So, 2015.

2015 has been both the greatest and the worst year in a while.

Great because I travelled a lot, met amazing people, hit the gym, got engaged, started working in one of the best schools in Delhi, earned more and saved up a bit as well... whew.
Worst because I got abused on the travels, my dog died, I met some douche bags in the general pool of amazing people, got burnt out due to stress as my engagement fell apart because of loyalty issues that was unfortunately my fault and am broke again as the year comes to an end.

People don't believe in astrology, but the year 2015 adds up to number 8 which is governed by Saturn.
Now Saturn is a difficult task master. He gives you a roller coaster ride where you experience thrills but throw up as you gingerly get off the ride,

But after my numerous interactions with countless people in the last 12 months, I have learnt that:

1. I still have myself.
2.I have added another eventful chapter to my life, with amazing stories to tell.
3. I have survived depression again.
4. My closest friends are the ones who know I am flawed but love me anyway.
5. My mother is still my best critic and guide.
6. I learnt things the hard way, without a safety net, map or harness.
7. The only way out of most of the situations was through.
8. I didn't lose my sense of humour.
9. I accepted my mistakes and genuinely tried to rectify them.
10. I realised when it was time to move on.
11. I was selfish.
12. I was selfless.
13.I underwent the joys of falling in love all over again. And losing it- but not giving up Hope.
14. I underwent the grief of bereavement for the loss of loved ones.
15. I survived another year.

I want to thank all those who have made this year memorable.
Believe me when I say this- I owe you my growth and wisdom.
Thank you.

Shelf Life

The charger you gave me,
The phone screen I cracked,
My dog's UTI,
The pimple scar on my left cheek,
My grandmother's constipation,
The morphing of a caterpillar,
The black thong you'll never see,
My dad's hangover,
My brother's first relationship,
The expiry date of my painkillers,
Sunny Leone on Big Boss,
Baahubali playing in cinemas,
Modi's government-

lasted longer than you.

Afternoons in Kolkata

The rain drenched patch of street behind Roma's window was full of people. It was a dull September morning and you could smell the wet earth if you paid close enough attention, but the noise from the crowd was quite distracting, at the moment.
Roma got out of bed and quietly tip-toed across the mosaic tiled floor to get a better look.
There was Mr. Mukherjee, the middle-aged recluse, being led away by two pot-bellied constables.
There was also a sliver of something covered by a white sheet, being carried away on an obtrusive stretcher into the ambulance that was adding to the maddening cacophony.
Her Dida stirred on the other side of the bed.
"Khuki, tumi uthe gecho?" ( Little one, are you awake?)

Roma went to her Dida's outstretched hand and clasped it. She traced the lines on her palm to make known her presence. Dida was blind since Roma was a baby and Roma was turning fourteen tomorrow. She couldn't wait for her party.

On the way to her special school at the end of Park Street, Roma couldn't help but think about Mr. Mukherjee and how he had always been kind to her. Giving her orange ice-lollies on hot May afternoons. He never said anything except "Nao, eta nao." (Take, take this) and now the people said he was crazy because his sister, Neelam had died in July and he had locked up her body in the tiny bedroom, refusing to part with her. They had been twins.

Roma longed for a twin, or a sibling of some kind. Specially on rainy afternoons in Kolkata, when you could tell that the sun is just there, somewhere behind the dull grey clouds, but it was always out of sight, somehow. Roma would see the brightest spot in the sky and that would give away the sun's hidden spot. She could even see the bright white light, if she squinted enough, her face turned up to the rainclouds, the wind playing carelessly with her thick, wavy hair.

Her birthday party would definitely be a grand one, with sweet rice being made by her favourite aunt Rita, who was coming down from Darjeeling for her birthday, with her five year old cousin, Pintu.

But, someone was coming now. Someone was screaming. Someone was dragging her by her hair and...

Roma could never have a twin, because she was an orphan now. Her parents died when they sold her to her 'Dida' who is actually her employer, and who is far from kind or blind. Roma never did go to a special school, but spent her days cleaning the house of the old lady, she fondly called 'Dida' in her daydreams. She was mute because like hundreds of children who work in the city, she will never have a voice.
Mr Mukherjee's case is quite real though.
The world is a myriad of madness and sorrow and sometimes it can get very tiring for young, soft souls. But the mind is a brilliant place, changing reality, merging facts, erasing hardships, to create a little warm bubble where you feel safe. On an insignificant rainy afternoon in Kolkata, anything is possible.
 

4 Cleaners Every Rookie Needs!

Rookie Cleaners

Cleaners!! are important!! 

You might think that your sophisticated looking windows OS can keep itself running at maximum capacity all the time!! Well, it's windows!!! A bit harsh, but true. 

Simply put, windows screws up once in a while and y'all need to restart it and wait and start working all over again! What causes it? You don't wanna know! It could be some fancy program swallowing system resources.

Let's not go into the detail and hire a FREE cleaner for the maintenance. Yes! Trust me they are helpful.

Anyhoo, check out these superlight apps and what can they do for you.

1.C Cleaner

Pro

• Light
• Comprehensive clean up
• Add/remove programs
• Registry Errors Clean-up
• Freeware
• Supports all windows versions
• Manage start-up items

Cons:

• No back up registry
• Paid version with more features

2. Slim Cleaner

   Pro:

•   Lightest of them all!
•   Options provides more control
•   No ads
•   Start-up manager

   Cons:

         Not so easy to drive the app

     Makes failing attempts at 

            defragmenting
 

3. Win Optimizer

         Pro:

• Optimize system performance
• Diagnosis and information
• Fine-tunes the system for faster performance

Cons:

• Clumsy system performance
• Full version costs money (why? Frankly I don't want to find out)

4. YAC (Yet Another Cleaner)
        Pro:

• Light
• Comprehensive clean up
• search engine adblock(new)
• Fancy Speedup option
• Registry Errors Clean-up
• Freeware
• Supports all windows versions
• On the go memory cleanup
• Very well finished GUI(looks)

           Cons:

• Tweaking can interfere with system performance
• Too versatile for its own good

Can India Follow Ireland's Lead?

While we celebrate a win for the LGBT community this month, as Ireland recently legalized same-sex marriage by popular vote. let's not forget how the LGBT community closer home, continues to be penalized for it's orientation.

Watch the video and leave your comments if you feel India should follow Ireland's lead in legalising LGBT marriage.