Happy New Year!!

So this is it!! I'm on the last day of the year 2008....Wow.....Can't really believe that this year has gone by so soon....How was this year you may ask?? Will try to summarise this way.....

• Understood that it takes more than will power to achieve your goals....
• Life is very unpredictable..The most unbelievable things can happen and take you by surprise.
• There is no greater joy than to get back to good ol' friends.....
• Boiled chicken can taste good!!!
• Homoepathic medicines rock!!!
• There are some individuals who are capable of making irrational decisions..Trust me, I know a handful...
• With a humbled heart I confess that Kerala cuisine tastes the best. Even better than Mangalorean cuisine....
• You can learn absolutely anything......We are designed by God in a special way!
• Last but not the least.....God is good all the time and He is worthy to be trusted even though life at times make no sense whatsoever....

Wishing everyone a great year ahead filled with joy and happiness!!!

Joy to the world

The last few weeks were real crazy!!! And last weekend added to the craziness......But all in the end was good. I managed to get the second half of the day off from work for tomorrow. We are having a short Christmas Eve service followed by barbecue- specialty Burmese cuisine!!! I am waiting to sink my teeth into that well marinated meat....ahhh!!!

Christmas day is with family. Have invited a friend who desires to have crab curry!!! She loves seafood btw. Watch a movie, sleep (something that has been missing from my schedule). Before I leave, here's wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas filled with God's peace and assurance of being His child. God Bless!!

P.S: This is my 100th post......Wow!!!! It has been a long journey and I enjoyed every step of the way......Wow! I still can't believe I made it to 100!!!!! Yippee!!!!

Just begun....

What can I write, after all the terror that was unleashed in Mumbai?? Even as I watched the television, show live coverages of the terror attacks in Mumbai, only one thought crossed my mind again and again, "Can't believe this is really happening.".....I don't want to say much, as much has already been said and someone very wise mentioned, "Talk is cheap".

My heart goes out to all those who became victims of this brutal carnage. I will never know your pain, the anguish, the heart wrenching emotions that plague you right now!! I can't write much......it's too painful.....

One thing's for sure, our nation's not safe anymore...in fact, it never was a safe place...we are so vulnerable!! Am I safe in the city that I live?? The answer is an emphatic, "NO!!!"..... We are living in an age, where we leave home, taking a look at our loved ones and wondering, "Will it be the last time I see them?"......

Dear readers, this is just the beginning.....

Saturday nite!

Last Saturday evening, I was alone at home as my family was out for several reasons. I was stay put becoz I fell ill. It seemed like it would be a boring evening and I did not have the strength to entertain myself. Switched on the television and the movie Miss Potter was being aired.

I wasn't sure I wanted to watch it as it seemed like a slow movie. But I'm so glad I did. Renee Zellweger did justice to her role as Miss Beatrix Potter. It was more like a biographical film. There were some touchy moments and good lines to remember! In short my evening was well spent and I simply looked forward to meet my family.

Come November!

The month of November has set in and all I can think of is,"Oh no! there are no holidays this month." Yeah, after all the holidays in October, suddenly the thought of working 5 days a week for a month seems like a long stretch! Of course we have December to look forward to and all the preparations that will begin for Christmas. Ahh...I'm already setting off to Winter Wonderland :)

So I'm girding myself for this rigorous month that lies ahead of me and steer my way through....C'mon girl you can do it!!

Books and holidays

Watched 'Little women" yesterday with my sis and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Read the book when i was in school and it's always a different experience when you watch these characters come alive on screen! I would want to read the book again and relive the moments!! In school I would be so lost in these stories and so content living their lives and being a part of their experience.

I never had a care in the world. At school I would wait for lunch break so that I could exchange my book in the library for another. Those were the days!! In fact even during my summer vacations, my father would get books from the city library and just the sight of those books would get me so ecstatic!!

So much has changed now! I only get to read when I am at home or I am down with a bug....Sheesh!!! How I miss those good ol' days

My friend's wedding

Last Sunday I attended my ex-colleague's wedding and boy! it was a different experience altogether. It was the first I was a witness to a Sikh wedding. The wedding took place in a Gurudwara in Camp. I went along with my sis who was also completely bowled over by a cultural shock!

Why do I say so? It was for the first time we were surrounded by Punjabi and all we could hear was Punjabi. In fact the wedding ceremony was conducted in Punjabi!! You could say I was totally "Lost in Translation". But I enjoyed the experience and it felt so different meeting people from a different community who speak, dress and behave differently.

My friend was excited to see us and she looked so happy to be married!! She looked absolutely stunning that day!! Her joy clearly reflected on her face which made her look extremely beautiful. I wish her loads of happiness and an exciting married life ahead!!

Health is Wealth

Coming back after a long hiatus of sorts. I was quite sick and it was so difficult to function. I was stay put at home and the rest did me good!!!! It is really great to get back to work and continue with the mundane things of life......

This week is gonna be long and I hope to have the energy to take me through. Getting back to the routine takes a bit of time.....But once you are in the grind, everything's a blur....Falling ill helped me slow down and think a lot.....Kinda a blessing in disguise, huh?

Holiday

Tomorrow's a holiday yippee!!! What am I gonna do? Meet up with a friend over a cup of coffee and relax...that's all...A holiday in the middle of the week is always welcome :)

Memories...

Today as I signed into my email account, I was surprised to receive a friend request from the name that seemed vaguely familiar. The name was familiar but the surname was different, then I saw that the person had put her maiden surname. I was like wow! she's married eh?? Of course, I remember her-she was my next door neighbor in my dorm.

Suddenly I was flooded with memories of the past. It's been seven years since I last saw her man!! I am really excited about getting in touch with an old friend. So much has changed from what I was 11 years ago....When I think of this friend, certain things come to mind.

She was the first person who actually helped me find a room to stay (yeah, I was a hostelite then!). She was smart and handled the landlords well for a girl of petite built and only 17!!. She helped me open an account in the bank and took me to the bookstore to buy medical books for our syllabus. Yeah I was studying to be a doctor!!

Later on, when I shifted to the college hostel, she was my next door neighbor. The thing I remember about her the most was that she was very meticulous and her room was spic and span! Wow! the image is still fresh in my mind. I remember having long chats with her on various occasions where topics ranged from silly talks to politics (she loved to talk about politics).

As years passed, I moved on and made new friends and so did she. But whenever we met we greeted each other with a smile. After our internship, we lost contact, in fact I lost contact with all my college friends. The last I saw them was 4 years back. It will be wonderful to met her and recall those days where we made plans how we would like our future to be, little realizing that I hold nothing in my hands. How foolish we were back then! But whatever, they were some good memories to treasure.....

Saying good bye!!

One of the toughest things to do is saying good-bye! Suddenly you realise that the wonderful times that you spent with your colleague and friend has come to an end. Come to think it, everything has a beginning and also an end. Things don't go on forever and people move on with their lives and so must I. Working with this particular colleague was an experience in itself. In life you come across very few people with whom you can work joyfully and have loads of fun all at the same time.

Yes! It's gonna be difficult not having you around, but as I said life goes on. We make new friends, make new memories and treasure the old! All I can say dear friend, have a great life ahead and may you always spread joy and laughter around....Will miss u!!!

How times fly

Within a matter of few days I will be completely a year at my workplace. Wow!!! I can really say, time flies...Before you know it we are already at the tail end of the year 2008. There were times when I felt that the days were just dragging along and times when the week would breeze through.

It's been great working as a content developer and learning something new every single day. And that doesn't seem to stop! Don't really know what tomorrow has in store for me but whatever it is, should be exciting!!!

The long and short of it

It always amazes me when I come across good written materials. I am like how do these people manage to put humor or satire into their writings? Where do they get their ideas from? And most important of all, where do they get the patience to write so much??

Then I look at myself coz it takes me a while to figure out what to write about. And more so I don't have the patience to write elaborately. I am good at synopsis. Short and sweet. I become restless if I have to be descriptive. Maybe u think I am lazy, m not. But being descriptive is way too difficult for me.....

Waiting for a change!

The past few days have been quite slow and very tiring. Nothing's worse when you wake up in the morning and find yourself feeling oh so tired and unrefreshed. Then you drag yourself to work hoping to catch a few winks in your cubicle.

I am so dying to go on a vacation and take a long break from work. This commuting back and forth to work and home is killing me at the present. But this will have to wait a while. Till then I'll have to be satisfied with what's available to me at present......

A typical day in my life!!!

A weary week...

This week was very hectic and all I have been doing is wait for the weekends to arrive. I am so tired these days that I find it so hard to do just anything. These days my energy levels are so low that it takes all of me to push myself out of bed. This week has been strange and I am still wondering why.....

Been thinking over and over again about the probable causes of fatigue that has inflicted me. What could it be??

1. Lack of sleep. Maybe, since M only able to squeeze in a max of 6 hours only.
2. Have stopped drinking coffee-Withdrawal symptoms I am assuming....
3. Have a hectic schedule. I leave home at 8.15am and reach home by 9.30pm
4. My transportation sucks big time..
5. Maybe age is catching up.....

Well, I feel it could be a combination of all the above, who knows.....Hope to catch up with my sleep and some rest this weekend...

Cat caught cat-napping!

It's those one of those days where you wish you could get away with a few winks. This kitty is so fortunate. Look at that serene face!!! Hey kitty kitty.....Wake up and smell the coffee...

Well I have a problem-I can't watch people sleep, coz I have this urge to wake them up! I know what you are thinking "How wicked"

Kya kare,aadat se majboor? (Habits die hard) Hee hee :P

What the rains taught me

This week moved pretty fast and not to forget the rains that lashed on Tuesday creating chaos amidst people. On that fateful day, when I left home it did not occur to me that I would be spending the night at my friend's place. Becoz of the rains, all the roads that led to my home were heavily congested in the evening, so had to take a diversion.

There were many things that I learnt on Tuesday and would like to list them down:

• We are so helpless in the face of nature
• It brought in a sense of great fear thinking how powerful God is and what He is actually capable of
• Kinda experienced the callous nature of people
• Was able to understand the famous line, 'A friend in need is a friend indeed'
• We are so susceptible to stress and weariness
• Grateful to technology-was able to keep in touch with my family
  
• Life is so unpredictable and very short
• Ultimately God is the Creator and Sustainer of life!!

As I always say, live one day at a time!!

A journey just begun!!

Before I get busy with my work, just wanted to say that I have completed 6 months in the world of blogging!! Yipee!!!! It's been a wonderful experience so far and there is so much I have yet to learn. The journey has been very exciting and M looking forward for more :)

Hope to be more faithful in blogging and to get real serious in writing soul-stirring posts. Well, did I just say soul-stirring? Hmmm let's see how that goes for now. Wanna thank those who were kind enough to read my posts and give their suggestions and comments. Keep those comments coming!!!

Stay connected!

Yeah, I have begun to realise the importance of being connected to people for once. My sister did not have an Internet connection at her workplace for a month and boy! was it trouble? It was difficult in a way to communicate as I was so used to dropping one-liners on her chat or quickly send an email.

It seemed like life had come to a standstill. Sounds a bit far-fetched, huh? But honestly this is how I felt as i had become so used to the Internet. But now things are back to normal and I can communicate to my sis with ease!!

So welcome back sis from your long hiatus!!!

The movie 'rocks'

Watched the much anticipated movie 'rock on!' and I really liked it. I am not a great fan of rock music but the movie appealed to me in many ways. The plot of the film is kinda similar to 'Dil Chahta Hai' where it talks of 4 friends who are budding rock musicians. I think this movie is first of its kind where it is based on the lives of four rock musicians. Cool!!!

A lot can change in 10 years but if you are passionate about something, you will pursue it no matter what. The message of the movie, 'Live your dream'. It's a film worth watching for its music and great performances by the leading stars....The movie rocks all the way!!

Leave the outcome...

There is so much we can learn everyday and we should never underestimate how much our brains can accumulate over a given period of time. I think of my situation-One year back I was a dodo when it came to computers but I see myself today in a different light! Yes! I have learnt so much about computers that I surprise myself. Hahaa.

Most of the times we are reluctant to learn something new simply because we have already made up our minds about the outcome. And most of the times these outcomes imagined are discouraging. To be honest I've been so guilty of this kind of attitude and I ended up losing many opportunities. How can you predict the outcome if you have not entered the experience?? It's a very dangerous activity of the mind that can put an end to seeking new enterprises and I say this to myself first!

Go, take up a challenge and do not fear. There is much to learn in the journey than worrying about the outcome. As always the journey is sweeter than the destination!!

Being happy

Things that make me 'happy'
1. When I have a long chat with my sis on things I love the most.
2. When I get to eat potatoes. Yeah!
3. When I finish my deadlines on time.
4. When I watch action movies.
5. When I get to read an interesting book.
6. When I get to hang out with certain friends.
7. When I have a good workout!
8. When I cook a new dish and is well appreciated by family.
9. When I enter a bookstore....
10. When I get to dig into any chicken dish. Yumm!!

A virtue relearned

When you have worked hard to achieve a certain goal and all you meet is failure, frustration begins to seep in. That's how I felt when I set a goal to attain a particular level of fitness. I love to workout! So the initial month was quite difficult coz no matter how much I worked out, nothing seemed to be happening.

But as time passed, I was getting closer and closer to my goal. I was ecstatic. The journey has taught me patience and never to give up when met with failure. The seeds have been sown, the sapling will shoot up but in its time. And when it does there's no stopping!!

Hard work, commitment and dedication never goes in vain!

Talk it out!!

I realised something last night that the key to resolving conflicts with someone is by talking it out. I say this coz I just did that for the first time. Man! Was I nervous or what? But there was so much I have learnt that it will be hard to forget. Ok when I say conflicts I mean any kind of misunderstanding that looms large in a particular relationship whether friendship or hubby-wifey relationship....Most of the time we clam up and brood on what was said and literally meditate on it for days..... Then sarcastic comments are poured but the real reason for dismay is not disclosed.

One of the real reason why we do not actually sit down and talk it out is that we are basically afraid to do so or we are too proud. If we are really keen on pursuing that particular relationship that holds the risk of falling between the cracks, we will take that extra step. Maybe some of you reading this might say that they face the risk of hurting the person. What about that? In any relationship there are bound to be times where we will hurt one another, coz we are human. But what makes the relationship special is that we still strive to love and care for the person in spite of all the shortcomings. If that friend has hurt you in ignorance, tell him/her in love. Choose your words carefully. Mull over what you will say...

Rehearse in your mind over and over again. Don't say anything in anger. Stay calm. I'm sure your friend after hearing you out will have a good reason to justify his/her behavior. Remember it takes two to tango!! Be honest and transparent. If your friend is genuine, he/she will seek to restore the friendship, otherwise they will just flare up and walk out of the relationship.

In the end, it takes a lot more than we think to maintain friendships and other important relationships. Egos have to be kept aside and much sacrifice is required for the relationship to blossom. Communication is the key!!

The long weekend finally arrives!!

I have a long weekend ahead of me and I'm really excited about it. This is the time to relax and spend time with people I did not have the opportunity to meet for a long time. Haven't done any kind of planning but I'm gonna take it slow. Times like these are precious, don't want to squander them by doing a million things....Take one day at a time....And if possible catch up on the movie, "The Dark Knight"....That's all dear folks from me at the moment....

60 Years

My dad will be celebrating his 60th birthday next month and I am very excited about it. But my dad is more excited on becoming a senior citizen.Hahaahaha.... He is so fascinated by this thought!! Looking forward to celebrating that day and making sweet memories to cherish.......

Love this pic

I love cats especially kittens.
Hence this cute pic of a kitten with its eyes closed...cho..chweet.....
A poem dedicated to kittens.....

Kittens! Kittens!

Kittens kittens everywhere
Kittens chewing on my hair
Kittens climbing up my jeans
Kittens hanging from the screens
There's a kitten on each shoulder
Will they do this when they're older?

Kittens fighting on the chairs
Kittens tumbling down the stairs
There's a kitten on my head
There's a kitten in the bread!
There's a kitten in my shoe
I don't believe we just have two!

Author Unknown or William Wordsworth

Kill monotony...

Monotony kills!! How much do we cry when faced to do the same things over and over again. Wake up every morning, have the same kind of breakfast, do the same kind of work and live a viscous life. Grumbling slowly ensues and we start to resent the daily mundanes of life. Statements like, "Oh! How I wish I could run away."...or sing songs like, "I want to break free" :) .What am I getting at??

I hate when monotony sets in, but I am beginning to cherish the simple mundanes of life. We always crave for some adventure hoping it will brighten our dull lives.. But when it does happen then how do we react : like unexpected guests crash in or your vehicle breaks down in the middle of a busy road? Then how do we respond? I ask this question myself....I would love to have an adventure packed, action filled life....but on second thoughts I prefer to be content with what I have....Just learning to be grateful for every aspect of my life will help kill the creeping monotony rising within me......
P.S. If I had such a breakfast table set for me every morning, what pleasure...ah!!

I call it a day!

I remember writing an essay in high school titled, 'The day when everything went wrong'. Well, I kinda experienced it today. I woke up with a splitting migraine and somehow managed to make it through the morning trying to ignore the pain. Unfortunately there were no tablets to pop in and of course the chemist's store does not open till the sun's way up in the sky. I couldn't take an off since I had few deadlines to meet.

At work I realised, the web designer wasn't ready with her website and lo behold! I discovered some loopholes in my content too. All the while my headache was getting worse and add to it nausea. Wow!! I popped the pills by noon which gave me intense acidity. And had lunch all alone since everybody were tied up with work. I couldn't wait because of my migraines. Trying to finish my deadlines turned quite disastrous....Will not bother to mention the details...hah! Trust me I would call this a day......

Realised one thing-Plans can be broken and one needs to be flexible. And yet to be thankful for every single event and not complain was kinda difficult to accomplish....Even though it seemed like everything went 'wrong' in my sight, it was all planned by God and I need to trust Him in these seemingly trivial things.......

Blessings..

My weekend was good as it was not too hectic. Got some time to relax and spend time with my friends. I am very grateful to God for the kind of friends I have at this phase of my life. Few but precious- really a gift from God.

The start of the week was not too bad either, which is a surprise. I guess my attitude's beginning to change as I realise it's a sheer blessing to work, so why grumble. My day's almost done and I will wrap within few minutes to leave. Contentment is a gift where you learn to be satisfied with what you have and not complain like the Israelites. Hahaha....That's all for today...Hope to write few posts in the coming days...Chow!!

A careless whisper

We need to be so careful with our words, a lesson I am still learning the hard way. Every word reveals the true intention of our heart. There is no such thing as 'I was just kidding' or 'I didn't really mean that'. Every word we speak tells something about the condition of our hearts. True!! Words can either heal or kill. How often we slay people with our words, not realizing we will eat its fruit.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:1 (NASB)
When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. Proverbs 10:19 (ESV)

Laughter riot....

Some things that crack me up:
1. When my dad wants to share something with us (my mom, my sis and moi) especially when he's brushing his teeth and he's practically foaming!! Trust me, we don't get a word he says and yet my daddy dearest continues to talk.

2. The character 'Sloth' from the animated movie "Ice Age" trying to strike a conversation with 'Manfred' the mammoth. The movie is worth a watch!!

3. Some crazy members in my gym attending a kick-boxing class and looking like electrocuted monkeys...

4. This one is my favorite: Watching silly serials aired on the telly....hahaha...they are hilarious man! Especially those scenes where the camera keeps zooming at every character to catch their emotions...Whew! tiring I tell u.....

Glimpses

Last month was quite hectic, but fruitful. Enjoyed the commencement of rains along with the drop in temperature and of course falling ill for a week! Monsoons are incomplete without a flu or a cold.....The coming few months will be bring in a lot of changes-changes that I have been dreading for far. But I guess, as the time approaches I will be prepared. That's what I have been saying all these days. On the work front, life is great and interesting work is flowing along. May it always flow.

Right now social life is a bit stunted, thanks to the rains! But I have no qualms about it either. Less people, less trouble :) (Btw that's my first smiley on the blog)......Anyways hoping to be a bit more regular with my posts. Don't want to become redundant.....

Topic trivia

What do you when you are running short of topics to post on your blog? Hah ! For me as a content writer where I asked to churn out a minimum of 5 pages on issues like 'ecology' or say like this one 'insurances'...Trust me I run dry my dear, absolutely stone dry.... I'm talking about my creative juices running dry..tsk tsk.... See I can't even cry now. What a pity!

Then I scratch my head, "Should I write a movie review?" *thinking- might be too lengthy*. "How about some funny incident?" *Don't want to make a fool of myself* In the process of 'searching' for a sensible topic to write, I realize the sun has already set. Whew!! Then I have to settle for some gooey silly topic attached with a sillier pix. There goes my brave attempt at blogging. But nevertheless, the battle still continues with the song, "We shall overcome.....someday!!"

Tired....

It's been a while I have blogged and there is nothing special to write. Been busy for quite some time....New writing assignments that are quite interesting.....The weather has been pleasant though which is a blessing

Guess, I'm kinda tired to pen down anything of worth, but hoping the next time I have something good to document.

Love this song...

This is the song I would like to listen to right now...This song is sung by 'Bread' and the title is "If"

If a picture paints a thousand words,
Then why can't I paint you?
The words will never show the you I've come to know.
If a face could launch a thousand ships,
Then where am I to go?
There's no one home but you,
You're all that's left me too.
And when my love for life is running dry,
You come and pour yourself on me.
If a man could be two places at one time,
I'd be with you.
Tomorrow and today, beside you all the way.
If the world should stop revolving spinning slowly down to die,
I'd spend the end with you.
And when the world was through,
Then one by one the stars would all go out,
Then you and I would simply fly away

Bread If lyrics-MusicSongLyrics.com

Lunch times!!

Lunch times at workplace is fun! The conversations flow from one topic to another, say for example "What's the technique for getting the 'perfect' shape while making dosas?" Yes!! you got this one right for sure! Out pours expert advice from fellow colleagues where the poor victim (the one who asked the qs in the first place) listens with child-like attention. Then slowly the gear shifts to another topic-"The different upbringing each one had" .....Its really fun and yet very insightful.....

Today we were lamenting over the kind of serials that are aired on the telly. Everybody got nostalgic when serials like 'Buniyaad', 'Humlog', 'Nukkad', 'Fauji' were mentioned. C'mon guys we lived in the era where only Doordarshan was available. We watched whatever was telecast...How content we were in those days!!!

Not wanting to divert from the main thing......I have slowly realized the worth of having lunch together with friends, colleagues...people...They are fun times!!! Sharing meals as well as sharing thoughts brings in a sense of unity...This I have perceived......

Solitude

There are times when my heart is heavy with grief and my head is reeling with pain. Days where talking does not suffice and explaining does not gratify. Moments where you wished you were alone, far away from the crazy world. Away from the maddening crowd to a place of quiet rest.

Just to sit atop a hill and gaze into oblivion. To watch the clear blue sky above and feel the gentle breeze....This I hope will brighten my dull spirit and clear my head......

Anchor of my soul

This is after a gap of more than a decade I am writing a poem.....I have no clue what really prevented me from writing all these years....Occasions when I made several attempts....but all in vain....Today out of the blue I managed to scribble a few lines ....It's a start for me at least....Can only thank God for it......

Walking down the path and thinking of the days gone by,
brings in a simple truth of who's been with me
the days when i cried and the days when i smiled
friends you ask, what about your dear ones?
No! not them as this journey was set alone
Been to places where my heart was wrenched with pain,
But all the way I had my Saviour at my side,
Faithful, Compassionate Friend.

He did not leave me nor desert me,
His promises kept my spirit from failing,
His words were honey, the 'Living Bread' to my soul,
He lifted me up when I stumbled
and set my heart to sing songs of “Heaven”
Journey will continue and even as I tarry,
I seek your presence O LORD.....
and cry out like those who cried to You in the days of old
“My stronghold and the Anchor of my soul.....”

The Sword of the Spirit

This has been on my mind for a long time and I guess the time is right that I pen these thoughts down. As an Indian I have come across various traditions and cultures some of which I love to hate. And as I was growing up I remember enjoying some and despising the other becoz of inconvenience perhaps.....

But now as a Bible believing Christian who affirms that “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2Peter 1: 20, 21) So everything I do and say has to be guided by what the Word of God says....I don't find it burdensome but as the Psalmist says in Psalms 119: 97 “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.”

So coming back to what I have in mind is “What about the traditions and rituals that are being followed by people all around me?” Sometimes it is so confusing but God's Word is very clear. Right now I am thinking of certain verses from the book of Colossians.

“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.” (Col 2 :16) and another verse

“These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” (Col 2:23)

My favorite which extinguishes all the flames of doubts is this,

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Col 2:8) Wham!!!

I am satisfied coz I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34: 8a)

It's raining!

Even now as I write, it's raining cats and dogs outside. Have no clue how I am gonna manage going back home...But it will be fun to watch people running helter skelter in order to avoid getting drenched.....I love to hear the sound of thunder even though it scares me at times.....

Welcome showers of blessing!!

Rain

June has already made its presence known and here I am still feeling the summer heat..Hey what's with the rains this year? It's about time you guys stop playing hide and seek and surprise us .......yes with a cool shower please.....

Can be done.......

How often do we come across individuals who encourage us in a task never done before? Few, maybe none.... This poem says it well..... "It couldn't be done" by Edgar Guest

Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But, he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't" but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.

So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, as he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one we know has done it";
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.

With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.

But just buckle right in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That cannot be done, and you'll do it

Parts Copyright (C) White Dove Books

Cheap Thrills!!!

Over lunch with my colleagues, the topic we gradually strayed upon were the bus rides and the kind of people encountered. Out poured several comments about how unsafe these bus rides have become. More so, the female colleagues lamented about unhealthy encounters they have had with male co-passengers. Everything was said in good humor with every female colleague giving their innovative method of shooing these miscreants, if I could say so.

Later the topic diverted towards some hilarious events (bus rides of course!) Say for example while standing along the bus aisle and when sudden brakes are applied (happens more often) the poor passenger is forced to run forward (thanks to Newton's Law). Talk about casualties!!! Traveling in a bus requires stamina (u gotta run to catch it) flexibility (for navigating thru a thick crowd) and a sharp memory to collect the remaining change of the bus fare from the dubious bus conductor! So, you looking for some excitement and cheap thrills, alight this scrap metal...

Serious stuff

What can be done on days when there is no substantial work and it's hot? Yeah! M beginning to get really bored and I'm tired of finding ways to keep myself seriously occupied. For example these are the few serious stuff I have done:

1. Took umpteen personality quizzes and discovered many facets...like got to know my fruit personality and my animal side too....I have discovered I suffer from certain disorders too...Phew these quizzes!!!
2. Then I leaped to movie quizzes thinking that as a movie bluff I will be able to get 10/10...What nonsense! I am asked to remember the details of movies that was here today and gone tomorrow...Gimme a break.....
3. My favorite, online jigsaw puzzle...not that bad to begin with...after sometime I got bored.....
4. Yes I have donated free rice while trying to guess the right word in a game that tests your vocab.....Well, up till now maybe a kilo.....
5. And of course blog blog blog......

So readers, what are some of the 'serious stuff" that u do?? Enlighten me......

The infallible Word of God

We are always jerked back to reality when someone around us dies. A realization seeps in quietly that life is indeed short and fleeting. Minds are set thinking about things that never was a concern. I can only think of 1Peter1:24,25
"All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass, the grass withers and the flower falls off, But the Word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the Word that was preached to you." God's Word is true and infallible.....I'm reminded of it everyday.....

What's ur favorite??

One of the things that give me great pleasure is when I know my friend's, sister's, parents' favorite song or their favorite movie or even their favorite dish. It's a neat way to remember them and not always be consumed with self.....I love to see the smile on their face when told about their favorites......Simple joys, eh??

In pursuit of happiness

It was through John Piper's writings that I came across the word, "hedonism". What does hedonism mean? According to the Oxford dictionary it means-doctrine that pleasure is the only proper aim. Ok, I'm getting to it, but when John Piper talked about Christian Hedonism, I was a bit confused.....I have a small excerpt below adapted from Piper's article, "Christian Hedonism: Forgive the Label, but Don't Miss the Truth"...Read it.....

"What Is Christian Hedonism?

My shortest summary of Christian Hedonism is: God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.

We all make a god out of what we take the most pleasure in. Christian Hedonists want to make God their God by seeking after the greatest pleasure—pleasure in him.

By Christian Hedonism, we do not mean that our happiness is the highest good. We mean that pursuing the highest good will always result in our greatest happiness in the end. We should pursue this happiness, and pursue it with all our might. The desire to be happy is a proper motive for every good deed, and if you abandon the pursuit of your own joy you cannot love man or please God.

The Difference Between Worldly and Christian Hedonism

Some people are inclined to believe that Christians are supposed to seek God’s will as opposed to pursuing their own pleasure. But what makes Biblical morality different than worldly hedonism is not that Biblical morality is disinterested and duty-driven, but that it is interested in vastly greater and purer things. Christian Hedonism is Biblical morality because it recognizes that obeying God is the only route to final and lasting happiness. Here are some examples of this from the Bible:

Luke 6:35 says, "Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great." It is clear when Jesus says “expect nothing in return” that we should not be motivated by worldly aggrandizement, but we are given strength to suffer loss by the promise of a future reward.

Again, in Luke 14:12-14: "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your kinsmen or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor . . . and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just." That is, don't do good deeds for worldly advantage; rather, do them for spiritual, heavenly benefits."

By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org

For more click here

This has set me thinking alrite!

Not a bookworm anymore!

I miss reading books. Period. It's been so long that I have read a book in leisure. Those days when I had all the time in the world to complete as many books as possible. And now it's a challenge even to finish a chapter...Feels strange to me coz books have been an integral part of life since school days. Somehow life has taken a different turn and it will be a luxury of sorts to actually read a book in peace......Different season..different time...will enjoy this flavor of life also.......

Much to learn....

Much was supposed to be written but exhaustion and lack of energy is preventing this endeavor. I guess it will be another time, another day for a better occasion. But overall had a relaxed weekend and got to spend time with a dear friend of mine. It was special as I got to see a deeper shade of character that made me respect her more.....

I like people who are honest, who are not afraid to show their vulnerability and say, "I need your help or please hear me out". I'm not for those who love to have a pity party but the ones who are not afraid to cry and display their weakness. We are human and we need one another. Realized that evening......

Be still my soul

There is so much going on in my head right now, that I am finding it quite difficult to concentrate at work. This phase will soon be over, that I know but need to calm my soul of the turbulence rising within. Wish I could be still as this lake.....

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6

It takes 'seven' to figure

Ancy, a dear friend has put forth 7 questions to help me find my true passion....or my ultimate passion.....Here goes nothing....

1. What puts a smile on your face?
Honestly a tough question, but I'll give it a shot. First on the ranks "Books" then probably "Good food" and "Kids".......

2. What do you find easy?

I find it very easy to teach, comes very naturally to me....

3. What sparks your creativity?

When I listen to good music and when I read books based on literature.

4. What would you do for free?

Teach and babysit my friend's kids.

5. What do you like to talk about?

Bible and the things of God.

6. What makes you unafraid of failure?

Christ Jesus and His promises

7. What would you regret not having tried?

Might sound silly-Martial arts....

So Ancy, how did I fare?? Do let me know the results.....

"It" has come back to haunt me!

Right now I'm a little uneasy coz "it" has come back to haunt me...Last year somewhere in the month of February I fell ill because of a major infection(details not necessary, right?). I still remember the excruciating pain, the discomfort and a total feeling of helplessness that enveloped me. Why am I saying all this? The infection has come back to haunt me.....

The doctor's verdict, "Relax, don't panic". I'm on medication now and trusting in the Lord that this ordeal will be over soon! But those memories are so difficult to brush aside.....Anyways I know God is gracious and will not give more than I bear, He is faithful and His promises are everlasting. Personally as a doctor I have realized one thing for sure,"The healing is of the Lord". We can only administer the medicines.....

Iron Man to the rescue

Yesterday I watched "Iron Man" on the big screen and was I zapped or what.....Honestly wasn't really aware of this Marvel Comics character as much I know about Spiderman or Fantastic Four. But since everybody were giving good reviews about this action flick, I decided to watch Iron Man.

When I heard that Robert Downey.Jr was cast as Iron Man I was a bit skeptical...Would he be able to carry the superhero mantle? I never doubted his acting skills though, but superhero?. As an adolescent I was a great admirer of him, but when I heard about his drug abuse in 1996, was very disappointed.

Nevertheless, I made a trip to the multiplex with a friend and my sis who is a movie buff like me and who loves action flicks too! Am I glad for her or what?? We managed to get decent seats and after waiting for two and a half hours, (yes you read that right!) we saw the movie....What can I say?? Robert, you blew my doubts to smithereens!! He was great as"Tony Stark a.k.a Iron Man...I guess nobody, I repeat nobody could do justice to that role apart from Robert Downey Jr. Kudos to you man..errr..Iron Man!

I will not waste time trying to describe this movie coz it has to be watched on the BIG SCREEN alone....Move over Superman and Spiderman, here comes a new superhero to the rescue....

Tag Tag

Since my sis is really bored I tagged and will be tagging her too.......

1.Grab the book nearest to you, turn on page 18 and find line 4:
"Have to do is learn the multiplication table up to two".....
M reading A.W.Tozer's " Faith Beyond Reason"...but the statement sounds funny na....

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can :
Touched the notice board, water bottle and my purse.....

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?
Bones on Star World

4. Without looking, guess what time it is?

5.20 pm

5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?

Not bad!! Exact time..well m good at predicting time...really....

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?

Radio city playing " Salaame Ishq"!! (Like I have any choice..)

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?

When I left home for work......

8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?

Matt's Photo Gallery (Don't ask who he is...coz I ain't gonna tell)...haha..long story friends....

9. What are you wearing?

Excuse me??

10. Did you dream last night?

I wish I could remember......

11. When did you last laugh?

An hour ago with Smita, laughing over Matt's photos (him again :P) we were in splits....

12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?

Really nothing...

13. Seen anything weird lately?

Nothing I can remember....

14. What do you think of this quiz?

Time pass

15. What is the last film you saw?

The Namesake...

16. If you became a multimillionaire overnight, what would you buy?

A farmhouse......and a beach house...and kittens......

17. Tell me something about you that I dunno.

I dug a hole in the ground and tried to bury a dog....wicked, eh? Well I was bitten....not funny at all....I was three....

18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?

Make strict rules on maintaining cleanliness EVERYWHERE...

19. Do you like to dance?

M passionate about dancing.......

21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?

Haven't really thought...maybe " Sam" hahaha

22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?

" Alex" or "Robert"...just kidding....

23. Would you ever consider living abroad?

Wouldn't mind......

24.What do you want GOD to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?

"Good and faithful servant"

25. 4 people who must also do this meme in their journal

Only Carol and Smita....

How I wish....

This is what I wish for....to go ballroom dancing...how I wish this would turn true.....I wish....

Dance Dance

Yesterday I saw one of my favorite program on television,"So you think you can dance" and I enjoyed every bit of the show...All you dance lovers will definitely enjoy this dance competition as they showcase all kinds of dance style viz hip-hop, salsa, mambo, contemporary, quickstep, waltz and many many more....

These participants are fantastic and you gotta see them perform...Too good.....Hardwork, commitment and passion is what you see. I love to dance and it's sheer joy watching them move so effortlessly and gracefully. This show is aired on AXN every Tuesday at 10pm...Watch and enjoy......

Night To Remember!!

Ok!! Before I forget this memorable experience, I have to jot it down...At last! I could sink my teeth into lamb chops and savour that moment as it was the first time I tasted lamb...I know what you readers are thinking, but its true...I never had the chance to taste lamb. It's yummmmm.....

It was my mom's birthday and as a family we dined at 11 East Street Cafe which btw has now become our official hangout place. Everyone dashed to order their own dishes and I was left to make my order....So here I was staring at the menu card wondering about the dish...And there I saw!! Lamb chops with Rosemary Wine Sauce.....Ahh!!! Perfect....What better time than this...So I ordered joyfully, making mental pictures of how the dish would look. And I was pleasantly surprised when the order finally made its presence (the service was poor...I was starving by then!). It looked appetizing......

I tell you, every bite was enjoyable and as it went down my throat, I was satisfied! What bliss!!!
Truly it was a night to remember.......
P.S. Managed to put an image of what I had, but it's a poor resemblance....

Happy Birthday Mother

Today is my mom's birthday and I am so glad for her in my life.Even though I was a difficult child while growing up and I still can be :) she has been patient at all times. My mom is a quiet lady who doesn't go around voicing her opinions and I admire her for that!!! Very hardworking, dedicated and diligent in all her ways.....she is my favorite teacher coz I still remember the times she tutored me.....

I won't say much coz I will sound like a hypocrite and I know I have given her very hard times and hurt her on many occasions...Please forgive me mother!!!!

So here goes to my mommy dearest "Happy Birthday To You"...

The Wonder of Maggi

I just finished a bowl of Maggi (noodles) and felt the need to write something on this snack that I have loved for so long. I clearly remember the day this snack was introduced and everyone were bowled by this yellow packet that contained "The noodles". It was the first time I heard about noodles and I was very curious to find out more about it. I think I was aged around 8 or 9...can't recollect much though. But I do remember the flavors they were released in- Chicken (my fav), Masala (for those who want some spice) and Sweet n Sour (I liked the taste, though it did not become that popular).

Those days Maggi cost only Rs 3/- Can you beat that??? Anyways the famous tag line that went with it was "Bas 2 minute" (meaning..only 2 minutes)....It was a rage in the country where people young and old became obsessed with these noodles....Many other brands followed and tried to create a niche but failed utterly..... Till today Maggi rules in the hearts of many alike and will always be my favorite too!!!

Holiday!!

Ahh! Tomorrow is a holiday and I am so looking forward to relax and unwind. I like holidays especially in between working days. What am I gonna do? Hmmm....Hang out with friends over a cup of coffee and talk....Gals do that right??

Then maybe later, watch a movie and basically chill and of course catch a few winks.....That's all!!!

Who's tagging you??

I officially invited myself into the world of tagging after reading a few tags in the blogs I visit......thought why not try it as I am done with my quota for the day.....Ahem! A dedicated worker that I'm :)....Here goes nothing......

4 jobs I’ve had:

1. Doctor (had a swell clinic!)
2. Teacher (trained students for IELTS-International English Language Testing System)
3. Web Content Developer ( amateurish really...hehehe)
4. Babysitting (love this!!!!)

4 films I could watch again and again:

1. Pride and Prejudice (BBC version please!)
2. Beauty and the Beast
3. Xmen
4. Dil Chahata Hai

4 places I’ve lived in:

1. Cannanore (spend the diaper days of my life...)
2. Palghat (few years....memory loss.oops!)
3. Pune ( home sweet home....20 years and more)
4. Nasik ( 5 years.....)


4 TV series I like to watch:

1. Law and Order
2. CSI Series
3. Bones
4. Criminal Minds

4 places that I’ve been on vacation to:

1. Bangalore, Mysore
2. Goa
3. Delhi, Agra, Jaipur....(college trip......fun days!!!)
4. Kerala (Few places....)

4 websites I visit everyday:

1. My friend's blog's
2. Many sites (content writer you know...research purposes)
3. Christian sites
4. Google Docs (work....hehe)

4+4+4 books I’d love to read again and again:

1. Bible ( There's no competition here!!)
2. Pride and Prejudice
3. Being God's woman-Elisabeth Elliot
4. Trusting God even when life hurts-Jerry Bridges

4 favorite dishes:

1. My mama's chicken curry (yummy!!)
2. Aloo Parantha..
3. Any chicken dish
4. Chinese fried rice....

4 places where I’d like to be right now:

1. Paris
2. London
3. Venice
4. Kashmir

4 people I’m gonna tag:
Carol, Smita....and others who have all the time in the world....hahahaha!!!!! Enjoy Gals....

Writer's block

Right now there are so many things in my head but I'm not able to jot them down. Lack of words...hmmmm...I don't know or maybe words will not suffice what I'm experiencing at this moment. I call it the "writer's block" and I trust it will soon fade away. I want to express my feelings but I can't.....so as they say "A picture speaks a thousand words"...I will go ahead and add an image.....No! Not again!!! Is that what you are saying?? But I can't help myself...Sorry readers.....

For you sis!!

This particular post is for my dear sis....yes sis this is for you!! Don't panic I'm not going to say anything silly about you but thanking God for your friendship and companionship. Yeah!! I really treasure the times we've had those late nite discussions of things very close to our hearts...the times we laughed like crazy...we still do..hahahaa....

Of course we are different in many many ways...but we share a very special bond of Sisterhood...sounds cool na... Here's a picture dedicated to us!! Hope you like it :-)

I like these pictures

I like the ocean but for now I have to be content looking at these pictures......Love dolphins too!!

Journey's end?

Its easy to set goals and dream big, but getting down to the nitty gritty of issues is so difficult. I say this so because I have begun to realize that it takes dedication, perseverance, hard work and my not so favorite "self-denial" to achieve my goals. Its like setting on a journey to reach a particular destination. But in all the hustle and bustle of reaching our desired destination, we begin to despise the journey.

I personally believe that our destination becomes far more attractive because of a tough but adventurous journey. There is a lot of learning on the way than at the end.....How do you see it??

Nothingness

Sometimes the joy of doing nothing can not be explained with words.....Like the other day, I decided to do nothing and just sit on my couch and relax and believe me I enjoyed every moment of it. After a hectic week of running around from place to place, this seemed like paradise...to be still.....Ah!!! I pray for more days such as this....

Music of my heart!!!

Almost forgot about my favorite series, sorry readers!! Had a little lapse. Ok..I am thinking? How about my favorite songs, yes, its songs for today.....Yipee!!!

I love music and the credit goes to my Daddy dearest who instilled in me a love for GOOD music. I admit I can't sing well nor can I play any instrument like my father, but hey does that matter? My kinda music is way different from the ones preferred by my contemporaries ...No rock music for me please! The very thought of it gives me a headache. My all time favorite will be Kenny G as there are no words to describe his talent.....I love the saxophone...very soothing...I can listen to it any time of the day.....In fact whenever I am having a heart to heart conversation with my sister, I make it a point to play Kenny G (Breathless).

Coming back to songs with WORDS, it is kinda difficult to pinpoint, nevertheless let me guess....I'll go for "Yesterday" by Beatles (my all time fav. too), then next in line will be (thinking hard...) "Woman in love" by Barbara Streisand. Its so difficult to think of favorites when they are many songs clouding my head at the moment. "Hey Jude" by Beatles again.....then few selected songs by Bryan Adams. But I also love listening to country music and favorite singer being Kenny Rogers (I love his voice man!!)....

That's all I can think of right now!!! Will come with more interesting stuff..till later....adios!!!!

Mercury rising!!

Right now as the temperature is rising steadily , I am craving for a glass of cold lemonade or even better a slab of my favorite vanilla icecream or any flavor as long as it is cold. This summer is gonna be a struggle with no signs of the temperature coming down..

Look at this picture dear readers, don't you think we all deserve this kinda treat in order to overcome this onslaught of the summer blaze.....Hmmmmm....So tempting!!!

For the moment, I can only look at this image and dream away.......

Poem by Lord Tennyson

As usual I'm not in the mood to write and as always I take the support of Lord Tennyson's poem-Tears, Idle Tears.....

TEARS, IDLE TEARS

by: Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892)

'EARS, idle tears, I know not what they mean,

Tears from the depth of some divine despair

Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,

In looking on the happy autumn-fields,

And thinking of the days that are no more.







'Fresh as the first beam glittering on the sail,

That brings our friends up from the underworld,

Sad as the last which reddens over one

That sinks with all we love below the verge;

So sad, so fresh, the days that are no more.







'Ah, sad and strange as in dark summer dawns

The earliest pipe of half-awaken'd birds

To dying ears, when unto dying eyes

The casement slowly grows a glimmering square;

So sad, so strange, the days that are no more.







'Dear as remember'd kisses after death,

And sweet as those by hopeless fancy feign'd

On lips that are for others; deep as love,

Deep as first love, and wild with all regret;

O Death in Life, the days that are no more.'

'Tears, Idle Tears' is reprinted from English Poems. Ed. Edward Chauncey Baldwin. New York: American Book Company, 1908.

A weekend to remember!

I had a relaxed weekend, nothing special as such but I got to spend the night at my friend's place...Simple joys....the joy of baking together and sampling dishes like rice crispie treats and salsa (well this is one we eat with potato wafers..) and of course cookies...Mmmmm...that was soooo good!!! And late night conversations......Would love to have more of these again...

Death's persona

In our day to day functionalities of our fast paced life, something that acts as a brake is death. Not a favorite topic of anyone, but its a sobering thought, lets you think on the real issues of life. The day you were born there is a day marked for your death....Even as a child, I came across this as very scary after my grandparents died. But as I grew older it dawned upon me that every single individual is heading towards death.

I distinctly remember the incident when I was posted in the emergency ward (well, I'm a doctor by profession-I don't practice now) and saw a patient die in front of me, I was shocked. When I touched his body it was cold, and it gave me an eerie feeling. Another time, there was this young mother howling over her dead child, I couldn't handle the depressing atmosphere. A visit to the ICU ward will realign our priorities as we see solemn faces

I was afraid of death since a child, but now I'm not. I think of 1Corinathians 15: 55, “ O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” and another verse from Romans 5: 6-8 “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man one would die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

What's the reality about death? the just consequences of our sin, our blatant rebellion against a Holy God. Romans 6: 23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Choose LIFE or DEATH......

Beauty and the Beast

On request to my love-struck friend. As the story goes......The Beast is confined to the castle along with his servants who are also turned into household items who can talk and walk....Years pass by and the Beast is totally convinced, that nobody could love such a hideous and monstrous beast.

After a period of ten years, a beautiful young girl named Belle (French for beautiful) comes to live in the village along with her eccentric father, Maurice. She is kinda disliked for her preference for reading books and constantly wooed by a local hero, Gaston. Cutting the story short, Belle's father takes refuge in the Beast's castle after he gets lost while traveling back from a fair. As expected, the Beast locks him up in a dungeon and Maurice's horse returns back to Belle. Sensing danger, Belle sets off to seek her father and ends up as the Beast's prisoner in exchange for her father's release.

Well, sparks don't fly and the Beast finds it extremely difficult to be GENTLE and COURTEOUS to Belle. On the other hand, Belle is very STUBBORN and does not like to take orders from the Beast. On an occasion, where the Beast saves Belle from a pack of ravenous wolves that she sees him in a different light. This is my favorite part, because only after she notices some amount of tenderness in him that she mellows. And the fact, that the beast had a huge collection of books sets the ball rolling! They become friends and their relationship starts to grow. Both realize they have feelings for each other which is beautifully depicted in the song, 'Beauty and the Beast'.

Belle begins to get homesick and desires to meet her sick father( she sees her father through the magic mirror), the Beast already in love, lets her go completely aware that this would ruin his chances of being human again. At last!! He learns to love SELFLESSLY. Love is not about getting and having the person for oneself, its basically about SACRIFICE and it's painful. Ouch! The Beast knew this so well by now....

So dear friend, have I written enough to whet your appetite? Do watch the movie to know what happened next......