Snap of the Week - #1

       It's the 6th week of #SnapYourWeek, a weekly link up started by my fellow blogger and friend Inderpreet who blogs at Eloquent Articulation. I meant to join in soon but as I am not much into photography, it took me a while to get the hang of it. I hope I can continue for the rest of the challenge now.

       It was the time for RSS Parivarthan march. I had fun drawing Rangoli with my neighbours for this occasion.

PS: Linking this post to Eloquent Articulation #SnapYourWeek #6

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)

Ramayana: The Game of Life - Shattered Dreams - Book Review

Title: Ramayana: The Game of Life 

          - Shattered Dreams 

Author: Shubha Vilas

Publisher: Jaico Publishing House

ISBN: 978-81-8495-531-6

Number of Pages: 387

Price: 350 [INR]

Genre: Mythology

Blurb on the Cover:

Shattered Dreams is the sequel to the National bestseller, Rise of the Sun Prince, in the new spiritual and motivational series Ramayana - The Game of Life. Twelve joyful years have passed in Ayodhya since the wedding of Rama and Sita at the end of Book 1.

Now, in Shattered Dreams, Shubha Vilas narrates the riverting drama of Rama's exile. Through tales of Rama's unwavering and enigmatic persona, the book teaches us how to handle reversals positively; through Bharata's actions, it teaches us to handle temptation; and through Sita'a courage, to explore beyond our comfort zone. This complicated family drama provides deep insights on how human relationships work and how they fail.

With Valmiki's Ramayana as its guiding light, Shattered Dreams deftly entwines poetic beauty from the Kamba Ramayana and Ramacharitamanas, as well as folk philosophy from the Loka Pramana tales, to demonstrate how the ancient epic holds immediate relevance to modern life. Experience the ancient saga of the Ramayana like never before!

My Review:

After reading the first book, Ramayana: The Game of Life - Rise of Sun Prince, I was waiting eagerly for the next book in the series to be released and no sooner did I get my hands on this book, I started devouring it right away. And I must say, the book lived up to my expectations.

In this second book, the main focus is laid on the events revolving around Rama's coronation; the turn of events that leads to Dasaratha's decision, Manthara's scheming, Kaikeyi's wishes and the agony that follows Rama's exile. There is also a brief introduction about Ravana, whose role is important in the coming book.

Continuing the tradition set in the first book, the author has given emphasis on each character, giving enough spotlight to each of them, to describe in detail their side of the story. Major part of the first half describes Dasaratha's turmoil and the second half describes Bharata's agony upon discovering the truth of what transpired in his absence. The emotions of the citizens, their love and devotion towards Rama and their devastation when he leaves for exile are all expressed well with giving importance to minute details.

There are many things to learn from the book. Sita's love for Rama which sees no material comforts, Lakshmana's absolute conviction with which he serves Rama, Bharata's humility and the determination with which Rama stands by his principles of truth. Urmila's sacrifice which, though spoken less of, commands respect in the hearts of readers. The description of hell, through Ravana's visit there, manages to send a chill down your spine.

And of course, foot notes! I had these little pieces of information which offered details and knowledge through out the first book. It has been continued in the second book too. The author has so much wisdom to offer to the readers and these foot notes are like tit bits of this wisdom. I absolutely loved them. I found many favorite lines in these. Few of them are:

• The present on the canvas of life is the result of a mu;titude of past strokes. Rather than brooding over those erroneous past strokes that can no longer be undone, learn from them and apply those strokes of wisdom today to paint a beautiful future.
• How long can one go with smiling faces and crying hearts? Either till the smile of the face goes to the heart or the cry of the heart reaches the face.
• Gossip is like a cacophony of crows, where every crow seems to be saying the most important thing, but has neither the time nor the inclination to hear an equally important message from any of the other crows.
• Confidence is a key to all locks, but overconfidence is the lock to all doors. Confidence leads to inspiration, but overconfidence leads to perspiration.

The language is eloquent and the narration crisp. I loved the flow of the story. There were a few typos this time but they were few and far stretched to spoil the bliss of reading. There are a few books which can be read multiple times and every time you read it, you get to learn something new. For me, this is one such book. I said in the review of the first book that a series can be considered effective when the readers are enthusiastic and look forward to reading the next book. Well, I am definitely looking forward for the third book in the series.

I recommend this book to all mythology readers. Go for it. It is definitely one of the best Ramayana books I have read. And I have a piece of advice - Don't rush reading this book. Go slowly and you will discover various facets of the story and every facet has something to offer to you.

My Rating: 4/5 Stars.

PS: This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books.

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)

A Backpack of Regrets!

       Life is too short to spend our time regretting. But as much as we like to deny it, we all carry with us, a bag of regrets. For some, it might be heavy and for some it will be light; but the backpack of regret exists all the same. For some, the regret is about something they have done in the past and for others, it is about something they didn't do. But as much as we think and wish, all we can do it regret about those things. Nothing can be done to change the past. That is exactly why the wise people say it is foolish to carry regrets. Though true, practically it is very difficult to follow! Rare and blessed are those who do not have any regrets in their lives.

       I am not perfect and I carry with me a bag of regrets too. I have put off so many things in my bucket list to do them in the future, when I have free time. Now when I think of it, I regret doing so. What is the guarantee that the future will be all rosy and everything will be laid out in my favor? For all I know, there might be more difficulties than now and I may never get to tick off the things on my wishlist. Wouldn't that be horrible? I never want that to happen! There are already a few things which I have been postponing for later and wish to do them now.

1. Stop Existing and Start Living:

      Many a times, I have put off things I badly wanted to do either because of busy schedule or because of fear and hesitation. As a result, I have denied myself a lot of fun in life. There are so many things I love, which have taken a back seat in my life. I have been so busy running to ace in the life's race, I have forgot there are other things too; things like fun. I feel like I am merely surviving, not living life to the fullest. Every time I think of doing something creative, I have put the thought aside due to my academic schedule, saying I can always do it later. I have a quilling kit lying around begging for attention, there are paints which are almost dried up, sketches waiting to be made, songs to be learnt, books to be read and ideas waiting to be penned down. Its not only hobbies; I have missed out on many occasion, where I could have enjoyed, thinking I wouldn't fit in! And by doing all this, I have confined myself to a mere monotonous routine. When I think of it now, I regret holding back myself. How much have I missed out in life because of that! Now that I have realized it, I want to change it. I want to stop existing and start living! 

2. Travel around the World:

       Travelling has always been something I loved and I have always dreamt of travelling around the world. Knowledge is abundant. There are two ways of acquiring this knowledge - one is to read a lot and the other is to travel a lot. When you travel to different places, you meet different kind of people, get to learn their lifestyles, see many new things and have many first time experiences that will enrich your wisdom. Also, there is that rush of happiness you get seeing all the exotic places, which you definitely cannot ignore. I always wanted to break out from my monotonous life and experience this kind of fun. During college days I used to think of travelling during holidays and during holidays, laziness would stop me from even going out of my home. Thus, I have missed many opportunities to travel. But I don't want to do it anymore. I want to stop putting off the plan for later. I just want to pack my bag and go on a long vacation.

3. Spend more time with People I Love:

       Being an introvert, I have always loved being alone for most of the times. Though I interact with people, I don't talk much. Even at home, I speak only when I am in a good mood. But for the majority of the time, I lock myself in my room and refuse to let anyone in even for a chat. Recent demise of a friend made me realize how less time we all have! Our days are numbered and our lives, uncertain. The person whom you expect to be around all the time may not be there when you next need them. Before you know, it might be too late. So, I want to break out of this shell I have built around me and spend more time with people I love. I want to create happy memories which, when I remember later in my life, will make me smile.

       So many wishes unfulfilled! Sigh! Well, I have decided. From now on, I will never postpone things for later. I will quit living in the future and start living in the present. That, I have realized, is the best gift I can give for myself.

PS: This post is a part of the #SecondChance activity at BlogAdda in association with MaxLife Insurance.

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)

The Pimple Saga

       This incident happened few months ago. It was the month of celebration. My cousin's wedding was fast approaching and I was having a gala time shopping and celebrating with my cousins. Wedding seasons are always fun time and if there happens to be someone to enjoy with, the fun multiplies in magnitude. It was the same with me. We were a group of teenagers having the most awesome time of our life. Our days passed shopping, selecting the best for the occasion and the nights were spent partying, watching movies, playing pranks and pulling the groom's leg.

       All was fun and happening until the traitor made its appearance. One day we woke up to the shrill voice of my cousin sister who was shouting like the entire house was set on fire. As I woke up and sat straight with a jerk, everything was looking normal to me. At first, I couldn't find anything that could explain my cousin's behavior. She was standing in front of the mirror, looking sad and angry at the same time. It looked as if she was about to cry or punch someone if need be. Confused, I kept staring at her. Slowly, I understood what had brought out the drama and when I did, I burst out laughing, much to her irritation. There, sitting majestically on her forehead was a pimple, which was the root cause of all the drama.

       Everything changed soon. Our shopping trips were cancelled as my fashion lover, Ms Perfect cousin hid in her room. She didn't agree to go out, for she didn't want to show her pimple clad face to anyone. "What would people think?", "How would I face anyone with this pimple on my face?", "What happens to my image?" the endless questions made her sulk even more. As it happens always, when someone is suffering, people start offering free advises. Everyone assumes the role of a doctor as they start suggesting remedies and the same happened in my cousin's case too. "Apply some turmeric" said one. "Wash your face multiple times and avoid going out in dust" said another. There was no cream that wasn't suggested and no remedy left unsaid. But nothing worked. If anything, the tension seemed to make it worse and the small pimple had now swollen in size and my cousin was in hysterics! I tried to pacify her by saying she need to maintain calm, for tension would make things worse. I suggested her to breath in and out evenly. She made a great show of breathing calmly for a minute and burst out with rage. "As if I can sit calm with this wretched thing on my face! The function is so close and now my life is doomed" wailed my drama queen.

       Though I pitied her, some of her antiques were fun to watch. She decided to get a new perm, a front cut, so that her hair can cover her face. I thought it was ridiculous. "How would you know my pain?" she said as I kept on turning down all her so called brilliant ideas by saying they were stupid. Of course I knew how she was feeling. I had experienced it a few times myself. There is nothing great about pimples. If anything, they make you feel so low and make you lose your self confidence. You don't feel like going out or interacting with anyone. Even if there is nothing going on, you feel like everyone is staring at you and laughing at you. You just wish the earth would split up and swallow you. Those little demons are like parasites, which live off you and take away your life. Okay, that was an exaggeration. They don't take your life but they take away your happiness and peace of mind and it is almost the same. How frustrating that feeling of helplessness is, I know it all. But I wasn't going to say it out loud and make her wail even more. Instead, I tried to pacify her.

       Finally, a friend of her's suggested her to use Garnier Neem Face Wash. She assured my cousin that she had used it herself and felt the results. With a couple of days still left for the wedding, she had nothing to worry if she started using it now. Lapping up every assurance she gave, my cousin religiously followed her friend's advice. As days passed, her dramatics became less and finally to the point that there were none. Her antiques had stopped. She was again going on and on about how we would have an awesome time at the wedding. Was she the same one who was planning schemes to hide herself backstage during the whole function? It didn't look like that. Now that she had got rid of the wretched pimple and was confident about herself, she seemed like a totally different person. This transformed one was oozing with confidence as she planned various mischiefs to enjoy the wedding. 

       The pimple had brought unexpected turn of events. But once it was gone, needless to say, we enjoyed the wedding function to the peek.

PS: This post is written for IndiBlogger in association with  Garnier Pure Active - No Pimples No Marks.

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)

Mom and Facebook!!

       Facebook is a fun place when you have right kind of friends. The socializing, sharing, getting to know what is happening in each other's life, chatting; everything seems good. Sometimes, it is the best option to pass time. Everything looks good and happening. But what happens when your parents join Facebook? Well, that is when the real trouble begins!

       It all started when mom started learning computer few months ago. In the beginning, she used to say "These computers are not for me. I can never learn it. Leave it, it's a waste of time" My brother and I used to have a difficult time convincing her to learn. To make learning fun, my brother taught her how to use Facebook, so that there will be something interesting and motivating. After all, the thought of getting to know what her friends and family is up to, ought to pique some interest.

       Now, fast forward a few months.

Me: Mom, I want to use system.

Mom: Can't you see I am using it now? You go and read.

       After a few minutes,

Mom: Swathi!! Didn't I tell you to read?

Me: Mom! I am reading!

Mom: Don't lie to me! If you are reading, then who is liking pictures on Facebook?

       Oops!! Now I can't use Facebook as and when I want when reading. Were we wrong in teaching her? I wasn't sure.

       Few more days and she knew how to use Facebook perfectly. And started the endless questions.

• Why are you online all the time?
• Who is that who liked you status?
• Why did he like your picture?
• Why does he comment on everything you post?
• Who is this friend of yours?
• Why are you tagged in this post?
• (When a friend posted a Thank you video on my timeline, which was so popular few months back) Why is he thanking you? Why video?
• (When she saw me liking a post of  a blogger friend, which said she was selected for an anthology) Why don't you put status like this? If you don't tell anyone about your achievements, who will?
• (And the best/worst - when/if I put a new DP) Don't you read the posts? It's not good for girls to put pictures on Facebook. How many times should I tell you this?

       When mom first started using Facebook, I thought it was so cool. But now? I feel like smacking my brother for teaching her! He told me few minutes ago that he is planning now to teach her how to use Whatsapp!! What? Why? How? I couldn't even think of a proper response for that! If my occasional Facebook usage can cause so much trouble, what will happen when she starts using Whatsapp? Well, I just know one thing for sure. I will never be able to fake sleep and chat with friends till late! God save me!

PS: I do love my mom. But sometimes, just sometimes, the questions are difficult to answer.

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)

Angelic Beats - Book Review

Title: Angelic Beats  

Author: Sarita Singh
Publisher: Leadstart Publishing Pvt. Ltd
ISBN: 978-93-84226-50-3
Number of Pages: 247
Price: 175 [INR]


Blurb on the Book:

Angelic Beats is the story of a boy in his late teens who falls in love with a married woman. Both defy their ages; the woman for her looks and innocence and the boy for his confidence and clarity in life along with integrity. The journey of the boy for his passion also becomes journey of love for both that finally takes them to more meaningful destinations. It unfolds the changing perspective of a young boy and a married woman in various situations of life treading the path of love and success together. How they carry on with love and friendship as a responsibility is quintessence to their journeys.

Love can make one completely blind or it can candle all the darkness in life.

Sometimes destiny becomes the greatest magician. It brings two opposite people, Sahil and Aakanksha, on one platform. Even their personal statuses do not match for one is married and the other single. One is confident about making choices in life, whereas the other is always scared of making a choice. One is always positive, and the other is negative in outlook.

Unlike mathematics, where "+" and "-" always make "-", sometimes in real life, "+" and "-" do make a "+" together.

On the road leading to his passion, he happened to meet the first love of his love too. Before going to the National Defence Academy for the journey to be a commissioned officer in Indian Air Force finally, he introduced "love" in her and his own life and pledged his heart to her. The arrows of Cupid struck her also.

Do their final choices engulf all other relationships like a storm and rage and bleed their self-esteem? Or are they able to carry their choices gracefully through their quest for happiness?

My Review:

The protagonist Sahil is a 19 year old whose dream is to join the Airforce. He  is strong, determined and follows his dream passionately. On his journey to the NDA, he meets Akanksha, who is 24 and married! But this doesn't stop them from falling for each other and the story there after is how they carry on with their lives while nurturing this love of theirs.

Amidst all the odds, Sahil and Akanksha find a way to be each others strength, love providing the necessary support needed. But how long will they be able to carry on this love? Will they be able to face the society and their family?

I liked the positive approach of Sahil towards life. His confidence and his perseverance are something that can inspire you. The story starts well and is fast paced till a certain point but from the middle of the story, the pace slows down and it gets a little boring. While it is interesting to learn about the life at NDA, too much details slows down the story pace and the reader loses interest slightly.

Here are some lines that I liked from the book:

• Love is never planned nor does it happen for a reason. It just happens.
• When you are bitten by bug called Love, everything seems perfect.
• With strength comes clarity of thoughts.

All in all, I felt the book was OK. The language is simple and straight forward. Apart from few additional details which slows down the plot, the story makes a good read.

My Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Buy @

Amazon.com |Amazon.in | Flipkart |

Meet the Author:

The author, Sarita Singh, is a post-graduate in chemistry with a post-graduate diploma in mass communications. Born and brought up in Panipat, Haryana, she has been married to a doctor and is blessed with a son. The author is a state civil services (allied) officer, who has also taught in various institutions earlier. Reading and writing have always been a part of Sarita Singh who used to write her diary from a very young age. Like many others, she too loves gossiping and enjoying with friends and family as she loves spending time with them. The author believes in a few optimistic thoughts: “I am alright, I am happy where I am now, but I wish to be somewhere else. And I will try for it.”

You can stalk her @

                          

       

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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 :)