Brush, Brush, Brush

 

Brush, Brush, Brush.

She raised her heels, burdened her fragile toes with her body weight, and looked in the mirror as she was brushing her teeth.While doing so,with her free hand, she tucked a stubborn grey strand behind her right ear.

She rinsed her mouth, wiped her mouth with the towel kept by the sink and placed it carefully back.

She looked in the mirror and this time she noticed that her hazel eyes had lost the sparks they once held. They now looked tired and stiff. She sighed hopelessly, picked up her toothbrush,squeezed the toothpaste into it and started brushing.

Brush, Brush, Brush.

This time she stared at her skin.Her skin which was once an object of envy among her girlfriends, now resembled the crepe paper she used to  make rose flowers, while teaching origami to the kids from her neighbourhood.

She spat in the sink after she was done and placed her toothbrush back at its place.

She continued to look intently in the mirror for a while, until she finally came out of her trance. She looked around and realised she was in her bathroom but sadly she could not recall anymore why she had come here in the first place. Minutes passed as she stared blankly at herself in the mirror,and then she noticed her yellow teeth. Her yellow smile, as her 8 year old grandson, Colton says.

And right on cue, she heard a knock on her bathroom door and then saw Colton barge in.

“Nana,hurry up! We are leaving in five minutes! You have been brushing your teeth for almost an hour now.” He said exasperated.

“I’ll be out in a jiffy.”,she sheepishly said.And after he left,she picked up her toothbrush, washed it under the tap,squeezed out a generous amount of paste and started brushing her teeth all over again.

Brush, Brush, Brush.

 

How I style my Vintage Blue Midi dress

 

I particularly remember coming across this dress and instantly falling in love with it. I picked this outfit from a store, which had piles of export dresses. In a room full of fabrics, this was the one outfit that I could not keep down.

It is a British button through blue midi dress. The fabric used to make the dress is called seersucker, which is light in weight and is perfect for summers or day time outings. The dress also flaunts minute floral patterns which give the dress a nice ‘young’look.It has a prominent summery and vintage vibe to it.

I remember how the first time I got into the dress, I felt like I had time travelled to the Victorian era and was an elite young lady, waiting for her wagon to take her to wherever her heart desires. Wishful thinking, right?

But a girl can always dream:)

Back to the dress, I admit that it was an impulsive buy. It was only when I bought this piece home , that I realised that I need to style my dress the right away to make it look effortless.

So, here are a few tips I would give if you are considering to flaunt a midi dress look:

1. Buying is the easy part

You don’t agree with me? Well you should try buying a perfect outfit, only to find that its sleeves are a bit too floppy and dangly, and the dress does not hug your curves like you want it to.

So, the first thing I did after buying my dress,  was having a dress fitting at home and figuring out the measurements. Once I had the measurements, I rushed to my tailor and got it altered.

A shopping tip I abide by, if you fall in love with a piece but don’t find your size, grab a size or two bigger. And then just let your tailor work his magic!

2. Accessorizing  the dress

If you are going for a simple dress, add a belt or some chunky silver jewellery to accentuate the dress. Just make sure that you don’t overdo it and pair the right accessory with the dress.You can also pair up the dress with a bomber jacket or a leather jacket and go for a rugged look.

I chose my tan belt with a cute bow at its center, to give make sure that the dress does not look too boxy and hugs by body perfectly.

 

3. Ditch your boring shoes

As they say, “People make shoe contact before eye contact.”  When it comes to picking a pair for a midi dress, the best options are pointed heels, heel pumps or the classic boots.

To make a statement, wear a pair of bright shoes.

 

4. Going bold with the lipstick

Don’t shy away from flaunting bold lips!

I chose a purple stain to go with my light blue midi dress. It turned out perfect as the purple stain gave the entire look more edge.

5. Specs Appeal

Geek is indeed the new chic. Add some frames to the picture, and you are good to go.

I finished my look by adding my favourite pair of golden framed glasses.

 

That’s all for now. Stay awesome and keep it dressy!

Sewri Fort-A story untold

Place:Sewri Fort,Mumbai,India

Mumbai has always being infamously known for its streets bustled with people who struggle to make a living, for being ever polluted concrete jungle which lacks the tranquillity of the rural life. Yet there are still few rare places near Mumbai which are still untouched and remain to enchant us. One such place which I came across is the Sewri fort located on the eastern shoreline.

It is one of the 8 forts left in Mumbai and one out of the three forts in the eastern shoreline, the other two being the Sion Fort and the Mazgaon Fort. It is classified as grade 1 heritage structure and is currently owned by Maharashtra’s Department of Archaeology and Museums. Though this fort is mere 10 minutes walk from Sewri station, most people do not even have inkling about its existence.

The Sewri station sign board.

 

After getting down at Sewri station early in the morning, we asked few locals about the fort and were amazed when they answered by replying “Yahan toh koi fort nahi hai, yaha sirf flamingos dikhte hai”.

Our quest was finally over after a while and we reached the Sewri fort which is located on a road which is surrounded by storage depots of petrol companies. The area is cluttered with trucks and oil tankers. There is no indication of the fort in the vicinity and it is barely visible to a visitor. The lack of signboard and information board makes it strenuous for a person to explore the fort properly. The fort is surrounded by land on three sides and there is a cliff on the fourth side that drop downs to the mangroves.

The main courtyard of the Sewri Fort.

There is a dargah situated right besides the fort which attracts few visitors especially during Muslim festivals where there are fairs organized.

The steps leading to the fort.The Dargh is right besides it.

The entrance is an arched door which leads to a small dark cell like room. There is another arched door inside the cell which leads to a main courtyard inside the fort. This courtyard is spacious and has steps and leads to a place where you can enjoy the view from the top. The view depends on the direction you look at. One can see the dargah from one side, flamingos, Sewri jetty on another, high rises to industrial units on another side. The view is great but it is devastating to see how badly the mangroves are maintained and how the human developments have led to complete destruction of the mangroves. The fort seems to be interesting because various aspects like its strategic location, surrounding, size, architecture and it’s rather intriguing history.

The entrance of the courtyard,which has 1736 engraved on it,which some assume to be the year it was built.

The fort is deserted and shady and I was wondering if it has become a hangout place for thugs.

While coming back from the fort we met a 60-year-old lady named Bharti Kisan Lokhande, who is a local staying nearby. She was a chatty and cheerful person who readily told us many stories about the fort which her grandfather had witnessed. It is believed that the fort was built originally to serve security purpose as a watchtower or a check-post in 1680.Though at the entrance of the fort the number 1736 is inscribed and many believe that it is the year when the fort was built. We came to know that she visits the fort everyday and sit on the steps of the fort. She informed us that many photographers come here, especially early in the morning on weekends and during the flamingo festival held every year. The place promotes ornithology and you will find many ardent bird watchers visiting here.

 

It was reported last year that the Maharashtra Tourism Department Corporation (MTDC) has plans of reviving the Sewri Fort and proposed a “makeover of the fort to include a museum, mini-theatre, souvenir shop and an open deck restaurant”.

The signboard outside the fort.

What is worth pondering upon is the fact that does that place really requires these added luxury or the top priority of the officials should be to keep the fort and the area clean and to appoint security guards to ensure that the heritage structure is well maintained? Also there is an urgent need for the officials to post signboards and information boards to help the tourists locate the fort and to avoid the unnecessary hassle.

Very few cities of the world can proudly say that they have heritage forts like Mumbai, yet we fail to appreciate the heritage and do not value its existence let alone promote it.

This is how I styled my outfit for Chainsmokers Concert

When I knew that I was going for the Chainsmokers concert, I knew that I had to wear something great.

I wanted to wear a typical concert kinda clothing, yet without doubt something that would reflect my personal style.

After hours of trial and testing,I was satisfied with what I came up.

In this blog,I will tell you all how I brought together my entire look.

I chose to wear my Forever 21 black tshirt dress,which has a lace border at the hem,for the event.

Black is the best colour to go for,if you aren’t up for any experimenting.

 If you want to stand out amongst the crowd, I suggest you  opt for a fresh colour.Bright colours,pastel shades or mild tones like nude or cream can be your options.

Next,I paired up my tshirt dress with a pair of fishnet stockings.I did this to give an edge to my look. 

Fishnet stockings are totally in right now, and they let you dress up a plain dress or your ripped denims.

Finally,the most important part of my outfit.Shoes.

I decided to experiment and go for a fresh colour instead of the regular white or metallic shoes.Since my outfit was black,I paired it up with mint shoes. 

Mint is definitely something everyone should consider because  they go with almost all outfits,if you know how to pair them effortlessly.

The only thing that went wrong for me was that my shoes were a size smaller.I did a mistake of wearing them for the first time in the concert itself.

So, I ended up holding my shoes in hand the whole night and dancing bare feet.Not that I am complaining about that.😁

Make sure that you buy the right size of shoes and wear it atleast once before the main event. 

That’s it.Enjoy your next concert! Live while you are young!

Picture credits:Ankita Nagwekar

How to stay motivated?

“Motivation is like bathing.You’ve got to do it every single day. “

Truer words have never been spoken.

Every single day, we have trouble keeping up with our volatile life.Our lives are changing every second,there is so much happening , so it is totally okay to feel overwhelmed and stressed.

How to deal with this feeling of overwhelmingness? Stay positive and motivated.Easier said than done.How to  stay motivated and inspired, when your life seems to be falling apart?

One thing I have learnt is that like every other thing in our lives, we have to put in effort to stay motivated.

So, there are different ways in which you can boost and charge your motivation radar.I will share few ways, which work for me:

1.Surround yourself with people who make you happy

This is the best way to instantly feel inspired.When feeling low,meet your friend, who is known for his/her humour, or the one who is a dreamer by heart and is full of hope and ideas .Boycott people who are bitter and too critical by nature.Now is not the time to indulge in them.
2.Escape

No, I am not telling you to escape from your woes.I am suggesting you to physically detach yourself from your routine,even if it is just for a day.
You can go for a solo trek or plan a sleepover at your bestie’s place or visit your cousin’s.By doing so,you will give your mind a well deserved break from the monotony.

3.Exercise

Go for a long stroll with your friend,pet or with music,whatever works for you.Though you would at that moment prefer to stay indoor and do nothing but roll around in your bed, I say get up and go out.By doing so,you have won half your battle.

4.Indulge in yourself

Be selfish.Pamper yourself.Indulge in a retail therapy if that makes you happy,  or pay for an hour of spa therapy to feel good.Go to the cinema hall and watch a movie that you are dying to see.Literally do anything and everything to unwind and feel alive.

5.Enroll for a hobby class

This is my personal favourite among the others on the list.Hobby classes are fun and de-stressing.Not only will you be doing something new ,but you will also be meeting new interesting people.Did I emphasize on interesting?

One thing I have observed,after enrolling myself for hobby classes occasionally, is that you always meet interesting people in these classes.And since these people know nothing about you,you can always start fresh and paint a new version of yourself in their eyes.Be whoever you wish to be.Isn’t that cool?

So enroll for a hobby class.Maybe baking,learning a foreign language,zumba,dance,swimming,and the list is endless.
Just remember that staying motivated is an art,that you need to nurture and learn.

Our Symphony

via Daily Prompt: Symphony

 

“I dig you damn it!”, I remember you had grabbed my upper arm, and had yelled at me exasperated.

“I like you too “, I had blurted out.

Then after few years, when you had popped the question, I remember our battle.

“Do you really want to marry me?  I am warning you. I am a mess and loving me won’t be easy.”, I had whispered, though deep down I knew I would do anything to make us work.

“It is too late. I am irrevocably in love with you.Marry me.”, you had said with so much intensity, that it was easy for me to lock my doubts in a box and throw the key away.

Then came the worst.Or that is what I thought.

“Shit! We are too young.How could we be so careless?!” I had pounded your chest and pushed you across the room.

“We are in this together, doll.We will get through this” You had tried pacifying me by   putting on a brave face , when you were seconds away from cacking your pants.

And from there on, I realised that we were always in it together. We shared our roses and thorns.

So, today, after growing old together, as I lay my head on your chest and listen to your heart beat, I realise that it resembles a symphony. A symphony which is slowly fading , just like the white lilies on our kitchen table.And at this moment, I wish nothing but to be a part of your symphony.

Our symphony.

 

 

Heart’s Content

  What is that one incident in your life which you are proud of? When someone asks you this, are there a series of moments running in your mind, some recent ones and some slightly faded old ones? It seems almost like a flashback or like a movie is rewinded.Magical, isn’t it?
  Personally, I can’t really pick and point out saying,’Ah…That was the incident which I am most proud of”. I wish it was so easy. When I sit down and actually rack my brains for such incident, an array of glimpses of events of my life come into my vision and I am left to reminisce.   
 To start with, I am proud of moments where I was courageous enough to help others,without having any selfish ulterior motive.It is a human nature to be selfish, to think of yourself first. I am totally acquainted with Darwin’s theory of survival. But as they say, one should never forget that the day one completely stops empathizing or understanding their fellow humans, is the day they cease to be a human.  
   I am proud of those chapters of my life when I did something for someone without knowing their name,or thinking about the returns. These gestures are very miniscule,yet thoughful.There were days when I was feeling low,yet I have smiled at a stranger on the road who seemed to be going through his own share of battles,days when I had too much on my plate,yet I managed to take some time out to help a friend who needed my advice. Days like these make me feel good about myself.  
  One recent incident which crosses my mind while writing this brings a big satisfied smile on my face. It was just a normal day,when I was returning home.Tired and exhausted. I boarded my train from Churchgate station.To say the train was crowded would be an understatement.But that did not surprise me.Having been travelling every day in train for almost 5 years,has made me learn a thing or two about surviving the infamous ‘Mumbai Local’.I somehow trudged my way and managed to stand inside.At the next station,I got a seat.I was delighted. I quickly sat down and removed my earphones and got consumed in my own thoughts.The crowd was increasing with each passing station.I could hear women quarrelling,abusing,picking petty fights.It is quite amusing sometimes to see how people behave and what idiotic stunts they can pull.
    Soon the dreaded Dadar station arrived ,I could see half the train getting down,but at the same time,a new bunch of commuters getting in.It was an utter chaos.The train left the station.Soon,a lady with one baby in her hand and two kids who were not more than 2 or 3 years with her came and stood inside.I wondered how she managed to get in.She looked so tired.One could see how much she struggled to stand with the baby and to manage the two toddlers.I looked around and noticed that people looked at her and noticed but not even one person offered her their seat.Few minutes passed and I decided to take some charge.I got up and gave her the seat.She smiled and denied it.But I insisted and she finally sat down.I could see relief in her eyes.As I was standing,I realised what the world has come to.We have become so busy in our own lives that we have forgotten what it is to bring smile on someone else’s face.I stood till my stop.And while getting down she said thank you and that she appreciates my kind act.Unconsciously,I was wearing a big smile on my face as I went home.      
    Does this qualify me for a noble prize?Of course not!Does this make me a greater person?No.Is it something people may remember?Maybe or maybe not.Then why bother,right?I would say to feel good.As Mother Teresa said rightly,” The good you do today ,will often be forgotten.Do good anyway.”     
   We constantly say that there is no true love anymore in this world,that people are mean,no one is kind.But the truth is that deep down we all have that good in us.We just need to stop hesitating and embrace it.     

   

Express.Love.Live.Life is not only about success,career,money.It is what you miss,while achieving all this.

The virtual hoo-ha

 

A decade back you would have not crossed path with teens who have their personal fancy gadgets and who are a pro at technology. But enter 2016 and you surely won’t be that  flabbergasted when you see a 3-year-old tiny kid operating his iPhone like a pro.Note the key word his.

Today’s kids are the first generation of kids and teens that are growing up with media being at its full boom. Most of the kids after the age of 8 have their own profile on social networking sites such as Face book,Instagram etc today. Social media have become an integral aspect of every youth. So the question to ponder upon is why has social media gained so much hype and popularity among the youths and is the talk of the town?

The prime reason is that the youth masses want to know, share and be heard. This want urges them to be as socially active as possible. Social media give them the perfect platform to flaunt their creativity to the public and helps them connect with the world by a mere click of few buttons. They can share their snaps and views instantly, vent out their emotions and feelings and can connect with the people who appeal to them.

The most important of all, social media assures them that they are socially accepted and cool. Popularity is determined by a person’s digit of followers and online friends. The number of likes and comments on their fb posts and the counts of retweets on their tweet is a matter of pride for a youth today. Peer approval is guaranteed if they are socially active.

The digital era has arrived and is here to stay. It has changed the way the current young generation reacts to peers and their surroundings. If used wisely it is undoubtedly the best gift to humanity. So what are you waiting for? Pull up your sleeves and go on a social media spree!

 

 

 

 

Shooing away the monotony

Are you questioning your existence more often?Do you spend every waking hour in self loathing and self pity?Do you spend hours dreaming about a happier life?
Wonder what has struck you?
You are simply a victim of monotony.
We all have our own fair amount of days where we are doomed by monotony.

Firstly,we need to understand  that it is okay.Not everyone of us can have a perfect life,like those Instagram personalities ,whose life seems to be a vacation on its own.*sigh*Wishful thinking.

The cure?Be reckless.Trust me, sometimes it is the ultimate hack to make things right,to make you forget and to bring back the spark in your life.Unless you are ready to waste your time waiting for some new hot dude or a girl like how the sappy sagas tell you,to spice up your monotonous story.If that is the case then all I can say is may the wait be worthwhile.
But for all the wise ones,what you truly need is to feel alive.Maybe again or maybe for the first time.

You need to feel that pumped up adrenaline rush which hits you so hard that it leaves you dizzy for hours.Do something so spontaneous and so uncalled for that your yesterday’s self would never even dare think about it in their wildest dream.
It can be any random thing you always wanted to do and which was in your bucket list,feeling deprived of your attention.

Wanted to always go on a solo trip to the mysterious country of Mongolia?Do it.Go watch a movie alone in theatre,learn a new language you have never heard of,shop till you drop,call a random number and just start a conversation and the list is endless.Do everything and anything to make your soul happy.
For once,think beyond the boundaries which society has thrust upon us.
Live.Love.Explore.Discover yourself and discover world.

Be like Nike.Just do it! 🙂

The conundrum

 

Was I a bit too over the top?I should have not said that. If I would have handled it that way, then the outcome would have been different.And the list is endless.

Some call it as the’ inner voice’ and many call it the ‘conscience’ .Ain’t these words a tad bit simple for such a complex phenomenon?
Imagine, something so confusing, something which eats you up,frustrates you,yet guides you,is summed up and termed just as conscience.
So what can we call it?

Personally,I would call it our conundrum moments.We all have our own personalized ‘connundrum moments’.

I know right!We are already surrounded by the hustle and bustle of our lives and to top it off we have one more voice demanding our undivided attention.It is something which will not leave you even if one fine day you end up going on a stranded island in search of nirvana.A bit scary,right?

These moments are those which help you self analyse and help you act in a certain way and look at things in a certain perspective.

It can be something as small as the inner turmoil you have after you fight with your partner or the reprimanding voice which makes you feel guilty for not offering water to the delivery guy who looked tired while delivering your much awaited mail.The constant battle with yourself before doing something big ,the  which you give yourself regularly,the way you console yourself after a life changing step,they all count.

A solution to tackle this?Simple. Embrace it.That is the only way to make peace with your self.Never forget that these conundrum moments are like the watchdog,they help you be the better version of yourself.
And who does not want to be their favourite version?!