Our 6 Minute Wedding!

That's 'the' ring!

Marriage, a word that has always been on my mind since I came to know love. Like any other girl, I dreamt of my prince (nope, not on a white horse though). Someone who would sweep me off my feet. Little did I know that I would find my prince hidden in a long lost friend... Someone who has been with me since KG1!

As the decision to get married was finalised, everything had to be done in a span of two months, including quitting my job, the wedding shopping, and you know – everything! The days passed by in a jiffy. I was especially thankful for the fact that it was a Malayali wedding as I'd heard that it gets over within a few minutes. That actually cut down a lot of stress from the wedding ceremony. My countdown began for the not-meant-to-be-but-turned-out-to-be-destination-wedding! It indeed was a dream come true when the venue was decided to be Kerala! Could I ask for anything else?

As the days grew closer, I wondered how life after marriage would be. Will it be the same as the picture I have in my head? Our long distance relationship was finally turning into a marriage. I kept my dreams of our lives together, intact in my head, cushioned for safety with the memories of our letters...

When I reached the city of our wedding venue, I was frantically looking out of the train window for V (my better half). I couldn't spot him. Was he late? Was he even coming to pick me up? And there I saw him, walking towards my window, looking out for me in every window. He looked as handsome as ever. I have that memory fresh in my head and my heart still races to think about it... I wanted to run to him, hug him and tell him that it's finally happening, our wedding!

Because of the simple wedding, we actually had no pre-wedding ceremonies and work at all. So as we reached two days before the wedding, we had a day off. My father-in-law was pretty cool about V spending the day with us. Around lunch, we headed for a pre-wedding shoot, on the beach!

All through our relationship, I had been teasing V about how neither of us has proposed to each other. As we walked into the beach, I reminded him. And there he was, putting his hand inside his pocket to pull out the box of ring. I still remember his expression, his eyes full of love, as he was looking at me while pulling out that ring... His smile is something that has always been my favourite. There it was, the smile that I was looking for in that very moment, on that very beach. And there it was, the moment, the moment I had waited for all my life. The moment that I had imagined so many times in my head, over and over and over again. It was right there in front of me, with him kneeling down on his knee, holding out a ring in his hand on a beautiful beach. I couldn't be thankful enough for the events happening in my life.

It's been almost two months since we got married and thankfully, it seems as if nothing has changed much in life. At the same time, a lot has changed for the good. From waking up next to him, to having breakfast with him, to having normal conversations, to waiting for him to come back from office – everything is a moment in itself. A beautiful one at that.

My cousin elder brother told me, “I am proud of you that you took this commitment at this age. If I was at your spot, I couldn't have done it.” I must say, I too am proud of this commitment and the man I have married.

On My Way!

(www.mywedding.com)

After dreaming about my prince for long, it was literally a dream come true when I first met him. Now that I look back upon that time, it all seems magical & so wonderful!

Friends say it's a very dreamy, cute story. I believe so too. How else would you think two long lost friends came together only to become partners for life? After years of not being in touch, we came together via the internet. No, it's not a strange internet love story. Both of us found out through chats that we love writing letters, yes handwritten ones. 

When I started writing to him, it was as if I had found a friend I was looking for. The conversations we had in letters, the anticipation of when the next letter will arrive, the beauty & charm of it! Sigh! Both of us were (and still are) more than happy to realise that we're old school. During those 6 months of writing to each other, we made it a point to not call or text, not chat as well. Emails were allowed. Those 6 months of letter writing was where we came to know each other. Our letters spoke so well about ourselves. There wasn't a missing link, ever. We poured our hearts out, and aren't we glad that we did!

Though we knew each other since long, letters made us break our prejudices about each other. He revealed himself so honestly in the letters. I loved the qualities that kept adding on to the person I knew.

It wasn't a surprise when we started discussing relationships and our ideas about love, marriage & partners. Like any other conversation, it drifted off to a lot of discussions. Probably typical when he said he wasn't looking forward to marriage or a relationship for that matter. I, on the other hand, have always been in love with love! Being the typical me, I tried to tell him where he was thinking wrong about the whole idea. I just wanted to change his perception about love & marriage.

And when it came to judging ourselves, while convincing him, I told him upfront that I wouldn't mind dating him at all. That was the fire that let the fireworks out! Before we knew it, we just wanted to meet each other. It was one of the wisest decisions we took I'd say. All I wanted to know was whether he was the same person as he is in his letters - honest, simple, charming. No marks for guessing that he did turn out to be exactly that....

It'll be a year since our first date happened last year and here we are, exactly a month away from getting married :) Everyday since that day I have found new reasons to love him, and now these 30 days seem to bring an inexplicable joy. The countdown has begun! Bound to start this chapter on a love-filled & fun-filled note!

Run Lola Run!!

Another blog post marks the end of the weekend! A weekend well-spent in the true sense I'd say then. This might be a self-dabba post but well, I don't care! :D It might be a regular, for all you know. 

I have finally started jogging/walking since last week. The goal of getting up early has been achieved after months! And I agree that one was the toughest step, to get out of bed. It is easier to do it now because of the driving force - being fitter and losing weight. I am glad to boast about it because I have taken breaks only thrice since Monday till today! Yay!

It's a good feeling to go for a run/walk early in the morning. It feels like that's the only me time I get out of the 24 hours. It's that time of the day when I feel fresh about starting every day on a new note, without having to analyse anything - be it my personal life or professional life. Thoughts just flow, and I let them be. Because they are positive ones. Any signs of worrying thoughts approaching, and I don't know how, but I am able to brush them away very easily at that time in the morning. And I love that. This regime brings an amount of certainty that I've been craving for since past few weeks. It brings mental peace that is necessary for me right now.

That said, I am also following a healthy diet. Doesn't mean that I've given up my love for food. Just cut down on unwanted things easily :) Lovin' every bit of this! I am certain about losing flab and more importantly, being fit.

One life to live, love and be fit I'd say! I love this ad by Nike below:

(www.pinterest.com)

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - For The Elderly & The Beautiful

(www.hotterinhollywood.com)

This weekend has been a relaxing one in some ways, I'd say. My longest wish of watching movies & sitcoms back to back has been fulfilled. And I'm left with thoughts, like anybody else.

On one hand, I saw the movie Man From Earth and on the other, I saw The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Two different phases of human life, blended so beautifully. I especially liked the latter. 

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is about this bunch of old people, who have their own reasons of visiting India and land up at the same hotel. Mostly because of the fake pictures being put on the internet and also may be because the tag line of the hotel says, "For the elderly and the beautiful". You know how there is always this one character in a movie which is charming and sane? Mrs. Evelyn Greenslade is one of those in the movie, she keeps the story going really well. 

The movie projects each story in a way that you would like, there are secrets that each one is hiding but you find out (or may be it's an overdose of watching 'Lie To Me'!). It made me realise how probably in the last few years of their lives, they found where they truly belonged - in themselves.

Probably you realise in the last few years of your life that there are so many things you've wanted to do, wanted to share, the desire of living, loving increases when you find a charming place that you are slowly adapting to.


Finally, it's all about following your heart in the end. A lesson, I'm grateful, I've learnt at this age :-)

That Hollow Space

(www.crystalinks.com)

'Life is simple, we make it complicated.', goes the line. Somewhere I have realised this might not be true in every case. When you try to keep things simple, they tend to deviate.

When I thought things would be simpler, we'd make it simpler, they got offended! When I wanted things to be smooth & happy, they took offence. And after all the mess, I am left feeling stupid like an immature child. I am left feeling guilty for what I've done. It's amazing how they can bring you into pieces within seconds. 

When you think you'd give them importance, they don't think the same way. Neither for themselves, nor for their kids. Giving examples is what they can do. Telling me how wrong I am is what they can do. Letting me know that there is that hollow space inside of you since 7 years, is what they've done in the end. When you are happy about telling them the new developments in life, they call it shamelessness. You are judged left, right and centre. They are the biggest hypocrites I've ever seen. 

Things would've been different. So different. Why does life bring you at turns from where you just don't want to go anywhere? You feel shattered, broken, breached, mistaken. You want to crash on that very turn, waiting for the one to pick you up, wipe your tears and let you know that everything is going to be fine. 

I would like to thank those who have made me realise what missing a man, who is nowhere around you and can never be seen, means. You've made me realise it in such a harsh way that I am scarred for life. I thought they would stand up during the tough times, instead they've shown me the tough times. And made me realise that they can never be happy at the first go. Their happiness comes only after making you feel bad.

Thank you for these realisations. I will never be able to see you the same way ever again. I will also never be able to live up to your expectations.

Soul Kadhi

I like catching up with friends. It’s just that sometimes the laziness tends to get on to me. But when it comes to old friends and people that are special to me, I never refuse their offer.

I was pretty happy to meet this friend of mine over the weekend, although I did meet her about a month ago. It’s always good to see her. Our conversations tend to touch so many topics that at the end of the meeting when I get home, I am always happy to look back upon it.

We went to this place called ‘Under The Mango Tree’. When I suggested this place to her she was up for it in the first go. I really liked her reply, she said, “Let’s finalise this place. I like the name; we can discuss life under the mango tree.” And I smiled... So true!

The catching up turned out to be like a summer afternoon under the mango tree, where you have nothing else on your mind and go by the flow of the conversations. We discussed everything from work, to people, to life, to how it is taking a turn in various aspects. Sharing experiences to giving advices, having great food by the side – lovely conversations under the tree indeed.

This was one of the best ‘soul kadhi’ I came across, garnished with heart to heart conversations... Garnished with honesty and love...

(Also, the restaurant next to 'Under The Mango Tree' was called 'Soul Kadhi' and my sister mentioned it is a good name for a blog. Suits me!)

Father, Teacher And A Guardian Angel

(www.larissaphotography.com)

It was my father's birthday on Teacher's Day and he proved in more ways than one that he really is my guardian angel. I remember I had my doubts about him being around me, almost a year ago. I would never get signs from him about his presence, which was very disappointing frankly. But I kept my faith in him, and ever since December last year, I've been getting signs more often :)

As I thought about celebrating his birthday by doing some charity and was unable to, I was a bit upset. Nevertheless, I decided to listen to his favourite songs that day in office and a rush of memories came back to me. Well yes, it doesn't take a minute for them to come...

Then there was a point where I got so involved in his memories that I was actually confused about his absence. I couldn't believe for a fraction of a second that he is not with us physically. And I started to wonder how would things be if he was here. Would we move to Bangalore? Would he be proud of the fact that I am a writer, following his footsteps?

I started imagining how he would react to important decisions like marriage. And I couldn't take that thought further, which made me feel guilty. How could I not know how my father would react to this? Is this all I've known about my father? I paused for a few seconds and thought really hard over it, only to be left with a smile on my face. How would he react? He would be as normal as he was during all his years! :) I'd love to know how he thought about getting his daughters married. It's easy for me to imagine him smiling at the whole idea, the whole ceremony. That smile which reaches his eyes so easily that you're lost in his sparkling eyes...

May be that's what gets us going, his smile, his attitude, his faith in life. In us. That is what makes his birthday all the more special - a father, a teacher who has taught us so many things in life subtly. And that's why, me and my sister are daddy's girls in every way :)