Orange Lemons.

Day 21.

And you're a part of my day, again. Hah.

Lots of things to be happy today, people. Where do i start, where do i start!
Ok. Let's go one at a time, atleast let me try, where's the harm. So, after crazy mad strenuous days killing my back, I had today all to myself to take it slow. I don't even need to tell anyone out there how that feels. And, I've never enjoyed my cup of bed-tea more.
Morning set in, the day panned out into a relaxing session.
Home seems like home again. Wedding pomp and show is all up finally, and my bandwagon seems to be in place with the madness dimensions. Oh! How I've been looking forward to this.
Another one out of the blue showed up, old memories and traces crawled their way to new smiles. Smiles earths to the ship. Sending them all your way.
So. Snap out of it. Tip of my day. Yes, its the oranges. Me, an engineer; and her, a people's people out of the world. We, together, the unstoppable, the invincible team, after a struggle of 20 mins with a plain simple juicer finally, FINALLY managed to figure our way around it.
"Rupa takes less time." O.o  (i wonder)
Those tortured and slaughtered oranges, along with the beaten up eggs; I had the awesumest dinner. The cheese omelette couldn't taste better, the orange juice couldn't refresh me more, and the company was as always the best and fed.
Can't miss out the recorded coded expressions learned about. Lesson#3498256264357 : don't ever give missed calls. Like ever. You never know what you invite and which demon you may unleash. Seriously.

oranges and lemons.

In too deep.

Day 19/20.

Its one of those times, those days where only you yourself can save yourself. Thinking back to that morning when I wished and hoped for this one where I'd have not a stop gap second to sit and just ponder. What if I told you I'm standing here, thinking back, knowing, believing, seeing, cherishing every dream from back then. I wonder what it'd be like.
Running here and there and everywhere, I'm making my life happen. Out on the move in a snap moment, I'm living for myself. Falling in, and also falling off, I'm walking with eyes open into clouds.
I'm out on the edge, and i'm screaming out my name.

zoned out.

Comedy of errors.

Day 18.

I'm told to be a person attracting trouble and disaster by itself somehow. Whatever proof was needed, I guess my day 18 did it all. I can't help but laugh thinking about it.
So, that's how my day starts, with the loving hyperventilating boss on the other end of the phone. Everyday, every morning. Yes, she apparently loves me so much more than the bouy. Tchtch, competition. (take that)
Yesterday was a wee bit panicky for everyone though. Both parties on their tiptoes. So, I hit the road. Actually it was the rail. Where was I off to? Well, from this end of New Delhi I was to reach the other one. Places I hadn't even ever heard of in the 5 years I've been here, were soon going to have the special honor of having me there. Heading out with no idea of the route to take and a phone beeping with low battery, the day called for a memory of sorts.
Dingading. Two hours later; one hour late for the meeting, post getting lost at metro stations, changing about three metro lines and vada-pav metros, I finally got where I had to be; at the metro station I mean, still not at the venue, that's another one for another time. So, one hour late for a meeting, I step into this plot and feel no less than Hansel-Gretel at the witch's palace. Phone, update on that, that was dead long back. My boss' love had no way of getting to me. Dammit.
By the end of afternoon, I couldn't wait to step back into that godforsaken 2 hour rail-ride, again, vada-pav-ed, not to forget. But things were panned otherwise for me here. My absolutely amazing government had found this day only to nikalo all their jaloos (take out processions for all you angrez out there). So, the metro remains shut for 4 hours. News Flash. Supercool. To add icing, I found myself right in the middle of the stampede in the basement of the CP station. Struggled my way out to be turned down by 50 million auto-walas. That, was the cherry on the cake.
So. 6 hours after leaving my place, after bumping around half the city, reaching late for a meeting, hopping back and forth between offices, clam-baked in metros, being a part of a stampede and fighting with half the city's auto people; I was finally home.
Due dancing over my head was my next meeting and a crazyass-late-lying-'friend'.
What's amazing is I managed to still pull off the day, yet another day, with all the bedlam. What'd life be without the drama!
And that's just the beginning of the drama.

feet-credits: Das.

Shamiyana.

Day 17.

Day 17 needed some time, space and sleep to sink in. Remembered starting my blog back in April and the emotions that very day.
"And then, I did something I have wanted to do since a long time; I ran towards the gate and out of it, without as much as a glance", were my words to quote. From there till my day 17, this is what changed.
So, what happened on day 17. What I had willingly run away from 10 months back, exactly 10 months back (not to miss); I, on my own accord walked towards it all. There was that day of happiness at levels unexplained, and then there was day 17, a 100 days of happiness episode. Emotions so similar, too, can be so varied, so wide apart from each other.
Satisfaction. Peace. Joy. Memories. Happiness. Togetherness. Reconciliations.

So. that's what I did my day 17. I stepped out.
Out of my shell, out of the hiding, out of the cocoon, the walls I had so carefully built, to take the trust fall to be only held. I didn't fall. I stepped out without an armor. And as the sun set, a new me is what I found to rise above it all.

"Bottom line is, even if you see them coming, you're not ready for the big moments. Noone asks for their life to change, not really. But it does. So, what are we, helpless? Puppets? No. The big moments are gonna come. You can't help that. It's what you do afterwards that counts.
That's when you find out who you are."
-Joss Whedon.

shamiyana.

100 days of happiness- Preambled.

Day 16.

It is republic day.

Democratic.

'Wedding Extravaganza'

100 days of happiness- Day 15.

So, post wedding spins a were still on a high when another one got aligned. And to add the family flavor and spice, 'the sister-in-law' uploads the entire extravaganza unadulterated.
In a split span of every snap I relived each passed moment. I went back to the TOI interview day, lunch at Big Chillz, venue hunting plans; through the first club-hit, birthday park meet, clothes stalk-chase-dally; to see plans formulate into something so beautiful.
Put a tireless smile on my face, you two make me fall in love with the idea of it itself.
~Also, I realized today, the passage is a gradual one from an inspiration for what this page, this blog is, from a friend, to a family member, a mentor, to most of all a person whom I look up to. I owe a lot to this, and it all makes me really glad it is you.

I've come all the way from 'Transitions' to the 'wedding extravaganza', and its been one hell of a journey!

photocredits: Nikhil Kapur

100 days of happiness- milestones.

Day 14.

There's this, this that (past-present-future) has-is-will be the happiest milestone.
My little cupcake, aka the master of devil, much much love and gelati.

cupcaked gelato

100 days of happiness- educe.

Day 13.

There comes a time, when insatiable indulgence gets the better of you. One of those is what I encountered yesterday, and oh the joy of gluttony that gave me the high.
Hot fresh imarti out of the oven, onto the tables and savored by starving-drooling-eyes. Imagine my surprise and satisfaction when the imarti traced my childhood back to me. It hadn't changed one bit. Even years later. From a place that started off from the dust had reached a milestone in life. And I couldn't be happier knowing there are still names-places-faces that retain and cherish authenticity till this date.
It's definitely something when the balmy imarti melted in my mouth while I sat like any other 3 year old on my chatai.

educing milestones.

100 days of happiness- highway.

Day 12.

Sometimes, more often than not, my way is the highway.
Who'd have thought my tuesday would drown drenched in touring across the countryside with my absolutely amazing partner in crime. The dark clouds of taking over with the splatter on the window shield, a hot cup of coffee with a tinge of lightning thunder-storms, and, aah! the snuggling winds swirling.and whining through the padlocks; was just the start of it all.

highways

100 days of happiness- idleness at dawn.

Day 11.

In the thick of pressures and chaos, the sunrise brought about a world of colors.

To bask the centuries away; Nor once look up for noon?

100 days of happiness- sequins.

Day 10.

I'd have put down words and phrases to tell you what's behind the darkness, but then you wouldn't see beyond the light.

"Though my soul has set in darkness
It will rise in perfect light
I have loved the stars too fondly
To be fearful of the night."
-Sarah Williams

mǣnōn

Goonj.

100 days of happiness. Day 8-9.

Goonj. The sound of an echo.
Somewhere, on the broken dusty road to nowhere, I found happiness to last through days. Gunjan, trapped in her own shackles in locks, drew herself out, her vivid eyes saying all there is to speak, listen and see.

kohl.

100 days of happiness- replay.

Day 7.

Replayed over and over again, this is something that just doesn't get old. Investment banking or the council members at the circle of marriage, rules all broken and kept, 2+2 is always equal to 4, every which way.

My best friend. My mentor at so many times. A shoulder. A punching bag. And even a mannequin. Through ups and down, life did wind and wrap us around people, around circumstances, around situations.. But we saw that coming even 5 years back. 5 years later, and still here screaming bewitched by the moment and replayed snapshots.

Replay, because i would live it all over again in a blink of an eye. 

We are two awesum people living life, and living it to the fullest. The bucket list grows faster than it gets struck off.

So so much hayzaqueen love.

Day 7, a complete dedication to this demented butterfly keeping me together. So, to Nikita Das, life is so insanely great. Thankyu.

do(ing) epic shit.

100 days of happiness- in my footsteps.

Day 5.

I wake up every morning nowadays thinking about what may be my tipping point of happiness today to be put up, and found the best for today. My kid sister is all grown up suddenly, from toddling around tagging everywhere to turning into a beautiful girl (no matter ow much i may tease her of resembling a chimp). Can't believe she's already finished school and stepping out in life.
So, my 5th day of happiness is all her in my socks. I'm a proud sister and a very happy mentor!

~Stop for a minute, take a look around. Let it sink in. You're leaving. Leaving behind the 14 years for something greater.
Stop. Glance around. Take it all in. Because its all ending.
You're leaving. Give it a minute, grace these 14 years, but after the minute ends, let it go. Honor the memories, remember the faces, carve it in your heart. These 14 years made you, you. Take a moment, a passing minute, to embrace a new beginning, with a promise in your heart, to make it...worth it.
Make or break your life, remember this school, the 14 years it gave you. And someday, look back, visit again. Feel the nostalgia, relive the stories.You're leaving, but, wherever you go, whatever you do, you take this name (Frank Anthony Public School) with you. Remember, it is your duty, uplift the honor and pride of your school. Because, this is where it all began.
Its not the school I'll miss, but the school life. Not the people, but the person I am with them. I'm not afraid of leaving, but of the change.
(in words of Ananya)

100 days of happiness- checks and stripes.

Day 4.

So, typical monday morning. If you're new to the concept, let me enlighten you a bit with one of mine. I finally headed out to office (after a week's 'work-from-home' *snigggers a bit*) for a crazy super busy day prepping for events amongst 50 million other things. Well, I forgot its monday for everyone else too. So, after a harrowing 2 hour journey on the road, the chocobloc was all worth the giggles and chuckles. As if the day wasn't jammed enough that the overdue new year's celebration (literally) came knocking on the door.

smudged shades.

100 days of happiness- sounds.

Day 3.
Behind locked doors and dismantled rocks, there exists a place where yours is not the only voice that echoes.
I'd have never thought of a sunday spent this way..even though its something I've been looking forward to since over 2 months now. A new life, a fresh brewed mix of highs and lows with just a pinch of eccentric balances is what I found beyond those honeycomb carved walls and aligned footsteps.
PACH, as we say poetry and cheap humor gave a direction to me in a dimension that ceased to exist. Overwhelming, the happiness ringing and tears welling. Overwhelming, the dwelled heart-beats and chiseled wind-chimes.
"if you're happy and you know it clap your hands.." was the tip of my day paired complete with the poetry in Braille.
Happiness comes knocking on your head here, and what's even better, PACH will come knocking faster if you're feeling otherwise.
~World's a big small place when you step out.

sights through creaks in doors.

100 days of happiness- molecules.

Because over and above, even on a saturday its fun to be behind it all.

100 days of happiness.

Day 1.


The work-a-day at Kunzum with PACHwaasis and BTMooners. Hand in glove with the chilled windows, sugared icicles and eaten clicks.

enclosed borders.

Beyond the barbed wires and boundaries, found a world so full of colors.

~The world before us is a postcard, and I imagine the story we are writing on it.