Party Recipes

A few quick recipes for an impromptu party.

Read the article here.

PS - Terrible pictures (not mine!) but good recipes :)

Dear Santa...here's what I wish for this Christmas

Hope your Christmas was lovely and surrounded by warmth. My parents raised me to love the spirit of Christmas. We always had a Christmas tree and thought of what gifts we wanted from Santa.

God has been kind and I can now buy myself whatever little I may desire. So this year, I drew up a list that I wanted from Santa that cost more than just a little green paper.

Here's my Dear Santa letter. It's all I want for Christmas....no tall ask this :)

Read the article here.  

Jo Beet Gayi So Baat Gayi

One of the few Hindi poems that make it to my list. The first paragraph is my favorite.

Jo beet gayi so baat gayi

Jeevan mein ek sitara tha
Maana woh behad pyara tha
woh doob gaya to doob gaya
Ambar ke aanan ko dekho
Kitne iske tare toote
Kitne iske pyare choote
Par bolo toote taron par
Kab ambar shok manata hai

Jo beet gayi so baat gayi

Jeewan mein tha who ek kusum
The us pe nitya nichawar tum
Who sookh gaya to sookh gaya
Madhuwan ki chaati ko dekho
Sookhi kitni iski kaliyan
Jo murjhai phir kahan khili
Par bolo sookhe phoolon pe
Kab madhuvan shok manata hai

Jo beet gayi so baat gayi

Jeewan mein madhu ka pyala tha
Tumne tan man de daala tha
Woh toot gaya to toot gaya
Madiralay ka aangan dekho
Kitne pyaale hil jaate hain
Gir mitti mein mil jate hain
Jo girte hain kab uthte hain
Par bolo toote pyalon mein kab madiralay pachtata hai

Jo beet gayi so baat gayi

Mridu mitti ke hain bane huye
Madhu ghat phoota hi kartein hain
Laghu jeewan leke aaye hain
Pyale toota hi karte hain
Phir bhi madiralay ke andar
Madhu ke ghat madhu ke pyale hain
Jo madakta ke mare hain
Who madhu loota hi karte hain
Who kachcha peene wala hai
Jiski mamta ghat pyalon par
Jo sachche madhu se jala hua
Kab rota hai chillata hai

Jo beet gayi so baat gayi

--  Harivansh Rai Bachchan

Why I Missed Your Call

Dear you,

I read this hilarious post today from a toddler's mother on 10 reasons why she hasn't answered your email yet. And as much as I don't like mommy posts, I think you need this one.

Yes, you could say that I have been missing in action for a while. For most of my adult life :) Actually, chances are, you have complained to me about that. So here's my attempt to explain to you why I'm terrible with phone calls and Skype schedules (though I never have been much of a talker). It's not that I am avoiding talking or that I do not wish to talk to you. On the contrary, I am probably -

1. Playing taxi driver ferrying N from school, to daycare, from daycare, to classes...and so on
2. Dealing with an upset toddler who misses everyone she knows and the only way she can express that is by throwing a fit...again..
3. Rushing to buy gifts for that social engagement I have committed to, fitting that in with trying to figure out where to get the exact attire the snooty school has decided N 'must' wear tomorrow (you have no idea how competitive these mothers are when it comes to fancy dress costumes)!
4. Fitting in a sandwich somewhere in the day because I just realised that I missed having breakfast all together
5. Rushing to the medic coz N has a cold...though I have had the flu since 20 days and found no time to go to one myself
6. Finding 6-8 hours of time in the middle of all this to finish my assignments and submit them as per deadlines
7. I can't find my phone because I probably left it in the kitchen drawer...or toy box...or the car...again...
8. Blah blah blah...you get the drift 

If you miss me, chances are I miss you more. If you love me, it is certain that I love you more. And you know that. I'm just rushing...getting by...managing one step in front of the other. I may not make the daily phone call, I may not tell you often what you mean to me and I may not share my problems with you. But I love you. Please know that. And I sleep in peace at night with the satisfaction of knowing that you love me too.

PS - Text me :D

Redefining romance on the Machan

My latest article on Rediff talks about this amazing new secret I stumbled upon. Imagine tree-houses with views of hills to die for. Now imagine those rooms to have every conceivable luxury so that at no point are you 'roughing it out'. A private deck with a stand-alone bathtub in one corner, an attic with a daybed and panoramic views and quaint handmade wooden furniture. This is an experience quite different from any that you may have had.

If you believe in romance...and magic...and the beauty of stars...and candle light dinners....this is the perfect place for you to take the one you love.

Read the article here and judge for yourself.

Homesick

I feel hollow inside. I never knew that leaving a city could do that to a person. Two weeks back home, back in the familiar spoilt me. Returning to this crazy, selfish, impersonal city makes me want to hold my breath, and not release it. I'm trying hard to see beyond, remember my routine, get accustomed to loneliness. But this time, it's like a dark shadow that refuses to leave my side.

I shut my windows, switch on the air conditioning and try to cocoon myself in the comfortable. Place the laptop in front so that I remember all my pending assignments that demand my attention. But how do I stop my heart from yearning? How do I feel numb again? How do I get myself to release the breath and take another one?  

A thousand years

Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?
But watching you stand alone,
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow.

One step closer

[Chorus:]
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this

One step closer

[Chorus:]
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

One step closer
One step closer

[Chorus:]
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more