Big Blue Screen

 I am a movie lover. I love getting lost in those few hours of fantasy where we just forget ourselves, the reality and are carried away into the world of cinema. Even though I watched a lot of movies, series on OTTs during pandemic I always missed going to a theater. I was forcing my hubby to take me to a theater the moment public norms were eased out post pandemic. He was like why do you like so much going to a theater when the movie can be seen on an OTT within the comfort of your home! Back then I told him that few movies need to be watched in theaters for the sound effects, big screen etc etc. But PVR cinemas superbly captured my thoughts. PVR released this ad for celebrating 25 years of cinema and Aamir Khan stared in this. And the first time when I watched this in PVR, I was like damn could there be any other better way to describe theater experience. I was sure that these lyrics were penned by Gulzar. But to my surprise there was a contest by PVR open to create this ad.

Here are the lyrics,

ऐ अंधेरा मुझे पसंद है

ऐ वाला अंधेरा तोडा अलग है 

इसमे रहस्य है , उम्मीद है, राहत है दोस्ती है इस्से मेरी 

इससे मैं, और मुझसे एह पसंद है 

इस अंधेरे से मिलने मैं खुद चला आता हुन 

अख्सर अकेले, कभी किसी और को भी सात ले आता हुन

इस अंधेरे में हर सपना मुमकिन सा नजर आता है 

खुल के हस्ता हुन, खुल के रोता हुन 

कभी घुस्सा आये तो घुस्सा भी हो लेता  हुन 

जो बाहर नाराज थे इस अंधेरे मे मान जाते है 

पुराना वक्त, चिपेह हुए एहसास, जाने कैसे बाहर  आ जाते है

कुछ अलग सा अंधेरा है एह 

इस अंधेरे मे ख़ुशी है , जश्न है , जिंदगी है 

इस अंधेरे मे बहूत रौशनी है 

एह जोह चंद घंटे हम इस अंधेरे मे गुजारते है 

कुछ हमारे अंधर शायद  बदल सा जाता  है 

कुछ सुन कर, कुछ देख कर, कुछ महसूस कर के 

वाकई इस अंधेरे मे बहूत रोशनी है

Using All Your Strength

"A young boy was walking with his father along a country road. When they came across a very large tree branch the boy asked, “Do you think I could move that branch?”

His father answered, “If you use all your strength, I’m sure you can.”

So the boy tried mightily to lift, pull and push the branch but he couldn’t move it. Discouraged he said, “Dad, you were wrong. I can’t do it.”

His dad said, “Try again.” This time, as the boy struggled with the branch his father joined him and together they pushed the branch aside.

“Son,” the father said, “the first time you didn’t use all your strength. You didn’t ask me to help.”


Each of us are strong in our own ways.  We got so independent and self sufficient that we actually have forgotten what or where our true strength lies in. I have been this person since my childhood, who felt very ashamed of asking for help. I always thought people who ask for help or seek help are lazy, dependent and weak. I saw them as nagging unhappy people. For many many years, even till today I hesitate a lot asking for help. Even in my prayers to God, I don't ask for any help.

Not that I do not need it, but I believed that God made each of to face the life we are given and has equipped us with enough abilities in doing so. But I did not realize, part of this same life, he has given us friends and family for the same purpose. To stand by you, to support you and pick you up when needed. They are the real strength. Indeed there are many things you can do alone in this modern society and fewer things where you need others. And for such things, don't you forget that you have all the strength you need and you just need to ask for it and use it. Life is never meant to be a one-man army.

Asking for help is NOT a sign of weakness, but a sign of realizing your whole strength.

And there are times that you don't even know that you can ask for help. This is a sad state and I wish each individual enough sanity to realize this and seek help.

"None of us are stronger than all of us" - this is a quote on the coffee mug I got it as a Secret Santa Gift. Now I realize the meaning of it after reading the above story.

So remember, we have not used all of our strength until we have recognized, sought and used all the support, love around us, and from those who dearly care about us.

Asking for help is a sign of wisdom, courage and in itself is a strength.

And if we ask and are denied help, then we just ask again, ask another person, another time, another way. But ask!

Anonimity

Why do most of the Superheros have a mask? Why do they hide their identity? Were/ are they afraid of something? Were/ are they protecting themselves? Or from the sick society that judges every action. Whether good or bad.

I watched this video - Why is India so filthy? the other day. These are a group of Indians who believe in actions than words. Who believe in results than who, why, how. These are the people who wear a mask, not revealing their identity. They do not crib. They do not complain. And it really is amazing to see how like minded people get together for a cause even though they don't know who is behind all this. These are real superheros. Not people with power to change, but people who are the change.

So these Ugly Indians believe that by not revealing your identity you are more focused on the results than attaching a political view, religious view and thus forming groups, favoritism and ruining the basic purpose. These people do not talk to the media wanting no publicity, no recognition. They just work no talk. Their mantra is "Muh Band Kaam Chalu". There is no lecturing. There is no preaching. There is no going to people and asking for help. They only used Facebook as social media to spread the awareness. This was their only tool.

Am sure like everything that we do, there are always hundreds or millions of people who have a say on it. Which we are very good at. Of course it is easy to whine, crib, complain, comment, judge, and/ or bitch about anything and everything. I really am waiting for a superhero who can clear this filth.  Filth that is so ingrained into our brains, our judgements, our behaviors and such. They cannot do that with these Ugly Indians because they do not know who are doing this. They are only forced to see the results and work but not see the people. If only they know who these people were nor media or politics would have spared them.

 Again this is the pessimistic me who thinks, there are few things which we cannot be fixed by just being the change. We need more. More than your self. Thoughts?

Muruku

Ingredients:-

1. 2 Cups of Rice Flour
2. 1/4 cup of Urad Dal
3. 2-3 tbps of groundnuts
4. 1 tbsp jeera
5. 1 tbsp Chilli powder
6. 2-3 tbps butter
7. Salt to taste
8. Water

Method:-

1. Roast urad dal till light brown and grind them to fine powder after cooling them.
2. Roast groundnuts as well and powder them
3. Add salt, melted butter, rice flour, urad dal powder, groundnut powder, chillie powder, jeera and make a dough adding required amount of water.
4. Use muruku maker and press the dough to required shape directly into the heated oil.
5. Fry till light brown.

Morning Bustle

This is not how I wake up everyday. The same time any other day yes even a weekend would like quite bustling. It is not the alarm that wakes me up each day. Weekends definitely its my pet Leo. Weekdays are such a routine that you do not need an alarm to wake up to a busy day ahead.

Any other day the same time when I open the balcony doors I see the same picture. Same people, same places and same routine. Two boys, a Mom & a Girl Kid waiting for their school bus. I wonder why do they need to wait! Are the school buses not on time or these people getting ready way early? Moms yelling at their kids in the lobby, elevators hurrying them to schools. I can hear somebody running a mixer or a pressure cooker screaming on top of its voice with just a zest. Cars running in and out of the apartment dropping their kids off to school. Paper boy. Milkman. Maids. People waiting for their cabs, lost in deep thoughts. Though their eyes wander here and there I know their minds are present somewhere else. Only thing that could bring them back to this world is their cab driver honking. Morning walkers. Walking their pets. I exactly know what times who would pass by my apartment or who would cross by me when I take Leo out for a walk.

School buses, cars filling the entire roads like a highway, that I really find it difficult to even walk on the streets around my apartment. Especially the school buses run like ambulance. Is this how busy our mornings are? Is this what we wake up to?

But today was different. I as such woke up late to find a blissfully quite world. Silence. Peace. Serenity. Even the sun who fills my entire dining room with his warmth, did not bother to come out of the clouds. Not even a single person was on the road. No vehicles. No sounds. No one bothered to start the day as if the entire world was put to some spell. As far as me, I happened to have missed that spell that I woke up to such a beautiful morning to witness how peaceful it could be. With a hot cup of coffee, Leo by my side, like everyday I stood in my balcony, at the same place. Watching the empty roads, tall buildings far away guessing how far they actually are, lush green trees swaying gently with the morning breeze, mystic skies not telling you if its going to be sunny or a rainy day.

 I wish life is as peaceful as today not because there is a bandh, but because each of us need to stop for a while. To breathe.

Good Morning.