The Monkey Chase

It all happened when I was in school. When I was around 12yrs old.
My school was a pretty nice old fashioned big place with a spacious playground bordered with trees and lined with grass.
Girls school. Everyone from the principal to the gatekeeper were women.
Just thinking of that place takes me back in time and forget what i was talking about in the first place.
Focus now, and back to the current topic. The day of 'The Monkey Chase'.

It was a day like any other.
8 periods of academic blah blah with a 1hr lunch break and 2 breaks of 15min each, during morning and post lunch sessions.
During the breaks we used to run to the ground and play to the hearts content forgetting for a brief while about exams and homeworks.
And this day was no different.
We, a small group of 6 friends, placed a bet among ourselves as to who would be the first to reach the other end of the ground.
No sooner was it said, than we started racing each other.
My best friend and myself were in the leading when she suddenly stopped running, closed her ears and screamed.
I too stopped running and looked in the direction where she was staring.
And what i saw made me too scared to even scream.
A big monkey (i don't remember its exact size but it appeared really scary, a King Kong in 3D) was running towards us with a really angry expression on its face.
(BTW it was then that i realised how lively and expressive a monkey's face can be)
Turned out there were a group of monkeys scattered among the trees on the other end. The place where we were headed, there was a baby monkey and mama monkey was coming to shoo the intruders, namely my friends and me, away from the baby.

In that moment everything came flashing back.
The little things we missed noticing when we set out on our dangerous race.
The things like how the usually busy ground was empty at that time, how all the other girls stuck to the safe side of the ground, the shouts of warning and caution from the others when we started running towards the monkeys...
We were so lost in the race that we noticed none of this and focused on the goal... talk about determination and concentration!!!

Now, the race was still on - but in reverse direction and I was in last place... the farthest from the gatekeeper's (aaya, we called her) safe room and nearest to the angry mama monkey.
There are moments in Life, moments like this which test our faith in God.
I thought of Lord Hanuman and chanted his name over and over.
I closed my eyes and ran and ran as fast as my feet could carry me.
I didn't open my eyes till i fell down near aaya's room.
I got up immediately, even before my brain registered the fall and the bruise on the knee, and ran away from the monkey's straight path and towards the shelter of the room.

Mama monkey reached this side where we all girls were huddled together, bud didn't approach any of us.
She just went back at leisurely pace back to her side of the ground.

Maybe she couldn't identify her targets among the big crowd of girls dressed alike in school uniform of white shirts and blue tunics.
Maybe she just wanted to enjoy chasing us and didn't mean to harm us.
Maybe Hanuman ji heard my prayer and signaled her to stop chasing.
So many maybes, but what actually stopped the monkey when she could easily outrun us is still a wonder to me.

What happened next is all a blur to me now.
I just remember walking back to our classroom, with a huge sense of relief and the excited feeling of an adventuress.

To this day, every time i see a monkey, i feel the urge of wanting to close my eyes and run and run...
I control the instinct to run and walk steadily, with a mute replay of 'The Monkey Chase' in my mind.
And once i safely walk past them, i once again recapture the huge sense of relief and the excited feeling of an adventuress.

Goals in Life???

All my Life I've been looking for some higher purpose in Life... something which will define who I am...

When hindi movie 'Lakshya' released with caption "It took him 24 years and 18000 feet to find himself" .... Looking at that caption, I hoped then, that by the time I'm 24 yrs old, I would have some mind-blowing aim in Life and be passionately working towards it...

24th birthday.. came and left... and I still had no goals. :D
Maybe that 18000 feet is the key factor, should try that as last option and see how that turns out...

Dear God in Heaven, why do You tease me like this...
Look at my manager at work; he defines some goals for me and we have appraisal meeting every year, which gives me some idea what I'm doing (and mostly NOT doing) in office.
Why don't You, dear God, plan something on those lines...
Give us a goal sheet when we are born and discuss it every year, say in Dreams...
Please think about it ok, pleaseeeee....

I get really tired these days thinking about aims.
I ask my friends what my goal should be (its stupid, i know) and they say I should figure it out myself ((sigh !!!))
(Dear God, atleast give me some stupid friends who won't give such frustratingly wise and practical talk...)

Sometimes I wish I had a very old-fashioned, strict, tyrannical parents who would dictate me what to do and what not to.
In that way the choice would be off my shoulders and I would have had some kind of goal (even if its not my own) to accomplish...
But I have a very supportive family who just let me have the Freedom to choose - education, hobbies, job,... Everything, I'm free to choose... ((again, sigh!!!))
Freedom is such a heavy burden to carry, really...

Am running out of ideas and i guess its time to climb that 18000 feet and see if I can find myself...

Links for books

Search and download for free - music, video, photo, files ,..
http://search.4shared.com/q/AgQD/1/text_office

My Tweety pot

Once upon a time, we had a pot painting competition in the IT company i was working in.
I always wanted to bring out the dormant artist in me to public view... and this sounded like a great opportunity.
Still I've never done pot painting before and the contest was just two days away.
So i checked the already enrolled participants list and was very comforted to find many guys names in it.
After all if a man can do it, i can definitely do something more than that.
Am not a feminist and I have healthy respect for men...
but come on, "Pot painting and Guys??!!!"
With that thought, I confidently registered for the contest.

The big day came and i was all tense.
It was held in our office cafetaria on top floor of the building.
We didnt have to carry anything as the paints and pots were provided for free.
We just have to go there and pick a pot we like and collect the paints and get started.

Each of us was assigned a table of our own.
I already decided to draw my favourite Tweety with some nice background (what background, i had no idea but was hoping for some on-the-spot inspiration)
I was still looking at my pot and waiting for the inspiration, when i looked around and saw everyone else started painting already.
We were not supposed to look at others work in progress, but a quick secret glance around revealed that first we have to paint whole pot with some foundation color.
I choose Yellow and white and spread it across the pot.
I was still half way done when i realised the one beside me was already done with the background work and working on the main design.
This got me so tensed that i vowed not to look around and focus on my pot only till the time is up.
Two hours of solid hard work and loving attention and I was done with my masterpiece.
I resisted the temptation to look at others work and placed mine along with all the others in the corner.
There was array of art of different kind and all of them were unique and beautiful.
I was so embarrassed at my simple art and wondered if i could smuggle my pot away from the display.
But then couple of my friends turned up, saw my work and gave such a hearty laugh, I had to drop the embarrassment and join in the fun.
After all, who but me, would have the guts to display that??

The judges were going round the display and few other people were taking photos of it.
I secretly prayed they wont pick my pot and post it as the Joke of the Day.
And thankfully none did that. God is there and He listens to prayers, i tell you.

That day, the original pots were kept with the judges in a meeting room and we need to collect it the next day. But I didn't want to claim my pot as mine and left it there :-(

My dear Tweety pot, wherever you are, I hope you are in loving hands and please forgive me for leaving you like that... You really meant a lot to me, and dedicating this post to you...

And here's the photo I took of my beautiful, first and last pot painting.
Its a picture of Tweety holding an egg from which there's a little Tweety Jr. coming out with a smile and little hands held out.



In case you are wondering (like my friend did) whether the colors given to us were only yellow and white , then you are wrong.
We had the whole set of 6-8 colors and i still have them with me. (The yellow bottle is almost empty though :=( ....)
Why i chose those colors and that image is still a mystery to me :D

And hey, believe me, in the photo my sweet little Tweety doesn't look that good, but its really really really cute in 3D... my Tweety is just not that photogenic i guess..

Old hindi songs

Posting links for few of the old hindi songs...

Aapki nazron ne samjha

Ajeeb dastan hai yeh

Anamika - Kishore kumar

Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se - Sachin & Ranjeeta

Bin Tere Sanam - Yaara Dildara

Chalte Chalte Mere Ye Geet Yaad Rakna

Chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko - Yaadon ki baraat

DO NAINA AUR(MASOOM)

Gaata Rahe Mera Dil - Guide

Gori Tera Gaon Bada Pyaara - Chitchor

Gum Hai Kisi Ke Pyar Mein -Kishore & Lata- Raampur Ka Lakshman [1972]

Hum Bewafa hargiz na they

Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaye- Jurm (1990) HD

Kabhi Kabhi (Female) - Title Song

Kanchi Re Kanchi Re - Hare Rama Hare Krishna

Kiska Rasta Dekhe(Joshila)

Neele Neele Ambar par chand jab chaye

O Mere Dil Ke Chain - Mere Jeevan Saathi

Pyaar Hua Iqraar Hua - Shree 420 (1955) Engl. Subtitles

Raat kali - 1971 film Buddha Mil Gaya, Kishore Kumar

Rangeela Re (Prem Pujari) - Lata, Neeraj, SD Burman
Ruk Jaana Nahin Tu Kahin Haar Ke

Tera Mera Pyaar Amar - Asli-Naqli
Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi - Kishore & Lata - [Azgar Khan]

Teri Bindiya - Amitabh Bachchan & Jaya Bhaduri - Abhimaan

Ye Raaten Ye Mausam - Dilli Ka Thug

ANGERRRRRRRRRRRRRR

తన కోపమె తన శత్రువు,
తన శాంతమె తనకు రక్ష, దయ చుట్టంబౌ
తన సంతోషమె స్వర్గము,
తన దుఃఖమె నరక మండ్రు తథ్యము సుమతీ


For those of you who don't know the beautiful script above, its written in Telugu language and its a from Sumathi Satakam
The meaning below:

"His anger is his enemy,
His composure is his safeguard, kindness his kin
His happiness is Heaven
His sorrow is Hell, oh man of fair mind"

These words so simple and wise, and the poem and meaning i knew by-heart as a kid.
But back then, i didn't really understand their significance.
After all, who cares for anti-anger proverbs when you are a kid and free enough to scream, pull the hair, scratch, pinch and punch fellow playmates anytime we are mad at each other.
Fighting is just a simple healthy natural anger outlet and once its over, its over... the very next moment you are back playing happily with the same kids, the fight and wounds already forgotten...
Sorrow and anger never sticks for long in a child's heart.

But then we grow up, and this adult way of handling anger demands plenty of acting skills.
Smile plastered on face when talking about it, and choosing flowery words in speech when all you want to do is to scream out the worst words you ever know and let the anger out of your system.

Yes, am angry at someone at workplace since two days.
(No, am not going to tell what caused my anger here, coz its soooo silly, you'll laugh at me)
Two days over and I still keep thinking about it.
I can't go and have open fight with that Ms. X for three reasons:
1) Adults don't fight over stupid small stuff
2) My reputation as a calm, peaceful woman would be ruined after fight, and
3) Am afraid i would end up with more wounds after fight with Ms. X (after all, she's much more stronger than me :-( )


So i controlled my fighting instincts and here i am dealing it in more "mature" way
1) Letting out my anger in words by writing about it in my dear own blog.
2) Thinking about all those anti-anger proverbs which i have read till now.
3) Thinking of all the teasing and jokes from my friends at my silly unnecessary anger. (this one works best as it brings a genuine smile to my frowning face)

Beautiful homes

((Mad... this one's for you...))

http://www.home-designing.com/
Above site is the one which i like the most so far.
This has interior design ideas from all over the world.
Check it out.
Click here for the free eBook in that site, arnd 5MB size.
'Official' free book so you can download and share.
Its beauuuutifuuuuuulllllll....

Few videos on interior decoration and beautiful houses.
Youtube links below:

1) HouseToHome

2) Bedroom Design

3) World's Most Creative Flower Vases

4) Bathroom Design Ideas

5) Interior Decorating - New Life to Old Rooms

6) Living Room Design

7) Living Room Design 2 - home-designing.com

8) Living Room Design - Modern Concepts

Nachle ve - 'Chane ke khet mein' song

One of my favourite Madhuri Dixit song:

'Chane ke khet mein' from Hindi movie Anjaam

Nachle ve with Saroj Khan Episode 5 Part 1

Nachle ve with Saroj Khan Ep 5 Part 2

Nachle ve with Saroj Khan Ep 5 Part 3

Nachle ve with Saroj Khan Ep 5 Part 4

Nachle ve with Saroj Khan Ep 5 Part 5

Nachle ve with Saroj Khan Ep 5 Part 6

Nachle ve with Saroj Khan Ep 5 Part 7

Nachle ve - Aaja Nachle title song

From Youtube, among search results for 'Nachle ve' dance program:
Hindi movie Aaja Nachle title song

Nache Le Ve - Aaja Nachle part 1

Nache Le Ve - Aaja Nachle part 2

Nache Le Ve - Aaja Nachle part 3

Nache Le Ve - Aaja Nachle part 4

The Secret - Rhonda Byrne

The book, 'The Secret' by Rhonda Byrne, is about positive thinking and about Law of Attraction in Life.

There's movie with same name based on this book.
Here's a 25 min video in Youtube

The Secret: 1st 20 minutes

Bhangra workout

Here's one workout where you can have a fun exercise routine and at same time get to know basic Bhangra steps.
2 birds at one shot.

Youtube links below:


Sarina Jain's Masala Bhangra Workout Vol 1

Sarina Jain's Masala Bhangra Workout Vol 2

Sarina Jain's Masala Bhangra Workout Vol 3

Sarina Jain's Masala Bhangra Workout Vol 4

Sarina Jain's Masala Bhangra Workout Vol 5

Skin care @ home

Here's the list for skin care tips.
I've googled and selected only the simplest ones with ingredients which are easily available at home.
Will keep updating the list as and when i find something easy and new.

1) Yogurt:
Apply yogurt on the face every morning. Wash it off after a few minutes with cold water. This will keep the complexion smooth, healthy and fresh.

2) Cucumber:
Grate or blend a cucumber. Apply this over the face, eyes and neck for 15 to 20 minutes. It is a great tonic for the facial skin. Regular use of cucumber prevents pimples, blackheads, wrinkles, and dryness of the face.

3) Tomato:
Tomato, used externally, is good for getting a good complexion.
Apply the pulp of a tomato liberally on the face. Leave this for an hour. Then wash off with warm water. Repeat this daily. You will have a good complexion. It will also remove ugly-looking pimples in a short time.

4) Watermelon Juice:
The juice of water-melon is useful in the removal of blemishes on the skin.
Prepare a lotion by grating and squeezing the juice of a small slice of water-melon. Apply this lotion over the face and neck for fifteen minutes. Wash with hot water. Follow this by a splash of cold water.

5) Mint Juice:
Application of fresh mint juice over the face every night, cures pimples and prevents dryness of the skin.

Aerobic exercise - Tae Bo Cardio

One of the best workouts i've ever seen - Tae Bo ...

Posting the Youtube links below:

Tae Bo Cardio Billy Blanks 1/5

Tae Bo Cardio Billy Blanks 2/5

Tae Bo Cardio Billy Blanks 3/5

Tae Bo Cardio Billy Blanks 4/5

Tae Bo Cardio Billy Blanks Part 5/5