Happiness follows....

Yes. I believe that happiness follows, but when?

When you get out of bed (though a bit cranky to get out of it!!) deciding that your day is going to be good, if not great......

When you wear a smile in the morning, which stays all through the day....smiling at your friends, colleagues.....and you mean to smile that smile!

When you begin your day by reading a book in the bus and feel happy that you are making good use of some of your free time....

When you believe that everything around you, may it be the lovely Bangalore weather and the green surroundings around your office, are speaking to you in some way of something......

When you find opportunities to help somebody in the smallest possible way, like cheering up a colleague, or helping a complete stranger for that matter....

When you lend a listening ear to a cribbing friend and help her by giving your opinion, and even if your opinion is what she does not agree with, you know that she got her answer that way!

When you wait for lunch time in office to talk about anything and everything with your colleagues and have a good time in the form of a break.....

When a colleague asks you to play music out loud in the office since you used to play it till a month ago....and you end up getting the name 'Office DJ'!!

When your hooked on the phone after office, talking to a sweet friend and identify with that friend a whole lot, enjoying each part of that conversation....

When you are waiting at the bus stop after office, hoping that you will get a seat...and even if you do not get a seat, you learn small things everyday on that bus ride, and forget that you had to stand all the way....

When you are tired while walking towards home, but you know that you are going to have fun after getting home by just chatting with your sister - cum - friend.....

When you are making a dish after a long time and are super kicked at just the thought of it being ready....not caring how it'll turn out to be.... [ ;-) ]

When your colleagues know and remember your favourite desserts.....and bring it for you without even asking......

When the tea in your office turns out to be better than yesterday.....

When you look at that cute mug of yours which brings a smile to your face and reminds you that there still is a kid in you, and you hope that the kid stays....

When you look at the pen stand at your desk that your college friend gifted you when she was moving back to her city after graduation, and are reminded of those amazing college days.....

When you realise that you've made friends, might be a few, quite fast in a totally new city....that you can trust them....and most importantly that they trust you.....

When you are really low and your friends tell you that they don't like to see you that way and they try to cheer you up.....

When a negative thought strikes you but you wipe out that thought by thinking, looking for something positive.....

When you look at flowers everyday and wish that someday, someone will give you those, and that thought brings a smile on your face.....

When untimely rain strikes the city (possible in Bangalore ;-) ) and sometimes you want to get wet, even though you have an umbrella.....enjoying each of that raindrop on your face....

When you believe that life is an everyday gift, though the gifts might be small - the gesture matters....

Happiness follows, if you find small joys in everyday life.....

A Bus Ride.....

I am one of those who hates, just hates, to travel in buses daily. It's alright when I am travelling out of town. But, no. Not on a daily basis. I came to Bangalore about four months back, thinking that it's probably another vacation.....or not! I had no idea if I was going to stay here or go back to my hometown. But, I was enjoying my time here since I like this city.

After a month or so I came to know about a job through my sister. And it sounded lucrative......also (just) because of the name. This was going to be my first interview ever, and if I got the job - my first job ever, and quite a few 'firsts'!

Eventually, I did get the job and confidently faced all the 'firsts'. My office is really far from my place. I travelled in an auto for two days which cost me a bomb!! And then I had to figure out how to commute to office in the cheapest way possible. And then came the time when there was no other way but to travel in buses. The city runs on buses! I was happy that the city has daily Volvo buses so that I could travel with comfort. The thing I (and I guess anybody) hate most about buses is that they are dirty! To the core!! And that was the reason I was happy that Volvo buses will be much better. But my happiness was short-lived since there were (and are) no direct Volvo buses to my office.

After all the hunt for buses - direct or not - I finally got used to them, still being a bit hesitant. Being a positive person, I had to find out something good, something that keeps me going to the buses!! Ofcourse I have my book with me to read in the bus....the best way to kill time (45 mins. to 90 mins.!!!). But that's only in the morning. When I am coming home in the evening, I am unable to take out my book. I tend to keep looking out of the window......watching and passing the world go by in such speed and desperation as if every given day everybody has a train to catch!! So desperate that they keep honking horns till the traffic is cleared (thinking that it got cleared because of their honking). Sometimes the horns get on my nerves and I feel like yelling at the person, who is indicating that his vehicle HAS a horn!

Anyways, the point being killing time in the bus.... I come across so many kinds of people..... And it is kind of fun! It's interesting to see what they do to kill their time. Some just chat, those who are alone tend to talk over the phone (better way to get back to your near and dear ones). The amazing part being that some talk over the phone while standing!! How do you do that! And it's funny to see them swing alongwith the bus..... Some read a book, or a paper......some just look out of the window....wondering how the city grew like this.....

I am happy to know that humanity still exists in this world.....yes I observed it in the bus. When I just started to take the buses, I saw a sign in a bus that said "Give preference to Elders and Ladies". And I never saw that sign again! In any bus I took after that! Given the fact that there is a separate section for ladies and gents in the buses......many a times I come across people offering their own seats to elderly people.....and the elderly being kind enough to give a smile.....that's all one needs to feel good all through the day.... I came across such times too, but when I would get ready to offer a seat, that person would get a seat by someone else! And I would be happy that atleast someone did that....

Very few days I am cranky or just feel low.....and the crowd in the buses just adds to it! At the end of the day.....I am a witness to such incidents.....and I smile thinking there are so many reasons to smile.....as trivial as these......and now my rides have become something very interesting, funny and charming (yes, in their own way).......

Interesting Conversations...

It's another weekend......another Saturday.....which started off quite the usual way. Getting up late (for brunch), by the time I settle down it's already lunchtime. Me and my sister chat all day long and watch some Scrubs or Friends (that is if we don't have any plans on a Saturday ;-) ). But I do look forward to Saturday nights, not for parties but for conversations (chat might be the right word since it's a chat).
Last month I was chatting with my schoolmate. We never met regularly after school was over and when we joined college. We (atleast I) probably had some notions about each other. We had no idea what was going on in the other person's life. We just knew that the other person was somewhere. I do not even remember how we started to chat! I just remember that we added each other on Orkut and then on Facebook.
When I started to chat with him, we always came up with topics that would last all night and link to other stuff. We have common interests which makes the chat last longer and makes it memorable too. We talk about books, hobbies, travelling and what not! It's now become a ritual that we follow on Saturday nights and sometimes even on Fridays.
I realised that I haven't had a nice chat or a conversation with somebody in a long time, especially a friend. I was and am glad that I am having such conversations with a friend and I am learning a few things and areas I need to work on.
Although we are not in front of each other, personally, I feel I am meeting a friend every Saturday..... Just the way I want the meetings to be.....
Now Saturdays have a new meaning to it - Interesting Conversations......

First Pay...

Yesterday was like any other normal day. A monday morning (with no blues). Feeling sleepy as usual and just wishing for an extended weekend. But all the wishes were kept aside when I saw the clock ticking away....and I had to get out of bed with the highest priority for the moment being catching that bus....
I rush to the office and start doing my serial for the day. Somehow just praying that I get to see the very first salary of my life (since I had got a message on friday mentioning about my salary)! With my headphones on at work, I can hardly hear anybody moving around. The receptionist came to my desk and with a really sweet smile handed over my first ever pay cheque. Probably she knew how I felt while receiving it....after all everybody has their 'first pay day'! While opening the envelope I felt like I had the whole world in my hands - right there! I was surprised to see the amount mentioned on the cheque as it was more than I expected.
I changed my status on Gmail and Facebook immediately and pinged my sister informing her about the breaking news of my life and ofcourse mentioning the amount. I messaged my brother too. Both my sister and brother were more than happy to see me overjoyed. My colleagues congratulated me too (looking at my Gmail status). And one of them described the moment just perfectly. She said "You might be feeling like a millionaire today!!" And I agreed.
So my whole world knew that I had my first pay. I had this smile on my face which would not wear off. I just wanted to stay in the moment - forever! I felt independent. I knew what money meant, in that moment right there. I did not know if I was going to save some of it or none! But I just knew that it meant a lot to me. I knew what it felt when you have the money you have earned by yourself.
I was now a part of the world where people would utter the word 'salary' every month on a specific date. The curiosity, the excitement, the joy - I came to experience them all again, but in definitely a different way this time....

Memories.....

Today when my sister demanded tea, I went into the kitchen to find freshly boiled milk and I took in the aroma....... It reminded me of the time when we visited Calcutta (now Kolkata!). I was just about 7 or 8 years and my Aunt used to give me and my sister freshly boiled milk, early in the mornings. We used to accompany our cousin brother to fetch the milk from a machine or something (which I don't remember), but what I do remember is that the machine used to pour milk out when one put a coin in it. I was awestruck with the technology back then.
I used to like that fresh milk, just off the gas, so much at that time..... The taste was so natural and and we did not need Bournvita or Horlicks to gulp the milk down! It tasted sweet by itself. Anyways me and my sister were never the kind of kids who hated milk. But now that I think of it, I would probably prefer adding something in the milk and not have it plain.
That aroma brought the taste back and the memories lingered all day long....... bringing a smile to my face..... :)

First Day First Show!!

I am a bit excited since I wanted to create a blog since the past few days because I like the way people can express themselves on their own blog...... And given the fact that I am quite expressive, I said "Why not!!" So here I am... this is me ( I do love this song :) ) , get to know me more through my blogs!