Cricket Mania!

       Classes are always hard to attend for die-hard cricket fans, especially when an interesting match is going on. Especially in a country like India,where cricket is considered as a religion which everyone follows sincerely, these days can as well be announced as National Holidays! Because, no one (well at least majority of them) will be interested in whatever they do. Most of their time is spent cursing the work they are doing and the person who gave them the work. And the rest of the time is spent sneaking a look into their mobile phones, trying to find out what the current score is and groaning out loud when they miss an important six or catch or something alike!

       Students aren't different either. I still remember my PU days when boys used to squirm in their seats, unable to hold back the curiosity of what might have happened on the field. Each class was of 1 hour duration and as soon as the lecturer stepped out of the class at the end of the hour, they would run out too; to the library. Now, don't think they went there to read books or anything! These were the students who visited library only on days there was a cricket match. Reason? Well, the librarian would be watching the match on the PC and he wouldn't send them away if they went to get a glimpse and catch up with the score.

       And some of them boldly went ahead and took another step further. We had a rule in college that no student should enter the class after the lecturer. In case the lecturer has started the class, they should sit in the library for an hour instead of walking in and disturbing the class. This proved as a golden opportunity for cricket lovers. They used to wait, standing outside, behind the pillars till the lecturer was inside the class. Once they were sure that class has begun, they would come knocking, promptly to be sent to the library. No prizes for guessing the outcome. The library would turn into a mini stadium with die hard cricket fans cheering for their favorite teams! Smart, weren't they?

       Of course, they used to bring mobile phones to college. No amount of banning and seizing of phones stopped them. They just found a new, stealthy way to do it. But sadly, that never was enough to watch cricket, thanks to the slow internet and buffering problems. That is how library turned out as their favorite joint for watching cricket. Gradually, the lecturers found out the truth and the librarian was given strict orders not to let students in to watch cricket matches. But that won't be a problem for our juniors now, all thanks to UC browser. With UC Cricket, one can Surf it All and Surf it Fast! No need to wait for the buffering to complete and end up missing exciting actions. You get ball by ball updates, ensuring you stay updated. So, just install the UC browser app and forget about finding excuses to hide in the library. 

PS: This post is written for http://www.ucweb.com/.

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)

Simplifying Life - @AirtelIndia

       People who know me well know how particular I am about things. I want everything to be in place and I always make sure that is how things are. But recently I have been so busy that I have stopped bothering about things and I am just going with the flow. Gone is the girl who used to crib about plans and discipline. I am just enjoying life as it comes. Yes, my schedule is all messed up and I hardly find free time on hand these days, but hey! I am not complaining.

       Few days back when I returned home late at night from college fest, dad asked me when I was going to recharge his net pack. I felt guilty because it was the third time he was asking in that week. I had been so busy that I had forgot about it completely! Of course he was angry that even after reminding repeatedly I had not done a small work and I was angry that he was blaming me when he knew how busy I was of late! That ensured a small fight and we both refused to budge. I slept without talking further that night but when I woke up, I felt bad. I shouldn't have shouted on him when the mistake was mine.

       The first thing I did after that was installing My Airtel App on both our cells. I taught him how to use it and now I don't have to feel guilty for forgetting things. It is one thing to forget your work and a totally different thing to forget others' work. Now the latter is taken care of, thanks to My Airtel App! It is not the only reason why I love this app. I have discovered few more features which I love to use.

       The first is obviously that it helps me take care of my Airtel Recharges easily. I don't have to take out separate time to make a trip to the recharge store or go online to do it. Recharging my cell is now just one click away. And it suits perfectly for my life style.

The second feature which I love is Airtel Surprises. With every recharge, you get a coupon. There are many apps which give away free coupons but what I like the most about Airtel Surprises is that it includes coupons of popular sites like Flipkart and Amazon. The shopaholic in me is definitely happy. 

       And the third feature that I liked is the Safe and secured payment of bills. I can easily pay my bills via credit card, debit card, net banking or Airtel money. The interface is user friendly too.

       There, those were the three features which I liked. Of course, I liked 'I want to' feature too! It lets you save the most frequent tasks on home screen under 'I Want To' tab. This app has definitely made my life easier. What about you? Have you used My Airtel App yet?

PS: This post is written for Airtel India.

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)

New Smartphone Experience

       I recently bought Asus Zenphone as a birthday gift to my dad. He has used so many smartphones till date but this one thrilled him a lot. He is so in love with it that he rarely goes back to using his old phones. Seeing him happy, I am so proud that I made the right choice of gift. Now that I have seen how good the ZenFone is, I can't wait for the release of the new ZenFone 2. Here is why I am so excited about it:

1. It has 4 GB RAM!!! Yes, the best phone I have used till date had 2 GB RAM and I was marveling at the speed of it. Imagine 4 GB RAM! It would take the experience of using smart phones to a whole new level. I am a game addict. I can play games in this without the phone hanging often and I am sure it is going to be an awesome experience.

2. Super Fast Charging: The device has ASUS-exclusive Technology which helps in charging the phone super fast. In today's busy world, no one has the time to wait for anything. It will only be right if our phone supports us in this matter too. Most of the time is wasted charging the phone, which takes hours together. But with ASUS ZenFone 2, you can charge 60% of the battery in just 39 minutes! Yes! Talk about speed.

3. The Super awesome Camera: I love the camera of ZenFone. The quality of images is awesome. And with the new ZenFone 2, they are claiming that it is going to get better. Yes! It has a 13 MP primary camera which can capture stunning pictures. Also, you can capture up to 400% brighter photos at night without the need of flash. The features are just getting better and better. With 5 MP secondary camera with equally stunning picture quality, this one is going to be a treat for the selfie addicts like me.

4. Processor: This phone has a 64 - bit Super Quad Core Intel Atom Processor. I can only imagine how awesome the performance will be. 

5. Dual Sim, Dual Active: I have a dual sim mobile. But it doesn't support switching between calls. When I am answering the call on one sim, the other one is as also engaged. But with the new ZenFone 2, this isn't a problem anymore. Even when you are having the conversation on one sim, you can answer a call on the other. And you can also switch between the calls effortlessly. Brilliant, isn't it?

After seeing all these awesome features, I have no doubt left in my mind as to which will be my next phone. No prizes for guess the right answer because it definitely can't be anything other than this superb phone Asus ZenPhone 2. 

PS: This post is written for ASUS ZenFone 2.

Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)

Variety is Good

       Every morning, my day starts with something like this:

Me: Mom what's for breakfast?

Mom: (Says something like fried rice, chapati or Idli)

Me: (A little irritated) Why do you always cook the same things? I am bored of it. I won't have breakfast today.

Mom: (Gets angry) I wake up early and cook so that you can have breakfast before going to college and this is what I get for it? It's all my fault! I should let you starve every morning. That's when you will learn your lesson. (This goes on... until)

Me: Okay okay am sorry. Just give it to me fast. I am getting late!

       Don't get me wrong. I love my mom's cooking but I am just bored of lack of variety. Every morning the same thing. Who wouldn't get bored? I am already! She says I will long for these very food next year when I go to hostel and I know its true. But right now, all I want is something different and yummy for breakfast in the morning! 

       I am not alone in this one. Me and my friends are on the same boat. That is why we take tiffin boxes and exchange it in college so that we can eat something different. But it has been going on from four years and that too is getting, well yes, boring! That is why I am waiting for an invite from Guptaji's Home! 

       You know him right? The one from Kellogg's. I am waiting for an invitation from them. Recently, I bought a pack of Kellogg's corn flakes so that I can have it for breakfast in the morning. It was a welcome change from my previous attempt of having just milk and biscuits. That used to make me too hungry in the middle of the day and I couldn't concentrate on classes! Then I bought Kellogg's corn flakes and I so love it. 

       But I hardly know the recipes as Guptaji's wife knows! I just throw in some flakes, milk and any fruit that is available, mix it and have it for breakfast, while mom stands staring, waiting for me to complain about it too! It's tasty too but at Guptaji's home, I tell you! His wife knows over a 100 recipes! Can you believe it? 100!! I can spend my time there without complaining about the lack of variety for breakfast. May be I can take my mom along so that she could learn those yummy recipes too. Then I would never have to argue with my mom every morning! It is a win-win situation for both of us. All I want now is an invitation to Guptaji's house to make my mornings happy and yummy.

PS: This post is written for Kellogg's - Aaj Ka Nashta.

Watch more videos here.

Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)

Happiness is...

       In today's world, we all are so busy running after big things in order to achieve happiness that we forget the most basic truth - Happiness is not to be searched for; instead it should be felt. Happiness is not running after big things but often happiness can be found in little things; things we forget to notice due to our busy schedule!

       Last year when I started doing 100HappyDays Challenge on this blog, I realized how small things that happen in our day to day life can contribute in making us happy. From then on, I have made it a habit to write at least one thing that made me happy everyday. Every time I go through that list, it never fails to make me smile.

       Happiness is being surrounded by people who love you. Happiness is family and friends who cherish you and love you for who you are. Happiness is having people who can look past your imperfections and see the real you; people who can even understand your silence and people who can go out of their way just to make you smile.

       Happiness is looking at your book shelf and realizing there are still books waiting to be read. Happiness is falling in love with the characters of the books and living their life along with them. Happiness is reading to quench your thirst!

       Happiness is following your heart. Having a clear goal in life and working towards achieving it. Happiness is when people appreciate your work.

       Happiness is cooking. It is when something you experimented with turns out really tasty and everyone starts asking for more.

       Happiness is enjoying the final semester of college. Participating in different activities because you know it is the last time you will be having fun with your friends. Happiness is giving your best and seeing your efforts getting rewarded.

        Happiness is having that one friend whose level of craziness matches exactly with yours. Having such a friend is the best gift you can ever receive. The world becomes a laughing zone when with them because you cannot stop finding things that make you laugh!

       Happiness is clicking pictures. I have developed a new craze for clicking photos all thanks to Instagram! Happiness is clicking pictures to preserve a memory and revisiting it again and again, reminiscing the happy times. 

       Happiness is forgetting the world and being yourself, not caring what others might think about you! Happiness is letting go of people who hurt you and moving on with your life with renewed enthusiasm.

      Happiness is travelling; visiting places that you love. Happiness is listening to music. Happiness is getting window seat while travelling. The feel of air playing with your hair as you sit by the window listening to the music, I just have one word for it - Heavenly!

       The list goes on. There really is no end to this list of happiness; because happiness is all about the little things and little moments of our life.

PS: This post is written for http://cokeurl.com/96jnc.

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)

Starting a New Life

       Sometimes it is so difficult to move on. Everything will be going on normally and when you think life cannot get any better, it takes a drastic turn and you end up being hurt. Same thing happened with me few years back.

       M was my best friend during school. We always used to be together. No matter what, we used to stay together, pull each other's leg, fight for silly reason and then patch up sooner. There was nothing that could come between our friendship. Our classmates used to envy our friendship and teachers used to praise it. In short, we were the best of friends. But everything changed one fine day.

       There was a certain someone who, jealous of our friendship, did everything to destroy it. We never used to fall prey for her tactics but don't know when it changed. Maybe we started taking each other for granted or maybe our bond grew weak over time. But the damage was done. Due to one small misunderstanding, our beautiful friendship was ruined. I tried to make up for it, tried to clear the misunderstanding but M would take none of it. Her mind was set and there was nothing I could do to change it. In her view, I was the one at fault.

       After trying my best, I decided it was time to move on. I had did everything in my power. Now it was up to her to believe me or not. I embraced the change. It was difficult in the beginning. I was used to having her by my side all the time that without her, life felt incomplete. But slowly, I accepted the fact. She was gone and there was nothing I could do about it. When I accepted that, life became a little easy. Each day was a challenge. Whenever I saw friends hanging out together, I used to remember her and I would feel weak again. But over the course of time, it just became a dull throb at the back of the mind.

      Initially, I was reluctant to make new friends. When you are hurt once, it is difficult to trust on anyone again. I started keeping to myself. But soon I realized it was not going to help. Life is nothing if you don't have friends by your side to share all the little happiness. I slowly started coming out of my shell and began to interact with people again. I made new friends and life started getting beautiful. 

       Now when I look back, I don't regret my friendship with M. Instead, I am glad that it lasted for that long. Because when it did, it was the most beautiful time of my life. Yes, it was difficult to cope up with the change when we stopped talking to each other but still, it was totally worth it! Some changes are good because they teach you so many important lessons of life.

       This post is written for housing.com.

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)

Lesson Learnt from a Kid

       It was vacation time and I was excited. I had planned a trip to my cousin's place and I was looking forward to it. It had been a long time since I visited her and it made the trip all more exciting. We had so much to catch up on and so many secrets to share. So many shopping trips to make and so many places to visit. Barely containing my excitement, I packed my bags and set out for her place.

       To say she was happy would be an understatement. She literally ran and hugged me when she saw me standing in the doorway and pulled me inside her home. We started chatting right away and made plans. The next evening, we decided to go to the beach near her place. I was looking forward to it a lot but due to the rain, we had to stay indoors. With nothing much to do, we decided to play chess to pass time.

       Let me tell you, she is a champion in the game. She has won many national level competitions and can give even the best players a complex. And there I was, just an average player. Though I could play well, in front of her skills, I knew I stood no match! But still, with nothing better to do, I agreed to her pleadings and thus started the game.

       One, three, five! I lost all the games in succession. Well, I had expected as much but still when I couldn't win even a single match, it hurt. Suddenly, I didn't feel like playing anymore. I was tired of losing the game. Still, mustering the little hope left inside me, I played once more and needless to say, I lost; again! Frustrated, I stood up and left saying I want some fresh air. I could hear her mocking laughter following me all the way.

       I stood in the veranda feeling stupid. It was stupid to react the way I did when I knew this would happen. But still, it was difficult to accept defeat. I stood staring at nothing in particular. The rain had subsided into a faint drizzle and I stood there lost in thoughts. A cackle made me aware of someone's presence. It was the kid from the neighborhood. He was barely two years old. She was playing in the garden. I stood there watching her, a smile on my face. There is something adoring with the kids. They can make you forget your bad mood and smile even when you are at your worst. 

       This kid was running behind a butterfly, trying to catch it. I could see she was mesmerized by it and was determined to catch it. But that never happened. She would run towards the flower on which the butterfly was sitting and as soon as she extended her hand, it would fly away. And when it did, she started chasing it again. The chase went on and on. I thought she would get tired of it but nothing of that sort happened. If anything, she looked happy. She didn't know the meaning of losing or giving up. All she knew was doing what made her happy.

       Suddenly, I felt optimistic. That kid had taught me a valuable lesson that day. With renewed hope, I went inside where my cousin was and said "How about we play one more game?"

PS: This story is written for housing.com in association with Indiblogger.

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)

Learning to be Self-Reliant

       The one thing that my dad has always taught me is to be self reliant. Right from when I was a kid, he made sure I learn to do my things without depending on anyone's help. Be it standing in the queue to pay school fees or going to a class which was far from home; he wanted me to do them on my own. Whenever I asked him to do something for me, he used to ask me "And why can't you do it on your own?" His mantra was "If you want your work to match up to your expectations, then do it on your own. Others' involvement will only complicate things"

       During middle school, I signed up for sports classes in the evening. As the classes were after the school time, I would always miss the auto which was how I travelled. Other students' class would end and our auto uncle would leave at 5. But I had classes till 6. I asked dad to pick me up. But he had office. He asked if I was sure I wanted to join these classes. I remember how pissed I was at that time. I had seen parents coming to drop and pick up their children. I wished my dad was like that too. I had cried a lot trying to melt my dad's heart but that wasn't helping. Finally I decided I would give up trying to convince dad and find a way on my own.

       I started walking back home initially. After few days, I made a demand for new cycle. Once I got cycle, I started using cycle to travel back and forth. I was also assigned the simple tasks like going to market to buy things for mom. I was happy. I could go wherever I want without having to depend on anyone. After classes, when my friends waited for someone to pick them, I could go on my own. That was the first step towards becoming self reliant.

       When we went for tours and we ha to enquire someone about the direction or anything similar, he used to push me to do the task. I hated talking to strangers. I used to have tears in my eyes when I made the enquiry. But that never stopped my dad from pushing me forward. Oh, how I used to hate him for making me do the things I didn't want to do! Little did I know then that he was training me hard so that I can fight my battles on my own!

      But now, I know it. Due to the lessons he gave me them, I can do my work without depending much on others. I don't have to wait anyone to come forward and help me. I know how to be my own helper and my own master. That one lesson of being self reliant has played a great role in moulding my personality. I used to wonder why I can't have someone to take care of me at every step like my friends had but now, they wish they knew how to be on their own like I am! Because, no matter if someone is there for you are not, you can always rely on yourself to be there for you! I can never thank my dad enough for this valuable lesson!

A salute to all those great dads who, instead of pampering and spoiling their children, teach them to be self reliant.

PS: This post is written for HDFC Life HappyHour in association with IndiBlogger.

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)

Buying a New Car

       I went to my friend's home jumping with excitement after completing my seminar. I was stressed from a lot of days and now that I was free, I wanted to spend some time relaxing. What better way than spending it with your best friend? But when I went to her home, I saw her busy chatting with someone. Being the curious cat, I peeked to see who it was she was chatting with. "It is nothing that can give fodder for gossip" she said seeing me peeking. "So you tell me who it is then" I asked her. "I don't know" she replied. Okay. I wasn't falling for that. "You are chatting with someone you don't know because you have nothing better to do?" I asked. "Oh God! You and your sarcasm" she chided me. "I am chatting with someone because we are buying a new car" she exclaimed, barely containing her excitement.

       I was happy for her. I thought maybe she was asking opinion of someone about which car to buy. But when asked, she clarified it by saying she was chatting with the seller. "What kind of buyer chats with the seller?" I voiced my confusion aloud. "The ones who use Quikr NXT" was her prompt reply. She explained me that Quikr NXT is the new feature of Quikr where buyers and sellers can chat instead of calling each other. This feature is for the convenience of both and there are a lot of benefits from it, which is why users are getting more attracted to it each day.

       "So why are you buying through Quikr NXT? I mean you can walk in to a showroom, see the car, maybe take a test drive and then buy a new one" I said. But she looked amused. "Not everyone can afford a brand new car these days" she said. I was looking at her like she had spoken Latin. She sighed. "Is it that difficult to understand? The way prices are rising these days, not everyone can afford a car. Especially we middle class people. Car has become a necessity for us as grandmom and grandpa can't ride pillion. It is very difficult for them. So dad has planned to buy a new car. Well, new for us. Because buying a firsthand car is out of question for us" she said.

       I was still processing whatever she had said when she suddenly jumped in excitement. "Look!! The seller has just sent few more photos of the car. I had liked it so much and had asked him to send few more photos and I have just received them" I took the phone from her hand and checked out the photos. They looked great. And from the look of my friend's face, there was no doubt this will be the car they would by. Quikr NXT had just given her a reason to be happy. It was easy yet effective for both seller and buyer. I left, totally impressed with this feature.

PS: This post is written for Quikr Happy Hour Contest in association with Indiblogger 

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)

Reminiscing Childhood

  

       Whenever I see this advertisement, I smile. "That baby is just so cute" I exclaimed, my eyes twinkling. "I wish I could hold it" I said to my mom. She saw the advertisement and smirked. "They are cute only on TV. When you have lived with one, you will understand what I mean" she said. Okay. I knew the jibe was pointed towards me. But I tried to play it cool. "You mean S? I know he might have troubled you a lot" I said. I was trying to shift the blame on my younger brother. But she wasn't buying any of it. "You very well know I am talking about you, don't you? Don't look so shocked. Your brother was a darling, unlike you" she mocked.

       Ouch! "How can you be so mean mom? I was such a cute kid" I sulked. "Did I ever deny that? You were cute, alright. But the trouble maker hidden behind that mask of cuteness; only I know how notorious you were. Of course you wouldn't remember a thing. No wonder you think you were as sweet as the kid in this advertisement" Okay. I knew she was right. Not that I remembered anything, but I have heard this story so many times! When I was a kid, I used to cry all night and sleep peacefully during daytime. Now when I think of it, I wonder if my mom ever thought I might turn into a Vampire? Of course, she didn't! Because she isn't obsessed about them like I am. But the thing was, I cried all night and that meant my mom had to stay up all night pacifying me. And when I slept peacefully during the day time, she had work to do. This left her tired. I feel sorry for her but hey! I was just a kid! I didn't do anything purposefully! 

       Seeing me frown, my mom raised her hands and smiled. "Peace" she said. There was a mischievous glint in her eyes. I should have known she was pulling my leg! Ah, how easily I got worked up! But now the subject of my childhood was broached, slowly memories started flowing in. I have a distinct memory, bits and pieces of it. And then there are stories that my mom and grandmother have told me. They love to talk about those days. I was a very notorious kid it seems. I had mom running behind me all the time with a set of "Don'ts". But I have no memory of this. All I remember is our bedtime ritual.

       I remember mom singing lullabies. There were also few rhymes and movie songs which I loved, and insisted she sing them for me. And she did. Lullabies were meant to put babies to sleep. But I used to stay awake for a long time, listening to her singing. Then there was a new ritual. After supper, we used to go on terrace for walks. I remember my maternal grandpa starting this. He used take me on terrace and let me run around. I used to come back every few minutes with a new question to him. He always answered them patiently. We returned back once I was tired from the running and mom said I slept sooner, exhausted from all the running. Once I was a little older, mom started reading stories to me. She used to buy a lot of picture story books and narrate stories letting me visualize it through the pictures. She says I loved them. I guess that is where I got my love for reading.

       "Lovely" I said dreamily. "Yeah, for you" she said taunting. I narrowed my eyes. "I am sure I wasn't the only one that troubled you by crying all night. S might have done the same?" I asked. He would have surely. After all, he was a kid too and all kids do the same. But my mom was smiling. "Oh he didn't! I had become smarter by then" she said and seeing the confusion on my face, she added "I had seen the Pampers advertisement by then" and left the room, laughing at my expression.

PS: This post is written for IndiBlogger in association with Pampers.

Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)

My Bucket List

       It was a night of confessions. The long drive was exhilarating and we were still high with excitement. It was the first time I was staying over at my friend's home and we had decided to enjoy to the fullest. After doing every thing we could, like going on rides, playing stupid games, dancing to the tune of rock music, we were exhausted but our mind wasn't. Sleep was a far call and we started looking for more things to do. We started watching TV to pass time and saw this advertisement.

       After we watched this, turned little more serious and we started talking about life in general. Student life was fast approaching the end mark and the professional life would begin. There would be many responsibilities to shoulder and life would be more serious. Though I didn't resent that life, I was still unsure how much freedom I would have.

       As the discussion progressed, we started talking how it would be if we didn't have anything to worry about. "What would you like to do if that was the case?" asked my friend. "Wouldn't you love to know?" I teased her, prolonging the confession time. "Come on! Out with the truth" she chided, feigning all the seriousness, which she could manage. I smiled at her expression before getting serious. There were many things on my bucket list.

       "I want to be a writer" I said the first and the more important wish I had. She rolled her eyes saying "That you already are!" I smiled. "Not just a blogger. I want to explore beyond blogging boundaries. I want to take up writing as a profession" I confessed something that I had been thinking for quite a time now. There was shock initially in her eyes but then she nodded. "I sort of expected that. I had thought you would say that someday but it happened sooner than expected. Go on, say what's next" she prodded.

       "I want to go explore the world. I want to travel far and wide" "This one was expected but what is new in that?" she asked. "I want to travel alone! Around the world and leave a mark wherever I go" I said dreamily. She laughed. "Go on. Say whatever comes to your mind" she added when I frowned. "I want to learn salsa" Okay! That was unexpected. I hadn't thought about it but it kind of tumbled off my mind. But when I thought more about it, it made sense. I had wanted to learn dance all my life. Though I didn't join classes, it never stopped me from learning. But now, I wanted to learn more. Get trained by a professional. "Hmm, now that one was unexpected" replied my friend, who didn't have an inkling about this passion of mine. "So, what's next miss dancer?" she teased.

       I refused to take the bait and continued. "I want to do something adventurous" I have always yearned for something exciting in life. Maybe I can go doing something adventurous and feel that rush which I have just read and heard people talking about. "Is that all?" she asked, pretty sure I had said everything. But I wasn't done yet. I had one more wish. My hesitation hinted her that there was more and she wasn't the one to let it go. "Tell me no" she pleaded.

      "I want to do something good. Like helping people in need" There, I had said it. Since I had visited 'Taranga', the school for deaf and dumb children last month, I had this wish. I had witnessed the joy they felt and I wanted to re-live that over and over again. She smiled knowingly. She had been with me too that day and she knew exactly what I meant. 

       Just then she started yawning. I laughed, finally relieved. "No more questions. You are sleepy and so am I. Lets call it a day" I said glad to escape the inquisition. Tired, she agreed and thus ended the night of confessions.

PS: This post is written for Indiblogger in association with  IDBI Federal Lifesurance Whole Life - Befikar Umar Bhar.

Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)

For the Love of Gadgets!

       Finally here I am, in the final semester of engineering life! I can't believe it's been three and a half year already since I joined engineering! While I am excited about completing my degree, I also know that this semester is important, with project playing a key role. It also means I have to carry laptop almost every day to college. Whenever I think of this, a sigh escapes my mouth before I can stop it. Though it is not a big deal, I don't fancy carrying 3.5 kg laptop with me everyday. I was trying not to dwell too much on this fact but when I saw my friend's ASUS EeeBook X205TA, all my resolve crumpled. Let me tell you why.

       First of all, it's so light. It just weighs 1 kg! Can you believe it? 1 kg? It has a sleek and compact design. I could feel myself drooling over it. It's not just the looks though. It indeed has a good configuration. 12 hours battery life which will be really helpful when I have a full day, 500 GB free web storage for 2 years, highly sensitive touch pad with accuracy as good as smartphone, 2 GB RAM, Windows 8.1 OS, all that and many more. And the best part is, it just costs Rs. 14,999. I was totally blown away. It was love at first sight. How good it would have been if I too had an ASUS EeeBook X205TA! My life would be so much easier and I wouldn't have to complain about carrying my laptop to college every day. It's a win - win situation!

Image Source

       As if on cue, my friend took me to the hall to show off her desktop. Either my face displayed my longing or my friend was a very good reader. She was clearly enjoying all this. She proudly pointed at the ASUS All In One PC ET2040 that was perched on the table in the corner. "If you think the EeeBook is amazing, wait till you see this" she said as the desktop sprung in to life. I was already impressed with the looks of it but when I saw the features, you can say I was clean bowled! 

Image Source

       I had always seen ads about gesture control devices but had never seen one in real. I was like a kid with shiny new toy. The gesture controls were fun, like holding up forefinger to indicate mute, thumb, like the FB like symbol, to indicate play, and few more. Once I was done playing around, my friend showed me other features. It had a built-in 1-hr UPS that prevents data loss. I grudgingly thought about my own desktop, whose UPS has stopped working long ago. It was incredibly fast and responsive too. Again, the picture of my desktop flashed before my eyes, mocking me! My friend was still talking, but I wasn't listening anymore.

      I was resolved. I had to get these gadgets. Probably the ASUS EeeBook X205TA first as that is what I need most at the time and it is really affordable. And after a few months, the  ASUS All In One PC ET2040 too. It would be fun to say goodbye to my old Grandpa computer after all! Once the decision was made, I felt quite happy. Maybe some wonderful shopping is just around the corner.

PS: This post is written for IndiBlogger in association with ASUS.

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)

Playing Cupid

   When I read this question from Closeup Cupid Games 2015 asking "If you had to propose to your crush on Valentine's day, how would you do it?", I was a little confused. Well, if I am being completely honest, I was totally clueless. First, I don't have a crush, unless you count all those actors I have crush on, say, Lee Min Ho! So, I guess that's a moot point. And second, whenever I thought of proposal, I always imagined the guy doing it! Isn't that what all novels and movies tell you? So, if I had to propose my crush, what would I do? Well, I am back to square one - being clueless! After some thought, I decided to sketch a plan. After all, it might come in handy someday.

        Having a crush on someone is a sweet torture. You don't know if your crush likes you, but you can't stop feeling excited every time you get a glimpse of them. So first, I would talk to him, make friends and pay a lot of attention. It's always better to know your crush's likes and dislikes. It helps you prepare for the D-Day! After all, I don't want to spring him in a situation where he gets all uncomfortable. So, after a lot of getting to know, I will devise my plan! Meanwhile, I will drop little hints to let him know I like him. But not the grand plan! I want the proposal to be a surprise for him. A day both of us would cherish forever. And what better than Valentine's day to express my love?

       OK. The date is set. But what would I do? How would I propose? I want to do something special. So I start writing down the ideas which I think will be good. 

• Maybe I can paint his portrait on a huge canvas. Will it be good? Of course it has to be. Though it might look simple, there goes a lot of effort in creating a masterpiece. I can pour all my love for him in the painting.
• Next, maybe I can arrange a romantic dinner, perfect with wine and candle light. I know the old saying which says "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach". Maybe I can prepare a delicious course for dinner, with all his favorite items on the menu.
• Put a vase with flowers on the dining table, maybe red roses. It always sets up a lovely environment.
• Maybe prepare a video with all our pictures and some sweet messages to him. I can play it before I propose him. Maybe I can even write a sweet poem for him and add it in the video.
• And, of course, get down on one knee and propose to him, when I finally express my feelings for him.

Image Source

       Now, don't ask me what will happen next! I don't know. This was the planning part and it was under my control. His reaction, on the other hand, is not something I can predict. I will let you know the rest, when it happens. Till then, enjoy the season of Love!

PS: This post is written for IndiBlogger in association with Closeup Cupid Games.

Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)
       

The Great Indian Litterbug

      Have you ever heard of 'The Great Indian Litterbug'? Think before you answer. Because, when I introduce to him, you will definitely say that you have known him all your life! Still confused about his identity? Okay. Let me introduce you to him.

       There is a saying that 'Whatever you take from the society, you have to give it back to the society' The Great Indian Litterbug is the person who has taken this way too seriously. But alas! He has a twisted sense of humor and what he gives back, is not something that I am happy about! He has made friends with so many Indians, and everyone influenced by him is taking part in his grand Littering campaign, the sole purpose of which is to enhance the beauty of the roads, walls, streets; basically everything!

       Do you know the contributions of this Great Indian Litterbug? Take a break from your busy schedule and look around you. Lets look at the walls first. You might have seen pictures of walls decorated with graffiti art and admired it. You might have even wished there were such beautiful creations near your place. Though there isn't graffiti on your wall, if you look closely, you will find another kind of art there, thanks to the Litterbug. People chew paan and spit it on the wall. You should see them in action. They even take bets on who will spit it the farthest. The trajectory plays an important role. 

       Oh, that isn't all. Have you ever dreamt of walking on red carpet? Did you ever wish you could someday achieve that dream? Don't worry at all. The litterbug is here to help you. Take your eyes off your mobile when walking and look at the ground. By chance, if you are in a public place like bus stand, then even better. Look around you. Every inch of the ground will be covered with spit. Just when you think you spotted a clean space and are about to move towards it, someone infected by the Litterbug will squash your hopes and spit right on the spot of clean land you were eyeing. There, you got to see him in action! Now tell me, do you still wish to walk on the red carpet?

       Spitting isn't the only thing! The maids are also highly affected by this litterbug. The other day, my neighbor's maid, after finishing her work at their home, came out and threw the garbage right in front of our home! I asked her why she threw it there and she asks me back "Does the road belong to you?" I couldn't quite answer that question! Across the globe, rain is seasonal. But in our country, it is always wise to carry an umbrella whenever you are walking in some residential area. You never know when the Litterbug will be pleased and decides to bless you. You are walking in front of a house and the next moment you know, you are standing as a victim of the garbage rain pouring from the balcony, courtesy - the Litterbug!

        I would rather not elaborate about the condition of the public toilets. Because, they are the safest, for the Litterbug seldom visits there. Instead, he goes out and stands in front of the wall or a pole, like a dog, and does his work. So much for the 'Don't urinate here' boards, for they are the places which attracts the highest number of Litterbugs!

       All places of scenic beauty are now under the mercy of Litterbug. Last year I had been to a beach. Litterbug had reached there before me and what a welcome he had prepared. It was like he was telling me "I am the king of this land and you people are under my mercy!"

      There is no stopping him. Every one of the ten people you meet is a Litterbug. If there is one person who stands true to the 'No discrimination' principle, then its him. Public places, roads, foot paths, walls, glasses, cars, shutters; there is no discrimination at all. There isn't a single place which is spared! If there is such a place you know, then think again! Because before you know, The Great Indian Litterbug will reach there too. Beware!!

       Read more about The Great Indian Litterbug here.

PS: This post is written for IndiBlogger and greatindian.timesofindia.com

Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)

      

Quicker... Quikr!

       I have never relocated in my entire life! I was born and brought up in the same city and same house! That doesn't mean I don't want to relocate; trust me, I am waiting for the day when I can finally do that. After all, everyone desires a change and so do I. I guess my prayers have been answered finally for I got a job recently and the chances are I am getting posted in Bangalore, the Garden City. Oh, I cannot wait for the day!

       But as much as I am excited about the whole thing, I am also scared. I know relocating is not an easy thing, especially for someone who is doing this for the first time. Living in the same place for all your life and suddenly you have to move to a totally foreign place; it does sound scary. But thanks to technology, it's not going to be as difficult as it was, say, decades ago. With everything delivered at door steps, how difficult it can get?

       I have already planned my course of action. Few days back, I had shopped on Quikr and am really satisfied with the experience. It is so easy to connect with the seller and buy the product you like. So I have decided to take the help of http://bangalore.quikr.com/ to set up my new home when I move to Bangalore.

      With the size of the city, travelling from one place to another within the city feels like travelling between different cities. Not to mention the traffic, which can kill your happy mood! Taking all this into account, going out for shopping, that too for someone who doesn't know the place, is sure to be nightmarish. After all, how many shops can one roam in a day without losing interest? This is where Quikr will come to my rescue. I don't have to go out in the hot sun, roaming from shop to shop to find the things I like and end up spending a big fat amount on autos and taxis. All I have to do is take my phone and search the Quikr website for what I want. They have a wide range of products on sale. I can choose the product and then select a seller nearest to my place. That way, I can save the money I would have otherwise used for roaming from shop to shop.

       Oh, I forgot to tell you. Quikr has a new feature which is 'Quikr Nxt' where you can chat with the seller instead of calling him up. This one truly sounds amazing to me because I don't like calling people I barely know. Also it's easier for the seller, as they can send pictures to satisfy the query of the buyer instead of explaining about the product. It's a win-win situation.

       So, I am all set for the relocation to Bangalore, if need be, thanks to http://bangalore.quikr.com/.

PS: This post is written for  IndiBlogger and Quikr Bangalore.

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :) 

Love,

Swathi :)

The Power of Truth

       From childhood till now, I have always wanted to be an all rounder and in some ways, I am one. I love to sing, paint, dance, write, read novels; the list goes on. If asked to pick any one favorite hobby among these, I won't be able to. While my mom supports me in all these, there is one thing she never lets me compromise on - studies. She doesn't want me to lag behind in studies while concentrating on others. And that's exactly what I did once!

       During my second year PUC, I started taking studies lightly and having fun became top priority for me. I used to hang out with friends, go to movies, chat all the time and laze around. That naturally had an effect on my grades but as the test papers were never sent home, I was safe. When mom used to ask how the tests went, I used to say 'Good' and that was it. Though I felt guilty lying, I was sure I would make up for it by scoring well next time. But the next time never came. Finally it was the preparatory exam and I had messed up that one too. But this time the stakes were high.

       The college I studied in, had a rule. They used to send our marks to our parent's mobile. Mine was sent to my mom's cell and thankfully I had it when the message was sent. I had performed well in all subjects except Physics in which I had passed but with very less marks. I knew mom would be furious if she saw that. So I quickly deleted the message and pretended like nothing happened; or at least I tried to. But I failed.

       I have never lied to mom and so carrying the burden of this was very difficult. I tried to ease my guilt by saying 'It's not lying. It's just hiding the truth' but either ways, I was miserable. Next day when my friend's mom had come home, all I could think was 'What if she asks about marks in front of mom? Or worse, what if mom asks about how her daughter was doing and her mom ends up saying about the message!' Thankfully, that never happened. My friend's mom was in a hurry and she left soon. But I realized one thing - I cannot hide the truth anymore! 

       So gathering all my courage, I went where mom was sitting reading a magazine and confessed everything. I told her how I was scared that she would scold me and how that drove me to hide the truth. I also told how miserable I felt hiding the truth. When I was done, I suddenly felt better. The guilt that was nagging inside me was gone and I could breathe much easier. Mom, who had been silent throughout, was watching my face and I guess she understood how I felt. 'I hope you have learnt your lesson' was all she said at that time. I definitely had!

       She helped with my studies from then, till I could get back on track. She even spoke to my lecturer who made sure I paid attention. In the end, I passed the final exam with flying colors, which would have been impossible without her help. Of course, I had to listen to some lecture from mom but it was easier to listen to her admonishing me than to carry the guilt of lying to her.

       Yesterday, I saw this video on TV which reminded me of this above mentioned incident

        As shown in the video, it is definitely good to tell the truth and shred that guilt. It is totally worth it. I have experienced it. Have you?

PS: This post is written for Indiblogger Happy Hours and Kinley Water.

Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)

The Secret of A Healthy Forever!

      Vacations were coming to an end but the fun wasn't over yet. I was still in a happy mood due to the Madikeri trip we were going on the next day. Dad had suddenly made plans about a family trip and I was happy to be spending next few days enjoying amidst the mountains in Madikeri. I and my brother were busy packing our bags when mom called him. "I need you to go to the market and get a bottle of Dabur Chyawanprash soon" she said. It was a little late and my brother was in no mood to go out just for a bottle of chyawanprash. But my mom was insisting that he go. Winter was fast approaching and Madikeri is known for its chilly weather. She was not ready to take any risk. Seeing a fight begin between the two, I jumped in and agreed to go with my brother.

       We were on our way to the super market when my brother started speaking again. "I don't understand why she makes such a big deal out of it! What happens if we don't take it for a week?" he scoffed. It made me recall the incident. I was in high school and trimester exam systems were there at that time. I had been the topper successively in the first two trimesters but during the third trimester I fell sick. I got jaundice and couldn't attend the last trimester. I was promoted to the next class due to my grades in the previous two exams but I couldn't keep up that performance anymore. I used to fall sick a lot and due to that my grades went down. My immunity had become very weak. Everyone at home was worried about my health. They were all affected from my sickness. Happiness was lacking in our life. 

       One day my mom was called by my science teacher for a meeting. The teacher was fond of me and thus had called mom to discuss about the reason behind my irregularity. When mom told her about my health, she suggested I take Dabur Chyawanprash everyday. I didn't understand why she was suggesting it to me. I had taken so many tablets in the past one year. If that didn't work, how would this? I was skeptical. She smiled when voiced my opinion. "Chyawanprash, a time-tested, age-old formulation has a number of herbs like Amla, known to be one of the best antioxidants, Giloy, known to have immuno-modulatory properties, and has more than 40 other natural ingredients. I am sure you understand the scientific value behind this, don't you?" she asked me. I was thoroughly impressed with what she said. I came home and looked up on internet for more information. I was satisfied with what I read. That evening we went to the super market and bought a bottle of Dabur Chyawanprash. Since that day, it had become a daily habit to take a spoon of Dabur Chyawanprash. My health also improved a lot and my grades went up again. Happiness was restored in our lives.

       When I finished narrating this story to my brother, he was surprised. "What did you read on the website that impressed you so much as to buy it the same day?" he asked curiously. I took my cell and typed the website address that I knew so well - https://www.liveveda.com/daburchyawanprash/ and gave it to my brother to read. He started reading aloud. "Dabur Chyawanprash has anti-oxidant properties and helps to strengthen your body's internal defence mechanism thereby protecting you from day to day infections such as cough, cold etc." He became silent as he continued reading the rest. I knew his interest was piqued. He finished reading it within few minutes and handed my mobile back to me. "You still say it is just a bottle of Chyawanprash?" I asked him while we were standing at the billing counter. "When did I ever say so? It is The precious bottle of Dabur Chyawanprash, a must have for everyone. With it comes 3x Immunity!" he said. I smiled as we started walking back towards home.

Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)