Category Archives: Musings

Dreams – Good, Bad & Ugly

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DreamsWhy do we dream? A question we all ask and find weird answers everywhere? My question is different.

A strange thing happened today. I had a dream, as you would have understood by now, as weird as it could be. I have nightmares too many a times… I see many a bad things, many a good things… but I strangely experienced something different.

When I woke up I had a question hanging on my mind. The thing is… in my dreams also, I was tormented by the same inhibitions and fears that I have in reality.

Would you believe if I said it was a happy dream! A lot of happiness flowed in the dream but my fears held me back from totally drowning in the sea of joy I saw. I was doing all that I love, in my dream. As it’s a dream, my mind and heart should have been free but strangely it was directed in the same manner that I live daily.

Why in my dreams I could not throw all the baggage I carry and dream in abandon? After all it is said that what you cannot do in reality happens in your dreams. Doesn’t it? Then why does it not happen to me! Is it only me or is it the same for all of us? Does everyone carry fears small or big, in their dreams?

We all have dreams, sometimes nightmares, we all see people who are dead, we dream about impossible things which we would not be able to do otherwise, we all have orgasms too in our dreams – a phenomenon which happens with all of us but then why do our fears hold us even in our dreams.

Our dreams, some say, are actually reflections of our real lives, some we remember and some we forget and I add that very conveniently you are woken up just when you start having fun. Stupid dumb brain.

Strangely the moment or act which you are forbidden in reality is not possible in your dreams too.

You see that awesome moment… when you are about to kiss someone in your dreams, all flushed up, you come up a little closer… warm gooey feeling creeps up in your heart, you hold hands, smile, look into the eyes bend lower….

BANG!!!!!!!!! You wake up!!!

Does it happen to you too!!!

Friendship, Trust, Companionship

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When I was small, the moon would walk with me wherever I went, mother used to narrate stories and I used to make webs of dreams. Gnomes and elves were a reality and I would look for them in my backyard. Fairies came from the clouds and taught me how to fly. Falling leaves used to fascinate me as I thought they came from heaven and rain drops were small messages from God who wanted to see me smile. Letters used to arrive in the mail van and I used to make wishes as soon as I saw one.

And most important when I was small, friendship used to last forever.

Then I grew up … a few decades later and the best part is I still believe in the moon, fairies, gnomes, elves, raindrops, heaven, letters, wishes and God. The only thing is now friendships don’t last forever.

Friendship which actually is the most important ingredient for happiness is often taken for granted.  You think about it only when it is gone. People say that I am a very friendly person and I make friends in a jiffy, which is based on true facts. I do.  When you make new friends and move on in life, as time passes old friends tend to fade out but you know how much you love them. They are the ones who stand up for you when needed.

Well I’m sure you all know it is not an easy job to keep your friendship going and strong. It is really a tough job. In my case it is. You see when I make a friend I give my heart and soul, my time and energy, my trust and faith, love and affection. I give everything I have. But then it takes a toll, on my health, my time, my family, my marriage, my motherhood, my career, my pocket and my heart.  It really is not easy.

The fact is that it is the same with everyone who loves and spreads smiles. We tend to take our friendship for granted. I’m sure I must have done so too. Many a people have come and very few gone. Each time I lose a friend my heart bleeds and spirit is broken. And then it takes a lot of time to nurse it back again and to smile from my heart.

All I wanna say is that friends are precious and a piece of your heart. Take little care and be honest with them. Do unto them as you would want them to do unto you.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

Make friends last forever – Keep the fairy tale alive – Let your heart be happy

Little Heart Chatter – Mind Over Matter

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Mind Over Matter. Photo by Dana Stauder.

Photo by Dana Stauder.

There are…

…many a things which catch our eyes daily

…many a moments we would love to capture and never let go

…many a people we wish would stay forever

…many a love stories we wish would never end

…many a pleasures that stay with us

…many a smiles which linger

…many a people who leave their mark on our souls

…many a friendships we miss always

…many a desserts we wish would have never finished

…many a sunsets we could stop

…many a nights we wish would be unending

…many and so many… I cant express!

But alas, things do happen… time passes and many a many things just simply go by and before we realize it’s too late, it’s already time. Don’t let them just pass you by. Touch them, pull them closer, hug them, live them in every breath you take. It is this what makes living all worth it.

Spend some time with your own self and smile in the glory of love.

Peter Parker & Mary Jane Parker

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Since when my memory goes I have been talking to animals. Be it dogs, squirrels, lizards, worms, cows, pigs, pigeons, cats, peacocks and ladybirds. Well these are some I remember. Wherever I see them my dialogue starts. Yes, dialogue not monologue. It so happens they talk back to me. In some way or the other they tell me somehow what I need to know.

Today, I introduce you to ‘Peter Parker’ – my sweetheart! I have known him since 8 years now. Every morning he would fly to me and sit on my window and we would then chat for sometime. He would eat what I would give him daily and then fly away. I had named him ‘Peter Parker’. One fine morning I asked him, “Do you love someone?” And guess what next morning he came with ‘Mary Jane Watson’ who now is ‘Mary Jane Parker’. They have been together all these years and both of them come to my window for their breakfast.

Then as I shifted from that city, I surely started missing him. Is he missing me too?

This photo of him clicked by my hubby tells all. Yes, he came to look for me on my window in Mumbai!

“Yes Peter I miss u too, miss all my morning tea sessions with you, I miss sitting on the window with you, yeah I know you are older, looking very handsome sweetheart… How’s Mary Jane? You hold on… I’ll come and see you soon. Don’t you fly away. I still have the green leaf you brought for me, though it’s not green any more in all these years. I will tell someone to keep your bowl and food on the ledge, don’t show him your tantrums. Okayyy! And Yes, I miss you too Peter and Mary Jane too…”

… as I always say, this too shall pass

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gcaffeI had a very eventful day today – Met three people who are fighting great hardships in life – They spoke to me for hours – And I heard them all. You know what was common between the three – they were all SMILING.

And at the end of the day I SMILED too.

One is around 70 years of age, having spent 50 years in New York teaching, even went on a trek to Kilimanjaro. He walked all the way up till 16,000 feet, called himself irrational yet emotional. He never carries a cellphone, rather to rephrase – does not own a mobile. In this age and times he walks everywhere for hours without a cell to keep. Wow. If I can’t see my cellphone for 15 mins I get nervous. Hats off.

The other one – a doctor himself – is battling to save his father’s life. Not being able to do much himself, he braves it all with a smile. I shared a cup of coffee and a pack of oatmeal biscuits with him. Mind you all the biscuits went down his tummy. I got only one!

The third is engaged in a daily war with the sun. In the end he sees who emerges stronger. Every day and everywhere he faces the heat of the volcanoes and the trembling of the earth but faces all with a smile and drowns them in a sea of chocolates. So that is where the sweetness comes from.

… and one of them told me: “This too shall pass, Geetanjali.”

I smiled and said, “YES.”

Thank you to all of you for showing me a pathway and making me smile.

Alfa - My Sweetheart

Alfa – My Sweetheart

At my house, even my dog Alfa, who is not well, greeted me with a smile wagging his tail with great difficulty. So much love. He’s old now and in pain. I could see everything in his eyes…

Every morning he would sit with me in the garden for a tea together, but today he wasn’t able to move… such pain. So I took my cup of tea and went and sat next to him, on his bed.

We chatted for some time and I patted him. He showed me by licking where all it was hurting. With his dopey eyes he looked at me and my heart melted. Then he wagged his tail telling me: “I love you.”

From where I stand, I saw all four of them greeting me with smiles and hugging me, in spite of all that they’re facing. An inspiring day which taught me many a things.

I thank you all and hope we all can simply smile through our rough days and glide through all the rough mountains and seas.

…week full of love

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Today as you all know is the 1st of February. Now I know you will say what’s so special buddy…every month has a first. True. But this is the month of February dude, the month of love, the month of reaching out to your loved ones, the month of the Valentines and my favourite time of the year. Keep your songs, flowers, lines, gifts et al lined up.

As I stepped out, the market, shops, cafes, hotels, shopping malls, florists… oh everyone was red and red was all I could see wherever I went. Well, I know they are advertising and making money on this but what the heck! It is for a good cause. I feel if anything or any act spreads love and brotherhood, it’s worth any price paid.

As I passed by the florist gave me a beaming smile and showed me some red roses, which I was very tempted to pick up but then I let it go. My roses will come soon, I know.

You know there are 7 days before Valentine’s Day which are celebrated as various days. Well for those who don’t the list as follows:

  • Valentine's DayFebruary 7th: Rose Day
  • February 8th: Propose Day
  • February 9th: Chocolate Day
  • February 10th: Teddy Day
  • February 11th: Promise Day
  • February 12th: Kiss Day
  • February 13th: Hug Day
  • February 14th: Valentine’s Day

So girls this Valentines do something different. Don’t run after him. Let him run after you. Look after yourself. Love yourself. Pamper yourself – You deserve it. And boys go on chase her. That’s the fun my dear. That’s the way it should be. Go say I love you and make it special and mean it. Celebrate the love you have been granted and feel lucky. There are so many who are sad, lonely and sitting all alone, craving for company. So go out and get your girl and tell her you love her.

Don’t let mundane things ruin your youth and your love yet. Get the missing love hormone back in your life and spice it up a bit.

Have a extraordinary Valentine’s this year and don’t forget to tell me what you did.

Kill Depression Before It Kills You

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Me-Time

Me-Time

You know Gcaffians, today started as a very foggy day. Cold as it was I drove to drop the kids and… was in high spirits… came back happy and was singing songs. By mid-day I had made enough ‘hungama’ (as we call it in Hindi which means spreading happiness) on social networks. I then came across a few people who were a little depressed… tried to pep them up to no avail. Later, I happened to speak to some close friends who were also depressed. It is unbelievable – how depression is spreading every where! And that is how I got depressed. Infectious?

But this post is not about depression… it is about how I treated myself then and had some fun as you see, ‘I was depressed’. There are two major things which I do when I feel low – one I eat, the other I shop. Isn’t that exciting!!! Well, so I got up… wore my comfy jeans with the best of my reds and went out without my car, in public transport… aimlessly. After strolling around a little in the cold fresh air I dropped in for a haircut. Aha… rejuvenated… then I went for shopping. Oh come on… I was so low you see!

Rikshaw- Puller with Stories

Rickshaw-Puller With Stories

A bag full and a heart jumping with excitement, I grabbed a burger. Can you see me smiling! Yes, I did smile and made a few others laugh too. Sang a few songs and grabbed a rickshaw home. Amidst all the traffic, the rickshaw-puller took me home… I chatted with him… and he also told me a few stories of his own and sang a local song too. Cars and bikes zoomed by oblivious of all the fun I was having. I took some crazy pictures and had my burger. People on the way were passing on smiles as they saw me doing all the madness but what the heck – I had fun.

You know what I did today was simple. I had some ‘Me Time’… as I call it. So I relaxed and took a break from the monotony of daily chores and did just nothing, did not even drive. All I want to say is we must take some time out just for ourselves and do simply nothing or maybe just that what we want to do.

Time flies away my friends, just slips by. Do not sit back and brood on aches and pains of life. Step out and take some action. You will never be this young again. Those who don’t love you… it is their loss.

You are a beautiful soul and your smile makes you glow. Radiate in the glory of  love around you and fall in love with yourself all over again. You owe it you.

Hopes And Prayers For Rahul Gandhi

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The other evening I used a sentence which had two words ‘hope’ and ‘pray’.  A wise man then said very politely, “We don’t need to use ‘hope’ with ‘pray’, as a prayer includes hope.” I wanted to tell him I use the word hope together with pray as I really want that my prayers do come true, so I add some more hope to it. But I remained silent and just smiled.

I’m not a very political kind of a person but I do read headlines. When the news about Congress party’s new vice president Rahul Gandhi’s speech spread, I heard he had delivered a very emotional speech at a party conference in Jaipur. But I did not bother to go beyond the headlines and the day went by as usual. During the day I caught up with some more talk on the speech, some tweets, some comments, some updates on Facebook… inquisitive, I did hear the speech on YouTube.

Rahul GandhiSince I don’t watch much of television, I saw Rahul after so many years. I still found him so cute, though he has aged. He has more curls now at 42 and a receding hairline. I sometimes feel very bad for him. The whole country has so many expectations from him due to his lineage that he is unable to fulfil. So much pressure he must have had before his speech. Just how many people must have approved his speech!

He started off well and then went on to ask a thousand questions about all sorts of failures which India faces today. He asked, “Why do a handful of people control the entire political space?” Any answers?

A little later he mentioned, “That people who are corrupt, talk about corruption”, … took a pause and broke into the sweetest smile with dimples in his cheeks… aawww that was so cute. The audience applauded. I smiled. Got me thinking – Did he enter politics by choice? Or was it just the pressure of his parentage?

Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sharing dais during a speech in 1980s. Photo copyright gcaffe.com

Sharing Dais: Indira and Rajiv. Photo: gcaffe.com

I am lucky I was born a little early to have seen his gracious grandmother speaking and what a dynamic personality she was – Iron lady to the word. Oh how we cried when we got the news of her assassination that day in October 1984 and how shell shocked we were, as that was the first such kind of incident I had seen or heard of. The shock remains till now. We spent hours hooked to the radio for more news and more news. In those days television screens used to go blank  during national mourning.

And then I fell in love with the ever so handsome Rajiv Gandhi – our youngest and the most dashing prime minister. He spoke so well and India was shining. I was growing – a golden period of my youth I saw with my India and Rajiv.

Rajiv Gandhi addressing. Photo copyright gcaffe.com

Rajiv Gandhi. Photo: gcaffe.com

That was the time when I saw dynamic leaders who spoke very well without reading their speeches and led the country through golden periods with the best resources in their youth. Now, Rahul Gandhi says: “Congress is a symbol of hope”, “Congress is my life”, and “I will fight with everything I have”…

Well! I now ‘HOPE and PRAY’ that India does get a good leader whomsoever it maybe, so that after a few decades my children would have some stories about their leaders to share and a few speeches which are not read from paper to remember.

I know the wise man will read this and smile too.