Life Unpacked

March was when college campuses across Mumbai were filled with nervous teenagers trying to cram in a last minute revision before their semester-end examinations. Well, I braved that March; mostly by clinging on to the hopes of a blissful summer vacation. It has been almost one and a half month of the holidays now, and I have officially declared myself 'bored'. Mostly due to the facts that the weather is too darn dreadful to even warrant a foot outside the house, and that all I prayed for in March were mangoes and long journeys, both of which haven't materialized until now! All I do to while away my days is scroll through a bottomless pit, that is, Instagram. It was on one such scrolling-away session that I paid attention to the abundance of 'skywatch' pictures I've put up, and the thought of collecting them in one post occurred to me (Oh, vacations, what do you do to me!). Thus, without further ado, 'skywatch'... Skywatch #1 Skywa...

It has been a really long time since I poured my heart out here. And honestly, my day feels incomplete if I don't blog or even attempt to blog. Heck, I am not even able to align my thoughts in a straight fashion now after all these months of idleness in writing department. Still, I am trying to push through because I have lots to tell, yes, lots ! I have been reading a few books, doing quite some things. Yet, as strange as it may seem; the only thing coming to my mind, which finds a mention in my lots lists, is something that happened very recently, that is, last Saturday. What happened, you'd ask. Well, Kamathipura happened. Most of you must be acquaint with this little infamous pocket of Mumbai, if not, then all you should know is this place is a 'no-go'. I went there as a part of my college's AICUF unit for a social outreach program whose focus was interaction with the children of the women who work there. Frankly, I wasn't expecting much out of this ...

Just like every Sunday morning; it was a battle she had to endure to crawl out of the comforts of her bed, the worn-in cotton sheet rubbing softly across her cheek made her drop back on it after a few seconds every time she attempted waking up. A long struggle and a growling tummy finally did the trick, and there she was grabbing her breakfast, or as she put it, her Sunday "brunch" along with the thick stack of Sunday newspaper. She settled down on the giant flower-printed maroon carpet spread in the center of the living room and quickly fished out the copy of "Brunch", the weekly magazine that came with the newspaper every Sunday. It was the year 2008.... That Sunday's "Brunch" was abnormally thick, hence she decided to check whether it were just more advertisements or there was some real content inside. Instead of the glossy colourful pages, a huge portion of the magazine was plain white with long lengthy paragraphs on it, and that too without an...

"One day, you’re 17 and you’re planning for someday. And then quietly, without you ever really noticing, someday is today. And then someday is yesterday. And this is your life."- This is how Nathan Scott in the show finale of One Tree Hill reflected upon his past 10 years of life. I turned 17 years old last month (!), and it feels funny; that I am almost an adult yet I haven't got stuff figured out, that I haven't been able to accomplish something substantial. Anyways, I have this yearly ritual where I make a to-do list from which I ought to tick off as many items as possible before I turn another year old. But before I start drafting one for this year, let's check out the status of the last year's: Harry Potter Movie marathon?  I did watch a few movie of this series back to back but honestly, the entire series is way too long to watch at one go. Status: HALF-DONE. Dining in a Irani Cafe? Oh yeah, a long pending to-do was finally accomplished and that t...

Being born in a Brahmin household, I was bought up within the rigid barricades of "religion". I grew up listening to the mythological tales and was constantly reminded that those events in the stories have actually occurred. I was made to "believe" that there is a God, who is the master of fate, that if you ask anything from him with a pure heart and good intentions, God would grant it to you. I never asked questions, just followed what I was asked to do, not because I truly believed in it but because, I didn't have a definite reason not to . Perceptions started changing when I reached the age of fourteen, two year ago. As I got out from the cocoon of protected life, I encountered people with different mindsets and beliefs. I understood correctly how the world isn't just black or white. But due to the lack of a concrete reason for not believing, I continued assuming that there might be a God. But, as an avid ponderer, I always questioned God's exis...

It has been quite a long time since I wrote anything sensible. Now-a-days my post usually describe "What-I-did". This time, unlike 2011, I didn't do a wrap up post for the year 2012 because of two reasons- First, I was sick last week and second, everything is already documented here by the way of blog-posts, so I felt no need to write an another post describing my 2012. But this doesn't mean I'm not grateful for the lovely year; 2012 happens to be among the best years of my life (well, you can certainly figure out by the stuff I did last year!). Today is the first day of new year 2013 and rather than reviving the glorious 2012, I want to remind myself of a few guidelines that helped me enjoy the past year completely: #1. Day-dream and make realistic plans   Unless you dream of something, you won't think of making that thing happen! But again, dreaming of unrealistic things will get you nowhere. To be frank, I day-dreamed of being a pat of a fl...

There are certain situations in which a person lose the control over self, takes rash decisions and does things which is later realized as as mistake. I'm talking about anger here. Different people react in a different manner when they lose their temper- some abuse other, whereas some break-down and some end-up doing things which they regret later. Of what I experience last week; one should never let anger dominate their behavior and turn into some sort-of monster! Because this emotion called "anger" doesn't do anything good but only cause destruction- of relationships, of character, of morals and values. I do agree that a person can never fully have control over anger and the ability to suppress it completely. And this is where channelizing the negative energy comes into play; doing something which calms and relaxes you is a sure way to achieve that goal. To be frank with you all, I too have anger issues. Anger has the ability to shatter my otherwise ha...

I just discovered that I haven't written anything from past two weeks, yikes! This time around I'm not asking you guys to blame my absence on any factor. It is studies that I am busy with; December is already in its prime and in just a month my finals will kick-start itself, so these days I'm busy completing journals and assignments. Plus lately, as I'm devoting more time to activities which exclude blogging, I find myself running out of stuff to blog about. Yes, being a personal blogger is kind-of dicey- unlike Fashion, Food or Tech bloggers, personal bloggers don't have a particular genre to write on (except ourselves, which sometimes gets creepy). Amid all this last-moment chaos, what actually helps me sail through is "Hope". Yeah people, hope is what keeps a person sane during really daunting times. If you are an Indian student you will surely agree with me, with the fact that, the year when you are supposed to give your Board examinations is the ...

So it was my birthday last Sunday (11/11/2012) and I'm updating about it today, after a week to be exact! I'm no longer employing my procrastination as a reason, just lack of some motivation. You know how these vacations are; you have time and that's why you tend to procrastinate, and the problem with working days is; you don't have time still you want to write! Now back to the birthday update thing, this birthday of mine wasn't exactly my best birthday ever but at the same time it didn't turn out to be the worst. No nothing bad happened, despite of that I didn't feel the 'happy-happy' Birthday spirit this time around. Everyone was joyous that day, tonnes of wishes for the day pouring in at every moment, yet I felt that the day wasn't an exception, just like a normal Sunday day to be precise. As this time around my birthday happened to be on a Sunday, I tried to turn the weekend into a 'Birthday weekend' by starting doing things that a...

Well, you can blame my sudden invisibility on this newly acquired habit of slacking off stuff. You can possible estimate this from the way I'm slacking off studying for my test tomorrow. Anyways, I currently am reading a book; Such a Long Journey by Rohinton Mistry. And the worst thing? I have turned so lazy that all I do is sleep in my free time. Hence, a person who usually finishes a good 500pages novel in a week's time is still on the 71th page. I hope this habit turns out to be a temporary one and I get done with it as soon as my exams are over. Nevertheless, after I took a short quiz on the internet a question has been floating in my mind: Am I an introvert or an extrovert? According to the pointers, which were mentioned in a corner to help people make a correct choice, an introvert is a one who likes solitary activities and prefers to be alone most of the time whereas an extrovert is outgoing and adventurous. Frankly, I struggled to chose an option. Yeah, you know I am...

#1. Do not let an opportunity pass by When I was around 11years old,  I read a story in Tinkle; about a boy who always complaint that life is mean to him, that he didn't get any chance to prove his mettle and worth but actually, he never utilized the opportunity life always present before him. The point I'm trying to make here is, don't turn a blind-eye to a chance! Because some are once-in-a-lifetime kinda and you can't do anything except agonize after it has slipped away from your clutches. So take my advice folks, grab the opportunities that you come across. #2. It's okay to attempt something by yourself Sometimes what interests you might not tempt your friends or companions, you might be super-keen onto doing it but they might not even give a damn about it! Here, just because your friends aren't there to back you shouldn't mean that you need to give upon the thing you have your heart set on. I learnt this on Saturday; I desperately wanted to attend M...

It was exactly this day last week, Friday. Anticipating a quick end to the long instructional day at college, I sprung up from my seat as soon as the news of the day wrapping up early entered my ears. Later did I discover the reason; Motorman strike! You expect a normal person to panic in a situation like this, but me, I was overjoyed because this made me feel like a true Mumbaikar. The idea of witnessing and making my way  through a troublesome situation seemed a great adventure. The grave situation at Churchgate Station Coolly, I reached station and the scene hit hard my day-dream; there were hardly any trains and the trains which plied were terribly jam-packed! I was willing to spend some more time at the station and figure out the best suited plan which would help me over come the catastrophe. Alas! I was deprived of this pleasure by the group of people I sit with at college. Their rush lead me to board a bus, till Borivali, which is two stations before my...

I know it has been too long since, I wrote something sensible. This academic year is the one whom you should blame this time, not me, because even though I'm willing to write, a mountain of college-work stands tall in front of me! Yep, I'm in a good mood today, the reason being; unexpected extensions. Okay, this needs to be explained in detail now: Well, last week a project on rainwater harvesting, an assignment from Accounts and preparation of an  advertising script (along with miscellaneous homework) was bombarded on me as well as on my classmates. And we were supposed to submit all these by tomorrow i.e. this week's Friday. You guys are pretty much aware of my deadly habit of procrastination, hence, I kept putting off stuff and eventually, I realized the trouble which I had knowingly invited onto me. Thus, this week was dead tiring! It's a miracle in itself that how did I make through (Man, I just get Sunday off in a week!). Overall, I understood the importance...

Whilst in the college library today, I chanced upon the book "The Prophet" by  Khalil Gibran . We had an extract from this book in 10th grade hence, I pretty much pounced at the opportunity and flipped through the book. There is this question by a Lady being answered by the Prophet concerned with  Joy and Sorrow, to which  Prophet says (Note: It's my interpretation of the lines): Joy and sorrow both go hand in hand. Both of them are the two sides of a same coin, the thing that caused joy before is the reason for the sorrow now. If you just wander in search of joy you will never find it. Like a cup which holds wine has to be baked in the heat of an oven similarly, receiving joy without braving Sorrow turns down the purpose of joy. Well, I have been feeling terrible from past few days because of the reason mentioned in the last post. I applied the Prophet's say in my situation and all I can say is; It has replenished my energy and hope to tackle all ...

I acknowledged the mistake I made, I even admitted it. I realized, thought the college I chose for myself was the one I eagerly wanted to be a student of, I regret the decision I made. It was just an another morning when I was discussing Train schedules with my dad and the at a particular point, when he pinpointed that choosing DG Ruparel College instead of St. Andrew's College would have been a better bet, I gave in and unconsciously I admitted the wrong choice I made. This drained out feeling which settled into me since my first day seemed something that was concerned with me being new to train travelling but now I'm acquaint with the fact that it has strings attached to me being unhappy in this college. No, I'm not at all saying St. Andrew's is bad, but the thing is thought it has everything a college should posses, I'm trapped in a class of students who are bitterly monotonous and do not like experimenting and exploring, a thing which should be done in colleg...

Well, I deactivated my Facebook account on Thursday for a simple reason; I need to unplug myself from the social networking frenzy for a few days. Yeah, don't you remember the golden times before these social networking sites arrived? We still connected with our friends and relationships were more concrete than what they are today! Being a total Facebook addict it seemed a tough challenge to resist myself from logging on Facebook in an another tab while I fend my other browsing habits. It's the fourth day and I'm on the verge of completing the challenge into which I forced myself. Now straight to the point, after unplugging myself from the popular menace called "Facebook" I actually enjoyed myself and did some stuff which I had on my wish list since, too long. I had mentioned once that I eagerly want to complete the book "Unaccustomed Earth" which I bought for myself last November and hey, I completed a story in an hours. Technically, I'm again go...

The countdown has begun, it's just few minutes left for the year 2011 to leave. I wanted to embrace and be thankful for the things I achieved this year, hence, I'm writing this post. This will be a month-wise breakdown of my year as it zoomed past me.... January'11 The year started on a high note, not the one to compromise I didn't let the pressure if my board exams put my festive mood down. The preliminary exams where on, but me; a Facebook addict didn't even bother. Though my addiction didn't hit me hard, I knew that I would be in a soup if this continues! February'11 With my School Farewell on 4th February, I was officially out from school and the sweet chapter of school-life came to a full-stop. But, that didn't stop any of my fellow batch-mates and me from taking rounds of our school with some reason or another just to see our friend's faces and our teachers. Farewell to my lovely School March'11 The dark month for many of stud...