Somethings that you can’t help…

Certain moments in life seem quite ironical. Like when we fight very frequently with our friends and yell out the “blessed” phrase, “Don’t ever want to see you again!!!”. Yet few hours later (maximum, a couple of days), the patching up is done and things are back to normal. Often wonder why I can’t simply have a perfect relationship; totally no fights or no arguments- like absolutely being able to read someone’s mind. But, what a boring life would that be !!!

Worst of all are those ties, which fade in time because we failed to keep in touch. Forgotten letters. Unattended phone calls. Missed wishes. But a day comes along when things work out and everything falls back into place. Sometimes it happens after an initiative is taken. Other times, circumstances just click and memories are created along the way just like how it used to be before. Ironical, the ties maybe unattended to but they are not broken !!!

We dream of falling in love with some Mr. Right or Miss. Perfect, but end up loving ” Mr. I’ll-be-late or Miss. Oops-I-burnt-your-dinner”!!! Or when we are best friends of a certain “Miss I-forgot-that-today-was-your-birthday” or “Mr.Sorry-could-not-make-it-to-your-bachelor-party”!! Seriously, I wonder why such relationships hold or continue. Or why on earth do I still maintain the bonds. Or why do we patch up and want things to get back to normal. Because, I guess I’m still happy in spite of all those little flip-flops and the teeny-weeny fights. That’s when I realize how blessed some relationships are. The memories that are made of those days still bring smiles and laughter. Often wonder why it happens so?!! Guess, maybe it is all that imperfection that makes us all perfectly adorable and that is when sometimes, reality becomes more sweeter than dreams!!!

Is it another masquerade….

Reading through the history of various civilizations, some themes have not really changed. Most of society try to carve themselves behind a facade, so that the real scenario is kept hidden. For instance, in one of my college newsletter reports, I was told to ‘ temper down’ my article because it might offend the governing board of directors. Whatever, happened to the internationally given human right of freedom of expression ? The real facts have to be thrown out to the public.

Likewise, I guess in most situations, we are told to go for the most ideal approach. Realistically, to be ideal is more or less an Utopian concept !!! Come to think of it, look at today’s society- the ideal standard of living, the ideal work environment, the ideal diet to follow….all these “ideal” concepts curb what we really want to do.

Last night, I was feeling bored. the TV was the only alternative ( net was royally dysfunctional !!!!). The Phantom of the Opera was on. It had reached the ballroom scene, where Andre and Firmin are toasting to the Phantom..It was these lyrics that caught my ear.

” Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade.
Masquerade!
Hide your face, so the world will never find you!
Masquerade!
Every face a different shade.
Masquerade!
Look around –
there’s another
mask behind you!

Flash of mauve.
Splash of puce.
Fool and king.
Ghoul and goose.
Green and black.
Queen and priest.
Trace of rouge.
Face of beast.
Faces.

Take your turn.
Take a ride.
On a merry – go – round
In an inhuman race…….” and the later lines of  Raoul/Chistine ” Who can name a face ? ”

Which is what brought me to the fact that ” Am I also the part of another masquerade scene ?!! ” Like all the hidden faces on parade, is that what the world is really all about?!!! I rather remain in utero then. What ever happened to the concept of ” being open”? True, there is a limit between ‘being open’ and ‘being reserved’ ; but that doesn’t grant you the fact to hide who you really are ?

Life seems like a masquerade party sometimes. Full of excitement and grandeur.Of enigma and all the gliterrati !! It spells out fun when in a party, but in real life..believe me, it’s not. Where people adorn their masks as a shield to their true self ? Who to trust ? Who to believe ? Who is who ? Who are you ? Another facade, another mask to hide behind !!! What role do you play – yourself or another mask ? All the show, all the splendor- purely artificial! Why appreciate somebody, when you don’t mean it ? Why put on an act of comfort and sympathy when deep down, you know that you don’t give a damn !!!

” Masquerading in..” some thing that you are not really yourself, should be kept to bare minimum, or rather in dire circumstances. Who can name a face ? No one. I rather be me, because I have only one life, and I want to end it by being the ‘real me’!!!

No one is immune to the fact that we tend to cover up the real ‘ourselves’. Echoing the words of  The Carpenters’ ‘ This Masquerade Lyrics’…

“Are we really happy with

This lonely game we play..”

It is indeed a lonely tune, to loose your relationships; because you were too busy hiding behind the mask !!! I don’t want to end up like the “Phantom”. I really want people to know the real me. and I am sure,  you do want the world to know ‘the real you’ and so does everybody else !!!

Tying the knot, but don’t know where…

Getting married ? Weddings signify some of the best times of life, not only for the bride and the groom, but also for all those who attend. The young girls who make secrect pacts with each other ( sounds familiar..Bride Wars!!), the elder siblings who acknowledge that it is time to get married, the other mamas who start ‘match-making’…..and so on. But come what may, it is a very special day. Over the years, after watching countless of weddings, I have decided that these are some of the best places to get married.

1. The Traditional Church Wedding:

There is something special about getting married in the church of your hometown. Brings back memories of your grandparents and parents, tying the knot a similar day in the past…

2. Castle wedding: Something’s special in the air, when a wedding takes place on ancient castle grounds. Sounds similar to the historic wedding held somewhere in the 1600’s. Seeing the couple approach to the sound of the traditional music , memorable indeed !!!

3. Wedding on a Cruise ship: It is absolutely breathtaking, to see the happily married couple against the ocean line.

4. Wedding Inns: There is something special about being to a wedding ceremony held on the grounds of the old exquisite inns. The bed and breakfast inns are ideal for a private wedding.

5. Grand Hotel Wedding: This is one of the most common wedding venues I have been to. The banquet halls are too good, and as the first dance which claims the floor, I often wish that I was the bride.

6. Underwater Weddings: I haven’t been to one yet, but my friends have. Reading about it in the papers, its feels quite special. Though, it seems kind of impossible for all the guests to go under water as well !!

7. Wedding at the Beach: I have been to my cousin’s wedding. Held at the Marina Beach, it was a breathtaking view to behold, with the waves lapping at the sand in the background.

8. Mountain Top Wedding: I have never been to one of these weddings. But, after seeing snaps of my parent’s colleagues getting married out there, it could be a spectacular wedding spot .

9. Central Park Wedding: How many times have you witnessed a wedding while walking in the central park ? I have seen three weddings till now. Makes quite a picturesque scene. Of course, I was one of the uninvited guests in all the three weddings.

10. Under the tree weddings: My all time favourite wedding venue…under the tree at the back of my garden. My aunt held her wedding at home, a small quiet one. The best thing about this is that, it’s absolutely homely, and each time I see that place; it brings back the best memories of my life.

To tell you the truth, I haven’t got married yet. Still searching for the right person. But  planning my wedding  is one of my fav past-time, especially when I am totally bored. I wish I was the bride in all these weddings above. ( Have a happy married life to all you couples in the above photographs. Thanks for the pics!!)

Ah, well someday it ll be me out there !!! Till then, I ll wait.