Collage of life ....

Life .... well lived ....
My life is a collage of moments to be remembered...
Memoirs to be shared...
No regrets whatsoever ....
Whatever happened in the four decades ....
Was to happen ....
Destined to happen ....
Am glad the events took place ...
It has made me a better human being.

It's like swimming in an Ocean ...
Overcoming obstacles like whirlpools...
Hurricanes and thunder and lightning....
Sea creatures; big and small,
Yet swimming nonetheless......
The shoreline a bit far away ...
But strength not sapping at all.

The events of the past one year ....
Brought forth the need to seek...
My family out ...
Am glad whatever happened ...
Took place ....
For someone up there was scripting the story ....
To get me to bond with my family again.

Am happy and thankful ...
To all who came in my life ....
Like a breeze....
A breath of fresh air ....
And, like the wind disappeared again ...
Because each gave me a pearl of wisdom ....
Each made me the Woman I am.
An expensive gift of experience to share ....
Learning the ropes too ...
A journey to be remembered ...
A collage of Life .....
Bits and pieces to be remembered and cherished ....
Bits and pieces to put the puzzle back together again ....
Links to be joined ....
A life to be written about ....
So that down the line ....
Generations to come ....
The Family tree is remembered....
And, the legend lives on.

The collage of life...
My Life's collage....
Colourful with shades of grey ...
Yet, a beautiful masterpiece ...
On this day today....
I offer it to my progeny..... My tomorrow.

A love story to be remembered....

His family originates from Lahore and Peshawar now in Pakistan ..... Her family originates from Rawalpindi, also in Pakistan ... After the partition the Great Granddads  settled in Pathankot and Delhi respectively. From Pathankot ... After the completion of his studies .... He joined IMA and then when he was posted in Deolali near Nasik ... he met met her Sister ... and when she went a visiting her sister in Deolali all the way from Delhi .... They met and the rest is history. They met ... fell in love .... she went back to Delhi ... he went to Delhi with a marriage proposal and they were married. Brigadier Som Prakash Nanda  and his Dulhan Prem aka Pammi Nanda.... This today wouldn't be possible if they hadn't fallen in love.

Yeh kahani hai Diye (Maa) ki aur Toofan (Daddu) ki ....

The most beautiful Bride for the most handsome Groom....

Nanaji...Maa's Dad

Nana Dada ... Diwan Saab .... he couldn't see... Maa was his eyes ... she would read the papers for him.

Yeh kahani hai Diye ki aur Toofan ki ....

Brigadier Saab with his Memsaahib...

Pitaji... Shri Pritamchand Nanda

 Pitaji..... Shri Pritam chand Nanda... was a true Gandhian till his last breath..... Angad would take his Sotti and run away in Chandigarh. He loved Mataji a lot. They were inseparable.

Maa

 The smile that could disarm any enemy.... She had it in her to charm her way to peoples hearts and souls. A great cook, a loving wife and a forgiving Mom.

Laughing & Smiling Maa....

Always Happy ... har mehfil ki jaan ....

Happy Daddu ... Eyes are smiling ..... Khushiyaan phir laut aayin..

 This is my FAMILY .... and I am happy to be able to proclaim so proudly. Without them, I wouldn't have been possible. Their Love story is my story's beginning.

Stickjaws .....

Stickjaws from Elloras.... No dieting please ....Thanks Daddu for sending them across ...Am freaking out on Stickjaws. Yumm yumm chomp chomp .... teeth stuck and glued by the gooey sticky caramel rich in clarified butter .... Ummm am in Heaven .... Ultimate bliss and Diwali gift.
The silver coin joins my collection of silver paraphernalia .... Thanks for that too.

The prodigal son returned home with ..... " Daddu behaves like you ..... just the way you behave ... everything in proper place..." I replied " I am but his daughter and I learnt from him and Maa."
Now, I don't have to say anything, he understands.... This is what elders do for their young ones... lead by example. Thanks Daddu for making him a responsible guy.

He is all gung ho for another trip up North and wants to go to Chandigarh too...
All the good things and meetings with Grandad's friends... He came away rejuvenated. I Like that.

Stickjaws .... memories floding my eyes with salty water .... But these are tears of happiness... Of heartfelt gratitude .... Dad you didn't forget!

Good Byes....

Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation! ~ Rumi


There never was.... there never will be ... Separation is too heavy a burden to carry on my delicate shoulders.  

Maa & Daddu .... Anusuya & Angad are your exact copies.... Amazing!

When I saw this photograph .... all the past memories came flooding back ..... The kids are the same image as their Grandad and Grandmom.

Am overwhelmed with emotions .... am binging the blues away ..... trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together ... some are missing ... Links broken .... But, am glad .... Got my Dad back.

Maa watches over us ... that is why ... today we are together again ... The kids have found their family once again.

This Diwali will be remembered always .... Happy Diwali Maa & Daddu  ....  There were no Good Byes ... There never will be.

Ek Hoonk si uthi dil mein .....

Aaj phir Diwali aayi ....
Phir roshni chaayi ....
Diye jale ....
Dil mein phir ek hoonk si uthi ....
Phir har pal koi bahut yaad aaya....
Uski muskurati aankhen ....
Uska yuun andheri raaton mein ....
Milon ki doori tayy kar ke aana....
Mere baalon ko sehlaana ....
Woh jaadu ki jhappi ....
Har ek pal ....
Aankhon ke saamney se guzar gaya....
Aaj phir ek hoonk uthi dil mein ...
Phir woh yaad aaya ...
Jisey bhulaney ke liye .....
Itne sitam sahey aur dil ko jalaya...
Barbaad ho gaye jiski mohabbat mein ....
Luut gayi shaan o shaukat....
Kuch baaki na bacha....
Reh gayi buss ek reit ki dheri ....
Aur kuch kagaz ke phool.
Aaj phir ek hoonk uthi hai dil mein ....
Ek toofan sa aa gaya hai ....
Ek aisa ufaan ....
Jo na le doobey mujhko phir ...
Tanhaiyyon ke safar mein....
Mehfil mein hoon ....
Phir bhi aankhen usey hi dhoond rahin hain...
Palat kar, ghoom kar phir aasmaan ko dekhti hain ...
Aur duaa karti hain ....
Yaa Rabb ....
Woh jahan bhi rahe...
Khush rahey ... Aabad rahey...
Meri hoonk ... halak mein atak jaati hai ...
Aansoon chalak aatey hain ...Aur mein ...
Apni manzil ki aur nikal padti hoon.

God makes sense ...

The word God makes sense ...Not humans....They are senseless beings indulging in senseless acts. We all have our idiosyncrasies but that doesn't mean we apply pressure on others to follow the same. If you are happy you are happy ... if you are sad; keep your moroseness to your own self rather than imposing yourselves on others.

You have moved on ... let the other being be. But, what you owe them ... give it back... else it is a small World and actions speak louder than words. Never take anything from anyone if you don't have the capacity to replenish it when you are gone. It's always a give and take relationship. Every relation is a give and take. If you take, have the shame to return the favour. Else, you ain't a man but .... you know what.... I don't need to elaborate it .. do I?

God makes sense .... the word .. the feeling .... the sentiment .... but not an idol or form. It is the Supreme being .... sort of a light, a glow within everything ... man, machine or animal  and trees.... anything that brings you spiritual happiness.... that helps solve your problems.

It makes sense to acknowledge what an angel has done for you. It makes absolute sense when you are humble and not high and mighty ..... living a lie. 

Maine Rabb ko dekha hai ....

Maine Rabb ko dekha hai ...
Unn nanhi aankhon mein ....
Maine khudaa ko jaana hai ....
Pakad ke unn nahi hatheliyon ko ...
Maine Bhagwan ko paaya hai ...
Jab uss bachchey ko goud mein uthaya hai ....
Angel jisey kehte hain ....
Woh nanhi si jaan .....
Meri zindagi mein aaya hai.
Maine Rabb, Khudaa, Bhagwan ....
Sabko paa liya ....
Mukti mil gayi insaani zazbaaton se....
God particle ....
Jo mere ghar aaya hai.

Rabb jhooth naa bulwaye ....
Unn neeli aankhon mein ....
Samundar ki ghehrayee hai ...
Unn komal haathon mein ....
Saara sansar simat gaya hai....
Mera sansaar ...
Mera ghar ....
Mera sab kuch ....
Uss khudaa ke bheje farishtey ki hatheliyon mein hai.

Woh ek nahi ...
Anek hai.....
Ek toofan hai...
Samundar mein macha ek ufaan hai....
Mere andar ka insaan hai....
Jismey yeh jahan hai.

Maine Rabb ko dekha hai ...
Dekha hai .... Unn ankhon mein.

Absolute Bliss...

Permanent solution ....
Eat well ...
Absolute bliss ....
Kebabs... Biryanis....
You name it and I shall have it ..
On a culinary tasting spree ...
Tastebuds ... leaking with saliva....
Move over Ivan Pavlov ....
All I know is food ... Food delights me.
Tickle my senses ....
Moksha ... Absolute bliss...
That's what life is all about ....
Finding a purpose ...
In winters .... Indulge in tasteful licks ....
Curl up in bed and order what you want ...
You shall get it ...
It's just a call away ....
What? Your food ...
Your ultimate purpose for living ...
And going out and working hard ....
That's what Man works for ...
Oops women too ....
For the two square meals ...
That their hard work can get them.
I work for my Bread, Butter, Sausages, Ham and Salami.
Absolute Bliss.