'Person'ification

I was going through some guys' profiles on a matrimonial site when I came across this:

"I am person who would like to meet the person who likes me in person and talk to that person because I believe all this is just a way of expressing the actual person can be known only if u meet that person."

Too much of 'person'ification? Can some person please tell me what this person wants to say?
_____________________________________________________________

Coincidence! Coincidence!

I received a forward on the same matter, which I am Ctrl+C and Ctrl+Ving here:

From guys' profiles on matrimonial sites:

Hello To Viewers My Name is Shekhar , I am single i don't have female, If anyone want to Marie to me u can visit to my home. I am not a good education but i working all field in bangalroe.. if u like me u welcome to my heart...when ever u want to meet pls visit my resident or send u letter.. Thanks yours Regards Shekhar
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i want very simple girl. from brahmin educated family from orissa state she is also know about RAMAYAN, GEETA BHAGABATA, and other homework(Homework?)
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Wants a woman who knows me better and can adjust with me forever. she may never create any difficulties in my life or her life by which the entire life can run smoothly. thank you (The principle of running life smoothly was never so easy!)
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she should be good looking and should have a service. she Should have one brother and one sister. she should be educated.(ain't it unique !! 1 brother 1 sister criteria !)
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I am a happy-go-lucky kind of person. Enjoys every moments of life. I love to make friendship. Because friendship is a first step of love. I am looking for my dreamgirl who will love me more than i. Because i love myself a lot. If u think that is u then why to late come on ........hold my hand forever !!!(The dilwale dulhaniya effect)
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i am simple boy.I have lot of problem in my life because of my luck now i am looking one gal she care me and love me lot lot lot(I don't know why but this is one of my favorites)
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My wife should be as 'Shivani' as in Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki and as Tanwerr as in KSBKBT......(Ok I haven't seen these soaps but I am sure he must be demanding too much,ain't he?)
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i want a girl with no drinks if she wants she can wear jeans in house but while stepping out of house she should give respect to our cast(by not wearing her jeans? Wat the hell...)
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I AM A GOOD LOKING BOY,WHO HAS THE CAPABILITY TO MAKE ANY BODY TO LOUGH.I BELIEVE IN GOD AND ACCORDING TO ME FRIENDS ARE THE REAL MESSENGER OF GOD. THE 3 THINGS I AM LOOKING FROM A GIRL ,THEY ARE 1.THEY MUST BELIEVE IN GOD.2. THEY HAVE TO LIKE MY PROFFESION AND THEY SHOULD NOT GET BORED WITH ME WHEN I WILL TRY TO MAKE THEM LOUGH. (all of us are loughing{laughing})
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whatever she may be but she should feel that she is going to be someone bride and she must think of the future life if she is too like this she would be called the woman of the lamp (I am clueless, I feel so lost. Can anyone tell me what this boy wants?)
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i love my patner i marriage the patner ok i search my patner and i love thepatner ok thik hai the patner has a graduate ok(I am again clueless but I liked the use of "ok". The person is suffering from "Ok-syndrome")
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HI IAM VERY COOL NUATHER OK MY HOBBY IS SEE T.V AND NEWS OK I HAVE 1 CAR AND 1 BONWL OK MY MOTHER ALSO GOOD OK MY FARUET WORLD IS OK (the "ok syndrome" again)
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I am pran my family history my two brother two sister and Father&mother sister complity marred(somebody please explain how to get married 'completely'?)
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i am very simpel and hanest. i have three sister one brother and parent. iam doing postal sarvice and tailor master my original resdence at kalahandi diste naw iam staing at rayagada dist. (actually what is this guy doing? Postal service or tailor??)
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my name is muhamad and i am unmarried. pleaes you marrige me pleaes pleaes pleaes pleaes pleaes pleaes pleaes(height of desperation! )
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Iwant one girl who love me or my mother. she love me heartly or she have a frank she's skin colour 'normal'not a black or not a whitey. I Think the main think is heart if your heart is beautiful then you are beautiful. but i am not a handsome guy or not a good looking. but my Mom say that Iam a good guy. My father already expired . THE CHOICE IS YOUR. bye bye.(uttama purushan)
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iam kanan. i do owo businas.one sistar.he was marred.(No comments)
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I AM LITTLE FAIR INDIAN COLOUR. I DON'T HAVE ANY HABIT. (maybe the poor guy meant BAD habits)
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hello i am a good charactarised man. i want to run my life happily.idivorced my first wife.her charactor is not good'. i expect the good minded and clean habits girl who may be in the same caste or other caste accepted ...(but credit cards not accepted..???)
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my colour is black,but my heart is white.i like social service(Zebra..???)
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i'm looking out for who lives in bombay , girl simple who trust me lot should be roman catholic, LOVE ME ONLY. (Now that criterion is a must, isn't it?)
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to be married on jan-2006. working woman perferable (this guy has fixed the marriage date too! But he is yet to find a bride. I wish him best of luck on behalf of all of us. I am sure he will get one soon.)
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i would like a beautyfull girl. and i do not want her any treasure. because girl is the maharani.(Now she is going to be a lucky girl! Any takers?)
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ssc failed three times and worked with privated ltd company which not paying salary at present.(Any takers again?)

Thollai

DISCLAIMER: This post is solely for the purpose of fun. No offence meant to any one.

On a certain day, at 5.30 P.M.

Mom: Lalita, innuma ready agalai? Kalyanam mudhinjathuku apparama kelambaporeya?
Lalita: Nee poittu vaa, ma. Naan varalai...
Mom: Onnakaga dhaan indhu kalyanathuku poharom di. Nee vandhe aganum.
(Lalita, getting the hint of what is to take place at the kalyanam, rolls her eyes in desperation.)
Lalita: Seri varein, ma. 5 minutes irru.
Mom: Kelambittu kizhe vaa, naanum appavum wait panrom.

5.45 P.M.

Lalita comes down the stairs.

Lalita: Vaanga, pogalam.
Mom: Yenna di idhellam?
Lalita: Yenna, ma?
Mom: Idhu yenna dressnu pottutirke?
Lalita: Salwaar dhaane, ma? Kalyanathuku jeans pottuka kudhadhunu last time nee vessaye, adhinal dhaan salwaar potthundein...
Mom: Idhu oru salwaar-aa? Onga coimbatore thata veshti kattipale adha polai oru pyjama, shirt madri oru top...Agra mental hospital lendhu odi vandha madri irrukku di..
Lalita: Po, ma. Idhu parallells. Ipdi dhan irrukkum. Idhu dhan fashion, ma. Yennodai yella friendsum yennakku indha dress romba nalla irrukkunu sollaral.
Mom: Onnodai friends onna madri dhaan irrukum? Po, ponna lakshanama vera dress pottunda va..
Lalita: Late ahadu, ma. Irrukkatume..
Mom: Paar, indha kalyanathilai neraya paer varaporanga. Nee fashion nu yedho pottukittu nikkarai...Po di dress matrikittu va..
(Lalita recognises THAT tone in her mom's voice and knows that it is a losing battle)
Lalita: Aiyyo aiyyo, thollai...
Lalita goes off to her room to change.

6.15 P.M.

Lalita comes downstairs again, this time wearing a formal salwaar kameez.

Lalita: Idhu seriya irrukka?
Mom:(looking her up and down) Parava illai. Ozhunga dress pottunda nalla irrukke.
Lalita: Seri vaa pohalam..(feeling a sense of relief)
Mom: Iru di, oru nimusham..
Lalita:Ippo yenna, ma? (in a frustrated tone, feeling her peace suddenly shattered)
Mom: Talai la poove illai. Po naal poo vechundu va. Pottu kuda ittukalai...Yenna dhan panaraiyo?
Lalita: Viden ma...
Mom: Kalyanathuku ipdiya varuve? Po seriya kelambittu va...
Lalita raises her eyes heavenwards and goes back to her room.

6.45 P.M.

Lalita and her parents finally reach the marriage hall. The marriage ceremony is going on.

7.20 P.M.

Lalita's parents are talking to Mrs. Unnikrishnan, whom they just met, while Lalita is watching on.
Mrs. U: Idhu onga ponna mami?
(Lalita makes a face in anticipation of some dramatic happenings)
Mom: Aamam mami.
Mrs.U: Yenna paer?
Mom: Lalita.
Mrs. U: Ponn yenna padhichirka? Yenna pannaral?
Mom: B.A. padhichirka mami. Oru nursery school le teacher-aa work panaraal.24 vayasu. Avalukku yedhavadhu paiyan irundha sollungal...
Mrs.U: Yennoda mamiyarku tangai ponnuku macchinar irrukar. Indha ponnuku parkalam nu dhan kettain..
Mom: Paiyan yenga irrukan mami? Yenna pannaran?
Mrs. U: Papanasham le sweet kadai vechurkaan. B.Com. padhuchirkan. 28 vayasu...
Mom: Papanasham-aa? Kashtame...
Mrs.U: Yenna mami..Ippolam ponnugal kalyanam pannikittu America poharthugal. Neenge yenna Papanasham ku ivlav kavalai padarel?
Mom: (thinking twice) Seri parkalam mami.
Mrs. U: Paiyan photo kondu vandhurken. Parunga..

Lalita watches as Mrs.U opens her huge purse and takes out a photograph.

Mrs. U: Idhu dhaan paiyan.

They all take turns at seeing the photograph. Lalita looks at the photograph to find a fairer and fatter version of Veerappan staring back at her.

Lalita:(whispers in her mom's ears) Misai sooper, ma. Yenna fertiliser dhaan use panarangalo?
Mom: (in a low voice) Vazha mudu di...
Mrs.U: Yenna sollarel mami?
Mom: Onnum illai mami...Paiyan paer yenna?
Mrs.U: Hariharaumashankaraputra Rajamannar.
Lalita: (in a whisper) Hari nu paer vecha poradha?
Mom: (grating her teeth) Nee vazha mudu nu sonne illai..
Lalita: Hmm...Seri.
Mom: Jadagam kudungo mami. Parkalam.
Mrs.U: Adhum kondu vandhirken mami....Idho irrukku...

Rearranging letters

I got this from a forward and felt it to be quite an interesting read:

DORMITORY
When you rearrange the letters:DIRTY ROOM

PRESBYTERIAN
When you rearrange the letters:BEST IN PRAYER

ASTRONOMER
When you rearrange the letters:MOON STARER

DESPERATION
When you rearrange the letters: A ROPE ENDS IT

THE EYES
When you rearrange the letters:THEY SEE

THE MORSE CODE
When you rearrange the letters:HERE COME DOTS

SLOT MACHINES
When you rearrange the letters:CASH LOST IN ME

ANIMOSITY
When you rearrange the letters:IS NO AMITY

ELECTION RESULTS
When you rearrange the letters:LIES - LET'S RECOUNT

MOTHER-IN-LAW
When you rearrange the letters:WOMAN HITLER

SNOOZE ALARMS
When you rearrange the letters:ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S

A DECIMAL POINT
When you rearrange the letters:I'M A DOT IN PLACE

THE EARTHQUAKES
When you rearrange the letters:THAT QUEER SHAKE

ELEVEN PLUS TWO
When you rearrange the letters:TWELVE PLUS ONE

PS: Any suggestions on what I should write about next?

A quest for love

The lone traveler
Wanders about
In the huge arid desert,
In search of a priceless treasure,
A few times he sighted
His destination,
But it slipped away
Like sand from between the fingers,
Proving to be
Just a mirage, an illusion,
A search he has started on,
A seemingly endless one,
When he will find
His destination
Or will he even find it,
He knows not,
But he has hope with him
And that makes him go on,
Many a warrior before him
Has set out on this impossible task
Just to lose and return back wounded,
But he has heard
Of a few brave men
Who did reach the goal,
He has made up his mind
To complete this difficult mission,
To find a rose patch
In the dry desert,
To find true love
In a loveless world,
Nothing less will do,
He will wander about
Till he can search no more,
Alone and on his own,
For he knows
He would not find peace otherwise,
For he knows the sweetness
Of finding the treasure
Would be worth the wait.

50 and going strong:-)

Yay! My 50th post!

Well, what does one write on her/his 50th post? I am at a loss for words, so I thought I would write the story of how I started with this blog.

Reading and writing for me is something special, something that I would not give up for anything. It is an essential part of me.

I have been reading and writing since I was a kid. I don't even know how old I was when I wrote my first poem. We have a huge library just opposite to our house, where I used to go as a kid. I used to spend hours at the library till the staff was sick of me. They knew me by name and still recognise me though I have stopped going there now.

I used to simply love reading and I still do. The number of Enid Blytons, Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drews, Secret Sevens, Famous Fives, fables and folk stories that I read as a child are uncountable. Then gradually, as studies took precedence, my reading habits dwindled, but thankfully, my love for reading has not changed. Now I have again started reading more on different subjects and, hopefully, will continue to do so.:-)

As a child, I remember writing stories and small child-like poems. I used to contribute to some children's magazines. Those days were sure fun!:-) Unfortunately, I have very few of those treasures left with me now. I was very curious and highly imaginative in my childhood. It was a tough time for my mom to put up with me.:-) Then, in course of time, like my visits to the library, the frequency of my writing also dropped. However, I never did leave the habit completely and kept penning down something or the other every now and then. Now, again, I have started writing at full blast.:-)

I don't know how I started writing. Maybe the facts that I am an only child and that am highly emotional and curious by nature has got to do with it. Whatever, I am really happy that I developed this habit. I find writing to be highly therapeutic. Writing takes me to a different world altogether. However sad or frustrated I may be, when I put my pen to paper, I change. When I finish writing, I am a different person altogether. I don't know how I write, but I still love it.

As I walked down the path of life, I felt the need for a friend with whom I could share everything- my loneliness, my happiness, my sadness and my idle ramblings. Then I heard about blogging and felt that it was a great idea. That is how my dear blog was created. Today is my 50th post on this blog and I have loved every minute of it. It has been an amazing experience. Hope to continue this beautiful journey for a long time to come.:-)

Ending this post with a special note of thanks to all those who have been reading my inane blatherings and commenting. I will continue to torture you....:-)

Understanding problems...

Once again, a great forward that I received which touched me a lot:

One day I decided to quit...I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality. .. I wanted to quit my life.

I went to the woods to have one last talk with GOD.

"GOD", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me..."Look around", GOD said, "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes," I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo,"GOD said.

"In year three, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit," GOD said.

"Then in the fifth year, a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant. But just 6 months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."

GOD said to me."Did you know that all this time you have been struggling,you have actually been growing roots?"

"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."

"Don't compare yourself to others." GOD said.

"The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful."

"Your time will come", GOD said to me, "You will rise high."

"How high should I rise?," I asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise?," GOD asked in return.

"As high as it can?," I questioned.

"Yes," GOD said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can. "

I left the forest and bring back this story. I hope these words can help you see that GOD will never give up on you.

Life is not a problem to be solved, but a gift to be enjoyed. Keep Smiling.

A dish of bhelpuri and philosophy

Bhelpuri – a wonderful chat item that is a combination of sweet, sour and spicy tastes. Each of these unique flavors blend together to create a great dish.

Imagine that the bhelpuri has not been mixed properly. A piece of hot green chutney hits your tastebuds and you scream. The next bite has a bit more of sweet chutney and you relish it all the more after that having had that attack on your tastebuds.

Now imagine that more than the necessary amount of sweet chutney has been added. You would probably wrinkle your face in disgust on tasting it. You need a little bit of sour and spicy to create just that perfect flavour.

Isn’t our life just like that? A mix of sweet, sour and spicy moments? Too much sweet makes life dull. A few sour or spicy moments from time to time would create a more balanced life and would help us relish the sweet moments even more. We need to savour life as a whole instead of reflecting only on sweet times or sour ones…

Customer care????

A hilarious but scary forward that I received :-)

Customer care in 2020

Operator: "Thank you for calling Pizza Company. May I have your ...?"
Customer: "Hello, can I order.."
Operator : "Can I have your multi purpose card number first, Sir?"
Customer: "It's eh..., hold on......88986135610 2049998-45- 54610"
Operator : "OK... you're... Mr Singh and you're calling from 17, JalanKayu. Your home number is 4094 2366, your office number 76452302 and your mobile is 0142662566. You are calling from home now Sir?"
Customer: "Yes! How did you get all my phone numbers?
Operator : "We are connected to the system, Sir"
Customer: "May I order your Seafood Pizza?"
Operator : "That's not a good idea, Sir"
Customer: "How come?"
Operator : "According to your medical records, you have high blood pressure and even higher cholesterol level, Sir"
Customer: "What? What do you recommend then?"
Operator : "Try our Low Fat Hokkien Mee Pizza. You'll like it."
Customer: "How do you know for sure?"
Operator : "You borrowed a book entitled "Popular Hokkien Dishes" from the National Library last week, Sir"
Customer: "OK, I give up... Give me three family size ones then. How much will that cost?"
Operator : "That should be enough for your family of 10, Sir. The total is $49.99."
Customer: "Can I pay by credit card?"
Operator : "I'm afraid you have to pay us cash, Sir. Your credit card is over the limit and you owe your bank $3,720.55 since October last year.That's not including the late payment charges on your housing loan,Sir."
Customer: "I guess I have to run to the neighbourhood ATM and withdraw some cash before your guy arrives."
Operator : "You can't, Sir. Based on the records,you' ve reached your daily limit on machine withdrawal today."
Customer: "Never mind, just send the pizzas, I'll have the cash ready.How long is it gonna take anyway?"
Operator : "About 45 minutes Sir, but if you can't wait, you can always come and collect it on your motorcycle.. "
Customer: " What?"
Operator : "According to the details in the system ,you own a Scooter,...registration number 1123..."
Customer: " ????"
Operator : "Is there anything else, Sir?"
Customer: "Nothing! .. By the way... aren't you giving me those 3 free bottles of cola as advertised?"
Operator : "We normally would Sir, but based on your records, you're also diabetic.... ..."
Customer: #$$^%&$@$%^
Operator "Better watch your language, Sir. Remember, on 15th July, 1987, you were convicted of using abusive language on a policeman... ?"

Love in waiting

A wealth of emotions
Waiting to be felt,
A wealth of experiences
Waiting to be had,
A wealth of journeys
Waiting to be undertaken,
A wealth of dreams
Waiting to be realised,
A wealth of memories
Waiting to be created,
A heartful of love and trust
Waiting to be reciprocated,
A whole lifetime
Waiting to be shared,
Half of my soul
Waiting for the other half
To make it a whole,
Come, step into my life
Be one with me,
Come, make my life
More meaningful,
Let us multiply our joys
And divide our sorrows,
Let us stand united,
One against the world,
Come, let us make
The world more beautiful - together.

Never lose your value!

Something great I picked up from a forward:

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a Rs. 500 note. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this Rs. 500 note?"

Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this note to one of you, but first let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the note up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still hands were up in the air."Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air. "My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth Rs. 500/-. "

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special.

Don't ever forget it! Never let yesterday's disappointments overshadow tomorrow's dreams.

Innocence

I was a little girl once

Who believed in fairies

And guardian angels and Santa Claus,

I was a little girl once

Who believed the world was all

Chocolates and cakes and candy floss,

I was a little girl once

Who believed that everything

Could be set right with a hug and a kiss,

I was a little girl once

Who believed that pain

Was scraping your knee when playing,

I was a little girl once

Who believed that sadness could be cured

With a new doll or an icecream,

I was a little girl once

Who believed that nightmares vanish

With the light of day,

I was a little girl once

Who believed that every one

Who came to play was a best friend,

I was a little girl once

And I wish I could go back

To being that little girl once again....

The journey of life

I am embarking
On a journey,
Life it is called.

I know the route is long and tough,
But there are sweet-smelling flowers too
On the way.

I take with me some companions,
Faith and Hope and Courage,
To help me tread my path.

There are milestones on the way
That I have to cross,
Knowledge, Success, Fame and the like.

I'll need to keep up
With my fellow travelers,
Who tread the same path as I.

'Tis a long path that I intend to trudge,
With hills and rivers and seas en route,
But I cannot stop
Until I reach my final destination.

Silence

Silence stretches
Like an ocean
Between us,
Unspoken words
Hang heavy in the air,
The chasm widening
Between our hearts,
The priceless bond
We once shared
Dying a sad death.

Once upon a time
Long, long ago,
We could converse
In silence,
Words not being required
In our midst,
Now we have changed
And it is so
That we cannot understand
Each other's words.

Something, somewhere
Changed at some time
Amid us,
We became two
Different souls,
What? Why? When? How?
I cannot put
My finger on it,
What I know is
We slowly drifted apart.

But still I think
WE stand a chance,
Can't we meet again
As strangers
And start afresh?
Can't we again be
Two bodies and one soul?
Can't we build a bridge
And close the gulf
Between you and me?

Can't we again
Become comfortable
With silence between us?

An ode to blogging

Main aur meri tanhai
Aksar yeh baatein karte hain
Blogging nahi hota to kya hota?

Main aur meri tanhai
Aksar yeh baatein karte hain....

Mann ke vicharon ko shayad na milti vaacha,
Shayad baant na sakte apne vichaar
Doosron ke saath,
Mann mein shayad andhkaar hota,
Kaise badhta gyaan?
Shayad aaye na hote yeh vichaar mahaan.

Main aur meri tanhai
Aksar yeh baatein karte hain....

Jab tak suraj-chaand rahe
Blogging ki pratha kaayam rahe
Mann ko zabaan milti rahe
Jalte rahein dimaag ke diye,
Dil ka bojh ghatta rahe,
Naye dost bante rahe.

Main aur meri tanhai
Aksar yeh baatein karte hain....

Jab fursat na ho baat karne ki
Kisi ke paas,
Kisi se kahi na jaaye
Kuch baatein aisi khaas,
Office ho ya ghar ho,
Jab bhi nikalni ho dil ki bhadaas,
Tab tab blog hota hai paas.

Main aur meri tanhai
Aksar yeh baatein karte hain....

Kisi se ho ladai,
Kisi se ho pyaar,
Kisi baat se ho pareshaan,
Kisi baat se ho hairaan,
Blogging hai har samasya ka samadhaan.

Main aur meri tanhai
Aksar yeh baatein karte hain....

It's all in the mind

Gems from work:-)

I used to work as a proofreader with a medical transcription firm earlier. Today I came across my old notebook which I used at work, in which I have noted the various mistakes made by transcriptionists and the correct version. I am posting some of them here.The transcriptionists had typed in something totally different from what the doctor was actually dictating, resulting in a great gaffe. Here goes:

1) Sentence typed: She feels like putting eyes on her thighs. (How do you do that?)
What the doc was dictating:She feels like putting ice on her thighs.

2) Sentence typed: She has food flow in her legs. (Wow!)
What the doc was dictating: She has good flow in her legs.

3) Sentence typed: The doctor is happy with money.
What the doc was dictating: The doctor is happy with my knees.(Thank God the doc didn't get to read that!)

4) Sentence typed: Dr.X has agreed to treat medicine.(Good to know that science has progressed to the point that even medicine can be treated!)
What the doc was dictating: Dr.X has agreed to treat Madison.

5) Sentence typed: She has got running ears. (Great, at what speed do they run?)
What the doc was dictating: She has got ringing in her ears.

6) Sentence typed: She is a muscled female.
What the doc was dictating: She is a Moslem female.(Poor female!)

7) Sentence typed: She does lift when she is at work and some of these when she was weighed more than 40 lbs., but she lifts some of the coworkers. (Must be one amazing female!)
What the doc was dictating: She does lift windshields at work and some of these weigh more than 40 lbs., but she lifts them a coworker.

8) Sentence typed: He has no blood pressure. (Wow! How is this man alive?)
What the doc was dictating: He has low blood pressure.

9) Sentence typed: The patient was noted with maintaining sleep on the way to the clinic. (One awesome driver he must be!)
What the doc was dictating: The patient was 10 minutes late due to automobile accident on the way to the clinic.

10) Sentence typed: She noticed that the cat had no color.(No comments!)
What the doc was dictating: She noticed that the cat had no collar.

11) Sentence typed: He has likely got a stomach bulb. (Oh really? And does his stomach glow in the dark?)
What the doc was dictating: He has likely got a stomach bug.

12) Sentence typed: She licks urine all the time. (Yuck!)
What the doc was dictating: She leaks urine all the time.

Go ahead, enjoy!!!!!!!!

The mask

Its that time in the morning
To step out of the threshold,
Time to wear the mask,
The one with the wide smile
And the big, bright eyes,
Time to conceal all the hurt
And pain deep in your heart,
Time to smile and laugh and cheer,
And show that you have no fear,
Time to show that all is well
And blink back your tears,
Time to show that you are strong
Though you may be bleeding inside,
Time to show that you are prepared
Though you haven't a clue,
Time to hide beneath a facade
And put up a show,
No, you can't sigh,
You can't shed a tear,
You can't let down your guard,
You have to entertain the audience
For the show must go on,
This mask you must wear
Till the show is over,
And you reach the safe confines of your dear home......

Touching moments....

This is something that I found in one of the magazines at office. I loved it instantly.

A little girl and her father were crossing a bridge. The father was kind of scared, so he asked his little daughter, “Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don’t fall into the river.” The little girl said, “No Dad. You hold my hand.” “What’s the difference?,” asked the puzzled father. “There’s a big difference,” replied the little girl. “If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go…”

In any relationship, the essence is trust. So hold the hand of the person whom you love rather than expecting them to hold yours. This message is very short, but carries a lot of feelings…..

For Amma

Dear Amma,

I know you are not going to read this, but I am going to write it anyway. Amma, for me, every day is mother's day. Not a single day of mine can go by without you. But I would like to take this opportunity today to say a heartfelt 'thank you' for all that you have done for me.

You have been one of the greatest ladies I have seen in my life. You have made so many little sacrifices for me, to ensure that I was well educated, well fed and well cared for. All without a grimace or tear. I guess the greatest reward for you was to see me do well in life. You have nurtured me, held me, fussed over me, kissed me, cried with me, laughed with me, scolded me - all with my welfare in mind.

Amma, you have always been my friend, philosopher and guide. I can talk to you about anything under the sun, comfortably. What would I have done without your suggestions and guidance? I guess I would have wasted away my life if it were not for you. You were always there to offer a helping hand and willing to be just a silent listener at times while I poured out my heart.

You are the first person I want to talk to when something goes wrong in life or when something works out very well. You are my respite from all the pain and grief of life.

You taught me the most valuable lessons in life. You taught me how to learn to bear pain and not crib, because it ultimately makes you wiser and stronger. You taught me to value people and relationships. You taught me compassion and empathy.

I know I can rely on you even when every one else goes out on me. I know you'll always be there for me. You can fight against any one for my sake. I know you love me more than myself, imperfections and all.

You have always been happy to see me smile and have cried when I had tears in my eyes. You know me better than I know myself. You can accurately predict how I feel inside just by looking at my face.

You have been my constant source of optimism, power and inspiration. You are the grease that ensures that my life keeps running smoothly, in perfect order. You are the powerful glue that binds the whole family together. All of us wouldn't know what to do without you, amma.

I know I cannot thank you enough for all that you have done for me. You are great! I will always be there for you, amma, whenever you need me. Thanks for everything. I love you a lot. Happy mother's day!

Hope

Every day I stand
On the edge of the bough,
Every day I flap my wings
And try to fly.

Every day I realise
My wings are not strong yet,
Every day I fall down
And hurt myself.

Every day I try,
Every day I fail,
But every day I grow
And my wings become stronger.

Every day I wake up
Wiser than yesterday,
Every day my wish to fly
Grows some more.

One day I know I will fly
Up there in the blue, blue sky.

Loved ones say the sky is vast,
Don't go, you'll get lost,
But I'll never know
The true breadth of the sky
Until I spread out my wings
And fly,
Maybe I'll not get lost,
Maybe I'll find my way back.

Every day I watch
As birds larger and stronger
Soar high above,
What if they strike me?
My heart is filled with fear,
But I'll never know
My true strength
Until I spread out my wings
And fly,
Maybe I'm just as strong
Or even stronger.

How will I fend for myself?
Will I find my own food?
The unanswered questions are many,
But I'll never know the answers
Unless I try,
Until I spread out my wings
And fly.

So every day I try,
And will keep trying,
Till I know
I'm ready to soar,
Till I know I'm strong
And won't fall down again.

One day I'll be ready
To explore the whole sky.

The bitter truth

Preetha stood near the display rack in the departmental store and wondered. She was confused. She had thought buying a good shampoo would be an easy job. But there was such a huge array of shampoo bottles on display that she did not know which one to buy. There were imported ones, the made-in-India ones, shampoos for oily hair, dry hair, normal hair, strong hair, silky hair, colored hair, shampoos for dandruff, shampoos for regular use, herbal shampoos…..what not? She picked up a few of them and read the description. Each one boasted to be superior than the others. Which one should she buy?

She had always been a simple girl with simple tastes. She had never been fussy about things in life, not the least over a bottle of shampoo. She had always used Shikakai powder for washing her hair, which her mother ordered specially from Madras. She had naturally long and jet black hair. She had never actually worried about her hair, but now…..Now, well, things had changed….

Now she wanted to make her mane look glossier, more silky, more beautiful…..His words had had a really deep impact on her.

She and Paras had been sitting in the garden near their office, when he had suddenly leaned closer and touched her thick plait. “Wonderful, beautiful hair…Preetha baby, I love your hair…” And her heart had skipped a beat. Paras had been a good friend, but now…..Now she wanted to look her best for him. She wanted him to have eyes only for her.

“……..Madam……”

“……Madam…….”

She was brought out of her reverie by the sales girl standing next to her. “Can I help you, madam?,” she asked. Preetha stiffened. For how long had she been lost in thought and been staring into space? No wonder the sales girl had intruded.

“Ummm…..I want a good shampoo which would make my hair look glossy and beautiful,” she said.

“We have just the right thing for you, Madam. Take this…..” She took out a bottle from the rack and handed it to Preetha. “This one has special conditioners which will make your hair look like you have just stepped out of the beauty parlour every time you use it. Your hair will look so silky and shiny…..”

Preetha looked at the description. It seemed to be an imported brand, promising everything that the salesgirl had just told her. No harm in trying.

“I will take this. Thanks.”
___________________________________________________________
On the same day, a few hours later:

A girl and a boy were sitting side by side in the municipal park. They were oblivious to the curious stares of passers-by. Suddenly the boy reached out and touched the girl’s cheek gently.

“Rajvi, baby, I just love your dimple. It makes you look so pretty. …..I could look at it for ever and ever…..,”he said.

The girl blushed and lowered her head in shame.

“Oh, Paras, you are so naughty…..,” she said smilingly.

I'll be there for you

When spring spreads loveliness all around,
And the air smells sweet,
You'll find many people
To hold your hand,
But when the sky is overcast,
Or when the yellowed leaves
Tear off from the trees,
I'll be there for you.

When an empty feeling
Envelopes your soul,
When you start questioning
Your own identity,
When your mind deserts you
And you don't know
What next to do,
I'll be there for you.

When you feel as light
As a gas balloon
In the air,
With no cares in the world,
When your heart feels heavy
And it aches,
When someone has hurt you badly,
I'll be there for you.

When you feel tears
Welling up
In your eyes,
Without your knowing so,
When you miss that
Special someone,
And can't tell anybody,
I'll be there for you.

When you want someone
To pillow fight with,
When you want
Someone's shoulder to lean on,
When you want to go
For a long walk
Under the clear sky,
I'll be there for you.

When you feel
Like a king,
When you feel
The world is at your feet,
When you lose everyone
And have only yourself
Whom you can rely on,
I'll be there for you.


PS: This is something I wrote when I was in college....

A modern-day girl

I received the following through a forward and am happy to put it on my blog. In a beautiful manner, it shows the predicament of an educated, modern and ambitious young girl who gets married.

Here is a girl, who is as much educated as you are;
who is earning almost as much as you do;
one, who has dreams and aspirations just as you have
because she is as human as you are;
one, who has never entered the kitchen in her life
just like you or your sister haven't,
as she was busy in studies
and competing in a system that gives
no special concession to girls for their culinary achievements;
one, who has lived and loved her parents & brothers & sisters,
almost as much as you do for 20-25 years of her life;
one, who has bravely agreed to leave behind all that,
her home, people who love her,
to adopt your home, your family,
your ways and even your family name;
one, who is somehow expected to be a master-chef from day #1,
while you sleep oblivious to her predicament in her new circumstances,
environment and that kitchen;
one, who is expected to make the tea, first thing in the morning
and cook food at the end of the day,
even if she is as tired as you are, maybe more,
and yet never ever expected to complain;
to be a servant, a cook, a mother, a wife,
even if she doesn't want to;
and is learning just like you are as to what you want from her;
and is clumsy and sloppy at times
and knows that you won't like it if she is too demanding,
or if she learns faster than you;
one, who has her own set of friends,
and that includes boys and even men at her workplace too,
those, who she knows from school days
and yet is willing to put all that on the back-burners
to avoid your irrational jealousy,
unnecessary competition and your inherent insecurities;
yes, she can drink and dance just as well as you can,
but won't, simply because you won't like it,
even though you say otherwise;
one, who can be late from work once in a while
when deadlines, just like yours, are to be met;
one, who is doing her level best
and wants to make this most important relationship
in her entire life a grand success,
if you just help her some and trust her;
one, who just wants one thing from you,
as you are the only one she knows in your entire house -
your unstinted support, your sensitivities
and most importantly - your understanding,
or love, if you may call it.

gals...b proud if yur one like this..
guys..dont let go a gal like this one..

The Mother

She remembered the day when he had been born. She and Vinod had held the tiny bundle of joy wrapped up in a warm, pink baby blanket, his wide eyes taking in the new world around him. Her heart had filled with pride and her eyes had overflown. She and her husband had cried together over the miracle that now lay in her arms.

She remembered his first birthday as if it had happened only yesterday. He had put his podgy fingers into the black forest cake that they had ordered and had demanded to eat it immediately, before it had been cut. They had had a really hard time holding him back. She smiled. It had been a wonderful day.

She remembered the day when he had gone to school for the first time, looking cute in a little pair of shorts, a backpack saddled on his back and his favourite red water bottle slung over his right arm. He had been tearful throughout the car ride to the school. She had kissed his cheek and told him to a good boy. And he had obeyed. Like a good boy, he had waved to her and Vinod sitting in the car and had walked into the school.

She remembered the day when he had fallen down from the swing in the garden and grazed his knee. It had filled her heart with pain to see his face puckering and his eyes filling up with tears. She had cuddled his whimpering body close and had rocked it to quietness. She had whispered in his ear that it would be o.k., that it would hurt no more after she would take him home and apply antibiotic liquid on it.

She remembered the day when he had brought a ‘For you – Mother’ card home from school. He had fingerpainted it on his own. He had proudly given it to her and her heart had swelled with pride and happiness. ‘Thanks sweetheart” had been the only words she could say.

She remembered the day before his English exam, for which he had not studied at all. He had been in the 8th grade at that time. “Mom, I think I am going to fail this test,” he had said. She still remembered the worried look on his face. She had sat up the whole night, praying to God not to let him fail the test. She had lighted a ‘diya’ in the nearby Ganesha temple and not a single morsel of food had passed her throat till he had returned from school and said that he had done well in the exam.

She remembered the day when she and Vinod had bought him his bicycle. She remembered the look of pride and awe on his face as he rode his Street Cat to school for the first time. She had worried and fretted and fumed till he had come back home safely.

She remembered the day when the doctor had diagnosed him with jaundice. He had been in the 10th grade at that time. The doctor had said that his situation was critical and he would have to be admitted to the hospital. She had sat at his bedside for long days and nights together. She had fed him, cared for him and nursed him back to health. There was not a single temple in the city which had not visited after he came home safe from the hospital.

She remembered the day when he had told her, “Mom, I am confused about whether to take Commerce or Science. What should I do?” She and Vinod had talked to him for hours on end and had helped him discover his passion for accounts. Finally, he had chosen Commerce. And seeing him go ahead in his career, she had been happy that she had helped him in taking the right decision.

She remembered the day when he had got admission in the best Commerce college in the city. She would never forget the excited look on his face as he had come home that day, taken her by the arms and swirled her round and round till her head was spinning. “Mom, I’ve done it. I’m so happy,” he had said. She had wished him good luck as he embarked on his journey. He had gone on to scale great heights of academic excellence and make new forays into the world of commerce. She remembered holding Vinod’s hand excitedly as he stepped up on stage wearing a black coat to receive his MBA degree.

She remembered the day when he had got his first job – as Finance Controller in a multinational firm. He had returned home with a box of sweets in hand. When he had received his first salary cheque, he had bought her a beautiful saree and a shirt for Vinod. They had enjoyed a treat in his favourite restaurant in the evening – from him.

She remembered the first day when he had called from office to say that he would be late, to tell her that she and Vinod should have dinner and not wait for him. She had felt sad, disappointed. She had wanted to share fond memories of his childhood with him that day. She remembered how these delays became a regular feature in their lives. But she had always cheered herself up and reminded herself that her son now had a life of his own. She had chided herself for wanting him to be with her all the time.

She remembered the day when he had introduced her and Vinod to Anju, his colleague. “Mom, Dad, we want to marry each other,” he had said, “We want your blessings.” She had liked Anju on first sight. She knew that Anju would be perfect for him. She was glad that he had found true love in life, but couldn’t help the wave of sadness that rose in her heart at the realization that he hadn’t confided in her the first time he had met Anju. Somewhere along the way, there had been a rift in their relationship. Something had changed, something she couldn’t quite place her finger on.

She remembered the day he and Anju had left for America. He was being sent by his company. She and Vinod had gone to the airport to see them off. Both of them had kneeled down and touched their feet. She had watched them till they were out of her range of vision. She and Vinod had returned back home with heavy hearts. Later, she had cried her heart out in Vinod’s arms. She had missed him like anything. The only consolation had been being able to hear his and Anju’s voice when they called on the weekends.

She remembered the day when Vinod had had a heart attack. She and her neighbour, Mr. Rathore, had rushed him to the hospital. She remembered calling him up and breaking down while apprising him of the situation. He had tried to calm her down, “Mom, don’t worry. Dad will be just fine.” He had been wrong. It had been a massive heart attack and Vinod had left her forever after a week of suffering in the hospital.

She remembered how he had lit the funeral pyre of his beloved Dad. She remembered the determined look on his face as he had tried to convince her to come with him to America. She had hardened her heart and refused. She knew she would never be comfortable in that faraway place. She would never be able to relate to the place and its people. She had bid a tearful farewell to him and Anju.

She remembered how she had engaged herself in social service activities with a local NGO. She liked to keep herself active – that’s what she told people. But she knew that she did it because it helped her forget the pangs of loneliness that threatened to engulf her, atleast for some time. She remembered going through each day, plastering a smile on her face for the sake of others. The gloomy darkness in her heart she reserved for her long, lonely nights.

She remembered frantically calling him up a number of times, imploring him to come back to India. Only to receive the same answer every time – “Mom, I can’t come now. I have my work all spread out here. I cannot wind up my affairs here so easily. Why don’t you come here?” And she had always hung up heavy hearted. Ultimately, she had been left with her loneliness as her only companion.

Then, she could remember nothing…..She had tried to think about it till her head pained, but had drawn only a blank, a null, a void…..

Ah! Her head throbbed and her throat felt parched. As if there were thorns stuck into it. She tried to hold her throbbing head in her hands and felt something wet and hot. Blood! It was oozing out of a gash on her forehead. It had stained the pure white saree that she was wearing. Oh God! Why was she feeling so hot, so flustered, so different? What had happened to her?

Where was she? She looked around……The place seemed very familiar, as if she had always been there. Who were all these people around her? A few of them seemed familiar. Hey, some of them were crying…..Why? The atmosphere seemed charged with gloom, with darkness, as if something terrible had happened. She asked the woman sitting nearest to her, “What happened? Where am I?” No reply. It was as if the woman had not heard her at all. She tried asking again, this time in a louder voice. Again, no reply. Was the woman deaf?

She thought of asking someone else. It was then that she realized she was lying down. Why was she lying on the floor in the middle of the day? It did not seem like her usual style. And what was that hard, wooden thing beneath her?

She got up and as she did, she found that somebody had put garlands of flowers all over her. So that was why she had been feeling so hot? She brushed aside the flowers and got up. Nobody paid any attention to her. It was as if she didn’t exist at all! She went up to a man who looked familiar, who was talking to another man. “Where am I?,” she asked him. The man did not answer and ignored her completely. “WHERE AM I?,” she shouted. The man still stood talking, as if nothing had happened. She grabbed him by the hands and shook him. “PLEASE, tell me what happened.” The man just stood there unaffected, talking to the man beside him. Tears of helplessness started flowing down her cheeks.

Her eyes flew to the doorway. She knew in her heart of hearts that she was waiting for someone, someone whom she loved deeply. Someone whose face she could not find in the crowd around her. But who?

She strained her ears to hear what the man was saying. His voice was faint, as if it was coming from another world. “……Luckily, her neighbour, Mr. Rathore, found her lying on the street and brought her home. It seems a drunk driver hit her when she was going to the NGO……”

PS: This is what being jobless on your job for 2 days does to you.....

To work or not to work?

I was surfing the net earlier today when I came across this.

I have been having the same kind of discussions lately with friends and with Amma- whether to work or not after marriage? From the article and the comments made by readers, the following questions emerged:

1) Why is it that only the woman is asked to make such a choice? Why not the man?
More or less, in Indian society, it is believed that the man is the breadwinner of the family and it is the woman's responsibility to raise the kids and to instill values in them. Well, I think a woman is emotionally programmed to take care of the kids, be patient with them and bring them up. It is a great role that has been traditionally assigned to women. It is a privilege to be able to mould someone's life and teach them the lessons of life. Of course, the child would have a better and fair understanding of life and its complexities if both his/her father and mother contributed equally in its upbringing. But, when it comes to staying at home with the kids and looking after them, women are naturally and instinctively better.

2) Why can't a woman have both - a career and a family life?
You can, but only if you are TERRIFIC! Having a full-fledged career and having to manage the household and the kids simultaneously does become nerve-racking at times. If you are lucky enough to have someone really dependable with whom you can trust the kids and who can also manage the house in case of emergencies, it is a pretty tough job. Of course, there are women who manage both, but ultimately it takes its toll on you.

3) Why does this question arise at all?
Women by nature are highly emotional. If they are career-oriented, they usually feel guilty after marriage for not being able to take care of the family and the home. On the other hand, modern-day women like to be better prepared for the challenges of life. What if my husband leaves me or passes away or he loses his job? - these are questions which many young girls think of before marriage, while contemplating whether to be a stay-at-home wife or a career-minded wife. And there is always the issue of financial dependence. Today's woman does not prefer being financially dependent on anyone. They also realise that it is a tremendous waste of talent and education to not work at all. Hence, the choice of making a decision arises.

I feel both these situations are extremes- either be a stay-at-home wife or work full-time. There are some in-between options too, like:
1) Pursuing a part-time job
2) Freelance work
3) Working from home
4) Taking up soft jobs such as tuitions instead of a full-time office job
5) Keeping oneself updated and active so that one can join the work force after the kids do not require staying at home
6) Making sound investments before getting married or before having kids so that you do not have to worry about being financially dependent

Of course, every case is different. One should decide upon her course of action based on her individual circumstances.

The taste of heaven

Ever wonder what a piece of heaven would taste like? I guess it would taste like a bowl of chilled ‘Aamras’. Add to it steaming hot pooris or phulka chappatis and you get a heavenly meal. ‘Hmmmm……..’ is all you can say when the thick, yellow liquid hits your tastebuds and goes down your throat. Nothing better to beat the May heat than chilled Aamras. No wonder mango is called the ‘fruit of the gods’.

A lazy Sunday morning, the aroma of aamras enchanting your senses, chappatis straight from the gas………..sheer bliss. And after finishing your lunch, the way your eyes wobble and you drift off into the land of dreams……….Suddenly life seems so perfect……….

Reasons to rejoice.....

Dear God,

I am writing to thank you for the various gifts that you have so kindly showered upon me.

Thank you for the gift of life. Thank you for breathing life into me and giving me a chance to have this wonderful experience called life.

Thank you for giving me a wide world to make my mark in.

Thank you for the gift of womanhood. Thank you for giving me the chance to become a mother, which is the next best thing to your divine self.

Thank you for giving me a loving family to shelter me from the flames of hatred and trouble.

Thank you for giving me a home where I can come to at the end of a tiring day.

Thank you for giving me good teachers who taught me to read and educated me so that I could always get the best knowledge and differentiate between good and bad.

Thank you for giving me friends who guide and criticize me so that I can be a better human being. Thanks for the helping hands that are always there for me.

Thank you for giving me people who are not well-wishers who spur me on to do my best and prove myself.

Thank you for giving me my daily food and water so that I stay strong and healthy.

Thank you for giving me a mind which can think, feel, reason, learn and create.

Thank you for giving me four faithful slaves, my hands and feet, which can help me do anything in the world.

Thank you for giving the gifts of sight and hearing so that I can see and hear the good and the bad and realize how lucky I am.

Thank you for giving me a mouth that can smile and bring a smile to other people's faces. Thank you for the gift of speech through which I can influence and express.

Thank you for giving me opportunities to progress in life.

Thank you for giving me challenges that bring out the best in me and make me realise my true potential.

Thank you for making me a unique personality that distinguishes me from others.

Thank you for being present in me in the form of my conscience and constantly guiding me on the right path.

Thank you for the joys that you give me that make my life better.

Thank you for the sorrows that you give me that make me a stronger and more capable person.

Thank you for giving me a pure and sincere heart that wishes well for everyone and is not entangled in vices.

Thank you for giving me all that you have given me. Thank you for giving me so much to be grateful to.

What's in a name?

This is an excerpt from an actual call made by the marketing team in our office to a customer:

Marketing executive: Good afternoon, this is M$$$$$$ calling from xxxx. I would like to talk to you about a membership in our firm.

Customer: Good afternoon, M@@@@@@. Tell me.

Marketing executive: Madam, M$$$$$$ here. Can I talk to you now? Are you free?

Customer: Can you please say your name in Hindi? (???????)

I would love to know how one says one's name in Hindi! :-)

Making sense of ads

Look at the matrimonial ads in any newspaper or even on the net and you will find a smattering of adjectives. Required a girl who is fair, tall, slim, well qualified, pretty, god fearing……….and the list goes on. Some are more specific, like “Wanted only a B.E. or doctor”. Somehow, this makes me feel as if they are product specifications. The product should be of the specified standard, otherwise it will not clear the quality control test. Sometimes there are 3 or 4 specifications, sometimes in certain specialized cases, they can go up to 8-10. What do you expect? A miracle woman or man?

‘Fair and slim’ seems to top the list. Everybody wants a fair and slim bride. No wonder Fair and Lovely and the like are doing good business in India. And, I would love to know, just how slim is ‘slim’, how tall is ‘tall’ and how decent is a ‘decent salary’. Just how broad is a ‘broad mind’? :-)

And, I never ever understood the concept of ‘god-fearing’. What exactly do people mean by ‘god-fearing’? Why should one fear God?

In fact, I am yet to understand many of the terms used in these ads. What does one mean by a ‘superman personality’? Can a girl be both ‘homely’ and ‘pretty’? I guess what they wanted to convey was ‘home-loving’ or ‘domesticated in household work’.

It is quite reasonable to know what your personality is like and expect similar qualities from your life partner. Here, I am referring to inherent qualities in the nature of a person and not about physical attributes. But, I cannot understand how one can have preconceived notions about the profession, complexion, weight and other such factors and then expect to find a partner who is tailor-made to suit these requirements. That makes marriage nothing more than an arrangement. Is that the purpose of marriage? What happened to the concept of finding a soulmate forever or that of finding love through marriage? How can one expect, “I will only fall in love with a person who is fair or who is a xxxx by profession?” Love just happens like that, atleast that is what I believe. Or are our parameters changing?

Blockheads!

O.K. So you diet?

You eat only diet khakhras? That's great.

But, eating 15 packets of 50 diet khakhras in a month won't help.......

Sweet memories

Today is 1st May, 2007. Exactly one month since I quit my last job, where I worked for 2 years. Quite an emotional upheaval that was - quitting that job. I thought about it for months together and finally decided to take the plunge. I had to do it for the sake of my career.

I still remember my last day in that office. It was quite touching to see everyone behave extra-soft that day, making special efforts to ensure that I left with beautiful memories of the place. I had stuck around for so long that people hadn't expected me to leave. They had gotten used to having me around, just as I had gotten used to the place. There were quite a few colleagues who said, "Next time, when we are doing this, please remind me to....", only to remember, "Oh, God! You won't be here from tomorrow onwards!"

One of my colleagues and friends remarked wistfully, "It's an April fool joke, na? You'll be back tomorrow?" Saying no to that was the one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. That colleague went out of the way to rush home earlier than usual and when questioned by others why she was behaving like that, what she said tore at my heart. "Priya is leaving. I am afraid I might cry. And I don't want to bid her a tearful farewell." Sigh!

I was surprised to see even colleagues with whom I didn't have much interaction come forward to wish me 'All the best' on that day. One of them said, "You have been a very sincere and good person.May God fill your life with happiness." Sigh! Sigh!

My boss told me, "This is your office, Priya. You are always welcome here, any time you want to come back. Our doors are always open for you."

Taking photos with everyone was the fun part and the most touching part of that day. At that time, it struck me that I would maybe never return to this office again.

Amidst hugs and smiles and handshakes and 'farewell's and 'all the best's, I finally took that last step out of the office.

A week after I had left the job, one of my other colleagues and friends sent me a beautiful message which left me speechless. It was: "Kitni raatein beet gayee, Kitne din beet gaye, Bus beeta nahi toh.... Yaadon ka woh pal, Woh guzra hua kal, Beeti nahi toh aankhon ki nami Aur aap ki kami......" Sigh again!

My last job was actually my second job, but my first real one. The first job lasted for only 2 months. That place has been like a home to me. I have never felt like I have been away from home in that office. I used to call it 'a home away from home'. My colleagues there have been with me through thick and thin, even my boss. I am still attached to that office, though I am not part of it now. That place holds a special importance for me, maybe because it was my first real job. It's not that I am not satisfied with my current job, but that place somehow is very special and close to my heart. I have a whole lot of memories associated with the place.

That organisation and the people there have impacted me and my outlook in more ways than one. I'm still learning the ropes at my current job and I hope to form a similar bond with the people here as well.

Maybe as I go ahead in life, I will outgrow the feeling of getting so emotionally attached to everything. But today, I am feeling nostalgic...........Missing all of you guys...............