"You should know. You built a family"

"It must be satisfying to be able to build something."

"You should know. You built a family," he said when she glanced back at him.

"That's a nice thing to say" she said.

My feelings totally goes with her. Having a family and building one are like chalk and cheese; completely different jobs. This evening I had rather a very interesting time with my family; another memorable set of moments. Today I am bit down by health. Reason to reckon? Having swelled face topped with rashes infused rough cheeks which have made me slow down. Frankly speaking, I am resembling a dreadful nightmare coming unabashedly true to life. Don't know the allergic source. Went to doctor and done with the consultation. Medication is on.

So I was on today's interesting evening. As I felt weak and bit dizzy, I propped down on bed having intention to catch up on some catnap but alas! The novel I am reading currently hogged my attention and I decided to catch up on it instead of some rest. Hubby scolded a little but I ignored. Reading is fascinatingly a bliss, only a true reader (like me ;)) can bet on that. I started from the page I left this evening when my son jolted down the bed, sitting next to me and asking what to do next. Because of my poor health, I could not afford to put forward enough efforts to give him some good time today (today was his holiday for him). So I was already riding with a guilt trip. To pat it wisely, I suggested him to read something also.

Any book would do, I said. He fished out two super heroes books from The Home Library (As I prefer to call my library). He came in and I then suggested him to draw some pictures out of them. This would offer him some creative time I thought and exactly the same happened. He went on making a Spider man picture. His trials were laudable. As he was busy in sketching, I was busy with my novel, sketching the scenes inside head plus...simultaneously smoothing out the guilt spikes that were harsh on me earlier.

Intensified Diarrhea Control Fortnight campaign, UNICEF

July 28th, 2014, Jacaranda Hall, India Habitat Centre (IHC). I was in New Delhi attending an event coined as Intensified Diarrhea Control Fortnight campaign mooted by our Hon'ble Union Minster of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, with the alliance of UNICEF and several other world wide organizations like Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, WHO, USAID India etc.

One out of every five children die because of diarrhea. The main squeeze of the campaign is to slice down the child mortality rate happens due to diarrhea. According to the health department, the disease remains the topmost concern for children deaths aged under five. If we look at exact calculations, it makes up for about 11% of under five deaths for children across the country. Almost 2 lakhs children die because of diarrhea.

Seeing through a clear picture, diarrhea is not a complex disease that can not be dealt with. Embracing the standard ways of hygiene and enough awareness about the treatment can easily lead to solve the problem. Preventive bars can be put on the disease by following simple steps like drinking clean water, healthy practices for sanitation, breastfeeding and washing hands before and after meals. It is as simple as that.

Celebrating Polio free India by UNICEF

A Thanksgiving event was organized by UNICEF on July 27th'14 in New Delhi with respect to Social Mobilization Network (SmNet) for Polio. I was fortunate enough to be a part of the event. The event marked the humbling presence of Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, the Goodwill Ambassador of the organization, and Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, the pioneer of the polio eradication program in India.

The event was keenly organized to thank thousands of mobilizers who worked incredibly hard to make India what it is today...a polio free country. It was scheduled at 6.30 pm in Thyagraj stadium. I hit the venue at around 5.15 pm. When I reached there, I found huge preparations for the evening. A number of guests, journalists and others were present to attend it. Several volunteers directed every one of them to their respective places. They also handled every query with calm and sense. Chairs looked enticing with white embracing and yellow embellishments. The stage was marvelously decorated. The yellow background highlighted Mr. Bachchan's signature pose for Polio campaign extremely well. Everyone looked busy to make the event a great success. All in all, it was a very impressive arrangement.

And here I am before the event could start.

Finally the wait was over and Mr. Bachchan graced the venue dot on time. Everyone welcomed him with thunderous applause. It was really good to see him. Along with him arrived Trustee, Rotary foundation Mr. Sushil Gupta, UNICEF India Representative Mr. Louis Georges Arsenault and WHO Representative, India Dr. Nata Menabde. It was after they were seated, the event started. 

What's wrong with you, Bangalore?

22 years old woman raped inhumanely in Frazer town! 

A 6 year innocent girl raped by two of the school gym instructors during her school hours!

What's wrong with you, Bangalore? What is happening with your ever so beautiful serene and secure haven? Culprits are turning you down; they are gradually making you a horror place to live in. Save yourself! Please! I beg. WE beg.

Protests have been raised. People have slammed shut their house doors behind them to speak on the issue. Parents are going crazy thinking 'how much my kid is safe outdoors/at schools?' Being a parent myself, I am also worried. I am also stressed over the issue. When the 6 yr. old girl complained of back ache and burning sensation during urination, her mother could not understand the issue first. When a stranger called from the school inquiring about why she was not coming, the mother instantly got curious. Then one day, girl asked to her,

"Mumma! Papa is a good man. Right?"

This was the moment that took the mother off guard. First a call from the stranger and then this statement, the mother went to school and tried to quench the maddening questions silently jabbing her heart. Digging more inside the matter, the spine chilling truth finally emerged at the surface. The main culprit, Mustafa, is alleged to keep number of child porn videos and several offensive videos on his laptop.

As for the 22 yr. old woman, she was abducted with her boyfriend in a car. Later the boy was dumped after getting robbed off his watch and some cash. Then the culprits led to assault the girl sexually. This left her scarred; physically as well as mentally.

Horrible! Aren't they?

Sharing is good

This evening when I picked up my son from school, he said something nice on the way back home but before I proceed, let me fill some details in here. It takes my kid estimated one hour by bus to reach to his school and another to get back home. The place where we live in currently is quite far but as soon as we shift into our new house, the bus will feed on relatively lesser travel time to the school. Because of spending an hour long tick tock till he gets back home, hunger drives him nuts. So everyday I give my kid a carton of juice so that he can drink in the bus while waiting to get back home.

Today as soon as he hopped inside the car, he blurted out.

"Mumma! One of my friends did not bring lunch today; only snacks. He was hungry and thus, was not feeling well. I gave up on my Frooti for him"

 I immediately asked out of concern, "Then what did you have on the way?"

"I just let him drink half because he was not well. He felt better with half carton of Frooti. Rest half I had". I appreciated his kind gesture and said he did a good job helping his friend.

I smiled as I turned my car left from the signal. I was glad to hear that my son knows sharing; that he cares for others. He also felt good when his friend felt better. This evening, he gave me a victorious mother smile.

Be busy, if you desire to bring change

Recently I was talking to my father over the phone. He has been elected as Rotary President and is supposed to deliver an installation speech for the ceremony very soon. I am helping him in writing the same.

So regarding this, we were in a deep meaningful conversation few nights ago. When I talked about how people easily make excuses by saying they don't have time for doing this or that, he said some lines enough to tickle my senses.

People who want to bring change have to be busy. Those who are free can not do anything. If you look up to famous people, they don't have time. They are always doing something. They are on the run 24x7. Expressions like 'I don't have time to do this and that' simply does not exist in their dictionaries. If you are busy, it means you are busy in doing something; that your mind does not have the slightest chance of turning into a devil's workshop. On the contrary, if you are free all the time, that expounds on you don't do anything and yet if you keep on complaining and excusing, it means you can not bring the change. Thus, be busy, if you desire to bring change.

Wonderful lines. Isn't it? I loved his words and naturally happen to comply with all of it. I too believe if you truly want to contribute something, you have to stop making excuses and start acting nevertheless I had my cherry pick among his talk.

Be busy, if you desire to bring change.

What do you think about it? And if your thoughts happen to coincide with us, think about the next question - What are we busy about?

Is it really a big deal for Maria, Sachin or...us?

According to the recent buzz, Maria Sharapova, the famous tennis player, is being victimized for not knowing the legendary cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar. Before I put forward my views on this, let me present an anecdote from my life happened few years ago.

I was at my native. One morning, I and my brother were watching news. Cricket world cup was about to happen. From the organizing country, media was asking people their views on the same. Many of them refused to have knowledge of any such world cup happening in their country. I wondered. How come they don't know about the match happening in their own country? I turned to my brother expressing the sudden amazement. He simply asked back. 'Do you know Football world cup is also about to happen in India?' I said, 'No' and with this, I had the answer of my amazement. Brother entailed further. 'You don't know about the upcoming Football world cup because you are not the follower of the game. These people are also like you. They do not follow cricket as we do'.

Exactly. If Maria Sharapova does not follow cricket, what's her fault in not knowing a legend across the globe? She belongs to Russia; a country deprived of the sport, Cricket. Majority of people there do not follow the sport. Then why Maria is being ridiculed for being unaware about a legend? She herself is a legend in Tennis yet millions of people might be unaware about her name. Does this turn them into a laughing matter? Maria is adorable when it comes to her sport. She is beautiful, sexy and an amazing player. She is considered as Tennis queen and has bagged grand slam championships. We should keep these in mind rather than her innocent unawareness about some other famous player. Know more about her life and journey on Maria Sharapova.

Stop ridiculing her!

Facts and myths about illness

As the clock strikes the universal time, I have settled for a post. Running on foot for the entire day has left me with a modicum of some 'Me' time. As I stated in my previous post, my husband and kid both are down with fever. While hubby is feeling better today, kid is still struggling with high temperature, sore throat, weakness and bad mouth taste. All in all, it is really heart wrenching to see both of them in such state. I wish for them to get well soon as soon as possible.

But have you ever noticed this one? That you can't help yourself but to come across some new strange facts or better say, myths during ailments like fever? Yesterday my mother told me to not feed them potato because its essence is hot. This morning, my mother-in-law was saying gourd has cold essence. According to both of them, some vegetables are harmful in illness and better not to feed the patients. Being a curious (and little stubborn on my part until I get the logic behind), I decided to ask these to the doctor we went today for the follow up. He said the husband and kid both could eat any vegetable. There is no harm in it. Huff! Relaxing to know this. Isn't it? Based on today's discoveries and prior experiences, I have listed out some myths about mild/high temperature or fever that tend to occupy people with its deep intensity. Let's find them out.

Do not consume fruits/fruits juices

Potpourri of June

I am writing this post live from my kitchen. With hubby and kid sleeping at this hour, I have woken up early and making a healthy light breakfast for them. It is taking time to cook. Thus, I thought to express something over my blog. It is calming to write and share things.

Past few weeks have bygone with verity of flavors. Sumit's big brother and his family visited us for few days. It was a good family experience. We laughed, we chatted and visited some places within the perimeter of the city. Bhaiya (Sumit's brother) has two kids with whom Ashmit enjoyed a lot. Trio had been successful in giving us some free time to enjoy ourselves. Kids played, enjoyed and shared lot of things. Sharing is one thing that every parent want for their kid/s. Ashmit shared his toys and books with them which was pleasant to see. Around other kids, he becomes possessive of his articles but sometimes, he let his inhibitions go easily. We all visited HAL museum, planetarium and ISKCON temple. Bhaiya and his family's visit was good. We enjoyed and loved their presence. Below are some snapshots during their visit.

In HAL Bangalore

Love this one

ISKCON Bangalore

 One more good news to share. My father has become the President of Rotary club. It is such a wonderful news. We all are excited and so much proud of him. He works attentively for social causes and has been delivered some outstanding performances. Because of his dedication and urge to work for good, the club has crowned him with such prestigious post. Now I am helping him with his Presidential Installation Speech. It is always fun to work with my father. Whenever he needs something to work on and a write up, he turns to me. It gives me immense pleasure. We work together, put together our inputs and then come up with the best face of the outcome. I dearly wish him All The Best. May he reach to the new heights of success.