Grow up to a Saree

 “I don’t want to be stuck in a government office wearing a cotton saree”, that’s the reason my neighbour’s daughter gave me, when I asked her if she ever considered following in the footsteps of her bureaucrat mother. Ridiculous as it might seem, that’s the way “Youngistan” thinks of sarees. Good for government offices or weddings, but too much of a hassle for everyday wear, too old world! So it’s not too surprising when every time I wear a saree, I am greeted by incredulous looks. “A saree?”, “How come a Saree?” or “What made you take the effort of draping a saree?” are a few vocalised raised eyebrows. Why not? I wonder.

Convenience seems to be the most common reason for not wearing this traditional Indian piece of feminine clothing. And sure enough in our sales-pitch-at-office-maid-AWOL-child-down-with-fever-inlaws-are-expected scenario, it definitely seems easier to just slip into a trouser. Yet there is an army of women who practically live their whole lives in sarees. Anyone travelling by local trains in Mumbai is sure to witness multitudes of women, who must have woken up at the crack of dawn to cook, pack off kids to school, draped a saree and sprinted to board a 8:13am train to reach office on time. You’ll meet them again in the evening, not a pleat out of place, all geared up to fight their way in the already bursting-at-its-seams local train, in a hurry to get back home and continue their buzzing lives.

Then there are the home-maker kinds as well. Speaking of which reminds me of my mother. I’ve always seen her in a saree. Growing up with a bureaucrat father, we were posted in the remote corners of Maharashtra state; where for a good part of the 80’s one could not find bread or ice-cream! Yet one could find sarees from various corners of India! My father’s colleagues came from different parts of the country. And their wives had trunk-fulls of sarees – the prized wedding saree, the everyday wear cotton one and the slightly formal one for party wear. There weren’t many socializing options at the time, but people made time to visit each other at home (another tradition losing popularity!) And dinner wasn’t ordered in (Yeah, it’s humanly possible!), but cooked at home. Ladies came in proudly wearing their sarees from their home-state. Anyway, to carry on the point, I was introduced to the rich textile traditions of India pretty early on. Of course I was an eager listener to all the wonderful conversations about sarees and food that would take place at these get-togethers. The evening usually ended with recipe-swapping and promises of bringing back new sarees from the respective next home-town visits.  So you see, sitting in a remote corner of Maharashtra, my mother learned the secret of making the softest of Idlis, the spongiest of Dhoklas and even Hyderabadi biryani. Not to mention the ever expanding wardrobe of Kota cotton, Kanjeevaram and Pochampally silks! Perks of the hubby’s job, one might conclude. Also being a bureaucrat, my father was required to travel for various official meetings and training sessions to various parts of the country, which was always welcome. Because it meant that wherever he went, he picked up a local weave for mummy! I remember the time when my father was posted in Nashik, close to Yeola…the home of the Paithani saree. Mainly because the ladies of our extended family became proud owners of the Paithani saree, known for its time consuming tapestry weave.

At the time, it seemed “Saree influencers” were everywhere. The elegantly dressed Air-India hostesses who popularised the “pinned-up air-hostess” saree drape! Unfortunately the newer airlines seem to have traded the elegant attire for tight, short skirts. And who can forget the very elegant and classy anchors of Doordarshan. They pretty much dictated which sarees flooded the market soon after! And yes, I also remember Shabana Azmi in movies like ‘Swami’ and ‘Apne Payare’, wearing crisp Bengal cottons. Not to forget the teachers of my Delhi school, who turned up in crisp cottons in summers and lovely silks paired with smart jackets in winters.

When I look back, it seems that my mother spent a lot of time in her sarees as well as in taking care of them. She was and is incredibly proud and possessive of her sarees. Every morning after she packed me and my sister off to school and my father to office, she used to bathe and wear a crisp cotton saree. She effortlessly went about her daily chores in a saree; cooking, shopping for vegetables, having tea with friends, socializing at the club, all that while maintaining the crispness of her saree. And it didn’t come easy. Come summers, she undertook the ritual of starching the cotton sarees. An unthinkable ordeal! She home-made the starch by boiling Saboodana, dipping the cotton in this sticky liquid and drying them in scorching sun. The entire household staff would pitch in, while we kids were not allowed near the hot boiling, foul smelling Saboodana liquid, thank God for that. These freshly starched sarees would last her for a few washes. And then the ordeal would repeat.

She was also nightmarishly particular about storing her sarees. All her silks were stored in a trunk, individually wrapped in muslin. We enjoyed making small potlis of muslin filled with spices, not to forget the neem leaves which worked as natural moth repellents. These sarees were regularly aired and the folds changed. During this process, my sister and I would have happily jumped into this heap of soft silk of rainbow coloured cloth, but for the eagle eyes of the lady of the house! She even ironed her zari silks herself, by placing a muslin cloth over the saree, irritatingly time-consuming, but she preferred that over trusting the Dhobi.

Many-a-times I wonder where did my mother inherit this love for the saree. My naani, having migrated from Pakistan after the partition, never wore a saree and till this day proudly wears the Pakistani salwar! But my mother still behaves like a child in a candy shop, when in a saree store; and if left unattended will pick up a few handfuls! Of course, buying a saree is not enough for her; she loves the whole process of visiting a “matching center” to pick out the exact shade of petticoats and blouses.

Both, my sister and I, have inherited her love for sarees and Indian textiles. Not to mention her Kanjeevarams. My younger sister wears a saree to work every day, and it takes her 5 minutes to drape one. Here’s the little secret; it doesn’t take a long time to drape, yet people believe that you’ve made an effort to dress up!

It’s sad that many women today are ditching the saree for western outfits. Not anything wrong with wearing skirts and trousers, but please do make some space for the saree in your wardrobe. Many believe that a saree would make them look older. Nothing could be farther from the truth. On the contrary; there is nothing more feminine and elegant than it. The soft, fluid saree takes the shape of your body and enhances your personality. You can take a saree anywhere.

Even though I say that the younger generation is reluctant to adopt the saree; this seems to be the most exciting time for it. A lot of cross-regional techniques are blending with contemporary designs and patterns resulting in a metamorphosed new age garment. Lucknowi chikankari on the sheer chanderi, khadi with natural dyed hand block print, Mangalgiri weave meets age-old ajrakh, Ikats with kalamkari, the options are unlimited. The young guns of Indian fashion are pulling out all stops in contemporising this fantastic garment.  And its fluidity lends itself beautifully to the new world order. The magic of the one-size-fits-all garment keeps one enthralled. It is wild & whacky, traditional & sedate, it’s all in one. Organic and socially engaging, it walks tall and holds its own. Wherever you take it!

Every piece of attire has its place and a saree has been a part of our culture and tradition for time immemorial. Give it the rightful place it deserves in your wardrobe.



Photo courtesy: Sudar FM

Maaya: A tryst with self.

In the journey of life we experience many relationships, meet many people. Some work, some don't. Some relationships are deeply fulfilling, nurture our soul and encourage us to be better versions of ourselves, yet some drain us, making us sad and miserable. We click with some people instantaneously; the connection seems deep and meaningful as if it's been there for ages, whereas some people remain an enigma even after years of association. All of these interactions make us question; why? Why do we attract certain people? Why do we get into certain relationships? Why do we deserve certain experiences? Why do certain relationships mean more than others?

Maaya: A tryst with self, is one such fantastical journey that the protagonist Maaya takes, after being plagued by an unfulfilled relationship, which takes her on the path of self -discovery and spiritual healing.

The book takes on this journey with Maaya, who is divorced mother of one. Maaya is also in love with Rahul. She keeps connecting and disconnecting with him and wondering if and when they will have a future together.

At a critical stage in their relationship, she describes the state of affairs beautifully. “It’s becoming about ‘I’ and ‘You’ rather than about ‘Us’. ‘We’ are dissolving.” – she says in a letter to Rahul. Now this rings true for most of us at some point in time in our strongest and closest of relationships, doesn't it?

Maaya’s quest for an answer takes her down the path of spiritual healing and past life regression therapy. This quest also leads her to self -discovery and her own path in life.

Maaya could be any of us grappling with relationship issues. Going through life and seeking answers to various relationship issues. The most important lesson that Maaya teaches us is that the answers, we seek, are not outside but within us. We are always looking outside for support, for validation and even for our own happiness, yet we ignore looking inwards. We are not meant to suffer in our life time and yet we are insistent on complicating small issues and getting sucked into the negativity. We are constantly giving in to societal pressure while forgetting to cherish ourselves and discover the love within each of us.

Minal handles Maaya with a lot of love and affection and writes knowledgeably about her life-predicaments. The book makes for wonderful reading and very soon, becomes a page turner. It is certainly more than a love story; it’s a journey of self-discovery which many would identify with.

The book will make you introspect and seek to transform from within.

We are often confronted by concepts of past lives, destiny, soul, soul mates. We delve on, seek more explanations and answers. Not many of us believe in it, many are skeptical. Given that most of us are skeptical about these complicated concepts, the simplicity with which some of the concepts are introduced is refreshing and that too without losing the evocativeness. For example, the concept of past life is introduced as “fragments of soul that are stuck” or “It is ‘past’ that hasn't ‘passed’. Minal also brings about an interesting connection between our past lives and their influence on our current state of affairs – relationships, fears, desires, anxieties etc.  

This book is a good beginning to start understanding these concepts. In a simple language, the book attempts to answer many questions that we have about the universe, about our mission in life and more importantly about soul-mates and twin souls.

For believers, non-believers, and the in-betweens alike, this book is good beginning to your own quest of love and life.

Happy reading.

To know more about the author Minal Arora and her work visit here and here

Be yourself.

Tell us something about yourself

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Anyone who has ever been to a job interview is familiar with these two standard questions. And all of us are prepared for these. Of course the answer depends on the job profile and the organization we apply to. We aim to please, to convince the interviewer that we are the perfect fit for the job profile. Whether the answer reflects our true personality is quite another matter. But it is designed to impress the interviewer...whether or not s/he buys into it is anyone's guess.

But once the whole interview charade is over, does anyone bother to answer these questions honestly. Do we even admit to ourselves the kind of people we are? what are our "real" strengths and weaknesses? How would we answer the question if we were not in an interview and there was no one in the opposite chair judging us?

Many a times, we are disconnected with ourselves, living a persona which is in tune with the expectations of others. We are so busy with dealing with peer pressure, trying to live up to the expectations of our parents and the society in general. Our true self in lost in this chaos.

You don't need to be pub hopper, party animal, just because the world wants you to be. If you would rather sit with a book on Saturday night. Well so be it.

It's alright if you haven't read any on the 100-books-to-read-in-your-lifetime. Why bother with other people's opinion of what book you should read or not. Living alone and taking care of yourself is more of a learning experience, I say.

Aren't you bored of seeing people dressed as clones of each other. Where is the personal style, your charisma? Why not be bold enough to create your own style statement rather then be dictated by movie stars and magazines. Wear what suits you. Why blend in when you have the option of standing out?

Isn't knowing yourself and being true to yourself most important when it comes to career choices. Many people go with the career option chosen by others...family, relatives, friends. Sure our parents know more about life then us, but we have to bear the responsibility of the choices we make...long after they are gone. Career choices are also made keeping in mind "what's in". Nothing spells failure, better than this.

Imagine being in a bank surrounded by numbers and data, when you would rather create a creative campaign like Vodafone Zoo Zoos!

A job turns into a career and stays with you for the rest of our lives. So choose wisely. Choose smart.

Always keep asking yourself the kind of person you are, what are your strengths & weaknesses. How do you over come weaknesses (no one is devoid of them), how do we make our strengths work for us.

Discover yourself. Be yourself. Even if you are the odd one out. At least you will be happy and have a job that makes you want to get out of bed. And have relationships that don't drain you. Still want to blend in and follow the herd? Thought so.

Shed the baggage...

There comes a time in everyone’s life, when one must drop whatever one is doing and take stock of, well, literally, one’s life. Think about it, we carry on with our lives…chasing our dreams and ambitions, working hard and in the process accumulating baggage; we don’t even realise we have collected. Over a period of time the baggage keeps getting heavier & heavier, weighing us down, slowing us down and yet we ignore it and carry on. Until it becomes impossible to go on, it’s time to stop, take stock and to decide to unload.

And we need to do this, both literally and figuratively…

We go through life collecting all kinds of hurts, broken promises, and unfulfilled dreams, the burden of which, keeps adding and weighing us down. This unnecessary weight prevents us from moving forward; achieving our dreams and quite literally it prevents us from being happy. So why not just dump this unnecessary load? And march ahead? The time is now to stop worrying about the past and start living.

Don’t be bogged down by past mistakes. They don’t define you; they just mean that you were not afraid to take a chance. Learn the lesson and move on. Always remember, if you are not making mistakes…well then you are not doing much with your life.

Let go of relationships that don’t help you grow as a person. Any relationship should be a source of happiness, encouragement, it should nurture & cherish. But if relationships are sucking the life out of you…why drag. There will always be people who would readily dress up and party with you…but in your moment of grief are busy with the work-family-house routine. It’s a good idea to let them go. Forgive people who hurt you, not for them but to free yourself. Anger is a poison that you take and then expect someone else to suffer! If the relationship is not fulfilling…it’s not worth the effort.

Still crying over missed opportunity? Still worrying about what could have been instead to thinking about what is? Living in the past, while the present slips away? This one is not difficult to figure out, is it?

And while you are clearing the mind-baggage don’t forget to literally shed some baggage. I am talking about the excess baggage that our body carries.

Unless riddled by genetic problems, there is no excuse to be overweight. Especially in the times we are living. Hectic, stressful professional life, the torturous traffic, city living, pollution all sucking the life out of us. The newspapers are full of people suffering from cardiac conditions as early as in the 30s.

So stop hiding behind excuses and take a walk, climb the stairs, join the yoga class, pick an apple instead of that brownie and eat at home as much as possible!

You owe it not only to yourself but also to your family.

Live happy and travel light!

The time is...NOW

Always waiting for the 1st of the month, Monday, New year, birthday or anniversary or just the "right day" to start something new? Stop waiting and start now...because the right time to start something...anything is right NOW...

Now is the time...

...to realise your dreams, your long standing wishes and desires. When you can start now, why wait for tomorrow?

...to get fit, to join the gym, to join the yoga class, to lose weight.

...to get back to a hobby, dust the tennis racket, bring out the paint brushes or fine tune the sitar. It's time to rediscover yourself.

...to pick up the phone and call a friend. The best way to wish someone on a birthday is not by writing on their FB wall, but to make a call.

...to meet a friend for coffee.

...to let go of past hurt, to put down the baggage and get rid of it for good. Time to let go.

...to stop worrying about what will be. It's time to live in the present.

...to laugh a bit more.

...to mend broken relationships. Life is too short to nurse old grudges.

...to go travelling, meet new people, to sample different cuisine.

...to get out of your comfort zone and discover a whole new world.

The time is right to start living. The time is NOW.

Penny for your thoughts...

Well, had I collected a penny for every bit of irrelevant, bizarre and downright ridiculous advice I have been given…let’s just say my bank would be very pleased with me!
Everyone is so quick to dispense advice, almost like a birth right, a sacrosanct ritual, without which one’s day would be bland and completely lacking. Almost like food without salt Unthinkable!

What is even more amazing is the absolute authority with which and the lightning speed at which, people dispense their verbal gems.

When should Sachin retire? How should the country be run? How do we handle the whole Pakistan-Kashmir issue? What is the truth behind the Devyani Khobragade fiasco? Blah blah blah and then some.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am totally for opinions, debates even arguments. But some are so nauseatingly stupid that one can’t help but puke.

Of course, it pinches more when supposedly well-meaning friends and relatives seem to know how to run your life better than you!

People are terribly worried these days about how I will spend my old age and, dear lord, who will take care of me & hubby. Let me explain…what I mean.

I am well into my 30’s and don’t have a kid. Hubby & I have gone from adopting a kid to not wanting a kid to maybe wanting to kidnap one for a week or two without ransom.
A personal choice which is not required to be explained to all & sundry, but then it doesn't work like that, does it now?

So everyone has taken it upon themselves to drill some sense in my obviously empty head.

A very concerned well-wisher asks if I have thought about this decision. Have I seen a gynecologist? Do I know the biological clock is ticking furiously? Err no…I was just waiting for someone smart like you to come along and advise, moron!

Another time when people are happily advising is when one is expecting. When my sister was expecting…we were drowned in a deluge of sometimes-sane-most-times-stupid-advice.

She had a C-section due to a last minute emergency. Of course many people thought her doctor was stupid to suggest it.

We should have waited, we should have protested and, best for the last…we should have taken a 2^nd opinion!

Seriously? Didn't know there were so many closet doctors!
Of course these are serious issues and people can’t help themselves.

But even when it comes to mundane stuff people can’t resist their urge to split their lips and pour the wise wine of words.

Which car to buy, where to vacation, how to spend one’s weekend (Yes, believe me…I have been advised on how & where to spend it!).

A simple thing they miss is…if I really needed their pearls of wisdom; would I not ask them?! Shouldn't the very fact that I did not call them before making a purchase, tell them that I don’t care much about what they think!

The next time someone starts with: “If you don’t mind me saying so…” I think I am going to go for the jugular. Guess what? I do mind, so shut up.

If I needed your advice, I will ask. Until then I can manage my life on my own. 

Thank you very much.

Ting tong...must be Jabong!

'Online' & 'shopping' were words that did not come together for me very often. The whole "shopping" experience began and ended at the malls and the internet was a place for social networking! At best, the thought of combining the two came when I had to buy books from Flipkart or tickets from Makemytrip.

I have always been skeptical about shopping online and buying things without the whole "touch & feel" experience. But this issue was taken care of by various online shopping portals, where one could order, open and check the product & try the garments at home and then make the payment. How convenient! Plus I realised that my teenage cousins were already shopping online for clothes and accessories and the most favoured destination was www.jabong.com ...I had to take the plunge!

Around the same time I was offered a Rs 500/- voucher from none other than Jabong! what luck!

Once you visit the website, you discover its simplicity and quickly realise that it is neatly organised making browsing and searching easy and hassle free. The website has a neat and clutter free look. Not to mention that the home page is teeming with offers...enough temptation to shop!

Given my fetish for skin care products, I was pleasantly surprised by the entire range on offer...totally spoilt for choice!

I chose Iraya body lotion and Soultree shower gel. Both the products reached me within 3-4 days. Also notice a sticker on the parcel; which said that I could check the contents before accepting the parcel. Good idea!

While regular shopping is great, don't forget to look out for discount coupons and other mouth watering offers on the website!

Also remember to pick up a thoughtful gift for your mother for mother's day. Jabong seems to have thought of some wonderful ideas...do check it out!

Happy shopping!

                                                                                                                                                            

Stay Connected

Stay Connected...

 

Now-a-days every time we hear the word "connected" the only thing that comes to mind is the Internet! Everyone seems to be connected online...obviously nothing wrong in that. What better way than to keep in touch and rediscover friends than on Facebook. I have met many long lost friends online...I don't think I would ever have met them had it not been for Facebook's helping hand. But that's not the kind of "connection" I am talking about. Is there another kind? you wonder. I think so. Let me explain.

 

We live in a world that is constantly on over-drive mode. Everyone is in a hurry. To get somewhere. To get something done. There is always a rush for meetings, appointments, sales targets, client meetings. Where is the time to pause and think? We all seem to be stuck in a rut, but how many of us want to get out of this rut? Get out of the rat race and connect with our 'self'. Not many of us can give it all up and become farmers and artists and turn our backs on peer pressure. But every once in a while, wont it be better to reconnect with your 'self'? Take time out to rethink your priorities, goals and ambitions? Go for a walk with yourself. Spend a few more "doing-nothing" moments. Stay connected with yourself', before you lose yourself.

 

In a mad rush to succeed we not only lose connection with ourselves but also with our near & dear ones. People who should matter to us the most...our family. We work crazy hours, impossible deadlines to earn a better living for our families. Sure money is important for all our needs and wants, but so is being emotionally connected. A sick person does not get cured by medicine alone, but also due to the nurturing by loved ones. People with families live longer...so why just settle for a weekend marriage? or weekend parenting? If family is the the corner stone of civilization, make sure you give it due priority. Stay connected with family; before its too late.

 

Hundreds of friends on Facebook, hundreds of "likes" on inane status updates and photos. And most importantly hundreds of birthday wishes. And how many phone calls for birthday wishes and heart to heart conversations? Not all friends on Facebook expect a phone call, but everyone has a few special friends who deserve a call every once in a while, especially on their birthdays and special occasions. Take time out to make that phone call, attend weddings, birthday parties, get-togethers. Stay connected with friends..and I am talking Facebook here.

 

In school, everything seems possible, no dream is too outrageous, everything is fun...a child-like delight & enthusiasm that seems to conquer all. In school we also have "hobbies" which we seem to drop as we collect other baggage. Everyone in school looks forward to the sports/games period. Aah, finally time to leave behind the confinement of the classroom! Until its time to prepare for the board exams...sports is the first to be left behind. Annual day functions meant everyone was busy preparing a skit, a musical or a dance performance, but the pursuit of a career means all such 'frivolous' activities took a back seat. Its understandable that not every one can make career in theatre, music, dance or sports, but we can still pursue them as recreational activities. Take a break from the rig-ma-role of daily life. Rediscover a hobby or pick up a new one. Stay connected with your passion. There is little else that gives more joy.

 

Stay connected. With everything that makes you 'you'

Nana nani ka ghar.

During our school-days, my sister and I, like all school going children, would eagerly look forward to our summer-vacations. Not only did this mean freedom to get up late but also meant that the annual trip to Saharanpur was finally around the corner. This was our nani ka ghar; and nothing could bring us more joy than this trip. I am talking about time way back in the 80s. Much before the advent of internet & TV even; so there were no makemytrip.com or yatra.com to entice with vacation deals. Add to this the fact that my father was posted in places like Dhule & Jalgaon …far far away from Saharanpur. So such trips happened only once a year.

The preparation for the trip would start weeks in advance. My mother would start collecting stuff. Poha, chakli, sabudana, chivda…all would be part of our luggage. At that time all these ingredients were not available up north. Add to these individual gifts for all family members. Now all the ladies of the extended family are proud owners of the paithani saree! We kids would have our own packing to do. Apart from the clothes, we would select some toys to accompany us along with our school books; that we never get around to studying is quite another matter! And let’s not forget the excitement of packing for the train journey itself. The day of travel saw frantic activity in the kitchen…mom would get up early morning to prepare the quintessential sookhe aloo ki subzi and fry enough pooris. Oh and let’s not forget the aam ka achar; along with this my sister and I would pack chocolates and toffees, which we had been collecting for days! As the time approached to board the train, we could barely contain our excitement. Once we had boarded, settled in, we wanted to eat…once done we would finally calm down and eagerly await our arrival at New Delhi railway station. We would alight here and continue the rest of the journey by road.

Finally, after a restless travel of more than 24 hrs we arrive at Saharanpur. And what a resounding welcome we would receive. My grandmother would have prepared our favourite meal, and immediately we would become the centre of attention. Of course another ritual was opening of the luggage; which everyone eagerly looked forward to!! My mom has two brothers and a sister; all younger to her. We as kids were quite a novelty to them and their college friends! We had a wonderful time going out with them and would be treated to all kinds of yummy street food.

Another high point of visiting Saharanpur was that we could watch TV (TV transmission began in Dhule only in 1984). I remember patiently waiting for 6:00 pm; the time transmission began. We would religiously watch all the programs, including Krishi Darshan, and would only sleep after wishing the presenter "shubhratri".

Looking back, even without Internet or 24 hour TV channels, we were never bored, nor did the power cuts bother us despite the scorching heat of May. The afternoons were spent waiting for the  ice cream wala...the taste of the orange chuski still fresh in my mind.

The fondest memory of Saharanpur is of spending time with our grandfather. A stickler for routine, he was much feared by all in the family, but we girls could get away with almost anything! The best time was when he was having his meals. We would sit on either side and listen to his stories. He has migrated from Pakistan after the partition, and would talk fondly of his childhood and boyhood days. He would eat rotis laden with ghee and urged us to do the same…much to our dismay. Most evenings, if we were not going out with our aunt & uncles, grandpa took us out for a walk; where we would meet his friends…some from the pre-partition era! These walks inevitably ended with a glass of sugarcane juice. Spending time with him was also fun; not only did he regale us with stories and anecdotes, but also with nuggets of wisdom and practical advice.

We also had a no. of friends in Saharanpur, usually neighbours or the kids of our mother’s childhood friends. We eagerly looked forward to meeting them too. They would be quite amused by our hindi, sprinkled with Marathi words!

And before we knew it, it seemed that our vacation had gotten over far too soon. Hadn’t we just arrived? And now we were packing to go back! Not fair! Going back our luggage would be equally heavy…garam masala (from all the things, this is one thing I remember distinctly), pickles that my grandmother had made, all the knick knacks that my uncles & aunts had collected for us, the sweater that my granny had knitted for papa and various other tiny things would fill up our bags. My uncles would come to drop us at New Delhi railway station; of course goodbyes were never easy.

Once back home it took the longest to get back to routine…having been spoilt rotten for the entire vacation. Since there was no internet or phone, we would desperately wait for letters from Saharanpur, and if any had news of visiting relatives; our joy would know no bounds.

It’s been years since we went back to Saharanpur. My aunt and uncles got married and shifted away from home. After my grandfather passed away, the house was sold, and the last connection to Saharanpur was lost. I don’t know if we would ever go back, but looking back no other vacation has brought me more joy and happiness. Probably it was so special because it was my nana-nani ka ghar!

My DD Memories...

Long before our lives were ruled by the cablewala, set top boxes, DTH, HD and blah blah blah, Doordarshan was the only TV channel, and for people of my generation a huge part of our lives. We could not wait for the evening to come when a huge ball of orange slowly truned into the Doordarshan logo, I clearly remember as kids my sister and I would eagerly look forward to our summer vacations to our nani's home in Saharanpur. Ofcourse there was the joy of going to nana, nani ke ghar, this was doubled by the fact that we could watch TV there. You see at the time all the places my father was posted (Jalgaon, Dhule), had no TV transmission. TV only came to Dhule in 1984. Until we had to contend with the B/W TV of my grandparents! We would religiously watch krishi darshan, the hindi samachar, I love lucy and only go to bed after bidding the anchor shubhratri!

Our world changed with the TV coming to Dhule, 1984, around the time the first hindi serial (that is what we called soaps then!) "Hum Log" came on air. Hosted by the veteran actor Ashok Kumar, "Hum Log", with its middle class ethos, became a part of our daily lives. It was a story about a middle class family, in Delhi, trying to make ends meet. It had the eldest and the most pampered child (laloo), the responsible elder daughter (badki), the ambitious majhli, the intelligent chutki, and light-eyed cutie-pie nanhe played by Abhinav Chaturvedi, the grandparents, drunkard father with his long suffering wife! Till today Vinod Nagpal is known as Basesar Ram and Sushma Seth as dadi! Coming to think of it almost of the actors of Hum Log are till today known by their screen names. A testament to the love and affection showered on them by the whole country.

Of course there was no looking back after Hum Log. Manohar Shyam Joshi, who wrote Hum Log, created magic again with Buniyaad; directed by Ramesh “sholay” Sippy. Another mega-serial; this time about a family dealing with the repercussion of the partition. Many serials have been made with the parition theme, but unfortunately none managed to create the magic of Buniyaad. How can we ever forget Master Haveliram (Alok Nath), the khadi-clad-idealistic eldest son of a wealthy businessman who is interested in the freedom struggle? And then there is the chirpy Lajjoji (Anita Kanwar), her friend and masterji's sister veerawali (Kiran Juneja). The serial deals with Haveliram's struggle to hold on to his ideologies and his duty towards his family. After the partition the family moves to Delhi and new characters are added, Masterji & Lajjoji's sons played by Dalip Tahil, Mazhar Khan and Kanwaljeet. Mazhar Khan will always be remembered for his character to a happy-go-luckly fellow, who is always eager to make a quick buck! While Alok Nath went on to become the lovable father of hindi serials and Rajshree films, unfortunately Anita Kanwar disappeared into oblivion, and Kiran Juneja, famously went on to marry the producer of the serial, the much older Ramesh "sholey" Sippy.

While talking about partition, the one name the immediately comes to mind is the hard-hitting Tamas, written by Padma Bhushan Bhisham Sahani (the younger brother of veteran actor Balraj Sahani). A very serious look at the partition, this serial attracted the who's who of the acting fraternity. Bhisham Sahani himself acted in the serial along with Dina Pathak, Om Puri, Amrish Puri, Surekha Sekri, Uttara Baokar, Deepa Sahi. This epic serial was directed by Govind Nihalani.

At the time Doordarshan serials were weekly, running into 13, 26 or 52 episodes, this trend was changed by the mega serials Ramayan & Mahabharat. Once they were on air Sundays were never the same again. Ramayan was produced by Sagar Arts and starred Arun Govil and Deepika Chiklia as Ram & Seeta and the indomitable Daara Singh as Hanuman (can't think of anyone else as Hanuman, can we now?!). Cities wore a deserted look on Sunday mornings when Ramayan was aired, as if a curfew has been imposed, and there dare not be a power-cut for the half hour! Recently Imagine TV also produced Ramayan, but could not capture the audience's attention as the earlier one. An original is an original, after all!

The mega-serial was soon followed by another epic, of truly gigantic proportions...Mahabharat, produced by B R Films. Producing this serial must have truly been a herculean task, for Mahabharat has no. of stories woven into one. Very soon Mahabharat commanded the same attention as Ramayan and soon on every Sunday, Suresh Wadekar echoed from every television. Harish Bhimani was the voice of "time", who acted as the narrator of the tale. People waited with bated breaths, wondering who will play the "pandavas", initially disappointed but soon warmed upto them. Nitish Bahardwaj played "Krishna" and till today finds himself bound by the image.

This was the time of weekly episodes, not daily soaps and "maha episodes". Everyone waited eagerly for their favourite ones. Much before ACP Pradyumna and his "daya darwaza tod do" CID gang came to investigate crime, Karamchand jasoos had already made his mark. Along with his scatter-brained secretary Kitty, he solved many-a-complex murders. Pankaj Kapur & Sushmita Kitty Mukherjee made an unlikely crime-fighting team, which endeared themselves to the audiences.

DD also supported a whole genre of comedy. Good clean family entertainment unlike the comedy shows of today, which rely heavily on slapstick and double meaning dialogues. The top-of-the mind recall goes to Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi. Who can rival this iconic serial? The serial written by comedy writer Sharad Joshi starred Shafi Inamdar and Swaroop Sampat as the husband wife duo Ranjit and Renu Verma. The serial also starred Rajesh Bedi as Renu’s unmarried unemployed brother, while Satish Shah played a different part in each serial…and enthralled everyone with his comic timing!

While talking about the comedy genre, it would be sacrilegious not to talk about Nukkad…a serial about a street corner; which could have been anywhere in an Indian metro. The daily trials and tribulations of the residents of this street corner managed to make a place in every DD watching Indian’s heart. The serial co-directed by Kundan Shan and Saeed Mirza, starred Dilip Dhawan (the heart of gold “Guru”), Rama Vij (lovable teacherji), Avtar Gill and Pavan Malhotra amongst many other memorable characters.

And then there was “Wagle Ki Duniya” ; a satirical take on the struggle of the common man. Starring Anjan Srivastave and Bharati Achrekar, this serial soon became a mass favourite.

I remember serials on DD such as Ek Kahani, Darpan, Kathasagar; which featured adaptions of stories by award winning writers of Hindi and other regional languages. In today’s world of daily soaps and saas-bahu dramas, which cannot distinguish themselves from each other; one feels the need of powerful writing. There is no dearth of writers only experimental production houses. Maybe if they look beyond the “K” fascination! I wonder who would take the time and the effort that Govind Nihalani took to televise Jawahar Lal Nehru’s Discovery of India?

Talking about diversity in serials, I can’t help but remember Gul, Gulshan, Gulfam; which portrayed the life of a Kashmiri family making a living with their 3 house boats. The patriarch of the family was played by the very talented Parikshit Sahani and Radha Seth as his wife. The serial shot in Srinagar also starred Pankaj Berry, Neena Gupta and Kunal Khemu.

Looking back there are so many wonderful memories of DD; Many serials that became a part of our lives, conversations, heated debates and now our memories. Serials that gave us the badshah of Bollywood; Shah Rukh Khan (fauji, doosra Kewal). The quiz shows that everyone watched with rapt attention, the half an hour of cartoons on Sunday; that any day beat the 24 hr cartoon channels. Not to forget the Sunday movie, the chitrahaar…who needed MTV and channel V?! This was the time when DD ruled and the TV had not turned into the idiot box. The television actors of the time were not one-soap wonders, but were a talented group of actors who made their presence felt by strong characters. Today we may never see an actor again, nor remember their real names, but we will always remember Sudhir Pandey, Neena Gupta, Pavan Malhotra, Shafi Inamdar amongst many many other talented actors. DD might have lost its sheen in the glossy world of HD TV and 24 hr channel, but in my mind DD is a special memory which always puts a smile on my face. I might have missed so many serials which u might remember, do share ur special memories!

So sweet...

There is nothing more welcoming than coming back home to the aroma of baking!



Isn't it amazing how a simple flour, eggs & sugar batter can turn into something so divine...



A perfect picture...!



More from the kitchen later...!!

Happy Sunday

Bored of the usual Sunday routine of window shopping followed by movie at Phoenix Mills (altho' I love the place and have many happy memories of it, what say Meghs?!, off-late I've become bored of it!)today, Shashank & I, thought of doing the touristy thing of visiting Gateway of India. We had initially planned to go there early morning following by breakfast at one of the quaint little cafes of Colaba. Now, people who know me well...know very well that I am not a morning person! Never-the-less, the only change was that the planned breakfast became lunch!



The Gateway thronging with tourists!



I half wished I had made the effort to get up early to avoid the crowd and the sun!



The beautiful lattice work. It's a pity, the condition they are in.



The Taj, beautifully restored to its former glory



Time for lunch, and we walk to this quaint little place called Woodside Inn, opposite Regal. It's a must visit for anyone coming to Mumbai. It a smallish place with a nice bar. I loved all the framed photograps of Colaba buildings. Very nice touch.



Let the good times begin!



Onion rings & mushrooms in beer batter. It does not get better than this!



Give me a crunchy fresh salad and pasta in a simple red sauce, and my world is perfect!



Blueberry cheese cake. Perfect end to a beautiful afternoon. Day well spent, indeed! I had grand ideas of walking up to Flora Fountain and VT thereafter, to click some pictures. But can u blame me for wanting to go home and catch a nap, after eating so much. But don't worry, will bring u more from my Colaba sojourns. Cheers!

Pillars of strength...

How many of us can get through life alone? Can we make it alone? Survive, let alone succeed? Distressing just thinking about it, isn't it? As humans, we need company, support, a helping hand from time to time, a kind word, a gentle nudge of persuasion, reassurance, a source of inspiration and strength. And we find these sources both within us and outside. Over a period of time, we come to recognise this strength and learn to harness it. More often than not these sources are closer than we think...

Family: a family of birth or of pro-creation, it remains a permanent fixture in our lives. Of course no one and nothing is perfect, and the same goes with families! Imperfection is a truth of life and probably that's what makes it unique. Every one's family is unique with its own imperfections, but it is something we go back to everyday. Turn to in times of distress and happiness. It is very reassuring to know, we have people who would reprimand, correct and support when needed. No one deserves to be loved unconditionally except a small kid unable to take care of him/herself, hence we must learn to value our families and cherish & nurture the relationships within it. Family gives us wings and a platform to take-off from, it deserves to be treated with love, care and oodles of respect.

The better half, the significant other, the person u go to bed with, the first person u want to see when u wake up, the person u want to grow old with...ur partner. This person grows the closest to u; safe to say even more than ur parents, sibling & closest friend. The person u set up home with, u want to come home to. But alas, how many times do we take them for granted, in our pursuit of individual goals. Our spouses make us better people, we grow-up with them, should we not celebrate our love for them everyday? Take care of this reservoir of strength.

Friends are the family we choose for ourselves. We might have hundreds of friends in our FB friend list, but there are only a handful of them who are allowed into the inner world of our fears and insecurities, who become the custodians of our deepest / darkest secrets, the friends who partake in our happiness, who support us and, when need be, show us the mirror! Friends are taken for granted, forgotten but we can never do without them, after all who would share our most outrageous dreams!

Education never goes waste. Unfortunately we have an education system, where all we are concerned about, is the exams. All energies are focused on clearing the examination, that we don't even pause and look at education in practical terms, how will it help me in life? Well since we are not whiners and cribbers, lets endeavour to make the most of what we've got! Education of any kind, always helps. Sometimes in obscure ways. So lets have a "holistic" approach towards education, where everything matters...not just selective studying for the exams. There is no age to learn. There is no age to start. Lets keep the grey cells in top shape.

Self belief / self confidence: if there are people in ur life who will support u and push u to do ur best, then there will be equal no. of people who will pull u down! So decide who matter and whom u will listen to. No one has the power to call u a winner or a loser, for no one knows u better than u! All of us are responsible for the choices we make, so make sure the choice u have made is ur own. Our mind is a wonderful apparatus, it can take us to euphoric happiness and the next moment plummet to deep, dark depths of depression. And in times like these self belief & confidence comes handy, they get us thru' many a difficult situations. If we are only defined by people's perception of us, we are denying ourselves the chance to discover ourselves. If we believe in our ability we can achieve whatever we set our mind to. Unless we push ourselves, we won't know our true strength. No one achieved anything sitting comfortable in the comfort zone & whining about the unfairness of life! Get out, reignite the fire, discover ur destiny! Have faith in urself.

Attitude is everything. Period! No one likes a cribber, a whiner! Look around and we notice that we intentionally or unintentionally distance ourselves from people who are always cribbing or complaining. Everyone has a share of "unfair circumstances", but that does not give one the reason to vent it all on the world! Everyone likes a person with a "can do" attitude. We win some and we lose some. But why to lose without even trying? why drop an idea without even giving it a fair shot? Remember it is attitude and not aptitude that determines the altitude in life! Have a positive attitude and negate the negativity. Banish all negativity from life. If u can smile in the face of crisis, u can face anything (well, almost, I think!!)

However much people might like to believe that they are self-made and need no one, the truth is they could not be further from the truth. We cannot be what we are or what we become, without the influences in our life. It can be the formative influences by our family and then later, by friends & teachers, followed by our own instincts and our lessons. And this cycle never stops. But then neither does life.

Always remember, if u want to draw strength, u must also learn to provide it.

Resolutions for life...

Well into the New Year this is a good time to reflect over the new year resolutions. Some doable, some outrageous! But all made with good intentions! After all new beginnings give a adrenaline rush like nothing else. Moreover they give us the hope of being happier, slimmer & richer! With so much of cheer and happiness going around...it is easy to overlook the fact that most new year resolutions are recycled...more like they are carried forward from the previous year. Or is it? I believe there are certain resolutions that need to be made & kept year after year as they do not have a "best before date". Here are some of mine (in random order!)...for the current year and years to come...

Take care of you: a common resolve at the beginning of the year, priority no.1 that steadily loses its ranking, as the months change on the calender! Health should be a priority, no matter ur age or profession. So get moving people! Don't wait for ur birthday, anniversary, monday or the 1st of the month. Start now. exercise. Walk, cycle, run or embrace yoga. Whatever ur calling. Lets start now. Remember u r all u've got, don't give up on urself!

Eat healthy: surprising coming from me, because according to my mom I have an extremely unhealthy eating habits. Much as I hate to admit it, like the boss mom is always right (well almost always) and it does not hurt to listen to ur mom every once in a while. So instead of a brownie, its going to be an apple, banana instead of potato chips and what do we replace aerated drinks with? While I figure that one out, let me move on to the next one...

Be positive: now, this i am talking from experience, so trust me on this one...if we drown ourselves in negative thoughts, we see negativity all around...and this law works the same with positivity! So better to be positive, good for u and people around u. Negative forces suck all the energy from u, while positivity fills u with vitality to take on the world. Easy choice, won't u say? Ok, alrite so not so easy to implement, but worth a try; one small step at a time! Spread cheer. Smile! Remember the world is not out to get u. It just does not have the time!

Belief: it is very easy to fall prey to someone else's perception of u, it happens many times with all of us. But the truth is no one knows u better than u! So it's ok to listen to people sometimes, but not all the time. As an intelligent creature use ur head. Belief in self helps us accomplish difficult tasks. If u don't push urself, u won't know what u r capable of doing!

Start something new: want to write a book? learn to cook? climb a mountain? travel? paint? learn a sport? a new language perhaps? whatever it is...the time is right now! Good luck. Tell me how it goes. And I will keep u posted on things at my end. Promise!

Be kind, be humble, be honest: no one like a dishonest person, especially I. So it is my endeavour to be truthful to the extent of my conscience. Be kind, be nice to people, for u never know they might be fighting a harder battle, everyone has their crosses to bear. No point increasing their burden.

Enjoy ur work: if a job is worth doing...it's worth doing well. So u were not singled out to have a bad boss or a stupid client...they were distributed evenly. So relax or get out. I got out of the corporate grind and am happy.

Make friends and most importantly be a good friend. A reliable friend. A true friend. Laughter is better shared.

Live the best life u can. Enjoy the ride. No one is getting out of it alive, so while at it make the most of it!

And lastly don't crib about the standard of living, the alternative sucks.

Have a great year and a fantastic life ahead :)

All the best!

Easy way out...

It is easier to...


give up than to soldier on
sleep in than to get up and face the world
love than to trust
spend than to save
stop than to start
lie than to be hit by the truth
fall prey to other's perception of self than self-belief
fall in line than to stand out
be in the comfort zone than on the edge
look the other way than to face facts
stare at the dark cloud than to look for the silver lining
wonder if there light at the end of the tunnel than to go looking for it
lament one's badluck for misfortunes than to get up and get on
close ur eyes than to stare fear in the face


but can we get thru' by always taking the easy way out?!


at times, the only thing to do is to get up, dust off, walk on...onward and forward always!


Good luck!

Believe...

If you want to fly; first learn to give wings to others

If u want to run away; think of a destination...no point running aimlessly

If u want to quit every monday morning; find out what u will do with your time

while u r doing that, also make a plan B, just in case ur kick-ass plan A does not work out

If it is support u r seeking; learn to be supportive

If u r looking for trust; first become trustworthy

If it is happiness u r after; learn to spread cheer

More happiness? then set ur mind free of all assumptions and expectations

If u r seeking good health; listen to ur body

Dreaming big? make sure the foundations are on earth

Want a friend? first be a worthy friend

Need advice? learn to listen...to ur inner voice; nobody, but u, knows u better

Need a shoulder to lean on? try ur own

Need a helping hand? you have two

Want someone to wipe away ur tears? reach for a tissue

Looking for peace? reach out to ur soul

Always remember...what goes around, most certainly comes around...make sure its something u r looking forward to!

Smile and the world shall smile back, make a happy world

Believe in urself and the world can follow.

Enjoy the journey, destination is not running away.

You know best...

What if...

A broken heart made a noise?
Pain could be seen and not just felt?
The shattered pieces of ur life were visible?
Broken promises could shatter the silence?
Broken trust could draw blood?
Depression had a color?
Tears could sting the eyes of the person who gave them to you?
Shattered dreams could make themselves heard?
Moans of a broken soul could be heard?

Would that ppl more careful...to love, to promise, to cherish, to nurture?

What if we could have a choice?

Would we always choose...

Right over wrong?
Happiness over sadness?
Light over dark?
Perfection over imperfection?
Truth over lies?Good over evil?
Peace over war?
Success over failure?
Winning over losing?
Sweet over bitter?
Pure over impure?

But then how would we ever...

Know one without the other?
Appreciate the good without the bad?
Be thankful for the dizzying heights of happiness without knowing the depth of sadness?
Be grateful for success without tasting failure?
Bask in the glorious sunshine, without going through the darkness of night?
Cherish gaining something, without knowing the pain of losing?
See the the beauty of imperfection over perfection?
Be appreciative of peace without going through the ravages of war?
Look forward to the right, without experiencing the wrong?
Treasure the myriad hues of life, without knowing the black and white?
The pureness of affection without the impure?

For what is life? If not one over the other? To appreciate life, is to accept it all...

The sweet and the sour, the bittersweet...

Be urself

When u lose urself in the crowd, don't lose ur identity.

In a cacophony of noise, listen to what u must & say what u have to.

When lost for directions listen to ur heart, in a sea of options listen to ur mind.

In the dark ignite ur fire, in the light leave ur mark.

When u need to rest listen to ur body.

When u reach high dont lose ur humility, when u r at a low dont lose ur sense of humor.

With a child let go of the child in u , with the elderly keep ur patience.

Lend ur voice to a cause. Listen to someone making a point.

Keep ur counsel, free advice is seldom appreciated.

Lend a helping hand. Pause in the middle of a hectic day. Take a deep breath.

Log off, u wont miss much.

Keep the faith.

Trust ur abilitites u will surprise urself.

Get out of ur comfort zone.

Trust a stranger, maybe u'll gain a friend.

Of all things beautiful, ur smile is the most beautiful...smile often, frown does not suit u.

Be true to urself, rest will fall in place...even if it does not all the time...no problem, u still have ur smile!

Uff yeh toh too much ho gaya

Alright, so the house runs like a well-oiled machine. No jarring sounds, no squeaks. Just a little tinkering from time to time and all is well! Or so I thought… until very recently. Food is cooked, clothes are neatly ironed, the fridge is stocked, groceries are replenished in time, the maid works like a pro and everything is spic and span. There is a place for everything and, miraculously, everything in its place. So what happened suddenly, how did the near-perfect world collapse around me? Well, what I was missing was that no matter how well-oiled or sophisticated the machinery, it won't do its job without human intervention. My mom, in this case. For a while she had a sore throat, dull pain in the body, listlessness. Oh well, I thought, nothing that an adrak chai, Crocin and a good night's sleep can’t take care of. Boy was I wrong? And how!

The morning after...the house is in disarray. Suffice to say our so called machine has broken down and refuses to budge. Clam down; I manage to comfort myself. Cornflakes or muesli for breakfast, now that's one meal out of the way. Maid helpfully cooks one veggie for lunch, rice and dal for dinner, end of day one. Tomorrow is another day. Tomorrow comes with a huge question mark...the same rig-ma-role of breakfast, lunch, dinner needs to be addressed. Oh my God, how do I handle this situation? What have I gotten myself into? What do I do first? Do I shell the peas? Do the laundry? Make the bed? Answer the door? Supervise the maid, who has a missed a glaring spot on the floor? Wait wait wait… the milk is furiously boiling all over the kitchen platform. Good morning to me! Oh God! Give me 20 hands and 48 hrs in a day please. Won't you? I promise I'll be good!

OK, so somehow the cooking is managed or better still, gotten out of the way. Now why the hell is the fridge empty and what happened to the groceries...finished already? Really? How much do we eat anyway? Oh well, I pick up my wallet & a cloth bag (environment friendly, you see, so no plastic, I carry my own bag thank you very much!) and gingerly make my way to the sabziwala. I pretend to select the tomatoes, imitating the other auntyjis around me. I can feel the subziwala's eyes boring into me. At any moment, I am afraid, he would pounce on me and say "gotcha, u fool no one, can't tell cluster beans from french beans can you now?!” Well I am not waiting for any such eventuality, and quickly deposit my selection of (some kinda) beans onto the measuring scale. Haan Bhabhi hogya ek kilo...he says, I look around, who are you talking to?? Me? Bhabhi? Oh well it had to happen one day, might as well have been today. I quickly pay him, and carry my purchases home. The washing machine has just completed its cycle.

Next trip Big Bazaar. I very confidently march in with a trolley and a list in one hand. My confidence flounders as I reach the aisle with all the dals. Oh hell, how many yellow dals are there? And which one is what? An auntie has been eyeing my confusion, I give up and ask her to help me pick out the toor dal, she smiles indulgently and points to a packet clearly marked "toor dal". Note to self: next time read the label, stupid! Out of the corner of my eyes, I see auntyji walk back to her husband, she whispers something to him and both look at me and smile. Oh come on people, I just asked for dal not information on birth control, get on with it!

Amidst all this there is just no time for self. Forget a leisurely bath; a quick shower seems like a luxury! Forget the body lotion and combing the hair, a clutch will hold them in place, the damn toor dal is bubbling over!!!!

All this while, know what my mom is doing? Resting? No Sir. She might be lying in bed, but has her eyes and ears open! She checks my purchase…why have you bought potatoes the size of hand grenades? They will take forever to boil! And why Big Bazaar? Is the neighbourhood bania not good enough for you? Blah blah blah. All the while shouting instructions to the maid! Mothers...I tell you.

The very sleep which was characterised by frequent dreams of vacations in the milky Swiss Alps is now marred with nightmares that have me standing in the kitchen where the milk is boiling away and flooding the entire kitchen! The smell of rotten vegetables has engulfed me, since I forgot to keep them in the fridge! In yet another nightmare, I am begging Shashank to stay at home with me and not go to office. I can’t hold this fort alone, I tell him! (Note how one person out of action makes a home a fort!)

Now I know what it takes to run a house, or so I think. Heart felt gratitude goes out to all the women who manage to juggle house, work, kids, and husband and still manage to maintain their sanity!

And Mom, get well soon and share your tricks and ideas for running the house, won't you?! This time I will listen I promise!

And thanks Shashank, for managing to buy and deliver vegetables in between client meetings and presentations. You do a better job of picking vegetables, I assure you that. And Meghana, for rattling off recipes for soups like the next Nigella Lawson. What would I do without you?!

At times like this I miss my sister Shweta...she is such a whiz in the kitchen. Not to forget my master chef friend Kajal. You make cooking seem so easy, you are truly blessed!

Big salute to all home-makers, you are not appreciated enough!