The Moonstruck Mystique...

All of us tend to get busy with life, maintaining routines and rushing through the day. We yearn to be happy all the time. Yet we fail to remember that happiness is almost never a destination but a journey. A journey of happiness not a journey to happiness. Today a stranger made my day! I took the bus this morning to take my daughter to the doctor for her scheduled vaccination. When I left home in the morning I had lots of things on my mind. Some silly chores, some tougher decisions, some worrisome situations. But as I entered the bus, the bus captain (the lady who drove the bus) gave me the warmest smile I could receive this morning. I smiled back and wished her a good morning. But it was she who had made mine. In that fleeting moment I realized that whether or not I bothered about my little or bigger problems, I would actually get through them. But I could choose to tackle them happily in the meanwhile. If each of us could pass on a smile and make someone's day brig...

It's been 25 long and eventful years today since my near fatal accident due to drunk driving by a truck driver and my amputation. Being a little girl then I would never have thought about the future but if my parents were to be told that this is where their daughter would be 25 years later, I guess they'd take it. There's no better joy in the world than making your parents happy. As a mother myself, I cannot fathom the pain a parent goes through when faced a situation of their little child having to undergo an amputation. The only positive then was that the infection didn't spread above my leg and amputating it at the hip meant I could still be alive. Today I’d like to appreciate the wonderful life and the amazing people I have been gifted with.  Having lived a fair share of my life in the cosy comforts of Dubai, moving to India gave me a cultural shock. The roads didn't have proper sidewalks, bathrooms weren't easy to use, monsoons were torrid cuz my ...

The reason I'm writing this post is that when I was expecting my child as a hip disartic amputee, I didn't know personally of anyone who had been through the same. Even googling didn't throw up much information or personalised cases. All that I could find was that prosthesis users will have to discontinue its use beyond the first few months of pregnancy to avoid excessive pressure on the abdomen. My obstetrician didn't have much experience working with a similar patient but being a very practical & calm person, it all worked out well for me. Having had zero complication through the course of my pregnancy, I would like to encourage ladies with similar issues to go ahead and plan a child with absolutely no inhibitions whatsoever. Let nothing stop you from enjoying the madness of motherhood !!!

I have a physical infirmity. I'm missing a leg and in pain many a times. I struggle to do things that 'normal' people would find easy. And yes, I have a 'normal', young, good-looking husband. Ever since I have been in this relationship, people around me have been in awe of the guy who chose to look beyond my physical disability and chose accept me. They looked up at the guy who despite being able bodied, smart, tall, educated, and handsome wanted to make me his life partner. Not the me who might be smart, intelligent, caring, thoughtful and pretty. But the me who is defined by my physical abnormality. Yes. I respect him for what he's done. For looking beyond the physical. For seeing the real me. Something that most guys I have met wouldn't. (Not that I was dying to be in a relationship or get married, mind you.) Yes. He has chosen to put up with my issues. To watch me helplessly as I suffer in pain. To make adjustments to suit my requirements at ever...

This is a term that most people around me began to use by the turn of the century in place of the age old term 'housewife'. I have always had a strong dislike towards the use of this term. I guess I felt that each member of a household is a homemaker; what home without each of them. But of late I have realized there's actually so much truth in calling the lady of the house 'The homemaker'. Yes, she makes it a home. She is home. Everything keeps changing. Our lifestyles, our attitudes, our priorities. The only one thing that does not change is our dearest homemaker. Whether she is working outside of home or not, she is what holds the family together. Come what may she is our guiding force. She is our source of strength. Since September last year I been trying to play this role and I guess I have been failing miserably at it. How do our mothers do it??? It is such a responsibility to be the focal point of the house. Amma, I'm sorry. I haven't done just...

2011 is finally drawing to a close. The end of a very very long year. A lot of things have happened during the course of the year, more worse than better. Getting married after 7 years of courtship would be the only silver lining. Ideally the wedding should be one of my most memorable moments but losing my mother in law within a month of the wedding makes me never want to be reminded of it. This year has seen the most drastic changes in me than ever. A different place, a transformed mindset, a whole new set of priorities and altered future goals... And I wish to believe that each is for the better. I have realized that although I want to write about everything that has been affecting me these past few months, I am terrified that I, along with my family, might be tormented by reliving the entire ordeal for the umpteenth time. So I shan't talk about what we've been through. I thought I'd write a post to make myself realize that things must go on. I shall continue rantin...

For the past four days the main social issue that the average man in India (and Indians abroad) has been talking about is Anna Hazare and his fast unto death towards seeing the Lok Pal bill come into effect. It might also be the most googled keywords in the past week. All of a sudden, the whole nation seems to have taken notice. Yes, by far corruption is one of the most pressing issues facing the nation today. People seem to be frantically raising their voices in support of the bill and calling for meetings and candle light vigils to express solidarity. But I am really not sure what exactly we are supporting. I mean yes, everyone wants corruption out of the system. But what is lacking is clarity of thought. We need not follow the crowd. I truly appreciate people who are against it and don't worry about expressing themselves. They are only bringing out a standpoint we might not have realized. Of course, it is a fancy thing that in a matter of hours we have realized our duties and r...