"C"URTAIN CURTAILS!!

A wooden stage with green curtains reminds me of my school and college days. When I used to be a part of the performance, I would either sit in the Wings to wait for my chance to appear on the stage or move steadily behind the curtains back-stage to crossover to the other Wing. I used to eagerly wait for the curtains to open, enact my piece and appreciate the applause from other students and my teachers. If I were a part of the audience, I would try to identify my friends moving hurriedly behind the curtains to appear timely for their act. It used to end with a final bow or a walk down to be precise.

As the blinds unwrapped from the live life stage, the associations to ‘Curtain’ augmented for me.

“Oh! I was always put behind a curtain and wasn’t allowed to go to the school”, complained my octogenarian granny.

“Before coming of age, I was married and put behind a new curtain: the veil”, she muttered.

“I was put behind a curtain when I menstruated for the first time”, she sounded sheepish.

“Moreover, I don’t know what’s behind the purdah that clouds the outer free world from me. I only know the household chores and am forced to blanket my thoughts to myself”, she whimpered.

On listening to her, I felt that the modern women are still trying to tear apart the curtain of glass ceiling at home and work. But the ladder steps are still to be climbed midst the hissing snakes.

During such conversations with my grandmother, my grandfather would always be engrossed in newspaper appearing indifferent. However, I believe it was just a way to shield his emotions from reaching us per-se the unsaid rule of manliness.

Courtesy : Google Images

As I grew older, I was taught and constantly reminded to drape my moments of weakness in the facade of tough stance too.

I feel due to this blind faith in the religion of pushing things under the wraps, people are directionless and in need of guidance. For instance, the riots take place frequently in which innumerable people participate with weapons and many die. I feel sorry since most of them are clueless when asked about the rationale behind their voluntary participation in barbarity. The perpetrators and the strategists are concealed behind the safe curtains of their luxurious apartments while the gullible common man burns to ashes.

To add, when the Government and the Central Bank were busy keeping the new policies under the wraps and my mum was busy saving her hard-earned money under the covers, the ultra-rich were busy siphoning off the black money of so many out of the country.

Before, I rest my itchy fingers, I would like to raise the curtain on my final thoughts. Everything under the covers is fascinating. But chances can’t be ruled out of it being fishy or horrendous. I think it is up to us whether to pull the curtains into oblivion or unshroud them to breath in transparency.

This is my 3rd post in series for #AtoZChallenge.

"B"EGINNINGS: BE.YOU.TIFUL

The world is expanding. It really is! Not the impact of global warming though but the impact of perspective.

Don’t believe me? Well, I can’t take you globetrotting but yes, on an expedition into my expanding world.

Curious?

Well! My world started off from my mother’s womb, an impregnable treasure my mum kept hidden from the penetrating gaze of the entire world and kept safe in her loving arms afterwards. I cried, no howled, when the doctors separated me from the cord that tied me to my mum! But my eyes and smile and not to mention, the tummy grew bigger with each passing day as each day brought a new wonder to me!

In a few years, my world expanded with the school being a stepping stone in my journey. A journey into literacy, education, competency and friendships. I did pretty well considering the silent sobs that had accompanied me to the school!

And then there was no looking back. Going through a journey into grad school, post grad school and job. It’s unbelievable as to how my world morphed its dimensions! In the three phases of my journey, I got three adjectives too! From a “day scholar” to a “hosteler” to a “new girl in the city”.

However, the pattern stayed the same. The winds of change were greeted by apprehension and reluctance and finally giving into the flow of the winds.

My perspective, however, changed when I said yes to the world when I moved to the city of dreams, Mumbai. Not India’s or the world’s, but “my city of dreams”!

A city that gave me freedom and bestowed upon me the experiences that shaped the contours of my thought process by deleting the boundaries and changing the way I see the world, the dynamics of it and guess what! It never stayed the same.

Courtesy : Google Images

Walking on the beach made me realize that life is like walking on a beach, you have to find a strong footing or a small wave is enough to sweep you away. 

Sitting on the Marine Drive amongst the calm crowds made me realize the importance of individuality and isolation at the same time, strangely though!

A hectic work life made me realize the importance of work-life balance or rather life-work balance and the importance of prioritizing life over work for work is a chapter in life and not the other way around.

I fathomed the importance of leaving the shackling baggage behind when a chirpy super-enthusiastic roomie graced me with her presence.

I learnt the art of unleashing the baggage by flushing it all out of the system with scrumptious meal, good company, soothing music accompanied by endless chatter and laughter after a hard day at work.

I learnt to trust when a stranger running for his train stopped and escorted me to the correct platform as I found myself horribly confused in the labyrinth of platforms amidst jostling crowds.

I learnt the beauty of space when I saw how people accommodate others in their small spaces and are mindful enough to respect the personal space of the other.

I absorbed the beauty of lending a hand when I found myself in deep gratitude for a person who delivered medicines at the doorstep of my hotel because I was a guest in his province.

I didn’t change, neither did the world. However, it’s frontiers did. My perspective’s frontiers did. I became open minded to new situations and new people in my life. That doesn’t imply being completely casual or reckless but being open to the existence of good people and fortuitous circumstances. In a nutshell, I have started to love the World around me.

I thought I had moved a bit closer to the horizon!

But lo! It has moved along with me to a greater distance for further exploration. But I can fathom the same with travel which involves new destinations, new people and numerous novel enriching experiences.

This article is 2^nd in the series for AtoZChallenge.

And an ingression of my itchy fingers into the flight of Lufthansa,

https://yestotheworld.com/in/en?utm_source=Indiblogger_contest&utm_medium=contest&utm_campaign=LH_SayYesToTheWorld_Mar18

 #SayYesToTheWorld, #BloggerContest, #AtoZChallenge

"A"PRIL BRINGS CHEER!!

Corporate companies have always been in news for their strict work culture and stringent deadlines. Sweden has already moved to a 6-hour working day in a bid to make people more productive and happier. India plans to follow suit and experiment with a similar approach. Labour ministry has been following up on this since few years now and plans to roll out the new laws soon, for both public and private organizations. Apart from reducing the working hours, rumors also revolve around putting a ban on travel time of more than 30-45 minutes for work. Citizens are expected to work remotely in case the travel consumes much of their precious time and makes them ineffective. Furthermore, the pecking order followed in the corporate is also under attack. The government is struggling with lofty unemployment rates. Since surveys attribute high attrition rate to a soured relationship between a boss and a subordinate, its relevance is also under scanner. In addition to this, a bargain to provide services only during sunlight hours is also under discussion.

Popular dailies and newspapers have already published this piece. One of the India’s silicon valley employee’s response read, “I welcome the remarkable consideration by the government for us.” Another breadwinner rejoiced and said “I’ll vote for the ruling party in the upcoming elections. It paid heed to my appalling job condition.”, on anonymity.

People look forward to another reason for cheer apart from hefty salary packages which lures them to the Corporates. 

Before I rest my itchy fingers and you indulge in festivity, I would like to wish you a very Happy April Fool’s Day 2018 with my this write-up 😊. 

Courtesy : Google Images

 

This article is first in the series for #atozchallenge!!

BOSE-ING AROUND !!!

I’m not sure if you will judge my itchy fingers for this but I have developed a habit of writing to my old self. (Younger self technically but you get the point, right?) No time travel yet! Sigh! 

Earlier last month, after contemplating my past self to be young, dynamic and stubborn and away from the magical world of technical advancements, I thought of writing to her as a pen pal to keep her abreast of all technical advancements I am surrounded with now and draw a clear comparison between the time zones. Basically, amaze her with the fast pace the world is moving at and how different it would be in a few years!

Again, after coming across the fantastic set of headphones: QuietComfort 35 wireless headphones II @ https://www.boseindia.com/en_in/products/headphones/over_ear_headphones/quietcomfort-35-wireless-ii.html#v=qc35_ii_black, I thought of fascinating her with this super-cool thing and the amazing concept. My letter goes something like this:

“Hey Shilpa,

Hope you are in the best of your health and spirits and your era is progressing at a supersonic speed. (I’m aware of it now though.)

I wonder if you remember me from my previous letter telling you about Smart Phones and their salient features of the likes of Bluetooth, Google Assistant, Music and photo capturing capabilities etc. Though I didn’t receive any acknowledgement from you, I write you again today to tell you about my new hobby and a wonderful trip that I went to last month; with a heartfelt hope for some sort of response from your end.

I have developed a taste for playing the guitar recently. I have realized that a lot of concentration is needed as the music turns into a cacophony if I miss even a single note or a beat. I mostly record and listen, instead re-listen to my own compositions multiple times to improve it. Focus is a big thing in noisy and fast paced world that I belong to. To my rescue, I came across a wonderful pair of audio headphone by ‘BOSE’ which plays music and cancels any unnecessary commotion that tends to interfere with my cerebral membranes or hand’s muscle memory and disrupt my practice sessions. It even gives volume-optimized EQ that provides consistent quality anywhere be it office or a loud shopping mall. Though the headphone is available in black colour also, I have my personal favourite silver couloured. I wish I could send one to you as well.

Courtesy : BOSE

Talking about my trip, it was a business trip to nature’s lap, Norway which I had extended by few days for leisure. Considering that music has become an essence of my life and my despise for harsh sounds, I obviously carried my wireless BOSE QC35 headsets with an inbuilt access to Google assistant via Bluetooth in my baggage. Already they were a big rescue from blaring horns and valueless jabber that my ears are subjected to on my everyday office travel. Sometimes, I thought they could be damaged during the long hours spent travelling but thanks to their well-built corrosion resistant durable body, they braved all the hiccups with ease.

You won’t believe that it was no just pure and divine music with them, it was like having a personal assistant with me the whole day!

“Ok Google! Set an alarm for 2 am”, I ordered by pressing the action button on my BOSE headband while listening to a melodious lullaby before dozing off. I was up on time and boarded the cab with my headphones on. Along with digesting the early morning quota of NEWS, I confirmed from my assistant if the cab was driving through the best route with no traffic and if my flight was on schedule. Without any hassle I landed in mystic and divine Bergen.

“Ok Google! Tell me basic salutations in Norwegian”, I asked for help from my assistant, which was really helpful during my stay in that city. Since my headsets were on, all greetings in Norwegian went straight into my brain without any external noise.

Next followed numerous meetings, brainstorming sessions and documentation with the client. After all the exciting work, it was time for my mini vacation.

I hired a bike, asked my assistant to play some Norwegian music and started my ride to nature trail Rallarvegen (the service road built for the construction of the Bergenline).  While listening to songs which I could not make much sense of, but were in tune, I even got a spot in a cafe reserved for Norwegian special open sandwich followed by waffle. BOSE had indeed treated me to a scrumptious meal. Splendid, right!?

I felt exhausted after cycling and decided to retreat to my hotel.

I went for a Fjord Cruise the next day that departed from Zachariasbryggen quay at the Fish Market. Thanks to my assistant which warned me of windy weather, I was dressed in woolen layers. I even called back home with the help of BOSE and had a very clear call despite the blaring winds. I even asked it to click some photos and send to my friends. Since I forgot to charge my phone last night my assistant switched on the battery saver for me on my command. Nonetheless, I was thrilled that at least my headphone comes with a 20 hours battery life and if at all I am short on charge, a quick 15 minutes power would add a 2.5 hour of life to my battery. I really would love to see the expression on your face while you read, re-read what I just wrote is true. Unbelievable? But true my friend.

All in all, I had a splendid tour replete of business work and different shades of nature. Moreover, a solo trip with my assistant enclosed with BOSE QC35 headphones by my side which is wrapped in Alcantara—the soft covering material used in yachts enabled a comfort wear throughout my magnificent journey.

I look forward to your reply on this letter of mine and any new adventure (even though I know it all) that is happening at your side.

The Futuristic “You”

Shilpa”