Mumbai: First dip in the city

Dec 19-20

This week makes more than two months since I started off in Mumbai living the first couple of days and wondering how fast days of life are flung on your face. It’s incredible when days start resembling each other coupled with something or the other simply reminding us about its complexity, reaffirming my faith in manifestation or coincidence if you wanna put it like that.

Of course, I am speaking about Maximum City starting rolling with a not-so-rosy encounter with the driver who wanted extra money beyond the app price from the airport and called my friend cum host who came to my rescue and picked up a fight for me. Is this what my city was keeping for me? Sometimes, the journey starts on a bumpy ride for us to find our way. First lesson learned. It was quite a ride beating the airport traffic, fight with the pesky driver, and reaching my friend’s apartment when the exhilarating Argentina-France World Cup final everyone was raving about and glued to TV almost got over. Quite a Messi-ness for the French!

I can’t believe being in the city after a decade with my first point of connection Meghna, T and aunty where I was a bit jittery at first. It happens to me always about having a sense of uneasiness as I greet aunty and am unsure how to greet post-COVID when I may have appeared slightly distant and was unsure whether to give a huge or just day Namaste. Yes, we didn’t hug. Meghna made sure that I was wholly sanitized with the spray from my phone to clothes and bags, before I was sent to shower, and came out for dinner. It was almost midnight and felt a sense of peace within. After all, I am in my country India, my city and home, Mumbai. No emotions poured out yet felt serene, and silence caressed my face. This moment, I shall never forget. It was priceless.

The first day, or put it like that, dawned upon and saw me up to the lark quite surprisingly around 6 a.m and to think, I am not an early riser. There is a reason for everything, and it reaffirmed my belief. I bonded with aunty who was up early serving me piping hot chai and breakfast, as we spoke about life sitting at the dining table that would be my comfort zone for many days. The beautiful, cozy, and spacious apartment, I was already swooning over it, and of course, the beautiful balcony adorned with flower pots gave a beautiful city view of Goregaon, Aarey colony and the Metro lines.

The temperature was unusually thick hot and sticky while I expected a morning, wintery December, zooming the phone to take a shot of the beautiful skyline and of the sun rising. Can you imagine, chaotic and hazy Mumbai, plagued by pollution to get a scintillating view of the bright, radiant and yellowish sun? It was pure divine beauty. I couldn’t believe my eyes and knew at this moment being blessed by the Gods. It was quite a morning with aunty encouraging me to do yoga and the lone evenings would be spent on this beautiful balcony, enjoying the view and glittering evening decoration as the city comes alive with the lights as the G 20 summit was ongoing.

We went for a walk in the evening with the morning spent with Meghna getting me a Jio Sim my Indian number, lunch and afternoon nap with lots of chat. My debit card was still not working. Thankfully, I got some extra cash when I changed Dirham into the Indian rupee at Dubai airport which helped me sail through. Of course. we enjoyed the walk and mightily impressed I was with the infrastructure in this part of the city, surrounded by lush trees and the shades offered, the clean pavement to lush surroundings for that matter, be it the line of apartments making Goregaon East, the place to be and in the midst of nature, boasting the best of both worlds. from apartments row, bustling city life, Mithai shops, tea stalls coupled with the serene environment. Beautifully done in this part of the suburb in Gurgaon, nature, infrastructure and apartments make it an ideal place to stay.

One of the most amazing things about Mumbai as a city is no matter where you stay, either in the downtown side or in the suburbs. there is always something for everyone. You will never feel deprived of anything. Go as far as you can, the city is always so vibrant, be it for food, late-night shopping, or getting personal stuff, coming to a realization about no dearth of anything. Like they say East or West, Mumbai is one place where you have everything on your fingers and no need to travel far for groceries or sundry. Can it be different in a city like Mumbai, a city constantly on its edge where Maximum is its brand value? The day such facility stops, the city stops existing.

This is Mumbai for you where very few places can aspire to be like that. It’s no 9 a.m. to 5 a.m. island whose USP is the people’s attitudes towards life and work, constantly thriving and the sky is the limit where the word imposing limit doesn’t exist in the dictionary. It brought me to a realization that it’s the place I wanna be and just took me less than a day to realize where my life lies.

The walk was beautiful and coaxed my friend to stop at the tea stall that we call thapdi in India for me to have a cup of chai. It was absolute bliss having chai on the street after a decade and was in for a surprise to see our glass disappearance in favor of the plastic cups. We, Indians, have a special bond with having tea in this tiny yet iconic glass.

We visited one of the most amazing shopping outlets, Zudio where M told her husband loves the brand so much, and man, I wasn’t disappointed to see everything under one roof at an affordable price with no compromise on quality, from tee to jeans, trousers, banyan and nice pair of shoes, and pajama the same that would be costing me a bomb in branded malls, two to three times the price. On the way back, she chided me for carrying less stuff and dragged me to a supermarket to get myself the basic kit to use, from soap to aftershave, lotion and shampoo. All was done in a day and the next day, got my bank stuff to be sorted out.

As we sat for dinner and reflected on a day in the city and life fleeting like dust and of course, incredible Mumbai. For her. it’s nothing new as a resident and proper Mumbaikar, I am very sure. Standing on the balcony and admiring the glittering lights on buildings and roads lends a serenity and a charm of its own, loving every minute of this outing as I clicked with my phone, and moving the camera is an emotion that can not be described in words, a sense of innate calm and feeling the energy of goodness and happy vibes reverberating in my soul, running through nerves and limb.

Dubai to Mumbai: Adrenaline and emotional homecoming

December 18, 2022

Dubai International Airport

A smooth two-and-a-half flight from Dubai to Mumbai as I straddled the duty-free shop airport following the train hopping between terminals to realize that it was about time to plod my way and on my heel to reach the gate for my flight. I keep walking and scything my way past the branded shops in what seems to be a long step before showing up to the Emirates officer to board the flight. Of course, I always keep a set of clothes during flights which I keep changing during connecting flights in the washroom to keep fresh, and a set of toiletries or clothes is a must for everyone, I believe.

There were minor hiccups and finally got sorted out as I queued to board the plane, in between taking selfies, and clicking the Emirates plane from the glass panel when I asked an Emirates officer to take a few of my snaps. I know it sounded eerily crazy. I was taking mobile shots all over the place of the plane from the glass panel entering the flight and was super excited to board en route to my city, Amchi Mumbai. I must say that the Emirates staff was super helpful, asking if I need help with luggage and staff.

Emirates is always jam-packed, particularly towards the Mumbai route with most of our Indian crowd where most of them are Dubai residents. I think that the Dubai-Mumbai route is quite easy since it’s two and a half hours. Finally, I found my seat number after battling the crowd and got the opportunity to sit next to a charming lady Veena who was traveling with her son. She hails from Mumbai and works in Dubai. A snippet of a cheerful conversation as we speak about our respective lives and work where she shares what she’s into, telling so many people to have this confusion about her job designation in finance. It made for an interesting conversation with an easygoing person and knew that would be smooth sailing unlike the first leg sitting on the aisle cooped in the middle of four people.

Honestly, I hate that seat arrangement and prefer the three seats arrangement which makes it more accessible or for that matter two seats in a row.

I was in no mood to watch anything on the flight because of the short distance between Dubai and Mumbai, preferring conversing with someone where one finds certain ease. I love easy-going and grounded people with not too much of an effort in striking a good, soulful conversation and a reminder about chucking out the baggage we tend to carry as humans.

The trip this time was better in terms of services offered and of course, my eyes hovering on the food tray, praying when it would be within reach. If I could get invisible superman power and steal the food, you bet! It took a while for the tray to reach our seats. I asked my fellow companion if she was okay with me having spirits since she has a young kid and was pretty cool telling her she’ll also be having. We spoke about Old Monk Rum which wasn’t available on the plane and which has an emotional value for us, Indians.

The plane finally hit the ground and this feeling about soon landing in Mumbai and sending a tizzy of emotions running like an adrenaline rush peeking towards the window gives such a sight of the city. I held my hands tight on my heart in gratitude and this feeling cannot be explained in words the emotions of reaching home. It took me a long time and this emotion of homecoming is something else that cannot be explained in words. The silent tears of joy shed. A chill down the spine of finding myself in the city. Bombay or Mumbai is not just a city and such an emotion, I shared with my fellow passenger as we waved goodbye to each other, and introduced myself to her son. The thing with kids is that they like it when people are genuinely interested in asking their names and seeing the bright spark in their eyes.

It took us less than half an hour to straddle one’s way out of the plane filled to the brink and one passenger behind gave me back my charger that he borrowed. Travelling has its perks and the downside is the chances of one’s mobile getting conked after a long layover. Thankfully, I had another USB with me and somehow connected my phone inside the plane and it’s something I should always carry to make sure that battery doesn’t die. Alternate chargers really help during flights.

I couldn’t believe my eyes that I am in Maximum City and that too after a very long time. There was an innate belief that life would change and it would in the most unbelievable manner. It took me quite some time between getting off the plane and traipsing my way to clear the immigration counter to finally reaching the Uber counter, and getting the Wifi connection. I enjoyed walking on the flat escalator which can be very intimidating if one is not used, yet fun to keep walking. As my phone was connected, I saw Meghna and her husband’s Tushar dozen plus calls. She called to ask where I’d been and told only got the cab, apologizing since there was no Wifi access.

The thick heat wafted in the air which is the trait that someone is in Mumbai, the crazy airport traffic with the honking, cabs, and cars swerving the way offered a peek at what to expect in the city. Then, Mumbai has always been about chaos as I look set to embrace a new experience. Truly, Maximum City, like they say.

The only hitch is that I forgot asking the phone number or email of my fellow passenger and this is an area where I need to buck up to connect better with people. Business cards do not always work. Trust me on that and gotta remind myself.

Love

V

Hello Dubai! From airport to Metro ride

Dubai International Airport,

December 18

05: 30- 06:00 a.m

I took the spacious and beautiful lift at the vast Dubai International Airport and didn’t occur to me in the frenzy that it’s early Sunday Morning. One thing that struck me is that a train is waiting to transfer A1-A24 passengers from Terminal 3 to the arrival lounge, giving a peek to the well planned and aesthetically designed airport in the city. And, I am visiting Dubai after a decade and in no mood to be cooped inside. I wanna get out and after asking directions from the helpful airport officials, toeing in the line facing the immigration officers.

Stand on the footprint mark and look straight at the small camera without blinking for a minute or two. You are done and visa stamped to explore Dubai with a complimentary sim card. Appealing! Right! That’s how Dubai International Airport attracts tourists in such a friendly, efficient manner and even as a first timer, you don’t feel intimidated and the feeling of being welcome in what I call Sheikh land. It’s one of the most liberal airports you can witness.

Of course, exploring the city can be at your own risk and calls for managing time efficiently to ensure that one doesn’t miss the flight and cherry on cake is that I got 10 hours layover. I walked past the shops, exchange some cash, explore the arrival terminal a lil bit and zeroed at Costa Coffee to grab something quenching morning hunger pangs. Time to put the Dubai SIM and having lil chat with people, between asking one guy at the cafe to click my picture. After all, social media must be updated about travel.

Bad signal! My battery is almost dying and phone would be conked spurring me to plod my steps to the duty free shop to get myself a new Apple charger. The manager at the Duty free shop was kind enough in letting me get the phone charged and time to kill time till the battery reaches a decent level, spotting our famous, desi Old Monk rum, and meeting two Indian fellas working there.

Meeting Indians in a foreign land is always bliss and naturally the conversation effortlessly flows into rhythmic Hindi at the shop. Since its Sunday, they told and advised to make sure that I don’t get stuck in the traffic as I ask about places to visit such as Palm Jumeira, weighing on possibilities and also on taking a long train ride, up and down to get a city view. As I exit the arrival, I discovered one of the most amazing Starbucks lounge, gulped a coffee and met another fellow Indian working at the airport on ways to see the city. Of course, the city is so well planned and one just needs to take the elevator to find the Metro. I ask a girl on the platform which train to take and about life in Dubai which she says is a safe city to live, particularly for women,

The Redline and driverless, blue train is quite a magnificent experience offering a view of the state of art infrastructure, financial centre to the leading banks and Indian schools or shops and restaurant. One is blown at the sheer amount of planning in making Dubai what it is as a city and truly world class.

I didn’t want to explore much for fear of missing the plane to India and in a way, perhaps deterring me from exploring further and took shots from the window inside the train from airport to Jebel Ali Road, and vice versa. A city that never cease to amaze with its cosmopolitan crowd and reached back the airport much early on.

The best thing about Dubai airport is that it breeds an air of familiarity, welcoming everyone in its midst with not only travellers but also visitors walking past the gate with the lounge cum Starbucks bar attracting a huge crowd. I am already loving the bar with localites and Indians alike, storming the place. Sleepy heads! Sit around, posting on Facebook, the beautiful, vibrant people, spacious bar and felt a sudden chill…makes me wonder why I came back to the airport early on…shouldn’t have. I visited couple of shops at the exit point where not everything is expensive with the small shops cum groceries at affordable rate.

It’s about time to explore the huge and spacious Dubai airport where I reached earlier than usual and trust me, it’s easy to lose the way direction wise. Yet, one should pay attention to signs. The best thing is that time flows where one spend time walking through and plodding the steps to whine time. I grab a bite with coffee. Finally, it was time to get past the gate and take the lift, connecting to the terminal marked A to A 20 via train. I found it very cool to catch the train in connecting to my flight. I just love the vibrant and the busiest world airport where there are so much to explore. Yes, if you have time just explore the city and did that with a revenge during the return leg. What I love is that there is no dearth of Indians whether inside the airport or outside where everyone is so helpful in guiding first timers in the city.

One thing which is a travel hassle is to put all belongings, gadgets, belt, wallet and mobile in a basket for scanning. Guess its a travel rule and if you not so much used to it like me, it takes quite some time and at the same time, you gotta be quick to pick stuffs and all. I reached Terminal 3 with quite some free time in hand, visited the Duty free shop and thankfully was able to change my Dirham into Indian rupee which is easily available at one of the money exchange counter at the departure zone near the Duty free shop that helped me save time when I reached Amchi Mumbai. Heading for the second and final leg…you know where,..my city, my love what with some waiting time and walking my way towards the departure gate. I am enjoying the ride so far.

Love

V

Scrambled eggs on a flight

December 17, 23.00 hours

I am onboard a jampacked Emirates flight to Dubai, feeling like tiny eggs scrambling for space, after wrestling to find my seat number only to find yours truly squeezed like an owl in the middle of five fellas.

It’s been quite a flight and wondering on making the six hours since disturbing people to take a walk or going to the washroom can be quite a struggle, albeit whether it’s impolite or not. No! It’s not! I realize now how much I prefer to sit at the end rather than preferring the window seat. The guy I sat next to is a retired German dude and as we fastened seat belts, chatting endlessly about Hinduism as my religion-sharing my limited knowledge, his country, business he’s into and travel…it makes for a good conversation during a not so long six hours trip. I was on a veg spree and trust me, that’s quite challenging when my food came three hours plus late.

A funny and not so funny interaction with the staff for I was starving my way to hell. That too in an Emirates flight for you have expectations and was slightly brought down on the day. I asked the dude. He seemed to be clueless about veg food or free packaged net connection, for that matter, telling he’ll come later since his priority was to run away from me. I caught hold of the air hostess who promised to get me veg food and waited for quite some time. Ultimately, I fell asleep to feel some hands moving my shoulder after some three hours with a plate of ordinary veg food. I gulfed it all. Of course, I already downed two whiskey pegs. The alcohol was limited, too! It seems that the Emirates flight to Dubai was on a budget with a huge crowd scrambling like eggs.

I hate aisle seat line up shared by five passengers and that too squeezed in the middle. Fortunately, we landed well at Dubai airport despite the initial hiccups with a huge crowd scrambling to find seats, brushing past each other to finally land on blanket and head phone stitched on the ass. Finally, I watched Jhund which was okay as a film, wondering why people over rated this AB starrer about football. I ain’t going on a film review watched on an airplane and to be honest wanted to watch it, yet it was short on expectations. Time killed and took helluva long time to jostle my way out of the plane, walking free at the Dubai airport, which is always an amazing airport, by the way.

Quite an Emirates experience after a long, dry spell and despite the glitches, it’s always good travelling with them where the only hitch is the growing crowd pocked inside and the time taken queuing up to scythe one’s way out. I would say this time with the crew, it was quite an amusing outlook, except few of the staff who were lovely. I am always fascinated by the tray of food when one gets hungry, praying when it comes near to quench the stomach and thirst. December 18, 5.30 a.m, I land to make my way out a little around 6 a.m in Sheikhland.

Blogging after ages and the next post will be the Dubai airport and Go Dubai. See ya super soon.

Love

V

January 2023

Soothing voice of love

It’s the love,

beyond boundaries,

myopic lenses,

expectations,

hey we never signed a pact,

what matters is,

you lend me strength,

my affirmation of who you are,

extraordinary,

for someone like you,

touching my soul,

unique,

coming rare,

love doesn’t come every day,

you are a warrior,

ringing stability,

every spoken word,

brings me closer to who I am,

echoed words,

softness,

soothing voice of love,

hymn sparkling gentleness,

you are a giver,

I feel rooted in your presence,

you are beyond facets of attachments,

your aura speaks seamlessly,

yet a simple language,

how I fell to this power.

Love

V

Why I can’t stop loving you?

You entered my life as a Goddess,

in times of darkness,

touching my soul,

the deep connection,

gently uplift me,

no words,

yet silence,

sparkling my heart,

every time I see you and speak to you,

you have changed me as a person,

bringing hope,

I smile without reason,

let go of the mundane,

anger,

ego,

shifting direction of the waves,

a deep connection with you,

every time you take my name,

it feels divine,

your miss calls feel like love,

ring in a smile,

our chats uplift me,

your phone calls are magic,

no matter how brow-beaten I am,

you are love,

sent with a purpose,

lending me strength,

how can I not love you,

when you exist,

someone like you is special,

you don’t come everytime,

chosen by the divine power,

Did I tell you,

I have start believing in the divine power,

I am smiling,

waltzing,

making illusion dreams,

taking vows,

so what if it won’t lead to anything,

caking my existence with happiness,

rare to cross path with someone like you,

you are love,

loving you without conditions,

I just know you are,

perhaps there need not be a destination,

love is not an end to the route,

you are bringing me close,

holding a mirror,

to what I always wanted to be,

going back to the happy person I once was,

perhaps you will be gone some day,

brightening lives,

i shall cherish every moment of your aura,

teaching me the values,

spirited me,

removing the ego,

to be rooted,

to be me,

teaching the essence of love,

without prejudices.

Love

V

Diwali, random thoughts and energy

Diwali is the time to usher into seamless joy and light the earthen lamps of happiness inside our hearts, sharing dollop of sweetness. A festival that I looked forward to every year and during this time days before the celebration, the vibes were somehow missing and a feeling of gloom crept in.

It’s been a turbulent year for so many among us, and things started to shape positively, yet there has been tiredness as we get to the end of things where many among us are suffering from mental and physical exhaustion. I suffered from an emotional meltdown quite recently with some random thoughts, crisscrossing my mind and happened yesterday when I started crying uncontrollably.

I woke up not in the best of mood and went back to lazing in bed, felt better only after fixing an appointment with my therapist. Still a feeling of anxiety and scared for no reason. I am listening to Mritunjay mantra and Bhagwad Gita Sanskrit verses to keep me calm.

I have a habit of distressing and back to the main theme. A sober Diwali which I normally prefer and this time, the charm was lost somehow till the afternoon.

Thankfully, the low mood changed as I got dressed packed the mithai boxes, visited some friends and neighbors, with some friends dropped in. How our mood alternates from bad to good? Things got going where for the first time we were able to light the diyas before six, doing the Choti Diwali and bhoot chaturdashi lighting 14 diyas for our ancestors blessing the earth before us. A friend called from the UK and we shifted to video calling where she helped in lifting the mood as we spoke about the various things, surrounding life, and the challenges thrust upon us and later spoke to another college friend. The mood was lifted. It’s not that there are no bad days or emotional overhauls which is happening quite often which I believe is a lull phase.

Over the years, I longed to celebrate Diwali which is my favorite festival in India having the best memories of the festival of lights and the place I am based in. This year was quite different since the year took a toll on so many of us. Life is not all spring and bloomy with several challenges where I was detected COVID positive during the first part of the year, accompanying challenges with mom falling ill several times shaking me for the first time, a feeling about being on my own and bracing up with things happening for the first time. I broke up several times and had to come to terms with so many things, a fear of losing someone, the regret of not making the most of things, and faced my first panic attack. It hit me hard that I am suffering from depression and constant anxiety. I mean, if you look at me you can never make out….am quite good at hiding vulnerability or even tears for that matter.

Such things can take a huge toll and make it a task to manage overwhelming challenges, and feeling of emptiness days before Diwali. It can lead to a dip in energy and that’s precisely what happened with my gloomy mood during Diwali. There is so much on the plate right now and sometimes, small things can lead to triggers. Peace and positive energy to one and all.

Much Love

V

My Big B fanboy moment once upon the 90s

It all started in the early 90s when Amitabh Bachchan announced his retirement from the industry and pandemonium of sort, yeah that’s the right, albeit fancy terminology used by trade magazines in the 90s.

I remember having a file filled with the cutting of Bachchan posters solos and with actresses, ranging from Sridevi to Madhuri Dixit, Meenakshi Sheshadri and Raveena Tandon. A pack of two rupees Bachchan postcards, cassettes-one favorite was Amitabh Dhamaka lost and renting VCR watching Jhumma Chumma show in London and posters adorning my room. It all started with my Bachchan adulation and fanboy moment.

The first movie I watched of AB may be hard to recall and remember Dad taking me for Mard, Mein Azaad Hoon, the superhit Shahenshah, Khuda Gawah and even Insaaniyat for that matter. A confession to make and as mentioned earlier, I discovered troves of Amitabh Bachchan quite late in the 90s and it’s not that I didn’t watch much during the earlier days, yet my curiosity and enthusiasm weren’t dampened. Rather got more curious when he announced his famous five-year sabbatical, the time I discovered his older movies, absolutely drooling over Don, Deewar, Shahenshah, Hum, Aakhri Raasta, and Agneepath, which I may have watched dozen times or innumerable.

I can write a volume of books on my Amitabh Bachchan fascination and it’s something personal on how he has shaped a generation of fans with maar dhar. The entry scene in Hum was absolutely epic and speak about Tigerism when Tiger Shroff was perhaps a toddler. Such was the love affair. Of course, meeting him was a dream come true. So what, it was a blink-and-miss with three such fanboy moments, once when he visited for the shooting of Hum with a mammoth crowd, jumping the barrier to approach the dais to be lathi-charged by cops when the man himself chided the cops, to shake the hands of kids personally. I now understand how tough it was for him yet that didn’t prevent him to bring a smile on the faces of innocent kids, or Bade Miyan Chote Miyan running after him for an autograph or another time at a cinema theater scampering down the stairs, almost falling down to give him a greeting card I got at a shop down the road, in time to scribble with a pen. I had no camera yet no means to capture the Kodak movement.

The numerous prized possessions would be stealing coins from Dad’s pocket to get magazines like Movie, Showtime, Cineblitz-they featured an interview of Shweta Bachchan from Boston speaking on her Dad-and Filmfare with many cutouts adorning my file coupled with his only album Aby Baby with the famous Eer Bir Phatte.

Thank you Mr. Bachchan for the priceless memories of a tough and unhappy childhood growing up in the 90s.

Love

V

Desire to stay alive

Not what you & I are looking for,

love, dreams, or hope,

plainly,

mere breathing,

in the moment,

sweetness giving caramel like sensation,

feels like icecream on frothy lip,

moment lasting a lifetime,

not for love,

the lack of it,

we long for hearts tinkling,

like conch’s sound in the faraway temple,

brightened lights,

a desire to stay alive,

life lots like love and our emotions,

than the cusp of passion,

flung by the desire to love,

unquenched intimate cup,

just let it fly past us.

Love

V

Spooky October, hashtag October

October is spooky. I ain’t kidding. It’s unbelievable and ghouls conspiring to blow the mind into smithereens. I feel like a shadow lurking restlessly. Unfathomable! Yea! Looking for the perfect right word and power description, yet far from that how the year flitting past with another year almost gone.

It’s been four days into the month and would you believe what we make of things pretending to be lost zombies, the past disappointment, happy and exhilarating moments feeling like a fucking bank account. We are living in such extraordinary times and at times, I wonder whether to be surprised with things or take life as it comes. Someone just wished fulfilling October and think as humans, we harbor hope and positivity that a new season will usher in goodness and do us well. I ain’t no different.

Expectations have always been our strong forte as humans and what’s wrong with that? The past few years have upset us in more than one way and prodding us to take life as it comes. I ain’t no different and hardly have any expectations, unlike the excitement of pre-pandemic times with a tizzy heart going gung ho and whining about the misses on a year that would normally fly by.

Frankly speaking, I dunno what to expect as we will soon usher in a new, except travel and taking a plunge that yours truly would normally not do. The pandemic has changed us and altered our beliefs in more than one way, taking so much from us. One thing I would say is overcoming the pandemic fear and yes, believe it or not, watched a movie the past month after two years. It’s Brahmastra after two years and before that, the last one was Thappad before the world of lockdown and virus struck.

Now, I am feeling high as if smacking or snorting illegal stuff for writing about fears and expectations. Now, I am utter convinced that October is some sort of drug indulged into and getting pretty much high on, lingering past the mind and reaching this level of ecstasy. Seriousness be damned. You gotta believe we are in October and will soon throw away this boring kinda calendar flipping into 2023…typing happy new year and what’s not. Is that some kinda libido we bring onto ourselves?

So much happenings that I could count on tweedle, tiny fingers and it’s just mirage may be, or plainly speak zilch on wanna wheedle time, energy, or unabated enthusiasm for anything on earth. The second part of the year is exuding some powerful vibes and updates…it shall happen soon for I have been surprised in many ways. I keep myself busy with fab yoga, over-exerting and breaking the body twice a week coupled with breathing and pranayam working wonders already to my mental world of triggers, anxiety, and depression.

Think, think…if that’s not motivation enough to slash your enthusiasm a bit for Oktober fest may just be a fad for you are not going to guzzle beer every fucking day. There is something called life, pretty much like this post, hell-bent to flung the illusion on your face that this month is a finishing line.

I am not fretting and rather a desperate attempt for the October hashtag and headlines, getting people reading this pretty useless post that a new and overhyped month is unfurling. Perhaps, to kick me in the ass and reminding about the post I plan to write and a short story lost in translation, buried deep somewhere.

Count the days for still gotta go a long way before we call it a wrap and yes, it’s the month when a good friend celebrates her birthday. This time, I ain’t missing it, unlike the last time and of course, gearing up for Diwali.

Love

V