Look, I don't want to wax philosophic, but I will say that if you're alive you've got to flap your arms and legs, you've got to jump around a lot, for life is the very opposite of death, and therefore you must at very least think noisy and colorfully, or you're not alive.
It's Sunday and it's time for something unique. #FoodBlog, Everyone likes to eat Desert but nowadays we are too scared to try as we are health conscious. So here is a common 'South Indian desert' which I tried today, with a twist, i.e. using Sugar free
Kesari Bath with Sugar Free
Ingredients: Rava - 1/2 cup Sugar Free Natura - 1/4th cup ( Used 10 - 12 sachets) Kesari - 2 strands Turmeric powder - 1tsp Ghee - 2 - 3 tbsp Raisins - 4 -5 Water ( Make sure water is boiling, while adding it to the mixture)- 1 cup Preperation:
Heat 1 tsp of Ghee in a Kadai.
Add Rava and mix it together with the ghee.
Wait for Rava to turn dark yellow in color. You will get a pleasant aroma of Rava. Now add Water as mentioned.
Mix Rava well, such that there is no lump formation.
Let Rava be cooked for a few minutes.
Add Sugar free Natura, Kesari & Turmeric Powder.
Mix it well
Once Sugar gets dissolved, add remaining Ghee and mix it thoroughly
Remove Kadai from the Burner and Decorate it with Raisins
Serve Hot
**The above dish has served for 4
The dish was tasty and good as the original in spite of the substitute.
Want to know more about Sugar Free , Look here http://sugarfree-india.com/ - Prathi
New to parenting can be a tedious job especially if it's your first child. I have experienced this as recently I have entered the world of motherhood. Aditya, our son, has just completed eight months now. But these months have been ups and downs. From sudden crying & sleeping tantrums to his 1st smile, it has been a roller coaster ride.
One of the factors to look for when you have a baby is to retain that soft skin of your little one. I am not an expert in this, but here are according to me, based on my recent encounter, the 5 important aspects to look for when it comes to maintaining soft & safe skin of your infant.
Breast feeding
Question arises, is breast feeding an important factor for babies skin!
My thought is that to keep babies skin safe, we would need to make sure they are
well immune to bacterial & other infections. Skin damage can be from frequent infections. While Breast feeding increase immune
system of the babies; we can try avoiding skin damage to certain extend by breast feeding.
Also breast milk contains lots of vitamins, mineral and other nutritional substances; which can act as skin protector
For instance, during his 1st month, he had red spots on his face. As a home remedy, mom suggested
to apply breast milk to these spots. It was effective & natural compare to other chemical lotions.
Lotions, Soap, Powder, Wipes:
Moisturizing is most important for maintaining a soft
skin. Market is filled with different variety of brands of baby products; hence choosing a suitable one as per your babies need is crucial.
We apply lotions to Aditya after bath and during bedtime.
We also use it while potty cleaning, especially if he had a rough time. Along with lotion we sprinkle talcum powder to retain the moisture
content. Many Pediatricians are against talcum powder, but according to my experience, a minimum quantity of powder is a must. Also, there are a variety of powder puffs in the market, which assures only a few grains falls to your little one's body.
Aditya is a sweaty person. He gets heat rashes;
especially during summer season. We use prickly heat powder as a remedy.
During Rainy season, he had got diaper rashes due to frequent urination. On such occasions, a Diaper rash cream comes handy.
Utilizing a recommended soap is best for maintaining
a soft skin. It should be free from harsh chemicals and should not hurt babies cute eyes while bathing.
Clothes can harm the soft skin while potty cleaning. Utilizing water many at times can damage skin or he can catch a cold. To avoid such hassle, we use wipes. It prevents rashes & very convenient while travelling too. Few wipes can be used to clean faces too.
Oil Massage:
Before Bathing, applying baby oil for a few minutes is a good practice. While oiling, massages is a must. This makes bones & skin flexible, which helps in developmental activity. For skin, oiling prevents dryness and massaging result in advocate blood flow, which in turn helps skin glow.
Timing for bathing is also important. Bathing should be done before 11 am, preferably early morning hours. This practice has been done from ages as it said that an early morning bath boasts body and mind. Evening hours are for short showers. Short showers are needed when you start them with solid foods as dirt will be accumulating in the neck, ear hands & legs. .
Clothes and toys
Baby clothes with beautiful prints, attractive design, colorful buttons are in the market these days, but are those soft for your lo skin?
We prefer white cotton clothes as bed sheets and blankets as we can identify dust easily. We used 1st 3 months white nappies instead of diapers. Diapers were used only during nights. As he was born in summer and climate here is sunny we prefer cotton thin clothes. After Bath, we swaddled for 1st 4 months to retain babies skin moisture and prevent from damage. Selecting good towel & soft brush for combing is advisable.
During rainy season as mosquito can harm his skin, we used mosquito nets or full sleeves shirt and pants.
Now he has started crawling and as a result, we see skin darkening near his knee. So we have started wearing knee pad for protection. These are made up of soft woolens, hence are soft for skin. We also have huge play mats so that his playtime is skin friendly.
Toys should be baby friendly too, as babies have a thumb rule, i.e. 'anything on hand is in the mouth'.
Search for no sharp edges toys, as minuet sharp edges can rip of their soft skin easily.
As they start with their developmental activity like rolling over, crawling, sitting and standing; they are bound to fall. So we need to make sure that surfaces where they play or sleep are safe, soft and clean.
Last but not the Least
Diaper:
The hardest job of parenting is to make sure your child has a good night sleep. Babies are very sensitive ;wakes up immediately after urinating. Diaper are savior in these cases and better than protective sheets.
Selecting right brand which is compatible for your kid is a difficult task. I have been using many brands based on his body structure as first 6 months he used to gain weight spontaneously and we had to shift from one size to another. If Diapers are too tight it can lead to red rashes and if it's loose, it leads to leakage.
But a key point when it comes to choosing diapers is we need to make sure water retained should not create moisture inside the diaper. This moisture makes them irritated and later creates rashes. If your LO is urinating frequently, diapers need to be changed frequently. Pedestrian recommends changing diapers every 4 hours is best practice.
Best among them are Pampers active and Pampers Pant. During the early months as I had to change diapers on a regular basis, I preferred active as it was open diapers. As of now he sleeps for 6 hours continuously, hence I prefer Pants.
I have recently purchased Pamper Premium and yet to try it out. The product targets soft skin as its main goal and this feature has lured me into it.
Here is a little intro of Premium from the makers themselves; It is sure to attract everyone.
Pampers brings you the softest ever Pampers Premium Care Pants. Its cotton-like softness is #SoftestForBabySkin and allows it to breathe, thus keeping baby’s skin soft and healthy, and your baby happy.
To conclude, it's all about the experience which matter when it comes to taking care of that innocent little one. So make sure you have your elders at hand length when in need. Try to be cautious about major road blocks, but we don't need to worry too much about the minute ones. As motherhood comes only once in life, we need to enjoy it along with these warnings. At the end, it's their happy smile which matters the most. Isn't it!! Prathi
I have been away from my work for almost an year now. I am an exhausted and thrilled mom for an 8 month old boy but few at times when I get leisure, its books which comes to my mind. From Sachin Tendulkar sensation book " Playing it my way " to classic like" Gone with the wind " ; my collection set this year varies from one form to another. It would take a while to think and write about all the books which I read, hence I will select few which was in dark from my knowledge but had impressed me at the end
1. "The Black Box" by MichealConnel -
A thriller novel which has usual storyline as per this era but the way it has approached and depicted quite creates scandal in itself. I mean when I had started with it, I kept guessing what could be the reason but at the end when the climax was out it really was fascinating and interesting.
Harry Bosh yet another case of murder mystery with a tittle which depicts that when a plane crashes we try find the black box to complete the investigation. like wise in all cases we need to find that black box whether it is think or info or someone to complete it
2. "Night fall " byNelsondemille -
I cant completely say this is a friction as the story line is not. It has happened in US, where a flight had broken to flames in the midair. Many people claim to see a streak of light like a rocket which propelled and hit the plane. But the investigation had no proof on that streak of light beam and hence it was closed as mechanical failure.
Author Nelson gave a twist to the real fact by adding a friction to what might have happened to the investigation if there was a glimpse of proof for this beam of light.
The climax is such a take back that none can ever imagine. What a end.
A 'Must' read book.
3."PendragonLegacy - Swordoflight" -
This is pure friction and harry potter fans might like it. It consists of 4 books and this one is the 1st of them. Its about a girl whose surname is Pendragan and how she overcomes fear and becomes the bravest among the whole kingdom. She challenges her evil cousin just by her innocence which makes the story even more interesting.
My encounter was as surprising as this book. I got this book from our city library. Its a tale to be read and without the next 3 book in series this tale is incomplete. I am still finding hard to be patience to get my hands on the next series.
Yes its half review but the point is not review but its awareness is what I want to publish. If you ever find the 4 in together, it can be a great collection in bookshelf.
4. 'My Days ' by R.K. Narayanan-
Need no intro as it is the very famous 'Malgudi days' authors autobiography.
I am incompetent to review this as his standard is higher than any author in this world. Hence I will not review the book. Its a must if you are fan of him, i cant imagine if you are not. You can find some rare pictures of his life and you get a visit to his personal life. There is also cartoon illustration by another great person and his own little brother Mr. R.K.Laxman which is remarkably funny.
I would say that despite being a great author, during that time authors had lot of contents to write. A simple exam is of a street light man which Mr. Narayanan has explained in his 1st chapter and that too so beautifully.
Might be it would have been best to born at those times as hard work and success was hand in hand.
Decades ago (1940's), she rode with her brother letting an unapproved father behind, around 12 miles far away from her home. She wanted to complete her education and enter the world of teaching. She used to brief out that her parents were not so willing but she never gave up.
This is a short abstract of someone who is undeniably #madeofgreat for me, 'My Grandma'.
Ever since I know her, she is a multitasking lady; stands like a wall for all obstructions. Her mode of speech brings warmness to anyone who listens to her. She is open like a book and yet so secretive. Sometimes, when I think of her influence in my life, It brings her residue into me. My mom takes up few situations a bit more serious than required, but she was calm, composed yet firm. This behavior, I always try to follow, few at times I succeed, but mostly I fail but still I never gave up
Work life balance -
"Working as a school teacher till retirement, mom of 7 and a great cook" is what describes her. Her dishes are the best in the world and if you ever had a chance to taste it, you would definitely say it is the best South Indian food ever tasted. When we asked her, 'how do you do such simple rasam so tasty?', she used to say that 'measurement is the key'. Been working and handling household has taught her that being organised is time-saving.
Being a mom has not killed her career. She is even now remembered as the best teacher of her times and all her stories and riddles are resided by each and every student of hers whenever they meet. When they visited her, they used to tell about her greatness and how she used to handle their tiny fights with patience.
Grandma has always been a proud teacher which has reflected in her life even after her retirement. This has taught me that when we are satisfied with individual accomplishment, it brings us peace within; which reflects on our social life.
Catastrophic :
At the age of 45, Grandma lost Grandpa. All the financial and social activity was handled by Grandpa. At 1970, It should have been devastating as she was not much aware about banking, shopping and all other social problems. Only because of her self confidence and 'never give up' nature, was she able to handle and take care.
During Grandpa's death, my uncle had married against our religion and this had caused lots of humiliation around her neighborhood. Being a single parent, she handled the circumstances very well; with an open mind, welcomed her and greeted aunt as her own daughter.
Can you get a woman who can be so human when the whole world; still says 'religion is greater than humanity'??
Physical Appearance :
She is not the prettiest of the lot & she is partially handicapped, with one leg bitten by a snake during her childhood. Even when I was rejected at marriage proposals due to height, she assured & said; 'Don't give up. People who evaluate you by your physical appearance are not worth marrying'
On 31st May 2015, She had her last breath. She was not well from past 4 years and was bed rest for a year. Even while in such condition, she used to smile at the guest who visited her & welcomed everyone.
I miss her guidance. I miss her patience. I miss her. Wholly I miss a great lady & even more a great soul who is a representation of being an empowerment for the new generation.
This is an inspirational story made it available for the tag #madeforgreat. It's a campaign by Tatamotors. You can get more details on the campaign here - http://madeofgreat.tatamotors.com/
Along with the campaign, there is also a contest for readers.
Answer this simple question to win Amazon vouchers
'What do you think of Tata Motors' association with Lionel Messi?'
Airtel 4G is the first telecom operator to roll out 4G services
Nationwide rollout across 296 cities
4G available at 3G prices
Getting a 4G SIM is just a tweet away - #GetAirtel4G
Free home delivery of 4G SIM
Exciting isn't it!!
Image source - Airtel promotion page.
To talk about Telecom industry, all that matter is that powerful networking energy source; about how quick we can utilize it into something useful. Being in an IT industry, I can relate speed verses work. If network power is not sufficient, work deadlines can become a nightmare.
Nevertheless, our working location is also important, when we work from office, we have an unlimited power supply making sure we don't have any outage. We have separate departments set so that we are on the go, but what if we want to work from home?
This reminds me about an incident #Memory - My friend purchased a WiFi modem with "XYZ" operator. It was working as a gel in the shop where he purchased. But in home, the situation was reversed. He was on a 3rd floor apartment and when configured there, the network was down to nil. Later, after several trials, shifting the position and so, he got that spot where the speed was high. M sure everyone would have gone through this moment, searching for network. Hence, location becomes the Key.
Now coming to Airtel 4G - Airtel has launched 4G the fastest network ever. So what would I do with such speed?
Professionally, I would like to have it to complete my deadlines especially from home. Looking at what Airtel is claiming, I think this can ease up most of my work and I can also assure my Managers that I will be Online without any lags.
Blogging has also been a part of my life, and without network it doesn't have any value. It would be sitting at my desktop, ideal with no one to view. This speed can earn me a lot of pride.
To be frank, I have been away for months as speed was one of the causes. I think, I would like to try out 4G to speed up my blogging.
Hence, with such network, I can collaborate both my Work and blogging and still survive.
On my Personal end, the list can never end, I guess - From
Downloading movies in a blink
Watching You tube videos in Online mode
Watching movies/serials in Hotspot
Online shopping
Watsapp
Twitter
Gaming
Google Map
But the utmost one would be:
Currently 'm off duty relaxing with a 5 month new born, away from my hubby, in my native. He visits us every fortnight. With such a speed and Airtel being nationwide, I am sure I can make him feel 'virtual with us', by non stop video calling. Been away, he has missed our son's 1st smile, his 1st blah blah & recently roll over. With such speed, in the future, My hubby will never miss any key milestones of our son.
Also with baby, my time with my husband has been limited. I think this can be vanquished by Airtel 4G as I can always be in touch with him - 'Online'.
One late evening, I was all exhausted and tired due to indigestion. I had been to loo several times; which made me irritated. I was quite fussed about a simple indigestion and was blaming God for it. I am really surprised now, on that thought, as God was not the one who gave me those tasty oily foods, but my sweet relatives had showered it for my arrival when I had visited them. Going on, as everyone would have suggested, this is one of those times where we just have to lie down & doze off. But I instead was all tensed up; indigestion mood swings I believe.
Anyways, this had happened while I was in my native with my parents. As a home remedy, mom had prepared a bitter kashayam and I had just finished having it. She suggested to have a quick nap and not to think about it. But I was just adamant not to sleep. Finally, after several convincing minutes, I decided to take a quick 5 min nap where I was seated. I was even lazy and frustrated to move. I was on my sofa & as I was worn out, I quickly dozed off.
A Few minutes passed by & I regained my consciousness to realize that, one of our house cat, was sitting beside me on the sofa. As usual, it was sleeping & making some annoying sound. As I was still exhausted and had those irritating mood swings I started murmuring & scolding at the cat. It made the cat awake.
Suddenly something unusual occurred which I will never forget. As if it was waiting for me to wake up, it pushed its right paw forward towards me, as if asking me to hold its paw. Unconsciously I took it's paw in my hand. It closed its eyes & opened again. It repeated the same gesture twice & then as if nothing has happened, it went back to sleep. Shocked & Surprised I just stared at my Cat for around 2 minutes and then went on to take another couple of minute sleep.
So what just happened?
Was it a dream? No...As I was still holding its paw when I woke up completely after an hour.
This incident created a connection which I felt emotionally. "Don't worry, this exhausting time will pass by soon" was what I felt it conveyed. Scientifically, I would have to do some survey on my cat's behavior, but emotionally I was touched. Unknowingly, it gave me a strength which I needed so badly. It acted as a silent partner which sat beside me when I am down and told me to relax myself.
Of course my stomach ache was not cured by my cat peculiar behavior, but it surely did bring in some positive vibe. I relaxed myself compelling myself that it is just an indigestion and not an end of the world. Sometimes I think, we just need that little nudge to get back on track, like a hug or a cold breeze or as my cat did a hand so that we relax, get our mind straight & think; 'it is not worth worrying as every dark night is followed by a bright sunny day'.
At the end -
"An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language - Martin Buber"
In my case, So true... isn't it!!
This topic is an initiation (#together) from housing.com ( https://housing.com/) , a new online real estate space.
"What will be your story when asked about the bold move which resulted in a big change in your life?" Ask me, and it takes me to 2007. It was the year when I took a crucial decision, which I am proud of and sometimes even makes me wonder 'how did I do it!!'. To be frank, most of my dear ones & close friends are aware of my struggle, but revisiting & writing about it gives comfort & drives me to move forward. Hope it encourages you too. 2007 - #StartANewLife Career Yes, 2007 is the year when I started my career in one of the Top IT company.I got this opportunity in college by means of campus drive in 2006 and when they announced my name that I was selected I was thrilled. Perhaps, if I think now, this excitement is one of the reasons which changed my life. To tell you about the company, this 'XYZ' company is situated all around India. And, consequentiallyflourishes a policy where employers were transferred to different cities other than their own, as they believed that every new bee should be able to adopt to the new environment, able to interact with different people & indulge with others culture. This will aid employers in improving socializing skills resulting in getting things done better was the strategy. My Dad was aware of their policy and he began telling me that I should not have opted this company in the first place. This made my excitement vulnerable as a question raised in my mind - "Can a 21 year girl, pampered at home, never been outside of her hometown; stay all alone in a new, strange town?" To combat, I decided I need to make plans on how to go ahead. My parents were comfortable with Bangalore location as most of my relatives stay there. Hence, I planned that I will opt Bangalore as my preferred Location once the training is completed. But before that I had to go to 3 months training program in Trivandrum. I was relaxed in the 3 months as I had my college friends with me, even though I had to work with different region students/freshers. But this relaxed stipulation soon changed when I was transferred to Mumbai. When I came back from Trivandrum to home, my parents had already decided that I would be resigning and will not be going further as Mumbai is not the place for me. My Bold Move: At the Beginning, I agreed and stayed at home for 2 days. During these 2 days I thought about my future. The same question "Can a 21 year girl, pampered at home, never been outside of her hometown stay all alone in a new, strange town?" reflected back. I knew my plans had not worked but if I gave up, I may not get any second chance to prove myself. I called up many of my friends & relatives as I was not able to decide myself. Everyone gave different suggestions. I realized, it can only be decided by me. Finally, I told my parents - " Resigning can be a very good reason, but I want to experience the reason behind my resign. I would like to try out and if I feel I can't succeed, then immediately I will do as you say and resign. So please let me try. Please let me go to Mumbai". This is certainly the hardest move, as when I think now, I was young and didn't have any experience; it might have been very difficult to convenience myself & also go against or partially against my parents will. My Modified Life I stayed in Mumbai for almost 6 months with few difficulties at the beginning, but now it is all a sweet memory. Later in 2008, I was transferred to Bangalore, which made my parents relaxed. My decision made me a confident person, as my bold move was worth a fruitful result. Over the course of my life, I believe, It has also helped me to move forward and overcome even more difficult tasks in work & personal life. Now its 7+years and I am still working for the same company. The big chance which follows is, I am independent now. I take major decisions without any hinge. The work also helped me to take financial decisions.. To give you an example, I am now a proud landlord of 5000 sq-ft residential land. I am also more communal as I have not only worked with people belonging to different parts of India and but also with non Indians. My big move has made me an independent socialized human being.
A Quote to summarize - "Good change signifies that we're moving forward, living better, and giving ourselves the chance to be the best we can possibly be." This topic is an initiation from housing.com ( https://housing.com/) , a new online real estate space. To know more watch this embedded video
Radhika was shopping in a Mall when she saw her best friend, Namratha. Radhika : hey Namratha, how are you? Namratha: Hii Radhika. Long time. I am fine. How about you? how is Anjali, your daughter. how old she is now? Radhika: She is fine. She is nearing 2 now. what about your son. I think he would be completing 1 year soon. Is he as naughty as Anjali (winking) Namratha: Yes Radhika, Amog is becoming naughty day by day. But there is something about him which I wanted to talk. Hey, are you free now? Can we go somewhere and have a chat? Radhika: Yeah, sure, why not!. I just saw a coffee shop outside. Lets go there. We can have some snacks if you don't mind. All this shopping is making me hungry. Namratha: I don't mind. Yes, this shopping has made me hungry too. Lets have that famous Pav Bajji which they serve! At the coffee shop, Radhika: So now when we have ordered our Pav Bajji, tell me Namratha what do you need from me? What is about Amog which is worrying you? Namratha: Radhika, I don't know where to start. Amog is always crying. I can't find out what's wrong with him. It's usually during the morning hours, just after he wakes up. It's annoying & hurtful to watch him cry. I think he has started to get rashes. Radhika: Oh gosh! Aren't you using Pampers dry pants? These are amazing diapers, especially during nights. They have dryness control gel lock system which avoids accumulation of moisture & hence reduces rashes. I assure you Namratha, this will reduce the crying. Also, as he is now above 6 months old, start feeding him with healthy food. This will make him more energetic & you can see the difference. I remember with Anjali too, I had a similar issue. Its those difficult times where it is hard to decide from where to start. Anyways, when Anjali was 4 months old, I had to come to Bangalore to stay with my husband. I had to manage myself without any support or help. From the day I had come to Bangalore, Anjali became more silent. She used to enjoy 'Gagam style' songs & dance to that tune. But after she came to Bangalore, she started crying even when she heard the song. First, I thought that she missed my parents. But when my parents came during our holidays, her crying never stopped. My Parents got their pet dog 'Rocky' with them. She just loves him. But there was no reaction. And one morning I noticed it was the rashes which was creating this behavior. Then my doctor advised Pamper dry pants. It was amazing and I could feel the difference in a day or two. She started interacting and murmuring a lot. She even started interacting with our neighbor's kids. Even when she started crawling, I could see her eagerness on wanting to come to the kitchen where I am and wanting to do things as I do. Also Namratha, do check on Amog's eating habit. Make his tummy full. Few times kids act weirdly when hungry. They become restless due to it. Anjali used to throw stuff when she was hungry and it was a signal for us.
But once they are happy you can really see their fun activity & it can be sometime really funny. I can reside you once such incident. My husband reads newspaper with his reading glasses on. He drinks his morning Tea with his paper. My daughter took her bangles; put it on her face as if wearing reading glasses, ordered me to get a cup of Tea (murmuring of course) and started reading the paper. She was not talking then & hence she started murmuring as if reading aloud from the paper. Myself & my husband had a great laugh. When our kids are happy it's the precious time in our life. Isn't it? Namirtha: So true Radhika. I think I need to take your suggestion on the diapers. It might be the rashes which are making him cry. Because once I change the diaper he is fully active. He loves cricket & cars. He keeps playing with them if he is happy. But if he is crying, he throws it around. I surely will try your advice on using Pampers. Oh, what say, I will buy from that baby shop we just saw on the way. Radhika : Sounds great. Do let me know the results. Both Namratha & Radhika left the mall after few hours. After a month, Both of them had planned to meet at the same coffee shop. Now Namratha was all happy Namratha: Radhika!! Seriously, thanks for the advice. You were so true. It was the diapers, which were creating this restlessness. Now I can see Amog playing with his toys; murmuring with his dad and having a great time. He has started playing with water in the bathroom, which is a headache for me, but seeing him happy splashing all the water makes my heart bliss. I think I soon will have lots of happy fun stories to reside. Radhika: Yes Namratha. You sure will.
Mrs. Anita Rao has been working in our software company for past 15 years. Currently, she is heading the Retail department as 'Account Manager' in Bangalore location.
As aware, the retail sector is now catching up, utilizing IT division, to make their world much more comfortable & reachable. This results in more projects to fly in & hence more work for us.
As and when new projects or new development activity arise, Anita has to travel from one location to another. Travelling increases based on the assignments & sometimes she has to fly from India to London and then to US quenching her personal life.
Anita's husband, Mr. Alok Rao also has a similar work schedule. This results in them having a very hard time catching up on their son's life, Aniket.
This was during a program, we came to know about Anita & her family; how she has managed to stay optimistic despite her tough work culture. "So how do you manage & stay energetic. Aren't you working for your family?" is what we asked "My Son's smile makes it all happen. I, along with my husband has teamed up to manage this by impressing him despite being far away due to the work."
"Work culture now has become pathetic. There had been times when I was a kid, where I spent most of my time with my mother in the kitchen, chit chatting about nonproductive information, but now when I am a parent myself, I don't even have time to scroll into my own kitchen. Even if I am at heart of Bangalore, reaching home on time is a challenge in itself. Few a time, when I reached home my son would be sleeping and wakes up only to see me gone. My heart sinks when I think about it. "
"There has been times when I taught that I would quit my job and be at home to take care of the house. But due to financial situations I was made to think twice." Also, she adds up saying "I enjoy my work, meeting up new people and my promptness & dedication has made me popular enough, such that even if I want to quit it would be difficult."
"One of the tactics to Stay positive is to indulge yourself to be actively participating in our interest rather than worrying about difficulties." is her motto So to enjoy the joyfulness of both the world, both of them has made arrangement for their son so that he doesn't complain. Due to their busy schedule, they have asked Anita's mother & father to stay with them to look after Aniket during their absence. Whenever she is in Bangalore on Sunday's, it is always 'family time'. No work can peep in. At home, her parents and son make her comfortable, understands her and makes her feel that she has not missed any days. To the times when they are not in town, both parents have promised their son; whatever is the situation & whichever location they are, both of them will be there beside their son if there is any event. Be it Diwali or son's birthday, no matter where they are, they will be in Bangalore for that event.
We asked "didn't you had any tough time to fulfill this?"
She says "Of course, I had and I can narrate you an incident."
She was in London and after two days It was their son's 7th birthday. Her husband too was out of station, but was bound to arrive on birthday with no issues. But for her it was a challenge. Her flight was at 9 clock and her meeting, which started at 5 clock in the evening was in no mood to end. She was panicking that she might miss her flight and break the promise. She says more than the promise, my son's smiling face, which gets lifted when he sees both his parents, is priceless & sure enough is a moment not to lose. So she called up her colleague and informed about the problem. Being in a managerial position, people have good contacts with the transportation department. Immediately, 9 clock flight was cancelled and 11 clock flight was arranged such that Anita could reach on her son's birthday on time.
She says as she ends her note that there has several such times where she has to jumble up, but at the end, it's her son's happy face is what makes her eager to reach. Anita is one of the top executive in my company. Aniket, Mr & Mrs Rao only son is of age 13 now. Despite having such a hassle life, they have managed to build their own house in Indranagar, Bangalore & a good education to their son which she is proud of. She told this story which really inspired me and have remained as one of my favorites. As Anita's inspiration is her son, everyone should search for that positive vibe which will help us to drive ahead of the rough edges of life. To end, I really liked her story as, despite her hassle, she stands optimistic for those Sundays where she feels loved and cared. This blog post is written as a part of a campaign held from Housing.com (https://housing.com/lookup) on topic " Tel us a story around a moment that filled you with optimism and hope for the future" -Prathi
Dr Anjali, one of the top most doctors of Mumbai were on the dais along with her other fellow top doctors of the city. They had gathered around to collect a memento from the Chief Minster for saving 1000's of life from the cyclone which had made a catastrophic effect on Maharashtra few weeks back.
Despite being a hero herself, Anjali did not look very happy. Instead, she was searching for some familiar face in the crowd below. She looked disappointed. But suddenly something caught her eye, which made her smile.
At the end of the hall, she noticed a lady hiding herself behind a pillar; trying to get a glance of the stage set up. Anjali was about to call her assistance,when her name was called out to make a speech.
The Speech -
The day when the cyclone struck many people asked me, 'why are you leaving a safe hospital and going to that relief camp to save people?'.
Aren't you scared? Why risk life for others?
During the time I was in relief camp many of the survivors who needed medical treatment were shouting, saying "Please don't save me. My husband is no more or my children is no more. I don't need to live", Many became handicapped and didn't want to lead a life. A disaster doesn't only take life but, it can make few lives more difficult to lead. This is where we as a public servant need to build confidence; & serve our duty is what I believe.
You would ask me, it's easy to be a hero.
No...I know the pain as I lost my family in a cyclone, but more than that I know what is the mindset of people who has survived. I am the best example.
In 1998, when Mumbai was charged by the cyclone, we lost our family & wealth. My mom was the only one to take care. I was in my 12th then.My dad had a dream, he wanted me to be a doctor from day one of my birth. But due to disaster, I lost my way. I failed in my board exam. Unable to fulfill my dream & not able to cope up with the situation, I wanted to commit suicide. Unless it was not my mom, I would not be standing here.
She took me to a nearby garden. There was a dog which stood with only 3 legs. It had broken its leg in a cyclone. It was trying to chase its tail in-spite of becoming handicapped.
My Mom said, "Don't depict life as If God has taken away one leg from that dog's life. Watch life as God has kept 3 legs to enjoy" "It can now only hop and will have difficulty to walk, but it's purpose is to survive and it can do so with 4 or 3 legs. So why worry about the lost when it can't be returned!"
Ever since then, we have faced a lot of challenges in life, but never gave up & never allowed anyone else to give up. And, I am not here to boost about it too.
I just want to convey to the survivors who have lost hope, who have lost interest; please don't be so. There are only few who gets a second chance, please don't crave yourself. There will be a silver lining which will make you charge up and make you self-confident. Wait for it.
Anjali called her assistance and murmured something on his ear & then she continued.
Myself Dr Anjali, probably known as a top surgeon in town. But many don't know that I am Kammini Devi's Daughter. Kammini Devi, a servant at the age of 35 due to our circumstance had to wash dishes, clothes & cleaned houses in many middle class houses in Thane. She is my guider. She has made me a self sustained person as I am now.
I would like to give this memento to her
& she pointed at that pillar.
Kammini Devi was the lady who was standing near the pillar and was brought by Anjali's assistance to the dais.
Both Anjali & Kammini Devi received a grand applause from the audience.
The End
This Blog is written as a part of a Happy Hours campaign held by Indiblogger & HDFC( http://www.hdfclife.com/)on topic "how a family member has guided and encouraged you to grow into a better, more self-reliant person"
Ranganath Swamy was a businessman and spend most of his time travelling. In-spite of his family being in Bangalore, he toured from Tumkur to Hassan, Bijapur to Mangalore, Hyderbad to Chennai for his business to grow. He started his business on Clothes in Jan 2000 & it has been no turning back from then. Now, as he was about to set for another business trip, he realized that his age old Maruti 800 is not matching his status. Instead, he needed a car which is better, much more flexible & also affordable. He thought, 'Running his own business is not an easy task, as there can arise financial crunch at any moment. He can't afford a new car just to declare his status. But he needed a best used car and that too quickly'. Looking at worried face of his father, Rajiv; Swamy's son, started questioning. On knowing father's dilemma on how to go ahead, Rajiv suggested, our own Quickr.com Ranganath was furious, "Come one, Online. No way, It's just a headache". Rajiv replied, "Dad , just give me 10 minutes of your time. If this 10 minute is not fruitful, then you can go ahead and decide on your own". Ranganath agreed. Rajiv started opening up his laptop.
Ranganath said, "Let's go for the SUV. I can go for a budget of 10 Lakh max. But I have heard stories of online nuisance from my friend that he used to get multiple calls from the dealer when they come to know about it. And, that too from Delhi, Mumbai. Isn't it a problem on this site? Also, we don't have any idea on how much the cost of a second hand car should be! I feel I need to make some calls to my old friends" Rajiv quickly replied, "Dad everything can be taken care. Don't worry" He entered 'http://www.quikr.com/' on Chrome. Immediately , sub-window with 'which location you prefer' window opened. He clicked as 'Bangalore'. Rajiv started explaining. "Now you will get calls only from Bangalore dealers & individuals. Even you can view Ads only from Bangalore" "First let's post an Ad so that even seller's can communicate with us." He clicked on Post Free Ad. Rajiv started filling all the required details for a SUV car. "Check out Dad, this a useful feature added by Quickr called MSP - 'Maximum Selling Price'. Here it calculates and let us know what can be the Maximum Price of a product. It's especially used for Second hand products. This will solve our problem. You don't have to worry about calling your friends now & asking for car rates." "Quikr has also launched Quikr Chat feature. Here in this Field "Maintain my Privacy (Buyers will first contact you via Quikr Chat, you can decide when to reveal your phone number to them)", will maintain your privacy so you don't get calls from unnecessary dealers or sellers. Once you chat with them and if you want to meet that particular vendor, only then you can share your number & that too privately." Rajiv continued, "As you have a smartphone, once we register, we will immediately download Quikr mobile app's, so that you don't have to open laptop daily. You can chat with the vendor's in mobile app. You can also see how many has viewed your Ad & also make your Ad premium by giving credits. This can give your Ad more advantage." Rajiv Posted the Ad. It took only 2-3 minutes & Ranganath was already impressed. Rajiv also showed Ads of sellers. He showed the different features like 'Premium ads', Ads whose numbers are verified, and chat now option if the dealer or seller are available. Also, to know whether the rate which seller has quoted is correct, Rajiv advised to use MSP to compare and then to go ahead. Rajiv advised his father, "Prefer Recent Posts & Post with Photo's for better & safe bargain" Rajiv 10 minutes really changed Ranganath & made him decide to give a try.
--A Month Later--
When Rajiv returned from college, he saw an XUV standing in-front of his house. It was in a very good shape & not in a distance was it looking like any used car. Seeing Rajiv's expression, Ranganth replied, "Thanks to your 10 minute, I was able to get this fantastic XUV." Rajiv said, "Don't thank me, Dad. Thank Quikr" This Blog is written as a part of a Happy Hours campaign held by Indiblogger & Quikr on topic "If you were to replace your existing car with something better, how would do so using Quikr NXT ? " For more details refer http://www.quikr.com/
**The above dish has served for 4
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