Nidhi Srivastava's Blog, page 12

Little Things

Writers for the web series deserve applause. During the pandemic, people lost their jobs and livelihood. Various artists did up their game and wrote some kickass series for OTT platforms. Yesterday, I watched Little Things season 4. I was awestruck by the number of issues addressed in a single season. My mind was at peace after watching the season, even though there are still a hundred conflicts running inside. There’s a lot of soul-searching required after watching this season. When do ‘YOU’ want to settle in life? That’s the question for only yourself to answer and no one else.
Turning 30 shouldn’t be a trigger for you. Everyone should have the liberty to celebrate the 30th or 40th or 50th birthday as wished. I love how turning 30 wasn’t a raising alarm in this web series – Little Things. I celebrated my birthday with my family, and they were glad I was home. My parents or my sister didn’t remind me about my 30th kind of birthday. Nothing changes much when you age; your perspective about life may change.
Another element showcased in this series was normalizing taking a vacation. In India, people think it’s a crime to ask for leave or go on vacation. Indian parents also assume that vacations are a waste of money. For two years, we have lived in a pandemic, and I am not yet a millionaire. It’s tedious to explain the importance of taking a vacation from work. When you could take a family holiday, they might understand your desire to travel.
After one year of the pandemic, my parents understood the importance of the weekend. I hope we will head to the vacation part in the next few years. Everything cannot wait until my marriage. I want to give this clarity to my parents. I guess if they watched a bit of Netflix, they would understand.

Everything apart, you must watch – Little Things

Awakening of the Goddess

Ours is a strange country. On the ninth day of Navratri, people worship girls as forms of the goddess Durga. The country worships the goddess narrating the mythological stories of her glory. No one takes these stories to their daily life scenario.
Do think men would have spared women during the Navratri celebrations? Well, the answer to this question is NO. Men would have stared at college girls wearing sarees in the puja pandal. Women are not to be objectified.
Do you think people have stopped differentiating between daughters and daughters-in-law? Do you people would stop comparing their daughter’s success with their sons? Do you think families would accept an outspoken girl? There are various questions where we have failed as a Nation. But when it comes to the respect of a woman, our society has failed. Parents have supported their daughters, and they expect the same for their future families. Sadly a handful of women live happy life. There was a person who was never comfortable talking to me while preparing legal papers. Men reach a certain age, and they have the right to speak about a woman’s body. I went down to sign few legal documents, and the man in his 60s dared to talk about my body. I met with an accident at the beginning of 2021 that damaged my ligament. I was recovering from two months of bed rest. The old man referred to my body weight as the reason for my injury. I can quote hundreds of examples where men have disrespected women. But still, during Navratri, all demons would bow down their head and ask the goddess to fulfill their wishes. I wish there could be a world where society understood the significance of celebrating the glory of Goddess Durga. I believe women have the power, strength, and calmness of the goddess. We could destroy and create anything we wish.

October diaries

Festival and birthdays are in sync this October. It’s been a blessing to spending an incredible amount of time at home. With rough patches and cozy moments, we have managed to scale the year. The pandemic was redemption to make up for the lost time. I have missed many birthdays and anniversaries staying away from home. Now at home, the only thing I wish for is the well-being of my family. Today was my sister’s birthday, and she demanded not to get her any gifts. The happiest moment was my father not realizing that I was shooting a video. At that moment, my sister couldn’t stop laughing. I have a cold, and my chorus for the birthday song was pathetic. That gave everyone a chance to make fun of my voice-over in the video. If not a pandemic then, I would have been a part of the video call. Another happy moment for us today was a call from our nephew. He is growing up, and he even makes fun of us. My sister couldn’t be happy today amidst all the chaos.
Always count your blessings. Life may take a different turn every day, but we should be calm and composed. Count every sunshine that brings joy to your life. We are thankful for this day!

Paris would be better at 80

As the pandemic is receding, people are back to fulfilling their travel goals. As my Instagram feed refreshes, a person would have traveled to some part of the world. People who couldn’t travel last year are living their dreams to the fullest. I have saved hundreds of articles in my system, bookmarked places on Instagram; with a hope to travel again. I wouldn’t be able to travel alone anytime soon. At this point, I have started to feel the need for a partner who could be travel crazy with me. I have amazing friends who would do anything for me. But no one would make a travel plan suiting my preferences.
Today, I saw a video on Instagram about Northern Lights, and I felt the need to text someone. “Let’s watch Northern Lights!” It provoked me to miss the blank in my life. I have always been a person who talks too much with friends to fill the silence in my life. As I am aging, I realize the waves inside are crashing hard against the walls of my heart. I knew it was coming at some point in my life. I started enjoying my meals with Netflix. Well, Netflix can’t be my soulmate forever. Frankly, it’s not about being alone. It is more like travel along with someone to see the world. There are dreams which are too good to be true but are worth living.
For now, I am choosing to live my old age better. I have read featured articles where a group of old-aged women traveled to Europe for the first time. At that age, I might have osteoporosis, but I would be happy to be in Paris. Maybe India would see a Naina traveling solo at 70 for the first time. However, at that age, it would be tough to find Bunny in the French lanes. At that age, it would be just me and my wrinkles holding my camera (if I own any). Till then, I will bookmark places.

Unfinished draft

Kavya was driving home after a bad day at work. She almost got fired for pitching a low quote to the client. The roads of Noida get secluded after 8 PM during summers, and winters would be a nightmare for anyone to drive around Sector 45. She always rolled up for the window and drove past to avoid any mishaps. The radio was loud stirring a raunchy Bollywood song. She crossed a BMW halted unusually in the middle of nowhere. She was curious and kept looking at the car in the rare view till she lost it. Clouds were rumbling, maybe thunder god wanted to give the residents respite from the scorching heat. She slowed down her car to take the call, of course, a necessary work call. While she was negotiating the next decline, the BMW passed through. She was perplexed at her interest in that car or maybe the person driving it. The call dropped and she was back on her route. As she drove past it again, the driver gave her a stern look. She saw a woman on the front seat, who was bleeding, or maybe it was her lipstick as Kavya thought. There was the entry gate of Kavya’s residential complex. Oh! Surprise, the BMW came to a halt right there. From the rare view mirror, Kavya saw that woman crippling. She waited inside the gate for a bit till the BMW was out of sight. Kavya continued to drive in her lane and kept an eye on that lady. As she reached her building, she parked her car and rushed to the other side of the tower to check with the woman. She could barely walk.

P.S. – I never completed this piece of work.

Come home to yourself

I cannot believe it’s Friday – this week has been crazy. I have been busy with work for the past fortnight. I have taken time out to write for my blog. I believe it’s an achievement. Today morning, I read an article on Medium where a writer described his writing schedule. Imagine someone has been diligently maintaining a blog for 365 days. It was an inspirational article. A writer is motivating daily blogs in the era of vlogs. I have bookmarked his blog, and I will head to it tomorrow to read few other blogs on a writer’s life. Writers have different patterns, perspectives, and motivations when they begin their journey. He spoke about how his writing schedule helped to control stress. At times, people complain of burnouts during the hectic schedule, and that writer claimed zero burnouts.
Being a writer or a poet is a blessing, as many people have quoted. You keep love alive through your poems and novels. Writing for someone a piece of article or a letter makes the other person feel special. I have written letters and articles for people in the past. Over time, I stopped writing letters as it didn’t matter for the other person. I never posted few letters, and they lie in the junk box biting the dust. At times, it’s all about the courage to trust yourself. I have lost friends and love both in my life. Still, I gathered all the pieces of my heart and celebrated being myself. Today, I am enjoying this journey of being connected with few followers on WordPress, having a bunch of crazy friends to share embarrassments, and my confident self patting my own back. It’s a beautiful journey to enjoy growing old and wise. P.S. I had my soul food today since my mother permitted me to order some icecream.

Netflix and Chill

Netflix is pouring with movies on Christmas, and it’s dreamy. In India, it is festival season, while the rest of the world is gearing up for the holiday season. I am drowning in work, but all I thought about was a holiday in the snow-capped mountains. Whenever I complete a complex report, I reward myself by watching a video or listening to my current favorite song. I have fallen in love with the snowfall without witnessing it. I saw my nephew enjoying snow last year, and it was fun to watch him. During the pandemic, I watched anything and everything on Netflix. I missed my friends, as we watched most of the seasons together during weekends. As we are approaching the holiday season, I am entering into a fantasy world with Netflix.
Yesterday, I re-watched ‘Holiday Calendar’ after logging off from work at around 11 PM. I wish we have a facility to order cute advent calendars for us. It would be nice if I had a calendar to predict the future. Another way to know who my life partner would be! I am not very excited about this event, but a little heads-up would be great, Universe.

I have watched all Christmas movies on Netflix, they bring a different kind of joy in life. You would want to believe in Santa Claus. You would wish to cuddle with someone by the fireplace. Don’t get me started on the smell of gingerbread cookies and decorations. The spirit of Christmas has smitten my soul. I live in my fantasy world through the eyes of Netflix. I am hoping to watch some great movies this Christmas. I know Netflix wouldn’t disappoint me. OMG! I am waiting for Dash and Lily’s next season. Let’s see which one would be the best Christmas movie this year!

Love Awaited watch

Writing for that school girl

I read an article about writers failing to promote their work. I admit that all points spoke the truth. I dreamt of being a writer in school as I read storybooks in the library. In high school, we were allowed to issue two books every month. I was afraid of picking up English novels. During the summer vacations, I hid a fiction novel inside my history book and read it endlessly. I used to wrap library books in brown paper to escape the taunts of people at home. The nostalgia brings the emotion of a girl who always thought – “Her pen had the power to change the world.”
When I published a book, I thought I bagged the award of my dreams. Well, that’s when I failed. An author should never stop writing, even after publishing a book or being an established name. Writers stop promoting their books after publication. Most of the writers hand over the promotion to marketing agencies and even publishers. Fewer renowned publishers might do justice by promoting the book, whereas many publishers churn money out of writers’ pockets. I went into a black hole after the failed response and mixed bag review of the book. Few writers spoke about their experience with book marketing and tried to motivate me. Ever since then, I’m struggling to concentrate on writing and reading.
Reading is also a part of a writer’s journey. Writers tend to draw inspiration from their favorite authors. Writers working on sci-fi take years to build a world around to commence the writing process. Writers trash years of hard work in a single shot. Yet, the writers have underestimated themselves. It is not necessary to JK Rowling or Ruskin Bond. You can be your version, the writer version. You can be yourself, you can write for that school girl. You write for the girl who won a creative writing contest for you. Write for yourself, and one day it would be worth publication.

__ATA.cmd.push(function() { __ATA.initDynamicSlot({ id: 'atatags-26942-615ddf219b573', location: 120, formFactor: '001', label: { text: 'Advertisements', }, creative: { reportAd: { text: 'Report this ad', }, privacySettings: { text: 'Privacy', onClick: function() { window.__tcfapi && window.__tcfapi( 'showUi' ); }, } } }); });

Filter only coffee

Most people will relate to this blog when I say people want to regulate opinions. A long time ago, I received a call one fine morning from a family friend. He asked me about a picture I posted with my friend (male). I remember I was running late for the office and kept explaining that picture. It wasn’t an inappropriate picture. I was furious at this man questioning my social media posts. He mentioned he would convince my parents if I liked the guy. Dude, he is just a friend who happens to be good-looking. It doesn’t mean he fits my soulmate criteria. I discussed this incident with my parents, and of course, they were angry too. That incident was one of the incidents when someone tried to regulate my posts on social media. There have been various incidents when people asked me to be politically correct on social media. Reasons would be numerous – prospective guy’s family would read your posts, see so many pictures with male friends, you have fewer female friends, you cannot sound feminist. I left posting my outrage on social media. It is sad that we call our nation democratic but our freedom of speech is compromised every minute. If pictures got people married, then Salman Khan would be married by now. If pictures showed love, Sushant Singh Rajput would be alive. If pictures decide our fate, Farhan Akhtar wouldn’t divorce Adhuna.
We are hypocrites and it is high time we should accept the fact. People don’t post their lives on social media. People don’t talk about harassment in the family, sexual abuse inside the family circle, abusive parents, marital rape, and many other issues. Women who aren’t afraid of speaking their minds, also have a traumatic history. So, can we once stop judging people? Stop controlling everyone. Stop regulating how women should behave. It’s enough number of days that I have behaved myself. I guess, you should always filter your coffee than opinions.

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY NOTE

Our nephew had his birthday recently, even though he stays far away from us we are excited about his birthday. Every year it is the same story, we wait to catch a glimpses of his smiling face. As children grow up, they start recognizing everyone through face. We don’t have the privilege to meet him since the pandemic. We are dependent on the internet to see him grow up. So, on his birthday I wrote a small piece, here it goes:

It felt like yesterday he came to be with us, here!

We wait to talk to him over weekends

We wait to catch a glimpse of him running around

We wait for him to smile at the screen

We tease him

We play his video multiple times

We zoom his pictures to kiss him

It felt like yesterday he came to be with us, here!

We are adjusting to his accent, maybe he is adjusting to ours

We are waiting for him to be here, maybe he is waiting for us to be there

We are waiting to kiss him, maybe he is waiting to hug us

We are waiting to tease him, maybe he is waiting to fight with us

Above all we are waiting to love him unconditionally

It’s not a poem or a prose, it is just a flood of words during an emotional breakdown. I hope he would grow up and read this blog some day.