“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” - A.A. Mine Daughter, sister, friend, wife, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, mother, grandmother and the list is exhaustive. Girls, we play multiple roles in our lives and somewhere in the middle of fulfilling the duties of each of these roles, we forget to ‘being me’. We are so engrossed in taking care of everything else around us that somewhere we forget to ‘take care of ourselves’. So, here is a reminder from me to all the girlies out there. You are special and no matter what people may have to say, you have to live your life for yourself first. Don’t forget that! Society will always have something to say. No matter how hard you try, even your best is not enough. So why fret? If the problem has to remain in all cases, why not live our life the way we wish to? Let them say. The important thing is that we need to happy and content. Rest everything will fall into place automatically. And c’mon, even if it does not, do we really need to care? ‘You are the most important person in your life than anyone else’. I read a great line somewhere- “khud ko khoya to kya paya”. And therefore, remind yourself- “khud ko nhi khona hai, chahe jo ho jae”. So here are 20 things which you all must remember and remind yourself from time to time: 1. Eat what you wish to. It is okay to eat that cheese burst pizza or drink a coke. 2. Love everyone around you. Love is a reflective in nature. The more you give, the more you get back. Spread positivity and only happiness. 3. Be independent. Whether you work or not, that is a personal choice, but it is extremely important to be independent. And there is no option to this. 4. It is okay for you to have a lot of friends- be it girls or boys. It does not matter. Also, boys are considered to be better as friends than girls. 5. Please for God’s sake- learn about investments and taxes. Not every time, your father or husband or a friend should be helping you to manage your savings and earnings. 6. Pamper yourself. Plan and save for your own gift. You do not necessarily have to always gift others. Neither do you have to depend on others to gift you something. Gift yourself first! 7. Be real you. You don’t have to smile if you don’t like someone. Period. You don’t have to accept what you don’t want to. It is about you as well. 8. You are a girl darling. You are allowed to PMS 365 days a year. Absolutely fine. But don’t depend on others to pamper you. (Remember point number 6) 9. If you enjoy travelling, travel as much as you wish to. Don’t let anyone stop you. Travel with people or solo but travel. 10. Stop justifying your choices to everyone around. You have your own choice and it is absolutely fine. You don’t owe an explanation. 11. Respect everyone- kids or elders- only if they deserve...! 😋 12. Exercise and take care of your body. Your body is your only permanent partner. Do what makes you happy- walk, jog, dance, yoga, exercise or gym but you need to be fit and healthy. Not for others but for yourself. 13. It is okay if you don’t know cooking or you don’t like cleaning. They are not necessities for survival. You can live a healthy and happy life without being a great cook or without cleaning the sink full of dirty vessels. 14. You don’t have to play the victim always in difficult situations. Try to be balanced and think of figuring out solutions to the problems. 15. Take care of your parents. Play an equal responsibility in that. It’s not acceptable to expect everything from your brother every time. 16. Read, read and read. Find time for it. Keep yourself updated. 17. Take time to do what you like to do- be it going out or shopping or watching tv or just sitting idle. Please don’t feel guilty because others feel it is worthless. Remember- people will have problems anyway :P 18. It’s okay if you want to stay single. You don’t need a boyfriend or a husband always to prove your existence. It is just your own choice. 19. Have a dream and follow it. Don’t sacrifice it for anyone. 20. Believe in yourself or no one else ever will. Always remember- “You are amazing, just the way you are”. P.S. More power to all the girls out there. Keep shining :)

Let us sing together: Sundar mundriye ho! Tera kaun vicharaa ho! Dullah Bhatti walla ho! Dullhe di dhee vyayae ho! Ser shakkar payee ho! Kudi da laal pathaka ho! Kudi da saalu paata ho! Salu kaun samete! Chache choori kutti! Zamidara lutti! Zamindaar sudhaye! Bade bhole aaye! Ek bhola reh gya! Sipahee far ke lai gaya! Sipahi ne mari itt! Sanoo de de Lohri, te teri jeeve jodi! Bhaanvey rot e bhaanvey pitt! [Lohri di lakh lakh vadhaiyan] Lohri, the harvest festival of the breadbasket of India, i.e. Punjab, is celebrated across the country with great fervor, happiness and glory. It is a way to spread the joy of seeing the sparkling pearls of Rabi crops amidst traditional folk songs, dance and food. Bollywood has done enough to spread how this festival is celebrated and we all are aware of some of the facts related to Lohri including the story of Prahalad, burning wood, eating popcorns and jaggery and peanuts, singing and dancing but I have seen that many of us are still not aware of many of the facts about Lohri. Isn’t it? Hence, I thought of collating the list of some of the fun facts about Lohri, for you all to know a little bit more about another important festival of our country: 1. The name Lohri is because of a few beliefs: a. The name is derived from Loi, wife of the Sufi Saint Sant Kabir. b. Loh in Punjab means the pan used to make rotis during community feasts. Since Lohri is a community festival, the name has been derived from the term Loh. c. Lohri was also the sister of Holika. d. The main ingredients used for making sweets in this festival are gajak and rewri or til and rohri. Thus, the name Lohri is a combination of these two words. 2. Earlier, Lohri was celebrated on winter solstice, the longest night and shortest day of the year (December 21 and 22). However, it eventually ended up marking the end of the winters (January 13). 3. Lohri is mainly seen as an occasion marking the end of the winters and beginning of a new harvest season by Punjabi’s. Lohri involves a Puja Parikrama around the bonfire and distribution of Prasad. This symbolizes a prayer to Agni, the spark of life, for abundant crops and prosperity. It is believed that the Lohri night is the last coolest night of winters. 4. There are numerous stories related with Lohri which are based on religious as well as socio-cultural traditional and events. The most famous and interesting legend behind Lohri is the story associated with Dullah Bhatti. Dullah Bhatti, like Robin Hood, robbed the rich and gave to the poor. The people of the area loved and respected him. He once rescued a girl from kidnappers and adopted her as his daughter. His people would remember their hero every year on Lohri. Groups of children moved from door to door, singing the Dullah Bhatti folk song (a song a dedicated to Dullah Bhatti to express gratitude to him) meaning Dullah gave his daughter a kilo of sugar as a marriage gift. 5. Lohri is called the harvest festival. As traditionally January is the time period to harvest sugarcane crops and hence sugarcane products such as jaggery and gajak are essential to Lohri celebrations. Gajak, sarson ka saag and makke di roti are some of the preparations made specially for the festival. Peanuts, radish, sesame seeds and jaggery are also consumed, as they are also the part of the harvest. 6. Folk songs are sung in the evening to thank the fire and Sun God and to see his continued protection for the coming year. People dance and do gidda. In some parts of the country, kite flying is also very popular. 7. The festival of Lohri is considered to be a very special and important festival for the newly-weds and the new born baby. The first Lohri after the wedding (or on the birth of a child) is considered to be very auspicious. It is indeed very special.

We were meant to be together always But we could not… You never said you were leaving You never said any bye… You left before I could even know it And no one knows why…. I miss you papa! I lost my papa when I was a kid, just 21-year-old immature kid. Even though it’s been 7 years now, I still have not been able to come to terms with his death. I still feel cheated and let down by destiny and the intervening years between now and that black day have done nothing to reduce the pain. I keep telling myself that my papa is with me and is watching over me, I talk to him every day, share with him how my day went, but trust me, it’s just not enough. I want him here with me, physically. I wish he was here, right beside me, in all moments. He was my superhero and he was always with me in all my good moments, back then. But I wish he had applauded me on all my academic achievements when I was doing my masters. He was not there even when I passed my B.Ed. with flying colors or when I got my first job. He was not there to clap the loudest when I got my first salary. I have had to live life’s big moments without him, and it has been torturous. But my papa told me there was nothing I could not do, that I had to do was try my best and then to God leaves the rest. I believed him then but not now. I believe whatever good happens to me now is because of him. Because he is doing something magical to things so that they fall in place for me. And not anyone else. Not God for sure. Because, if God would have been there somewhere, my papa would have been with me right now. I miss my papa. I wish I could be a little girl again who had to just shed a teardrop and papa’s arms would be around her, comforting her and assuring her that he will always be there to protect her from the bad world. My life used to be so simple, happy and uncomplicated when he was around because there was a sense of security, that no matter what, he would always be there to pick up the pieces, should my heart ever break. A sense of love that no matter what, he will always love me and will always be with me, in all situations, what may come. Things turned ugly, life became a roller coaster ride after him, but he wasn’t around to tell me that it wasn’t the end of the world; that the clouds would go away and the sun would shine again. No, I had to figure all that out myself. I had to learn a lot of things the hard way. And same for my bhai and mom. They both battled their own struggles without papa. I know for sure, had he been alive, he would not have allowed those things to happen to any one of us (me, bhai or mummy). I have missed him when things became so tough after him in all aspects and I have cried bounteous tears into my pillow at night and wondered whether things would have been different had he been here. But he just wasn’t there to help us over the rough, dirty stones of growing up. I miss my papa. How I wish my papa could have met and known the amazing man I married- he would have heaved a sigh of relief to know that his son-in-law tries his best to pick his daughter from where he left her. How he would have loved to see his ‘little angel’ in the shaadi ka lehenga. How I wish my papa could have met the beautiful wife of my bhai and that how she tries hard to keep everything comfortable for bhai and mummy. How I wish my papa could have been here to stop mummy from crying every day and every night and missing him immensely. How his presence would have made a huge difference in our lives. I would still be a little girl then, my bhai a little less matured and quiet, my mummy a little happier and more alive. I wish. Things have changed completely. We have everything but deep down we are empty. I don’t remember the last time when my mummy laughed with all her heart. She still gets tears in her eyes when we try to make her smile and how she says ki ye apne aap aa jate hai. How my bhai has matured overnight and does everything beyond his power and control to comfort mummy and me, and now his wife. I don’t remember the last time when I actually asked for a thing to anyone, not that I won’t get it, not that I cannot buy myself, but I miss the affection with which papa used to get things for me. No one else can ever do that. Nobody in the world can ever love me the way my papa did, the way he still does. I miss my papa. I know that I still carry him in my heart and raise his memory to guide me through the darkest hours of my life and also share my happy moments, drawing strengths from his memory and from the trust in his total care and love for me. Writing this post, was really tough, took me weeks, each time I used to open this, I had tears rolling down my eyes. But I still wrote. Because it helped, a little, I admit. Obviously, this is not as good as the real thing-it can never be, but something is better than nothing. I could not find any other way to comfort myself from the everyday pain I carry with me. Carrying my papa’s memory to all of life’s significant moments is certainly better than always feeling the void that he has left behind which will never ever be filled again. I love him today just as much as I did back then, I just hope one day I will see him again- before I die. I will always wait for that one day. I miss my papa.

And it’s Diwali again. That time of the year for which we wait eagerly. Also, it is the time to start thinking about how we are going to celebrate it with our friends and family. How about the gifts? A bagful of store-bought sweets and snacks? Fireworks which are so loud that they could be heard in Nepal? As the festival of Diwali brings laughter, lights, good food and new clothes to our lives every year, there is another less dazzling, and often feared side to it that surfaces. Along with the endless sweets and gossip sessions, the festival also steers in the anxiety to pick just the right gifts for our loved ones, which often leads us to tear our hair out in frustration, however, fret not, I have just the right thing for you..!! The eco-friendly ones may say no to crackers and fireworks this year, but I have personally seen and observed that not everyone is conscious of the choices they are making and the consequences of those choices on the environment. I for myself know so many people who wish to make eco-friendly choices but are unable to hold themselves back from lightning a firecracker or two every Diwali. So, I have dug through the archives of internet, checked multiple online stores to curate a list of 6 trustworthy, eco-conscious gift ideas to bring the best of gift-shopping and living green together. I am not here to promote any brand, but my idea is to make everyone aware of many lesser-known eco-friendly items available near to us which can easily replace the not-so-environment-friendly items which we use and gift. It is high time that we promote health and nature, let us gift eco-friendly items to our friends and family. Recycle, utilize but be out-of-the-box. Here is the list of a few items which can be gifted easily: 1. Gift succulent plants: Greenery is the need of the hour. There can be no better gift than a beautiful indoor plant. Not just they add greenery to your house but also add beauty to your room. Small plants like Chinese money plant, silver dollar plant, jade plant, oxalis, ZZ plant, string of pearls, Tillandsia, donkey tail plant, bunny ear cactus, aloe vera, pathos plant, Chinese water bamboo, dragon tree, peace lily, Swiss cheese plant, prayer plant (and the never ending list) can be bought easily from any plant nursery nearby your place. This seems to be quite a good idea...!! 2. Green tea is in these days..!! People who are in for fitness are suckers for green and herbal tea. With a wide variety of herbal teas available near you, why not get a box and gift to your family member or a friend which is healthy in place of a sweet box which is just fat and unhealthy? Pretty cool, isn’t it? 3. Go organic- chutneys, jams, handmade soaps and many more..!! The handmade products are really an easy option to replace your current ones. You may pick from a host of really attractive handmade products with unique scents. These options not only make for a pleasant gift but also brings a subtle charm along with them. Yayayaya...!! 4. A hamper of natural products to make homemade Rangoli: Do you know that Rangoli was earlier a way to share our food and life with insects and birds and hence it was made of natural products? How about shifting to the same idea and making a hamper of dry rice flour, turmeric, coffee powder, Kumkum, and flowers and gift to your friends to hint them that they too need to get natural now? Not only it is eco-friendly, but it can be cleared the next day and all of the material can be put in the compost bin directly unlike chemically coloured Rangoli. 5. Recycled hand-made goodies: Help your family and friends to embellish their homes without having to paint with harmful chemicals. You can twist colourful sarees and dupattas to make streamers, painted old newspapers to be hanged as wall decorations, brocade sarees or gold embroider dupattas could be given as drapes and curtains instead of splurging on a shopping spree. You may use your child’s leftover craft materials like tissues, sandwich or rice paper to make paper lanterns for gifting. The best one is- a hanging bell (Bandhanwars or traditional door hangings) can be a brilliant idea to save on electricity. Let all their visitors ring it instead of pressing the bell button. It will definitely add to the Diwali feels. This can be made with leftover paper or bright coloured cloth and some glitter to it. Organic incense sticks and fresh flowers are also good gift idea to create a heady fragrance which can be connected with Diwali Pooja. It is time to do away with synthetic room fresheners. 6. Yoga accessories: These days eco-friendly yoga mats are easily available at many online stores. How about gifting the health-conscious friends and family members these mats to burn off that extra holiday fat and generally adopt healthier practices as the new year beckon? These mats are made of natural fabrics and are sturdy enough to bid goodbye to your regular old PVC ones. It is high time that we find the jam and prepare a highway by which we can make a healthy and environmentally balanced world. The theme of ‘green world’ is spreading all over the world and it is our responsibility as well to maintain and uphold a better and safe society for ourselves and our forthcoming generations. This Diwali opt for a unique gift, the gift of a safe planet, a safe future, a safe you with eco-friendly options. Are you already trying to get eco-friendly? Have you contributed to your own nature in any way? Do you think you may adopt any of the above gift items this time? Do you have any other idea in your mind? I would really love to know about your step for our better world. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below. Wish you all a very happy Diwali in advance.

Are you excited for a change? Starting a new job can be interesting, fulfilling and a petrifying experience. A new company means new routines, new co-workers, and a new boss. Change takes us out of our comfort zone, and the older we get, the more we resist it (cannot tell you how much I resisted :P). The emotional pendulum keeps swinging quite rapidly in the first few weeks of any new job. Three weeks ago, I started my new job. After weeks of getting interviewed by the team, completing a series of tests and reading too much into every single email sign-off, I was pumped to finally be walking through the office door. Then, I wasn’t as much pushed as I was horrified. And my brain was working in a mysterious way, the terror manifested itself into crazy thoughts- thoughts that stuck with me throughout my first week. The only way I survived them was to remember that everyone has the same experience or may be similar if not same. No matter how excited you are for a new role, the first few days are crazy. Especially the first day where you will spend most of the time juggling between excitement and nervousness. So, for anyone, who is starting a new job, here is the list of some of the most common thoughts for most people (based on my recent experience): 1. Yayayaya- I got a new job! A new job of course brings happiness and you must start it with positive mindset. You should start your day celebrating! After all, this is that new and better job you worked so hard for (or the one you wanted really bad). You conquered the job search and you made it to the first day and so this definitely calls for a celebration. 2. Oh, Lord, what did I forget? Most people face a moment of panic in the car walking into the front doors. If you forgot your coffee, you can grab a cup in the break time. If you forgot your documents, you can always talk to the HR department for the next day submissions. So, don’t fret, it's absolutely normal. Relax! 3. Sorry, your name again, please? You will be meeting numerous new people, and you are not likely going to remember everyone’s name. Rather than stressing out, accept that you will need to ask multiple times before learning everyone’s names. 4. Where is that place? Remember the first few days will be a learning experience. Don’t panic about what you don’t know. Ask anyone and everyone for help, and don’t be so hard on yourself. Everyone started out not knowing where every room is in the building and it is fine. Just like them, you will know it soon. 5. Am I underdressed/overdressed? Appearances are no doubt important and our looks add a lot to our confidence levels. If you find yourself uncomfortable, you are likely to be under dressed or overdressed. It is fine, try laugh it out and plan to adjust your wardrobe choices the next day. The strategy to transitioning into a new job is to learn where you fit in and will be the most comfortable in. 6. Am I doing this right? It is a known thing that you were hired because you were the most qualified candidate for the job. But that does not mean that you are expected to know the company’s rules, policies and procedures immediately. Keep asking questions as quickly as you can. It will take you some time to understand the learn the new things, which is absolutely normal. 7. It’s only me who does not know anything, maybe I am an idiot! It is quite likely that you will run into an obstruction or two on your first day. As you are learning and transitioning, learn to cut yourself some slack too. Find your mentor or a new buddy and ask specific questions. 8. One day is over and this place might not be a good one for me! First days can be frustrating and lonely, but there is no need to lose heart. The first day at a new job is difficult for most people, but it does get easier. There is no harm in keeping your eye out for another job opportunity but first give this new job a chance. Tomorrow is always a new day. You can always begin again. Good things might be waiting for you. How did you like this one? Have you been through any similar set of emotions? Is there something different that you experienced? Do share your thoughts and experiences in the comment section below.

Ah, teachers! We love some, dislike a few and feel totally apathetic about a lot of them. They come from all walks of life. Every teacher has their own style and strengths. And there is wide variety of their kinds. If you are a teacher, you might want to have a little peek into how you are classified as some teacher types. Accept the challenge, and you will definitely find yourself or someone you know in the categories below: Here are a few categories of teachers, you will surely recognise and of course, you too are one of them...!! 1. The Wonderful teacher This teacher makes every other teacher look ordinary. Their classrooms look like Disney World and they are always full of energy, well-dressed, well-spoken, loved by students, volunteering at school events, speaking at teacher conferences, and probably running a successful business on the side. This is a rare breed of human being. It makes us wonder if they actually might have some kind of super power, or they use some kind of magic coffee bean in their Starbuck latte everyday :P 2. The Picture-perfect Classroom teacher Their rooms are known as ‘beyond perfect’ ones. Classroom décor has taken a new meaning with this kind of teacher. They do everything to make their classroom look “the best”. They may cut their summer breaks weeks short to get started early on the back-to-school preparations, they spend a generous amount of money on materials and convert their rooms into some kind of learning wonderlands. And they do it every season, every holiday, to make it more colourful, more comfortable and make every student and teacher want to stop by. 3. The “I-Know-it-all” teacher This teacher has memorised all the latest research on best teaching approaches. They are often the ones with some authority, volunteering to run the Professional Development meetings and sending staff-wide emails about everything they know. Truth is, they are extremely passionate about teaching and in contrast to many others, they are into this profession because of their love for learning. However, they are also probably the ones, extending the staff meetings, beyond times, erghhh!! 4. The Crush-worthy teacher This teacher might not always be on time or have the best-looking classroom, but they always come to the school in style. Most students love their classes, not for her subject but for her...! Even when the world is turned upside-down and they are on the verge of a mental breakdown still they always look like the Diva. How do they do it, we will never know. 5. The BFF teacher This new teacher is favorite to all other teachers in the school. They have been around the block; they are always available for much-needed support and always there to let you know it’s gonna be OK. Often known as ‘buddy’, they can always be counted on for a pick-me-up when the going gets tough. And yes, it does get tough sometimes! 6. The Super- energetic teacher This one stays viral on social media with their morning warm-up videos, dancing sessions, rapping lessons, and doing everything with utmost energy. It’s a mystery where they find all the energy and physical stamina to do it every day, but like those Energiser bunnies, they keep going and going, and never pauses or stops. 7. The forever-cribbing teacher This one has had enough of the school system. Whenever you go to them, they always have a story to tell. The moment they see another adult, they explode with everything that set them off so far that day. Misbehaving students, the unannounced observation, the pointless staff meeting, annoying parents, that supervisor they don’t like, the cafeteria food, you name it and they can crib about it. It’s pure entertainment. And mind it, they are also often cracking sarcastic comments during staff meetings, adding a little humor to the party. 8. The ‘I-feel-it-from-heart” teacher This is the teacher who would do anything for its students. They lose sleep at night thinking about ways to help the struggling ones. You will see their desktops and drawers full of random gifts every student ever gave them, and student’s drawing hung up all over their walls. You might even catch them over an ‘aww’ moment or a simple sentimental gesture. You will see a lot of old students stopping by to say hello to this teacher, and they will never forget the names of all their kids. 9. The Control-freak teacher This teacher is hard on students, but for good reasons. They come to school to teach them, and that’s about it. They do not get into the process of making students their friends. Their respect must be earned, and they expect students to take responsibility for all their actions, no matter what. These teachers are not cold-hearted, but they care about only the progress of the students. They prepare students for life more than any other teacher (according to them at least). 10. The over-stressed teacher Every teacher gets into this state of mind at some point in the school year. It’s quite natural. There is only so much one can handle between all the paperwork, meetings and interruptions that drive us to the very limit of sanity. We all panic sometimes; we all break down every now and then. The over-stressed teacher is often found taking deep breaths in the middle of class and headache medicine directly after. Don’t be surprised if you see them shouting to release their stress. Which teacher are you? How many of the above-mentioned categories are relatable to you or your fellow teachers? Do let me know in the comment section below.

*Dhak-dhak* I am just a week away from my wedding.  (Written a week before my wedding about my emotions of the last few weeks) [When the whole world was turning upside down, when my bhai and mom had no time to breathe as they has the herculean tasks on their heads to be done, when Samiksha was the only patient listener to all my anxious talks, when I genuinely had no time to talk to Akshay, I decided to pen down my emotions.  The emotions which were impacting me so much that it was important for me to feel better. These emotions became severe almost a month prior to my wedding so it is about the feelings of the same month. This was my attempt to make myself feel a little better] Every girl goes through a series of emotions during her wedding preparation time and as the D-day starts getting closer, the anxieties, nervousness, panic attacks keep increasing tremendously. Similar things happened to me. My emotions took a whole 360 degree turn on one day when I woke up and realised that I am just 30 days away from my wedding day. Its 2nd May today. Exactly one months to my wedding. Ohh maaaaiiiii gaaawwwwddddd… This is happening. This is actually happening. I am getting married. In next 30 days I will be married. The day is almost here. [Just like all the girls who are near the day of their wedding, I too was going through a vivacious circle of emotions. A lot of questions kept revolving around in my mind. This day was tough as I had too much on my mind to think] Is this right? Isn’t it too early? Am I ready? Is he ready? How will everything turn out? Will I be a good partner? A good daughter in law? How will I live without my mom and my bhai? How will I manage everything? Will he be good to me? And this trail of questions was never ending. Other than the dilemma of what and how things will turn out after the wedding, since the wedding is in just 30 days, I need to be ready for it. But I am not. I have never ending work to do. I am not prepared for it. My to-do list is not going to finish. Ever. In any way. it can never be. I have still not received my wedding lehenga. My engagement dress is yet not finalised. No dress of mine is stitched yet. I have not bought anything which I will need after marriage- no accessories, no bag, no footwear, nothing. And what about my jewellery which I need to wear on my wedding? And the chooda? What about honeymoon shopping? Ufffff.. how will I do this all? In just a little time that I have. Ohh yes, how can I forget. I have to go to work as well. With 6 am to 5 pm of work (including the traveling part), I don’t know how I will ever be able to get all the things in place. It is not possible. Just not possible. What should I do? I need to take a break from work. I genuinely need that. But ohh my god, I cannot. It is exam time and I am required in my school much more than I am needed here. I am gone. I am totally gone. [And with these thoughts, that day passed with the questions, nervousness and tears. But I could not do anything concrete] I met Samiksha the next day and shared how I am totally screwed with so many things lined up. And she, my darling, hugged me and said-“ Dii,, aap tension mat lo, sab ho jaega, hum milkar sab kar lenge.” That statement and the hug was so comforting in itself that I started feeling light. Even though nothing changed, but I felt better 😊 The days started to pass but we ensured that we utilise the most of whatever time was in our hands, we used to go for shopping every single day, after my school hours. Chandni Chowk and Rajouri Garden were my second homes for those days. Slowly, things started falling into place. I got all(majorly all) my dresses stitched. My wedding lehenga got ready (Ohh, I am in love with it😘). I finalised my engagement dress too😍. We divided the days for different works. Since we had only few hours in each day, we had to be very smart in utilising those hours. One day was for footwear shopping and the other was for accessories. One day for Chandni Chowk and the other for Rajouri Garden. One day for trials of the dresses and the other for buying more. one for buying the wedding jewellery and chooda, other for various other accessories. But I enjoyed, I enjoyed it all. [And I know for sure that I am going to miss this time. Real bad]. Eventually, somehow, with all the support from Samiksha, I was able to sail through. Sail through all the paranoid thoughts, the procrastinations and the actual completion of tasks. Not to miss, it was the support of my bhai and my mom which kept me going. And yes, how can I forget, my would be husband (my dear Akshay), who is always with me (may be not physically but emotionally), who was there to cheer me up when I was down, who visited me many a times to surprise me and was always on the roll when I was busy. And here I am today, just a week away from my wedding day, completely ready (okay, not completely, there are a few things still pending- the blouse of my Mehendi lehenga is yet not stitched, the floral jewellery is not designed and a few more things still need to be done). But I am happy, I am at peace. Because I am lucky enough to have such lovely people around me who have been with me through this difficult (yet wonderful) time. This week has been dedicated to the dance practice for the engagement day when some of my cousins will visit us. I and Akshay have also planned to perform a dance together. In the middle of all the chaos and the magnificent amount of work which my bhai and mom are doing, I don’t know how will we manage this too. But just like we are managing till now, I am sure, we will happily manage this week as well. I am happy and excited (a bit nervous as well). And of course, I am smiling now 😁 [This post actually made me feel so good. I don’t know when will I get the chance to publish it but that’s fine too]

Marvel fans are everywhere. You will not find a place where you don’t see a Marvel fan, bragging about how their movies are and how much they are waiting for the next movie, especially when the next is announced. Same is the story at my place. Avengers, End game was released last week but the discussion about what is going to happen in the movie, it’s booking dates and its struggle is on between me and my bae along with our WhatsApp group gang, from I don’t know so many weeks now. Akshay is a huge fan of Marvel and so is my bhai and bhabhi. But not me. Not at all. Since more than a week now, the only discussion on our WhatsApp group is about this movie. When will the booking dates be open? Where should we go and watch the movie? We have to watch it on Friday to be safe from the spoilers which will start coming from the same day. Imax or 3D? Delhi or Gurgaon? Evening or late night? Uuufffff…. These discussions were getting on my nerves. Because of the fact that I am not a Marvel fan, for that matter, a superhero fan and hence I have not watched any of such movies in my entire life (except the forced ones in which I slept 😉) and I cannot relate with any such discussion at all. It becomes really difficult for of course both of us, at times, to understand each other’s needs. Akshay is an early riser and hence sleeps on time, no matter what. There have been multiple occasions when we have tried watching late night movies at home, but he dozed off in between- always! However, this time, being AVENGERS, and keeping everyone’s time and comfort in mind, he himself booked the last show of Friday (11.10 pm), watched the movie without blinking his eye till 2.30 am, came back home at 3 am and that too all active. I was surprised. He had no sleep in his eyes. Now this was new to me. The movie was good, must be super awesome and amazingly great for its fans- including Akshay, Shivam, Samiksha and Nalin, but not for me. I went to watch it because I had no choice. They took me along. The only thing which kept me awake was food. Momos,  hot coffee, french fries and my bhai's constant reminders to keep me awake. I could barely understand the bits and pieces of the movie in between my food, and nap sessions. The cinema hall was silent, so silent that I could hear myself breathing. Nobody wanted any kind of distraction in between, except me. While I was trying to adjust between them, I was told by someone that I was spoiling the vibes of the movie. Sad and embarrassing, I know! It seems funny but the struggle is real, trust me. It is a struggle since always. For all the Marvel movies that we have watched together, we have been through the same emotions, every time 😛. The major struggles are: 1.     It gets painful when you are not able to understand their jokes. He shares a joke with you, and laughs himself and you are standing their- just smiling and wondering- what is going on here? He will have to explain the whole joke to you and none of you would like that! 2. It gets irritating when your bae is laughing hard at an internet meme, harder with the gang of friends on WhatsApp and you are just like- what to do? When everyone is laughing and enjoying the same joke for days and I am standing there like- what is going on? It is tough. 3. It is equally frustrating when your darling choses to watch the movie or read a comic book over your romantic midnight dinner plan. For him, the movie is much more than romantic plan and for you, it is completely opposite. To choose, is to challenge yourself! But at the end of the day, it’s fine. We both manage with each other’s choice because we enjoy each other’s company. So, we try to balance. After all, the fun is in being different. Otherwise, life will become monotonous. Having said all that, the struggle is real

Yes, I did it. On April 14, 2019, I ran my first 10.55 km in a marathon. It feels amazing. Really great to be able to clear it off my bucket list (which was pending since many years). To set a goal and crush it. To do something you promised yourself you would. I am not really sure where to begin with, because I have so many different emotions swirling around inside of me. There is so much to share from this experience- from what I did, to how I felt and all of those jazzy jazz emotions. Ohhh before I start let me make one thing very clear in the beginning itself- I did not sign up for the race because I loved running.. no no, not at all. I hated it. I was super scared of it. Yes..Just hear me out! For some people, running comes easily to them. Or maybe I can say it better- running is just something they go out and do without much training, effort and worry. For me, it’s not easy. I hated to run since always. I loathe it entirely. About 2 months ago, I started to run. I had to do it because that’s the only exercise I could do in the limited amount of time I had in the evenings. In no way I could join any fitness class (because of my changing free hours everyday) and the only way to stay active was to walk and to run. And hence running. Also, I knew that running is a great form of exercise. But I did not truly enjoy running. I never considered myself a runner. All because I felt I was not good at it. I knew it was a weakness of mine- distance running. Uufff! Running and I actually started off on the wrong foot and built an unhealthy relationship with each other. At the beginning of my running journey (not that I am a regular runner, but I try and run whenever I get some time), I used to force myself to run because I thought that it was the only way to reach my weight loss goals. It was always more about losing, rather than gaining anything. I used to see running as a punishment. So, I struggled with running, physically and mentally. However, with each day, my stamina was increasing. Slowly, very slowly but I somehow started enjoying it. A little, okay. Only a little. I used to feel good on completing every round of the park where I used to run. But it wasn’t working. I was not regular at it. So, I decided to enrol myself in a 10 km marathon run to give myself some motivation to run every day. I always had some strange fondness towards marathon running, besides my hate towards running 😜 but I never had the courage to actually enrol for it. May be because I had no one to accompany, or no one to take me to the place so early in the morning. It happened in a jiffy this time. One day, I was just surfing through the marathon runs happening in Delhi and I came across this tree-a-thon run, which drew my attention. A friend of mine came to me while I was reading about it and on asking, she agreed to join me for the run. Without thinking much, since I got a company, we both registered ourselves for the run. We knew that we will manage the travel part together (since it always is too early in the morning). It was not a planned run. It was just two weeks to the run. Even though I was running on and off till then, I was not at all good at it. So, I decided to be regular at it. For the next 15 days. I ran that day in the park. It was tough. It always was for me. But I pushed myself. The first day I ran for 3 minutes at a stretch. And then a 2 minutes’ walk and the run again. I did it for three times. I was exhausted. Badly. For many it must be nothing, but for me it was a big thing. I completed 7 km that day. I was happy. I wanted to do more. Each day, I had to push myself to wear my running shoes and do it. The date of the marathon was the only motivation for me to do it. Second day was a little better. I ran for 5 minutes at a stretch. And I did it for 3 times with walking breaks in between. It was another accomplishment for me. I continued running. it was tough. Trust me, it took me a lot of courage to drive myself every day to run, run a little more than the previous day but I kept doing. Five days before the run, I reached a stage where I could manage to run for 10 minutes at a stretch, then a 2-minute walk and 2 min run again. I reached 8 km. I was happy but anxious- if I will be able to complete my first 10.55k run. Two days before the run, my body did not allow me to run. At all. I listened to what my body said. I could not run an inch. So, I decided to just walk. I was nervous but I decided to just go for it. On the day of the run: I had to reach Radisson Blu hotel, Dwarka, at 4.30 am so me and my friend decided to go by the cab. However, my husband not only dropped us to the venue, but stayed there throughout the run and came back along with us. Thank you pati! We clicked a few pictures and did a little bit of Zumba before the run as a warm up and started the run at 5.30 am. I did not think of anything while running. My only target was to complete it without bothering about my speed. Being my first run, speed was not important to me at all. I ran and I continued. The energy of the whole run was extremely high. Everyone was running, in the best possible way they could. I timed myself, I wanted to see how much I could run. I started slow, at my own pace, which I could continue throughout the run. To my own surprise, I ran continuously for first 20 minutes without a stop. It was tough but the overall energy of the surrounding kept me going. I was happy but then there was a long way to go. I was tired. But I continued. I did not stop. I kept jogging. I became slow. My legs were hurting, and it was difficult for me to breathe. I pushed myself more and kept jogging. After 30 minutes, my legs gave up and I had to break the jog. But I didn’t stop because I knew that if I will stop, I will feel the need to do it again and again. I saw people stopping in between to stretch themselves, but I continued to walk. I walked fast and completed my first half of the run(5.3km) in 38 minutes. I was motivated to see other people running and jogging so I decided to continue the jog. In spite of the great pain in my legs, I started to jog again. I was slow, very slow, may be for others I was super slow, but I was moving and that was enough for me. I met a person on the way who motivated me to run by sharing his own stories of his 10 yearlong marathon running career. I kept moving. My legs were hurting very bad and my I felt lack of oxygen in my body. It was painful. But I also had another feeling of satisfaction that finally I am doing something which I have been wanting to do from a long time. I continued. Became super slow, my legs were numb, and I could not feel them anymore. I was almost at the end point. There was no chance to stop. I kept moving. And I could finally see the end point. The finishing line. It was just 200 metres left but my body had by that point given up on me. Finishing the last 200 metres was the most difficult part for me to complete. I could have stopped and fallen if there was no music but to my luck, loud Bollywood music was being played near that point and somehow the energy of the music was transferred into my body and I continued and finally finished the run. I did it. I did it in 1 hour 20 minutes (to be precise- 80 minutes, 47 seconds). But I completed it. At the end point, I had tears in my eyes. Tears of happiness, satisfaction, contentment and proud. I was proud of myself. At the end point, my husband was standing and waiting for me. He hugged me and helped me to relax and stretch. I relaxed for a while and then collected my well-deserved medal. I was super happy. My body was numb, but the contentment level was super high. For some people 10.55k run may be super easy, for some it may be impossible but for me it was an achievement, an accomplishment. The emotions were running throughout my body and I felt like I was on the top of this world. But this could not have been possible without these two people: 1. Akshay, my husband who has been a constant support to me. He is the one who encourages me to follow my dreams, to do things which I have never done and who shows the faith that I can do everything I wish to. He was there throughout. He woke me up in the morning, drove me to the venue, waited for me while I was running, hugged me when I completed the run, took me back home and made breakfast for me. He knew the extent to which I was tired and that I, in no way, could manage to do anything else for the next few hours. He understood; he always understands. Thank you pati, for everything. 2. Vandana, my colleague-cum-friend, who helped to sign up in the event by signing up herself, who was always there to tell me ‘ho-jaega, bhaag lenge, chinta mat kar’. She was the one who went all the way from Chhatarpur to Dwarka to collect our t shirts and bibs (a day before the event) and somehow helped me to do this. Thanks, Vandana. Love to you. Having run the 10.55k, I realize now that the race at the end was not the point. The point was that I ran several times in the last 10 days. I can now run for 6 km at a stretch and then slowly further- more than I have ever run in my life. While I admit that running is still difficult for me and just the thought that I have to run, gives me goosebumps, I feel incredibly accomplished for working hard towards my 10.55k run. I did not work extremely hard for it, but I feel I did a pretty good job. To all the everyday runners out there, who may be are not even sure if you are a runner, let me tell you: You can be a runner! IF I CAN DO IT, ANYONE CAN DO IT, TRUST ME. Did my story inspire you? A bit? To run or to do something you have been wanting to do from long? Do you also have an inspirational story? Do share your views and stories in the comment section below.

Made In Heaven- Amazon Prime’s show Cast: Arjun Mathur, Sobhita Dhulipala, Kalki Koechlin, Jim Sarbh Directors: Zoya Akhta, Reema Kagti, Nitya Mehra, Alankrita Shrivastava and Prashant Nair. My rating- 4.5/5 [Source: Internet] One of the best web shows till now! Engaging- that’s how this series is. It’s sensational, at times flippant, but very appealing! And the cherry on the top is that Made In Heaven is able to give some chief messages quite smoothly. Amazon prime’s latest Indian original- Made In Heaven is a story of two wedding planners of Delhi. They help join rich and affluent South Delhi types and their princesses, in sacred matrimony, through their planning, plotting, lying and at times, bold and selfless ways. Tara Khanna (Sobhita Dhulipala) and Karan Mehra (Arjun Mathur) are the owners of the wedding planning agency that’s spinning under debt but is exceptionally ambitious in its style of working. (And yes, not that we don’t know how weddings are done in Sainik Farms or Gurgaon farmhouses!) [Source: Internet] The story centers around the journey of two disputed, morally abstruse friends in different weddings they organize. On their way, they meet people who have been criminals, humanitarians, freelancers, former kings and typically empowered women who have been fighting their inner fears and patriarchy at the same time. But the best thing about the show is that there are no villains, only messed up people. Yes! You will naturally feel the vibes of the non-judgmental directors. Made In Heaven presents the apparently perfect face of rich Delhi wedding scene, but it is all frighteningly dark if looked beneath the gold and shimmer on the outside. It’s a wonderful piece of writing because every character with full-fledged backstory, gets a chance to disclose its plight, flashes and ambitions. Be it or Shivani Raghuvanshi’s sparkling production assistant or Vinay Pathak’s guilt-ridden landlord or Shashank Arora’s eccentric wedding videographer, all of them have a say in the final outcome. You cannot imagine any plot without them. They are zip-tight in their roles. This is plot of the South Delhi you have never been able to see from behind the huge walls. These huge building have everything you can ever imagine- from private swimming pools to dozens of helpers, from big meeting halls to best architecture- you name it and they have it. But the real trouble arises when these people go out of their world. There, they encounter their shallow selves, rival and urban poverty in its most bizarre form. The tempo for the show is set up in the first two episodes. Arjun Mathur struggling to come out as a gay, Sobhita deceived in her own house and the whole staff at Made In heaven trying to find their feet, all fit in the jigsaw puzzle. However, the work does not stop. They plan wedding for different families- families where there are parents looking for pure and pious brides for their sons, sons organising beauty carnivals to search for brides, brides building their marriages on lies and marriages being bought in exchange for builder flats in Sainik Farms. Everyone is out to score the biggest score, love to be damned, justice to be damned and self- respect to be damned. [Source: Internet] Some remarkable actors appear and leave in between but they have been directed smartly. They know exactly what impact they are going to make. Couple that with Sobhita, Arjun, Kalki and Jim Sarbh’s holding performances and you will be amazed with how the show has been beaded. The show has nine episodes-of about 55 minutes each and kudos that each episode builds up in its hour-long runtime, is evaluated by an on-the nose internal prolog by Shashank Arora on the depressing state of weddings in India, using heavy terms that otherwise, we would usually hear in a Political Science lectures. He delivers the moral of the story as he pretentiously snobs away through his camera lens. Beautifully done and made a strong impact on the viewers! I personally believe that Made In Heaven has all that it needs for a show to break grounds for Indian web shows. It has all the perfect elements of a charismatic series. I have a lot to appreciate. Just to appreciate! Trust me- it is a series you will want to watch in one go. And not once did I even want to skip the opening theme but a big credit for that goes to whoever created that fabulous piece of music. So, set aside the whole day for it and ignore Captain Marvel, this weekend. A Marvel is happening right in your homes. Go and watch now.

#Love-within #happyvalentinesday [Forget everything and enjoy your own company] “None of us likes to be a slave and we all want freedom, but our happiness depends upon others, isn’t that slavery too?” – Sadhguru Today while going through my mails, I came across a mail with this beautiful quote which got stuck in my head. For most of us, in fact for all of us, our emotions depend upon others- whether we feel happy or sad or angry or ecstatic, it all depends on the people around us. But my question is- should it be like this? No, not at all! If we want to be free, we need to ensure that our emotions are dependent on us only! It is a matter of pleasant vs unpleasant situation within us and that’s about it! Too much gyaan, eh? Okay, so today, on this day of love, valentine’s day when I am seeing people with varied perspectives depending on their feelings, I thought of sharing my thoughts which might be of help to some of us or it may give us something to ponder upon. Valentine’s day- a day which is known to celebrate the love between people has become super popular, but like all good things, the popularity has come with its own set of criticism. After speaking to a few people about what their views are on this day, I have collated a list of a few most common thoughts: 1. Type I: People who have a partner and they are in love with their partner feel that it is a great way to take some quality time from the everyday busy schedule and celebrate the love. 2. Type II: Some people feel that is a way of wasting time and energy. It is just another way of spending money for no reason. 3. Type III: There are also a few people who celebrate this special day with their loved ones instead of just with the partner, be it mom or dad or siblings or friends. They believe and say that love has different own forms. 4. Type IV: Surprisingly, there is another set of a people who say that they celebrate love quite often. For them, valentines should come every month because it gives them a chance to make their partner feel special, which they often tend to miss doing because of the rushed life. Hence, they do spend quality time every now and then with their loved ones, without giving the day any special name! (I was touched, touchwood to such couples) 5. Type V: And there comes another lot, who are single and wait for the time to celebrate this day, when they get a partner. All in all, each of us has a different opinion about this day but the common thing is that our feelings are dependent on others. I am not here to share my views on who is right or who is wrong. Not at all! I am here for something else. I have not come across many people who say that they celebrate this day with their own self, who enjoy me-time today and celebrate the love within. Not many, trust me. Not even handful! It is high time for us to fall in love with our own selves. If we become happy inside, we will be able to look at all the good things outside as well. If you love yourself, then nothing else would matter. But the question is how do we do that? Here are a few ways which you can try to at least start the process of self-love. You never know, what may help! 1. Learn to see and appreciate beauty: Appreciate the beauty around you. Observe carefully by being present. A good sunny day in winters, flowers blooming, trees growing, children playing and people laughing. Laugh with them. Play with the kids. You will begin to see the happiness inside yourself if you start appreciating the beauty outside-everyday. 2. Pamper yourself: If not you, then who else, and why? There is absolutely no harm in loving yourself and hence it is important to give value to yourself. Do things just because you want to do it. Cultivate joy. Have fun. Make a list of all the things which you want to and start with them. It does not matter what others will think, they will think anyway. 3. Be grateful: Express gratitude. To everything. For everything that you have. Make an intentional habit of writing any 5 good things which were good in the day and feel thankful to them. Trust me, this can-do wonders to your mood. (for details, you may read my another blog- Let's be thankful today: https://www.aakanshamahajan.com/post/let-s-be-thankful-today) 4. Forget the worries: You know not everything around you will happen according to you and that’s how it should be. Don’t fret. Enjoy what you have. Relax and tell yourself- ‘I will use the current situation in my favor”. Take a deep breath and smile. 5. Love yourself: Praise yourself in the mirror, for all the good things that you have. Love your strengths and let them shine. Be patient with yourself and embrace the unknown. Tell yourself each day- “I love you unconditionally and will forever do”. Nobody can love you, if you don’t love yourself. 6. Feel your emotions: Be aware of what you are feeling. If you are depressed, feel it. When you are joyful, feel it. Enjoy it. When you are afraid, ask yourself why? Feel your emotions and don’t try to blur them. Emotions felt can help you in discovering yourself. And then only you can work for your own betterment. 7. Eradicate self-criticism: We are all work in progress. There are good days and there are bad days too. Sometimes we are not able to achieve or what we wanted to. It's absolutely fine. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Stand again and start again. It is not the end yet! 8. Take care of your body: Love your body! Nourish yourself with healthy food, water, exercise and good thoughts. Positive thoughts also act as a fuel to our body. Give yourself time to rest and restore too. Enjoy the process. I am sure, the day when we will start loving yourselves, no amount of misery will affect us the way it does now. No one will be powerful enough to tell us how and what to feel. Our emotions must depend on how we feel, only! There is no harm in trying, what’s say? How many of you will give these small steps a try- for your own, real and self- dependent happiness? Do share your thoughts in the comment section below. P.S. Happy valentine’s day to all. Much love! God bless😊

Dubai’s incredible metamorphosis is the epitome of opulence among all the cities in the world. I had a not-so-long 9 days 8 nights trip to Dubai in December 2018 with my husband. It was our birthday week (luckily, both our birthday’s fall in the same week) and we had decided to spend it in a different way. It was one of the best decisions we took to make our birthdays memorable. We travelled to many places, as many as we could in the limited time that we had. Burj Khalifa, Desert Safari, Water park, Ferrari world, Skiing, IMG world of adventure and Bollywood park are some of the key attractions which we covered. A trip which will stay with me forever with the best memories. I will not be able to cover the whole of Dubai in one blog post therefore, you will get to read many posts on Dubai in the days to come. But before I share my excitement and beautiful experience about the delightful Dubai, here are a few tips which you may keep in mind while planning your trip to the most luxurious city in the world: The best time to travel to Dubai is November to March, specially December with all the New Year and Christmas festivities all around. In December, the weather is pleasant throughout the day but becomes a little chilly in the evenings. Carrying a jacket is a good idea if you are planning a midnight time outside your hotel room. You can opt for visa on arrival if you have a USA Green Card or a valid visa for UAE, you’ d be admitted directly. If not, then plan to take visa from India. It will cost you around INR 5-6K per person and will be valid for a month. Plan your trip in advance and book your itinerary to get the best possible rates. December is the peak month and hence the rates touch heights if you book them at the last minute. Book your flight tickets and hotel room on priority basis. This will save you from last minute rush. There is no budget which you can think of while planning a trip to Dubai but if you don’t wish to go out of basic budget, I believe carrying 200-300 AED per day would be enough per person (apart from hotel and itinerary) Most importantly, carry smile, happiness and positivity with you😊 I’ll brief you first about the major areas of your expenditure and then will talk about my beautifully spent days. Arriving at Dubai’s airports- There are two airports in Dubai at the opposite ends of the city. The main and the older one known as the world’s busiest airport in terms of international travelers is Dubai International Airport coded as DXB and the new one- Al Makthoum International airport coded as DXC. Transportation from any of the airports to hotels is easy and convenient. You may choose to go via cab or even metros are available nearby. Stay in Dubai- Deciding a hotel completely depends on your personal taste and pocket size. You will find all kinds of hotels starting from some hugely luxurious coastal resort hotels to thousands of options within the different areas of the city. It really depends on what you want to get out of your trip. For the ultimate Dubai experience, you may opt for Atlantis the Palm, or Burj Al Arab on Jumeirah Beach for which you’ll need a fat wallet, but it would be a once in a life time kind of experience. We opted for an average budgeted Indian hotel- ‘Hotel Citymax’ which was located in the centre of Bur Dubai. It had all the amenities from clubs to swimming pool to great food and super-fast services. The room was small but cozy and well-maintained. There are multiple options for hotels in Bur Dubai as it is in the centre and connects well to all other parts easily. Getting around Dubai- We had booked our itinerary well in advance (thanks to my husband) and it was inclusive of all the to and fro transportation. However, if you wish to travel on your own, there are three options: 1. Metro- there are two metro lines- green and red covers most of the tourist areas in and around the city. However, they are pretty crowded, and I personally don’t like travelling in them. 2. Cabs and taxis- It is a much better option and are easily available at all points everywhere in the city. They are all metered (starts with 5 AED and the minimum fare is 12 AED during the day time) and you won’t need to haggle. 3. Buses- they are common across the city, but you really need to know the routes for that. Food in Dubai- Dubai is famous for its food. Be its vegetarian or non-vegetarian, you will never have any problem. All the places have plenty of restaurants which serves everything from simple north Indian dal roti to street food including pao bhaji and papdi chaat, south Indian food like dosa and idli to non-vegetarian food including chicken, meat and what not. From the airport, the first place where we landed was our hotel. We rested there for a while and then moved out to have a look of the city. Bur Dubai is the centre of many places and is filled with many restaurants (especially Indian). You will not feel alienated even for a minute as most of the people are either Indians or Muslims. The only difference which I felt was discipline. Dubai is a highly disciplined city. From crossing roads to entering in a restaurant in a queue or talking to the receptionist in a queue, everybody is well-disciplined. It was different and beautiful. We had our lunch at an Indian restaurant names ad ‘Kamat’ and moved to Dubai mall. [Could it be any better- aloo poori and pao bhaji in Dubai 😋] Dubai mall- the world’s largest mall, is one of it’s type. It is so huge and beautifully made that you will be mesmerized by its beauty. The first thing which we did inside was going to underwater zoo. The magnificence is that such a huge aquarium has been built and well maintained inside a mall and people outside have no clue what’s happening inside. It is filled with numerous fishes, sharks, crocodiles and what not. We had a long tour inside where they showed us how the water animals are taken care of keeping in mind the safety and security of visitors as well as the animals. It was a indeed a memorable experience. From there, we went to cheesecake factory 😍 [Thanks to my husband who took me to so many branded food joints about which I had not even heard before :P ) I had the best pasta of my life (it is expensive, but worth a try, you cannot afford to miss it) [We were so tempted by the pasta that we didn't bother to click any picture of it😉] Then we walked in and around Dubai mall a little bit and headed towards another fascinating attraction called as fountain show. Uuhh la la.. no words and pictures or videos will ever be able to showcase what we encountered with our eyes. It was just hypnotic. I was stuck for a moment there. I loved it. So much. We also had the best shake of the town there named as five guys chocolate oreo shake. It was not just a shake. It was pure bliss. Then we went to watch the eternal powerful beauty of Dubai for which it is most popularly famous. The Burj Khalifa. The name says it all. It is 160 feet tall amazingly made building which in itself shows great supremacy. The lift runs at a super fast speed where in a blink of your eyes, you will reach the 124th floor. Visitors are allowed to go to this floor only. You may pay extra if you wish to check out Dubai from the top most floor 😀 The building calls itself 'I am Burj Khalifa'. It shows ultimate power. The day ended on a great note. We were dead tired. I was eagerly waiting for the next day because it was my bae’s birthday. Yayayay! Husband's birthday, day 2, 3, 4 in the next post. Soon. Stay tuned.