OfHeart&Soul

Finally, after months of tip toeing, postponing and perhaps blatantly overlooking the need to do it, I pulled the super-glue out of drawer and fixed the broken peacock. The peacock which had been sitting quietly in a corner of my library graciously, patiently waiting for my attention. It was a gift to me by my dear friend who is as gracious and has been adding as many colors, to my life since childhood.  Just like our friendship, any gift she chooses for me is exclusive and one of its kind. I remember how much care I took to bring it from India to US in single piece a few years back. Carefully wrapped it in layers of clothings and bubble wraps, and it did arrive here safe n sound, looking elegant just like our friendship! Anyone who noticed the peacock never failed to appreciate its beauty and asked where I got it from? It was a keepsake! And then one day when my kids were rather exuberating with energy and pulling pushing each other in a typical boyish fashion one of the...

THE ONSET They say bad time often comes without a heads up! It just sneaks upon you when you are least expecting it. Something similar happened to the world with Corona virus or COVID 19 as the name given to this deadly microbe by the World Health Organization. 'CO' stands for 'Corona', 'VI' for Virus, and 'D' for disease and since it was found in 2019, hence the number 19 attached to it. Certainly the most talked about & the most unprecedented event to hit us in 2020.  Friday March 6 th 2020, I took the day off from work to spend some quality time with my son who was turning 15 that day. My world was as normal as one can imagine. I picked up my son after his school, we drove around the city until he picked a place where he wanted to have a late lunch with me. We ended up at ‘On the Borders’ his favorite Mexican chain. Given that time of the day, there was hardly anyone there. When I say hardly anyone, I mean we were the only two peop...

माँ तुम बहोत याद आती हो... बच्चे अब बड़े  हो रहे हैं  उनकी बढ़ती ज़रूरतों को पूरा करते, एक आदर्श माँ बन उनके कदम से कदम मिलती हूँ  दिन भर की दौड़ धूप के बाद जब रात तक थक टूट जाती हूँ माँ तुम बहोत याद आती हो  कभी घर तो कभी बाहर के हालातों में उलझ कर  उलझे धागों को देर तक सुलझाती हूँ और कभी खुद उन में ही उलझ जाती हूँ  तब माँ तुम बहोत याद आती हो  माँ  से बेहतर कोई दोस्त नहीं  हर तरफ बस यही सुनती हूँ  उस ममतामयी स्नेह को जब औरों पर बरसता पाती हूँ  माँ तुम बहोत याद आती हो  अब तो अरसे से भी ऊपर हुआ तुम्हे देखे महसूस किये...  पर अब भी जब अपने गालों पे तुम्हारी हथेली की गरमाई अकस्मात् ही पाती हूँ  माँ तुम बहोत याद आती हो  मन में द्रढ़ विश्वास है तुम मेरे साथ हो  मेरा सम्बल मेरा साहस बनकर  जब जब सफलता को अपने कदमों में और खुद को आसमान में पाती हूँ  माँ तुम बहोत याद आती हो  कभी कभी लगता है कुछ रिश्ते मौजूद ना होकर भी  ताउम्र दि...

By the time life starts to make some sense you are already 40. Yes it does take that many years to put life in the right perspective. Forties bring a sense of calm, sense of accomplishment, sense of maturity and a great sense of reflection with it. Nothing beats the clarity that this age brings to you. Looking back you realize number of things you could have done differently. Number of decisions you could have taken otherwise.  In retrospect, here's a list of some great life lessons (in no particular order) that I would like to remember, implement and share, as I reach this important milestone in my life. After all life is all about looking forward and making the best of it - Connecting with Nature is the best thing you can do to yourself. Nature is the best detoxifier and a natural healer known to human kind. It ensures your mind body and soul stays nourished and at its best! Make the time for it. We are all slaves of our habits. Break patterns. Check & reset ...

Why things have to become ruins before they could shine Why one has to hit the very bottom before one could rise Law of buoyancy is one thing, but law of humanity is other Why the trust has to be broken in order for inner voice to be rejoiced? Years have gone by and life has moved on But why it still hurts when a past memory is revived? This heart has endured a lot and strength is not an issue Still why emotions run high when it’s just everyday life? The mystery thickens when right deeds don’t yield the right results And the genuine care and emotions are not returned Is that some game that life likes to play? Or is God by my side to once again testify? I have been rolling all the smiles and positive into one Still something inside is so hard to satisfy. Questions are everywhere and answers are none Why is it so hard to live a life simplified?

The Amazing World of Snowball & Sunshine! Just a few short months ago, my little one pestered us into getting him two parakeets as pets. Keeping a pet has always been my pet peeve for various reasons but mainly because I do not have the heart or stamina to watch someone suffer in distress or pain especially when they do not have the ability to talk in human language and communicate their agonies as fluently as humans do. Secondly, because in the fast paced and demanding life that I lead I do not find enough time, company and attention a pet would rightly deserve. However, kids are a giant force and they make you do things you never imagined you will fall for some day. So, while I was taking a nap one Sunday afternoon I woke up to finding that kids and their dad had took off to Petco to bring the parakeet’s home. Suddenly we were a family of 6 from being a family of 4. After a few brainstorming sessions they were fondly named ‘Snowball’ and ‘Sunshine’ going with their color...