Yes, blogdosts, I need you again! It might sound selfish of me, yet, there is no other way that I can think of to gather good thoughts, prayers and blessings...as that is exactly what Kati needs today.

A colleague and a very good friend and human being, she has been fighting a lone battle against cancer for over a decade now. Currently, she is in the ICU in a hospital in Boston. She had been in India for nine months till September last year and had been undergoing chemotherapy here. However, her health deteriorated when she reached US and it's worse now. The medicines and therapies don't seem to be working and as prayers work more than medicines....I urge you to keep her in your prayers as she needs them most today and so does her family and friends.

Though I have known her for less than a year, she is an epitome of strength and inspiration for everyone around her. Even after having told that she would need to take chemotherapy as the last resort to cure her cancer, her zest for living life to the fullest never took a back seat and she made many friends in a country where she hardly knew the local language! A very determined and strong lady, she never let go of her positive attitude. We, from office, took turns to be with her at the hospital during her chemo sessions and once she would wake up, we'd discuss the latest books, movies, theatre and so many other things. While leaving for the US, she gifted me a stack of books, including the Twilight series, and promised to make it to my wedding whenever it takes place.

I want her to keep her promise and I need you, blogdosts, to help her. Please pray that she copes and recovers and wins against the odds. Please pray that she walks out from the hospital as her smiling and healthy self again. Please pray that our Kati wins this battle and emerges victorious.

Prayers work miracles and we've proved that once before on this blog. Let's do it again, blogdosts.

Picked this from Melissa, liked it and so replicated it :).

This is an ancient picture....my elder cousin holding the little me in a tea leaves basket. She has and is always there with me and for me. And it's difficult for me to take a decision without her. She is not only my elder sister, but one of my closest friends, my guardian, my confidante...and my Godmother! Love you, Di :)

See you soon, blogdosts. Till then, take care and stay precious.

Are we all not so hooked onto Facebook?! Okay...count me in the clan...for there are rare days when I go on without logging in once just to see what my friends are up to. Yes, I do take the pains to read the various things posted on my wall...just to see what people have been up to while I have been missing from Live action!

And there are these status updates there, which are simply so refreshing. You can get the mood of the person through their status message! You like or dislike, agree or disagree, love or hate....you cannot IGNORE them! After my previous sad post, I had to do something to make it up for all of you [ain't I so nice :))]. So, during the last week, I have captured the various interesting status messages of people.

This post is entirely by all my FB friends and for all my blog friends and readers! [Except for minor edits, I haven't made any changes.]

Read on....

1. Just because people grow old, does not mean they grow up.
2. Beatitude=Having a day & the unit to yourself :)
3. Behind every beautiful girl, there's a dumb ass guy who did her wrong and made her strong..
4. Dreaming of a hill top, sitting under a big old oak tree, with a my favourite novel and big cup of Hot Chocolate in my hands, bit of a fragrant breeze of wild and colourful blooms all around. . .. Ahhhhhh blissssss!!!!!!!!
5. Delhi's Daredevilss.. will cheww up the Mumbai Indians...!!! Mr.Thackrey hope ain't reading this ...!!!!
6. Good things take time, Great things happen all at once....
7. If women didn't exist, most of the money in the world would have no meaning.
8. I came, I saw, I started to conquer... but then I got tired and said to hell with it.
9. Today was not my day at all - everything was a mess - literally! Do I need a vacation? Do I? Don't I? Do I?..........................I do! :(
10. Docs ought to be given intuitive intelligent comps (to maintain their speed) so that they can "type" instead of "write" prescriptions....
11. I have decided to see if alcohol is the answer to all my problems.
12. It would be nice if the Food and Drug Administration stopped issuing warnings about toxic substances and just gave me the names of one or two things still safe to eat. Everything I eat has been proved by some doctor or other to be a deadly poison, and everything I don't eat has been proved to be indispensable for life. But I go marching on.
13. I might not be your Knight in shining amour, but do have an Aluminium foil...
14. I think my guardian angel is on dope.
15. Today's Goal: #1. Get out of bed before 12:00pm: Failed. #2. Stay away from Facebook: Failed. #3 Be cute, charming and adorable: Did not attempt. #4 Get drunk: In Progress.
16. Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.
17. As Time Goes By....Things just Cease to Matter......and that Paradox is called Life ! ! ! !
18. Would like to know if anybody knows how to use the Internet??? Mine is stuck on Facebook...;-)
19. If people say something bad against you, judge you as if they know you, don’t get affected, just think think. That the dog doesn’t bark if he knows the person.

Thanks dear FB friends! You people make my wall something to look forward to every day :)

Till the next post...take care, blogdosts,and stay precious :)

You reach out to a *friend* with open arms, willing to share her miseries, and even more ready to help her out of them....providing all the support you can. And then suddenly the *friend* disappears from the scenes without a hint, and you remain there to face the truth, to realize that it was all an 'in-your-face' lie. You didn't once even think that it could be a farce, a fake. You trusted your *friend* and that's the only wrong you did.

Yeah, you got it just right. This happened like last week and my heart and mind are still reeling under that effect. I need to get my thoughts straight and understand why, in the first place, was I led on to believe in all that was said to me? Like any other individual, who could have been in my shoes, I did not only sympathise, but empathised with the victim. Yes, I believed that she was the victim. And the sole reason behind it was that I had been a victim of similar circumstances and so, I only thought it right to hold out and be there for her.

And isn't that what most of us do, if not all? We believe the person who we know (supposedly) and are often made to think that everything that the person says is true; that the entire world seems to be conspiring against him/her; that he/she has been wronged and all that! And we have even more reason to believe in all of that if we have been in a similar muddy situation ourselves!

As for me, all I can think of is that my choice of the person was wrong and so I was prejudiced. For there is no other way that I can justify all that happened. The pride I take in my friends has been affected and I feel cheated. That does not make me suspect others around me; but it does make me more careful of my choices. I don't want one incident to make me feel this way for others around me. For I have friends that I still am proud of for they are who I chose for myself. And even now, they give me the assurance that this is just a one-off incident. Yet, the words remain - I feel cheated. There is anger. There ought to be anger. But it's not for anyone else, but myself. The damage done, the retrospection over, I need to move on from here....only a little more cautious and careful... I am not the one to forgive easily, I'd rather let go.

Will not let leave you all on such a note, blogdosts, and will make up for it before the day ends. Till then, take care and stay precious :)

I'm working on many things to tick off the first thing on my priority list - regular and frequent blogging. There are some of my ideas and there are others that are 'inspired' :). So, you'll see me on this space more often and in case, you'd get bored, don't let me know, for that does nothing to deter me :D.

And yes, I am in my hometown now. This was not a planned trip, but a hurried and an emergency one. Nevertheless, it ticks off the second priority off my list too! I am more at peace with this visit and feeling lighter and better. Though home will never be the same without Dadaji, I can feel his presence and am taking solace in that. It's peaceful and calm here and being with your loved one ensures all the doses of love and happiness that nothing in this world can administer!

For today, there's this tag I really liked. Here it goes :)

The rules are:
1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share the ABCs of you.
4. Tag 3 people at the end of your post by linking.
5. Do not tag the original tagger.

For the first point, I was not really tagged, but picked up this rather interesting post from Neha's blog. The rules being posted here, here I go!

A – Available/Single? - Single.....looking forward to get married! (High time...well at least, according to my folks!)
B – Best friend? - Sarah and Zainab....they are my lifelines!
C – Cake or Pie? - Cake
D – Drink of choice? - Water, Simple, plain and the only thing that really quenches your thirst!
E – Essential item you use every day? - My face wash!
F – Favorite colour? - I like all bright colors!
G – Gummy Bears Or Worms? - Gummy bears
H – Hometown? - Allahabad
I – Indulgence? - Chocolates, Coffee, reading, writing, sleeping, cell, laptop etc. etc.
J – January or February? - February
K – Kids & their names? - Lemme get married first!
L – Life is incomplete without? - everyone I love :)
M – Marriage date? - Again!!!! Refer to 'A'
N – Number of siblings? - Two
O – Oranges or Apples? - Oranges
P – Phobias/Fears? - Heights!
Q – Quote for today? - Live rather than exist!!!
R – Reason to smile? - everything and everyone around me
S – Season? - All!
T – Tag 3 People? - Everyone who wants to take this up :)
U – Unknown fact about me? - None....unless it's unknown to me too!
V – Vegetable you don't like? - Bitter gourd, ladyfingers, mushrooms etc etc.....so much for staying in a boarding all those years!
W – Worst habit? - Too blunt and straightforward!
X – X-rays you've had? A recent ultrasound!
Y – Your favorite food? - Home-made :)
Z – Zodiac sign? - A typical Virgo!!

So, all of you who want to take this up, be my guest and do post your comment so that I can come to your blog and read it :)

Next post when I return to Delhi, which is happening too soon :(

Till then, take care and stay precious :)

It's time I return to what I like best - blogging!!! Being away from this space doesn't necessarily mean that it's off your mind too. There was a time when I had ideas and stories flowing in my mind all the time and while writing a post, I knew what I was going to write in the next one and the next! And then there is this time, when I open the page to begin writing and go blank, then reluctantly, close the window altogether!

Let me begin somehow; for not doing it is an escape, which is not me! I guess I will begin with things that I desperately need to do for now!

Blog - Yes, that takes the top place on my list. Out of sight means out of mind, and I'd hate that! So, for now, I will try and write at least one post every week. That should be good enough to maintain a rhythm!

Make a trip Home - I plan it, then postpone it. I plan it again, I postpone it again. Then I actually get my tickets booked only to cancel them at the last moment! Well, this is how it's been! I can blame it to work, but surely it's not only work to be blamed. It's ME too! I fear returning to a home which will never be the same without Dadaji. The sense of loss is always there, day in and out; but to visit home, knowing that he will not be there at the door waiting for me, is heartbreaking. Even now, as I write this, tears have welled up in my eyes. I try and find consolation in thoughts like he is much closer to me now. I have a hand-sketched picture of his in front of my bed. At nights, I find myself having a one-sided conversation with him and every morning, I wake up seeing his smiling face. I tell myself that I can talk to him without even having to look at the watch now - I need not worry whether it is his bed time or a peak business hour. I feel his presence around me, as if protecting and guiding me. To be honest, I miss him more by the day, but I don't mourn him.

But I also realize that there are other people at home, for whom it's even more shattering to stay without him. And I need to be with them. I need to be with my sister and brother and I need them even more today.

Meet friends - I have not been meeting friends since December now. A person like me who has fewer friends cannot really afford to lose either of them. And yes, it's me who's not been making any effort to meet them. They call, they make plans....I ruin them or in softer words - back out! Some have even stopped talking to me now and I well understand why. But then, I really needed time with and for myself. It's not easy to laugh when you really can't and pretences are not for friends who really matter to you. I have had my time out and in the process, hurt people who care for me. Though it would be fake to promise to be my old self again; yet, I will make sincere efforts towards that.

Focus on my Fitness- How about meeting a general physician, an orthopaedic, a dermatologist and a gynaecologist at the same time??? Trust me, it's not as amusing as it might sound. And that's the kind of people I have been meeting the last couple of months! Except the orthopaedic, all say that it's stress taking me down. One of them even suggested to be in a deadline-free environment for some time. Now, is it possible to be dead and then alive after a while? For I am still to find a deadline-free zone in our current frenzied world! Blogdosts, your suggestions are welcome here.

Lose Weight - OK...I know that this one HAS to be on every girl's wish list, but I REALLY need to do something about it! I tried all the gyms near my place, and they are sad! Next I looked out for Dancing classes, but then that's only for weekends! Next I tried the famous GM diet. The very first evening had me throwing up the apple, oranges and papaya that I had had! Guess these fruits do not get along too well :(. So next is a light diet coupled with exercise at home. Let's see how this one works. Started this from today. Will keep you updated :)

Now, that's quite something for now! As for my next post, I know what it'll be about, so no black-outs for this week. And you never know, it might just come sooner than a week too :)

Till then, take care, blogdosts and stay precious. And yes, thank you all for bearing with me for a long time :)

The more I want to return, the more it seems to get farther away! Yes, I'm talking about this space. I yearn to return and write the way I used to, but something is holding me back. I need to break away from the imaginary shackles and be my writing self again!

And I don't want to let that be an excuse at all. I want to write again because that's the only way I can let loose all those emotions which I can not express in any other way. I feel handicapped when I'm not writing; it's like when someone blindfolds you, leaving you grapple your way out of a maze!

I need to make the start myself and what better than help from my blogger friends. It's this small little world out here that motivates me to go on. And before I embark on my efforts, I want to sincerely thank Melissa for being that one friend I could really talk to! And it's her again who has made me come here and write something! How??? She's just awarded me the 'Beautiful Blogger Award'!!! And trust me, awards in our blogging world are few of the biggest reasons to be happy and feel loved! Thank you, Melissa :))

The rules are:
1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award and insert a link to their blog.
2. Pass on the award to about 15 other bloggers who you recently discovered and think are great! (in no particular order)
3. List 7 things about yourself

And now to pass on this one to 12 [it said about 15 and 12 is as close to that ;)] other bloggers, though none of them are recently discovered, but are a very beautiful part of my blogging world :)

Mrs Potts
Teresa
Melissa
Nupur
The Hall Family
Brown Phantom
Brittany
Ani
Neha
Heidi
Kelsey
It's the little things...Jenn
Neha (My namesake!)

For the 7 things about me:

1. I am a vegetarian, something that sure leaves my friends with as limited options when we go out. They simply fret and fume...do they have any choice? :))
2. Super markets fascinate me and so does spotting an aeroplane!
3. I am a self-declared chocoholic, trying my best to get off chocolates (any help is welcome!)
4. I DON'T like mushrooms! No specific reason for that one though!
5. I hate going to the gym...give me a basketball and even half court and I'll play away happily!
6. Diets are just not for me!!! I am more tempted to eat when I decide to go low on it! :D
7. My laptop and my cell-phone are my biggest material possessions...can't do without either!

So, that's it from me....I promise to get back to writing more often and thank you all, blogdosts, for waiting and giving me the time I so needed. Your emails and messages have helped me tremendously and assured me that I sure have some great friends here. How I wish I could meet you all :((

See you really soon...till then, take care and stay precious :)