Stay-at-home Dad. (Monday Moments #61)

          The parents woke up in the morning. Mother prepared breakfast for them and packed herself lunch for office. When she went to work, it was a father-daughter day like every other day. Dad woke up his little princess of 1-year-old. He brushed her teeth. Once again failed in potty training lessons. Bathed her and then she smelled like a flower. He fed her breakfast and let her play in the bedroom. It was a nice day. She was in a good mood since morning and hadn't thrown anything at him yet. So, he was in a good mood too. He took out his camera and did a photo session of his girl. You have to admit. there's nothing cuter than adorable baby photos. He loved them. His day went by mostly in changing diapers, making her to stop crying, feeding and back again. Sometimes he felt like being a father so soon wasn't a good decision. Sometimes he also felt that he should do a serious job like his wife does. Some days were full of regret. But then there were these little moments. The moment when his daughter looked at him and gave the most precious smile. The moment when she giggled after pooping in her diaper. The moment when she slowly went to sleep and had the same frown on her face like her mother. The moment when just looking at her, he forgot about all his worries because she was not only his daughter, she was his life and more. Then came the moment when he looked at her and she looked at him and uttered, "Dadda." He didn't know one word would matter that much to him.

(‘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.)

My 'Brave Playlist'!

Life lately hasn't been a happy ride. There are hurdles the size of mountains and while jumping above them, you just end up getting hurt with a flawed landing. There are days that are just pure crap! Not one thing goes as you had planned. There's not a single happy moment in those 24 long hours. It feels like the Dementors have sucked the happiness out of you. All that's left is gloominess and misery. I don't need to define more, because we've all had such days. Some us more than others.

I have read so many blog articles about cheering my mood in such situations. And here's the way which always works for me. I listen to music. And not just any music, I have a Brave Playlist! All the songs in here give me so much hope about life. They assure me that everything is going to be okay. Sometimes I even end up having a dance party. All the songs in this playlist solve my sadness about social anxiety, breakdowns, friendship crises, absence of love life, career choices and feel-good attitude. Here's my gold Brave Playlist!

1. Fight Song by Rachel Platten:

I remember the time my friend told me to listen to this song and when I downloaded it, I was listening to it on repeat for a month! This is my go-to song especially during exams. It really helps with the motivation levels. Apart from that, it's the kind of song which will just give you the fire to go on. And if you scream out the so powerful lyrics, you might as well discover a new-found purpose for your life!

"All those things I didn't say.. Wrecking balls inside my brain. 

I'll scream them loud tonight.. Can you hear my voice this time?"

2. Brave by Sara Bareilles:

It's right there in the name. This song really helps with my social anxiety and clears self-doubts. I feel like it's the song of an introvert trying to speak her mind out. Sometimes in life, you feel like you've reached an impasse and you feel like fleeing to some place far away. You just need to distance yourself from all your problems. But, when you listen to this, you will feel like staying and fighting those problems because you are brave!

"Say what you wanna say.. And let the words fall out. 

Honestly, I wanna see you be brave."

3. Shake It Off by Taylor Swift:

There's always a Taylor Swift song for what you are feeling. I've been a swiftie for years now and her music has always helped me out of rough patches. I listen and dance to this song especially when I get screwed by politics or frenemies or when I'm on my 'I hate everyone' phase. Shake It Off always helps me with getting over my problems caused because of petty people. And when I'm finally on 'I don't care what they think about me', I know I'm a winner. It's dramatic but it makes me realise I am what I am. You just gotta shake it off!

"I keep cruising.. Can't stop, won't stop grooving. 

It's like I got this music..

In my mind.. Saying, "It's gonna be all right!" 

4. Dear No One by Tori Kelly:

This is the song which will be the Bible for all the single women out there! All of you are good enough alone. Love yourself and value yourself. You don't need another person for your happiness. Whenever I feel lonely, this song comes and saves me. Being an independent, introvert and a girl boss is the meaning of this song. So dear no one, take your time to find me but until then I am enough.

"I'm done looking for my Future Someone. 

'Cause when the time is right.. you'll be here, but for now.. 

Dear No One.. this is your love song.."

5. King of Anything by Sara Bareilles:

This is another song for women with sad love lives. It takes a stand for women who don't get an opinion in decisions, who are not valued and just taken for granted. It gives you a positivity of taking things in your own hands and doing what you want. Life is temporary. So, make the most out of it. Get out of meaningless relationships. Don't take no for an answer. Go wild and speak for yourself.

"I hate to break it to you, babe.. 

But I'm not drowning.. There's no one here to save."

6. Roar by Katy Perry:

Everyone knows the beauty of this song. From a kitten to a lion, you have to evolve into a stronger version of yourself. Pick up the pieces, glue yourself together and come back stronger than ever. Hear me roar!

"You held me down.. But I got up. 

Already brushing off the dust.." 

7. Where Does the Good Go? by Tegan and Sara:

This is one of my favourite feel-good songs. It's so underrated but once you listen to it, you'll be obsessed. Also, it's the parting song of Cristina in Grey's Anatomy. So, it holds a special place for me. The music gives all the positive vibes which will cheer you up real fast and get you back on track.

"Look me in the eye and promise no love's like our love.. 

Look me in the heart and unbreak broken, it won't happen.."

Fight Song, Brave and Shake it Off is for when you doubt your self. Dear No One, King of Anything and Roar is for when you feel lonely. And Where Does the Good Go is a cherry on top of the cake and make you feel great.

Do you have a Brave Playlist?

Handling Criticism. (Monday Moments #60)

          She had been a designer at the firm for about 6 months. Everyone at her office was pleased with her work. She put lots of efforts doing her job. While pursuing her Ph. D. in literature, she worked extra hours just for her passion. 'Do what you love and love what you do.' She firmly believed in that. This was why she continued on her two hobbies; design and literature, into her career. Her boss called her for a meeting that day. They had a new client with a completely different line of business. She had researched about such businesses and come up with a design. But, in that meeting, her boss told her what the client felt about it. His words were something like this. "He hated the design and wants you to re-work it. He said that he expected a much higher level of quality and was disappointed with this. He has given you more time to make something which will match his goodwill in the industry." And at the end were some words of encouragement. As she left that meeting, she had to stabilize herself because that was the first ever criticism she had received. She knew this moment would come some time in her career. She thought she would be ready but when it happened, it shattered her. With a sad existential crises, she went to her literature class. Fortunately, the book they had to read was reviewed. It was a classic and everyone was stressing on its critics. And then she spoke, "The author had two choices. He could've taken the critics seriously and quit writing. Or he could've studied them and used it as an improvement. We're lucky he used option 2 because that's how we could read his other bestsellers." And just like that, literature helped her problem with art. One hobby came to the rescue of the other. She knew exactly what she had to do. She knew she wasn't going to sit and cry about it but instead take that criticism constructively to make something extraordinary. She chose option 2 as well and she too became a bestseller.

(‘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.)

Just Not Meant To Be. (Monday Moments #59)

          It had been a few months since his break-up. It was still tough. The pain never ceased to exist. He was still healing but then one day he saw a girl, a colleague. She was this cool person. She had heard about her but never seen her. She had heard about her interest in rock music, her tattoos, her care-free attitude. She worked to pay bills and go on adventures. She was an unstoppable fierce woman. He was quite like that. But, for him, people came first. He invested in friends the way she invested in herself. That day they talked. There was a spark in their eyes. They became really good friends in a really short period of time. His friends used to badger him to ask her out. Her friends used to do the same. There was love and chemistry between them. But, the problem was that they were scared out of their minds. After their numerous conversations, he started thinking of himself first. And she became a little less robotic and more caring. He taught her empathy whereas she taught him solitude. They knew they were vulnerable in front of each other. No one before had controlled their lives in such a way. Everyone knew that they were in love but they were afraid. He was scared of being left alone. She was scared of being left friendless. Even if it was obvious, they were in denial. It was that moment where they didn't want to lose each other even when they weren't even together.

          Sometimes, you meet the right people at the wrong time. Sometimes, there are perfect stars in the sky but the sky is not dark enough to let them shine. Sometimes, there are only happy nows and no happy endings. 

(‘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.)

Best Friends Until? (Monday Moments #58)

          Robin glared at her phone. With no missed calls or text messages, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. There was a time when this would've excited her, but not anymore.

          Robin had always been a quiet girl and kept to herself. She wasn't interested in other people's lives and couldn't even care to pretend to be interested. With the soul of an introvert, she had lived her entire life in peace and solitude. But then, she met Rachel. Within a few months, that stranger had become her best friend. Robin was coming for a breath of fresh air. She was doing things she never thought she would. The girl who just read all day, found other interesting things to do. Rachel took her hand and dragged her out of her comfort zone and showed her a world full of adventures. In those 7-8 months, she had talked to several strangers without getting anxious, went dancing to pubs, tried drinking, went on a 4-day road trip and many night-outs. All these things were just from the outside. They were all physical. But, she grew psychologically too. Rachel used to call her up and they both used to end up talking for hours on things that mattered. Robin, who replied to texts after a long gap, now talked on the phone for real. And the best part of this entire spiritual make-over was that it felt true. Sometimes she'd feel guilty about not reading as much. She even felt weird not hanging out with her other couple of friends. But, with Rachel, it was like she was her soul sister who knew her in and out. Soon, Rachel got into a relationship. And everything happened very fast. She hanged out more with her boyfriend and less with Robin. She was happy for her but couldn't help but feel sad for her lonely self. After a month of distant calls and formality meetings, she just broke down. She was losing her best friend and it hurt more than possible. She wondered why do people come into your life, give it a meaning and then just leave? Why do friends always get neglected when people get into a relationship? As she stared at her phone, she knew there won't be any long-hour phone calls, a part inside her was crushed. She missed her best friend. But she also hated her. Hated her for leaving her in the middle of a chaos. Hated her for not being there. Hated her for giving her the best fantasy movie which turned out to be a horror movie.

Why does God gives us people to love only to take them away from us?

(‘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.)

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.)