Ushma Shah

 I see you see me, I know you're there for me, I know I can count on you, I know your "anonymous" support, Almost three years later, Today I'm more than blessed and grateful if you're reading this,  Yes you, my dear audience, This piece is going to shock you as much as it has shocked me, Wait for it, Three years later, Some of these negative comments, Have fortunately become my super power.  I have a lot of you, Who might have gone out of your way to support me, Who might have gone beyond the regular to write a comment, to message/ call me about my work, This one is for all of you, Thank you for existing, However, over these three years, As you might already know, Everything hasn't really been that happy and nice, I've had to deal with a few of your "negativity" That's eventually and fortunately become my super power! I'm here to openly address it today, I went against all regular norms to choose this as my career, I went against all of m...

 It's a feeling that I can't describe, It's an emotion that I can't stop feeling, It gets tougher and tougher, It gets harder and harder, Through it all, A turmoil of thoughts, A fine mess of positivity, Mixed with tons of heartbreaks, Some day, I hope it happens, Some day I want it to work out, Well, I can't tell you how I feel, All I know is that, I'm ready to wait, Everyday...again and again, The waiting game continues! It's a feeling I can best describe through my poems, I've seen coming all along, I've wanted it ever since I've known of it, It gets tougher and tougher, It gets harder and harder, Through it all, I've manifested this energy, I've prayed for the energy, Some day, I see the light at the end of the tunnel, Some day, I hope that it still exists, I know how I'll feel if I get it, I know how I've craved for it to happen, You know the level of pride in my heart, You know the level of shine and glow on my face, Some da...

 August has been the month of celebrations! Quite literally, a new festival to celebrate, And sometimes, Even in these beautiful times, Where my house is filled with a dozen of family members and friends, In these times of celebrations, A different world, Resides inside of me that, Constantly craves for my attention It is usually said, When you're around people, You feel quite protected, Well, It's at least you're safe space (so to say), Alot of things make you feel "complete", Will help you forget about how lonely you are, Just until again, A different world, Residing inside of me that, Constantly craves for my attention Trust me it gets tougher, When "other people" know of this different world, The one that's constantly helping you to think, The one that's constantly forcing you to act, The one that's forcing you to make progress, Despite at regular intervals, Reminding you, Craving you to pay attention to, Let's get straight to it, To ...

Life as we see it today, Comes a full circle,  A little bit of good and bad, A mixture of some of the best experiences to tell,  A handful of hardest experiences to make aware and narrate, Human beings top the list at debates and discussions, Somewhere we crave for conversations and comfort,  All of which comes from someone else,  Amidst living our lives,  Some of us are unfortunately, Looking for the "perfect",  And to me, that happens to be living in an illusion  I don't mean to glorify the good times, Or go on speaking about my hardships,  However, someday I want to lead my story, Stories of happiness, highs and lows, Enough to motivate and inspire my kids,  Enough to help them lead their own lives,  Amidst living our lives,  Some of us are unfortunately, Looking for the "perfect",  And to me that happens to be living in an illusion  Funnily, Human beings look for comfort,  Human beings look to create some of the b...

 Knock, Knock, Knock, Enter: Opinion, You might be confused? But so am I, Imagine if you had all things going on right, Or at least, in your head, For once, you thought, You did something right, "Well, that's an achievement" Is something you would tell yourself, Someone else could be proud of you for it, Whilst the world around you, Maybe happy for you, There would still be someone out there passing a nasty comment, And unfortunately telling you, How you should live your own life, Opinion has already entered, Unfortunately, the one you didn't ask for.  Knock, Knock, Knock, Enter: Opinion, Just like in the previous instinct you "imagined" the beautiful things that happened to you, Now why don't you "imagine" something else? Well, let's just imagine that, Due to any unforseen circumstances there might be something wrong going on, And like any other individual, You're going to be "busy" fixing that problem, I'm sure not all u...

Most days are easy, Other days not so much, Most days I feel like myself, Other days not so much, Most days my work is super easy, Other days not so much, Some days I have one role to play, Other days I'm juggling with so much on my plate, Some might call me lucky, Others might say I find it tough to rightfully do my duties, But on all days, Despite of how they go, It bothers me when I'm asked to prove myself, It bothers me when I'm questioned despite trying harder, It bothers me when things taken an unexpected turn, And on those days, I'm forced to scream out, "I'm not just a label!" Many days are easy to pass, You might be complimented, You might be lauded for your role, You might be gifted, You might be encouraged in some of the other way, You feel motivated to go on, Whatever your roles are responsibilities are, Whatever your choices and opinions are, Whatever you decide for yourself, I'm sure all of these shouldn't be forcing you to scream out...

There is magic in the universe, There is magic in the way humans operate, There is a unique sparkle with new faces, There is truly an unmatched "connection" with human beings, We, the social animals top the list with interactions, Truly, the unknown can be wonderful!  Human interactions are backed by emotions, The feeling of care and compassion, The need for companionship, The growing needs for support and acceptance, All human beings, Known and specially the unknown, Might all still be truly magical, You may ask how? You may wonder why? Too many questions might ponder in your mind, And still, I'll continue to tell you that, The Unknown can be wonderful! The power of a faint smile, The power of asking out of concern and courtesy, The need to realise "care" and being taken care of is special, The power of knowing that someone out there is looking out for you, The power of understanding that the ones you don't know, The ones that might be complete strangers, C...

Hardik Himanshu Pandya, Jersey Number: 33,  A cricketer that has been in and out of the news, Someone who has been largely spoken about, Someone who has been in the limelight for quite sometime now, A fine bowler, classy batter and even finer captain of the newly formed Gujarat Titans franchise, The franchise that won the Tata IPL 2022 season, In its first year of the league under Pandya's leadership This is the story of Hardik, Before becoming Gujarat's dream, Before all, This is story that emulates the rising of a phoenix from the ashes Hardik Himanshu Pandya, As you all might have known, read and heard, He has been obviously criticised before been applauded, Going back in time when injuries, the talk show and his form was questioned, Going back in time when his selection, place in the playing XI, and performance on field was doubted, Choosing to bowl lesser, Choosing to bat better, Struggling hard on and off the field, At one point it felt as though, The stadium doors would ...

Doesn't it bother you when you have nothing interesting in your regular life? We didn't seem to enjoy what was going on, Hence probably parting ways is what we chose, Small events in life, small moments in the regular, Turned into bigger problems and bigger consequences, Prepared as we were, this was all going to break, Fancy as it sounds, fighting for survival, One was emotional, One was stronger than ever, Heartbreaking to cope as it was, Just in the ordinary, Well, we needed something extra ordinary. Too many things said, Too many things done, Apparent "sides" picked, Apparent "sides" were forced, In teams of two, Till the very end, Two of us wanted it to be one big team, Trying to hold on, Trying to be the bidding force, Hoping to be a strong pack of wolves, A pack of my closest people and me, Against all the odds, We fought.  Against all the days that were spent in overthinking, Against all the late nights, That turned into early mornings, Somewhere we ...

 Often we find ourselves stuck, Often we find ourselves at cross-roads, One thing can quickly lead to another, Something you've said right now might be a trigger tomorrow, What does this world need from us? What do we need to give to back to our world? Are you stuck as well? Everyone's day might not have been the best, If they asked you how was yours, You can probably be more than kind to ask about how theirs went? These little acts of kindness, Might go a long way... Often we wonder, What might have gone wrong? Are we doing the right thing even?  Have we been doing the right thing so far? Sharing, oversharing and I don't know a whole lot of communication?  Maybe just communicating too much, Are we going to be judged for it? Does my world need to know so much? Are you stuck as well? Maybe someone just needs to vent out, Maybe someone just needed to be heard, If they were with you at your worst, You can probably be more than kind to hear them out, These little acts of kind...

Most of us know each other through a binding force, Most of us connect with each other because of a commonality, Most of us might have met each other for and through something else, Probably you two were, In the same college, class, office or wherever, Amidst all of this, I'm eager to ask, What will I be remembered for? I'm sure with the kind of people you've met, You've have a unique first memory, You've had a memorable time together, A distinct feature you still remember about him/her, A blurred memory that you can recall! Understanding this and the memories already made,  And the ones that are left to create, I'm eager to ask, What will I be remembered for? Let's quickly get to the reality, Amidst this fast paced life, A lot of you might not be in constant touch, Some of you might get distant due to other commitments, Some of you might get genuinely "busy" with what life throws at you, Amidst all this, I'm eager to tell you, No achievement w...

Human beings are funnily unique, Our mannerisms, thoughts and ideas are unusual, No two people are the same, Yet somewhere human beings pass off as social animals, Craving for social interaction, validation and just need people! However unique, different and apart we are, Two people come together to form a relationship Embracing differences, Adjusting to individualities, Understanding each other, Creating a space for growth, Validating to evolve from the past, Two people come together to form a relationship Relationships sounds super fancy? Relationships sound like they're important, Friends, family, lover, what else? Two people come together to form a relationship, Just like that, I wonder, What's my relationship with you? There are some people I've fought for, There are some who fought back for me, There are some with whom giving up felt like the only option available, Yet somewhere sticking by is what we chose, Relationships: the work of two people, Doesn't need a bi...

 I was rightly told, College was going to be a place of my dreams, Taking part in various events and fests would be adding value to my experience here, Sure it would have, Being a fresher, and a newcomer, I went on to choose the "regular" or something I was extremely "comfortable" with, I registered to join a writing club! Excited as I was, little did I know that this was the beginning of my end You heard it right, My first article got rejected! From there on, The usual me, Went on to a spree of overthinking,  Went on to discuss my career in writing and naturally made it a point to write better, However the rejection meant the end for at least that academic year! Shattered. Disheartened and upset at something that was my only "comfort" in college, I decided to never participate in these events! Well, the next beginning to an end was here, The next academic year we spent "online" due to the pandemic, Desperate to make a change, Excited to see the ...

I'm at that stage in life, Where people technically get too involved in the happenings of my life, Where people technically tell you all the "positive" things, Where people tell you to, Trust the timing of your life, Believe in yourself, And a million other things, Among some that turn into a ted talk you didn't sign up for, Until the day all the "positivity", Turns to "toxicity" altogether If you read my last poem, My fan girl moment, You know by now how much of an cricket fan I am, You know how much the game impacts my life altogether, And just like that, I'm back with another "cricket related poem" The training period before the game begins, Felt like all the times I anxiously prepared for an entrance exam, And just like that, Months later walking onto the field on match day, Is that day of the examination, The innings the boys played is a reflection of how well they practiced, The answers I wrote for the paper I gave, Is a reflect...

Amidst what might be the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Came the fever we all were just waiting for! This year we are going back to Mumbai in India, Right through the year, The IPL season is widely celebrated as the religion of most Indians, Starting in Bengaluru, 13-14th February 2022 saw franchises making informed choices,  Some of the highest bids, Some of the most shocking players going unsold, Yet others getting to the franchise of their choice, The IPL preparations began right from the auctions! Mumbai, the city of dreams, The city that never sleeps! A neutral location this time saw the DY Patil, Wankhede and CCI's Brabourne Stadium host crowds back in the stands! What a feeling it was to see cricket action back in full form, Despite the pandemic, Fans like you and me excitedly cheered their loudest for their favourite players, Hoping to get an autograph, Probably hoping to get spotted with that handmade banner, Hoping to be spotted in a face painted logo of your favou...

Kabhi kabhi hum sochte hai ki, Koi uthke humare kaam ke liye taliyaan bajayega, Koi bin bulaye, bin puche, humare liye dil se dua maange, Koi aur inn yaadon ko dil mein rakhega, Har chhoti se chhoti chizo ko yaad rakhega, Isiliye nahi kyuki unko karz chukana hai, Isiliye nahi kyuki unko koi cheez badle mein milegi, Shayad isiliye kyuki koi aur, insaan pe vishwas kar sakega, Isiliye kyuki hum jo hai apni nazar mein samaan karna sikhenge, Isiliye kyuki respect aur self respect mein bohot kuch hai, Apni hi izzat apni aakhon mein badi hojayegi Hey manushya kya hai tu? Tere liye rishhto ki kya ehemiyat hai? Tera apne aap se kya sambandh hai? Koi aur tere ghar aakar, Tujhe kaise baata sakhta hai? Koi aur tere sapne tujhe kaise yaad dila sakhta hai? Tera rishta pehle apne aap se hai, Tu Teri nazaro mein maahan banja, Ki log bhi Teri izzat karna jaan jaye. Izzat jo hai, Bohot hi bhaari shabd ho sakta hai, Woh cheez hi aise hai ki, Ek din uthke nahi mil sakti hai, Izzat kamani padti hai, Kisi a...

I'm at that stage in life, Where people believe, Being overly concerned or genuinely interested in the lives of others is a problem, Sure that could be a problem? But have we forgotten the difference, Difference between being genuinely concerned and overly worried for someone? Or ofcourse our selfish self, Hasn't come to terms with our reality? I'm at that stage in life, Where people believe and have unfortunately confused, Love for an exchange policy offer, Love for some random payback or gauranteed cash back offer, People have been treating love, respect, kindness as mere commodities, That which could be bought at stores, Unfortunately, we have forgotten what it is to feel, Without a guaranteed terms and conditions apply*  Or of course, our selfish self, Hasn't come to terms with our reality? I'm at that stage in life, Where being able to express and feel your mind, Might pose problems to others, Might cause harm, damage and hurt someone else, It's difficult t...

You might really want to be at the top of the world, You might really want to skip the ordinary to become extraordinary, Everything might look just so fancy on most days, Otherwise not that much, Getting a chance could become the, Fuel for your excellence. I'm sure you thought of skipping the monotony, I'm sure you don't really want to stick with the regular, Trying something out of your comfort zone, Definitely, seems fun, Will always also seem daunting, However, putting in more effort could become the, Fuel for your excellence. Excellence, praise and loads of love, It's something that everyone wants, It's something that everyone craves for, Although, it's definitely not so easy, It's not going to be a cakewalk, You know you have to put your head down and work for it, But I'm sure you will get there, Hardwork can be the,  Fuel for your excellence All things might not be rosy, There maybe some, Who need perfection, Who want a replacement, Who might not b...

Most people believe, Life comes full circle, What goes around comes around, So many things done, So many things left, So much to be undone as well! Indeed, what you start, Should be ended by you alone, For me, Life is two ways, A little bit of both worlds, Between you and I, I hope for a "we" Most people believe, Relationships are the works of nothing, Anything you do, the "work" of keeping it alive is crucial, However good thing is that, No relationship is "work", You don't have to try to keep it going "alone", However, you alone can't keep forcing it to work out nonetheless! If you've started something, You will be responsible to end it too, However of course, A little bit of both worlds, Between you and I, I hope for a "we" First I'll burst your bubble, If you think maintaining friendships/relationships is easy, Good thing it is not! Now you know, You will have to go that extra mile, But thankfully not alone, Which ki...

We had only imagined our life together, Little did I know we would be husband and wife very soon, After tying the knot, We have been happily experiencing life together, No less than any roller coaster, Our initial "newly married couple" phase, Had been the toughest, Where my wife, First faced separation anxiety. Over the years, We had to adjust, accomodate and thankfully everything fell in place, Soon enough, we were delighted to be welcoming "our mini me's", Even better was when we got to know we would be parents to twin girls! This time, I felt a certain kind of separation anxiety, Although my wife was pregnant and since she carried our girls, I felt aloof from them as a whole. But little did I know, After the girls were born, My wife too felt a little separation anxiety. Years have passed by, Our girls are teenagers today, But somewhere, yet again and still today in their lives, The both of them- usually addressed as one, Living life "together", Hav...

Sometimes I still question, What is it, that makes the human mind so different? At different stages, We learn to adapt, grow and evolve, Within this span of time, We interact and meet different people, Some of which, Help us, support us and add value to our lives, Others not so much, Somewhere in this hustle, We find our home.  Sometimes, I meet people, I interact with them, I connect with them, Their habits, ideas and mindsets, Change, grow, evolve and add on to mine, I become like them, They tend to become like me, Somewhere in this hustle, We find our home.  Sometimes, I still question, What is it that will make us obsessed with habits? What is it that will make us stick to our goals? What is it that makes us create a schedule? Let alone stick to it, Somewhere in looking for that, We find our home.  Sometimes, I still question, What do we do to find our home? If you look at it, You get used to being with people who you connect with, You get used to the places you go ev...

 Log kehte rahe,  Jiska aana hai, Uska jaana teh hai, Do-teen mahino mein ek baar, Do-teen sallo mein ek baar, Meri neend ek baar phir, Kisike maaut ki khabar sunkar jhijhakte hue khuli, Waqt toh kisike paas nahi, Maut kisike darwaaze par, Bin bula maheman hai Kisike janam par, Jitni Khushi mujhe hui, Utna hi ghaam,  Shayad usse bhi kayi zayada, Kisike maut par hoti hai, Yeh manushya ki aayu hi kya hai, Ki manufacturing date toh pata chal jaye, Expiry ka koi khayal hi nahi, Manushya kya hai tu, Kisiki maa, kisike baap, kisiki behen, kisika bhai, Rishite hi kyu banata hai, Pyaar hi kyu jatata hai tu, Ki tere maaut ki khabar par, Usse rishte ka bhi the end kar jata hai, Ab yeh toh teh hai ki, Maut kisike darwaaze par, Bin bula maheman hai Kabhi bhi socha hai kya, Manushya ki maaut pe, Uske karibi, rishtedaar ka kya hoga? Uske parivaar wallo ka kya? Janam din par, Baache ki aane ki khushi mein ro padi hai, Baache ke jaane par toh, Aur bhi dukh saha hoga, Shayad isiko jeewan ...

I once remembered writing about how the city is the one that never sleeps, Mumbai, is the place where dreams do come true,  Mumbai, is also where the night doesn't fade in, People continue to grind and so much more, I remember living like that,  In a place I call home, But today, I feel... this very own Mumbai City is tired The pandemic took the life out of living people, Shattered dreams, killed people and filled the happening lives of people, with things that aren't so very fancy, People here bred on extraordinary, And now, we are only settling as per requirement, Living from hand to mouth,  Unknown people felt familiar, Every smile from an unknown in the darkest phases of life, Only seemed to be a bright light of hope, This same Mumbai City, seems to be tired So is it the people? Is it the environment? Is the peace and sanity of the people? Just like you, I question? Just like you, I wonder, What makes Mumbai City so tiring? To which, there is no probable answer that I...

At what point in time did humans need humans to survive? At what time in life do we realise that someone else's company is always better than just me? When did humans start fearing being alone? When did humans figure out the real difference between alone and lonely? Do you know of this difference? Or do they mean the same thing? Will everyone who is alone/lonely be depressed and sad if they're left out? Being alone or lonely is not really funny, It's because the human mind is conditioned to company. Big, important and crucial moments in life help you identify where you stand, A bigger ego, the answer to your "Why not me?" will surely keep you alone, Choosing a wiser company, choosing to be with people, hoping to have someone beside you, will help you identify the worth of loneliness, My world is scared,  My world is naive, These chain of thoughts only help me identify where I stand today Someone rightly said, Actions will always speak louder than words ever will, ...

 So many times,  We have succumbed to overworking,  Most times we agree to be stressed out,  With so much said and done,  We find ourselves struggling, adjusting, thriving and anticipating for "more",  So much so that, resting is under rated Too many goals to reach,  Too many deadlines to meet,  Some days we are forced to do "ordinary",  Other days you are asked to think "out of the box",  Sometimes you surprise and outshine your ordinary, So much so that, resting is underrated How much can you possibly do?  How much load will you possibly bear?  It is high time we realise that, Resting is underrated And once you take that break, Your world seems to be so "free",  People start to believe that you are and always will be "free" for them,  Life goes on,  Productivity is not something you find available 24* 7,  Hence, It's not okay when resting is underrated

A fancy restaurant to visit,  One of the best places to shop from,  Meeting some of my best of best friends,  Keeping the gram,  Up to date with my "lit" social life,  What's the reality, I ask?  No answer I seek... My mind wanders,  Who is to be blamed?  Inviting my world to celebrate the "big" moments in life,  Tea party, dinner party, promotion party,  The list goes on... Fancy outfits to wear, glamming up with the best make up brand available, Keeping the gram,  Up to date with my "lit" social life,  What's the reality, I ask?  No answer I seek... I wonder if these people will make it in my tough days, My mind wanders,  Who is to be blamed? No, you must celebrate, No, you must upgrade the gram, Say "YES" to everything and anything that matters to you,  Yet, my mind wanders,  If life was only all that "glam",  For which,  No answer I seek... Who is to be blamed? -Ushma Shah 

Didn't know this was going to be my last time here, Didn't realise I will have a huge gap before I come back, Wasn't informed earlier,  Tours around the world kept me from witnessing the four corners of my house, I had only been used to carrying my bat, Didn't realise when my baby went passed my big arms, I wonder why we couldn't bid not only my workplace but my heart, A proper farewell for close to two years! Only before the stadium door was forced shut.  Throughout the lockdown, Work from home continued, I worked from closed gyms, restricted workout spots, enclosed areas, and waited for my comeback, Didn't have a tour to blame, Didn't want to blame the circumstances,  Finally, I had spent time at home, Only before the stadium door was forced shut.  Two long years (maybe many more to come), Empty stadiums hoped for a crowd, Rusted seats, spoilt flood lights, untamed grass, All because of the stadium was forced shut. Waiting for that moment, These doors hav...

Haven't we all heard this before?  Oh, what a fancy item, What an interesting party! You guys are so close,  She would be considered as family now?  I saw that post on Instagram, Life must be going on so well, right?  Amidst this chaotic social media life,  I ask... Unveil your true face!  What's your reality? Behind the scenes of a lavish party,  Are you actually that close to a person,  When you met him/her putting your device aside?  What more have you seen?  What more have you assumed from my "happy" pictures?  Amidst all this, The fact still is, I haven't been able to, Unveil my true face! No, I didn't tell you, No, I couldn't capture it for you, About how I had a fight with my bestfriend of 10 years, About how I crave to talk to him/her, Amidst the big show on my social media profile, I unfortunately have to admit,  To have never been able to, Unveil my true face!  To be honest here, Most of us, including me have bee...

Victory, success and achievements,  These add laurels to your life, Make your life "queen" size, Help you, make everything you do extra special, Today, tomorrow and every other day, Everything you are proud of will make it, A time to celebrate!  Our life is filled with moments, Not just in a professional capacity,  But also in our personal lives, Remember these times, They make everything eventually worth it!  Everything that you are proud of makes it, A time to celebrate!  Achievements has a soothing power, Failure has a loathing power, Aiming for excellence is the way forward,  Trying hard makes you feel better,  Everything that you are proud of makes it, A time to celebrate!  Terms and conditions apply,  Make sure you celebrate to the fullest,  Make sure you make your heart smile in pride! Just a little lesser I suggest,  The day you feel "too proud" of yourself, Let not any achievement hinder your growth, Let not any achievement...

At every stage in life, With every passing day, We are faced with problems,  Nothing new right?  Absolutely not, because everyday we are supposed to be looking for solutions!  This isn't sounding as difficult as yet, You must wait and watch out for, The C's in my life. Let's start quickly with the big C that everyone wants, Leading the life that we have only dreamt of, Working hard to earn that little extra money to do everything special,  Struggling sometimes to make ends meet, Meet this C in my life, Yes, I am talking about Comfort.  Who doesn't aim for it? Wait wait wait,  We have just started... Coming up next is a big C,  The one which no one wants to do, Atleast, we don't dream of living like that, Dire circumstances in life will only tell, This is the last C for you if you are programmed to love and live in comfort.  If you are on track with me,  You've got this C in my life right!  It's Compromise.  Now that you're here,...

 A turmoil of emotions, A chill down my spine, Yes, my hands are sweating,  Some days I feel great, Other days I don't feel like it,  Yes, I am human. Yes, I might need a push too.  So many things going on, Dancing around in and outside my mind, Addressing everything and sometimes nothing, Talking about it, And most other times not, It's so weird to decide how to deal with this, Yes, I am human. Yes, I might need a push too.  Today I ask you, To go ahead with everything that you've planned, To go ahead with everything that comes to you as a surprise, Yes, you might need help on the way, Yes, you can openly ask for help too, Yes, you and I both, are humans. And on most other days, Yes, I might need a push too.  -Ushma Shah

"Oh, you lost" So many people might have told you this before,  Maybe you resonate with this,  And I'm so sure that you have gone home thinking,  I'm sorry, I failed. Here are some unanswered doubts, We often forget to remind ourselves,  We should often trigger our minds to think about, Something we must realise, Before trying something new, Why do we do a particular task? Pause. Breathe. Think.  What according to you, Is the ideal definition of success or failure?  Who according to you, Is deciding for you,  The definition of a success or failure?  Who is setting these unrealistic standards of success and failure for you?  Pause. Breathe. Think. Don't we celebrate successes?  Don't we enjoy when we "pass"  Aren't we overjoyed when we do well?  Unfortunately, we are conditioned to this success, Pause. Breathe. Think.  How should we embrace?  Sorry, I failed. Failure is and will always be, A stepping stone for success,...

 A box full of surprises, An empty book full of fresh pages,  All of which are waiting to be filled, There is so much to be startled at, There are so many ideas, Waiting to be explored, That's what we call life, Amidst all the chaos, I know, One day I will win. In this journey, I know of no real destination,  I understand that and take ownership of the fact that, I might be stopped,  I might be asked to restart, I might be asked to re-think,  That's what we call life, Where, amidst all the chaos, I know, One day I will win. Tomorrow is a new start,  The next day brings a fresh start,  Ready to go, once again,  We have that one chance, Yet again, in the chapter of our life,  Where amidst all the chaos, I know, One day I will win.  A box full of surprises, Stands ahead of us,  Waiting for us, As we approach everything new in the journey of life, With no real destination, We often ask ourselves... What if we lose?  And what if we ...

Staying indoors is the new norm,  It is allowing us to,  Wait. Pause. Stop.  Giving all of us all the time to,  Sit. Stare. Admire.  But how long? After this time indoors, We have lost the, Fuel to our passion.  These questions seem to cross your mind, again?  Are you still motivated to work hard?  Do you really have all this energy to do something out-of-the-box?  Well, most of us including me, have been drained out! We have forgotten what it is to be motivated all the time and put in consistent energy to new things!  But most importantly, we have lost the-  Fuel to our passion.  Do we have a manual for this?  Should we have to decide on how to stay motivated? Do we have a pre-decided idea of what motivation is?  For me, Motivation is a push. Push to keep surprising myself and the innumerable capabilities that I have. Motivation is that one push to think you can do better than yesterday's goal.  Finally, allowin...

Hey there you human, Yes that's you,  The one reading this right now.  I am here to remind you about you.  I am here to remind you about your life.  I am here to ring the bell in your life for you.  I am here with a little message.  In this fast pace of battle,  I hope you are trying your best,  To keep up and tackle.  In the competition of rustle,  I hope you are trying your best,  To reach your goals and dreams.  I am here just as a reminder,  I am here with a little message.  In this life of bottled up emotions,  I hope you are trying your best,  To portray and put forth your emotions.  In this life of settled reactions,  I hope you are trying your best,  To keep up with what's true to you.  I hope you know and say, what you truly believe in.  I am here just as reminder,  I am here with a little message.  Hey there you human, Yes that's you,  The one reading this ri...

Our lives are such that today, and especially in these trying times we have forgotten what makes us happy. We have forgotten what are the little things in our lives that bring about a smile on our faces. We are so trapped with our emotions and this hurried lifestyle that we tend to overlook the little things and the little moments of the day or that one little thing that makes up our entire day. Let me ask you... how would you understand that you are in a happy state of mind? when you think about it you realise that... today we measure happiness through external forces- like that of what tasks, what activities or what ideas make us happy. What is the one thing we look forward to each day that will make us happy.  But...when we are performing that task or have completed it we forget to ask ourselves if we were really smiling or happy while doing it or now that it is over? were we really happy with the end motives of the tasks that we thought would make us happy?  So, is it nece...

About the Author:-   Aghan-American Author- Khaled Hosseini has written the novel- A Thousand Splendid Suns which discusses some beautiful relationships among people beyond the concept of marriage.  About the Book:- This book discusses the abuses, insults, and harm caused to the protagonist of the novel- Mariam during her birth and in the course of her marriage.  Why I recommend this book? Khaled Hosseini is a brilliant author. All these novels were such that brought the scenes to life for me. Particularly this book is what I recommend because of the essence of relationships portrayed through its characters. Today Companionship is so necessary specifically in these times. But the book, shows the bond, kind of love, and respect beyond marriage. Beyond the need for being someone's husband or wife.  Title Justification- From what I understand, A true relationship between two people is such that connects the souls. A Thousand Splendid Suns is the name of this novel ...

 Let me ask you... What is pretty? What is it to be beautiful? Feels like you have already pictured the answer to that! How? I didn't even still tell you the definition of pretty, Maybe you've made it up, heard it, or been told that exact definition, And that's because you are, Fixed in a stereotype.  Let me ask you... Why is what you've decided what pretty is called,  Really the accurate definition of pretty? Have you still assumed it is what it is? Have you asked someone? Has the person you asked,  Asked someone else?  If you listen to those people and not yourself, sure you are, Fixed in a stereotype. Let me ask you... Who is the ethical decider? Who is the judge here? Who tells you what it is to be beautiful? Who decides for you,  Your definition of beautiful? Who tells them, that their definition of being pretty is actually accurate? All these questions seemed unanswered because you are, Fixed in a stereotype.  Let me finally tell you... Let no on...

My favourite genre of books is autobiographies and therefore my favourite book happens to be 'The Test of My Life' an autobiography of Yuvraj Singh (Cricketer), among the others that I have read. About the book: The book is written by Nishant Jeet Arora, Sharda Ugra and the cricketer himself. It focuses mainly on the most important aspects of Singh’s life - Cricket and Cancer.  These two, in the real sense, years ago were the Test Of His Life - therefore this is the title of his autobiography which was written in 2013 after he successfully defeated cancer.   Why do I recommend only this autobiography?  I have read a few autobiographies before this one and their main focus revolves deeply on the person's achievements, successes and everything that brought glory and fame to him/her. Honestly, I am not a fan of reading just success. I believe in reading books that discuss in detail both the ups and downs of a person’s life. This book is the perfect example of exactly th...

A voice inside me, Talks about me, Discusses everything with me, I wonder what and why is it? Being comfortable, natural and real with me, Being my true self, Or being a one-of-a-kind voice, Understanding me, Understanding my confidence. I ask myself... Was this confidence built overnight? Did I manifest this energy? Where I have realised... Confidence is gathered by experiences, It isn't built overnight, It is that voice inside me, Trying to understand me.  I ask myself, What to do when your confidence is hampered? What is that one thing that is hampering it? What will I have to do? To make sure that my confidence isn't hampered... My mind, body and soul is still... Understanding Me. I ask myself... What will help me? To make sure I remain confident, Or bring back my confidence, Over the years I realised it's been, Rethink-Rewind- Restart, After Understanding Me.

The lockdown period was filled with uncertainties and tensions. Many activities during this duration were eased out. It felt like a much-needed and never-ending break both at the same time. We spent close to a year in this free-spirited attitude where everything at first felt new, beautiful and rosy.  Now, post that one-year gap many restricted activities have begun to go back to normal, the things that we did when the pandemic wasn't there...have re-started slowly, with tons of safety measures to keep in mind. We now have the same kinds of hustle, a battle to fight right and somewhere the never-ending rat race to face. Lots of scope for the ways of competing, filled up with confusion and the desparation to step out.  We are making way to learn, re-learn, explore, blossom and adapt to the new ways of living something we had forgotten whilst we were indoors. But, finally what is the new normal going to look like? How will we be able to manage everything once it becomes the way ...

 All these years, Before the beginning of a fresh year, We have been wanting to keep promises, We have been wanting to keep up our resolutions, But this year is different, Where I realised that, My questions still seemed unanswered.  This year, We learnt to create and live with changes, We learnt to embrace it and grow with it, We learnt about the parameters of success and failure, But this year is unique and beautiful in it's own way, Where I realised that, My questions still seemed unanswered.  This year, We faced and were part of loads of competition, Personally either feeling under or over achieved, Yet figuring out where I or most of us fit, Embracing the differences in each one of us, Still, I realised that mostly, My questions seemed unanswered.  This year, We struggled- no one understood the pace of their lives, Were we doing everything because we wanted to? Or were we doing everything we did because we were told to do it? Were we even on the right track? Did...

‘Man is a social being- communication is therefore the key to socialisation. At every stage in our lives we require someone to talk to and interact with. Our lives cannot be lived in isolation but through communication with one another. To feel accepted in the society that we belong to today, a human being changes to a social being and learns-communication and its tough role through the environment that he/she is exposed to which happens to be the schools and other factors around it.  Today's kids communicate face to face, by using social media, using online gaming platforms to talk to one another. While everyone talks about communication skills that are so important for kids today- as a teacher I agree to that and would like to share my experience in this field.  Society divides kids today into two noticeable halves. On the basis of their communication skills- one are the introverts- the ones who find this process tough, the ones who are not very out-going. The other one are-...

 What is Fear?  That feeling of being in danger, pain and hurt.  It's the emotion of threat to ourselves, So here I ask, What's your fear?  What is scaring you?  That feeling of being watched by, followed by, irritated by someone? Are you really scared?  Or, is it just the surrounding that's scaring you?  So here I ask, What is scaring you? Have you heard these questions before? Come out of your shell please... It's going to be you- alone in this huge world... You don't have a bodyguard all the time... What will you do when you're all alone? Does this exhaust you?  So here I ask, Who is scaring you?  Have you thought of this before?  Sure..there are bad people everywhere, But there are good people too... Think of it like the bad people are overpowering the good at that time,  Take that chance, Find the "good people" and you will be fine, Find the good in people and you will be better, So here I ask you, To make a choice, To make sur...

All these years, I have waited in lines, I have patiently waited for my time, To make sure I worship him, To make sure I receive his blessings, This year- is a unique celebration, A one I'm sure you will remember, Ganesh Chathurthi 2020 is here. Finally it's a beautiful time, In a not-so great year, Just because of the much awaited, Exit of an unwanted guest. It's time to celebrate! Despite the virus, We have finally invited a guest, The one we have been waiting for, All through the year, Ganpati, this year is a unique celebration. Although our world has changed, Worshipping Bappa- is not the same, We have to move forward with times, This year meeting Bappa is online, Through pictures and videos and on social media, Ganpati, this year is a unique celebration. This year- just like every other year, My emotions are the same, It's a special occasion..extra special this year, Not like all the other years, This year I will be spending some time alone with Bappa Wishing all t...