The connect

A guy once commented, “You are so talkative !’’

Although I displayed the niceties when texting back with a smiley- because aren’t those emoji a saviour for conversations like this!.. I had a grumpy face saying ‘how dare he’ for the next whole minute.

I wondered why my father laughed when he said, 'Gargi you started talking at tender age of 8 months’ and then my mother would add, ‘ and hasn’t stopped talking yet'. My non-stop banter is something, I guess the only thing they miss when I am not home..and believe are in much peace

Am I apologetic for talking? Hell, no! I stopped saying sorry for what I am , early this year..

Though I appear to be an extrovert, my friend circle is very limited. Perhaps they are the only people who like me despite all my habits- even if it is as bad as being a shopaholic

Anuja and Charu ,two of my precious gems in this close circle, have been my friends since college. When the world was busy dating or attending lectures- we were eating at different food outlets, heading all the extra-curricular activities in college.. Our friendship only developed since that day.. We fought, we cried, we laughed, we danced and we did all the drama that happens when three strong minds come together

If you think we meet daily, talk daily and hang out often, that’s incorrect. That's so rare and which is why it is so precious..  You really don't need the social media to connect to your dear ones... Its but a natural process..

These days are conversations are so much about adulting and being all responsible, we often laugh and wonder how the past few years have changed us,.

While so many of our ‘planned meetings’ have got cancelled, majorly because I overslept,  I think we’ve been with each other through days, where just talking to someone was of paramount importance!

I don’t think any of us were or  rather still are truly capable of taking the right and effective decisions or directions, yet, the benefit of having each other was that we could decode our own problems while just casually narrating our story..All it help was having that one person at other end who was not going to judge you..

Funny isn't it? All we need is some calm, to shoo away that hysteria, the root cause of all problems.Now whether that calmness is derived through internal thought process or via a comforting shoulder, doesn't matter.  The solution that seemed hazy in the beginning appears like the bright sun rays on a foggy winter morning! 

All you need is to believe in you and have people who equally believe in you...

Cheers to both these women for being the sun rays in my winter fog, for  helping me decode me! 

P.S : Lets plan  &  meet ( pun intended).. Lots of love

Be You

We’ve all had our “Netflix moment”.

That one show, you watched on a lazy Saturday evening, wearing the most comfortable clothes, tucked in your favourite blanket,infinitely browsing, stopping at the description, deciddng to watch it and then the “Dejavu”... you paused and you thought – That very moment you related to the show.

On one such lazy Saturday (Most Saturday’s being lazy, though) I stumbled upon this movie called “Sierra Burgess is a Loser”. The movie suggestion would pop up every time I logged in, but somehow I wondered if it was an affirmative-negative title or not. One fine Saturday, I decided to hit the play button and there was my moment!

You know that kid in high school, who sat in one corner , with chubby cheeks as if they had mozzarella cheese stuffing filled into them, the one who had his/her head buried in books.The teachers adored them; they were in literature clubs, debate competitions, competitive exams and obviously scored good grades..

I was one of those idiots...

While I fit the criteria of a “good student” – something for which my younger sister still blames me, since she always got the ‘why don’t you be like her’ from literally everyone around her; high school, you know,  is not just about being the good student, it’s tough!

You are in your early teenage and as the acnes and pimples break out on your face, so do your classmates. There are these figure perfects, who are into dance, aerobics ,sports and all the famous entertaining activities. The entire school is die-hard fan of these famous kids.
Then there are these studious kids, who are only bothered about two things- books and food.

Sierra Burgess got me back in time and I wished I could tell the 14 year old me that 'gargi you did look pretty'

The movie starts with this chubby cheek intelligent girl who has a super low self esteem about her looks. The famous girl in the school gives Sierra’s numbers instead of hers when the soccer game lead asks her out in a cafe. In a modern day ‘know each other by texting’ situation;  its’ only a couple of text messages later does Sierra realize that the cell phone numbers were swapped and the cute soccer game lead who she already likes by now, so far thought that he has been chatting with the famous girl!

The movie now revolves around  their lives, when both girls strike a deal, and teach each other for some personal benefit instead of envying. In the end, their lie is caught; the soccer lead learns the truth & yet picks up Sierra for the homecoming. 

I had my Netflix moment at this point. I went back to my school days and saw myself and related so very much to Sierra.. I was much like her.  I wished, I could tell the teenager me , that it didn’t matter; that she was beautiful irrespective of the way she looked or what she did. Also, took a note to myself that the right one will be with you no matter what!

For all the cryptic excuses I gave myself, it took me some good years to get it out of my overthinking head that I was never going to be the beautiful one. Now, that I dot the changing points, I realize, we always want to be someone else , perhaps thinking that , being them could get us that one thing we so desired.

I am not spilling the entire movie plot, since I believe watching it will be much a greater experience but I write because I believe we all have been there.

I have been both- fat-to-fit and fit-to-fat and while I continue to make decent efforts to becoming a healthier person, I do not apologize for how I look or what I am or what I will be.

Having those thoughts in your teenage is but natural but don't carry that drama years down the line.

You are beautiful the way you are and not because you are fat or skinny, fair or dark, short or long! It doesn't matter what the attributes are, what does is how you customize them to be yours.

I didn’t do it then, but I do now.... find ways to make me better with each passing day, picking up the little pieces for the good and loving every part of me.. adding more flavors to the mozzarella cheese perhaps 😊

For its important, to keep falling in love with yourself every SINGLE day!

Salsa Dip - 365 days away from home

A cool breeze swayed by while the sun was scattering the blue light with hues of orange and red. I was standing by the window,sipping tea from my favorite cup. Thoughts rushed diagonally across my head and a smile lit my face.

I realized I had been away from my home for a year now. 365 days of being responsible for self, dropping my mad hats, tip-toeing to the music that echoed in the four walls of this house and wrapping myself in the basket of my thoughts.

 I had the plus points of staying alone, credited into my account in the early months. The first few months were spent in knowing the what,when and how about the new place, people and surroundings. I had to set up my own little space and  I was so enthusiastic about it - I was buying groceries, taking kitchen tips from mom, having my laundry in place- there was so much to do... I was so excited about being a task master

Today- bills, groceries, laundry ; are  all by default in the to-do list. And, lets just say I am not complaining 😉

But Staying away, in a different city, far from your loved ones, is definitely not an easy task.  Solitude was a fancy thing until it became a reality.

When days were tough, I did miss the comforting hugs of my folks. Phone calls and video calls help you calm down to some extent but that is still no substitute. When I felt sick , is when I missed home the most. Let's not even get to my PMS days where I am my crankiest best!😅

The universe did take care of me though..Over a period of time my dishes were perfected ( Read : I didn't burn anything ) and most things thought of , fell in place. Busy work took care of the empty devil mind.

Till day, every time I have a flight to board, my colleagues make sure they push me out on time; for they know; one- I will rush and two - I've already missed it once and ran helter skelter for the next one.
AND about flights- They sense your punctuality- they are delayed when you are on time and always have to be on time when you are delayed.

I look back at the year gone by like a movie on a fast forward track and realize so much of me has transformed.. but every second of this ride has been sheer fun!
I keep my fingers crossed for the next one...anticipating more adventures..

To all who are away from home right now -  Because this part of our life is just like a lip smacking salsa dip- sweet, tangy and spicy - yet desirable 

Cheers to staying mentally strong!