Wednesday, 14 August 2013

Laziness at its finest

Dear Friend,

I know its been several days since I penned to you. I was not satisfied with the last missive. And I was simply knocked down for no reason. And then I came across a quote which goes on like this,

"Writers have to keep on writing if they want to mature, like caterpillars endlessly chewing on leaves."

A sudden rush of positive wind induced me to go with whatever I have.

Writing this to you on a beautiful rainy day. It is been raining continuously for 8 hours. It is a perfect weather to bunk office and I did bunk ;-)An old friend called up and planned for a meet and super happy that I am actually having chances to go out on weekends. I have recently discovered Instagram and I must say I am obsessed. I am now grinding my old photos from the nooks and corners and Instagramming it. And I also sense that I am slowly getting rid of my photo phobia ;-) There was an offer on penguin publications so purchased tons of books in Flipkart. I think I have collection phobia. Collecting and keeping the books in the closet .I am making a new rule: No more new books until I've read all of these.Not one. Not a library book. Not a free book. Not a thrift store book.I am going to read every single one of these wonderful books and then – THEN! – I will allow myself to read something new.I’m committed to finishing all of this stack before I can bring another new book into this house.

I didn't check after my bucket list. Now it is time.

To do list:
  • Digitize Old Photos
  • Try oil pulling
  • Visit Anna Centenary Library
  • Meet the dentist
  • Return the library books

Avowal: I will try to visit a place every weekends.


"Every day you wake up is an opportunity to go beyond, and that 's why I let my band go right now. For the first time in my life I'm just roaming around, vagabonding."
Carlos Santana

Yours lovingly,
Fatima J

Wednesday, 24 July 2013

This Week That Was

Dear Friend,

Being a writer means living in terror. I mean the incessant nagging of self-doubt. I have numerous fears about writing a blog. The fear of criticism, not finding enough time to write, finding out I’m not as talented as I like to think I am, etc.  However, beyond all the things that make me hesitate, there is a powerful desire to hold the finished work in my hands, to have my ideas perfectly articulated, and to receive praise from friends and family. I have read my first blog like thousand times. It feels too good to see your work. It feels good to hear someone say they actually thought they were reading about themselves when reading my first post.

Banned book in many schools and libraries ;-)

My mind is like a roller coaster and so are some other things. You know how I finished "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" ? People around me always suggest me to read the book first before watching the movie. I am pretty good about separating the two mediums from each other and can enjoy both without the comparisons getting in the way for the most part. I couldn't contain my curiosity on how this book had been made as a movie so put the book in half way and started watching the movie. It should be noted that the movie was written, directed and produced by Stephen Chbosky so I went in with high expectations and was not disappointed. While the movie didn't follow the book exactly, I definitely got the main messages and feelings from the book in the movie. The cast was great as well. After finished watching the movie I took the book right away and finished it in few hours. This is one of my all time favorite books. I laughed so hard during it. Charlie is peculiar and it was one of the first books I can ever remember laughing through.

Literature from North East India?!?!?! WOW !

Call it coincidence. The immediate book I chose to read is "Rebirth" Jahnavi Barua. It is the story of Kaberi, a young woman coming to grips with an uncertain marriage. It is also an intimate portrait of the passionate bond between a mother and her unborn child. Moving between Bangalore and Guwahati the novel weaves together Kaberi’s inner and outer worlds as she negotiates the perfidious waters of betrayal and loss—an unfaithful husband, a troubled relationship with her parents and the death of a childhood friend.
All I knew about Assam was violence, bomb blasts and so on until I read this book. Jahnavi Barua is an Indian author from Assam. She is the author of Next Door, a critically acclaimed collection of short stories set in Assam with insurgency as the background. She lives in Bangalore, and is a doctor. A very unique capturing style of writing. I am going to suggest this book to all I see in my life ;-) Highly recommended!!!!!

An Unforgettable Day

And then came this day. 19-07-2013. It was such a beautiful day. Took off from work. Accompanied a friend for a visit to Dermatologist. The checkup lasted for hours. Took the tickets to the newly released Mariyan from a friend who by mistaken booked tickets for him on that day. Caught up with the movie an hour later but thoroughly enjoyed watching it in a local theatre with the gang of guys who enjoys the movie to the fullest. Had good lunch in Buhari hotel. (Mutton Biriyani of course ;-) ) And it was pelting down the whole day, didn't carry an umbrella or had raincoat on me. I walked carelessly down the dark road and reached home very late :-D

Grinding away my "Bucket List"

  • Become a Vegetarian
  • Taste red wine
  • Take up ISTQB certification
  • Go to a movie alone
  • Run a marathon
  • Learn to swim
  • Learn to play tennis
  • Babysit someone's baby for an hour
  • Get a job in Google
  • Host a girls only night
  • Get your passport
  • Own my dream car
  • Get your two wheeler licence
  • Catch the movie on the first day of its release


Avowal: I will carry a book everywhere I go.

"We read to know that we are not alone.” 
― William Nicholson


Write to you soon.

Love,
Fatima J

Saturday, 13 July 2013

On Course of Finding The Real Me

Dear Friend,

An idea struck me while reading "The Perks of being a wallflower" written by Stephen Chbosky an American novelist. This is about 15-year-old Charlie, an endearing and naive outsider, coping with first love, the suicide of his best friend, and his own mental illness while struggling to find a group of people with whom he belongs. He writes letters to an imaginary friend telling his feelings.

Here I am starting one of my longest desire to start one real blog. I hope to document my feelings to YOU.Truthfully, I am quite nervous. However, I know that when an opportunity scares me, I must go for it. I don’t like having fears. No matter what the outcome, it will certainly be an interesting experience. Hopefully we can have some fun along the way, too.

First Things First. Let me introduce about me to you. 
I don’t like cricket, I love it! I was a Sachin fan. I still remember having his posters all around in my home. And I began liking Sourav after the aggression he showed during the famous 2002 NatWest Series win at Lord's. And you my Goodness it also happened to be the anniversary of 2002 NatWest Series win. 11 years.. How time flies! I fondly reminisce the day when I and Mom were watching the nail biting match in that late night. We both were shouting out of excitement when Zaheer hit those winning runs. Still fresh! Then came this man Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He played his first international match against Bangladesh he did not have a great start to his ODI career, getting run out for a duck on debut. I became his crazy fan only after 2011 World Cup Final post match presentation talk.When I write to you this I had this sudden urge to catch the glimpse of the winning run on YouTube  And Ravi Shasthri's "Dhoni!!! Finishes off in style!! A magnificent strike into the crowd... India lift the world cup after 28 years. Party started in the Dressing room."" is still echoing in my ears.

Ow, Looks like I will not really tell about "MYSELF" Yes. When I start talking about cricket I would go on and on. 

Armed with a cup of tea I am framing about myself to you.


  • I fumble my way around movies
  • Throw words into Microsoft Word and hope they make sense after spell-check
  • Drink coffee. A LOT
  • 26 & I’m NOT taken
  • Blood type B+
  • I’m a lover not a fighter
  • Chocoholic
  • Hopeless lover of lemon juice
  • I don’t mind admiring Mahendra Singh Dhoni's indifferent batting style
  • Am massively impulsive
  • Love late nights, but hate early mornings
  • 8.30-5.30 I work for a product development Financial Technology.
  • Love to read, but never make time
  • I enjoy long walks
  • I am a paradox
  • I want to be happy,but I think of things that make me sad
  • I am lazy yet I am ambitious
  • I don't like myself,but I also love who I am
  • I say I don't care,but I really do
  • I crave attention,but reject when it comes my way


Do you know who pulled me to write this now?  A special person who is also celebrating his birthday today. He is wide awake now to see my work. I don't want him to still wait around. Do wish him a Happy Birthday okay ? ;-)

"Finding yourself is essential to growth! It all starts within YOU!" I really hope and pray by writing to you often I will find "A Brave New Me"

Signing off!

P.S: Cursing the BSNL network. Right now its down :-| Can't wait to hit "Publish" button. He will be wide awake to hear back from me :-|

Avowal: I will write often. 

Love,
Fatima J