3 Days In Delhi : From Soul to Heart....(::)

Time really flies. From Hyderabad Biryani to Delhi Samosa….(life is so tangy, spicy and yummy). It has been three days here but I am still so much hyderabadi at heartJ

But yes these three days have been like a flash back for me, visiting my old ancestral house at Naraina Vihar to flashing malls at different places in Delhi/NCR, things and people have changedJ.

I am very emotional about few things and my home at Naraina that is like a chocolate cake with a red cherry is so much close to my heart. I have spent 7 years in that house and those years were years of struggle and just struggle. The place taught me to be humble and calm but today when I stand and see my house, I have changed tooJ

I think change is the spice of life and my life wanted me to change. When I looked at my house, I scanned through myself from top to bottom and I see a different lady who lost oodles of pounds, who is now no more into salwars and who is practical towards life. But then when I closed my eyes, I could remember that innocent girl who used to walk to her school in a skirt that can surely touch her ankles. I could see a girl who used to walk from college to tuition classes to earn extra money for her education. I could see a girl who left her home in search of jobs during her graduation so that she can fund her education. I did everything from sales girl job to tuitions, from making websites to event management to accomplish my studies. But the moment, I open my eyes, I see a fancy home that is just now the way I left it. All the people around my old home have either shifted or could not recognize me. As I said I have changed too. A thin 32 years old lady in her blue jeans and black top is definitely not the same as they saw me 6 years back when we sold our home for a bigger or maybe better place.

But I am glad my neighbours could identify me. A coconut burfee (Indian sweets) remind me of how badly I need to explore food when I am in Delhi. Who Kahata hain, Delhi aaye aur mithai nahi kayee.

Meeting school and college friends have added one more feather to my cap.

So I decided and my decision is still the same, I will munch on all the specialties of Delhi. I have tried some of the things that are not on my diet chart. I had kulfi and kulchas with makhani dal to lavish creamy paneer. My soul says ‘sinful food is good when on vacation’. I am sure, I have gained 2 kgs but I will workout once I am back. I will workout like a maniacJ

I am missing Hyderabad and my classes (definitely, kickboxing also).

Today, I am heading to Amritsar. My dream to see Golden temple will come true. I have no wishes or desires to ask God but just one request that I hope my God knows and will fulfill it. I have a big shopping list that I need to complete like any virgoJ

I am excited and happyJ

So until I am back….CheerioJ and love you all!

Delhi is Delhi Belly:)

I am in Delhi for next 8 days. I really wanted a good break and being my first home town what could be better to visit your home. I am all by myself and I have many plans to travel. I want to visit Golden temple (Amritsar) and couple of places in Delhi to feel that I am a Delhite. I have never been to India Gate and Qutab Minar so I am planning to explore this part of Delhi. Just me and meJ.

6 years in Hyderabad and 6 years in Delhi has made me a complete Indian. I understand both south and north cultures pretty well. From koncham koncham telugu to broken Punjabi, I enjoy myself struggling with both the languages.

Being a virgo, I have always been very impulsive. I have noticed that I take decisions in seconds whether it is to buy a dress or my travel plans. I do not reserve my tickets in advance as I do not know how my health would be in advanceJ. But the day I feel good and my body says “you can travel”, I just book my tickets instantly. There are good and bad sides to this as well. You get expensive tickets and if your state is going through a political challenge like Telangana Bandh then you realize how bad it is to travel without preparations. At the same time the fun to travel at last notice, rushing from one counter to another and surprising your family is a great fun. I never faced packing and unpacking problems as again being a virgo I am very good at itJ.

Two days back when I was blogging, I was very sure that yesterday was a day to shop for Navratri and Dandiya night. No where in my widest dreams, I had plans of flying to Delhi. Last morning as I was cooking, I felt to visit Delhi. The moment my husband woke up, I declared the alarm, I want to travel today. We got the tickets done and now I had to pack. My ticket status was pending so I was asked to come early at the airport to sought the issue. Early here is 4 hours before the departure time J. Now with an hour time left how will one pack and take shower and reach the airport. My prayers started..Babaji please ask them to confirm it before I get the ticket printed. From packing to shower, I was continuously on call with the airline guys. OMG! I have packed my stuff in such a bad way that my bag was falling the other way round as most of the stuff was on that side..I cannot stop laughing. Finally, my ticket was confirmed and I got two hours to repack my stuff. This time bag was not falling on either sides.

We drove to the Aeroexpress points to head to the Airport and this was like a nightmare. Aeroexpress shuttles were not available due to never ending state bandh that has paralysed the state of Hyderabad since 14^th September, 2011. I am thankful as my husband drove the car at 120-140 speed to make it to the airport and finally I boarded the flight on timeJ. But still the journey was not that easy. The moment I landed Delhi, Vodafone deactivated my roaming services as I am switching to Airtel. The fight is between Airtel and Vodafone services. I asked the gentleman next to me to help me to make a call to my father and husband. Got connected and reached home. All were surprised and so was I with so much of food offerings. My answer was like always – I do not eat all that but I do not diet.  Just eat healthy foodJ

Today is my first morning and I am planning my day ahead. I feel so much single for a whileJ. I told the same thing to husband feel single for next 8 daysJ

I will post my daily updates and loads of pics of Delhi on my blog and FB. Until then….

SAYOUNARAJ

Happy Birthday To You!

To My Dear Friend!

Below is a link for you to click. I am wishing you "A Very Happy Birthday In Different Languages"

CLICK THIS LINK

Love you

Have a Rocking Birthday and year ahead!

Cheerio:)

How I Learned To Kick?

I had a day off and tomorrow will be lot of fun. I am cancelling my classes and planning to go for shopping for Navratri. We have Dandiya night coming soon and like last year, I want to wear a nice hot ghagra-choli to impress myself. Then I have my kickboxing class and gym workouts. Friday is my day to practice belly dancing.

So no to swimming for a whileJ

My trainer always motivates me to kick harder as my upper body strength needs to be improved. Last session he asked what drives me to kick and I smiled. He was very strict and throwing the kick pads aside, he said, “You can never learn like this. There is no aggression and focus when you hit the pad or kick it”.

Honestly, I felt bad but he was true. I tried again and still failed.

He said one thing which touched my heart –

“Archana, remember all those kicks that you faced in life by people and then saving yourself kick them back. Kick it harder as hard as you can. Think if you do not kick, you are dead. It is DO or DIE and it should be a strong kick to a man from a man.”

I took off my bracelet and watch, closed my eyes, thought of all the betrayals and sorrows, I have gone through. I thought of all those moments where people had hit me for no reason. All those moments where I was right but still I was punished. All those happy moments that people turned into unhappy memories and I kicked for the first time like a man. For a while my wrist and knee was in pain but it started responding to the techniques as my mind was stronger now. I have realised that all my wounds were coming out in my kicks and I could do 300 kicks with my trainer.

While coming home, I read a very interesting poem of a fighter that is so close to my situation as my fight is with myself, to prove myself to me in life and bravely go ahead with all the courage and strength so that I can face that Archana with proud in the glass. Kickboxing is hard for me but I am not going to give up as the poem below is my inspirationJ

From those delicate hands that used to cook food or rehearse Kathak have become stronger to hit and kick.

I fight a battle every day
Against discouragement and fear;
Some foe stands always in my way,
The path ahead is never clear!
I must forever be on guard
Against the doubts that skulk along;
I get ahead by fighting hard,
But fighting keeps my spirit strong.


I hear the croakings of Despair,
The dark predictions of the weak;
I find myself pursued by Care,
No matter what the end I seek;
My victories are small and few,
It matters not how hard I strive;
Each day the fight begins anew,
But fighting keeps my hopes alive.

My dreams are spoiled by circumstance,
My plans are wrecked by Fate or Luck;
Some hour, perhaps, will bring my chance,
But that great hour has never struck;
My progress has been slow and hard,
I've had to climb and crawl and swim,
Fighting for every stubborn yard,
But I have kept in fighting trim.

I have to fight my doubts away,
And be on guard against my fears;
The feeble croaking of Dismay
Has been familiar through the years;
My dearest plans keep going wrong,
Events combine to thwart my will,
But fighting keeps my spirit strong,

And I am undefeated still!

Live Like This Else There Is No Use Of Living that is what I have learned in LIFE.

Cheerio:)

My Daughter Helped Me!!

I am busy though nothing new but when the day starts and when it ends, I have no clue. Commuting from hospital to my gym for workouts and then my coaching classes, I am hardly left with anytime for myself. I need a break, a long vacation just me and myselfJ. How do we say me, myself, moiJ?

I wonder why are people so much interested in my life? Maybe this is from where the gossip starts in India. I hate this typical trait of Indian women and I am glad work keeps me so busy that I do not have time to gossip. I am going to blog a very nice poem as a part of this post but why only this poem?

In last couple of months, I have closely encountered two questions. People know I have a sponsored daughter and still they are deciding my fate. Even if I would have been blessed with my own child, I would have still sponsored a child. My sponsoring a child has nothing to do with my own child. But still people keep assuming and judging me. Some say something and some conclude something. I am laughing while writing this that I am illustrated as an example for many others to plan a family, strange?

Everyone might not face the same problem or might be going through the same phase in life. Why am I being an example for others to plan an early family does not get into my mind? The funny fact is that people have concluded my whole fate and spread it like a fire. LOLJ. But I am silent and will not react. Every action need not have a reaction. I know the reality and let people live with their assumptionsJ

There were days when I used to feel bad and sit or fight with God but now I am ignorant. I do not care how people judge me neither I will share anything. I love to keep people into mystery and I thoroughly enjoy it. Not only this people are more worried than me as if they care but the fact is they just mock behind my back. Honestly, I laugh on all these acts now BUT I was never this strong.

As I wrote there were times when I was hurt and broken but then few lines of this poem showed me the path. God help those who help themselves. Criticisms pushed me and every time I looked into the mirror I could face myself. I could proudly see my honest eyes and my clear heart that whatever I did was not wrong. This poem as below is a true inspiration for me. Anyone around the world who is fighting for his or her existence just read these few lines. You do not have to prove others what you are, if you can face yourself into the glass with proud and honesty. Be proud of yourself and if you eyes are not confident to face yourself then you are on the wrong track. Here goes the poem. I will hit the sack as tomorrow is a busy day for Archana!

I am happy, I could face that Archana straight into the mirror and my daughter is more valuable to me than God no matter what people say or think!

When you get what you want in your struggle for self,
And the world makes you King for a day,
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,
And see what that guy has to say.

For it isn't your Father, or Mother, or Wife,
Who judgement upon you must pass.
The feller whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the guy staring back from the glass.

He's the feller to please, never mind all the rest,
For he's with you clear up to the end,
And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the guy in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum,
And think you're a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you're only a bum
If you can't look him straight in the eye.

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you've cheated the guy in the glass

Pink Ribbon Walk 2011(Hyderabad) - Breast Cancer Awareness!!

The main idea of this post is to share with all the people of lovely Hyderabad that there is a Pink Ribbon Walk on 2^nd October, 2011 at KBR Park (distance – 2kms) , 6:30 am to 7:30 am.

Every person who wants to support Breast Cancer Awareness can be a part of this walk. Women, men indeed breast cancer survivors and their families are encouraged to join in large numbers for the walk. It makes a difference to many if you participate as the idea is to empower women & men about the importance of breast cancer awareness and emphasize the benefits of early detection of breast cancer. For free registration click the link below –

Click for Free Registration for Pink Ribbon Walk 2011

I have already registered and I will make sure to be a part of this event. So please register and make roads to learn about Breast Cancer.

Last year in the month of September, I was diagnosed with Fibrocystic Breast and since then I am on medication. Certain days my condition is too bad and I am under regular medication and monthly examinations. I would advise to all women that do not be as infantile or ignorant as I was. I would not have landed to this problem if someone would have guided me. Regular medical checks are good and advisable once you turn 30+. Rest your doctor will tell what all preventive measures and exercise you should do. Now I know so much that it is good for me to be safe and plan my life accordingly. Women in India are shy to discuss such facts about them. PLEASE DO NOT BE. Read and understand your anatomy for yourself. Sooner the better!

I am posting a link to a good article that I read few months back when I was in too much pain. I do get scared sometimes as it has been a year I am on medication but I trust my doctors. It is not a disease but a condition as Fibrocystic Breast articles emphasise.

Breast Cancer in India

In continuation to my post – Nandri..Nandri, there are few lines that most of us have posted on our FB walls. I am posting it on my blog for my readers.

We all wish to have a new car, new phone, new bike, new house, new dress BUT a person who has cancer only wants one thing to have more birthdays. I know 97% of you won't put this on your wall... but 3% of my friends will. Put this on your wall in memory of someone who died from cancer or in honor of someone who is fighting cancer.... :(........let god make them explore their life...

You can use the above content to post on your FB wall or any other way to share with everyone around in memory of those who died from cancer or in honor of someone who is fighting cancer much above that one who has been survivor after the tough fight against cancer.

Hope to see many of you at Pink Ribbon Walk 2011 – Hyderabad.

Ask for 3 Wishes...They Will Come True!

I had a great day and could feel lot of positive energy around myself. I felt as if I am flying in the airJ

 There was a smile on my face for no reason. Maybe I am happy or maybe there is no pain in the knees. Whenever I am happy I think about my painless knees. Happy knee is a happy Archana!

Leave all this!

Today is a very good day so just lit three lamps in front of Lord Ganesha and ask for any three wishes and it will come true!

Now you will ask who said this?

I do not who said but I just did it!

As such also I follow Lord Hanuman and Lord Ganesha so just did it as per my belief. But do not share your wishes with anyone. Anything you desire as a wish from honest heart always come true.

Om Gan Ganpatye Namo Namah Shri Sidhivinayak Namo Namah Ashtvinayak Namo Namah Ganpatibappa Morya