My Pensieve

The most bizarre thought but worth a thought nonetheless - I guess the biggest cure of old age and boredom is to sit at the railway station with a companion (hopefully) and observe people leaving and arriving. Railway station is really the most interesting place to see all the frenzy of emotions :)

A night before the very last exam of my law school life, here I am, chit-chatting in my friend's room. My friend had just received a confirmation regarding the publication of her short story in a US magazine (and that too in hard copy plus she is being paid for it! Yay!). That moment, our long concocted plan (some 2-3 years ago we had come up with it in one of those really late night 3-4 hour long marathon conversations talking about all the things on earth, literally all the things - except law - that was taboo :D ) re-surfaced in our discussions - "Man, what are we doing here in this law school?" and the subsequent - "It is the biggest mistake of our lives!" Our plan - She - the hot shot writer - Me - the hot shot translator - making her work reach international audience :D - We - not the hot shot lawyers anymore!! We had decided that ten years down the line we would be doing anything but law - hopefully a joint venture of writer+editor+translator!! She has

हिंदी हैं हम वतन हैं हिंदुस्तान हमारा हमारा सारे जहाँ से अच्छा - मुझे आज भी याद है की यह गाना और ऐसे ही कई और गाने हमने स्कूल के स्वतंत्रता दिवस आदि के कार्यक्रमों में बखूबी गाये हैं. लेकिन फिर भी हम अंग्रेजी में कुशलता, निपुणता आदि हासिल करने के पीछे भागते रहते हैं. हममें से अधिकतर लोग अपनी मातृभाषा को इतनी आसानी से क्यूँ भूलते जा रहे हैं? हममें से अधिकतर को क्यूँ शर्म आती है जब हम अंग्रेजी में अछे से बात नहीं कर पाते? दोस्तों के साथ हम क्यूँ अंग्रेजी में बात करना चाहते हैं जबकि हम सब को हिंदी बोलनी आती है? बहुत से लोग क्यूँ इतने गर्व से कहते हैं - "अरे मुझे हिंदी की संख्या नहीं आती. ज़रा अंग्रेजी में तो बताना कितने पैसे हुए?" या फिर - "ढाई मतलब क्या वक़्त हुआ है? और सवा मतलब कितना?" कोई यह क्यूँ नहीं सोचता की नहीं आता है तो सीख लेना चाहिए. आखिर हिंदी हमारी मातृभाषा है. यह दुर्गति केवल हिंदी की नहीं परन्तु अनेक भारतीय भाषाओँ की है. गौरतलब तो यह है की केवल आम आदमी ही नहीं, किन्तु देश के मार्गदर्शक नेता भी इसी "अंग्रेजी बोलो" दौड़ में शामिल हैं. किसी

धारावाहिक "तेरे लिए" का यह गाना - अनुराग और तानी के सच्चे प्यार को दर्शाते हुए: तेरे बिन यूँ रही ज़िन्दगी, जैसे ठहरी हुई एक नदी, यूँ कटा एक पल, जैसे काटी हो मैंने सदी, कबसे खड़ी तेरे लिए, तेरे लिए तेरे लिए जिस्म पाक आँखों में भर लूं, सास सास में शामिल कर लूं  इस दुनिया में जान गवा तुझे उस दुनिया में हासिल कर लूं ज़िन्दगी गवा कर भी जो ज़िन्दगी मिले, हर ख़ुशी गवा कर भी जो एक ख़ुशी मिले, तो मांग लूं तेरे लिए.. तेरे लिए.. तेरे लिए.. रूह से रूह के दरमियाँ, इश्क के है हजारों जहाँ, या खुदा..या खुदा..मुझको दे दे अगर एक जहाँ, तो मांग लूं तेरे लिए..तेरे लिए..तेरे लिए.. सौ सितम उठा कर भी जो एक ख़ुशी मिले, सौ जन्नतें गवा कर भी जो एक ज़मी मिले.. तेरे सजदे में सर है झुका, तू इबादत है तू ही दुआ, मौत के बाद भी, जो मिले बंदगी का सिला, तो मांग लूं तेरे लिए..तेरे लिए..तेरे लिए.. जिस्म-ओ-जान लुटा कर भी जो एक हसी मिले, दिल अगर जला कर भी जो रौशनी मिले, तो मांग लूं तेरे लिए..तेरे लिए..तेरे लिए.. जन्मों का प्यार तेरे लिए, खुशियाँ हज़ार तेरे लिए.. जन्नत दुआ तेरे लिए, ये जाँ निसार तेरे लिए.. तेरे लिए

What is fun? It means different things for different people. The common perception is that usually hanging out with a big bunch of friends is the best thing! But what if you don't enjoy that? Is there something wrong with you? I think not. Maybe there is something missing in that outing which makes you feel that you are not enjoying. You might have been better off reading that book of yours you've been wanting to read forever. I have realized that it is good to try all those highly recommended/suggested ideas of having fun, but then stick to what suits you best. Also, a pointer for self - if you are not enjoying with that big bunch of friends - maybe it is time to find people you would actually enjoy with!

Not so long a while ago, I was not very excited at the thought of travelling usually. It was a hectic thing. But 2010 - 2011 happened to be that year when I ended up travelling a lot! (it was a lot at least by my past standards :D) And as it happens, I realized that I am actually enjoying it and looking forward to more of it!! It for-sure-as-hell is the REAL learning experience in its truest sense!! This is my next resolution - to ensure as many travel breaks for myself as I can amidst being a soon-to-be-working-girl!!

There was a time when I did not have an answer to - "Which is the season you love the most?" Today, I do. For me, winter it is!! And surprisingly, I love it for all the things which most people dread about the season! My fingers turning cold Making things difficult to hold My cold cheeks and the red nose And my icy toes The cold wind blowing through my hair Wishing that I had worn another layer! The foggy mornings and the white trees The shivers and the overall freeze! I love it too for the cleanliness And the dust-, dry leaves-, puddle- free-ness :D Not to forget the winter clothes The caps, the colourful mufflers and the long coats!