Bundle of Joy

When I think about bundle of joy the thought which strikes me instantly is my niece who actually for me righteously is the bundle of joy. I still remember both I and my eldest brother-in-law wanted a baby boy and we both would never talk about a girl child being born in the family. But my sister always wanted a girl and then came the day 24^th Aug 2004 when my sister was admitted in the hospital and the doctor told it would be cesarean and I still praying for a boy to be born.

My aunty being an anesthetist was allowed to be a part of the operation. I waited impatiently outside with my mom, dad, and grandpa waiting to hear the first cry and then I heard the cry was eager for the nurse to come and announce it clear and loud “IT’S A BABY BOY” but I was disheartened to hear “IT’S A BABY GIRL”. I know when my niece grows up and reads this she is going to kill me for it but she knows that I love her a lot and this just a blog dedicated for her and that would definitely bring a SMILE on her face any day!!!

I still can remember the broken smile on my face when the nurse revealed the news. The nurse then told me to get a oil bottle as the baby needed to be massaged so I rushed down to the medicine store of the hospital, came back and knocked the door of the Operation Theatre…that’s when my aunt came and asked me whether I wanted to see the baby…and prompt came the reply…YES and probably that YES changed everything around me…I saw a small girl crying out loud waiting for the umbilical cord to be cut…smeared with blood and white fluids…that day probably felt how elated a girl feels when she embraces motherhood. It’s an out of this world feeling though painful but a pain every woman would want to undergo.

Since that day life has never been the same for me. I always loved babies but felt this baby to be mine….wonder what I would do when I undergo the same. My brother-in-law was travelling back it was me who called and shared the news with him… I was damn sure once he sees the baby all the sadness of not being blessed with a boy would be gone and trust me readers...now she is the bundle of joy for both me and him. It’s not others are not attached to her but somehow we feel that we are the most attached at least that is what we would want to believe till our death ;-)

Each time she comes to the house and calls “LEENA MAASI” immediately a name pops out from me “YES PUCHU”. I always wonder why such a name comes from me but then maybe when you have so much of love and affection for someone you tend to call them with weird names…many may disagree but this is the only reason I could think off at the present.

I have so many memories in regard to her being a small baby in my lap till now that a blog’s space would definitely not suffice ;-) Many more memories probably is waiting to be written…Right now just have 2 photos to share from life since 2004 until now….

In case anyone wondering why PINK is only colour no prizes for guessing???

 NORTH MEETS SOUTH

I apologize to my few readers ; - ) for my delay…but  Office work has kept me very busy that I am almost cut off from family and friends…but with my own set deadline of....one blog per month…I would never want to be a defaulter so better being late than never!!!

I would want to start this blog of mine with a pat on my back for having thought of such a lovely title…I know everyone would be wondering why the pat at the onset!!! I am not even waiting for my readers to appreciate…Well here comes the answer…this is the second best title I believe I have ever thought off , the first best ever title I thought for was undoubtedly “My Daddy Stongest” : - ) In fact I shared this title of the blog with many and wanted them to ponder over the title or atleast make some guesses what would be the contents for the title but none have been smart enough : - ( So clearing all the clouds which would have formed in your minds…let me unfold the already mentioned title yet again ”NORTH MEETS SOUTH” Anyone still guessing what I would be touching upon through this title???No prizes for guessing… I would want to write my thoughts on 2 people of my life…and they are my brother-in-laws aka jijaji’s aka bawa(in telgu)

My eldest sister had probably taken the boldest of decision of her life to go for an Inter caste Love Marriage….she married a guy from Patna…while my other sister decided to marry as per our parents wishes and married a guy from Chennai…and since then I feel blessed that I am their sister-in-law and a famous dialogue  to quote – “Roop rang mein chahe gori ho ya kali ho…khush naseeb who jija hai jiski saali ho…jiski saali ho who dedh guna such paye…nain rakhe saali par biwi sang batiyaye…kehat kavi rajesh amrit such ras ki payali saali hoti hai pyare aadhi ghar wali” from the movie HUM AAPKE HAI KAUN would just make everyone know that sister-in-laws are special …I don’t take any inspiration from the last part of the extended dialogue though..but then many brother-in-laws would love to boast about it…ha ha…he he… ; - )

This blog is however not to make me feel special but it’s just to tell my readers that how contrast both my brother-in-laws are just like the title NORTH MEETS SOUTH . The striking differences between them are - one is a hardcore north Indian who has been born and raised at Patna…while the other is a south Indian to the core as he has been born and raised at Chennai. The next difference would be one is aggressive in nature and the other is more submissive in nature. The next difference would be one is too much into devotion to god while other does not show that kind of devotion. I don’t want to sound like a Class-1 student trying hard to remember the difference between living and non-living things…ha ha… I could actually carry on with many more differences…bcoz there are in fact too many to be blogged down…he he…but then many of readers have suggested me to keep it short…so I would just want to end the blog on the best similarity both ends of the pole have…THEY ARE THE BEST COOKS IN THIS WORLD obviously after MOM…and LOVE FEEDING ME and anyone for that matter and hence could be righteously called MALE VERSION of ANNAPURNA DEVI only point to make a mention here is that I AM NOT A FOODIE BY NATURE but nevertheless I LOVE WHATEVER THEY COOK bcoz they make it with all their LOVE FOR THEIR ONE AND ONLY “SAALIJI”. Needless to say I LOVE THEM BOTH : -)

SATTE PE SATTE

Dukhi pe dukhi ho ya satte pe satta…Wondering why these lyrics??? Obvious reason should strike you all by now….not struck until now…okay here it comes :-) I am born on the 7^th day of the 7^th month of the year :-) I don’t know whether this a good date to be born as per Hindu mythology as I have heard many contradicting opinions about it. 

I would however want to stay on the positive helm of this date…every time I come with a reason for choosing the topic and this time also I had a reason for writing this…every year this day has been special for me…any reasons coming into your mind as to why this day has been special this year…it’s because this year many have made me feel special right from family to friends to neighbours to students to just acquaintances everyone have made it special for me in their own little gesture.

People who know me would know my fondness for sleeping…probably other than getting up early for work every day…I just love sleeping…in fact the word love would also be an undermined word…My birthday is the only other day I get at 5.00am…as wishes start pouring in through phone calls…I just hate to miss even one call on the day so I get ready by 5.30-6.00am because wishes start pouring from 6.00am and continue till 12:00am…..and yes did I forget to make myself a little more modest here…wishes start right from 12:00am and goes on till 1:00am…so I practically sleep only for 5hrs…which is probably the hugest of sacrifices for me as the 8 hrs quota is not availed on a day when I should be using it the most ;-)

I almost get close to 60-70 calls across the length and breadth of the globe :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)thanks to family, friends, students, acquaintances who have settled at various locations. This birthday was special because the celebrations continued not only on my birthday through friends gifting me flowers, chocolates, cards, gifts etc but even because the celebrations continued after the day…cake cutting not only happened on the day..but even happened after the day…gifts not only poured in on that day it still is coming  :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

I just hope that the happiness stays so not only for this birthday but for all coming birthdays in my life and I definitely won’t mind it if the gifts keep pouring in too ;-) I even share this birthday with many great celebrities, friends, students and it’s a little odd to wish someone and listen same to you in return…but I would be happy even if one of them sharing this day has a smile at the end of this blog….cheers to all the people born in the SATTE PE SATTE category!!!

Office Office!!!

I am sure readers would be wondering why such a name??? Let me tell you all it’s got nothing to do with the Pankaj Kapur serial which use to be telecasted on SAB TV. The reason why I thought about this is bcoz in my opinion OFFICE is a “HOME AWAY FROM HOME” I know some would not agree to this newly made quote by me but the reason I write so is bcoz I believe every working employee at least spends minimum of 8 hrs @ work and that’s how it’s also @ my office…and I spend most of time here apart from home…I don’t have the exclusive weekend off privilege like those working in IT Sector …I even work on Saturdays and if my employer is in a really generous mood he even gives me a Sunday to work…which I uprightly say I HATE!!! :-(But then your employers are here to suck each and every drop of blood in your body..I don’t want to make my employer look like a blood sucking vampire…but then I am sure the entire working class in this country would have at least once in their professional life would have cursed their employers :-) 

But I thought to write about this topic not to sound like one of those frustrated employee but to keep up the positivity that to spend time at office can also be fun if the ambience, colleagues are good…more importantly if you are flourishing professionally and your work is being appreciated and recognized you would love your work….for me fortunately it has been so in the past as well as in the present. In fact I have always been part of organization in their initial days of making it BIG and maybe that could be the reason why I have connected with people and assertively say MY OFFICE IS A HOME AWAY FROM HOME.

My first job as a recruitment consultant @ a manpower consultancy firm actually has made me a better employee…as a child in fact until my post graduation I use to be an introvert person…I would talk less and talking to the opposite gender was always a little of a problem with me but after having spent 5 years in a government women’s college I guess you lose the charm ;-).…my post graduation phase however helped me deal with this problem in a fair bit of way but the first job made it even finer…bcoz I had to interact with lots of people trying to figure out their career aspirations!!!

Interacting with so many different people throughout the 1 year I worked in this firm made me a better, confident and if I may have to say I even know some of the readers would also agree it’s made me a lot more extrovert ,talkative…after this 1 year of job I switched to this private engineering college…and then  

I realize that my earlier job I had to seek good candidates for employers…and now responsibility reversed I had competent students and had to search employers…still wonder which responsibility would be graded tougher??? He he…I guess both have their pros and cons….my director while handing me the appointment letter in this college made it very clear ”You almost look like a student yourself wonder how you would be able to manage some brattish engineering students but I think you should be able to manage bcoz your interpersonal skills are good!!!” I have to thank all those people I met during the tenure of my first job who actually made that happen for me.

Now putting a full stop to the thanksgiving passages written above ;-) I need to move on with the other aspect I intend to write in this blog….I totally agree you should have fun @ work as when we were growing up we have always heard ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY!!! But having all the fun will definitely make my employer throw me out…lol…I totally believe that it has to be the inner self which has to take a call on deciding whether your time being spent @ office is time you would want to fondly remember or always be cribbing about…with me thankfully until now it’s been fond memories…I would be lying though if I told that it’s been always good…there have quite a good bad memories too…but no point getting to discuss them on the blog as now things are sorted with them…and I can proudly say in these colleagues I have found that rare category which I mentioned in my maiden blog “GOOD FRIENDS”

Mere Bachche Mann Ke Sache :-)

Mere Bachche Mann Ke Sache

During my school, college or be it even till my university days I never enjoyed my student career…some great person has very righteously quoted that you never value a thing when it is with you but once the thing is gone away from you the value is known to you….I now miss my student life the most :-( In those days however I always cribbed about it whenever I would find an opportunity to crib….Trust me @  those times I never knew I would land myself into a job where I would see students around me every time….But then I got to thank these “STUDENTS” whom I always call as “MERE BACHCHE” yeah I know I am a spinster still…but then cant curb the maternal or sisterly instinct in me…lol….I know many would be laughing their hearts out…but that’s how it is :-)

It’s been 6 long years I am working in an Engineering college…and these “students” actually take 8 hrs of my time everyday…and during a campus recruitment session its 24X7. This indeed has become a part of my life and I don’t complain about it bcoz from this time spent with them I get moments which I cherish. I remember very well when I got my appointment letter in the college my director says that you almost look like a student yourself so I just hope you are able to maintain discipline amongst ENGINEERING STUDENTS who are always know for their brat like nature…with this welcome I started my career @ Silicon.

In the very first year I actually maintained a very grave and serious look and during those early days @ the college I maintained this image a lot bcoz another colleague of mine who off course left after 1.5 yrs of working with me due to her marriage always told me to do so as she thought my doing so engineering students would always maintain discipline, distance and would always think twice before messing with us ;-) and here like any other bollywood film comes the twist i.e what we both did not realize @ that point of time that we work in the Placement Department of the college which automatically comes with lots of power and fear for students and we were made to realize this by the faculties and management of the college.

At this juncture I would want to make an honest confession to “MERE BACHCHE” that I never tried to get someone on the right track by scaring them with the special powers the Placement Dept had though always told them would be ruining their placements never was I able to do so.

“MERE BACHCHE” in fact has given me some very sweet memories which I could refresh with a pinch of salt and some with a pinch of chilli powder ;-) throughout my life. Incidents like wishing HAPPY VALENTINES DAY instead of HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY…or  even actually wishing me HAPPY VALENTINES DAY in a group and getting away with it…or wishing me HAPPY VALENTINES DAY and listening to scoldings in return of a wish….or making it very clear amongst classmates that I should not address the student as BHAIYA….sharing some of their secrets on other classmates….calling me a LADY HITLER on campus…..to referring me as Ms.CHANDINI from MAIN HOON NA….or to referring as DIDI….or to referring me as HOT LADY INSPECTOR of the POLICE STATION of the college(Wondering why? Bcoz whenever the students were found guilty of any misconduct the authorities would always say STOP THEIR PLACEMENT/BLOCK THE OFFER LETTER)….asking for some advice on personal or professional front….they have done it all….in fact from the many students who pass out from the college year after year  some of them have kept their promise alive that they would never forget me and keep contact with me lifelong…I cherish each one of them…I would love to name few of them but would want to leave it like this….bcoz for me all students would remain” MERE BACHCHE MANN KE SACHE”

Being Single!!!

So blogging continues for me…thanks to some excellent support from family and friends that I now have decided to post one blog per month…just like a sales target…but unfortunately not given by my DIRECTOR as I work in a pvt engineering college  but rather self taken targets… ;-)

I should make a mention here that I was actually lost on what I should write on??? But god’s sent angel i.e sagarika one of my very very very good friend please excuse me for the emphasis on the word  “very” but she is that good friend of mine so it comes automatic  :- ) In fact she  suggested me that I should write something about the EXCLUSIVE STATUS we both share…any guesses??? I would end your wandering thoughts [no publicity for my blog ;-)]  soon as the late I come up with an answer  the wilder your imaginations would go…so guys and girls...It’s OUR STATUS of being “SINGLE”

I spontaneously jumped with an EMPHATIC “yes” but only to realize when I began to write that what I could possibly write and after having got so many applauding comments on the first 2 blogs I did not want to get any less of comments this time….The best opening lines I can think off to kick start this blog is something my boss told in the year 2007 for one of the farewell speech of the college where I work in the lines were “Students trust me the best part of your life is about begin now…when you are SINGLE and about to EARN!!!” No wonder they always say “BOSS IS RIGHT” but I would love this to be the first and last time I agree on a public forum ;-)

Though I was sitting in the audience as an employee but the student in me which makes me learn from anyone in this world…kind of just absorbed these lines…and since then probably I decided that I am gonna njoi this phase of my life to the fullest!!! My own sisters and almost all my friends (except ME and SAGARIKA so happy to be in this ELITE CLUB…lol) are married and by god’s grace have been blessed with children also…I have seen some of them…and every time they discuss with me any of their post marriage problems I feel as GOD’S FAVOURITE CHILD and that’s probably the reason why I njoi this SINGLE STATUS and have no hassles.

With “BEING SINGLE AND EARNING” comes some exclusive privileges too…you can always try flirting with great and hot guys…you get attention from good looking guys too…you can spend any amount of money on dresses, food, cosmetics etc….you don’t have to shoulder family income responsibilities mom and dad are there for it. Thanks mummy and how can I forget you daddy you made me financially independent. Some common problems of being married also equally exist which I hear from family and friends are you have too many people to take responsibility of…before spending anywhere you need to plan your monthly budget…children education etc.  The list is endless but I thank GOD that all these problems have evaded me until now…but with this statement I even dread that I don’t have many days left to njoi this status as BHAGWAN KE GHAR DER HAI ANDHER NAHIN…so I too will get into the crux of all these household and marital problems but I just pray to god that I should be able to maintain an identity for myself and no one should say me “YOU CHANGED LEENA…..” Change for good is always welcome…but change making me go far from my loved ones is never been acceptable!!!

To sum it up before my readers get bored and write me off as someone trying to strike differences between being single and married I just want to say either BEING SINGLE or MARRIED have their own pros and cons…but I would want everyone to njoi their own exclusive status…so while I njoi my BEING SINGLE STATUS Ladies and Gentlemen you Njoi your status......

MY DADDY STRONGEST.....LOVE YOU A LOT!!!

Now that I am into blogging…I keep wondering what next can I write about after getting such a good start…I am sure this would have crossed anyone’s mind who is into blogging…like how it did for me..but then I pondered a lot until I concluded maybe 2 and a half weeks back that I think I should write a blog for DADDY…I am sure lot of questions would cross the minds of people who know what I share with my dad…and would wonder why DADDY?

But then I have an answer first MY DADDY STRONGEST kind of thought coming into my mind or may be a quote made totally at the spur of writing this something like A MAN OF MORE WORDS and ACTIONS…I am sure the readers would be wondering why such a quote…to keep the answer short and simple…that’s MY DADDY…a unique homo sapien….whom god would have created only for me and my sisters :-) :-) :-)

He constantly keeps talking and cribbing about things which even don’t need a mention and very righteously has another name he has gathered which is use more often by my cousins “THE MUSIC TEACHER”

Jokes apart….I actually take immense pride in writing something for him…my daddy probably has some traits in him which makes me think…he has been calculative throughout his life…never ever done things which he feels he would not be able to afford for…and let me be very emphatic here to say he has given the best for all his three jewels of life i.e his daughters ;-)wonder whether dad actually sees us like this ;-) ;-) ;-)As he has been more silent in expressing his love for us…he always dreamt of making his children POST GRADUATES….a honest confession here about me….I with the knack I have in academics and think sometimes that  I would have been the only person to hinder his dream…lol….lol…lol…but then thanks to him and his dream he always wanted us to fulfill…that I completed my post graduation…and trust  me…if I am financially independent then its bcoz of this degree my dad has gifted me….love you daddy for this….no words can ever make me express how much this gift of yours means to me!!!!!

Like how I owe my financial independency to my dad my middle sibling owes all her logical argumentative nature (mind you in a positive sense totally!!!) to dad and while the eldest of the sibling gets the attitude to save a lot for future…so basically we have some part of our father in us but then dad is the storehouse of all…which includes…following a disciplined life of getting up between 5am-6am everyday….doing his bit of household chores…exercising with funny noises and chanting “Hare Ram Hare Ram”….doing the daily worship for 1hr in the gods room with only a JAILOR’s type underwear…and hey   all of you don’t run ur imagination wild thinking it would black and white stripped…it has always been plain white…and then have his lunch and leave for office…though he retired last year he still has loads of bank work which he every meticulously does and no one can raise a finger on his accounting ability….he is an absolute PERFECT like that of what Madhuri has been telling on her recently ended celebrity dance reality show Jhalak Dhikla Jaa…wish the blog had audio aid would have loved to use it!!! His day would end with watching the 7pm regional language news and trust me readers he would want to miss this for anything and when I say this I even laugh a lot wondering why?? That’s because lot of time he would be engaged with some other work but even if I or mummy would be watching something else on the TV he would continue yelling it’s time for the news and we should change the channel…isn’t that funny to use a TV as a radio…now I think the readers would be able to relate why I had a laugh on my mind when I started off narrating…after watching this news he would happily dose on the chair in the living room…and this reminds me of the latest to happen on 24^th April 2011…the day when India clashed against Australia in the quarter finals of WORLD CUP 2011….my dad being the obstinate man he is was all hell bent on watching the news while I was all eyes and ears for the match…and my dad raised his voice telling me to put on the news and I being daughter of an obstinate man just determined myself then and there that I too would not watch the match and would allow him to watch TV even after the news…and trust me people…it was a real test of my determination….but I hung on and the result was India winning the match…and hello…..I don’t claim that I am unlucky for the Indian Cricket team but both me and dad’s determination made India win and this was no less than a miracle as India had defeated 3 time defending champions…a matter I believe all the readers would take pride off….and this superstition in form of determination…made me not watch the semifinals and finals and yo…INDIA ARE THE NEW WORLD CHAMPIONS…so was just wondering whom do I actually thank for this success…the crazy fan following this game has in the entire country….the almighty…or MY DADDY STRONGEST…well while I wonder would end this blog making my readers also wonder?????