Scanning the distance

My friends and relatives who stay across the country and in various other parts of the world, stay in touch with me through the virtual world, i.e internet. Be it my uncle who is a well settled doctor in London, or my colleague from my previous office in Chennai (who recently had a baby) have asked me many times to pay them a visit. While internet keeps us connected undoubtedly, we cannot ignore the importance of meeting people face to face, especially when they are close to you. One may be willing to go and visit them, yet there is something which we don't share with them. It's you who bears the cost of travelling, damn it! So once when I had planned to go to London to meet my uncle's family, I did a dry run on the internet for tickets/flights. The ticket prices were sky high and I immediately dropped the idea of a vacation. How can you even plan a vacation when the travelling cost is that high! I called them to India instead :-) That was a smart move, though the disappointment remained in my heart for not being able to execute the most awaited trip to abroad.

To add to the woes is the time one takes to travel to the preferred destinations. You cant save money if you save time and vice versa.

So while I was growing up in a small town, it gave me wings to dream. Having stayed all my life in a small town of Uttaranchal, I many a times wondered how would life be outside my country. The thought of going out of country always fascinated me and my excitement grew with leaps and bounds with age. I traversed to Delhi for job and kept dreaming for a vacation abroad.

Now talking about the destination, I really wanna go to Bangkok. Do you really need to know the reasons? Well, there are many! One- The place is not expensive! That leaves a lot of room for shopping. Yay! A girl's instinct you see (wink wink) You save a lot of money on low cost flight for good shopping and great food on vacation. That's actually quite smart. Yeah?

Secondly- The travel time isn't long. Who wants to spend a long travel time in flight? A short trip gives you enough time for other exciting stuff like sight seeing. Needless to mention about the grand Budhhist temple, Siam Ocean World aquarium, exotic wine bars and floating markets of Bangkok.

To add to the advantage is- no jet lags!!! And the working professionals would also agree that with the scanty leave balance they have, time factor becomes rather important. Mathematically, lesser the time in travelling, more is the leisure and pleasure. Obviously we can't time travel!

All those who watched the movie SWADES (Starring Shahrukh Khan) must have seen the modes of travelling he used to reach that small village. Flight, train, bus, boat, rickshaw and what not. Yes that was economical for him, but put yourself in his shoes. Would this be feasible for you? Would you want to keep travelling in order to reach your favorite destination? It may be exciting for those who have all the time in the world and are travelers, but not the common people like us. (There again, don't underestimate the power of common man, says SRK) I might consider those travel options once I reach the destination And not TO the destination. Then only would that be travelling smart. Though I wish I had a magic wand to reach Bangkok invisible. hehe!

My gym trainer visited Bangkok last year and that increased my desire to visit Bangkok by many folds. Then I came across a wonderful website Skyscanner. Check out the website http://www.skyscanner.co.in My excitement knew no bounds when the website showed a whole list of flights available on the site. It eliminated the need to do a random search on net for flights. The site gives you the entire list of flights and hotels available and the time taken to travel. My heart pumped faster and I zeroed in Bangkok for my vacation!!

Scan the sky with skyscanner and travel smart to your dream destination. Save time, save money, enjoy to the fullest and return with a load of cherish-able memories!

This contest is a part of indiblogger contest http://www.indiblogger.in/topic.php?topic=100

Love the #DovePlay

What is the biggest strength for a girl? I know few would say, her smile, or confidence..so on and so forth. What if I'd say her beautiful tresses which she can flaunt? That's where my strength lies. Surprisingly it is my weakness as well. I want to flaunt my hair, play with them, but I am afraid. Caring about my precious locks and the thought of damaging them, makes me go weak in my legs.

I inherited wavy and thick hair from my Bengali parents. I had been possessive about my hair since childhood and was encouraged by my mom to lengthen them. Looking at other girl of my school, I wanted to style my hair. Since my mom did not let me shorten my hair, I would often end up experimenting with my wavy locks at some friend's place. At times I would cut fringes which was popularly known as "Sadhna Cut" or would play with razor cut. However, I could not leave my hair open because my hair texture wasn't smooth and straight. It was my biggest disappointment. For any girl who wants to leave her hair open, needs good shiny and strong hair. Isn't it? And that did not happen for two reasons- The hereditary waves in my hair and environmental stressors like pollution, weather etc.

I would love to play with my hair like I did in childhood. Straight at times, a french pony at times, some day fringes and one day color them! However, I could not grow my locks more than shoulder length because of the weak structure. On my hairdresser's advise I wanted to get my hair cut in layers. Haircut boosts you mentally, but when you can't flaunt them,  you find it totally pointless!

Often I would braid my hair or tie them in a bun, especially during an overnight stay at friend's place, because its embarrassing to see your strands of hair on bed, bathroom, floor, and everywhere. Come on, at girls night out, you are supposed to let your hair down and not tied in a bun! But who really understands the pain of having rough, dry hair?

The idea of pressing my hair and then coloring them struck me once. I got my hair pressed but ended up with split ends and losing more hair than the remaining ones on my head. That hurts! Looking at the rough strands and breakage, I grew paranoid of coloring my hair hence. What if they break post applying those dyes and chemicals? The fear of losing more hair held me back from playing with colors on my hair. sob sob. So, be it an attractive burgundy or amber brown, they scare me more and attract me less.

The only accessory for my hair is a clutch-er, that holds my locks together.

While wet look was an "in" thing some time back, I gave it a try. Wet look makes you look sexy and fresh. I applied gel to acquire that look. My hair turned brittle and could not resist breakage. I crave for that wet look, even today. But I am paranoid of hair sprays and gels that might damage my hair of what's left now.

My hair breakage had become so prominent that I had to consult a doctor to confirm if my body lacks iron! With so many shampoos and conditioners available in the market, irrespective their claim of being gentle and chemical free, the thought of dry,damaged hair and losing them soon, stops me from using them.

This blog post is a part of the Indiblogger #DovePlay contest http://www.indiblogger.in/topic.php?topic=105

The video seems to answer that how girls want to play with their hair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rebjJcnactk 

Smelly feet? Health Book Day 65

Felt the awful stench from somebody's feet while travelling in public transport? Entered a closed room and you instantly wanted to leave because of a pair of smelly shoes? Often people say "Do you mind taking your shoes off?"

This sounds funny but the above can happen to your or anybody. The best example in my house is my sister whose feet emit strong odor, irrespective the weather, kind of shoes or perfume she uses. I was sick of complaining of the bad choking stench!

Bad odor may have many reasons, ranging from what food you consume to the physical activity of your body. Primarily it happens due to bacteria or fungus that breed in your feet or toes. Sharing few tips to get rid of such odor from feet and shoes-

- If you are physically active,  then you ought to sweat. Make sure you wash your feet in cold water after taking off your shoes.

-Keep your feet dry, especially between the toes as it serves a breeding ground for fungi or bacteria that cause odor.

-Try rubbing your feet with turnip juice or radish juice as these are natural deodorants.

-Wear socks whenever possible. Cotton socks or sweat absorbing socks are ideal.

-Wash and dry your socks daily or alternate days. Do not slip on wet or damp socks.

-You can soak your feet every day (atleast for a week) in strong black tea for 30 minutes. Add two tea bags in half a pot of water. Boil it for 10 minutes. Then add two quarters of cool water and soak your feet in the cool solution.

-For smelly shoes, use odor absorbing talc or anti fungal. These are easily available at all chemist shops or pharmacy. Sprinkle some in your shoes before wearing them. -Dip your feet in warm water and put drops of lemon.

-Put your shoes out in the sun once a week to get rid of the smell from shoes.

-A good pedicure twice in a month is also beneficial.

The main trick is to keep your feet and footwear dry and bacteria free. The above have helped my sister a lot and I complain less now :-) Lead a good happy life, full of health and wellness. Stay healthy stay blessed!

Beneficial "Ber"- Health Book- Day 62

The end of February or beginning of March, somewhere close to Holi, is marked by the presence of Ber or Jujuba fruit in the market. I wonder if this fruit is available in the market for the whole year or it is spotted only during this season. I love gorging on this fruit when brought home. For mothers, this is the fruit that is offered on shiv ling on Mahashivraatri. Ofcourse eaten by us later :-)

BUM BUM BHOLEY!  :-)

Ok, while munching ber or jujuba, I would like to share with you, some benefits of this fruit as follows-

1. Laden with anti-cancerous properties

2. Aids in controlling body weight-  Their low calorie values put together with negligible fat content makes them ideal for snacks.

3. Strengthens human immune system- Rich in vitamin C &A, and potassium, jujube helps to build and strengthen the human immune system. Hence, it also protects from cold and cough.

4. Calms your nervous system- Ok, I did not know this! Jujuba has a soothing effect on mind. Jujuba can hence be used as a natural anti-depressant and sedative. This also eases anxiety and stress.

5. Contains antioxidants- The large amount of antioxidants helps you protect against liver injuries and cancer. Is there a better preventive fruit?

6. Healthy and younger skin- The presence of antioxidants in the Ber makes it a natural anti-ageing agent, hence keeping your skin younger. The extracts of ber are widely used as remedies for skin redness, sunburns, and dryness. In manufacturing, jujube extracts are used in skin care products to reduce redness and swelling, wrinkles and dryness; and for relief from sunburn.

7. Healthy digestive system- Need not worry about gulping warm water or banana always. People suffering with constipation and other digestive problems gain benefit of jujuba hence.  Along with promoting digestion, dry jujubes act as gentle laxatives. This amazing fruit also promotes appetite.

8. Source of energy- This fruit, despite being low in calories, is a good energy booster. I munched just 3 or 4 of these and felt so good. Just eat these fruits to get rid of your fatigue in a quicker way. It is quite refreshing.

9. Healthy teeth, muscles, and bones- The presence of calcium and phosphorous in this super magical fruit aid in strengthening your bones and teeth. With 3 milligrams magnesium per serving can help in toning up the muscles. Jujube is used for improving muscular strength and weight hence.

10. Efficient pumping of blood- The small yet effective amount of niacin obtained from each jujube fruit ensures effective and efficient pumping of blood, thus keeping your energy levels intact.

I have a thought of planting a jujube tree in my house, if possible. Fruits are magical and such a blessing for humanity. So stay healthy and stay blessed!

Why Green Chillies? Health Book- Day 64

Witnessing Aishwarya Rai eat green chilies in a scene from her super hit movie Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, made me cry. She actually ate 11 in a go! Many called it the dedication of an actress, while I felt she had the capacity to bear the heat in her mouth. I thought it was a normal act since I am sure she eats spicy. For me green chilly was a forbidden thing. Not that my family never ate green chilies, but may be because my taste buds did not develop the taste for them. I have a sweet tooth and can gorge on kilos of sweets in one go. On the other hand my sister and mother have a taste for spicy and hot food! Frankly I am scared of chillies and disregarded them from my meals. I know that excess of chilly consumption can cause gastric problems and burning sensation in stomach. They also interfere with reproductive processes and also have negative effects on sperms. Despite the negative effects of green chillies, you can gain from them in a numerous ways. 

Check out how-

-Green chilies are quite rich in Vitamin A and C.  A keeps the health and maintenance of bones, teeth, mucous membranes.Vitamin C plays a key role in the maintenance of bones, teeth and cartilage while helping to absorb other vitamins as well.

-How will you feel if I tell you that it increases your metabolism by burning your calories? Surprised? Well I was also surprised.

-It is rich in antioxidant beta-carotene that supports the cardiovascular system.

-Helps a lot in lowering the cholesterol content in body, hence considered good for your heart. Its no fat content and a good amount of Omega 6 fatty acid content makes it a good food for heart.

-These little wonders help a lot in the health of eyes and immune system.

-These make you ageless! How? Well, It helps you to keep away from wrinkles. The secret to a younger skin lies in chillies..hehehe

-The anti-bacterial property of green chilies help keep our body worm free.

-It is a good treatment for nerve-related disorders like persistent pain, psoriasis and neuropathy.

-According to some studies, green chilies are responsible of reduction in blood sugar levels and can be a boon to diabetics.

-Biting a green chilly will result in the pain you feel and help to dissolve blood clots and aids in digestion.

Do not shy away from eating these super beneficial chillies. However, do not consume excess amount. Eat them raw or saute in little bit of oilve oil. A moderate amount 4 times a week or low amount everyday is recommended. Stay healthy stay blessed!

Indoor green- Health Book Day 53

Terrace garden

My hometown (Dehradun) where I grew up is a beautiful green place surrounded by hills and clouds. In spite of living in a house on first floor,
we never had a dearth of plants as my mother nurtured lot of plants in terrace, balcony and entire staircase. I missed the natural beauty when I came to Delhi. With changing lifestyles and shrinking spaces, houses do not have gardens or lawns anymore. I so wanted greenery around me.

On my last birthday when two of my close friends asked me what I wanted as birthday present, I bluntly demanded for indoor plants. They counteracted it with their frowns and even tempted me with gifts other than plants. I did not budge. They thought I was crazy. At last I got 2 beautiful indoor plants as my birthday presents!

My birthday gift

Why indoor plants? Well they have several benefits that you might not have been aware of. The benefits cover a spectrum from physically cleaner air to direct beneficial effects on psychological health, task performance, illness reduction and productivity. Let me enlighten you with some, in my blog on day 52^nd of Year Health Book (YHB)

Makes breathing easier: While you breathe, your body takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. This pattern balances the act of nature hence making plants your partners. By adding plants to interior space will increase oxygen levels.

However, at night, plants absIndoor green- YBH Day 5orb oxygen to release carbon dioxide. Wondering how is that useful? You did not know about few plants like orchids, succulents and epiphytic bromeliads which do just the opposite (take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen.) Placing these plants in bedrooms will refresh air during night.

Release water: As part of the photosynthetic processes, plants release moisture vapor that increases humidity of the air around them. Place several plants together, and you can increase the humidity of a room, which helps keeps respiratory distresses at bay. Research proves that using plants in interior spaces helps to decrease chances of dry skin, cold, sore throats and dry coughs. Surprised, isn’t it?

Decorating Indoor

Purify air: Plants remove toxins from air.  – up to 87 percent of volatile organic compounds which are present in present in rugs, vinyl, cigarette smoke and grocery bags. Plants convert these into their food. Now that’s a mutual co-existence!

Improving Health:Adding plants to hospital rooms speeds recovery rates of surgical patients. compared to patients in rooms without plants. Patients in rooms with plants request less pain medication, have lower heart rates and blood pressure, experience less fatigue and anxiety, and are released from the hospital sooner.

Not only hospitals, but adding plants to office settings decreases fatigue, colds, headaches, coughs, sore throats and flu-like symptoms. It creates a friendly and calm environment as well. Few Fengshui plants are known to bring good luck and prosperity. So add indoor greens as much as possible.

Don’t let shrinking spaces take away nature from your life. Add indoor greenery to stay healthy and blessed.

The Beet Treat- Health Book -Day 34

Often my mom prepared vegetable soup with a good amount of beetroot in it. The soup looked red..blood red! I used to be scared of consuming the veg soup thinking that she would mix chicken or some nasty non veg piece in it. Since I am the only vegetarian in my family, they regularly conspired by disguising non veg in veg dishes. However, my fears for the red-blooded soup vanished soon as I learnt about beetroot's properties and later the benefits.

1. My dad had a stroke few years ago. The doctor suggested beetroot soup. Why? because it helps in lowering blood pressure. Beetroot is a great source of nitrates, which is converted to nitrites and a gas called Nitric oxides. These components help to widen the arteries and lower blood pressure!
2. Beetroot contains large amount of soluble fibers, flavanoids and betacyanin. The latter gives beetroot its red color and is a powerful antioxidant thatreduces cholesterol and does not allow it to deposit on the walls of the artery. Hence making your heart stroke proof.
3. Beetroot contains a lot of iron. Iron helps in formation of haemagglutinin, which is a part of the blood that helps transport oxygen and nutrients to various parts of the body. It is the iron content  that helps to treat anaemia as against the popular belief that beetroot treats blood loss.
4. Because of its high soluble fiber content, beetroot is a beats constipation. It cleanses the stomach helping in regularizing your bowel movements.
5. It is packed with mineral silica which is an important component for the body to use calcium efficiently. Calcium makes up our bones and teeth. 300-500 ml of beetroot juice a day can keep brittleness of bones away.
6. Beet root releases sugar in the blood very slowly. Hence it helps to keep a check on diabetes. It fills you and fulfills your sweet craving.

Eat it raw, have it in soup or cook with other vegetables. Have a beetroot and say bye to many problems of your body. Eat healthy, lead a good life. 

The Papadum Show- Health Book: Day 52

The crispy, crunchy snack is a store house of benefits, which many are not aware of. As a child I loved the fried papad served with Khichri or during evening snacks. Now when I am on the healthy track, I was taken aback by what I researched on Papad. No, don’t mistake me for a PhD holder in papad, but I am only adding value to your healthy life style.

Papad is made of lentils or chickpea flour, hence it is a healthy thing to consume. However, the way you cook it, gives direction to the nutrition of the same. Many people deep fry it (Like my my Mom did when I was young). Refrain from deep frying that kills the nutrients of papad and adds cholesterol.

The healthiest way of preparing is to roast it on stove or microwave it.

• Papad is very low on fatty acid and cholesterol. Hence recommended for heart patients or those on dieting plan.
• It is high in carbohydrates hence a rich source of energy for daily activities or exercising.
• Papad has dietary fiber content that can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. It normalizes bowel movements and helps maintain bowel integrity and health. Because of its fibers, papad is useful for controlling blood sugar levels and it lowers blood cholesterol levels.
• This is rich in folate which is beneficial especially for expecting ladies, for whom folic acid tablets are recommended. Papad is a good snack for the same.
• 1 ounce or 28 g of papad contains 48 mg calcium and more than 70mg Magnesium.
• Other essential dietary vitamins like Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc and copper are also present in parts.
• The fact that papad is made of lentils, makes it a healthy eating option for all. However, the only disadvantage in papad is a high presence of sodium (489 mg in 28 gm)

You can add chopped onions, tomato, chillies to the papad which is popularly called Masala Papad. Savor the great flavor while eating right!

Get a packet of papad from the grocery store next time and make it a part of your healthy snacks. However, DO NOT DEEP FRY it please!

Stay healthy stay blessed!

Breathe happy- Health Book: Day 51

Have you ever wondered why do people have fresh flowers with a nice fragrance in their rooms? Why are wedding spots showered with scented flowers and petals? Why are aromatic oils used in massage or spa therapy?

Well, fragrance plays a great role in our lives. Let me share few shocking revelations of importance of aroma or fragrance in our lives.

Insomnia and stress with fragrance of lavender, vanilla, coffee and roses-

Of late, I had been complaining of insomnia. Not that I am writing this post because I found a solution to it, but because while researching on the aspects of fragrance, I chanced upon various benefits of fragrance. Treating insomnia was just one of them.

It is said that the smell of lavender can help to treat insomnia, anxiety, stress, and post-operative pain. Aromatherapy with lavender may slow the activity of the nervous system, improve sleep quality, promote relaxation, and lift mood in people suffering from sleep disorders. This is one of the reasons why spas use lavender oils or scented sticks during therapies.

The smell of coffee can also lead to a calming effect. Research shows that Vanilla fragrance has a calming effect, while the smell from roses reduces both breathing rate and blood pressure.

Fragrance has lot to do with concentration-

Long time back, it was practiced in Japan. The factory managers sprayed the scent of lavender during tea breaks. That showed a remarkable improvement in post-break production.

Athletes who sniffed peppermint ran faster and had better concentration than those who had no smell, while children performed better at tests when exposed to the aroma of fresh strawberries. This was unknown to me till date! However, let your child study. Don’t solely depend on strawberry and expect to perform well in tests. (Ok I am just kidding)

Boosts memory

Smells are very powerful triggers of specific memories, and are used in therapy to help recover lost memories. Research proves that memories triggered by smells tend to be clearer, more intense and more emotional. It is believed that that this is because the part of the brain which associates with smell has direct links with parts that are involved in emotion and memory.

Haven’t you noticed that you tend to remember a place you visited that had a nice aroma? A stench will do t he same though!

The healing process with aroma-

Aroma Candles

Your immunity against certain illnesses and infections can improve with aromatherapy. It also results in enhancing digestion and relieves women from menstrual cramps.

One can diffuse oils in the air and allow the aromatic smell to be utilized by circulating the aroma through the air. The smell may help the body and mind by:

* Alleviating headaches
* Energizing the mind and body
* Producing calming effects

It helps relieve mind problems such stress, anxiety and depression and this in turn may also lower the blood pressure.  I will hence make sure to implement this post my dad’s surgery.

With aromatherapy, you will also improve the circulation of your blood which in turn helps eliminate unwanted toxins and improve wound healing process.

Aromatherapy-

Aromatherapy is essentially using oils to create a better and more enticing environment. Essential oils can help to calm or can help to 'pick you up' if you are feeling down and worn-out. This can be infused through inhalation of oil or infusion vapors. This is beneficial to the body such as:

* Relief of nasal congestion
* Relief of Lung infection that may be caused by bacteria and fungus
* Aids in expectorating phlegm
* Better sleeping pattern

Spray room freshener with natural ingredients or flavors. I use AmbiPur Newzealand Springs and Vanilla variants to make my room fresh and aromatic. They create a soothing sensation and eliminate bad odor at the same time.

Light a scented candle or stick (Only if your family members are not allergic to smoke) for the aromatic effect. People who come across places with scented sticks perceive the place to be clean, hygienic and well decorated. Walking into a room/ house with a nice fragrance creates a more enticing and inviting atmosphere and is also much gentler on the nose. It only makes them happy hence bringing about a positive energy around. See how an aroma does wonders!

I think I will treat my insomnia as well with aroma therapy! Bingo! Smell nice things and be happy and healthy!

Stay healthy stay blessed.

Toast to roast- Health Book :Day 50

Did you know that roasted grams or bhuna chana has several benefits that can meet the deficiencies of your body? Don't tell me that you didn't know that! Okay you can raise a toast to the healthy roast then :-)

Well, roasted gram or bhuna chana is a healthy snack for everybody. Why should you eat roasted grams, let me cite few reasons in my Year Health Book -

It is an outstanding source of manganese, folate and protein ,copper, phosphorous and iron. I really don't need to quote the benefits of these minerals for you, however let me do that for few of them.

-Maganese contributes to formation of bones, blood sugar control and production of collagen in skin.

-Folate aids fetal development in pregnant woman's womb, production of red blood cells, controls heart diseases and reduces depression.

-Phosphorus forms healthy bones & teeth, improves digestion and helps the body absorb Vitamin B.

-Roasted grams have loads of dietary fiber which and this helps prevent constipation as it promotes easy bowel movement.

-Roasted gram is very low in fat and this is one of the main reasons that many people eat it.

-It is low in calories and controls cholesterol level.

-Maganese contributes to formation of bones, blood sugar control and production of collagen in skin.

-Folate aids fetal development in pregnant woman's womb, production of red blood cells, controls heart diseases and reduces depression.

-Phosphorus forms healthy bones & teeth, improves digestion.

• Roasted gram has lots of dietary fiber and this helps prevent constipation as it promotes easy bowel movement.
• Roasted gram is very low in fat and this is one of the main reasons that many people eat it while dieting or those who have been diagnosed with heart diseases.
• It is low in calories,high in protien & iron.
• Roasted gram Control Cholesterol level.

Dieting or no dieting, you should eat healthy and exercise- The only mantra of a healthy life. Hence stay healthy stay blessed.

The serious most condition

It was way back in 2004 when I was pursuing bachelor degree and was very new in the capital city of Delhi. Life in a metro for a new comer is always difficult. However, thanks to my two other roommates Divya and Swati, from my hometown Dehradun, who cushioned my life with their warmth through my thick n thins. Not that I liked warm weather, but life was easy with them amid all struggle & problems. And the biggest problem in our life was our landlady.

A middle aged lady with 2 kids and husband working in a different city, had rented the house’s 1st floor to three of us. However, little did we know that she had decided to screw our peace of mind. Since all three of us (Divya, Swati and I) worked in night shifts, we routinely returned home in the wee hours of the morning. The house had a common entrance which became a big setback for us. Initially the house owner agreed to the terms and conditions of our working hours. She happily unbolted the gate for us initially, within the first few days of moving in.

Gradually she grew irritated of our odd routine that spoiled her sleep. Possibly she realized that renting the floor to three girls working in BPO was the biggest mistake of her life. The happy welcome and "koi baat nahi beta" soon turned into frowns. Days turned into weeks and for reasons unexplained she transformed to a circus ring master sans a whip.

I failed to understand how were we three responsible if water supply was stopped by the municipality or if there was power cut for whole day? She kept a close watch on the consumption of water by three of us! Holy cow! Who does that!!! And if the tank ran empty some day she would plug out the motor or conveniently say it is out of order. I started to hate her and staying in the house located in East Delhi.

She often came to us and complained of noises that caused her disturbance. Where did she hear noises from? In our absence at night was there some ghost dancing on the floor? While we slept during the day, we never heard noises. We wondered if she was mentally sick or she hated our presence. God knows! I only know one thing, that her condition was serious. Her tantrums were disturbing and we moved into a new house post few months of stay there. She was Case#1 a serious case of mental disorder without any reason. I assume she had tenantomaniasm (Don’t laugh. I coined the term for those who hate their tenants)

We relocated to a new house in South Delhi. Congested and crowded, South Delhi did not appeal to me. I wondered why it was the most posh area of Delhi. Houses were like pigeonhole, lanes as narrow as rat maze, and markets that encroached roads. The landlord of our pigeonhole was a soft spoken gentleman who was never concerned about our office hours or nature of work. Who on Earth knew that it was his wife who would give us all the trouble? On Sundays Divya noticed the landlady cleaning the house early morning. Smita noticed her sweeping the floor two hours later. I saw her mopping the floor somewhere in the afternoon. All three of us noticed her repeating the activity in the evening. That was our first weekend in the new house. She politely remarked, “Beta ghar saaf kar lia karo” (Please clean the house at times)

Our tight schedules of night shifts and sleep during the day left us with no time for ourselves, let alone cleaning the house. She would often sneak into our room and scold us for the messy room or the cobwebs near ceiling.

She dusted, swept and mopped the floor atleast 6 times a day! The maid whom she had hired was instructed to clean the terrace and staircase only. Rest was the landlady’s kingdom which she looked after day night! I wouldn’t be surprised to see her cleaning the house at night as well. She needed treatment for her serious condition of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

So much was her obsession with cleanliness that she did not allow her husband to enter the house when she mopped the floor. Her house was undoubtedly clean, but she skipped her social gatherings, events or parties just because she was busy cleaning the house! Would you laugh if I’d say she sat crossed legs on the floor to have lunch with newspaper spread in front of her, instead of using the huge dining table of her house?

Swati pulled her leg one day asking her to sell the dining table to us. Obviously, the woman grew furious.

Her obsession for tidiness grew with leaps and bounds and that became apparent when she instructed us to hire a maid for cleaning our room. That was not mentioned in our contract! Yet we reluctantly hired a maid to clean the tiny rooms.

In a month’s time, the maid quit the job. Why? Because the landlady was after her life to clean the ceiling everyday and mop the floor twice! God! I knew that #conditionserioushai!

We were suffocated and moved to a new house, this time with no landlord/lady staying in the same house.

Their condition was seriously serious! God bless them with something like Cadbury Five Star. I would have given the dose to them myself, but alas I don’t want to relive the horror by meeting them again. I am happy without any landlady around!

This is an entry for Indiblogger Cadbury Five star #conditionserioshai contest. Don't be so serious and click on https://www.facebook.com/cadbury5star

Condition Serious?

The hostel was immersed in dark apart from the porch light at the hostel entrance near the reception. It was 3 am by the clock. I felt thirsty and woke up to refill my water bottle. It was a pleasant April night and Bangalore has always been known for it's lovely weather. We were through with our 2nd semester exams two weeks ago and all of us were relaxed, looking forward to some newness and fun. We had been 'promoted' as 'seniors' and officially possessed the licence of ragging freshers! Alright, lets not call it ragging, because it was banned in college. We called it "Interaction with juniors".

When Smita was missing

I dragged myself to the refrigerator with eyes half open, only to realize that Smita, my room mate was missing from the room. I rubbed my eyes to get a better view of her bed.

"Shit!" my heart skipped a beat. "Where the hell had she vanished at this odd hour? Ghosts wont do that. Did the bed swallow her?" I murmured to myself and almost panicked while switching on the light of the room. The hostel management had allotted my room to Smita after the 2nd semester exams and till that day I didn't know the reason for the shuffling. Perhaps, that night I knew the reason. Before I could wake up the hostel warden or bang the doors of the adjacent rooms, I spotted her in the porch. She was couched on a chair with her head bent.

I assumed she was sleepwalking. I went downstairs to wake her up and fetch her back to the room. However, my assumption which I had made a minute back, crash landed right on my head, when I found her reading a book instead of sleeping. With her head bent and crouched back, she was deep engrossed in reading something.

"Holy shit! Is she reading some adult book?"

No body reads an adult book like that! I walked towards her to see what was she reading at the odd hour of the night when everybody was sound asleep. She sat motionless, with all her concentration towards the book. I saw her lips moving.

Sleepwalking?

Another assumption came crashing down like Mig plane. "Is she performing planchette or calling some spirits from the book?" I froze. I could not move. I was scared to death at the thought of sharing my room with an exorcist or perhaps a killer! Her unkempt and carelessly open hair were all over her shoulders and face.

I wanted to scream but my throat choked. I wanted to run away from the sight, but I felt my feet glued to the ground. My heart beat accelerated, cold sweat rolled down my forehead and my palms turned ice cold.

Suddenly Smita looked up from the book and turned her head towards me.

"Shilpi? Hi. Why are you here?" Smita asked me, looking straight into my eyes. I was speechless. In my head I asked her "Why shouldn't I be here? Did I disturb you during your evil rituals?" but I spoke nothing. My mouth felt dry and tongue felt paralyzed.

"Oh my God, she has been doing all those nasty things on me! She has my spirits under her control and I will be her servant for her whole life!" A shudder passed through my body as these thoughts struck my empty mind.

The world had come to a standstill at that moment. I almost fainted when Smita got up from the chair and shut the thick book.

"Organic Chemistry volume-2?"  I looked at the book and managed to speak.

Smita lowered her eyes feeling embarrassed and forced a smile on her face.

"Well, I am preparing for the next sem exams. I did not want to disturb your sleep, so I came here to study. The porch is the only place which has the lights switched on the whole night you see," Smita said innocently.

My body started returning to normal and I gathered all courage to speak at last. "Damn! I panicked when I didn't see you in the room. I thought you sleepwalk! By the way, goddamn which exams are you preparing for? Semester exams are 6 months away and we just appeared for one 2 weeks ago!" I demanded.

"I am quite concerned about my grades Shilpi. I want to top the class. Moreover I am used to studying till late night, so I thought why not utilize the time by studying," a clumsy Smita said, with the book wrapped in her arms, as if I was going to snatch away that prized possession from her. I noticed her uncut nails and un-waxed arms.  Studies kept her so busy that she became shabby and dirty. Rather she kept herself busy with studies. Her condition was seriously serious.

"God! Your condition is serious! Here I had so many thoughts in my mind and you...are...so...huh!!"

"Why serious and what thoughts?" she asked instantly.

"I thought..you..were kidnapped or something," I controlled my emotions and wiped the sweat from my forehead. I did not want to get into an argument with a half crazy girl who happened to be my room mate lest my nightmares should turn into reality! I did not want to tell her how serious was her condition, because I wanted to sleep peacefully.

#conditionserioushai became the tag word for Smita thereafter. She is still known as the crazy bookworm of our college. I seriously wish that a dose of Cadbury Five Star was prescribed to her that time!

This is an entry for Indiblogger #conditionserious hai blog contest. https://www.facebook.com/cadbury5star

Wrist 'watch'- Health Book Day 44

Do you work out on the entire body but your wrists show thin and weak? Ah! This holds true especially for those who don not do weight training or are more focused into abdominal exercise. I am no different. I was fully focused on cardio and abs exercise with least or no efforts on my wrists, resulting which they appear thin and weak.

Sharing few exercises my gym coach taught me to build strength in wrists.


1. Wrist circles : Warm up with rolling your wrists. Make a fist with both hands and slowly make a circular motion in one direction a few times, then switch to counterclockwise. Repeat the process with both the hands.

Wrist extension

Wrist flex

2. “Jingle the” dumb bell: The lightest weight of the gym for women and beginners is ideal to start. All you need to do is rest your elbows on a flat hard surface and hold dumb bells with palms facing ground. Without moving your arms, move your wrists up and down in a slow motion. Reverse the position of your wrists and roll your wrists up and down with the dumb bell in your hands.


3. Punch the bag: Punch a punching bag or a heavy bag lightly for a minute. Repeat 4-5 times.
    Doing push-up exercises also helps build strength in wrists.

4. Ball Squeeze: Take a stress ball, small rubber ball or tennis ball or a rolled up sock and grasp it in your palm as tightly as possible with your fingers. Hold for 5 seconds and relax for 5 seconds. Repeat about 10 times. Switch hands.

5. Bar hang: I shunned this exercise initially thinking it to be a waste of time. However, my gym coach told me that this activity is a great way to strengthen not only wrists, but grip and forearms as well. It may seem easy at first but trust me its not! The idea is to hold onto the bar as long as you can which would determine your grips strength. You can use both an underhand and overhand grip. Do 3 sets of 10-20 second holds.

Doing these exercises regularly will build strength in your wrists gradually. Keep practicing and build a healthy you. Stay healthy stay blessed!

Where does heaven exist? (Guest Post)

This is a guest post from a budding poet Sumit.

Sumit Chaudhary who writes under the pen-name "Armitunum" is pursuing his Bachelor Degree from IIT Kharagpur.  Apart from writing he has keen interest in music and plays piano. His poems and short stories are very simple, articulate and inexorable.

I interacted with him on a forum in Facebook and was surprised to see pure and poetic thoughts in a young person like him. Perhaps it is the IIT that makes him serious? Just kidding! Reach him at  www.facebook.com/armitunum and TheArmitunum@gmail.com.

This is a touching poem titled "Where does heaven exist" by Amritunum

I don't know why Maa went there,

I miss her more and much and more today,

Mumma please come back here,

I need you right away.

Does heaven have a phone number?

Or its way goes through platform 9-3/4?

Is it in books made of ivy timber?

Or is it somewhere deep down my floor?

If it has a phone number how many digits is it?

Will it be an international call or call for free?

Does it have digits; digits very complicated?

Or it's a simple one like three hundred thirty three.

If heaven in Howards, is Maa under guidance of Albus Dumbledore?

What is she going through there? Is it mayhem?

On the railways, I asked papa once where is that door?

But papa says our station has only seven of them.

If heaven is in those dusty old books, what page do I have to read?

Is it on the page where an old man lies with nasty looks? Or the one that says 'human too born through a seed?

If heaven under my floor, how much I have to dig?

Yesterday I hit an axe on the floor, it hurt me but Maa now I am fine,

Maa I don't know what to ask more so I leave you a sign,

"Why you went away maa, I am only nine!"