.....when it comes to writing.
Weird much? You might want to read the whole piece here.
Oh, and not to miss the Liz Gilbert video :)
Have a great week ahead y'all!
Showing posts with label I also write here. Show all posts
Showing posts with label I also write here. Show all posts
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Because it pays to be a snob.....
.....when it comes to writing.
Weird much? You might want to read the whole piece here.
Oh, and not to miss the Liz Gilbert video :)
Have a great week ahead y'all!
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Day 4 - Finding Serendipity
Gosh. I still can’t believe I made it to Day 4!
Anyhoo, before I take a quick break for the weekend.
Here is a true story on Finding Serendipity.
See y’all on the other side.
Anyhoo, before I take a quick break for the weekend.
Here is a true story on Finding Serendipity.
See y’all on the other side.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Don't get fooled by the 'likes' that you got!
Last week at the movies, I heard the lady seated behind me exclaim to her partner.
“700,000 followers already!.. Wow!”
The producers obviously thought it important to include details of the debutant actor’s fanbase in the closing credits. Honestly, I did not think it was a big deal. If you can throw a few dollars to have “fans” receive you at the airport, then is it really that difficult to get a few more to “like” you online? I don’t mean to generalize, but I found that number a bit tough to digest. The young man was only a regional artist and barely a movie old...
Click here to read the full article.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Is your content losing its groove?
A few weeks ago while refreshing my newsfeed on Facebook, I came across an email from a leading airline company. It wasn’t a sponsored post, rather a friend had posted it as one of the worst examples of marketing emails. The visual sparked my interest and I....
( As published on the Compile Blog. Click here to read the complete article.)
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Running in India : Women Take Off!
( As published previously on Women's Web. )
Health and fitness is slowly gaining importance in the lives of Indian women today. Be it walking, Aerobics, Yoga or Zumba, many Indian women these days engage in one form of workout or the other. Of late, running has also been gaining importance in India. It is obvious from the number of running groups in India, and women participating in marathons and half marathons that this sport has gained a lot of popularity in recent times.
Running groups and events for Indian women
Runner Girls India (RGI), one of the largest network for female runners, was launched in Bangalore in 2007 with less than ten members. Today, RGI has close to 400 members and has expanded to various cities in the country and overseas as well. Mumbai Runner Girls and Diva Runners in Delhi are also some other popular running groups in India.
“One of the main reasons why running has gained a lot prominence is because it helps you fight stress levels and stay completely healthy,” says Naina Lal, founder of RGI. The largest running event in the country, Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, saw a steady increase in the number of women participants this year; according to the organizers the extra 1000 – 1500 spots which were exclusively allotted for women were all filled up.
The Mumbai based DNA conducts a Ladies Only Half Marathon with varying categories earmarked for 5km, 10km and 21km and over 3800 women took to their feet this year for a social cause! What is also interesting to note is that running is not restricted to just young Indian women. Go to Mumbai Marine Drive on any Sunday morning at 6:00 AM, and you will be inspired seeing the number of elderly women sweating it out by the sea face.
Having said all of that, another important question still remains to be asked; is running on Indian roads really that easy for a woman? Sadly the answer is no. I remember having a conversation with a close friend of mine, a young mother, doctor and a marathoner who moved from Kerala to New Jersey. She was describing how much she loves the sport and I recall this statement distinctly: “You know Piya, I am not really sure if I would have been able to run so regularly on Indian roads.” For anyone who has lived in the country at any given point of time, the reasons are really a no-brainer.
Based on my own experiences and in conversation with a few other enthusiasts and professionals, here are some pointers if you want to embrace running in India:
- Be an early bird: It always helps to wake up a little early and hit the road for a comfortable run. Ask most Indian women who run and they will tell you that mornings work best and evenings are avoidable. “Mornings always work the best for me, I feel fresh and safe. Most of the roads are so poorly lit in the evenings,” says Ruta Vaidya, a working woman and a running enthusiast. This is also the time when the weather is normally at its best and street sexual harassers are mostly at bay.
- Get the right gear: Invest in good quality running shoes and comfortable running clothes. “One should be comfortable with whatever one is wearing. Usually I avoid running shorts which are too short if I am running alone. I wear knee length track pants,” Roshni Rai adds. I cannot agree more.
- Choose a residential park/track: Running in enclosed parks, running tracks, or a jogger’s park is a safer option if you are a lone runner. I stay in one of the most crowded suburbs in Mumbai and running on the road is far from a comforting thought. The last time I ventured out, I had to stop every few minutes either to sidestep garbage or to avoid colliding with a reckless cyclist.
- Carry an ID proof document and a mobile phone: If you are on the road and running alone, it is very important that you carry a document of identification and your mobile phone so that in a worst case scenario, you can call for help or if you are injured, even a stranger can contact your relative for help. It is also a good idea to always keep some extra money in one of your pant pockets.
- Run with a group: This is definitely the most common safety measure that Indian women can adopt when running. “Find a group who runs on that same route and that is the safest option,” remarks Roshni Rai. This is also a common rule in all running groups. If you don’t want to be a part of any official running group, choose a friend or a group of friends in your area and you are all set.
Whether it is for a cause or just for fun, running is a great way for Indian women to maintain their health and fitness. Be warned though, once you get started, it can get highly addictive!
Ladies, let not the hostility of Indian roads scare you from enjoying your favourite sport! Lace up your running shoes and Get, Set, GO!
Health and fitness is slowly gaining importance in the lives of Indian women today. Be it walking, Aerobics, Yoga or Zumba, many Indian women these days engage in one form of workout or the other. Of late, running has also been gaining importance in India. It is obvious from the number of running groups in India, and women participating in marathons and half marathons that this sport has gained a lot of popularity in recent times.
Running groups and events for Indian women
Runner Girls India (RGI), one of the largest network for female runners, was launched in Bangalore in 2007 with less than ten members. Today, RGI has close to 400 members and has expanded to various cities in the country and overseas as well. Mumbai Runner Girls and Diva Runners in Delhi are also some other popular running groups in India.
“One of the main reasons why running has gained a lot prominence is because it helps you fight stress levels and stay completely healthy,” says Naina Lal, founder of RGI. The largest running event in the country, Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, saw a steady increase in the number of women participants this year; according to the organizers the extra 1000 – 1500 spots which were exclusively allotted for women were all filled up.
The Mumbai based DNA conducts a Ladies Only Half Marathon with varying categories earmarked for 5km, 10km and 21km and over 3800 women took to their feet this year for a social cause! What is also interesting to note is that running is not restricted to just young Indian women. Go to Mumbai Marine Drive on any Sunday morning at 6:00 AM, and you will be inspired seeing the number of elderly women sweating it out by the sea face.
Having said all of that, another important question still remains to be asked; is running on Indian roads really that easy for a woman? Sadly the answer is no. I remember having a conversation with a close friend of mine, a young mother, doctor and a marathoner who moved from Kerala to New Jersey. She was describing how much she loves the sport and I recall this statement distinctly: “You know Piya, I am not really sure if I would have been able to run so regularly on Indian roads.” For anyone who has lived in the country at any given point of time, the reasons are really a no-brainer.
Safety tips when running in India
Picture an Indian scenario: unfortunately the majority of images that come to our minds are uneven roads, exposed garbage, potholes, hawkers fighting for space and burgeoning traffic. Apart from a stray dog or two who may take a fancy to you, street sexual harassment happens to be the biggest deterrent. Roshni Rai, founder of Mumbai Runner Girls acknowledges these problems but insists, “If one is training for marathons, you have to practice on the road at least once a week.”Based on my own experiences and in conversation with a few other enthusiasts and professionals, here are some pointers if you want to embrace running in India:
- Be an early bird: It always helps to wake up a little early and hit the road for a comfortable run. Ask most Indian women who run and they will tell you that mornings work best and evenings are avoidable. “Mornings always work the best for me, I feel fresh and safe. Most of the roads are so poorly lit in the evenings,” says Ruta Vaidya, a working woman and a running enthusiast. This is also the time when the weather is normally at its best and street sexual harassers are mostly at bay.
- Get the right gear: Invest in good quality running shoes and comfortable running clothes. “One should be comfortable with whatever one is wearing. Usually I avoid running shorts which are too short if I am running alone. I wear knee length track pants,” Roshni Rai adds. I cannot agree more.
- Choose a residential park/track: Running in enclosed parks, running tracks, or a jogger’s park is a safer option if you are a lone runner. I stay in one of the most crowded suburbs in Mumbai and running on the road is far from a comforting thought. The last time I ventured out, I had to stop every few minutes either to sidestep garbage or to avoid colliding with a reckless cyclist.
- Carry an ID proof document and a mobile phone: If you are on the road and running alone, it is very important that you carry a document of identification and your mobile phone so that in a worst case scenario, you can call for help or if you are injured, even a stranger can contact your relative for help. It is also a good idea to always keep some extra money in one of your pant pockets.
- Run with a group: This is definitely the most common safety measure that Indian women can adopt when running. “Find a group who runs on that same route and that is the safest option,” remarks Roshni Rai. This is also a common rule in all running groups. If you don’t want to be a part of any official running group, choose a friend or a group of friends in your area and you are all set.
Whether it is for a cause or just for fun, running is a great way for Indian women to maintain their health and fitness. Be warned though, once you get started, it can get highly addictive!
Ladies, let not the hostility of Indian roads scare you from enjoying your favourite sport! Lace up your running shoes and Get, Set, GO!
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Something Small
Exhaustion or Laziness. These are my two most important reasons to NOT
write. And of course some other lame responses like “no mood” or “no
ideas” also feature now and then whenever anyone broaches the topic.
Writing stories according to me always meant a few thousand
words till I chanced upon this site. Quite
kicked by the fact that I must conjure up a plot in 140 characters, I decided
to give it a shot.
And a pint-sized love story was born.
Small joys of life :)
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Off the hook
Jhanvi tapped her fingers on the table top and looked towards the door once again. No sign of RK. The impatience was beginning to show. She fidgeted in her seat and flipped the pages of the magazine for the third time. He was supposed to meet her at 4 and it was 4: 25 in her watch.
Maybe I should just leave.
She got up and waved at the waiter. Just then, the music in the room changed and Jhanvi recognized the song immediately. Surprisingly, she did not feel any sense of discomfort unlike that evening, a year ago.
---------------------------
*Off the hook, with the cutz, that's right
I'm feel'n loose cuz it sounds so tight
We rock da spot till the very end
And make sure that you're there when we do it again
The lead singer’s voice rose above the chatter and clanking of frothy beer mugs, and it was giving Jhanvi a headache. But she tried her best to keep a straight face and not let the discomfort show in front of her husband’s friends. It was a big night of celebration for RK.
“Tanya! Been ages…!” Jhanvi heard her husband greeting one of his friends. She smiled at Tanya followed by a polite hello. RK of course made a feeble introduction of his wife to all his friends. Jhanvi realized that no matter how hard she tried, the cracks in their relationship always remained visible to everyone, strangers included.
The loud music continued and people began to trickle in. Her husband was obviously more popular than Jhanvi could ever imagine. She exchanged customary hi-hellos with some of RK’s friends, just a handful who she knew. According to him, Jhanvi was a misfit at any party. She did not drink nor did she smoke. And of course, she did not know how to “mingle”. He had lit a cigarette for her once. “You must try these things sometimes. It is no big deal” he had said.
Three hours later and unable to sleep, Jhanvi switched on the TV and switched channels furiously, while her mind raced back to the events of the night. She popped in a tablet hoping the nagging pain would subside. RK slept peacefully in the next room with his shoes on. After a while, she switched off the TV and contemplated on whether to read or check her mail. Her thoughts were interrupted by a beep. RK had thrown his phone on the sofa in a state of complete drunkenness. The phone blinked continuously and on any other day, she would have chosen to ignore it. But somehow that night she felt she had the right – to know. Jhanvi made sure that RK was fast asleep before she picked up his phone.
A feeling of resentment engulfed her as she read the lines that appeared on the screen.
“We should do this more often. Tonight’s party was totally off the hook! *wink*”
------------------------------------------
Jhanvi remembered the next day clearly. RK had refused to speak to her after she had confronted him. The next two weeks had been miserable. But all that was a year ago. She sighed with relief and let the thoughts drift away. Things were slowly coming back to normal. He had promised that he won’t hurt her again.
That’s when she heard his voice.
“ Sorry.. Got stuck in a meeting. I need to leave tonight at 10 to Hyderabad... The Director wants me to travel with him for a client meeting.”
She concealed her disappointment. The last few months together had been peaceful and she did not want to rock the boat. Pleased that his wife had chosen to tacitly agree, RK smiled. “ Let me join you in a minute. Meanwhile see what you want to drink.” He walked towards the men’s room and Jhanvi turned her attention to the menu half-heartedly.
As she leafed through the pages, the waiter approached her holding something familiar. “Mam, I think this fell out of Sir’s bag. I found it near the door.”
The waiter handed over RK’s notepad and Jhanvi eyes immediately fell on the two chits of paper which had slipped out. Crumpled at the edges, they seemed to have been hastily tucked into the book. The dates printed in big bold letters stared back at her.
But she did not remember making any plans for that evening.
He just said he is traveling.
Jhanvi narrowed her eyes to get a closer look at the rest of the printed matter.
Atonement
10: 45 pm
Screen 2; Row K – 14, 15
*Lyrics of the song "off the hook" by P.O.D
Maybe I should just leave.
She got up and waved at the waiter. Just then, the music in the room changed and Jhanvi recognized the song immediately. Surprisingly, she did not feel any sense of discomfort unlike that evening, a year ago.
---------------------------
*Off the hook, with the cutz, that's right
I'm feel'n loose cuz it sounds so tight
We rock da spot till the very end
And make sure that you're there when we do it again
The lead singer’s voice rose above the chatter and clanking of frothy beer mugs, and it was giving Jhanvi a headache. But she tried her best to keep a straight face and not let the discomfort show in front of her husband’s friends. It was a big night of celebration for RK.
“Tanya! Been ages…!” Jhanvi heard her husband greeting one of his friends. She smiled at Tanya followed by a polite hello. RK of course made a feeble introduction of his wife to all his friends. Jhanvi realized that no matter how hard she tried, the cracks in their relationship always remained visible to everyone, strangers included.
The loud music continued and people began to trickle in. Her husband was obviously more popular than Jhanvi could ever imagine. She exchanged customary hi-hellos with some of RK’s friends, just a handful who she knew. According to him, Jhanvi was a misfit at any party. She did not drink nor did she smoke. And of course, she did not know how to “mingle”. He had lit a cigarette for her once. “You must try these things sometimes. It is no big deal” he had said.
Three hours later and unable to sleep, Jhanvi switched on the TV and switched channels furiously, while her mind raced back to the events of the night. She popped in a tablet hoping the nagging pain would subside. RK slept peacefully in the next room with his shoes on. After a while, she switched off the TV and contemplated on whether to read or check her mail. Her thoughts were interrupted by a beep. RK had thrown his phone on the sofa in a state of complete drunkenness. The phone blinked continuously and on any other day, she would have chosen to ignore it. But somehow that night she felt she had the right – to know. Jhanvi made sure that RK was fast asleep before she picked up his phone.
A feeling of resentment engulfed her as she read the lines that appeared on the screen.
“We should do this more often. Tonight’s party was totally off the hook! *wink*”
------------------------------------------
Jhanvi remembered the next day clearly. RK had refused to speak to her after she had confronted him. The next two weeks had been miserable. But all that was a year ago. She sighed with relief and let the thoughts drift away. Things were slowly coming back to normal. He had promised that he won’t hurt her again.
That’s when she heard his voice.
“ Sorry.. Got stuck in a meeting. I need to leave tonight at 10 to Hyderabad... The Director wants me to travel with him for a client meeting.”
She concealed her disappointment. The last few months together had been peaceful and she did not want to rock the boat. Pleased that his wife had chosen to tacitly agree, RK smiled. “ Let me join you in a minute. Meanwhile see what you want to drink.” He walked towards the men’s room and Jhanvi turned her attention to the menu half-heartedly.
As she leafed through the pages, the waiter approached her holding something familiar. “Mam, I think this fell out of Sir’s bag. I found it near the door.”
The waiter handed over RK’s notepad and Jhanvi eyes immediately fell on the two chits of paper which had slipped out. Crumpled at the edges, they seemed to have been hastily tucked into the book. The dates printed in big bold letters stared back at her.
But she did not remember making any plans for that evening.
He just said he is traveling.
Jhanvi narrowed her eyes to get a closer look at the rest of the printed matter.
Atonement
10: 45 pm
Screen 2; Row K – 14, 15
*Lyrics of the song "off the hook" by P.O.D
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Voices
(As published in the magazine Helter Skelter, based on a theme.)
“I never thought that scoundrel would do this to his only son…..” Gaurav’s grandfather’s voice trailed off and the old man could not bring himself to complete the sentence. The rising anger was accompanied by grief and helplessness. Tears flowed down his cheeks and he did nothing to stop them. His grandson lay in front of him fast asleep. The plasters covered his head and an eye as well.
Harshvardhan Jadhav had tried his best to stay strong for the sake of his ailing daughter but the sight of his only grandson, beaten up and bruised, tore him apart and he could not control his emotions any longer.
Preeti immediately rose from her chair and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Uncle… it is alright. Gaurav is fine now and soon he will be back to normal. His father is behind bars. You don’t have to worry about anything. We are here for you.” Her colleague and friend Mala also sat next to the elderly gentleman and tried to pacify him.
“Imagine if you had not called the police on time……” the old man continued in between his sobs… “I would have lost my grandson. I don’t know how to thank you beti. You saved his life. I just hope Tanuja gets better soon. I have not told her about Gaurav yet.”
Preeti wanted him to know that it was his grandson’s presence of mind that played a bigger role.....
Read the complete story here.
“I never thought that scoundrel would do this to his only son…..” Gaurav’s grandfather’s voice trailed off and the old man could not bring himself to complete the sentence. The rising anger was accompanied by grief and helplessness. Tears flowed down his cheeks and he did nothing to stop them. His grandson lay in front of him fast asleep. The plasters covered his head and an eye as well.
Harshvardhan Jadhav had tried his best to stay strong for the sake of his ailing daughter but the sight of his only grandson, beaten up and bruised, tore him apart and he could not control his emotions any longer.
Preeti immediately rose from her chair and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Uncle… it is alright. Gaurav is fine now and soon he will be back to normal. His father is behind bars. You don’t have to worry about anything. We are here for you.” Her colleague and friend Mala also sat next to the elderly gentleman and tried to pacify him.
“Imagine if you had not called the police on time……” the old man continued in between his sobs… “I would have lost my grandson. I don’t know how to thank you beti. You saved his life. I just hope Tanuja gets better soon. I have not told her about Gaurav yet.”
Preeti wanted him to know that it was his grandson’s presence of mind that played a bigger role.....
Read the complete story here.
Monday, February 6, 2012
As I waited for my steak.......
Anyone could see that the Mr Yin Yang Lee was reading the menu word by word, his brows furrowed in concentration. The waiter began tapping his pencil against the note pad and his customer immediately got the hint and placed the order. Ten minutes later, the Chinese visitor was served cheese corn balls on a platter with a dip by the side. After having devoured the dish within the next few minutes, he signaled for the menu again. Now he wanted to study the items available on the main course. The title on the first page read “Chinese”. As if by reflex, he gave the menu back and turned to the waiter “Do you have any suggestions?” The waiter raised an eyebrow. “Would you like to try something Indian? What about some naan and butter chicken? I can get you some salad by the side as well”. Yang Lee nodded his head. He was all game to experiment.
Two tables behind him sat three wives of very hard working men.
W1 : “No!! I am not lying! Tanya IS going to France this summer.”
W2 : “Reaaaalllllyyyyy?? Her poor husband.. he works so hard for her nooo?? And the way she spends all her money. Tch Tch. “
W3 : “Why do you feel so sorry? Maybe he is fine with it.”
W1 : “No No,.. Maria. What Tara is trying to say is that she is not like us. At least we don’t spend it so frivolously. Ok, forget that.. why did she have to lie to us of all people? I mean it’s not like we will sabotage her trip or something. “
W2: “I knowwww sweets. Even I really felt bad you know…”
W3 : “About what??...the trip or about her lying to you??”
W1: “Uffooo… Why are u always taking Tanya’s side?”
W3 : “I am not taking anyone’s side. I just asked a simple question.”
W2: “Ok, let’s not argue about Tanya now. Btw ladies, how do you like my new Tote?”
W1: “Ooooohhh I like! Sooo youuuu! I knew I hadn’t seen that one before!...”
W3: “Its very pretty ,Tara.”
W2 : “Thank you ladies!! Mona, I was wondering why you didn’t ask me earlier. Giggles. You are usually the one who notices these things first.”
W3: “Ok, ladies. I gotta rush. Rishab has reached home from the crèche. His nanny just messaged me. Catch u laters.” W3 makes an exit.
W1: “Talk about kill joys!”
W2: “She’s always been like that. I told you we won’t be able to talk freely if she is around.. At least now you realize…”
W1: “Mmmhmmm….By the way, you know I think this time Tanya may only call her girl friends.. I just have this gut feeling and my instincts are usually never wrong.”
W2: “You serious!!!?...She will definitely ask us am telling you!!Hope your passport is in place?”
W1: “Yeah I hope she does. I have been telling Sameer lets plan an international holiday and he just doesn’t listen. “
W2: “Same here. Even Rishi doesn’t budge. And they say all we can think of spending money. It is not like we shop everyday or something………Why are they so working hard anyway?”
W1: “Beats me."
It looked like the fellas sitting at the adjacent table also found the conversation interesting.
“Dude, ye Tote kya hota hai?”
“Pata nahi, I heard it too. …ketchup pass kar….”
“Arey yaaar, iPhone leke kyoon baita hai? Google karke dekh na.. “
At the table diagonally opposite to them, four year old Sid sat licking his fingers after finishing the last slice of Pizza. His mom shot him the dirtiest look.
“Sid, Kya kar rahe ho? How many times have I told u not to lick your fingers? Sit down now, don’t spoil the cushions with your shoes!”
“Mamma what is thaaaat? ” pointing to her soup bowl.
“Soup… beta”
“I also want…..”
“But..you just….”
“I waaaaantt mommy I waaaaant.. dada.. Tell her I want nowwwwww….”
Sid’s shrill voice obviously cut across the room. Most of us at Bombay Blues waited for the mom’s reaction. She obeyed instantly and Sid was quiet. The father pretended like he was not sitting at that table. He had his eyes fixed on his pasta. This 4 year old was in one of the best malls in the city with a shopping bag overflowing with toys, parents in tow, gorging on his Pizza. What on earth was he complaining about anyway? Very soon he would have his own twitter account and maybe even a BMW.
As soon as Sid’s voice died down, the Citibank guy walked across to the fellas with a galaxy tab.
“Hi…we are having this contest on Facebook…………..can you log on right now??” Social Media Marketing has become a big irritant.
By this time Mr Yin Yang Lee had left the restaurant with his naan and butter chicken left almost untouched. I think I know what spoiled his appetite.
Across the table, my husband was buried in his blackberry while my friend focused on her juice. And of course I was the nutcase making up all these conversations in my head.
Sheesh!!!
Takeaway: If you have an imagination that can get the better of you, please DO NOT order steak.
:-/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)