The Bundle of Happiness!

There lived a cheerful girl down the lane,
Aarthi Venkatesh is her name,
But I prefer called her the bubbly Artz,
Happiness is her second name,
And a Pragmatic Utopia is where she prefers to stay!

A Lounge brought her to my life,
The Writer’s Hub was which made me recognize her,
Her writing forever and ever made me sigh a exclaim,
And my writings made her sigh in her own claim,
Part of the ‘Sigh Girls’ clan we soon became!

She wrote and wrote with that beautiful Florence,
And I read and read with that unknown quest,
Then came the Penguin-Grasshopper series,
And I wondered at the similar varies,
She reminded me of the time that I had lived in my past,
And then another angel made me realize,
How we all were each other’s Hora Crux!

Today this girl has matured to complete a celebration of a hundred,
And I again wish for her to soon reach her thousand,
I wish for her to write and write till infinity remains,
And spell the magic of words on the beauty of her surrounds,
Happiness or gloom, Misery or laugher, Romance or tragedy,
I wish her to be versatile in all forms in her power of the pen,
And I promise to read her even when the eyes became weak,
Even if I feeble to understand, I will still read and celebrate all her ways!

This is just a small way to tell you Artz about how special you and your writings are to me. I am sorry for being a bit late in this guest post but nevertheless I am here.

Since poetry is something which comes easy to me so I thought of composing one for you on this occasion (*hope it wasn’t too bad*)

Congrats on you 100th post and I wish you go on to blog infinite number of posts and reach the zenith here and in your life forever.

Best Wishes for everything in life!

Love you loads

Mwaaahz

Nabila

No FULL STOPS in Life…

We meet a lot of people every day. Most of them are strangers who become our closest friends and some of them close to our hearts in no time. We lose some of them on temporary basis, and every so often it is permanent. Permanent loss is a very awkward notion to be in charge of. We don’t get the grip of moving ahead in life. We tend to rather suffer brokenness, loneliness, forlornness, haplessness, cheerlessness etc. Temporary loss relates to broken relations that can be repaired whereas permanent loss relates to death or in other respects for which there is no reparability.

Broken relations at times are because of one’s responsibility for something wrong or an oversight. We can try to renew it by taking up a chance. But it is not the same when we lose someone forever. Losing someone should never stop your life. It requires an earnest attempt to come out of something like this but there is a way to recollect the most amazing times spent with the one you’ve lost. This might make you feel better and brighter. Often time’s broken relations also do not have a solution. But bear in mind that there are people who are not even aware of “BEING LOVED BY SOMEONE”. You just have to realize the importance of your life. Make known to yourself that life is like a train journey, people who travel with you may get off the train at their own stations. You don’t really get down with them since you are destined elsewhere. So, keep moving on do not stop your life nor let loss take control over you. Be it permanent or temporary. Just be strong.

I know this post can relate to the situation some of you are in at the moment. It is just to convey that Life is a very important gift of God. If we neglect its value we are at a loss. We need to be strong at every point though it is really difficult to put in practice, but never ever let anything take control over your life particularly a temporary loss because there is always a CHANCE to make things better.

Thank you Aarthi for giving me a chance to post something I wanted to talk about since a very long time. Congratulations on completing 100 posts in your space.

Oodles of Love

Esther

She can't stop laughing still

Her house is too far.
But the journey is merry.
Smiling and shiny.
Comes Artz riding the black pony.

I don’t know why she can’t keep
From laughing..
Is it me or is it my
Hilarious face

Maaaast says she
Maaaaast we say
And Maaaaast it was

Now her tummy is full
A little cute round
Burps me and you
A great big Chinese lunch
Out in the sun
Baby what to do?
Sparks in her eyes
She needs vodka now!

Sits down in Styx
In her rocking chair.
Can’t stop laughing still.
I can’t put a finger on why?
She is just happy I guess
She loves her drink.

“Oye Chotu”- she calls
She needs another peg.
“Maast”- I say
As I see the waiter run to serve

Time has come
To say goodbye
Good things never last long
“Don’t miss me too much
And cry a lot”
She can’t stop laughing still..
I can’t put my finger on why?

The Wind and The Butterflies... The Destiny.

I don't believe in destiny or fate. But I like the conception behind it.  The thought that some people... some time... some where... has to happen, cos its all preordained and this never tiring world oversees all these stipulations and guides us. The wind and the butterflies, with every breeze and flap striving hard to make that 'chance', a 'certainty'. 

I've met Aarthi. I met her at nowhere. I've met her at some point where the binaries '1' and '0' missed a byte... A simple 'Hi' from her and a smiley :-) from me... and the billion different bits that is the web, took us in.

What are the odds of meeting a person who was born on the same exact day as me... Just 10 mins after I opened my puny mouth and made my first shrieking cry and announced my presence to this world... and she's named exactly after my own sister, 'Aarthi'. At first I even thought my own sis was playing a prank at me. he he... 

But, even if I haven't started a blog... haven't joined the lounge... didn't even know she existed and our lives were two parallel lines, never to cross paths... The wind and the butterflies would have stretched the ends of the world, just to make the parallel lines arch a little... to brush atleast once along our long journey... just once to fulfill the pre-written prophesy. 

A flashing wink from across a restaurant, when both of us are treating our friends on our b'day.... A wordless understanding 'Your's too ??'

A warm smile, exchanged on a temple, when both of us say the same birth star for the archana... silently conveying, 'Happy b'day to you too'

Yeah... We sure would have met. Some place... some time... some where... Thanks to the wind and the butterflies.

All things said and done... I haven't exactly 'met' her, till now. I hope I meet her before her next B'day... ;)

I initially thought of writing a story here. But, why present a story when the truth is far more captivating... and the words just 'flapped'...

When I said I don't believe in destiny, I lied. But, It wouldn't be lying if I hadn't know her.

P.S. -  Congrats on the 100 writes Artz... Hope this Guest post was as much about you, as it was about me...  Wishing you loads of happiness and luck... n thanks a million for the guest post opportunity... May the wind n butterflies be with you... guiding you unknowingly n forever.

MAGICAL MOMENTS

Artz! She is one of my sweetest blogger friends. We got along very well after just a few chats.  We never thought that we would meet so soon! It was a very quick meet. Though it was a very brief meeting , we talked a lot! We feel like we are soul sisters J Magic of time isn’t it?

I am not all that great a writer. I write random stuffs literally! So, when Artz invited me to do a guest post in her blog I was confused and I was (to frankly accept) afraid a bit too. I am a very impulsive person. Nobody can put my thoughts in one box and program my mind. I am an all let loose kind-of a thinker! So, the moment she asked me to write “Time” is what struck my mind instantly. I feel great to write the 95th post (Oh! I find silly reasons to celebrate :P now it is "Yay! Mine is 95th post!!!!!!!!)

Earlier I used to be very arrogant and a bratty gal arguing things. Long long ago so long ago my closest pal said something which I can never forget for a lifetime. We had arguments on this but little by little I realized he was true! Yes, he said “Time will heal you”. I said, “No way! Stop this crappy philosophy and get back to your work!” Now, today he doesn’t know what I am doing and I don’t know what he is doing. It’s all a magic of time. We thought we’ll never part but we parted and we are totally in different directions. When I look back, all I could remember about him is the statement which I mentioned above!!

Time is precious – is what I don’t want to tell because everyone knows that. I want to say time is MAGICAL. Yeah! It does wonders in a person’s life!

Sometimes we think that our friends will be with us forever but in reality they will not be! Sometimes we think that happiness last forever in our life! But life is not all that easy. It’s a cocktail of happiness, sad moments, tense moments and bitter experiences. To tackle all such things, the Almighty has gifted each of us with something called “Time”.

Time teaches us to commit mistakes and learn from the mistakes as well! Time will solve the problems that we face in our life. It makes us think profoundly. It might look like a situation is pressurizing us so much that we will be in the verge of breaking down but without our knowledge we come over it and smile! That is the magic of Time! Time will fly outside our window! It is in our hands to make the best use of it and learn all kind of lessons that it teaches to us! There is no point in repenting after letting your time drift off your hands! This is what I have realized of late.

Time gives us opportunities, chances, solutions, strength, experience, maturity, a balanced mind and everything we want. It’s in our hands to identify it and make the best use of it! We shouldn’t waste our time by spending a lot of time in thinking about our past and future. We should just live to the moment. This is because time and tide waits for none. There is no point in thinking about yesterday. At the same time, its never late than ever. If you’re not a person who doesn’t live the moment and keep planning for your future or sink in your past, please wake up and enjoy the moment.

Forget all your broken relationships, just extract the lessons you’ve learned out of them. Walk along with  time instead of walking against it or way ahead of it! Life will be a paradise! Did I sound like a philosopher?? Well! I am not all that perfect! I myself get messed up many times for not understanding the magic time accomplishes! Only now am I learning, as  I said, nothing late than ever. Start from today (not tomorrow), throw off all the grudges you have (I am dumping all my grudges in some dumpyard right now) and start to live the moment!

Was it all that boring? Come on, simple things always seem to be boring. But we got to accept the fact with a :) I think my post does make a sense to all of you :)

Thanks Artz for letting me write something in your space :) Guess I did some justice :) Love ya :)

Its Your Life, Make It Large!

He ha ha ha ha...Ok... am sounding crazy! Actually, I just happened to log in to my orkut account... :) A lot of people talk about those weird friend requests they receive and I happened to receive one such request this morning... it read - "Hi Aarthi, this Rhoan (that meant Rohan) delguy (that meant guy from Delhi) wanna b my frands." Wah wah wah! ... Lolz... I have been lol-ing since then! :P

I have become very observant these days. At times I am so amazed when I find something so normal to be so peculiar. I mean to say that there are certain things that we do all day long, thinking that its 'my' characteristic... but after a few days, we see something similar in someone and end up feeling so eerie about it, isn't it?

A few years back, I was this chirpy, bubbly sort of a character. But today, I am not. People say I am a fighter, a very matured sort of a person... generally, it does not matter what they say, but honestly speaking, this time they are right. I belong to that section of people who are really very serious, do not prefer talking much and are constantly busy with some or the other thought. A few days back, this Mr.X told me that I have lost the spark that he saw in me a few months back. I completely agree with him! Yes, I have lost that spark in me... But for this, no one is to be blamed... Sometimes, things are not in our hand. Your life's incidents shape you the way you are! Life and the incidents design your caricature.

There are many people who might dislike you for some or the other reason... and we might find their reasons justified or futile. But, does that in any way, change his/her perspective towards you? It doesn't right? Recently, I have seen that a few people have turned their backs at me, without even listening to what I had to say... they might think that I am such an obnoxious sort of a girl, but then do I stop living because of what such people have to say? Certainly not... Life has many more reasons to worry or crib about other than this trivial reason - who likes you or who doesn't. Live your life on your terms, rather than living it on the terms of someone else... Why do you worry about doing something that you like? Why do you worry about your boyfriend not liking it? Each one of us have our list of likes and dislikes. Just as you understand your better half's list of likes and dislikes, he needs to acknowledge yours as well... am sure my guy would!

I have noticed this with so many people that they are one sort of a person when amongst friends and they are the ones who behave so differently when they are with their guy/girl. Somewhere I see that fear on their faces. They think so many times before doing something... why? Come on, don't you think that all the sacrifices or adjustments you did till date are enough? If you think your better half really loves you, he/she would surely understand you and your preferences.

Life is like this one big jigsaw puzzle. You need to find the missing pieces, identify the shape, color and the pattern...and then place the right piece at the right place! Phew...a hectic task. Why make it more complicated thinking about all the useless things...who would like what you wear or the way you look or the way you talk or the way you walk? Live it for yourself and live it for the ones you feel for... For example, I had this template change, but do you think about who is going to say, "Yuck, that looks so loud, and what makes you think this orange is cool?" Opinions do matter and they should, but not enough that they start ruling your life. I love this template and so it is here to adorn my space! :)

Guys, to cut the story short... we all hear people saying ... "Life is short, make the most of it"... or "Live Life King/Queen size"... It somehow holds true. Let go of everything/anyone who bothers you... Live for yourself... and once you do it, none of us will see posts full of endless rantings or people deleting their blogs or any other disappointment in the real world.

ITS YOUR LIFE, MAKE IT LARGE!!

With this, I end my 94th post! The guest posts begin with the next... :)

My 95th post is from a very good friend of mine...watch this space to know who it is! :D

Love,

Artz!

The Superior Scribbler Award

I feel extremely honored and delighted to receive the Superior Scribbler Award. Thanks Leo for the award... :) There are certain rules for this award... read them :

1. Each superior scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most deserving blogger friends.

2. Each superior scribbler must link to the author and the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.

3. Each superior scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to this post which explains The Award.

4. Each blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to My Linky List.

5. Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

I pass this award to -

1. Sowmiya - For the immense amount of honesty in her writes and her attitude towards life. :)

2. Shravan - For his out-of-the-box topics!

3. Freelancer - For his style of poetry, the depth in his words and his quest to experiment with new styles.

4. Mr. K. Parthasarathi - I salute this man! He is one of the oldest bloggers (mind you, he is 70+) and his stories are so inspiring and motivating. Sir, you are truly an inspiration.

5. Parzii - For being the sweetest blogger! :) Your words always leave a sweet impression and a smile lingering on my lips. ;)

A New Beginning... Artz takes up a pen name! :)

You all would be aware that my 100th post is coming real soon... if you are not aware of this, better act like you are... :P

With this milestone, I have come up with an interesting idea. I have decided to take up a pen name!!!!!

So boys and girls, uncles and aunties and didi's and bhaiyas...

Here I announce it officially... The 100th post of mine will be sealed with my new pen name - 'Nyx'... which means the Goddess of Night, but I really like the way it sounds! I hope you guys like it.

That's about it for now guys... As I mentioned in my previous posts that a few guest posts and celebrations are coming your way... stay glued! :)

Love,

Artz (For now)

Mind Boggling Observations!

Time to thank my friend SOWMIYA again! Last night...we were on phone... talking about heartbreaks and all the philosophies that surround the mortals, i.e. us! This girl just talks, and talks, and talks... certainly leaving me baffled and always giving me one more topic to blog about! Thanks da... without you... I would be a big time victim of Writers' Block! :P

Its strange... sometimes mind boggling... and a characteristic owned by each one of us! Oopz, forgot to tell you what am I talking about. Sorry! :P

Ever heard any friend of yours saying... 'Everything is over and I wish to live no more!'

Or may be... 'I've had enough yaa... I have seen so much! Now... I just seek death.'

Now, forgetting about which friend of mine said this to me... I can tell you guys one thing that I surely said the same statement to many friends of mine! Shucks man! :P

There are times and situations in one's life where everything seems to be going wrong and life seems to be a mere waste of time. It is too much to handle at one particular time... But have we ever noticed that though we use this cliche statement a lot of times that 'I wish to die now and I can't take this any more' , we generally move far away from all such situations, facing each one of them, cribbing about it, still emerging victorious... leaving our friends baffled and confused!?! :P :P

That is what confuses me. Taking a few exceptions into consideration (a fraction of the society that does give in to practices like committing suicide and things like that), all of us are knowingly or unknowingly strong! Isn't it? I mean... all of us have somehow witnessed some big pain or the other that made us wonder about our existing law/reason behind our existence in this world... To put it in the words of the Drama Queen in me... 'Bhagwan, ab main kaise jiyungi (Translation - Oh lord, how will I live now!)... But these laws/reasons change with time. All of us, wantingly or unwantingly, knowingly or unknowingly, learn to beat the pain and move ahead in life! :)

Personally speaking, I am a very emotional person! (Shucks yaa, secret revealed! :P)

There was a time when I wanted to pursue my B.Arch and for some reasons I could not. I mean, this was my dream ever since I took up Science as my subject in Class XII. I was totally shattered when I couldn't realize my dreaming of pursuing my B.Arch. I told my friends that I wished to die! :P Lol... 

But guys, TODAY I proudly present to you... My Blog - PRAGMATIC UTOPIA... a standing evidence of my existence in this world... technically 4 years after I told my friends that I wished to die! That's some news!! :D :D Am still alive! :P

Our problems seem so big to us at a point that leads us to such sudden outbursts of MAGNIFIED emotions! But, things generally take a new shape... with time! Time is a healer they say, and so it is!

When things go wrong, indulge in yourself, your family and friends... indulge in something that can take your mind off what is bothering you... (It sounds easy... and trust me, it is not difficult!)

Life sure is a snoozefest (Credits to Kasabiangirl) ... it gives you ample reasons to rant about... Each one of us are given ample reasons to cry and crib! But dudes and dudettes (:P), amidst these reasons, there are ample underlying reasons to be happy, to move on, to LIVE LIFE! :)

Find your own reasons and STAY HAPPY! :) ...And if you don't find the reason, am here for you all... come to me, we'll find it together! :)

Love!

TaGgEd... :P

Tag season is back I guess! :P


Thank you Kaka for tagging me! :)
Alright guys, so this is called the BRAND TAG! :P

My Laptop Brand - Lenovo

My Mobile Brand - Nokia

My head phones Brand - Moser Baer

My watch Brand - Fastrack

My Shoes/Sandals Brand - Reebok

Other Brands I use - Brittania, Amway, Oriflame, McD, Nike, Lakme, Samsung... :)

Such a short and sweet tag! :D :D Thanks guys for bearing with me through this! I tag... Stephen, Leo and Kasabiangirl. :)

Artz is back with some random thoughts!

After a week in Bangalore...after feeling rejuvenated and completely happy... I returned to my base yesterday morning! :)

All I have got as of now to share with you people is what I did, felt and experienced in the last few days!


I am so so so happy that in the last few days I met a few blogger friends...

Vinay...he is really cute! :)

I am so glad that I got to meet him after months of being friends with him in this Virtual World! :)

Abhrajit Datta... a very nice guy at heart... a jester! But an equally intense character for sure...! Crazily shady! :P :P

Pratibha... OMG! Finally I got to meet my sis! :) A sweetheart... :)

Sowmiya... I never thought I would be able to make it this time... But as they say...'Man proposes one way, God disposes the other.' I met this girl just after a few days sice we began chatting and I felt as if I met a childhood friend of mine with whom I had lost contact! Sowmi... you rawk! :)

Rashmi... a babe for sure! :) A nice girl at heart... :) Glad to have met ya! :)


Am back to square one now... back to my blogging self! And I also spoke to a new girl from The Writers Lounge... Shruti! Welcome to my world babe! :)

And guys, with this I complete my 89th post. Trust me, I am going to give you all a very hard time because you would now see me on a spree! :) Keep reading!

My 100th post is coming soon with a few guest posts and celebrations! :)
See ya all...

Love,

Artz!

Glory In Making...

Kirti stood there gazing at the moon and her eyes brimming with tears. She worked as a domestic help at the Kapoor’s. A domestic help… that meant no freedom, no education… in short, no life!

She had always thought that her master was a good man. That night was different. He returned home, completely drunk! When all the others in the family had slept, Mr. Kapoor entered Kirti’s room and had sexually assaulted her!

‘What did I do to deserve such a fate? My mother deserted me when I was four and ever since then I have been struggling… for a living, for a respectable life. They say my mom was a prostitute and call her names. I never wanted to be someone like her and hence, I ran away from all of them. And today again I am at one such juncture in my life… I am being forced in to something that I know will ruin my life forever! Help me lord… and tell me, do you think I deserve this?’ she cried giving rise to a million other questions inside her.

She was sure of at least one thing… she was not weak. She was a fighter!

The wind started to blow and the dark clouds made way for the moon to appear. She raised her head to see the moon beaming and smiling at her. She remained perplexed for the next few minutes, unsure of what these signals meant.

Suddenly she felt a comforting touch on her shoulder. The old lady sat next to Kirti and asked her the reason behind her tears. Kirti told her everything that she witnessed and felt. The old lady patiently listened to everything and she hugged the little girl.

‘What is your name my child?’ the old lady enquired.

‘My problem is much bigger right now that these silly things like my name… can you please help me? Anyway, my name is Kirti’ she said feeling irritated and traumatized.

‘Kirti means glory… and there will be a day when the whole world will know you. You are hurt, I understand. But I know you are not weak. Life means struggle… each one of us face it at one point or the other. And trust me, every problem has a solution and your problem has its own.’

The old lady took Kirti with her to the little home that she ran for homeless children. Kirti found a new home where she was made to study, to learn other vocational activities which would help her in future.

At times when she felt low and lonely, she would walk to the same place and would gaze at the moon and see moon would be back smiling at her. Kirti had found a new life for herself; she knew it that she would make it big one day! She promised to herself that she would prove everyone wrong who said that a prostitute’s daughter would have to be a prostitute herself. Glory in making!

Crossposted from The Writers Lounge

Random Tag

Alright... so I was at Sowmi's Blog when I read this tag and decided to take this up. :)

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn on page 18 and find line 4 – There will be no tears today; just fun, laughter and general happiness, my dear friend... Book : P.S. I LOVE YOU…Author : Cecilia Ahern.


2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can & catch air? – Nope…a table calendar! ;P

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV? – I saw Channel V…some stupid song…

4. Without looking, guess what time it is? – 10.50 AM

5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time? – 10.46 AM (Whoa! Quite close!)

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear? – My mom is screaminggggg! Grr!

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing? - Just two hours back… I was at the Chennai Railway Station…came from Bangalore.

8. Before you started this Q&As, what did you look at? – I looked at Sowmi’s Blog! I love her randomness…

9. What are you wearing? – Blue Jeans and a Black Tshirt with MJ print! :)

10. When did you last laugh? – Few minutes back…

11. What is on the walls of the room you are in? – Nothing… just the paint! :P

12. Seen anything weird lately? – Umm… I have experienced loads of weird feelings! :P :P

13. What do you think of this quiz? – Shabba! Why so random!?!

14. What is the last film you saw? – KAMINEY! :P

15. If you became a multimillionaire overnight, what would you buy? – Jimmy Choo’s, a bag from Louis Vuitton and shades from Dolce and Gabbana…and, a small house! :D

16. Tell me something about you that I dunno! – I am a very serious sort of a person… with hey-whom-are-you-messing-with look on my face! :P

17. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do? – I would really want the youth to go for politics…am sick and tired of looking at the 50+ doing nothing for the country!

18. Do you like to Dance? – Lolz… Am a bad dancer. :P

19. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her? - Aaruhi

20. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him? - Arghya

21. Would you ever consider living abroad? – I want to go there for a few years and come back! There can be nothing better than my country…the noises and the warmth.

22. What do you want GOD to say to you when you reach the pearly gates? – What the FCUK were you upto????? You got me crazy! :P :P

I tag Abhrajit Datta, Anurag, Esther and anyone else who would like to take up this tag! :)

P.S.: This is a filler. Have been off from the blog world for quite sometime now. Have been travelling so much. I will be back home by Monday! See ya all soon! :)