AD!

 

The journey from being meek and taking the cornermost seat at Stagecoah Bengaluru Toastmasters Club on a Thursday, three years ago, to today, being the Area Director Elect of the same club, and three more clubs, the journey has been breathtakingly beautiful.

Remembering the day when someone announced Jagriti as the Area Director and later as Division Director, I knew it is never too late to dream, when you have the inspiration, so near, dear and clear!
To put your heart, soul, blood and sweat (quite literally) and to get to see your dreams make up a rainbow! Making it sound like a struggle because it came to me after a year of rejection in 2020.
Forever grateful to Alpana and Vivek who helped me look beyond disappointments to strive, in communication, in leadership, in life!

A big emotional post to tell the world I am starting off as the Director for Area C4, hoping to do justice, and ofcourse, to Roar and Soar, with C4!

Big thank you Toastmasters District Ninety Two and Sunil for truly being the wind beneath my wings!

Cheers to a new beginning of Servant Leadership and Volunteering :)

Also,

Home Club be the cutest to do this!

Engineer! :)

7 years ago, today, I became an Engineer.

7 years later, a day spent in corporate slavery.

Grateful, thankful, blessed. Nonetheless.

Don't Jinx This, Life! Pretty Please

ज़िंदगी धूप तुम घना साया!

How beautiful and comforting are old songs. Especially these days when the skies are more grey than blue.
Anxiety, restlessness, fear!
Of tomorrow, of dying, of losing, of jinxing, of not being enough, not doing enough, not having enough.
Blame it on the rains?
The gloom, the pessimism. Or maybe it's just me.
Tired of praying, worrying and Googling.
Anxiety, restlessness, fear!

ज़िंदगी धूप तुम घना साया!

 

Baho Manorathe Sacho Abhisare Pehlu Sunil Bes
Kaajra Nayane Saagaje Bayane Kusume Sajanun Kes
Sakhi Hum Mohana Abhisari Jau
Bolo Hum Etat Sukh Kaha Paau

Have been cranky all day, all night and I suspect would be all day tomorrow.
Have researched Rituparno Ghosh all day for a TMOD role tomorrow and looped over songs. Rituparno Ghosh has been my all-time favorite Dukkhobolashi where he breaks our heart to a million pieces with a pink hammer, really!

 

 

 

Jamunar Paare Gahana Aadhare Ghanar Pavan Majhe
Piya Se Tha Mor Bedana Patar Mohe Laage Baithe Aache

I have pondered so much over the fact that so much of his work has stark tinge of Brajabuli. So much of his writings are from the perspective of Radha, so much of his words are of loneliness, biroho. When he said “Akele hum Nadiya kinare”, when he said “Mathuranagarpati kahe tum Gokul Jao”, when he said,

 

 

Sakhi Chir Abhagini Hum
Baithe Ekakini Pohano Rajani Tobo Nailo Shyaam

Shyaam! How once Radhe Radhe Shyam Milade ruled my world too. When I prayed and wished and hoped and waited. And waited endlessly. The story of eventually, literally, meeting Shyam and how it is something I do not wish to jinx somehow. Touchwood.

 

 

Sakhi Chir Abhagini Hum
Krishna Kaajare Pighala Sajare Nayaner Neer Dhare
E Kathin Patha Brutha Manoratha Biphal Abhi Saari
Sakhi Hum Kabahun Na Abhisari Jau
Dukha Laaj Etat Seh Nahin Paau

The song totally breaks my heart when she calls herself “Chir-a Abhagini”. The tale of endlessly waiting. When the heart knows the wait is forever. I wish I had not watched Chintrangada first time when I was in college and naïve. I did not understand the perspective then; of pain, loss, acceptance, peace. I do today? I cannot tell! I try do.

 

 

Brutha Manoratha Sacho Abhisare Pehlu Sunil Bes
Kaajare Nayane Saagaje Bayane Kusume Sajaanu Kes
Phir Aaju Mohan Abhisari JaauSakhi Bol Etat Dukh Kaha Paau.

A day wasted, and yet not.