The Secret Wish List - Book review

Book: The Secret Wish List
Author : Preeti Shenoy
Pages : 260
Published by : Westland Publishers

I finished the book in 4 days. I took so long as frankly it didn't keep me glued to it. Unlike other books by Preeti Shenoy I have to say this one is boring , monotonous and repetitive . Opening of the book is good where school days are described. Story oscillates between present and past. The narration takes you back to school grounds and the teenage infatuations but after that I was just waiting for the end. I knew the end but had to finish it as I wanted to see if there is a twist!I would love to see a damsel not in distress the next time she writes a book. Its always a troubled woman who ultimately becomes strong and faces the world.

The protagonist Diksha is trapped in her married life and is seeking peace and real happiness. You feel connected to her but the way the events turn out its much more like a movie to me. The moment the book becomes a movie I lose interest. Every thing happens like she wants all of a sudden and her romance blooms which in real life is actually tough. The circumstances and the chances are co operative and she again finds her old love. Frankly too many lines were repetitive. After meeting her teenage love Ankit she keeps on saying the same things all over again. I know it happens in love but to read it in book was a bit boring !Few characters got dissolved in the mid. I thought there is some thing more to the character Vibha who is Diksha's cousin. Compared to the previous books this definitely was not up to the mark. It is like reading a similar story again. I loved Life is what you make it and felt Tea for two and a piece of cake was OK! This book is a time pass read and as it is the fourth book may be I expected a lot. I was expecting a story where lead roles would be doing all adventurous things in the wish list and not a woman oriented book where there are relationship or marital problems again.

Few bits I liked are the Salsa and the details, the mother in law who seemed extremely understanding and sweet. Such characters again are rare species in real life. I mean there are mothers who support even rapist sons so I don't think a mother in-law will support a daughter in-law immediately if she wants to walk out of a marriage. I liked the way places and localities are described. I liked the concept of writing down a secret wish list and ya I loved the cover page which lead to my great expectations.

My rating : 2/5

Lastly if you are travelling you may take this book with you. It will make a good companion for a short journey :)

Happy weekend

May Photo A Day Challenge : Day 18: Want(s)!

The Day 18 prompt for "May Photo A Day Challenge : A challenge that will change your life" is 18. Want: What do you want in your life??

The needs and wants are again going to intersect in this post of mine. There is a thin line between them but wants are some thing which can wait in my case but some times wait gets too longer :-/. Anyway in the below collage I am showing few things which I badly want. I want them real bad.

I want to write . Write a lot. Write even when I am exhausted, when I am lazy or even drowsy. I want to write more than I think I can. That pic on the left most corner of the collage is of me typing out a story which frequently gets halted. I hope my grey matter remain mobile and pumps creative juices. I badly want to get a job . The one with me sitting at a fountain was clicked in Infosys and the one below it is the beautiful Infy swimming pool. I have done temporary jobs in the last one year. More than money want some thing to stay occupied and have an active social life like before. Trying to shift gears to a permanent writing job and hoping it works when I get a good opportunity. I want to read more and more books. My meager reading disappoints me sometimes! I want to travel to all the breathtaking places and feel like I conquered the world. The waterfalls in the collage are Hogenekkal falls - 3hrs from Bangalore. I want to cook better than my husband ;) This is the veg bagaara  rice (Hyderabadi cuisine) which lead to many compliments !

If you want to know more about my endless wants or wishes you can refer to my wishlist which I scribbled during the A-Z challenge.

Last but not the least I want to meet SRK. If I get an opportunity to do so one day I will just not let it go!

 

The above one is the picture of SRK's photo frame in Ambiance mall - Gurgaon at Bluo where we played bowling. Taken from my phone and effects added by photomania app in Facebook. There were many more pics of SRK in the room. Needless to say I got bowled and got absorbed in clicking and forgot bowling :)

I always love the below quotes !

The worst thing one can do is not to try, to be aware of what one wants and not give in to it, to spend years in silent hurt wondering if something could have materialized - never knowing.
Jim Rohn 

There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.
Oscar Wilde

May Photo A Day Challenge : Day 17 : Season!

The Day 17 prompt for "May Photo A Day Challenge : A challenge that will change your life" is 17. Season: What season is it where you are? How can you share it in a photo?

 While many parts of India are suffering from scorching summer heat, Bangalore is immensely cool and romantic these days. Early mornings are extremely foggy and it drizzles in evenings for sure. The below pic is clicked at 6 A. M. in the morning on my way to gym..

Roads flanked by tall green trees either side and the fog make this pic beautiful!

The season we are in is pleasant. It is neither too hot nor too cold . It is just the way I love :) I wish the same continues and monsoons relieve us more and more. By the way the season I am in can be represented by the dew drops on the flowers below too. I already posted this pic but still it deserves to be here and it is not clicked in Bangalore. Another pic which represents the season I am in is that of the yummy mango milk shake we made at home few days back. Mangoes are abundant as it is summer and who doesn't want to sip a cool mango shake on a sunny day! Have a pleasant day all of you.

Mango Milk shake

A memorable day at Bombay!

We went to Mumbai which was Bombay then in 1994. I was quite impressed by the vastness of the city. I even asked my uncle where the end point of the city was. He was quite stumped by the question and praised me saying it was an intelligent question. Among all the places I visited the most memorable one was "Haji Ali Dargah"  .

The Dargah contains the tomb of  Sayed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. The Dargah was constructed just off the shore of   Worli. I found the structure majestic and heavenly. It felt magical to walk in to the sea. I felt like I was in some fairy tale. The waves beating up the rocks and the water drops hitting our faces now and then as if to say “hi” was a pleasant welcoming sight! It was heavily crowded that day. People from various regions, religions and countries visited to get blessings. I was overwhelmed on seeing people from around the globe. For an hour it felt like we all belonged to the universal religion of love. We were lucky as it was Friday. We enjoyed Sufi music and Qawwalis inside the Dargah.

We took many snaps with our humble Konica camera. It was a hot humid day and so we couldn’t sit for long. I was dead scared by sea or any water body in those days. I always felt the wave would eat me up. The fear subsided now but it has not vanished! I dared to sit on the rocks that day where waves were ferocious.  The right most in pony tail is me in the picture which was taken on the way back. From left- my uncle, dressed in red- Dolly my cousin, my brother and cousin brother with water bottle around his neck.

"This post is my entry for the'One Picture From My Photo Album' contest conducted by My Yatra Diary and CupoNation.

I am nominating "Nandana", "Naina Madan" and "Janaki" to take part in this ‘One Picture From My Photo Album’ contest. Thank You

May Photo A Day Challenge : Day 16 : MailBox!

The Day 16 prompt for "May Photo A Day Challenge : A challenge that will change your life" is 16. Mailbox: Take a photo of yours, or someone else's! 

Thanks to today's prompt as I discovered that there is a mail box hidden in my apartment just beside the lift in a dark corner ;). A brand new one which is untouched and unused. I could find an old Deccan Herald news paper in it though!

After stepping out of the gym I keenly observed the surroundings but couldn't find a mail box in the vicinity. In this digital age where even bills are paid online I guess many don't feel the necessity to get one outside their homes . Just when I was getting disappointed my husband who came to pick me up said, "We have one at our apartment right ! You say that you have a very sharp vision :P," he mocked. I remembered a Urdu proverb , "Bagal mein bacha gaaon me dhindora" which means you are holding the baby in arms but making a fuss searching for it in the town!

Thankfully my problem was resolved and I jubilantly clicked the mail box or post box in my apartment much to the amusement of onlookers. Watchman had that scary expression on his face as if the next thing I will do is plant a bomb in the post box. A man who was reversing his car looked at me as if I am stealing petrol from another car :P I ignored all the stares and happily clicked. I feel so glad when people don't understand what I am up to :) He was still gazing at me and I was happily checking the pics while pressing the elevator button. He for sure would have come to a conclusion that I am a GONE CASE! I don't mind as today's prompt ate my head !

effects added by Instagram and Piccollage

Thanks to the apps on my Iphone- Instagram and Piccollage. They are wonderful apps which assisted and are still assisting me to survive this challenge. They make even boring pics interesting. The empty mail box seemed sad to me hence I added the love stamp and an envelop sticker around the POST BOX. I added them as they reminded me my school and college days when I used to write hordes of letters to mom and friends. I used to make sure that the letter box at home was always full :). I used to do lot of  art work on envelops. I love making hand made cards. Even now I make them for mom. We all sms or chat on facebook or whats app and mail each other "if needed" but my heart is always trapped in that letter box. All the beautiful letters which sometimes were 8 pages long are preserved in a file at home. Phew ! Before I get drowned in the sea of nostalgia ending this post with a beautiful Telugu song which always reminds me the old letters and envelops!

In the below movie "Premalekha" the handsome hero Ajith and heroine Devayani love each other only via letters ! How cute and filmy is that. It was made in Hindi too the title of which is "Sirf tum" :) In the below song they are expressing their love and also the empty feeling as they are not able to meet!

Letters always remind me the hindi movie Saajan and the heart warming songs. Aah the 90's. sigh !

Julie's Dark Secret!

Julie is getting married today! A bride's expression is equal to a Nobel Prize winner’s but Julie was all gloomy. Rehan loved Julie immensely. He was ready to sacrifice anything and everything for her. "My son in-law should be a born Christian who is baptized. If you think of taking a bold step you will see all our dead faces," warned Julie's dad. She requested Rehan to forget her. As she got dressed in the bridal frock she wondered why his memories are getting stronger with every passing second. She hugged the dark secret to take it to her grave!

This is in response to 100 words on Saturday prompt by Everyday Gyaan

May Photo A Day Challenge :Day 15. 7 o' clock

The Day 15 prompt for "May Photo A Day Challenge : A challenge that will change your life" is 15. 7 o’clock: Whatever you’re doing at 7am or 7pm – share it!

What I actually do at 7 A.M. or P.M. depends on my mood , situation and patience :) If I wake up early in the morning by 5 45 or 6 I would be in gym by that time but the cool lazy Bangalore mornings force me to switch off the alarm and I usually end up in gym by 7 : 30 or some times 8 or even 9. I watch TV only while eating or if I come across some thing interesting while browsing through innumerable channels. More than TV watching I do browsing. 

Anyway today I  was travelling in the bus from Hyderabad to Bangalore and it was around 7 by the time I reached home. As soon as we got down the first thing we did like we always do is buying "Nandini" milk packets from a vendor near by. As we both are chai freaks that's the priority when the day starts :) As and when I entered the house I boiled the milk. Of course I brushed my teeth before I did that !

Just about to boil

The image of boiling milk always feels good. Pasteurization is very much needed to preserve the milk and I have been taught this many times as my dad works in Dairy department :) Even if you don't have fridge at home boiling milk at regular intervals preserves it. In India boiling milk is a ritual on many festival days. We have 100s of sweet dishes which have milk as a major ingredient. As per my mom's instructions I even boiled milk on the first day we entered our new home. It actually is a Hindu tradition but followed by most of the south Indians. The milk is allowed to overflow and spill over. This symbolizes that our new lives would be overfilled with wealth , health and happiness ;) Once the boiling gets over the rest of it in vessel is used to make some sweet !

Below is my milk boiling pic at 7 A.M. today morning :)

A real life episode!

I recently went to a neighbor’s house along with my mom and brother. They stay in the 5^th floor of our old apartment . We used to stay in the 2^nd floor. They became friends during morning walks. An old lady who is a sweet and impressive person, her sister whom she calls choti and her husband Mr. Patel used to come regularly for the walks. Choti and the elder lady are very lovable. Mr.Patel recently had a by-pass surgery done. We planned to visit him once he got discharged. They always say few good things which only experienced people can say and give good advice as well. It is never boring to listen to their unending conversation even if it is repetitive at times. They always narrate their anecdotes from yester-years when they were of my age and how Mr.Patel struggled to gain name and fame in his business. He wanted to be a successful entrepreneur. His head is still full of ideas at the age of 75 +. He started his career at a consultancy. He wanted to establish his own factory which sells spare parts of transformers and other electric appliances. My brother who did his MBA listens to him so keenly that he doesn't pay attention to anything else. He sat beside him with sparkling eyes and a thoughtful face and we sat opposite to him listening to his past that particular day. 

Mr.Patel started at some industry as a sales adviser. He was initially doing some sales and finance related work. I don’t exactly remember what his cadre was!On one fine morning neatly tucked in a white collared dress he went to give his interview in a famous firm in Gujarat. Being in Gujarat from 10-15 years he was habituated to the food, climate, people and everything there. After having some dhokla in breakfast he went at sharp 9 to the office for interview and was waiting for his number. He was called inside.

Interviewer: “So your marks sheets seem impressive .Where do you stay?”

Patel: “I am staying here in Ahmedabad from 10years. My native place is near Lucknow.”

I: “Oh great! You have done school and graduation from Gujarat totally?” he said with a flashing bright smile.

P: “Yes I am very much from here. My roots are in Uttar Pradesh but I am born and brought up in Gujarat!”

I:  “Yes your name says so. Glad to meet you Mr. Patel!”

P: “Pardon!?”

I: “Nothing. You can join from tomorrow if it works for you Mr. Patel .What pay are you expecting?”

P:  “Thanks a lot sir! I never thought this would be that easy!”

I: “You have wonderful grades and good past experience. Why wouldn’t it be easy?”

After some negotiations on salary he departed to fill some induction forms and to complete some formalities. After some 15 minutes interviewer who also will be his future boss called him hurriedly inside after checking all his documents!

I: “Err! What’s your first name?!”

P: “Its Hasan sir”!

I: “Oh! You are a Muslim!” He almost shouted with oh shit expression on his face.

P: "Hmm. Yeah! Why .What happened"? 

I: "No nothing! But you have Patel as surname and in your signature you wrote as Hasan S. Patel Does S mean Shaikh!? Your full name is Hasan Shaikh patel!???!?" the interviewer again questioned him with the same bewildered expression.

P: “Yeah! Is there some problem?”

I: "No. No problem at all. You can join from tomorrow like we decided. I was under the impression that you are a Gujarati." he told with a tinge of disappointment in his voice.

Hasan : “Well. No .I stay here since my birth. That is what I meant and I am a Muslim."

 Mr. Patel or Hasan Patel joined office the very next day. Soon he became a very close friend to his boss Jignesh Patel. They used to go to each other's homes and enjoy  Lucknowi and Gujarati cuisines on weekends. Hasan was more like a brother to Jignesh . He gave suggestions when needed and many a times solved his personal problems. Jignesh always used to tell him that he can only say thanks to god  for creating confusion on the day of the interview :)

After few years Hasan left the company to pursue his dream. He materialized the plan he had from long. He wanted to have his own firm which makes the spare parts of transformers. His dream finally came true. Every thing was going well. Jignesh was still close to Hasan and his new factory by God's grace was flourishing.

When every thing was happening like he planned a dreadful day dawned on him in 1992 . The memories of the day send a shiver  in his spine till date. During the Ayodhya- Babri religious conflicts his factory was destroyed. (after the Babri Mosque demolition on 6 December 1992.) His factory was totally burnt over night. He was not able to save even a single equipment by the time he reached the place. He felt ruined. He was absolutely depressed and shattered. He tried hard to not lose courage. Though he left the thought of starting a firm again as his financial condition was weak he was able to get a decent job and earn again. Jignesh used to tell always ,"How I wish those bloody riots got confused just like me that you are a Patel and not sheikh!"

He financially supported Hasan and Hasan was succesful in his career. Due to horrible consequences of attacks and after becoming financially low he never was able to implement the idea of business again . His kids also warned him not to hastily take any adventurous step as the situation was sensitive! So it was one of the chapters of his life.  A very important chapter where he was about to rise in his career! One more similar company rose in that time the name of which is EMCO Ltd which makes transformers! If Hasan's  finances cooperated with him he would have started all over again but his dream was destroyed by some one else. Hasan tried and failed as an entrepreneur but he succeeded in life and raised three wonderful kids and was able to stand back on his feet pretty faster. His wife was his back bone and his friends including Jignesh lent their perennial support to him!

 Jignesh and Hasan realised that "a name and religion lead to nothing but conflicts" and became close friends .I am not sure when the whole country would realize it .We have many such examples of people getting close keeping aside the good for nothing reasons like region , religion , state , caste, creed and so on. There are many factors in India based on which we can differentiate people! I read some where that GOD is very big so he is distributed among many religions and castes .It is not taught in any religion to fight against the other!

Image courtesy : http://www.fmh-child.org/unity.gif

Praying and hoping peace will replace the desire to cut off the other in to pieces I end this story!

Below is the image of a Muslim woman carrying his son dressed as  "Lord Krishna" to a school function.

Image courtesy : "here"

I wish to get my story published in Chicken Soup for the Indian Entrepreneurs Soul in association with BlogAdda.com

May Photo A Day Challenge :14. Need"s"

The Day 14 prompt for "May Photo A Day Challenge : A challenge that will change your life" is 14. Need: What’s a need in your life?

There are many things which I "need" in my life. The list is endless but some things can be pushed in to things I want list for now. The top most things which I need , which actually give me a high are represented in the below collage ;) 

Starting from top most left corner and moving towards right and down in clock wise direction. My mom ,dad - they both are my strength , my weakness and my back bone. I miss them a lot post-wedding. My family . My brother who was my first best friend and a pic again with my mom on a lazy Sunday. I love sitting , chatting and gossiping with mom. My FR.I.E.N.D.S.  They are god given siblings. Neither the distance nor the fights can keep us apart for long.The ones in the pic are Gulhina (from Krukshetra Haryana) and Ipsita from Mumbai.They are my best girl friends. Of course there are few more people but the size of the collage doesn't allow many:) I need my camera and love it the most as it helps in capturing the memories and living in them at times. My husband and the love and smiles I share with him .My book rack which is my treasure trove. I can spend hours sleeping beside it with a book in my hand or on my lap. The pic to the left of  the book rack is clicked 2 days back in a friend's wedding. Along with me is my friend Nandana. I don't remember when we developed a close bond but once we became close there was no looking back. I love the silly jokes and anecdotes we share! The pic on top of it is taken in Agra fort - I need travelling to stay alive. Travelling to beautiful places rejuvenates me. The pic above the Agra fort is of Ayaan playing in the bucket. He is my cousin's son. KIDS. Like I said in my " previous" post they bring instant smiles ! A trip to Hyderabad is incomplete with out visiting him. 

Last but not the least the hub of the collage shows "me."  I need and I want people , places , books and things around me but the me- time is most important of all. Self introspection , self-conversations are much needed many a times. Hence I need me which completes the list of things I need :) This pretty much sums up the needs of my life.Ya some times there are one or two add-on's.

Good day all of you!

Book Rack

Ayaan

Gulhina

Travelling

:) Have fun !

May Photo A Day Challenge :13. Sunrise/Sunset:

The Day 13 prompt for "May Photo A Day Challenge : A challenge that will change your life" is 13. Sunrise/Sunset: Choose one or both, and take some time to see the sun wake or go to sleep.

Its tough to take Sunrise pics as you have to wake up early but still I managed to take once in our resort in Jim corbett. One of the very few sunrise pics I have. There is some thing about sunrise and sunset which always fills hope. The sun sets and rises again next day which gives the hope to go on in life :)

The below one is an early sunrise pic taken at Jim Corbett.

Early morning followed by birds cooing
and sun lighting up everything around.

The below pic is of a magical sunset which happened at hima saagar water reservoir - Hyderabad. It is at the air port road. I felt lucky that day as I was able to visualize this rare salsa of sun and sky with water :) Do check out.

Isn't it gorgeous?

The individual clicks are below. Have a sunshine filled day. good morning all of u :) and if sun is setting in the part of the globe where you reside good evening and good night !!

The glory trapped by human beings :)

This was a sunset in Jaipur!

Sunrise!

The magical one again!