You Raise Me Up - Book Review

Give me something to read and I will be the happiest. This is exactly why, even though I am on vacation and trying to just relax with no plans to do anything else, I still went ahead and signed up to review this book. After all, a book can do no harm even if you are vacationing ;)

The book, You Raise Me Up, is from the author, Arjun Hemmady, all of 25 years and pursuing his Chartered Accountancy from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. The book is about  how a 27 year old chartered accountant, Aalok Sharma meets Priyanka Mehra, a lawyer, feels attracted to her, yet something holds him back. The book is divided into three parts – The first part is all about him meeting Priyanka and how they become close to each other, the second part traces his yester years, his journey through his struggles as a CA aspirant to a young professional, his life before he met Priyanka (here, the reader realizes why he is hesitant in committing to a relation with Priyanka) and why he acts the way he is in the first part. The third part brings the reader back to the present and stitches together Aalok’s life to connect the past with the present and bring the book to a happy ending.

                                  

The life of a CA aspirant is clearly portrayed in the book. The despair, the struggle and the hard work to clear the exam is written so well. If you are a chartered accountant or aspiring to be one, you can definitely relate so well with a lot that is written in the book. I’ve seen may of my CA friends go through the phases mentioned in the book - their struggles, hardwork, the tension build up just before the result is announced, the dejected feeling when they didn’t clear the exam and the exuberant feeling when they passed – I’ve in fact experienced it all quite closely with my best friend. The life of young professionals in a metropolitan city is sketched quite well in the book.  My favourite part in the book, though, was the relation between Arjun and his twin sister, Isha (I am a sucker for twins, so I might be partial here). It is portrayed beautifully - no one can love you as a sibling does, no one can feel your pain as your sibling does and definitely no one will stand by you no matter what, like your sibling does! This book may not keep you hooked from the beginning to the end, but it's definitely interesting and though at times it's quite predictable, there are times when you are left wondering. I loved the book more towards the end where there seemed to be a bit of uncertainty as to what happens next and how the story might end. But other than that, the book is kept simple with not much surprises. 

Considering that the book is from a first time author, it is a good read. However, personally, I would've loved if the book was slightly better off in terms of language and flow of sentence. The book is a light read and you can finish it in a couple of hours. All in all, if you have a couple of hours to while away and you want to sit back and relax, this book is worth a try.

P.s: This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!

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A Family Trip To Thekkady And Gavi

It had been sometime since we took a break. The last time we took a family break was in August, when we went to the most amazing place I'd ever been to, fell in love with and had an absolutely laid back two days of my life. Since then, I've wanted to be on a break all the time, but sadly, that is not how life is! April came and the husband was taking a two week break. After much discussions, we zeroed in on Thekkady and off we went to spend two days away from the routine life. This time, we had B's parents and brother join us for the trip as well.

We started off on the 14th of April, early morning and reached Thekkady by afternoon. Except for a breakfast stop in between, we had a non stop drive till Thekkady. We had booked our rooms at the Poetree Sarovar Portico Resort, which was around 2 kms further interior from Kumili junction and reached there just in time for lunch. The resort had two types of rooms - cottage room with a view of thick vegetation and club room with a view of the mountains. Though the cottage room was the pricier one, the view from the club room was breathtaking. I fell in love with it and we opted for the club room.

Once we settled down, we went to the resort's restaurant and had a good continental lunch.We decided to just relax that evening since we were tired from the drive and we had to plan out our two days ahead. After resting for a while, B and I took the little boy to the pool. He splished and splashed and enjoyed his pool time with his dad while I browsed the net, clicked pictures and just sat back and enjoyed. 

There are lot of to-do activities in Thekkady and we decided to stick to what we wanted to do. So we shortlisted a few from the list - A Gavi trip from there (Since Gavi was just around 40 kms from Thekkady), Elephant ride & bath with the elephant, Kalaripayattu, boating in Periyar River and an Organic Fruit Farm visit.

Next day we started for Gavi by around 7 in the morning. The Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC) overlooks the tourism in Gavi and we took a day package of Rs. 1250/- per person. This package includes breakfast, a small trek to the hilltop, which is also known as the Sabarimala View Point, visit to the Museum, walk through the Cardamom plantation, cardamom processing unit visit, boating and lunch along with a certified guide. The trek to the Sabarimala view point was amazing. Thanks to baby wearing and my precious soul tai, I felt like a supermom with my toddler boy on my back and trekking all the way to the top. 

Although Sabarimala was only partially visible due to fog, the view from the hilltop was absolutely beautiful. I could've spent a full day on top just sitting there and finding hidden peace, had it not been for the toddler boy who wanted to get down and run around.  From there, we went to the museum. This museum was built by the locals there (so we were told) and consisted of the bones, skeleton and skulls of animals. The star of the show was the huge elephant skeleton and my little boy was amused. 

The next was the cardamom plantation walk and factory visit. In the whole trip, this was a total let down. It was just a walk to the factory, which was shut down since it was not season time so we just got to see the equipments used, and the cardamom plantation was on the way on the roadside. We had a half an hour to kill before lunch time and we decided to utilise that for the boating. Since it was summer time and off season, the water level was quite low and hence, we just had a small perimeter for the boat ride. The little boy, loved putting his hand in the water and feeling the cold water. During the boating, we were entertained by our guide with a couple of interesting, real life incidents and with that our Gavi trip came to an end. We left back for Thekkady after lunch and again, we had a beautiful, scenic rich drive back. 

We were too tired to go for the Elephant visit by then, all of us were cranky with the travelling and not getting any rest since getting up early morning and to top this, the little one was fast asleep, so we decided to drop the elephant visit. We went back to the resort, took some much needed rest and we went for the Kalaripayattu show. It was an amazing one hour show - respect to the artists who has such mind and body balance.

The next day was again an early morning day. We decided to go for the 7:30 slot boating. To get the tickets for the 7:30 slot, we had to reach the checkpost by 6, else the ticket might get sold off. The boating, however, was a major let down for me. I felt the Periyar river boating was highly overrated. It might be because it is not season time and it is summer, but except for a couple of bisons neither did we say any animals nor the boating was much fun. But, I learnt an important lesson - Thekkady and Gavi are places of natural beauty. You need to go there to enjoy nature and spotting wild animals is just an additional treat you get.

Since we had to leave for Trivandrum by afternoon, we decided to drop the organic farm visit plan, take a good rest and checkout from the resort by afternoon. And while I slept, the husband took the little one to the swimming pool and they had quality father-son time.

And thus came an end to our family trip. We had an amazing drive back to Trivandrum and I think, in the two day trip, this was the best part. We drove through some of the most beautiful places in Kerala, rich in greenery and exuding so much lushness.

As You Turn 60...

Dear Achan

As you turn 60 and enter the senior citizen category (time to revise the senior citizen category to 70?), there are a few things I want you to know. Though you know I love you much more than words can express, I've never expressly told you how thankful I am for being your daughter, how grateful I am for having you in my life. And, there's no better time than this to let you know.

You may be turning 60 but, trust me, you have not changed much from when you were in your 30's - well, except from being a size 39 to being a size 44 now! You are still the man everyone look upto, ever ready - day in and day out - to help anyone in need without expecting anything in return and someone who is in love with the society more than he loves himself.

Growing up, I couldn't have asked for a better person to look upto. You were the super cool dad who trusted your children completely and never doubted us on what we said or did, even once. You had an undying belief in us that we wouldn't do any wrong and hence, we grew up without any restrictions/curfew. It is this, that made us open about everything in our life with you and Amma.  Your belief in us has been our driving force always and it also ensured that we never betrayed the trust you had on us. We never had secrets within the family and we knew whatever we did, even if the whole world let us down, we would have one man who would support us and cheer for us, come what may. The times I failed, you told me to face the world boldly, held my hand tightly and encouraged me to try harder the next time. You have been my biggest inspiration in whatever I do. You never stopped us from pursuing our interests and you gave your whole hearted support always. You may not have liked all that I did until now, yet, you stood by me without showing even a slight tinge of displeasure, and helped me pursue my interests and later, at times, when I realised what I did was wrong, you still stood by me without ever uttering a 'I told you so'. You sure have made me feel like a princess every single minute and I can't thank you enough. 

To the person who taught us the importance of giving, who taught us money is not the be all end all, who taught us wealth is measured by how content you are and not by your bank balance; to the person who showed us to be there for anyone in need without thinking twice or expecting anything in return, who raised us to be a better human, who showed us family extends to friends as well, thank you for being the best teacher and an even better father!

You know? You sure do make 60 look like the new 30. In fact, as cliche as it sounds, you are really 30 years old with an extra 30 years of wonderful, rich experience to your credit. I am blessed to have been born as your daughter and I am so proud to tell the whole world you are my father.  You are an amazing husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend to many. Once again, happy birthday to my favourite person. I love you, daddy!

Jacobinte Swargarajyam - A Must Watch Movie

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I am not a movie buff. Given a chance, I would any day choose any other activity over a movie. And I am quite famous in the family for sleeping through movies - my friends and family can't believe how I can sleep in a movie theatre with a dolby sound system while watching movies like Mission Impossible and such other. Coupled with this, I am an early to bed person and I hate going for late night movies. So, when a friend called me to book tickets for Jacobinte Swargarajyam, I told him immediately not to count me for the movie. But the next day, my brother's friends had a couple of extra tickets with them and so my brother took two tickets for us. It was a late night show and on our way to the theatre, both of us were feeling sleepy and we were telling each other how, for sure, we would sleep off in the theatre. But from the very first minute of watching, this movie changed our entire perception and our eyes were glued to the screen from the beginning to the end.

The movie is about a man, Jacob, who went to Dubai and is in love with the place for the opportunity it holds. He made it big over the years and got settled in Dubai. He is a content man, with a big happy family consisting of wife and four kids. Soon crisis hits, the family is in a major financial mess and the movie is about how the family overcomes the financial crisis and steps up to save the man they all look upto and the family from the mess. Being from a business family, this movie impacted me tremendously. I was shaken from my comfort zone and it left an everlasting impact in my mind. I sat still, my mind never wandered and my heart was in a turmoil the entire duration of the movie. Almost everything in the movie was so relatable. There was a scene where Renji Panikker, playing Jacob, telling his wife, Shirly, how the family was his wealth and that makes him the richest man in this world. It touched my heart deeply, because the last time I was home, Achan made the same dialogue about being wealthy because of the two kids he have and how that makes him rich enough. I am sure, almost all fathers would have said or thought about this at one point or the other. I could relate to all the advise the dad gives in the movie to his kid - all those I've heard from my dad and each one of it is true. The movie also beautifully potrayed how the entire family moved out of their comfort zone and stepped up during crisis to support the man they adore - The strength and power of the wife/mother, the dutiful son who steps up to save the whole family, the sibling support, the extent to which true friends go to help you in a crisis. Each and every scene in the movie is a message in itself.

My heart was in my mouth the entire duration of the movie. The movie is based on the real life story of director, Vineeth Srinivasan's friend, Gregory. Yet, I could relate the movie to many others as well. Many families go through this crisis and if, for me, the two hours throughout the movie was traumatic, I can't even imagine what the family would have gone through for years. I respect the son, who got his act together, stepped up to the situation and transformed from being a rich, 'nothing to worry' boy to shouldering the responsibilities of the whole family. Like my mom said, not every son/daughter can, or rather, would do that.

Amongst many things this movie reaffirmed certain points that I believe in life:
1. Family is your biggest wealth - the ones who stick by you in happiness and sadness, the ones who fight for you no matter what
2. Never underestimate the power of the woman, the matriarch of the family. On any other day, she may project herself as incapable and dependant, but when the situation arises, she is sure to be the rock, the foundation that holds the family together.
3. Life is like an ECG variation - there will definitely be ups and downs in your life and as much as you enjoy the ups, you need to fight through the lows and come up again to live. However, it will depend on how you were during your royal days, as to how you will be treated when you loose your power and money.
4. True friends may be rare to find, but when you do, they are rare gems that you will need to hold on because they will do whatever they can in their capacity and beyond to help you out of a crisis.
5. You need to be rational while dealing with people. Not many who project themselves to be trustworthy would be so.

There was never a movie before this, which impacted me as much as this. I've always valued my family as the biggest treasure I have, but this movie just sealed it for me. My biggest respect to the family, based on whom the movie was taken for stepping up and being there for each other during the stormy days - not just the mother, Shirly and Jerry but the other siblings(especially the little one who had to grow up seeing the trauma the family underwent) as well who contributed to the family needs in their own way. Big salute!

This movie is definitely a must watch in everybody's life. It is not just a movie, it is life's lesson that everyone needs to keep in mind. I have several movies in my favourite list, but this movie touched my heart and conscience. I never thought I would review a movie in this little space of mine since I totally hate screen time but I had to review this movie. Because, this did indeed leave a lasting impression on me and it is by far, the best movie I have seen in my life!

Thank you, Vineeth Sreenivasan and the entire crew for bringing this story to us. It would've been a definite miss in my life had I not watched this movie!

Home Is Where Your Parents Are!

Home is where the heart is, goes the saying. In that case, I am blessed with two - the one I grew up, full of life, with my parents, brother and grandmom and the one I stay with my man and little one, which is our little world. Even so, I am partial... partial towards the place I grew up from a little girl to a married lady. Ask me where my home is and I will still tell you the place where my parents are.

Whereas in the place I've set up as home, I make sure the place is kept neat and tidy at all times, I wake up early to ensure that the house looks like a home, food is ready for the two boys when they wake up, my eyes go to each and every nook and corner of the house to ensure that nothing is piled up here and there. But all this changes the moment I reach my parents' place. There is a familiar tuck in the heart, the brain sends out happy waves and I act like a goofy teenager!

The moment I step into this place, I, all of a sudden, transform to the little girl that I was - messy, irresponsible, lazy. I am sure the boy thinks his mother has a multiple personality disorder given the difference in behaviour at both places! Days, here, are spent waking up later than usual and if at all I wake up early, it is to spend time with my mom and watch her carry on with her chores. I don't move a finger here because, of course, I am home for a break and I am supposed to chill! The bedroom is messy all the time, clothes thrown here and there and I just laze around. I don't worry about my baby because there are people who are eager to look after him. They don't care if I am nowhere to be seen and I needn't worry because they will look after the baby just like how they looked after me or even better. I don't care how the house looks, I don't worry about what is for lunch or dinner and I walk out of the house without thinking twice to meet my friends and come back home late without feeling guilty. Because, here, there is no one to judge me and I don't need to be the homemaker. Of course, there is constant bickering and bantering, Amma complaining about how I don't know to keep stuffs in an orderly manner, Achan stating how when I come home, the house all of a sudden transforms into a jungle with stuffs thrown here and there and the brother having no room to sleep. But, you know as a matter of fact that amidst all this, there is undeniable love that can't be quantified and affection accumulated since the time you were born! And nothing can change this.. ever.. never.

Here, I am seen as a daughter first and an adult, married, mother to a kid later. This is the only place I get to throw tantrums, show attitude and act as if I am possessed and still get away with it. Because this place houses a bunch of people who tolerates the worst in me and still loves me, no matter what. This is where life is carefree to me and I am not expected to be at my best.  

When you are a girl, you grow up, get married, leave the place you spent your growing years at and start a new life in a totally different place. And that is when you realise the worth of the place you grew up in - the place where your parents are, the place where you go back to be a kid all over again. The place, which you took for granted once upon a time, becomes your most cherished place once you make a nest of your own and then, you yearn to be back home to be a little girl again, to spend time with your parents and be a messy teenager all over again. Then you realise, home is heaven!

My Mommy Friends

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I believe in friendship - friendship that are true, genuine and the ones who are there for me in need. For someone coming from a very small family setup (I have just one first cousin), friends are the ones I reach out to always and friends are family. I have friends who know me from the time I started school and we hold each other quite close to our heart. Our friendship has withstood the test of time, misunderstandings caused by jealous third parties and it survived whatever that came our way. I have friends who have travelled down to be with me when I am not well, taking over my home and doing all the chores while ensuring that I rest and their family, over time, became mine too. The innocence of such friendship made by two little minds without any further thought got lost once I grew up. Friendship was made with an ulterior motive - something like an opportunity based friendship. True friends became rare to find and I held on to the true friends I had like I would hold a precious gem. 

By my late 20s I was pretty much sure I was not going to make any more friends who would go out of their way to be there in need and whom I would hold dear to my heart. And then Adhrith happened, we shifted our home to a beautiful apartment complex and I got lucky and met a few beautiful souls. What brought us together were our babies and through them I rediscovered those long lost innocent friendships I made when I was a kid. We became friends just like that - a beautiful relation formed out of a common interest. 

We met daily and soon they became an integral part of our life. With them, we played, we went out, we shopped, we explored places, we pretty much did everything together. The kids thought the world of each other - of course, there were pushing, pulling and hitting but inspite of that they loved each other. In fact, my boy gets up in the morning asking for them and the moment he sees them, his eyes light up.  With our own families far away, we reached out to each other for just about anything and everything. I've had several instances where, when Adhrith fell ill, I just had to look after him - we had food brought to us, friends who accompanied me to the hospital just so that I wouldn't be going to the doctor's alone with the boy while the husband was busy at work, friends who offered to come home and watch over Adhrith while I finished my chores, friends who made me feel safe by just being there. They sense my worry and keep their cool, taking over the next few minutes or hours and just be there with us until I am assured everything is ok. 

With them, I rediscovered innocence and the beauty of friendship again. They are my break away from what is otherwise a monotonous life. They are the ones who empathise with me when life becomes hectic with a toddler. As much as I have other close friends and family in Bangalore, it is them I call late in the night or early in the morning if I need help. It is them who can give me assurance that I am safe while the husband is away or busy at work. Over the past year, they've become family and it is definitely because of them that I call Bangalore my home now!

Trust me, fellow mommies, hold on to your mommy friends. As much as you need your close friends from the past, who knows you inside out, you need your mommy friends too. At this point in your life, it is they who can understood you the best, it is they who are your best bet to vent your worries,  it is they who can relate to you the most and it is with them that your baby is most comfortable with, apart from your family. I, for one, am grateful for the wonderful mommy friends in my life whom I hold very close to my heart!