The Day We Met

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Miracles and magic always enticed me

Yet my life was crawling at a mundane pace

Till that day...

The day we met

Accidentally or coincidentally still remains a question

A question I love to ponder on,

At the end of a long, hectic day

In the cozy minutes of my expensive leisure.

When our eyes met that day,

Gentle beads of elation twinkled on my heart

A plethora of liveliness washed over my soul

Waking me up to life...

Life in its true vibrancy and dynamism

Have I ever been this happy before?

Another question I love to ponder on

In my moments of velvety, warm solitude.

My questions start with you

And my answers end with you;

Dear beloved, it's your company

That wakes me up to the sun and the moon.

Linking this poem to Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Animation

Some wonderful gift options for men

No occasion is complete without gifts. Whether it is your beloved’s birthday or Valentine’s Day, gifts play a very important role. It is a misconception that only women love gifts. Men also love gifts as much as women do. If you choose the right gift for him, you would surely be able to make him happy. After all, a thoughtful gift carries the secret message: “You are very special to me.”

There are some great gifting options for men, which you must know so that you can surprise him the way he surprises you. Let’s look at some of the wonderful gift options for men:

A classy watch

If you gift him a classy watch that strikes a great balance between brand value and design, he would remember the gesture for a lifetime. Brands such as TAG Heuer, Armani, Gucci, Balmain, Tissot and Raymond Wail have some great watches. 

A classy set of cufflinks

If your man is very fashionable, then you can gift him a classy set of cufflinks. You can choose cufflinks from great brands, but the best option will be to make custom designed cufflinks from a local jeweler.

Scotch

If you want to gift him something special that would allow him to relax and have great conversations, then you can gift him a bottle of fine scotch whisky. You can bond with him well, while talking about the finer things of life. Black Dog, which is distilled, matured and blended in Scotland is available in four blends, all of which are distinctly flavorful and smooth. This is a great indulgence to be shared on special days. 

(Credit: Liveinstyle.com)

A smart briefcase

Most men have adequate clothes and shoes, but you will find them carrying the same worn-out bag to work every day. Therefore, you can gift him a smart briefcase on a special occasion. A smart briefcase from the house of Gucci or Louis Vuitton would surely make him happy.

A signature gift

A signature gift is special. Monogrammed letterheads or personalized note cards are great gift options. However, be careful with the spellings if you decide to give him a signature gift as it will look really awkward if the personalized gift has a misspelling. An elegant pen also makes a great signature gift.

Bow and tie

You can never go wrong if you gift him a bow tie or a necktie. He can use this apparel in a formal occasion that would make him look very smart.

Cologne

Another wonderful gift option for him is cologne. Most men love to have a great collection of perfume. Go for a clean, classic cologne, if you feel confused.

There are just a few recommendations for you. There are many other gift options for men. You just need to know his choices and preferences to choose the perfect gift for him.

A gift is a very thoughtful gesture and any gesture is worth a thousand words.

Therefore, choose the perfect gift for him, which can draw a smile on his face and add more sparks to your romance.

(Credit: Liveinstyle.com )

Disclaimer: This article is meant for audience above 25 years

Memories of Durga Puja, 2015

The 4 days of Durga Puja just passed by the blinking of my eyes. Well, every year it is the same story. From around August, the Puja shopping starts in Kolkata with full vigor and we all get so excited with the "Pujo Asche, Pujo Asche" (Durga Puja is almost here!) feeling and then finally when the festival arrives, we indulge so much in celebrations, pandal hopping, food and enjoyment that we completely lose track of time. On the day of Dashami, we all are filled with a melancholic feeling when we have to bid adieu to the Goddess. I get emotional on every year and then console the heart, saying "Asche bochor abar hobe" (The next year, Ma Durga will again come and the celebrations will happen!) So, here are some photographs of Durga Puja, 2015.

(Idol of Behala Club)

(Posing in front of the idol of Behala Club)

(Theme Puja of Mukul Sangha: The theme is Nataraj)

(Durga Puja in a neighbor's house)

(Durga Puja in Bonedi Bari: Roy House)

(Dressed as a traditional Bengali on the morning of Maha Ashtami to offer pushpanjali to the Goddess)

(The grand chandelier of Ekdalia Evergreen)

(The idol of Ekdalia Evergreen)

(Pandal decor of Singhi Park)

(Idol of Singhi Park)

This year, the Durga Puja was very special as I got plenty of time to spend with my family. As I stay so busy in my work all day, I cannot give enough time to my family. So, these 4 days of Durga Puja gave me an ample amount of time to spend with my father and grandmother. I totally stayed away from my laptop and computer. We talked about several things, spend time in the pandals, had great food and prayed to our heart's content. It was a lovely time spent, indeed. 

I also discovered a beautiful calmness within me when I was looking at the eyes of the idol of Ma Durga. The four days helped me to see myself in a new light, as I was praying to the Goddess. It made me humble, grateful, more focused and I was capable of driving away the shreds of darkness that was languishing in some corner of my being.

Beautiful moments and good times pass by really quickly, leaving behind only memories to cherish. Anyways, after indulging in Biriyani, fried rice, chilli paneer and pizza all these days, it is time to indulge in sweets. After all, Durga Puja ends with the season of Bijoya. In Bengali tradition, Bijoya means "Victory" which we Bengalis celebrate by giving respect to elders and love to all, apart from having sweets of course. The Bijoya is celebrated as Durga Puja ends and continues till Diwali. As I have a sweet tooth, I love the season of Bijoya. 

Subho Bijoya to all. 
Stay blessed. Stay happy and spread happiness.

Broken Dreams

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Oodles of dreams

Twinkling in the two small eyes,

Some bears fruit, ripe and savory

Whereas some perishes, like flowers in storm

Slaying the soul within...

Eyes enshrouded by despair

Heart scathed bitterly.

Silently from those scars,

Something looms up...

Lesions of broken dreams

Metamorphose into seeds of willpower;

Firm and determined

Replenishing confidence and life within.

I have written this poem for all the dreamers out there who never give up on their dreams, even if their dreams get shattered or broken on the way. They fight for their dreams relentlessly and chase their dreams despite failures and adversities. They don't stop until they get hold of their dreams. 

I believe that I am a restless dreamer. What about you?

Linking this poem to Poetry Pantry #275

Depression: It's an ailment, not a hush-hush subject

Today, the 10th October is World Mental Health Day. I have lost a very dear person this year to the devil called depression. That is the main reason I couldn't stop myself from writing about this topic.

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Our society doesn't think of depression as an ailment. If you tell anyone that you are depressed, people will probably just tell you to cheer up. We must understand that just like any physical ailment, depression is an ailment of the mind. 

If your head is paining or your liver is dysfunctioning, you are taken to a doctor. But, if you are depressed, then people will encourage you to just cheer up. As a result, the people who are suffering from chronic depression follows either of the 2 paths. Either they become socially detached and start living in a shell, away from friends and family. Or they put on a facade or mask of happiness and show the world that everything is fine. Both the cases are equally dangerous.

My cousin sister (22) followed the second path. No one took it seriously that she was depressed. Therefore, after some time, she decided to not be an emotional burden on anyone. She tried to show to the world that she is doing good. Everyone told her that she has enormous resilience, but none could understand the disease that's expanding within her, pushing her to the dark abyss with every passing second. 

Her parents thought that she is so strong that she can deal with just anything. Her friends thought that she is perfectly happy in life. And one day, when the disease had spread completely from her mind to her heart, body and soul, she ended her life.

People thought it was sudden, abrupt and so wrong of her. No one could understand that the poor girl was deprived of empathy, compassion and medication for her ailment. She was just encouraged to cheer up! 

If you tame a cardiovascular disease and go on without medication, then what will be the end result? Death. 
Similarly, if you allow a person to tame a mental ailment and go on without medication, then what will be the end result? Death.

As I write this, my heart is beating at an enormous speed because she has always been a very special part of my life. I wish I could have understood what she was going through. I wish I could have saved her. 

Depression is a very serious ailment. The next time, a friend or sibling of yours tell you that he or she is depressed, please be empathetic towards the person. Instead of saying just cheer up, try to know the reasons behind the person's depression. Talk to the person, show your support and assure him or her that there is hope.

The word depression is also overused in many cases. Therefore, I would like to mention here that there is a huge difference between sadness and depression. Sadness is a very temporary feeling, which all of us feel sometime. It lasts for a few hours to a day. Depression is a state, which doesn't go away like sadness. 

People feel totally lost and directionless in such a state. There is an emptiness within the soul that stops the mind to rationalize and use logic. The emptiness expand with every passing day. It stays for days and weeks. If it persists for more than two weeks, medication is strictly needed. 

Our country, India is the most depressed nation of the world where maximum number of suicides due to depression have been reported in the whole world. Statistics say that women in India are more prone to depression than men. The primary reason why our country is the most depressed nation is because people of our country don't take medication or help for depression. They just suffer in silence till death takes over.

Depression is treated as a hush-hush subject in our society. We need to change our attitude. We need to understand that mental health is equally as important as physical health. We need to educate people around us and make them understand the need of medication for mental health. We need to be empathetic and compassionate towards people suffering from ailments of the mind such as depression. Today, on the World Mental Health Day, let's try to bring a change and let the change begin with us. 

(Source: Indiblogger)

The Greatest Healer, Time

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Dear girl, Stop!

Don't do that to yourself.

A couple of people might be cruel to you

You don't need to be cruel to yourself;

Look away from the arduous wounds,

Don't pinch or touch them

Let them be.

Have faith in the greatest healer, Time

The scars will evaporate like magic,

You won't even understand how and when.

Embrace yourself today!

Embrace life with all your love,

Breathe, Smile, Live!

Let the positive energy flow into your heart

Drop the baggage that robs you off life,

You are stronger than your wounds

Your life is much larger than your pain.

Have faith in the greatest healer, Time

Embrace yourself today!

Embrace life with all your love, 

Breathe, Smile, Live!

Linking this poem with Poetry Pantry #272

The Dance Bible: a paradise for dancers

The dance can reveal everything mysterious that is hidden in music, and it has the additional merit of  being human and palpable. Dancing is poetry with arms and legs. ~ Charles Baudelaire

The word “dancing” makes a wide smile appear on my face. I can clearly remember that when I was three or four years old, I used to take my Mom’s stole and dance in front of the mirror on the super hit songs of Madhuri Dixit. Since then, dance and I have always shared an intimate bond. I rarely missed an opportunity to dance in my school and college functions and cultural events.

I love both the classical and contemporary dance forms. However, due to my hectic schedule, dancing has become that old friend whom I meet only once a while these days. 

I recently came across an amazing website called The Dance Bible, which is a great online portal for dance lovers. The motto of The Dance Bible is to connect all the passionate and aspiring dancers with the beautiful art of dancing.

The website is full of interesting features that will interest anyone who loves dancing. You can learn about the various dance styles such as aerial, ballet, jazz, tango, contemporary etc. and also know about dance anatomy.

You can watch some amazing dance videos and listen to the foot tapping dance audios on the website that would surely inspire you to step up and dance. There are audios for every dance style.

The best thing about The Dance Bible is that you can create your dance portfolio. You can share your story of dancing and share your dance videos. It is a great way to network with talented dancers and promote your work. I couldn’t resist creating my portfolio in The Dance Bible. It is hassle free and it just took a few minutes of my time.

You can also know about the top dance schools and the upcoming dance events in your city on the website. If you want to network with like minded dancers or want to know anything about dance, then you can ask a question in the dance forum. The forum is a great place to meet like minds and unleash your thoughts.

The Dance Bible is a paradise for dance lovers. If you are passionate about dancing, then explore the features of the website and create your dance portfolio today. The Dance Bible has surely given wings to my passion for dancing. I am sure it will do the same for you. Do check out the website at http://www.thedancebible.com/ and the facebook page at https://facebook.com/dancebible

I see dance being used as communication between body and soul, to express what is too deep to find for words. ~ Ruth St. Denis

P.S. The images used in this post are taken from the website of The Dance Bible.