People who Manipulate for P | A to Z April 2016 Challenge

It will rain when I will be taking my last breaths.
I will be complete at that time - be it today or some years down the line.
I am content with what I made, knowing that I made it through life.
And on my death bed, I will don a smile!

But still many a time I come across people who want to fix my life. I see my life perfect, they see dents in it. Why? Perhaps because I do not go by their conventions.

Or perhaps there is an innate force that drives humans to look for flaws in others so that they can keep their hand on their heart and chant - all is well!

What comes next from such people is - Gossip, Uncalled-for suggestions or manipulation!

We do not even gauge that we are being manipulated into someone else's idea of life. Well I will surly call it manipulation. I have been dragged into manipulative situations. Till that time I realise that the thing is so not me. What then - I start to retract. Hurts both me, who feels that I should have been honest about my feelings and my way of life and it hurts the manipulator - who has failed at one of this classic solutions of being a life saviour.

If I look from manipulator's mind - do they understand that they are being manipulative? As mostly they call themselves caring. I recollect once a serial manipulator passed a simple statement - it is fun to manipulate. Surly it is fun to make people dance on your tunes. Who does not love it? But who has better control on the situation? The one who is to be manipulated or the one who manipulates? I think it is the former! If we remain clear about what we want, we cannot be manipulated into something we do not want to do.

Author's Note: People exhaust me, I would rather watch a movie, read a book or head for a walk in the woods!

M done.. Yippi!

Wanderer's Wonder (W on Day 23 of A to Z Challenge 2015)

When you travel, you are not tired, and in Himachal Pradesh I really traveled. Was it weed in the air or was it the weather that took me to wander in Manali?

Streams of hills emerge from flowing brown waters
A few trees squabble through the curves of concrete
Rest of them are standing tall on rich green mountains
With a few blossom flowers a lot of rich green weed
Sun beam falls on my specs as trees scream for attention
Trees tall and green and some of them slouch to strong wind
Not untouched my humankind I see towers and running wires
Through this a neatly arranged landscapes to be seen
Beautiful, isn't it?

Here is a photo collection of my wanderlust in Manali.

Music and view, just before carving my footprints in Manali

Outskirts of Manali

Sunbeam and tall trees in Manali

We Checked In

On our way to Jogini Falls, we discovered curves on hills and road! 

Resting after a little Trek at Jogini Falls

Harimba Temple
Here 18 Animals are slaughtered during Navratras

Day 2 we were on our way to Gulaba Valley and Salong Valley

After we made a snow man at Gulaba Valley

Glitters at Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib
And we received a splendid hospitality

Riverside at Kasol

Author's Note: I wandered and I wrote a poem. I walked long distances. Amidst quite a lot of hiccups, I heard drums, saw dance and weeds plantation. Not to forget recording here that I about to be attacked by 7 hungry dogs. Eeks!!

Last year I visited Udaipur during A to Z Challenge and this year it was Manali. Wonder what is up for next year ;p

P.S.: Wandrer's Wonder for W - April 27, 2015. My twenty third post for the A to Z April Challenge.

Taylor Swift Music - My Three Picks (T on Day 20 of A to Z Challenge 2015)

A to Z comes with me travelling. Last year I was in Udaipur and this time I am in ..... make a guess or you know already.

Yes I am travelling and will get back next week :)

Travel and Music are the best things in the world. Poof! I forgot Chocolate, Pizza, Movies and People who love you unconditionally!

Before I get and soak myself in the scenic beauty, leaving you with my top three picks of Taylor Swift. If you love music, you cannot fail to notice her.

Author's Note: Before packing my bags, I packed the Music. Taylor Swift is one of my favourite people.
Share your top picks by TS or anyone you adore.

P.S. Taylor Swift Music - My Three Picks for T - April 23, 2015.

My twentieth post for the A to Z April Challenge.

P.P.S.: Gary Lightbody is cute

Video Links - Youtube

Queen is what the Queen does!

I bring to you opinions of a guest on my blog - Anupriya Karmakar. She has some special observations to share on Queen! (the Movie). Here is her post:

This year saw several woman centric movies. Some struggled at the box office and were off the cineplexes in a jiffy (Gulab Gang, Bobby Jasoos, Revolver Rani), while others managed to garner rave reviews (Highway, Mary Kom, Mardani). For me this year belonged to Queen.

What I loved about this movie was that it was such a simple story made with sheer honesty. A perfect blend of emotions, fun, and serious messages said in a moderate tone. Never did I feel it was trying to preach anything yet it left a great impact. While many of you may have different memories from the movie, I personally have kept a few with me. Forever.

Go on a trip alone: Rani, the protagonist, decides to go for her honeymoon all by herself. To many of us it may seem bizarre but that’s what we all need – a trip alone. Being a woman, especially in India, we all are warned even to think of travelling alone. No matter how liberal our parents are. ‘Akeli ladki’ (Lone woman) are just some words that have been haunting us for ages. All we end up doing is calling up a bunch of disinterested friends who have unending excuses.

Make your backpack your companion. Whether going through a tough phase or not – just head out!

Let first impressions not impair your judgments: During her trip to Paris and Amsterdam Rani meets and befriends new people. Not only she gets close to people from different cultural backgrounds but makes new ‘male’ friends – something she would have never thought of.

At times we are quick to form an opinion about a new person. Our actions are ruled by what we think of that person. But we forget it’s not always the time that decides how well we know someone.

Don’t wash dirty linen in public: There’s just one instance when Rani gets sloshed in Paris and bares her heart out to Vijaylaxmi. However, when her friends in Amsterdam get into a brawl with her ex/fiancé, she clearly tells them to stay out.

No matter how much damage a person does to your feelings, it’s more dignified when you choose not to humiliate or try giving them a dosage of their own medicine in front of others. Respect is something that can elevate or tear someone apart with equal intensity.

Unleash the wild within you: Rani is a naïve girl, who even after being in a relationship is shown to have never French-kissed. She meets a stranger,Marcello, in Amsterdam and accepts his challenge to prove Indian style of kissing is the best by kissing him. She goes out to night-clubs and dances her heart out – something her fiancé had forbidden her from indulging in.

It’s sometimes good to let your hair down and just have a good time. The point made is not getting intimate with a stranger. That’s at your own discretion! ;)

Give your passion a chance: Thanks to Marcello that Rani gets to explore her hidden culinary skills and impresses the visitors at a fair with her desi Indian snack – GolGuppa. At first what it seemed as a failure, turns out a huge hit among the foreigners.

There’s no such thing as the perfect time to do what you like doing. It’s therapeutic when you want to break from the mundane.

The movie holds a special place in my heart. For starters: It’s my first movie alone in a theatre! Being a person conscious of the way I conduct myself in public (well, most of the times), the thought of watching a movie and reacting emotionally, all by myself, was nerve-racking. What if the stranger sitting next to you thinks you’re a retard? For me movie-watching is an experience that’s best enjoyed in the company of others. That’s just my personal viewpoint. I need another post to state the reasons. Anyway, thanks to a friend who ditched me at the last moment – for vaild professional reasons, of course (obviously I would never buy a ticket for just myself in the first place), I got to enjoy a wonderful piece of cinema, irrespective of who sat beside me that day.

As Rani took her final majestic walk after meeting her fiancé in the end, that’s how I felt on my way back after watching the movie – in my own little way with my own little achievement!

Author's Note: I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Shine for sharing her space on the blog with me and, most importantly, for encouraging me to write a blog post after ages.

P.S.: Thank you Anupriya! I hope you be a recipient of happy hospitality on my blog. You deserve a double thank you - for writing the post and helping with quite a few images - that makes me want to visit the movie again.

Photo Credit: Google Search

Love Amidst Lust: A-to-Z Challenge [14 April 2014]

While I was lusting over internet
I had a craving of Watsapp and Facebook
My mobile refused to ring and no sms-ing
I had to pass days without network and connectivity
All I was supposed to do was to savour the view 

City Palace, Udaipur.
Credits to be attributed to Shine Kapoor

While I was trekking on forts uphill
Taking a rope-way to a sunset point at the Karni Mata temple.
As my boat steered through Lake Pichola

Badge : A-to-Z Challenge [April 2014]

I found my love for life without internet and mobile

Author's Note:  I was on a travel to the city of Udaipur with an all girl gang. 

P.S.: Sensing that I will not be able to devote time, I had scheduled my J post and K post. Glad that I have managed to survive through the A-to-Z April Contest so far. 

P.P.S.: No mood to pick my phone to talk, I am so in Udaipur mode. While I thought that I had to be available on phone, I was proved wrong.