13 things from 33rd birthday

1.Finally, I have accepted that I am over and above 30. Wisdom has taken over and I have realised that we should be grateful to God for a healthy, long life rather than sulking over the fact that we can’t party till 4 a.m. anymore

2.I deleted my birthday on Facebook to see how I feel when my virtual friends don’t wish me. But a birthday tag started a string of wishes and frankly, it felt better than FB telling you ‘It is Nisha’s birthday. Help her celebrate’!

3.The Boy bought me flowers on the birthday eve. It was the sweetest thing.

4.I planned my day to the T. So much so that I asked a friend a day before to go for lunch adding a gentle reminder at the end, that it was my birthday! She is unconsciously forgetful and I am very considerate!

5.Wishes poured in from everywhere. Every word made me smile.

6.I even danced to ‘Abhi to party shuru hui hai’ early in the morning.

7.New dress? – absolutely!

8.The Boy got me swanky sunglasses earlier in the year and a more swanky laptop 3 days after my birthday. I think I can’t ask for more gifts this year and can never say that he never gives me anything.

9.I went to breakfast with a bestie and had a ball.

10.I went to lunch with another bestie and heard her share secrets which now worry me.

11.I went to dinner with my ultimate bestie – the Boy – to the most swanky restaurant in town. (Now those are 3 swanky things in the post!!).

12.This birthday managed to have its own story – we went to this newly opened restaurant which is set on 50^th floor in the centre of the city with the most amazing views. It serves authentic Asian which is not our favorite cuisine. So we went overboard and ordered the set menu so that atleast something would suit our taste buds. Within 30 minutes the smell from the kitchen made me feel nauseated. I had to leave the meal midway and walk out. This is the first time we spent so much money on a meal and this is the first time we left it like that. The dessert which the waitress packed for us tasted absolutely divine.

13.My most favorite wish came from an old bestie with whom I talk only 2-3 times in a year. She said that I am still her loveliest friend and best advisor. Another bestie wrote that I was her soul-mate and that she truly loves me.

It is so amazing that when you hear genuine comments from your closest people you feel life is worth every little thing that it is made of.

I am grateful to be 33 and to have gathered so much love in this short life. I am also grateful that I look so awesome in the pictures below!

Well, some things never change, do they?

The last few days - Birthday no. 32

Birthdays have always been very special to me. On mine, I want to feel special; on someone else's, I like to make them feel happy! This birthday of mine was no exception. Although it has been some 40 days, I think I need to report here so that I never forget how awesome I felt on that particular day!

So it started some 2-3 days before the big day. I had told the Boy that this year you have to 'surprise' me with a phone. Although I wanted the M8, I had to make do with an S5 because the Boy has M8 and we cannot have two similar phones at home. I didn't ask for an iPhone 6. It's such a fad and I really want to stay away from anything that serves a herd mentality. I mean really... people buy an iPhone and show it off like it's some kind of a status symbol. Why, oh, why!? Anyway, so I told him I wanted a black S5 as a 'surprise' gift! Ofcourse there was a surprise element here. I didn't know when I will receive it!! Like an obedient husband, he bought me one a few days prior to my birthday and I told everyone how I got a 'surprise' gift!!

Basically the last few months had been tormenting. Every husband around me was surprising his wife. Now I am a normal human being with little bit of extra jealousy factor in me. And then there is this added pressure of answering the question - so what did he give you this year? So, you know, I had to plan my surprise! When I told my mom that he usually doesn't buy me any gifts, her reply was - he has given you such a beautiful life, what else do you want?

Hmm!! Why do mothers always favour the son-in-law?

Coming back to the birthday... a few friends bought me a cake at 12 in the night. My school friends did that awesome con-call that we do at 12 in the night. Did I mention that before? My three absolutely gorgeous friends and the fabulous me have tried to make this a tradition. I remember when we were in school -  we use to call each other at 12 to wish. So, to keep the kid in us alive, we do a con-call from different parts of the world on each other's birthdays. Believe me, those 5 minutes are the most precious. We laugh like crazy and just talk nonsense. We do need to hang up because husbands are usually waiting trying to understand what the fuss is about! And believe me, this con-call thing is very hard to organize on other days. We are all so busy. So this birthday thing is most dear to me.

The next day I took phone calls as usual and just chatted a lot. A friend of mine invited me to lunch at her place and treated me with the yummiest pav-bhaji I've had in a long time. Another friend took a half day at work and picked me up to go to a third friend's place. As soon as I entered, I saw a decorated home with a surprise cake.

Did I tell you my greatest blessing are my friends?

The Boy took me out for dinner in the evening. We went to this fabulous water-front restaurant and talked away to glory. He knows how excited I am on my birthday and so, he really made me feel like a princess. He said yes to all my orders. I also told him that I want to celebrate my birthday twice a year and he readily agreed! Oh, what a day!

And yes, one of my friends even wrote me a poem!

Did I tell you that the greatest gifts cannot be bought? These small gestures stay in your heart and keep you happy forever. And that's why I believe what my mom says - a beautiful life is indeed the most precious gift that you can give anyone.

Here's to many more birthdays like this one. May you have the same happiness :)

A sneak peak into my fabulous 32!!

P.S. I am not sorry if this reads like a 16-year old's birthday post. Be prepared to read similar ones in the years to come!

Grateful

This week I’ll be celebrating my 31^st birthday. Considering the kind of year it has been, I can safely say life after 30 is not exactly the same as before. Maybe it changed for me a year prior to that or maybe it changed six months later, but it does change. No matter how hard you try, staying up and partying from dusk to dawn is not easy. And that is just one silly, minuscule aspect of it.

Health-wise it was one of the worst years for me. There were weeks when even walking wasn’t easy. Of course I did not give up. One of the most important things to do in distress is to stay calm so that you can think clearly. I did and thankfully discovered new ways to protect myself in the process. Hopefully, they will work in the future as well. If they don’t, I would start afresh. Yeah, I am 31 and wise!

Owing to this, I had plenty of mood swings. Since I am so over-the-top optimistic, I kept the smile going. This really confused my brain and I felt elated and low at the same time. Stupid brain I tell you – it can be fooled very easily which further strengthens my belief in the supreme power of the subconscious mind. 

Anyway, let me not blame it on the poor 30’s. Shit happens. Amidst all that, plenty of good things happened too. Like I travelled so much. Like the way I received unfathomable amount of love from the Boy, my family and my friends. The blogging world is a huge blessing which helps me keep sane at all times. Love came from unexpected quarters just like these two complete strangers who praised my writing through email. Now these are non-bloggers whom I don’t know. And when praise comes from such sources, you can’t imagine the happiness. Let me quote them and show-off (it is my birthday week afterall!):

Dear Nisha,

I just wanted to drop in a line to say that you write so beautifully, I just cant stop reading.

The best part is that your writing is so simple, earthy and unpretentious that it never fails to put a smile on my face, irrespective of how my day is going.

I really feel (if I'm aloud to feel out loud), you should write more often. (Although you would be getting that a lot) :)

Do write a book..which will be followed by many I feel..!!

 P.S You might have your own cross to bear (which I can make out from your blog), So hope you find your way over it or around it..:)

God bless you always..!! 

Hi Nisha,

Your blog is so wonderful, that i have been reading it the whole afternoon right upto your Jan 2012 posts.

It made me smile, which is tough these days coz i'm goin through tough times...!!

I must have felt like this after 2 weeks..which is a long time for me...Thank you..God bless..!!

When you read such heart warming messages you really feel blessed and every problem becomes a secondary issue. And so, whenever things weren’t so hunky dory, I assumed that somewhere out there was a guardian angel looking out for me. Probably you were one of them... it just makes me so grateful. 

Namkeen November!

November started with a fun filled Karwachauth where me and the Boy had a rather easy fast. Ahem. It was his first and I'm so proud of him. He has asked me to keep this a secret...so...shhhh!

India beckons. Diwali is around the corner. And what I've mentioned umpteen times already - I'm ready to swim through my 30th in Goa! This will be followed by my nephew's first grand birthday party and the tamasha will be much more than the Great Indian wedding.

Ah, I can't wait for the trip to begin. See you at the other side of this awesome month. Hope you have as much fun as I do.

Here is a snapshot of how the month began... colorful note, eh?

The hands that brush the Sparkling Teeth!!  

Grow old along with me, The best is yet to be

You pull my leg, you push me down,

You hate my smile, you love my frown.

You irritate me, bug me, make me angry,

And then darling, you say – the best is yet to be.

You cuddle, you kiss, you hug me tight,

In times of distress, you tell me it will be alright.

You bear my tantrums, you let me be me,

And then convince me how the best is yet to be.

You break my rules, you follow my traditions,

You encourage me loads, then criticize my creations.

You hold my hand, can mock me suddenly,

And then darling, you say – the best is yet to be.

Of love and hate, of smile and laughter,

I’ve loved each minute of being together.

I can’t imagine my life without thee,

So darling, grow old along with me, the best is yet to be!

For my darling husband, who’s turning THIRTY day after and doesn’t give it a tiny rat’s ass! I am, on the other hand, dreading the end of my awesome twenties in 21 days. And then I convince myself - the best is yet to be!

 This best-cake-I’ve-ever-had is a part of a week-long celebration. It had more Bacardi than Flour. Ping me for the recipe if you want a super happy, no, ecstatic husband! And since he would be super guilty if I ever bought him flowers, I made him paper flowers. Awww ;)
And oh, I forgot to mention, I got a Galaxy S3 as a return gift.

The Best Quarter of the Year

I don’t live in India, but I can still hear the dandiya sticks and picture the vibrant ghagharas. That’s the effect October has on you. Navratri, Dussehra, Karwachauth, Diwali, and plenty of birthdays add to probably the best month of the year. Really, how do we have maximum birthdays in October? (Is it something to do with February and Fertility!?)

October marks the Boy’s birthday as well. He’s never enthusiastic about it, but I am! It marks our first meeting anniversary when the Boy, after chatting online for 1.5 years, came down to my hometown by train for 2 days just to meet me. It marks our love anniversary when he went back home and finally proposed (because before that I acted like a total bitch!). For the Boy, it’s probably the worst quarter of the year since he has to remember so many dates (which, he never does!).


That's the Rangoli I made last year :)

November brings with it the best weather, when it’s neither too cold nor too hot. It brings with it bajre ki roti and sarson ka saag, gajar ka halwa, sweet rabdi, and an urge to eat lots without any guilt. It brings with it a whole new wardrobe and cosy blankets. Everything that makes you look oh-so-cute!

November is about my birthday and I’m always very excited. I hate the fact that I’m growing up, but I love the fact that I have loved each year of my life. November gives me a sense of contentment and gratefulness.
This year November will also bring the much awaited India trip. It will be 7 months to our last visit home and I'm dying to see my family. My brother will have a second baby and I can’t wait to see him smile with his eyes closed (people say they dream about their past life and smile. Yeah, LOL moment!). After my niece, this one will be the second love of my life and so the excitement is expected.


Yeah, will be turning 29, for the first time!

December makes you nostalgic about the year gone by. I always end up thinking how I should have utilised my time more efficiently and therefore, resolve to make the next one more productive. But like all resolutions, this one has no future as well.

December will bring us our wedding anniversary, third one this year. Everyone will want a chubby baby now, you know, kab kar rahi ho?! Such discussions make me most uncomfortable and I feel like running away. It’s supposed to be a happy occasion, but the pressure makes it a difficult one. Why can't some people have kids and others just have a happy life!? The only reason I would want one is to see how the baby will look like, since both of us are so cute looking!
And that’s how the year would end, with Narcissism spelt with a capital N!

A Date

Birthday, Anniversary, Graduation day, first meeting, first kiss, first look, first car, house warming, fell in love, the break up date, fell in love the second time, the third, the forth, etc, etc, etc. Out of 365 days, at least 300 have some relevance. I don’t know if men will agree, but for women, numbers mean a lot, so what if they’re just in a calendar!

And not only happy dates, sad ones too. A particular day can bring a smile or a tear according to the bearing it holds. Why do we attach such a lot of importance to dates?

I know, to rejoice the occasion. Ask any guy and he will be torn between his loyalty to his girl and how much he dreads the occasion he had almost forgotten. If I tell my husband you missed something important today, he will first recall the date, think if it is some anniversary, obviously won't remember, ask me a million times, and then take a sigh of relief. (Only recently we agreed to celebrate only one day, and I just can’t recall which one we agreed upon.)

It happens with me as well. I will see the date on my phone and think if it’s an important date. I will think of all the people I know and if it’s somebody's birthday. Sometimes I’ll remember the birthday of a girl I knew 15 years back and smile. If I'm in the mood, I'll even say a little prayer to wish her well. Oh, I can be so sweet at times!! And yes, I can be good at some dates too.

I’m not proud of it. We should live in the moment and celebrate each day as it comes. Birthday, Christmas is fine, but remembering the first day you walked hand in hand with a special someone could be traumatizing for that someone!

So, does today leaves you confused about its significance or the lack of it?

Loving life at Twenty Five!

Birthdays are suppose to be special. They always have been, they always will be. No matter how old we grow, no matter how similar they become, it's one day that says a whole lot.

So i completed 1/4th of a century yesterday. I said I'm 24 till I marry, but just for this post - I'm 25! Doesnt matter till I'm 30 I guess, they all sound the same!

I remember my birthdays as a kid. Distributing sweets, wearing the prettiest frock to school, birthday bumps...oh I have shameless pictures in birthday bumps...yep in a frock! Things have changed...sometimes I don't even wear my something new.

One thing that has remained the same is a cake. Yeah,whats a birthday without a cake! And the other thing that I like is the calls I receive. People I don't talk to for the whole year except for birthdays, call up to wish. And so I call a birthday special. For its these sweet people who make it special.

So what happened yesterday? I spoke to the 'boy' endlessly at night! Yeah, we live miles apart for now (sob, sob) ...and gtalk is all we have (apart from the webcam..lol!)... and yeah...the only special thing i received was a dozen roses and cake from him..more than me my family was happy..to have found a sweet guy!!hehe (they don't know how it has took me years to have taught him how to do all that...and someone wise told me yesterday that i'll have to do that all my life...so it will get on my nerves somedayyyy. Heres a filmy pic with the roses..don't u start judging me now :D)



And oh, I went to a function of a smallish institute where I was kinda a VIP guest!Thank God for relatives who run such places! So like with 5 others, I was called on the staged to say a few words to a crowd of 250...hahaha!Now that's an experience I will never forget.

Then I gulped down a Margarita, had some kebabs, saw Om Shanti Om with a dear friend and clapped like a moron on funny scenes!!! I just love doing that..wish i knew how to whistle too!!

And at night...i cut the cake..went to a dinner party...and just attended loads of phone calls from the sweetest people on earth. I even thought of a wishlist for my future b'days..and told the boy about it..a big part of the training! Check it out:

One of these years, I would like to get sloshed on my birthday. Absolutely drunk without knowing anything around me. Give me 2 years, I will do that!

One of these years, I would like to dance all night. Give me 3, will do that too!

One of these years, I would like to get a surprise party...aah...I dont know how many yrs I'll have to wait!!!

One of these years, I would like to spend in disney land...carefree on the rides...or scared!

One of these years, I would want to climb a mountain, or go to a land thats scary and adventurous

One of these years, I would like to give autographs on my birthday and be on TV for turning ...ummm 35?

Well, thats a whole lot to do and think on one b'day. Although I miss feeling special today. Never mind... I absolutely love my life!

Btw, this could be a tag...make a wishlist and jot down a few ways in which you would want to celebrate your b'day. I know some would say c'mon grow up...but what the heck...everyone feels a little special on their birthday...don't you? Now think of some innovative ideas that you'll do and then remember it for the rest of your life.