A Thing Called Love on Valentine's Day

Another year passed by, another Valentine's Day came and is almost on it's way, taking leave from us this year.. Again! Just like any other day, like every other day- here passes another day.

Singles trying either to enjoy their singleton status or sulking about whether their better halves got crushed by a truck.

And then there are the lovebirds swooning in a magical trance, in other words flying paper money in buying stuffed red hearts at rates where they could have actually bought a whole month's supper ( as told by my mother) ! Or still there are others who say - "Everyday is Valentine's Day for us. We don't need sweets, hearts or teddies to prove our love to each other."

And then come the people who go on with their lives oblivious to the red roses, pink dresses, balloons, hearts and every other Valentine's special stuff that line the streets and literally paint the town 'red'.

Why exactly is this day hyped so much ? Is it to give the present 'stuffed-pocket youth' a reason to lighten it? Or to let them compensate for the otherwise mundane busy life that they lead where the only conversation that takes place between them and their special someone is a few pleasantries? Or is it to be the icing on the cake made up of 'The Trend'?

To each, his own !

What I appreciate most about this day is the fact that I get to see people- single as well as committed ones, agreeing to the fact that there is actually something called love that exists and which they too acknowledge in the form of being dedicated customers of Archies, Hallmark or sooooo many online gift providers. Even if not exchanging gifts, people take out time from their busy lives to sit back for atleast a few seconds and smile at the beauty of love in their lives, to smell the fragrance of the beautiful roses from the bouquet or just be grateful for the thing called LOVE.. :)

Love ... It's beautiful.. They say that often it's not people you love but 'love' itself.. But to me.. the people, things and ways of life that you love is what 'LOVE' is to you...... :)

Happy Valentine's Day Folks! 

- Divya Nambiar

Alcoholically Yours..

Alcoholics trip and fall, mutter anything and everything once the magic fluid hits their brain.

They go out of their senses, dance awkwardly even when they are on the center of a road.

They scream in joy, hurl abuses when angry, cry in pain.. well the list of their 'madness' goes on.. 

They are considered as the current 'untouchables' of our society- Maybe this time around the list is just bigger!

How often do we find ourselves amidst a group of alcoholics? In today's world where stress rules the roost and alcohol seems to be a stress-buster/stress-reliever/ fun drink or no matter what name we plan to give the 'elixir', it somehow seems to dominate almost every menu.

It just isn't about how much or when or why, it has now somehow gained the status of THE IN THING. 

If you don't booze, you ain't cool! 

Coming from amidst such a group, it sounds ludicrous when someone who didn't touch alcohol a few months back is lying flat on a sofa with alcohol spreading within every vein of his/her body and saying- 'Man, I didn't want to stay away from THE IN CROWD!'

What do you mean by the IN CROWD? A crowd is made up of all of us. Why then do you think that the 'in crowd' needs to know everything about a vodka punch or every type of whiskey that exists on earth ? Or why is it that the ones who don't consume alcohol are treated as sheep?

It's all a matter of choice. No one becomes good or bad by consuming or avoiding a glass of alcohol.We have better things to notice about a person than the brand or dosage of his/ her per day consumption of alcohol.

Everywhere in the world (especially the world where I live), I have seen people judging others on the basis of him/her being a drunkard or not. Where on earth has it been proven that only the ones who booze have committed rapes or broken doors and windows and committed unforgivable crimes? Or for that matter where is it written that a guy who does not booze is the best a girl can have or a girl who does not booze is the best bet a guy can win?

Infact, I have living ( in other words - 'Jeeta Jaagta') examples around me. I have friends who swear by alcohol as their lifeline. They never pressurize me to consume their favourite thing with them nor do they seem like the worst bunch of youth hanging around me.They respect my choice, so do I respect theirs. They are perfectly normal individuals with varied choices and ways of living, just as anybody else.

I am in awe of the fact that these people are sometimes more sensible and down-to-earth than the others. They are confident enough to confess that they drink, inspite of the way society looks at them. They are also aware of the fact that not all would like to include them in their group but yet they don't fake their habits or ways of living. They are true to their skin. They don't try to be someone they are not.They might be drunkards, but they too have a heart ( A fact that we often seem to forget).. As long as they are living their lives on their own terms, it's none of our business to interfere in their self-made cocoon.

To all the worried parents, relatives and friends out there - all I would like to say is - Don't treat the alcoholics as inhuman creatures. Of course if consumed in excess it is unhealthy and even dangerous, but do they don't know the facts already ? We can just guide them to be knowledgeable individuals. We should not forget the fact that, like us, they also have chosen to live their lives, the way they want to .

It's often a misconception that those who drink, they don't care. Maybe they need love instead of brickbats. Maybe they need to say something which they otherwise are not able to.. Instead of criticizing their choice, why not try to understand it? If not understand, why not atleast try to recognize the existing condition beyond the visible mask?

Not all are the same. If you can't accept it, don't reject it. Just let it be.. Just BE...

- DIVYA NAMBIAR

Shrouded Script

"There is so little to remember of anyone--an anecdote, a conversation at table. But every memory is turned over and over again, every word, however chance, written in the heart in the hope that memory will fulfill itself, and become flesh, and that the wanderers will find a way home, and the perished, whose lack we always feel, will step through the door finally and stroke our hair with dreaming, habitual fondness, not having meant to keep us long."
-Housekeeping, Marilynne Robinson

How often do we wish that our dreams came true? Or for that matter, how often do we wish they didn't !

It's fate, destiny or whatever you call it. I know many people around me who tell me- 'Destiny is not  pre-written but created each moment of your life, as you keep wading through the sweet-salty waters of this vast ocean.'

Oceans scare me.. The sea scares me.. Ask me the difference, I would rather say I am a bad geography student( That seems simpler!)

Coming back to the point, for me 'Destiny' is a well-hatched plan by the supreme force that guides and guards our movements, makes things go haywire just so that they become a part of a well developed puzzle-cum-art piece! 

I once gave up all of the Godly worldly banters.. including my silent short prayers or rather interactions with 'him'( that's how I think 'he' is). Time was bad, forgot him, questioned his existence, fought with almost all 'false' claims of his existence.

A year down the lane, I was back and so were our interactions back to normal ( which to a normal person would sound bizarre).

So for all my friends, relatives and acquaintances... This is a confession - 

I believe in destiny ( being pre written) and things happening according to a well written script (exclamatory signs included). 

Just as one of my cherished authors, Nicholas Sparks, quoted in one of his books- 

“There are moments when I wish I could roll back the clock and take all the sadness away, but I have the feeling that if I did, the joy would be gone as well.”

True to each word.. If you try to stop your tears.. you are hiding them. But once you let them flow, the smile catches your lips faster.

People come into your life.They become an important part of your life. But like a friend once said- they leave when their part in your story is over. So doesn't it mean that your life is a story, afterall? 

They say you can change things ( definitely we can, at least the ones that are within our reach), but what about the things that we can't?  Its not that we don't try our best.. It sometimes lacks some some some effort somewhere. A miracle probably! 

Destiny is a beautiful script, shrouded by mystery

Turn the pages , enact your role liberally 

'Coz its not a play dearies.. 

Just an act of  thanksgiving ! 

(To whom??The Almighty ofcourse! For me- 'Him' !)

-Divya Nambiar