Please visit http://puttas.wordpress.com

My new blog is there. Little more active than on this one. Heh.

Muacks

DIYA: The Journey

As soon as she returned to India from design school, Diya received a ton of job offers based on her brilliant academic and extra-curricular record. Alas as soon as they saw that she was visually challenged they all withdrew, interview after interview with the same response. She didn’t understand this weird behaviour of people. She had top grades, a great university and school education as her background and above all a very charming personality. She began to grow frustrated and after a long time she thought of her sightlessness as a sign of weakness rather than a sign of strength. She remembered when she was at school her best friend, Ayesha had screamed at all the children of her class who were teasing her. Ayesha was so upset that she was wailing in Diya’s lap, about how children can be so cruel to such a lovely person. Diya had calmed her down by telling her what her father had said to her, when she had gone home crying one evening, “Diya, I do not understand why it has to be an issue of sadness and helplessness that children tease you. You just have to ignore what people say, because as long as people have tongues, they will wag them. Have you seen a dog’s tail? Why does it wag as soon as it sees delicious food, food which is lifeless? Because it is tempted to eat it up, engulf it and devour it. Same way with children. If they realize that you think you are weak because of not being able to see, they will be tempted to mock at you. There are times Diya when you will have to prove yourself and if you don’t love yourself how will you make other people love you. Be it meeting new people, or a job interview or just a meeting with a potential boyfriend!” He laughed. “You have to take that it is a boon for being able to do something people can’t do, like reading in Braille, can any of your friends do it? And what about being able to wear sunglasses all the time!” And they laughed and laughed, but what Diya carried back with her that evening to her room was not just memories of that laughter, but wise words on which she started to derive strength and base her whole emotional fabric. Those words were sounding in her head now. She decided to give it another try and she promised to try harder.

Dressed in a smart black suit, hair all tied up at the back, with the perfect amount of kohl in her eyes and a light lip gloss, she entered Adornia Design and Architecture, with an air of confidence. She was shown into the room where she would be interviewed. She sat herself down and waited to be interviewed. There was a silence, shuffling of feet and whispers from the board members. They were talking about her, she was sure. Then one man spoke up, “Ms Patil, your resume is extremely impressive. Tell us, why those dark goggles?” “Sir, firstly I would like to thank you for an opportunity to interact with you. When I was five, I was injured in a near-fatal accident. I lost my power of vision due to that.” “Wow! That must have been something difficult to survive. And yet this consistent performance, these consistent grades. I am impressed Ms Patil.” “Thank you, Sir.” She was secretly thrilled that she had been there in the room for more than five minutes and they still had not rejected her! “Ms Patil, how can you claim to grow as an architect without vision? Don’t you think you need to see what you design? Wouldn’t you want to see your brainchild being appreciated?” She was surprised at the blatancy of the questions, but happy that the interviewers were getting straight to the point and not beating about the bush. She had wanted to answer this question ever since her graduation. She was finally getting her chance. “Design is not about seeing colours, shapes and patterns, it is about visualization. Most people are blinded by their facility to see through their eyes, but forget about their applying a vision and a hint of imagination that can be done only through the mind’s eye. I am hence blessed by this wonderful gift of imagining. I agree that at times, my work may be hampered by my inability to see, but I am confident to be able to get over that with a good team and organization to back me up. I believe that architecture can define how a house can turn into a home, how a school building can be designed to be functional and beautiful so that children feel engaged instead of imprisoned. It has the power to shape a community and change strangers to neighbours. I am very open but firm with my ideas. I may not be able to see but I am extremely observant. I can make out the difference between 1 and 2 centimetres by just a touch. I have polished skills that normal people with eyesight would not care about, but I do because I intend to be the best architect the world has seen today. Thank you.” Silence. “That was an impressive thought Ms Patil. On that note, I would like to welcome you aboard to Adornia. You got the job. I hope to see you on the following Monday. We will have a contract printed out in Braille for your perusal. Our work timings are from 9 30 am to 6 30 pm, and before we forget compulsory partying on Friday night”, said 25 year old Karan Walia and he stared after Diya in complete awe and wonder as she thanked everyone and walked out of the door…
To be continued...

DIYA: A Beginning

Government Hospital, Rampur. A young man pacing up and down the corridors waiting for the nurse to lay it on him. The news that is. A white crisp tunic clad woman is in view now. She has a smile on her face. “You have been blessed with a beautiful, healthy daughter.” The new father jumped with joy. He rushed to meet his wife. And together they looked at their miracle. The most beautiful daughter born ever, they thought. They each silently started dreaming for her, how she would be, a successful engineer like Rahul… no a doctor… no an architect… no the Prime Minister of India and overwhelmed with joy, they burst into peals of laughter amidst tears.
The Patils were welcomed with great grandeur at their house when they returned with little Diya. After all, Rahul Patil was the son of the Headman of the village. Both the sets of grandparents beamed at their granddaughter. Suddenly all went silent. Diya went red. She sneezed. The crowd went into bursts of “So cute!”, “How adorable!”, “God bless this little child, Diya, the light of this village!”
Medha Patil looked at her daughter lovingly. She thought about all the pain Rahul and she had to endure for this little daughter to be born. The doctor had priori warned them about the possibility of Medha haemorrhaging internally which would put both her and the baby’s lives in danger. But she knew how much Rahul and her in-laws had waited for this child. She had done so many pujas for days together. She had taken a break from her social work, to keep herself fit and fine. She looked at her daughter lovingly, at her rotund face covered with a pastel woolen cap that she had knit by herself, those kohled shiny eyes, those rosy cheeks, those rosebud lips and that toothless million dollar smile, and thought that all of it was worth it.
Diya grew up to be a beautiful woman. She was an A+ student. Her teachers doted on her, girls adored her and boys well, just watched her in simple wonder and amazement. And, it was no wonder that Diya gave the closing speech for the White Design University’s graduating class of 2006-07. She had come a long way. Her parents looked at her. Diya, the light of their lives. They thanked God for giving them such a fantastic daughter who always had her head on her shoulders, and no success ever getting to her head, a daughter who had always been so responsible while they were away at work, a daughter who was so emotionally strong that she had endured the near fatal accident at the age of 5 that took away the power of vision from her. At that moment, Medha felt a mini - déjà vu. A moment where she thought, all was worth it.
To be continued...

Night sky

staring into the night sky
at our stars so bright and
Constellations of our future
Hand in hand
warm and fuzzy inside
arms around me
protection
comfort
solace
love
what does that feel like?
now i stare into the night sky
and look into empty space
Nothingness

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

The Voice of India

I am back home in India. Switch on the TV. Papa insists on a news channel. Capitalizes on the fact that he has had a tiring day at office. I oblige. Nothing to watch on TV anyway. I settle myself down. Amitabh Bachhan. Rajnikant. A comparison on which star makes more money. A report on AB's puja at Tirupati because he has a 'manglik' daughter-in-law. A report on AB and his land in UP. A report on thalaivar going to perform a puja for his huge, erm, multi huge movie Shivaji. Papa, this is not the news channel. Must be some Filmi Channel. No quite clear. __ News. I say the three words in my head WTF?

Ok i am a sucker for these things... decided to spruce my blogspot a little bit! Say I am French food!!! Who would have thought of that! Mahesh would have almost certainly bet on Italian for me! haha..

You Are French Food

Snobby yet ubiquitous. People act like they understand you more than they actually do.

What Kind of Food Are You?

yay! I am a chocolate chip cookie!!!! Famous Amos I am sure!!!

You Are a Chocolate Chip Cookie

Traditional and conservative, most people find you comforting. You're friendly and easy to get to know. This makes you very popular - without even trying!

What Kind of Cookie Are You?

Je mapellle...

Your French Name is:

Renée Arpin

What's Your French Name?

Oh yeah babbaaay! But the last time i was cookie dough... weird!

You Are Cherry Garcia Ice Cream

You're the coolest cat around, but too laid back to let it get to your head

What Flavor Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Are You?

That does mean i ll never get Wolverine ever?! Sigh... the story of my life =(

You Are Jean Grey

Although your fate is often unknown, you always seem to survive (even after death). Your mind is your greatest weapon, literally! Powers: telepathy and telekinesis, the ability to project thoughts into the mind of others, communication with animals

Which of the X-Men Are You?

I knew this..

Your Psyche is Red

You are bright, bold, energetic, and intense. Your upbeat, zany energy inspires those who are down. Spontaneous and playful, you also have a courageous and fearless side. When you are too red: you are angry, overprotective, and truly scary. When you don't have enough red: you are depleted and lifeless.

What Color Is Your Psyche?

I've realized something. I have begun to talk lesser and write lesser and it is beginning to freak me out! I emote lesser too. Is that maturity? To keep quiet and mum about my highs and lows? Then what is that nonsense about venting your anger otherwise you will implode?
Day after day I keep listening to these contradictions and it makes me wonder about the people who come up with things like this. Saying that self-control is the way to go. Other people say if you do not let the other person know what you are feeling then you do not have the right to blame that person for how you are feeling. The inspiration came from a conversation with a good friend. It vexed me to think about how anyone can keep quiet about the way they feel and then take all their frustration out later, on a person who was not responsible for those vented feelings in the first place. If they choose to be quiet then they should not vent it out later because once you have kept quiet about it implies that you have chosen to forget how it affects you. How can you justify venting it out later by saying something like it was there in my system, just didnt want to let it out then.
In fact, referring to an incident about a year ago, concerning a close friend, how can people take their anger at their workplace on their own children? Don't they care at all about the shape of their children's self esteem?
Life is complicated.

THE DEVIL'S WORKSHOP...

I have to smile; the world exploded into love all around me… Life is a box of chocolates, you never know what you re gonna get… Life is a box of chocolates; you eat it too fast and it gets bitter and if u eat it too slowly people would want pieces of it... Don’t revolve with the world; make the world revolve around you… Love remained the drug that's the high and not the pill... No person cannot not have a problem; the bigger the problem, the larger the opportunity to learn life’s bigger lessons… I'm gonna tell you what I think about you in that unforgivable way I do; You're an idiot and I hate your guts… I am a bitch, I am a lover, I am a child, I am a mother, I am a sinner, I am a saint… put yourself between a bullet and a target, and it won't be long before you're pulling yourself away… I wish I knew how it would feel to be free… All of these things people tell me keep messing with my head… I am not crazy I am just a little unwell… when everything’s made to be broken… Still standing… Love has no manners… The only person I am scared of is me… Let me be… Speak when you are spoken to; a lotta mess happens because you go outta turn… Life is a bitch, when you show some love it whimpers and stays still and satisfied, but as soon as you anger her, Holy Mother of God!

[Aesa’s been complaining… so here is something to read for a while… a sorta tribute to my head… lines that inspire me… that define me… and a few personal musings]

WOLF! WOLF!

I was just down with a tummy upset yesterday and i remembered an incident that happened in the 12th standard. It was a Friday morning. I was taking IIT coaching and we had an extremely difficult test coming up the following Sunday. I woke up at 6 am and decided that I am going to sit and study for the test instead of going to school and spend 8 hours of my life in school where all we would do is make fun of all that was going around us. I maybe sounding like an absolute geek but the focus here is that I wanted to bunk school that day.
So told mom that look, I have to study, otherwise I will definitely fail. Just write a leave letter saying that I had a tummy upset or something. And I messaged my friends saying I wont be going to school that day because I have a tummy upset. And to miss me :P They all replied saying yeah why not! Just say you are bunking na! My gosh! You are trying to fool US of all people!
I studied like a good child till 3 pm when it was time to get ready for my IIT coaching classes. I was studying lying flat on my stomach on the bed. I turned to one side and wham! There was a crazy pain, guess where? In my stomach! I just couldn't get up. It was like as if someone was throwing themselves on to the walls of my stomach. I was literally writhing in pain. I called mom immediately but her phone was switched off because she was in a meeting. I tried walking around and it just kept getting worse and worse. I decided against going to class. I messaged my friends and said that I am not coming because now I am really having a terrible stomach ache. It was like the story of "When the boy cried Wolf!" None of them believed me! I felt like an idiot! It was like the worst ever stomach ache I had ever had. And to top it all no one believed me. Finally, when mom came back from the office she took me to the doctor and i slowly recovered.
I learnt three lessons that day:
Not to have pani puri outside ever(not much of a lesson though, I still do it a lot..LOL!)
Not to cry wolf without seeing any wolf, rather in my situation not to see wolves on purpose.
Not to bunk school again(sounds like a 5th grade child, ah well I am a slow learner, so cut it out!)

Cheers!