Everyday is Dadda's day!

Day 62.. ‪#‎100daysofhappiness‬ ‪#‎100happydays‬

The balloons are up – blue and white, the cards are ready with our art that perhaps only we may understand, the gifts are here for you that we carefully picked up, so now would be the time to say HAPPY DADDA’s DAY and hope you liked our surprise for you!

On Father’s Day it’s a great time for us to write to you Dadda. We are small but we know the importance of ‘being a family’. We love with all our heart and at most times without any conditions (the odd exception would be when we are likely to get some gift, so that would be a bonus). We are happy to love and be loved. We are thrilled to bits for the time we get with you. We are lucky to have you with us for our day to day chores, as each activity there is always something to learn, while you so patiently explain the smallest wonders of life. We do not judge people, we just live by the moment. We speak our minds and rarely worry about consequences. We have realized money is important but don’t really know how much money is important. We eat all the healthy food you tell us to, but the odd junk food is our passion which we know will be a rare treat. We wait for you to rescue us from Mamma’s fury now and then. We are learning the importance of keeping our rooms clean, but often forget. We love the fact that you become a child and play with us, without any inhibitions and care. The games are so much fun that we enjoy the madness though may cry if it challenges our strength.

As we are growing, we are bound to fall and cry, but with each fall we only learn and grow stronger. We know you worry if we are hurt, but these little hurts will make us better people. The odd stubbornness and desire to act beyond the routine just happens unknowingly. We cry when we are sad and do get angry just like big people, because we are humans too (though parents are always surprised that this emotion can exist in us). We might seem ungrateful most of the time, not because we understand what it means, but because it just seems like the right reaction for this age group. As daughter’s we will always be our Dadda’s darlings. We are learning today and everyday and we are glad that we have your footsteps to follow. We know that you will always hold our hands and guide us. You work hard to provide for us and ensure we do not over indulge at any time. We make plenty of mistakes, but most often we gather only half of what is being scolded to us. We have explained this to mum but we are sure she forgets. Our world will always be Dadda, Mamma, Naanu, Kukku Thatha, Thai and Boji, with of course we both at the center of it.

Our steps are getting bigger and our height taller. We seem heavier to lift though sharper in mind. We have our tricks and test you often. Every stride you take is sometimes too big for us to pace hand in hand but we look forward to taking many smaller steps just to be by your side. But we love more than you can imagine and that does not change with time. Holding us close.. you smile with pride. We are two sides of the same coin and we are glad that coin is yours. We love how we play, laugh and have fun with you. We know we can fuss and look forward to every meal prepped to be special by you. The news filled baths, mind numbing massages, yoga all seem to be a ritual of our own. We laugh and cry, with you to hold us. We fall and rise with your finger to hold. Our equation has a little bit of everything and thats what makes it perfect!

On this day, we want to tell you we love you Dadda, now and always. Happy Father's Day!

Is time really a healer?

Day 61... In remembrance with a smile.

I have heard so many people condole on the loss of a loved one..with the infamous statement 'time is a healer'. So today I want to put this myth to rest as well before any more emotional blunders can arise.

Its been 16 years and time has stood still for us.. time is not a healer, but yes it gives us strength to be graceful about it, we will always cry, but now its not just for sadness but even while we walk down memory lane. We will learn to smile at the most challenging situations because somehow nothing in life is bigger than this. We will value the people around us a lot more and cherish every passing moment. While many times we would want to say "I wish, he was here today", we will always try to be grateful for the time together. He will always be my 'is' in conversations, while others will refer to him as 'was'. When circumstances force us to question our faith in God and religion, we hold our heart and he becomes our angel of guidance.

Back then in 1999 it was Father's day on June 20th. I lost my father that day but lucky to have him in my heart for life. We celebrated in madness and cried in fury, all in one day. Its strange to have so many strong emotions all in a day.

We have come a long way and now we see so many shades of him in not just me but my kids too.. always reminding us that strange are the ways of life.. we experience our loved ones in so many ways and in so many relationships- old and new!

It was Father's Day on June 20, 1999... so looking back I will always smile in sadness as I bid farewell to a man who lived on his terms. He was undeniably a big influence to me in my 18 years after which Nimmi Belliappa mum held the mantle of being my mum, dad and best friend... not an easy task but she did it with perfection and today is my forever idol.

A scroll of words drafted and gifted to my dad...there was a strange gleam of recovery he showed that morning.. a hope I wished came true.. but destiny had other plans and it was time to bid adeau to my dad.. not our relationship, not our memories and always have promises made in my heart.. that I had been entrusted with.. ... There was deep sadness in the heart but unwillingness to lose my strength for fear of not being able to support the family I have with me. There will always be a question... have I cried enough but always the comforting thought that I hold him in my heart every day....

Every year Father's day is on the 3rd sunday of June..which will be the day my kids will cherish with memories of fondness with the father of my children.. but for me father 's day will always be June 20... if ever the day coincides again.. I will not smile in sadness but rejoice the morning that was on June 20, 1999.

happy father's day Daddy... you are loved everyday! Mommy happy father's day to you for perfecting a dual role as we continue to learn the nuances of our parenting sagas.

With love...

So here's to remembering the dad who cared and shared, smiled and tried for every day that I have known him. With love always..Happy Father's Day Daddy!

Marriage is for me!

Day 60… ‪#‎100daysofhappiness‬ ‪#‎100happydays‬

Long post alert... anniversary special smile emoticon for Arya Ganapathy
My post today feels completely mushy, as I type, since am writing about my 9 year love affair with the man who was arranged to meet me and the very same moment, we both didn’t seem to need another meet to say yes! Before your mind travels far and wide, I am referring to my husband, friend and my Mr. Perfect – Arya. Romantic terminology is love at first sight but for me it’s sharing that perfect moment built to last a lifetime. Am not sure what he liked about me but imagine meeting someone so calm and assuring not just in behavior but even his glance, that you feel so assured from the word go. For someone like me who dabbles with excitement and irritation all at the same time, this sort of calm was much needed. His panache is in his combination of understated simplicity and a unique style.

Today, he is a loving husband, doting father, a good son and son in law, supportive brother and a caring friend, as he shuffles between being an entrepreneur, agriculturist and my very favorite family man!

Like most marriages, we can honestly say, it’s not been a fairy tale but the adventure has been better than a fairy tale. Over the years, we have grown with each other, respected, understood, trusted, loved, cared and embraced new responsibilities in our own way. Changes did scare us, but we knew that as we grappled we would perfect it too, as long as we were doing it together. We had our moments of madness and crazy irritations but nothing big enough to scare us. We have seen the best and worst in life in a short span, but we could get past it knowing that life is a mixed bag – so when we laughed, cried, smiled or screamed, we did it because we cared enough to be true to each other. We learnt about new cultures, passion and horizons, as we explored various countries, in ways that meant to be mutually rewarding. We are a couple but we are also individuals. We have our own interests, which we encourage and believe it is crucial for personal growth. We know boundaries exist as long as respect is the underlying sentiment. We have our own shortcomings, but nothing that cannot be overlooked. We have our own joys and obstacles as parents, but the journey is nothing short of magical.

I have made assurances as a mother and today as a wife, here are my thoughts:
- I am your wife, best friend and soul mate, in this life and hopefully every life!
- I love the family we have raised together and believe that the responsibility of these bonds will always be in our ability to respect each other
- I am human so I will make mistakes or over react but my apology will always be timely and heartfelt.
- I am glad we let each other know every day that we love one another and may we continue this assurance, no matter how busy our days get.
- I will always be here with a patient ear to hear your sorrows and a shoulder to rest whenever you need me.
- In your most troubled moments or matters of utter confusion, I will offer my perspective, which you may or may not like. Taking it or leaving it is up to you, but being honest is my prerogative and being two individuals with sometimes differing view points is the mantra to a perfect marriage.
- I may seem sorted most of the time, but if I am restless and stressed, please know that other forces in the universe also play up sometimes.
- I am a mother to our lovely daughters, but will always be your wife first; cause without that even perfect parenting won’t make sense. Healthy relationships set the foundation for how they form bonds when they grow older.
- We have so many lovely memories of the years gone by and challenges that have made us stronger. While optimism is great, we can tread with care and caution.
- The kitchen is not my favorite place and you have understood that so well. Having said that, I aspire to perfect at least one cuisine that will bring joy to both of us.
- We may disagree on many counts when it comes to the kids, but we are always one team.
- Our careers can either make or break us. Let us both take steps to come midway and embrace each other’s aspirations.
- Money will always be a battleground, in most marriages. May we always see that life is built with blessings and love and not with the balance in our banks’.
- May we always be in a position to make a difference in each other’s life and the lives of the ones we care about – in the smallest ways but we should make it count.
- Feedback is something so difficult to take, but may I always have the strength and humility to accept it gracefully.
- We both deserve our private holidays without our kids and for that no one can ring the guilt bell on us, because happy adults make happy kids!
- I want to grow old with you knowing that we both do our best to always live our lives like there is no tomorrow (except for investing for kids). We will never be too old for that thrill, excitement, surprise, celebration and dreams fulfillment.

Time has passed, kids are growing and so are my hips, but thankfully there is always more to love!

So today on our 9th anniversary, here’s a big thank you for gifting me this bond of marriage that I can believe in with all my heart. Much love always!

Art that inspires!

Day 59…‪#‎100daysofhappiness‬ ‪#‎100happydays‬
I am no artist who can comment on her style, strokes, use of colors, meaning, or just about anything related to her art. But yes I am a fan! I love all her work, each one more distinct than the other. It almost makes you want to get into her work and experience it for real. She doesn’t create fantasies, she creates life as is – sometimes black and white and most times in color. This is Christine, the founder of Rainbow Brush Art, whom I was acquainted through Tamara, as her art teacher, and thereafter remained in awe of her and her work.

My experience in the past in art shows and galleries have not been thrilling. I am always confused watching the work of so many artists in Bangalore, Pune and other places, that I have even overstepped the etiquette of these shows by questioning what exactly was the painting about and why would anyone pay whooping amounts for sometimes just a line, a dot, clash of colors which they most definitely refer to it as modern art! So when I met Christine, her work was a breath of fresh air in my perspective, to see so much character, message, expression and emotion in almost every piece. The level of detail urges you to pick a brush and attempt it; though later you would realize what a challenge it would be. She dabbles between mediums and shows smooth comfort in any array. Her work inspired me to sign up for her classes and what a memorable experience it has been. I remember coming back and sensing how therapeutic those classes were, as it was a combinations of free use of hands and mind with some meaningful and meaningless conversations and laughter. I never had the time to pursue but yes, at a more comfortable pace of life, I will definitely explore my fingers with such vibrancy. Her paintings today are being sold in India and abroad with each client making very specific requests to adorn their home or office.

While her work speaks more than a 1000 words, meeting her is such a joy. Ready to smile, bundled with energy, fun, excitement and passion, she keeps the kids coming back for more. She is a doting mum to Samara and Jaden and a supportive wife. She is a diligent daughter whose strength I admire. She is an art teacher and whose noble heart drives her to help kids and adults in need. Her charities are commendable and unspoken of, since she is driven by modesty and self respect. She is patient with crazy and most times unreasonable requests. She has trained more than 800 students so far and her popularity count just keeps growing, so much so that she needs to limit batches and intakes.

In my 100 days Christine, I wanted to write this note to tell you that you show what passion is all about and how you inspire so many budding artists in more ways than you can imagine. Thank you for being you and helping us appreciate art like never before. Much love n hugs

The forever friend!

Day 58..‪#‎100daysofhappiness‬ ‪#‎100happydays‬

This one was long overdue..in fact from feb onwards, but am not sure why I delayed such a valuable post. She is my forever friend, cause I have actually known her for almost forever - Suhasini Ranganathan whom I fondly call Su.

She expresses with such warmth, she cares with an open heart, she trusts like no other and helps in any way possible. We have grown through our awkward years and built magical memories in the most simple activities and moments. She cherishes the time gone by and always is by our side. She is the brightest I have known (with a report I still dream of) and yet appears in such simple modesty. She is the KPMG star, whose dedication is unquestionable. She is the perfect host and welcomes with such an open heart. She laughs in joy and holds dignity when laughed at. This badminton champion is a selfless Pisces woman who is true to her zodiac - creative, positive and intuitive with people she loves. We have celebrated, shared, cried, laughed, reminisced, played, planned and so much more, with every moment making it more cherishable than the other. Our indoor or outdoor games at JVV, the birthday bumps, the unforgettable concert, the festivals that mattered, Miss World and brides of India, the count of the strange crushes and the many analysis, our never ending road to fitness, all bring back so much joy. The pressured performance at your Sangeeth for which we practiced to perfection (atleast we thought so), your beautiful and happy wedding with all the girls co-ordinated and clad in green, always bring back a smile.

Today she is a doting mum to precious Ananya, loving wife to the sweetest hubby Nikki, responsible and adored daughter to Rama aunty, rock support to Minni and a valued friend.

With matches made in heaven, she has someone in equal perfection to be on her side. The very simple yet talented Nikki, whose warmth and generosity we will never forget. He plans fabulous surprises for the darling wife and is patient with the most challenged visitors (his guidance enabled us a smooth ride all around Singapore). His passion and dedication for golf is admirable.

Little Ananya is lucky to have such wonderful parents whom she can grow to learn from. Its thrilling to see you enjoy this journey as parents.

In so many ways Su, always wanted to thank you for being such a patient and loving friend, definitely more than I deserve. So here's wishing you many lives of happiness and the best experiences ahead. With dreams that matter, may you always stay blessed, grounded and warm. May we continue to have many more crazy moments and chats that keep us laughing a lifetime. With all my love always...

Honest friendships!

Day 57.. ‪#‎100daysofhappiness‬ ‪#‎100happydays‬

My first friends in Jal Vayu Vihar.. the Shambaya sisters have been my rock for the last 25 years approximately. With names as charming and unique as them, Conica and Ronita have shown me honest friendship, dependability, to listen without judgements and to make time for each other no matter what. Every month I look forward to our meaningful and meaningless coffee or dinner chats that always give me a new lease of life.

Even though i have travelled memory lane with my JVV gang, today on Conica's birthday I had to write this post about my friends who created those little charming memories at JVV be it festival house hopping, our evening badminton, 7 stones, pictionary ( with all the cheating) and so much more. Conica... she can be quiet around the unfamiliar, she aced badminton, she smiles even in horrid discomfort, she balances her role as a mum, wife, daughter, sister and friend. She is a loyalist and has shown her dedication even in her professional journey. She is an angel who glows even in modesty. Simplicity and hardwork are synonymous with her.

Ronita cares and shares leaving you with a happy smile. In all earnestness and simplicity she often has us roaring with laughter even in regular conversations. She embraces life gracefully and accepts its challenges with much grit. She will stand for what she believes in and is always ready to learn something new. Her helping hand lending her charm in my events and activities makes our days less challenging.

With every passing day our lives get crazier but knowing friends like these are with you. .. makes all the difference. We have explored our crazy and changing fitness routines that often had a short lifespan. We travelled to Singapore and were gloriously hosted by Su n Nikki. Every step of the way these girls helped me in at every step given that I persisted this trip after a surgery. I am so grateful we never changed our plans back then and hopefully we can travel again soon. They are always there the second I reach out to them. Through all our growing years we have seen the two sisters fight argue care and debate in ways that is within their boundaries of comfort.

On your birthday Coni here s wishing you a lifetime of happiness blessing and many more moments with us. Roni ... I couldnt wait till your birthday. With all my love to both of you always Conica Devaiah Ronita Shambaya

The couple that surprises in more ways than one!

Day 56... ‪#‎100daysofhappiness‬ ‪#‎100happydays‬

The army kid whose intellect was beyond the realms of the classroom. The monotony of the lectures had him bored as he experimented with innovative ways to sleep in the last bench. We both had the softest corner for Bangalore though he has a strong heritage in Kerala.

The modest friend whose concern and rationale towards life always had us in the safety blanket. My star of today's post is my very favorite Georgie... 
He is that assuring friend who knows the strength of trust with the luxury of comfort without any judgements. He doesnt believe in pretences... so if he cares he cares and if he doesnt there is no two ways to it. I have never met anyone who holds his professional commitments with such ease or atleast seemed like it. So its not the product limitation or a geographic barrier.. he will cruise through the responsibility. The image through his lens always has a fascinating story to tell. Today he supports charities and couldn't think of someone more perfect for this profile. If I was not married by 40... he would be my prince charming (am sure he promised many others too;). Thank God for both our good fortune we landed with our perfect spouses well in time... or we would have driven each other nuts... smile emoticon

Georgie's ideas, initiatives, responsibilities and soft nature is supported unconditionally by his very charming and adorable wife Suranjana whom we fondly call Su. Her grace and strength has me in awe constantly. Her quest for learning and valuing relationships always has me thrilled. Its a love story that evolved from a strong friendship. I admire their mutual respect and love for each other where friendship is such a pivotal role. They embrace challenges so gracefully and show me the beauty in life is in the little things.

Today on your birthday Georgie here's wishing you and Su a lifetime of happiness, love, new experiences and memories that will always give you both new meaning and moments to cherish each other. We may not get to speak that much or even see each other but always know I wish you both only the best. Much love n hugs