKY -
the vast expanse of nothingness that spreads like a giant umbrella above us !
It has never failed to intrigue me. As a child, I would sit fascinated under
the night sky, staring at the stars, thinking how they were winking at me from
high up. The constellations caught my imagination , and the planets moving
across the zodiac belt charmed me. On visits to the countryside, I would lie
under the open sky, to look up in awe at the illuminated streak across the
sky,and wondered if somebody had actually drawn the Milky Way with a lazy
stroke of the paint brush across a navy blue canvas. I slept under the sky ,
comfortably, and felt, the canopy of stars cared for me. The vastness of the
sky caught my imagination. The vivid blue sky on a bright and sunny morning
mesmerised my eyes. The ever changing colour palettes at dawn and dusk made me
fall in love with the sky daily. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"> It has been my childhood wish to dress up my
own corner in my house in shades of the sky. Nothing can simulate the greatness
that lies above us, but I have had dreams that my room would be themed on the
sky . There would be a crescent of a moon , in some corner ,while the
magnificent sprinkling of stars - the Milky Way can make its presence felt. A
comet might adorn a part of the wall while a couple of shooting stars , frozen
in time , would make the ceiling decor beautiful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"> The walls can have a myriad of sky
blue shades , to act as the perfect foil to the night sky , that might be the
ceiling . A false ceiling , concealing a pleasant blue light would make the
appearance really stunning , when the light would reflect off the stars , comet
or meteor designed and placed strategically . The room would fulfil my cravings
for the beautiful sky, much of which is lost in today's city life due to
incessant pollution . In my themed room, when I go to sleep every night, my
mind will be at ease , feeling that ,the stars still look down upon me lovingly
, just like they did , when I slept out on the roof in the countryside , in my
childhood! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"> I've been ever thankful
, to be a part of this humongous universe , and my mind never loses trail of
the fact , that we are nothing , compared to this vast space . Sitting in my
room after a hard day at work would enable me to wash off any bitterness that I
might have , as I would be able to attain salvation under the de-facto sky, in
whom , I can confide my feelings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"> A place that would know my
every secret deserves to be draped in the colours that soothe my mind . I
believe, my sky themed room would become the hub, where I thrive peacefully for
years to come! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -10px;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am participating in the <a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/2015/08/13/get-your-dream-room-designed-with-godrej-interios-homecanvas-contest" style="color: #0066cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Upload and Transform #HomeCanvas activity</a> in association with Godrej Interio and <a href="http://www.blogadda.com/" style="color: #0066cc; text-decoration: none;">BlogAdda</a>. If you are not blogging, you can still be a part of this activity. </span></i></span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -10px;"><a href="http://transform.godrejinterio.com/transform/index.php/send-your-entry/" style="background-color: white; color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -10px;" target="_blank">Here’s how</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: trebuchet ms, verdana, sans-serif;">!</span></i></div>
Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-66296258814900181522015-08-19T23:00:00.001+05:302015-08-21T23:32:30.938+05:30WASH project : Coca-Cola seeks a safe tomorrow! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Working in public health for the past few years in and
around Kolkata has given me an insight into the problem of acute water
shortage in the urban slums, as well as lack of basic sanitation facilities.
Thousands of families live in these slums, with dubious water sources quenching
their thirst. In many cases, segregating water for washing clothes, utensils, and
drinking is a luxury, so the whole family simply resorts to a single reservoir
of stored water for every activity. Add to this the fact that many of them lack
the knowledge that they need to wash hands with soap and water regularly. So,
it isn’t surprising that , when an outbreak of enteric diseases like Typhoid
and cholera occurs, they spread rapidly throughout these slums, because
practising proper hygiene is not a norm here . Carrying out surveillance in
many suburbs in the fringes of the city have also enabled me to realise that
the text-book references of the minimum distance required between a toilet
drain and a drinking water source is farcical. People are worried about getting
a tiny dwelling place to squeeze into, so unless a major health hazard happens,
nobody in these crowded suburbs would care to look for violations of the norms for safe drinking
water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> It
is a matter of huge significance that under these circumstances, TERI
University and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in
association with <a href="http://www.coca-colaindia.com/" target="_blank">Coca-Cola </a>and The
Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) today <a href="http://www.coca-colaindia.com/launch-strengthening-water-sanitation-urban-settings-project-kolkata/" target="_blank">launchedthe ‘Strengthening Water and Sanitation in Urban Settings” initiative inKolkata</a>. The WASH programme (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) aim to
reach 50,000 beneficiaries in low income settlements and over 300 professionals
through WASH governance studies. It will also reach out to 2,500 students
through 20 municipal schools across India.</span></span></div>
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This is a first-of-its-kind venture that identifies a basic problem plaguing
the urban low-income group settlers, and it is commendable how the global soft
drink giant Coca-Cola looks to alleviate some of it. Once the project is
implemented, it will go a long way to empower the workforce present in the
slums and help their development.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-2378032096257055242015-08-09T01:49:00.000+05:302015-08-09T01:52:48.691+05:30Decoding Taazgi Ka Dhamaka : My Max Fresh Move<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">It's not everyday that I get in front of the camera and shoot myself, doing utterly hilarious dance steps! I have no qualms about admitting that I possess the stiffest pair of left feet that you might come across. So, the very fact that I dared myself to shoot this video, comes across as a vindication of Allu Arvind's call to show our moves to him! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> Make no mistake, the "Taazgi ka Dhamaka" track for Colgate Max Fresh toothpaste is infectious. It invites you to come out of your shell and savour life, dancing away without a care in life. Anushka Manchanda pours every bit of her sensuous voice to enliven the peppy track. In the video, the effervescent Allu Arvind hops and skips around, waltzing at will through a wedding ceremony, even hijacking the bride for a brief leg-shaking. Whilst the track played on, my feet swayed on its own, tapping the ground along with the beats. The tempo is high and your spirit starts gyrating to the tune that veers from Bollywood to hip-hop and back! As my feet went on declaring its will to perform its customary "drunken" steps, I gave up to its demands. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> Most of the time when I indeed do these nonsensical moves, there's nobody to judge, as its always with friends having fun together. The arms fling around aimlessly, and the pelvic thrusts come out easily. That's precisely what I managed to replicate here. Trying to emulate Allu Sir is out of question.......however, there's no shame in giving it an honest try! But I should admit, encouraged by Allu and Anushka, I indeed had one of the most exhilarating experiences of recent times. "Taazgi ka Dhamaka" gave me the vent to dance away the recent predicaments I'm facing in my preparatory phase for some difficult exams! So, cheers to Colgate Max Fresh , Allu and Anushka for helping me forget my worries for the time being and helping me enjoy a lot!</span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><i>I am dancing for <a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/2015/08/06/maxfreshmove-best-dance-videos-bloggers-win-vouchers" target="_blank">#MaxFreshMove</a> activity at <a href="http://www.blogadda.com/" target="_blank">BlogAdda</a>. If you are not blogging, you can join me by
participating in this <a href="https://apps.facebook.com/maxfreshmove/sharer.php?v=outputFiles%2Fres1438006893.mp4" target="_blank">#MaxFreshMove facebook activity.</a> </i></div>
Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-9982137753203265462015-07-18T00:17:00.003+05:302015-07-18T00:42:30.007+05:30Raising a Toast to My Oldest Buddies <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.298039); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> I grew up as a 1990s kid, part of a generation that didn't have smartphones or tablets to start off their lives ---- even those grand old mobile phones with large keys & an ungainly antennae, were a few years away . But, my parents were eons ahead of their times, as they were my buddies, when the concept of 'buddy parenting' perhaps wasn't much in vogue. They didn't force me .......they enticed me into things that they wanted me to do ! That doesn't mean they granted each and every demand of mine. Dad and Mom devised novel plans to help me learn , not by strict imposition of rules , but by inculcating my lessons within things that I loved to do! And in the process, they themselves got an insight into the world ,through my perspective! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I remember having an aversion towards vegetables , and Mom would have a tough time persuading me to eat a bowl of green veggies. But , she took the help of one Mr Popeye, the sailor, who derived inhuman strength after a mouthful of spinach ! Mom would sit with me for watching the cartoon show, and would always emphasise how Popeye managed to defeat the baddies by having spinach . I took to eating the despicable spinach dishes more out of curiosity than love , but even though I never developed rippling biceps even after eating lots of it, the habit stuck and Mom was successful! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> My first memory game experience came courtesy a Kellogg's cornflake pack , as nearly 20 years back , an Aladdin puzzle came free with the packs . Dad and mom would often sit with me , and help me in solving the game . It was quite addictive , and I had trouble solving , but Dad and mom too stuck to the task . I racked my brains hard in an effort to solve it, and I was successful after lots of effort, in the process attaining the zeal to never give up ! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> My school had computer classes from a very early age , and I must say that at the beginning , I wasn't too fond of the machines! But my parents told me that since they were 'technologically challenged' , they would like their 'smart' son to become their computer tutor and make them 'modern' ! I became more interested in learning the computer as I knew I had the job of teaching my parents . They took keen interest in learning the basics of Word, Excel , PowerPoint and became adept at handling PCs too ! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I was very fond of cricket , so dad used my own ideas to make me sit for Mathematics! I could rattle off players' runs and averages , as I had learnt them by heart from the statistics shown on TV. Dad quoted those figures to compose sums and I took special care to solve them correctly . As Sachin Tendulkar piled on runs and Anil Kumble took loads of wickets , I could recite their figures in a series easily. Those figures became building blocks for Dad's sums and I must say , I learnt solving sums on averages and percentages from these great players' statistics only !! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Dad also had this trait of asking me out for mathematical duels. He would challenge me to solve a set of sums correctly and faster than him ! As we both worked on the sums, I tried my level best to beat him . Although Dad finished earlier than me most of the time, on the days I beat him , I was elated. I now realise his 'defeats' must have been play-acting to retain my interest,lest I give up due to a train of losses , ( he possibly couldn't have lost out to me on skills). It did excite me a lot and encouraged me to practice harder. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Even Mom had a similar trick up her sleeve. She would ask me to memorise a particular poem in fifteen minutes time and start the stopwatch, whilst she said she would finish off a work in the kitchen in that time. As the timer ran down , I read on vociferously, so that I could finish off before mom returned from the kitchen! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Mom taught me the art of recycling old items, when I tried to replicate simple science experiments at home . As I explained to her the principles behind pin-hole cameras and periscopes , she gave me the ideas as to how I could always use old shoe-boxes and discarded mirrors to construct the things ! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> But the biggest of influences that me and dad exerted on each other was in the field of Astronomy and Sky watching . It was one of the nights of a power cut in sultry Kolkata , some two decades back , when I accompanied Dad to the terrace for some fresh air. In the pitch darkness all around, the stars shone like jewels encrusted in the night sky . As Dad pointed his fingers to the sky and showed me the imaginary figure of the great hunter Orion , the mind of a five year old boy was enthralled. It kick-started my biggest pastime ---- as I got hooked on to astronomy big time. I would read kids' science magazines , getting astonished at the magnanimity of the universe and would excitedly tell Dad what I learnt . Even though Dad himself did not have too much idea about the cosmic world apart from the names of a few stars, he listened to me intently. He gradually developed an interest and procured a telescope . A few years later , he would join me for a year-long evening course on astronomy at our city's Planetarium ! Every Tuesday , my doctor Dad would hop in from hospital and sit for the hour long class. As I took notes, I could see him dozing off on occasions , but he vehemently denied the charges. Even though I became a doctor , my love for Astronomy never wavered. Later on , we would both join the Sky Watchers' Association in Kolkata . Irony lies in the fact that even though I myself am not able to undertake all the sky watching tours nowadays , Dad never misses out on these ,and comes back enriched with new knowledge, which he shares with me ! Talk about buddy parenting !! What started off as a carefree pointing out of celestial objects , so many years back , continues to fuel our common passion : it opened a treasure trove that remains an integral part of our son-dad chemistry ! </span></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">Written as part of the <b><a href="https://www.indiblogger.in/topic.php?topic=170" target="_blank">" Khuljaye Bachpan"</a></b> campaign organised by<b> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mychocos" target="_blank">Kellogg's Chocos</a></b> , in association with <a href="http://www.indiblogger.in/" style="color: #771100; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Indiblogger</a>.</i></div>
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Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-89166739712541158722015-07-10T14:45:00.001+05:302015-07-10T14:54:13.693+05:30Balanced Diet - with a Honey Twist<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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From a very early age,Mom had instilled in me a belief that I had to eat a ' balanced diet'. As a kid, I knew what diet meant, but could never quite understand how that can be balanced. To me, balance meant something that helped keep things in order, without falling off! In school sports, there was this spoon race, where everyone had to keep a marble on their spoons and I knew the ones who won the race had good balance.One could walk in a narrow line if he had good balance. So, I never could connect 'balance' and food. But mom tried to clear the confusion in my yet uncomplicated brain, by making me realise that a balanced diet indeed helped something from falling off - our good health! As we progressed in school, textbooks taught us the proportions of carbohydrates, proteins and fats that are required to make a balanced diet, but in my mind, the explanation given by mom stuck!! <br />
We grew up in a housing complex, which had ample space for kids to play, and so, unlike the kids of today, who spend most of their spare time in front of the TV, we played outdoor sports a lot. Every evening, my garments were covered in dust and mud, and my knees and elbows were never free of abrasions. In spite of being engulfed in dirt, thankfully, we never suffered from diseases too frequently and this was put down to the generous helpings of nutritious food at home. Mom never encouraged me to eat a lot of food, she always told me to eat just enough, so that I never fall short of energy. So, while fried food and rolls were almost alien items at our household, grams, honey, ground nut, green vegetables, and fish featured daily in the diet. We learnt to replenish our electrolyte stores from a very early age, as we made our own lemon-salt-water concoction after coming up from the playground!! We had fun calculating our own BMI, and felt happy that it always stayed within the normal limits. There never was the advantage of a customised <a href="http://www.daburhoney.com/" target="_blank">Honey Diet</a> programme like now ,where you just key in the parameters and get the BMI as well a diet chart , ......we learnt things from Mom and textbooks only!<br />
But there was another side to the spectrum as well. As studies increased disproportionately to our age, and playing time got reduced, some of my friends got plump day by day. Before the exams, they would vouch that once the exams ended, they would get back in shape, but it was immensely difficult. The fast food frenzy before attending tuitions made it all the more difficult. Crash dieting was a concept I came to learn much later, from girls in school , who tried to attain size zero imitating movie stars. I was incredulous on coming to know that they were nearly starving themselves. The plan didn't quite work out, for the loss of weight didn't come easy: it also took away the natural lustre of the skin. From that we got to know,that thriving simply on curds and one or two fruits is not enough to sustain a human being. True to its name , crash dieting indeed does one thing to a human body: it crash lands the whole metabolism processes going on within and confuses the various hormones & enzymes at work! It will definitely put a strain on the fuel stores, as our body needs all the different food particles to keep up its functions!<br />
Even now , when somebody stays of food for prolonged periods, I try to discourage them from doing so. I know that small but frequent meals are the order of the day to help the body digest and absorb food better, while staying hungry for hours, and then gorging on a large quantity of food does nothing to decrease the bulging tummy . On the contrary, the body will attempt to store more fuel , anticipating a subsequent period of starving, and in the process, increase the abdominal girth even more!!<br />
So, here's wishing that every young Indian like me embraces a balanced diet and abolishes crash dieting forever !!<br />
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Do check out the options of a <a href="http://www.daburhoney.com/" target="_blank">Honey Diet</a> at <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><a href="http://www.daburhoney.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.daburhoney.com/</a>. </div>
Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-18521598812496422512015-05-14T16:18:00.001+05:302015-05-14T16:23:04.506+05:30An Ode to Mother : My First Expert<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #010101; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> When a National Scholar ,who was a district topper among girls in Board exams, as well as a Masters in Philosophy , chooses her home over a career as a Professor in any leading college , you get to wonder what's the reason for such huge sacrifice . I'll take this opportunity to shed some light on my mother , Mrs Indrani Kar , my first expert , and bring her to the spotlight from the usual low profile she enjoys being in.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #010101; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> I've never stopped giving her troubles from the time i've been born, getting hospitalised twice before the age of two. She was there all through , by my side, cramped up in a baby cot, to look after my wellbeing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #010101; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> Despite leaving service, Mom has never lost touch with education , making sure that me & my younger brother received the best possible academic training. From taking us to school , to managing our study hours, to checking our homeworks, and asking questions from our class lessons ,she was the ultimate tutor one could ever expect to have. Preparing breakfast, school tiffin , dinner - she was the one factor who made our family of four never worry about anything . It was only at times when she fell ill, that we could realise the mess that we were, without her.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="color: #010101; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">All other mothers of her age group in our locality used to come down every evening for their fun meetings, but my mother utilised her spare time to haul the two of us to our Music and Art classes . She herself searched for and dug up good story books, pushed us into reading them, and encouraged creative writing . She instilled in us the belief that even we could have our articles published in children's magazines , when we felt that it was difficult to see our writings in print ! The joy of getting my work featured somewhere never waned since my first article came out!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #010101; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> The fact that our father is a Doctor , made her job even more difficult , as she had to take care of all the shopping part too . Yet, we never found her grumbling one bit about the hardships that she undertook. On the contrary , my brother and me used to get angry at times about her constant vigil. But I now know, that it's only because of our mother that I'm a Doctor myself today, and my Brother is an Engineer . Besides this, we do excel in extracurricular activities too. I've got prizes in numerous Singing , Art & Quiz competitions, and everytime I get praised , I know that all these laurels are actually deserved by this lady, who had given up her own pleasures and luxuries just to make her children become better human beings.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #010101; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> Multitasking was a feature of my mother, long before it was a feature of a Smartphone! And if anyone thought that all these policing of our activities made her unsocial, he’s wrong , because even now, she manages to stitch new dresses for newborns, writes poems , does painting on clothes (fabric painting) , and gifts them to family members on occasions. She’s the first person to catch up on an ailing relative in a hospital or enquire about the wellbeings of people all around us.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Both my brother and me are working nowadays , so mom gets time for herself, which she spends doing social work with her friend who runs an NGO . Often, she stays out whole nights to provide blankets to footpath dwellers of our city in winter, or clothes to destitutes & street children in festive season.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I</span><span style="color: #010101; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> sometimes do tease her about being the "Busiest Socialite" in the city, because i don't ever find her sitting idle. It is true that she has never shied away from social responsibilities and for that, she is loved by all. In any crisis situation , my mother is the go-to person for advice, for me ,as well as our neighbours and family members alike....and everyone values her judgement and opinions. She has got a power of handling deals and negotiations. It's this innate ability to stay cool and tackle awkward situations that amaze me at times, and I try to imbibe these qualities.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Mom has taught me : success has no shortcuts , never to compromise with self respect and to be honest at all points of my life…. I try to follow these virtues which she possesses that make her the person I feel secure with!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>With Mom....on the day of my Convocation at my Medical College</b></i></span></td></tr>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 14px; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Written as part of the <b><a href="https://www.indiblogger.in/topic.php?topic=163" style="color: #771100; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">My First Expert </a> </b>contest , by <b>Godrej Expert Rich Creme hair color</b> , in association with <a href="http://www.indiblogger.com/" style="color: #771100; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Indiblogger</a>. You can find out more about their range of hair colours <a href="http://godrejexpert.com/single_used_pack.php" style="color: #771100; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></i></div>
Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-22522515879317229952015-03-24T15:55:00.001+05:302015-03-24T15:55:50.378+05:30Breakfast At Guptaji's <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.298039); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> Who knew good old cornflakes could come in over a hundred different delicacies , and not simply the milk-sugar-cornflake concoction that had been a staple food for me for years ? Indeed , when mom felt the need to prepare a lightning fast breakfast for me, she always fell back on her Man Friday: Kellogg's cornflakes. Even though Mom brought in innovations in them a few times,which tasted quite nice, there never was a scope to imagine that a hundred different dishes could be made from that single item: Cornflakes! Thankfully, I came to know about Guptaji's and his family's incredible variety of breakfasts that they have come up with . Within the wide world of Facebook and YouTube , his family has now become the emblem of innovation , fixing up gorgeous looking dishes with Kellogg's cornflakes being the main theme ! It doesn't come as a surprise , that I'm now looking forward to visiting them soon , since my eyes have already taken in enough goodies , and my taste buds are inching to savour the delicacies that Guptaji's wife can offer me! </span><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.298039); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">
Guptaji's family are not only terrific in the kitchen , they do have great skills with words too , as the names " Nakhre walk Nashta" , " First Crush wala Nashta" , "Jagah banana wala Nashta" , " Movie wala Nashta " suggest !! One look at the ingredients and the procedures to make the dish , and you know that this is not something out of the toughest cookbooks. I personally feel that I'm an abysmal cook, with no knowledge of how to mix food items and make a palatable dish for myself . But Guptaji's wife has made me confident that I too can learn these dishes, owing to their simplicity . Once I visit Guptaji's house for breakfast , I'd not only sit and wait for the beautiful dishes to make their way out to me from her kitchen . I would request Guptaji for permission to visit his kitchen , and pick up the tricks of the trade myself . </div>
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I'm eagerly looking forward to the " Homework wala Nashta" as I've recently promised myself to start eating cabbage , but was still not sure how I would be able to do it without shutting my eyes and gulping the green veggie down. Now that Guptaji's family has put up the wonderful Photo of the Homework wala Nashta on Facebook , I want to taste it directly from the plate of the Master-chef Mrs Guptaji ! </div>
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Another item that I want to taste is the " Best Family wala Nashta" , which is loaded with apples. Since it is one of the easiest to make, I'm planning to check it out at Guptaji's home , and then replicate it at my place , where I would volunteer to prepare my family's breakfast for the first time , and give my parents a surprise! </div>
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Thus , much depends on my visit to Guptaji's place for breakfast , and I'm looking to make it soon enough . Since many other people have already asked Guptaji for a treat at his place keeping Guptaji's wife busy , I doubt when I shall be able to make it ! </div>
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<a name='more'></a><i>Written as part of the Nashta With Guptaji's Family campaign by Kellogg's India . Check out the delightful cornflake breakfast dishes on offer on their Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anaajkanashta" target="_blank">here</a>, and the visuals on preparing them on their Youtube page <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/kelloggindia" target="_blank">here</a>. </i><br />
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Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-7588257664052473962015-03-16T01:08:00.001+05:302015-03-16T01:22:52.269+05:30Getting Together : A Day of Re-Living the Past<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> Growing up in a housing complex with a few other guys of my age in Kolkata, I was fortunate enough never to feel lonely at home , like some of my other friends did when the school was closed for vacations . Staying in buildings adjacent to each other , running away from the study table to the playground was a matter of minutes for us, as one of us would take the onus to get down on the ground before the others , and call out our names at the top of their vocal power !! Our ears were fine tuned to pick up these calls from the ground .Even from the farthest corners of home , we would detect the voices from downstairs , and rush to the balcony to reciprocate ! Mom would find it difficult to contain me once others assembled on the ground , and out I went , to indulge in football, cricket , or volleyball. For most of my school and college life , this was a routine , even more steadfast than my study schedule . </span><br />
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Joining work simply destroyed this playful chapter in my life, as all my friends had to migrate away from home to earn their livelihood , while I got posted in a hospital in Kolkata only. A few of them left the housing complex and shifted to their new homes in another part of the city. Often , I would feel lonely, when I had a day off, and I would stand at the balcony, staring at the playground below with a heavy heart . Occasionally , we would get together on a conference call, connecting Bengaluru, Chennai , and Kolkata , to reminisce about the good old days. </div>
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One winter , it happened that all five of us managed a chance to be in Kolkata and we decided that we had to spend a day together. Nothing was planned as to what we would do, but an early morning meeting in the housing inspired all of us to bring out the bats and balls to usher in our version of 'Oldies' Cricket ' ! People in my housing had long forgotten our tradition of ruining their mornings with our shrieks on the playground , and the occasional crashing sound of the ball rebounding off their windows. As they looked out of their windows, to assess what the commotion was all about, we waved at them , greeting them heartily ! We played till our overweight bodies gave in , and then set out by car for a traditional Kolkata breakfast on the streets! Driving around the city , having random food items from roadside eateries, it was unbelievable fun , as we had let go of all our customary etiquettes from the workplace , and simply indulged in heartwarming camaraderie . </div>
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The day was spent together at my place , watching photos and videos of our past bravado and nuisances . The recordings of our musical performances at our housing's cultural programme brought the memories rushing back, and we all remembered the mistakes that we had made in our stage performances , years ago! We were members of our housing band, and music struck a special chord in us. So , an afternoon of singing away and playing the guitar , even without practice for many days , didn't feel like we were coming together after a long layoff . <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">The day ended with us enjoying a sumptuous dinner fixed by mom , amidst promises of another such getting together real soon , when all of us would have their schedules adjusted to meet up in Kolkata . </span></div>
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This day acts as the mood lifter during periods when I feel sullen or lethargic . The unabashed enjoyment that we had , reliving our past, brings a smile to the corner of my lips as I prepare to yet again delve into my daily schedule . For many years , what had been a mandatory association for me had transformed itself into a chance meeting now between professionals . Still , it had enough fuel to drive our souls at dreary hours , as we look forward to yet another getting together in a few months' time! </div>
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<a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">This was my #Together story , written for the campaign by <a href="http://www.housing.com/" style="color: #771100; text-decoration: none;">www.Housing.com</a>. You can check out their new website</i><a href="https://housing.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #771100; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"> .</span></div>
Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-88566613498577690072015-03-10T17:00:00.001+05:302015-03-10T17:29:00.203+05:30Starting a New Life : At Hostel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.298039); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">Getting into medical college was in itself a big achievement at the end of my higher secondary examinations . Here was I , all set to embark on a new journey in my life , enroute to becoming a doctor , and I was elated . After the formalities regarding admission was over , and the initial euphoria regarding college was settled a bit , I had to arrange for shifting to hostel .</span><br />
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Mom argued with me , that I couldn't even make a cup of tea by myself, so I would struggle to cope with hostel life , and would soon come back. At first , life at hostel didn't evoke any thoughts of difficulties , as I only felt how I would become more independent , and lead life on my own terms . Several other guys were also staying in the hostel , so I didn't think it would be a problem at all. </div>
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The comforts of staying at home struck me within a few hours of my shifting to hostel , after my parents had left , when I started to feel a little hungry , and felt like giving a loud call of , " Maa , I'm hungry . Make some tasty evening snack ! " just like when i was at home . But the futility of the thought instantly dawned on me , and smirking at my folly , I got up to check out the dozens of food packets stuffed in my bag by mom. A few friends came over to welcome me at my new abode , and the evening was spent happily chatting away . But the real rude shock came , when at night , I went down to have dinner . </div>
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As the standard dinner of roti and sabji was dumped on my plate , I stared at it aghast . No way was I going to swallow the weird looking vegetable pieces swirling around in the greenish broth . The rotis looked like they were the ugliest pieces I had ever laid my eyes on . I looked around , and people were munching away the food without any qualms , while watching the news on the canteen TV. One of my classmates remarked , " eat it ....you'd soon get used to it ! " However , after a few attempts to chew the horrible tasting items , I gave up and went up to my room . </div>
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The hardships of staying on my own made their presence felt over the whole of the next week . It was a race to get to the toilets every morning , and the basin was always booked while brushing . No one would urge me to drink lots of water every day like at home, but thirst urged me to fill up large water pots from the floor below us , and stock it up in my room . The morning classes meant I either had to skip breakfast , or had to stuff bread in my mouth while running towards college . I missed being cajoled by mom , to drink the large glass of milk , that had been my routine from a very early age. Here , I had to take the trouble of preparing my own glass in the morning , which was too much . The bed sheets were in shambles , and worn clothes piled up in the corner . The utensils in which I tried to make myself some light dishes screamed out for a proper wash. I began to appreciate the superlative facilities that I had grown up in , where I didn't have to worry about anything apart from studying . Here , it was a case of managing everyday chores , apart from the vast subjects of human Anatomy, physiology and biochemistry . </div>
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In the midst of all this , I started to feel the change that took place within me . I realised that whimpering and cursing would take me nowhere , and I had to learn to do things in my own way , as the other guys were doing . So , for the first time in my life , I started washing my clothes , sent some of them for laundry , and made my room habitable by arranging things . The alarm clock on my phone became my 'de-facto' mom for the hostel , as I had been woken up all my life by mom shaking me vigorously . Now , sleeping late meant no breakfast , or bunking first periods . So I had to forget about the snooze button , and wake up early . </div>
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I had never ever set my feet in the kitchen at home , but here , I bought a small kettle and learnt to make tea. Instant noodles and soups were the other things that I learnt to prepare . Even the simplest of things like adding sugar or milk in appropriate proportions was a mystery to me , but I developed the skills . My hostel friends all chipped in , teaching me various other dishes , and in a few months time , I had learnt to cook rice and eggs ! My self sufficiency rubbed off on me even at home, where mom and dad got stunned when I fixed them an evening snack when I went home ! </div>
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Managing expenses was another difficult task which I had to deal with . I learnt to be a master of my own finances as otherwise , cash could be blown off in no time . Initially , there were hiccups as I bought fruits or other items twice over , while having no ration at other times , but things smoothened out soon. </div>
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The hostel years subsequently turned into some of the best years of my life as I learnt to grow up into a man . I did things which I should have done earlier , but never got a chance to , as I was always too preoccupied with my school , tuitions and exams . The friends at hostel became like family members , with whom I shared a deep bond . In course of time , we all graduated as doctors , and left our colleges . But starting a new life at hostel taught me vital things which otherwise I couldn't have learnt ! </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1FXdCjk505w/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1FXdCjk505w?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">This was my Starting a New Life story , written for the #StartANewLife campaign by <a href="http://www.housing.com/" style="color: #771100; text-decoration: none;">www.Housing.com</a>. You can check out their new website</i><a href="https://housing.com/" target="_blank"> here</a> .</div>
Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-73836428624951063612015-03-06T13:36:00.004+05:302015-03-06T14:39:30.066+05:30Dry Nappy: Happy Tales <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"> Have you ever felt absolutely disgusted on getting your hands on a wet towel after a bath , when all you wanted was a nice warm dry cloth to soak up the water from your skin? Have you tried to fidget with your sweat drenched shirt on a humid day, when it gets stuck to your body all day long and you are left tugging at the moist fabric from time to time, wanting to free yourself of the impediment caused by a wet shirt ?</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"></span><br />
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In all probability , you have faced these scenarios , and have cursed your luck . We have all been in this dilemma , when faced with wet fabric at the least wanted of situations. Now spare a thought for a toddler , who would be in the same situation as yours , with a wet nappy hugging his body , curtailing his elementary movements. I've seen my young brother get cranky with his wet nappies, and have his perfect mood ruined , when he couldn't communicate that he hated the contact from the moist nappy. Prior to that ,when was dry, he would be in his own sweet world, happily rubbing crayons over a white sheet of paper , creating his versions of modern art . At other times, he would intently admire his beauty on the mirror , staring at it frequently , to make out whether he looked any different from a few seconds back. He would also have his eyes set outside, and gape at the birds flying in and out of their nests in a neighbouring tree. He would often try to rebuke a few sparrows that flitted in and out of the windows , having lots of things to say to the little birds in a language coined by him , but all it managed to do was send the birds scurrying away outside as he half crawled half stumbled his way towards them !</div>
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But the moment he had his customary wetting of the nappy , all his extracurricular activities took a backseat and he would get involved with the white cloth attached steadfastly to his waist. His attention would shift towards how to get rid of his mini suit and he would forget every thing else that kept him occupied. After some unsuccessful attempts to untie the nappy , he would surrender and inevitably follow mom , trying to gain her attention and point to his pesky wet nappy . There would be a queer expression on his face , and his mood verged from irritable to paranoid , till he was taken out of his wet nappy. The smile would return as soon as he was set free of his only garment, and without another worry , our young emperor in his birthday robe , would get back to his world , unconcerned about his unabashed nudity . A new nappy was soon put in place , but he was happy again.<br />
This change in mood reflects the effects that a wet nappy can have on the baby . It irritates him beyond our imagination , and not being able to communicate that he feels it troublesome adds to his discomfort , not to mention the chances of diaper rashes and fungal infections that are higher on prolonged contact with a wet nappy ! So next time your kid feels angry , do check out whether it's time to change his nappies, because you never know , a sticky wet nappy might just be ruining a perfect day for him! </div>
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<i><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-align: left;">Written as part of the Dry Baby Happy Baby campaign by Pampers. Check out more about their Baby Dry Pants </span><a href="https://www.rewardme.in/tag/Pampers" target="_blank">here</a><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-align: left;">.</span></i></div>
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Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-52182152421935616652015-03-05T14:53:00.002+05:302015-03-05T14:56:32.863+05:30The 'Slower' Giant Leap<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.298039); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> In the late 90's and early 2000s, my housing complex had some extremely talented guys who played an attractive brand of cricket . All of them were high school or college students, and played the game only for fun , but the competition was intense and the skill levels on display were beyond belief ! I was an ardent fan of many of them , and spent hours , sitting at the sidelines, watching them play. We were the junior kids , who begged for our inclusion in their matches, but most of the time, we were not taken in the teams , or even if we got a chance, we were the last persons to come out to bat , and had the mandatory job of fielding the full quota of overs. Naturally, we had the tendency to grab the eyes of the seniors in the field , as that was the only place where we had the chance to show off our qualities, and we dived around on the rough grounds, in an effort to make ourselves more prominent; in the process , often ending up with abrasions. Once or twice, if someone got the chance to bowl, he would be over the moon with joy, but very often , the enthusiasm was short lived, as he would be taken apart in that one over , signalling yet another lengthy wait for another chance to bowl in a match ! </span><br />
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However, we , the juniors tried to improve ourselves, and lift our own games. Every evening , after returning from school , we would assemble on the ground and play hard , till the time when the sun had long set , and the housing lights had taken over . We would try to bowl fast , catch high balls , and throw down the stumps . But no matter how hard we tried , it seemed we were always worse off than the seniors , who were able to pull off more difficult things with consummate ease ! </div>
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I had my sights set on being a fast bowler for my housing team , and I made gradual progress . The day came when I made the transition to the seniors' matches along with a few other juniors friends . We were beginning to be assigned with more important roles than just fetching the ball from outside our complex ( when they were carted for massive sixes that flew out above the buildings onto the road ) . A year went by , with me getting a couple of overs at least, every match that took place on weekends . But my problem was not being able to deliver good balls consistently . There would be the occasional over where I would bowl a few decent balls,and take a wicket , but subsequently , spray the ball around , get hit, and effectively get taken off the attack . In my mind , I would replay my performance the whole of the subsequent week , grimacing at how my wicket taking deliveries were followed up with big sixes . I needed to improve . I needed to do better . I needed that one big performance that would see me getting respect from the seniors .</div>
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Once every few months , our housing team played matches with teams from neighbouring clubs at a ground outside our complex. It was one of days when a match had been arranged , that marked my first appearance in this outside fixture , as we were short on our regular bowlers . The captain had told me that I had to shoulder extra responsibility, as my team was looking forward to my quota of overs as the fast bowling option . The excitement within me knew no bounds , but at the same time , I was apprehensive as to what might happen if I messed up the plot . Batting first , our team put on quite a big total . At the changeover , the captain told me to loosen up as he would be asking me to bowl quite early . I was the youngest member of our team , and this was the huge opportunity that I had been looking for . I was brought on as a first change bowler , and I managed to keep my nerves , bowling a decent line , and even managing to uproot the middle stump of the opponent opener. </div>
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But my first overs were not really the problem . The errors crept in mostly in my later spells , when I lost focus and ended up bowling trash. So, I was very nervous by the time I was called upon to bowl again at the death . I felt I was starting to lose the plot in my mind. What if I bowled full tosses ? What if I bowled wayward short deliveries ? My team was looking at me to bowl us to victory , and my fellow death bowler was extremely good . What if I undid all his good work? I was unsure of myself. Did I have the temperament to succeed under pressure ? Did I have it in myself to keep my head cool ? </div>
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I ran in and bowled a good length ball that fetched one run . The wicket keeper and fielders shouted encouragement, and I felt a little better . The captain came up and said , "get out the Yorker!" I nodded , and ran in yet again but what happened next sucked the life out of me. The ball was sent soaring above square leg and out of the ground for a mammoth six . " Not the short ball you idiot ", the captain was fuming , but I hadn't tried the short ball at all . In my effort to bowl as a fast as I could , I had bowled a rank bad ball , that just sat up to be thrashed. I ran in yet again , and this time , overcompensating for the previous ball , I had bowled a full toss, that disappeared over mid wicket . </div>
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In a jiffy, the equation had turned against us . My skipper was dumbfounded , and all of the fielders were stunned. My heart was beating so fast that I felt I would have to sit down to rest . My worst fears were coming true, and I was yet again self destructing . My senior bowling partner ran in and put an arm around me . " Calm down , you're trying too hard . Can you just keep the length right ? That'll do ! " he said . He gave me an extra couple of seconds to get myself together again , and now a plan had sprouted in my brain from nowhere . What if I bowl a slower ball? The rational side of my brain jumped up in protest," don't even think of it, you'll get hit again "! But my mind was working fervently . This was my only hope ......to bowl a slower ball expertly . I had practiced it many times, but it had never quite come off as expected in a match situation . The voice in my brain was saying ," show off your skill man .,......this is it! Do it now , if it doesn't come off , you won't have the regret of not trying ! " I was now determined . I gripped the ball and ran in , more nervous than I ever was . At the delivery stride, I rolled over the fingers , hoping I could at least ,land the off cutter correctly . As I released the ball, a sense of belief arose within me. </div>
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The batsman, who was expecting yet another fast ball , went for an almighty hoick , but this time, my delivery arrived far later than he had expected , and took the edge ! As the ball lobbed up for a simple catch at point , a spontaneous cry of "CATCH ITTTTTT" escaped my lips . The next moment, as the ball landed safely in the hands of the fielder , I was mobbed by my team mates . Everyone started exclaiming how I had managed to bowl an exceptional delivery under pressure. <b><i>This was the moment I had been waiting for so long . A moment that filled me with hope , and made me believe that I too belonged to the big league with my seniors </i></b>. I was now confident . I could now be counted upon to show my own sets of skills! I could deliver under pressure. The fact that the best opposition batsman had been foxed by me gave me immense self belief . I was elated.</div>
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The renewed vigour in my bowling spelt doom for our opponents. The very next ball to the new batsman was a searing Yorker that took leg stump out . Even though I didn't manage to bag the hattrick , I returned an over later to pick up two more wickets , to seal victory for my team . There was no dearth of adulation for me and suddenly , from being a minnow, I was the centre of attention . One defining moment of excellence had turned the tide in my favour , and scripted a new dawn within me. It was a decision to trust my instinct and back myself to do what I believed I could achieve , and it had helped me change my outlook . I was a proper player now, no longer a bits and pieces player needed to fill up a team . I was ready to take up the responsibility from my seniors ! I was rejuvenated ...........it was my moment of glory! </div>
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<a name='more'></a><i>This was my Look Up story , written for the "Look up" campaign by <a href="http://www.housing.com/">www.Housing.com</a>. You can check out their new website <a href="https://housing.com/lookup" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></div>
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Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-49769497494224195652015-02-17T22:00:00.001+05:302015-02-17T22:23:31.128+05:30My Life :My wishes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "UICTFontTextStyleBody","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> All of us , at some points
of our lives, crave a situation , where we won't have to worry about the
problems plaguing our social or family lives, or about the responsibilities we
have to shoulder . From the topmost officials of giant MNCs to the peon at the
government offices, nobody can claim to be leading lives by their own terms and
conditions , as all of them need to look after the welfare of the ones
dependant on them . So, even if somebody has a set of wishes to fulfil , more
often than not, they get shrouded under a cascade of commitments , that need
addressing . The wishes are shoved to the back of the mind , where they turn
into figments of imagination , and rarely do they resurface ! </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "UICTFontTextStyleBody","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> But if I really manage to get a
life where I am Befikar Umar Bhar , I have a bucket load of wishes to fulfil .
One life is too short to savour all of these , but if I am blessed with a life
without constraints, I would definitely find out time to squeeze in all of them
. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "UICTFontTextStyleBody","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">1) Spend a Winter in an Igloo at Greenland: right from the time Geography books taught me
about the 6 months cycle of day and night , above the Arctic Cycle , I've been
fascinated by the lifestyle of Eskimos . To stay in a house made of ice bricks
is nothing short of magical , and I would dearly want to spend my winter in the
igloo , savouring the Eskimo way of life. The Aurora borealis would be my
charmer , every night , and I would gaze at the colourful patterns being drawn
on the giant canvas of the sky . Away from the hot tropics, the sledge will be
my transport , and I would become an expert in finding fish from below frozen
lakes! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "UICTFontTextStyleBody","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">2) Horticulture: from my very childhood, I've had a few
plants in pots in my balcony , where I grew a few flower plants , but never did
I have the luxury of maintaining a full fledged garden . My penchant for sowing
seeds got me to sow the seeds of all fruits that I ate , in the small amount of
soil in those pots, but apart from a few gram or pea plants, I had little
success. If I manage to get the time , and the scope, I would devote myself to
have beautiful flowers and fruit laden trees adorning my garden . It would be a
spectacle for anyone visiting the garden , and I would be the master at work , growing
my own vegetables in my backyard ! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "UICTFontTextStyleBody","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">3) Run a Primary School : I've been fortunate
enough to be well educated , but I would certainly like to return some of my
knowledge to my young country folks, who are not quite privileged to enjoy
facilities as good as I got. So I envision a school , where kids with little
resources would turn up , and study happily , so that they get basic education
. I would be the patron , being there to teach them , and through their eyes, I
would revisit my own childhood school days . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "UICTFontTextStyleBody","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">4) Be a Space Traveller : the very first ambition that I ever had ,
was to become an astronaut some day . Hearing the tales of Neil Armstrong's
exploits gave me the belief that someday , I would be able to travel to the
moon too. But somehow, that dream never materialised, and I became a doctor ,
but my love for space never dwindled. Given a chance, I would volunteer for a
ride to space , on a spaceship , and live in zero-gravity with other
astronomers in the International Space Station . I would want an opportunity to
perform a space walk , and float around in the nothingness around, looking down
at the beautiful blue earth ! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "UICTFontTextStyleBody","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">5) attend Every Football World Cup : the ultimate
carnival that a sports fan can hope to attend is the FIFA World Cup , and it
has been my eternal wish visit one of these events . If I ever get a chance, I
would love to travel to every World Cup to soak in the atmosphere ! i would be sitting with passionate fans at the stadiums,
with paint smeared on my face , chanting songs cheering the teams , making
friends from all over the globe ! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">Written as part of the Befikar Umar Bhar activity by </span></span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span>IDBI Federal Lifesurance<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"> in association with Indiblogger. you can find out more about them </span><a href="http://bit.ly/BefikarUmarBhar" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">.</span></span></i><br />
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Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-61535744086962892392015-01-14T09:59:00.001+05:302015-01-14T09:59:13.129+05:30Relocating Quikr to Bangalore<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.298039); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> Relocating to a new city always gives us the headache over what to expect when staying alone , far away from the comforts of home! With a new home, comes new duties, and new responsibilities. There's the added concern about having to save enough , so the need to manage resources well is of utmost importance . Many of my friends have shifted to Bangalore for their jobs, and it is not at all a surprise, considering the economic boom in the city . But what I've heard from them is , it is really costly for anyone to stay there , and a newcomer would initially find it very difficult to manage the expenses . This led me to think whether I myself would be able to handle the pressures of managing a new base at Bangalore well enough , if the need arises . But surfing through the pages of Quikr Bangalore made it really easy for me to decide what I would want in my new home in the city , in case I had to make the move there from my current posting in Kolkata .</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> </span><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.298039); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">
The primary concern for any newbie at a new place is to look for an accommodation . For a person like me who would be staying alone , or with a friend if possible , a 1-BHK flat on rent is good enough , but I need to be sure that the location of my residence is in a proper place , which will not make it inconvenient for me in any way. So , here comes Quikr with the solution : <b><i>verified numbers</i></b> make it possible for me to shortlist prospective flats ,at places according to my choice . The<a href="http://bangalore.quikr.com/house-newly-constructed.-W0QQAdIdZ197486529" target="_blank"> rates available around Rs 7500 a month</a> are reasonable enough for me . Sitting far away from home, I'm able to fix up a place to rest , without having to haggle through numerous websites offering real estate choices. I also find, there's the option of selecting Paying Guests too ! Wow ! If a rented flat is not quite convenient for me , a list of PG choices is always there on Quikr to come to my aid! </div>
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I'm awful with household chores , and washing clothes is a dreaded proposition for me . Thus, a washing machine is something that I would crave to have in my flat . But splurging on a new appliance right after relocating to a new place doesn't appear to be the best option for me . Thanks to Quikr, a host of <a href="http://bangalore.quikr.com/IFB-BOSCH-FRONT-LOAD-WASHING-MACHINE-W0QQAdIdZ185927356" target="_blank">washing machine choices , under Rs 6000</a> , is available to me , and I am able to assure myself that at least, I'd be able to wear fresh clothes to work ! </div>
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Next comes the problem of food storage , and once again I go through Quikr's huge range of refrigerators on sale. Thankfully, yet again , I have the liberty to choose from verified numbers , offering <a href="http://bangalore.quikr.com/Well-conditioned-Samsung-190ltr-Refrigerator-on-sale.-W0QQAdIdZ198136158" target="_blank">190 litres refrigerators at around Rs 5000 </a>! At this price , that's a steal ! </div>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> The last item that I need is a transport option to make a quick getaway to the outskirts of the city on weekends, or to move around the city on my own to know the surroundings ! Going for a four wheeler would be too costly at the moment , so I opt for a motorbike , and once again I look through Quikr Bangalore's pages. Thankfully , there are <a href="http://bangalore.quikr.com/-i-want-to-sell-my-hero-passion-pro-blue-colour.-please-call-W0QQAdIdZ197289882" target="_blank">bikes at around Rs 45,000</a> and I'm able to breathe easy ! This will be the best mode of transport for riding around the city!</span></div>
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Thus , after a thorough raid through Quikr Bangalore , and selecting items of my choice,I'm happy........ I realise , that even in a city as costly as Bangalore, Quikr would help me not go broke with my investments ! </div>
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<a name='more'></a>Written as part of the It's just Quikr in Bangalore activity by Quikr Banglaore in association with Indiblogger. you can find out more about them <a href="http://bangalore.quikr.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-13121061388001910762015-01-11T08:45:00.002+05:302015-01-14T11:04:05.410+05:30The other side of the Bengal football Derby <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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She stayed just two blocks away from me , but somehow , she was my sworn enemy .
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I didn't provoke her, I didn't cause her any harm......neither did I call her names. </div>
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It was just that I was an East Bengal football club supporter , whilst her family were staunch backers of Mohun Bagan ! </div>
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It was not in my DNA to taunt people just over their allegiance to a sporting club , but somehow , she never failed to insult me in our social gatherings over my fandom. </div>
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There was always that veiled reference to the migration of my forefathers from the eastern side of the Bengal border , and a suggestion that we , as immigrants , had encroached upon their rightful territory . The mockery of me often let me red faced , but I didn't retaliate .</div>
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I couldn't . Deep down , I liked her . But arch rivals never unite , they're meant to quarrel, don't they ?</div>
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Then the fateful Derby day on 9th December , 2012 , arrived , when on a winter <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6500115683549030584" x-apple-data-detectors-result="1" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">Sunday afternoon</a>, a missile from the stands injured Mohun Bagan's Rahim Nabi . Soon , the gallery was violent . In the ensuing missile rain, I found someone who got hit by a stone on the back of the head, clutched his head , and fell down on the concrete gallery . It was her elder brother . Another person tripped on him , and fell over his shoulder ! </div>
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I ran upto him , took out my handkerchief to press onto his wound, and gave him some water . Making sure he was alright, I escorted him out from the violence all around , and took him to a nearby hospital where he was stitched up. </div>
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Today, there's no more enmity between her and me . </div>
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She no longer makes fun of me; she doesn't even taunt me for my migration history . </div>
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She doesn't believe that being from the red-and-gold camp can actually make a worse human being , while the green-and-maroon supporters are all saints . </div>
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We're in a relationship for sometime now. </div>
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If East Bengal wins now, then I treat her , while she extends the courtesy when Mohan Bagan prevails!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5VHH3-BlNouCQvz2GFIu8rzzWjnoA9v8zEa2DOkXwIeinhu_cf9s7cLjHPcXH4Bc3ZJaXJhtLULpbN5PggAibhEM6dvh4pdkz3t5DudhH1KaWwPPxIcUIBTUoNcK18XXoeJj0NvXjI4/s1600/wowbadge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5VHH3-BlNouCQvz2GFIu8rzzWjnoA9v8zEa2DOkXwIeinhu_cf9s7cLjHPcXH4Bc3ZJaXJhtLULpbN5PggAibhEM6dvh4pdkz3t5DudhH1KaWwPPxIcUIBTUoNcK18XXoeJj0NvXjI4/s1600/wowbadge.png" /></a></div>
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<strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">This is a work of fiction , and resemblance to any living person is purely coincidental . </strong><br />
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<strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">This post is a part of <a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/category/write-over-the-weekend-wow" style="color: #b85b5a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Write Over the Weekend">Write Over the Weekend</a>, an initiative for <a href="http://www.blogadda.com/" style="color: #b85b5a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Indian Bloggers">Indian Bloggers</a> by BlogAdda.</strong><br />
<strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The topic for this weekend was " Foes Turned Friends "! </strong></div>
Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-58750762276080962292014-12-31T21:01:00.004+05:302014-12-31T21:30:46.395+05:30Stubble Trouble : The Date !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
<span style="color: rgba(0,0,0,0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px;">If it's hard enough to win over a woman's heart, it's harder to lift her spirits once she feels her man has let her down! As a man, you've got to be at your toes all the time , so that your girl doesn't feel cheated .....because, believe me, that would lead to some very awkward situations for you! I've been on the receiving end of the quiet fury of my girl , but what really led to a missed opportunity was on our 4th anniversary of getting together ! </span></span><br />
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<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
<span style="color: rgba(0,0,0,0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px;"> We were classmates in our medical college , and had been celebrating our anniversaries every year , by going out for dinner at one of the nice restaurants in the city . However , in the days leading upto the coveted 4th anniversary, her behaviour was somewhat queer ! We were in the final year of our course then, and I thought , girls being girls, she was voluntarily putting herself under pressure of the curriculum! She spoke less, her smiles appeared forced, she didn't ask questions and only answered formally! Once or twice, I did ask her if something was wrong, but she brushed them aside. On D-day, I got all dressed up, and went and stood at the Ladies' hostel gate for her to come down . I gave her a call, but the phone didn't get picked up . I redialled, and after many rings, she picked up my call. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: rgba(0,0,0,0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px;">"Hello", I said, "where are you ? I'm waiting outside your gates!" </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: rgba(0,0,0,0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px;">She asked, " But for whom ? " </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: rgba(0,0,0,0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px;">I was dumbfounded ! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: rgba(0,0,0,0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px;">" I mean......we just spoke a couple of hours ago. Aren't we going out for dinner?", I asked , flabbergasted! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: rgba(0,0,0,0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px;">" I'm sorry , are we supposed to?", was her insipid response. </span></span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
<span style="color: rgba(0,0,0,0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px;">" please come down once , please don't joke !" , I tried to find humor in the proceedings.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: rgba(0,0,0,0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px;">It was apparent that the interaction was too heavy for any kind of joke. I persisted with my request and after some more pleading , she came down . She hadn't got ready for an outing at all ! </span></span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
<span style="color: rgba(0,0,0,0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px;"> I was puzzled, " What happened dear? We've been going out for this dinner date every year . What is the matter ? Is anything wrong ? Why have you changed suddenly ?" </span></span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
<span style="color: rgba(0,0,0,0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px;"> She looked away and didn't answer at first. Then she slowly asked, " Titas , haven't you changed ?" </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: rgba(0,0,0,0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px;">"Me ? ", I was incredulous , " absolutely not ! What do you mean ?" </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: rgba(0,0,0,0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px;">She now looked at my face , " you sure , there's absolutely nothing that has changed about you ?" Her eyes focused intently on my face and roved around from side to side.</span></span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
<span style="color: rgba(0,0,0,0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px;"> Then it dawned on me . Instantaneously , my right palm went upto my chin, and grazed against my newly developed stubble of two weeks! It was a new look that I was trying out , going with the recent trend of keeping an unkempt beard ! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: rgba(0,0,0,0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px;">" But you didn't say anything....this has been there for the last 15 days ! You should've told me that you don't like this ! " , I tried to reason with her, as my mind finally registered the fact that the time period of me not shaving had coincided with her downcast mood ! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: rgba(0,0,0,0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px;"> " Titas , why would this need a reminder ? You remember , when we first became a couple, what I told you ? That I saw shades of my Dad in you ! You were a confident young man , always clean shaven , ready with a smile , dignified, well dressed! You could be identified as the bright upcoming Doctor , just like my Dad is . It was the reason I fell for you . But look at you now! That stubble of yours looks downright filthy ! God knows who put this idea into your brain that you needed to look 'macho' by throwing away your razors ! I've been waiting for the past few days , hoping everyday you'd turn up properly in the hospital wards, but you've not done it at all! You don't look anything remotely close to a Doctor .....you're more of a hooligan now . And you expect me to go out and dine with you ?" , she rattled off without a pause ! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: rgba(0,0,0,0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px;"> I realised my folly ! I apologised for being the thick headed guy , who tried to incorporate some machismo into his look. I tried to convince her to pardon me and go out with me , but she cancelled the dinner date for the evening . No amount of cajoling could make her change her decision , and I was left ruing an ill-timed ill advised venture to alter my look ! The opportunity to take my girl out on that special date , like previous years, slipped away, but it taught me an important lesson : that no matter what happened, never take your girl for granted. Every girl wants her man to look good, and y<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">our appearance needed to be spot-on if you needed to woo your girl! I had realised, the hard way, that a </span>grizzly beard wouldn't add to my looks, but a clean shaven face did! </span></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">This post is a part of #WillYouShave activity at <a href="http://www.blogadda.com/" style="color: #b85b5a; text-decoration: none;" title="BlogAdda">BlogAdda</a> in association with <a href="http://www.flipkart.com/gillette" style="color: #b85b5a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Gillette">Gillette</a>. </em><br />
<em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">This post is written acknowledging the tag by Sonal Mathur <a href="http://auraofthoughts.blogspot.in/2014/12/dream-into-reality.html?showComment=1420041440715&m=1#c7211867880462534723" target="_blank">here</a>. </em></div>
Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-21402767465072586242014-12-30T23:46:00.004+05:302015-01-05T23:46:48.511+05:30Melbourne Montage : why I Love the City!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MCG on Boxing Day 2013 Ashes (image : <a href="http://www.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ashes-mcg-crowd-breaks-test-attendance-world-record-119348.html" target="_blank">indiatimes</a>)</td></tr>
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I gaped in awe as the television screen flashed the gigantic figure displayed on the electronic score board at the <b><i>Melbourne Cricket Ground</i></b> on Boxing Day in the last Ashes series Down Under . As the mind numbing figure registered itself in my brain , I went back to a lazy evening in Kolkata more than two decades back, when my Dad was cradling me in his lap, while keeping the Guinness Book of World Record open in front , flipping through its pages. I was poring over its pictures, listening to dad as he explained what they meant. It was then that I first came across Melbourne, when Dad showed me a picture of a lush green cricket field, thronged with people, strewn across both pages of the books, that mentioned that the MCG holds the record for having the highest number of spectators to assemble on a day to watch a test match. As a tiny cricket enthusiast, from the city of the Eden Gardens, it was my first introduction to a ground overseas , and I had told Dad, " I will see a match here someday too! " Dad and smiled and said, " of course you will"! The memory stayed with me , and Melbourne had made a mark on my impressionable mind quite early ! As MCG renewed its tryst with the record , I felt strangely happy. I was no longer the curious kid, wanting to admire Melbourne from the books , I wanted to step into the city sooner than ever before. Somehow , I felt Melbourne was very similar to my city of Kolkata, and this ignited the desire to visit it even more.</div>
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There are several uncanny resemblances that I find between the so called 'most liveable city in the world' Melbourne , and my own 'city of Joy' . Both of these are homes of absolute sports fanatics , and house two of the world's most fabulous cricket stadiums , where people turn up in huge numbers to support their teams. Apart from this, I've been a tennis enthusiast , and spending a January evening cheering for the world's most famous faces <b><i>at the Australian Open in Rod Laver Arena</i></b> remains a wish . If possible, I'd also like to slip into an Australian Rules Football game at the MCG , and soak in the atmosphere there, sitting with raucous fans! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The illuminated Rod Laver Arena (image: <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-14/rod-laver-arena-lights-up/4464762" target="_blank">ABC</a>)</td></tr>
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Coming from a city that celebrates heritage , and is often referred to as a city of palaces, owing to an abundance of historical structures, it's natural that I'd fall for the wonderful celebration of modern architecture in and around Melbourne , that is manifest in the iconic buildings like the World Heritage site - enlisted Royal Exhibition Building and others like the Gothic Bank , St Paul's Cathedral , the Shrine of Remembrance . I'd want to have my eureka moment , when I look down at the cityscape from a transparent capsule jutting out of the <b><i>88th floor of Melbourne's highest building , the Eureka Skydeck </i></b> , which is also the highest structure in the Southern Hemisphere . On a date, I'd wait for my lady beneath the <b><i>giant clock at the Flinder's Street Railway station</i></b> ,and start off my romantic trail from the iconic landmark !! </div>
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We, as Bengalis are proud of our own culture , and our spirit of embracing art . Melbourne has something that entices any lover of art : it has the finest display of <b><i>street art </i></b>that is available anywhere on the globe. How I would love to join in the creations of the massive road canvases on <i><b>Hosier Lane</b></i> that brings alive mundane buildings by splashes of colouring sprays ! I would also look forward to viewing the <b><i>live performances</i></b> of the Australian Ballet and theatre performances in the cultural hubs of the city. Taking part in the <b><i>MOOMBA</i></b> , <b><i>Australia's largest free community festival </i></b>held annually , is also an immensely delightful prospect. </div>
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Kolkata has a rich history of its trams , and despite its slow movement , trams have continued plying in our city just because of our obsession with the sedate two-bogeyed transport , that never causes pollution . When I got to learn that <b><i>Melbourne has the world's largest network of tram line </i></b>, that spreads across a whopping 1773 tram stops on 28 routes over 250km of tracks, I was thrilled at the prospect of going sight seeing around the city on them, that too , for Free . My happy-go-lucky spirit would mingle with the gentle speed of a tram that loves to travel at its own leisurely pace , never caring to joust for more speed and compete with more fancied rivals in the road. Melbourne's trams are just the chariots that fuel my enthusiasm! </div>
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I also rejoice at the fact that Melbourne caters its bicyclists to <b><i>segregated cycle facilities </i></b>. The fitness freak in me would have a field time, riding cycles though the city on the dedicated lanes , without worrying about being hit . </div>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> We Indians love to share our anecdotes and experiences with new friends , over a simmering cuppa . There's nobody in Bengal who'll turn down an invitation to discuss sports or politics , while sipping a cup of tea or coffee. <b><i>Melbourne's cafe lined streets</i></b> would provide me with ample such opportunities to pick the brains of native citizens , and cause a cascade of cultural interaction with them. My outlook would definitely be enriched , by the intermingling of ideas. I'd also love to tuck into the seafood delicacies that would be on offer from the chefs at the various eateries around the city . Being a foodie, I know Melbourne wouldn't disappoint me on the culinary front. I would look forward to gorge on the delicacies on offer at the huge <b><i>Queen Victoria Market </i></b>, that is sort of a melting pot for all of Melbourne's shoppers !! And did I forget to mention about the wineries on the Yarra River valley ?? Yes, I would perch myself on a <b><i>Segway</i></b> and roam around the scores of wineries to choose from ! The wine taster in me would be having a gala time......hic !! </span></div>
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The chance to pamper ourselves come few and far between for us guys, but when one has the access to the services of the <b><i>Peninsula Hot Springs</i></b> , there's no reason why one should decline the offer of a refreshing spa in the natural water spring , that has mineral laden waters ! And how can I let go of a lengthy spell of fun at<i><b> Panny's Amazing World of Chocolate</b></i> , that houses every single of my childhood fantasies : from a fountain of chocolate , to a town made of chocolate ! I wouldn't care about the calorie count as I would drink up chocolate shots at one go! </div>
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The wildlife enthusiast in me would place the <b><i>Seal Concert</i></b> and the <b><i>Penguin Parade</i></b> on my priority list in the Melbourne itinerary! It isn't everyday that one would get to see a bevy of penguins walk out in their wobbly gaits to lay eggs, but Phillip Island gives us this luxury, and it is for this magnificent view that tourists flock to this place . Another lucrative prospect is the <b><i>Hot Air Balloon ride</i></b>, that would take us up several thousand feet above the ground! Sounds like an awesome place to propose your girl amidst the clouds , doesn't it?<br />
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Going on a drive on <b><i>the Great Ocean Road</i></b> will also be a must , as I would be itching to have the saline ocean breeze blowing across my face as I drive along the mountain road , that overlooks the ocean. It would be my tribute to the war returned soldiers who constructed this amazing road on the Victorian southern fringe . I'd also not miss viewing the <b><i>12 apostles</i></b>, which are limestone stacks jutting out near the coastline standing precariously, that are being degraded naturally by 2cm/year . Before one more of them falls apart, I must be visiting them !</div>
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Lastly , I would like to mention that Melbourne is <b><i>home of my elder sister</i></b> , who has been living here with her young family for the better part of the last decade. <i><b>Melbourne's cosmopolitan outlook</b></i> has helped her gel well with the society here. She also has an active part in the Indian cultural Association here, comprising of Indians who reside at the city , without ever feeling detached from homeland. What more can one ask from a city in a foreign land ? This is why I feel Melbourne has a heart and soul just like my own city of Kolkata . She exudes glamour , frenzy and charm , but she embraces all cultures and likes to wear her heart out on her sleeve, which is evident in the passion of the 90,831 turning up at the MCG for a match of cricket ! With the cricket World Cup just days away , I can feel the excitement palpable in and around Melbourne , where the<b><i> grand finale is slated to be held!</i></b> Me, the Kolkatan, another passionate city of the world, can't wait to visit the Victorian capital and revel in the joyride that is Melbourne! </div>
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for my readers: There's a contest for all of you! Tell me in the comments below, <span style="background-color: #f1f1ef; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b><i>Which of </i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2r0ptqQ1wBCimcqdfsBCks1YVaFDczLh" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0369a9;">these places</span> </a><i>would you want to visit in Melbourne and why ? </i><u>The best answer would win a fabulous gift voucher!</u></b></span><br />
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<a name='more'></a>Written as part of the " <a href="https://www.indiblogger.in/topic.php?topic=129" target="_blank">What's your reason for falling in love with Melbourne, the most livable city in the world</a>" contest by Tourism Victoria in association with Indiblogger . Find out more about Melbourne , <a href="http://www.visitmelbourne.com/India.aspx" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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p.s. : Thanks to all the visitors on my blog for the wonderful comments and your insights on Melbourne. It was a pleasure reading them , and finding out about individual prefernces. But, with his beautiful comment about the trams in Melbourne , the best answer goes to <b><u>Aritra Guha</u></b> !! Congratulations !! You'll be contacted soon for your prize!! </div>
Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-6850445605718084812014-12-26T23:30:00.001+05:302014-12-26T23:33:53.351+05:30Stubble Trouble !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781);"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">As the sole medical officer of the health unit I head, I have the liberty to run my office as I wish . Usually , my office is a peaceful place, apart from the occasional visits to my office by my superior , but those are few and far between . My superior is the executive medical officer, who's known as a hard taskmaster , a strict no-nonsense kind of a fellow. People tried their level best to not irritate him, and I was no exception . </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781);"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> However, sometime last year, we all got to know that the executive was going on a prolonged leave . That meant , for three long weeks, our weekly meetings at his office won't be held. I was delighted. With no official meetings in weeks, I was relaxed . I started going to office without a worry in the world . I decided, this was the time to try out my new stubble look ! </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781);"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> I gave up shaving to grow the foliage in my face . I felt I was going to look macho, in the new looks! Day by day, the stubble made its way across the breadth of my face . One or two of my staffs cast curious glances, but none questioned me. I shoved my razors and shaving cream away. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781);"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> Two weeks on, a car came to a halt in front of my office, and the familiar sound of boot made its way towards me. I sensed trouble. Sure enough , in strode my executive , without prior notice , and sending my preconceived notions of his staying out of station for at least a week more , out of the window ! He took one look at me, and was aghast ! " impressive, huh? " , he asked in a voice moulded with sarcasm . " looking smart , my boy ! " I returned him a smile......a nervous smile . He checked on all the office registers and files , all the while glancing at me , while I kept on admiring the furniture around, eager to avoid his direct eye-contact. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781);"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> When he was done at last , the Executive started to take his leave. I too rose with him, to escort him till my chamber door, half-relieved that he hadn't made a huge fuss of my scrawny beard . Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks , turned to look at me directly, and said , " I had to come back earlier than scheduled , and the Head Office had asked me to nominate two of my most efficient doctors for a special promotion next month. You know, I had almost sent across your name , but I'm thankful now that I didn't send it, and myself checked in you ! With your current appearance , it would have been a blunder on my part . "</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781);"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> I stopped dead in my tracks . As the executive got in his car , I looked at him . He put out his head , curtly said , " Prepare for the next season , Titas ! " and left . I was dumbfounded. My little stunt with a stubble just cost me a reasonable promotion ! </span></span></span></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">This post is a part of #WillYouShave activity at <a href="http://www.blogadda.com/" style="color: #b85b5a; text-decoration: none;" title="BlogAdda">BlogAdda</a> in association with <a href="http://www.flipkart.com/gillette" style="color: #b85b5a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Gillette">Gillette</a></em></div>
Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-48651577747494981552014-12-21T22:59:00.004+05:302014-12-21T23:35:44.438+05:30Who denies my right of Passion play??<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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But being the novice that she was, she didn't know what to do ......<i><b>she had never even held the hand of a guy before, let alone being in bed</b></i> . The interaction with her spouse was clumsy , uneasy , and both lay in bed , unsure of what to do. The guy didn't know how to touch a girl whom she didn't know; the girl was lost in thoughts as to what to expect. Everyone in her family had arranged marriages , as their extremely conservative household was dead against love marriage . It was, as if, <i><b>getting into bed with a stranger first up , was perfectly normal, while marrying someone of choice was akin to sacrilege.</b></i></div>
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She felt awkward, she felt angry .......she did not see the good results that her mother had claimed she would receive, if she never went into 'bad' things like roaming in parks like young couples do. Who was this person with whom she was going to share her most precious belonging - her body? He had a <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">few degrees at renowned institutions, but what</span> did he do to earn her body ? <b><i>Why had her parents given her the licence to sleep with a guy whom she had barely managed to know , when the same people had vehemently opposed any male friendship that had developed during the course of her student days?</i></b> <b><i>Wasn't this hypocrisy - as their ploy to 'protect' her from unknown evils contradicted their decision to marry her off to somebody who was a stranger ? </i></b></div>
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She fell asleep. And in the morning, it was the routine of trying to take the refuge of 'blushing' , to avoid the questions that were difficult to answer. </div>
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But why should we get into bed with the women of our lives , for the first ever time , only after marriage ? What is wrong if we indulge in pre-marital sex? We've been brought up throughout our lives, preparing for exams for months . <b><i>Why then , do we have to sit for the ultimate physical examination, without getting to rehearse it ever before?</i></b> </div>
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We as Indians are too preoccupied with the syndrome of "What-Others-Think". In a country where Godmen take women into their den to force them into nefarious activities in the name of the Lord, it is deplorable that parents detest a relationship that a girl gets into. The same parents might take their daughters to these Godmen, but would feel severely aggrieved if they discover a guy's photos in their girls' cellphones . So pre marital sex is unthinkable . A girl's body is the citadel, which needs to be protected ,till she's married off to somebody . It doesn't matter what the girl feels, or wants .....in our patriarchal society , what counts is the dad's wish to marry her daughter off with a groom from a family of repute . </div>
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Somehow, we are still regressive enough to consider sex as a taboo. <b><i>Nobody wants to believe or say that sex is an essential part of every human being's life and sexual compatibility is an absolutely essential</i></b><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">. Our forefathers wrote the Kamasutra , giving attention to all the intricate details of lovemaking . I don't imply that sex should be the only criteria that goes into building a relationship , but it is definitely an integral part of a happy relationship . That's why many people, after getting married , discover that they are never satisfied , and this unhappiness spills onto the conjugal life too. </span></div>
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In my opinion, pre-marital sex in a relationship can help establish the couple's bonds even more. On the other hand, if they are not really happy , it can compel them to ask of themselves whether they can continue with the relationship forward in the long term. There's absolutely no point in getting into a marriage ceremony with huge fanfare, then discovering that the couple don't really enjoy each other in bed. <b>The general understanding that society wants to make us believe is that two people will get married, develop a relationship, and the 'sex' part will automatically be there. </b>While I don't rule out this scenario , which I would like to believe , happens in most successful arranged marriages, I feel , it is not the case in an overwhelmingly large number of couples. One cannot overlook the pleasure element of sex, for some mundane activity that is part of the daily 'chores' of a married couple. No , never ! Great sex makes people happy; marriage has no connection to the satisfaction aspect. </div>
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The sexual liberation of the modern age had never quite made its mark in India previously, and so, people were not likely to open up about their sex lives. Therefore, many couples have continued in their marriages , despite not being happy at all, by accepting their way of life. This has been the issue with many women, who would not dare speak up about her sexual dissatisfaction . Naturally, generations have grown up under the notion that matters involving sex should never be discussed....its a bad thing to do .<b><i> Marriage is actually the legal consummation of sex , but sadly enough , sex itself, and the partners' compatibility with each other is the most ignored part.</i></b></div>
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With more women becoming independent, and the disparity amongst men and women getting wiped out progressively , the customs that were existent amongst our older generations are gradually ceasing to exist. Younger generation are more open to sex , and they feel it's a necessity . The logical reasoning is, when two people are in love, why should they hold back , if they want to hit the sack together? In any case, human beings are probably the only living organisms who have intercourse for recreation ; to all other animals, it is a necessity for reproduction only. Today's generation are hardworking professionals, reeling under pressure from all aspects , and so, recreation to them is of utmost importance. We have young couples , staying in different cities, getting to meet only on weekends or once a month. Who can deny them their right to have a session of sex that acts as a tremendous stress buster by releasing hormones ?? Can anyone ask them to defer their activities till they tie the knot? No , nobody can . It's their lives they are living , and nobody needs to point fingers at a couple engaging in consensual sex.</div>
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The educated girl of today is not worried about having to preserve her virginity for the time she ties the knot : <b><i>she is bold, confident and not concerned about holding herself up as an epitome of purity on the altar of marriage</i></b> . Rather than getting bogged down about fictitious prophecies of misfortune if she sleeps with the man of her choice before marriage, she enjoys her relationship and doesn't hold back . Unfortunately,the idea of 'living-in' is too difficult to bear for many of our parents......they feel their children would be committing a huge sin , and become the talking point of gossip that would ruin their family's social status . </div>
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Girls have the concept of holiness of virginity hammered into their brains to such an extent that they are mortified of losing it . The inhibitions are so great, that many who have gone ahead in a relationship and taken to action between the sheets , do suffer from guilty conscience, as if they have committed some grave errors. Even guys are not necessarily exempt from such premonitions. Parents rebuke guys , and they are vilified if they come to know their son has 'kissed' his girlfriend . While this is unbelievable , it is well imaginable how they would react if they know their son actually had sex !</div>
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There is some thinking that is behind this fear about pre-marital sex. Mostly since girls are compromised, parents fear that the girls would commit an error and may regret it later , if the guy cheats on her . Since the <b><i>virginity of the girl seems to be the holy grail </i></b>, guys can get into blackmailing her , and malign her. To add to the problems, in this age of technology, there is the dread of sextapes , and home made porn . These are real problems , but this cannot undermine the fact that real couples in love do get ostracised for their sexual acts. <b><i>What does the society wants us to believe in ? </i></b><i><b>Does it want us to indulge in platonic love ? Does it expect us to merely stare at each other and exchange shy smiles? When the souls are young,and the hormones running high, one cannot simply expect abstinence from physical intimacy.</b> </i></div>
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With average age of marriage going up now due to more attention to building careers , the old concepts of losing virginity only after marriage are redundant . Our previous generations married off within their early twenties , and in the ones prior to them,the females barely completed their teenage before they were married off. On an average, puberty sets in around 12-13 years of age . So, the period of 'compulsory waiting' before one got sexually active was not more than 9-10 years in the past .</div>
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At present , if one needs to follow what had been taught to us, this would mean , young men and women would abstain from having sex for 15/16 years at least after attaining sexual maturity . This is a ridiculous thought . The best years in a person's life are in the twenties , when the mind is fresh, and fitness levels are at their peak too. Losing one's virginity at 35 years of age isn't the same as doing that at 25 . For a couple to enjoy their sexual life , physical fitness is of paramount importance . However, <b><i>the controllers of our society would like to get us married off at an early age perhaps , just because , they don't want to hear , we are doing what needs to be 'rightfully' done only after marriage </i></b>.</div>
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People these days are more aware about the problems associated with sexual relationships , and so , the general usage of protective measures to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases is quite high. Today's women are not afraid to go and buy Emergency Contraceptive Pills , and this has indeed been a change in society that has gone hand in hand with women empowerment. Whilst regular consumption of these pills is not safe enough, the pills are indeed a safeguard to calm the anxious minds after a session of unbridled passion. </div>
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<b><i> So, here I am, raising my hand wholeheartedly in support of sexual freedom . </i></b> Branding pre-marital sex as taboo should cease to become an issue , and should not be discriminated against . Rather , it should be a tool to help young people in love get closer together . Moral policing and raising ethical questions should not deter those wanting to savour the pinnacle of a loving relationship . There are many real issues in the society that needs to be addressed- real problems that cause trauma to life and property. Attention and efforts should be directed there, rather than trying to subdue the beautiful emotion of love that inevitably culminates in sex ! <i><b>From time immemorial,sex has been the ultimate source of pleasure for two souls in love , and will continue to remain so ---- hence, assigning a temporal tag to it by declaring pre-marital sex as a social crime is utterly illogical ! </b></i></div>
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<a name='more'></a><i>Written as part of the <b>Yes or No to Pre-Marital Sex </b>campaign by Poonam Uppal, whose new book <b>The Love Goddess Unravels! </b>is up for grabs <a href="http://www.flipkart.com/passionaate-gospel-true-love-mystical-story-english/p/itmd9ybcf9qm7sca?pid=9788192105109&ref=665a3878-5c80-4a50-b0a3-c20af207cfd7&srno=t_1&otracker=from-search&query=poonaam+uppal+" target="_blank">here</a>. The campaign is in association with Indiblogger.</i></div>
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Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-57659648683576065252014-12-18T21:59:00.002+05:302014-12-18T22:19:05.115+05:30Trips with My Kids ....Looking ahead!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> "We'll wake up tomorrow at 4:55 AM, son! Then we'll be off to see something you've never seen before! ",Dad had told me on our Darjiling trip. I was indignant...... It was too early to wake up, when on a vacation, and I demanded that I be allowed to sleep. The defiant 6 year old in me hated it that without school or studies, I would need to be up so early. But Dad had a glint in his eyes, and I realised it meant something special. Indeed it was..... Sunrise from Tiger Hill was the most scintillating piece of nature's magnificence that I remember from my childhood! Wrapped in woollen from head to toe, I was amazed at the giant color palette that became of the sky as the sun made its way up from behind the mountains. Like all tourists, I had clapped in glee and my mum and dad were elated, seeing that their son had appreciated the beautiful scenery they had brought him to see!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> Now that I've reached an age reasonable to be thinking of a family of my own, I remember vividly, how, I was brought up by my parents, with three vacations a year. I feel, I should also look forward to present my kids with such opportunities when the time arrives in the near future! I would gladly aid my kids on their ventures to make sand castles on sea beaches, aiding them with their little spades to dig up sand. I would play the role of a log of wood and ask my kids to cover me fully with sand, quickly, before the next splash of sea water wipes all of it away! I would join them in their efforts to collect sea shells on sea shore, early morning.....guiding them on how to select the beautifully patterned shells and save them! Seeing them frolicking in the waters of the sea would fill me with immense delight and I would click the pictures, to preserve their childhood forever, so that one day, they can see, how they were, in their childhood...... just as my dad had preserved my playful past through his photographs! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> Taking my kids to see the Sunrise from Tiger Hill would certainly rank above all others in my places-to-take-my-kids list! My dad had infused in me a spirit of adventure by taking me for hiking trips from a very early age, and I want to instil the same spirit in my kids, so that they take up Rock climbing and River Crossing too. I would not be a Dad who would pester the kids to be studying all the time..... I would rather have them taken out on frequent trips, long or short, so that they develop the outlook to savour nature and respect it! While on trips, they would relax like me, in hammocks, slung between two trees at our holiday resorts, and note down their experiences in their own words,which I would read, appreciate and provide words of encouragement! Their little travel diaries would become loaded with their experiences, so that they can delve into their past, from time to time, and feel proud, that they indeed managed to have an eventful childhood!!</span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><i>Written as part of the Teddy Travelogues contest in association with Indiblogger. Do visit <a href="http://membership.clubmahindra.com/TeddyTravelogues/index.html." target="_blank">this link</a> , and find out more about Clubmahindra. </i></div>
Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-21340671399926687462014-12-15T19:32:00.003+05:302014-12-15T19:32:33.401+05:30Safety Begins with Self : a take on road safety issues in India <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> One day, sometime in October 2002 , I was exposed to an altogether new episode of driving in India. I don't know whether to call it 'rash' driving , or 'mad' driving .....because either way, it was an insane experience , being driven by a genius of a driver , who perhaps had chosen a wrong platform to display his skills. He was the driver of an SUV that drove our tourist party of eight , from Lava Lolegaon to Kalimpong , on hill roads more convoluted than an entangled piece of wired headphone. As a 15 year old, I remember spending the entire journey , with my heart in my mouth , sitting beside the driver , staring at the speedometer once , and the breathtaking scenery on the other . Never did our driver slow down the SUV : at hair pin bends , he was at 30 Kph , while on stretches that afforded a little more length, he was consistently above 70 Kph...........and our road had a steep hill on one side, and 1000 feet deep gorge of the Tista River on the other ! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> When my Dad asked him what exactly he was trying to do, he calmly replied, " Sir! This is the proper way to drive on the hills ! I'm sticking to my lane,driving alright, no ?? " When Dad further said , " you might be correct , but the drivers of cars coming from the other side might commit a mistake ! " To this , he had said, " But that is not my concern ,right? I'm not driving wrongly ! Trust me , I know my job .....you people from the plains are too afraid ! " There was no further point in arguing with him , but to be honest , we reached our destination , without even a single untoward incident , which was unthinkable in such a difficult road , that had danger all along . Our driver was definitely brilliant , and he was proud of his skills , but even after 12 years , I fail to comprehend why didn't he have the good sense to be a little more cautious ?? Or was it that he was incredibly blessed with driving skills and good fortune ? I'm reminded of his antics more so when on flat , plain land ,on roads as smooth as blocks of marble , people suffer from horrendous accidents , mostly due to human errors . It doesn't pay to be careless , specially when we're on the roads with high velocity automobiles all around, and not everyone can have superlative driving skills and good luck . So why flirt with danger ? Why not stay on the safe side of the law , and at least hold up one's own end ? Traffic rules are not exactly Hebrew , and even illiterate people can understand the signs .......but what we fail to understand is that the laws in places are for our own protection only , and not cooked up by the Traffic Law Enforcement to extract fines from our side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> One of the major curses of civilisation is <i><b>Drunk Driving</b></i> . With every millilitre of alcohol that invades our bloodstream , our consciousness and decision taking abilities are suppressed just that extra bit more . It doesn't take my knowledge of medicine to know this ; everybody is aware of it , but good sense fails to prevail just when it matters . Most people cannot pass the chance to show off bravado at the wheels , and this trait takes a turn for the worse , when 'high' on highways , people delay that fraction of a second due to impaired reflexes , leading to grievous injuries or loss of life. The most unfortunate scenario arises when a harmless civilian or a law-abiding driver on the same road suffers from fatalities owing to the callousness of the drunk driver. The amount of awareness drives currently in India on drunk driving is appreciable , but needs to be maintained . Also , our officers-on-duty need to perform Breath alcohol analyser tests to determine the levels of drunkenness , and consequently , impose hefty fines for the culprits . There needs to be a register for repeat offenders , so that they can be slapped with higher sanctions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Seat belt and helmets are two of the best devices that human beings have made to counter case fatalities due to errors . But we , as individuals get into an issue of ego , when asked to wear these devices . Many motorists consider wearing protective gears akin to an insult to their 'extraordinary driving skills' , as everyone nurtures an inner Lewis Hamilton or Sebastian Vettel ! Even though events like the NSDF has <b><i>increased the awareness of wearing seat belts by 126%</i></b> , there are 'wise' drivers , who simply place the seat belts across their bodies , without fastening them , so that they are not fined by the traffic guards . Many of my friends , who are avid bikers, hate wearing the helmets , because they say , the air rushing across the face gives them a kick, when they ride......but the helmet robs them of this kick! It has been beyond my wits to explain them , that not wearing a helmet can get them 'kicked' out of the world forever! In hospital , while on duty on Orthopaedics emergency , most cases come from motorbike accidents ....and our seniors used to joke that bikers provide bread and butter to orthopaedic surgeons! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Traffic sergeants can do random checks on people who they suspect having just placed the seat belts across their bodies . As for not wearing helmets , sanctions are already in place , but many times, the culprits take the help of by-lanes and alleys instead of the main roads, to avoid getting caught ! I would suggest random checks at the smaller roads by the traffic guards , to bring more offenders to book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I don't know about the scenario in other parts of the country , but in Kolkata , casualties due to two private buses racing each other on the same route , are rampant. This occurs , as the helpers and drivers vouch for picking up more passengers per trip , and try to overtake each other , so that they are entitled to a higher commission , since their payments are based on passenger count. This menace has been long known in Kolkata , but the private bus owners turn a blind eye to the matter , as everyone looks after personal gains. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Fixing a payment for each trip for the driver and helpers , irrespective of the number of passengers , should be able to bring down the number of offences . Also, if the on-duty traffic sergeants see such a scenario, they should communicate with other sergeants and penalise both the guilty parties , before an innocent bystander is run over .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Most people turn blind on seeing signs like "No Horn Please" or "No Parking" , and inevitably , in India , we'd find excessive car sounds where such a symbol is in place , or a vehicle being parked across a No Parking sign . These are often petty issues to the ones committing it. Many a time , a person sees a shop , and parks his car in front of it , to buy something , while keeping the engine running . Even though the road apparently looks empty while he's getting off, his mental time calculation is way off the mark , and by the time he has completed taking his change from the shopkeeper, there's a traffic snarl , with aggrieved motorists cursing from all directions , due to the car blocking a narrow road. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Another seemingly trivial rule , that can save a lot of trouble , is not opening the door on the wrong side of the road . Once we reach our destination, we are in perennial hurry to get down , and so, forgetting the cardinal rule, we open the door on the road side , inadvertently sending a cyclist coming from behind flying across the road by the sudden collision . Often , the issue is minor, but if misfortune strikes, then the person can fall straight onto the path of another approaching vehicle . This is an etiquette that every car driver should always keep in mind , because nobody has the right to trouble another individual due to carelessness. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2J9B07YhcZEa-9zxFrUnsOFK3-wPcXpm-XNrQlPROGeiROkw2Dz_GLBFOeL8BvL98nnV8X_uEEU1uhYUeojYqr3hZ_jQC3n-qWMiu8yqjHbOpmc6K_Ot7txs6wwzXluFc2Dd-hZUnpFI/s1600/slideshow4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2J9B07YhcZEa-9zxFrUnsOFK3-wPcXpm-XNrQlPROGeiROkw2Dz_GLBFOeL8BvL98nnV8X_uEEU1uhYUeojYqr3hZ_jQC3n-qWMiu8yqjHbOpmc6K_Ot7txs6wwzXluFc2Dd-hZUnpFI/s1600/slideshow4.jpg" height="200" width="197" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.298039); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Hands free mobile devices were invented to make it easier for people to communicate that they were on road, driving a car......and not to discuss an entire office project while on it. So , while phone car kits are welcome, focussing on a discussion is not , as the concentration shifts from what's on the road , to what's on the mind. We've also seen people bending their necks to insane angles to wedge a phone between the face and the shoulder , while driving a car or a bike . We need to remember , a phone call might get life's connection disconnected forever. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> People have all sorts of superstitions about their cars, they follow different rituals , and hang specific items inside the cars to ward off bad luck. But It doesn't take a lot to obey rules, and it certainly means a lot if one believes that </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>Road Safety Begins With Me</i></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> ! Which brings me back to that hill driver in 2002 , who believed he followed all the rules, but lacked some common sense.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Before pointing fingers at others for committing errors , we should register in our brains the knowledge imparted from sensitising drives like the NSDF , that has gone all out to make <i>one city safe at a time</i>. We at Kolkata , would certainly like to become a part of the <i>Blue Citizenship </i>of Nissan and have first hand experience of this venture , and the NSDF should definitely be held in this part of India to make more people aware of the safety protocols to be followed while on the road. </span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><i>Written as part of the <span style="color: red;"><b>Nissan Safety Driving Forum</b></span> nationwide road-safety campaign , in association with Indiblogger . You can find out more about the campaign, that reinforces the thinking of <b><span style="color: red;">Safety Begins With Me</span></b> <a href="https://www.nissan.in/innovation/NSDF.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></div>
Titashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797795011093954407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500115683549030584.post-73094688872793799512014-12-14T09:43:00.003+05:302014-12-14T10:52:38.818+05:30When I Conquered Fear<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.298039); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> As the youngest participant of the camping lot, I was exempt from the arduous river crossing session , that was meant to be a test of skill, resilience , courage and fitness. It was only the second year of my yearly adventure camping outings , in the Chhotanagpur plateau region , in the early years of the past decade . As one of the Instructor showed us how to cross a river , while hanging upside down from a rope, slung across a river running below, we stood , in awe ! Our instructors were masters at teaching us these skills, themselves being veterans of many expeditions that put one's life on balance . Even though the river below was not hundreds of feet beneath us, still, it was quite some distance below, and staring down at the rocky bed of the river with the water running at high speed did give us an eerie feeling . A few of my seniors looked wary of the situation , they exchanged nervous glances with each other . I was looking at each of them , trying to gauge , how they were feeling , as they were about to undertake one of the most challenging tasks of their camping curriculum . </span><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.298039); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">
There were twelve of us in the group , with three instructors , who were shouting out directions as to what we were supposed to do , and how we should cross our legs along the rope , while not jabbing at the rope with our hands. Six of the seniors had to undertake the the session as part of their protocol to graduate to the next level of campers , but after about an hour or so , only two of them had managed to cross over , with almighty shrieks, fearful swinging in the rope. It was evident that even after thorough preparations on mock drills, they had panicked after being slung across the rope , and had acted like amateurs . The instructors were cross, since they felt their tutelage had not been heeded . The third senior went ahead , and slung on the rope , and crossed the river without much fuss , even though his legs had dangled from the rope once. However , he was appreciated for his efforts . The three <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">remaining candidates had fear written large across their faces . It didn't look as if they were willing to do the task at all, and the instructors were discussing calling off the rest of the drill, when I stepped ahead ,and shouted , " Sir, I am up next!" </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Everyone around was shocked . Even though I had made a name for myself by my rock climbing skills in only my second year , this was entirely different. My Teammates looked anxious , the seniors had their jaws dropped . However, in my mind, I was throroughly replaying the mock drills at our campsite , where I had crossed the rope between two trees , with the instructors shouting out the steps . I felt a sudden surge of confidence , as I realised if I could remember my training , and not try to look down below over my shoulders , this would be similar to my training , only with a longer course . </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> As the instructors on the other side of the river gave the thumbs up, I was fitted onto my harness , the protective rope was fastened and the carabiner attached , by my instructor on this side . I pulled on my helmet , donned my gloves , and was ready for action . " Good luck boy , there's nothing to fear and we're all here .......GO!" He hauled me up onto the rope, fastened my carabiner onto it and let go . I held the rope tightly , swung my legs across and quickly moved ahead . The initial awkwardness amongst my peers after I volunteered for the task , now gave way to whoops and cheers from everyone around , and I felt the adrenaline pumping . </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> The first real jolt came as I crossed the level of land and felt the breeze along the river right across my face. It was cold , and I realised that I was now out on my own , with nobody nearby . My mind was trying to focus , onto what I should do , when I felt the rope swaying vigorously . This was not what my training had got me ......this was real vigorous swaying , which was accentuated with my swift crossing onto the first one-thirds of the cross. " Slow down", I told myself , in order to soothe the nerves , " slow down ", I again told myself . The fingers were beginning to ache , and my shoulder muscles felt the strain . In an effort to get my feet going once again, I lost my grip on the rope in one leg , and instantly felt I would fall. So I kicked my loose foot to catch the rope , and in my efforts , the rope missed my trouser , and went beneath it , to now hinge me on the skin below my socks . There was no apparent trouble then , but just as I crossed a few more feet across , I felt the pain that was evident on the friction of the rope on my shin . I clenched my teeth , and surged ahead . There was no scope of me to adjust my feet now , as I realised I was midway through my cross , and the rope had descended its farthest . </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> " There was no need for doing this .....you got yourself into this trouble by your cockiness ", a voice was cursing me within my head , as I hung still, to lessen the strain on my aching muscles a little and catch my breath . The voices of my two instructors on this side were faintly audible , " Come on Boy , come on .....bravo boy! " I was weary , but this got the energy flowing right across . I gritted my teeth , opened my eyes once again , and pulled ahead . The rope was rising once more , and I understood that I had nearly done it . The friction point on my leg was now burning , but I hadn't yet yelled out in fear , so I decided that I would give it my all , in this last leg of the haul , and not undo the good work . </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> I pulled ahead , with the instructors' voices now ringing closer than ever , and in the final few moments , shut my eyes , clenched my hands , and tried to work furiously on the rope , and before long, my shoulder had been touched comfortingly by one of the instructors . They hauled me off the rope , unfastened my carabiner , and put me on the ground . I was exhausted, my hands had gone numb .......and for the first few seconds , my brain failed to register the exultation of my peers from across the river . Then it dawned ........I had managed to conquer fears , and crossed an extremely difficult course , without giving myself away to panic! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> It was a day of extreme satisfaction for me , and although the point where the rope grazed me on my leg had a bad bruise, the pain was considerably lessened by the appreciation and adulation I received !! The task was by far one of the most thrilling memories of my life , and held me in good stead whenever I dreaded something in future. </span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><i>Written as part of the Rise Above Fear campaign by Mountain Dew India , in association with Indiblogger. Find out more about them on their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mountaindewindia" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> , and check out their new TVC here :</i><br />
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