The Lights Of Hope...

Two more days to go and September would also end. This year has been a roller coaster ride for me for sure. September was no less. Quite a few unexpected things happened to my family & me. Loss of precious assets, wear & tear of several favorite accessories all in one go, a minor accident, illness of a family member to nane a few.

Especially after the last two, I kept thinking what else could go wrong? But over the weekend that is just passing by, I also realized that wherever I went, I saw these beautiful lights around me and these made me smile for sure.

I thought that while the going was not good, it wasn't all that bad either. September even had some memorable moments for me. I got to meet my hotelier friends after ages....got the news that a dear friend of mine would be changing jobs for good... woke up each day to the smiles & antics of my darling niece...got lovely gifts on daughter's day and gave family members a nice surprise too...the guy whose employee banged my car took care of the repair expenses etc etc.

When i reminisced, I realized that the incidents of this month symbolized the festival lights. On the darkest of the days, these lights represent hope, happiness and brightness in our lives. September showed me that facet. For everything that went wrong, something also became right or got corrected.

As I drove back yesterday night, I kept looking at these lights & felt hopeful. All's well that ends well. As the month culminates & the new one is just round the corner, I can sense the change in the air, the mood of the people around & myself too.

The lights of hope are ready to welcome the festival season. The joy is just round the corner and it can't wait to engulf us in its intoxicating exuberance.

May all of you be touched by these lights of hope and have a great year ahead.

Bless you all...

Shaken & Stirred...

For those of you who might be thinking that this post is about Martini...it's not.

Well this is about how a supposedly uneventful day of mine got a jolt and took a turn I had not foreseen. Life had been going on at a pace that had somewhat become mundane. And thus thought the one above… lets undo the status quo.

 Well I won’t get into the theatrics of what happened. In simple words…I got banged and I got banged hard. Actually, it was my car that got banged & that too by a dumper.

The angry piece of machine came charging at my car & despite my attempt to swerve away, the collision happened. As it rammed through the fender & the bumper, the crackling sound made me skip many heartbeats.

The dumper was so close to me that the door could not be opened & for few minutes the car got tangled with the mean machine. It took a lot of maneuvering to detangle. I almost thought that this is it and I would go away like the bumper did.

But in all of this chaos, I was fine. Safe, unhurt… I was fine.

What ensued for next few minutes was the crazy public gathering to see what was happening, cops intervening, a howling dumper driver jumping on my head & me trying to understand what just happened.

The owner of the dumper reached in some time and without any questioning, offered to pay for the damages. He sent across one of his employees along with my car for repair as well. His employee paid for the damages not getting covered through insurance, then & there.

Finally, the madness came to an end. Am happy to come out of all of this unscathed, but how do I really feel?

Shaken & stirred…

As You Turn 8...

A little birdie told me that you crossed the 8 months mark, 2 days back. So here is this write up just for you, though a little late but by chance & not by choice.

It still feels like yesterday that you suddenly sauntered into our lives and brightened the wintry mornings. And life has changed for good. Everyone whose lives you have touched can't stop thinking about you and that thought brings a smile to their faces.

You look around with your chirpy glee and everyone comes running to you, smitten by your charm. For us, the day begins with you and we don't want it to end lest you will grow up by a day.

Has anyone told you that you are magical?

You've brought life to your grandma's aging & ailing knees. You made the workaholic in me to stop thinking about work all the time. Your ma only has eyes for you. Last but not the least, your dada is crazily crazy & protective about you. I mean he is not letting me get your ears pierced...that's so unfair.

Neverthless, none of us are complaining coz we all are busy soaking in your charm every minute of the day. As you experience your many firsts, you are weaving beautiful memories for us...

How can we forget the first date with lemon or the coconut or your favorite "Mitthi - the homeopathic meds for teething" or the chicken leg piece & the list goes on.

It will take you a little more time to be able to read what has been written about you but whenever you get to see this, you should know that you are truly loved by all of us my dear. You make each of our days which are usually filled with chores and never ending madness. It's you who brings us the much needed sanctity. It's your erstwhile toothless smile & the current two teeth chuckle that makes our world a better place. It's you who makes me run back home from work hoping I might be lucky and you would be awake at 2 or 3 in the morning. And guess what.... I do get lucky at times. Nothing can match the sleepy smiles that you give when the angels are playing with you in your sleep.

I can go on & on and still I won't be short of words to describe how you have changed our lives. So all I will do is shut up.

Our dear, darling Pinka, Pinku, Mana Singh, Cheeky, Kittyparoo, Samaira, Kaddu, Nona .....here's wishing you a happy 8th month. My darling button, may God shower you with all the happiness that we can ever think of.

Signing off with loads of cuddles n tickles...See you in a few hours...