Thinking, how much is not too much..!!

 Came to US eleven weeks ago

 Still confused and lost,

 Looking for paths and searching for ways to go,

 Thinking, how much is not too much..!! 

First time landed in America,

Travelled over 30 hours,

Two sleepless nights, red n puffy eyes,

With pain in my heart of parting away with family

And excited to begin life with new sunrise,
Thinking, how much is not too much..!!

Unpacked bags, cooked for self

Living with American roommate n her pets

Culture shock, opposite roads, door knobs, water taps n everything

Stressed eyes got conjunctivitis on 2nd day

Visited doctor with swollen eyes on 3rd day,

Lost way home back, walked for 2 hour in bright sun
 Spent $250 on medicine n prescription
Thinking, how much is not too much..!!

2nd week, eyes are getting worse n redMissing orientations and crying at home

Landed up in University with some hope 

Visited optometrist, spending money again 

Blurred vision and crucial department orientation 

Introducing self among senior faculty n director 

Looking at the wall with blurred vision 

Shaking words but unshaken confidence 

Won everyone’s love, heart did musical dance 

Thinking, how much is not too much..!! 

Landed up in restaurant with department colleagues

Meat everywhere, alcohol everywhere

Lost n confused me, smiling n looking nowhere

Being Vegetarian n teetotaler cannot be the curse

Amidst craziness, made friends n pillars of strength
Thinking, how much is not too much..!!

3rd week, classes started, workload increased 

Laptop refused to catch internet 

Mom spent days alone at home, I spent days in library to catch up the work 

Tired me, catch city buses to come home at dark
Thinking, how much is not too much..!!

Finally, a relaxed weekend, took mom to zoo
Looking at tiger, lion, water species n gorilla, my heart goes vroom..
Realised, mom's ankle got sprained, she limped
I requested, Zoo staff helped
called up taxi, we reached home
It's too difficult to handle all alone
Thinking, how much is not too much..!!

Fourth week, mysterious activities in American’s room
Had argument with roommate,
Things become scary n even hate
Mysterious guys n noises at night,
Mom cried n I get fright
Freezing temperature at home, no blanket at our zone
I raised objections, roommate shouted n slammed door

Consulted faculty, sought suggestion

Am I weird, if this is tradition?

Scared me, Thinking, how much is not too much..!!  

Suffocated house become haunted house
May be, drugs or just happening sex
going mad n sought for help
called, visited n pleaded people,
Looking for a new abode is not cakewalk
Waheguru rescued; I got room
Shifted secretly but past still loom
Last day to mom’s India flight
Lease is broken, $280 security forfeit
But, hardly any respite to my plight
Thinking, how much is not too much..!!  

New room, new roommate,
Known to me from Gurudware
Slept two hours to board a morning flight,

drank coffee to my respite

Spent whole day at Newark Airport
dropped mom for her India flight at sunset,
crying like baby, “I soo wana go back to India”
Again slept two hours in the Airport lobby,

morning flight make me lousy

Back at home after 30 hours restless journey
I got this dream after so much yearning
Thinking, how much is not too much..!!  

Missing assignment deadlines,
Missing night sleep
Eating leftover, cooked by mom
Setting my laptop, Setting new room,
hope, life starts like a new bloom
Thinking, how much is not too much..!!

8th week, assignment deadline
Toothache at midnight, took anti-biotics and slept
Class presentation next day,
severe toothache again at midnight
Wana kill self, unbearable pain,

took medicine but can't sleep again

Visited health center n gave presentation with painkillers
consulted faculty n visited dentist,
Advised tooth extraction as he can't mend it
Thinking, how much is not too much..!!

9th week, went to Charlotte,
Watched movie, did shopping
Shopped groceries, shopped for home
Shopped warm clothes, need for own
Still converting every dollar to rupee
Need so much, earn so less
This is adding up to my stress
Thinking, how much is not too much..!!


Cooking myself, it’s hectic n therapeutic
Juggling with time, assignment deadlines
Roommate tantrums, creative hangovers

Committed relationship n friends sleep overs,

This girl is nice, she gives me ride…

to school, to store n lot’s more
New liberty, staying away from home

Setting priorities n thinking places to roam 

Thinking, how much is not too much..!!

A PLEDGE TO CLEAN

The fifteenth Prime minister of India and the first PM born in post-independence India, Mr. Narendra Damodardas Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India drive) on 2^nd October, 2014, asking people to fulfill Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of a clean India. The Prime Minister hopes to achieve this feat by the 150^th Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 2019. Before launching the Clean India Drive, Mr. Modi visited Valmiki Basti, a housing society in central Delhi for sanitation workers, in which Mahatma Gandhi once stayed for a short while. Mr. Modi interacted with school children there, who had come to greet him. He then picked up a broom and started cleaning the street to show that everyone should come forward to clean India.

Following this, the Prime Minister gave a rousing speech at Rajpath to inspire all Indians to do their bit to keep our nation clean. It was a truly inspiring speech in which he asked people to shun their inhibitions and come forward to pick up any garbage or wrapper, they may see lying on the road and also requested people to stop littering on the roads and in public transport like the metro and buses.

During his speech, the Prime Minister invited nine people on stage including Yog guru Baba Ramdev, entertainers like Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra and the cast of the daily soap “Tarak Mehta ka Ulta Chashma” and political figures like the Chief Minister of Goa and Congress MP Mr. Shashi Tharoor to join him in his cleanliness drive and asked them to further nominate nine more people. 

The Prime Minister urged everyone who had been working towards this cause, much before the launch of this campaign to continue their work. He also urged people to post pictures of their efforts and its results on the social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter to inspire others. Mr. Modi suggested people upload the images of places before and after they had been cleaned of any filth and upload a video of the cleanliness drive as well to inspire others.

Actor Aamir Khan also joined the Prime Minister on stage as he administered a pledge to the masses, who were present for the launch of the Clean India Drive to not to litter their surroundings and to spare two hours every week towards cleaning India. Last year, Amir Khan in his programme ‘Satyamev Jayate’ had shown that the environmental perils of unchecked garbage dumping in city dumping grounds. He urged people and cities to adopt environmentally friendly and practical solid and liquid management practices which he would telecast again on his show for the benefit of the people.

To encourage companies to work towards this Clean India Drive, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has recently placed donations to the Government-instituted Swach Bharat Kosh and the Clean Ganga Fund within corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending.

In less than one month since the drive started, it has already become a mass movement with even small localities taking the initiative and pasting posters to request people to keep their surroundings clean. Recently, celebrities like tennis player Sania Mirza, actors Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan and business person Nita Ambani and others were seen wielding the ‘jhadoo’ as never before as part of the Clean India Drive. Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan has turned an emblem of Aam Admi war on corruption into fashion accessory of the socially aware elite. Five time world boxing champion MC Mary Kom, who is also an Olympic bronze medalist and the winner of the gold medal at the Incheon Asiad had been lauded by the Prime Minister for joining the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. She cleaned up a part of the city of Imphal along with students of her boxing academy and members of Manipur Baptist Convention.

Last week, there were reports of BJP and Aam Admi party workers being involved in a blame game by highlighting negligence in cleanliness in each other’s constituencies. However, I feel it is a blessing in disguise because the aim is to clean India. BJP members even clicked and showed picture of dirty public toilets in New Delhi Constituency which is under AAP party. In response, AAP members showed the pool of filth and garbage dumped in areas which come under BJP assembly constituency. Keeping their dirty politics aside, one hopes that by highlighting such pictures in media, authorities will spring into the action to do the needful.

Nonetheless, the dream of clean India should not be of Mahatma Gandhi or our Prime Minister, it should be of every citizen of INDIA. The most important aim is sanitation and it is not only your sweeper or municipality worker’s responsibility. We should also remember that though a sweeper or cleaner may be poor, she/he deserves our respect because she/he is not just earning money but is also cleaning India. To fulfill this dream of a Clean India by 2019, what required is the “collective effort”, which is possible only if we accept the whole India as our own and make similar efforts to keep it clean as we do for our homes. No dream is too big - the only thing required is clean and passionate ‘intention’.

Have a Hearty life Princess..!!

Research shows that there are an estimated 45 million patients of coronary artery disease in India. It has been further found out that Coronary Artery disease has increased by leaps and bounds in women. The established standard notion that women are protected from Heart disease and that they require higher risk factors for disease development  no more holds  relevance.

According to statistics, the mortality rate among women suffering from cardiovascular diseases is also higher than that of men across the world, including India. The main reason behind the increased mortality rate in women is the changes in lifestyle in metropolitan cities. In big cities, women have extra pressure of earning money along with taking care of home. Long working hours and taking help of smoking and drinking to deal with the stress of personal and professional life has become the main reason behind the heart ailments.

One of the most disturbing facts was that arteries of Indian women are narrower as compared to men hence they are more vulnerable to coronary diseases.

According to the data collected during a study conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine in India in May 2008, out of 33,000 deceased women, those who had smoked, died or suffered from heart or lung-related respiratory, vascular or neo-plastic diseases. The study also showed that the trend of smoking among women between 30 and 69 years in India rose steadily from three percent to six percent over the decades. Previous studies have associated smoking with reduction in median survival of eight years for women, compared to six years for men in the country. 

 The major causes of coronary diseases among Indian women are diabetes, high cholesterol level or dyslipidemia, smoking, bad metabolism and premature menopause or estrogen deficiency. 

It has been proved that diabetes takes away the so-called ‘female advantage’, or the natural protection present in women of child bearing age. High blood pressure affects men and women equally. Data collected during the Inter Heart study proved that abdominal obesity, increased waist-hip ratio and high levels of cholesterol are more common in women with heart disease. 

In cases of two or more arteries being blocked, heart bypass surgery is the best option. In heart bypass surgery, a new piece of blood vessel is sewed to bridge over (bypass) the blockage. In today’s age, many new innovations are taking place in the medical world and one such innovation is “Minimal access surgery or key-hole surgery” or “The Nambiar technique”. In this technique, bypass operation is done with just 2-3 inch cut on the left side of the chest where as conventional bypass surgery is done through cutting the middle bone of the chest.  Also, no other cut is made in the body for taking graft (veins/arteries for grafting) unlike conventional technique, in which doctors take veins from both the legs and arteries from arms for most of the cases of multiple grafts. The arteries used are called internal mammary arteries which are inside the chest and last 25-30 years unlike leg veins which last only 10-12 years

The advantage of this technique is that the patient recovery is very fast and he can get back to his normal work in almost 10 days time after operation also there is very less chances of infection.

With this type of operation, patient can go home on 3^rd or 4^th day of the operation if all his parameters are fine.

Studies have shown that the vein grafts taken from the legs usually remains open for 10-12 years where as arterial grafts remain open for more then 25-30 years, thereby the patient does not require any other intervention ever.

As they say, prevention is better than cure. There are many ways to stay fit and avoid any kind of heart ailments. Most important among them is physical and mental fitness, which can be easily achieved with 30 minutes of brisk walking daily along with at least 15 minutes yoga and meditation each. Food has enormous effect on one’s body. Good dietary habits and control of Diabetes goes a long way in preventing heart disease. One should avoid Junk Food as it is high on salt and saturated fats. Use of olive oil, fruits, nuts, leafy vegetables also helps in controlling diseases and heart diseases. Tough, in this fast time, anybody hardly has any time to  walk, yoga or meditation but we should always remember that “Health is wealth”.

Define Success..!!

Success…

Define Success…  It is an inexplicable word for me…

Success is when… you earn lots of bucks and has good bank balance along with all luxuries.

Success is when… you follow your heart and do something, which brings a change (may be little) in the society as Shri Krishna told to Arjuna in Shrimad Bhagavad katha that “Any act, which is done to bring positive change in the society-  brings the person more closer to him (Almighty) and rest all acts are Selfish acts.

Success is when… in spite of all personal trauma or problems; you conquer your dreams and prove your worth in the world.

Success is when... your disability becomes your power to achieve your dreams.

Success is when… you leave your ailing parents behind to study abroad and refuse to come back even when they need you the most..

Success is when… two brothers turned their backs from each other due to sheer greed of family property.

Success is when… there is stability and happiness in your life having small family and a good permanent income.

Success is when… failures cannot deter you as they say, “failure is final, when you give up”.

Success is when… you can’t sleep at night thinking about next day’s big cash professional deal.

OR may be, success is when… you decide to live rest of your life thinking about “hari” and doing only those acts, which may please him like Meera bai or bhilni.

Success is when… you get immense name, fame and money in the world but most importantly, you have kept your honesty and integrity intact in the process.

Success is when… attaining good marks has become no longer important as you have proved yourself in the world through your prowess or precociousness.

There are many more questions buzzing into my head… You may give any ideas as I am yet to Decipher “Success”…

Feasting on Republic Day

To mark the celebration of Republic day on 26^th January, many restaurants offers special tri-colour menu with lots of discounts and exclusive offers every year. Tri-colour pizzaz, pastas, soups, salads, starters, main course along with desserts, the special R- day feast offers yummiest treats for both vegetarian and non-vegetarians at various restaurants in and around Delhi.

Nowadays, sadness and insecurity is reigning over India as 2012 ended on a very sad note with the demise of victim of Delhi gang rape case and whole country mourned on her death with utmost integrity. To uplift the spirit of India and enthuse integrity, Chonas in Khan market presents special tri- color feast on this 64^th Republic Day. Soups, starters, main course along with desserts, the special combos offer yummiest treats for both vegetarian and non-vegetarians along with 30 per cent discount on the main menu.

Either pick from the all time favourite starters like “Crispy vegetable Pepper ‘N’ Salt and wash down with coffee kitkat shake” or non- veg lovers can pamper themselves from “Prawn pepper salt complemented with fresh lime soda”. Those, who swear by non-veg can satiate their hunger with “Smoked chicken with Hummus & Pita (served with tomato spicy sauce) complemented with Strawberry lemonade”. Mushroom strang off with dark oreo choco shake” is a must for all veggie lovers. And from our all- new Indian cuisine, savor the delectable “Lamb rogan josh with rice complemented with fresh coconut water”. Tri-color biryani and tri-colour salad with thirty per cent discount is surely an ideal excuse to spend an invigorating evening with your friends or family on R- day at Chonas to spread love, peace and harmony among each other.

La Crepe Rit, French restaurant in Saket also offering special various combo offers for food enthusiasts. Special republic day combos ranging from as low as 195 to 395 (plus taxes) present various exciting combinations of deserts, main course and beverages. People with sweet tooth can either choose from “wide variety of Crepe Sunday or cake with hot beverages like coffee/ tea”. Combo offer also includes two course meals of “soups or salads with main course”.

Cocoa by Belgique will be launching a special live grill section at Tagore garden branch and special pizza menu at Saket branch for R- day extravaganza.

To ease up the current tension with India- Pakistan, LEMP has planned a special evening on 26^th January based on INDIA- PAKISTAN theme. LEMP will be holding a special music programme, having a cordial jamming session by Indian and Pakistan singers. When asked, they refuse to divulge any details about performers. However they mentioned “music is the best medium to ease up any tension”. Lemp is also arranging a special Buffet includes cuisine from both countries- India & Pakistan. Costing 999++, buffet will include unlimited starters, main-course along with fresh fruit mocktails.

Addresses

Chonas: 51, 1st Floor, Middle Lane, Khan Market, New Delhi

La Crepe Rit: G-8, D-2 Southern Park Mall, Saket District Centre, Saket, New Delhi

Cocoa By Belgique: G-37, Select Citywalk Mall, Ras Vilas, Saket District Centre, New Delhi, and G 7/8 Pacific Mall, Tagore Garden, New Delhi

Lemp Brewpub and Kitchen: 2nd Floor, Star Mall, Sector 30, South City 1, Gurgaon

 

JHILMIL aur BURFI

Everyone is talking about Barfi… It was delicious, it was spectacular, mesmerizing and all synonymous adjectives would surely fit for this movie. Indeed, it was hilarious, especially some of the nicely executed Charlie Chaplin acts by Ranbir Kapoor. Needless to say, Ranbir Kapoor’s expressions and his acting prowess stole the whole show. Nonetheless, Priyanka Chopra at some places overpowered Ranbir Kapoor with her incredible acting of a mentally challenged girl. Certainly, she proved herself once again after ‘Fashion’ and ‘7 Khoon Maaf’. Her words, even not spoken were widely understood by everyone. Her presentation and acting skills of an autistic child would not have been done better than this.

It’s full on two and half hours of masti and a gripping yet exceptional love story. Throughout the movie, Ranbir’s pranks left the audience in laughing grip. A love story between deaf and mute guy & an autistic girl is surely unique in its own ways.  It has flaws too as I felt at some places story get entangled between present and past but in the end, the puzzle gets solved efficiently and beautifully.

Surely, it will not be wise to explain the whole plot here. However, I wish to mention that it’s an intriguing love story of deaf and mute guy- Murphy (read Barfi), who is crazy, fun loving and strongly believes in living in ‘present’. His masti has no extent and so does his liveliness. Hs talks never required words, which makes his conversation even more interesting. His eyes and hands do the all talking and most importantly, he is unaffected by everything except Love. He surely is not normal boy but certainly can give a tough competition to any normal intelligent person. He was an epitome of love, which weaves his most interesting love story with an autistic girl- Jhilmil Chatterjee, who is unaware of her super rich status and desperate need of love. She is simple, cute and lives in her own world.

It is only Barfi effect that I am only mentioning about Ranbeer and Priyanka. However, it will be unjustified to not to mention about Ilena D’cruz, who is the narrator and first love- interest of Ranbeer in this movie.

Kudos! to Anurag Basu for his marvelous direction and pritam’s music in the movie. Also, lyrics and script left me spell bound. First half is entertaining witty as Ranbeer Kapoor unveiled his amusing and mysterious acts. Nonetheless, second half becomes more captivating as it shows mature side of same mischievous Ranbeer Kapoor along with certainly, more of Priyanka Chopra.

In the end, It’s all and all, MUST watch movie. I personally enjoyed every bit of it. . Let alone be the controversy of stealing or taking inspiration regarding scenes or music of Barfi...

Moral of the story: Rehne do yaar!! Ab movies hi reh gayi hain.. MORALS aur ETHICS sikhne ke liye. J

Ohh Lord!!

Stop Me, before I die..
Stop Me, before I cry...

Stop Me, before I fall..
Stop Me, before I crawl..

Stop Me, before love eludes me..
Stop Me, before fear erodes me..

Oh Thee! Hold me in your arms,
and Stop Me, before I lose myself in to these worldly charms...