The year gone by....

In a few hours we will bid adieu to 2012 and will be welcoming 2013. I won’t be out for a party (Sadly, my family won’t allow girls alone in a party at night and keeping in mind the latest scenario of North India, I better not ask also).  Me and my friends had planned since years for a Goa New Year with our salaries the year we become CA’s but sadly none of us are as well employed (in my case, simply employed also) so as to afford a trip, so the plan shifts to next year (hopefully).So here in pretty harsh winters I sit in my cosy blanket and write about twelve major events in my life during 2012.

1.  The year started with a road trip with friends to Rang De Basanti Fort near Ludhiana. For those who don’t know about it, it is the place where the song “tu bin bataye” from the movie Rang De Basanti is being shot. Its basically the remains of a fort from olden times which has become a popular outing spot since the movie discovered it.  Now it was a special event because it was the first time I went out with my friends to such a trip. (I can see many eyes rolling out on reading first, yes it is :P )

2. My brother who was posted in Chennai left his job and settled into a business with his friend in Ludhiana. Though its major event in his life and should not be listed here, but it lead to me meeting him more often, almost every weekend (which I used to wait for months during last four years), so its a happy event for me too. :)

3.  Then came my failure in CA exams which resulted in months of slogging and sleepless nights re-reading the income tax rules and laws. (Oh, I so hate those dreadful books, can never remember those sections, neither at those times, not today, not in future). A quarter of the year passed with exam preparation only.

4.  While I waited for my results my mom enrolled me to a cooking course and I did learn a few dishes. Though I love cooking, but I never had the time or opportunity to learn, so this time was well utilized and enjoyed by me. (Plus who minds the daily dose of appreciation when you cook new things at home) ;)

5. This year’s best moment and achievement any day would be the day of my CA results. 19^th July it was and I finished off with my 5 years of hard work. Had dreamed about this prefix to my name since so long and it turned a reality this year. :)

6.  I guess birthday can also be considered another major event.  After-all I’m not a celebrity having multiple big events in my life to choose from, so I have to find them as I had started with writing about 12, it being 2012 (Wonder what I’ll do in 2025, if I write then). So birthday was quite a fun affair with friends and family. 

7.  In August my brother gifted me a guitar, and I finally started learning one after wishing and dreaming about learning music since my childhood. But I’m still at the chords friends. Quite slow I know, but I'm very irregular there and to top it all a month after I joined it, the academy was sold out and was shut for more than a month (I never knew I could be such a torture). :D

8. September bought with it the wedding season and the first one I attended was of my best friend. The first wedding among my friends and it started the dreaded topic of my wedding too. Gosh, I hate it when relatives and family members say “beta padhai te khatam ho gayi, hun agla kaam karo, naukri eko vaari shuru kari jithe hamesha li rehna hai” (Child, you have finished with your studies, now go for the next work i.e. wedding. Search for a job after you permanently settle down). Thanks to my mom-dad who had promised to marry my brother first, So thankfully I’m safe till I find a bhabhi. ;)

9. This year a major portion of my time had been involved in disappointing  job-hunting with no results till date. It led to so many trips from Chandigarh-Delhi, that I no longer find it a big deal if I have to travel to Delhi. Being unemployed for almost six months now, it has been a major reality-check year for me. Brought down my many expectations and has increased the value of job for me. I don't think I will ever take it for granted now.

10.   In October I went for a family trip to Kerala and it was so beautiful . Kerala is a wonderful place, a must visit for all nature and peace loving people out there. 10 days of ultimate bliss it was. Thoroughly enjoyed the break. :)

11.   November finally marked my entry to the blogging world and I’m so excited about it. Don’t know how long it would last, or whether I will have any readers or not, but yes it will surely give me so memories to read along in future. (Its so difficult to find fodder for blog posts :O )

12.   12-12-12, till last year I so made fun of people making big deals of such dates. But this year I did too. It was my brother’s birthday and I was hell bent on making it special and was successful in it. Weeks of planning and preparations, it went so well, surprising him to the core. This date will always remain a beautiful memory in our hearts. :)

Finally I  finished writing twelve of them.. ;) :P

Here’s another year passing by. Hoping the coming year comes in with a positive note and brings out success in personal and professional lives of each one of us, I wish all of you a very happy and prosperous 2013.

Love you all.

Will see you all in the next year now. Have fun.. :) :)

World Ending...Nah!!!!

21.12.2012….

The date seems to give cold sweats to many… Maya calendar says the world will end tomorrow. Some celestial attack or a catastrophe or godknowswhat..  Doomsday it will be, that’s what people believe in. I actually was shocked to read that in a survey it was found out that 9 out of 10 people believe the world will end tomorrow. .  Are you kidding me?? Can people seriously get so superstitious or am I the only abnormal inhumane person alive???

I just loved this ad by ‘Coca Cola’ which was aired for the first time somewhere around this date only showing a ray of positivity, a ray of hope. 

Umeedon Wali Dhoop

Ummeed Wali Dhoop
Sunshine Waali Aasha
Rone Ki Wajah Kam Hain
Hansne Ke Bahane Zyada
(The sunshine of hope,
the hope of sunshine..
there are lesser reasons to cry,
and more excuses to laugh..)

Zid Hai Muskurayenge
Khush Rehne Ka Hai Waada
(It's our stubbornness, we'll smile,
it's a promise to stay happy..)

Umeed Wali Dhoop
Sunshine Waali Asha

Tum Dil Se Agar Poochhoge
Woh Khush Rehna Hi Chaahe
Jab Sachche Mann Se Maango
Toh Khul Jaati Hain Raahein
Toh Khul Ke Khushi Lutao
Ye Kya Aadha-Aadha
(If you ask the heart,
it always wants to be happy 
when you wish with a pure heart,
the paths open on their own,
so distribute joy freely,
what's this half-hearted thing..)

Wish everyone gets the underline message. And all those who actually survive tomorrow (pun intended :D..) learn to look for that silver lining in the cloud and be more hopeful and optimistic in life... Live everyday, every moment, If you start thinking about the end and what to do now that it is going to end, I'm sure you will not do what you actually wanted to do in you life. Death is inevitable, so why fear it. Live life as it comes... :) :)

PS: After reading that article, I actually tried to think if it the last day tomorrow what would I like to do, and I couldn't shortlist and prejudice among so many of my wishes...;)

 I had started this post on my last day wishes, but I myself couldn't decide so here I write on what I actually believe. .So its better neither do I have any negative thought and nor do I let you guys have them.. ;)

The Ghost Story...

“Jo tenu dekhiya, saansein gayi tham, saari saari raat soye na hum”

Now I’m not in awe with this latest romantic number in the ever-so-loved  voice of the Nasal Voice King Mr. Himesh Reshammiya. Take the lyrics of this song literally and that will describe the essence of this post.

Last week, the tellywood as well as bollywood both were possessed with spirits. Be it the new show on Sony TV “Anamika” (though I have not seen it, just saw the promos) or the latest movie from The Mr. Perfectionist “Talaash”, both were themed on the concept of spirits and ghosts. I saw this movie yesterday, and during the movie itself I had started imagining about my next blog post. I normally concentrate on movie only, but couldn’t enjoy this one much, because of a dumb friend of mine, who had posted  the suspense of the movie on facebook, so the thought process started there itself.

Bhoot.. Pret… Aatma… Chudail… Vashikaran… Ghosts… Spirits… Witches..And don’t know how many more descriptions. In India itself they have different names in different states. While I thought about doing some research on this topic, (though I couldn’t find much relevant things other than people’s incidents with these ghosts) I did came across this interesting post on names of different ghosts in India. I have no idea about its truth and genuineness, but if interested you can give it a read here…  http://www.paranexus.org/index.php?action=blog&bact=memberart&member=229&blogid=6&article=120&where=Member_Article

I actually don’t have a strong belief in these assumed-to-be-restless supernatural creatures, but they are believed to be there, to be present around us. Both good and evil spirits are assumed to be there. Either they have an incomplete mission, or they died an untimely or cruel death, or their bodies were not cremated properly, or they came for revenge,  there are ‘n’ number of stories related to them. Some believe, some are completely against there existence, some have actually faced them and some like me are confused. I have heard people telling stories they experienced or others told them, so somewhere in a corner of my heart I think they might be there, but if I consider the scientific approach towards life and death, and listen to my brain then it scraps such thoughts as mere foolishness and superstition.

Tales of ghosts tell they have inverted feet, don’t have a shadow, can be seen in mirrors, normally come in white clothes,  normally stay inverted on peepal trees, are afraid of steel and fire, run away when you chant the name of God, possess you through milk, via hair, or through any belonging of yours. Kids in school are always so excited about such things and have a keen interest in calling the spirits of dead by drawing circles on paper, using candles and coins, etc. And how can I forget to mention they are the rozi-roti (bread and butter) of loads of tantriks and babas in India, who earn in the name of freeing you from these evil spirits.

 But here in Punjab bhoots or ghosts have a very important usage in our daily usage idioms.  “Bhoot sawaar ho gaya”(being obsessed by ghosts) refers to an obsession for something which the other persons finds irrational.  “Bhoot banya hoeya hai” (you have turned into a ghost) is used to describe your looks are shabby and messy. “Tera bhoot utarna paega” (will have to free you from the ghost) is a sort of warning to make people understand something. And how can we forget even Akshay Kumar helped them in their publicity with his song in the movie ‘Singh is King’, tenu ghodhi kinhe chadaya bhootni ke which here refers to the groom’s mother to be evil like a ghost. When I was young my grandmother used to hate me leaving my hair open after having a head bath, and she used to scare me saying if you roam around in open hair outside the house, the chudail(witch) will stick to you via your hair from the trees (in crude punjabi words, je khule waalan nal bahar ghumi, te pedh nal latki chudail tenu chimbadh jaegi).

Scary, creepy, imaginary, interesting, haunted, dark, horrifying, terrible, disgusting, whatever you say, but you surely can’t ignore these not-so-present- but-still-present creatures.  Do share your list of any ghost experiences you had or heard of.

 

PS: I’m sure tonight they will come and scare me to death in my dreams, I have used ‘creatures’ word for them so many times in this post, many of them might feel offended... Does this sound like I’m believing in their existence… ;)

Journey of becoming a CA...

I was in eighth standard when my Dad (who works in a PSU bank) used to tell me about auditors coming to bank and being treated like kings and, that was my first introduction to the world of CA (Chartered Accountants). And then and there I had decided what I had to do and then had started the series of fascination of a beautiful and interesting future.

Next when my twelfth class ended I was all set to give my first shot at being “The Revered” CA. I gave the entrance exam and wohaaa I cleared it with distinction. People congratulated as if I had done a unique job, and I, I was on top of the world, feeling as if I had won the First World War. Now dreams started that I will go to office, own multiple formals, have my own cabin, attend meetings, will earn MY money and spend it as I wish.

Day of entry to the office, dreams shattered.  It was nothing corporate; forget about a separate cabin, the complete office was fitted into a cabin. Dreams of meetings, I didn’t even had time to meet my family and friends. People enjoyed their college life, for me it was a big problem handling it along with office and coaching classes. My day started and 5 am and I left home around 5:30-6am and entered back home at 8-9pm. Every day same routine, not for a week, a month, a year, but for 3 ½ huge years. As for money, I should not expose my profession, but the amount to be paid per month to trainees (articles as we are called) is less than the daily wages of a labourer, and we work 6 days a week for 9-10 hours, (which extends to 12-13 hours for two months in the year, during our peak period of work). Then we also need to give our exams which are renowned for their level of difficulty, and for that you literally have to beg for leave from office from your boss, which though is granted for at maximum a month but requires you to eat your ego and self respect and literally cry and beg in front of your boss and which he in the end grants as a mercy to you.  Still time went by with many bittersweet memories.

Then came the second set of exams which I gave in two groups. Cleared the first group in first attempt and voila I was again up to the sky, flying away, forgetting all the pains and problems of reaching there. When the second group came, I tasted my first failure of life and it pained, it surely did. But when you have your friends along, the pain subsides and you get the strength to work again. Time flew by, exams finished and the result day came. This time it was a green signal and a big party time. World War two also finished finally.

Half battle won, now only left with the last set of exams. World War three and man it was dreadful. It involved loads and loads of sleepless nights and tiring classes (in which we slept). Again gave the exams in two sets and again got success in the first group in first attempt. But as it is said, history repeats itself and so did it. I again failed in the second group and this time it was trauma. Not because of failure but because of fear of studying all those books again. We had a terrible time. A friend of mine (who I know will understand when she will read this one) was with me during this journey. This journey of ours was full of dreams as well as hard work. We cried together, laughed together, studied together,  dreamt together.  Exams went by well and we were hoping for our luck to work, which holds an extremely important place in CA exams. Now the wait for the dreaded results lead to weaving of new dreams in our hearts. Finally study will be over, we will get into our dream jobs and earn( no mint) money like anything and we will spend those green and red leaves of money as if actual leaves flow with the wind…(You feel this is getting over the board, then no we actually wanted to shop like hell). Corporate lives, two vacations a year, our due Goa trip (for which we have planned a zillion times), loads of shopping, exotic luncheons and dinners. Then came the much awaited result day.  We both were in a job interview for one of our dream companies on the result day. Being separated from our family and from each other in that procedure, I saw the result on my phone sitting alone in that room, waiting to be called for my interview while she was sitting in a bus returning to her home place after her interview. As soon as I saw the result on my phone, I was called in for the interview. I couldn’t scream in happiness, I couldn’t hug anyone, I couldn’t cry with happiness, I couldn’t even inform my family and friends that the battle has been won, World War three is over. Waited for that round to finish, I found a single acquaintance friend of mine and she hugged me congratulating me for my success, but I still longed for the feeling of being congratulated by loved ones. I called my companion of this war, my dear friend and we literally shouted on the phones, I am a CA, we were the newly crowned CAs and we were loving it.   Interviews got finished, results came and I was rejected. The feeling of happiness got somewhere submerged as I got to know the truth that I was still not worth that job, my dream job. Family members chided my disappointment saying that many more opportunities will come, this was one job, there are many out there. You are qualified professional now and now there’s no looking back Happiness again came back, I was joyous. Congratulations messages and calls flowed in. Facebook wall full of wishes.  My parents and brother boasted of me.  People who never even knew I were also living in that house came and congratulated me as if was the new selected minister from the vicinity. People looked at me with a new respect. My views were now considered important. So much happiness that all the pains of training, studying, that monotonous routine, those failures, everything was forgotten.

Its been four months since me qualifying and I’m still jobless and so is my dear friend. Getting frustrated each day, that was all that pain and struggle of five years worth it??? Has it been the biggest wrong decision of my life??? Will it always be a regret that we chose this course?? College mates who enjoyed those years when we CA students slogged our asses out, are well employed and earning well and we are looking for jobs endlessly.  Juniors from school who are still doing B.Tech from not so very reputed colleges are also already placed through their campus and we who are among the few qualified professionals are still waking up aimlessly every day and lazing our day out and sleeping again dissatisfied. Though this journey has given me the world’s best friends for which I will always be thankful. But still the basic need is not being fulfilled, there are no jobs out there, and there’s no fun waiting every day, hoping to listen to some good news.

Family members and friends console that this is your time, enjoy yourself.  You have worked very hard for many years, now have a relaxed time.  You will get jobs, such processes take time, have patience. But how to make them understand that it is easier said than done. Its very difficult to get up every day with nothing to do, logging in 10 times a day to check if you have got any important mail. Passing the day with TV, oversleeping,  facebook (on which I log in 20 times a day, just to see that there’s no activity there also. It feels as if no one other than me has time to log in and idle away on fb also). 

Though I sound like the world’s biggest pessimist in this post, still trying my level best to keep patience and faith and wait for this fourth world war to end too. Waiting for the day, when I will again be so happy that I will forget these days also and will once again feel on the top of the world.

Who's the biggest fan????

 I being  a girl-next-door type normal Indian girl, whom  I guess are all affected by the Television-serials syndrome, so watching daily soaps is a part of my daily regime, and I guess of many of you too. Though the frequency changes. Sometimes its just one show, sometimes it like all of them but as I had already mentioned it in my first post, I’m absolutely free these days so these TV shows occupy a major chunk of my day, so I thought of dedicating this post to the ever-so-important- necessity of our survival TV Soaps (I mean only Indian TV soaps, as I’m more fond of them).

Talking about Indian Serials I guess there had been three major phases till date.

First starting with “Shanti” which I remember only for Mandira bedi who wore a typical black ‘arrow shaped’ bindi, which became such a huge fashion trend that every Aunty of your mohalla, every teacher of your school used to adorn her forehead with that painted arrow matching to the colour of her dress.

Next came the era of “Kyunki Saas bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi” which brought into light the godess of saas-bahus ‘Tulsi’ accompanied by her who’s the best-bahu competitor ‘Parvati’ and theVamp of Vamps ‘Komolika’ and then came the trend of Heavy sarees, jewellery, curled single hair strand flicks and then wherever you went you saw every lady becoming a TV bahu clone.

Last being the latest era of “Balika Vadhu” which though didn’t brought any major TV fashion trend, but it did brought a big change to TV concepts like the other two did. Along with that it led to a change in the mentality of the TV viewers. And I guess with time the loyal fans who showed their love towards their TV idols by adorning their fashion trends, starting differentiating among actual fashion trends and modes of showing their loyalty. With advancements in technology and internet, came in our lives facebook and other online forums and blogs and people showered their love for these shows and stars on these mediums. Some of them being enlisted by me here.

Today we have multiple fan pages of every hit TV show on every networking site, and there followers being in millions (yes they actually are, and I’m also on of these in few of them…only 2 of them actually).

 Then there are loads of people writing fan-fictions ( i.e. stories which people imagine and write keeping in mind their favourite TV-jodis and let me tell you they are not less than any serial or novel, many of them being actually far better) and making Video-Mixes ( videos in which audios of different songs are used as background score and various scenes and pics of their stars are used to make new videos , you can find loads of them on youtube).

Also the way old method of fan-mails and gifts is still there, though made easy by many news channels who have dedicated 1-2 hour  daily shows based on the “reel and real” lives of these TV stars. They collect such gifts and fan mails in bulk and send those cartons to the respective stars and capture their moments of ‘Wow!!’ and ‘Thanx’ and ‘Love you all’. I had actually recently seen in one such news show someone sending an i-phone5 to one of the TV show lead females (Man someone plz send me so many gifts and I will repeat these words throughout the day).

Then people signing petitions to channels and production houses to stop ending their favourite show or requesting a new season.

People having a disc-party in their cities on same day, same time marking the success of their loved actors and shows.

 Loads of fans sending hate-mails to a movie actress who was supposedly doing a role in a movie with one the TV stars which was expected to cause that hero to leave the show.

People celebrating ‘real’ birthdays of those actors and ‘reel’ birthdays of those characters.

People including many among us too, get swayed away with these shows so much that we can’t differentiate between the fiction and reality.

 Some say its love, some say its being crazy, some say its being a loyal fan, whatever you say these people do exist. They were there, are there and will always continue to show their love and support to these actors/characters/shows.

What do you think???Please do share your fan experiences (if  you had any)..

Love you all..

Saanjh...An Introduction..

Hiii friends and fellow bloggers..

Hereby I start my blogging journey with this post.. This is my first ever writing experience, so please bear with me..

“Saanjh” The name of my blog came from two ideas..

First the Punjabi word Saanjh which means togetherness, so here I wish to blend with many of you through our words and together we make beautiful relations and explore the “World of Words”…

And the second one is my major inspiration to come to the blogging world. It’s my dearest friend who already owns a beautiful blog http://i-am-heretoo.blogspot.in/ (Do give it a look). Her blog is named ‘Savera’ and as I am completely inspired by her to write so I dedicate my blog’s name to her as ‘Saanjh’ meaning evening which follows the Savera’ i.e. morning. So following her, here I am on blogger.

We both are newly qualified Chartered Accountants (and still not settled into our ‘dream-type’ jobs) and love to read and discuss actually every damned thing possible in this world. So in one of our many worldly discussions (which used to start as a study discussion, during our CA final exams, but never continued as one) we started sharing blogs and our wishes to write. Though she writes really well, I never had that writing instinct but being absolutely free (berozgaar in crude terms) and having no other time pass than sleeping or watching the great ‘saas-bahu’ or ‘romeo-juliet’ type TV serial, here I try my hand at penning down my ramblings.

Hope I write something worth reading in the coming times.
Love you all