Pursuit of Happiness

Happiness is the only thing one can pursue. Things do not need to be big , grand to be happy. Small things , often , mean a lot. Couples break - up when relationship becomes intolerable , for happiness. After loosing someone , you want to be happy by thinking of sweet memories related to that person . A roof to sleep , when you are homeless, becomes happiness . When you are hungry after a long day's work , and you get a little food , that little food becomes your happiness.

When you have everything - loved ones , food , shelter but still you are unhappy, then only creative urges or trying something different propel you for happiness.

Strangers or Friends ?

What would you be ? Would you be popular ? Or would you be right ?  I have seen people faking themselves just to be popular . That difference between real and fake is lost in trying to be popular.

Faking a smile , an expression of joy , happiness when actually you are not ,a familiarity with people who you really don't know. Isn't that all faking? And to tell you the truth, I’ve done it too. But friendships? Friendship can't be faked. At least, not by me. But then , I’m not popular either. And not as desperate as some one who would like to notch up a few points on the popularity chart to actually fake a friendship.

You throw parties for strangers, welcome them with the best of cuisines served in the most expensive cutlery , open your house to those strangers, show off your furniture and what-have-you and indulge in some "aww-so-sweet-of-you" conversations - just so that you can call those strangers 'friends'.

It’s the desperation to be seen with the rich and the famous of your city, to have your name on the invitation list of the high profile parties in town. Don’t mislead yourself to believe that any of that is friendship because friendship isn’t about enjoying those meaningless conversations or mouthing the ‘right’ words. It’s not about using someone’s contacts for your benefits . It’s not about popularity.

I got this SMS from a friend some days back...

"Friendship is about standing up for a person , about wishing him well , about treating him as more than fodder for gossip . It’s about being able to laugh at somebody’s face and not behind his back . It’s about knowing how you’re different from your friend and accepting him for who he is . But not accepting him for what he is because he’s rich and famous . It’s about being able to tell him he’s your friend , without the fear of your name being struck off the invitation list to his party."

I may not be popular, but I hope I’ve been a friend :)

Tag time...

This will be a long post . Tags have been pending in my drafts since ages now. I am completing some of them today in one post.

Tagged by Rohini , Rahul .

INNOCENT OR GUILTY

Asked someone to marry you? Innocent.

Ever kissed someone of the same sex? Innocent.

Danced on a table in a bar? Innocent.

Ever told a lie? Guilty.

Had feelings for someone whom you can’t have back? Guilty.

Kissed a picture? Guilty.

Slept in until 5 PM? Innocent.

Fallen asleep at work/school? Guilty.

Held a snake? Innocent.

Been suspended from school? Innocent.

Worked at a fast food restaurant? Innocent.

Stolen from a store? Innocent

Been fired from a job? Innocent.

Done something you regret? Guilty.

Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? Guilty.

Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Innocent

Kissed in the rain? Innocent

 
Sat on a roof top? Guilty.

Kissed someone you shouldn’t? Innocent.

Sang in the shower? Guilty.

Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? Innocent.

Shaved your head? Innocent.

Had a boxing membership? Innocent.

Made a boyfriend cry? Innocent.

Been in a band? Innocent.

Shot a gun? Guilty

Donated Blood? Guilty

Eaten alligator meat? Innocent

 
Eaten cheesecake? Guilty.

Still love someone you shouldn’t? Guilty.

Have/had a tattoo? Innocent.

Liked someone, but will never tell who? Guilty.

Been too honest? Guilty.

Ruined a surprise? Innocent

Ate in a restaurant and got really bloated that you couldn’t walk afterwards? Innocent

Erased someone in your friends list? Guilty.

Dressed in a woman’s clothes (if you’re a guy) or man’s clothes (if you’re a girl)? Innocent

Joined a pageant? Innocent

Been told that you’re handsome or beautiful by someone who totally meant what they said? Guilty.

Had communication with your ex? Innocent

Got totally drunk on the night before exam? Innocent.

Got totally angry that you cried so hard? Guilty.

 THE QUIZ


1.What is your current obsession? Blogging

2. What are you wearing today? Capri and t-shirt

3. What’s for dinner? Its breakfast time. Don't know. Haven't asked Mamma yet

4. What’s the last thing you bought? Gift for a friend on his b'day

5. What are you listening to right now? Heartbeat (Instrumental from Kal Ho Na Ho)

6. What do you think about the person who tagged you? An awesome writer

7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be? Any hill station
 
8. What are your must-have pieces for summer? Cotton clothes

9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? My room

10. Which language do you want to learn? Umm... haven't thought..

11. What’s your favorite quote? Miles to go before I sleep

12. Who do you want to meet right now? My cousin (I'm about to leave for Mamaji's home)

13. What is your favorite colour? Blue

14. What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own closet? My night suit :P

16. What’s your favourite magazine? None. I am not fond of reading magazines. Used to read Reader's Digest but not now.

17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on? Chocolates :P

18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas? Bell Bottoms :D

19. Who according to you is the most over-rated style icon? Umm.. No idea .. Haven't thought

20. What kind of haircut do you prefer? Depends

21. What are you going to do after this? Get ready to leave for Mamaji's home.

22. Who is your favourite sport star? Koi vi nai :D

23. What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can't live without? My face wash , kajal

24. What inspires you? Honest people

25. Give us three styling tips that always work for you: Neither

26. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)? I wear my night suit. Ab tak toh pata chal gaya hoga how much I am obsessed with my night suits :D

27. Coffee or tea? Coffee

28. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed? I cry

29. What is the meaning of your name? Ekam means the only one and Ekamjyot means God's light

30. Which other blogs do you love visiting? Check my blog list

31. Favorite Dessert/Sweet? Hot Chocolate Fudge
 
32. Favorite Season? Winters

33. If I come to your house now, what would u cook for me ? Maggie

34. What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you? Remain silent

35. What are you afraid of the most? Losing my loved ones

36. What do you love most about yourself? My simplicity

How much dumb I am
 
 [] Gum has fallen out of your mouth when you were talking

[] Gum has fallen out of your mouth when you were NOT talking

[] You have ran into a glass/screen door

[] You have jumped out of a moving vehicle

[x] You have thought of something funny while walking by yourself

[x] Laughed, then watched people give you weird looks

So far: 2

[] You have run into a tree/bush.

[ ] You know that it IS possible to lick your elbow

[] You have tried to lick your elbow… a few times

[] You never knew that the Alphabet and Twinkle Twinkle Little star have the same rhythm.

[] You just tried to sing them.

So far: 2

[x] You have tripped on your shoelace and fallen.

[] You have choked on your own spit .

[ ] You have seen the Matrix and still don’t get it.

[ ] You’ve never seen the Matrix.

[ ] You type only with two fingers.

So far: 3

[] You have accidentally caught something on fire

[x] You tried to drink out of a straw, but it went into your nose/eyes.

[x] You have caught yourself drooling.

[] You have fallen asleep in class and fell outta your chair

[x] You stared hard at someone trying to figure whether the person was he or she

So far: 6

[x] Sometimes you just stop thinking

[x] You are telling a story and forget what you were talking about

[] People often shake their heads and walk away from you

[ ] You are often told to use your “inside voice”.

[ ] You use your fingers to do simple math

So far: 8

[ ] You have eaten a bug

[x] You are taking this test when you should be doing something more important

[x] You have put your clothes on backwards or inside out, and didn’t realize it

[x] You’ve looked all over for something and realized it was in your hand

[] You have ran around naked in your house.

So far: 11

[x] You repost bulletins because you are scared that what they say will happen to you if you don’t.

[x] You break a lot of things.

[ ] Your friends know not to use big words around you.

[] You tilt your head when you’re confused

[x] You have fallen out of your chair before

[ ] Mistook your teacher to be a student

So far: 14

[x] When you’re lying in bed, you try to find pictures in the texture of the ceiling or wall

[x] The word “ummmmm” is used many times a day.

[] Have you opened your mouth to say something but then you pretended as if you were yawning because you forgot what you wanted to say.

Total: 16.

I am (16/40) = 40 % D U M B?



BRAND TAG
Tagged by Kaka

These are some of the brands which are a part of my life.

I am not tagging anyone in particular. Whoeaver wishes , can do this tag :)

I too had a love story..

"If there are friends or family out there who you haven't called in a while, I would say send them a note or a call. Life is always moving too fast, work is always waiting in a small box which we call laptop and everyday emergencies are a part of it. But its far worst to sit in a room at early morning hours typing a blog hoping that you got one last word with a loved one. "

I have just completed reading Ravinder Singh's "I too had a love story" . Such a beautiful , emotional , touching love story. I was never really into love stories. I always used to find them boring. But this one changed my thinking. Its a true love story of the author Ravin and Khushi , a story of their meeting, a story of their love, a story of END. I was hooked to the book. Its so simple . Very unimaginable. I never thought couples like Ravin and Khushi ever existed in this world now . I laughed, I smiled, I cried towards the end of the story.

There are many moments when you connect with them. Ravinder has written this so simple. Those late night phone calls , loving each other so much that they decided to marry each other even without actually meeting each other, Khushi's death .. everything .. its a story of each one of us. .

This book is no 'Alchemist' or 'Acts of Faith' but its simplicity will touch your heart.

When you start reading this book, you find yourself completely lost in Ravin and Khushi's world but the end of it.. I wish I could change their story but it was not written by me. Their destiny was written by God.

Some of the lines just tear your heart out.
"The doctors said they couldn't hand over the body to the family. (Did you notice ? Yes, body . That's what they said. She no longer had a name. She was just a body. A dead body.)"

"I was at the photo studio getting a picture of my dead Khushi framed, to keep in the Gurudwara  during the last prayer for her, scheduled for the next day. Guess which picture/ It was one of those which she sent me when I was in the US. Never in my worst nightmare could I have thought that someday I'd be using her pictures for this purpose."

"She died. I survived. Because I survived, I die everyday."

The story is poignant and real . Full credit goes to Ravin. Everything is real, the places, the people. He narrated a very important chapter from his life with a message "Life goes on". 


I would recommend you to read this book. You may not include this in your favourites but it will definitely touch your heart.

 

Lalalalalalalalala .... Title nai hai mere paas

At around 11 today , I called my friend G .

G : Hello . Hi Ekku .. How are you sweetie :)

Me : Hi G . Am good . Tell me one thing , am I supposed to be mad at you?

G : Huh ?

Me : Bata bhi ... Am I supposed to be mad at you right now ?

G : What ? Why ? Kya bol ri hai tu ?

Me : I don't know . I am having this feeling that I usually have when I am upset with you . Did we fight yesterday ?

G : Are you alright ? Mujhe toh kuch gadbad lag ri hai . Waise toh koi nai baat nai hai par aaj kuch gadbad lag ri hai

Me : I guess I'm okay . I don't remember us fighting yesterday . Kal toh main office mein thi . Tere se baat hui thi kal ? Nai huyi yaar .. Kal toh main office thi .

G : No . We didn't

Me : Okay. In that case , what are you having for lunch today . What is Mami ji making today ?

G : Ekku tu pagal ho gayi hai poori . Pata bhi hai kya bol ri hai tu ?

Me : Le yaar .. Tu maan ni ri . Seriously , I thought I was mad at you all this morning . But then I thought and I thought and I thought only to realize that I never fought with you. So I wasn't sure why I feeling angry with you. That's why I called you to confirm. Chal chod , mujhe lagta hai kisi aur se ladai hoyi hogi . Usse huyi hogi pucca . Abhi main usko phone kar ke confirm karti hun.

G : Ekku .. Tu na pagal ho gayi hai . Ja ke so ja . Kuch kha le aur so ja . Tera dimag kharab ho gaya hai . Ab usko bhi mat tang karna . Chup kar ke so ja

Me : Par yaar ... Par ... Chal theek hai .. Mujhe lagta hai tu theek bol ri hai .. Maine sapna dekha hoga ...
Acha chal bata na ... Kya banaya hai aaj Mami ji ne ..

G : Chup kar ja . Agar ab ek aur baar boli na , main tujhe maar dungi . Phone rakh aur so ja :X

Me : Par yaar .. Seriously yaar I was feeling that we had a fight yesterday . Sachi yaar :(

Bang!!!!

Blog title changed .. Its Tryst With Soul now . Thanks to Vishal for the name :)

My first award ... I am a 'Superior Scribbler' :)

Yipieeeee ... I got my first award . Thanks to Rahul for the award. My first ever award in bloggers world. Thanks to everybody.

Now here goes my acceptance speech :P

 

I am extremely thankful to Rahul who thought that I deserved this award . I want to thank God , my parents, my family , my friends who supported me all through , my readers (I would like to think so) and to Pulkit (He's the one who introduced me to Blogger) and also to my brother who really gives me those extra 10 minutes after 8 pm so that I can complete my post if I am writing at that time. Oh God! I have 'khushi ke aansu' in my eyes...

Jokes apart! Thanks Rahul .. Thanks a lot. It really means a lot to me :)

Thanks Rahul :)

So now I would love to forward this award to 5 of my blogger friends who I love to read . 

Here are the rules for those who get this award.

• Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.
• Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
• Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.
• Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List.
• Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

This is very tough for me as they all have been writing for such a long time and have been such fabulous writers .

So my list goes like this.

1. Abhinav     You just can't resist yourself reading all his posts and switching off your computer once you start reading his blog. They are just totally humorous. He's the champ in bloggers world. You can just go through his journey . From college to MBA to job and now to marriage . Just go through it for once. You'll love it, for sure.

2. Harshita     It hasn't been much time since I bloghopped to her blog. Her's is the same case as Abhinav's . Once you start reading them , you just have to complete her blog .I love reading her posts. 

3. Rohit        I love reading his posts. Just so close to our lives .

4. Pulkit        What to say about him. He is my guru . He is the one who told me that I can write. Otherwise I would have never been here. He writes mostly poems but his stories are just too good. Every time he writes a story , I just beg hime to write stories stories stories :D

5. Saad        Can you imagine , in his last post , he wrote his own obituary!! He's funny! You just HAVE TO read his blog. 

6. Arshat      I know I have to write only 5 names but I have to give the award to this man yaar . Go through his blog. 

I love reading all your blogs friends :)

Its just that I had to write some of the names which I like the most. 

Thanks to Rahul once again . 

God bless you all :)



PS... Here's a new blogger in blogosphere, my friend Vishal . He's new to blogs but a very good writer:)

Message Log 2

1. Memories play a confusing role. They make you laugh when you remember  the times you cried together.   But makes you cry when you remember the times you laughed together.

2. The best feeling in the world is when you think that your friend forgot you and suddenly you receive a message from the same friend saying ,  "I am missing you". :)

3. Love : Is not about expressing with heavy words. Its about understanding each other, a gentle touch and a pure heart.      

And Friendship : Is to laugh at the nonsense written above :D

4. Akele ja rahe the in kathin raaston pe

Niraash

Dukhi

Thake huye

Phir ek mod pe aap jaisa ek dost mila

Aur

Aur

Aur baaki zindagi bhi barbaad ho gayi :P

5.Jab koi baat biagd jaaye

Jab koi mushkil pad jaaye

Toh

Toh

Toh

Toh main kya karu... ?

Nipto khud ... ! :P

6. Smile For The Ones You Love…
A Simple Smile Is All It Takes To Make One Happy…
Love Can Come In Many Different Ways, Shapes n Sizes …
But A Simple Smile Will Conquer Everything …
And Leave The Best Of Us Speechless …

7. Second day after wedding

Bubbly- Mom I got in fight with my husband
Mom- It’s part of marital life
Bubbly- Oh ok but what should I do with the dead body

8. Friendship is when you have a huge fight with your friend

And you say , "That's it! I'm leaving!"

But after a moment, you put all your egos aside

N say, 

"Chal yaar Pepsi toh pila" :D

Happy Teachers' day ... :)

"The dream begins, most of the time, with a teacher/mentor who believes in you, who tugs and pushes, and leads you onto the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called truth."

--Dan Rather

I think I am blessed that I have always been lucky with having good friends and mentors/teachers in my life.

Today on Teacher's day , I want to thank all of them who are my guiding lights. Thanks to Jyoti Ma'am , Nishant Sir , Indu Sharma Ma'am, Indu Verma Ma'am, Jaipal Sir, Gagan Sir, Sasi Sir, Piush Sir , Amrita Ma'am , Sandhu Ma'am.

Thanks for believing in me.

God bless you all.

Perception...

Different journeys and different paths are what we all have. All meant to learn some things but never meant to stay ever. For some , this journey is quick, for some slow. And when this ends, some realize the true essence of this journey, the purpose behind it.

I used to see my Papa , and still I do, working so hard in office and at home to support our family. My life was very simple.. school-homework-back to home- sleep. This was MY life. As time went be and responsibilities increased, my perception changed. It keeps changing every time. Really. You meet some people. You loose them midway. The ones who stayed back were destined to. Their lives seen by me, a new perception, my perception. My journey started when I was born. I saw it when saw the sun for the first time, the stars, the moon, felt the breeze. Felt a feeling of security inside me when I held Mamma's hand while crossing the road, enjoyed my outings, the first time I realized how it feels to be attracted to someone.

Its like a book, just the chapters keep on changing. I was never a person who could think about life in little things. But now I am. I see life in small things, small gestures like a smile, a handshake, a hug, a pat on my shoulder, a tear in somebody's' eyes when we meet after so many months. I feel it. Its wonderful.

I am going to start my new journey , a new phase in my life very soon. I would start working in some days. I am happy, my family is happy. But still somewhere I wonder, am I happy with what I am? How often do I feel frustrated? What makes me happy? What makes me sad? At this very moment, the thoughts I have and the way I evaluate my life is a perception. Its a point of view that only I can have, almost certain that no one else will seethe world exactly the same way as I do.