Filed away...

It is a three day weekend and is the case with long weekends, the first day goes in sleeping. Then, mom kicks into action and berates me for not taking care of all my paperwork...my papers, bills, certificates, documents, office papers that are all over the place.

So it was with great reluctance that I gathered up all the papers, old bills, debit card receipts and what not. But little did I know that what I thought would be a boring task would be a great way to relive some old days.

Every piece of paper had its own memories...every bill had a reason for why I had splurged...every marksheet told a tale of how much effort had gone into getting those marks...how much coffee I had to drink to keep myself awake...

Of course there were some marksheets which I would simply like to forget...some bills which I regret running up - especially the silly PS2 and Drive Wheel which I have hardly used. I came across my MH-CET marksheet and admission papers...I remembered how I had almost cancelled my admission...and how, thankfully, I had not.

Then there were bills which bought back some really sweet memories...of running all the way to an ATM to take out money to buy a hard disk drive...of days spent hunting for the perfect gifts...of rushing to Phoenix to buy a bracelet and hoping it would be liked...buying a T-shirt or a particular piece of clothing because it was recommended...

These pieces of papers can be filed away...but not these memories.

Happy Friendship Day

It is the first Sunday of August...more popularly known as Friendship Day in India. A day which until 2-3 years had no value to me. I never even acknowledged its existence until then.

But today I can't but help go back 2 years in time. A day when everything was perfect...a day which ranks as one of the happiest I've ever lived. Little did I know back then how things would change...how things could get so out of hand. But well...no use harping on what has happened. I made mistakes and am paying the price for them.

Anyways today is a day to celebrate friendship...to celebrate life. So I dedicate this song for you...a song that I hope gives you the strength to navigate life with all its troubles and trials...

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat

But always keep that hunger

May you never take one single breath for granted

God forbid love ever leave you empty handed

I hope you still feel small

When you stand by the ocean

Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens

Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Living might mean taking chances

But they're worth taking

Lovin' might be a mistake

But it's worth making

Don't let some hell bent heart

Leave you bitter

When you come close to selling out

Reconsider

Give the heavens above

More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

(Time is a real and constant motion always)

I hope you dance

(Rolling us along)

I hope you dance

(Tell me who)

I hope you dance

(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)

(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small

When you stand by the ocean

Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens

Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Dance

I hope you dance

I hope you dance

(Time is a real and constant motion always)

I hope you dance

(Rolling us along)

I hope you dance

(Tell me who)

(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)

I hope you dance

(Where those years have gone)

(Tell me who)

I hope you dance

(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)

(Where those years have gone)

--Lee Ann Womack

Happy Friendship Day

Happy Women's Day

I’ve not been writing on this blog since a long time. But today on the eve of International Women’s Day, I felt I should write something about some of the women in my life. There aren’t many of them...but those that are are simply amazing women.

First and foremost, my mom and sister. I really don’t have much to say about these two except that I am where I am simply because of them. Both of them never really display their emotions or show their love but it’s there to be seen in everything they do for me…from screaming at me early in the morning to have my breakfast to screaming at me to sleep early at night. Two amazing ladies.

Then, there are my office colleagues and close friends Doel, Pooja and Deepti. While Doel is someone who continues to amaze me with her full of life, bubbly nature, Pooja and Deepti have inspired me with their ability to take hurt and pain in their stride and simply move on with life. What little sanity is left in my life, its partly because of these three. Thank you ladies.

And then there is you. What do I call her...a friend, a guru, a guide, a teacher, a lifeline…in short everything. She is someone who has changed me in so ways and always for the better…always. Today if I know the value of family, the value of unconditional friendship, the value of love, the value of trust, I know it because of you. From the day we met first till today, you’ve only given me something...unconditionally...irrevocably.

Every day I try and be what you wanted me to be…a person who values himself, someone who is confident of his abilities, a person who works towards what he wants without worrying about the end result, someone who is patient, someone who is understanding, someone who keeps faith. If you read this, I hope you’ll be proud of me.

Though you are no longer in my life, you’ll always be my shining Diamond.

Happy Women’s Day!!!