Reena's Salon

The concept of salons, today, has changed quite a bit from the one that existed sometime back. Today, the salon business has become way more professional. Initially, salons were mostly home-based. Women who were passionate about grooming and styling and who had done a course in the same would decide to convert a section of their homes into a salon. And they were known to be popular only among people belonging to well-off families. I always enjoyed visiting those cozy looking salons where 'Only For Ladies' was very clearly highlighted. As a child who accompanied her mother, looking at the women around getting groomed, somehow, made me form a perception that all the ladies would be headed straight to a kitty party from the salon.

Reena's Salon is a salon located in Ghatkopar, Mumbai. It reminds me of the salons that existed some twenty years ago. Recently, the salon got revamped and all the latest equipments integral to a grooming salon were installed. What remains intact is the constant buzzing of the girls working there, sometimes keeping the clients entertained with personal stories and anecdotes, and at other times, arguing and indulging in funny fights with their owner, Reena. The equation between Reena and her employees looks like everything but a professional one. Those who don't know these women would be totally amazed to see the bond they share.

There is a television screen right at the entrance playing a Hindi soap to soothe the high octane drama that goes on in the salon during other times. While Reena is totally engrossed in watching the soap, one of the girls named Priya goes up to her saying, ''Aunty hand-shower mein garam paani kaise laate hai?'' Since Reena has her eyes fixed on the television screen, she does not reply. Two minutes later, totally distracted, Reena gets up from the couch to help Priya out. She complains to me how Priya and Rani, both her assistants have been disturbing her all through the day and how they have not even let her have a good chat with her daughter, who has come to visit her in the salon. I don't give a reaction and immediately turn to another client sitting beside me, who cannot stop smiling. Reena tells me that all her clients are used to her nature and style of functioning. The atmosphere is so informal and unpretentious that I feel they hate being professionals in a way that would force them to put on a mask and behave in a certain fashion. Suddenly, Reena points to a new baby shower that they have installed and happily talks about how she is expecting baby clients to start pouring in the salon, soon. Reena has managed to adjust the shower to hot water. She is teased by Priya for taking a lot of time to understand the working of the shower. Reena laughs away. And this time, even I cannot stop laughing. There have been certain instances in my life which have resonated so well with me that they fail to get out of my mind. My visit to this salon has been one such instance. At times when you don't feel anything, the atmosphere conspires to play on your psyche.

As I was getting ready to leave, I heard Reena losing her mind when she saw that the cap on a bottle of nail paint was not fitted well. When she enquired to know who was at fault, I, standing in a corner, mentally reached out to the one who would be at the receiving end of Reena's anger. In a fit of rage, the mistake-doer was given a piece of her mind and also a lesson in fitting caps on bottles along with a punch in the arm, like a mother would scold her tough-to-deal-with child. I was escorted to the exit. And all I was thinking was how a person like Reena, who was a boss, a mother and someone who was catering to the requirements of her clients and, not to forget, a television addict, all at the same time, managed to find absolute consistency in her approach towards all that she juggled, without any apprehensions. The dogs who greeted me on my way out were all over me and didn't see a stranger in me. I guess, Reena forgot to mention that even the dogs in the society were so used to her that, everyone maintained uniformity in their behavior in and around Reena's Salon.

Every ride on the streets of Mumbai

The city of Mumbai is a glorified one. There are various connotations used to define the city, with some of the most famous ones being, 'The city that never sleeps', 'The city of dreams' and 'The heart of India' among others. And how about 'The city which has redefined traffic?' Although the Mumbai traffic may not officially find a place amidst its other well known facts, one can certainly not consider Mumbai without thinking about the vehicular congestion that encapsulates the city.
Every conversation about Mumbai that inadvertently highlights its traffic scenario....

Person X: Where are you planning to go for your postgraduate studies?

Person Y: Umm.... I have shortlisted Pune, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Mumbai which offer the course I want to specialise in. But Mumbai seems like the most ideal option. I'm almost on the verge of finalising a college in Mumbai. Even though Mumbai is a little more expensive than the rest of the cities, in the end it is the 'It' city.

Person X: Okay, but do you know....

Person Y: You have been living in Mumbai for quite sometime now and I'm sure once you have lived in Mumbai you would never want to live anywhere else. Right?

Person X: Before coming to Mumbai, even I had painted an idealistic picture of the city. No doubt, everything is good except for the city's roads and its traffic, which make me want to have wings. People in Mumbai who travel long distances everyday spend half their lives traveling. A place that should usually take 10 minutes to reach takes 30-40 minutes in this city's traffic. What does one do with all the money in the world when time is more precious than money?

Person Y: Oh really? I never knew the situation would be so bad.

Person X: You bet!

The traffic graph is on a rise, so much so that an active Mumbaikar gets to enjoy ample alone time while driving. Ideally, from the time a person starts his day till the time he reports to work, all his to-do things must be checked off. Right from walking upto the car which is parked in a distant corner due to space constraints that helps burn calories to making all the important and I-shall-be-late-due-to-traffic calls to taking glances at the newspaper when at the red light to doing good karma by helping eunuchs and street urchins with some money while stuck in traffic, a car ride in Mumbai is wholesome in all respects. If that is not enough, the alone time you get coupled with good music in the background can bail you out of any and every worry-that-be. If all of this is not enough, there is also a great deal of work that needs to be carried out on the social media front. There are always some pending Facebook updates that need to be checked along with equal number of posts to be liked and commented upon. And if you are looking presentable enough for a selfie, an Instagram upload is definitely a good idea. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but in today's day and age, if you have a smart phone with good internet connectivity then you are never alone. C'mon, what can you not do with that smartphone? Pun intended.

The other set of people who take local buses to travel have their own stories to tell. Imagine getting on a crowded bus with barely any place to stand and involuntarily having to smell the armpits of the passengers around and being at the receiving end of taunts and frustration from the bus conductor every time you fail to produce the exact money for the ticket! If one ever manages to get a window seat on a bus and if there is a long ride that awaits, then sleep can never avoid him/her. Because nothing is more familiar than a bumpy ride combined with chaos all around, which makes every Mumbaikar feel at home.

Happiness costs nothing!

A lot of us tend to think of happiness as something that is obtained with a substantial amount of input in the form of effort and persistence. And for some, happiness is associated with materialistic satisfaction. We live with this mentality till something strikes us really hard and we decide to look into our lives, and decode what true happiness is.

Recently, I went to a secondary BMC school as part of a college assignment. I went there to address the importance of health and hygiene. As a novice, I was ecstatic and also a bundle of nerves at the same time for, since as long back as i can remember, I have never been at the helm of a class. So the idea of going to a school as a grown-up and talking to the curious students, be it only for a few minutes, seemed enticing. A night before the visit, my brain went into overdrive, constantly contemplating what and how I should say what I eventually did. There are incidents when excitement takes over everything that is playing on your mind, and then there are incidents when nervous anxiety takes over everything. And here I was, oscillating between feeling nervous, not knowing how to go about the given task and excited about the whole episode seeming to be a fun experience. Just when this cloud of fog got created in my mind, I thought to myself, ''Relax, it's just an interactive session like any other. There is no need to make this appear like a monumental task.'' Sometimes one cannot help but fall prey to his/her habit of overthinking. Whoever quoted ''Old habits die hard,'' must be a wise man.

The time was 2:45 p.m when I reached the school located in D.N. Nagar. While I was waiting for a fellow friend who I partnered with on this project, I came to know there were five buildings in the school compound, each having a different medium of instruction. The one we entered was a Hindi-medium school. We first visited a class of 6th graders; and I was very pleased to be welcomed with raw warmth and cheerful smiles. Soon after, I asked the kids to introduce themselves and also mention what they wanted to become when they grew up. Two minutes into the introduction and the voices kept getting louder. One could not miss those sparkling eyes filled with big dreams and ambitions. No matter how poor/underprivileged these kids may be, but when it comes to having hopes and dreams, sky is the limit; and no amount of bias and discrimination that they are treated with can ever act as a barrier to their ability to set a limit to their dreams and ambitions. And it is in those very moments of nurturing big dreams, when everyone is equal and indiscriminate. There were some who harbored hopes of being scientists and doctors. There were a few others who wished to become successful pilots and engineers. Much to my surprise, there were quite a few who aimed to pursue non-academic goals and become good singers and dancers. The one common nod of approval that we got was that of commitment to graduating college. And that was indeed a pleasant sight. We also asked the future dancers and singers to perform for us. And that they happily did. The smiles that adorned everyone's faces while being part of this lovely session spelled pure joy.

On our way to another class, some kids who were shy of performing initially, came running to us and asked us to come back to their class to see them perform. The biggest delight presented itself when these kids came running behind, addressing me as 'teacher'. That was the time my happiness just got a new meaning. In the meanwhile, the recess bell had gone and there was chaos in the corridor with all the kids queuing up to get their daily meal served by the school staff. All the chatter and hush-hush talks among a few groups of children while devouring their meal made me reminiscent of my school days. As school kids we all want to grow up fast, not realizing that we are our happiest selves being children. Because, happiness is not an end product of any financial or social achievement. Infact, true happiness most commonly lies in things that are devoid of any materialistic associations. And these kids showed me just that!

Let bygones be bygones!

The intolerance debate is raging across the country and how! And all we need to know is creating a furore has become second nature to us. Is this what we have reduced ourselves to? I cannot help but ask, ''What is more intolerant: an unwarranted and gross over-reaction or having the right to freely express a standpoint in a democracy?'' Nonetheless, we have finally managed to set the tone for the country ringing.

Since childhood, we are taught to instill a forgiving nature. Contrary to what is perceived most often, forgiveness requires sheer strength of character. Difference, be it of any degree, occurs even at the most basic level. And hence, having a thought about the world's largest democracy that thrives on a static set of opinions and principles is futile. Being democratic and secular with the intent of sailing smoothly when it comes to co-existing with a billion other people is as good as aiming to reach for the moon in a car. It is impossible! We often forget that it is the dissent that forms the cornerstone of any democracy. In the times that we are living, for the sake of creating a conflict, saying somethings are just impossible to do is not surprising enough. When things become impossible, just then I choose to quote Napolean Bonaparte out of context and ask for his world renowned 'Nothing is impossible' to be objectified.' Should I find my voice in people of a similar pedigree, then the stamp of something really being intolerant is affixed, permanently. That's exactly how the things are proceeding, currently.

Just to set the record straight, we have tolerated far more unfathomable people and actions than the ones we have not. Should one get started with the detailing of all the things that went wrong in our country, a certain Bollywood actor's claims about intolerance would cease to get a mention. I am tempted into citing one of the biggest examples that mocks our idea of intolerance. Rahul Gandhi (I cringe while talking about him), the scion of a political dynasty, has helped us set a benchmark in achieving greater levels of tolerance everytime he makes a statement. Despite a public figure being a blot on all of us, we decide to look at the brighter of our system. Another shameful act that grabbed the eyeballs sometime back was the lynching of a man on the suspicion that he had consumed beef. By indulging in such acts of violence and disenfranchisement and by labeling Muslims to be anti the Indian culture,  we are leading ourselves to darker times ahead. The nation sulked over this malicious act for a couple of days before resuming back to normalcy. What was said towards the end is, ''Let bygones be bygones!''

We are a nation of over-enthusiastic people who border on religious fanaticism and hedonism in the name of patriotism. What kind of patriotism are we trying to refer to when we pelt stones at the houses of our cricketing icons everytime India lapses? As quick as we are in celebrating and worshipping our heroes, we are indeed quicker in setting their effigies to fire. Do we see patriotism in dividing our country with the help of caste politics? Is true patriotism only restricted to posing with a broomstick for social media to show our commitment to a clean India? If this is the case, then let us commit to going back and eliminating the bygones and not recreate history, come what may.

Of priceless gifts and valuables!

As children, we all indulged ourselves by crafting various items out of cardboard, chart papers, gift wrappers and a lot of similar craft material. To make the final product more appealing, we would use pencil shavings, old pieces of cloth, foil paper, glitter etc, most of which were items that are considered to be waste. If one happens to think over it, those craft sessions were valuable life lessons which taught us that joy and happiness need not come at an expensive price.

A couple of days ago, I decided to make a birthday card for a friend. I was making a card after a long, long time. To be precise, I was making something like this for the first time after I outgrew schooling. I was not sure about how the card would turn out to be or whether my efforts would appreciated or not; but, I certainly knew that I had put in all my creative efforts into making this card and was not the least bit disappointed. I very well knew that purchasing a greeting card from a card store would be way more feasible in that, it would be way more attractive and appealing than the one I made and it would also end up saving me a lot of time. But wait, what is the whole point of calling someone a friend if he/she does not deserve any of my time and efforts? Giving something that fails to capture any of my essence was something I could not resonate with. Creation is the ultimate source of happiness and satisfaction. We humans, in the pursuit of happiness, forget that it is these very small joys of life that give us ultimate joy. Don't we also love it when we receive something thoughtful and well measured? Don't we appreciate all the love that goes into executing and creating something that we receive as a gift? As much as I loved creating something with my own hands, I also prefer possessing similar things that form a part of my valuables. I remember getting a hand-made card for my 18th birthday. I know I'm sounding like I have barely received any cards. But, this card remains special and I shall always keep talking about it. And it goes without saying that this card, which is way more artistic and appealing than the one I made, stands out in comparison to the bunch of those standard, ready-made cards that i possess in dozens. Sometimes it feels good to pass the gesture and help everyone experience the feeling of what it feels like being valued.

There are many such instances in life that impart a sense of fulfillment. A lot of these get imprinted in our memories for an eternity. Moments like indulging in long conversations and laughter over a cuppa coffee with a close mate are a boon to friendship. Letting go of your the umbrella to experience monsoon showers or playing in the muddy water just when you thought you were too big for it, gifts you the opportunity to be a child again. Sharing some downtime with your love when you crave pampering and want to feel special is a gift to the heart and soul. Laughing over all the embarrassing and 'oops' moments one faced during childhood is necessary to know that everybody is not born perfect and it is okay to laugh at oneself to sense one's mortality. Having your dog wake you up with its wet nose and showering you with kisses makes you grateful for the gift of life. Making spontaneous plans about an impending trip to your favorite place with the perfect set of people strengthens your belief that life is indeed worthwhile.

The tag of 'gift' is a very relative one. Many equate gifts and possessions with the physicality of an object. Just move a step beyond and admire all that you have that many consider as gift because they can only only dream of it. Try finding things that made you happy and things you still cherish. Life will surprise you with the long list of priceless gifts you form and the treasure you hoard. Because, everyone is not as fortunate as you are. 

Are we educated or just well qualified?

Education is a very broad term and a qualification is just one of the aspects education encompasses. Being educated to me is the ability to look beyond materialistic well-being. Apparently, there are a lot of us who come to associate education with one's academic qualifications. For starters, there is a thin line that exists between being well educated and well qualified. It boggles my mind when well qualified people equate education with a formal recognition by some institution on paper. Education is born out of a fusion of wide ranges of personal and professional excellence which sustains for a lifetime, whereas qualification ends with a degree.

Part of the difference between education and qualification in our system stems from the lack of ability of our learning institutes to teach us to think for ourselves. Thinking for oneself leads to independence and thoughts that are free of societal governance. Another core idea of education is tolerance. Now, i'm not saying we are intolerant but secularism in our country is a mere paradox. The freedom to form decisions without being judged, criticised and counter-questioned is something we are still not habituated to. Imagine going by a list of criteria to become educated, only to wait for non-education to hit us. The scenario that we are currently witnessing is that of communalism in a democracy, casteism and sexism with the larger aim being that of achieving equality and making being result and achievement oriented too mainstream, wherein the fundamentals of growth and harmony are uncalled for. A qualification just makes the ride to getting educated easier and moreover teaches us one thing; to complete what we started. Let's face this, we have miles to go before claiming to be educated.

Our educational system has been lambasted for setting up a poor base for its students. With all the aspects of learning being leveraged with scores, practical knowledge and talent have been heavily compromised upon. Workforce that is unskilled and uncompetitive is a product of our ignorance towards its true interests and genius. But again, putting the blame on teachers and parents for the lack of motivation to help the child achieve its true potential is not justified, as they too are a product of the same educational system that we are thrashing. True education stands for empowerment and also empowering. Suppression at the same time, of innate human expertise in achieving its full glory, defeats the purpose of education.

We don't necessarily need to adopt the conventional route of getting education to be learned and independent. Knowing that true knowledge lies in identifying one's calling and making it a way of life, think about being devoid of excellence in the fields of music, sports, theatre and  other competitive forms of art, if its legends just remained qualified but not becoming learned in their fields of expertise. Imagine, we wouldn't have known a legend in percussion as great as Ustad Zakir Hussain, had his father not been educated enough to realize his child's true artist and pushed him to pursue his art from a tender age. It was not his qualifications that helped him in realizing what a deadly combination talent and passion could possibly make. Just a simple understanding of life sans irrationality and materialistic targets and realization of one's role and duties in life is enough of a degree for a lifetime of education. Who would have thought that a Pakistani man brought up in a patriarchal Islamic family would stand up for his daughter's rights to attain independence? Malala couldn't be luckier! Her father could have easily suppressed her dreams and restricted her freedom like many well qualified Pakistani men have and still do, but he chose to lead the change. Her father is not a highly qualified but has definitely managed to educate those that are highly qualified, in the real sense. Let us all attempt to make an educated guess by asking ourselves, ''Are we educated or just well qualified?''

The Secret Letter

Dear God,
I have contemplated writing to you umpteen times, but today, I certainly could not resist putting my pen to paper and tell you about all the hardships and pain I endure along this journey called "Life" and also thank you for acting as a mediator in helping me mend ties with life, time and again.

You have taught me not to crib and complain about anything and to accept everything with strength and grace. I have tried to heed your advice and shall certainly continue to do so in the times to come, barring today. Today, I just want you to spare some moments to see all the sorrow that comes along with being happy, the frowns that accompany my smiles, my fear and weaknesses that often seem hidden in a bid to look strong. Even without willing to see the pain and sadness that hide under a veneer, people easily label me. For all the love I get from those who genuinely love me, there is equal amount of angst and prejudice from those who are insecure. There are days when I feel extremely joyous and elated; but, there is hardly anyone to share in the joy. I may show the world that I am strong, but on the inside, I still feel very vulnerable everytime someone judges me. I try to look as confident a person as possible, but at times, even my sobs refuse to hold back. For, how much can one person bear the judgements and opinions from the entire world! Many a time, I look into the mirror and try to hold a smile, till my smile finally gives way to a frown. Sometimes, all I want to do is try and find you with the hope that one day all my fears, doubts and worries will seem justified in the quest to find you. Alas, I later realize that this moment shall never go beyond my dreams! Just when I begin to think that my life seems static and directionless, a high-pitched and stern voice tells me that all is not over yet. Soon after, my spirit is replaced with that of a warrior. This is when realization dawns on me. And, this is also the only time that I begin to acknowledge your invincible presence through that voice.

Just when I am about to give up, I am made to look back on the various downfalls. Didn't you plant those rough patches on purpose? Okay, now I understand. If you allow me to join the dots, can I assume that these periods of lows acted as the biggest lessons of my life and made me tougher? And had it not been for those lessons, I would have never valued life. My smiles seem to have grown bigger, now that I know the way out, every time I fall into a trap. And the secret that voice whispers is, ''Never give up! There is something better in store.'' Since I have already assumed that it is your voice that is trying to help me out, may I also ask you if I am the only one you chose to go through such extended periods of helplessness? If I am one of the few people to face life's wrath, then I can sense a pattern of bias which works in my favor. But, I want to know why you choose only a select few people to suffer more than the others? I promise I won't let the cat out of the bag.

Although I have a large list of questions and complaints, I have decided to do away with the problem sheet as you have asked me not to cry and complain. Till the time I receive your reply, I have a couple of things to do. The list goes as, I shall shred the problem sheet; I must keep smiling till my smile turns into a frown and back into a smile; I shall learn from my mistakes and bounce back higher every time there is a fall and if I feel bogged down by people's opinions and judgements about me, I shall believe that they are insecure and lonely and that they need to get in touch with you.

Yours faithfully,
A hopeful soul

Things to learn from Hindi soaps

Television is one of the best things to have happened to the last two generations. Indian mothers and grandmothers cannot be more thankful for their daily dose of saas-bahu drama, which forms a big chunk of their daily routine. In this case, it is not only the women who are thankful, but also Indian men who now get some respite from moderating the constant arguments and fights that conspire between their mothers and wives, now that they are occupied, all thanks to our TV soaps.

I get very motivated everytime I see a lead female protagonist look highly determined to bring about positive changes in the lives of all her family members. Irrespective of the state of mess her own life is in, she makes sure her family does not get even slightly affected by all the challenges and problems she faces. Isn't this a lesson in optimism and staring life right in the face? My only concern remains that these women don't exist in the real world. I secretly wish, sometimes, to have domestic help that is as efficient and adept as the ones we see on television. Because seriously, having a Ramu kaka/Sita at your beck and call the moment you call for them, when there is only one in a huge palace-like setting is something even normal, middle-class people don't enjoy the luxury of, despite living in a fifth the size of the homes shown in these soaps. Nonetheless, I am hopeful that one day I shall find my Ramu kaka/Sita. Also, I feel watching Hindi serials gives us renewed hopes everytime something goes wrong, because ultimately, Bappa or Thakurji will serve justice and everthing will go back to being normal. Another important learning which completes the picture is to live your life with a never-say-die spirit and also because I am referring to 'never-say-die'  in the most literal sense, imagine thinking during every funeral that this may not be the person's final death. So, we should learn to always think twice before emoting during such a situation. This does not imply that you should not cry, but one should be optimistic and always ask himself/herself, ''How will the story go on without him/her?''

For me, the word 'villain' will always be synonymous with Hindi soaps. And, I am eternally grateful to these soaps for showing me that there is always going to be that one person who will be spying on me and wanting to take away my happiness. And that villain will most likely be someone from my past life because apparently I don't know the villain and have no idea about who he/she is, but ironically enough, the villain knows everthing about me. If you delve deeper into this theory, you will realize why we are all told to avoid indulging in misdeeds. This is because our karma will come to haunt us when we least expect it. Going by this logic, Hindi television should be given its due credit for being so progressive. To end the list of learnings, in order to be able to uphold the status of a dutiful wife and daughter-in-law, wearing a saree is a mandate!

Wishing you all great joy and success in the company of Indian television!

Indian weddings we all love to hate

Indian weddings are more of a joke, wherein, 'wedding' is a sophisticated term used to signify the process of the groom getting auctioned off by his parents in exchange for ransom. And you see a lot of people from the groom's family happily discussing how they struck gold by cracking the best deal with the bride's parents. This is also the best place to show your financial status. Of course, because this is the only place which will have more witnesses to your wealth than any other place.

Everyone will agree that except for the very close friends and family of the bride and groom, all the rest that grace the occasion just have their eyes affixed on the calorie counter, making a mental note of what will satisfy their palates. Apart from seeing some 40-something-aunties wearing shoddy make-up and outfits that scream for help, you also see a lot of competition among them as to who is wearing a more expensive saree and who is looking better than the other. In fact, much unlike the common scenario that we generally observe at a wedding, you also overhear guests discussing things like ''Aaj ka khana toh kuch bhi nahi hai. Maine apni beti ki shaadi mein 2000 ki dish rakhi thi'', that only make you want to hate Indian weddings all the more. So basically, one wedding becomes a reference point for how good or bad other weddings are! I personally feel very bad when the newly-married couple has to stand for 3-4 hours, smiling, entertaining the guests on stage and posing for pictures, when you can see the couple glancing at the long queue every few minutes, secretly wishing for the queue to disappear. God bless girls who stand for the entire duration of the reception party wearing 5-inch heels. They are sure to ask their husbands for a foot massage soon after they retreat to their rooms. Poor husbands! Their night becomes memorable for a different reason altogether.

Another thing I find very unnecessary is how all the gifts a bride receives from her family as well as from her new family, as part of the tradition, are put on display. I asked my mother about the reason for the existence of such a custom and why it is still practiced, to which, i was told that this is a way of making everyone around feel involved. And apparently, it also makes people happy when they see that the bride has been provided with all the bare essentials. My point is, why does this involve the entire extended family or society? Isn't wedding supposed to be a private affair and aren't these things only for the very closed ones to know? Do you think people are genuinely going to be happy on seeing everything that the bride has been bestowed with? In fact, in hindsight, people who may not be able to afford expensive jewellery and other items for their children's wedding, are getting prompted to go out of their way and burn a hole in their pockets.This is because they may not want their children to get any less or they may be forced to do so to ensure their standing in the society remains intact.

The funniest part about an Indian wedding is people often discussing internally, how either the guy or the girl seems to have got plain lucky with his/her match. Also, curiosity builds up, especially among people of marriageable age, to know what honeymoon destination has been decided upon by the couple. But, irrespective of all the bashing up and criticizing of Indian weddings that we indulge in, we all dream to have a big fat Indian wedding. Because, getting married sans all the drama and razzmatazz seems like no fun!

Following the musical path....

After long hours of contemplation, after brainstorming ideas on three different subjects, i finally decided to zero in on writing about my affinity towards one of the purest forms of art, MUSIC. Listening to music is like feeding the soul. It always ensures that my peace of mind stays intact. Music to music lovers is like money to the poor. It is very sacred and precious. A day passsed without listening to music feels like something is amiss. I don't know if it's just the music lovers who feel this strongly about music or it is a common view; but, i can vouch for the fact that music makes life more beautiful.

Out of the 24 hours in a day, how much time do we keep aside to do what we genuinely love doing? How much time is actually spent doing something to distress ourselves? And let's not consider activities like driving, jogging, gymming etc if they are not optional. So, after striking off many activities that we may do because they are forced upon us or done to look cool or maybe, because we lack the availability of better options, we are barely left with a handful of activities or as many call them 'hobbies'. Out of the one or two hours that we may devote in a day to enjoy and relax oursleves, how many actvities do we actually indulge in that disconnect us from the stress of the real world? I would say, barely two or three. And music, is one of them. It may not be a part of our standard, basic requirements, but that does not take away from its strong influence on our mind and soul.

I, somehow, have developed this strange connect with music. I can wholly and solely bank on music to keep me company, anytime and anywhere. I can listen to music for endless hours and not get bored. That is quite something, given we have various other ways to distract ourselves. This is the kind of impact music has. For me, this insanity has developed over the years, which is now bordering on almost making me handicapped without music. So, out of curiosity, i just looked up the internet to understand if this could actually happen. And, i came across some astonishing facts, given as the effects of music, of which, some were difficult to comprehend. One of the many surprising things i learnt was that music helps secrete immune-boosting hormones by creating a positive and emotional environment which contributes to reducing the factors responsible for damaging the immune system. This fact has provided an added incentive to listen to music. Another interesting nugget i stumbled upon was that music can heavily influence your emotions. So much so, that a strong and commanding piece of music can make one violent and destructive, enough to bear severe repercussions. At the same time, a soft and soothing piece of music can have an equally calming effect on one's mind and soul. Infact, relaxing music is a remedy to improve the duration and intensity of concentration in all age groups.So, better choose your music carefully!

Overlooking its very few adverse effects, music has been known to create magical effects on schizophrenic patents and induced hope in many a depressed soul. I personally owe most of my extended imagination and visualisation to music, of which a lot would have remained uneplored had it not been for the world of rhythms,tunes and melodies. It's a different thing that at times i get transported to the dream world which sometimes makes me want to keep fantasising and not come back to the real world. But, so long as music makes me forget everything else while i have my headphones on, everything is justified.