Wordless Wednesday- 6

Aamchi Mumbai

2nd Wedding Anniversary

Just 3 days left for 28th Jan i.e our 2nd wedding anniversary and I had no clue what to do for my anniversary. Last year due to work pressure, couldn’t do anything special for my first wedding anniversary. So I was quite keen of doing something special this time. In these 2 years, I clearly understood that my hubby doesn’t even know  ‘S’ of surprise. Therefore, no expectations from him. 

I was already overloaded with my boring competitor analysis and presentations stuff, so anxiety was at the top to do something unique. While searching for some idea, I remembered one of the scenes of "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" where SRK says I Love you to Anuska Sharma in a very unique manner. So being a die-hard fan of SRK, I thought to apply the same concept.
On 27th Jan, I took a half day leave from office and bought 24 candles. I called my hubby’s boss Praveen and explained the whole idea to him. I requested Praveen to make my hubby engaged till 11 pm. I made a chocolate cake and decorated the whole room according to the concept.

Everything  Set for the Surprise

It was already 11: 30pm and I started waiting for hubby. Suddenly, I got a sms from him saying he is too busy with work and won’t be able to come before 1:00 am. I can see all my plans going into vain. Tears started rolling on my cheek. Don’t know what to do, as I thought I would lite 24 candles symbolizing 24 months of our togetherness exactly at 12:00 am and give surprise to him but everything is waste now.

Just 5 minutes left for 12:00am, I got a call from hubby and he said “I am downstairs and there is a surprise for you. Come fast”. I inquired him about the sms, he laughed and said “I sent a message just to tease you,  now come down”.  Well I wanted to show my surprise first, so I told while crying “ No way, you need to come upstairs”. Finally he agreed to come up. I quickly switched off the light of room and and lighted all the candles.

Exactly 24 candles lighted at 12:00 am

When Sudhish came to the room, he was dumb struck. He was so happy to see the surprise that couldn't say anything. Finally after cutting the home made cake, I asked “So what is the surprise for me”. He said “ Well I have planned everything and cab is waiting, we are going to Ooty to celebrate our anniversary”. 

Now, it was my turn to be dumbstruck, my hopeless romantic husband has planned a romantic vacation. It was really a big surprise for me. In true sense, it was a real memorable anniversary for us.

BLANK PAGES

 This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 28; the 28th Edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton  . The topic for this month is 'BLANK PAGES'.

  

 

“Uff, my head is paining”. I can feel the pain in my whole body. Slowly, I opened my eyes and saw myself in a hospital bed. “What has happened to me? Why there are so many machines around me?” I was unable to remember anything. I kept my eyes closed, tried hard to think and suddenly things started flashing in front of me like Yash Raj movies. Aah!! Yes, I am Neha. Neha Seth!!!. I totally looked like the protagonist of “ Jasi Jassi Koi nahi” with snaggle teeth, big spectacles and totally oversized body with no boyfriend. Nothing is good in my life, I had a crap job, a crap hair, crap teeth, and a crap future. I work on the apparel department of terrible Bigbazar. All my colleagues got the bonus but I didn’t get it as I haven’t completed 1 year with a week difference. I can remember “Diwa, Lora and Debi my best friends were trying to cheer me up from the shock of not getting the bonus by taking me to SRK’s movie but nothing turned up my mood. Leaving everyone, I started walking on street alone, it was raining heavily”. Once again, everything turned blank to me. I forced myself to think harder. “Aah yes!! I have fallen down and got hit on my head while attempting to catch a taxi”. I was too tired to think anything beyond this and went into deep sleep.

 
Don’t’ know after how many hours, I gained the conscious. I looked around my hospital room. “Hmm!! must be very costly room”. I saw the tag name of hospital in my dress. “OMG!!! It’s Vedanta hospital. I am in a deluxe room of a 5 star hospital. Gosh!!! Who brought me here???? how will I pay the bills?”Suddenly, a doctor entered in my room and I quickly asked him “How did I come here?”. Doctor informed me that I survived the car accident which I was driving. I could not understand and asked him again “I don’t know driving and what had happened to me?”. Doctor said that I was in an accident while driving my Mercedes convertible. I got the shock of my life, “How can I have Mercedes convertible  and when did I learnt driving??”. The last I remember, I didn't even know how to drive and couldn't afford to own a car even if I did. They must be confusing me with someone else. I started sweating and then slowly I got up went to washroom to clean my face. “OMG!!!! Who is this in mirror? What has happen to me? How can I lose so many kilos in one night??” I looked closely in the mirror. I am totally a changed person. I have perfect nails and hair, a buff, well-toned body, and teeth that have been straightened and capped. I hardly recognized myself into the mirror. I was unable to figure out what has happened with me. How come I changed so much in one night? I was sure, doctors has mistaken me with some bigshot or a heroine and had performed so many cosmetic surgery on me just for the sake of experiment.  “How will I pay the bills of these surgey?? Let me see if they have any concession policy for poor ”. Nurse gave few stuff to me saying it belongs to me. She has brought Louis Vuitton handbag which has all branded cosmetic. “How can these things belongs to me? I can never ever afford such stuff in my lifetime.” To my relief, I saw my mom entering into my mom. My mom was looking rather old then I remembered. She came and hugged me. I told her that very strange things are happening with me. She looked shocked and rushed outside. She came with the doctor. Doctor asked me “Do you know which year it is?”. What kind of crap question is this? Are they taking my interview before conducting some cosmetic surgery on my brain? I told very confidently its April 2007. My mom started crying, doctor informed us that I lost a big chunk of my memory, five years to be exact. 

  

 
So I dashed with a taxi and fallen on road in 2007 only to wake up in 2012. “Oh My god!!! 5 years of my life has turned into blank pages”. I don’t remember anything what has happened with me in these 5 years. How come I became so rich and able to afford designer clothes and a Mercedes which I crashed in accident? God knows what else has hidden for me in these blank pages of my 5 years.
I asked my mom “Do you know how we became so rich?”. Instead of answering, she started crying again. She told me “ Naman is coming, Don’t worry everything will be fine”. With curiosity, I asked “Who is Naman?”.  Once again, my mom flooded with tears. She told “Naman is your husband”. What???? Am I married?  When did I got married??. It’s really getting tough for me to digest. I heard a knock on my door and saw a very gorgeous and handsome man standing with a beautiful flower bouquet at my door. My mom called him “ Aah Naman, you came…. See what has happened to Neha”. “OMG!!! This gorgeous man is my husband. Am I dreaming??”  I wanted to pinch myself. My life is turning out to be a Cinderella story. He came and kissed my forehead and said “Don’t worry Mom!! Nothing will happen to my princess”.
This is all too much for me, I wants to stop the clock and go back to find out why I have lost all memory of the 5 most important years of my life. Everything is too good to be true, like a dream where I expects to wake up at any moment only to find out that it is just that, a dream.
 
With the world five years ahead and I five years behind I have a lot to catch up on. I got to know, John  broke up with Bipasa, Abhishek and Ash has a baby girl now, new heroines Sonaksi and Sonam has come in the picture. Instead of SRK, Ranbir Kapoor is the hottest hunk in town. All my favorite serials like Saas bhi kabhi bahu thi, kahani ghar aghr ki, kausuit zindagi ki has gone off air. Only my memory has stucked 5 years back, I can't remember anything from the intervening 5 years. 
 
Within two days I got discharge from hospital. Mom didn’t say me anything about past 5 years. I decided to live with Naman to get to know him more and we decide to take things slowly as I doesn’t remember a single thing. I can’t believe my good fortune – especially when I saw stunning new home and to be married to Naman, a husband who is a gorgeous hunk and a multimillionaire to boot. The only problem is that along with the loss of my memory, I have also lost all feelings that I had for him. Although everything seems to be wonderful between us, the chemistry is missing and he is like a stranger to me. If our life was supposed to have been so perfect, then why am I having so much trouble resurrecting my love for him? I am sure I’ll have a fantastic marriage once I gets to know my husband again. 
 
Naman prepared a marriage manual for me in which he wrote all things about me, my eating habits my daily routine and also the intimate things. I was dumb-struck to read that manual. How can I change so much. I am not Neha anymore but someone who loves carb-free diet, power yoga, and high society tantrums. Naman doesn’t know about my best friend Deewa and now I have a new best friend Nisha who is his partner’s wife.
During the past five years my life has somehow undergone a Cinderella transformation from an ungainly girl with poor eating habits, frizzy hair, and teeth so misshapen that her nickname is "Snaggletooth" into a to a corporate big shot with a sleek new loft, a personal assistant, a carb-free diet, and a set of glamorous new friends. I feel as if I am somehow morphed from a young woman similar to Bridget Jones into someone stylish and elegant like Elizabeth Hurley.
Next day, Nisha came home to meet me and I keep trying to find out more about myself. About those blank 5 years. But whatever Nisha was telling was the opposite of what I am really. As I learn more about my new self, chinks start to appear in my perfect life. After so much frustration, I decided to join the office, in a hope to find out how and why I changed a lot. 
 
I decided that I will greet this brave new world with determined to be the person I am. Even in office things have changed a lot. I am now the boss at my job, the vice president of the carpet division of Pantaloons.  I am a high-powered executive now and make a great income. My employees – who include several of my good friends including Deewa– fear me. I don’t t know what to do with this new life. 
Suddenly I got a call from a guy name Vinay. The way he was talking with me, I could figure it out that this “interim Neha” had some intimate connection with this guy. I decided to meet Vinay. I was confused with the way he hugged me as soon as I met him. I appalled to learn that I may have been having an affair with Vinay, the sexy architect from my husband's firm. Life was getting too complex for me to handle. How can I cheat Naman?? I was not  like that.
 
I met Vinay again and kept asking him about my very own past. But somehow he was not ready to say anything to me. After much persuasion, Vinay told me that my mom has large debt and she has mortgaged the house. He told me “When you had an accident with taxi, on that day few people came to your house to take the possession of the  house. You were on bed and they abused your mom and you told them that you will pay off the dept in monthly intervals. Then you became so determined to become rich ,you went to some TV show which changed your life , you got promoted very quick and you met Naman in the show who came as a judge. That’s how you changed a lot from your older self. You have become so eager in life that you had to be hard and tough and slowly loses all your friends.” Vinay told me that I was not happy with Naman and was about to leave him when I crashed my Mercedes. 
 
So finally, I knew what was hidden behind the blank pages of my 5 years but unable to remember it. I never felt so much warmth for Naman as I felt it for Vinay. I could feel that there is something in past which is connecting to me with him but can't remember anything. 
He took me to his home where he claim that I use to spent hours with him. I finally find out that Vinay and I were really lovers after seeing all my old stuff at his house but still couldn’t get a grip. 

With time passes, I realized that Naman is very different from me and arrogant person. I started suffocating in that lavish apartment and finally I move out of Naman apartment as I doesn’t love him. I started living with my mom.
After few days while I was shopping I gets a very fade memory that I bought a shirt for Vinay from here and that I told him how much I loved him on the full moon night.Oh God!!! Finally there is something I found out from my blank pages of 5 years. I go back to Vinay and finds flashes of my old memory when I met him. I am once again the same old neha with my mom and my new found love Vinay.

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Complexion Redefined

“Everything is over for me!!” Tears started rolling down my cheeks. Not sure for how many hours, I was crying in the park. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder.  I raised my head and saw a beautiful girl standing in front of me. She asked “Why are you crying dear? I have been watching you for past an hour. Is everything all right with you?”.  I really felt annoyed by her questions. I replied rudely “It’s none of your business, Please leave me alone”. She sat next to me, smiled and said “Sharing with someone will lessen your pain”.  After few minutes I asked “May I know who you are? And why do you care about knowing my problems?” She said “I am Kyra and we can be friends. You can certainly share your problems with a friend”. Hearing the name, something clicked and I observed her closely… Oh god she is Kyra!! The sunshine girl of Lakme. How come she is here in this park?
She asked again “May I know why are you so depressed?” I said “Leave it, it’s a long story”, she smiled and said “I am free now and I love long stories so please go ahead and share with me”

I started telling my story to her:
“I was born in Bihar with a 'wheatish' complexion which is considered as a flaw. Since the time of my birth, my mother was worried because of my dark complexion and was constantly trying to ‘improve’ my complexion by applying various creams and oils in an endeavor to make me fair. "Apply this cream to your face, it will make you fair," she would say.

I was not allowed to play in the sun. When I would get a chance to be out in the sun playing with my friends, my mother would get angry "Why did you go in the sun, you've become so dark!”  She used to buy my clothes also in accordance to my color so that I many not look dark.
Gradually I started to dislike my skin color, and started desiring fairer skin in order to please everyone in my family. In an attempt to look fair, I started applying powder to my face and would step out with a powdery face. My friends had tried to make me aware of my ridiculous looks but I didn't believe in them at that point of time. Soon I was left with no friends.

 
My parents want to get me married but are having problems finding a proper groom for me. Everyone wants a fair bride. I don’t want to get married so early. I want to have a career first. But I am not getting a job also. I don’t look smart like the other girls. I don’t have enough confidence and I start stammering in interviews whenever someone asks me anything. So far I have failed in at least 5-6 interviews.
 Today also I was rejected from an interview and now I am not sure what will I do in my future. I am a loser. I want to die”
 
After listening to my story, Kyra held my hand and said “Don't cry for such pity issues. These days color of the skin doesn’t matter at all. I can give you several examples. Have faith in me and let me do some magic. Your problems will be solved. But you will have to do whatever I say”
I was surprised. This was the first time someone was actually trying to help me and that too someone like Kyra who was not only beautiful and successful but had a good heart too. This was my only chance to change my life. So, I agreed.
In the first step, she took me to a dermatologist for my skin checkup. She explained me that if you think you have some skin problems that is not letting you shine at you best, it’s better to consult a dermatologist who will advice you. After the check up, the dermatologist discovered that I have sensitive skin, that’s why my skin gets easily tanned and takes longer to return to my usual complexion. Dermatologist gave me 5 golden tips a skin care and asked me to follow up.

I started following the tips religiously and gradually my skin started responding. After 2 weeks, I got a call from Kyra. She told me that she has a surprise for me and want to meet me soon. We met in the same park. She gave me an envelope. There was an air ticket to Goa. Before I could ask anything, she said “I am going for a photoshoot to Goa and you are accompanying me. I had a word with my photographer Amit and you will be assisting him for this photo shoot.” I was dumbstruck and did not know what to say. I quietly said it’s harsh summer and as you know I have got a sensitive skin. I will get  tan again and I have just started following doctor’s advice. She smiled in her usual way and said “Leave those headaches to me. You just enjoy.”

Early morning in Goa, Kyra came to my room and gave me few Lakme products and instructions on how to use them. She told me to use Lakme expert sunscreen lotion SPF 50 PA ++ before stepping out of the hotel in the sun. She asked me to clean my face with Lakme After Sun Facewash after returning from beach. She also asked me to apply Lakme After Sun Face Mask after cleaning. Once cleansed, apply Lakme After Sun Gel. It will complete the procedure of sun protection.

I understood and followed her instructions like a small kid and went to the beach for the shoot. I tried to be in the shade of the trees. Kyra was looking very beautiful in a perfect little yellow dress and was getting ready for the photoshoot.
She called me up and asked “Have you applied sunscreen?” I nodded my head in yes. She asked “Then why are you standing in shade? Common here enjoy the sun.” For the first time in my life, I started working in the sun without any fear.  Kyra, I and other crew member were all having a great fun while shooting. Amit, the photographer really liked some of my ideas. 

In between the shoots, we played on the beach and in sea water. I along with Kyra walked in sunny beach, chased the waves and made sand castles. In true sense, Kyra was returning my lost childhood days. After completing the day shoot, we all grouped together to play volley ball. WoW!!! What a fun it was? I had always dreamed of playing outdoor games which was now getting fulfilled.

In the evening when I returned to my room, I cleaned my face with Lakme After Sun Facewash and Lakme After Sun Face Mask. Once cleansed, I applied Lakme After Sun Gel. "OMG!!!  My face was as fresh as it was in morning."

In evening, Kyra showed me some of my snaps which Amit took while I was playing with waves. I couldn’t recognize myself. Can I look so beautiful? Kyra has magically turned me into a Cinderella. My life was changing like that of the ugly duckling. After the dinner, I Kyra and all crew members sat near the swimming pool and started singing the songs. Kyra insisted me to sing a song. It was like a climbing mountain for me. I never sang any song before anyone although I had a nice voice. Finally I started singing. When I completed the song there was a pin drop silence. I really got scared but then everybody started clapping for me and praising me. Never in my life, have I ever heard anything good about myself. Am I really talented?? or it’s just a beautiful dream.
1 week in Goa just slipped like sand in hand. Of course good things come to an end quickly.  But in Goa, I found a new person within me who was much more confident and was ready to face the world with my new beautiful and healthy wheatish' complexion.
On the last day of Goa, Kyra came with Amit in my room and gave a letter to me. I got a shock of my life. It was an offer letter from Amit’s company. Amit was so impressed with my photography talent that he wanted me to assist him in upcoming summer photoshoot in South Africa.

I just can’t believe. I pinched myself just to check if I am not dreaming. One month back I was thinking to commit suicide as I had no reason to live and today whole world has opened their arms to embrace me. My dreams are now starting coming true.
Kyra was right!!! On that day I was crying on pity issues. Thanks to Lakme Sun expert products and Kyra, I have recognized my inner beauty. I am no more ashamed of my wheatish complexion and in Kyra I have found a good friend. 

As someone rightly said “Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart”.

This post is part of a  Lakme-Diva Blogger  contest. 
Check  this out: http://www.facebook.com/ilovelakme


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Meri Dilli Meri Yamuna (My Delhi My Yamuna)

It was a hot Sunday afternoon and I was comfortably sitting in my air-conditioned room and watching TV. “Summers make me an ideal couch potato!!”  Suddenly, I saw an advertisement on cleaning Yamuna River. It was quite a heart touching advertisement where many celebrities were asking Delhi citizens to join environmental project, “Meri Dilli Meri Yamuna” (My Delhi My Yamuna). I thought “OMG!!! How can they do such crazy job under harsh sun. Don’t they fret about their skin tan? ” but the thought of meeting celebrities, taking autograph and boring Sunday pushed me to visit this campaign.

 

Next morning, I prepared myself to go to Old Fort at Delhi in a hope to meet some celebrities and if luck favors, I may get some snaps. Even sheer idea was making me so thrill.  I wore a jeans and full sleeve kurta and covered my face like a dacoit to save myself from tanning in Delhi’s summer.

The whole atmosphere at the venue was so energetic and people around me were so enthusiastic about ‘Meri Dilli Meri Yamuna’ (My Delhi My Yamuna) campaign. WOW!!  These enthusiasm, energy and compassion are so contagious; even I started feeling positive about the campaign.

Suddenly, I saw a very beautiful girl in mid of the crowd. I thought I have seen her somewhere. I went close to her, “Oh god she is Kyra!!!  The sunshine girl Kyra”.  I have seen her in TV, she is the brand ambassador of Lakme.  She was looking awesome in her sleeveless top. She was beaming like a fresh sunshine in this hot summer.

Looking at me, She smiled and said “Why are you hiding your face?” I replied “I will get tanned if I remove it”. She laughed and said “Oh so you are scared of sun.!!!”.  I really got annoyed with her smirk smile and said “I am no Diva like you… I am just an ordinary girl who gets tanned in summer”. She again smiled and said “I am also an ordinary girl but I have a magic wand to solve my skin issues”.  I was quite surprised, seeing my curiosity Kyra showed me some Lakme sun expert products from her bag. She told me to use Lakme expert sunscreen lotion SPF 50 PA ++ before stepping out in sun. She asked me to clean my face with Lakme After Sun Facewash and Lakme After Sun Face Mask after I return from sun. Once cleansed, apply  Lakme After Sun Gel. It will complete the procedure of sun protection. 
It sounded so good and tempting to me.

While going back, Kyra’s words keep coming to my mind. I bought Lakme sun expert products.

.

Next day, I applied the product and got ready to hit the campaign, thousands of people from Delhi, senior government officials, dignitaries and artists came to the venue and pledged their support for this campaign. I saw Kyra, she was looking as fresh as yesterday. Seeing me she smiled and said “Are you not scared of sun today?”. I smiled and replied “Now, I also have a magical wand like you”.

In evening when I came back, I saw that my skin had no signs of tanning. I was amazed. I messaged Kyra and said thanks to her, for sharing her magic wand with me. I noticed that in my face I had freshness even after working for whole day which was missing earlier when I was just a couch potato.

2nd day Sri Sri Ravi Shankar kick-off the cleaning movement. I, Kyra and many other folks started the cleaning ITO ghat. It was a real fun. I and Kyra were talking about so many things including making city cleaner, Yamuna problem, my skin issue and talking about various Lamke products. Kyra and me was full of energy and enthusiasm for this campaign because now both of us have a magic wand.

It was self satisfying experience that I am doing something for the society and a bonus effect of Lakme sun expert products on my skin. Thanks to Kyra and to Lakme, I can now fearlessly wander under the sun without having to cover from head to toe and look like Dacoit!

Along with other volunteers, I and Kyra worked round the clock to spread awareness about this campaign. We created page in FB to spread the information about this campaign and asked people to join us.

The cleaning of the ghats went on for eight days and took place at a different venue every day, including the ghats at Wazirabad, Nizamuddin, KalindiKunj, Kudesiaghat, Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Yamuna Bazar and Okhla Dhobi ghat. It has become a routine for me to reach early morning to these ghats, work with Kyra. It was a fun to work in such harsh summer for the society without thinking about my skin. Working with Kyra and sharing thoughts with her, I started developing a sense of responsibility towards the society.  Being a celebrity, Kyra was so keen to do something for society. It was a real fun in true sense.

 

With the help of organizing committee, we ran free breath-water-sound workshops for villagers, special workshops for children and gave talks to create awareness and encourage people to join in. Hundreds of Delhi citizens came together to support this project.

Even working in such harsh summer, my skin doesn’t trouble me. I uploaded my campaign pictures in Facebook to promote the campaign. To my surprise, some of my friends were complementing me for my skin as it was getting better day by day.

On the concluding day, Chief Minister of Delhi Sheela Dixit came to venue to congratulate the volunteers for their sheer hardwork and to demonstrate that ‘it is possible to make a difference’. Suddenly I heard my name and when I paid attention I got shock of my life. “OMG!!!, I was selected as the best volunteer for whole campaign”. She awarded me a shield and a certificate. 

I saw tears in my parent’s eyes who were sitting in audience. Today, I have made them proud and all thanks to Kyra and her magical wand. I went to this campaign to grab few autographs and meet some celebrities but Kyra made me a celebrity in real sense.

Now I had a beautiful skin and a confident personality. With Lakme sun expert products, I need not have to worry about sun before stepping out of home. Lakme sunexpert products and Kyra’s skin care tips has embedded a new personality within me. I am no more a couch potato but have an ambition to give something back to my society. Seriously, attractiveness and magnetism of one's personality is the result of his/her inner radiance. With the help of Kyra, I got that inner radiance.

“Meri Dili Meri Yamuna” was definitely a very enriching experience, as I met Kyra and got such a lifetime friendship with her.

This post is part of a  Lakme-Diva Blogger  contest. 
Check  this out : http://www.facebook.com/ilovelakme

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