Strawberry smothie

1 cup frozen strawberries, 1 cup unsweetened almond milk and a spoon of honey!

PS: easy lunch

Baked fish, spinach sauté and carrots

Baked fish(ginger garlic paste and salt to taste-1 hour in oven at 420F), spinach sauté with capsicum(tea spoon of veg oil, salt to taste) and fresh carrots. #easy and health lunch ideas!

 

Ps: me is becoming a great cook. Lol
Sent from my iPhone

This isn't right.

I have changed a lot over the past few years.

I believe I became wiser and more matured, which are all signs of growing up old and which I always wanted. So, I should be be happy about it. But the other night, I realized I am way less happier than I was a couple of years ago. Well, as we lose our innocence and face the harsh realities of the real-world, it is tough to be happy. So not a big deal, right?

But a bit of introspection and I realized, the reason I was happy a couple of years ago was 'myself' and not the world. Which means, the reason I am not happy now is because of me and not the world.

It's easy to blame the people and world around me for the situation I am in right now. But the truth is, I have the power to control and change whatever situation I am in. Giving up this power is easy and though  I do not want to accept it, I gave up this power. I am the only one to be blamed for my unhappiness.

I have let my problems take a bigger spot in my mind, instead of letting the other valuable aspects of my life.

I need to focus on doing what is more important for myself in the long run and things that really matter than make a big issue of the short term problems I am facing right now.

Telling myself, 'I am going to be OKAY', isn't helping much, so from today I am going to tell myself that ' I am OKAY', and motivate myself to do what I need to do.

PS: hmmmmmmmm

Catching the Train...

It was dark and lonely. I was on my way to the railway station. I was carrying a hand bag with one hand and my baby with the other. I was out of breath and wanted to stop and take a deep breath, but one glimpse at my baby made me realize I had no time to waste. Every second was precious. I had to be at the railway station by now. I was walking as fast as I could.  I knew I was running late and was super worried that I might miss the train. Catching this train was important. 

I was frightened to even imagine the consequences of missing this train. By all means, I had to reach 'that place' by tomorrow morning. If I miss the train tonight, I would be devastated. If not for myself, I had to do this for this child's future that I was responsible for. With great determination, I kept walking and did not stop until I reached the railway station. 

***

On reaching the railway station, I saw that the train I had to board was ready to departure in a couple of minutes. I smiled big and was happy that I made it on time.

But my happiness lasted only a few seconds. I quickly learnt I needed to have a ticket to access the platform. It came as a shock to me since I had the tickets to board the train already which I thought was all I needed. I was afraid I would end up missing the train, even after reaching the station on time and even after having the tickets to board the train, just because I did not have the ticket that gave me access to use the platform. 

***

I hurried towards the ticket counter at the railway station to purchase the platform tickets. 

Every second was crucial. I could not afford to miss this train.

On reaching the ticket counter, I asked the cashier/whoever, 

'Could you please give me two platform tickets?'.

'20 rupees.' He said.

'I have $120. I do not have any Indian currency. I am already late. Could you please take this and give me the tickets. Please.' I requested him trying hard and barely successful in hiding my fear. 

'20 rupees. If not we can't give you the platform tickets.' He said in a very firm voice.

***

Realizing that there is no point in requesting the cashier, I wondered what I could do to purchase these tickets.

I endured much to be at this place at this moment and I could not give up the fight yet. I had no time to waste and thought hard for a moment.  On looking around and seeing so many people/passengers in the station, it occurred to me that at least one among them could help me out. Putting aside all my inhibitions and the feeling of embarrassment; I gripped my bag which seemed to be a lot more heavier than before and held my baby close to me in my arm and held $120 in one of my hand.

I asked everyone that I saw if they could give me 20 rupees and take the $ instead. No body was willing to help. I did not know why. The value of $120 that I was willing to give them was a couple of thousand times greater than the 20 rupees I asked them for return. Baffled and totally in despair, I took deep breaths that threatened to end up in sobs. 

***

I felt someones hand on my shoulder from behind. Alarmed, I turned around slowly to see who it was. 

'Here take it.' Said a stranger handing me a 20 rupee bill. 


I felt a heavy weight lifted off my heart. I instantly grabbed the 20 rupees that this guy was holding out for me and offered him the $120 in return.

'No need for that. Hurry up. You don't want to miss the train.' He said in a very calm voice.

***

I hurried towards the tickets counter and did not even remember if I thanked that stranger. I bought two platform tickets. I started running towards the platform where the train stood. 

I realized I was only a couple of seconds away from boarding the train. By morning I would be reaching the place where I could be safe and at peace. All the struggle I endured for the past few years was going to end in a couple of seconds. I was ecstatic and scared at the same time and ran towards the train. 

***

I was 10 steps away from the train, when I saw the train moving. I was scared at first but then I realized  it is not time yet for the train to departure. I had enough time to board. I was not going to miss it. I was about two steps away from the train when I realized the train picked up great speed. 

"It is not time yet to departure, it is going to stop. I can board." I told my self again and again. 

The train did not stop and my heart was racing. I started to run along with the train. If the train was not going to stop, I planned to get on a moving train. It's not safe but I had to do it, I told myself. I had to get on this train and I was going to, at any cost. 

But the train zoomed away, right in front of my eyes and in a couple of seconds it was out of my sight. 

***

I was overwhelmed. 

I was dumbfounded. 

I was in a state of disbelief.

I looked around and there was noone. I was all alone, with a baby in my arm and a heavy bag, in a place that was dark, gloomy and deserted.

I fell to the ground holding my baby tight.  It was devastating to miss the train even after so many efforts. It was my only chance. I need to be at that place by morning. I needed to do this for my child.  I cried out loud and could not stop and did not even wanted to stop crying. 

***

A couple of minutes later, like a flash I had an enlightenment that I could still catch the bus if I could hurry. I could catch the bus tonight and reach 'that place' by morning. 

I wiped my tears, held my baby in my arm and gripped the bag again. I needed to be at 'that place' and it did not matter how I reached the destination.

***

PS: 
1. This is not a story that I  made up. This is a dream that my mind made up as I was sleeping.

2. I woke up from my sleep telling myself, 'I can still catch the bus.' 

3. My brain works really hard to impress me when I am asleep by making up 'entertaining-drama-filled-adventurous' dreams.

4. Dream interpretation (at least according to me) :

bag = baggage = the burden of past mistakes
child = baby = one's dreams/goals
that place = final destination /place where one yearns and dreams to be at
train/bus = the journey we take to reach the destination 

5. I missed the train. I am catching the bus. 

Mushroom saute-sesame fried beans-garlic baked chicken

Mushroom Saute:

Ingredients: Mushrooms, onions, butter, salt, giner-garlic paste, cilantro, crushed red pepper(optional)
Method:
a. Heat a pan for a minute, add butter.
b. Add onions to heated butter, toss them for a minute.
c. Add mushrooms and ginger garlic paste and saute for two minutes.
d. Add salt to taste (red crushed pepper) and saute again for 3-5 minutes.
e. Switch off the stove and add cilantro.

Sesame fried beans: 

Ingredients: Beans, sesame, salt, vegetable oil
Method:
a. Heat the pan for a minute and add a table spoon of oil.
b. Add the beans and fry them for 5-8 minutes. Cover the pan with a lid and make sure to turn the beans every minutes or so.
c. Add salt to taste and sesame seeds. Saute the beans for minute or two.

Garlic chicken

Ingredients: roasted garlic & herb seasoning ,olive oil, cilantro, salt.

Method:
a. Add salt, olive oil and seasoning in a bowl and mix.
b. Add chicken to the above mixture and let it marinate for a hour. (Marination: Seal the chicken in an aluminium foil and place it aside).
c. Set the oven temperature to 420 Fahrenheit and place the chicken for 20-30 minutes (or until done.)
d. Garnish with cilantro.

PS: These are all recipes that I made up on my own. I can't promise they taste good/great/amazing. Since I am taking efforts to remember how I cooked and note down the recipe in my blog for future reference, it implies these are recipes worth trying. :~D

A music album in the making.

Me, Sru and mom talking on phone.

Me: mom. You know I love Sru.....?

Mom: silent

(15 seconds later) Me: right?

Mom: umm...yes.(in her very feeble tone)

Me: I have decided to dedicate an album to Sru cause I love her so much.

Sru: (rolling eyes and probably wishing this is all a nightmare)

Mom: that's a good idea. 

Me: yes! Will you donate one song in my album for my sister?

Mom: what??????

Me: a music album for Sru.

Mom: OH NO.She is going to be dead. I thought you meant a photo album. 

Sru: heeheahaha. Tell her about what you were reading to me in the morning.

Me: I sang a song. That's called singing. 

Mom: (suddenly starts singing a very old song on sisters)

Me: Mommy. This album is for my sister not yours. And please use your own lyrics.

Mom: oh okay. (And starts singing a newly made up song)

Me: shhh...it's going to be a surprise to Sru. 

Mon: ok ok! I already got a good idea ...I shall work on it and write down the lyrics in a book. 

Me: cool! Ask daddy and Kali  if they too want to donate a song in my album for sru. 

Sru: [gives that 'o my gosh...I have the dumbest sis ever look' but I think she is secretly happy with all my efforts to make her happy... ;-)]

Ps: I love love love to irritate Sru in all ways possible. 

Sent from my iPhone

Saudade

I was browsing for a wallpaper with the term saudade in it and I couldn't find. So guess what! I took a couple of photos myself. Yay! Me is awesome right. :) 

Yup. When I don't find what I am looking for I will end up creating it myself. cool right? 

Love,
Archana