Happy Birthday To Me!- 'You Have Been Loved'

Its Dec 15 and its my birthday! Well what made me write at 1:26 am. I know everyone is awake till late on their birthdays, yeah right! Phones blowing up. But I’m not writing because I’m awake, its because I feel happy! Birthdays are there to make you feel happy. Or I should say you are born to feel happy. Because you deserve to be happy. I'm literally astounded at the love and happiness I have in my life. Talking about my birthday wish, well do I need any, I'm already so much blessed. But I guess, a new pair of sneakers, a cool beanie and adding back nutella to the grocery list won't hurt right. I just love the concept of birthdays. It amazes me, in a weird way though. Just moments ago you were 18 and then the clock says ‘hey its 12!’ and BOOM! You’re 19! You can actually see yourself become a year older in no time. Amazing right. I know, thank me later.
So I’m feeling happy and I’m feeling kind of blessed. I know I’m no different, everyone feels the same on their birthday, you get wishes, you get calls from the most unexpected people. It’s kind of a good feeling.
There are certain people in our lives, who give us such significance and value in their life that you feel bloated sometimes. You feel full. There is this feeling of being blessed. Being blessed by people, who actually pay heed to you and pray for your good luck. Who do a little something to see you smile. To whom you are a little more meaningful than others. Who do their level best to find out what’s bugging you up. Who are actually more excited for your birthday than you are. Who bless you with such heart touching words that you couldn’t help but let loose your tear glands. It makes you feel special, a little more worthy. You curse that time you were cursing your life, feeling miserable about stupid annoying things, fighting with your own demons, living in your own insecurities, surrounded by people but still lonely at heart. At that moment you just forget such things ever exist. You just let go. Your birthday turns their happiest day. There are these hundreds of happiness capsules that burst open in your body. Whether it is the ‘most coolest sweatshirt’ gifted by your bffs as an early birthday present, or the ‘most special birthday message’ you received from a dearest friend, or an old friend whom you haven’t been in contact for a while saying ‘do meet me on your birthday cause I have something special for you’ or those words written by your best pals in their status for you, which they never said cause you’re too cool to talk heart to heart with each other. You feel like, you lived!
I wonder why do we feel miserable, when there is so much love we’re getting from all around. And we should value the love we’re getting. I believe water and electricity can be wasted but love shouldn’t be, because love is something which cannot be regenerated. So try to treasure the love you get from people and give back. Conserve love. And that's how I feel today.
Well I don’t like the whole idea of growing up. But just because I’m a year older now than I was, few hours ago. Let’s just say I did some growing up. Well, this year will be good. Wont worry, life’s a journey. Will enjoy the ride. No hurry. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance.

“How dare we sit and cry and be and watch the world pass us by”

What World Are We Living In?

Gauhar Khan

Day before yesterdays newspaper was a bit of a shocker for me. The headline read ‘Gauhar Khan slapped for wearing a short dress’. The headline sounded a bit faulty and misconstructed or maybe the words were a bit erratic. I read it again. I wondered, how can someone be slapped for wearing a short dress? Gauhar Khan was slapped by a man, named Aqil Malik during the shooting of a reality show, for wearing inappropriate clothing.

After reading the whole news article, there was a bit of an outrage inside me. A feeling of boundedness, a feeling of enmity and a feeling of remorse. I cursed that man, I cursed the society for having such men, I cursed the nation for having such societies, and I cursed the whole world for having such a nation like India where a person can slap a women on what she wears. Why is a women being slapped? Gauhar Khan, a strong woman. My personal favorite in the last Bigg Boss season. An artist whose fearless fights on the camera and her ‘taking her stand’ capability made her win the reality show, was left in tears. Yes, this is what happens when you are slapped in front of a crowd of people. The incident has left her bewildered and shes still figuring out ‘Why? Why? Did he slap me?’

My head was popping with questions.

How can a women be slapped for allegedly wearing skimpy cloths? What mentality do ‘we’ Indians hold? Why even after 67 years of independence we aren’t independent with our thoughts? Why is this slap case not hyped enough? Why? I see less number of celebrities supporting Gauhar Khan and where have all the ‘women right activists’ gone?

What is the whole outcome of this incident? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. We continue to do what we were till another and more severe incident takes place. Do we need another incident like the ‘Delhi Gang Rape’ case to take a stand.

Almost 2years after the Delhi gang rape case, I see no change. Girls are still getting raped, publicly molested, eve-teased, slapped, etc.

On the other hand Aligarh Muslim University has taken a wonderful step and has banned girls from entering inside the library as it distracts the boys. Seriously I want to laugh my ass off on this. This is whats happening in our country.

On the name of morality and religion I think men are dominating over women. If dress is the only reason why a girl is being slapped and raped, then why is a 3 year old girl raped?

If a muslim women like Gauhar Khan is slapped for wearing a short dress, then why is Salman Khan still un-slapped till now for shedding his shirt on every movie he does.

Some communities wont let the change happen.

Today if a famous celebrity like Gauhar Khan can be slapped so easily, then what about the women who are walking on the streets?

I have a lot of questions that need to be answered. I want the government to take a step and find a solution. To start a strong campaign. To spread the need of education. To think over the existence of men who are slapping and raping women. There is a long way to go! 

Alas! Next day we’ll read another such headline and speculate ‘What world are we living in?’