Come with me

A huge gathering at the airport- family,relatives,friendsâ €¦everyone was there to see me off as I boarded my first flight to US.My parents were more nervous than I was…I was frankly most tense about getting lost.What if??????? How will I change flights,immigration,will I reach Cleveland one piece…
Well…I did manage that and it turned out to be the easiest thing in this world…

Ok now my picture of United States aur mera hone waala ghar was a fully furnished one ,each room has an attached bathroom with “bath-tub” and its basically a replica of heaven.
25 Aug,2002- As my friend Rajiv picked me from Cleveland airport and drove me to Akron all throughout in the midst of my traveling hang-over I was looking for something different,something that will tell me –yes that’s US and that’s how it is different from India..I thought that I was just too tired from the long journey and that’s the reason I cant figure it out right now..
But as I enter my house in Akron,greeted by Sapna whose busy with all others shifting to the house next door and moving stuff from here to there,I am taken a back.

My dream room is actually just a room with a mattress and stuff lying around everywhere.

I burst into tears and just slept off in sometime on that one mattress in my room. I guess I got used to this fact(or maybe got myself used to it)with time J

as I would repeat to myself 'priya arora-welcome to the real world'

I woke up the next day with the realization I wasn’t home.

Mummmyyyyyyyyyyyyy……⠀¦â€¦.papa,Pooja…koyee bhee nahee hai…main kahan jayun,main kyun aayi yahan….kyuuuuun…I never knew I was so attached to home as much as I realized this in my first few weeks of stay in US.I would talk to them everyday,chat for hours…they missed me equally.

Time- is definitely the best healer,the solution to all problems…all fears…I was a cry-baby when I came here,a pampered child at age 22 who had to be exposed to this air to learn.And that’s exactly what happened.

Apart from a new life,lots of learning and exposure,Akron gave me friends I would cherish forever.Moreso, it’s also the place one gets used to…the roads,the familiarity with the places around me,my university that I see everyday,it became my comfort zone.
But that wasn’t my purpose of coming to the United States.I had to move out one day.Bid goodbye with tears in my eyes once again…with memories and lots of them…forever!

A new life is waiting for me with open arms and I am definitely looking forward to it.

For those who havent seen Bunty aur Babli yet,you are missing something in life.I just loved it...fir chahe uskee cast ho,ya characters,ya fir songs hon,ya dialogues...a very light and different movie...it will leave you smiling all the time...either at the romance in the song 'chup chup ke',or the funny QQQuereshi,or the connection between bunty,babli and all others,or amitabhs hip-hop number,or aish's dance on the awesome kajra re number along with father and son, sung beautifully by alisha,or ranis punju upbringing,or the presence of old actors like prem chopra or ranjit,or shamak dawar's choreography...

There are some movies we see for the songs like Taal...i'd heard the songs too many times before the release of the movie...but for some its different.Like for b n b,i had not heard a single song before i saw the movie- and thats all i have been listening to since sunday now.

Abhishek is so much like his Dad in some scenes...heart-throb...sensational...like father like son ;-)

I just loved the movie...

Words...make all the difference...
kaha jaata hai ki kamaan se nikla teer aur mooh se nikle lafz kabhi waapis nahi aate...in other words 'think before you speak'

So many times we happen to just talk nonsense,not meaning a word and yet end-up hurting the other person.And its very difficult or maybe impossible to mend that wound.
At the same time,sometimes just one soothing word,just said like that,is a blessing for them.How much does it take to be nice and to not hurt- nothing!

Just a few things off-hand which define a basic human character ,i wont admit that I have been forever perfect,but yes,have learnt over these past years and try to practice them as much possible-
Be in your face and honest and yet not curt, dont lie and dont hide,dont hold grudges(lifes too short for that)

So comeon people lets be a reason to make them happy...and not let them feel alone...

Uthe sabke kadam dekho rum pum pum
ajee aise geet gaaya karo
Kabhi khushi kabhi gum dekho rum pum pum
Haso aur hasaya karo...

moving yet again...an uncertain future yet again...
does history repeat itself..oh ya...it surely does,but each time lets me know how much I have grown and changed from the last time.Time...never stops.Every passing day I learn something new,something different.Every person I meet contributes in some way or the other.
'The only time we waste in our lives is when we think that we are alone'
God has given us certain abilities,each individual is special.I am special,so are you.Never underestimate your abilities,cos you are here to accomplish something,and if u feel u havent done that yet ,you sure will...just dont feel having wasted your time.And if u feel so then remind yourself that its never too late.Just had it in my mind today and thought of sharing it with you all...

Was just wondering-whats with men and a bad handwriting???Why do boys/males not possess a good or forget good,a readable written hand...

I know am writing after toooooo long...and no excuses whatsoever am sure most of us experience some time when we just dont want to do anything,especially give words to our thoughts...
Life moves on irrespective of anything.Just yesterday I realised that I will be 40 years old after 15 years.And I almost had a heart-attack.If there is ANY thing I can do to change this fact I am ready to do it...nahee nahee keh do kee ye jhhoot hai...
NO TIME MAN...LIFE IS SHORT HENCEFORTH

When I was a kid,I wanted to be in my parents shoes,working,making decisions...always cribbing about going to school.And now I want that life back.I try my best to not make the grass greener on the other side,but kya karen hota heech nahee hai...
So basically want to share this basic realisation- Be merry,life is short and unpredictable...just no time to do all those things but very little time to do them all.Yes,live for the day,and repeat this to yourself like I do-

There will never be another me
And that I can guarantee

1.Happy birthday Jai and Sapna-Mar 29th,2005

2.Congratulations Madhu and Manish for your new life and good luck...

3.Nanu is sick-please get well soon...mera mann nahee lagta aise...

4.And to all of you stopping by my blog- Belated Happy Holi....

Everytime I see a child I start calling him with all soughts of funny names...just subconsciously...

This is Avery...my friend Shanna's 7 month old kiddo...isnt he a cutu...

 

I was trying to give some exercise to my brain yesterday.Jotting down some pairs of words that are pronounced the same but spell and mean different...Got a few here...any more to add???

their/there,fair/fare,sou l/sole,some/sum,meat/meet ,soot/suit,here/hare,way/ weigh...

bus thak gaya dimaaag................

In India,we used to play Flash every Diwali and it wud be a family and friends affair,for fun...yet with money.Low bets,not much to win or loose but completely entertaining.

Since the last 2 times,whenever we have been to Atlantic City,its made me realize how much I like it...The whole ambience,all soughts of people,mainly rich and old...and then
there is a strange enthusiasm when you are at the table...if u are winning,u wanna win more and if u loosing u want to make up for what u have lost...As long as it doesnt get heavy on my mind...and I know I am here to have fun and 'to loose' ,my winnings are a bonus...

I love 5-card poker and roulette.This one guy on my poker table won 1900$ in one game...wont one get tempted...Its no addiction but pure temptation that makes me play...and then the excitement...will the opening card bring me money or take it...

All in all - ITS FUN...

Talking about marriages,are they truly made in heaven...or are matches made in heaven but marriages go by destiny...

Do you think its all a part of destiny and fate,and what has to happen will happen...
OR
Do you think we write our own destiny and become what we do???

I think its in the moments of our decisions that we shape our destiny...

...that of Parent and child.

For my Ma and Pa-

Jab Kabhi chand na ho,aur ghani barsaat ho...
Dar na koyi hoga mujhko,agar tu saath ho!

My life is because of what you taught me,my actions,my attitude,my behavior is partially because of my upbringing.I am a confident,independent person today and I have learnt to be that way from you.You gave me everything I ever asked or did not ask for...when I was a child,your life revolved around my happiness,and even now,you just have to hear my voice to know if I am upset and I just have to hear yours to feel better...I look upto you Mom and Dad and want to thank you for everything.

Wish you a very happy Wedding Anniversary.

As Bhoot Nanapatekar in Darna Mana hai says 'Please dont call me bhoot,call me pret-aatma and pay me respect'.

Apart from the weird noises that come from my laundry room and bathroom,off-late some creepy incidents have been happening....A big bottle of Pantene shampoo in our bathroom that belongs to none of us in the house,nor any visitor/guest ever.My room-freshner got swapped with my roommates room freshner and none of us did it.I realized it only when I got a refill for mine and saw mine missing.An unsolved mystery,I find it funny later on but believe me its not funny then...its a very annoyingly unpleasant feeling...a fear of unknown...like there is someone watching me,sitting with me all the time,but i cant see it.It might me harmless...but yet its a creepy thought.
I might laugh at it later,but the more of movies like 'Grudge' etc..and it makes it more difficult for me when I am alone in my house.
So it might just be a creation of my mind...but their is no cure for imagination I guess.

Do you believe in spirits...or has the fear of unknown ever bothered you?

This was when I was new in US and used to be extremely homesick 24-7.Cleaning my room would remind me of Ma ,and cleaning the utensils would remind me of our house helpers- 'Ishwari' and 'Guddi' ,me blessing them all with tears in my eyes...
So this once I thought of ordering Saris online for Ishwari and Guddi...

Google.com>Order Saris to India>Silk Saris in the range of Rs.200-400(thats it!wow...thats nothing if I convert it to dollars...)
I saw almost 20 saris and picked 2 of them,one for Rs.120 and the other for Rs.230.Then I was asked for an option of a free greeting card(what an awesome site man...such cheap stuff with a free greeting card also...)...ofcourse I took the option and wrote a note assuming Ma will read it out to them-
"I miss you both alot...Hope that you are taking care of Ma by not taking too many leaves...Sorry for shouting at you when my sleep would get disturbed as you would turn on the room light in the morning..."

>Fiinish Order>Paid by Debit Card

As usual I was very excited about the whole thing and could not wait till the time they received it.I checked my card account and I was zapped...I swear my heart beat skipped for a second- my card had been charged $350 for the saris...I went back to the site and was shocked to see that the price actually was in dollars and in my excitement I read it as rupees...It is funny now...the note...the feeling...sounded too expensive as I could not afford it...I tried cancelling the order but couldnt.I called that place in India and eventually did manage to get it cancelled..It was extremely funny when Ma asked me if I ever ordered a sari worth $300 for her...cos apparently Guddi had not been coming since 2 weeks that time and Ma was really mad at her so I guess it was wrong timing...

Ma did buy them both a sari from my side though...

I love slow and senti music,ghazals,that make me emotional...the lyrics making complete sense -as if the singer empathising with me...I love what Gulzar writes,I simply adore Jagjit Singh,Talat Aziz,Ghalib...
This one song I have been humming since years now ,apart from the literal meaning, I could never figure out the deeper sense of it.It is a song from the film 'Masoom'-

Do naina aur ik kahani,thoda sa badal,thoda sa paani
Aur ik kahani...

My understanding of it-
That when my eyes are exposed to a sad story of my own life ,they get filled with tears and then there is a kind of cloud formation in front of them and I cant see anything because of it...
I wonder if there is more to it...

Lohri- the bonfire festival mainly celebrated in northern India...
A good start of the new year,with happiness in the air cos of the festive mood among the farmers,who sow the seeds in October,harvest in April and relax in January and celebrate the festival of Lohri.

Back home we always celebrate it by having a huge bonfire lit in the frontyard of our house and all family people and neighbors gathering around the rising flames,circling around the bonfire,throwing popcorn,peanuts and other munchies in the fire.This is a kind of prayer to Agni-the Fire God.Then dancing around the fire on dhol is what adds to the fun...

For the enthusiastic and energetic Punjabis,its a symbolic of their love for fetes and light hearted flirtations...
If you have seen Veer-Zaara,you will know what I mean...

Lo aa gayi lohri ve,bana lo jodi ve
kalaayi koyi yun thaamo,na jaave chodi ve
Jhoot na boli ve,kukur na toli ve
jo tune khayeen thee kasme,ik ik todi ve...

I WILL

1.Be more confident
2.Work towards improving career
3.Get up straight away when wake up in the mornings
4.Make better use of time
5.Eat more healthy
6.Go to the gym atleast 4 times a week
7.Do some volunteer work
8.Visit atleast 2 new places
9.Do some savings
10.Be more understanding and patient
11.Devote more time to reading news

I WILL NOT

1.Get emotionally weak(esp while watching movies)
2.Be short-tempered
3.Get cranky and rude
4.listen to more hindi than english songs
5.Crib
6.Let my mood swings overrule my actions
6.Overeat

I waz reading newz abt the baazi.com CEO and the kind of treatment he is being given in Tihar Jail...it sure iz a pity...I understand he peddled obscene material but isnt the fact that people are buying it equally criminal?
I will be honest,when I was told it(the video) was being fwded through e-mails,I myself wanted to see it...why...why was I interested...no reason in particular...I guess just cos somthing waz the talk of the town so I wanted to see what that waz...naah...not reason enough...now that i sit back and think i honestly dont feel good abt the whole thing...
Is it really a big deal...I guess it happens everywhere but just that it got public made it so ugly!
I wonder about the increasing crime rate of rapes and eve-teasing in Delhi.It is sad...it really is....I hate to accept this...but Delhi for one has more number of people who have no respect for women whatsoever.One half(or maybe more) have the B's to do it in open and the rest dont have the B's to stop this...
The stinker will pester and annoy a female to an extent that she iz not left with a choice but to either slap back or have a gut reaction of getting scared to an extent of breaking down...Its really disheartening...

So my first weekend in the past 3 months when I am not travelling...
I calculated the other day that in the past 10 days I was in the car for 2300 miles...
Akron to DC and back to Akron
Kabhi Akron to Phili to NJ to Boston and back...
But I have enjoyed every second of it.Everytime I travelled with different people and its different everytime.But sure the purpose of every journey has been the same...

So ya..Saw Paycheck last night...liked it...Reading 'A Beautiful Mind' these days...story of 'John Nash'...and am completely engrossed in that...its a must read!
Finally ordered for 'Da Vinci Code' on amazon...want to finish Beautiful mind till I get that.Life is happy and good when I am reading...and I am good with people around...

I admire John Nash for what he was...2 other people who have definitely inspired me in life - 'Dr.Abdul Kalam' ...you have to read his autobiography 'Wings of Fire' to know what I am saying...I picked up alot from there.. 'Dream big,dreaming small is a crime!'

and 'Iacocca'...whose a perfect live example of what Rudyard Kipling says-
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss...

There iz so much to do...and so little time...me going bac to Mr.Nash...
Cherio...

I want to go home...Ma...Wish you were around ...I am calling for you today...

Missing your lap,
your hands holding me when I need you bad,
your smile...your presence...your love...

Ma,please come and put me to sleep.

Got this link in my inbox this mning and have been hooked to it since then.Try it-http://www.wagenschenke.ch/" title="http://www.wagenschenke.ch/" target="_blank"http://www.wagenschenke.ch/

When you get to the screen . click the sign he's holding titled "Start".  
You just move your mouse left to right to keep him walking in a straight line.
The object of the game is to keep him walking in a st line.When he leans to the left move ur mouse to the right to keep him upright and vice-versa.

After alot of mehnet I managed a score of 49....tell me if you could beat me...
I think the max. possible is 50,so there isnt a long way to go...