Last few days of my first job!

They were crazy! They were scary! They were fun! They were fearful and the last day was tearful! Period.

It feels odd when you sign for the last time on an official document.It feels nothing when you are stuck in clerance procedure of your company. It feels so emotional when an HR person asks you, if you have any complaints and suggestions, you feel like just thanking the company to hire you as a fresh student. Even though you had abused the same company many a times in frustration.It feels super weird when you get phone calls for the "Good bye" mail you wrote to people.

It feels pathetic to take out all small pictures-cartoons you made on cups, paintings,smileys you got as tokens of appreciation from your managers, an Indian Flag, a mug, a small yellow ball given by your senior from your desk. It feels a bit emotional when you empty your drawer and you find a transfer letter for your transfer to this amazing city of Mumbai- A real twist in my life.It feels odd when you realize your visiting cards of the beloved company will be of no use from tomorrow. You feel blank when you drink the last cup of coffee from the Cafe coffee day machine of the office where you had amazing chat-laughter-knowledge sharing and gossiping sessions with so many buddies.

You go mad when you realize none of your buddies are in a mood to bid you a grand good bye and they try to give you surprise. You cant stop laughing when you enjoy with around fifteen odd friends,pizzas,burgers,cokes,sprites and farewell speeches which actually in place of praising you, pull your legs and hands :D

You realize what you are going to miss, when your foe cum friend (Tom & Jerry friends we are!) promises you a cup of ice cream (which is so rare!) and before leaving (when you have forgotten about it!) comes up with a big cup of your favorite ice cream. You go blank when your best buddy-Shane comes to your farewell and gets scolding for reaching too late to meet his relatives! :/ Your colleagues cry, almost and you try to control, your favorite friend cum local guardian couple from office, mails you and makes you cry!

You come back to your room, be online, shoot some mails and sleep like a dog (Really!) but you get up exactly at 7am and realize you have no office to go today! You are officially job less from today!!

The feeling sucks I tell you!! You drink a cup of juice and suddenly you realize what fun you had, you realize you have got the best pals in your kitty and you are the luckiest girl in the world.

You feel no more sad, you feel relaxed and welcome students life, again!

A question thanks to 'Matilda'!

I guess I had seen the movie somewhere when I was matured enough to understand it's not for me, its for kids! :/ But who cared? Or who cares even now![I guess the post is going to be long and meaning less in the beginning but I want to blog to clear the nostalgia feeling!!]

 So the other day when I was roaming on the streets of Mumbai, Me and my buddy noticed piles of books and that means that is our favorite place to be. I was in need of books to satisfy my need of daily reading. My buddy took the plunge of suggesting books along with the 'Book wale' bhaiya. Suddenly I noticed a book named 'Matilda' in the kids literature book-lot. I grabbed it at once.

Flashback:
The teenager Bubblegum with her three years old mischievous cousin is sitting in the drawing room and watching television in the horrible hot evening of May. I remember the month as otherwise at five in the evening you can never get me inside home. I would be out to play with Frock buddy N.

My cousin is as usual asking me thousands of question and was focused on not letting his Didi to breath even for a minute. Suddenly I noticed a notorious looking girl on some random channel on the television doing something with her father's hat. I remember everything.Crispy clear. I asked my cousin to watch the girl and tried to make him watch the movie. From the very moment the terrible-two-chatterboxes were so much engrossed in the movie that mom and masi inside the kitchen dint realized at all that we are still in the drawing room. I guess the day was a golden-head ache free day for my mom. Yeah the terrible duo (One in 9th standard and the other was not even sure about the meaning of education!) used to make them feel crap with headaches, of course with the help of other cousins! ;)

May be I learnt something from the movie that day, how to fight for your rights. How to help people. How to tolerate tough things of the life and still try to get out of the cage.Kids movie and innocent I say!

Flashback over:

I grabbed the book. I went home. After two days I picked the book. Read it at once. Finished and enjoyed.Yeah kids book it is. But Don't you think, each one of us loves to be a kid again??

There is so much innocence in these kinds of books. How to fight evil, what is good, what is bad. What great people do, what bad people do.Why jealousy is bad.How to respect for people who care for us. Why we shouldn't bad mouth. Everything. I guess my ethics are built on the basis of what I have read apart from my parents upbringing. We all have learnt these stuffs in our childhood days.

Suddenly a question popped up in my mind.

Do we really care about 'those values' we have learnt in our childhood?

That moment called zindagi!

The moment and me. For a minute. My mind stopeed and took that much needed pose. The cool breeze could be felt inside me. The sense of being secured. The sense of just living that moment. The water far away, my heart wanted to listen to the song by those cute curly waves. I had my life with me. I felt, luckiest for no reason. I felt the moment.

The moment called Zindagi-life!

I revisited these lines,

Kabhi dekho mann nahi jage,
pichhe pichhe sapno ke bhage;
kabhi dekho sapno ka rahi,
chala jae sapno ke aage;
Zindagi kaisi hai paheli hayee,kabhi yeh hasaye kabhi yeh rulaye..

I bow to thee-2!

My school was different. I must say, it is different. We had kindergarten classes where kids don't carry school bags or the tension of tiresome and boring homework books. Kids are taught to develop their senses, their vocabulary in their mother tongue-Gujarati. They are taught sportsman spirit, loyalty. They are taught color differences, songs,prayers of all castes. They are taught clay work, craft,painting and what not.

We had pure khadi-white uniform. Unlike other schools we had to sit on the floor in the huge assembly hall for the prayer and class-cultural programs. We learnt terminology in English too and Cambridge courses too. We can speak,write and read languages clearly. Not all students have mastered all languages but at least one from many,every one has. We were given exposure of music, classical music,dancing,reading,elocution, role-prays,drama,instrumental etc. You name it and we had experienced it.It provided us the stage!!

The best thing was -culture. We were different. We are different. It may sound odd but till 5th standard we used to call our teachers 'Behen' or 'Bhai'. 'Madam' and 'Sir' came into the picture in the middle school.We actually used to sing a song dedicated to our school-our life time friend,philosopher and guide. After passing the 12th standard, we realized the actual value of our school in building our personality and everything I have mentioned here.

So whenever we, students of Sheth C.N.Vidhyalaya pass through the school, we bow to thee. It shows how much we respect our school, we worship the school like the God! It shows the immense attachment we feel.It is the epitome of any attachment I feel.

When I was passing through my first and current company today in the morning, I saw the big entrance and the big name of it from the fly over. I felt I am bowing to this company who actually made me something from actually nothing student, who developed my attitude, who gave me the opportunity to explore the corporate world. It made me what I am today. I felt the sense of pride and the whole feel was a sudden realization.

I felt the second epitome of attachment, respect and admiration.

I bow to thee, my school and my company.

Ek jaam friends ke name!

I just heard it on the radio some days before, "Friends are relatives, we choose!"!

Not bad. Friends are important and they become super important if you are away from your family.They keep you high all time (in my case!), they scold you when you are up to some stupid action.They become your moral support. Its true, they are relatives we choose!

Suddenly I have become very much conscious of the fact that, we must enjoy the present when we are with friends. Never know till what time you all will be together, in the same city. Worst, in touch.I started noting how I feel special and I smile because of small tiny cute gestures (or a tight scolding session!) of my buddies, irrespective of their locations!

I wanted to capture some of these moments, I guess I need a 3D (Harry Potter fame?) camera?!

-My frock buddy N pinged me in the morning some days back on 'whatsapp'! The conversation was like this-(meaning less?!)
Frock buddy N:Uth gai??
Bubblegum: Yeah why?
Frock buddy N:Hehehe, ese hi.


A big smile by Bubblegum! :)

-I was feeling exhausted after the Nashik travelling and the pinch of pain. The night was horrible with head ache and I was forced to take rest. I slept off finally. Before my alarm rings, I got a mail alert on my mobile. I checked. I got a biiiig mail from my best-buddy which made my day!! I read it for 238740 times and I guess my all pain disappeared suddenly.I mean when he writes I just love to read and whenever I ask him to blog or write more, he says, "I am very bad at it!! I know you will read this,just wanna tell you,

"Dude you write your mind-heart out!!! At least write for me!!!" :)

-Here goes a conversation with my bro-buddy on call, while waiting for another friend of us, Shana.


Bubblegum: I am waiting for Shana-sir. (Sarcasm is important!) 
Bro-buddy:Oooo sir!! (He is scared for Shana may be now!)
Bubblegum: (Trying to control my frustration!) Let him come late. Poor guy is missing some moments with a good friend like me!
Bro-buddy:What about the poor girl waiting for him?
Bubblegum: The girl will roar like a tigress!! (Woow!)
Bro-buddy:Not roar, you will mew like a cat!! 
Bubblegum:Bakwas!
After the incident (Shana is still alive!), the very next day I got a ping from my bro-buddy!


"What is tigress doing?!!"
Mugambo khush hua!! ;)

-When two nashik-buddies (One is JQ and the second one lazy fellow SB!) mail me and there is a loop of chains mails with no agenda. In one such mails,we start playing Antakshari! (I am the initiator!)

"Guys,These mails are very precious to me!! To remember how stupid we are!!!"

-A friend of yours from USA whom I call by the name of  a film character (which I don't want to publish here or else this can be my last blog!) he hates to be called, gets irritated when I suggest him a makeover which can make him look like his sister-ditto!!  :D 


"Dude, If you are reading this, I wont call you by your real name. Ever!!!" :D

-A school-college friend KS who is a doctor now, scolds you like your father to take the vaccine, you are scared of. For the first time in life. Period. Oh I felt special but I certainly dint smile!! :P

-The would-be of the same doctor-childhood friend fellow, pings you and makes you understand about the whole vaccine thing!She is a doctor and the vaccine is important! Thehenga to Dr.KS, I smiled! :P

Such crazy friends make me smile or make me special each time they dive into my daily life.I can note a lot many incidents but these are the latest ones!! ;)

To all my friends and upcoming new friends,


Guys and girls, you call I am high all time!! That's because of you!!
Ek jaam friends ke name,


Cheers!

PS: Jaam-Kissan jam, okay?! ;)

Hey you silly!

Hey you silly Bubblegum ki pareshan atma,

What do you think all the time? Day and night? You feel you life is moving very fast-but that's what you always wanted. You wanted to spark your dreams again. You are about to do that-what is stopping you?

You are a strong girl. You have overcome so many problems and depressions. What is making you think all the time. You are not worried or scared I know, You are scattered and blank. Just gather your guts and fall into the pool! You gotta swim!!

Things are awesome around you. Even if they are not , you always make them awesome. What is the need to think? You, who believed one should just move out of the comfort zone, struggle and achieve dreams one has, is getting scared? No then what is holding you back?

Your family?-No. They are always there. You know it very well.
Your job?-Job? In the whole world, you are scared of not getting the salary?
Your Mumbai?-Where is it going-You are enjoying and you will enjoy your Mumbai anyway!

You are scared of loosing the world of besties you have made! Right? Ah, isn't it bad that you have a doubt? Come on Bubblegum, they play it hard to make you smile every time.

You have to give a shot-You have to move! You have to achieve dreams-this one is your one of the finale shots. You are the smile and strength of your buddies-if you behave so, what do they feel!!

Buck up Bubblegum!!

Expressing is not a problem, but panicking just by those silly thoughts of struggles in future is a problem. The don of Kandivali area is fearless-What are you up to Bubblegum??

Smack those stupid thoughts away and enjoy! Reach out to your dreams! Just like your name-keep on Bubbling and fly high in the sky!!!

Your buddies are with you always!

Yours truly,
Real Bubblegum!

The heart of India!

So at around 10 in the night, I was travelling through the heart line of Mumbai, yes! I was in the ladies compartment of the local train.

Now, most of these local train travelling memories are colourful. I just love to travel by these trains. You have this amazing frequency if trains. No need to wait for more than 5 minutes and lo, you can travel miles, that too at low cost.Above all, one can see all shades of all kind of personalities. That is what attracts me towards these trains. Especially if you are travelling in a ladies compartment.

I see different female phases of life. I see a new mother with a tiny toddler. Sometimes even managing crying babies or worst, twins! The most beautiful thing, other ladies will actually help such ladies to sit and manage the situation.I see a school going kid, holding his/her mom. I see a grandmother with a grand-kid, engrossed in the conversation.I see a housewife sharing her blues and pinks with other ladies. Most of the time, they would have met for the first time in the train and now they regularly meet each other as they use the same train everyday. I have seen a local-train group ladies just like kitties. I see a newly wedded lady, with all her ornaments and pink blush talking on phone. I see ladies cross checking by peeping through the entrance, if their husbands/sons or friends have boarded the same train successfully in the general compartment or not. I see college going girls giggling about the latest addition of the handsome dude or the pain of exams. I see working girls listening to the music and out of focus from the world inside. I see some girls, blushing while messaging and staring the mobile screen.I see lady vendors selling earings,files,folders,hairpins and what not and struggle to earn the bread for the family. I generally enjoy the beauty of the whole sweating,screaming atmosphere.

But,just a few days before, I saw something which actually got captured in the image-film of my heart.It was nothing very special, very general for us. But that day I pondered over the whole scene.

Just near my seat, 3 ladies covering their heads with Dupattas and lashing pretty eyes were chatting.They were discussing about the real estate condition of Mumbai. Meanwhile 2 ladies wearing salwars and mangalsutras came in rush.After settling themselves down, they started talking to those 3 ladies.A young girl wearing skirt came with a 'cross' locket hanging through the neck. She greeted all of them with a smile and dived into the discussion. What amazed me was the kind of discussion they were having. All of them were updated and putting their points logically, going in the same direction, deeply involved irrespective of the barrier of languages. Just then I realized, This is India.

We, Indians, fight due to some differences like state,caste, creed and what not.At the end, we all are one. The scene was not a drama. It was a real life situation where ladies from different castes and cultures were talking to each other so happily, even sharing snacks with each other. All educated.

I don't think so we need to discover new ideas to implement peace in our lives.They are already there. We have stopped enjoying and noting small pleasures of life when we actually live 'Unity'! Peace is an old world, we should implement 'Enjoyment'!

I will never ever forget the whole scene which helped me to realize what India is all about and how we actually live 'Unity in Diversity'! Period.

 It is the heart of India, a beautiful one.

A talk with my God

Dear God,

What to tell you. You give me all happiness but with a pinch, every time. Last time I asked for something, you gave me after months with a lot of pain. I still wanted to respect your decision. You dint let me. A blast and the whole dream world collapsed. I had realized by the time, the world was something I dint deserve! Then why did you give? If you gave, you snatched?! I am happy now you did.I deserved the better one!

Months later, a gift from god came, brick by brick I started re-building my dream world in this true world. I realized this was the world I wanted. Not the one which was in my past. I was super happy. The time flew. World was there,strongest- ready to fight against all odds. Suddenly you started moving the plate beneath the world. It shacked. I am sure, the world is my goal. My motto. My life.

Is it necessary to shake?Is it necessary to give me a pinch?? Is it necessary to ruin my world again? No.

You wont do that!! Right??? I cant even complain that, you don't give me what I want. You give and then snatch. Don't do it again. I have still some faith in you. Some? You are the reason to our existence.

Hope you wont let my faith die.

Waiting for your decision,(I have decided, it wont change!)
Bubblegum.

PS:I really need to believe in 'you'. Prove it!Dont let the whole thing die.

One dream One life!

I have a dream, I have a life. Like everybody has. I call the phenomena , 'One Dream One life'. The phenomena has some versions. In a version, The dream is the life you want to achieve. It is something keeps you sane, rush towards the dream , achieve and lo, one more dream and one more life is there to meet. The other version is, A dream and a life both in different direction. You have to think and you have to think, then you have to decide, which part of the phenomena you want. You need to choose.

One more version is there. A combination of a dream and a life. Which has a period of both the versions I have described. You have to choose a dream or a life in a phase, after achieving one, You can live the second phase.If at all you choose.

In the former both versions, one can get through easily, comparatively.In the later one, you need to challenge yourself, you need to grow, you need to mature with time. Everything without loosing a focus.It tests your guts.It tests your soul. When you bang on it, The dream and The life becomes 'You'! 

One dream One life,

I chose a little bit of both.

Fortunate enough I get the support,

Strong as I want.

Future has an act in its kitty,

Life is all but the gravity.

I shall stride to achieve the dream,

Holding my life within,

Indulge in present you also say,

I struggle to find your way.

Something in me grew today so strong,

I feel proud and try to hold on;

The same life and the same dream,

Because the little bit of both,

Is what you shall also reap.

PS: Just an impromptu write up. May confuse you, but all I will say is, I am proud to choose a little bit of both, the third version-if you understand! Its tough to express today!

Conclusions!

I had some self-talks a few days before. Bubblegum calling Bubblegum kindda.

Generally such talks are arranged when I am disturbed with my own behavior, because of my surroundings, because of some truths I accidentally found out about myself. Such talks are long in duration, takes time up to weeks and months to establish a set of conclusions.

It is always difficult for me to see the change in myself,sudden ones.I was observing some behavioral changes and some picky selections as well. Finally after a long long and really long talk with myself and some of my close buddies I could come to some conclusions.I am trying to chabofy them and digest!

• It is alright to become selective about persons you talk to. If you don't want talk to a person or two and just end up the greeting by 'Hi and Bye', its fine. Comfort is something you should opt for.
• It is fine if you expect the fact that-you gel well with guys, and that too faster. You don't need to feel ashamed for that. It is also alright if you don't want to make all girls, your girl-best-friends.To become friends one needs two similar frequencies to match and you don't have to work on it like a relationship.Friendships blossom naturally.
• It is alright if you play 'silent' sometimes. Everyone needs a space from the outer world. Outer world which consist of family members and best buddies. For me,my room is the place for me to be 'silent'.Me and my music, my books and Internet. I need this 'Silent' time daily.It keeps me insane.
• It is alright if you don't love all characteristic of your pals. They have their own personalities.You just stay apart and that's it. If you have some dislikes, digest them. You are a normal human being-not mother Teressa. 
• If you don't like gossiping, don't do it. If someone does, it is none of your business and just stay away.
• If some people disapprove your 'Take'on life, its their choice.You know your 'Take', just live it.
• If the past haunts you, if the future scares you, indulge in the present.
• It is perfectly fine, if you cant tell some persons whats their way out of your life. You are scared to spoil the relation. Better call it off or drag it for the whole of your life,but close the loop.
• Your ambitions define you and your smartness. Don't let them defuse in the smoke of perceptions of people.
• It is fine to ignore people who are coming your way now, not when you needed them and felt alone. 
• It is fine if you want to forget the 'fight' with a friend, with whom you feel the same when you now talk. Friendships can handle fights!

The last but not least,

• It is totally fine if you dream about cheesecakes every day!! :D

25th year is super fun!! :)

I am a kind of a person who loves to cut the cake at 12 on my birthday, and loves get many many gifts and feel happy! Not to forget phone calls,mails and texts!!Only one problem is there- I hate it when any one asks me what do you want for my birthday-Oh boy,grow up, you people are close to me, Cant you give me a surprise? Sheesh.

The pre-Birthday week was full of such silly question by buddies,they poked me a lot and frustrated a hell out of me. Period. I was wrong. The actual story and planning was running in the back ground!! *Smiles!*

Everyone is asking how my birthday was-and The enthu-atma of Bubblegum wants to tell everyone how my birthday-away from my home was rocking,lovely,heart-warming and yes, sleeeeepy!! :D So,on public demand!! ....

A soon to finish 24- Bubblegum, at around 11pm, previous night, behaved maturely when she accepted that, no one is going to be with her at 12,not even her roomie, personally. She was okay. She thought the next day-she will plan something and have fun.


At 12pm, the newer Bubblegum was given a plenty of surprises by all of her close buddies- even from kilometers away, ah yes. The over-whelmed Bubblegum is bursting with enthu to tell you all how she was surprised by some of her closest pals ever, Here she goes.

The cake at 12, Bubblegum with a Harry Potter fame witch hat!!-Okay you all, I am taking this very positively and Finally, I have got the cutest hat ever I can have!! :) A witch hat-The perfect gift for a Harry Potter fan! For the cake, I should thank Shana and VA!! :) VA, thanks again,Thanks for being the smart supporter!

GLG-2, you rock!!! I love the cute earings and bracelet with the cutest ever, ever Anklet!! Gosh, the pair of anklets are so so cute that, I guess I went bonkers for a few moments after seeing them! I actually stared at the lovely pair of anklets for zillion times and made sure they are mine forever!!(Turning dramatic?!)



                                      The card from my terrific trio-buddies!!! :) Exactly my type of a card!! :) Handwritten messages and punch lines were best GLG-3! :)
I love such cards, given by best buddies and that too hand written. I think my album of such cards is going to feel proud to have such this one.

I can seriously name each and every characters on this card, but I guess if I want to live more I shouldn't at least blog about it :D



Now, here comes one of the best parts of the 'Gift Session'!! The DSLR lens!!!! :) I just cant imagine my bro-buddy has such a creative mind :D Hahaha, Thank you all. Ah, you can see the cute mobile cover,thanks GLG -2again!! :)




Now, the gift I feel , made me emotional. * Sobbing and gulp*, I was never given such a girlish gift in my life. I just want to smell and feel it for the rest of my life. The best-feel gift award goes to 'The Body Shop' Gift pack!!! :) The pack includes Shower Gel,Body polish,Lip balm,Musk and what not-of my favourite Strawberry flavor! (Ah, the post is turning girlish and pink!!)

Now, the last but not least and the best (All gifts are favorite yaar, I can differentiate!, but this one is super special!) gift!!-I never thought people like-my these 2 buddies can be so so so creative and hard working, just for me!! *Eyes flattered*!In the below photo mjust beneath the witch hat you can find it!The scarp book- containing all my photos right from childhood photos to nice photos, crappy photos to disgusting photos!! :D The best part was-Messages of all ,all my buddies & the best-From my parents too!

I cant imagine The buddy (Who is the idea-Generator,laptop photos-chor,the physical copy creator!) called up and mailed my parents, my brothers and school friends to take their messages and ah,photos too!! :) Ah, Bro-buddy, you helped him all the way from Delhi!! *Tears!!*, Frankly, The Scrap (book) buddy, you rock!!! :) ;) :P



I think, a few gifts are still on the way-well it seems I am celebrating my birthday-week if not the month!! :)

The post-gift-night-era was bubbling with hundreds of phone-calls, mails and text messages. It went up to 3! At, 6am I started receiving calls from my senior bhaiyas from Australia and Europe.They harassed me-even when they knew I needed sleep so badly! The session was followed by friends and relatives in India for the rest of the day! I am thankful to some very senior bosses of mine for wishing me by calls and texts on Sunday :)

I tried to manage the day with a visit to Siddhi Vinayak and A fabulous dinner. Ah, I forgot about my 'sleep mode' all day long. I was sleeping standing in the temple-queue for the darshan,having dinner,coming back by train, in the auto,while talking to all my friends on calls.Sorry VA, I really don't remember what I chatted with you while I was in train!!Sorry girl, if at all you get to read this!Just a doubt Shane?-Did you sprinkle tranquilizers on gifts?? Specially 'The Body Shop' gift kit??!

Ah, I bow to you people, who managed to surprise the 'Surprise-plan-queen-ever-one-can-see'!!

With a small birthday wish to be with you all, in my upcoming all years, I declare,

"The 25th year of my life is super fun!!"

PS: I am sure, Shana and my bro-buddy will react with wide eyes and calling me 'Credit chor' and 'narcissist'!! The post is slightly scattered but please understand my feelings!! :) 

Har ghar kuch kehta hai!

So, when we shifted from our 24 years old home, to a new lovely big home, I was not happy.

My old home, where I was born and have lived for 22 years of my life.It says a lot. My homes says how I was, how we were, financially ,socially. How me and my brother grew up. How my mom and Ma (Dadima) created those warm attachment. It says all or it said all. Isn't the Asian Paints ad says true, "Har ghar kuch kehta hai"?!? Every home makes you feel something-something about the people living in it.

I just cried that when I will go home, I wont get the old charm, old smell,my childhood and warmth again.
Obviously I was wrong. After more than a year of shifting, when I go home (new one!), I feel the same.

• I can feel the warmth when I sit in the big varandah cum balcony where my father has planted a series of saplings. Almost a garden. He has finally grown roses in the hot weather of Ahmedabad. I can feel the 'Mom factor' (My mom loves jhulas!) when I swing on the jhula in the same balcony. I can feel the homely vibes.
• I have finally managed to know which part and compartments/drawers of kitchen contains what! Yuppy! I can help my mom so better now.
• When I sit on the big couch in the living room like a lazy child of the family and watch the tv. Its luxury and the ditto childhood vacation feeling at the old home!
• I can still find old black monkey teddy, the royal jhula,the old antic designwala crockery cupboard in the living room and yes, the old bedding on my bed. :)
• The same way mom makes 'Keri no ras'. the same taste of mom-made food, the same mukhvas-peti on the dining table, the same sitar kept in the cupboard-Somethings I love to indulge into :)
• The same way me and my mom watch 'Bombay to Goa' the old one, in which Amitabh has put on the shirt of the same print as my grand-mother's saree!! :D We watch in the same mood!!! :)
• The same way me, my cousin, mom and my masi sit in the drawing room and chit chat for hours together enjoying khakhara. Only the place changed, not the feeling.
• It feels so bad and good when you hear the old performed garbas and songs saved in Papa's iTouch. Bad as the group is no more in existence due to jobs and marriages of all participants.Good because I realize memories are enough to keep myself live and smile.It was my old home where such dances were being practiced by me sometimes, I can hear the tune and the excitement at my new home too now!! The best nostalgia feeling.
• I can feel the love with which my mom has developed the environment at home. The drawing room full of my silly glass paintings,carefully selected couch-covers and curtains, flowers, pebbles in the glass table,the small cute teddy-cat,dried flowers and what not. I understand, the feelings and the love I feel for the new home is because it is made with love.
• I can find the collection of scaled cars in my brother's room (Finally he has a separate room, we used to dream about), the same engineering books on his shelf I used to study, ah and the same loud music only we both enjoy!
• Not to forget, my mom's gussa when she keeps on scolding us to keep our rooms clean. Obviously her favorite target is my brother and then me! I guess I can get the same age old goosebumps :D

Truly, Har Naya ghar bhi kuch kehta hai!! :)

Cheesy chase!

Okay, that is my birthday party picture. The platter of cheesecake was suppose to be mine, Only mine. :D
Now one can see what happened at the Pizaahut!

Any thing can happen over a platter of cheesecake, ya!!

 Before:

After!!!!!!

PS:I think Shane, you owe me a treat of the cheesecake! :D

24 for turning 24!

Yeah! It's my Birthday today! :)

I am turning 24, how I was shocked and surprised and all other details will be blogged after taking a breathe in a new year,Bubblegum is turning 24, exactly at 10.20pm,today! :)

So, after quite a good time spent in brain storming, I landed up on this way of blogging a birthday post!It can provide me an opportunity to over view my life, my strength and all those memories I have created,positively!

1. I was born on Friday,Amawas ki kali raat!! Yes its true!
2. I share my birthday with the most creative person I believe-Leonardo Da  Vinci, I also share the sinking day of the giant boat-Titanic.Sheesh.
3. I was prematurely  born-7 months-under weight baby who survived to blog by the name Bubblegum today. It took me full 10 years to come into the limit of normal-baby-growth-rate.I am a chubby-fatty girl now. :/
4. I was a mommy girl all the time. My mom says, I used to cry my lungs out even if she goes to the washroom for a minute! There were only 2-3 people who could handle the baby Bubblegum apart from my parents.I guess it has nothing to do with my over-extrovert character now!
5. I had million nakharas in having my meals. My parents helped me to develop taste for healthy food, but still I am the same.May be with zillion nakhras I have my meals now! :D
6. I am my daddy's girl pakka. Be it the ability of living on only curd or the inability of living without music.I have an added virtue of fondness for Bollywood old movies from my Mother and Maternal Grandmother-father both! :)
7. I have inherited the style of walking from my father. Yes, I walk almost like a man, even after rigorous training of Bharatnatyam for 7 years. You ask me to dance I will be perfect, you ask me to walk I will jump. :D
8. I used to love each and every kind of toys, right from dolls,toy-utensils,Lego kits to cars. I think the taste for the same developed my interest in the field I am.
9. Me and My younger brother are so much into music that, almost every night while helping mom, we provided free music-concert-live to my family.I think he has grown way beyond it.
10. I was the biggest darpok of the city in those childhood days. My mother used to scare me.laugh at my expressions and have sadistic pleasure too :D She built my guts that way,may be!
11. I have traveled almost every part of India-except Seven Sisters. I thank my parents to show me what my country is like.
12. I have some birthmarks exactly like my mom. I have some habits exactly like my dad. Still,my father says, I am like my mom and My mother says, I am like dad.I don't understand them!
13. I feel wired when people stare and comment at my nose. Nose?? Grow up!
14. The most-proud-moment of my life was the result of my board exams, for me. But my parents, I guess they celebrated my each tiny achievement. 
15. If my Ma-Grandmother would have been there at the time of my placement, I am not sure how she would have reacted on that, I was to leave the city after all. Papa says, she would have been extra proud of the fact. :)
16. I have been lucky in terms of buddies-super lucky. May be that's the secret why I survived all alone in the batch of 89 boys.Mechies we are! :)
17. My biggest passion I realize is dancing. May be some day I will rock the stage again with my grace.
18. I generally forget but don't forgive. May be that's why, after getting hurt I cut off for a long period of time and never get attached again like before. :/
19. My biggest gift from my parents I believe are-My name,My childhood photos and the Baby-record book. 
20. I had a habit of collecting chocolate wrappers and after leaving chocolates, I have thrown them away.They were 237!They were tempting me so bad.Now I am moh maya mukt from chocolates.
21. I get attached to my things so easily, that I refuse to give any of my toys to any kids around our place, even now. They are still,packed :D
22. I am so much punctual that I always loose my mind on friends who make me wait. I guess, I need to start a penalty for reaching late-Let me guess- An earing for each mintue? :D
23. I just used to hate wearing  Khadi- as I had put on the fabric for 8 years of my life in my school.After leaving school, I just love  Khadi. 
24. I love to grow, Ask me my age I will add one or two years in it.As my bro-buddy stated,Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional! :D

Today, On 15th April, I seize my 25th year with zest. Life, Here I come!! :)

Snap shot!

I know I know I have not come up with some clicks of mine since many days. Frankly, I am working on something. Hopefully it will come out properly some day. Digress in the beginning itself :D

So, I decided to take a snap shot of Today! To show whats going on in my life, may be more like Harry Potter fame 3D photos!! :D (Sometimes I wonder  if they  used animated-GIF kind of formats!)

Lets start!! Here I go!

• I was not feeling like blogging since so many days, somehow I blogged (not up to the mark though) just to keep my blog alive. It is painful to see people leaving blogosphere or just killing their own blogs.I dint want to do the same thing. Some how I blogged but it was very much hurting. It hurts when you feel you have so much inside you, just that the real 'you' is not getting penned down, you are loosing the skill of expressions! I guess it is just a phase and I will come out soon.I just remember this!
• I am really happy with myself-the way I have started start drinking coconut water. The 'dhoop' of Mumbai kills me (& 'Dhoop' of Ahmedabad kills me double!) and so I have found out a way to keep my self chilled out :) Even Nariyal Pani wale bhaiya starts cutting one coconut for me, when he finds me walking to his stall from a few meters away, I keep money in my hand, I reach, exchange according to the deal,no time waste in waiting and thus we achieve 'Process Optimization'! :D (Ah, Mechanical engineers don't kill me!) 
• I feel, I was sleeping since a week,almost null. It happens. One poke and you get back to life. That is what happens, I guess one or the other buddy of mine pokes in such situations, I wake up in a tough way.It happened yesterday.Some day I will blog about it.
• After writing this, I noticed some of my buddies couldn't understand the post, some of them called and asked me if I was fine, Some said-we dint react and some said I am crazy! Well, the post served the purpose. I vouch for my i-pod-which is not working!! *Sobbing with tears in eye!
• Do your abs pain when you sleep?? Yes it happens, when you exercise  beyond you capacity or try to increase your stamina! Ah, to not to feel the pain-I exercised more :D
• I have become a bit more sensitive towards things, or I have become more emotional since a few days. The real problem is,I am not able to show that directly and so I feel suffocated and irritated.As I told you above, I am feeling fine now after getting poked by a buddy. I am feeling relaxed for a while after getting paranoid about the 'Poke act'!
• I am damn nervous about the upcoming event in my life! Chill guys and girls, I am not getting engaged or something. Just want to say, I don't want to plan, I just want a cheesecake! :D
• I got a gift from my Senior VP,I got my hard (heart!) disc back which was lost I should say,sometime back. I guess, I was so much overwhelmed when he helped me to get it back, I would have cried, I just said 'Thanks a lot' and rushed out of the cabin! It contains my life-just like my blog, it shows me.My childhood pics, my music, my movies, my e-books, my projects! My heart! 
• I am planning to go home! Yes, I want to go home! Its my childhood buddy's marriage and the whole lot is giving me galis for not coming. I need a bigger deal of my Ahmedabad trip! Here I come Frock buddy N :) Ah, don't ask me when! :D
• I just realized I have blogged a loooong post and before people just stop reading, I should stop writing more! :D As of now I am feeling good, may be the Blogvita is working! :)

Cheers!

I dont accept this yet!

Dear Fua,

I know you wont be reading this, You might not be able to know what I actually feel, so I decided to write a letter on my Blog.

I lost my grandfather aka Dadaji when I was five, somehow I never missed him as you were there. I am still not sure if you are like my father or my grandfather but be assured, you are that special someone whom I respect so so much, more than any one else in this world.

It was you who taught me to see things with  different point of views, from different angles.It was you who taught me that a doctor is an engineer only. I remember you had told me, "Your papa deals with machines and I with your other fais-fuas deal with human bodies, we all are engineers otherwise." The very sentence built my vision and goal to become an engineer. You had told me,'Dont go where others are going, go where you have already been in your dreams', so I could let go my admission in the medical college & get into this dream world of machines and cars.

It was you who inspired me to develop hobbies in areas where generally girls wont dwell into. I have always seen you taking so much interest in applied physics,mathematics to automobiles and the best, robotics even though you are one of the best plastic surgeon of your era in the city. In fact I have discussed Robotics and cars more with you than my father and brother. The best thing I have learnt from you, "Be as curious as a child,all your life." As a kid or even now, I never felt you are a famous doctor, I always felt you are my fua, who doesn't know anything in the new physics and engineering world, so I need to know more and tell you more! I think, that way I started building my personality.Ah, not to forget, you showed me so many wonderful kits/tables/trolleys you made yourself, sufficient to inspire me to choose my career.

It was you who also taught me how to prove how to perform at par with guys wherever I go.You also supported us-cousins so well be it our science fair, cultural festival, music classes or Bharatnatyam and Garba shows.You were always there to bless us.

It was you who actually told my mother to have faith in my grandfather's diagnosis about her premature baby, that's me. 'Bubblegum is going to be brilliant!', and my mother still says you gave her faith and here I am. Papa says, whenever anything happened to me-my health, it was you who decided and it always worked. Even in my boards and engineering years, when I was suffering from migraine, you made me stronger and taught me certain things which are helpful even today.I think, more of a doctor it was your love for me, always.You are a plastic surgeon and still cured my migraine!

Last time in January, I spent some time with you,Enjoying cousin's wedding. After all you were bride's grandfather! That was the time when I saw you walking with the help of a stick for the first time. I saw wrinkles on your face, at the age of 85, for the first time.I saw you were tired even after 5 minutes of talking.I had to make you wear your shoes and I could see your shivering legs.I am used to see you healthy with kicking enthusiasm. I still smile when I picture you, you are still smiling at me with all love and care, not to forget child like innocence and that fatherly/ grandfatherly warmth.

You suffered a cardiac arrest some days before. You were admitted in a hospital, in an ICU. Doctors (ah, they all are either my fai-fuas or their friends) told us, after great efforts you are stable. You were discharged yesterday.I got to know you are not able to recognize any one. You talk irrelevant and try to figure out something in air.I seriously feel if you are just playing a prank. You cant be so. Not possible.

I am not ready to accept this yet. Come on, fua ,get up and show the world that you are still the same, source of love,admiration,care, inspiration. Above all you are my 'Fua'and 'Pa' of all my cousins, 'Bhai' or a father figure for my parents.

Don't tell me now, that you don't remember me.You gotta dance in my wedding after a few years, remember?

Yours,
Chatterbox, here people know me as Bubblegum.

Tea and Me!

I never ever had tea in my childhood. I exactly don't remember, if I was not allowed or I tasted it once and dint like. Yes, I used to be the tea-maker for my family whenever needed, but I never tasted it. I managed to be a pro in my special family tea-no sugar,boiled tea. When guest used to come I had to make my brother taste the tea and guide me. Somehow I used hate to taste it, forget drinking. The only thing I loved about tea was the smell-specially Darjiling tea and the kadak-masala. I remember making tea for consecutive two days for my Senior bhaiyas and they praised me like anything, though they added, the tea of both days tasted different :D I still cant understand if they were praising or.... :D

Years passed by, I left my home to start my career in an OEM. The year 2009 seems to be a turning point in my life-my personality. I learnt things hard way through, I am still learning but somewhere I am managing it smoothly. Digress. So, while I was in my Induction and Pune, I never ever touched tea-I was the coffee-girl.In fact the guy working in the nearby  CCD knew which coffee I am going to order!

Again in 6 months I was transferred , first to Nashik and then Mumbai permanently.My coffee loving nature was content with the office-CCD and again the nearby CCD outlet. Meanwhile I started developing taste for tea also. The kitli wali mumbaiya chai- thanks to some of my buddies. Somewhere I was loosing my ability to make tea also at home. :D It was she, who actually fed me the actual tempting tea! Just awesome and kadak. The only con of tea made by her was-it used to keep me awake all night!!I chose Saturdays for her tea! One day she got married and my affair with typical-kadak tea ended.

On 1st Jan, 2012 as per this, I left coffee. That's where my madness for tea started, which lasted for a few days. My sugarless-family soul couldn't take sugar-premi-office tea. As of now, I every day take the office tea, smell, try to figure out how much sugar will be in it (Don't ask me how!!),drink it like a davai! (Again dont ask if it is a compulsion)

I guess my roller coaster relation with tea is coming to an end-whenever it happens, May the relation rest in peace!

PS:This whole rant is inspired by today's super sweet-chasani type tea from my office-canteen. Sheesh!

Khichadi!

Okay, I am not talking about the insane serial, I used to love that serial at one point of time :D Now, I hate it!

Coming to the actual topic-it is the Khichadi made up in my mind now a days.I am enjoying-celebrating my life. There were moments of shock, weird  feelings,tears,anger but at the same time I had plenty of moments to feel good,enjoy,smile,laugh and I am just lucky!! :) I am enjoying the Khichadi instantly!!!

If I look into the 'Khichadi' of my life, I realize it is the Khichadi of two emotions. Love and Hate. Not in the literal meaning at all. 'Love' is all those lovely feelings you enjoy, and 'Hate' is the feeling you have to enjoy, or say I enjoyed and trying to enjoy!

I have read somewhere, When you let the love grow, 'hate' also grows, they are like two opposite poles. One can not suppress one and let another grow.You have to grow 'love', and 'hate' which is developing along, has to be grown as the part of 'Love'! You have to digest the presence of both!!

Isn't it true?? It relaxes me. Once I digested the fact, it is now easy to let 'bad things' happen.It is easy to make the bigger deal of 'Good things'! Just like him. The 'Hate' feelings should be felt-kept in corner.It should be made the part of the 'Love' which is dwelling in the rest of the part.

If we don't have to experience betrayals, we wont value the trust. If we don't weep, we wont value the smile. If we don't have foes, we wont value friends.If we wont get angry,we wont realize what is calmness. The life is Khichadi-Khichadi of all emotions.

I am learning to enjoy my Khichadi-Are you????

Summer things!

So the summer is already shining and I have already asked a number of people, the exact English word of 'Dhoop', I am still not satisfied with any of the answers given. Finally I decided to use 'Scorching Sun', suggested by 2 buddies. :D I still feel it doesn't give the same feel as 'Dhoop', may be my Amdavadi atma knows the pain.

Summer used to be different in Ahmedabad. It was my school-college days. Vacation days of course. Most of the people will flee out of town to get rid of the heat. There were days we had to tolerate. I guess, they were fun too.

Kitchens used to be full of Fruits like Water melons, Musk Melons and Mangoes. I cant forget 'Kesar keri' we get in Gujarat, its no where near to what we get in Mumbai. Kesar Keri from-Talala region of Junagadh,Gujarat. Yes, not a single spoon of sugar you need to add in the 'keri no ras' or the 'Aam ras'! Its different than Aafoos/Hafoos of Mumbai. These mangoes are very very costly and one of the reasons we don't get out side Gujarat is 80% of  these mangoes are exported. Digress.

So, kitchens full of fruits and 'Kachi keri sharabat' and how can I forget 'Raasana'! Mom used to make that bottle of Rasana syrup and we used to enjoy with ice in the hot summer afternoons! I remember My brother making 'barf ka gola' for both of us while watching movies and Cartoon Network in the noon.

I remember evenings were cool after 6.30. I along with my frock buddy N used to drink water and get high with our usual 'April fool Pranks' and 'Kachi keri with namak/mithu'! All those games were generated mostly during these days.

During college days, when Ahmedabad used to cross temperature beyond 41, one couldn't identify any girls in the campus on the vehicle, as all will be covered with dupatta resembling 'Jhansi ki raani'! The tradition is still in Ahmedabad. It is a need now, to avoid Sun stroke.We have to cover hands and face with white clothes.

I must not forget Khadi k Kapade! Its a bliss! I remember my father wearing 'Khadi ke shirts' till now, and believe me, Men in Khadi shirt look smart!! :) Really!!!

Nights used to be all ice-creamy!! Yummy!! One can not survive without Ice creams in Ahmedabad. I remember 'Home made Icecreams' by my super duper cool Papa!! :) Ah, I should not forget in early childhood, when I used to refuse to drink milk, my mom used to freeze the 'Bournvita' and give it to me in the name of 'Ice creams!' :D

Now, In Mumbai, I don't miss that heat of course, but I miss the fun. Of course thanks to my buddies I enjoy 'Kulfi' time like I never had!! :)I enjoy my daily does of sweet coconut water. I want to enjoy beaches!! I want to do a lot many 'Summer things'!

I still have to find my 'Mumbai Summer things' out side air conditioned office in the evening yet!

Are you doing your 'Summer Things'?!

Khare pani re..

I am that kind of a person who sleeps less, you call it insomnia or just a disturbed sleep problem.
When I am at home, I never face this problem, as soon as I get my bed, I sleep so tight. I would say like a dog :D

The beautiful feeling of calm and soothing homely atmosphere, having your own people around makes me feel secured. I sleep without many dreams or nightmares. Yeah I do have a tendency to see dreams related to the thinking going on in my subconscious mind. When I am home I just have either beautiful dreams or no dreams sleep. Its home after all.

So, when I was listening to the beautiful song from 'Machis', I almost had the 'sleepy' feeling I enjoy at home and still I was disturbed.

Paani paani re, khare pani re,
Naino mein bharja, Nindey khali kar ja...


Paani paani in pahadon ki dhalaone se
utar jana
dhunaa dhunaa kuch vadiya bhi ayegi
guzar jana
ek gaon ayega, mera ghar ayega
ja mere ghar ja
nindey khali kar ja...


Very much loosely translated:

The water, (salty water, tears over here)
Please fill my eyes with your presence,
Please remove all that sleepiness from my eyes,


Please climb down from the slops of mountains,
There will be foggy valleys ahead,
pass them all,
One village(town) will come,my home will come,
Go to my home,
Please pour all the sleepiness there (from my eyes)


Its perfect for me.It is beautiful. I think,  I better don't see a lake or the stream right now! I may feel terribly homesick!!

Gulzar's most expressive song (Each song makes me feel so!) so far. Yes, it is the same feeling when I am homesick and when I vouch for my home. The songs is a message to the tears of those eyes living far away from home. The message is evoked when the poet is enjoying(?) the beauty of a stream. It is about telling those tears to go to the far away home and sleep there, remove that 'homesickness' and 'sleepiness' out there.

For me, all those mountains are may be Sahayadri peaks, those valleys and vadiayas are Nashik terrain and yes.. After that the Gujarat part comes and My Ahmedabad will come. My home will come. I sleep there so peacefully. I have my family there.

Its my home there.