Salute to all the great contributors

Though it is strange, but still when I look around, I wonder why people look at a married woman differently?

She might look better dressed, maybe wearing an ornament or two, that mark her married. She might be flashing off her new attire or may be living up to her dreams of putting on a heavy makeup that she could not do before marriage... But still she's a girl at heart! The very basic sindoor and bindi does not make her a woman!

She might be learning how to take care of her home, she might be struggling to take care of not just herself but two and more people, and she might not always like to hear 'what does your husband do'... 

The pious institution of marriage doesn't suddenly turn a girl into a woman. For that matter, having kids doesn't necessarily do the same either. The society needs to be considerate towards the fact that the girl has her own life and her own self defined progress chart. The society needs to celebrate who she really is; celebrate the child in her, she may be anyone around you. She could be your friend, your sister, your mother, or even a total stranger.

She's not supposed to be responsible for innumerous things, countless chores, it's just her desire for perfection that she does what she does.

This is for every wonderful woman you and I know. Let the girl grow up at her own pace; let her take her own sweet time and let the little girl in every woman live forever.

The chivalrous gender should cherish her, spoil her and most importantly let her be what she is. She wasn't born to take care of you, it's her heart that makes her do so....!! Respect her willingness to be for you but don't ever suppress her with undue pressure.

For each effort extended to let her live life her own way, you would be graced with innumerous moments of selfless love, care and affection.

This blog is dedicated to all the wonderful women I know who have lived their life according to their own way and it is also to salute all the wonderful men in their lives who have supported them through the thick and thin to accomplish their goals.

Hats off to all the affectionate fathers, caring brothers, loving husbands and wonderful sons!! The society needs such thoughtful contributors.

Sophisticated and disguised begging system

Greed and lust are two words that drive few humans crazy, making them probably the most insensitive God's creations. I feel God created them to make the others realize that these are the sample pieces whom we should never consider as our role models, these are the people - a little unfortunate though, who have all the things in life but they command no respect from others, who will never be praised behind their backs, who will never be welcomed as a guest of honour!

I know some acquaintances of mine whom I would not name but would say are the most money centric people on this earth. These people have all the comforts and luxuries of life but still their greed and lust to have more and more does not end. The most saddening part is that they now don't want to do hard work to possess the materialistic things but are looking for some petty pennies in the name of culture and traditions from people around them. Aeww!! what an awful thought this is even to pen it down but I write what I see, what I feel and what I want to convey! Can't help it.

How can they not value the relationships between the people, how can they not appreciate the positive things about the people around them and how could they expect the traditional givers (the girl's parents!!; how cheap this thought is :(, but have been seeing this and listening about this off late) to always keep refilling their wealth reservoirs??

I would like to question the originator and also the followers of this custom that where is all the self respect and dignity that they talk off? Where is the poise to stand tall admist this crap?? I'm sure a day would come when people who expect this nonsense would have everything in life but the true wealth of people and emotions would be far away from them. They would long for companionship in life, but would be surrounded by materialistic things in life.

They would probably want to share their joys and sorrows, but no one would pay heed to them because by then everyone would have realized that the age old era of smearing some vermillion and handing over petty cash in the name of respect would be gone forever and ever. The society would come to know about such culprits who don't know how to respect the girl's parents. The girls today are strong and they can take stand for their values and principles. The married girls of today have an opinion that if they can't be loyal to their parents in their early 25 years of existence, they can never be true to their in-laws as well!

I pray that such people should now dare not talk bad about the girl's parents because the days have changed, the society has moved ahead, and nothing other than the God himself is the driving force of our existence.

I would appeal to all the readers to set right all the people who share this crap thought. I feel that the youth of today should come forward and stop, rather eradicate this sophisticated begging system from the society. The trend setters might get a setback, they might be disowned by their loved ones, but who cares if the next generation reaps the benefits of clean relationships sans the typical 'giving and receiving business veiled as a mark of respect according to several regional cultures'.

People would know you by your work, your character and your nature long after you are gone. The wealth accumulated by sophisticated begging would only get you bad name in the society, it would show how weak you were not to earn respect by your deeds. You rather begged for it in a sophistication and were given, due to undue pressure by the circumstances you created. May God unveil all such people and bring to light what they have done in the past, how they have treated their own family members and how sarcastically they are talked about in the society. With this revelation, may the people who are the sufferers be benefitted.

So, the youth of today has to come forward and take initiatives to curb this practice and everyone should pledge to start from their own families and the social circle they live in. With India now becoming Polio free, may India become free from the evils of disguised dowry also. May the culture and tradition of extending the parents responsibility to all the new additions in the family should stop. People should realize that they have a girl from the other family as their daughter-in-law but not her parents have been married off in their family. The daughter-in-law might think of following you but her parents should not be obliged to do so and yes the idea of extending the concept of daughter according to your own sweet will for your own financial gains should definitely be condemned.

COME ON INDIA, LET'S START THIS DRIVE AND GET THE PEOPLE RESPECT GIRL'S PARENTS. After all this is Mother India who needs strong women who can cut across the boundaries and thoughts of weak, selfish and money centric women who look for only 'shagun' envelopes and treat the piece of paper as a trophy of respect.

Paradise on Earth!

It has been quite long since I blogged last. Thanks to the winter vacations that kept me on my toes and an overwhelming pressure in the office that did not give me even a second to think about the miscellaneous things in life! But I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed my last month.

The celebrations and the fun time started off with a very good Christmas party where we, the entire Saxena family and the Verma family gathered together for a lavish lunch followed by exciting rounds of Tambola. Everyone enjoyed a lot, right from the youngest member of the family to the eldest one. We all were gale and hearty to witness the fun and frolic in the air.

All of us decided to carry on this amazing concept of getting together and not loading a single family with all the tasks of arranging for a party. On the 31st, we again decided to have a pot dinner of the Saxenas and the Vermas! Needless to say, Priyanka Saxena and Niharika Saxena were the star performers. Yes, for a family where food is the prime focus and taste buds are always on the look out for the delicacies, these two did an awesome job by making nutritious Raj Kachoris at home. Kudos to their skills. We all were so thrilled by the very sight of the item that we all started to treat our appetites by the Kachoris' appearance and delectable taste. That day also, we had amazing rounds of Tambola where each of us enjoyed a lot. That was followed by Dumb Charades which was equally exciting and acted as a food for laughter.

This get together was followed by a 4 day long stay of my husband's maternal aunts. I must say their trip was really an added treat to all of us and a great change from the monotonous mundane routine. All of us had a great time chit chatting about anything and everything and also we got time to gel well with the elders of the family.

Then yet another get together was the birthday party of Arsh Saxena :) on 11th January. He had come all the way from Bhopal to celebrate his birthday with all of us and this gave us another chance to be together and enjoy each other's company. We had long sessions of gupshups and were all merry with obviously delicious finger licking food. We all appreciated the love of junior Saxenas for each other. Distance does keep them apart but their instincts cannot. Arsh and Medhansh were all for each other. They hugged and kissed each other. They played together and really enjoyed each other's presence. Their innocence and their love was a message for us that we should not look for faults in everyone; rather should appreciate each other as God's wonderful creation!

And the gala time would be remembered by the nostalgic moments spent on Ankur Saxena's birthday on 13th January. Though the group was not complete, still we did not leave a chance to celebrate and laugh till we were completely exhausted.

I really look forward for such fun time amidst the daily hectic routine through the year and for many more years that follow. The sense of togetherness, the feeling of celebration, the joy of each other's presence and the satisfaction of giving our kids a rich cultural heritage miles away from the crappy gossiping world adds value to our heavenly existence in the paradise on earth - yes this is the wonderful paradise nurtured by our beloved grandmother Mrs. Sarla Saxena.

Through the long years of hardships, uncountable sacrifices, immense love and affection she has brought up a family that has strong roots to be together and enjoy life as it comes. Her message to all of us is "Don't ever waste the precious moments cribbing for something that you have not got, rather appreciate each moment as God's wonderful gift to you." Hope we take this value to our next generations too and may she bless us with all her love and affection. Amen!