Author - Jui Purohit.

 " Have you seen Mrs. Bhat recently?, Aunty banne ki age mei she's trying to look 16!", said my 5th floor neighbor to me. I had recently got into meditation and some spiritual well-being. They teach us not to get irritated easily, not to lose your temper over silly things. So I didn't react to my neighbor then and there. I entered the lift and in my head, I started thinking..." Aunty banne ka age? What's that...who decides? Who are we to judge?....". I reached my floor, lost in my thoughts. The lift sound went... "You've reached your floor"... and I came to my senses. My WhatsApp notification popped. My friend Juili, had shared a message. "Freedom for a woman...At any phase of her age, she likes to look good......" reading the message I went inside my room. I sat on my desk and thought,  " Wow! I got a topic for my next blog   and a great way to vent out, without getting irritated". Smirkingly, I started penning down... ...

The 40 year old virgin that I know, is truly a virgin in many walks of her life.... She's my friend, sometimes philosopher, sometimes my guide! She's a personality by herself..... Never under anyone's influence, I call her virgin, not because she's untouched, But, cause she radiates that innocence! Do I know her in and out? Well don't know, actually I doubt! Hmmmmm.....Let me get to know her, more...with all of you, through this blog.... I met her, one fine day, when I was lost, no, not physically, but mentally.  She asked me if I needed her help. I said I don't know you, how can I get help from a stranger?.... She smiled and said Then be my friend!.... I sort of felt weird, a total stranger asking to be friends? Then, she read my facial expressions, I guess, and smirked, saying I am a 40 year old virgin! I got some more doubtful.... .A virgin? Why is she specifying this? What does she want?..... She said I want you to not forget me! Wait, now she can read my mi...

  Date: 1st August 2021. I wanted to confess to you today but I couldn't.  Mrs. Khanna flirts with me in the office. I like the feeling of someone taking cognizance of me, but I swear, it's just a healthy flirting . I love you with all my heart and promise that none will take your place there . While getting home from the office, I saw a beautiful dress, displayed at the shop right at the corner of the signal. I want to gift it to you, on your coming birthday. I am sure you would look gorgeous in it. Remember our trip to Goa, 2 years ago? You looked so sexy in that pink floral dress that night....Woah! let's plan another trip this year. Just give me sometime to finish my pending work . I want to crack it this time! I know you had liked that apartment of your friend we had visited. You didn't say it but I know you want a bigger house. You have always stayed in a bungalow. But you are adjusting here with me, because I can't change my job at this juncture. You had to ...

  "Coffee date hi to hai, Mumma, go na!", Akshara said to Sheela. Sheela was sitting on a rocking chair by the window. She closed her eyes and flashback of Anant struck in front of her. He loved going on dates. He loved to give me surprises. Our favorite café was right at the corner of the supermarket. After shopping for groceries, he would grab my hand and out of blue, take me to the café, on a date. Behave in public Anant, I would say...Atleast umar ka lihaaj karo hamari. Even at 90,  I will hold a walking stick in one hand and grab your hand tightly, with other, he used to say, smirking at me. Sheela opened her eyes, stopped rocking the chair, looked outside the window. She saw a rainbow. Rainbow means hope, let's try again for a baby Sheela, Anant had said, wiping her tears, after her 1st missed carriage. Akshara put her hands on Sheela's shoulders. Tears dropped from Sheela's eyes. Akshara hugged her and said Mumma, don't worry, it's not a crime to m...

 We, our family of four, had so much fun on our trip to Dalhousie . The uphill trek to Dainkund Peak , the picturesque mountain,  the beautiful scenery! The trekking trails of Kalatop Khajjar Sanctuary, lying in the path of Ravi river, surrounded by coniferous and oak forests. The walk on the Garam Sadak, the amazing street to walk down on, watching the beauty of Dalhousie. And we were back after a lot of walking and trekking, somewhat exhausted but with fresh minds. As always, after every trip, I had announced, Chalo, abb jo bhi situation ayega, am ready to face! We reached home, opened the door of our house, carried our luggage inside. As my ritual goes, I go to the kitchen first (even before going to the washroom), to check things. My younger son followed me, Mumma, give me some water. I handed him the glass and while drinking he screamed loudly. They were there.... The uninvited guests, waiting for me. Cockroaches! Mumma cockroaches!, my son started jumping around, spill...

Nowadays, as we all are wearing masks daily - as it is - its getting difficult to breathe. But you can't  avoid wearing one. Before the COVID condition it was pollution, that made it difficult to breathe. But it's not always the physical or climatic conditions around us that are solely responsible for difficulty in breathing. Sometimes it's our hectic schedules, our life styles that makes us forget to stop and breathe. Yes! It is essential to pause once in a while to breathe! Collecting our thoughts, making space, reassembling things and getting ready to face the next moment, the next challenge our life is going to throw at us.... Sometimes we have to breathe to let some pulse, for us, to choose what's right or wrong, to proceed further... In this new age all are running; and I don't mean 'Marathons'😜... but am talking about our pace, the way we are gushing, hurrying through it all. Everybody wants to get there, on the top ASAP. But as John De Paulo says - ...

 We are related by blood, we are related by law, we are related through acquaintance....We hop on into a relationship through various possibilities.  When we appreciate the similarities and respect the differences - any relationship can sail smoothly. They say no relationship is all sunshine. But people can share one umbrella when its raining heavily or survive a storm together! This is how a relationship grows stronger.  Knowing your perfections and imperfections and still being by your side is what a best companion can do. To build a firm relationship we have to be willing to understand each others mistakes and also forgive each other.  Communication, appreciation and understanding are the pillars to escalate the strength of any relationship.  There is always a reason why you meet people in your life. When you form a bond they stay with you forever; while others are just passers-by.  Breaking up is easy, but fixing the problem is the real remedy. You have...