tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73436606131677826432024-03-12T19:51:33.480-07:00Pensive PaastaAastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-36719730531101685582015-03-26T08:58:00.000-07:002015-03-26T08:59:38.134-07:00Zoom zoom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I recently watched the animated movie 'Bolt' again. It's one of my favourites, and lately I've found this new hobby. So, I made a fan art.<br />
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It's just a start, but I hope I continue this hobby of mine.<br />
<br />
Cheers!<br />
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Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-74878862097946507102014-05-29T23:14:00.003-07:002014-05-29T23:15:01.058-07:00To Nirvana and back<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">With butterflies fluttering inside my stomach I got onto the tiny tail-boat. It's not that I was afraid of boats, nor the sea. This was simply the first time I flew out of my country without a guardian. Just me and my girlfriends. I was just drinking in the grandness of it all. The stretch of the beach that we left behind, the boundless horizon further ahead and the gigantic rocks in the middle of nowhere. Tentatively, I got down onto Railay island. At first, it looked like any other beach with people strolling away, sipping beers at the shacks and some soaking in the Sun. But as I got into a panorama mode, I realized there are two snug islands nicely connected to this one. One of those islands was just a bunch of rocks away. It seemed like a nice caved path to the tiny island. </span><br style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Being adventurers by heart and soul, we decided to cross the caves and rocks onto the other island. I reached Tonsai island, all bruised and breathless from the ups and downs, the sharp rocks and the spikey corals. A place with hardly any tourists (probably because of the late afternoon), Tonsai only had two shacks both of which looked like Rasta temples. There were pictures and flags in green-yellow-red all around, most of which had Bob Marley's face on them. I think I also spotted some brothers and sisters of his. It felt like a fraction of a second when two hours later, I finally got up to head back. Looking at the rocky path we came from, I realized half of it was submerged. Determined to reach the boat on time, we set out to hitch-hike once again, gathering more courage this time. We crawled, climbed, slipped, tip-toed and got bruised some more. Towards the very end of the path, one huge tide caught me off guard and I went floating into the sea. Somehow, I stepped back on to Railay beach and that's when it struck me. My phone was in my bag, which also decided to go for a swim. I could hear my heartbeats do the drum-roll. For the first couple of hours I was heartbroken because I had no way to share my experiences on Instagram or Facebook or even check-in at a place. After those first few hours, I felt free as a bird. There was nobody I needed to please. No one to give my hourly account to. Those five phoneless days were the best days that I spent in Thailand. I didn't have to check for any pings or updates and my eyes were doing the clicking for me. Sitting at my office, new phone in hand, I wonder if that was the best way to explore a new place and whether I'll do it again.</span></span></div>
Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-82952609790199970292014-03-18T06:34:00.001-07:002014-05-29T23:15:50.115-07:00End of an era!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">I know how you hate it when I wouldn't wake up,</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<span style="color: #666666;">You probably hate the fact that till late I'm up.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<span style="color: #666666;">But I also know how you let it go.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<span style="color: #666666;">You would always have to tell me to exercise everyday,</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<span style="color: #666666;">and to cover the mattress to keep the bed-bugs at bay.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<span style="color: #666666;">But I know how you let it all go.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<span style="color: #666666;">I hate that you'd always take forever to bathe,</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<span style="color: #666666;">And even when you're ready, we're sure to be late.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<span style="color: #666666;">But you know how I let it go.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<span style="color: #666666;">I hate it when your phone keeps ringing on,</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<span style="color: #666666;">You hate it when I'm always on the phone typing on.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<span style="color: #666666;">But we know how we let it all go.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<span style="color: #666666;">You'd think that all these years would make it all easy,</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<span style="color: #666666;">That moving ahead with our own lives would be breezy.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<span style="color: #666666;">But now I know I don't want to let it go.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<span style="color: #666666;">But now I know I don't want to let it go.</span></div>
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Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-69455634110169821752013-06-04T07:17:00.004-07:002013-06-25T04:16:27.378-07:00Running out.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t want to run out of Words to say,<br />
I don’t want to run out of the Excitement to play;<br />
I don’t want to run out of the Will to do<br />
What my Heart feels I must go through.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t want to run out of the Imagination<br />
Of having Travelled the entire nation;<br />
I don’t want to run out of Places to be,<br />
I don’t want to run out of all the Curiosity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t want to run out of my Patience,<br />
My biggest strength against all vengeance.<br />
I don’t want to run out of fiery Dreams,<br />
I don’t want to stop chasing Extremes.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t want to run out of the Hope to live,<br />
I don’t want to run out of all the Love to give;<br />
I don’t want to run out of my Faith in God,<br />
I just want to thank you for Everything, O Lord.</span></span></div>
Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-57173076795468505362013-01-17T05:41:00.000-08:002013-01-20T03:07:34.868-08:00Married.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A girl always dreams of getting married to the perfect guy. She wants him to be the exact image of the Prince Charming she always wished for. Maybe I was born in the wrong country or in different times than I was meant to be. Of course like any other girl, there was a Prince Charming I dreamt about all along, but that's the thing about dreams. You keep wanting more. Every other guy could be your Prince, but it's all just a big political game for the Universe.<br />
As for me, it took me a while to realize that I found my Prince and that's when I decided to leave everything else and run to him.<br />
<br />
He's the perfect kind, believe me. He's beautiful. Not in a very conventional way though. He is very kind to me, and always makes sure I stay happy at all times. Maybe he's a little disturbed sometimes. His mind gets crowded and he gets all loud and stuffy, but with a little patience, the phase passes and he more than makes up for it after. He's always pleasantly warm in winters too; and equally cool in summers. But it's the rains that I enjoy most with him. The only thing about him that's not right for me is that he's a morning person unlike me. For him, it's lights out at 11pm!<br />
Did I mention he always brings rains for me when I'm down? That's why I love him and that's why as my mum says it, I married him. Yes, I'm married to Bangalore. Happily married. =) </div>
Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-9391703136623464322012-06-03T11:40:00.000-07:002012-06-03T11:40:59.643-07:00Heartbreaker<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Watch out, here she comes!<br />
Here comes the heartbreaker.<br />
<br />
Disguised as the girl-next-door,<br />
Giving you the smile of your life,<br />
She's the one girls want sticking around,<br />
She's the one guys don't mind hanging around.<br />
A big mistake it'll be to pursue her,<br />
'Cuz, here comes the heartbreaker.<br />
<br />
The happiest person you'll come across,<br />
She'll win you with her wits;<br />
Oh, you can cross her, she won't mind!<br />
But you can't stop her with ties that bind.<br />
She'll bewitch you with her laughter,<br />
Here comes the heartbreaker.<br />
<br />
She'll crawl up into your heart,<br />
Better be warned not to be bound;<br />
The chapters of her life are not so shady,<br />
But that won't make her heart all bright and sunny.<br />
With hypnotizing eyes causing but a disaster,<br />
Here comes the heartbreaker.</div>Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-5802249322873779992012-06-03T11:39:00.001-07:002012-06-03T11:39:17.755-07:00Breathtaking.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I hold my breath when I have to fart,<br />
I hold my breath before a movie starts,<br />
I hold my breath before a meeting,<br />
I hold my breath till the tingles pass.<br />
<br />
I hold my breath when I hear the dogs bark,<br />
I hold my breath when I hear the slightest screech in the park.<br />
<br />
I hold my breath when I cross the railway line,<br />
I hold my breath before smelling the wine.<br />
<br />
I hold my breath before I blow the candles,<br />
I hold my breath when I see a rat in bundles.<br />
<br />
I hold my breath to let the trailer pass,<br />
I hold my breath till the rain touches my eyes.<br />
<br />
I hold my breath when I see your name on the phone,<br />
I hold my breath when we’re quiet, all alone.<br />
<br />
I hold my breath to let the airplane glide,<br />
I hold my breath when I suddenly realize:<br />
God didn’t give me a big nose to hold it up with pride, no.<br />
He gave it to me so I could have as many breathtaking moments of my own.</div>
</div>Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-44301603748678877992011-11-28T03:01:00.001-08:002011-11-28T03:36:48.671-08:00December's here.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Winter has never looked so beautiful before. She has achieved what she couldn't for years. She actually managed to keep the Sun away from us for days! No one's ever done that for me before. Of course, it's a pain if you're waiting for your solar water heater to work in the morning. But otherwise, it's a sweet, sweet boon! She smells good, sounds good, tastes good and feels good too. On one hand, I feel like sleeping till late hours of the morning; while on the other hand, when I wake up, I always feel fresh. This is the season for the lazy: 'It's such a nice, pleasant weather! I don't feel like working at all today!' And Bangalore winters are like paradise. It's freezing cold, there's chilled breeze caressing your cheeks, inducing goosebumps all over your body. And to top it all, it keeps drizzling ever-so-softly day and night! And trust me, it is the season for the young. Not for the children, who have to wake up early in the morning, wear sweaters and go to school; definitely not for the old, who are most likely to fall sick or catch a cold or have to be incubated in a heated room. No! It's just the season for the young. Everyday is fresh; the smell makes you nostalgic. Walking, running, riding, driving, you name it and it's fun! Everyone at work is energetic and chattery and always with a smile. You're also allowed to leave early since it looks like it's going to pour! So, once you're home, take a quick-hot-shower, grab a cup or two of hot coffee/chocolate, snuggle up with your favourite pillow/soft-toy/guy and switch on the television. Because like Homer says, "Without television, it's hard to tell when one day ends and the other begins".<br />
Happy December Everyone!<br />
<br /></div>Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-52066511377634861312011-11-25T03:24:00.001-08:002011-12-05T00:43:18.187-08:00Forever and Ever.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Don't worry, this is not a love story. If you know me well, you'll be sure of that. But I'm sure there's a definite question at the back of your head: 'Why haven't I written about Animals or even Dogs as yet'. Well, It's just that I din't know where to start. Because believe me, once I start I won't stop mentioning those creatures; which is good if you like animals. Otherwise, well! Hard luck!<br />
<br />
<div>Okay then here's something about dogs. Firstly, they're not beasts! You don't need to be scared. They're probably much more scared of your existence! All they're asking for is just a pat once in a while. Or maybe just a glance and a smile. Now, I'm not just talking about those well-groomed perfume-oozing poodles. If you look around, I'm sure you'll find even cuter and friendlier dogs on the pavements. It's in a dog's nature to serve us. Now, I don't want to go into the whole story how they find themselves privileged to be serving a family. You'd rather watch 'Bolt'!<br />
And hey! There're not Martian zombies! Trust me, the bigger they are, they turn out to be friendlier. They'll make sure they remember you the next time you pass by. At college, there's a dog who's called "Chills" by everyone. But, I've been talking to him much before anyone knew him. And whenever I step out of the hostel/college (they're next to each other) and call out "Bart", no matter how far he is, he'll come running to me just to be patted once. Then he's off. Just like that. No more expectations. These strays are brought up around people who're constantly shooing them. They're just looking for some love. Show 'em some love and they're yours.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, here are some fun facts about pet dogs. These dogs grow up in a disciplined environment, wherein they know who's boss. They're only loyal and friendly to those who are powerful; those who can control them. Well, okay not so much as fun facts. But they're facts alright! Bob, a Labrador was a stubborn dog. He would not come out of the pool for hours. More so, because his foster family was not firm enough in telling him otherwise. So, they had a 'dog whisperer' visit their house and show them how being firm and bossy with your dog works for the best. After that, the moment the owner firmly says 'no' to Bob while he's about to jump into the pool, Bob would sit right there at the ledge and watch his owner swim away! That's sweet, Bob! Sweet Bob.<br />
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The other thing (picking out from a long list) about dogs is that they're like kids. The only difference being that kids grow up; dogs don't. They continue to be in dire need of your love and care. They continue to make childish mistakes, they continue to fight you over things like the food being too hot. They need complete care all life. The more they age, you grow more and more fond of them and it's the same for them. They're not like the cows you set loose wandering on the streets once they're out of milk. They're not like children, who leave home, go to college and build their own homes. Dogs are here to stay with you all your life. "A dog is for life, not just Friday night!"<br />
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On a parting note, if you do come across/find/adopt/buy a dog, hold on to it, because no matter how much time (seconds, minutes, hours, months, years) you spend with him, it's eventually going to run out. It's never going to be enough. And if you're not in a position to keep a dog, share a smile/pat/ice-cream/piece of sandwich with a stray every once in a while.<br />
Cheers!<br />
<br />
P.S. If you're interested, check out "Dog whisperer with Cesar Milan" on Nat Geo WILD. Pretty interesting and enticing stuff.</div></div>Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-40235558763744148092011-11-17T05:26:00.001-08:002011-11-22T22:33:36.405-08:00Research ki Maa.......ya!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">At Design School, I used to get very fascinated with the word 'research'. For each and every project, you need some ground on which you're building up your design story. It's the base of your creativity. You can gain inspiration, insights and triggers. All you have to do is prepare an appropriate (*remember this word) questionnaire, talk to a bunch of people and you have a load of information in front of you. Now just compile everything and make some stupid charts/graphs and you'll have what you needed to know. So, you have the foundation, now build away! Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it?<br />
<br />
But that's about it. It just sounds simple. Research infact, is the most crucial part of any design process. For starters, it's most difficult to actually sit down and think of *appropriate questions to be asked. You get the questions right and half your research is done, I'd say. I mean you can't just ask random questions and expect to get relevant information. You might have to edit the questions a million times based on the kind of answers you get. I remember I've always edited the questionnaire after each person/set of persons I've interviewed.<br />
Secondly, knowing the correct people to talk to is very important. It's annoying when you either get the same answers from a bunch of people or very different answers altogether. And it's most annoying if you discover a whole new set of relevant people to interview at the very last moment! ugh!<br />
<br />
Now these are just minor hitches, but the greatest annoyance occurs when you don't know what you have to ask and to whom, and yet you're just running around like a maniac trying to find people; it seems that everyone runs away and hides from you. Like the whole world was informed in advance that a crazy girl is approaching you for some stupid survey and they all run for their life! I swear once I went to a school and i was lucky enough to reach the Principal, but the moment I start talking, "Ma'am, I am...", that's it! She cuts me off right there and drives me out of the room. I mean hear my name atleast! It's a pretty name. And believe me when I say, she already read my permission letter explaining my purpose sent to her by one of the office boys. Shocker huh? Well, not really, it's been pretty much the same for over two months now.<br />
<br />
I'm so grateful that I even got this far till now. But all I'm saying is, it would've been nice if there was some idea to start with or a rule-book to get you started or even a person with you who knew Kannada if nothing else. Well, I know I'm asking for too much. For now, all I know is there is no end to research. You can just keep going on and on and you'll never want to stop. I'm kinda in that phase right now. Maybe I'm just hoping for some kind of an epiphany or maybe I'm hoping it'll atleast show me the way. Or, maybe it already showed me a way earlier and I missed it. So I'll have to keep going till I hit another road? Maybe. I don't know...i don't know.</div>Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-67890146668526489942011-10-04T04:11:00.000-07:002011-10-04T04:11:45.512-07:00Where are we headed?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">It's the 21st century and people (especially our generation) are expected to be very straight-forward, independent and of course open-minded. This also leads the generation of our parents to accept the same. But I'll come back to that later.<br />
<br />
<div>Since I was born and brought up in the 20th century, I had my cute little paws in the old customs and traditions of my family. I learnt to sing from my grandmother, heard thrilling Gujarati stories from my grandfather, prayed to God with my brother and went to exciting Gujarati plays with my family. </div><div>And then BOOM! came in the 21st century, and got with it, this nicely wrapped, bedazzled bright present [pun intended]. But as and when I started opening the present, it unfolded something new at every step. </div><div>Of course I've been very flexible to any changes that came my way. I mean there was no other option. So if you know me well, you'll also know that I'm damn straight-forward, extremely independent (oh, yeah!) and definitely open-minded.<br />
<br />
</div><div>But it's again that time of the year when you feel you're getting closer to the end. [yes, I can be dramatic about birthdays too!] So this thought crosses my mind. I was supposed to be the one who bridged the gap between the generations. I did everything I was expected to. I am my grandfather's favourite, my mom and I are best friends, my brother considers me the closest friend, and my friends think I'm pretty cool. [well, that's a given.]<br />
<div>But what I'm worried about now is that will the same thing happen to the next generation? I know I'm thinking ahead of my time. But remember how I told you our parents/grandparents are supposed to accept the new generations and their traits? Well, mine do. My parents are actually pretty cool. They know my secrets, my flaws, my weaknesses and my way of life. they've always been very encouraging and supportive of whatever I did. Hell, even my friends are sometimes jealous of my parents and their open-mindedness.<br />
<br />
</div><div>But a very strange thing happened the other day when my mother called me up and asked me to make a bio-data of myself so they can send it out for marriage proposals! SHOCKER! Isn't it? Well normally, if something like that came up [which is definitely very rare], I would get freaked out at the very thought of it. Not that I wasn't taken aback this time as well, but it simply made me think: this is it. The time is here. My part is over. My part as belonging to the youngest generation is over. So, as a responsible future second generation, it's all upto me to take my kids to Gujju plays, or even teach them proper Gujju for starters. How am I supposed to do it all by myself? Infact, sometimes I feel I'm de-learning Gujarati as a language or even as a religion. [As if you din't notice how I went from 'Gujarati' to 'Gujju'].<br />
<br />
</div></div><div>So the bottom line being, I suddenly realized that it's just a crazy cycle. Where from the day you're born, people tell you to grow wings and dream of flying high one day, when you grow up. But infact, when you do actually grow up, you're supposed to cut off those wings [that is, if you'd managed to grow them at all] and come right back to the ground. But that won't stop us from telling our kids to dream big and fly high, will it? That's just how it works. Like I said, a crazy cycle! </div></div>Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-2386266974825363312011-03-22T13:24:00.000-07:002011-11-28T23:28:29.699-08:00Mingling<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5FK7HStPpew/TYkFKgDjhEI/AAAAAAAAAA4/fZFpGsrjqoQ/s1600/pablo_chika_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="628" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5FK7HStPpew/TYkFKgDjhEI/AAAAAAAAAA4/fZFpGsrjqoQ/s640/pablo_chika_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div>Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-33589609193632898162011-03-15T12:09:00.000-07:002011-03-15T12:09:31.098-07:00Mistakes.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Every time you did something wrong ever since you were a kid, you hear someone saying “It’s okay. We all make mistakes.” But are all mistakes ‘okay’ to make? Some mistakes are tiny, some are huge. These tiny mistakes might be huge for others. Some you remember, some you don’t. Some you might not even call mistakes. Some you regret, some you don’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But the fact remains. Mistakes hurt. Sometimes a little, sometimes too much. Sometimes to you, sometimes to others. But at all times, they bring about a big change. A change in behaviour, a change in attitude. It may bring a change in your outlook or it can be a complete life changing phenomenon. We hardly realise that one little mistake would bring about such a big change. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But it’s never easy to figure out who was at fault. It’s much easier to assume that you were the sole generator of that mistake. Sometimes, you deserve the hearty self-misery. It feels good. You might want to fall deeper and deeper into that pit of self-pity. It still feels good. But, there’s still the anticipation of hitting rock bottom. Although, believe me, you don’t want to go there. You might want to stop right there, take a few steps back. It’s been a long great journey. It was fun, no doubt. Be thankful that it ever happened. But everything comes to an end. Let it go. The more you try to hold it back, the more it slips away. Snap out of it. Don’t forget it, but also don't let it get you. And this might be a good time to take a deep breath as well. Lay back. Clear your head. And Voila! You’re fresh and ready to make new mistakes!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-9223806331531061912011-02-08T04:45:00.000-08:002011-02-08T04:45:08.779-08:00Family.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A group of people you love. A group of people you live with. A group of people you are closest to. A group of people you share almost everything with. They tell you what to do and what not to do. No, I am not talking about your blood relatives. I am talking about the friends you hang out with, you eat with them, share your room with them, (well, share a lot more than a room actually). Gone are the days when you used to live with your mum and dad (no offence to the ones who’re still living with their parents). It’s just that if you haven’t lived with friends, you haven’t still grown up. You have a lot to live yet. A lot to understand, a lot to experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you’re thinking, you won’t have a mother when you need one, or a father when you are in trouble, well I’ll say of course you will. There will be times when one of you will become a mother when someone needs a hug and a lap, while at times, you will find yourself pampering someone like a dad and will always have their back. This way, you’ll have more than one mum and dad. If you take a stat from the people around you, I am sure you’ll find out that we listen to friends a lot more than we obey parents. But of course the guidance given either way might just be on similar lines. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Once in life, it’s necessary to know what it’s like to live without parents. Now, you’ll say you’ll have to do just that after marriage anyway. So, why start now? Well, for the exact same reason I say. Now you tell me, among a certain two beings, one has been staying with parents and the other has had a hostel experience or something similar; who will find it easier to start a new home with their partner? <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">But mind you, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t give heed to your parents. Peer pressure is a completely different thing. Although it only comes into picture if you are fed up of the house you’re living in, and when you are looking for a way out. That’s when you take refuge with the friends around. Most of us make a mistake here. This is so not the experience I’m talking about. It’s when you have your parents around, you love them, you listen to them, confide in them and yet your roommates are your family. Parents you’ll always have even when you’re in some distant land teaching your kid to ride a bike. But the friends you’ve lived with : a very short-lived family. A family you are too afraid to lose. So afraid, that when it’s time to part, you’ll find yourself getting closer to them. It’s like a tsunami. When it’s about to take over the whole village, at the peak moment, the water will first be sucked right into the sea, and then comes the biggest tide.</span></div>Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-6256856235225878762010-09-16T06:21:00.000-07:002010-09-16T06:24:09.195-07:00I’ll be there for you.<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Apart from freezing cold, I think music is the only thing in the world that gives me goosebumps. Be it a wonderful symphony, whispering words with a violin playing in the background, or the sound of the sea waves dancing away on the beach. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are trying very hard to concentrate on the paper in front of you and that’s when you put on your head-phones and realise that your pen is just flowing on the paper. When you really want sleep to come, all you have to do is start your soft playlist. It feels like a lullaby your mum used to sing for you. It gives you a sense of security. Something which says, no matter what happens, you’ll always have me. Have you ever tried listening to happy, up-beat songs when you were sad? Well, I have. And believe me, it changes the whole environment. Suddenly everything is wonderful. It’s like music fixes you. They say books are man’s best friend. Isn’t music too? I find myself consulting to a song more often than a book. Hell, I don’t even read that much!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Music also induces so many things. Well, apart from the fact that this piece was inspired from it of course. You can make someone cry or laugh. A very romantic ambience can be created. It’s said ‘music is what feelings sound like’. In my field, even design can be created with music. If you look around, in each and every festival, there is music. Some call them prayers, some call them mantras, and some call it magic, while some find purity in it. It is a medium to reach God.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Music speaks what cannot be expressed,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soothes the mind and gives it rest;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Heals the heart and makes it whole,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Flows from heaven to the soul.</span><o:p></o:p></div>Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-19545951650925381792010-08-29T04:01:00.000-07:002010-08-29T04:01:09.760-07:00This is it.<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">The only thing constant in this world is Change. Be it change in appearance, change in a relationship or the phenomenal cosmic change. Everybody goes through a gradual change in life. Some of us have a fortune (or misfortune) of going through a major sudden change.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">So how much have we changed? From running around hunting for food from nature, to consuming chemically treated food and drinks. From roaming in the jungle naked, to being suit clad and making business deals. There was a time when it used to take months to travel across the sea; and now it barely takes a few hours. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Take India for an instance, in case of the appearance, women were forced to keep their heads covered in pallu. But now when you look around, the total amount of cloth used in covering one woman equals that of a pallu! Soon everyone will start enduring anorexia as well. I don’t even want to go into the change in culture.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">We are all aware of the climate change as well. Millions of years ago, the earth faced a very similar change. Of course, it was the other way ‘round. At that time, the earth was getting built into its total capacity of evolution. I am not saying that it’s fully evolved at present. Or maybe it is and now it’s just “un-evolving”. Now the whole process seems to be going backwards. Our behavioral, clothing and eating habits are becoming closer to those of our primitive ancestors. Maybe this is the way the earth is letting us know that now it’s time. It’s time for a new earth to be formed. It’s time for the human species to perish and give way to new species. I mean I wouldn’t be surprised if a day came when we would be roaming around covered in leaves, hunting for food. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Conserve water, conserve electricity, conserve resources. But hey, we are going to fall short of these things very soon. What is predicted of December 21, 2012 might just actually happen. If not the whole world in one go, it’ll atleast start around that time. You must be knowing that a leaf takes days to perish. Now imagine how much time a whole planet will take to perish. Of course it’s going to take years. But the time is here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-25384756459385361182010-08-29T03:56:00.000-07:002010-08-29T04:07:31.417-07:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: .5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Sitting by the window, staring at the urchins playing,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Feeling the breeze caress; with it, the trees swaying, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">With numerous thoughts running in mind, wondering<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Is it just me, or is the whole world changing?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">It rains in winter and its freezing during spring,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">It’s no more a mystery, the atmosphere is depleting,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Dancing in the first rain with him, wondering<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Is this still pure, or is the whole world changing?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The sun is scorching my body more than ever,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">It’s smoggy down the lane almost forever,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Lying on my back seeking the invisible stars, wondering<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Is there still time, or is the whole world changing?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Sometimes, my land is covered in water, sometimes it’s bereft,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Somewhere everyone’s parched, somewhere everything’s swept,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Waddling my way through the flood, wondering<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Is this all natural, or is the whole world changing?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The time when every other day a new species would appear,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">People were afraid of what they might discover,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Sensing less and less of them around, wondering<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Are they still there or is the whole world changing? </span></span></span>Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-117859434805613712010-08-28T08:12:00.001-07:002010-08-28T08:12:38.434-07:00To be, not to be<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Don’t worry; I am not going to talk about career plans or future prospects. I am not going to talk about how I wonder if I would do something with my life or if I will fulfill my parents’ and grandparents’ dreams. Naah!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am not here to teach you the recipe of life, but based on my experiences, I can surely give you some of the secret ingredients that might spice up your life.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am simply here to discuss about the state of mind when we are wise enough to decide between “yes” and “no”. Trust me, it’s not as simple as it seems. In fact, it’s the most difficult choice. For instance, if your friend asked you “Do you think my wife’s hot?”, it’s definitely not going to be a “yes” or a “no”. The worst part is that these two extreme responses give extreme results. And that is one major reason why we are always afraid to answer in yes and no.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, if such a simple question can’t be answered honestly, what are we going to do about the greater questions in life? Because, most of the decisions we make are either “yes” or “no”. So when does “yes” become a bitch and a pain in the backside, or when does “no” make us a bitch to avoid that pain in the backside?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Are you ready to take up the responsibility”, “yes, sir”; “Will you work on all weekends this month?”, there! There’s your “oops” moment. Yes/no, yes/no?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes-pain in the ass. No-you’re fired. Instead, “how about 2 weekends, sir?” works much better.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Do you care for me?”, “yes, dear”; “Do you love me?”, oops again! Yes-no backing out. No-ruin everything. Instead, “how about we just keep things as they are?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Does it have to be this way or that? Why can’t we just pick up something hanging there in between? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evasiveness is not bad you know. I came across an article which read “saying no nicely”. It doesn’t mean smiling sweetly and then saying “no”. No. It means how to avoid saying “no” and yet making sure that the concept of your intentions was grasped. It has a lot to do with your presence of mind or your ability to come up with appropriate excuses at the right time. This is exactly what we all need to learn- how to avoid a direct question and turn it into our favour. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">BUT, when it comes to the matters of the heart, how do we even avoid such questions? Just looking into those love-filled eyes makes you wonder: will it be fair to say “no” to them? So, should we just say “yes”? Will that be right? Sometime or the other, it’s going to come to a point when eventually you will have to say “no”. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, the bottom line being, evasiveness should be used, not abused.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-16447135359451685182010-08-28T08:11:00.000-07:002010-08-28T08:11:17.216-07:00Deal makers or Deal breakers?<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Sometimes, all you need is your best friend. Be it telling them everything you feel or simply cry in their arms; be it just listen to them when they counsel us or simply sit there together staring into nothingness. I mean, why would you want to invent a hypothetical friend known as “dear diary” when you already have a best friend to share it all with!! It’s an unofficial deal between best friends to keep each others’ secrets. The “code of honour” is what binds us deal makers. You would think that what happens between two best friends stays between them (that being the deal here) But hey! Open up your eyes! Just go check how much people actually know about you, even when you know it was only between you and your best friend/s.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">It’s the way of the world where there are always enough incentives offered to the other deal maker to turn them into a deal breaker. This simple unspoken law, methinks, is proved in each and every daily soap. It’s not just friends or best friends, it involves all those who you have shared your secret with. But the problem here is, the closer you are to a person, the more dangerous it turns out to be. When you confine something into a “trusted” friend, you don’t expect her to spill it out to anyone; rather than an acquaintance that you happened to talk to. As such, these acquaintances are not even part of the deal since they never agreed upon the “code of honour”. So, then what? To look for another deal maker?</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">But this is not as easy as tearing off the diary that betrayed you, and starting to write a new one. It might be easier to dump your guy and go for another one for a change! So what if he was really loyal to you and never spilled any of your secrets (maybe because the secrets were too lame!)? But it’s still most difficult to find another BFF (Best Friend Forever).</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">So, how do you differentiate these deal breakers from all the deal makers. For one thing, they always have a tell. A “tell” is something which gives away the sign of her being a probable deal breaker. For example, when you hint that you are about to let out a very juicy gossip, there will definitely be a slight twitch of the nose or lips. Or else look out for a sudden spark in the eyes, which lasts only for a fraction of a second. These are the bitchy ones!</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">And, as usual there is the other kind of deal breakers, who’ll have a typical look on their face, which says that they are not quite sure whether they want to know it or not. The problem being that they don’t trust themselves to keep it in their stomach for too long. If it becomes too much (or even too long), they have to puke it out! These are the “majboor” ones.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">So, if I have two deal makers, would I be breaking one deal if I were loyal to the other? The speed at which we are moving today, we might have to change BFFs every week. And yet we keep on making and breaking the deals; which brings us back to the notion that more than anything, we NEED these deal makers; who cares if they’ll turn out to be deal breakers or not!! </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-55244551333335070222010-08-28T08:06:00.001-07:002010-08-28T08:06:58.962-07:00Grow up...Not!<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">From the very first day of our lives -or even before we are actually born– a lot of expectations are imposed upon us!*THUMP*! But who decides the age at which we are supposed to take charge of our actions? Is it when we are caught cheating in the exams or when we “forgot” to complete our homework thrice in a row? Is it when we “accidentally” started dating our best friends’ partner or is it when we forgot to pick up our kid from school? Or are these simply some innocent gestures, suggesting the way of life? There will definitely be a zillion times in your life when people must have asked you to “grow up”! Be it when you are trying to steal money from your dad’s pocket to buy candy or when you are trying to shop-lift!</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">So, what is “growing up” (of course, apart from the metabolic growth)? Growing is learning manners and when and how to actually use those…blah blah blah. It’s when you dump all your Barbie dolls and G.I. Joes in a box stuffed into some corner of the attic. It is also realizing that you are not the only bitch in the world! Each and every soul on this planet is selfish.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">However, there are two kinds of people in this world. The first ones are the ones that believe in living life according to the rules set by the institution: say never bunking classes, never to distract your neighbor, or never to speak ill of your teachers or in-laws (yeah, right!!).The other kind are the ones who always live off the edge. Whether it’s lying to your parents about a night party you attended or simply challenging a monstrous guy just because he called your BFF fat!! Then again, there is the third kind. These are what we call the ‘smart asses’! They always know when to cross the line and when to simply sit-back and lick asses!! But, I am not going to discuss about the “asses” I have come across in my life.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">You know, there is a very thin line between being “childish” and “childlike”. The only problem is to know where exactly to draw the line (as is, in any other case). Being childish means not knowing when to stop acting like a child (say : whining and making stupid unreasonable demands). Being childlike is simply listening to the child inside you, yet not letting it overpower you. Demanding for a candy and crying until someone got it for you is childish. But craving badly for a candy and wondering whether to bake a cake or buy a pastry is childlike. It’s like asking your husband to hire a guy as his Personal Assistant instead of asking him to have lunch with you every day. In short, if you are childish, there’s still scope for you to grow up (need more so, than scope), whereas you’ll never grow out of being childlike.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">I like to have milk and bourn vita instead of coffee! I like to hug my teddy good night. I like to use a baby tone once a while (maybe more often so). But does that really mean I am not a grown up? I am well behaved most of the time, manage my accounts considerably well (that’s part of being a Gujju though), and I act as an agony aunt to all my friends as well.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">It probably means that a part of me doesn’t really want to grow up. You would think I am going backwards: Instead of growing out of the petty things, I am growing more and more fond of them. Instead of being fed up of having all that Pani Puri, I crave even more for it now! As and when we grow up, like any other memory storage device, our brain also starts filling up with memories. More the age, more the data, the more we start cherishing them. Nostalgia is always the barrier that stops you from moving ahead at some or the other point of your life.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">So when these memories and “childlikeness” bring so much happiness to us, why grow up?</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343660613167782643.post-90073303276841501162010-08-27T10:47:00.000-07:002011-02-08T00:08:16.231-08:00Faith<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Have you ever wondered if you have made the right choice or whether you are supposed to keep looking for the right one? Why is it always so difficult to choose? Is there no ranking system in the matters of Love : "I love you best; you are fifth on my list"? They always say 'trust your first instinct'! But will someone please come and tell us WHAT or WHO our first instinct was?? I know people who have waited and waited (read: dated and dated) and have ultimately found their match. On the other hand, I also know people who grabbed the first person who showed interest in them and they didn't do bad either. So, which category do we fall in?</span></span><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When God created us, he should have provided us with a rule-book or a guide. For, whenever we find ourselves in a fix, all we have to do is refer to the context in the guide and there! The perfect solution to the problem! For some of us who believe in God, is it because we believe that no other force could create such wonders? Or is it because we are too lousy to take up responsibility for our actions and knowing that you have someone else to blame? He probably only exists so we can keep taking up quests and keep solving them along the way. He is there to nudge us ahead, so we can tell ourselves "Everything will be fine." </span></span><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You don't believe in the power of prayers, but that's okay. To each's own. But you've got to believe in something. Something more than you can touch, taste or see. Because life is too hard to go through it alone, without something to hold on to. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">No matter how much we crib about our lives, in the end, it always falls into place. I'm sure too that I will find my perfect guy at the right time. Believing in God means believing in yourself. The day you start believing in yourself, God is with you and this is what we call "FAITH".</span></span><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div>Aastha Parikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459289046957702982noreply@blogger.com0