hi Everyone....

Hope every body's doing fine...I had almost left blogsvilla but today when I checked my e-mails, I saw my best friend Manish Joshi's brand new blog (Lessons Learned) and it actually brought a smile on my face.....it even inspired to write this post....just like that...well thats the power of good friends in ur life...they can pull you out of monotony and recharge you without even realizing it....

so hey manish...this post is just dedicated to you...
welcome to blogsvilla....

cheers
parul

Contact Number For Chocolate Enquiries

Hello Friends,

First of all, a very Happy New Year to you all!

Thank you all for such a warm welcome. I must say your wishes are very encouraging.

I understand many of you are chocolate lovers and are interested in buying them.
So, for any chocolate orders and enquiries, you can contact me at the following numbers:

Parul Agarwal
Kocoa Krunch
9811477676, 9811064466
parul206@gmail.com

Regards,
Parul

Back in Blogsville!!!!

Hi Friends,

How are you all?

I know you all must be wondering where the hell did I disappear and why was I missing in action for so long.

Well, well...the reason was life got extremely hectic and I got completely immersed in it. I know you all must be curious to know what's happening in my life since we have been out of touch for so long and trust me, the feeling is mutual here.

Well, there has been so many developments in my life that I am dying to share it with you all. First of all, my son Aarush (I hope you all still remember him!!!) has crossed his first landmark and has become one year old toddler now. As expected, he has become more naughty now and more responsive.

Secondly, my life has suddenly taken a turning point. I have started my own business (yes!!! you heard it correct!) of Homemade Chocolates and I am proud owner of my company, Kocoa Krunch. So, I make chocolates, I package them and I supply them. Hmmmm, now thats called real development, isn't it?

Phew!!! So guys now you know, why I was missing in action. Actually, in real life I was too much in action (ha ha).

I can't even tell you all how difficult-yet-satisfying it was to make this transition. But I feel so proud that I was finally able to do it and the credit goes entirely to my very supportive hubby. I feel so much more renewed and enthusiastic now coz my life has suddenly gained a purpose which was missing few months back. Trust me, I am a completely changed person now.

I know I have a lot to catch up with you guys but I am sure you will accept me back with the same love and affection that you provided me earlier. And yes, don't forget to wish me luck for my new business. I need it guys.

Missed you all so much!!!!!!!!!

Lots of Love

Parul

Adieu for a while!!!

Hi Friends,

I know you all must be wondering where the hell Parul is and why has she been missing from action for so long. Well the reason is my laptop had developed some serious problem (don't know the exact thing but guess the whole operating system got corrupted) and had gone for repair(still not back!!!)....So, with Aarush in tow and laptop missing it became almost impossible for me to log on to the net let alone blog here :-(

Life is increasingly becoming very hectic for me. Aarush has become very cranky and very demanding (especially since he has come back from nani's house, guess he has become very insecure now) and guess motherly duties are slowly taking over the individual preferences. Blogging seems more like a luxury now that I am finding hard to afford and going by this rate it seems I would have to leave blogsville soon. Its sad and I don't want to do it but I know its coming. Though I would never leave blogville completely but then blogging would soon become more of monthly affair than a daily one.......par kya kare.....this is life...Change is the only Constant thing in Life.....

But its ok....I have no regrets and I am really happy because I have got more love and more acceptance than I ever anticipated here. I made some very good friends here, say Buzz, Comfortably Numb, Keshi, Ria, Solitaire, Niceguy, Abhishek, Aphrodite, Mia and I am thankful to every one who visited my blog and liked it. I hope my friends would continue to keep in touch with me even outside blogsville. In fact, anyone who is interested in keeping in touch with me outside blogsville can contact me at my gmail or orkut Id i.e. parul206.

well thats that for now,

Cheers
Parul

Height of Manipulations!!!!

Since Yesterday I am FUMING!!!

Yesterday I came to know that one of my past friends, say friend X (who is thankfully not my friend anymore!!!) had been chatting with me using the name of some other friend, say friend Y, (with whom I had very little contact) for past 3 months!!!

Isn’t it DISGUSTING???

Actually what happened was, yesterday after my chat with Y, (who was actually X), I happened to call the real person Y (whom I usually don’t call) and I was completely taken aback to know that she was completely unaware about the chat. After telling her the complete story, she told me it could only be X since she is the only person who knows personal details about all three of us.

I was SHOCKED. So was Y. Whole night I kept asking myself how could X do such a thing after all those years we had been friends. But I couldn’t get any answers.

So, through this post I want to ask all the people out there to tell me why some people indulge in such activities and what do they gain out of it. If X is reading it by any chance, then I want to ask her or anyone who can answer on her behalf:-

1. When we aren’t friends anymore, then why the hell did you go around posing yourself as someone else just to dig some secrets out of my nose?
2. What the f*** did you get out of it?
3. Why the hell did you stoop so low and erase even the tiny bit of respect left in my heart for you?
4. What did you get by unnecessary dragging Y’s name in between who is totally innocent and completely unaware of all the chats happening in her name?

I am so angry right now, I can’t even tell you all. I mean this is the height of manipulations. And above all, IT HURTS.

Even I was affected by our broken frienship, but I don’t intrude in her privacy or her every day affairs. Just because I chose to part ways gracefully, does she had to attack me in this way. May be she did manage to extract the things out of me that I would never otherwise share with her, but can it mend the breaks in our friendship ever?

GROW UP DEAR!!! Grow up!! Grow up all those people who still cling to their past like the sand in their hand. Remember sand drifts away even if you close your fist tight. Sometimes you just have to let go of your past and accept it as a way of life. Otherwise you just end up making a fool of yourself and nothing else.

Back With a Bang!!!

Hi Guys,

I am back....back in good health and back with my honey chum....hmmm i know i took a long break but guess I kinda needed it to refreshed myself:-)

I know I promised everyone that I'll write a post about my reunion...but now when I am actually trying to write about it down, I am unable to express myself...may be its because that moment was too personal and too emotional to jot it down....hope you all would understand....

Nonetheless, I want to put the past behind me and move forward....let bygones be bygones.

Chalo, yeh to hui meri baat....now I wanna know what my other blogmates were upto this whole last week.... let me know if anything nice (or even not-so-nice) happened with you all...

Loads of Love

Parul

P.S - Guys, I am yet to read all your latest posts but I promise I'll soon catch up with you all....

the 3 Mistakes of My Life

Hi friends,

As promised here is my review on the 3 mistakes of life.

To start with, the 3 Mistakes of life is a typical Chetan Bhagat’s book with lots of masala, and unexpected twists and turns. As Buzzz and Comfortably Numb rightly said, it’s like a typical Bollywood movie - entertaining but devoid of logic or reasoning!!!

It is a book filled with a lot of clichés- and a lot of similarities with “

Five Point Someone”. Three young friends, their tryst with destiny, their ups and downs, the dark humor, and the screw ups.

Now as for the good and bad points of the book, I’ll first start with the good points.

Firstly, the starting is very dramatic and very interesting. You just have-to read after reading the prologue. Secondly, like any other Chetan’s books, it contains lot of Hinglish lingo which is fun to read and something that we can relate to easily. Thirdly, his characters are young, ambitious and passionate and have the same moral, social and religious dilemmas as many of the young Indians today. At the same time their context and sensibility is unabashedly Indian.

Now coming on to the bad points or not-so-good points of the book.

Firstly, the story that develops beautifully in the first half, slags a bit in the latter half. Secondly, the 'Ali & their going to Australia' angle is pretty cheeky! Thirdly, the end is very melodramatic with half the people dying like a typical RGV movie. Moreover, I feel the '3 mistakes' were not really mistakes because ultimately Life is not an exam with any right and wrong answers!

But overall an interesting read. Chetan has again proved his writing skills beyond imagination though ‘Five Point Someone’ still remains his Best book. One night @ call centre was good and so is the 3 mistakes of my life.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

P.S – I want to make two announcements.

1. I want to officially thank Keshi for being so sweet as to awarding me with 'Brilliant Weblog Award' that I feel I just don't deserve and that it is just a very sweet gesture on her part for which I am humbly honoured.

so, Thank you Keshi!!!! I really appreciate that......Muaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!

(Sorry, for pulishing your image without asking, hope you won't mind as this was my favourite pic of all ur pics)

2. I am taking a blog break for 3-4 days because I am going to bring my baby back today. So obviously I am pretty excited and want to spend the maximum time with him so as to compensate for the time lost. But I promise my next article sure would be on that only….

Till then, Don’t Miss Me Guys!!!!

Lots of Love……..
Parul

No Guys, It’s Not Me!!!

Well, ever since I published my last post, I am flooded with concerned e-mails and notes from my friends and well-wishers to enquire if I am facing the mentioned situation. So, let me clear it once and for all, It’s Not Me!!!

I am too busy nursing my infection and missing my baby. But I must admit the sudden concern and attention is flattering!!! I didn’t know I have made such caring friends at blogville! Cool hain Yaar!!! Thanks for that….

Anyways, the question came to my mind when I was chatting with an old friend (now married) who happened to bumped into her ex who had hurt him once and then moved on in his life. She ignored him and wanted to know from me if she did the right thing. That inspired me to write the post. But anyways, it was quite nice to know about people’s opinion in such a situation that is pretty common these days.

Coming on to me, my infection is a lot better than before. I am healing at a fast pace thanks to the wishes of all my friends and family members and I am hoping to re-unite with my baby somewhere in the next week. I have finished reading 3 mistakes of my life (review in the next post) and am feeling very relaxed now.

So, cheers to that!!!

Love to all my friends and well-wishers!
Parul

An Unusual Situation!!!

Someone hurts you real badly and then goes away (actually disappears) from your life.....It takes months for you to forget that hurt and that person......But finally you move on......Now you are happy in your life.....

After years the same person re-contacts you, as if nothing ever happened between both of you....And suddenly you are thrown back in your past with all those memories you long chose to forget.....

What do you do? or rather, What should you do?

a). Should you strike back after all those years?

b). Should you ignore him/her completely and be silent about it?

c). Should you forgive him/her and pretend it never affected you?

Its Infectious!!!!

Hi Guys,

Thank you all for liking my 'Realization' posts. The response is indeed very humbling and very encouraging. I am glad everyone has been able to connect with it. Though I am not yet over with the Realization series, but I am taking a little break from it today, for a change. I’ll keep adding more posts to the series in future. Today I just felt like blogging my heart out.

Well, the breaking news is, I have caught a viral infection (not naming it) that is pretty infectious (and damn painful aaahhhhh!!!)that takes at least 10-15 days to heal. As a result of which my dermatologist has advised me to keep Aarush (my 8 months old baby, if someone s reading for the first time) away for few days if possible, lest he catches the infection too. So I have left him with his Nani (my mother) till the time I am perfectly normal again.

Needless to say I am very upset, first because of the excruciating pain, and second and most important, because of Aarush’s absence. I am missing my baby just soooooooooo much. It’s only been one day he is away from me and I am already feeling he is away since ages. Though he is just a phone call away from me, but not seeing my baby is far more hurting than the pain itself. Hmmm, the day is looking so very dull and long. I am feeling as if I have nothing to do (those having a child knows how much time and attention a baby demands!!!). And unfortunately I can’t do anything about it.

But optimistic as I am, I have consoled myself that it is for his good that he is away and that he is in the safe hands. As far as my good is concerned, as long as Aarush is ok, even I am pretty ok with the infection thing. Though its painful, but theek hain yaar. It’s all a matter of few days. Yeh sab to chalta hi rehta hain.

So, being completely welli now, I am just wondering if there is any love more selfless than a mother’s love. Does selfless love truly exists in a romantic relationship? Or we just pretend it to be there? At least I feel that in a relationship, there is always some amount of selfishness involved/present between the partners and that no love can be more selfless than a mother’s love? What is your opinion on it and why?

Cheers
Parul

Realization #3

yes, this is my third realization....but unlike other posts, i dont have much to say in this post.....this image has said it all for me.............
if u have any words of wisdon for me, do lemme know.......

Love,
Parul...

Realization #2

Sometimes people dislike you for no apparent reason.

It is rightly said, You Can't Please Everyone

When I was a teenager, I was very naïve and innocent. I wanted to please everybody around me and be Ms Goody-Goody. I believed in the phrase, "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you", and so I assumed if I like other people and be nice to them, they would do the same.

But slowly as I started dealing with outside world, I started realizing that however much you do for others, there will still be few who’ll dislike you, bitch about you and would be unhappy with you, sometimes for a reason, and sometimes without any obvious reason. People who don’t even know an inch about you or your life will have all sorts of notions about you that will be anything but true. And sadly instead of being guilty about it, they’ll be pretty content in their sweet ignorance bliss.

Initially all these used to affect me a lot and hurt me real bad. I used to spent sleepless nights over the issue and even shed tears on the irony of human behavior. But now, after all these years the realization has finally dawned upon me and I have swallowed the bitter pill that it is impossible to please everyone.

“Please all, and you will please none.”

So, if today I find out that Mr X doesn’t think highly of me or Ms Y has some wrong notions about me, it hardly matters to me. I have accepted to take these things in my stride and move on without raising a hue or cry over it.

Realization #1

One major lesson that I have learnt from my life so far is that “Everything happens for a reason and ultimately for the Good”.

When I was young, every time something ‘bad’ (which by my definition means things didn’t happen the way I wanted them to happen) happened to me, my mother consoled me by saying that it happened for my good and that I’ll realize it sometime later in life. But I never actually got comforted by it. Instead I used to go on fretting and whining about the problem, contemplating the WHY ME questions.

But as years passed by and I relooked at my life events from a fresh perspective, I realized that my mother’s words were indeed true. It took me a long time, but eventually I could see that even in the worst situations there were wonderful gifts, hidden opportunities, or life-enhancing lessons. And that we couldn't have got them any other way. If it were not for those situations I wouldn’t have been the person I am today.

People come and go in our lives. Their entry or exit is destined, to serve some sort of purpose, probably teach a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become. Sometimes they do certain things that may seem horrible, painful and unfair to you at that time, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you wouldn’t have realized your potential, strength, will power or heart. The good that comes out of the bad things help you become your best and the most authentic self.

Remember, problems will always be a part of life. There’ll be times when you wouldn’t be able to find meaning in your life events (After all, the events in our lives doesn't come with labels attached to them telling us what they mean!!!) and you’d have no one to answer your questions. But at all such times don’t let your emotions cloud your vision. Just remember, God works in mysterious ways, and as long as you walk with Him, and just trust and believe, soon you’ll get to that place where you’ll see everything clearly, and you’ll finally begin to understand. Everything happens for a reason. You may not understand the reason now, but you will when the time is right.

Realizations

Friends,

As we move along the journey called Life, we unknowingly gain innumerous illuminating experiences and realizations that enlighten us emotionally, physically and spiritually.

My next few posts will be dedicated towards few such experiences and realizations that I have gained from my life so far.

But before I mention some of my realizations/experiences I wanna ask All YOU wonderful people out there to share such enriching experiences or realizations with me and everybody else that would give us an insight about your life. I request you all to take few moments to sit back, relax, close your eyes, and think what all you have learnt from this life so far and share it with us.

Lots of Love
Parul

Singh is not the King

Yesterday my Husband and I went to watch a movie, Singh Is king, after almost a year (actually it is impossible to watch a movie with a small kid in tow). We were expectecting a lot from the movie because of the hype but we were very disappointed. It turned out to be a very silly movie. It did not have anything much to offer except some lame punches that managed to bring few smiles once in a while. Apart from that it was a total no brainer. The movie totally belonged to the one and only, Akshay Kumar, whose comic timing was as good as ever. Katrina Kaif was also quite watchable.

My verdict- The movie is a typical Akshay Kumar mindless entertainer which has a great first half, beautifully picturised songs and a gorgeous Katrina Kaif. Go there without your brains and without any expectations coz only then it will manage to tickle your funny bone.

Wanna Booze?

These days the song “Main talli ho gayi” from the film ‘Ugly aur Pagli’ is gaining a lot of popularity. And it makes me wonder why alcohol (or the so-called “Drinks”) intake has become the coolest and the most “In” thing today? Why boozing has become the so-called ‘social norm'? Since childhood I have felt very strongly about drinking. Blame it on my conservative upbringing or my narrow-minded views (as may seem to u), but I have never found a reason convincing enough to approve alcohol or its habit. I cannot take it or approve of it just to be ‘hip and happening’. Now if that makes me backward then I am proud to be one.

Every day I read and hear about the crimes happening under the spell of alcohol, be it drunken drivers killing innocent lives, heinous acts with women, verbal duels or violence. I have often seen people overdrinking or “getting Full-Talli” and later making a complete fool out of themselves only to other’s embarrassment. Not only this, violent wives being abused by sloshed husbands has become an everyday ritual for numerous households all over.

Aren’t these reasons strong enough to abstain from it? And if that’s not enough then there is research that shows regular drinking could lead to permanent depression. So when alcohol paralyzes one’s rationality, sobriety and senses then why do people still indulge in it? Why do people lose their self-control in front of this charmer? Why can’t people realize that alcohol enters in their system like a devil coming in sheep skin?

Sadly alcohol has assumed ubiquity for all occasions, emotions and society today. Be it club, lounges or bar one finds alcohol as the primary characteristic there. Everyone seems to have become kinda dependent upon it. Be it to shake a leg or to converse with a friend or to feel alive or for some other reason, people first need a drink. Go to a disco and you’ll find young guys and girls dancing to deafening music, looking for relaxation in the darkness, under those neon lights gulping peg after peg even if they have to settle for hangovers instead of sleep later. Everybody feels that it will make them forget all pain and problems. But they fail to understand that it does not solve the problem. It just temporarily blinds them to it. And in their illusion of liberation, they even lose their precious time on hangovers instead of concentrating on the issue at hand.

Let us assume for a sec we know all the reasons why people booze. Now let me ask something? The same reasons apply to non drinkers also then what is it that stops them from taking it up? Or is it just the matter of strong will and determination? Ask Yourself Guys what is your reason to take it? The ones mentioned above or something else? Or maybe you don’t know? Have never asked yourself yet? Are you doing it merely because everybody else is doing it? Don’t answer me. Answer your conscience. I know you will not admit it because you need a reason to continue doing it.

I know I am going to invite a lot of people’s wrath but for once Think Guys. Why are you adding to life’s brevity and uncertainty by surrendering to alcohol? Lounging, clubbing, drinking… none is wrong. The fallacy is in your dependency on it. Don’t create a fake world to celebrate life or to handle the blows of the real world. When you start wrong, how can the end be right? Alcohol is neither a taboo nor poison. But it does not take long for its magic to turn into sorcery. Life is just so beautiful and so magical to waste it for surreal things.

But whatever be your take on it let me know what do you have to say about it? Who knows you become the first person on this earth to convince me about it? What say?

Thank You EveryOne!!!

Thank you guys for your overwhelming response on my post "Remembering Richa". Thank you all for understanding my feelings and empathizing what we all must have gone through while dealing with it. I had always hesitated talking about that incident and preferred remaining silent on my version of the tragedy. But through this space I have been able to lift a burden off my chest by venting out old bottled up sentiments.
I can thus move on in life, leaving my past behind and learning from the harsh realities of life thereby cherishing the value of life and the value of those present in my life a little more than before....
May God Bless you All...

Remembering Richa...

The recent bomb blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad have brought alive the memories of my ex-colleague (I was working before marriage!!!), Richa Pandey, whom we had lost in the ill-fated Sarojini Nagar Blasts on 29 October 2005.

Richa was in Sarojini Nagar only when the whole incident took place. She had gone there (alone) for some Diwali shopping for her mother and sister (Richa lost her father long time back and she was the only earning member of her family). Who knew that she had gone there NEVER to come back. Only God knows what exactly happened with her at that time. For two days her body couldn't be found and no one, be it her family or friends (that includes her room-mates and colleagues) had any clue about her whereabouts (Richa lived as a paying guest in Delhi, her family lived in some state in UP). Needless to say hell broke on her family when they did find her burnt body.

Her tragic death continues to affect me even after 3 long years. I still remember Richa so well. In fact it seems like just yesterday. That very day I had met Richa in the morning in the office. I left the office in afternoon in a hurry (actually it was Saturday, half-day and I had to catch a movie) without saying bye to her (that time she wasn’t on seat) as I usually did then (she sat right opposite my seat). Little did I know that the next time I would reach my office, Richa wouldn’t be alive to say either Hi or Good Bye!

Richa’s death shook every nerve in me. It shattered my whole trust in life and it made me realize for the first time how uncertain life is. Every day I used to read and hear about the violent outbursts happening in some part of the world but I used to chuck it as a mere piece of news. But only when it affected me did I realize how terrorism is playing with people’s lives. It raised a volley of questions in me that have still not been answered. Why did it happen? What purpose did it solve? Who gained out of it? How? Does somebody out there have an answer to it?

The whole incident has taught me just one thing. Life is very precious and it is very uncertain. So cherish every moment of it and cherish all those around you. Thank God for each passing day and what it has brought to you. “Har Pal Yahan Jee Bhar Jiyo Jo Hai Sama Kal Ho Na Ho”.

I cannot sum up this post without the poem written by my ex-colleague and my best friend, Manish Joshi for Richa.

How do we get to see those eyes once again

Thou used to blink in duplicate

How do we get to see that smile

That used to stretch till your eyes

How do we hear that laughter

That u created whenever under pressure

How do we have your presence

Which was so jolly and pleasant

How do we open your eyes

Which were never closed

Cause when world closed them

You chose to keep them open!

We know

We all know

You are there somewhere

In the sky, in the stars

Near god or a new one among us

Creating joy and splendour

Spreading smile and trademark laughter

SomewhereSome where near!

P.S - Hey Manish, sorry for publishing your poem without asking your permission!!! But I hope you will understand.

Broader the Smile deeper may be the wound inside

Isn't it a beautiful quotation? yes, this is one of the things I have learnt from Life.


Often People misunderstand cheerful people. Reason being that they are unable to look beneath their cheerful facade. They are unable to understand some people tend to deny or conceal their true feelings beneath a happy face when in fact they may be broken or shattered inside. Just because cheerful people doesn't like to make a hue and cry over the sad events in the life doesnt mean they are always happy.

I like to mention the saddest qoute by the funniest man on earth i.e. Charlie Chaplin. Here goes:-

“I like walking in the rain because that way no one can see my tears”

What do you all think about it? I want to know your comments about the same. Do you agree with me or diagree? But whatever the answer please state the reasons for the same.

Too Comfortable in My Comfort Zone!!!

For the past 2 hours, I have been reading other people’s blogs and I just can't help but wonder how much people have something to say. Be it current affairs, social topics, office life or relationships, it seems everybody is blogging about something and that too at a very fast pace.

And it makes me wonder, “whether I’ll ever be able to match their pace and be one of them”? Guess NO. For I have realized that I don’t have much to talk about in my life. It takes me hours and sometimes days to decide what my next post shall be. And even then, I literally have to scratch my head to gather my thoughts, to be able to write decently well about a topic. Guess my life isn’t too “HAPPENING” to share something all the time.

Being a housewife by choice, my life revolves around my family, my husband, my 7-month old baby, my maids (yes!! Maids!!!they become a major part of your life after one’s marriage!!!) and my computer. In fact, that pretty much explains the choice of topics I have posted so far….

I can easily be one of those females who takes pride in going to kitty parties (phew!!!) and flaunting about their new acquired things (“pata hain, maine sale mein sandal li”…”mere husband ne diamond ring gift kari”) or bitching about their in-laws (“meri mother-in-law aisi”,….”meri sister-in-law waisi”), but guess I am not cut out to be one of them. So, here I am, too contend and too comfortable in my comfort zone leading a “not-so-happening” and nonchalant life. Not minding at all the teasers (courtesy my cousins) like “hi aunts”, “ghar-ghuseru”, “welli” , “tu to poori janani ho gayi hain”, or recent ones like, “tu disc jaake kya karegi, tu apni ghar ghrahasti sambhal”!!!

Hmmm, guess they are right….but I ll figure out the ways to make my life “happening” later…right now I am enjoying these lazy lamhes….