Arrival of a bundle of joy!!!

Well for starters its been a while since I even logged onto my blog...If you are wondering what was the reason, let me tell you...there was action on both professional & personal fronts. Got promoted at both ends! While on the professional front I moved on from Idea Cellular to join AirAsia as Country Marketing Manager for India & Sri Lanka, the most amazing thing which happened over the last 3 months or so was on the personal front.

We (Reema & myself) became proud parents of a baby boy on 09.10.11!!! Its been hardly couple of weeks and its still sinking in. Friends and family all over have just two things to say- Congratulations & 'Welcome to parenthood & long nights'...Its already happening. While parenthood is a reason for celebration for everybody around the world, its even more special for us because we both have gone through a lot- both on the personal and professional front...living through the dream all these days!

And finally the D day arrived. Thanks to modern science we were able to select a date. While it was auspicious keeping our parents' wishes in mind, we stumbled upon a date which would be 'cool' to write / speak about! Well you are right- our baggage of being in advertising / marketing has a lot to do with it. Finally at 07:30 hrs or so Reema did come out of the operation theatre (you won't believe how many Hollywood / Bollywood moments have played out in my dreams over the last year or so waiting for this day) with a huge ear to ear smile proclaiming "It's a boy." This brought an extra wide smile on appa & amma's faces too given after a grand daughter (my brother had a baby girl in Jan this year) they were praying for one! Soon all three of us, appa, amma and myself pulled our mobile phones to make calls to close friends and releatives to share the good news.

Meeting my Son!

ALmost 3 hours after the delivery the doors of the operation theatre opened to anxiously waiting parents, grand parents & other relatives. The doctor came out with a baby proclaiming 'Carnic - Reema' to which I walked up with a broad smile as if I was getting on the podium of F1 championship! And there he was...cute, fair, tiny, soft, innocent and ofcourse wondering about the 'new' world around him! A few moments later we handed him back to the caring hospital staff and went back to Reema's room all smiles

Announcing to the world!

While on the family front almost all our close relatives knew, we really hadn't told any of our friends...call it superstition, call it anxiousness or call it a surprise! While calling them all had an expression of surprise and glee. SMSes followed the calls. And a couple of days later I posted the news followed by photographs. More wishes arrived!

What do we name him??

We both did the customary search on google.com and also asked our parents and a few relatives to do the search. The brief was simple...the name has to be unheard of in the real world and in the online space...A few options did come which were unique. But then given our background and cultures we had to put the added filter of ' the name should be understood by both families'...We did finalise a few names and put up for voting (yeah crazy right). Wondering what his name is? Well we have narrowed down but not finalized yet!!! Will let you all know soon...

Over the last 12 days life has settled down around taking care of 'him'.... After all he is the bundle of joy we have been eagerly waiting for!!!

Weekend break with a bundle of joy - 3

Concluding part of a 3 part series of one of the most fun filled trip I have had in my life (given I haven't had many in the last decade or so!!!).

It was going to be high on spirituality. The day began as usual with Anu & Som packing for the day for Srishti as she was busy playing with us. Around 8.30am we left along with Namasya for the Matrimandir (http://bit.ly/bLn4BC). Sanskrit for Temple of The Mother, is an edifice of spiritual significance for practitioners of Integral yoga, situated at the center of Auroville initiated by The Mother (http://bit.ly/8maSvG), founder of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. It is called soul of the city and is situated in a large open space called Peace. Matrimandir, does not belong to any particular religion or sect.

Situated just outside Pondicherry, it took us about 30 mins to reach. While Reema & myself have visited it earlier, given didn't have the pre-requisite permissions we just saw it from the outside. This time we were going for a guided tour and offer our 'prayers' inside the sanctum! Upon reaching there we were told that Srishti was not allowed to we have to leave her with Namasya and vanish while she was busy playing. Sad... A battery operated vehicle took us to the Matrimandir. The Matrimandir took 37 years to build, from the laying of the foundation stone at sunrise on 21st February 1971 - the Mother’s 93rd birthday - to completion in May 2008. It is in the form of a huge sphere surrounded by twelve pedestals. The central dome is covered by golden discs and reflects sunlight, which gives the structure its characteristic radiance.

Upon reaching the dropping point we alighted the vehicle and proceeded to obtain our tokens. Soon along with the rest of the people waiting there a volunteer took us in an orderly silent queue (much like the tiny tots in schools!!!) towards the main structure. While waiting outside for the previous group to exit we got to see this golden 'golf ball' from close quarters. It really was a marvel structure. Really wished we could take the camera inside! Soon we got into the structure where we were directed to wear a pair of socks and proceeded towards the sanctum. It was a circular walkway up to the prayer area much like the Reichstag (http://bit.ly/g0RfLL) in Berlin. After the prayers we came out to see the place for a bit before going back to the battery car. First thing Anu said once we got out was 'Srishti!!!'

When we got back we realised this li'l lady had forgotten about us and was blissfully playing with some flowers. She also had her snacks and water. Such a sweet kid. I was famished and rushed to the cafeteria to have some lime juice. After getting recharged I cajoled Srishti and carried her along for some window shopping. We left from there back to the city to have lunch at the Aashram Dining Room - a place which serves basic food for all ages 3 times a day. Once done we proceeded home to relax.

Evening

We found ourselves back at the Beach road where Anu, Reema & myself sat chatting. Soon we were joined by Srishti, Som & Namsya. After a bit of shopping we headed back home. And soon it was time to say good byes, get into the car and head back to Chennai.

Time has flown....all 3 days of it. But as I said in the starting it was one of the most fun filled trip of my life. Thank you Srishti, Anu, Som, Namasya and of course Reema for the memories which I'll cherish for a long time to come....

Everybody dreams

Well its been a long time that I've been away from my blog. Well no excuses...a bit of inertia, got caught up in the routine of work and life in general.
As I was surfing on the net, I came across this beautiful poem on dreams which resonated my feelings almost completely...

Everybody dreams

Children dream,
Adults dream,
Old people dream.

I dream, too.
I dream about the friends with whom I'll grow old,
I dream about the person whose hands I'll hold,
I dream about being young and in love,
I dream about loved ones, looking down from above.

I dream of the places I'll one day see,
I dream of being wild and free,
I dream of my house, high on the rocks,
I dream of the sand underneath my socks.

I dream of the people I'd love to greet,
I dream of the things I'll say when we meet,
I dream of hearing their voices sing,
I dream of being happy with everything.

I dream of travelling with a map in my hand,
I dream of never coming back to this land,
I dream of finding myself - in sense
I dream of jumping far off this fence.

I dream of any things that one day I'll know,
I dream of the freedom: a dream I won't let go,
I dream of my future and marvel at my pride
As my heart is flying and singing inside.

Twilight Whispers