Tu Mera Hero! Oh Oh Oh O O

My heart skips a beat every time I see him. My obsession for SRK is known to a lot of people who are close to me and lot others who are not too! Although things have subdued these days, I was a lot crazy until a few months back. While there are some people who fail to understand my craziness, there are some others who instead of making fun prefer keep me connected to SRK by their really cute small little gestures.

This is something which is really close to my heart. About 2 years back, I was having a conversation with a friend on the office communicator. When were chatting about SRK and somehow he landed up writing this small story for me. I take this as an opportunity to thank him for this wonderful gift which I shall cherish forever and forever.

      One Fine Night!!

Now think that you are on a date with SRK...

Imagine it’s just the two of you in the car..

A BMW convertible. He is driving... He has an arm around you... And he is driving with one hand.

You guys r driving on a lonely road.

The moon is flashing with all its brightness...

The stars are dazzling...

The night couldn’t have been more romantic!!

He is speaking to you and his lips are near your ear. You can hear his deep breaths. They are the best sighs you have ever heard. He is talking and you are jus smiling. Finally the car stops. You see nothing around. Just the endless road in the moonlight. That’s when he escorts you out of the car and requests u to keep mum.

Shhhh!! He says... With the typical SRK expression..

He ties a cloth around your eye. Just the touch of his hand gives u goose bumps. Your hormones are overflowing and your nervousness increases. U walk hand in hand with him. All you can hear is the sound of the bushes being pushed aside and some water flowing in the surrounding. Suddenly you stop walking. You miss a heart beat der. He opens the cloth around your eyes. OMG!!!

You can see a nice wooden table with two chairs. Fairly decorated with flowers [lilies] not over done, besides the river. U c someone standing there! That’s d person about whom u have always dreamt .Your love of life. With a diamond ring in his hand. On his knees and arms wide open.

U can’t believe this is happening. He proposes. You accept it! You pinch yourself in disbelief. This isn’t happening. That’s what u still feel….but it is !! U both have a nice time there.

SRK leaves..

And for the first time you wanted him to go. Coz you have found someone much better and much lovable than him.. THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE !!  

 PS: I preferred keeping it raw. Just like the friend wrote it for me.

Ik Onkaar - One GOD

        In my search for tranquility and peace I often find the answers in spiritualism. I believe, Religion has no boundaries. Being a hindu by birth, it doesn't hold me back, in reading and following things I admire about other religions like Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism. In these years, every religion has become adulterated to some extent. Every passing generation added and subtracted the protocols of their religion to suit their needs. I believe there is just one GOD and the various religions are various ways of reaching him. Hence, I follow the best of all. I visit Jain and Buddhist temples because I feel my life comes to a standstill there. There, I get a chance to peacefully meditate and be thankful to GOD for what he has given me. Buddhism has simplified for me what religion is. I will definitely share about this in the posts to come. J

        What brings me close to Sikhism is that this religion focuses in selfless service (Sewa) to build a loving community life. Throughout the day people sing passages from the scripture in the Gurudwara. Irrespective of the fact that you know the language or not it comes across as a delight to the ears. Over six years back a movie called Rang De Basanti released and become a rage. People were in awe of the direction, acting skills and most importantly story line. Patriotism, was presented to India in a fresh way. As per me the best thing about the movie was a soothing Punjabi prayer that does nothing but ooze all over you. The purity of this track alone overwhelms your senses.  Folks, I present to you the lyrics and meanings of the prayer which will surely touch each one’s heart.

Ik Onkaar

ik onkaar, sat naam,  kartaa purakh nirbh-a-o nirvair akaal moorat ajoonee saibhn gur parsaad                                                                                                                                            
One Universal Creator God. The Name Is Truth. Creative Being Personified. No Fear. No Hatred. Image Of The Undying, The Immortal, Self-Existent. By Guru's Grace.

jap.

Meditate

aad sach jugaad sach.

True In The Primal Beginning. True Throughout The Ages.

hai bhee sach naanak hosee bhee sach.

True Here And Now. O Nanak, Forever And Ever True!

sochai soch naa hov-a-ee jay sochee lakh vaar.

By pondering on God, man cannot have a conception of Him, even though he may ponder over lakhs of times.

chupai chup naa hov-a-ee jay laa-i rahaa liv taar.

By remaining silent, inner silence is not obtained, even by remaining lovingly absorbed deep within.

bhukhi-aa bhukh naa utree jay bannaa puree-aa bhaar.

The hunger of the hungry isn't appeased, even by piling up loads of worldly goods.

sehas si-aanpaa lakh hoh taa ik naa chalai naal.

Hundreds of thousands of clever tricks, but not even one of them will go along with you in the end.

kiv sachi-aaraa ho-ee-ai kiv koorhai tutai paal.

So how can you become truthful? And how can the veil of illusion be torn away?

hukam rajaa-ee chalnaa naanak likhi-aa naal.

O Nanak, it is written that one shall obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will.

Here goes the video:

Punjabi culture and Sikhism have always fascinated me. A long pending wish of mine is to visit a Gurudwara (Place of worship for Sikhs),if possible The Golden Temple in Amritsar. I hope it comes true soon. J

WHAT’s In My Name??

In a crowded Mumbai street, shout ‘NEHA’ aloud and you realize at least half a dozen girls turn around. Yes, Yes! Neha is a very common name in India. About 2 decades ago this was such a favorite pick that, every family had one girl named NEHA. It’s almost 23 years I have been living with this name. Whatever the world feels about this name, it’s mine and I am bound to love it.

Your name is your identity but sharing it with someone else can be quite annoying at times. Moreover, for a person like me who feels so high about herself it comes as a big huddle. On my first day in primary school, I was surprised to know that there were almost 7 Neha’s in my class. I was so different than them yet I felt my name left no place for me to standout.  

With time I became immune to the commonness of my name.  Surprisingly, whenever I ask who choose this name for me, I get different replies from everyone in my family.  It doesn’t matter how this name came up because a lot is hidden behind these four letters. It’s now my identity and after knowing what it means I have always felt positive about it.

 

Let me take this as a privilege to highlight to you what NEHA means. NEHA is a common Indian name that originates from the Sanskritlanguage. In Sanskrit it means love. It also means Varsha i.e. Rain. NEHA is a symbol of love. This name defines someone who loves and is loved. NEHA means affection. I am lovable! Isn’t it? I spread love and happiness all the time. I believe this name has in way shaped up who I am. I don’t quite understand, how I can connect Rains with myself (I hate rains). However I feel the true meaning is a combination of both: 'NEHA is the Rain of Love'.

Historians believe the true meaning of NEHA is of Japanese origin and means rich rusty trombone. Maybe that’s the reason why I am so inclined towards learning music, musical instruments and listening to music.

 

 

Few facts about the name NEHA and how strongly I relate to them.

•  It’s believed that, people with the name Neha have a deep inner desire for a stable, loving family or community, and a need to work with others and to be appreciated.True: For my calm heart I need stability. By the way, I crave for appreciation too. ;)
•  People with the name Neha tend to initiate events, to be leaders rather than followers, with powerful personalities.Very True: I hate being a follower. I like to take the lead everywhere.
• They tend to be courageous and sometimes aggressive. As unique, creative individuals, they tend to resent authority and are sometimes stubborn, proud, and impatient.True:  yes these negative traits are very much a part of me.

 

I am sure most of you are excited to research about your name. Remember, everything works for you until mind starts questioning the beliefs.

 

Living in Mumbai- Part1

       There is more to this city than the Bollywood stars and their frenzy. Amidst the traffic and our fast paced ostentatious lives there is something that holds each one of us to the city. The city is magical and that I can say by my experience of over 23 years here. I have never loved anyone or any place more than this city.

       It was a beautiful Friday afternoon.  Silently the rain kept pouring.  This rainy day along with a tinge of sun turned the overall experience nothing but quintessential.  However, motormen decided to disrupt the beauty of the day by calling it a strike.

They say when in ‘India expect the unexpected’. In India, when things do not go ur expected way and no one is ready to hear you, you on a strike. If things are still not working they go on the next level of strike: The Hunger strike. “No way, its black mailing”, you may say. Yes it is, for sure! But this is how things work in a country whose population is 2^nd largest in the world. Isn't it difficult to be heard in such a huge crowd?

        Local trains are the backbone of Mumbai city. They are the fastest and the most affordable commuting option we have. So when trains come to a halt in a way it affects lives of most of us. It was late afternoon and I had already got 3 reminders from mom to leave for home at the earliest. You would be amazed to know she was worried about the traffic more than me.  The one thing that scares a Mumbaikar even more than inflation is Traffic.  The sluggish movement of vehicles paralyses all your activities. Overall, wastage of time, fuel and money. In case you are in a rickshaw, your eyes would be glued to the ticking meter.

         I left office at 7pm albeit the reminders from mom. No sooner did I reach the main street that I realized it was surely going to be a tough fight to move ahead. I rued my negligence towards mom’s multiple alerts about the traffic. Perhaps, after looking at the speed at which the cars ahead moved, I was surely going to be jaded.  What options did I have than to switch on the radio! The garrulous girl that I am, conversing with someone always looks like a better alternative. I put on my favourite radio channel. To my surprise he wasn’t ranting. He spoke about car pooling. I just couldn’t believe, how did I not think of this? There were so many people on the streets, who were figuring out ways to reach home. Buses were packed, Rickshaws were occupied and people on bikes took triple seats. This was the time to help and this feeling erupted not just in me but a lot of other Mumbaikars. Mumbai unites at the time of crisis; big or small. The feeling of oneness surfaces at such times. I saw a lady with a lot of plastic bags trying really hard to get a rickshaw. I inquired where she was headed. Realizing we were both headed in the same direction, I offered her lift. Her happiness knew no bounds and she hopped in the car with her husband.  We discussed about the sudden strike and commotion that it brought along.

        After they got down my mind got back to what it did the best, talking to itself! This is why I love this city. The common man makes it such a paradise to live in.  It’s a city which has seen the worst terror attacks, floods, political scandals, heinous crimes but has always shot back. This city is best known for the people who live here. They demonstrate the true ART OF LIVING. People from diverse cultural and economical backgrounds sometimes fighting but at the end living together sharing this city of dreams like One Big Happy Family.