Museful Minds - Worthy Thoughts for Life

The Lockdown – Stay Home, Stay Safe!

I’m getting bored at home! It’s been one week since the lockdown due to corona virus, I have been home and have repeated this dialogue almost 100 times. Quite relatable right! I’ m sure, I’m not the only one doing it. This sudden drift in our lives have certainly taken a toll over us. But do you remember yourself wishing for that one extra day off at work or school? Yes, I do regret that thought now. Obviously, we didn’t wish for something like this to happen.

Somehow, this made me remember Anne Frank. I know there is no comparison between the struggles faced by the Jews. But this indeed connects us to the personal mental struggle of every household faced during those times. We have been shattered by the mere thought of being locked down for 21 days. Can you even imagine the struggle faced by Anne Frank and her family of being lockdown for almost two years? They were protecting their lives from the Nazis, and here we are protecting ours from the COVID-19.

Hope never Fades

This sudden break in our life made me think about how temporary everything around us is. This made me realize how uncertain our life is. One moment we are so busy making our lives, and the next moment everything takes a halt. Everything that seems so essential in my entire life now seems useless. I believe everything will space out with time, and life will get back to normal soon, but this time is crucial. We have always cribbed for having an extra Sunday or getting more time to spend with our family. Especially the ones, living in metropolitan cities, we, people, are always busy making our careers, building a life for our loved ones and us. This is your moment to live that life with your family, make the most of it because you will never get it back. Stay home and stay safe! And together will come out through this soon.

P.S: For those unaware of Anne Frank, please do read The diary of a Young Girl.

My Lost Treasure

In life you meet all kinds of people, some make you laugh, some make you cry, some lifts your spirit, some stamp your soul, some stay for lifetime others are just lessons learned. Then all of a sudden, you meet someone you connect instantly, someone with whom you can talk without a filter. But somehow you realize that staying with them would make your life go haywire. Nevertheless, even in that chaos, you somewhere find peace with them. You still wish to pause time with them.

Heartbreaks are part of our lives, and as we move on, we realize even though the memories get fade off, there will always be a part of you who will sneak out of that window of time to pause for a while and relive those moments of a lifetime. We can’t go back in time, nor can we change our pasts, but even if we could, would you change it for the cost of your future?

Some things are certainly meant to be no matter what we do. Some paths are to be crossed, some are to be walked parallel, and some become our home. And no matter how much ever we want to protect and hold on to that treasure of memories, we soon realize that it was meant to slip just like sand through your fingers.

Being Kind in an Unkind World

It was a typical Saturday morning. I woke up a bit late but somehow manage to board my regular metro to work. Dragging yourself to work on a weekend is definitely a task; ask anyone who has office on Saturdays. Now after getting down from the metro, it’s a 5-10 minutes’ walk to reach my office. Lost in thoughts as I took the usual lane, I was stopped by an elderly uncle who maybe would be in his fifty’s to lend him 10RS. Now, the odd thing about him was he was dressed appropriately (not too shabby like the ones worn by beggars) as well as he asked for money in English? But the moment he asked for cash, I was taken aback because the first thought that came to my mind What if it was a fake attempt.

Given the mediocrity of the society, we have been trained from childhood that if any stranger tries to communicate you in an unexpected manner then chances are that they might kidnap you. Now, I might sound bizarre to some of you, but that is what my first instinct was. And without giving any second thoughts, I just kept walking towards my office. But as I walked over 6-7 steps ahead, the fact that I started memorizing the scenario in my mind and happen to wonder what if that guy was a genuine one or what if he really needed that 10rs? I turned back to check on him but he wasn’t there. Now that left me in dual minds should I look out for him or rather get back to my work. But as I scanned the road, I found no trace of him and I decided to move ahead. However that incident certainly made me realize one thing and that is kindness is steadily fading from our society. Even though there thousands of us who really want to help the needy but are afraid to do so.

I remember a very famous line from Christropher Nolan’s film – The Dark Knight which goes like this:

‘People can be as good as the world lets them’

Have you ever wondered what if you’re stuck in such situations and nobody bothers to help you? Will that be fine for you? Obviously no, right? One thing that I learned from this is, it is important to keep the kindness flame burning within us. I know the world around isn’t always good, but that shouldn’t stop you from doing the right thing. Be alert, aware and attentive to your surrounding and act accordingly. Let’s come forward to bring this change and make this world a better place to live in, not only for us but also for our future generations.

Moving On – Flash Fiction

There she lay lifeless because something had broken inside her. Thousands of memories rolled back in her mind. She wanted to scream, let out her pain, run across, and lock herself in the room, yet she found it hard even to shed a tear. What is this weird feeling?

‘Aarohi…Are you okay?‘ Noor cried, breaking her thoughts.

She looked concerned. But Aarohi was still packing the bundle of memories that got unleashed.

‘Aarohi, will you respond?‘ Now Noor’s voice demanded an answer. But Aarohi did not utter a word.

Back of her mind, she knew one day this was about to happen, but what she didn’t know was, how she would handle this news.

It’s been more than a year Rehan left her, but somehow, she still couldn’t let him go of her life.

‘Move on, Aarohi!‘ Her friends joked about it.

But deep down, only she knew how much difficult it was for her.

Is it really easy for people to give up on people they love the most?

She remembered every night, making promises to herself to let go of things and start new. And yet she found herself caged in those same walls of love and affection. She screamed and cried for help at the top of her voice, but it was as if the world had become deaf to her voice.

But today she smiled at the pain and at those walls that no longer hold her. This was not the end for her but a new beginning. And, as the world started to fade in her eyes, she took the last look at the paper in hand which read ‘Rehan weds Mithali’ and closing her eyes she embraced death with open arms.

Letters to Juliet

Last week when boredom began to take over me and as my saviour I looked upon my friend to get some movie choices. She suggested me a list of movies in which I happened to come across a movie named ‘Letter’s to Juliet’. Now, there might be many among you who have watched it decade ago but I assume that there are still several ignorant like me who are totally unaware of it. The movie was a delight but what caught my attention was the fact on which the entire movie was designed. You can call me naïve but until this point in my life I was completely unaware of this sweet-tempered tradition that has been into practises for ages now. As we all know, Sir William Shakespeare never failed to impress us with his remarkable writings but to have one of his most beautiful fictional character Juliet Capulet from his timeless romance genre Romeo Juliet into life is a next level of intimacy towards literature.

Love is in the Air in Verona, Italy

A place in Verona, Italy (Juliet’s hometown) which is considered Juliet’s home, where there is this iconic balcony which Romeo is said to have climbed every night to meet Juliet; lovelorn folks from around the world visit this place writing notes and letters to Shakespeare favourite heroine, seeking her advice and counsel. And it’s not just that, there is a club which includes members who called them Juliet’s secretaries. This team of volunteers reply back to every heartfelt letter or note that is addressed to Juliet on behalf of Juliet. If you look beyond the scraps of paper, pink bubble-gum and graffiti-plastered walls of Juliet’s home and you’ll find a genuine and lovely tradition known as the Club di Giulietta. How interesting is that, right? Ever since the time I watched the film and researched about this endearing belief, I have this constant urge to experience what it feels like to write an actual letter pouring your heart out to one of literature’s great heroine. And getting a letter from Juliet is definitely something on my bucket list :p

So,What are your thoughts on the same?

Heartfelt Letter to Kavya and Dhruv – Little Things

“It’s Not For Us to Say

What Will Be

And At the End of the Day

We’ll see

Which Way the Whole Things Bends?

And What It Could Bring

‘Cuz Nothing Really Matters

If We Could Swing

‘Cept the Little Things”

Dear Kavya and Dhruv,

Watching the larger than life bond between you two has certainly kindled love in the life of every girl next door like me. You made us believe that not every love story has to have a fairy tale romance, but rather an ordinary love story can spark more magic when it is genuine. Even though every girl is looking out for their prince charming but deep down, all we need is a much-in-love partner who is equally driven by the quest for good food and good times. I have travelled this journey of your story with you. You taught us that love is found in the simplest of things.

From calling each other ‘Slothbear’ and ‘Momo’ to the time, Dhruv sent you mutton biryani in the office to make up for your ruined outfit and when Kavya made perfect Sunday breakfast for you when you missed the wedding – You guys are couple goals. It was always a delight to watch your food arguments and your passion for food, especially momos. You reminded me that in the race of creating a wonderful and extra-ordinary future, you should not forget to enjoy the little moment that is present in our life.

Dhru, the way you pampered Kavya and made her the best stew when she was ill definitely shows how quintessential boyfriend you’re that every girl would crave for.

Kavya, the way you cheered Dhruv to follow his dream and supported him like a backbone, you certainly have stolen a million hearts through your cuteness already.

Like every ordinary romance which seems breezy and light later is interrupted by conflict, you too faced these storm clouds. I felt a pinch in my heart, seeing you struggle to figure out whether you both are even friends anymore? Something struck inside me when you raised the question of whether one should move on from relationships when things don’t feel the same anymore or stick together and make it work? Because deep inside, I so badly wanted you to work it out.

You’re a classic modern-day couple that juggles through everyday tiffs, insecurities, uncertainties, and career goals but yet manages to make their friendship survive all the storms. So, what if there are fundamental differences in your personalities and you perceive things differently? Nothing else matters as long as you look at it together. As long as one accepts their mistake and the other forgives and as long as you are there for each other because in the end nothing else really matters except the little things.

Lots of Love,

Ordinary fan of your extra-ordinary Love story

P.S: For those who are unaware of these two amazing individuals and are still wondering what made them so special then please go watch ‘Little Things’ web series on ‘Netflix’(And kindly note that this is not a promotion post rather a genuine appreciation post for the two brilliant characters)

5 Lessons I learnt from Sunsets

I have tons of sunset pictures clicked and stored in my hard drive and the people who know me know how crazy I’m for sunsets. But even though I have so many memories of it, I’m never really satisfied capturing those moments. It is as if you can never really have enough of it. With each picture so distinct and startling, and the memories so vivid, you can never have the same experience twice because each time it ushers something new. And that is why I wish to share five important lessons of my life taught by Sunsets.

Widen your Perspective

Have you ever had an evening walk on the beach? Assuming, most of us certainly have spent their Sunday evenings doing so. I still remember the time I spend at the seashore gazing at the sky or the distant horizon and listening to the sounds of the waves crashing. It reminded me how vast the universe is and how much small part I play within it. It taught me how our problems aren’t as big as they appear and kindled hope for a better tomorrow.

Live in the Moment

Living the city’s hustle & bustle life of chasing careers and racing for the future, we have forgotten to appreciate what’s in our hand – Our Present. And sunsets make you believe in that. It is sometimes essential to let loose ourselves and escape our way out to something so real yet magical. We are so busy achieving the goals that as soon as we reach a goal, we replaced it with another one. The struggle keeps juggling as we keep shifting our finish line. Watching sunsets taught me to break this pattern, stop, look around, and notice beauty.

Unfolding the Process

In this fast-paced world, people always claim to live more on social media. This is the reason why you will always see a bunch of people on the beach, but instead of enjoying that little moment of being, you will often find them snapping pictures for their Instagram or Facebook. But that’s the thing about sunsets. Its value comes in being present throughout the process. And every bit of that process is beautiful. The same goes with life, we want to skip the slow or painful parts and halt the happy moments but the beauty of life is to embrace it completely. Sunsets taught me that life keeps moving, and that’s okay. How you cherish the moment is important rather than rustling to the end.

The Ending is just Another Start

When you’re sitting on the beach, listening to the birds chirping, watching the evolution of the evening sky, it appears to be never-ending. As the colours of the day fade, the stars begin to appear, and the sunlight is replaced with the moonlight, I realised that even though I watched the end of the day but there was never an ultimate drape to it. It just the beginning of a beautiful night, and life is just like that too. As per the quote, ‘Change is the only constant’, even though it might seem abrupt, and unexpected – like the beautiful transformation of day and night but at the end it also has threads of continuity and connection.

Kindle Hope

Leaving us in the darkness as the sun melts away over the horizon, it gives us a hope to enjoy its magnificence again tomorrow. Life might seem scary at times, as we don’t know what’s kept next for us, but there is this tiny faith that keeps us going. And each time when things seem a bit hard on me, Sunset helps me believe that there will always be a better tomorrow. It draws your mind to the present as you learn to appreciate the beauty of today with a belief for a beautiful tomorrow.

Trapped in my Mind

I entered the mind-palace

That seems so empty and deep

Looking for answers to my questions

Filled up with my aggression

There is so much in my heart

But I don’t know from where to start

What have I done to myself?

As I move ahead with the past luggage

I realize

With memories so vivid

I’m scared to look back

Just like in movies,

The monster is right behind my back

I can feel his breath below my neck

So, I close my eyes

To hide my lies

My own mind scares me to death

These walls of wrath engulfs me in depth

On the outside,

Everything seems pretty normal

But on the inside,

It has become a constant battle of portal

I don’t know what’s real

And as I fight to find a way

In a moment,

My all struggles seems vain

With a lost hope I move closer,

Trying to make amends with the demons

That’s when I saw a reflection of my conscience.

A dim light yet so bright

Just like a sunny sky after the stormy night.

I had entered the mind-palace

That seems so empty and deep

Looking for answers to my questions

Only to realize

These are my mind’s dearly obsessions

Never Judge a Book by its Cover

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
― George Eliot

Going by the quote, I remember one incident.

Although it’s been years now, I still clearly remember that Sunday afternoon when I sat along with my sisters to watch TV. Back then, Sunday’s were all about watching movies together. It seems like I sound pretty old times, but it’s just a few years back when families actually use to binge watch together. Getting back to the topic, being siblings, we share a common love for Horror films – Yay! Might sound crazy but we do are horror-fanatic. And while surfing through the channels – we came across a movie name Insidious: Chapter 2. Now, for those who don’t follow this genre; Insidious is a supernatural horror film directed by James Wan.

Back to the Story…

We were so engrossed in the film that we didn’t even realize that there was a visitor at our home. There was a lady who came to visit mom. I didn’t even know who the lady was, but through her appearance, she seemed like a normal middle-aged woman who would probably be a housewife and didn’t much appear to be literate. Now, sorry for sounding so judgemental but somehow, we all are. I’m sure each of us has drawn that line of presumption around people some or the other point of time. Observing us immersed in the movie, she asked me the name of the film we were watching. And to my immediate presumption, I assumed she wouldn’t know nor understand the movie as it was a Hollywood film.

Therefore, I just answered her saying, ‘it’s an English Film.’

To which she immediately responded ‘yes, but which film?’

I hesitated but replied her with the movie name and her response left us all in surprised.

She said, ‘Oh, that movie! It’s a wonderful film. You should watch the chapter1 too. I have watched both parts and loved it.’

I weakly smiled at her, and my heart was filled with guilt. Even though it’s such a small thing, but that day certainly thought me something valuable that is, never judge a person on his appearance. It was a life lesson for me.

You Need to Stop Assuming!!!

We often judge people based upon their external appearance. However, it is observed that once you get to know the person and see what’s on the inside, the reality is completely different then what you had imagined. No matter how vulnerable a person may claim to be, every Tom, Dick, and Harry makes presumptions about others which are strictly based on first impressions. You merely see someone for a split second, and you make assumptions on their attitude, personality, and character. However, our actions, or inaction’s, and how we treat others are often influenced by these naive and often imprecise first impressions.

You’re not Everyone’s Cup of Tea

Like most teen girls, I always struggle to fit in the squad and be liked by my other classmates. We all are guided from our childhood always to be yourself and nice to people, and eventually, people will like you. But, it was never that simple for me. I always tried my best to fit in by doing things that are loved by others such as wearing clothes that the other girls wear, makeup according to the latest trends or watching TV shows that are liked by all and playing games that are played by all. But the fact that I was never really into makeup, what they were wearing wasn’t really my style, TV Shows or the games they played were never in my interest. In a moment of desperation to be liked by everyone, I started forcing myself into someone I wasn’t.

Sure at the core, I was still the same old person, but since I knew that the society accepts those who follow the troop and behave in a certain way, it sometime use to overburden me with doubt. I had a handful of friends throughout my school and college, and soon I realise that no amount of common ground would ever make some people like me. Certainly, we all have gone through this phase in our life where we change our preferences, interest, looks or behaviour with a motive to be accepted and liked by someone. We all want to be accepted and acknowledged. Unfortunately, we live in the world where people take one quick look at you and decide whether to include you in their circle or not.

Surround Yourself with People who Love you

The world is jam-packed with people who will always nag, judge and pull you down. No matter what you do or how hard you try, they simply won’t like you. Some people love you, fiercely. Keep them safe because they are your people. Stop trying to please the ones who aren’t your people. They won’t buy what you’re selling. You can never be their cup of tea, and neither will they be yours. Don’t expect them to walk your path with you. They won’t ever understand. Politely wave them away as you move ahead. Share your path with the ones who appreciate and know your worth. Always be who you are and cherish your true self for that’s what is more important. Because you’re not everyone’s cup of tea and that’s completely Okay!