Smile to Spread Smiles!

It is always a pleasure to revisit old novels by our favorite author, with fragrance of old yellow pages, memories recalling emotions of reading it for first time with Oxford dictionary and now reading it again with some experience gained. I reached the page which changed my perspective on ‘Death’. What emotion does this word evokes in you? Anxiety, Terror, Sorrow or Peace? Paulo Coelho has written in his international best seller book- The Pilgrimage- ‘ Still, being fragile creatures, humans always try to hide from themselves the certainty that they will die. They do not see that it is death itself that motivates them to do the best things in their lives. They are afraid to step into the dark, afraid of the unknown, and their only way of conquering fear is to ignore the fact that their days are numbered. They do not see that with awareness of death, they would be able to even more daring, to go much further in their daily conquests, because then they would have not...

                                                                                                          Photograph by: Arpita Pal Best part of reading tarot cards is to depict someone’s personality whilst mind-body-soul spread reading. It becomes more interesting when someone’s mind or soul is represented by minor arcana card- ‘the five of swords’. Based on my reading experience, I get 3 out 5 persons having ‘five of swords’ traits. The picture portraying this card is self-explanatory, a man smiling at his opponents who have accepted their defeat. His smile is a showcase of his pride to win not a physical but mental battle. Yes, we are talking about his victory over an argument. He seems to be satisfied b...

This incident took place few mins back, missed my shuttle from Kurla station as I was late hence I had to take auto to my office. Let's not mention about challenges faced as auto rickshaw driver doesn't agree for solo trip from Kurla to BKC and you are forced to take shared one. So I shared my rickshaw with two men, one was young who decently sat inside and in the middle was an old man around 55 years old who was going to One BKC. As I had to get down at Citibank I preferred taking left most seat. This old man who was high on his testosterone made me uncomfortable by his body language and stares.He even touched my thighs with his fingers and tried to act if it happened by mistake. I already asked him to sit properly and give me some space, but little did I know I am talking to an ill mannered man for whom a woman is source of his pleasure. After getting down I asked driver to hold on for a minute and asked that man to go home and give same looks to his daughter and sister a...

I am on my way to your palace, already heard about your charisma from your lovers. I am fascinated by their love and trust in you, so I have decided to witness your beauty. And there I see you! When I looked into your eyes, I lost my heart but my soul found it's final destination. I don't have to embellish this love with my words, you know it all. I don't have to rationalize my feelings, you don't expect me to be pragmatic. You make me feel so innocent, your eyes are asking me to live in this moment, to enjoy the surprises and to accept all the viciss itudes of fortune. With you , love is no more a feeling, but an emotion which has become my confidence, it is realization of your existence, it is satisfaction I feel within. With you I feel complete! On your Birthday eve, a small gift from your devotee. Happy Birthday Kaanha! And Happy Janmashtami to all!                   ...

                                                                                                                           Photo by- Arpita Pal Lecrae quoted- ‘ If you live for people’s acceptance, you will die from their rejection ’. In the midst of pleasing people, we forget the most vital approval, ‘the self-approval’. Everyone’s opinion has become so important but our own. Where did we leave ourselves? Why are we so scared to take a stand? We manipulate our statements to make people comfortable. This can be out of love, respect or mere social convention. But is your behavior being reciprocated by them? We always have answers to this question but we avoid the truth...

After a month break, I have joined a new job and I am working on client site for more than a month now. I have worked on such process model multiple times, have served multiple multinational banks as my clients, even they treated me well, but this place is so warm and welcoming. Moreover, people are very professional and understanding, no ill-sarcasm, no judgmental taunts. I got system access and it was time to show my skills, to win my client’s confidence as I am replacement for Deepen who is five years more experienced than me and today he is my client manager. A very skilled and responsible man who has been managing his role pretty well. He assigned me very first task to send escalation mail to around 80-85 recipients. I drafted mail as directed and clicked on ‘Send’ button. Within five minutes I get a call on my VoIP, ‘Hello Arpita! This is Anil here from Finance Reporting Team, rest I will introduce myself later, quickly recall that mail, there are wrong recipients marked ...

   Picture Courtesy: Ankita Pal Chhotray Dear Akanksha, Wish you and Aarya a very Happy Birthday! It gives me immense pleasure to publish this blog on your birthday. Arya’s birth on your sixth birthday was the most remarkable coincidence I have witnessed in my life. I feel proud to see you both growing up, especially you getting involved in your parent’s business during your vacation. The best part is you even started enjoying it. Eighteen years back, I remember the only ambition you had was to marry Hritik Roshan. LOL! Time flies! In these many years, we have evolved from neighbors to friends or let’s keep it simple ‘Soul Sisters’. The foundation of our relation is the ease to be able to communicate our views and perspectives to each other. We have the ability to discuss and provide sufficient information. And when I say we discuss, we don’t just talk but try to understand each other as well. Now that’s what I call ‘being friends’. Since you will be a grad...

‘One can see the influence of birth place on their skin tone. No one can say they are sisters,’ said one of the potential groom’s mother. Ma cut the call and asked my sister to ignore their interest on matrimonial portal. But does that help? No! ‘You are telling me now, why didn’t you let them meet me? Let me show them my true colour, or may be their true colours. And you think they are educated?’ I asked my sister. ‘It makes no sense now, it’s been more than six months, and I shouldn’t have told you,’ replied my sister, who was already regretting to bring up this topic which flew me into rage. ‘You know what, just delete all these profiles, I can’t take this shit anymore. What the hell people think of themselves? They can say whatever they want? People are so void of emotions. They just discriminate others on the grounds of colour, caste, creed, religion, gender and may be there might be a day when discrimination will be on the basis on name. Say people with initials ‘A’ s...

Every person is serving a purpose in our lives. We meet thousands of people, we like some, we hate some, we adore some, we love some, we work with some and there are few with whom we can connect. Certain people are meant to be in our lives just to be our friends, to be precise, Soul Friends. I have a Soul Friend too, Bruce Wayne (I am sure we could have come up with a better name, but I respect his love for BATMAN). So Bruce is a very well mannered, one of those ‘BIG’ guys (which he doesn’t admits), matured and wise man. If I have to compare him with any of my Tarot cards, I would refer him as ‘King of Pentacles’ (man of commitment). World made two teachers (of course one is me) come together to teach certain lessons to each other. I just came back from dinner party and saw a text message- ‘Hey! Sorry couldn’t take your call in afternoon. How was your interview?’ ‘That’s fine Bruce. You don’t have to be sorry for it. And I bagged that job.’ ‘Congratulati...

Dear Parents, It's 11:20 PM and in next few minutes I will be 28 year old woman. My heart is full of gratitude for you. Thanks for giving me a life which is ideal by definition for a daughter. Thanks for bringing me into this world and giving me all comforts. Thanks for educating me, so that I can have a future on my own. Thanks for setting up an example for best parents. Thanks for providing me the freedom of being myself which by the way many people still lack. Thanks for hearing me out and understanding my perspective of life. Thanks for being so approachable parents and motivating me to follow my heart. Thanks for showing and calculating all the consequences of my actions. Thanks for supporting me so that I can raise myself. Thanks for loving me when I was my worst. Thanks for making me wise. Thanks for being patient while dealing with my failures. Thanks for celebrating even my small success. I have seen people hiding from their parents.But I can't imagin...

Complexion is skin tone, And I love the one I own. I don't search for beauty in me, it's personality which fills our soul. Hence, I say I've grown up! I understand my family, And accept them much more. I've started respecting their choices, And love them like never before. I find my parents still beautiful, More graceful with those wrinkles, As it's their life experience and wisdom Which made my life this simple. Hence I say I've grown up! I've stopped searching true love, May be I was never looking for. What excites me is true respect Which helped me travel this far. I'm not waiting for someone to rescue me, I've to be Savior and I'm ready to be. I've learned to be on my own And need myself to survive, I don't want a husband nor I want to be someone's wife, All I need is a life partner whom I can share my goals And cherish my peaceful life. Hence I say I've grown up! I've stopped emphasising my mis...