Then and Now....

"I mark the hours, every one, Nor have I yet outrun the Sun. My use and value, unto you, Are gauged by what you have to do."

—Inscription on Hermione Granger's Time-Turner. 

Harry Potter’s witch-wizadry world is indeed a place to be in……there is hardly anything which seems unfeasible. 

How I wish to get up one day and realize that I am still in my school days and the present was a dream which has years to actually enfold into the realisms of what we call LIFE!! 

To read more please go to - 

http://www.bumpsnbaby.com/back-school-memories-now/

I am Blank Because......

I’m weird because……

I am a Commerce student but I hate accounts.

I am a Keralite but I hate spicy food.

I am the lady of the house but I have a bad memory.

I love pink to the heights that I wanted a baby girl and I had one.

I still talk, smile and play DIVA of my world.

My take on Inter - religion marriage

Inter - Religion marriage still taboo among indians? What is your take on it . #InterReligionMarriage

- Indiblogger - Indispire

"I would rather have had one breath of her hair, one kiss from her mouth, one touch of her hand, than eternity without it."--Seth (Nicolas Cage), City of Angels

Saving Books – Saves Reading

Rewind
School days – I remember sneaking my favourite authors  home, well away from my mother’s eyes. She was fed up of my addiction to Carolyn Keens, Enid Blytons, R.L. Stines, 

J.K. Rowlings…

College Days – Mother realized for good that my addiction had no medicines.

Play….

Mother is disappointed, do you know why?? I don’t get time for books from my digitized life which majorly revolves  around Laptop, Mobile & Television.

Forward…..

Will the next generation see a world devoid of books and papers? Do we have any doubts?

Pause……………………………………

The Wedding Album

Come Weekend and you plan on a list of to-do things which 
for me usually turns out to be a FLOP-SHOW as there are so many things on my plate which come on priority at the last moment and of course, why shouldn’t I blame the heat blessed upon Gujarat the moment summers set-in…..Phew….!!!

I am a hard core last minute person, my parents thought that I might change after getting married, my hubby thought that I might change after being a mommy but I am still the same old person – though motherhood has lately improved my graphs, yes, my little Jianna is giving me a hands-on training daily - to bathe and get dressed fast, to eat quickly, to watch the Idiot box less, movies have become once in blue moon, to pre-plan short journeys, to be patient and the list will go till I end. This weekend experienced an unexpected visit from one of my very old childhood friends with her parents after almost years of a good gap which lead to wavering of my planned schedule. No sooner than they entered and there began a heap of sharing the latest news, briefing of the developments, the changes and the new beginnings happened in the last few years - out of which first included showing of my most sought after story book – THE WEDDING ALBUM.

How I Wonder!!!

Ok life is going well but there was this unpredictable shocking news which we encountered over a month ago - Yes, there were cries & disappointments in the air but life has to move on and so do we...... 

We the women folk actually should give ourselves a little more importance in all terms -  in all terms meaning in all terms….. What if we become wives or mommies or age with age or become grannies?????

I think Teenage is the best phase in a girl’s life – so what if we are burdened with books and career path confusions, with entrance tests’ clearance and getting into good colleges, attack of acnes and when no remedies work, with infatuations and the silent crushes, with heart-breaks that stumble and tear our world apart, with tensions of shopping better than our bestie’s wardrobe,  day dreaming of handsome jobs and finally the fairytale weddings…… atleast this is a phase we thought about ourselves in a broadway out.

And one fine day when we manage to reach and achieve some of our dreams, the personalized female thought process ceases and is taken over by so-called rest of the family matters which they think must be on the top of the list. Is this life???? Yes it is…..no matter how much we try and control it, seems hard and impossible. Am I not correct girls?? 

I still remember the times when all that mattered to me was "ME"...... still I had so much on my mind. I was the Princess of my State, the Empress of my territory, the Queen of my kingdom, the Dictator of my World...... Ah, what life it was which by all means has gone and will never return. I laugh on my the then teenage spirited thoughts NOW, I mock at my the then clothes NOW, I bang myself for the then doings NOW......and all I conclude is - if I could get few things back and mend it based on my view points NOW, what will happen 10 years later.....will there be a change yet again????? 

I am a 26 year old Mommy NOW......nothings permanent, life has to move on and How I wonder things.....also moves on.....  

On Remembering a wonderful neighbour!!!

Strands of grey hair sticking out here and there (only when the dyeing fades out-which it generally does…giggles), a talk which many times I don’t understand, clad in crisp white kurta pajama, always on toes and a man who could give an arm and a leg for others. Though ignorant about the biblical scriptures, he unknowingly followed

                     “Love thy neighbour, as thyself”.

                                                  – Mark 12:31

Could you ask for a better neighbour??

I couldn’t…….

Man with a heart of 24 karat gold – I don’t have a superior phrase to value him - heartfelt thanks to the rising price index. Up sharp at 5am in the morning, soon the aroma of freshly steamed rice and dal kidnaps my corridor and it gives me the kick to start my day. Dada is all awake and running little errands even before the doctor couple rise to their humble profession and before the maids come and take over the house. Dada was the lifeline of the entire family and neighbourhood. Right from the kitliwalas to the supermarkets around, all knew him for the person he was – crystal clear in thoughts, words and deeds. Rare indeed!!!

He was someone who loved Cricket & during the most exciting matches his reactions and expressions were worth recording; his group of friends had the best of times-be it cracking jokes, to gossiping, and to drinking. He was a man who loved books and had an eye for theatre. An in-depth knowledge of politics gave him occasions of wide serious deliberations and debates. No matter whoever criticized him or had any kind of war of words, the next time you meet him he would be as normal as he is with zero scraps and remains of grudges and anger. Maybe that was the secret to his clean bill of health. I salute his forgiving nature which was so apparent from the conduct he withheld always, how I wish I could get a little of his goodness to polish up my life!!!! Maybe that’s the reason, they are called rare….

My brother and Dada shared a strange relation; age was not a bar as they endlessly spoke for hours together. A friend and a confidant – whatever you call him to be.  His grandchildren and the kids around adored him. His forte was the piping hot kheechu and handwas which we truly gorged on, savoring every bite as it melted in our mouths. But boiling eggs and making maggi for his grandson, readily came to me. I still wonder the reasons……strange you could call. Perhaps he believed in designer foods to the simple ones!!!!

They say that God calls the best ones on earth without giving them much pain and struggle. So, was the life of Dada. He never had to count the number of sunsets left, on his fingers. A new day was always looked upon as a gift from God as he moved effortlessly. 

We all know that the days of our life on earth are all numbered and…..

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing”.

-          Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

It’s all fresh in mind the day he met with an accident and his immediate departure. The void will always remain as it is. On a lighter note - Had there been some replacement guarantees offered, but then we are all special and one of our kinds....

To quote incidents and experiences would be ruthless to potray him, just that he was a man of giving and forgiving, is enough for a being who lived so well.

On Being a Brand New Mommiiee.....!!!!

Being a Mommiiee can be really thrilling…..especially when it happens for the very 1^st time in your life and you want to leave absolutely no stones unturned to bring up your little princess and treat her to all the luxuries which you were deprived of and longed for. But as we know that every little to the largest thing in life comes with a price tag and being a mommy is the most expensive role to be owned, donned and talked about. The delivery eve was spent on watching “Life of Pie” at the theatres and the sound effects did make my baby bounce inside, guess she was enjoying the movie too.  My big day happened on a wintery afternoon of 15^th December, 2012. 

The best part was the line which will forever ring in my ears, “It’s a baby girl for you”. Ahhh….my joy knew no bounds, it was like a dream come true!!! My 9 months of patience waiting had finally come to end, as I kissed my little pinky princess on her delicate tiny cheeks. She weighed 2.6kgs and was the most beautiful soul I had ever laid my eyes on. God had blessed me with the world’s precious gift and concluded that his surprises are purely incidental and matchless. Any resemblance to the family members is entirely intentional too. 

The hospital days were like “When will this come to an end?” when I was already aware, that 3 days of hang about was preset. I could only have those plain dalia khichdis and kadhi, despite of the fact that this was the moment to celebrate with goodies and balloons which of course, my family did but sob…sob… I and the baby were left out. Where in the world we could enjoy our heart out!!! Christening of the baby took place in the hospital itself with a name which followed as soon as she arrived. It was henceforth established that my days with the various name finder sites in Google was a complete waste of time because none of them were of any help. The name “Jianna” came like as if it was solely meant for her. The meaning “God is gracious” was even more adorable...!!! The name "Jianna" has Italian roots. 

I heaved a sigh of relief with the departure from hospital and subsequent arrival at home. It was then the actual Mother-baby bonding began. It was a phase of discovering each other, getting adjusted and accustomed to each other. Every day was a new experience and it taught me several things which by law includes – changing nappies, feeding in a comfortable position, sleeping patterns, hunger pangs, reasons for crying and list goes on till date and will continue, by all means, forever. The sudden transition from just a married young a girl to a mother was accompanied by baby blues, fatigue and anxiety.  We waited for 15 days for the massage rounds to begin. I enjoyed but the baby didn’t…..winters were to be blamed. I was given the Masseur’s luxury for a month and baby for 45 days. Then it was taken over by my mother, also a brand new Granny….

My body weight had increased and it was no more like before. The slim-trim "Me" had become a fatsy lady which I didn’t find so comfortable to be in. In my heart of hearts I knew, this phase will also pass and I will be back to myself, its just that I need to give time. Hurry will affect two bodies for which I wasn’t ready at all and then the journey began – eating chappatis made out of wheat, bajra, jaggery and heaps of ghee, methi laddoos, spoonfuls of dashmoolarishta, dry fruits and milk topped my list. Then of course the daily meals prepared at home. After 63 days of my delivery, I got an opportunity to work in the admin department of one of the most reputed schools of Baroda. It was just 5 minutes walking distance from home which was an added advantage apart from the school timings. The daily short walks, my work and my top role as a mother kept my hands full. I enjoyed my busy life, meeting my colleagues, the lunch breaks at office and as the time to go home neared, I got excited just to be with my little one.

Her little developments were like milestones achieved. 

Jianna’s 1^st roll over was a day to rejoice. 
Her first steps, first words, first expressions, first hugs, first teeth were all a matter of celebration. 

Time flew and today she is 1 year and 1 month old. God has always kept her safe and sound for which I am so much thankful about. I am slowly and gradually coming back to my original size, though I have a little more to go and I know that without much efforts, it will be done. Thanks to Jianna, Job and Household work.....all 3 keep me on my toes. 

“I am sharing my #MemoriesOfMotherhood with Bio Oil and BlogAdda. This Mother’s Day check out the Yummy Mummy calendar and  make a similar calendar of your own using the Bio Oil App.”