Oh, hey there father

Oh, hey there father,

And hello mother.

Sorry to show up so late at night,

But I heard you two had another fight?

Well, it's nothing new,

You have done that before too.

You two are pretty good at bouncing back to "normal" though,

But let's not forget that it's been more than twenty years now.

Well, dear father,

Do you know where's your daughter?

And dear mother,

Didn't you know she has been painting her skin red with that razor?

Why didn't you try to know?

Can't you see she has been feeling low?

When will this end?

She doesn't even have friends.

You wanted her to live life, the way you wanted,

Thanks to you she has always been taken for granted.

But it's okay, you can carry on your fight,

She is strong and hopefully she won't kill herself tonight.

The Unsocial Side Of Social Media

Woke up to the terrible news of Sunanda Pushkar’s sudden death. A part of me couldn’t help getting rid of the nagging guilt of having been a part of the circus that followed after she took to Twitter to share her husband’s BBM texts to a former journalist in Pakistan. Two attractive women sparring over a public figure in full public view was a bait hard to resist. What ensued was pure mayhem – Twitterati trying to outdo each other in cracking the funniest jokes at someone else’s distress. The lady’s incoherent anger at a woman who she saw as someone out to destroy her marriage was fodder for the grist mill. 

Frankly, a domestic dispute is none of our business. But with so much dirty linen being aired for public consumption, most of us could not hold back our holier than thou attitude and scorn.

Twitter is a cornucopia of opinions (often dipped in bitterly abusive expressions), breaking news, wisdom and wit that follows no hierarchy and worships the informed, wittiest and the most acerbic. This is where most people get priceless news-bytes from, getting to read the inside stories that rarely surface in the mainstream media. A place where they get to sharpen their claws, get inspiration for many other posts and manage to achieve their 2 seconds of fame. It’s like they find an audience that’s willing to lend them their ears on every issue that may or not may not be concern to them as a person. Not just them.But also Mr Sehgal, the over-worked executive who commutes 2 hours to get to his office and can air his angst at AAP that’s out to ruin his city… Savita, the homemaker from Indore who has taken Twitter by storm with her Coelho like philosophy…Shobhaa De, the Indian columnist and novelist who happens to have an opinion about everything under the sun, which even after a lot of struggle most people find difficult to comprehend ... it’s as if fame, trolls, worshippers and stalkers were waiting all their lives to find you on Twitter. 

There lies the catch – everyone gets to air their opinions on Twitter, regardless of their maturity, sense and sensibility, most of them in a hurry to give their two cents of wisdom before bothering to verify facts. It’s like – look I’m trying to rant her, stop bothering me with logic and facts. After all, it is the early bird that catches the maximum eyeballs, correctness be damned. But just like it is in real life, the shallow have the loudest voices, with everyone dying to play the judge. The few sane voices are drowned in the cacophony of accusations, counter-accusations and LOLs. A platform that doesn’t think twice before targeting a public figure like Alok Nath, ridiculing his girth, his work, making him sound like a joke just because it’s so much fun! Ironically, at some point of time, we have all been a willing participant to the ridicule public figures are routinely subjected to without even realizing it. 

That’s Twitter – it makes a joke out of serious issues and takes jokes seriously.

But we cannot digress from the fact that it is Social Media that has often played the Knight in shining armour. Often it has come to the rescue of instances of injustice, harassment or apathy that would have been shushed up had it not been for our active voices demanding action. Public opinion coming together as one on public platforms like these has made our leaders grudgingly accept that they can no longer take the electorate for granted.

 It has now emerged from the emails exchanged between Mr Tharoor and Mehar Tarar that theirs was a friendship based on mutual admiration and respect. Their affair was in all probability a figment of Sunanda Pushkar’s imagination. Ms Pushkar was herself in immense pain, both physical and mental, before she went to Twitter to vent her angst. A fragile state of mind knows no logic or reason. I’d rather not speculate the reasons behind her shocking death. The Tharoors deserve privacy in their moment of grief. Sunanda Pushkar was a feisty woman who lived life on her own terms. I pray that her case does not go the Arushi way, her dignity torn to shreds with idle speculations.

The last few days of her life were terrible. Her distress magnified by the national coverage her public meltdown got, exposing her more to ridicule than understanding. Perhaps her case was a reality check Twitter badly needed.

She died feeling unhappy, unloved. But I hope her soul finds peace she deserves.

Until next time ..

Many many days had passed and of course he had not called me. I was not going to let him believe he could have it his way. After all it was he who had walked out on me and I wasn't going to let him getaway with this behavior this time.

 Last month also I had a minor altercation with him over some random spoiled milk. And then of course he felt I was not giving him space. Well I could say the same to him. But then I was never the one to complain. I had always received great satisfaction in knowing I was the one with a better sense of judgement.

 Except of course when I chose him. I should have gone for the other brother. I had known all along. Well now its almost three long years too late. Who would have known he wasn't the shy self he pretended to be back then.

  "Has he come back?" I heard my father speak on the other side of phone.

"Who?" I asked slowly.

"Don't play games with me. I know you have worked up yourself over him leaving the house. Tell me has he come back?" he spoke keeping the tone persistent.

I didn't reply instantly. I remained quiet to express my discomfort at his questions.

 "Who doesn't have issues? Do you think it doesn't happen in our lives? It does obviously. But the maturity lies in keeping all these things behind us," he continued.

 I kept down the phone without speaking a single word. I knew I was being affected, I was feeling abjectly alone in that little apartment. I had decided to take a two room set, it was my personal call. I felt it would be enough for the two of us together. But then yesterday when he threw all the utensils and crashed the precious Bone China, I knew that I should have heard his annoyance when we moved into the small abode.

 But I loved him. You have to understand that I always thought he would get it. I am a small time interior designer and spending lavishly is something I want to do but cannot.

I looked at the empty space in the bedroom where he often sat to soak in the sunshine. The corner in kitchen he would always smile from. And the little bean bag in the hall he slumped while watching TV.

Who was I kidding I needed him back. I missed him way too much. I need to place the call. I need to figure out a way to bring him back.

The telephone rang midway. And my thoughts got sharply broken. 

"What! I will be there in another fifteen minutes," I screamed into the phone.

~                                         ~                                       ~ 

"Where is he?" A harrowed me asked the woman behind the desk.

Her confused expression did little to alleviate my apprehensions.

Comprehension flooded across her face and she instantly pointed towards a room on the side.

I ran all the way to the door. But I stopped a couple of inches before opening it. How can I let go of the fact that he did desert me? I should not look so anxious to meet him, some composure would go a long way to satiate my ego. 

 After ensuring that my demeanor is a little within boundaries I finally opened the door.

Seeing him I skipped a beat, I almost wanted to run and hug him tight in my arms but I knew better than to react like that. He had walked out on me, fact still stands.

But before I could even summarize the situation he ran towards me and in an instant began to scratch me all over. The overflow of affection broke my restraint and I too reciprocated by hugging him tight. 

"Lucky, this was the name on the leash. I hope this is your dog?" the doctor's voice broke a few moments off from the madness of reunion.

I nodded vigorously.

"Are you sure? Have you double checked this is your dog?" he asked again.

Have I double checked? It didn’t take me more than a nanosecond to know. I had perhaps not even seen him properly. I knew he was my little Lucky all of three years, definitely more troublesome than his elder brother, but well I love him! With all my heart I missed him.

"Yes doctor thank you so much for informing," I gushed.

"Well you must thank your father who called to inform about your dog being missing. We found Lucky on the bus stop and well we knew he was domestic by his polished grooming," he remarked.

Polished grooming! Ha! He has not seen the broken plates and the cracked glass vase back in my house.

I picked up Lucky and went whistling away back home. Until next time the two room set can now have its second occupant back :) 

When your neighbour is preggers !

 When your neighbour is preggers .... You have to ask her questions !!!

1.  How did you find out you were pregnant? - I just had that 'take a test' feeling. The positive sign came up so fast I forgot to dump my pee out of the cup. My poor husband found it later on in the day and thought it was juice. Whoopsies!! : P

2. When you found out you were pregnant how many tests did you take? Only 3 ;)

3. How many weeks were you when you found out? - Just barely! Around 5 weeks

4. Who was the first person you told you were pregnant besides your partner?- The best friend of course! I sent her the same picture I sent my hubs.

5.  How many weeks are you now? 32 !!  wahoooo!

6. Boy or Girl?- It's a sweet baby GIRL!!

7.When is your due date?- 1st March. Oh man. It's going to be a hot summer

8. Cravings?- Anything sweet. When I lay in bed at night and try to fall asleep, I just think of what I can go eat. I could out eat anyone right now ;)

9. What do you miss? Swimsuits. And having coffee every morning. When I got pregnant it just never sounded good anymore.

10. How much weight have you gained? around 10 pounds!! I gained way too much weight with my first 2 babies.

11. Do you have a name picked out? What? I do! Ryan - not so much. He doesn't love the name I do. So we'll see ;)

12. Is the child being named after someone? Her middle name will be. My grandma would be proud :)

13. Who is going to be with you during delivery? I think it'll be my parents and Ryan. That's how it's always been.

14. What was the first thing you bought for baby? Before I even knew she was a girl- I started getting headbands.

15. what are you going to name her ? I wont tell you so soon ! so keep guessing ;)

Here's to another quick 6 weeks!! We are so excited and can't wait to meet this little girl .

The best week of 2013 ( Christmas + New year = FUN )

The best week of 2013 for me was that of  a never forgetting Christmas and a wonderful new year !!

" trying " to make pasta.

 

I have no idea what this is ! But it was ssooo tasty !! (•‿•)

This choco lave cute cookie with chunks of chocolate pieces and cream !!!! 

( did your mouth water ?? No ?? well then it should !!! )

* it turned out to me super yummy !! *  

Tried cooking !! But it became an entire mess !! * those memories !! *

 Making a castle out of pillows and blankets !! * So kiddish *

Ain't it so pretty ??

This snow man is so cute !!! :*

that movie was just so amazing !!

RiRi with Nutmeg (•‿•)

' The town ' made of all edible chocolate !! It's like a dream come true !!