Mere tumhare, sabke liye hai, Happy Diwali!!

दिया, कंदील, और खील बताशे,
रंगोली के रंग, और पटाखे,
आज घर की याद आई है,
संग यादों की लड़ियाँ लायी है,
कुछ धूम हम यहाँ भी मचाएंगे,
दही भल्ले, हलवा कचोरी खायेंगे,
गाजे बाजे संग दीपावली मनाएंगे,
क्यूंकि आज मेरे घर, मेरे भगवान् राम आयेंगे।। 

When a few of my Swede and Brit colleagues wished me "Happy Diwali", I finally concluded that India has become a global power indeed. The day is usual, the same monotony, the same morning rush, the tunnelbana hustle bustle, dropping kid to school, rushing for work, building reports, analyzing retail data, etcetra, etcetra.. But there is a dash of difference, a dash of diwali - Bobo singing - "Happy Diwali.... Radha on the dance floor" since morning, in loop and me excited about the cooking plans for the evening. (my latest love for cooking, thanks to the modern day cooking groups). 

It feels like Diwali now, a little modern though, and a little vilayati. But it does feel. A lot of credit goes to my son, the little pre-schooler, bobo. :) He has been super excited. Cleaning, decorating, arranging, cooking - and bobo is excited for all. Along with feeling proud for my son who is imbibing cultures all together and rapidly, I am happy for myself. 

After a small puja, with some youtube arti clippings, and some arti's using our own memory of "Om jai Lakshmi Ramna".. We had the delicacies, and bobo tasted all the stuff, but loved the gulguley.. 

Wishing all the happiness to all across!! :) 

The best thing in life is...

The best thing in life is you yourself
The best thing in life is she herself
The best thing in life is he himself
The best thing in life is, ofcourse, me myself..

God created me just fine
And sent me to the journey of the marvellous earth
To feel enamoured by the beauty and shine
To be surprised with the mourning and mirth

To love the little things in life
To love my health and my mind
To be a mom and be a loving wife
To be beautiful, and be kind. 

Uphill as I tread the steep path
Somewhere I got lost in the jungle
Not realizing the trap and the aftermath
Amidst difficult times, relations entangle

Working towards baseless goals
Wasted thinking, wasted time
Falling in thorns, jumping potholes
Loosing sheen in my prime

Some say its better late than never
Wake up to my inner strength
Tap the potential with fervour
Walk the path less taken, at length

Love my body, revive my soul
Seeking true joy, wash away all sin
Seeking my Lord in me as a whole
Tranquil be my mind within.. 

Last weekend's indiblogger WOW was - "the best thing in life is..".. I has some thoughts floating in my mind, but couldnt open them down to submit in the competition. Anyways, its good to have them on my blog now.. 

Banaras ki galiyon mein

ढूंढती हूँ मैं कुछ यहाँ, कुछ वहां
कभी अलमारी में देखा, कभी छज्जे पे
तिन के डब्बों में भी  देखा झाँक कर
याद आता है कहीं रखा था संजो के

क्या बताऊँ सहेली, खुद को भूल गई हूँ,
कहीं छोड़ आई हूँ. किसी किनार
किसी घाट पे, किसी मंदिर में,
किसी नैय्या में मैं थी सवार

उस शाम बैठी थी मैं, तारे थे, चाँद भी था
एक चाय की प्याली थी हाथ में
लगता था खो जाउंगी वहीँ,
ले जाएगी ये लहरें मेरा हाथ धर अपने साथ में

शायद वोही हुआ है सखी मेरे भी संग
काशी की गंगा में रम सी गई मैं
अब न घर में मिलती, न बगीचे में, न आँगन में,
पाऊँगी खुद को बनारस की गलियों में, लौट के ज़रूर आउंगी मैं..

त्रुटियों के लिए क्षमा प्रार्थी हूँ, एडिटिंग शीघ्र ही करुँगी, परन्तु ये शब्द रुके नहीं, इसलिए आज रात को जागकर इन्हें प्रस्तुत कर रही हूँ..
शुभ रात्रि!!

With love in my sheaf

I open my palms, and feel nothingness
I look up to the sky, and feel emptiness
I hear no one, its quiet, its soundless
I fear no ill, its numb, its painless

I am empty, I am grey
I fast, I wish, for death I pray
I am broken, I am cold, my heart is fray
I am aimless, lost, I meander, I stray

Memories of dreams, of hopes of joy
Of childhood stories I enjoy
Just like the yellow maple leaf
Ready to fall, with love in my sheaf

Dreaming...

28th Floor of a mumbai skyskraper
Sounds of waves of the ocean
Can someone paint this picture?
Me in my own creation..

Sun gleaming through the window bright
I get up at my own pace
Soaking in the music and the sunlight
No fight for the rat race..

And then is this home away from home
Where heart prevails and smiles spread
Colorful, red, green and chrome
You and me, love and fred!!

The tram line, and we...

I am lucky to live in a city which is by far the best in public transport system. The need for your own car/ vehicle never arises. Around a year back, atrociously, the bus stop near my home disappeared. This was thanks to the new tram line construction (from Solna to Alvik, in Stockholm, Sweden where I reside). And thus began the journey, which our neighbourhood is still reeling in. The 800 metres walk to the nearest metro station is suddenly extended to 1200 metres. The whole day we have sirens to warn against the loud thump of dynamite blowing the rocky terrain, to build a tunnel for the tram line. I would like to mention that the sound of this dynamite is much less than the honks and noises of the blue line buses in Delhi. You get to feel a thump (reminds me of "Jurassic Park").

A couple of days back, I returned back from work to find a box of Marabou chocolates in my post. The box is specially ordered, and has a "Tack" printed on it. That means "thank you" in Svenska (Sweden's local language).

 There is a note attached to the box as well. I have translated it (the note was in Svenska as well). It is a "thank you" note from the construction company NCC who are handling the tram construction work and SL, the Swedish public transport company. 

The note thanks the residents of the area for their patience, and tolerance towards the disruption of normalcy in the locality. They thank us for enduring the noise, the disturbance in  the walking track and barriers on the road, which have led to discomfort to the public. 
An immediate curve on my face, and all becomes fine. :). I am excited about the whole process now. I am looking forward to the day when I will use the tram to reach my favourite shopping destinations, or to my friend's place. Thanks to the Marabou milk chocolate and the simple thought from NCC-SL, just the concern for the common man, 

Being an Indian, I tend to immediately compare the situation with the construction of the Delhi Metro, whch is the latest which comes to my mind. Just as a reminder and a stark comparision - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11161014


The tram line is expected to be on in the summer of 2013. 

Romance @Anuja Chauhan

I got this book  - "Battle of Bittora" on the shelves of a good friend. That was the only "light" read amongst the whole set of non fictions. I picked it up. I had heard about the title earlier. Once I started the book, I couldnt leave it, and finished it in 3 days (ofcourse it wasnt 24*3 hours). If you are a real die hard romantic "fool", this book is meant for you. Love, blossoming between a handsome hunk and an Indian beauty (not the bollywood type good looks though). I am one of those real romanctic dreamers, and so not to mention I fell in love with the storyline, the characters, the plot, and "Battle of Bittora" (BoB) became one of my favorite rom-com novel.

Next, I ordered a set of books from Amazon, and while browsing, I found a couple of books by "Anuja Chauhan". Well, Anuja of the BoB fame. I instantly ordered "The Zoya Factor". History repeated itself, and I picked up the pick and this time finished it in couple of days (thanks to a relaxed work schedule).

Both the books have a striking similarity. Similar plot, similar love lorn, lustful characters. Similar family emotions in the beautiful blossoming love story. Intriguing. 
The Zoya Factor was the first one, and what a successful one. It was rated among top 5 in many newspaper rankings. A rom-com with the spice of Cricket, the angry young cricket captain Nikhil Khoda (we Indian's worship cricket) and a young girl next door Zoya Solanki, and the superstition. Zoya could make or break a cricket match because she was born at the very second when India won the Prudential World Cup in 1983. Nikhil was a true believer of hard work, and "luck" was not in his dictionary. Wow!! And love blooms!! 
BoB is the second release of Anuja. With this book, Anuja touched the close-to-Indian-heart topic - "Elections". Be wherever, we will follow the Election season, state by state, constituency by constituency. Vidhan Sabha, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, any Sabha, President Prime Minister or Sarpanch - all elections are a matter emotional connect. And so, love during election campaigns, oh wow!! That two a hindu muslim love. The plot was excellent.

Though, "NOTHING OFFICIAL ABOUT IT" - In both the books Anuja could do a lot more though. At some places it seems a true dream (ZF : Cricket captain meets Zoya Solanki near a poolside in a hotel at 12am in the night to discuss the email his coach wrote to the Board of Control chief, no1 notices!! Bwaahhh) And that is why this storyline could be  the bext feed for bollywood superhits. 

But, and a big but - WHO CARES!! Because - Anuja Chauhan - YE DIL MANGE MORE!!! 

So Miss OYE BUBBLY @Anuja Chauhan - When is your next book release??

PS: All views of this blog are personal, and my own, with Arpita Sharma copyrights. ;) 

Dil chahta hai..

कुछ नया लिखने को दिल चाहता है

लगी एक नाव और नदी का बहता पानी,

घटाएं घुमड़ती, गुनगुनाती कहानी,

दिल अकेला कहाँ मानता है..

कुछ नया गाने को दिल चाहता है!! 

रेत पे लिखा तेरा मेरा नाम,

लहरों के डर से सिमट्ठे बिखरते.. 

जब दिल ने देखा उन्हें सिसकते

दिल दुखियारा ये कब मानता है

कुछ नया कहने को दिल चाहता है