Celebrating Friendship #03: A Birthday like never before or ever again!

I had always known I was born lucky and I could list out numerous reasons as to why. One among them is that, over the period of 23 years I have existed on this planet, not one birthday of mine has gone unnoticed and I consider that one of my life's blessings. Every year, on my birthday, people who loved me and I loved equally back, would unfailingly ensure that their wishes reached me in some form, be it a simple smile or a text or a phone call or a gift or whatnot. I have never understood why but my stomach would lurch with pangs of raptures whenever these people made an effort to let me know that they remembered my birthday. I would feel so damn special, like I was what mattered the most on that specific day and the whole world, as I knew it, depended upon my happiness.

While each and every birthday that has passed by til now has been ecstatically memorable, my mind ever so continuously kept questioning me about the birthday that I would pick as the best of all. As humans, do we not tend to harbor favorites in even the tiniest of insignificant matter in our life? When that is the case, how could I not have one birthday memory that burned brighter than all others and eventually became 'A Birthday like never before or ever again'.

This particular birthday that I am inclined to term as my favorite happened when I, not so successfully, completed the 20th year of my existence. At that point, I was in the third and final year of my under graduation, about to acquire a Bachelors degree in Commerce. Forget what I studied or why I even studied what I studied, the most important thing was that I was nearing the end of a phase in life, which had required me step out of the safe haven my family kept me in and learn to take a few independent steps. Soon, I would be starting a new phase all over again(otherwise known as PG, again something I still fail to grasp the purpose it has served to my life). Like every other college grad, I realized that it was my friends whom I would miss the most out of this three years. With them beside me, life had been a breezy sail. Indeed, throughout our final year together, I had to get through frequent depressive fits before coming to terms with reality and face all our final congregations with a big smile.

As if wanting to make sure that I did miss them in the years to come, if not more, my friends - the brats, went a step further to give me one final awesome birthday together with them. Of course, it was a surprise party at a friend's place! Think about your favorite color and now, imagine walking into a room that has a life-sized princess cake at the centre(with the princess wearing a ball gown of your favorite color), all four sides of the wall adorned with balloons of your favorite color, and a huge table upon which lies an army of gifts wrapped in your favorite color. Indeed a WOW moment, ain't it? Now, let the color be GREEN(I'm a green-maniac), and that is how my best-ever birthday looked like.

A picture is worth a thousand words and the snaps shared are just a few frozen moments from a great day. More than the cake or balloons or gifts, the sight of seeing all my friends turn up for the party dressed up in different lovely shades of green was overwhelming. That day, I knew, I could try a hundred different ways to express how I exactly felt on the 18th of August in 2011 but still fail over and over again. One may ask, why would I chronicle something that happened nearly 4 years ago? Well, you never really forget some moments or the people you meet in your life, how much ever you try to. Time and again, they would keep coming back to hit you with the sweetness of nostalgia and I chose to write about it, letting my friends know that I still miss them terribly.

Maybe I would grope on through life and cross many more birthdays but I would never able to forget this First of Bests! Lovely were the moments we shared and they still stay inside me, spreading warmth like a freshly baked cookie :) !

10 Shitty Logics of the Great Indian Litterbug!

Courtesy: The Great Indian

In India, people have some of the strangest notions about when you are being an idiot and when you are not, especially when it comes to the 'Art of Littering'. 

#1 
You are an undisciplined p*ick if you spill food from your plate onto your dining table, but no, not if you toss emptied coffee cups, munched apples, breakfast leftovers and God knows what else from window seats in a train/bus.

#2 
You are out of your mind if you dump your day's garbage at a spot near your home because, Cmon, who likes living in a smelly neighborhood and getting bitten by mosquitoes. So, walk swiftly to the next lane, find a comfortable spot and trash to your heart's content.

#3 

In case you catch a terrible cold and find your throat stuffed with phlegm, go ahead and make yourself comfortable by spitting it out on the road because at the end of the day, a sorrow shared is a disease multiplied.

#4 
You should never ever let a stray dog enter your house as it may soil your spick-and-span place. But, you my child have the freedom to stray around every cultural monument and tarnish it in every single way you can think of.

#5 
Recruitment Logic: You can acquire the most talented minds only by pasting vague posters on public transport vehicles, with nothing but a promise to make life fantastic and a fancy mobile number to contact.

#6 
While driving one's own car: "You freak, these leather seats are brand new and you just puked all over it. Wait, I'll stop at a corner. Take it out on the road"

#7
At Home: "Dude, where are your manners? You just forgot to flush the toilet!"
Out: "You wanna take a leak? That wall looks private enough, go there!"

#8 
"Are you mad? I just swept the room and you have strewn your hair everywhere again"
At public restrooms: *Leaves hair strands flying around like feathers after the cleaner had mopped the floor with all her energy*

#9 
"Oh please, take care not to let your child use the crayon on my wall. I got it whitewashed very recently." Thus said the guy who scribbled on the temple wall to express his divine love for the girl next door.

#10 
My personal favorite: You are a pathetic fool if you actually search for trashcans in public spots. After all, the whole world lays below your feet, waiting to get littered. Who needs trashcans??

#Honorary Mention: You are not a true Indian until you have made at least one animal or a bird or a fish ingest a polythene item which you decided was useless and threw off. 

Of course, this ain't an exhaustive list and most of us know that. The more we look around and observe, the more irony that seems to be lurking within our conceptions of Cleanliness. 

To conclude, let's build a picture in order to get the basic underlying logic of this issue across and here's what I suggest: Imagine an empty room; place yourself in there; and now, start filling the rest of the room with trash. I bet that you will find the You in your mind littering the spot in the room that is the farthest away from you. In truth, that is exactly the natural logic that we also apply in our real lives, i.e, we and our immediate vicinity stay clear of litter. 

To sum it all up in a single sentence, let the rest of the world go to the dogs as long as it does not seem to affect us. Happy Littering!

This post was inspired by and written for the IndiBlogger's Happy Hours, in relation to The Times of India's recent campaign, 'The Great Indian Litterbug'. To know more about the campaign, click here. You could also take a look at the video below!

A Healthy Child makes for a Healthy Home!

I believe that the greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you (Joyce Meyer)

Health, more or less, is a lot like true love. By the time we begin realizing it's worth, it is already slipping away from our clutch. But then, this whole careless outlook is overturned when it is the health and wellness of our offspring that is in concern.

Coutesy: deadcurious.com

Once we introduce a new earthling to the world and his/her life becomes our sole responsibility, we essentially become what they are at each and every point of their time on this planet: we afford a smile only when they flash theirs'; we feel low when they shed tears; we feel vulnerable & naked when they are out somewhere all alone; we feel helpless and incompetent when they fall sick and treating them is out of our hands. Maybe the umbilical cord is cut off and the child & we become physically separate entities. Nevertheless I strongly believe in an invisible cord that forever binds us, as parents, to the welfare of our children. The happier and healthier they grow to be, the same we live on to be. Likewise, the mere thought of the tender soul suffering physically as well as mentally due to an ailment is enough to make our faces go pale, taut with worry. Such is the amaze of parenthood, a new state of mind that is born at the same time when we mother/father a new life into this world.

I have witnessed some of the greatest parent-child moments during the times I have spent with my Best Friend's family. My bestie, being the only daughter to her parents, was what we could literally term as: the apple of their eyes. They considered her their life's blessing and made sure that her eyes continued twinkling throughout and never ever lost the sparkle. In particular, her old man was deeply fond of her and I have always observed it - in the way he used to unfailingly be there on time to pick her up from school, despite his entrepreneurial demands; during the days he brought us, her friends, expensive confectioneries because her daughter loved us; when the both of them never missed to take the scooter out for their weekly round-up of our town; I could narrate a thousand more incidents like this and still fall abundantly short of capturing in words, the love he had for his daughter.

Courtesy: gopixpic.com

Like all the moments of contentment, there were also phases of gloom that would now and then show up in their lives. The low spirits lingered mainly due to the wheezing trouble that she was destined to undergo, even as a newborn. The days during wintertime, when she was down with heavy breathing problems, it pained me more to look at him than my friend. A lull would befall on his daily routine and the stark dullness on his face would be inquired upon by his office staffs on such days. Though I was on the outside of this father-daughter relationship, experiencing the intensity with which he cared about her in the course of both her smiles and sorrows, reinstated the belief I had on unconditional love. After all, it does exist :)

Over time, my friend has fared well and managed to keep her wheezing bouts under control, with constant effort and guidance from her father to improve her immunity against such spells. Come what may, he would invariably be there by her princess's side. So, on my part to toast his love for her, I am packing a wish along with this post - that my friend would never ever, in her years to come, have to put up with stretches of wheezing. Let the days of miseries fly away from her, leaving her in the pink of health, and in turn, making him the happiest dad ever! Bless them!

This post was inspired by and written for the Dabur Chyawanprash's campaign, 'A healthy child makes a happy home', hosted by IndiBlogger. Dabur Chyawanprash, a time-tested, age-old formulation has a number of herbs like Amla, known to be one of the best antioxidants, Giloy (Guduchi), known to have immuno-modulatory properties, and more than 40 other natural ingredients. It increases your immunity by 3 times* & hence protects against illness. To read more, click here.

The Best of Restaurants I visited in 2014!

As usual, one more year - 2014, is done and gone. It was indeed one hell of a year, packed with smiles, contemplations, life decisions, dreams and more dreams :).. Above all, it was a year at a new place again, this time Chennai.

Chennai - a bustling place packed with wonderful people, mesmerizing beaches, and indigenous architectures, has been real good to me, with each day being a new experience. If truth be told, the most important thing that made my stay so far in Chennai worthwhile is - CHOW! The city is studded with restaurants that cater to different cuisines from around the world and also host amazing ambiances. Though I haven't yet visited the top-notch places, I did manage to go around a little and try out a bunch of good hangouts with lovely dishes.

Down below, I have listed one favorite of every different kind of place: cafe, pub, typical South-Indian spot, street food, great plates, ice-cream parlor, and whatnot. (The titles are linked to their Zomato pages)

1. Amethyst Cafe, Royapettah (An all-time favorite):

Not every resto can become your regular. There is an unwritten checklist that has to be satisfied: You need that first impression; You need to immediately feel that you should take your loved ones there soon; You need to feel at ease the whole time and finally, the food has to blend well with your senses and give you the perfect tummy. The day I walked into Amethyst, I knew I would be coming back to the place again and again and again. The main reason why: You do not find many places in Chennai that boast of green trees towering around you, making the place absolutely pleasant to dine. When dusk falls, the wild garden cafe is a heavenly sight to behold, with the lit lamp-posts adding even more sparkle to the ambiance and the majestic trees cooling off the air for you. And the food is amazing too! So, Amethyst Cafe is one place I would never ever regret suggesting to friends.

Dishes I loved: Red Bean Curry with Steamed Rice, Crumb Fried Fish with Tartar Sauce,  Mascarpone Baked Cheese (Also, do not forget to check out the Indian specials for the day)

2. Zara Tapas Bar, Gopalapuram:

Tapas is a Spanish term for snacks/appetizers that are served with a drink, mostly wine/beer. The first of its kind in Chennai, Zara is a great choice to spend an evening out with your buddies. They provide a wide range of cocktail concoctions coupled with mouth-watering grub. Then, there's always music livening up the spot and at times, they also host bands performing live. In all, Zara is an obvious option to either relax your senses down with a drink or have a crazy night out with your friends.

3. ID, Royapettah:

Okay, a movie at Satyam is never complete without Cheddar Cheese-seasoned Popcorn and dinner at ID. That's the sole reason why ID made the cut and became a top-favorite. Being a South Indian resto, you can find an extensive selection of Dosas, Idly's and other delicacies at ID. But, lately, service has become a drag at this place due to the huge crowds that throng the place post-shows.

4. Sandy's Chocolate Laboratory, Nungambakkam:

Have you heard of Death by Chocolate? If you have, well then, Sandy's chocolate mixtures would prove to be a perfect start to experience such savoring moments. I especially love their Breakfast All-day dishes, not to mention the delightful desserts they have to offer. They also have these really tiny cheesecakes that are amazing. In short, Sandy's is the best option to head out to on a lazy Sunday morning and pamper your appetite with a full-on scrumptious brunch. Prices are a bit on the higher side but they serve fulfilling portions to make up for that.

Zara Tapas Bar

Sandy's

Amadora

5. Amadora Gourmet Ice Cream & Sorbet, Nungambakkam:

A one-time visit and a small bite into one of their ice-cream flavors is more than enough to make you keep coming back to the place over time. I, in particular, was floored by the Five-Bean-Vanilla ice cream. Located in one of the prime areas of Chennai (Wallace Garden), it is essentially a home-come tiny parlor, tucked well away at the end of a lane. Aside from their ice-cream based cakes and other desserts, there are also a few spicy alternatives including Chicken. Come Sunday, you will find the place packed with gourmet ice-cream enthusiasts.

6. Fusilli Reasons, Kilpauk:

Fusilli Reasons is a street-eat in the locality of Kilpauk that is suddenly gaining popularity out of nowhere. The menu on offer is limited beyond imagination but so are the footfalls that the place gets - beyond imagination. During weekends, people swarm around the street to dig into the Pasta and Garlic Bread, washing it down with Tang or Iced Tea (Home-made). I just literally wrote out the whole of menu that's available in Fusilli Reasons. Amazing, ain't it??

7. Kannappa Thattu Idly Shop, Kilpauk:

If ever a list is made that is titled, 'Wonders of Chennai', I swear, this shop definitely deserves a slot. Once, when I visited the shop on a Saturday night, the way people constantly streamed in to get a bite here was unbelievable. The best part of it was the mix of crowds that came in, right from random walkers to families huddled inside their cars, gobbling up Idlys that are the size of plates (Hence, the name Thattu Idly). Apart from Idlys, their Dosas are also a treat to relish. Be warned that this is more like a Kaiyendhi Bhavan, i.e. no seating options. 

8. Kabab Corner, Greams Road:

The final stop on my list of favorites, Kabab Corner gets a mention for their lipsmackingly delicious meat-eats stuffed inside a hole-in-the-wall ambiance. You will most probably find some of the city's best Chicken dishes over here, especially the Chicken Tikka and Omelette. Moreover, the dishes come at great affordable prices, making the shop a real winner in terms of budget deals.

Food has always been and will always be the one thing that will neither go out of fashion nor practice. As long as there are restos serving incredible food, life will never run out of flavor and fervor. Cheers to all the foodies out there and may the exploratory journey continue!!