A date with Delhi?!

Hello readers,

I know its been so long I haven't written anything. I was so much occupied  :(

And there's a surprise for you all. I have moved to Queen of Deccan as Pune is notoriously called! It was all of a sudden. And it was inevitable as its part of being an IT professional. I was so much occupied these days in coping up with the new city and adapting to new lifestyle that I couldn't find time to write. But I promise you all that I will try to be active now as much as possible.

Trust me its difficult to move out and shift to a new place. I miss North India especially Punjab and Gurgaon (or Gurugram as the new name for the Millenium city goes) every single day.

Today I would take you people to NCR (National Capital Region). I didn't get the chance to have increased checks in the to-do list while being there but let's get down into the memory lane!

• Agarsen Ki Baoli

I happened to visit this place in summers'15. And I guess many of you might have seen this place atleast in the famous Bollywood movie PK starring Aamir Khan. It is a historical step well on Hailey Road near Connaught Place, New Delhi. And trust me guys it feels so relaxing, just sitting on the stairs and feeling cool breeze. It is believed that this Baoli was originally built by the legendary king Agrasen during the Mahabharat epic era.
Caution: This place is considered one of the haunted places of Delhi!

• India Gate

Had a bad day at office? Or craving for ice cream? Or want to have a walk? Then this is the RIGHT place guys!

It is located on Raj path in New Delhi. And the best time to visit this place is night *_*

During nightfall, India Gate is dramatically floodlit while the mountains nearby make a lovely display with colored lights. And there is a memorial Amar Jawan Jyoti in the memory of many deceased Indian soldiers. A flame burns day and night in the rememberance  of the lost lives. 

• Qutub Minar

Qutub Minar is a soring tower of victory  built by Qutab-ud-din Aibak. It is a great masterpiece of Mughal architecture. And there's an added historical Iron pillar which has never been affected by rust.

Isn't this amazing?!

• Safdarjung Tomb

As Dilli is famous for its tombs. Safdarjung tomb is the last enclosed garden tomb in Delhi (also known as the tomb of Muqim Abul -Mansur Khan. There are two graves here, one of Safdarjung and the other apparently his wife's. It is enclosed within a large garden, divided into squares on the charbagh pattern, with tanks and fountains along the central pathway, the tomb stands out in the centre of the enclosure.  

• Hauz Khas

Today, Hauz Khas Village still holds on to some of its old charm with loads of quirky torches. It is a much loved complex for its rustic environs that perfectly blend with urbane ambience. And don't go on the name 'village'-this place caters top notch designer stores,restaurants and makes up an ideal place to shop, eat and generally chill out with friends and family.

• Connaught Place

It is one of Delhi's most popular shopping centres. There is nothing that one cannot but here. The complete market is drenched in white colored that it gives you the feeling as if you are in some British clone. 

• Red Fort

It is named for its massive enclosing walls of red sandstone. And is a must on to-do list if you are keen history lover. And personally it was my bachpan ki khwaish to see this place atleast once after reading about it so much during school days.

• The Great India Place

After hearing so much of this mall that I planned to see it. But personally I didn't like it may be I was very much fond of Gurgaon malls. You'll find all famous brand stores and restaurant here. If you happen to visit Noida then do visit this mall.

• The Ambience

Trust me there is a hype for this mall among the Delhites. I have visited this mall twice and trust me its so wide spread and I got lost ;)

But its a great place for a weekend stress buster.

• Select City Walk

It is one of the popular and posh mall in Delhi. The extended parks, the fountains and lightning just add to its charm. And you'll find the beautiful and hottest of the Delhi girls here on weekends :)

• Kingdom of Dreams

It is the best entertainment place in Gurgaon. With the Bollywood movie posters all around, the mouth watering Indian food, the cultural events and there is a many more that this place serves. It is the best hangout place with friends and family over weekends.

• Cyber Hub

It is considered to be India's first integrated food and entertainment destination. It is an amalgam of top notch IT companies like Accenture, KPMG and Deloitte and the posh restaurants and outlets. Its one of my favorite(est) places in Gurgaon. I used to have Sunday dinners here oftenly. 

• MGF Metropolitan Mall

It is personally my favorite mall in Gurgaon which is nearest to MG road metro station. It is a true blend of entertainment, shopping, food and enjoyment. The top floor is the food court for the foodies who just love to eat and eat and only eat. 

• Gwal Pahari

Away from the hustle bustle and traffic of the millenium city situated on the outskirts of Gurgaon on the Faridabad road this place is so full of life. The rocky mountains and the peace just made me fall in love with this place. It is the best gateway for a short drive. And the sunrise admist the mountains just add up to the scenic beauty of this place.


Just loose yourself in Delhi because

"Yeh Dilli Hai Mere Yaar...

Bas Ishq Mohabbat Pyaar...

Basti Hai Mastano Ki Dilli Dilli...

Gali Hai Deewano Ki Dilli! "

What? Shadi ka Ladoo?

These twinkling twenties comes along with these "when are you tying a knot?" questionaires.

You're in 20's, get married! Shadi will make you more responsible! Get married, its getting late, you're getting fat!

Is this same happening with you? I believe most of us are sailing in this boat of- "being 20's.

Being an Indian (especially Punjabi -_- ), not only your parents, but every well-wisher is worried for your marriage. And let me tell you this so-called "every well-wisher" list is so short that it includes- parents, relatives, neighbors, family friends, Sharma ji, Goyal ji, kanpur ke chachaji ki bahu ki behan ka pati and each and everyone."

                                                                   **Sigh**

Once you step into your 20's and get a job, the rishtedaars get worried for your marriage! "When are you getting married?" becomes the hot gossip topic!

And if you happen to go to a wedding or any family function, you're  fired with the questions of not getting married yet!

And here the shadi ke sawaal starts:
Aunti ji: Aur beta, we heard that you've completed graduation, doing a good job! Great! So when are you planning to get married?

Uncle ji: We have seen a guy/gal for you, meet him/her this weekend. See if things work between you both!

Sharmaji's son: When I was of your age, I had kids. This is the perfect age to settle down!

Me (in mind): Oh Please! Shut up.

And these rishtedaars will make sure that they fuel up your parents and convince them to start looking for a match for you.

Mr.Sharma (to mom): Your daughter has stepped into 20's, why are you not getting her married yet? Are you not worried for her wedding?

Mrs.Verma:  I heard your daughter is working in an MNC and planning to study further. Make her understand that ultimately "making round gol-gol chapatis" will matter not these degrees.

Mrs.Goyal:  I've an NRI match, if you say main baat chalaun?

The story does not ends here! They won't stop until your parents get convinced.

But every lock comes with a key. Next time don't get the blues when someone asks you shadi plans. Instead pop-up a question on them sarcastically. There's a little help for 20's troop:

• "What? Do you think I must get married? Well I'll take this into advisement!"

• "When are you getting married? (if that person is aslo single) :)

Put the questionaire in hot seat ;)

Divert the conversation or turn it into joke. But be dismissive and answer in such a polite way that they never ask you or your parents again!

So, perfect reply when next time someone asks for shadi plans say:

And before getting into this shadi trap in 20's make a to-do list for your twinkling 20's.  :)

• Fulfill you dreams: Dreamt of completing masters or doctorate? Becoming a writer? Travelling world? Just chase your dreams before eating shadi ka ladoo!
• Live alone: Try living alone. You'll gain experiences for life.
• Learn something new: Learn a new language, playing guitar, swimming or anything you like. It's the right time to do it.
• Take a solo trip: Travel alone. Make the memories to cherish for life.
• Gift yourself something valuable:  Gift yourself something expensive, worthy which you have been longing for long!
• Spend time with parents: You won't get this time back! Spend most of time with your family and friends.
• Save money: There are so many wish list items waiting to be struck off your list-all of which requires money. Save money to fulfill your wishes.

Ditch the shadi ka ladoo for now and start making a to-do list! Because time is less but wishes are more.

                     

Millenium City paralyzed

Curfew!    Jaat Protest!

This Jaat protest has created a big chaos and abyss all around in various parts of Haryana. Let me give an insight of this agitation and protests in my city.

9:00 am : An usual  winter morning. Working in office, cheerfully planning the weekend visit to home.

12:30 pm: Colleagues working in afternoon shift come to office, gasping and telling how they had to walk in the scorching  noon heat to reach to office because of agitation by Jaat community- for reservation in government jobs and educational areas.

2:30 pm: I am deep into my thoughts- “How will I go back to home in Punjab? Its weekend and I want to be with family! I have to complete an important paper work as soon as possible.”  Keeping the fingers crossed, I am continuously praying that I reach back to Punjab anyhow.

4:30 pm:                                                **Phone beeps**

Here’s the message from the cab agencies that the shuttles won’t  operate  because of the disturbances in the city.

                                                       **Office emergency alarm beeps**

The announcement says- “The office transport will be delayed because of the tensed condition outside.”

And there comes the mail from office transport depicting  the safer routes to take from office.

5:00 pm: I get off from my seat. Leave the bay. And I asked few autowalaas to drop me to the nearest metro.

Each of them replied- “We’ll drop you at the traffic lights on the way to metro. Get down there and walk for a kilometer approximately. And then take another shared auto to metro station.

I called up my dad. He said to stay back there in Gurgaon and not to come home.

5:30 pm: I agreed with my dad and decided to stay back. I had started walking because roads were blocked.

And to my utter shock I see the Jaat people sitting on the manjaas with hookah in hands as if they are in the party or club.

Roads all blocked, city to a hault, lives came to standstill!

6:00 pm: I somehow managed to get an auto.And being worried for my important work back in Punjab, I direct this autowalla to take me to Huda metro station.

With blocked roads, mayhem all around, I reached metro station within 30 minutes.

6:30 pm: Its been a year I am in this city but this was the longes(est)  queue  I have ever seen at the metro security.

This Jaat protest has taken the toll on each and everyone.

6:40 pm: I am sitting in metro, making an intelligent guess on what time I’ll reach Kashmere Gate. I was already late and I don’t prefer travelling that much late at night.

7:35 pm: I reach ISBT, Kashmere Gate.

                                                                **Shocked**

There is so much crowd at the platforms. No bus to take me to home. No hope to get the bus. People opting to either  go back or stay in guest house.

I call up my dad. He starts scolding that why I didn’t stay back there.

I decide to go back to Gurgaon.

8:00 pm: Back in metro. I call up my rommie and ask her the status of the city there. She says its fine here but it wouldn’t be safe to take an auto from metro station to pg alone at night as midnight is blocked.

                                                                **Huff**

I call up my cousin to drop me back. He agrees and says to reach at the specific metro station so he would pick me up from there.

But to add on to that, there started the melodrama of the family. And believe me, it was natural and expected because drama runs in our veins being an Indian Punjabi family.

Countless phones and messages.

Dad saying to head towards Gurgaon and not to wait for cousin. He worriedly saying “I am coming to you.”

And I am like, “Papa, Stop! Does this make any sense? You’ll reach here by tomorrow and I am fine here. Nothing has happened to me.”

I call up my best friend in Punjab who is also worried for me and say him to ask his brother to drop me directly to Gurgaon as dad is not allowing me to wait for my cousin in Delhi.

As always, this buoy being my helping mascot talked to his bro. And its his bro’s birthday. Still he agreed to come to drop me home safely.

9:30 pm: I reach Gurgaon. And the Millenium City is back to its life! This b’day boy drops me home safely and I call back my dad and all concerned rishtedaars that I have safely reached to PG.

Although the curfew has been imposed in several cities of Haryana but in  Gurgaon its all well.

P.S. These agitation protests would be of what help? By doing so , you people are disrupting the lives of so many people.  The things can be handled through other ways as well.

Be your own beloved!

Hi Readers!

I am sorry for not being active for last so many days. The office work and some personal commitments kept me occupied since so many days.

So how’s the Valentine’s week going on?  There must be air of love around. Isn’t it? Trust me, on the very first day of the V-week, the weather turned so romantic here.

Valentine’s Day is a romantic day to spend with the beloved. But what if you don’t have a partner? Or your partner is busy on the special day? Or your partner is not romantic types? Or you and your partner just had a fight and are not on talking terms right now? 

Does this means that you have to miss the fun on this Valentine’s Day? 

No!

Be your own Valentine! Love yourself, pamper yourself, make yourself feel special in each and every way possible!

Just go to a store, buy a gift for yourself. Take out some “my time” for yourself and jot down your values and write a letter to self. Realize your worth. We all waste most of our times in judging ourselves which results into stress, anxiety, depression. This Valentine’s Day becoming your own valentine can help each one of us on focusing on ourselves, loving ourselves and less on what you dislike about yourself.

Now wrap the gift along with the letter. Do whatever you feel like doing on Valentine’s Day to pamper yourself. Do you want to spend some time alone or with friends? Do you want to cuddle yourself and watch a movie or read a book to self? Imagine that you are planning the date with someone you are in deeply love with and adore the most-“yourself”.

Here comes the Valentine’s Day- “your day”. Unwrap the gift you bought for yourself and read the letter aloud you have written. Realize your worth. Make this Valentine’s Day the beginning of becoming your own valentine, your own beloved. Even if you are in a healthy relationship and have the plans of celebrating the festival of love with your partner, you might also want to celebrate your wonderful self on Valentine’s Day. The more you’ll love and value yourself, the more you’ll be able to give love to others and the happier and productive you will feel.

How to solve the biggest problems with Life

Dear readers,

Life is not a bed of roses.  Indeed true!  We all face hardships and these hardships mold our outlook towards life.

Let me tell you a little story.

I was a failure initially……….

I am born into a middle class Indian family. My dad is a doctor and my mum was a full-time housewife. When I was about three years old, we moved to a bigger city, Chandigarh and my dad started up his clinic. At about same time I got admission into a good school. I was doing fairly well and was among the all-rounders of the school. I made the best friends, was the favorite of teachers. Things were looking good initially.

But something went wrong……….

After few years, I was moved to a posh school. I faced challenges in adjusting and coping up with the rich, higher-class, sophisticated mates. I felt inferior and was looked down upon by the fellows. Things became hard for me. I remember clearly how I always used to be afraid to go to school. It was rough, it was hard and in the midst of all that I began to despair. As things became harder and harder, I became even more desperate. My academic performance went down the line. Once the favorite of teachers, an all-rounder was now categorized among low scorers.

And to add to it, I lost my mum that time. I felt alone. I became emotionally vulnerable. I lost my childhood. The things seemed to have ended for me. I moved to a new city to live with my maternal grandparents. I lost my mum, was living in a new city away from dad and home. Responsibilities added up in the age of thirteen- now I had to take care of my baby sister (six  years younger to me who probably didn’t even know the meaning of death clearly that time) as well as the domestic chores of the house as grandmum  is too old.

A new school, new people, new city- that vicious circle started again.

I desired to be successful. I just didn’t know how.

And I was certain there was a key to Success somewhere……….

I had to find the key. I had to find a way out. I struggled. I asked questions. Can you imagine a brand new car with all the accessories in place- good tyres, good engine, great body, a good ignition key but without petrol in it? What would happen if you try to start that car? That was my situation. I was on the same spot trying to figure out what to do. I was helpless.

Fast forward a few years since then……….

Things changed!

I found the most helpful teachers who supported me through this rough phase. I changed my perspective to look at the things. I was weak at mathematics, so I thrived for excellence and made mathematics my strength.  Instead of seeing the responsibilities as burden on shoulders, I made a special bond with my sis and I started enjoying the daily household chores especially cooking.

I moved with my sis to live with my dad again-back to the same home and hometown. I worked hard; once again I was counted among the bright students of the class.

•   I achieved meritorious position in higher secondary and senior secondary examinations.

•   I completed my Bachelors in Information Technology with distinction.

•   I managed to grab offer letters from five of the best MNCs.

•   Today, I am working with one of those MNCs and I am an independent lady.

•  Today, I travel, read books, spend amounts of money which were only possible in my dreams years ago.

What changed for me? What made this possible?

Luck? Nope?

Education? Yes!

Hard work? Yes!

Zeal to achieve what I deserve? Yes!

What made it all change for me was because I discovered several life-altering truths which I applied to my life. These truths transformed me. The hardships and adversities changed my outlook towards life.

Although responsibilities at the young age turned me premature but I emerged out to be a stronger person.

The Process……….

We all have a spark inside us. We just need to ignite it.

I believe that if life gives you lemons, make apple juice and have people wonder how the hell you did it!

Chose to shine- Be the owner of your Happiness

What is happiness? Can we buy it from shopping malls or our favorite brand stores?

Can we?

No! Because it lies within us. The only thing that we need to do is- discover our own Happiness.

What makes you happy- a child’s smile or blossoming flower or a long vacation with family or appreciation at work?

The happiness may differ for each one of us. But we own it. We are in charge of our own Happiness. It’s our own entity.

 Why to complicate life? We just have one life, keep it simple.

Diet chart for being happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred 
2. Free your mind from worries
3.  Live simply
4. Give more
5. Expect less
6. Be in present. Live it to the fullest.