Magic Moments

I love stories. I need stories to survive, to be sane. Stories that offer a short vacation from the real world. Stories that help the escapist in me. I always carry my daily dose of fiction and nonfiction with me- movies, novels, ebooks, newspaper, blogs, and magazines. Any one of these would make my day complete. So with the several books that I have read and the hundred or so movies that I have watched, I have come across numerous characters. I have made acquaintances with some, and fallen deeply for a few. Some have enthralled me to no end and some have frustrated and disgusted me in equal measure. So here’s to those characters I don’t ever want to forget- the protagonists, leads, wallflowers, side-kicks, under dogs and doormats that I have cherished with all my heart. Revealing the theme with the sound of bells, drums and cymbals reverberating in the background. J ‘CHARACTERS’ So throughout the month of April I’m going to blog about the characters that have made an

Source: http://CokeURL.com/96jnc We are the happiness that we seek. Simple things can make us immensely happy. The laugh of a baby, the stupid silly actions of your pet, crazy dialogues of your friend, listening to your favorite music and watching your favorite movie after years can bring so much joy. I don’t think smile and laughter are the only ways to express happiness. I am emotionally overwhelmed when I’m very happy, and so tears are a given. It’s funny but whenever I am happy at the core, I cry. It is perhaps very uncorrupted way of experiencing the peace in happiness. “It’s not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.” Happiness comes when we learn to accept situations and people the way they are, rather than trying our best to change them. It resides in that fine balance between holding on and letting go. It consists in focusing on giving and serving, than getting in return. It comes from within us, and depends on nothing except our very o

My sister always lectures me why I should invest time in rereading my favorite novels too instead of always focusing on new books by different authors. She herself has read her favorites for about three times, and still can read it again when she has nothing else to read. The Keeper’s Tattoo, Clockwork Angel , and Pride and Prejudice have attained the top re-reads in her book shelf. I always wonder how she does it; how she is able to keep her interest intact and even enjoy the story once again after knowing the entire plot. This is what she told me. Every time you read introduces a new horizon to your perspective. You focus on different aspects of the story rather than just the plot or the characters. For example, reading Harry Potter as a teen you were mesmerized by the magic, setting, characters and plot. Re-reading after years you would notice how the best thing about this series is that here the lesser known’s, the underdogs, the less confident are the heroes and game

Source: www.housing.com Life is short and time is fleeting. Moments of today will become memories of tomorrow. So the best thing we can do is to create as many loving moments of togetherness as we can with our loved ones and cherish them forever. Let’s lose no time of companionship in anger or jealousy, as the time lost today can never be recovered. Regret and guilt are the worst feelings that corrupt a happy life. So let’s just reconcile our differences and be together, for one another. Time we spend with the family that god bestowed upon us, and that family which we chose for ourselves gives us the optimism and happiness we seek in life. After all, all we need in life is a sense of belonging. I love family time. We usually have long talks together, especially on the terrace during power cuts and gossip over hot snacks. We playfully tease father for his alert sitting postures and weird facial expressions while watching a fight scene in a movie. I just love the hearty lau

Source: www.housing.com #StartANewLife The past is deep, as they always say. And life is a bouquet of surprises. It hurts and wounds but time heals it all. My life too has been a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. I was once the most loved and cherished daughter of our village. Though not really pampered by my three brothers, I was considered important and dear. Our mother always trusted me more and let me handle all the responsibilities. I was the one to guide the others to do tasks and I took immense pleasure in ordering them around. And then one day a groom was chosen for me from the many proposals that always kept coming in. The marriage took place after they had my consent, and off I went to my in-laws’ leaving my home behind. It was a happy start of a new life, far from home, nearby the rocky beaches of Mumbai. A new chapter of my life had begun with someone who respected me, whom I was happy to be with. But one cannot judge a person in a matter of months. Eve

'No family is an island onto itself. It's always a part of a larger culture: a community.' This movie is about food. Food, food and more food. It’s like a food carnival. A cross cultural culinary tale directed by Lasse Hallstrom. It is the film adaptation of the best seller novel of the same name by Richard Morais’. French and Indian cuisine shown in all colors and flavors would leave you feeling hungry by the end of the movie. An Indian family plans and moves to Europe to a French locale to start an Indian restaurant there. They start from scratch to build a legacy just across the road of a already Michelin starred restaurant. I loved the movie not only for its picturesque locales and beautiful colorful dishes, but also for its story and plot. It’s a story about following your dreams, and finding satisfaction and success in what you love doing the most. Searching for quality mushrooms in wilderness, catching fish together, sniffing the supplies befor

source: www.indiblogger.in She crawls around on the floor excitedly on seeing a lizard, while we adults try and stop her from grabbing it. Every animate object is interesting to her. I love the way she yells that happy cry with wide eyes on seeing a mouse running towards the dark corner. We laugh as she tries to hold the sun rays coming from the small holes in the window. She’s my cousin’s baby- our small bundle of energy. She’s such a darling; just watching her cute activities makes my day. Her day starts early morning, before anyone of the entire household wakes up. She just sits there on the bed looking at our sleeping faces, poking and trying hard to wake someone up. She hates it when no one’s paying her attention. She makes curious noises as if to announce, ‘ I have woken up, wake up guys. It’s very boring to sit here alone and stare at the sleeping faces. ’ And that sweet laughter when the first person in the family wakes up and holds her is music to our ears. Then sh

If words can travel to you... Dear Love, I don’t know why I am writing this. It feels like writing to the void. Perhaps the envelope shall never be opened. Perhaps my words shall never be read, never be replied. My questions shall never be answered, and my feelings shall just occupy the emptiness left behind. I don’t know if you even exist. I don’t know what became of the war, what devastation it caused. I don’t know what became of the thousands of soldiers; how many lives were lost, and if anyone at all escaped that fate. And it’s killing me. It’s eating me inside out. Perhaps I’ll tear this up. I don’t know what more to write. Even the ink is blurred with my tears. No, I didn't cry, till today. How am I, you ask? I’m living, eating and still breathing. I wonder how. I wonder why. How are you, if you are still there somewhere? And if you are not, then how’s oblivion? Should I join you? I don’t want this to be a letter to your grave. Return if possible.

source:https://housing.com/lookup Most of us envision ourselves living out of states or abroad, having a world tour, getting to know people from a different culture and having a dream job in our dream city. But every mountain seems beautiful when seen from far. The obstacles on the hilly terrain are not visible from a distance, and so we don’t realize the hurdles. Nothing of the above would satisfy us or make us happy if we don’t have a place to go back to. Even after achieving all the wonders in the world, if we don’t have a family to miss, a home to come back when we can, nothing would seem worth it. A year from now I can see myself living away from home, from my parents and my sister. I’d be earning of course and living my dreams, but would still have that nostalgia on seeing a family photo. And visiting home after a long gap, during the holidays would feel like returning to the paradise. I’d again get to taste my mother’s handmade recipes, those homemade delicacies th

Just one compliment can change our day. Even a smallest compliment can save someone's bad day. All it takes is a genuine smile and a few words. 'You look good today.' 'You did a wonderful job.' 'You are awesome.' Everyone likes such words of praise, appreciation and acknowledgement. An honest compliment brings in courage, self belief and tremendous mental strength to survive a gloomy mood. "Compliment people, magnify their strengths, not their weaknesses." The best compliment I had ever had, or I ever gave someone was listening to their words and paying complete attention when they want to convey something. Yes, I think listening to someone and understanding her is the greatest compliment. And I make it a point to do it daily, for every friend or acquaintance I meet. "I can live for two months on a good compliment."- Mark Twain And when someone who matters in your life compliments about a thing you are most insecure about, the

I doubt if I ever loved you I doubt everything I ever knew. I doubt all that I see But never doubt your love for me. Everything seems fake Every wish that I make. Every truth, every lie Every faith, every sigh. Every right every wrong Every unwritten song. I feel so undecided Which path to take? Should I allow love to revisit, Let the past knock at my door, Once more.