Advantages Of Being Single ;-)

• You can sleep at night with your phone on silent mode.
• You don't have to explain to anybody as to why his call was on waiting.
• You can have a more expensive phone than he has, with no worries of 'hurting his ego'.
• Spending money can mean a lot more things than recharging your phone every other day.
• You don't have to explain to anybody as to who sent you that non-veg joke.
• You can talk to any guy and message anybody 'whats up?', and not feel guilty about it.
• You can check-out any guy... and his body too ;).
• Harmless flirting will actually be harmless now.
• You don't have to make any rakhi-brothers.
• You can have your own take on 'size zero' .
• You don't have to adore somebody's family, when they think you're a jerk. 
• Weekends can mean pyjama parties at your girlfriend's place.
• You don't have to convince anybody to let you get drunk at a pub. And now that you're single, men notice you more. So, that very much means free drinks at the bar ;).
• Movie night outs now can have romantic, cheesy movies and chick flicks.
• You don't have to have a separate birthday treat for your friends coz you were with him on your birthday
• You don't have to put up with any mood swings.
• You can party hard when you passed an exam, no matter 'whoever' flunked.
• Your password can infact be a secret.
• Your password need not be somebody's name, and it can even be your ex's name.
• You don't have to lie to your parents that books are costlier nowadays, coz you don't need that extra money to spend on anyone now.
• You don't have to tolerate some moron friend of his, calling you 'bhabhiji'.
• 
  
  You don't have to lie to your parents and msg your gal friend-"I've told mom that I'm going out with you and will be late in the evening.If mom calls, tell the same."
• You don’t have to wonder before buying anything you like, “I hope he likes this!".
• Now that your money, time, energy and peace of mind is saved, you can have day-offs at the spa!! Enjoy :)

Any more?? Add on people :)

p.s. 1- this one is more of being a single 'woman', coz i can think from a woman's perspective ;-). Any more additions from u people, I'd love to put it up here :)

p.s. 2- One person who commented on this said that it looked like I wrote this while listening to myself. Well, no!!! This is a compilation of inferences from what I've seen in mine and others' lives.Just because I would be in a relationship, I would never let my life go so pathetic, that i wouldn't be able to live it my way and would need a change. No way!!! :)

Cheers,
Chandana C. Shekar :)

Added by Bikram:

• No more buying of Gifts when you got to go and meet her
• No more spending of money of clothes for her
• No more spending on Buying stuff for HER FRIENDS when she is out shoppign with you...
• No more arguing with guys who are maroing a line on her
• No more fighting with guys over her, the ones you fought with are your best pals
• No more going ot watch SLOPPY movies anymore .

Added by Anonymous:

• u dont've 2 worry abt putting on weight!
• u can sleep around wit any guy n tat 2 witout guilt!!
• u can freely indulge in any vice!!!
• u can wear wat u want n dont've 2 care a shit abt wat ppl think or say!!!!

Added by Karthik:

• U dont have to think and rephrase ur sentences
• U dont have to compliment that 'U r looking gr8 in this dress'
• Whenever u pass by a damsel u can say oh!! i wish i had ********(fill in the blanks)
• U can think sports and current affairs(sorry gals)
• U can hang out with ur friends late night
• Most important: U will realise the importance of people who love you.

Added by Neha:

• You don't have to give a bite from your pizza, chocolates, ice creams..you can have all by yourself..
• You can afford to have tyres all around you..
• When you go shopping, you can spend all the money only on you :)

Added by Illusionare:   

•  Hope I don't sound crude, but the GREATEST thing about being single is that you can let one rip off anytime, anywhere! And the moment you fart, give yourself the thumbsup sign and scream "Wooohoooooo! I feeeeel good!" and then continue whatever you were doing :)

Added by Pratap:

• The greatest advantage is that you are not under stress.

Added by Priyanka:

• There is nobody to judge you on every small thing.

Go on... :)

Wordless Wednesday #1

Though this post is supposed to be wordless, I really wanna say, "It would be great to see every heart heal this way after a pathology :-)"

Chandana C. Shekar

A conversation #2

I luckily happen to know a 'package' called Dr.Ashwini Shenoy . She was my senior at our hospital. Now that her exams are just around the corner, madam seems to be on a forward-sms-sending-spree. This one here was a conversation sms-sms again.

              On 24/04/10, @ 1:30am,

She: "Sometimes, we struggle through the bitter coffee till the last sip, only to discover sugar crystals lying at the bottom. That's life - sweetened but not stirred."

Me: "I have a doubt. How can you stir life?"

She: "U can... stir up something which is obviously there, but not surfacing. It just requires a push sometimes. Try it. It may involve letting go of ego though."

Me: "Sometimes even if you let go of your self-esteem and try as hard as you can, you never get the things you want in life."

She: "See if you can't get something and you think you should have it, then give it your all. Even then if it's elusive, then maybe you deserve better."

Me: "One more doubt. When somebody is happy with what they have, why is it a compulsion to have something 'better'?"

She: "Valid point. Maybe you deserve better is a cliche. Maybe it's best for you to judge what's good for you. And it's frankly irritating when another thinks otherwise. In that case, a little pessimism helps. After all, man thrives in tragedy and reaches the next level when he didn't know he is capable of it. Diversion from a hurt so strong can only make an achievement so great. Maybe unconnected but yet it'll be the reason still."

Me: " Sounds better :). That's going on my blog now! :)".

Nice gyaan coming out of the laughter-box prankster that she otherwise is!

Here's one more forward I got from her. I thoroughly loved it....

"Thought for the day: Always smile in the morning...... It makes people wonder what you did last night ;-)"

p.s Ash- Thanks for being the courtesy for a post here ;-). Don't ask for royalties now!!

Off to being jobless again,
Chandana C. Shekar

My First Take At Story Writing :-) :-)

To,
 Dr.Priya Raghavan
G-3, Gayathri Apartments,
Basavanagudi, B'lore.

.. read the address written on an envelope in her mailbox. Priya instantly recognised the handwriting. Her heart missed a beat. She wanted to open the mail right there; but managed to get to her apartment , so that she could read it in peace. She knew she would go weak in her knees after reading it. She always did, whenever it was anything from 'him'. Sharath , the only guy, whom she had ever allowed access to her life, a long 3 years ago. The only guy, she loved more than love. The only guy, to whom she had given more rights over her, than to herself. The only guy , who was synonymous with the world for her. That one person, who she trusted more than she trusted God. The only one ,who had managed to stay on her mind, heart and soul 24*7, even though he was miles away.

She opened the letter, her eyes already filled with tears of joy. It had been two months since he had called or even written to her. She never questioned it, because she could not. He worked with Merchant Navy. He was sailing. She couldn't call him on the ship's satellite phone.She did not have an address to write to. Her e-mails had bounced back, and she had no idea as to why. Yet, yet, yet, she had no complaints. She trusted him. She convinced herself that he is busy somewhere. She wished nothing had gone wrong with him..... And as she opened the letter, there it was,... the words, in black, on white,...

"Hey Priya, I'm sorry to say this. I don't mean to make things turn ugly, but.. we need to break-up! Can't give you explainations now. But trust me, this is how it was supposed to end. Sorry again. Take care -  Sharath".

Blank.. blank.. blank... Priya's tears of joy took less than a second to dry out. They also failed to come out of her eyes. She was shocked, awestruck, numb.. She couldn't believe this was reality. How could this happen to her? She had never sensed anything of this sort coming her way. He, among all people on earth couldn't have done this to her. How could he see her hurt? How could he leave so many questions unanswered? How could it be so easy for him? Just two lines and everything over? Had he even thought what would happen of her? How could it be fine when they were not together? Why this? Why her? Why now? She was supposed to go home to her parents that week, and she planned to talk to them about him. And now this? All the Hows and Whys swept through her mind like a hurricane. She sat there, as immobile as a stone, staring into nowhere.

Three days passed. She sat in her living room, staring at the newspapers at her door, which she hadn't bothered pick up. Her colleague called to tell her that her Professor was really mad at her for staying absent without a notice. She knew that would come. Being a Post Graduate student in Medicine, when she had patients under her care, emergencies to handle and a lot more duties, she just couldn't stay away from hospital like this. Not without assigning somebody else to handle her duties. She had got leave for only 4 days for her sister's wedding too. And that was starting tomorrow! She knew she was in trouble. But nothing seemed worst than what had happened to her. She had lost her 'everything'. Life itself had come to a stand still. What would she do after becoming a physician? All her dreams of the future were associated with him. And now, how could she live life with his slot empty?

Just as she thought of that, 'Sindhu' blinked on her phone. Her elder sister was calling . "Hey Munni, when are coming home? I'm waiting for  you to come and apply mehendi for me. You know that I'm not getting it done at any parlour right? Come soon da!". .. Priya thought for a second and said, "Yeah, almost leaving". Sindhu was getting married. Unlike Priya, Sindhu always wanted to get into an arranged marriage, to see her parents happily bid good bye to her, and then, open up her life for the person, who the world thought suited best for her. Love for her, was too risky. Whenever Sindhu had said this, Priya always thought to herself, 'My love isn't risky. It's bliss'. Priya couldn't let her sorrow ruin Sindhu's wedding celebration. She packed her bags, and left,...for home... for Chennai.

Two days later, the D-day finally arrived. Priya had never seen Sindhu as happy as she was now. She wondered if she herself could ever ever be this way. She hated it when people said, 'So priya, you are the next one in line!".It made her heart bleed again and again. She helped the bride get ready, to look her best. Sindhu looked gorgeous, the perfect bride -happy, smiling, calm, anxious and shy. Priya felt really happy for her. She said, "Akka, sometimes in life, we fail to understand the value of  people who are always there for us. We never wonder what would happen of us if not for them. I just can't think of being what I am, if you weren't in my life. Sorry for the times that I hurt you. And Thanks for all the times when you lost, just to make me win. Thanks for everything. I love you". Sindhu's eyes were moist. Her little kiddo sister had grown up. The same girl, who she had taught rhymes to, was giving speeches now!. They hugged each other. They realised that they loved each other a lot lot more than they themselves knew.

"Munni, the Groom's arrived...get the aarthi thaali", Priya's mom shouted from the across the hall. Priya flashed a smile and went to welcome the Groom and his family. She hurried to the entrance,and there, ... she froze.

She remembered telling Sharath on the phone, 6 months ago, "I'm so dying to see you honey, that when I finally will, I'm sure the ground will slip off my feet".. And it happened. Right then. Right there.

Her 'akka' was getting married to 'her' Sharath!! She recalled not hearing to anything abour Sindhu's fiance, and not seeing the snap Sindhu had mailed her. She had then teasingly said, "Let there be some excitement and mystery. I shall see the 'arranged-marriage-hero'on the big day itself". Sharath knew that Sindhu had a sister called Munni. He hadn't even vaguely imagined that Priya and Munni could be the same. Maybe the once-in-a-fortnight, 15-minute-conversations on the satellite phone,that he and Priya had, never gave them enough time to talk about anything other than the love they cherished.

Priya had always taken everything from Sindhu. From parents, to clothes, to books, to dolls, to nail colours. And now, Sindhu had forver taken from her, the only thing that she truely wanted, the only thing that was solely 'hers'.

A week ago, after readin that letter, Priya had thought that she had lost everything in life... But now she realised, she had some more to lose,.... and she lost that too.

Yours truly,

Chandana C. Shekar

p.s. 1- My First time at story writing. Maybe it went a bit longer for a short story.Hope you enjoyed reading. I'm dying for feedback. Do comment. Bouquets and Brickbats most welcome :)

p.s. 2- And yeah, my creativity is tired after writing this story, and it's taking a nap. So, suggestions for the Title welcome too :)

p.s 3.- I love the last picture, It's my fav since months :). It speaks a lot.

Cheers :)

Chandana

A Conversation

Started studying today. Thanks to a friend of mine. But when you try to study after ages, Oh man!, it's really tough to even sit at your table yaar!!. Needed a change. Got an urge to write. But staying at home all day almost leaves you with nothing to write on. Was just remembering If I wanted to write on something earlier and I hadn't. And one thing struck me. A conversation. And then I was sure that that would be the post here for today.

I had some guests at my place a couple of days back. A family with a 4 year old son. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with him. After Paediatrics posting during my internship, I hardly found kids cute. Almost everyone from my College would agree to that (excepting the people who wanna take up paediatrics as a speciality). Our postings were so hectic and irritating ( Coz we did all other work except what Doctors ought to do), and with kids crying all around, at the end of one month, we had had enough of kids!!. But this one, was too cute and refreshing. I wouldn't mind spending time with him every single day. Loved the way he talked. I'll tell you one conversation that happened.

His Dad happens to be an Orthopaedician and the way this kid describes that is ,'My dad repairs broken hands and legs'. Courtesy his Kindergarten School, he can identify parts of the body. Now,

Him: " You also are a Doctor like my Dad? What do you repair?"

Me: "Well, I'll be a surgeon. I'll repair a lot of things then."

Him: "Lot of things? Name them."
Me: "Well, If I become a plastic surgeon, I'll repair scars. Like the one you have on your chin."
( He had a scar on his chin due to a fall and I thought that would be the easiest to explain to him).
Him: " That's all? Why repair that? It doesn't hurt at all!! Repair something that hurts. That will help people"
Me: "????...Ok.Forget it. So what will you become when you grow up?"
Him: "A Cricketeer, but only in the evenings. I'll play for RCB one day!! I'll be a Doctor during the day."
Me: "Oh!! That's nice. So will you also repair broken hands and limbs like your dad?"
Him: "No, Dad will do that. I will repair only knees and elbows"
Me: "Why only that?"
Him: "Because they hurt the most. Don't you know?!!!"

Well, All I could do was smile. Smile at his innocence, his know-it-all attitude, his zest for life (cricket and medicine huh?), and his thought to help people... Kids, they think wounded knees hurt the most!! :-)  No comments, but I really wish his innocence stays with him forever. Hope nothing else in life hurts him more than wounded knees.

And oh yeah, Cricket!! India and Cricket can never ever be seperated!!Never. No ways!! It's a religion out here. I guess that's the only thing wherein you can actually call India as a secular country. The only religion that everyone here is tolerant to. Such a small kid, and he wants to play for RCB!! I can understand if he would say that he wanted to play for the Indian team, but RCB??? Well, IPL Impact !! Guess this is worth all the publicity and hype and media coverage and what not the IPL has!!.

Chandana C. Shekar

Slap-up thoughts #3

"Don't ever let anybody stamp on you. Just don't. Nobody's worth having that Right.. Stand for your Honour and Self Esteem. Be determined, and nobody can ever pull you down. Never."


Chandana C. Shekar

Slap-up Thoughts #2

"When you can't force somebody to love you, you can neither force somebody not to love you"



Chandana C. Shekar

Slap-up Thoughts #1

Hey everyone..

Me back from hibernation :-) . Sitting at home all day makes you miss college . It makes you miss friends more than that. I was going through my old snaps and a few messages (which I liked) on my phone. There was this one message that a friend, Harsha had sent. It said,-

"There are times when the best let you down. And there are times when the worst pull you up. Life is such. It's always around to give you a wake up call. It's upto you to listen to it. No point crying over spilt milk"

It had made a lot of sense that day when he had sent that to me. I was kinda feeling low then for something. Somebody who I had trusted big time had let me down, and I wasn't even able to figure out a reason. And when I got this message, I don't know how, but I kinda 'momentarily' felt really great.I atleast stopped trying to reason as to why that had happened. Made me feel a lot better.. Nice message..

Life's gettin weird n more weird day by day. Too many decisions to make. Too many plans to execute. But worst of all, too many hurdles in my way. Wishing myself luck. :)

Will be back soon. Till then,
Chandana C. Shekar

Why This Way??

Imagine a situation. You happen to (inevitably) go to one of your fav places ( say a cafe). You've never been there with anyone else, but one (special) person. Somebody, in whose life you no longer exist, but who means a hell lot to you. The only person you would want to have back in your life.The only person who went out of his way to bring a smile on your face, and now the only reason for tears to take a peek off your eyes every now n then.. As you walk through the parking lot, memories of that day's journey come alive. The very nice drive, manners at its best, amazing after-rain-weather, songs dedicated, and to top it all, loads of care and affection. Felt no less than a princess that fortunate day.The day you had realised that it needn't necessarily have to be love for someone to be special. You enter the place and imaginary shadows of you both sitting and chatting appear to you. You blink a couple of times and it disappears to nowhere. Trying to hold back the tears and faking a smile, you place the order and turn around, to see quite a few couples sitting and loafing time, as though nobody's watching. You just give a sigh, and say 'How I wish...', and right that moment, his fav song starts playing in the background...

Now, isn't that  a bit too unfair on you? For the only reason that you genuinely cherished that person...and you still do... ??

Loads of love,

Chandana

Hans Christian Andersen

I happened to see on google today that their logo has some changes. The usual way that Google celebrates an event. When I saw what they are celebrating, I really felt it was worthwhile. It happens to be the 205th birthday of Hans Christian Andersen. Does the last name sounds familiar? Oh I'm sure it would. All of us would have listened and read fairy tales when we were kids. Who wouldn't have read Andersen's fairy tales and Aesop's fables?. Those were among my favourites for sure. Well, in case you guys are not able to recollect which stories were of Andersen's,.. do u remember 'Thumbelina'...'The little mermaid'...'The ugly duckling'...'The steadfast tin soldier'...'The princess and the pea'? Oh yeah... Those were among his famous ones..

When his stories have made atleast a part of our childhood beautiful, there is no harm tryin to know a bit of this writer right? That's what I did today. And I found it really interesting. This Danish writer, who was born in some slum area, to a shoemaker and a washerwoman in 1805, had very little education. His mom opened him up to the folklore , but died due to alcoholism. His father opened him up to literature and plays, but died later. He was an extremely emotional child and his hysterical cramps were even labelled as epileptic fits. When his father died, he was forced to work as a weaver, tailor and at a tobacco factory. Once he was humiliated with his trousers being pulled down because they suspected he was a girl. At the age of 14, he went to Copenhagen to make his career as a singer and actor. He got associated with The Royal Theatre due to his soprano voice, but was rejected once his voice began to change. He finally realised he could write and when he wrote many plays, but all of them got rejected. Finally, due to his acquaintance with a director of the Royal theatre, he got into classes, learnt grammar and the like, and his tales concieved. He fell in love with a woman, who he describes as, "She has a lovely, pious face, quite child-like, but her eyes look clever and thoughtful, they were brown and very vivid". But he had to have his heart broken as she was secretly engaged to a chemist's son and later, went on to marry the same guy. A leather pouch containing a letter from her was found round his neck when he died. He travelled the world, wrote Fairy Tales and Stories, met writers and playwrights and novelists. His last unfulfilled love was a Swedish opera singer, to whom he dedicated one of his stories. After all his tours and writing and the like, he died at his home in 1875. But his tales, they never did. And they never will.

Well, that's pretty interesting. All that we knew when we listened to his fairy tales as kids, were the imaginations to which he managed to take us. For those few minutes, we lived in the fairyland that he created for us. And once we were done, we exclaimed, 'wow,nice' :). Who knew that the life of such an amazing author, who makes every kid smile, had so much of hardship in it? He survived so much and yet managed to put in such beautiful stories for children?His novels and other writes have his sorrows expressed. But his fairy tales? well, not a wee bit of the shadow of his sorrows. Maybe this is the talent of making people smile even when you are totally down the ditch. Well, how much ever anybody writes about him, it can never suffice. And I'm too very amateur to write anything about such a playwright and novelist. But I'm sure that the next time I read out any of his stories my nieces or nephews or even my kids, I shall get a feeling of respect for him. All I wanna say is, Hats off to you Sir. Thank you for making the colorful and magical fairyland a part of our childhood. Salute you whole heartedly. May your soul rest in peace.

p.s.- Got  long and hectic 3 days ahead :-(

Until after 3 days,

Chandana c.Shekar