Mom Me and Milk

Piyu doodh for healthy reason ; Peeyo doodh in every season
Rahego fir fit n fine ; jeeyoge past ninety nine.. doodh doodh..

An awesome number to promote milk. And why not maybe milk is really good for health. I am betting on calcium (My guess)

But in the story of the 3 M’s (Mom me and milk) the song would go this way:
Don’t peeyo doodh to give mamma tension; don’t peeyo doodh till she gives u all the reasons
Mamma ko peeche bhagaao to keep her fit n fine; peeyo only to make mamma smile.. doodh doodh doodh doodh
(ok that’s not a masterpiece at lyrics… so what)

At my place the story of 3M’s was read out every night (mornings used to be hectic...Mom didn’t have the time). It was simple. A glass of milk (made sure that there aint any of the “Malai” thing floating ) in mum’s hand and me refusing to drink it for “n” number of reasons. I eventually did gulp it down my throat. But not once did I drink it without giving my mum reasons to ask GOD “what did I ever do to have a child like this?” But every night she still came back with that Milk and I acted like the most spoilt child (that didn’t need much acting though).

She used to cajole me into drinking it, shout at me, and just stand right in front without saying a word. I used to be so amazed at her patience and perseverance and once I also said “Mom, if I was the mother of such a child I would have turned the glass of milk onto her head.” She stood there furious, and if a look could kill I would be dead then.

I still do it every time I go home. And she still keeps talking me into drinking Milk. My friends say I am a sadist (they too exaggerate).
The truth is that small war we had was fun (maybe I do sound like a sadist). It was a ritual at home. Today when I do the drama she smiles and stands in front of me, knowing what I am up to. But in the past she definitely lost her cool, but never backed off.
I guess that’s being a mother.

I guess, however cliché it might sound, but Mother’s are a masterpiece designed by GOD. I am curious how that new life turns a girl into a person, a perfect person. She has gotto know so much. I believe raising a kid is the job, which requires the most dedication, and one cannot take a break or a vacation from Momhood. Mom’s just do it so well. Every single need she fulfills. Even when we complain, we fight with her, coz we believe she doesn’t understand us. Well we do grow up, we build our own views. And differences do happen. But even today, for me, the most comfort I get is in her lap. I can’t imagine a world without her.
But even today we read the story of Mom, me n Milk whenever I go home.

What I feel for you
How you make me feel
All the bruises that you mend
The way all my emotions you can tell
When you sat by my side all night long
All the little stories that you tell
The patience with which you hear everything I have to say
All the poems you sat and made me learn
Every thing you scold me for
Every thing you appreciate me for
The talks you have with me
All my stupidities that you laugh at
For every time you giggle with me
All the war of words that you stand;
Still not once you judge me,
Realizing that I never mean all that I say.
All the things you stop me from doing
The faith you show in me
The trust you ask me to deserve
All the care in the world that you shower
A kind of love only you can offer
I thank you Maa for making me your world
All the things you do, every word you say
Even if I act ignorant, it means a lot to me.

My mom is a neverending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune. ~Graycie Harmon

...RaJi...

So today I am gonna write (read Boast) about myself. (Hail Raji).
Naah!!! I am too modest to do that (Yaaa right (Snort)… Wake up Sleepy Head)
Just wanted some post to be titled with my name. This was the best opportunity.
Well, coming back to the point.

What’s in a Name???

The whole drama is going to revolve around my name or basically this is a dedication to all those people who have a “Different” (hatke) name.

God definitely didn’t bless me with a face that’s a head turner (now I am doing down right self abashing…Phew) but to make it up my Parents blessed me with an eyebrow raiser name. And the name is Raji… Raji Rajan.(Does James Bond rhyme??? )

Half of the population wonders what my name means.
According to my parents: The one who rules (I loooove the meaning)
According to a website: Originally a short form of any of the various names containing the element raja (king, sovereign), Raji is also bestowed as an independent given name. (Also, it says it’s a girl’s name… Bless You)
According to another website: Name of KING (It’s a male name… Dhishum Dhishum)

In a terse phrase it means ROYAL. (Oooo Lala… )

Every time any body asks me my name and I say Raji the following cases occur:
Case 1: huh?
Case 2: Raised eyebrow
Case 3: Nice Name (a polite way to say that’s different) accompanied by what does it mean.
Case 4: Come again (believing that they misunderstood what I said)
Case 5: Is this your NAME or is it a shorter version of something like RAAJESHWARI.
Case 6: Assume they hear Prachi or Rachi or something that rhymes or some word which fits into their vocabulary.
Non-existent Case: Normal reactions or basically no reactions

And every time someone is writing down my name I have to spell it coz most of the time they fall in Case 6 and would pen down something totally not-my-name.

To make myself clear, I am not cribbing. I love my name. And every different name does trigger a pulse in every person. Coz when one says a name, which fits into people’s vocab it just registers. For an unusual name to register it first triggers a response then it registers. Hurray. (Modest Raji at work) (Psst Psst … A secret... It isn’t that unusual down south)

The name has the following comments attached to it:
1. “Raji” aint a word. It’s just a sound. A weird sound. (Murder Murder Murder)
2. (Beat this) Raji cannot be a name. During your naming ceremony the moment your grand mom was about to say your name she sneezed, Aaachhiii, and your parents mistook it for Raaaji. And hence you are called so. It can’t be a word. (Murder? Naah!!! Too smart)
3. Raji. It feels like I only say half the name. Incomplete type of a word. It feels as though I am saying your name and half way through I lost my voice. (Where the hell do they come with this from… )
4. Raji resulted in a lot of people calling me Bhaaji.
5. Many a times my call letters, or documents have had my gender being mentioned as Male if people haven’t seen me. The client I interact with though I am a male till I corrected her. Rather till she heard my voice.

And Shakespeare asked what’s in a name. There is sooooo much in a name!!! But, only if you have been privileged with a different name. (Ha! )

What's in a name? That which we call a roseBy any other name would smell as sweet.~William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
(couldn’t find a better quote than this)

Lost Touch

They made me smile a lot
On silly jokes we giggled together
Fun and frolic was always our company.
Today they are my distant memories.
I lost touch. I never tried.

School days that we all cherish
Was special coz we all were together
The lunch boxes the games, in heart forever.
Today they are my distant memories
I lost touch. I never tried.

We shared our first brush with love
The first heart breaks, the next crush
Advising each other, when half of the things were unclear
Today they are my distant memories
I lost touch. I never tried.

The growing up is worth cherishing
Coz they gave different colors to my life.
What more could I ask from my college days.
Today they are my distant memories.
I lost touch. I never tried.

We always welcome friends into our life
With a smile and a song in the heart
With promises of friendship forever
Some old friends we stick to,
With new friends making way, we walk away
Never looking back, never trying,
With a bunch of excuses, some become a part of our memories.

When a small hi, a simple good night
Is all that was ever needed.
A birthday wish, a how are you
A call that means hey I remember you.
An sms indicating I still think about you.
How simpler could being friends forever be?

Today they are my distant memories.
I lost touch. I never tried.
I cherish those memories that have made my life colorful.
I will get in touch. I will try to mend.
A few simple things I would do.
Coz friends forever I want to be.

Memory is what is left when something happens and does not completely unhappen. ~Edward de Bono

Crush-a-thon ;)

My Teen Crush-a-thon

I assume that every(normal)body has a crushistory. For me every next crush was history repeating itself. He is sooooo cute… that was it. Then drool drool and fir jaao bhool(that sounds cool… lol). Crushing is exuberant fun and super crazy. I had levels of crushing:
Level 1: The moment THE CUTE GUY(TCG) is visible, eyes pop out and face lights up with the 440w smile. The moment out of sight, it’s out of mind. And I don’t know him personally.
Level 2: Finding THE CUTE GUY(TCG) irresistible and devising ways to get to know him, and succeeding in the endeavor. Then every time you bump into each other and he talks, the dil goes mmmmmmm mmmmmmmm mmmmm….
Level 3: Now this is serious business. THE CUTE GUY(TCG) is a friend. Hanging around with him half of the time. To top it, every time he talks, the dil goes dhoom dham dhishum… (mm mmm seems sooo insignificant then)

Well I guess the next level stops being a part of the Crush business it’s taken over by the LOVE department. I am saving it for some later post. Lol.

Some teeny-weeny things, that, I did during my teeny Crushlife. My parents knew every entry in my Crush-List (supportive parents I must say).

- In my college there was TCG, a senior. He was handsome, definitely. Once in lunch break I was raving about him to my friends. And for some silly/weird reason I was walking backwards babbling about TCG. Suddenly a few of my friends started giggling and a few had their eyebrows raised. Before I knew what it was, Dhadaaam!!! I bumped into TCG. Whoa!!!! Sorry’s were exchanged (what a gentleman he was… even he said sorry and asked me if I was hurt (blush blush all the way)). My friends couldn’t hold their laughter (jerks). I couldn’t contain my thrill(Duh). Later, I narrated the whole incident to anyone and everyone who would bother to listen. (May God Bless Me with a few more collisions with TCG…)

- I was lurking around with Neha(me and neha studied in different colleges) on college road (a place) where I happened to spot TCG (another senior). I wouldn’t stop staring (read ogling). He and his friend happened to notice (tumne notice kiya!!! kaafi tej ho.. hahahha). So, now TCG turned his bike and was approaching towards us (my heart beats racing) when he spotted Neha and realized that Neha happened to be his friends sister(Neha’s sis was in my college). He sped away with his bike! Damn!!! Me and Neha were in splits laughing. Plus, we didn’t forget to mention this small incident to her sis. Her sis rewarded me with some snaps of TCG. Bless Her!!!

- My parents were fed up of listening to moments with TCG (a friend in school n college). We used to hang out with the same set of friends. He was playing with a silly stick (the stick of a broom!!!!!!!!!!). Started poking me with it. When I caught it, he snatched it away saying “This is my lucky stick”. A while later he forgot about his lucky charm, which I promptly slid in my bag. I flaunted that prized possession at home and kept it in my cupboard. One fine day I come to my cupboard to see that Mom has cleaned up all the mess. I went bonkers when I couldn’t locate that Lucky-Charm stick. To soothe me, my dad came up and started searching for it. Finally he found it for me and handed it saying “Here. Now keep it safe” (that’s what I call a cool dad). I kept that stick safe for a pretty long time. (That’s how crushy-feely I could get).

- I had the habit of sleeping in the evening and studying at night. My mom made sure nothing disturbs me. One fine evening TCG decides to call me, about whom my mom obviously knows. She actually came to wake me up. When I refused to open my eyes, she said “Look its TCG calling, I don’t want you to have a fit when you wake up and realize that you missed the call” (aint my mom cool too). What an instant awakening it was. Ran to pick up the phone. And what a conversation it was. He had called for no reason (that was the best part). After he hung up I just sat there dreamily. My bro and mum amazed at how silly one could be. Then I promptly got up and penned down the entire conversation onto paper in dialog form (patience huh). I don’t remember the count as to how many times I read that thing (That was the impact a call had on me… Duh Me)

- Now this was really lame of me to do. But I used to give missed calls to TCG. This was way back in junior college. And then I didn’t know the concept of caller id’s (Damn). Now we end up together in senior college and for some weird reason in the same class (which then I though was some sign by GOD… whoa!! ) . He was sitting right behind me in class. The guy sitting beside him decides to bring up the topic of missed calls (I still hate him), and then TCG laughs(devil in disguise) and says “Hey Raji, you used to give me missed calls. Hahahah”. (Help Help Help!!! ). I soooooooooo wanted to disappear(GOD didn’t listen to me then). The look on my face, according to my friend was priceless. It goes down in my list of “The Most Embarrasing Moments”.
- 6 of us friends crushed on the same guy. In junior college the attendance sheet used to be passed. We always made it a point to paint a heart in front of his name. And used to giggle all the time looking at his expression. Hardly did we know that all the guys in the class knew our little secret. Once in senior college I made a friend who happened to know about this. That was when it dawned that it was not we who were laughing at him, but all the guys who were laughing at us. (I guess I have made a fool of me umpteen number of times).

There were loads of other things: hating that girl, with whom TCG spoke often, yapping about the latest TCG to my friends, turning red when TCG complimented (this happened to be a rare phenomena), dealing with a spoilt mood because of some silly reason related to TCG, remembering all the clothes he wore, going nuts when we wore the same shade of clothes (silly silly me)... and a lot more.

It was an amazing thing an amazing feeling. It was super fun too.

The Crushy feeling could be described as:

“I get the best feeling in the world when you say hi to me, or even smile, because I know even if just for a second, I crossed your mind.”

When he's around, my whole body knows it. I'll keep talking and stuff, but my mind will have no idea what I'm saying, I keep wondering if there's a term for this.

Cheers to Crushing!!!

Neha Mordia

For Neha,

Growing up and memories is like diya n baati ( cliché.. but nothing hits better). Everybody has a plethora of growing up memories. Stupidities, crushes, bunking lectures, my-parents-don’t-understand-me tantrums, the realization of the existence of the opposite sex (interesting) , aims which say i-wanna-be-rich-and-famous, bruises, heart breaks, college ,school, play park , bla bla bla , Neha Mordia (my growing up and Neha Mordia are like diya n baati), etc etc etc.

Calling her my best friend would be an understatement of my lifetime.

Always a talkative kid I was, but only with my close ones. She came and she brought out the crazy side of me. As a 12 year old she was a smart and intelligent kid. I was the shy and intelligent kid. Those who know me now might wonder SHY n RAJI… its like saying software and no-bugs together (the software engg in me..damn). I am not taking away any credit from my parents and me and all the other people. But Neha has her part (major part) to play in the person that I am today.
Always an extrovert with no inhibitions. Full of life, ya! that’s Neha. All this dance business that I keep mentioning in every other post of mine, this girl was a dancer right as a child, I had my inhibitions, being with her let me go of all my inhibitions. And that’s why I know today that I love to dance.
I am still way disorganized but if I have even remotely come close to that word its thanks to Neha Mordia.

Well let me introduce Neha Mordia.
Sunshine. That’s one word that comes to my mind when I think of her. One helluva gorgeous female. A true aquarian, she has a charm of her own. And what a blabbermouth we have in her. She can just yapp together for hours at a stretch. She does not only have the power of speech but the power of conversation (ders a difference if u noe). She comes across as this Miss. Attitude and what-does-she-think-of-herself, I know her since 11 years, she is the most fun and down to earth (well not exactly… lol ) girl. Well, if she doesn’t like you then she wouldn’t pretend either. But be ready to be smothered with affection if she has even an insy winsy thing for you. Temper is not her cup of tea, once in a while she might loose it, but most of the times she will not let is out.
A very responsible girl. If she has agreed to do some thing for you then rest assured that it will be done.
Sometimes she is a total tomboy. Sometimes she will want to look like a goddess, well without much effort she manages easily to look like one. At times she will be this philosopher and guide, at times a total brat. Sometimes we have wanted to kill each other at times its Friendship shining all the way. (Psst Psst .. a friend calls her My First Biwi)
Now you might think she is this goody-goody female, hold your breath, she can compete for the Miss. Mean contest if she wants and win it hands down. Lol
Well she has her strings of flaws. But that’s what makes her more special to me. And all my strings of flaws she has always embraced.

These quotes describe her best:

“No matter what the weather, wherever you go, you always bring your own sunshine”.

“Some people grin and bear it; others smile and do it.”

"Loves absolutely everything that ever happens in her life" (Modified version of :Love absolutely everything that ever happens in your life Paul Cantalupo, MD)

Some memories with her:
1. Right after school , after spending the whole day together, chatting on phone for hours.
2. Discussing how some girls act stupid in front of guys (we were equally bad I guess.. hahah.. school times)
3. Comparing how each other faired in exams (healthy competition is it?)
4. Alternately staying at each others place.
5. Covering up each others blunders at home (I did that most for her ;) )
6. Wanting to throw an egg from her top floor house on to the main road (and actually doing it… crazy)
7. Listening to Bye Bye Bye (N Sync) umpteen number of times to get the lyrics right.
8. Ye chand to seedha seedha gol hai (cant explain this.. )
9. Soothing heart breaks (we have a tendency to fall for THE WORNG GUYS... she just got the RIGHT one)
10. SECRETS (we know too much about each other.. )
11. Fights (silly sillier silliest (if these words exist))
12. Genuine comments (no faking)
13. Egg roll, Aalu paratha, mango milk shake, dosa, fish. (I guess these are memories with each others mums… hahah)

(I am ending up having lists in most of my posts. But kya kare, life hai hi mast. )

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart … and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words
(That’s Neha Mordia for me.)

With Love,
...RaJi...

Package Deal :) :) :) :) :) :)

(Dedicated to my wonderful Roomies : Aditi , Khushi, Prachi, Pinky, Renu, Sonica)

Anybody who has bonded with their roomies will know why this is such a big deal. Why the name “Package Deal”? Roommates and Package Deal kinda resonates for me. Coz having a roommate is not about having just a friend, or a foe or just another human being. It’s about sharing a million relations in 1000 sq feet rented apartment (the funny me!!!… Ok... I know, it didn’t tickle your bone)

I landed with the best deal.

Sharing that space is one helluva experience for me because:

1. Foremost, sharing physical space with the unknown.
2. Breaking the ice. (Need to keep smiling and bring up small talks… it works)
3. Arriving at a consensus as to how to live. (sounds far fetched.. but yes.. there r a lot of things to decide)
4. Rating everybody on my Like-o-meter. (the ratings keep fluctuating with every incident)
5. Coming to know they are so much like ME, yet there is so much of THEM in them (I hope I am clear..)
6. Cooking together. (its really a bonding experience. Perfect time for small talks)
7. Finding so many ears to listen to How Crappy my day had been. (10 ears and 5 words of cajoling can work wonders… I had 5 roomies... that’s y the count)
8. “What to wear?”… the pressing issue easily solved (everybody just knew the answer to it … but to the other persons question)
9. Shopping. (with 6 females!!! It’s rampaging)
10. Birthday surprises!!! (5 heads – nobody can plan better surprises)
11. 5 handkerchiefs to wipe a single tear. (Everybody cared)
12. Making the kirana list. (we have had specialists)
13. Sharing secrets (6 girls…. One can not even imagine that there can be sooo much)
14. Talks that lasted for more than 6 hours at a stretch (in broad daylight... the butt glued to the same position… we have the stamina and the topics)
15. Chatting away in the night about everything under the sun.
16. Dancing, playing antakshari with electricity gone, wrestling, Pjing. (makes my heart smile)
17. Blaming each other for every reason and still getting back together (this was the most amazing part… abuse to the hearts content... but still be in love)
18. MARRIAGE (standing ovation plz… this topic is till the fav)
19. Rock Solid support in time of need. (whatever came… they always stood by)
20. Deciding what to cook (this decision needed time)
21. Knowing for sure if I am looking like shit or like a princess (5 confirmations are enough…)
22. Advices, pep talks, abuses, fights, recommendations (life is easy…)
23. Getting all geared up for their marriage ( I am still hunting…)
24. Convincing that your BF is not such a prat after all (men will be men… and we are gonna hate them sometime…)
25. The chain mails from office (within 6 hrs we exchanged more than 320 mails)
26. House Cleaning spree (fun in the pure form… )
27. Missing them (after a few got married)

The list could just go on and on… I need to get my fingers off the keyboard.

2 years have been out of this world. A different life. A different experience. Its not easy to live together. But nothing can be more fun either. There were times when we may have wanted to kill each other or run away, but we always came back with more luv.

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. ~Marcel Proust

4th Dimension

My mum is a firm believer in GOD. I don’t know what that really means or what actually is her belief. But she does believe that HE /SHE exists. There is a lot more on her platter. Not getting into that.

People pray. Some pray religiously. Everybody has his or her own reasons for it too. People go on fasts to please GOD, to fulfill a certain wish. Few of them will continue the fasts even after meeting their wishes, thinking its good. Some end it. Then a new wish a new fast. Whatever be it, everybody has a reason to look up to him/her. When I debate with Mum she gives me reasons, examples, of which some do suit my sensibilities, some seem totally illogical.

That’s precisely why I pray to GOD. Or should I say, I believe in GOD (coz I don’t pray everyday). There is a mystery behind HIM/HER, which nobody has yet been able to solve. For me GOD is that mystery, that faith. SHE (my devil was female... my GOD is female too) gives my life the necessary 4th dimension. My Devil is self-destructive, but MY GOD is very powerful. SHE gives me reasons to believe that everything is going to be fine. SHE surpasses all logics and reason and adds that spice to my life. SHE is the voice in my head that keeps me going.

SHE loves my crazy side. SHE hates me when I cry. And I am sure she loves dancing too. SHE is like my parents. Loves me. Punishes me when I disobey. Hates it when I don’t bother. SHE is a kiddo at heart. SHE needs attention too.

I pray. I believe. I am also in awe. Coz for me GOD is extreme, very powerful, all knowing. GOD is the reason I believe anything and everything is possible. Man can do everything he wants, but GOD adds in that extra.

And this year she says she is gonna visit cloud number 9(yes she does tell me things). And wherever she goes she takes me with her. And I am very human. I am on cloud number 9 only when things start happening the way I want them to. She is making sure everything happens my way. It’s only a few days the year has started and She has already reached cloud 7(u guessed it right, things are going my way). Well I guess I am gonna have a helluva year. Yippee!!!!!!! Hurray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love my GOD.

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe." - Saint Augustine

What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.

God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny. - Garrison Keillor