5 of My Most Favourite Gifts from the ever thoughtful Husband [UBC Post 30]

My husband gives most thoughtful gifts. He would consider the personality, interests and orientation of a person while gifting to him or her. And therefore, the onus of buying gifts for anyone and everyone lies on him. 

I love all his gifts. He usually gives a couple of gifts so that if I don't like 1 thing, I would have other things to fall back on. But that situation hasn't come. I have loved everything that he has got for me - bags, shirts, t-shirts, jewellery, furniture, even book [once]. 

But a few things top the list:

1. Bookshelf
I have a bookshelf which we bought the year we got married. Considering the rate at which I buy books, it was overflowing. So, we discussed, we would get another one matching our bedroom wardrobe. This discussion was at discussion stage only. And voila, I get this bookshelf, delivered on my birthday as the clock struck 12 am. When the bell rang, I was anticipating the usual cake and flowers; but when I saw this I did not know how to react. It has been the best gift ever, from anyone for that matter.

2. Mangalsutra
I am not a jewellery person. I hardly ever wear any jewellery much to my
mother's dismay because I don't look married enough (or prosperous enough I guess). I have never bought any jewellery ever for myself. The only piece of jewellery I ever bought was a diamond ring for my husband when we got married. But I was thinking of buying a short Mangalsutra which will go with everything - jeans, casuals, salwar-kurta - for everyday wear. I had shared this thought with my hubby. And I got it on our Anniversary, after a couple of months. I wasn't even expecting it. I love to wear it all the time.

3. Laptop
I got a laptop on my birthday this May. I was kind of expecting it, what with hints thrown everywhere. But I really wanted a laptop for being able to write more comfortably. Writing on a Tab is really cumbersome.

4. Samsung Tab
After I had baby, my days and nights were spent in feeding or taking care of the new baby. It was difficult, rather inconvenient, to keep a laptop around. The ever thoughtful hubby bought this Samsung Tab for me so that I can keep myself occupied in internet surfing or reading during those long hours. 

5. Kurta

I had bought red cotton trousers from Cotton World, on a whim. But I did not like anything to go with it. It kept gathering dust in my wardrobe because I had not got anything to wear with it. My anniversary was approaching and I had nothing to wear [as usual], then I suddenly remembered these pair of trousers. But the same problem persisted. Nothing to go with it. I had only a few days in hand as we were going out-of-town. Hubby told me to order something online. I would surf all the sites - from Jabong to Yebhi, from Inkfruit to Myntra - but nothing seemed perfect. I had lost all hope about wearing it. Finally when we were packing for the trip, the husband gave me this kurta, which he ordered from Inkfruit [I think]. I love it. It goes perfectly with these trousers.

Random thoughts at Random

I used to be music freak, you know the usual, collating songs, listening to songs day in and day out, every waking hour tuned in to Radio. I have been a decent singer myself. My mum would diligently watch Indian Idols and Sa Re Ga Mas and keep wishing that I would also go for auditions! Without a Training? No chance, man.

But anyways, I love my piece…err..r..r peace of mind much more than crowding every moment of my waking hour with the ridiculous blabbering of some stupid RJ. While going to office (a good 25 minutes) or cooking, I like to think. And sometimes thoughts are funny, eccentric, ridiculous, emotional or just a wild one.

· I have evolved a lot in the august company of my husband. I have learnt to let go a lot of things. Sometimes it feels amusing how we keep on saying that we will always be same. Nobody can ever be same, that’s the thing about life! Every relationship is continuously evolving –whether with parents, with siblings, with friends and especially with your spouse / loved one. It would be boring to be same forever.

· I am planning to learn driving. Since I have never done it, I won’t admit but I am a little scared. You can manage a 2-wheeler if somebody suddenly takes a wrong turn, or somebody gets in your way or even when you get lost in some thoughts; but it scares me how would I handle a car in such situations! But then I look at people driving on the road – I feel, if this girl or that guy can drive then why can’t I! To come to think of it, kids below 18 also easily drive, and millions of people drive around the world. It can’t be that tough really!

· The season of birthdays and anniversaries have begun. On 3^rd July, we celebrated Birthday of one of our close friends, and we gave him a remote-controlled toy car. By the looks of him, he surely loved it. You cannot go wrong with guys on this one – 99% of the times they love remote-controlled cars, etc, or some Games or some gizmos.

Personally, I love giving gifts and I feel exhilarated when my thoughtful gifts are appreciated. It is a wonderful feeling.

Yesterday it was the same friend’s marriage anniversary and we gifted wine glasses. I think it was a smashing idea by one of our other friends. One of their wine glasses got bumped off recently. Can’t have given anything better than that. Mementos, Show-pieces are really wastage of money. In fact, I had also got a smart Baggit wallet from all of them. It was really thoughtful.

Right now I am planning to send a nice book to one of my friends for her birthday. I’m sure she would love it. It feels so nice to bring that smile on the person’s face whom you love.

· I’m planning for a long, long time now to make hard copies of selected pictures. Since the time Digital cameras have been introduced in the market, we have forgotten the importance of looking at albums on a cozy, rainy day. Soft copies can never match the joy of holding a picture in your hands. So, I will do it pretty soon. In fact, I’m planning to get a place done specially for albums and pictures.

· I have started planning what to gift for our second anniversary. Right now, I’m jus making notes. But one gift will definitely be personalized. Like in our first anniversary, I gifted him pictures of our time together. It is lovely to wake upto these pictures. Priceless! So, second one has to better that.

· Recently, I read a lovely poem. Can’t help putting it here (really want to know who has written such soulful words)

Koi tumse pooche, kaun hoon main,

Tum keh dena "koi khaas nahi".

Hawa ka ek suhana jhonkha hai,

Kabhi nazuk toh kabhi tufaano sa.

Sakal dekh kar jo nazrein jhuka le,

Kabhi apna toh kabhi begaano sa.

Zindgi ka ek aisa humsafar,

Jo samandar hai, par dil ko pyaas nahi.

Koi tumse pooche kaun hoon main,

Tum keh dena "koi khaas nahi".

Ek saathi jo ankahi kuch baatein keh jaata hai,

Yaadon me jiska ek dhundhla chehra reh jaata hai.

Yun toh uske na hone ka kuch gam nahin,

Par kabhi-kabhi aankho se ansu ban ke beh jaata hai.

Yuh rehta woh mere tassavur me hai,

Par in aankho ko uski talaash nahi.

Koi tumse pooche, kaun hoon main,

Tum keh dena koi khaas nahin....!!"

· I used to write poems when I was in school, simple ones, nothing great. I also wrote a little bit in college. But now, totally given up. I especially love, such simple hindi poetry. I had one complete diary of my poems Don’t have it any more. It was not worth saving. I have always written my own lines, whenever I have made personalized cards for my friends. I have none of those with me now, but at that point of time, it used to feel apt.

· It is drizzling outside, hubby is gone for pool or Table Tennis, and although I planned to read a book, but I’m sure once I get up from here, I would be cleaning, re-cleaning, organizing, re-organizing things. But today, I will definitely finish ‘Feast of Roses’. And again I’m dying to buy a few more books.

· By the way, I have completed 5 years of blogging. It is all here. Getting introduced to Blogging, running to computer lab and documenting my life, getting placed, life at my first job and first acquaintance with Mumbai, moving to Pune, getting married – everything is right here. Sometimes I read my old posts and re-live those moments. It feels good to be here. I will again quote one of favourite lines:

‘I tend to live in the Past (read Blog), for most of my life is there.’

Different Strokes

My last post was on 19th Feb, so I should quickly round up on what I did all this while:

- IGNOU Creative Writing Classes started and ended. Attended only 2 classes out of 4. Yet to read all the materials which they have sent. We need to write a Project for this course, either a novella, 8-10 articles, 8-10 short stories or poems.
- Bought every possible “Creative Writing” or “Writing” book that I could locate in Crossword and Landmark and also bought one online. Needless to say, yet to read all of them!
- I wrote my first short story, not out of interest and because I had a story inside me, waiting to come out; but because in one of the classes, we were given a subject to write a short story, that too in only 20 minutes.
- My search for a GOOD creative writing course continues.
- One of my best friends came down from Mumbai on one of the weekends – had long chat, went for movie and book shopping. Glad to get back to girlie days.
- Discovered a terrific Book Sale, and ended up buying 6 books!!! Typical of me.
- Spent most of my free time, searching for random books and comparing prices on different Online Book Shopping sites. This is my current favourite pastime.
- Made Book Wish lists on a couple of sites.
- Saw “Race” with friend. Interesting movie but unpredictable in a bizarre way.
- Mum-Dad came for a few days. Just like old times. Bhaiya also joined, and all of us celebrated Holi together. Did not really play Holi.
- Everyone loved our new place, but of course it is rented and not bought. The rates have gone far beyond our budgets.
- Bought entire bedroom set for our Bedroom – Double Bed, 3 door wardrobe, side tables and a dressing table. All in Dark Brown color. Looks amazing. Also bought a slider bed for mum-dad’s room.
- Had also bought a book shelf last month for all my books. (I love it. I love opening it and standing in front of it, in awe. I really own some wonderful books.)
- Went to my home town for my brother’s Griha pravesh. Bhaiya, Gagan and I went together. It was fun! Our first train journey together, wherein he slept most of the time.
- It was exciting to show Gagan Jamshedpur. It was all about paani puris, litti, the first mall I ever saw “Kamani centre”, Bistupur, JSR heat, XLRI and small town appeal! The Damad impressed his in-laws with all the work. He did most of the work when my parents shifted. I’m proud of him!
- My best friend lit up to see my gifts for her – a nice photo frame with one cute pic of her daughter and one pic of both of us from my marriage; and another gift was a coffee mug with her daughter’s pic on it. I am really proud of myself for thinking of such wonderful gifts for her. I admit, the mug’s idea was Gagan’s actually.
- Celebrated the most wonderful birthday of all times. He gave me a beautiful and extremely functional purse, a book, a watch; and a coffee mug with my pic on it and a lovey-dovey message. As Monica says, “I know, I married him for a reason!” He also bought me a shirt and a kurta. And yeah, a quintessential Birthday Cake, with a cute Teddy bear candle!
- My in-laws arrived from Delhi on my Birthday, with some more gifts!
- Went for “U, Me and Hum” with Mum. Bonding time for saas and bahu!
- Some where in the middle, booked a sofa and just received it day before yesterday. It is awesome.
- My “doing-up-interiors” mission is on.
- It is really a task to fight every time somebody wants to hang a calendar like old times! Come on, it is so not stylish!
- That brings me to this day – its 11.40 am and I have not started any work so far. So adieu and will comeback shortly.

I’m here to stay. Taking inspiration from some lines I heard somewhere –
“I keep coming to this Blog, because most of my life is here”

I sign off, with these awesome lines from “The Notebook” inspired “U, Me aur Hum”:

I got a feeling incomplete in my heart,

Don’t wanna go it alone though we can never be apart,

We can never be apart,

U make me feel complete coz you are a piece of my heart

You are the one for me I knew it right from the start

Yeh, we can never be apart,

We can never be apart, we can never be apart.

Apne rang gawaen bin, mere rang mein ghul jao

Apne rang gawaen bin, mere rang mein ghul jao

Apni dhoop bujhaye bin, meri chhao mein aa jao

Oh chalo yoon kare,

Tum, tum bhi raho, main, main bhi rahoon

Hum, hum bhi rahein

Oh tum, tum bhi raho, main, main bhi rahoon

Hum, hum bhi rahein

Teeno mil ke saath chale

Saathi janam janam, u me aur hum.

U me aur hum, U me aur hum.

Apne rang gawaen bin, mere rang mein ghul jao

Apni dhoop bujhaye bin, meri chhao mein aa jao

Jaise baadal paani ka, yaarana hai

Jaise gul aur khushboo ka, dostana hai

Oh jaise baadal paani ka, yaarana hai

Jaise gul aur khushboo ka, dostana hai

Waise hee rahein hum tum

Waise hi jiyein hum tum

Tere mere haathon mein, koi bhi pinjara na ho

Ek duje par apna,

Haq toh ho kabza na, ho har haal mein,

Tum, tum tum bhi raho, main, main bhi rahoon

Hum, hum bhi rahein

When my heart goes on,

Misses a beat, I know its gotta be you girl,

You sweep me off my feet

Sweep me off my feet, oh you sweep me off my feet

And when the blood from my heart

Rushes into my brain, it sends a message to me

To say you are driving me insane,

You know you are driving me insane, driving me insane

Love gives your heart the power, to open up and flower

Calling it every hour, but its refrained, its refrained

Ek din toh who lamha, bhi aana hai

Dono me se ek ne, chale jaana hai

Ho! ek din toh who lamha, bhi aana hai

Dono me se ek ne, chale jaana hai

Baatein yeh sabhi hum tum, jaan lein abhi hum tum

Oh dono mil ke saath mein, aise jeena seekh lein

Taaki jo peeche rahein, usko na ho mushkilein

Oh chalo yoon jiye, agar main na rahoon

Ya tum na raho, hum, hum hee rahein

Jaise saaya saath chale, saath rahein hardum

U me aur hum, U me aur hum,

U me aur hum, U me aur hum,

U me aur hum, aur hum.