Stayzilla- the perfect travel companion

I am a passionate blogger who loves to travel.

BNLF - "Blog Now and Live Forever "is a blogger's conclave to be held soon in Mumbai.

There is nothing that could hold me back to be a part of this magnanimous blogging event on a never heard, never seen before scale. I can't even think of missing it. But I stay in Delhi and having possibility of a friend or a relative in Mumbai seemed bleak. I searched my mails, whatsapp logs, Facebook friend list, and phone contact list, asked all my close relatives but found no one known in Mumbai.

Sad, dejected, I started looking for alternatives of staying in a hotel near the event venue.

Today morning as I opened my mailbox, I was happily surprised to see a mail announcing that Stayzilla shall provide us an accommodation that too for free! Wow, what else I could ask for.

I downloaded the Stayzilla app immediately. The app was user friendly and easy to navigate.

 

 

I could register myself on the app as a Guest/ Host or Both. It gave me option to register the kind of property I can offer to my visiting guests- Hotel, Homestay, Lodge, Guesthouse, Resort etc.

As a guest I could search the available places to stay at my proposed location of visit.

Stayzilla has taken definitely taken away all the worries for a traveler who is looking for a place to stay by offering a unique platform with options to choose the type of place as well.

Homestay is the most amazing catch of this wonderful Stayzilla app. I always wish to stay with a local whenever I travel. I believe a person who has been staying at a place can be the best guide for a visitor. The icing on the cake is the Host and the visitor can share common interests, exchange souvenirs, sightsee together and relish in some interesting stories.

I am sure Stayzilla shall help me travel and explore new places without worrying for a place to stay and just gather abundant memories to relish forever.
#Stayzilla #FindYourStayBuddy #Travel #BNLF #Stay

   Those beautiful red cheeks!!

I was in class two and we were celebrating Independence day in school. All of us in class were dressed in ethnic wear or elaborate props to play our respective roles in the school play. Some were dressed as christians, some muslims, some parsi, some hindu , some as British and some in plain khadi. There was even a Gandhi, a Subash Chandra Bose, Annie Besant and Indira Gandhi among us. I was dressed to portray the role of a Gujrati. Dressed in vibrant lehenga -choli, I looked cute. But in my heart, I still found my classmate dressed in all white as a christian the most beautiful. She had the pinkish-red tinge on  her cheeks which made her look even more lovely. Since morning till the play started, I went several time to check my look in the mirror but I was still in awe of her red cheeks despite having bright red lips myself. After the play ended all of us were applauded and commended for presenting a wonderful play depicting our struggle for freedom, our togetherness, brotherhood and unity in diversity. We were all sitting in the garden outside our school auditorium. Some were eating chips and some were drinking frooti given as refreshment to us. But I was just noticing those glowing red cheeks ! Suddenly, I saw a girl sitting next to me applying same red color on her lips. I asked her if I could borrow that red paint. ( I didn’t know what a lipstick was till that time !) She gave me a maroon,golden coloured stick with something red popping out of it. As I held it in my hand, I was overjoyed. I ran to nearest washroom. Next thing I remember is that I saw everyone standing around me in circle and laughing incessantly. Ocean big tears were tricking down my eyes and I was rubbing hard my cheeks. I had put up the “red paint” ( borrowed lipstick) on my cheeks to match that perfect red tinge my classmate had. Seeing the elaborate drama around me, my class teacher rushed me to the washroom and cleaned my face with her handkerchief. She listened to my story and just hugged me. 

                                             

At 12pm when all of us were being escorted to the school bus, my class teacher called me up and asked me to close my eyes. I opened my eyes to see a familiar maroon,golden stick but this time with a pink “paint” ahead of it. She kept it on my palm and told me this is a gift for you my little princess. She then applied the pink “lipstick” on my lips and showed me my face in her hand mirror. I was surprized to see a mesmerizing red tinge on my cheeks that I was looking for since morning (though it came due to enormous crying and scrubbing of the face to get rid of the red color I had smeared on my face). I was extremely happy and went back home singing and dancing. But my mother till today, fails to understand the reason why an old pink lipstick is always in my handbag even after 20 years and whenever I see it I smile like a princess with bright red cheeks !!

                                               Good health maketh happy family



 My niece, Ananya, is the lifeline of our house. Her crackling laughter or shrill cry is adorable. Her tantrums while bathing and naughty pranks while drinking milk are always amusing. Grandpa cannot start his day without her kiss on his forehead. Grandma's daily prayers are incomplete without Ananya seeking blessing from his favorite lord Krishna. Ananya is the bundle of joy and apple of all eyes. 

One morning last winters, our home was suddenly filled with an uncanny silence. Even grandma's melodious hymns and vibrant music playing on Aditya's ipod could not lift the spirit of house. There was uneasiness around and everyone was just hoping to see their little Ananya back to her playful zest. Ananya had fallen sick. She had caught cold and was running high fever. She laid calmly in her bed but every one else was worried and tense. Each passing day seemed like an year.

Almost after a week, Ananya got well. She started regaining her health. Once again our home was livened up with her laughter. Though she was weak to indulge in her lovable naughtiness but all were happy to cajole with her. This one week of grim silence due to Ananya's illness made us realize the importance of good health in keeping the family happy. Since that day, how so ever busy we all might be, but all of us make sure to have timely healthy nutritious food and Dabur Chyawanprash to increase the body immunity by 3 times to keep us hale and hearty, especially Ananya. We realized, healthy child makes a happy home.

                                                            Quote- Unquote

                                    Sam is out of the rat race ; to walk at her own pace !!

It's more Indian than you think !

“Fragrance of the fresh gajara tightly woven in her braid filled the room with a soothing aroma. As I entered a little further in the room, melodious jhankar of her payal sounded like music to my ears. The giggles and soft whispering brought me closer to the liveliest group in the otherwise silent, dimly lit room.

I was mesmerized to see a glittering bindi on her forehead shining like moonlight. Suddenly she turned around, caught me in eyes. I shivered but she smiled. I smiled back too. Dressed in an ethnic embellished lehenga choli she looked divine. As she caressed the hair falling on her face, her bright red lip color and heena laden hand caught my attention.

She greeted me with a Namaste. I was too happy to respond back in Hindi after months.

It seemed like I have come to a celebration in India. Memories of festivities, colors, lights, and togetherness transcended me to a blissful world.

Slowly and gradually the beats of the drum and lights of diya interspersed me. It was Diwali celebration tonight at the Groningen University campus in the Netherlands.

I looked around; everyone was dressed in ethnic Indian attire, guys with a turban, some in kurta- pajama, girls in salwaar kameez and some in even a sari.

A small bunch of Indian community at the campus had hosted this party and all irrespective of their nationality or religion enthusiastically came forth to celebrate and cheer together. Everyone danced to the tunes of famous Bollywood music; choir sang Hindi songs and ate mouthwatering Indian delicacies. "

My younger brother exulted in excitement as he narrated this to me. It was his first Diwali away from home. 

He was proud to say that there is a mini India in every nook and corner of this world. Our rich vibrant culture and heritage has a special place in everyone’s heart.  Our zestful spirit of brotherhood enamour one and all and binds every one across the globe in a special bond nurtured with love just like Lufthansa-TVC which connects all.

Ting-a-ling of the anklets

                                              Ting-a-ling of the anklets

I flipped through the pages of almost a decade old but still newly bound Arvind Adiga's White Tiger, trying to be a little suave but actually killing the endless time at hand. The aroma of freshly fried samosas, hot brewing tea, early morning mist in the air and the in-numerous flowers that the little girl, dressed in a pink frock, was carrying entangled with the sweat of hundreds of passengers waiting to catch their trains and the coolies pulling the luggage. 

Suddenly, in the hustling chaos, I heard a voice. It crackled through the noises of the moving boogies and crying children. As it came closer, I felt a little perturbed. There was an evident uneasiness. My hands trembled and I started sweating profusely. I hurriedly left the book at the store and ran towards the voice. But the sound became feeble and left me gasping for not just my breath but my peace of mind.

Whole world seemed to be crumbling before me and tears trickled down my eyes like water gushing out a flooded dam. That melodious ting-a-ling sound of the anklets, reminded me of her fond memories. How we sat together at the same railway station last year waiting to board the train to Jaipur to celebrate our first marriage anniversary.  How she caressed through my unkempt hair wiping the in-evident sweat with her bright red duppata.  How we nudged each other, sang romantic songs, cracked jokes and laughed together while enjoying her favorite chocolate brownie. 

Humongous crowd boarded and deboarded the train, while we happily enjoyed the long arduous journey before our second honeymoon. With 20 minutes to go, I got ready to board the palace on wheels with my princess. While hopping the platforms to catch our train, her anklets filled the air with pleasing music. 

Ouch! Help, she cried suddenly. I turned around and was aghast to see her slip onto the railway track. I threw the luggage and the half eaten brownie, to pull her back. We shouted for help, but, at 4 am in morning our voices shriveled in the dark night. As, I mustered the strength and put all my effort to pull her back on the platform, a unnerving sound of an engine came blazingly fast towards us. She being visually challenged and deaf couldn't even feel the roaring death striking her at the lightening speed. I froze with the fear of losing her. Slowly and gradually, her hands slipped from mine; leaving behind just a red bangle and a charred body for me to cry.

Jab we met - A short love story

     Jab We Met  

 ( a short story written for M's Blog ) 

Hurriedly rushing into the auditorium for the grand event of the annual festival of my college, I banged into him and all the papers from the file in my hand lay strewn on the floor. I apologetically looked into his eyes for the mayhem I had created but the friendly smile on his face relaxed me a bit.Both of us started collecting the papers from the floor and as I put them into the file, he gently asked if I was okay. His genuine concern and affable smile comforted me and I left for the podium after saying thank you to him.

I gasped for breath and took the mike in my hand to address the audience and welcome the judges of the event. I started introducing the participants of the event one by one and invited them on stage to present their arguments on the topic of debate. As I called out the fourth participant, he started walking towards the stage confidently. He politely yet firmly put forth his views on the topic, vehemently opposing the opponent and logically appreciating the facts of other participants. Everyone, including me, listened to him with rapt attention and he received thunderous applause for his self-composed poem to substantiate his lucid arguments. I was amazed by his rational thought process and bold outlook towards life and the issues plaguing us, as reflected in his debate. For the rest of the event my eyes remained fixed to that one face in the crowd and we exchanged quite a few glances. Now it was the time to announce the winners and I knew someone had already won not just the debate competition but even my throbbing heart. Both of us walked towards the judges with enthusiasm, he to collect his trophy and I to congratulate him personally. There was bridling joy clearly visible on my face as we got clicked together with the judges. The event ended but that affable smile left some indelible  memories for me to cherish.

In the hustle and bustle of the three day long festival, with more than ten technical and cultural events a day, I being the convener of the festival got busy with smooth organization of  other events. A few days after the fest, I received a call from an unknown number. A gentle voice that seemed familiar, asked me when could he collect the certificates of the debate competition. As I tried to recollect the winners, the voice seemed to come alive as I could actually visualize him and I started smiling incessantly even long after the call was over.

The very next day he came to the college to collect his certificate and I got a chance to spend some time with him. I started praising his articulate view points and excellent oratory skills. He complimented me for meticulous organization of the festival and my sweet voice. I blushed. We talked about college, exams and everything we could, realizing hours later that we have been talking for so long. He escorted me to the metro station where we both boarded trains in different directions. There was a little sadness on my face as I bid goodbye to him. Since that day, we have been in touch. We exchanged messages, emails and occasional phone calls too. Somewhere deep within I knew he has become someone very dear to me and I have started loving him, but I never discussed about my feelings with him.

One fine day, he called me up to bid adieu as he was leaving the country to settle abroad. Tears started rolling down my cheeks and I felt as if he was leaving me forever. I did not say anything to him and wished him all the best for his future endeavors as I did not want him to be sad while going. 

Now he is  happily settled in the States and sometimes drops me e-mails to know about my well-being. I love him a lot but still do not have the courage to open my heart to him, probably waiting for the right time to do so.Even today, I fondly remember how I met my loved one and bitter- sweet  memories of love, happiness, pain and longing engross me.