Relationships Don't Define You. (Monday Moments #57)

          He was a young entrepreneur of a start-up company which had a bright future. He was financially independent and had great plans for his life. He had planned out everything. Marriage, travelling, business; every aspect of his life was well thought of. He was in a 2-year relationship with a smart and beautiful girl. She was doing her PhD in arts and wanted to be a painter. She wasn't as well off as he was. While he was the practical one, she was the romantic one. She dreamed a lot about everything. She could never compartmentalize her life like him. If a meeting was successful, he'd be happy and then move on to the next thing. If there was a loss, he's be sad and then move on to the next thing. It was like he majored in moving on. But, for her, it was the most impossible thing. If she had even one fight with him, her entire day was ruined. Moving on from that was just not possible. She thought about him more than everything. But, that day, they both learned their lessons.

          There was a big fight between them. And she was shattered along with the pieces of her heart. He was aghast and was not able to comprehend anything. She was about to call her best friend when she saw photos of him from his office party. She thought about all those times they fought. She somehow realised how she could never move on from him, when he so easily did. He wasn't just her boyfriend. He had become his whole life. He mattered a lot to her. She loved him more than she loved herself and that's when a revelation settled. She understood that one relationship wasn't her entire life. It was only a part of it. It was okay when he improved her life. But it wasn't okay when he affected it. It just wasn't something she could keep doing because she would be the one getting hurt. At that point, she lifted her brush and was hypnotized to the strokes of her brush. That painting was the best one she drew in her life. It was her escape to the freedom. The fight will be over, they will patch up but she will not be the same person. It was her time to think of things that mattered more. He will always be one of them, just not the only one. Not the only one.

(‘Monday Moments’ is a blog series wherein I write about an incident or a moment in a short paragraph. It’s not a story, but just a short description to express and explore the most common joys and also the uncommon miseries.)

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. (Book Review #21)

Introduction:

          I had heard about this book from a long time. And given my love to Young Adult fiction, I knew I had to read it. I wasn't aware what it was about. I had no clue about the story line even. I think I had hoped too much from it without knowing what it had in it. And when I started reading, it was fun. I even finished it in a few days. And when it ended, I had one question, "What was that?"

          That's correct. It was the plainest story I had read. I know the point of it was to create such events that will make the boys realise who they are and what was the meaning of their existence. But, it all seemed vague to an indefinite extent. It is a coming of age novel where the two main characters develop into being men while understanding their roots and themselves in this vast universe.

Characters:

          Aristotle is a complicated boy who has never known what his life was about. He was a square peg in a round hole. He always kept to himself and feigned social interaction. He was brave who wouldn't believe in anything good about him. He had accepted that he was the most boring person who had no life apart from his family. And then came Dante. He had a weird sense of humour. He had this charm about him which intrigued everyone. He wanted to know about everyone's lives. He loved freely and talked his mind. Both of them, quite unlike each other, became friends in summer.

Story Line:

          The book is divided into six parts. For me, it was more like three parts. First; the summer they met. Second; the entire year Dante was not in El Paso. Third, the summer they were together again. I was surprised how I could finish an uneventful novel like this so fast. It might be because the language was simple. And the reader wants to unveil the real meaning of the title of the book.

          Throughout the story, there are some unexpected things at perfect intervals which will make you want to read till the end. The story starts with Aristotle and Dante's sweet friendship. They're just a couple of young guys who don't have their lives figured out. In one summer, their bond becomes strong than any other friendship they would have had. They only had each other. By the end of it, some secrets started to materialize. Aristotle discovers secrets about his father's war wounds, his mother's grief, his brother's acts and his own self.

Overall Thoughts:

          For a coming of age novel, this could have been much better. The author has kept it very simple and also conveyed the message of accepting who you are. It strongly sends a message to think about who you are, where do you come from and no matter what you have gone through, you can still achieve your dreams. After you've read it, you'll find a sense of happiness about how loving, caring and supportive some families can be, no matter who you are. It's not the kind of book which will make you obsessed. But, it is certainly something which will give you hope. I've rated this book at 2 stars on Goodreads. 

Have you read this book? What are your thoughts?

Moving Out. (Monday Moments #56)

          Her entire life she lived in that apartment. There were 20 years’ worth of memories hidden in every corner of it. The home had witnessed a lot in those years along with her. The floor had memories of her first steps. The walls with multiple posters had a hint of her obsession with boy bands and TV serials. The doors she slammed every time she was furious. The bedroom had infinite gossips from the night-ins with her friends and sisters. The kitchen had funny stories from her cooking mishaps. The hall was always noisy with the laughter of her family members. The balcony had recorded the loneliest times with her. Whenever she left from a boring event, she came home to find peace. Sitting in her home was the best comfort she enjoyed. And now, it was all going to fall apart. Their building was going to be brought down to construct something better. She didn't know what possibly would be something better than her own home.

          She was stuck in a nostalgic phase. She sat on the floor about to exit her home for the last time. All the furniture was already taken to another temporary place. The home looked very different without anything in it. There was nothing in there but still there was everything. She was heavy with thoughts. She took a round in there remembering little things and only her secrets. She had always been an emotional person. And this was one of the bigger things which left her speechless. Moving out of that place wasn't just a physical act. It was a mental struggle. She stepped out leaving her home behind with bitter sweet memories which will be cherished forever. It was her first home, the place where she learned to live.

(‘Monday Moments’ is a blog series wherein I write about an incident or a moment in a short paragraph. It’s not a story, but just a short description to express and explore the most common joys and also the uncommon miseries.)

Breakdown. (Monday Moments #55)

          New office. New environment. New people. Straight out of college, it was her first time living the corporate life. A month had passed by with many ups and downs. One month, doesn't seem like a lot, right? But, she counted days and every day felt like a year. It was unbearable and she wasn't ready for it. She was like a baby alpaca in the world full of tigers. And that day, it was just too much. Every month-end their branch organised a party. It was something to motivate employees. The party was in a pub far away from her home. Partying constituted for loud music, expensive food, fake laughter and sucking up to your bosses, all of which she hated. She had decided to not go there. She was adamant until her parents told her that she should go at least for the first time to understand the office culture and to make some friends. And also because it looks rude. She thought, "Well, I am rude and I don't care about a stupid party! If you want to motivate me, it's not going to happen by forcing me to go to some lame party where I'll be that awkward girl in the corner wanting to go home and watch a 'Game of Thrones' marathon in her comfy pajamas. Everyone isn't similar!" But, of course she had to go because of all the etiquette bullshit. She was thinking of dressing entirely in black, so that she'll show at least some silent sign of protest. Anyway, she went there. And, it sucked. It totally sucked. She was hungry for a long time and nothing was served for the first hour! Then, her colleagues ditched her to dance. She just sat on a couch wanting to go home. She then went outside and called her boyfriend and he was busy with something else which was somehow a priority over her. She called her real friends so that at least some time will pass. But, they were too busy with something or the other.  She was on the verge of a meltdown. It wasn't just about this party. She couldn't handle the messy tangled up politics in her office. Someone or the other came to screw up her office life. She just couldn't be a suck up and so no one was ever in her favour. She was new there and no one made her feel welcome. She was on the phase where she was going to breakup with her boyfriend. All she had were her friends and when they couldn't be there for her, it was just too much. She went to the bathroom and let the tears flow. She wasn't made for corporate life. This wasn't her. One problem attracted the other and there she stood facing a huge giant wheel of problems which had no solutions. She stood alone, facing her problems realising no one's ever good enough to care, trust or love. 

(‘Monday Moments’ is a blog series wherein I write about an incident or a moment in a short paragraph. It’s not a story, but just a short description to express and explore the most common joys and also the uncommon miseries.)

Break-up. (Monday Moments #54)

          She was a talented singer, songwriter, feminist, dreamer and a fearless woman. He was a professional DJ, handsome, magical and a passionate man. While she was tender, he was fierce. He had friends but she had a squad. She was tall but he was taller. He made money but she made more. He was happy but she was blissful. He thought she was his significant other but she thought he was her forever. Both of them had dated earlier but it was never like this. She was completely in love with him while he couldn't get his eyes off of her. It was an entire fairy tale like story until something thundered into their life breaking them up and setting them apart. Lust sweeps you off the floor until love comes and sets your feet on ground. In the first six months, it was all about attraction. And later when they actually started to understand each other, they got into fights and misconceptions. Nothing about them was similar. They had their huge pile of differences. And after daily fights over the most bizarre things, they just couldn't stand each other. They hated each other except that they were also in love with each other. It wasn't a healthy relationship and it just wasn't meant to be. Sometimes people get into things without knowing the repercussions. Relationships aren't only about love. They're about a connection of souls and a feeling you can't quite explain. It's the thing that turns your insecurities into confidence and differences into explorations. It's about being on the same page and decorating that page with colour and happiness, together. And they didn't have it which is why they broke up to find these things with someone special.

(‘Monday Moments’ is a blog series wherein I write about an incident or a moment in a short paragraph. It’s not a story, but just a short description to express and explore the most common joys and also the uncommon miseries.)

3 Books in 3 Days Challenge.

          3 weeks in a row, I had Friday to Sunday off. The first 2 times I just wasted it. But, this time, I decided to do something productive. I decided to challenge myself into reading 3 books in those 3 days. I had been on a reading slump for many months and I had to get over it. And, I did it! I'm not an easily pleased reader. I need the story to be gripping. I need it fact-paced and slow-paced at proper phases. I don't want an easily predictable end. And as much as I like conversations, I also like details of surroundings. I want the girl character to be in a relationship but I also want her dog to rip off the strange guy. I want to not like it just because it's of a particular genre but I also want to like it because the author puts in so much effort in the plot. And if the character is even a little bit like me, I don't want her doing something that I wouldn't. See? It's such a challenge even reading a simple novel. So, when I decided to read 3 such novels, my brain kind of drained out because it was obviously too much reading. All I did was read for hours at length. I enjoyed it, no doubt, but it was also too much exercise for the brain.. So I read three books. I'll write book reviews soon on the blog. Until then, here's a short description about them. 

1.     The Witness by Nora Roberts:

I read work of Nora Roberts for the first time on a friend’s recommendation. The book is divided into 3 parts vividly. I liked the first part. I thought I might have found a new good author to read. The first part has a touch of crime and suspense. The start is good enough to grip the reader. The second part has a love story. And the third part is witnessed with justice and an expected happy ending. Overall the reading experience was all right. It was exciting in the beginning, monotonous in the middle and disappointing in the end. I’ve given it 2 stars on Goodreads.

2.     Our Impossible Love by Durjoy Datta:

Durjoy Datta has let me down 9 out of 10 times. It was a disappointment this time as well. This is a love story about a school student and her counsellor. What strikes me about Durjoy Dutta is his basic idea is usually good. Like, in this novel, he has stressed the issues of feminism, rape and bullying. But the problem is he can’t convert these issues effectively into a story. Either the message gets distorted or the story gets boring. I’ve given it 3 stars on Goodreads.

3.     Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez:

My weekend wasn’t a complete waste only because of this book. I thought it was a bit bizarre in the beginning but as the story progressed, it got very interesting. The story is fast paced and very gripping. It took some time to stay on it but once I got the gist and plot, I read non-stop. The author has his way with words. He can describe one scenario for 5 pages and it still would sound meaningful. I’ve given it 4 stars on Goodreads.

          Taking this challenge taught me many things. Firstly, it got me out of my reading slump. I love to read and it sucked that I wasn’t reading anything. And only readers can understand this sentiment when you’re unable to read because of whatever unimportant reason that exists. So, yeah, it was good dedicating all of that time to my lovely gorgeous books.

          Secondly, if you’re going to do something extraordinary, then look for all the loopholes. I did a mistake by choosing lengthy books. So, I was up late at night until 3 or 4 am reading. Taking up 1 lengthy and 2 medium length books would’ve been better. But, I surely enjoyed reading late into the hours.

          Thirdly, this challenge is for those who don’t have a social life. It requires complete commitment. I didn’t get out of my home for these 3 days. But, then, I don’t have a social life. So, it was heavenly for me to stay in, drink coffee and snuggle with a book. That’s my idea of a lovely date with my handsome books.

You can check out another of my reading challenge wherein I read 15 books in 31 days.

Do you enjoy reading? Do you have any reading records?

Choosing Happiness. (Monday Moments #53)

Her life was not a meadow of flowers.

It was a storm in sea.

A traffic in cities.

A whirlwind in deserts.

A fire in forests.

Her life was not a meadow of flowers.

          She lived alone in a chawl. She had no family. She didn't even know who her parents were. All 17 years of her life, one old lady took care of her. But, now she knew that she can't depend on her. It wasn't right. She was educated till 10th standard. But she wasn't suitable for corporate jobs. Instead, she decided to do a cooking job. She landed a few in her chawl itself. It wasn't good salary but she could pay bills. Without any family, education, money and support system, she just about managed to live. She read about suicides of girls who cannot get admission. The causes were depression, stress or mental instability. She thought, "What makes them not want to live? At least they have families and loved ones. If people decide to take their lives because of such things, I'd have died a long time ago." That was the moment she realised her strength. She did not have any significant thing in her life to keep going. Despite that, she struggled to be alive. She did not let anything demoralise her. She did not feel miserable or sad. She could have chosen 1000 things that made her life hell. Instead, she chose the one thing that made her life heaven. She chose happiness. She found happiness in the smallest of the things because she knew big things with big happiness were not written for her. She laughed it off when she saw a rat moving under her bed. She laughed until her stomach hurt when she understood the reasons of rich people's suicides. It was ironic. It was the moment when she was a carefree happy person without a worry.

(‘Monday Moments’ is a blog series wherein I write about an incident or a moment in a short paragraph. It’s not a story, but just a short description to express and explore the most common joys and also the uncommon miseries.)

Monday Blues. (Monday Moments #52)

          A nice weekend was about to end. Around 8 pm on that Sunday evening, the entire process started repeating itself. The sadness that weekend was coming to an end. The indescribable weight of irritation and misery because of the coming Monday. The hope that at least this week will end fast and weekend will arrive. He sat on his reclining chair in the balcony viewing the people on the streets. He wondered how 48 hours of Saturday and Sunday go by in a whistle. But, how 24 hours of Monday seemed never-ending. He drank his tea. One sip and he felt like spitting it out. It was too sweet. It was just a trigger to his frustration. Soon, the kids playing downstairs made his head ache and he started to silently curse them. His days of youth were definitely gone. Every small thing set his teeth on edge. And all was happening because the clock ticked faster taking him to the unavoidable doom of Monday. Soon, he went to bed praying his boss won't come tomorrow. He hoped to have a day of less work. He knew it was all dramatic but he just didn't want to go to his office. Monday blues set in and he went to sleep fearing for the weekend but also knowing he wasn’t alone.

(‘Monday Moments’ is a blog series wherein I write about an incident or a moment in a short paragraph. It’s not a story, but just a short description to express and explore the most common joys and also the uncommon miseries.)

Solitude Isn't Always the Answer. (Monday Moments #51)

He had an extended holiday weekend and he decided to go on a retreat. He left for his flat some 4 hours away. He was hoping to have a nice quiet time to think about his job, family, relationship and friends. There weren’t any fights or anything but he felt very disengaged from everyone. He felt like he’s just living the same day again and again. As he went to his flat, he planned the day. He decided to visit the bookstore, then go for shopping and have dinner at a nice restaurant. Everything went as planned, but somehow he felt empty. Earlier, this kind of a day would’ve revitalized him but that day, he just felt lonely. He missed his people. Even though he was away, he hoped that his juniors would do the work properly. He was worried about the efficiency of the project. He was hoping his friends wouldn’t hate him because he went alone without even asking them to join. They were his best friends, after all and he never took any major decision without consulting them. As a matter of fact, they were the ones who pushed him to propose. And just like that he started thinking about his girlfriend. They were together for about a year. They were nothing like each other. But, both of them always wondered why the other even liked them. He remembered how scared they both were at the start but then everything turned out okay. And now, he was badly missing her. He missed listening to her rants. He missed telling her the day’s stories. He missed her subtle hints of choosing something good while shopping. He missed how she eye-rolled when someone used incorrect English. He missed all these little things about her. He missed her the most. He then called her up and they ended up talking for hours.

Sometimes, even when you feel like everything is going in a not-so-thrilling fashion, it is important to just stick through it. Running away doesn’t always solves problems. Actually, it might just create more. The guy who always went on random rides, solo travelling and shopping alone, now couldn’t imagine doing it without her. Sometimes you need solitude but with someone without whom your soul isn’t complete.

(‘Monday Moments’ is a blog series wherein I write about an incident or a moment in a short paragraph. It’s not a story, but just a short description to express and explore the most common joys and also the uncommon miseries.)

She. (Monday Moments #50)

          It gives me immense pleasure to say that I'm posting the 50th post in the Monday Moments series. It's been quite a journey. I remember moments when I couldn't think of anything. And the moments when I just had too much to elaborate. I cannot be happier about this blog series. Thank you, readers for your great support and love! Here's a post dedicated to all the women!

          She is the calmness in the middle of a storm. She is the light at the end of a tunnel. She is the hope in the hour of need. She is a woman, holding everyone up and taking them ahead with her.

Looking like her mother but taken after her father, she was born to create wonders. She was the one who didn't care what society thought. She was the one who cared only for those who cared for her. Not once did she let her family down. She was her parents' support system. She was their daughter, a brave soldier in the battlefield.

She wasn't only his girlfriend. She wasn't the one who would wait for his message. She knew that she was okay with him and she knew she would be okay without him. She only needed herself to create her own life and all its magic. She loved him with all her heart. But, she was smart enough to love herself more.

She was her own boss. She made a living from her passion. She was a working woman with an innovative mind and a powerful personality. She was the company's bright future.

She was the kind of friend who listened. She knew better than to share every detail of every day of her life to her friends. She listened carefully about their lives, passions, love interests and problems. She would be most practical but also kindly empathetic to her friends. She was their shoulder to lean on. 

No matter what happened to her, she always stood up and kept walking. She was a woman taking on the world. She is the one who makes every moment amazing.

(‘Monday Moments’ is a blog series wherein I write about an incident or a moment in a short paragraph. It’s not a story, but just a short description to express and explore the most common joys and also the uncommon miseries.)

Travelling Couple. (Monday Moments #49)

          They were in front of the Eiffel Tower with their hearts full of love and soul full of travel. As they sat looking at the beauty of the tower, they were drawn back to the novice stage of their relationship. They remembered how they were both passionate about travel. They were introduced to each other by their parents. They knew each other since childhood and so decided to try it out. Both of them had their fears. Both had certain set rules of how they wanted to live their life. They were sure that their significant other wouldn't agree to it and hence there was a lot of hesitation.

          Her dream was to travel the world. She was the CEO of her own start-up company and things were flourishing. She knew that she would take it to an international level. She knew she would still have power over it while she was travelling. Her goals were set. On the other hand, he was a writer. He was a content writer for a firm. His articles were mainly about customer relations and feedback. But, actually he wanted to be a different kind of a writer. He wanted to be a travel writer. 

          They spent some time together. They liked each other's company. Before things could get serious, they knew they had to have the talk. When they both met, they got straight to the point. They both unanimously said, "I want to travel the world." There was a point of silence, after which they started to laugh. In what universe do you find that person who wants the same thing as you do? It was unbelievable and honestly a momentous occasion. People who want different things always get together and end up making compromises. But, this? It was as if they had actually found their soulmate. Their travel soulmate.

          As they talked about it, sitting in the city of romance, after 2 years, they were eternally happy to have found each other. In a world where people forget their passion, they had conquered their passion, love and life. 

(‘Monday Moments’ is a blog series wherein I write about an incident or a moment in a short paragraph. It’s not a story, but just a short description to express and explore the most common joys and also the uncommon miseries.)

It Really Does Get Better. (Monday Moments #48)

          She opened her eyes to the sight of her husband and daughter peacefully sleeping next to her. It was a Sunday. No one was up yet. She was awake and just lying on the bed. She looked at them and couldn't help but smile. It was one of those moments where her life was perfect. Life had been rough for her. And she never thought things would turn out to be as they did. The girl who was anxious to talk to people, was now Human Resources Manager in the company she always loved. The girl who thought wasn't good enough for anyone was married to the love of her life. The girl who hated kids now had a daughter. The girl who never understood the difference between friends and frenemies, now knew better. She thought about how she used to lead her life by some quotes, TV shows and books. Now, she wrote her own words, spoke her own mind and lived freely. She caressed her husband's head. She kissed her daughter's cheek. As she was arranging the pillows, she remembered how she used to hug them and sleep. She remembered the many nights she cried herself to sleep. And now that that part of her life was over, she was glad. She never would have thought life had so much in it for her. If only she could tell her past self that it really does get better. You just have to hang in there.

(‘Monday Moments’ is a blog series wherein I write about an incident or a moment in a short paragraph. It’s not a story, but just a short description to express and explore the most common joys and also the uncommon miseries.)

Original Image Credits

Existing or Living? (Monday Moments #47)

          Sitting relaxed on a comfortable swing chair facing the beach, he was wondering about his life. He thought about the time when he was a kid. Growing up was the only thing he wanted. And now that he was a 50-year-old adult, all he wanted was to be a child. He was having drifting thoughts lately. They were about his life. How it was supposed to turn out and how it actually did. He remembered how when you need something really you could do just about anything to achieve it. And once you have achieved it, you don't even enjoy it. It's just like those toys. As a child he would cry for weeks for a toy. When he got it, he would play with it for a day and then just keep it away. It's just like when he secretly loved a girl who was in a relationship. And when she broke up with her boyfriend, he thought, "What did I see in her anyway?" All his life he observed that human beings plan a lot, run behind things which we're not even sure we want and just exist. That's not living. That's just existing. When in school, we want to go to college. When in college, we want to work. When we work, we enjoy our early years. When we have worked for what seems like 50 years, we finally think.We open our brain and allow it to wander. What has my life been about? What am I doing? Do I want to live this way? Do I even want to live in this country forever? Do I want to do this job forever? Do I want to live with this person forever? All these questions kept him awake at night. From the dream of being a travel writer to actually becoming a corporate machine. When did that happen? Was he living or just existing? When he found these answers, he was already on the Malibu beach writing about his travel experiences. And that time he knew he was living. 

(‘Monday Moments’ is a blog series wherein I write about an incident or a moment in a short paragraph. It’s not a story, but just a short description to express and explore the most common joys and also the uncommon miseries.)

Her Moments During The Day. (Monday Moments #46)

It was 5 AM. It felt peaceful. The entire half of the world seemed to be asleep. Such early mornings give her immense happiness. It's like there was only her. There were no people. All the problems that existed seemed to have taken a break at these times. No sound of traffic. No sunshine. No talks. It's only her and 5 AM. She enjoyed the time as it decides to pass rapidly. This is how she was at 5 AMs. It was a 5 AM bliss moment.

Then there was another time of the day. 10 PM. At these times, she was usually not sleepy but tired. She was anxious yet laid-back. It's that time when everyone is awake and there's constant chatting; the pointless banters. She hated such times. 10 PMs should be either for partying or for sleep. There's no point staying awake at home at this time. They might as well destroy you by building anxiety. It was a 10 PM anxious moment.

And then there was 2 AM. Everyone loves these. These are the romantic times for poets and writers. There's some magic in these that's not present any time else. People bond in those 2 AMs. These are the times where people fall apart silently in their own beds. These are the times when people confess their love. These are some magical times. It was a 2 AM hopelessly fallen in love moment.

Her days weren't like these every day. But, these were emotions she attached to every time. And just then she was wondering about the 4 PMs when she shut her laptop to leave her office. It was a 4 PM freedom moment.

(‘Monday Moments’ is a blog series wherein I write about an incident or a moment in a short paragraph. It’s not a story, but just a short description to express and explore the most common joys and also the uncommon miseries.)

A Ranting Session.

          There are days which suck to the core. Not one thing fits into place. You don't get the things you really want. There are no people to talk to because you're pissed off at all of them. And the ones you need aren't conveniently there for you. The TV shows that crack you up fail to even bring a smile and so does music. The happy stories in books only remind you of how sad and non-perfect your life is. You're just tired, sleepy and frustrated. Sounds familiar? Of course it does.

          It may be about your office or college. It may be about your friends or family. It may be about your boyfriend or girlfriend. It may be about your dog or cat. And once one thing is off, every little thing sets you on rage. Sometimes it seems unlikely how so many unfortunate events can happen to one person. But, shit happens. Part of life. You move on.

          The other day I was at home all day. Forgetting that exams are nearing, I binge watched 'The Big Bang Theory' the entire day. At that time multiple things set me off. Wi-Fi network problems, the sucky Snapchat update, water cut, no contact with best friend, nothing to eat, inability to get up and cook because of laziness are just a few. 

Stages to get out of the sad-leave-me-alone-no-one-loves-me zone :

1. You can't.

2. If you try too hard, you'll just feel more helpless than before.

3. The giving up stage of acceptance.

4. Feeling better when you have eaten up all the negativity humanly possible.

5. Normalcy. Actually thinking how lame the entire thing was.

          So I guess, the start of this post was that I'm not getting out of it. Then it changed to why am I even venting like this? Then it went to me feeling almost normal. Almost, mind you. What's your way to get out of the sad and depressed zone?

I don't usually post such stuff but it sure helps. Thanks for listening. You can rant whatever that's bothering you in the comments below!

Powerless. (Monday Moments #45)

          He was going through a tough time. His mother was acting really different for some time now. She called him by her father's name. She just zoned out sometimes. She forgot where she kept something time and again. That day she wasn't able to recollect what happened last week. So, her son took her to the doctor. After some tests, the obvious was out in the open. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. It was unbearably difficult for him to deal with it. His mother who taught him how to identify alphabets, had trouble understanding them. His mother who took him everywhere now had to be accompanied by him. His mother who listened to his rote answers for exams, was now at a loss of words. It was unbelievable and very painful. They both were home that evening. He said, "Mom, do you remember the time I went to my college industrial visit? You were so worried that I might get into trouble but it ended up being the most amazing trip." She was staring into the distance. After a while she replied, "Excuse me, what? Do you know who is that person in the photo frame?"

A tear rolled down from his eye. His mother was looking at her husband's picture and asking who he was. The son couldn't hold it within him. He started crying. He idolised his parents. Theirs was the only love story he adored. And now, his mother was cluelessly looking at her dead husband's picture wondering who he actually was. The son felt totally powerless. He just wanted his mother back. There was nothing in his power to get him his mother back. His mother was right in front of him but she had drifted farther away. At that moment, he knew nothing would ever be the same.

(‘Monday Moments’ is a blog series wherein I write about an incident or a moment in a short paragraph. It’s not a story, but just a short description to express and explore the most common joys and also the uncommon miseries.)