A lone moment...

Our planet has a population of over a billion humans and still there are moments in our lives when we are alone, and things happen, and when they happen we either feel lonely after that incident or just want to be alone.

Man is such a complex being that he wants to be surrounded by happiness, but when a plight occurs and if he is alone, he is petrified cause it takes time for him to absorb it, and then spit it out after being able to translate his feelings over that issue.

One such thing happened about four years ago when no one was "technically" around. 

My dad was in the ICU, and the doctors had given up on him. The cancer cells had taken over his entire body thus debilitating him, and his organs were giving up functionality gradually. 

My brother and mom had to leave the room for some last minute errands, and I was alone with him while his eyes were shut, and he had a breathing mask on his face. 

I was standing on his right side, stroking his arm gently more so to make him aware that we are around him. Just then, he raised his left arm as if trying to hold on to somebody. I was curious what is he up to since he had a smile on his face while his eyes were closed.

 I tried to go to the other side of the bed in order to hold that hand, but within a few seconds that arm went plop!

I looked at him; he had a calm expression on his face. I was puzzled!

Called out to the nurse, who came in after a few minutes and declared him dead. 

“We are the cosmos made conscious and life is the means by which the universe understands itself.” 

― Brian Cox

Gradually the news of his death spread, and we all grieved over our loss. 

But, that moment alone with my dad, made me very curious and lonely since his action prior to his passing away was very strange. Researched into it, and found that angels come to take the soul away. And am sure he must have seen those angels in the form of his dad and mom (my grandparents) thus the smile!

“Within each of us is a light, awake, encoded in the fibers of our existence. Divine ecstasy is the totality of this marvelous creation experienced in the hearts of humanity” 

― Tony Samara

My 2 cents

We are such amazing creatures that we can tune our mind to three levels of consciousness in any given state. My dad's organs were failing, he was partially in a coma, his level of consciousness was able to see what the soul wanted him to perceive. 

Mantra for today: Our brain is a powerful organ that has a mind of its own.

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FTSF is here. The sentence for this friday is: No one was around when this happened.

Join in the fun!

Wordless Wednesday #83

This wall is symmetrical and well proportioned.

Just as Man aspires to be in his "real" life. But, can we take upon this challenge?

Ponder over it: A perfect in harmony 9-5pm job with no red flags. No personal issues that need a fire extinguisher. Positive vibes everywhere!

Man is an intelligent being and loves challenges thus, we would find the above life BORING since no secretion of adrenaline as no excitement prevails!

Mantra for today: Hormones are the oxygen to our existence if used in proportion. Take upon the daily challenges, and let thy rule!

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Book Launch The Activist and The Capitalist by Vibha Batra

THE STORY ....

“I’m not drunk – just a litt-le high.”

On a magical moonlit night, Jai and Anusha meet and fall in love. When they meet again however, they discover that Jai is the crass capitalist developing Rasa Vihar, the heritage building that Anusha and her NGO are fighting to protect. Inevitably they clash, with neither willing to concede to the other. The problem is that although publicly they are enemies, in private, they are wildly attracted to each other. – but when secrets and betrayals enter the equation – things really begin to get out of control. 

WILL THE ACTIVIST AND THE CAPITALIST EVER BE ABLE TO FIND COMMON GROUND?

IN INDIREAD'S LATEST PUBLICATION 

BUY @ AMAZON.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vibha Batra is an advertising consultant, author, poet, lyricist, and columnist. Her published books include: Sweet Sixteen (Yeah, Right!), Seventeen and Done (You Bet!), Eighteen and Wiser (Not quite!)--a young adult trilogy published by Penguin--Ishaavaasya Upanishad, a translation of her grandfather, Shri Vishnu Kant Shastri’s book published by Rupa Publications, a poetry collection titled Tongue-in-cheek and a collection of short stories titled A Twist of Lime. She has also contributed short stories (Indian Voices, Happy Birthday to Me, Urban Shots Love Collection, Down the Road, City of Gods, Vanilla Desires, 9.69 seconds, Chicken Soup) and poems (Dance of the Peacock, Suvarnarekha, 20-20) to several national andinternational anthologies and written for various magazines.

MEET THE AUTHOR  @ FACEBOOK | TWITTER

BUY @ AMAZON.COM

A Bigot

"I can do this. Please give me a chance" came an urgent request.

Ann scrutinized him from head to toe and stamped his papers with a wiggly nose.

He quickly scanned them and fetched his uniform.

With lots of apprehensions, entered the work scenario.

He could feel the stares and ogles of his co-workers. But with shaky hands, he adjusted his turban and pushed the long strands inside.

Just then, a few men surrounded him.
His hands gave away to the cloth; his eyes widened when he felt the pressure of their friendly grips and a unison, "Welcome!"


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 In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that tackles racism.
Join in the fun at CarrotRanch

Toying with Disaster

Man is an emotional soul and loves to toy with anything that talks back to him. 

Any response he gets from somebody, there and then starts the flirting!

Sometimes, this could be a harmless event but, at times it could turn disastrous. 

Our Planet, Earth has exhibited significant and pretty landscapes of herself, to which man has got weak in his knees.

He has been enjoying all the bounties that nature has to offer, however; when it comes to giving back, he has not reciprocated to her. 

Lately, Man has been flirting with Mother Nature. 

Emissions from fumes, garbage, cutting down trees and constructions everywhere!

What is the Result?

Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Extreme cold or hot conditions.

Result: We are flirting with disaster! 

Sure, according to science these are the tectonic plates that are always moving on the surface of the planet. Thus, when the ground shakes it leads to disaster as man has constructed zillions of concrete everywhere for his enjoyment, comfort, and pleasure. 

One planet, many needs!

Mantra for today: Got to prioritize our wants so that we all can live in harmony with nature and ourselves. 

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This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.

Tips to Clean, and yet be Green

Clean and Green rhyme but how many times do we practice this Mantra.

Usually when we are cleaning any part of our home, we land up pouring those toxic chemicals down the drain and into the underground waters.

Impact of chemicals

When these chemicals go through the sewage, they are treated in waste water treatment plants for removal of pathogens, but the toxic chemicals don’t get treated, and they are passed into the ocean where the animals get affected.

Solution

Man has created a marvelous and yet harmless and economical chemical, which is used for a variety of purposes. Ethanol and water are fermented, and the result is white distilled vinegar with no preservatives. It is cheap to manufacture yet a natural helper around the house cause of its mild acidity.

Purposes

Cleaning the Kitchen


Floors/Window
1 cup white distilled vinegar is combined with 1-gallon water and can be used to clean your hardwood floors, ceramic tiles, linoleum, and vinyl floors. Do not use white vinegar to clean your marble flooring, as this will stain the marble.

Combine the same amount to clean windows and use newspapers to wipe it. These newspapers can be recycled once dried.


Microwave
Mix ½ cup white distilled vinegar with ½ cup water and microwave it until the solution starts to boil. Any residues stuck in the microwave will loosen up. Wipe them out. Odors will also disappear.


Countertops
Soak a cloth with undiluted white distilled vinegar and wipe them clean.


Refrigerator
Combine1 cup of distilled white vinegar and 1 cup of water and clean the shelves and walls of the fridge.


Oven
Sprinkle undiluted white distilled vinegar using a spray bottle. This will help to get rid of grease splattered in the oven.


Dishwasher
Pour a cup of white distilled vinegar in the empty machine and let it run through a complete cycle. This will help remove soap and odor buildup.


Garbage disposal
Pour ½ cup hot distilled white vinegar and ½ cup baking soda. Let it stand for 5-10 minutes and then run hot water down the disposal. This will help deodorize the garbage disposal.

Could grind up a lemon peel in the disposal. This will also deodorize the garbage disposal.


Coffee/Tea stains from Cups
Make a semi-liquid solution by taking equal parts of baking soda and white distilled vinegar. Semi liquid Scrub your cups with the above mixture and rinse clean.


Oven Top
Make a mixture of 1-cup water and 1 cup white distilled vinegar and spray it on the oven top. Let it stand for 5-10 minutes and wipe it clean. If there are burnt food residues, sprinkle some baking soda over it and let it stand for 10 minutes and wipe it clean.


Exhaust fan
We all tend to use this while cooking and since it gathers grease cause of the cooking. Soak a sponge in white distilled vinegar and wiped it, to be cleaned.


Sink
If the sink is porcelain or stainless steel, clean it with undiluted white distilled vinegar. The sink will sparkle. If there are food particles stuck in the sink, wipe them out with baking soda.


Cleaning the Bathroom

Toilet bowl
Pour a cup of white distilled vinegar. Scrub well and flush it. This will help clean the bathroom and also deodorize it.


Shower head
Make a mixture of ½ cup baking soda and 1 cup white distilled vinegar. Put it in a bag and tie it around the showerhead for an hour until the bubbling has stopped. Remove the bag and turn on the water. This will help clean all the scum around the shower head.


Shower door
Spray white distilled vinegar on the door and let it sit there. Pour hot water on the door and scrub the scrum.


Freshen the bathroom
In a bottle take 1-cup water, one tablespoon white distilled vinegar, and one teaspoon baking soda. Spray it in the air. This solution can be used in any rooms of the house.


Kill germs on the doorknob
White distilled vinegar is sprayed on doorknobs of any room and wiped with a cloth.


Carpets
Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet and then vacuum the carpet. This will pull odors from the carpet.

Removing stains?
Use equal parts of distilled white vinegar and water and spray it on the affected area on the carpet. Let it dry before you use that area.


Why go Green in cleaning?

It is safe for your home, your family, and the planet. If you make your cleaning solution by using vinegar, you will also save money. Vinegar is relatively cheaper than purchasing the green chemicals available in the market.

The choice is yours to make!

Mantra for today: One Planet, One Yatra. Cleaning Device is simple, let's opt for it!

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This post has been written for Green Yatra, a NGO dedicated to conservation and protection of nature.

 Earth is Calling  Let's join hands and create awareness and help protect our planet's natural resources by cleaning the natural way!

Wordless Wednesday #82

With Spring around the corner. Flowers are blooming, and this picture signifies the beauty of nature and the many boundaries this flower possesses via the petals to protect the core.

Gives us a take home lesson while relating the boundaries to the many phases of our lives. Each step is related to Time.

Mantra for today: Life has many phases. We have to be patient in each one of them since; it is not constant.

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