Like a Phoenix From The Ashes I will Rise (An Open Letter to the #BodyShamers)

I am curvy

I and short and plump

But I love myself

And thank God for he gave me life no matter what shape and size

I wear my smile

And flaunt my compassionate heart

I am an artist's muse 

A poet's verse

I stay away from people who judge

And measure my achievements by the size of my waist

Happy in my own space

In my own eyes, I look gorgeous

I am that child

Seeing an ice cream whose eyes still shine

I am that teenager

Under whose pillow some chocolates you'll forever find

From being a damsel

Who'll design her own dresses

And adorn herself in tiaras

To conceal within all the chronic scars

I have bloomed into a woman

Who dares to bare her heart

While otherwise I am a stream of unconditional love

Don't mess with me, you body-shamers

Troll me, hate me do whatever you like

You'll not tell me the way I'll lead my life

And if you try to burn my desires

Like a Phoenix from the ashes I will rise ❤️

I am taking My Alexa Rank to the next level with #MyFriendAlexa on Blogchatter.

The Little Boy At The Signal Who Still Wakes Me Up In The middle Of Night ( #FoodForThought Series Vol12)

It was the auspicious day of Teej and I was brimming with happiness, clad in a breathtakingly beautiful gold and navy blue lehenga and with Arabic Mehndi Designs adorning both my hands. The husband was driving me to the temple to donate the 'Suhag ka Saaman' as per the tradition goes after we completed the prayers and the mandatory photo shoot.

Not very far away from my home, it was when we were stuck at a red light at the Kalevadi Crossing in Wakad, my eyes fell of a little boy begging at the signal. A glance at him made me feel a staunch pain  in my heart and I shifted in extreme discomfort. A third of his upper lip has been mutilated completely at the centre making his teeth which ran into his nose visible. The wounds haven't even healed properly. The pain has made his eyes blood red and hunger undoubtedly would have only accentuated his agony. I went numb and could hear my heat sob.

It is so heart wrenching for me to even write this. I asked S to give me some money for him as I have not cared to carry my wallet, but he said giving him more money meant he would be further tortured by his masters as worsening his wounds would only multiply their income. I was heartbroken but got down from the car and made him eat to his heart's content at a nearby eatery. At first he doubted my intentions perhaps because he has lost all faith in humanity and rightly so for that's the experience we the world have given him at such a tender age.

I asked him a lot of questions but he did not speak once, not sure if he was speech impaired but he carried an expressionless look. After eating he swiftly left the spot but his image which got imprinted on my mind, left me restless and still wakes me up in the middle of the night.

I went to see him again the next day, but he was not there. I asked the nearby people and they told that that beggars are rotated frequently. I cursed first myself for letting him go that day and then the perpetrators of such inhuman crimes on the softest and the most precious souls of the universe, the innocent little buds. But is this cursing enough? What respite would my cursing bring to the little boy whose name too is unknown and if by God's grace someone rescues him what about the thousands of other children who have fallen prey to this cruel racket of child trafficking having its roots deep in the Indian society. Will the future of the rescued child be safe in child care homes if he could not be reunited with his parents, or will he subjected to some other form of abuse. The whole situation feels like a vicious trap.

Can't we just ban begging altogether in India, anyone seen begging will be arrested and put behind bars and necessary action initiated. Will this way, we 'll be able to reduce the number of times this heinous crime is committed because the source of income for the racketeers would be reduced to zero. I don't know, but I literally seek a solution to this. I am ready to do whatever but I will be needed to do but is someone listening? We need to put an end to this...Modiji???? Till then that bleeding hungary little boy at the signal will keep waking me up in the middle of nights.

I am taking My Alexa Rank to the next level with #MyFriendAlexa on Blogchatter.

Have you read our earlier True Tales in the #FoodforThought series? Find them below.

  1.When the negative energy around her breaks her down,

        what course must Radhika Take?

2.You Don't Love Me Mom

3.Confessions of an Unapologetic Mom

4.Indian Alice in Wonderland

 5.Dear Aaji, I miss you and your Golden Talisman

6.Some Wounds Never Heal

7.The Incomplete Feeling that lingers on... 

8.Is it ok to withdraw terming her a socially awkward child?
9. Isn't it good to Share, Mom!

10.I am not an emotionless Hard Rock

11. When Her Little Sunshine Asked Her To Get Back To Her Dreams But The World Was Not Ready To Accept Her

When Her Little Sunshine Asked Her To Get Back To Her Dreams But The World Was Not Ready To Accept Her ( #FoodForThought Vol-11)

It was Swarnima's first day at work after a six year self imposed hiatus and clad in a turquoise shirt and a white trouser she stood in the metro among the milling crowd hurrying to their destinations. But she was quiet and perhaps very conscious, engulfed by a perpetual self doubt of not being in touch with the industry for a devastatingly long period.

She was far better in the morn waking up her eight year old princess Saisha and her husband Anmol implanting a kiss on their foreheads each, hurriedly, after preparing their dabbas of lunch and then quickly readying herself. The couple had decided to take a stroll to the sector 10 metro station of Dwarka to board for their respective offices after dropping the little one to the school and hence they started fifteen minutes early.

Swarnima was a brilliant and confident woman with a wonderful heart. She had experienced the zenith of success before she had decided to give it all up to nurture her little lily. It was a thoughtful decision she has taken after a lot of contemplation of what her heart desires and what was best for her family at that point of time without any support. She could no more rely on maids for her kiddo and more so because both she and her husband had travel based jobs.

Six years with the little one were absolute bliss and as she was, she gave her best in the role of the mother too. It's only when her little sunshine asked her to get back to her dreams did she prepare herself to start all over again. She reworked on her CV and polished it to the tee and mind it, it did look impressive from multiple angles except for the gap which was aided by the most valid reason conferred on her by God as a blessing. She was meticulous in her preparations, she brushed the latest in her field and worked on her weight to look as presentable as she did before.

A couple of interviews did immediately come her way and her daughter and husband were very supportive in all the efforts she undertook to nail them. Her happiness though was ephemeral. While the interviews went fine she only got rejection as a reply and for two long years this became a routine. The organisations though impressed with her achievements would often offend her sanctity by asking personal intruding questions like...

Are you planning a second child? Incase you have a second child will you again take a sabbatical of six years?

...and so on. She was so tired of being judged. Motherhood now felt like a crime. One day out of frustration, she rebuked all such people publically on LinkedIn on their appalling behaviour. While the post went viral in just a couple of hours, she was astonished to find there were thousands who were in the same boat. 

Also, that very day, her ex-boss invited her to join his new organisation which she willingly accepted. She was overwhelmed she has won one battle and was readying herself to face the world, she had quit one day.

Her doubts were obvious and she didn't realize when she reached her stop. Shirking all the pessimistic thoughts, she held her head firmly on her shoulders and decided to focus only on the road that lied ahead. As she entered the reception, she adorned herself with her most precious jewel, her smile and completed the joining formalities. Her boss and her team welcomed her with open arms and she owe them a lifetime of gratitude for being so good to her.

Though she resumed at a position and a salary she had left, in no time with her impeccable command on her tasks and ability to work better than the best, she climbed the ladder of success managing well at home too with the two loves of her life trying their best to balance out the pressure on her.

A little warmth, a little love and a little acceptance only makes this world a better place for her.

(This is a fictional adaptation of a real tale,  true for so many of us and holding a deeper lesson than what it says)

I am taking My Alexa Rank to the next level with #MyFriendAlexa, My current Global Alexa Rank is: 213669
Also, linking this post to #FridayReflections by Sanch Vee and Everydaygyaan.com

Have you read our earlier True Tales in the #FoodforThought series? Find them below.

My Precious Baby, My Blog TrulyYoursRoma.com Turns Three Today

Life is an artist's blank canvas

Where he paints his desire through multiple strokes of brush

A writer is an artist too

Who paints a masterpiece through his words

When scribbling on bits and pieces didn't satiate my heart

I decided to create my own sacred space of soulful words woven into beautiful forms

Some years ago, I thus gave birth to my beloved baby, my blog

And began my journey to bring on paper with what all my brain was clogged

Initially it took baby steps, gradual yet very strong and firm

While I continued to muse and amuse, with words straight from my heart

I nurtured it with all my love

It always remained and will remain the most precious piece of my heart

I worked harder and it carved its own unique niche

And did I say all the words of the universe shall fail me express my gratitude to its readers

All your notes of appreciation

Boosted the morale of my tiny toddler

Every time it was felicitated and honoured

My heart was swollen with immense pride like a mother

Whenever the tide of time turned against me

I turned to it and found great solace in its company

It gave me friends of a lifetime, it gave me my identity

It became my voice on multiple issues of humanity

Today it is three and we know we have miles to go before we sleep

But I need to say this I value you and love you infinite times to the moon and back my baby!

Linking this post to #MondayMusings on EverydayGyaan.com