#Poetry

A Fighting Chance

I know I am the reason you cry in pain.

Memories of the past I have made you live again.

I shall not say sorry as that will not be enough.

But please remember you are my one true love!

If you leave me to go, I will never be the same!

But if that is what you want, I shall accept the blame.

But give us one last thought, is all I ask.

Give our love one last fighting chance.

-Trishna Damodar ©

#Quote, #Promise

A 'cheat' causes harm to their soul the most..

Something to think about..

#Quote, I #trust you..

There is a lot of responsibility and expectation that comes with the phrase, 'I trust you'. Most of the time before the trust is given, there are tremendous efforts that are made to gain it. But after that has been accomplished, people tend to become complacent. They start taking it for granted instead of understanding and valuing the importance that lies with maintaining that trust. A fair warning to all, once this bond is broken, nothing can repair it. We may give chances to people we hold close to our heart, but nothing remains the same.
So if you want a healthy relationship of any kind, whether it be a friendship, or with blood relatives or even a companion, maintain and respect the trust.

-Trishna Damodar(c)

#Quote, #Love the one who wants you everyday

#Quote, Having #Faith is not wrong, breaking it is!

#Quote, Believe

#Food, #Restaurant review

The Birdsong- delicious

So I happened to stumble upon this cafe while I was looking for another place to eat. It's wooden structure and quaint, rugged interiors intrigued me, so I decided to give it a shot. And I am glad I did!
The Birdsong cafe is located in hill road, Bandra- Mumbai. It is an organic cafe. Personally this was my first visit or taste to anything organic, so I was not sure what to expect.
I started off with a muskmelon juice, which in this heat turned out to be a sip of heaven! It was truly refreshing.
For the main course I made up my own pasta. The staff is very helpful and offer great suggestions. So, I ended up eating penne in tomato+béchamel sauce, along with bell peppers and chicken. When my dish arrived, the portion size was a good bowl and the moment I put the first morsel in my mouth, I could not put the fork down. Everything on the plate was so fresh, tasty and a real treat!
For desert I ended up sharing a chocolate cake with my friend. Words will not do justice to this soft, gooey, delicious treat!
A meal for two would be ₹1500/- approximately. But this unexpected cafe should be a must visit on your list!
P.s.- Sorry for no pictures, I was just too busy eating:)

#Food, #Restaurant review

Corniche- A surprising delight

This place that is located on Carter road ( Bandra, Mumbai),  right next to CCD.
First of all the place gets direct brownie points for location! As I stepped in here for a meal with my friend, the ambience immediately brought a smile to my face.
Tables located around, with little candles on each of them. Even though it is not air-conditioned, there are fans all around. And for a few moments that you are there, you feel transported to another land.
Happy hours are till 8 p.m. The food menu is huge! I ended up ordering a risotto ( stringed roast lamb and saffron), which was quite delicious as far as risottos go. There was a piece of lamb in every bite. Although, it came accompanied with garlic bread, which on a personal note I found unnecessary.
The grilled chicken, scarmoza and pickled pepper risotto, ordered by my friend, was also quite mouth watering. To drink, I had a cosmopolitan, which was made well and quick. But after having one drink, especially with the kind of heat wave going on, you start feeling sweaty.
The desert, a course which I look forward to from the beginning, was however a disappointment. The creme brûlée was not warm, although it did have the crisp hard top, the taste needed some work on it. Also, the Molten chocolate pie with red wine caramel ice cream, did not ooze out deliciousness as expected.

Overall I would rate this place 4/5. It has a few kinks, but overall it leaves you with a good dining experience.

#Travel Log, Travel #Experience..

The Journey and an Island that changed my life

Traveling and exploring the new is as close you can come to in discovering the different versions of yourself that exist.

Part I- Mumbai

The journey began on the 2nd of March. Anxiety and excitement clouded my train of thought.

I could not decide which emotion I let flow and which to bottle up tight. It would be easier if I had the ability to have the reins of control over my thoughts, but my actions seemed to be governed by the happenings in my surroundings.

At Mumbai airport the main hope was that check in and immigration would just go off like a breeze. That was the general wish for all the airports to follow. As my turn would pop up I could feel my insides turn. It's not like I have done anything wrong, in fact that is not even a remote possibility in my world, since I am the constant preacher of the 'right' and 'good' practices in the world. Then why this anxiety is hard to comprehend.

Anyhow as all the formalities were over and done with, I headed to search for my guilty haunt, 'the smoking lounge'. Since the New terminal at the Mumbai airport is just opened the smoking lounge was a small and still in a, 'work in progress' stage.

Traveling alone has many drawbacks. Most important one, you don't have any company, no one to talk to. Yes I know there are many people at the airport so it should not be a problem to find someone to chat with, right? Well no, not for a person like me. Only in rare situations have I spoken to strangers and the conversation has never extended for more than 2 minutes!

Alright so coming back to a situation where I have to travel alone, which was now, I carried a good book one that belonged to the romance genre of course. I have always been a big fan of the whole 'love deal'. Last but not the least my constant life saver music. Thanks to my awesome iPhone 5c, listening to my all time favorite mood fix, was not going to be a problem.

The flight from Mumbai to Dubai was normal. No hiccups or weird scenarios to describe, thankfully.

Part II- Dubai

Alright so I admit, I was marginally confident. I had good talk with myself on the flight, the conclusion being great start to the trip no need to panic everything will go great! 

Number one rule never gloat before you reach your goal. And never, ever make the mistake of assuming nothing will go wrong! 

I reached Dubai airport, all confident and happy. Disembarked from the flight waiting to be greeted by the Marhabah, but there was no sign of anyone with my name placard. Panic started bursting in the pit of my stomach yet again. This time with much more force and with a warning that there might be 'rainfall'!

I told myself to get it together, asked a few airport personnel regarding the whereabouts of the Marhabah lounge. I had to take two airport trains before I could reach the lounge. In the meantime I kept following the rest of the passengers. Called mom told her about the absentee Marhabah. 

I finally found the Marhabah counter right before passport check. Now the importance of this is that I have some weird sense of fear when I see the men in Dubai. Don't get me wrong it is not that I am judge mental with regards to Arab countries, but it is just that the men there have a very harsh look on their face. So the Marhabah acts as a shield for me in this scenario. 

But this times passport check experience was quite good. The man at the counter had a constant smile on his face, it was the very first time I had seen a smile on the face of an Arab. It was nice. 

Finally I reached outside and was greeted by my brother. I had a one night stop before starting on the next leg of my journey to Athens.

Part III – Athens

Ok so I had a splendid dinner with my brother and a good night’s rest before heading off to Athens. By this time I was already considerably more confident and calm as compared to the start of my adventure. 

I walked around a tad bit at Dubai airport and boarded the flight with no trouble. It was a 5 hour 30 minutes flight to Athens. As I settled into my seat I continued writing few snippets of my experience so far. But soon my lids were heavy with sleep and I was out cold for majority of the flight time. 

Upon arrival at Athens airport I was curious to see how it would look like. When I had network coverage a call went out to my mother, letting her know I had landed safe. 

I had just taken a trolley. To take one you have to put in 1€ in a machine and that's when the trolley is available for use. When I reached the luggage belt, I saw someone standing with my name on a placard. I was pleasantly surprised that this was the staff from Sofitel. 

I had asked for airport pick up, since I required assistance with my luggage ( The Sofitel is a hop, skip and a jump from the airport, right across the road as you step out). But I was not aware that they would send someone inside the airport. He greeted me with a warm, genuine smile followed by 'Welcome to Greece'. I was already getting a feel of the Greek hospitality and it made me feel excited. 

The room at the Sofitel was comfortable and clean. I lay down to unwind and also ordered myself a beer to relax. I treated myself to a sumptuous burger and cheesecake followed by a luxurious, relaxing bathtub soak.

My dream of bumping into a Greek god and having a Greek wedding was still alive. With that thought in mind I went into a peaceful sleep. 

Final Destination- Paros

Now the flight I had to catch to the Island Paros was one of those small 45 seater planes. For a person who suffers from motion sickness it can prove to be a nightmare! No matter how short the duration was.

I was vary of this fact but nonetheless had to complete this last stretch to reach my final destination. As I buckled myself into my seat I kept trying to calm myself down, people say deep breathing helps, but when you know what lies ahead air refuses to pass out at a smooth pace. 

The flight took off along with my fears. Since it was a small and relatively lighter aircraft it flew pretty low and the beauty my eyes witnessed took my breath away. It was as if for the duration of 25 minutes I completely forgot all my worries and problems. The colour of the water, different shades of green and blue. The shape of the neighboring islands, the sight was spectacular. 

In no time I had landed in Paros and trust me when I tell you, I did not feel a thing. 

The Island

Paros is one of the Islands in Greece. The first time I heard about it was when I had to come here for a writing workshop. And since then I thanked my stars that I was introduced to this breathtaking Island. 

The drive from the airport to the main city is just 30 minutes. The whole while I spent staring outside the window and wondering how beautiful Mother Nature truly is. 

The houses in Paros were all a standard white colour. In fact you will find white in abundance here, even the cracks in the road are painted white. During summer time it does get pretty hot, so the white helps keep it a bit cool inside the houses. The doors however are vibrant colours of orange and blue and various shades of green. 

One thing I had come to realize. I could travel on my own and it is not that difficult. I was proud of this accomplishment. It gave me an extra boost. The warmth and hospitality of the Greek people on this Island, added to my fairy tale experience. 

They always had a smile on their face. If you passed by any stranger on the road you are greeted with a smile and a greeting, 'Kalimera' (Good morning or good day in Greek) if it's morning time. 

My days were spent walking around this place, sitting by the port, writing and of course making new friends. The best way to explore this Island is on foot. So I put on my sports shoes and headed out every day for a new adventure. I did occasionally enjoy the pub visits at night where I let my hair down and enjoyed. The food is out of this world and it's made with real love and care. One thing is, you cannot be impatient. If you are on a break or a holiday relax. If the food arrives at your table after 20 minutes, don't fret. This is something I learnt here. I learned to relax and enjoy the moment, rather than worrying about what was next or why is it taking so long.

I truly believe everyone should go and give themselves a chance to explore the world at least once on their own. What you gain is priceless and I fall short of words to describe how positively this journey has changed my life and thought process. I returned a more confident, fresh and calmer version of myself. To understand what I am talking about you will have to experience it. So stop wasting time and get packing! 

Bon Voyage!!

-Trishna Damodar

#Quote

Never stop believing in the better. We all have some good in us, sometimes all it takes is for someone to have faith..

#Quote, Positive Words can offer a #Peaceful Solution..

I came across this quote and thought it to be beautiful and true. There is no need to use profanity or violence when angry. All that does is create a ruckus and a mess. If you want to reach a solution, choose your words wisely. The excuse, 'I said that when i was angry', really does not help or heal any scars!

#Poetry

You do not see ME

What do you see, when you see me?

I see a fair, white beauty.

But, what else do you see?

I do not understand why you question me?

I am more than just the outer skin,

My existence and meaning goes deep within.

You forget I am a human, who feels,

A person who goes through all emotions.

I am caring, stubborn and nice.

I get angry, frustrated and cry.

But all gets lost, because all you see,

Is the outer cover, and that does not define me.

-Trishna Damodar ©

Do not succumb to #jealousy, #quote

Jealousy is the kind of monster that never sleeps. Once it makes its mark in your life it wipes out everything, including your own existence!

#Poetry

Words to the young me

You are struggling oh! little one,

To make a place in this cruel world.

Life has not been the rainbows you dreamt,

Life has thrown many challenges instead.

Your dreams have changed overtime.

But your essence remains true, through any tide.

You have cried but laughed as well.

Made few good friends down this road.

So far your ultimate goal has not been reached

But little one, your strength nor will has been breached.

-Trishna Damodar ©

#Article, Does #Age matter in #relationships?

Does age matter in relationships?

To begin with let me just say that this is a highly debatable topic; this here is my point of view. In order to have a successful relationship the following things are of high priority: trust, love, mutual respect, companionship, humor and hobbies (likes & dislikes). The above mentioned list, in most cases, is achieved when both parties involved are mature enough to understand the importance and value of the mentioned items.

Now moving on to the general perceived notion that, men mature at a later age as compared to women. So, for instance, if you have a 23 year old man and a 23 year old woman, although they are of the same age, the level of maturity highly differs. Meaning that the woman in most cases is more mature than the man, hence dating a man who is younger than the woman could prove to be disastrous in general.

This point of view, however, could be contradicted. It cannot be assumed that, just because it is the norm and the way things usually are it is necessary that the woman is more mature as compared to the man. After all, every human being is different as compared to the other.

So for me on a personal note, age does not play a very important role in relationships, as the point of focus in any relationship is based on love and trust. If these two ingredients are there in abundance age, sex, caste, religion, etc. all take a back seat. So let go of all your previous apprehensions, and when in love, let it rule your heart!

-Trishna Damodar(c)

#Quote- Part of yours

A relationship can only work and prove to be successful if both the people involved communicate with each other as friends. We tend to forget that without sharing, nothing can be beautiful or complete. So share, communicate, laugh and cry, include your partner in your life!

#Poetry

Never ending belief

The lights that glisten,

Do not mean gold.

The sparkle in my eye,

Does not mean I am whole.

I have lived a life,

Of difficulty and sorrow.

People come along,

Thinking happiness they can borrow.

But I have given all I have.

In the end left alone,

With darkness by my side,

And tears that cover my eyes.

Nevertheless, the smile you see is real.

For in beauty I believe,

Always and forever, the belief no one can steal.

-Trishna Damodar (c)

A companion

A companion 

I do not need you to buy me diamonds and rubies,

Those material attractions myself I can get.

I need you to hold my hand through this life,

And not let go, no matter what the plight.

As a true companion is what I seek,

Not just someone to get me through a week.

-Trishna Damodar ©

Vishu Ashamsagal- About Vishu

Vishukkani

Vishu (Malayalam: വിഷു) is an important Kerala (south of India) festival.

Vishu is celebrated with much fanfare and vigour in all parts of Kerala. It is considered a festival of light and fireworks, and decorating lights and bursting of firecrackers (Vishupadakkam) is part of the celebration. Other elements of Vishu include buying of new clothes (Puthukodi) for the occasion, the tradition of giving money called Vishukkaineetam , and the Vishu feast or Sadya, which consist of equal proportions of salty, sweet, sour and bitter items. 

The most important event in Vishu is the Vishukkani, which literally means "the first thing seen on the day of Vishu after waking up". The Vishukkani consists of a ritual arrangement of auspicious articles intended to signify prosperity, including rice, fruits and vegetables, betel leaves, arecanut, metal mirror, yellow flowers called konna (Cassia fistula), holy texts and coins, usually in the prayer room of the house. This is arranged the night before Vishu and is the first sight seen on Vishu. On Vishu, devotees often visit temples like Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple or Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple to have a 'Vishukkani Kazhcha' (viewing) in the early hours of the day.

#Quote, Don't take #Advantage..

Poetry Book- Mind & Heart Speak Words- Volume II

This book of verses and quotes has a compilation of 80 verses. The poems are based on experiences and emotions that the author has personally or as a third party witnessed. For a relaxing, rejuvenating experience this book is your pick!The book is available in all online websites, such as, amazon.com, goodreads, flipkart..Take your pick and own your copy now:)

Precious Moments- Short story

PRECIOUS MOMENTS

Naina stayed awake all night wondering, how tomorrow’s meeting will go. Tossed and turned, tried to listen to music, ate some ice cream but nothing really seemed to help. She finally decided to stay awake and watch a movie; thought at least would pass the time instead of rotting away in anxious thought. She would cover up the dark circles with make up tomorrow, after all, ‘what is the concealer invented for anyway?’ Naina thought.

It would be five years tomorrow since they had parted ways. Thought at the very least she would be a GM (General Manager) by now. But hey, DOR (director of rooms) is not bad either, so she thought no need to be conscious of her position, it won’t seem like she had wasted the last five years only thinking about him, she hoped. The movie she chose to put on, Sleepless in Seattle, very cliché, but could not help herself, she was after all a romantic sap that is how Naina managed to land herself in this situation to begin with.

There were still 12 hours to go before the supposedly life-changing meeting. It was 5 a.m. and they were to meet at 5 p.m. at their usual spot, the stairs of the Air India building. When she started to run the events in her head, as she had done over a million times in these past five years, she still could not help but wonder, how exactly did they ever end up in such a situation?

Trishna Damodar

Rahul and Naina could be what everyone calls the ‘perfect couple’. They were best friends, did almost everything together, had nearly the same interests, went on great vacations together, and basically loved each other in abundance. But they both had one flaw; neither of them could back down from an argument or ‘consider defeat’, whether it would be a joke, a fight or a challenge. At first all this constant friendly arguing and witty comebacks seemed great, it gave them an adrenaline high to be able to do that with one another. But of course, as one can see this was not a very healthy practice, which brings Naina to the last night they spoke. To this day she remembers everything as if it happened just yesterday. January 18, 2007 they were walking on Marine Drive and having their usual chat, until she brought up the topic about ‘who’ is more successful, a Man or a Woman. The discussion started off casually with the usual interjection of witty remarks from either side, bashful comments, until finally they arrived at a point where Rahul said, ‘why don’t we make a pact?’. Naina was intrigued, after all challenges were the most exciting element in their lives. So she went along and heard him out.

The pact was that in five years they would meet up at their usual spot with evidence of who is more successful and only that would be the settlement of their argument. In these five years they would have to stay apart as being together would drag them down and neither of them would be able to reach their maximum potential. Since they both were practical people and loved winning always, they did not take much time in accepting the challenge. They hugged, said their goodbyes and just walked their separate ways.

Trishna Damodar

The next day when Naina awoke, she picked up her mobile to check for messages or calls but there was nothing. She felt the instant urge to call Rahul but stopped at the memory of last night’s pact. They had forgotten to establish whether a call, once in a while, would be alright. She did not know what to do and kept wondering if he was going through the same thing as she was. But till evening when there was no sign of a call or a message from his side, Naina decided if he can go ahead and just live without me so can she. Months went by, and turned into years. She kept getting news about his well being through their common friends but no one was allowed to tell them how either was doing professionally, as that would be a violation of the ‘pact code’.

Today January 18, 2012, Naina had decided she had had just about enough of her ego. What ever the case may be, even if he was most successful or did not manage to do anything great with his life, she would not care all she knew is that she missed him so much she could not stand another moment of separation. So she thought the best thing would be to just not let him say anything and just hug him tight and never let him go. As she started getting ready for her big meeting she started thinking again, what if he had met someone else? What if he had become a different person all together? What if he did not love her anymore? All this was a possibility, after all five years is such a long time. Naina started feeling helpless and like a fool for ever letting her ego get in the way of something so beautiful. She took back her initial idea of jumping into a hug and decided to first hear him out and then react in which ever way suited the situation best, after all

Trishna Damodar

she still had a little pride and self esteem and would not want to look like a desperate fool who had been waiting around for someone for five long years.

Naina decided to arrive just 10 minutes late, not because she wanted him to suffer but because she just was not sure who would be standing in front of her, if he would be the same Rahul as she had in her memory. It was 4:30 p.m., Naina had put on her favorite blue denim skirt and red top, it had been Rahul’s favorite as well. She did a final check in front of the mirror, ‘not to sound like a snob but I look hot’, Naina thought to herself. Happy with her grooming she locked the door and started walking towards the Air India building. As it came closer, her heart started beating faster, she thought she would actually faint from the extreme level of nervousness she was feeling.

Finally Naina reached the walkway from where she could see the stairs, and there he was standing in a grey suit! A suit, she started thinking, why on earth would he wear a suit for this meeting, did he want to show off how rich he is? How stupid could she seem in this blue denim skirt and red top? Naina just wanted to turn around and run away but she did not, instead she simply wanted this meeting to be over and done with, she could sit crying and drown herself in Bavarian chocolate after this hideous evening.

As she reached closer to him to her great surprise he pulled out a bouquet of pink lilies. Naina was shocked and surprised and could feel a tear make its way down her cheek. He immediately just laid the flowers down and pulled her into a hug and whispered, ‘I only

wore the suit because you love men in formals, I love you’. Naina did not need to hear more; she hugged him back so tight and let the tears come out in full flow. They sat down on the stairs and spoke for hours together about all that had happened in the past five years and about how much we missed each other. After a 4 hour long conversation they both realized neither of them had even spoken about their professional lives. So she decided to be the party pooper and bring up the topic. As she opened her mouth to ask about his work, Rahul covered her mouth with his finger and said, ‘no more competition, I am lost without you and can only be a successful man with you by my side. No amount of money, position or stature is ever going to change the fact that without you I feel like a pauper’. Naina could not believe her ears, this was not the same Rahul as she had in her memory but in fact a better more mature and extremely loving version of him. The kind of man she would love to spend the rest of her life, loving and supporting in sickness and in health. So as a truce they both agreed to not agree sometimes and keep their ‘friendly’ arguments under check.

As Rahul walked Naina home, she could not help feeling as if she was the luckiest person in the whole world and she was sure he felt the same. They would never have another five-year gap of any sort and they would grow old and have a splendid life together.

When in love, there is no room for the mind. The only voice worth listening to is the heart. Love with all your Heart.

THE END

-Trishna Damodar

The bitter truth..

The small gestures count..

One grand gesture does not show that you care. It is the little ones that count and prove that you will be there.

-Trishna Damodar ©

Past doesn't rule your future..

The past shapes the person you are today but it should not rule the person that you become tomorrow.

-Trishna Damodar ©

Depression

How to beat depression, here is my take on it:

Depression can take several forms. It can be due to a break up, loss of a loved one, a traumatic incident or many more reasons. The period of depression also varies from person to person, since we all have different coping mechanisms. But there are few ways to deal and hopefully overcome this phase in your life.

1. You will feel out of control. So stay away from social gatherings with unfamiliar people, as something someone might say could trigger off a storm.

2. Pick a close person. Your mother, a friend or your loved one and get away to a scenic hideout. Cut off from the world and spend time with nature. It's healing power is magical and you always have that one person if you feel like talking.

3. Listen to music and dance. It helps deal with rage, anger or sadness. Pick your favorite tracks and dance as if no one is watching.

4. Stay away from alcohol. This does not help, it instead only aggravates your emotions and makes you even more vulnerable to depression.

5. Cry when you need to. Holding it all in is tiring and unhealthy. Let it all out, it is a required element in the healing process.

As mentioned before, fighting depression varies and so does the length. Just be strong, take a deep breath and remember, this too shall pass..you will smile again!

-Trishna Damodar

Scattered Peace

Scattered peace 

How many times do I gather the pieces?

The scatter around does not seem to bind.

Every piece I join a new one breaks away.

When is it my time for joy?

I search for peace in every corner,

But in return I am faced with nothing but horror.

How much more do you wish to test?

This sorrow inside needs to rest.

-Trishna Damodar ©

Forgotten Respect

Forgotten Respect

Do not take my politeness as complacence.

My tears dropping down does not make me weak,

It is a sign of my forever building strength.

I can love you with all I have,

But disrespect me and I shall walk away.

Treat me like I am beneath you,

Shows that you forget,

The very womb you came from, you fail to respect.

-Trishna Damodar©

In love, follow through..

If you truly love someone, just loving them isn't enough. You need to have the courage to follow through.

Not failed..

Fast and furious 7 - 'A saga of mixed emotions'

I have been a die hard fan of all the previous fast and furious series of movies. But this one particularly stood out!
From the moment it began to the end one gets to experience laughter, anger, love, anxiety, and sadness. The action sequences were a class apart! We have all heard of sky diving, but with this movie we now know of 'car diving'.
The last scene of the movie, was a subtle, yet beautiful tribute to Paul Walker. He will truly be missed.
A movie to be watched on a big screen. Do not give this one a miss!