In the ‘name’ of sanity

Think of the funniest names you have ever come across in your life. Got it? Now list them down on a piece of paper. Done? Now besides those, list the following names, which you, as a parent, should NEVER ever consider for your child…

Sunshine and Sunrise

If you are wondering whether they are related, let me tell you that they are. If you are wishing, for the sake of humanity, that these are names given to females, let me tell you that they are not: these are names of twin brothers. And if God had not had mercy on all of us by stopping right there, I would imagine another sibling would have been named Sunset!

Perception

Not a very perceptive name, must say. If you love the word so much, you should probably use it to understand the situation your daughter will be in after she realises that you have given her this name.

Immaculate

I am not kidding, this is actually the name of a person! The parents of whoever is given this unfortunate name need to be checked for OCD. Imagine the irony if Immaculate turns out to the untidiest person on earth! :D

Virgin

I would probably have just one word for the parents of this girl: WHY?!? You do realise that your child will not be able to explain the meaning of her name anyone under the age of 21, right?

Conception

Parents who thought of this one should probably be whiplashed. If we are allowed to whip people, that is. If we are not, we can take em to Iran and complete the task. The daughter would certainly agree, I am sure!

Pinkesh

I am not making this one up, I swear I HAVE come across a Pinkesh, who was a friend of an acquaintance of a friend of a… Never mind. The point is, your son would thank you for choosing to fill in ‘Unnamed’ or ‘Unknown’ on the birth certificate rather than naming him Pinkesh. Gujarati parents may do well to take special note of this one.

Pinkal

A ‘brother’, for the lack of a better word, to the previous name, Pinkal is an equally bad name that a guy can never carry off, even if he develops a demi-god body like Hrithik Roshan’s.

Prithviraj

Combine this with a surname like Chauhan, and I kid you not, your child will not get a life partner in the 21st century without changing his name! My neighbour’s son, who has this surname, JUST managed to avoid getting this name, the lucky dog!

Charmy

This may just scrape through if it is a girl. However, if you name your son Charmy, you may be the one held responsible if he is ultimately stoned at school.

Adolf

Really? This name might have been taken out of even baby name books, and you want to name your kid this? Seriously folks, please have mercy on your kid!

I know a name is not what defines your child’s personality, but it does help him or her in case of lack of the same… On paper anyways… All said and done, make this choice with care. After all, your child needs to live with it for the rest of his or her life… Or at least till they are old enough to change it!

That special song :)

Have you ever imagined yourself sitting near the window sill of your perfect home, on an amazing evening, relaxing in the arms of your soulmate, at ease, comfortable, and humming your favourite tune of all times? The song should bring back memories and make you want to curl up and go to sleep, a slight smile on your lips. With the hectic schedules we have all come to accept as a way of life, I would think that you have only dreamt of it. I haven’t really gotten around actually relaxing that way, due to the technical problem of not having a perfect home (not considering my Baroda home, obviously), and another non-technical problem of not having a relaxing enough atmosphere in Mumbai.

But when you do get around to it, do you know the tune you will be humming? I do. And I am sharing it here with you, taking the risk of boring you to hell. (What the heck, i reason, it's my blog after all ;))

This song, Iktara, is from one of my favourite movies, Wake up Sid. Both the song and the movie have a special connection in my life, which is another long story altogether. Words do not do justice to the song, as there is the melody, the strings and the soulful voice of the singer Kavitha Seth to consider.

This is my tribute to my soulmate, as this is ‘our’ song :)

O re manva tu to bawra hai,
Tu hi jaane tu kya sochta hai,
Tu hi jaane tu kya sochta hai bawre,
Kyun dikhaye, sapne tu, sotey jaagtey…

Jo barse sapne boond boond,
Naino ko moond moond,
Kaisey main chalun,
Dekh na sakun,
Anjaaney raaste…

Goonja sa hai koi iktara iktara,
Dheeme boley koi iktara iktara,
Goonja sa hai koi iktara iktara…

Sunn rahin hun sudh budh khokey,
Koi main kahaani,
Poori kahaani hai kya, kisey hai pataa…
Main to kisi ki hokey, ye bhi na jaani,
Rut hai ye do pal ki ya, rahegi sadaa,
Kisey hai pataa, kisey hai pataa…

Jo barse sapne boond boond,
Naino ko moond moond,
Kaise main chalun,
Dekh na sakun,
Anjaaney raaste…

Goonja sa hai koi iktara iktara,
Dheeme boley koi iktara iktara,
Goonja sa hai koi iktara iktara…

Oldies smoldies

There is something remarkably fascinating about the elderly, those who are over 65, especially in India. Not only do Indian senior citizens come in all shapes, sizes and colours, they are also distinctly different, based on the culture, upbringing and background they come from. Our world is a more interesting place with the oldies pampering us, giving advice, repeating the stories of their ancestors and how things were while they were growing up. Have you noticed, however, that they have typical characteristics that can be classified distinctly?

The take-me-home-and-look-after-me ones

If there were a competition for this category, my grandmother would be a sure winner. Every time she smiles at me, I am tempted to take her home and use her as a hugsy pillow – which, of course, I refrain from doing! Kind eyes on a wrinkled face, you will feel pampered with merely a look from them. Typically, they love feeding everyone with delectable recipes, which only they can concoct, much to the perplexity of daughter-in-laws and grandchildren. Having unsuccessfully tried my hand at cooking my favourite preparation under her watchful eye with the same vegetables, ingredients and method she uses, I have given up on ever achieving the taste of my grandmother’s cuisine. The unique flavour of her preparations eludes me always. Maybe at the end of the cooking process, she secretly scrunches up her eyes and blows her love on top of the preparation as garnishing. What? Do not judge me as totally nuts, it just may be possible, you know.

The look-at-me-and-I-will-bite-your-head-off ones

The complete opposite of the previous category, this type of crowd consists of the typical irritable elderly you would encounter in a Mumbai local. Ready to pick a fight even if you so much as breathe near them, you are best off leaving them in their miserable state of mind. Say one word, and this frustrated group will leave you spell-bound with a verbal tirade unfit for their age. Senior citizens frustrated with complications like worse halves and finances, and sometimes plain old pessimists form the crux of such a group. If you ever face someone from this category in a boxing ring, concede defeat even before the fight starts, because they WILL tear you apart!

The yes-I-can ones

These are the resolute ones, who insist on living life independently and on their terms. Oldies falling in this category believe that they can handle whatever life throws at them, no matter what. It is this belief that sometimes helps them overcome physical conditions that no medicine in the world can cure. Whereas you and I would have given up years ago, the yes-I-can type of senior citizens fight everything from cancer to arthritis to financial crisis with utmost cheerfulness, emerging victorious most of the time. Hopefully God will endow us with half their strength when we reach their age. Hats off to these oldies I say!

The pesky-nosy-tell-me-everything ones

This category is sort of a mix of the first and second category. While not as rude as the irritable elders and not as cute as the hugsy ones, pesky senior citizens take it upon themselves to find out everything about your life, whether it is their business or not. My neighbour’s grandmother heads this category, faithfully making it a point to inquire with my mother how late I came in last night, who was the ‘boy’ who dropped me home at 11 30 at night and who was making so much noise in a get together at my place. While my neighbour does not, some grandmoms tend to take the sting out of the none-of-my-business-but-I-will-ask-anyways questions with a smile, trying to be cute–unsuccessfully, might I say.

No matter which type you are surrounded by, you have to admit that your life would be dull and incomplete without these grandmoms and grandpops. Here’s to the oldies smoldies that dot our world.

Special bonds

Have you ever had that one special friend you could go to for anything in your life? The one with whom you had an instant bonding like no other. Who you thought was born specifically to support you. To walk you through your lowest periods without losing faith. To give you advice without judging you. Your 3-am friend who was there for you, no matter what. With whom you could laugh, cry, share stories, talk for hours and still be short of time. Who earned your implicit trust and meant more to you than most others you know. Well, you are one of the lucky ones.

If you have a friend like that, do not let misunderstandings and differences gnaw away at your friendship. Once you lose that special bond, no one will ever be able to fill those shoes for you. No one will ever be able to make you feel as safe and secure as that friend did. Even in your most trying and difficult time with him or her, hang on to the relationship. Cause there just won’t be anyone like that person for you in your lifetime.

PS: If you find this post weird, please don’t judge me as crazy, and move on quickly. It’s a thought that popped into my head at a time when I thought I had lost that special person ;)

PPS: That special friend turned out to be my soul mate whom I nearly lost because I didn’t have the courage to act on how I felt. If you have a friend like that, don’t hesitate; the happiness on the other end will make it worth it. :)