Mr. Fantastico

This is the true story of my first crush. I call him Mr. Fantastico.

You can never forgets the firsts. The first car, first home, first date, first love, the first crush, they are forever etched in your memory and serve as a rating scale with respect to which you gauge all the ones that may follow. It is coveted title and sometimes destiny picks them for us.

My first crush was Mr. Fantastico. He was my classmate in school and a friend too. I remember the first time we met. It was the first day of school in 9th grade. He was the first person I saw in class. He sat there reading Three Musketeers.  As I entered, he looked up from his book, saw me and gave me his fantastico smile. I could just manage a light smile and he went back to his book. Hence, began my crush. I was too shy to tell him and too embarrassed to tell my friends. Nobody, till today, knows about this.

Over time, we began talking. His roll number was one ahead of mine so I sat behind him during exams. He was a little weak in mathematics and I was happy to help him. We discovered that we like the same movies. World Cinema was our common ground along with books and music. He used to study French and I asked him what about the various movies he had seen of the language. Our favorites then were Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, The Pianist, and Lemony Snicket: The Series of Unfortunate incidents etc. We also like the same books. We talked usually in the mornings and during exam times.

Time went on, and we became good friends.  He used to tease me for me about things in a friendly way. In 11^th , we took the same subjects and again in the same class. This time we spent a bit more time together as we had three labs together. I remember talking to him for two hours straight during our chemistry lab class. Ah Chemistry!

But all was not rosy.  My best friend, whom I sat with in class, was much prettier than me and I doubted if I’m just a medium to get to her. It was very confusing at times to figure out who he liked. She didn’t like him but I thought he liked her. I wished I could read minds. The thought of asking him out and then finding it was her he wanted all along, discouraged me to do so.

Fast Forward to boards in 12^th . I took it upon myself that on the last day of exams, which would be the last day we meet as classmates, I would scourge up all the courage I could and ask him out. The last exam was of computer science. I was less worried of the exam and more worried about the “asking out”. I met him before the exam and he asked me a few things. All that time my heart was beating so fast, I think people around me could hear it. I decided to implement my plan after the exam was over.

So, there I was writing my exam and in between looking at him(well, all I saw was his back but….yeah, you get the drift) . After, the exam was over, all my classmates were smiling with relief but here I was searching for him. I couldn’t find him anywhere.

Mr. Fantastico was gone. I took that as a sign of nature and buried my feelings. I met him later but now our conversations were just polite greetings.

However, he will always be my first crush.

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.

Peppy things for a Happy Start to the Day

I don't know about you, but, I don't wake up bubbly and peppy. It takes effort to get there. Some days, a lot of effort. You know, those days when you wish the night would just continue an the darkness would engulf all the light, so you could sleep peacefully without a care in the world. However, that never happens. We must drag ourselves out of the bed and prepare to fight the day ahead. But no one likes the company of negative people, hence we must act happy. And in order to act happy, I need take help. Here is a list of things that I do to get in a peppy and happy mood:

  

    1) Music: Yes, Good, peppy Music. The kind that just makes you groove. My favorite these days is "Happy" by Pharrell Williams. I don't know what we did before this song. It is a revelation. The beat, lyrics, melody all just combines in one feel good number. Another is "Eye of the Tiger" by Katy Perry. It is a song which is very energizing. The lyrics ....

"You held me down, but I got up (HEY!)

Already brushing off the dust

You hear my voice, you hear that sound

Like thunder gonna shake the ground

You held me down, but I got up (HEY!)

Get ready 'cause I've had enough

I see it all, I see it now

"I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire

'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar

Louder, louder than a lion

'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar

Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh

Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh"

If this doesn't get you fired up and ready to face the day, I don't know what will. I use these songs as my alarm tunes and I wake up with a smile.

      2) Cold Showers: Hot Shower is good for relaxing after a tiring day at work. But, if the weather is warm, then there is nothing like a cold shower to fuel you. It makes you feel fresh and alive. So, cleanse off all the lazy and take a cold shower.

     3)Exercise: I know it is hard to get up early to exercise everyday but, trust me, It way better than anything else at making you feel energetic. It is not only recommended for health reasons but also a great stress buster. After a good exercise session, you feel like you can do anything. You are pumped up for the day. I highly recommend it. I run for about 45 mins daily and it way better than coffee.

4)  Breakfast: There is nothing like a good sumptuous breakfast to charge you and get you in a happy peppy mood. My favourite is oats with a glass of Orange juice. Pick something light but satisfying for your breakfast that fights the lazy and cranky mood away.
This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.

Music: The Rock Kind

I am a girl, in my twenties, living in 2016. That comes with a lot of clichés. And one such cliché is that I am assumed to be a fan of Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, or any such pop star. But I'm not. I don't find their music attractive. It is just a lot of auto-tune and lot less of real vocal talent. Even the lyrics are shallow and have no meaning. Their music is like fast food, it provides quick comfort but not healthy at all in the long run.

Music, in my opinion, should be meaningful, moving and should be such that it leaves a mark on you. Music should be such that it moves your soul and makes you think. It should connect you to your inner self. The lyrics should be meaningful. Like a story. Music is not only about a beat that you can dance to, or a beat that categorizes you "Hip"/"Cool", if you listen to it. It is not about average singers who, with the help of auto-tuning software, act like the best thing that happened to music. Music is life and life is music. Real music should be like that.

The music that I really appreciate is Classic Rock. Eagles, Foreigner, Nirvana, RHCP, Journey, those are the real gourmet kind of music. The time of Eagles, Nirvana, is the time when music really reached its pinnacle. Real, eloquent lyrics combined with mind blowing guitar and melodies made this music timeless. It really is. This is the music anyone can relate to and enjoy, irrespective of their age, gender, ethnicity etc.
The lyrics from Already Gone by Eagles…….

“So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains
And we never even know we have the key.”

Isn’t it a lesson of life? The song talks about the juxtaposition of freedom and entrapment in life. How it is so entangled yet so glaringly simple.

Hotel California by Eagles is my favourite song. It is one of their most popular ones and it talks about life in the pop age. It is a song writing master piece. The subtle metaphors and vivid imagery used in the song makes you feel like a part of a story. You feel like you are the one driving down the dark desert highway. My favourite line is “you can check-out anytime you like/but you can never leave!” This is life in a nutshell.

Moreover, who can forget Come as You Are by Nirvana? Or Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd. Or Under the Bridge by RHCP.

These are bands that inspired generations and will continue to do so for eternity. I still hum these songs and my playlist is filled with them. I wish I could see these Real Musicians in real but I was born in a generation too late.
This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.

Impact of your Friendship

How many people do we meet everyday?
How many of these people touch our lives deeply?
How many become a part of it?
How many stay forever?

We meet many but only few of them have an impact on our lives. And maybe one or two of those stay forever. However, those who stay are more often than not the ones who deserved to.

One such person, in my life, is my dear friend Amo. Amo has been my friend since we were in kindergarten. It is one of those friendships that they make chick-flicks about, like Bridesmaids, etc.
She and I have been friends for more than twenty years now and I think her friendship has had a deep impact on me. She has taught me many things, but the most important of those things is to care.

One of the most important times in a student's life is 12th class. It is the defining year which decides many things. And being a student of science, the stress multiplies a thousand times. Amo had humanities and she was very nervous. The rising cut-off each year in DU colleges is enough to give someone insomnia during result time. It was the end of May and we were eagerly waiting for our results. Our exams went fine but can one really predict anything! Tension was building with each passing day. Finally came the day of the result. I asked Amo to check my result as she does every time. So, Amo called me back after a few moments having seen both of results. She topped her school with a classy 95%. I, on the other hand, barely made past eighty. It broke my heart. I had scored more in the pre boards and everyone was confident that I would make it at least to ninety. The result shattered me but I was happy for Amo.

Amo, being the girl she is, started crying. I was so shocked to see that. It broke my heart to see someone who just outdid everyone crying her heart out for me. She should have been out celebrating and jumping with joy, but she was there with me crying on my shoulder and me consoling her. I shook me to my very core to see her cry just for me on the happiest day of her life so far.

That is the day I realized just how much she cares for me. I couldn't sleep that night. It still gives me goose bumps. And I just want to say thank you to her, for without her my life would not be complete. Amo, nobody has had an impact on me as much as you have. You are the sister I never had and I hope we remain like this forever.
This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.

Real Togetherness

When I see families toady, one thing is glaringly different –The invading presence of technology. People are sitting in the same room yet texting each other on various social media platforms than just talking to each other. This is absurd and maybe we need to take a step back from technology, especially at the home front. Even small kids who can’t even spell “cat” are busy playing stupid games on phones than playing with toys or in the park with other kids.They don't have real friends they have virtual ones. They don't have real pets they have virtual ones. This is not togetherness. This is not a family.

Kissan realized this about three years back and started the Kissanpur initiative.  Kissanpur focuses on the joy of being with nature especially for the tech-addict generation. Under this initiative Kissan distributed tomato seeds; it organized school contact programs that included visits to tomato farms, horticulture education and nature trails. They believe in breaking the shackles of the digital world and connecting with nature and connecting with each other. 

Now, under the Kissanpur initiative Kissan brings another adorable surprise call the Joy of RealTogetherness. It emphasizes on connecting with one another without technology. Connecting with each other on an inter- personal level. This features an almost four minute long film. In this cute and moving film, the protagonist is an old man. The film captures the day in life of an old man. As he moves about he sees that everyone is busy with gadgets. He enters an elevator and notices that everyone is busy on their Smartphone. Nobody cares for anybody. None smile or even nod. He sees a couple walking together but instead of holding hand or talking, both are busy on their phones. He watches a woman collide with a bunch of playful children, as she was too engaged with her phone to notice their presence. Her shopping bags fall over and stuff spills out. Only the old man stops to help her gather her. He is also shocked by the fact that no one else came forward to help her but even more at the fact that the woman didn’t even acknowledge his help; she didn’t even thank him and walked on like nothing happened.

As the old man moves on he finds a tomato cap and with the help of a kid plants tomatoes all around the building. However, this plan of theirs is foiled by rain as it drowns all the saplings. But they manage to find new se3eds and other kids also join in to help hem plant seeds. The neighbors also join in nurture the saplings when it rains again. At the end all grow to care for the plants and in doing so start connecting with each other inter-personally without gadgets.

So, we all need to question that in this constantly shrinking world maybe we can reach anyone anytime but do we really connect? Are we becoming more distant?

No video game ever will be as joyful as playing on swings in the park with your friends. Real emotions are always better than emojis . Rolling around in the grass, playing hide-and-seek among trees, watching different birds are things which are not only peaceful but also irreplaceable. Hence, the real joy of togetherness lies in being with each other and one with nature.