Un-stereotyped!

I really really dislike stereotypes.When each of an individual is unique what's the point of generalizing something as girly or manly. Girls can love sports and Guys can like chocolates.What's the big deal?It literally frustrates me on being classified based on gender.I saw this post on a blog and thought of doing the same.

So here I am : Un-stereotyped! Read on!!

1.My favorite color is Blue and a shade of Red best suits me.Pink is nowhere in the picture.

2.I absolutely love Cricket.Yeah,I do.Back at home,I used to sit glued to the TV with my brother,father and grand-father and clapped for every boundary Sachin scored and criticized Nehra for every run he gave.I have my own superstitions for the game too.I still cherish the World-Cup-Winning moment when Sachin and Yuvi cried and I had tears in my eyes too!

3.I am NOT scared of lizards and cockroaches.Yes,I don't go eeeewwww or aaaaaahhh on espying them.Unlike many others,I never freak out when they come around. Khaa thodi jaayenge!!

4.I love Driving and I'm very passionate about it. Four-wheeler,I still have to get hands on,but with my Two-wheeler I have already done a lot of dhoom dhadaka. I loveeeeee speed and have a good enough direction-sense which many don't have :P

5.I say NO to TATOOS. God I hate them.I mean seriously.What's the point of ruining your simple self for a filthy form of art?Tch!

6.I don't keep long nails ,neither do I apply nailpaints. Similarly I never put on jewelry - matching earrings,rings,chains,necklaces-that's not my cup of tea unless the occasion is really really big and gaudy.I just do not like those cumbersome constrictions!I prefer simple and sober!

7.I am a big tea lover as opposite to many girls.A cup of ginger tea with a newspaper in the morning and with a TV remote in the night was my daily routine at home.Quite manly?

8.I don't get angry that quick,but once I get, its really really tough to manaao-ing me. Bhayankar gussa aata hai......uske baad mei apne aap ki bhi nai sunti!!!! (Janhit mei jaari :P)

9.I love horror,adventure,action,mafia-all types of movies and not just romantic ones. It's the plot and story that matters to me.

10.I love spending time alone and cannot talk too much in general.Women are supposed to be good with words and articulate, but that beats me.I am more of a listener than a gossip-girl.

11. I am better at repairing sockets/burnt wires and changing tube-lights bulbs/fuse than at embroidery and tailoring. Haanjiii!!

12. I never think before eating.If I like it,I'll have it-be it chocolates,cheese or chaat.

So here’s to the not-so-stereotypical,un-womanly me! :D :D

That's all I could think of now...there's lot more in my bucket list :) :)

Thank You My Noble Countrymen!

I remember the times four months back when someone my age was brutally gang raped, when she struggled hard for her life for thirteen odd days, when thousands of men and women protested day and night on streets against it, when peaceful people praying for her recovery were lathicharged and water cannoned by the coldhearted Delhi police and when the anger of people literally came out against the indifferent government and its officials in a very very long time.

I cried a lot then, a lot....for her, for me, for every other girl/woman who unfortunately, yes unfortunately belongs to this country I live in. However somewhere in the back of my mind it was convincing to see the awakened masses on roads resisting the gruesome act, demanding justice for her and protection for their own sisters, daughters and friends. I was a little hopeful then that may be things would change for the better. Every day I used to sit glued to the TV to keep track of her health. I wanted her to live and inspire and fight. But, no she died. Every politician and policeman promised that her sacrifice would not be futile, that they would soon come up with stricter laws, that the culprits would be severely punished.

Alas, as usual and as expected, everything went in vain! I see no amendments in Criminal law bill, I see no stern punishment yet being given to those six savages, I see no measures being taken to curb the menace.  That little hope I had was mercilessly exterminated.What all I see now is increasing number of rapes in the country, particularly in the capital. WHAT I SEE IS A 5 YEAR OLD RAPED REPEATEDLY BY HER NEIGHBOR.WHAT I SEE IS HUMANITY BEING ASSAULTED ALL OVER AGAIN WITH UTTER SHAMELESSNESS! IS THIS THE CULTURE WE'RE ALWAYS PROUD OF?

When the Delhi gang rape happened, I heard a lot of well-educated and generally sensible people saying, “She shouldn't have been out after 8, that too with a male friend, in a place like Delhi", "She should have been sensible to stay home after dark”. Then came ‘expert’ comments from khaps and other 'eminent' politicos-"Girls should not wear provocative clothes”,” Age of marriage should be further reduced to 16","Rape happens not in traditional Bharat but in westernized India", not to forget the dented-painted remark and Aasharam Bapu's 'Bhaiya' theory. To all these people and those who say “She deserved it”, “She invited it all by herself” -WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THE FIVE-YEAR-OLD? WAS SHE RESPONSIBLE FOR HER OWN RAPE?A FIVE-YEAR-OLD-KID? Should she be blamed for playing provocatively, wearing provocative frocks and in general, existing provocatively on earth instead of getting aborted in the womb?

It boils my blood to know that a bottle and candles were retrieved from her body, to learn a policeman bribed her father with 2000 rupees to not file an FIR, to see a policeman telling her family that they should be thankful that the girl is alive, to see a policeman slapping a protesting girl. I am filled with immense rage and fury. I want to scream out loud, very loud, loud enough to break the earth into pieces.HOW INSENSITIVE CAN A MAN BE?

Truly speaking I never had expectations from politicians. How can one expect them to frame tougher laws with the likes of Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Gopal Kanda and N D Tiwari being the MP themselves. I never had faith in the police. They are more barbaric than animals. I am flabbergasted by their insensitivity towards the society. I only had hope in you, the people. But the callousness of the first two P’s has badly thrashed the third P.  Sadly,no lessons were learnt from Nirbhaya’s case. I am dried of all hope! I am sacred to the core. And this time I have absolutely nothing to say except that it is now I realize why my parents are always over-protective for me. No reforms or mindset change can happen in this great country of ours. I can trust nobody(exceptions apart) from the autowallah to the neighbor next door. THANKYOU for giving me a whole new bout of fear (of EVERYTHING) all over again. Good going my fellow noble countrymen. Just well done! 

Thank you very much!

Sincerely,

A teary-eyed ,really scared girl in India

PS:BTW Dear Khaps,planning to reduce the age of marriage to 5?Ehhh 5 months would be better,no?

Little Girl

 
A Little Girl I know
Naive, just four
Her Innocence’s ever charming
Her Sweetness names her a darling.
She has a crystal clear soul
O! She’s purer than the pure!

She dances out in the rain
Her tiny feet twirl and part
She sings aloud in her garden
To the tunes of her heart
Without much ado
To the eyes discerning her.

Life is fair to her
As are grandma’s fairy tales
The world is good at large
As her doll house entails.
She’s papa’s boy
She’s mama’s girl
Her aura brimming with love
Unaware of the tide, yet to unfurl.

For she couldn’t fathom
The endless worries
her mother’s eyes emanate
Neither the protective ways
her father resonates
All she wants is
To grow up, to grow big, very big
Like her Mama
So that she could fit in
In her high heeled shoes
(very pretty they are, to her).

Innocence is so much vulnerable,no?

My Dream Job(s)

It all began when I was in I-D and had to write an essay on 'My Class Teacher '. Surprisingly,for the first time I got a full star on it.Since then‘Teacher-Teacher’ (and not 'Ghar-Ghar') was my favorite game and I earnestly wanted to be one. I was hell excited to write ’very poor’ in the copy of my students ,to scold them and make them stand on their bench and to take them for picnic in ‘Hathi Park’(revenge you know,revenge :P). The other reason was that I’ll get to wear my mom’s high heels, beautiful sarees and can even use her makeup kit. *wink*

But then unfortunately, in a year or two(class III or IV) my love for cakes and pastries and chocolates out weighted my earlier zest. It was when my mom denied me a pack of chocolates saying ‘Daant kharab ho jaayenge” and on the spot I decided to own a Bakery shop one day.I often pictured myself supping blackforests and temptations all day long. (Slurp! Slurp!) When I told about my 'dream project' to my uncle he explained (after LOL-ing) how I’ll be at loss and that one day I’ll run out of money to buy more stuff for my shop. The clever me had an intelligent solution to the big problem-“Papa is always there, no?”But bade log ........ bade log. He put forth “Why not do something else, earn enough money and buy yourself lavishly all what you desire?” Well, how in the world could you win an argument with a stubborn child?(I mean you don't need to study more for being a shopkeeper plus you'll get to eat so many mouth-watering things whenever desired plus you can have TV in your shop to watch Pogo all time plus you can have holidays anytime every-time and blah blah blah).Poor Uncle Scrooge!

All thanks to DD-1 for diverting my mind. During those days (class IV or V) it featured one serial called ‘Aarohan’ which had Pallavi Joshi as a Navy cadet. I followed it strictly. Her ‘Washing powder Nirma’ washed ultra white uniform, smart looks, never-give-up attitude and stern patriotism intrigued me to be like her. The blue waters and the mighty ships were no less captivating. Opposite to Pallavi was a handsome hunk who was an air force pilot. He was so damn cute.His eyes, OMG what brilliance they had.Ummn…but soon the series ended. Studies began. My childhood fascination was thrown into a deep slumber. Slowly and steadily I forgot him, I mean Pallavi joshi…ehh…I mean ‘navy-mania’. The only thing I remembered then was that chemical formula of water is H2O.Whatever!

The intelligent me soon realized that I had to earn enough money(something like 30 thousand 40 crores 25 arabs 19 thousand 2 hundred 63 billions and 55 rupees :P) to meet all basic necessities of life- roti,kapda aur makan internet, shopping and bank balance. Nonetheless the frequency and range of my ‘Dream jobs’ was apparently quite high. It varied from tourist guide to bank manager, from pilot to interior designer and from astronaut to astrologer. It kept changing and changing until I landed on the highly overrated ‘High school’ landmark. At this stage I don’t know from when, where and how I came to know that I have to be an Engineer IITian and should struggle hard for the same in 10+2. But,in vain.(No,no regrets today!!)

As to this date,  I’m on the verge of being graduated as a “Bachelor of Technology’( a non-IITian to be more specific),that too placed in a business firm. :D

It’s like,
‘Many’ roads diverged in a wood
I took the one ‘most’ travelled by
& Still thinking to make the ‘difference’!!.....:)

Did I told ya that my un-dear and dear ones always had a feeling that most likely I would be a doctor. I wish they knew that it takes me around half-an-hour to intake one 250mg tablet that too with a bottle of water and a packet of chips! Heha!!

So this was the whole twined transition.God bless my unstable mind.Howbeit,a happy heart is all that matters in the end,no?

-Saumya

Of being away from home

It has been a month today of being away from home. Luckily both my schooling and graduation happened at hometown itself. But there had to be a first time. And here I am ,earning my living, hundreds of miles away from haven. While leaving,I had my fears and excitements. I thought I shall be homesick. But I'm not. I thought it would be difficult for me to adjust with unknown people in an unknown land. But it isn't . I thought I won't be able to adapt in out-of-comfort-zone. But it seems I can. Touchwood. I have really grown up you see.People here are good.The city is also neat and tidy.By the way,I got my first salary too,feels awe-sum-some naa? :)

Howbeit, I miss the place I belong to. No matter wherever I go, my heart is where my home is, for it takes me in as I am ,anytime,every time. The people there yearn to see me and embrace me. I know there is a void there that only I can fill and it is only that place which can make me feel complete.
Here are the few things I truly badly miss ...
1. I miss my room.That very familiar smell,those self-selected interiors and favorite curtains,my warm cozy bed and the super soft pillows, my writing table, the capless pens and scattered papers,my wardrobe and the mess inside,my big bookshelf, those wallhangings I bought, those nicely put gifts I got,my big desktop and the stuff inside...everything I miss I was so attached with, everything that was exclusively mine. I miss my scooty too. Driving is so much fun, ain't it?

2. I miss Mammy-ke-haath-ka-khana very much. I was very choosy then,nakhrebaaz to be very precise,ye-nahi-khana-wo-nahi-khana. Now realizing how appetizing and delectable that mom-made-meal was, even the things I disliked. The food here is too spicy and sour,not-khayable. I have no choice but to gulp it. I miss those days jab jo farmaaish karo mil jaata tha. The hunger was blissfully satisfied every time. But here I eat just for the sake of filling my tummy.

3. I miss having good Tea. Yes, I do. I am a biggggg tea lover. It has been my companion since ages be it during studying, writing, watching the sunset or talking with people.I don't like tea here. The taste is unusual and I really hate that tea-bag-waali-tea. Both mom and I make awesome adrak/elaichi ki chai.No ,I am not boasting,sacchii. At times we had 5-6 cups of tea a day, accompanied with loads of gossips.Damn,I miss those moments!

4. I miss those shackles that caressed and protected me. Though the feeling of independence is great in itself still I miss those restrictions.Weren't those chains actually threads of love and concern? It felt nice to be looked after. There was always this assurance that if something goes wrong papa/mamma will take care of it. They got worried if I were late or if I was stuck in a problem. Today also they sound apprehensive and caring about my well being but I miss their sheer presence,those they-bother expressions.

5. I miss making coffee/chai for papa, mamma and maggi for bhai and sis. Yes yours truly is an expert in making the two. It felt awesome to receive the same bauhat-acchi-bani-hai compliment n number of times. I used to be ready with garmagaram-strong-chai whenever mom came tired after hours of shopping or whenever she wasn't feeling well.I know my mom must be missing that bani-banayi-chai,mere-haath-ki.

6.I miss fighting.Yeah, its my all time favorite sport; be it verbal or physical. I miss fighting with my bro and sis over something as silly as who will handle the remote of TV, or who got a bigger piece of cake or whose turn it is to switch off the lights. Those small little noke-jhonks,that roothna-manana I miss it. I miss asking my father for a packet of chips or an ice-cream cone at the eleventh hour of the day, and fighting with him if he didn't get it.Mom used to scold me for not learning cooking and spending too much time on the internet. I miss that fight between my logics and her reasons. Daant khana bhi kya koi miss karta hai kya?Shayad haan!

On the top of it all, I miss that homely warmth, the love and affection of my parents,being pampered,humor and naughtiness of my siblings, ease and comfort of my surroundings.There is something ineffable about that heaven which only the heart knows of. The Corporate world is too sophisticated,I miss that childhood innocence. I really do. :(

-Saumya