The Wanderer

A few weeks ago, a conversation led me to rant about this on facebook:  Them: Is she your sister?  Me: Yes. Them: Who else is there? Me: (It is none of your business but I will be nice..) We are three sisters. Them: Ooh! So you don't have a brother?  Me: No (asshole I just fucking told you we are three sisters, what part of it doesn't confirm that I don't have a brother. And cut that shitty sympathetic look from your face before I punch it to adjust its fucking nosiness level).  ‪#‎RantAlert‬ Honestly if one more, one more person shows me that look I am going to flatten their nose. They can live like Voldemort for the rest of their shitty lives. ------------------ My friends asked me to ignore the comments that 'didn't matter' and few family members reminded that I do have cousin brothers - as if the latter are some sort of consolation prizes? You know what? The problem is not that they ask, that's still ok. The problem is the judgement/symp...

In a recent conversation, someone remarked that the integrity in this world is running on an all-time low. On the contrary, I feel that bad news travels faster and has even better means these days. I am not denying that it should not be reported (because that leads to awareness and hopefully corrective measures), but good news deserves a fair chance as well (because it inspires people). Before people dismiss humanity, countries, nations, individuals, it may be worth looking for the positive. When you find it, share it forward. Not just on social media, but in action as well. Do your bit. All is not lost. Not yet. Not on our watch.

We should not be proud/ashamed of the things to which we did not make any contribution. Being born in a certain country/culture (you did not have a choice plus you did not make special efforts to even know your culture; in fact there are people from other countries who can beat you with their knowledge about your country/culture ), being born with certain gifts like beauty or intelligence (you should be proud of what you did with the gift, instead of the gift itself) or achievements/failures of fellow countrymen (when you did not even know anything about their journey or made any contribution or support before they became an 'overnight' success). We can be happy for them, be inspired by them but pride, if at all, should come from the results of our own actions.

When somebody 'shares a memory' on fb, I always think of glass vials, silvery threads and pensieves.  (All HP fans raise your h(w)ands!)

When we are living some moments, we think or at least hope that there will be many more of them. But the truth is we don't know what we have already done for the last time, who we have already met for the last time...

Loss can teach you so much. One of the most heartwarming pieces I have read. Or maybe just related to it. Excerpts from Sheryl Sandberg's moving tribute to her husband. The most powerful one-line prayer: “Let me not die while I am still alive.” The choice offered by tragedy I think when tragedy occurs, it presents a choice. You can give in to the void, the emptiness that fills your heart, your lungs, constricts your ability to think or even breathe. Or you can try to find meaning. These past thirty days, I have spent many of my moments lost in that void. And I know that many future moments will be consumed by the vast emptiness as well. I have lived thirty years in these thirty days. I am thirty years sadder. I feel like I am thirty years wiser. But when I can, I want to choose life and meaning.  Being a mother I have gained a more profound understanding of what it is to be a mother, both through the depth of the agony I feel when my children scream and cry and from the c...

Mental clarity is one of the most underrated assets.

Met my future self (hopefully) in a bus in the Japanese countryside ;)  Meet Giovanna, a traveler from Italy who started traveling when she was 25 and has been to 252 countries in 45 years of traveling. Visited several of them multiple times and said India was her favorite (may be she was just being nice tongue emoticon ) This time, she is traveling by herself across Japan for 4 weeks.  This coming July, she turns 70.

"How fast the seasons change And we don't even realize... We must make the most of life, Coz we are all running out of time..." Three years in Shanghai today. P.S.: Lyrics from a friend's song

As another close friend leaves Shanghai today, it reminds me of my old theory that Shanghai is like a huge hotel: you meet people for a while - by the pool or the coffee shop - spend some time together and then eventually they will check out and move on; and you know you will too.... And I can't even begin to describe the people I have met (wanderers, adventurers, vagabonds, war veterans, cancer fighters, dreamers, devotees, artists, musicians, writers, readers, ones so enthusiastic about life that it is contagious, the right amount of weird, an extra bit of crazy, witty ones, sarcastic ones...from all over the world) and the conversations we have shared - as if each person was a book to be read, and there minds countries to be explored.... And all you will have is a limited amount of time together - maybe you will get a chance to form a deep bond, maybe not; there will be some that won't keep in touch, some will go beyond all gaps to do so; Whatever it is, it is right her...

My friends love my Facebook life. And I, theirs. Do we like each others' real lives though ?

My mother is a blackhole of objectivity. (because when it comes to her babies, she is all emotions and no objectivity.)

About an year ago, when flying back home, I had more than the allowed luggage. The Japanese couple in front of me had very few things and I asked them if we could check-in together to which they agreed. The flight got cancelled, and the three of us ended up spending the rest of the day together until we were put on the next flight. We talked about how they had met at a pottery class, their mutual love for travel and their plans in the India trip. I shared some homemade Indian  food with them and told them few 'must-dos' in Delhi.. I had also shared that I wanted to visit Kyoto (their hometown) and they extended an open invitation to me. Today as I file for my Japanese visa, I pinged them to check if they are free for a dinner - almost after an year of meeting and even though we didn't stay in touch - the amount of warmth and excitement I am getting from them is overwhelming. At times, it is hard to believe there isn't magic in this world. 

"Things that keep us apart, keep me alive.  Things that keep me alive, keep me alone. This is the thing." Today I decided to apply to the US.

At times after falling to ashes, rising is the only option. At times what burns us, fuels us.

Straight, winding, crooked, flat At times clear, at times not sure where they are headed at... Choice? Destiny? Who knows what? Signs, posts, milestones or maybe not Destination or a plan, I haven't got How do I then decide where to stop? (Or more importantly, do I get to decide where to stop?) Ours may cross, more than once...or may be not If they do - let's sing and dance together If not - let's write each other letters Because, really you need very little to go on Hope or just curiosity for the adventures of a new dawn. Alternate title: Life .

Rooms, cupboards, friendlists, phonebooks, mind, heart, thoughts, perspectives... Once in a while, everything requires a review or a clean-up. You never know what's gone unnoticed and is lurking in the back.

Because I love who I am when I am here...

Problems arise when we keep trying to put people on a pedestal and they keep reminding us that they are only human.

Log, waqt aur mausam badalte der nahin lagti. People, time (situation) and weather can change quickly and often, without notice.