Celebrate the beauty of life...

P.S. : This is rather not to promote a jewellery brand which apparently has the same tag line!
          Life.....the widest arena with utmost events and celebrations. In fact, life is an eventful playhouse with an amalgamation of joy and sorrow with distinct characters involved. Blessed that we are born as human beings....confounding with the fate of other existing creatures; bizarre!.......
          Human beings, the only creature in this universe who values money!....go to any extent for a productive income...and finally saves it. 'Save it!'...something that has been practised since ages. Money substantially has to be saved considering the future cause. But, when it exceeds a limit; unfortunate enough to live in this world to enjoy the present....to live life to the fullest!! A contradiction with the current situation were emotions are saved and when emoticons are spend.....and to exist like other creatures than to experience the joy of living!.....
          Though born to a middle class family, I am glad that my Dad never insisted me to be a miser. I was not born with a silver spoon; my Dad too saves money, made us aware about the value of a single penny. Regardless of this, life was celebrated...we never missed a single occasion to celebrate and still continues. Birthdays to anniversaries....New Year to Christmas....Onam to Vishu...none was excluded, period.
          Lately, I learnt that this is not the situation elsewhere. People with the mindset to avoid occasional celebrations with senseless justification of saving money! When even the major festivals are avoided just to save money!...Or when you abandon the birthday celebrations, the event to rejoice ones birth? These memorable days which will be vivid for a lifetime...all to be avoided considering only the expenditure!?....
           Everything depends on us...Enjoy with the maximum expense or the minimum. But, in the end both will be remarkable, memorable till the journey continues despite any differentiation. I do remember a quote...
                "The miser, starving his brother's body,
                  Starves also his own soul, and at death
                  Shall creep out of his great estate of
                  Injustice, poor and naked and miserable."
                                                   -Theodore Parker
           Rich or poor, miser or spendthrift, celebrate the beauty of life...experience the inner joy and cherish the wonderful memories!...
        

What will I eat??.......

       Food.....the varicoloured temptation with lip smacking aroma arising!...this is how I can define it.
       To some, food is a mode of joy and leisure....to some, it is a means of uprising and a mode of resistance to the hazardous....and there are some who consider it a therapeutic to de-stress and relax......and last but not the least who perceive it just as a fuel for the survival!!
       Irrespective of what we eat today, I believe childhood food memories are the best....Maa ke haath ka khaana....now and then it is the best!... The dollops of ghee spread on the crispy dosa, the double poached eggs with innovative toppings, the scrumptious biriyani, the sweetest dessert with some extra added love, anything it can be; feast of delicacies ranging from breakfast-lunch-tea time snacks-dinner, everything is the best. I literally believe that the first Master Chef we meet in life is always our Mom.
       My adorable Amma is no way behind.
       I remember those days when I could sense the aroma of the home made evening snacks just by entering my house compound after school. I still wonder how she managed to make such varied snacks on each day with much ease and expertise. Most of the dishes were prepared keeping in mind the health benefits of them and my Amma always made sure that we kids empty our dishes and fill our bellies to the maximum.
       Every time when I made fuss to have food, she said, "It is good for your health...It consists of ...(ranging from proteins/ minerals/vitamins, etc. to all that I had studied in my lower primary classes)." Educated Moms are at times annoying!!..:D
       This was the scenario almost six-seven years back. Today, it is different. Lately, when I discuss with my Mom of what I cook for myself and my husband, the quickest reply comes, "Don't have it!..Is it pesticide free ?...It is poison coated!...It might be adulterated!...Soak it in salt-turmeric water for hours!....Did you wash it well?.....Is it of a good brand?....Was it sealed properly?..." It continues.....
      And in turn I have to think twice before cooking.......I have afterthoughts....Is/was it safe?...not adulterated?...devoid of chemicals?...It usually happens that whatever I eat these days are either adulterated or stuck with chemicals......Misery!!
       The miserable plight of the mankind! Once when fruits and vegetables were considered the best source of nutrients are extremely dangerous today, due to the pesticides ....and the pulses, cereals, etc. are mostly adulterated. Every individual is very much aware of all this; I really appreciate the move of the media in this. The rising population is very much concerned about all this.
       But, is there a remedy? How can we stop it? When the Government encourages to farm vegetables in one's household how far can it be successful and what can be done to the residents living in apartments? Where is the space provided?...
       What can be done to stop adulteration? In this fast paced world are we genuinely stopping by to check this?...
        I doubt whether there might be a generation in future who says, "Chemicals in food?!...Are you kidding?...Nothing to bother..My body is resistant!!..."

The girl on the train.........

      Here, the protagonist is not Rachel as in Paula Hawkins' novel. The plot is completely based on me. I had neither read the novel!
     My solitary train journey experiences....those journeys which made me a more confident and strong individual...
     Studies made me an avid traveler! Three years of Karnataka-Kerala and two years of Maharashtra-Kerala transfer made me proficient in understanding the geography of these states. Observing is learning; which I wish should have done during my school days...then when only scoring good marks was only the target!
      My miser Dad with an eye on making me understand the value of money was always reluctant to the air transportation. Bus is always annoying to me. I can't imagine travelling hours being seated at the same place. Hence, I had to stick to train.
     Those blissful days!..Studies in par with fun and enjoyment. Though my studious soul instilled in me from a younger age kept me busy with the assignments, on contrary when my counter parts preferred photostats! But, still I enjoyed.
     The pre announced vacation period when my train ticket reservation would be done in advance or those unexpected holidays when I had to hit the 'tatkal' reservation queue speeding to the railway station.....and finally when the train reaches the destination...eternal happiness!!...Pleasing memories to cherish forever!
      It is often advertised about how unsafe it is to talk to strangers on train or as a precautionary move. Due to this and my preference, I enjoyed sitting alone accompanied by a book or playing some music or at times just observing the motion around me.
      But there had been strange incidents when people irrespective of their gender or age begin a conversation with me. However, I hate that moment; similar to a foreign army subjugating a colony! Many a times I wished I could hedge them. A nod or smile will in turn result in the beginning of a conversation! Apparently when it is to a reserved person like me, the latter eventually concludes it at the earliest...Glad I am less spoken!
      Somehow there are loquacious minds which converses on a simple subject which later explodes to a much higher level. There had been incidents when I just wanted to scream loud and inform them how unethical it is to speak to strangers on train! But, my well mannered etiquette kept me 'mum'...
     Those were the days when I was 'single'. These days when I am accompanied by my husband, the scene is different. There are times when I actually wanted to converse to my co-traveler and when he knowingly avoids me!...Is it because of the same feeling which I had earlier?...to follow the ethics?!...Or is it that I am beside a shadow of a man?...Are only young girls the victims of such arising conversations on train?!...Clueless!!