When I found out why a person chooses to join the Army.

I have always been intrigued by Army Officers. There's something about that crisp uniform with stars on the shoulders that they wear, the aura with which they walk in, the strength with which they pull in the trigger yet the warmth they ooze while conversing with kids, senior citizens or women.

But one question that have intrigued me more, is why one chooses to join Army when they know there's always a risk factor that looms at large over them. Everyday, 24*7.
Once a major told me, "Everyone will die someday. What better, if my life ends fighting for my country?"
Bravado! What else can we say.

Whenever there is a terror attack (almost everyday) or a natural calamity (remember the 2013 Uttarakhand floods or the 2014 J&K floods) it's our military forces who rise up as our saviors.  
These REAL life heroes make us believe that life without them around us is just impossible. The shield us, protect us and act as our bullet proof jackets taking in all the bullets that come our way.

The recent gun battle in Kashmir valley kept me awake at nights as thoughts haunted me how it felt to lose a father, a son, a life partner. Terrible. There's no replacement to a pain like this. But then, death becomes synonymous the day an officer chooses to wear that olive uniform.

A heartfelt message was dropped in my Facebook inbox this morning where a Lieutenant Colonel wrote why he chose to join the Army.
Here is what the officer wrote,
"I did not become an Army Officer. Rather, life chose me to become one. My life's purpose is to help people out of their pain and in the process serve the nation for a noble cause. I wake up every day for my motherland so that thousands of mothers can sleep peacefully with their sons. And, though it is my duty, I don't take it as my profession. And I am grateful for this."

What can we say? Thanks and gratitude.

And as a romance writer, my all time favorite Army film is 'Dear John' where Channing Tatum plays a soldier in love from the US Military Forces.
#Army #IndianArmy #RealLifeHeroes 

The Beautiful Autumn Sky - Fall In Love!

I love autumns. In fact I wait for this time of the year when the autumn gust of strong wind blows, wiping away the yellow-orange crispy brown leaves with it. A farewell to greenery

Thankfully the place I live in is still surrounded by some tress. So as I look out of my window, I admire the crisp copper leaves falling off the trees, swaying gently in the autumn wind. The clouds overlap each other making the sky a gloomy gray. After a long time I’m having a hot cocoa chocolate drink that I've been clutching in my hands to keep it warm. The chill of the wind reddens my face like a seasoned apple. I close my eyes and deep breathe the beautiful season. But as I deep breathe; my thoughts are shadowed by 'his' face. Go bathe in the autumn sun.

Have you ever taken a perfect autumn walk? I haven taken it today and as I was taking the walk my thoughts drifted a bit thinking of the years that have passed, the years I have left by. Strangely I feel happy again. Something that I haven’t felt in a long time.

In the bygone childhood days it was this autumn season when mom would first make those delicious gajar ka halwa for the entire family. And even today I can close my eyes and smell the sweet scent of the halwa being cooked in our old rented house.

Autumn will always hold a special place in my heart because it was this time of the year when I first felt the signals of the heart. I fell in love.

Autumn  evenings are even more spectacular. The chill winds races through the avenues and your freshly manicured lawns are once more dumped by those yellow-orangy-browny leaves. Crunch, crackle, stamp on them like you did as a kid and let out a smile at this thought.

Oh what a joy autumn is… is it not?

Golden and red trees
Nod to the soft breeze,
As it whispers, "Winter is near;"
And the brown nuts fall
At the wind's loud call,
For this is the Fall of the year.

                                                                    Akal Bodhon

 Akal bodhon    Out of Season(Akal) Bodhon (Worship)

The god and the goddesses wake when the sun faces the uttarayan kaal and sleep during the Dakshinayan kaal. Uttarayan kaal is the first season of the Hindu year. During this season the god and goddesses are worshipped. So the year starts with worshipping goddess Saraswati which is now known as the Saraswati puja. How the Durga puja started during the ashwin season that falls in the Dakshinayan kaal or the out of season worshipping period is the story we wil tell you now.

When prince Ram was serving his exile period, his wife Sita was kidnapped by the king of demons Ravana. With the help from the king of monkeys Sugriva and his army, Ram builts a bridge over the ocean to reach the land of Lanka. After that starts the big battle between the army of Ram and Ravana. But even after endless efforts, Prince Ram couldn’t kill the demon king, Ravana. Ravana starts worshipping goddess Ambika for more power who in return tells him that she herself will be helping the demon king in all situations and circumstances.  With the help of goddess Ambika, Ravana resumes back is battle with Ram. Seeing Ravana battling with all force and power, all gods think will Ram never be able to defeat Ravana? Seeing the critical circumstances, lord Indra went to Lord Brahma to ask a way to defeat Ravana. Its then, lord Brahma told lord Vishnu that Ravana can only be defeated if and only if Ram worships goddess Durga in this Dakshinayan kaal or the out of season period. When prince Ram got to know the only way to defeat Ravana, he started preparations to worship goddess Durga in the autumnal season. Even after worshipping Goddess Durga during Saptami, Ashtami and Navami, Ram couldn’t hear from the goddess and was on the verge of breaking down. It was then king Vivhishan suggests Ram that if he offers 108 blue lotuses to Durga, the goddesss will definitely be pleased and readily help out Ram. Hearing this Hanuman leaves to collect the 108 lotuses and returns collecting them soon enough. But to test Ram, goddess Durga hides one amongst the 108 blue lotuses. Falling short of one blue lotus, everyone thought that Durga will not be satisfied and Ravana could never be defeated. Not knowing what else to do, Ram says that his eyes are like blue lotus and he would offer one of his eye to the goddess to satisfy her and defeat Ravana.

When Ram is prepared to take out one of his eyes with an arrow, goddess Durga appears and stops Ram from doing so. The goddess says that she is very satisfied with his worshipping her in the akal-bodhon. Durga tells Ram that now he will be easily be able to defeat Ravana in the battle. Getting his aid from goddess Durga, he resumes the battle with the demon king. Then in the battlefield, Ram arrows Ravana to death.

It is from then, that this autumnal ritual of Durga Puja is being celebrated. When the fields are filled with kaash flowers and the clouds play in abundance in the clear blue sky, the tunes of Ago moni are played. It starts from Mahalaya which is then followed by the nine days of the Durga Puja. Finally comes Dashami when we bid adieu to goddess Durga in wait for the next year’s Akal bodhon. 

In Madonna's Stilettos? Why not?

                                                       In Madonna’ Stilettos

According to me there is a sharp resemblance between Madonna,  the Diva and stilettos. Lets count. They both are,

1. EDGY.  As in always keeps you on the edge. 

2. SASSY.  Full of life.

3. CONFIDENT. Even if you are not confident about yourself, the world will never come to know about it.

4. TO THE POINT. We cannot mess around with either of it or else chances are we’ll fall on our face.

Well, all I want to say is EVEN YOU CAN WEAR STILETTOS and be confident about yourself like a DIVA.

In the past one year, I have at least had two queries everyday either from friends or close acquaintances or family members. And their query has been, ‘How have I managed to get back in super shape after two kids?’ Time and again I've told them but yet time and again they have come back to ask me the same thing. So I preferred writing it down in the blog so that the next time someone asks me, I can direct them straight to the blog. Ha ha!

Weighing 65 kilos and not doing anything about it really was killing me. I wanted to wear all the lovely dresses I saw hanging on the shop windows. It sucked checking out an XL size kurti at the trial rooms.  Worst, I couldn't think of trying anything else other than a Kurti because that was the only saviour which hid my blown out butt. Of course I could wear a short top but I didn't want to be the center of jokes while walking down on the road.  That was the time I thought of taking things in my hand. Life is short and I’m young. Gotta do some wild things before I die!

I initiated with power walks in the evenings that went on for a couple of months. It helped me shed 5 damn kilos.  But then I was stuck at 60. Nope! However more I walked, I couldn't bring it down beyond that. So then I thought of working out at the gym. I told my instructor I want to look like Jennifer Lopez. But he had a point. He told me that J.Lo’s body is more like that of a sportsperson with well toned arms and legs. And was I sure I want to look like that? I corrected myself and switched to my second choice, my favourite Kareena Kapoor. A deal between me and my trainer Vikram, an amazing human as well was struck and we started off.

My workouts included cardio training for 45 minutes that include walker, cross trainer, speed biking, cycling and the tread mill. It ended with 300 abdomen crunches, vibrator and yoga. I was instructed to take care of my diet. Actually that’s the main thing in the whole weight losing game. CONTROL YOUR DIET. Believe it or not in 2 months flat, I was 53kgs from 60 kgs. I left gym due to some problems and hadn't worked out in the last one year. But if you believe me, I walked out of the gym with 53 kgs and I still weigh the same! Reason? I control my diet.

So don’t forget to control your diet wile not working out. my Breakfast includes milk, fruits, oats. Then loads of salads by noon. By loads I mean literally loads. Cucumber, tomatoes, carrot. Lunch is daal, fish, cooked vegetables with a cup of rice. At evening its biscuits and tea and end the day with same as lunch only chucking the rice and adding a chapati. Easy?

You can cheat on your diet for at least one day a week, I cheat fro three days.the weekend. But it depends on your body type. As in how much you can allow yourself.

So the dream of flat abs, toned up body let not just remain a dream. Go and do something about it like I did. Some may choose to differ like I’m just fine the way I look and people who loves me will do so no matter how I look. Well, for them I choose to differ as well. I think they are too lazy, sadistic people who have given up on good things in life. I can’t be one of them and if YOU want to BE like ME, YOU can’t be one of THEM.

So girls and even boys all the best. Wear those stilettos and the dresses you always wanted to wear. Don’t shy away.

Much love, Ishani