My Pensieve

Traveling is one of the most enriching experiences. But traveling is not enough. Traveling with the essentials / must-haves is the key to feeling good during the travel (irrespective of the terrain, the weather, the facilities etc)! After a recent work trip to Kolkata, I figured there are some basic things which I should not afford to miss in my travel bag. Here's a personal travel essentials list: 1. Shower Gel 1. Loofah 1. Facewash 1. Toothbrush 1. Tube of toothpaste (small) 1. Perfume [Purse friendly bottle] 1. Lotion 1. Lip butter 1. Kohl stick 1. Socks [for the pretty feet to remain so!] 1. Shampoo sachet [of the preferred brand. Hotel shampoos are bad.] 1. Conditioner sachet [absolutely essential for those perfect locks] 1. Hair oil sachet [must have for protection against unavoidable hard water] 1. Comb 1. Washing powder sachet [yes, it is essential. Especially for extremely fussy people like myself, who will not use a dirty comb!!] 1. Towel [bigger than...

What is the turning point of one's profession? When we start loving it, knowingly or when it starts to creep into the everyday life, the routine, unknowingly?! The knowledge is still elusive. Until then, the former cannot be affirmatively admitted. But the unknown has always been intriguing! The inadvertent, unknown latter definitely means something! I wonder whether the traits of quick disposal and early consumption have got anything to do with being a lawyer [a Corporate lawyer not the litigating one ;)] or is it just a co-incidence?! While the lawyer in me (I'd rather attribute it to that  than to any other compulsiveness!) would rather treat the household grocery stocks like Company cases, to be disposed off quickly and to not be bought in bulk, I see a clear contrast in an engineer friend working in the Commercial (Purchase / Contracts) Department, who believes in building inventory!! While the lawyer flinches at new cases being filed (either by / against the Comp...

Yes I made fun of it. I laughed when the call waiting of M.P. phones would alternatively inform, "जे नंबर माँ फोन लगाये हवो ओहा कौनो दूसरा नंबर माँ व्यस्त होवे . कृपया इंतज़ार करो अथवा थोडकिन देर बाद कोशिश करो ". I would also laugh at the prerecorded message asking me, "छत्तीसगढ़ी माँ सुनने हेतु पांच दबावा " Little did I know that destiny had decided to send me here, in Chhattisgarh. I disliked the place on day one, and two, and three and some more days. But eventually, I came to terms with it. And I shall reveal right here, that I started liking it soon :) I like it for the torrential rains, a phenomena never witnessed in Delhi. Bhopal still had more of rains. But not comparable. I like it for the scooty experience I never had earlier. Cars in Delhi. Autos in Bhopal. Unfortunately, I did not have a "friend with benefit [of a bike]". I like it for the freedom I got. Too young in school. Too restricted in college. Restricted by self. By society. I...

From the perfections of one book to the travails of another to the imperfections of yet other.. Her story was not over yet, she felt. She wanted to read another book she'd not read, yet. Someone had told her, when she was still a seven year old, "Look for the signs, girl". Since then, she searched and searched all around her, and tried with all her mind to catch them signs. She deduced and inferred a few good omens in her life. One of them being, her life is the book she's reading. She'd seen it being true, a few times too often.. Barely a year into the working world, at twenty-four, she was wondering, whether she ought to find a new book, the right book, the right story or just the right character. Meant to be, is it or not yet or never - was the question she was looking for an answer to, in a million dollar signed copy or a second-hand book. Signs, after all, could be just any-which-where. Who could say she was a lawyer? A lawyer with answers to quest...

Are 'I' and 'myself'  inseparable? Are they simply grammatical forms of the same person? Are they inter-changeable? A big NO is the answer to all the above questions. When invited for a party, I can decide to go alone. Or, I  can take along with me, my companion, myself . When I try to explain this concept to a privileged few, they ask, "How on earth can you go anywhere without yourself?" Well, if I am going out of compulsion and am not enjoying at that party, I have definitely left myself  behind. Simply put,  I and myself are twin souls that have polar moods. They are extremely moody and lead 'me'  into extreme choices. Of late, 'my'  most important task has been to keep them together! This is so because 'I'  have figured that the best company for 'me'  is none other than 'myself'  !! I am happiest doing something only when both I and myself  are together... To have a perfect Sunday, all that is required is I...

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!