Kuch to log kahenge logon ka kaam hai kehna

When our parents gave my sister and I a liberal upbringing, I was called fast. Yes I am fast. I thought ahead of time. In school I didn't have many friends for I raised my voice against bullying, had an identity of my own which clashed with many.When I cam to Delhi for higher studies, people labelled me tez( YEH TO BAHUT TEZ HAI. PATA NAHIN APNE PATI KA KYA HAAL KAREGI).When I started working, my own relatives, leave aside outsiders wondered why I would work and earn a living and not get married? I was told by someone close at that time that (Aurat ko shaadi ke baad apne pati ki sewa karni chahiye, bachcho ko dekhna chahiye) and the irony is that the same woman has her own business today. Good for her. I being a product of a liberal Assamese society and a co- ed catholic school never thought twice before making male friends. To tell you the truth, I got along more with men for they are less complex and easy going. So, needless to mention I was labelled as caharacter less with my name being linked to I dont know how many. I expressed my liking and crushes openly in public which is normal and that made people judge me again.

Gradually my honesty, flamboyance and straightforwardness made more enemies than friends. But funny part is that whenver someone needed any information, financial support or any kind of help I was the one they would turn to and this continues even now:-)

Setu....get this info, can you help me with some cash, my uncle/niece/ mom is coming over so keep her at your place, you have a great taste so shop for my husband, get me a job and it is a never ending gala..uuuffff! And then Setu is diplomatic, shows off, fast, TEZ, proud, and all the evils vest inside her..lol.

My life has been my greatest teacher. I learnt that people I genuinely loved and respected hated me and bad mouthed me. I saw the world the way I am. My true self, honest criticism always rubbed people the wrong way. I still try to be the courteous, most generous, true in my behaviour, a good human being for I am God fearing and the new label I have got is " FAKE."

Sometimes I really wonder....who is fake me or the people around me full of many masks? We all wear masks but the ones with least no of them pay a heavy price. Sometimes being human I get bogged down, sink into depression but the second day I like a " Phoenix" as I call myself continue doing my Karma.

Yes I am TEZ for I am a self made woman. I survived alone, struggled hard from a small town to Delhi/ Gurgaon, fought for my rights and lived with dignity.Yes I am FAST for I did things ages back and it doesnt amaze me anymore the way it does to you. Yes I am DIPLOMATIC if you say so for I hide my tears and still continue to love and be true to myself forgetting the grudges and smile in front of you. Yes I am FAKE at times and show to the world that I am happy and give an ear to their problems when I am going through the deepest crisis yet dont share it with anyone.
I earned many titles in this world..not so good ones. But I have no regrets for I chose to tread on the path of simplicity, honesty, straightforwardness and self respect. Every garbage thrown at me, every pull back made me stronger. And lastly with parents and a sister like mine, Aruna Mosi and a great great Husband I just cant complain. I know deep down the hearts of the people who pass comment, despise me or gossip about me lies a subdued conscience which tells them they are wrong.

I dont regret being me and pray to God to make me stronger, humble, showing me the right path and the ability to spread love, live sensibly and be a better human day by day.Amen!

Yet Another page of my life

College days are mostly fun filled with a little downs here and there which everyone goes through. While I was looking for a old friend in Facebook, recalled The Delhi School of Economics Canteen which must have served many hungry students who would rush even before the classes started.

Being a Paying Guest, food was something we lived for I would say. The normal dabba kept us going in order to be alive. Else it was nothing but bitter medicine which a pediatrician gives to a fussy kid.

The delight was always the cheap roadside food and Delhi School of Economics Canteen was also one Adda for the North Campus Students. Not only was it an attraction for the hostelers but also the Day Scholars all across Delhi and NCR. Often we found Old Alums visiting the college for its Mutton Cutlet, Rajma Chawal etc.

My morning breakfast along with a dear friend Ruchi Gargesh( A day Scholar) would be at D School Canteen. The Rs. 2.50 Coffee served by Gopal ji along with a Rs. 6.50 Idli plate was heavenly in the mornings. That food would keep us going till our lectures got over and gave us enough energey to dream to be the future writers, leaders and what not....lol

I remember one day Ruchi and I wanted to be the super cool students of our class. Sir N. Jacob, apparently Ruchi's crush then was one of the coolest Teachers we ever had would let us be the way we were, thus  tolerating our madness. So we sat on the desk, took an icecream break and got our favourite icecreams during the class. Poor Sir, but only kept quiet and let us eat in glory:-)

There was this Momo Joint at Kamla Nagar which we visited often.Now when I come to think of it, I really wonder how we ever manage to eat there in that small dingy room which served the tastiest of Momos with Stew (I am sure the dirt, the unkempt look of the Waiters added more flavours). Not to mention the Shagun Restaurant at Vijay Nagar, which still exists. Tashneen, Rajlok and I once were returning back from Shagun and I had to pee badly. We took a rickhshaw and three of us managed to park our behinds. With every bump on the road It was terrible for me to control my urge to attend the nature's call...and the moment I reached Tashu's PG I rushed to her toilet....lol

Those were the days! There are many such incidents. Another one where Rajlok had to become the Rickshaw Puller and Ruchi and I were his Sawaris. He pulled the Rickshaw from Our Ramjas College till Kamla Nagar whilst the Rickshaw puller came running behind us. Gosh!

This now reminds me of how I used to Double ride with Liendung, a Vietnamese Nun in our PG on her bicycle and act like the (Kabadiwalas) Scrapdealers.She had literally adopted me then and would experiement her Vietnamese cuisine on me:-(

A foodie she was would often take this poor Hosteller to the Restaurants since she had all the moolah flowing in from different countries as Donation for her studies. Rich she was! Aaahh!

I will add some more to it. But gotta hit the gym now.

Health and living

My husband Sarang has a very hectic life. Work keeps him on his toes. The moment you read this you will start thinking about your spouse/you yourself/ and other such people who are caught in this cobweb of work load and career path snatching the work life balance from them. On one hand where technology is fast changing and making life easy for us, it is also a slow poison for us. Look at the irony of it.....people who are designing these life changing products, their lives are changing too but not in a good way but rather in a way where it is impacting their health, mental peace and family life. Every one today is so caught up in his/her work and accomplishing the career goals they have set that families are falling apart, teen pregnancy cases are rising, drugs keep creating health havoc. There is hardly any time for anything else. You wake up and work, you go to office and work, you sleep and dream work. Not that no one wants little bit of peace here and there,but we all forget that a little change in our habits and way of life will go a long way and probably lessen the pain.I would like to share some tips from our own lives and will love to know if that helps you at all. 1. Old habits die hard but a conscious approach to live a healthy life goes a long way. Some say, we have to die one day so eat and live big. But who wants to die a painful death (paralysis, disability and other lifestyle diseases) or live a painful life causing pain and discomfort to others too? All it takes is a strong will and a little change in our lifestyle and we get accustomed to it gradually. 2. Our ancestors ate all and still lived long comes as an answer whenever you tell people to eat healthy. Mind it, they did not have a sedentary life like us with all the modern day comforts. I haven't heard anyone saying our ancestors had a hard life, lot of hard work, loads of kids and still found time to be with their family, meet everyone and live with tolerance with all. Can we not use their example here in finding time for each other? 3. Substituting normal salt with lite salt with less sodium, cheese with lite cheese, white bread with brown bread or wholegrain bread, sugar with honey, vegetable oil with rice bran oil/olive oil/ mustard oil, white rice with brown rice and straining water out of rice, whole milk with fat free milk,and many such changes will definitely make you much more fitter. 4. Food is not bad till we know how to eat everything in control. We can eat everything till we can control our portions/servings.Timing to eat something is also very important. If we eat a healthy breakfast, it will keep us going till lunch and also control our appetite.. Dinner should always be light and early. Body needs some time to digest the food. Avoid eating fruits in the night for it creates water retention and also has natural sugar in it. Carbohydrate intake should be less to nil after lunch. Diet should be rich in protein, complex carbohydrate, and vitamins. 5. Exercise daily at least five days a week. The lame excuse that we don't have time is nothing but self justification. And just because you exercise daily does not mean you can eat all. Burning 200 hundred calorie and then eating 3000 calories is the typical ostrich approach to food:-). Exercise regime can also be broken into parts if one hour at a stretch is too much for really busy people. People who work inside tall buildings, can probably take the stairs and plan their own workout on stairs for 15-20 mins at work itself. Breathing at work too helps. Park your car at a little distance. Every little walk counts. If you can afford, hit the gym at least five days a week or play a sport. Cardio workout and weight training, both are needed for a healthy workout. You don't have to have a six pack abs. A healthy BMI (Body Mass Index), and a body fat percentage is important. No two people have the same body type and metabolism. Also men lose weight faster than women. So stop comparing yourself with others. 5. Count your calories and eat. A little binging here and there is ok but the idea is to compensate it in your next workout or your meal. 2000-2400 calorie no longer implies in our lives anymore.The lesser the calories the healthier you stay. But do not starve yourself to death with stupid diet plans. 6. Stay away from sodas, ready made fruit juices. Even fresh fruit juice has a lot of natural sugar so better dilute it with water and reduce the portion. Try and stay away from artificial sweeteners too. The colour white isnt a very recommended color for food i.e. Flour, sugar, dairy products also to an extent should be kept away from the human body. Go natural and stay away from all the processed food, chicken, cookies, biscuits, cakes, namkeens etc.You are what you eat. If possible go vegetarian.I have turned one and it feels great. 7. Talk about your problems to someone you trust ( that does not mean you altogether rely on the person). Try and live a stress free life. Passive aggression is unhealthy and in a way a disorder. 8. Be good to people around you. Treat them the way you want to be treated.Be friendly and polite with the elderly.We will grow old too. 9. Dont litter/ spit/ pee on the road. It is the nature's living room. Dont dirty it. Nature makes us pay back in our own coin with natural calamities/disasters. 10. Be kind to animals. 11. Be open to learning. It is a never ending thing. 12. Find time for your loved ones. 13.Be humble, and be real. If we all make an effort to be a good human being, this world will be a much nicer place and we much happier humans. 14. No one has a perfect life. We all have our share of sufferings or sorrows. So stop comparing and envying others. You have something better which the other person doesn't have and vice versa. 15. In the end, do not forget that death is the inevitable truth of life. You came alone and will go alone and will leave everything else behind. So don't let the monetary pleasure take your inner peace away.