Everyday celebrations walk through my front door

We all seek happiness and festivals are a great way to feel and celebrate happiness. However there is an important person in my life who has a very different take on the theory of celebration .This person is my seven month old baby who eagerly waits for me at my home when I am away and the moment I enter the house she comes up to me and starts to get in a playful mood. She would move back and forth between my legs. Lick my hands yes that’s her way of showing her love for me. Then she would sit in my lap and mew and purr the entire day and wags its tail. After all she is my seven month old kitten who was born in my house and made my garage its home. As it grew it would keep purring and making all kinds of noises when her mother would be away. I later discovered that this was her way of attracting my attention and continued to do so till I would go and gently scratch its head. Slowly she started spending lesser time in the garage and more in my home. I had thought of it as a nuisance initially as she was one of the four siblings born in my unused garage. I found that all the four kittens had a different nature. Till now I had no knowledge about bringing up a pet nor did I have any intention of raising one. I had thought that when it would be old enough I would give it up for adoption that is if it did not go away on its own. However this kitten and its siblings were born with a very different plan. They had a plan to first get into my house and then into my life.
As one day I discovered that when I walked out of my main door to pick up the newspaper they entered my home through the main door. They sat near the main sofa and kept looking at me so lovingly that I did not have the heart to drive them away. Now it became a daily ritual for them to walk through the main door whenever I opened it in the morning. They would make such innocent faces and greet me in their cat language that I felt so good just looking at them and later they would walk out after I gave them their daily dose of milk and some bread. This ritual continued for a couple of months and then three of the kittens started exploring the neighboring households for food. They would still come in the morning perhaps to just wish me. This used to make my day special. As they grew they moved out and were seen in the neighborhood looking for a prey. However one of them decided to make my house its home. I feel that its not me who is raising her instead it’s the other way round. Every day this little kitten playfully displays its newly acquired skills. Despite having a busy schedule of running after the birds, the mice and anything that moves it makes it a point to spend time with me every time I am at home. I do not know how it detects and finds out about my arrival. Even at odd hours I find it standing outside the door and hearing its meow I open the door. With it enters joy, happiness and celebration every day in my home and my life
“#CelebrateLifeAtIvy by owning a dream home at Ivy estate, an 85 acre estate with 34 acres of greenery and open spaces. Join the 1600 happy families already living here. Check out this walkthrough video and decide for yourself.”When

ASUS ZenFone 2 A wonderful smartphone to redefine the smartphone experience

I have been a Smart Phone user for quite many years yet my search for a smart phone that would be truly smart and transform my smart phone experience continued till I discovered the features of the new ASUS ZenFone2 It is truly a wonderful smart phone that redefines what all smartphones should be like.

1 The first thing that catches the eye is the smooth brushed-metal finish. What is so distinct about the phone that makes it stand out and different from other brands is the signature concentric-circle detailing of the ASUS Zen phones.  The body contours flow so smoothly and tapers along the length till it is no more then 3.9 mm at the edge. It looks like a beautifully sculpted piece that is so wonderful to behold.

The beauty is not just to be appreciated by the eyes but is also functional. For instance the camera button position is such that it can be easily reached by the index finger. Even the volumes buttons are easy to operate. This effective amalgamation of beauty and functionality make me call this phone as a beauty with a purpose.

2

Search for its technical specifications one finds that it holds beneath its bonnet a quad core Atom process Z3580 .It is a 64 bit processor and I find the processor can be a

Atom™ Quad Core Z3580 (2.3GHz), PowerVR G6430, with OpenGL 3.0 support or an

Intel® Atom™ Quad Core Z3560 (1.8GHz), PowerVR G6430, with OpenGL 3.0 support

To make this processor functional comes 2GB/4GB LPDDR3 RAM. These features makes it a powerful smartphone that can be used for playing games or watching movies apart from regular uses such that smartphone users put their phones too like using apps or surfing the net

3) SNAP VIEW is a very important feature that helps you keep your personal and work profiles separate. The ASUS ZenFone 2 also supports Touch Gestures that helps launch the apps  with a sweep.

4) A very enticing feature is the 13 MP Pixel Master camera and the  f/2.0 aperture . This camera offers a zero shutter lag and that is not all. It uses a new low light technology that uses pixel merging technology to capture and bring out very bright pictures even in night time pictures and those taken in low light. Pictures without flash are up to 400 % more bright. IF you still need to use a flash then it has a Real Tone flash. The function of this True tone flash is that it is able to illuminate the subject being photographed in such a way  that the pictures have a  warm skin tones and accurate colors in all the snaps being taken.

5) Since I love taking photographs specially during travel I find that once the battery drains it takes quite some time to charge. In this ASUS ZenFone 2 a Boost Master is incorporated that helps the battery charge very fast . One can expect the battery to recharge up to 60 % in about 39 minutes.Even during the normal functioning of the phone the battery lasts longer and does not require frequent recharges.

I must confess that the ASUS ZenFone 2 with the Android 5.0 (Lollipop) OS is the smart phone of choice that promises to redefine the smart phone experience for its user. 

http://www.asus.com/Phones/ZenFone_2_ZE551ML/.

All images taken from 

http://www.asus.com/Phones/ZenFone_2_ZE551ML/.

Working for my dil ki deal

I was very excited when I completed my 12th.I was buzzing with excitement. I was going to start a new phase of my life. Soon I joined a college of my choice where I made new friends. We had a good time together. We went to do shopping and also went together to watch the movies especially all the new releases. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves eating burgers and popcorn. I thoroughly enjoyed my new found freedom. Many of my friends came from different cities to study. I belonged to a well off family, while my friends who came from not so good financial backgrounds struggled with everyday expenses. There was a gap of 3 months breaks after our first year of studies. I was busy planning my vacation to Dubai and Europe. I discussed my plans with my friends and when I asked them for their plans they told me that they will search for jobs so that they can become independent and take of their expenses like food and fees etc. Their plan of doing a job changed my vacation plans. I decided to skip going on my vacation and try for a job. It was not a necessity but I wanted to be a part of the plans made by my friends. Moreover it was very exciting. I told my parents about the change in my plan. They told me that I was a big boy now and I had the right to make plans. They ensured me that there is no pressure on me of any kind and I should take up a job only if I really desired. From the next day I started searching for a summer job. It was my first step towards an independent life. I selected my clothes carefully as I wanted to give myself a more serious and professional look. I enjoyed the whole process. After having applied at various places I got a job of my liking. It was a big MNC and they hired a bunch of boys for a new promotion. I learned a lot. I became more responsible. I got my first hand experience in public handling. My family also noticed the changes in me. I had become more responsible and mature in handling situations. I still remember when I got my first salary and I earned Rs 2500.It was my first earning and saving. I was on cloud 9.I gave a very serious thought of what to do with it. I imagined each and everything from buying my favorite shirt to splurging on my taste buds. Then I decided to throw a party for my friends and relatives. Everyone was very happy and brought me many gifts of clothes, perfumes, shoes, gadgets and wow it was a treat. I got much more than I could have bought for myself from my savings. Some of the gifts are still with me reminding me of my first salary. My parents were very proud of me. They hugged me and appreciated my decision. It was a new beginning for me.

 “I am participating in the #DilKiDealOnSnapdeal activity at BlogAdda in association with SnapDeal.”

My loving bond for my dil ki deal

We were a family of four. My father, my mother and my grand mother and of course me, all lived together in our ancestral home. We had a great time together. All our relatives lived close by so it was always a big get together on festivals and special occasions like birthdays, engagements and marriages. We were leading a very contented and blissful life. Then all of a sudden my father was transferred to a bigger city. He was very reluctant to do so as my grandmother did not want to move from her home.As my father had been given a promotion along with this transfer my grandmother asked him to go and join the office in the city he had been transferred to. She was of the view that such promotions were hard to get so he must avail of this offer. On her insistence my father went and joined office in a completely new place. He insisted that his mother, my grandmother should also move with us. But she refused to come with us to the big city. She loved her small place and she knew everyone there. With a heavy heart we shifted without her. But we never left any opportunity of visiting her. She came to our new house sometimes but she never liked her stay because of the fast pace of the city. She never felt at home but for us she sacrificed her comfort. I loved my grandmother a lot. We had a special bonding between us. She was my guide, teacher and my best friend. We had a great age gap but we were inseparable. We lived in different cities but our hearts were always together. After passing out from school I did a summer job with the idea of going on a vacation. I worked hard day and night. I took two part time jobs to add to my funds. Soon I had collected enough to suffice for a holiday to a hill resort. To my greatest happiness on this route was my grand mom’s house. I was greatly excited at the prospect of going on my vacation and also funding my first independent journey. I planned my vacation in such a manner that I made a stopover at my grand mom’s place and she lovingly welcomed me. We talked for hours. We laughed and then my dearest grandmother cooked for me my favorite dishes. I loved the dishes she had made. She loved me and she enthusiastically prepared an elaborate menu for me. In those days her city was facing an acute gas cylinder shortage. Undeterred she used a traditional stove using wood and coal. This produced a lot of smoke. The fact that she was asthmatic made the situation even more difficult for her. I went out and returned back with an electric stove bought from my savings. Seeing her tears of joy was more precious than any vacation to a hill station could provide. I decided to spend my time with her. Her love and care are still embedded in my heart and are the most valuable part of my memories of the time I had spent with my grand mother. This was made possible because I had decided to travel without putting any burden on my parents by using my savings. Since then I have made savings a habit because you never know when it may help someone.

 “I am participating in the #DilKiDealOnSnapdeal activity at BlogAdda in association with SnapDeal.”

Ad nostalgia and CrashThePepsiIPL

Now a days Adds Come and Go but when I think of  the ads from my childhood they bring back so many sweet memories

Maggi Ad was a all time favourite for us kids and the moment the ad which went like this…

School se aate dhoom machate..

Ek hi baat ye dohrate..

Maggie Maggie Maggie…

Do Minute..

Pal Bhar mein tyaar

Khaaney mein mazzedar..

Maggie Noodles

The moment this ads were played on TV we kids scrambled to the kitchen and requested our respective mom’s to make Maggi for us . As we grew up we would collectively prepare Maggi as a group and sing the jingle.

As teenagers the Cadbury ad where a girl dances with a boy after he hits a century was quite popular where the jingle played

Kuch Khaas hai Hum Sabhi mein
Kuch Baat hai Hum sabhi mein…
Khaas hai..
Baat hai..
Kya swaad hai…
Zindagi mein…

This ad was subtle and cute.

Then there was the Pappu Pass ho gaya which became quite popular and captured the imagination of the masses.

Then there used to be the naughty Bajaj ad which made us all smile

Jab mein chotta bachha tha..
bardhi sharat karta tha…
meri chori pakdi jaati….
jab roshan hota bajaj
Abb mein bilkul boodha hun..
goli kha key jeeta hun…
phir bhi chori padki jaati…
jab roshan hota bajaj

And the poetic Asian paints ad brings back memories and nostalgia

Har ghar chup chaap se yeh kehta hai ..
andar usmein kaun rehta hai?..
Chhat bataati hai… …
yeh kiska aasmaan hai.
Rang kehte hain kiska yeh jahaan hai….
Kamron mein kiski kalpana jhalakti hai?…
Is farsh par nange pair kiske bacche chalte hain?…
Kaun chun chunke ise pyaar se sajaata hai?
Kaun is makaan mein apna ghar basaata hai…
Har ghar chup chaap se yeh kehta hai… ki andar usmein kaun rehta ha

When we used to go to school we used to sing all the way to the bus stop

Doodh doodh doodh doodh doodh,
wonderful doodh,
Piyo glassful
Garmi me dalo doodh me ice
Doodh ban gaya very nice
Piyo daily once or twice
Mil jayega tasty surprise
Doodh doodh doodh doodh doodh,
wonderful doodh,
Piyo glassful
Doodh hai must in every season
Piyo doodh for healthy reason
Rahoge phir fit and fine
Jiyoge past ninety-nine
Doodh doodh doodh doodh doodh,
wonderful doodh,
Piyo glassful
Charon aur, mach gaya shor
Give me more,
give me more!
Gimme gimme gimme gimme
gimme gimme wonderful doodh
Piyo glassful doodh

The following ad and the jingle made us eggetarians

Meri jaan, meri jaan, murgi ke ande!
Omlet khilaoon, fried khilaoon, boiled khilaoon!
Khilaoon murgi ke, murgi ke, ande hi ande!
Sunday ho ya Monday, roj khaayein ande

Hope that the advertisers make many more memorable ads like these

This Pepsi IPL, it's not just about cricket. It's time to crash with your own created ad! Make your own Pepsi ad & if it's chosen, it could play on TV during Pepsi IPL! And hey, it doesn't end here… Even if you're chosen as a finalist, you stand a chance of winning a prize amount of Rs.1 lakh! So what are you waiting for guys?
 

“I am joining in on all the Pepsi IPL action in my own style with the #CrashThePepsiIPL activity at BlogAdda.”

Look up the Stars are smiling

A chance encounter with a total stranger can brighten up your life specially when you are feeling down and out. It all happened to me when I was going through a bad and difficult phase of my life.

I have been a hard working person who has always found success by the dint of hard work. I am a person who always believes in the theory of karma. You do good karma that is good deeds and you shall get good results and If you do bad karma or bad deeds then you shall face the consequences. This has been my motto in life that I have been practicing. This has helped me to remain cheerful and bright. I had switched jobs and taken up a job assignment in a new company. I was working hard but for some reason my boss was not happy with my performance. Even the suggestions that I used to give in the office meetings were ignored by him .I found that he was using a lot of my suggestions subsequently and taking credit for the same. This became a very difficult situation and indirectly when I tried to bring up this issue with him at one of the appraisal meetings,he got very annoyed and as a result took away the project that was assigned to me and instead got me transferred to a branch office that was in a remote town.

When I took up a job in a small town that was actually very similar to my paternal hometown, life was good to begin with.Everything was good and life was easy. It was a nice town where everyone knew you and you knew everybody. A typical easy going town where nothing changed much. It was a nice change after the fast paced life of the city.However after a few months the novelty of the place wore off and I began to feel very depressed and lonely. There was very little for me to do. I had explored the market numerous times and there was practically nothing new there. Even the single screen cinema halls had been showing the same old movies that had gone off the theaters in the big cities. The only thing left for me was to go on long walks in the jungle or by the river side. It was one of those days that I was feeling very low and went for a walk by the river side. I sat on the moist sand of the river bed lost in my thoughts. Then I saw an old man sitting close to me. He was a bird seller with lots of birds in his cage. He started talking to me . First I thought that he would try to sell me a bird but he never brought up the topic. Though he was a total stranger yet there was warmth in his voice. He reminded me of someone perhaps my grandfather but I am not sure. After small chit chat when the initial ice was broken between us ,he asked me directly as to why I was so sad. Initially I was a bit hesitant but when he came and sat close to me  and repeated the question with his toothless grin I confided in him about how and why I got transferred to this place and how I was bored to death here. He got up and brought me a bird which was in a cage and told me that this bird is in a cage and cannot fly but I am an educated person. I am not in a cage and I am free to make my decisions. I can go and live in any city and get any job. His words were simple yet meaningful. Spending this time with him, I felt a surge of optimism rushing through my veins. Suddenly life began to look up. I began to see life from the new perspective that he had given me. Now there was so much hope, positive vibes and optimism around me. Soon I applied for another job and moved to a more happening job in another city. Flipping back through the pages of life I feel that those moments spent with this old bird seller were magical and filled with hope and optimism and inspired me to look up    

https://housing.com/lookup.

The black dark charcoal in my hand

The black dark charcoal in my hand
Comes to life when it kisses the canvas
Together they tell untold tales ,
It dances on the canvas and brings out 
The hidden contours of stories which are sleeping there
Only to be awakened by the touch of the charcoal on the canvas or 
A sheet of paper that is waiting for the touch
Of my thoughts,my pencil,my charcoal and my brush

Relocating to help my career take off

By the time I passed out of my college my father was just a few years away from his retirement. He had decided to settle down in our home town which was a few kilometers from a big city. It was and still a great place to live as the pace of life is slow and easy going and it’s a great place to unwind and relax. My father wanted that I too should get a job there and stay in the family house that he was getting built and it was getting completed at a fast face. Initially I agreed to this idea and shifted there. I did not have much difficulty in securing a job there. I even supervised the construction work and got the house completed much ahead of the scheduled time.Once all the construction activities were completed I found that I had nothing much to do. The office life was also monotonous and boring. The same daily routine was very depressing. Even my job did not give me much opportunity to grow or showcase my talent. It was a dull 9 to 5 job in the municipal office. The entire day I used to be surrounded by racks full of old files covered with dust and molds. The only change in my room used to be the new cobwebs that the little spiders would knit overnight. I was beginning to feel that there is no purpose left in my life. Than one day I saw an advertisement of a job in an advertising agency.The job profile appeared interesting to me and I found the prospects of working in an advertising agency quite exciting. Without thinking much I applied for the job. I appeared for the interview and got selected. However my job posting was to be in a big metro city. This news made my heart break as doing this job would mean that I would  have to go against the wishes of my father to fulfill my ambitions. This inner conflict made me irritable and gloomy. On a weekend when my parents visited me they asked me why I was looking so glum. I told them that I wanted to take up a new job but this would require me to relocate to a new city and #StartANewLife

I found my parents to be very supportive and they gave me the freedom to choose  my career path. So I decided to join my new job in another city and this opportunity came to me as a blessing in disguise. I did quite well for my self in this new job and got good incentives and promotions. With the extra money I purchased a flat for myself. The good part is that post my father’s retirement even my parents have relocated to this new city and have started living with me.As for our home that we got built we still visit it and stay there whenever I can manage a leave from my office. This way I am able to balance a fast paced career path and also unwind in a relaxed environment.

https://housing.com/.  #StartANewLife

The healing touch of the power of together

Being  #together with people who care and love you can help you overcome the biggest obstacles in one’s life and fill you with hope & optimism. It also help’s  you to reach closer   to you goals and life becomes that much more brighter and cheerful  thanks to the magic of being #together. I discovered this when I was going through a rough patch in my life…

I was a good student in school and my parents wanted that I study hard and make a good career for myself so they sent me to stay with my uncle who lived in a bigger city so that I may concentrate on my studies. However I was not able to initially adjust to the new environment .As a result my grades dropped and I scored low marks in the mid term exams. My parents scolded me as they thought that I had fallen into bad company and was not studying enough. They got me admitted to another school in the midterm itself and this time got me admitted to the hostel. This seemed a punishment to me and I felt very bad. I sulked and cried yet could do nothing. I began to study hard. However this new school had a very different curriculum.  As a result I fell ill. My exams were close by so I could not get a leave. I was confined to my hostel room. As I had chickenpox I was quarantined and was in no contact with other students. I used to spend the entire day confined to my bed and my room. I missed my home and my parents badly and started feeling very low. I was advised complete rest and could not even study. I was feeling very depressed lying on my hostel bed. Suddenly there was a knock at the door . Upon opening the door I found my parents standing there. They took a room in a guesthouse and moved me there to stay with them. My mother showered her love on me and cooked all my favorite dishes. As I was very weak she would feed me at short intervals. As my papers were a short time away I was very concerned and apprehensive about my future. Hearing my concern my father took upon himself the responsibility of reading out my study notes aloud so  that I could remember and understand the answers. He also read my text books and explained to me all the subjects with a lot of love and understanding. Despite being a very strict and somewhat short tempered person my father came across as a very loving and caring father. I at times felt that I was living a dream and could not believe my eyes but  indeed all that was true and I was being fed on a diet of love,hope and optimism that made me grow stronger day by day and I discovered a new me who was now so much hopeful about the future.Now I understood that all along my parents had been very caring and concerned about my future. With such loving, care and with so much inspirational talk of my parents I was enthused and filled with hope and optimism and I slowly recovered feeling a new zeal and energy running through my veins. The time that I spent #together with my parents was not just full of parental caring but a lesson that taught me to be always hopeful, optimistic and see the positive side of every situation in life

https://housing.com/.

#together