Christmas Calling

I have packed my bags and am finally heading home for Christmas. Even though I am not a Christian, I enjoy this season because it brings so much of joy to my heart. I remember my days in school where we would sing carols and get so excited when one of our very own teachers would dress up as Santa Claus and distribute sweets and happiness to all the children sitting around. This festival generates a new spirit in everybody's heart. People spend time in decorating Christmas trees and baking cakes. It may not exactly be for some specific purpose but just to spread happiness and be happy. Do we really understand why we get so excited every time a new festival comes along? There is definitely something more to it. I feel, every situation and scenario in life can become a Christmas party if we just happen to decorate it with our smiles and find the Santa Claus hidden within us to become happy and spread happiness.

A Good Deed

The conditions that stray dogs in India live in are appalling and so is the case with the many stray dogs that warm the grass in the lawns in my campus. Recently, one of the little pups had been badly injured by some big dog and my friend went out of the way to tend to him. What I couldn't understand was the tears coming out of her eyes whenever she thought about the dog. Could some pup who had barely an hours interaction with my friend really move her so very much? I completely agree that we humans are blessed with a soul that can do good and a heart that supports this goodness with compassion but that connection we share with other living beings is in explainable. I saw how she treated the pup like her own son and fed him with all the sweet praises she had. She ardently sat and completed her task of rescuing the dog but ironically the dog went missing after a while. However if we carefully observe she did a wonderful job i.e. a good deed by simply trying to give back what belongs to the nature. God made the earth and the animals that occupy it including us. The only difference is that we humans speak in a language that is not understood by those poor animals and so they cannot sit on the couch and gossip for hours together about their problems but simply cringe whenever in pain. Thus if we humans do something to minimize the pain and suffering of any living being less fortunate than us, we in God's eyes shall be noble and if each activity that we do is taken up in this manner we shall all be doing good deeds.

Laziness or reluctance

I felt like a real jerk today because I valued my laziness more than my relationships. The irony of the entire situation is that even though I was pardoned by the person in question I am sort of feeling hurt. Does this really happen to people in reality? That sometimes the mind is so stubborn that it refuses to budge and causes nothing but pain. The guilt factor then eats you the rest of the day for the actions you took. It sounds confusing, doesn't it? Never mind, I have however managed to dust my self out of the rust I had merrily coated myself with and have decided to take up tomorrow's day with a new spirit and an ardent will to live life to the fullest i.e. from my perspective.

An Irritable Mind Knows Nothing

I have been wondering over the past few days as to why I have these spurts of anger being generated within me. That weird sense of frustration which cannot be attributed to any particular reason and believe me, if I were an adolescent I could have still played this down as another one of those teenage mood swings. But even a single thing in the day which possibly is out of place or deviates from its normal course seems to set me off. Running away from interaction with people looks like a viable option but does it make sense?  I feel like emptying my mind because anger actually equals trash and never allows a person to think straight. I have generally seen in the movies that people go to the top of a cliff and yell their guts out, but again, can I always run to a cliff to scream. I think I am going to simply put on my head phones and sink into the world of my old pal i.e. 'Music'. And no, it is not an escapist strategy but simply a method of converting every bit of the anger pent up in me into happiness. I hope to write again but with a smile on my face.

A Green Experiment

I am writing this post after hearing from my mom. The day before I left, I sat down to prune my roses and cut down quite a lot of old and a little bit of the new stem. Looking at the pruned cuttings I thought of putting them to some better use i.e. propagating them once again. Now, this experiment has already been done by many people but works for a few  and this being a grafted rose I was apprehensive but still decided to try my luck. I took a knife and made a scratch on the tip of  one of the pruned cuttings and immediately dipped it in a bottle full of water. This rose cutting had a green leaf node which had not yet bloomed but looked hopeful. Thus, after a good one week my mom says that the leaf node has actually opened up and given some tender green leaves. I guess my experiment seems to be working fine. Will keep you posted about the rose and possibly come back with pictures when it actually develops roots.

A Wonderful Winter

Winter has finally laid its hands on my town and has brought in a bliss of a different kind. It is this very season that makes me  retreat into the cocoon of my blanket. Be it the college or any other daily activity, I just won't budge out from that blanket. A mug of coffee in my hand and a book or a movie seems to seal the deal. Waking  up in the morning is also getting very difficult. The fog that enshrouds the campus wall doesn't allow me to see the fields spread across. But this season has surely brought in some freshness in the atmosphere and my thoughts. I'm just letting my mind bask in the beauty of this season and trying to enjoy every new moment. This me retreating back into my world and signing off.

Exams and monsters

Don't even mention the name 'Exams' because, that is when I groan and feel like I am slowly falling sick. I cannot call myself lazy and state that I hate studying because there are days when I love particular subjects and don't mind reading those big fat books continuously but, come the exam season and I start retrieving into a shell. Every exam pushes my mind into a seamless world of stress, tension and  depression. I guess, all engineering students would readily agree with me that the days we have papers to answer in continuous succession, we feel like comatose patients who are well aware of their surroundings but have no means of contacting them. But, the day the exams get over,  it just feels like I have been exorcised. I know that the description of exams that I have given may seem gory but it is a fact  of life. No one person in this world would love to answer exams but simply answers them sighting a larger goal at the horizon. After all this description of exams that I have given  I am jolting myself out of this temporary bliss (just happened to finish a short examination series) and reminding myself that there are many more to come and that, exams are never ending because life in itself is a big exam, at the end of which looms a larger goal, that of happiness.

A Delight

I reached home finally and surprisingly found each one of my plants beaming with beautiful flowers(contrary to what my mom always described but,I never believed her). After watching so many videos as to how I could get my plants to produce huger flowers, I also got some plant food for them and believe me, the kind of feeling was just similar to what a dad feels when he comes back home with precious gifts to spoil his children and the happiness felt by him when his children jump around in excitement. I am sure that my chrysanthemums will bear many more flowers which will be huger in size and I feel confident that my roses will live for one more day to give a slap in the face of the wretched heat. I am sure that all my plants will continue to mesmerize me and make me joyous!

A Rendezvous

I keep getting updates from my mom about my garden but instantly get tired of imagining what it would be like. However this imagination will soon be turning into reality as I am going to be heading home pretty soon. The very prospect of walking into my balcony is making me so joyous. I feel, both pets and plants need ample of attention and when you are not around to love and nurture them they fall ill. Also, I have so often found that when I  am away  from something I'm really attached with, my love for that thing increases and I guess its the same with everybody. I just hope that when I walk into my garden my plants will recognize me and bloom to their fullest capacity. I know, all this sounds so very melodramatic but  this is the reality of life. Human beings connect with happiness by learning to love and this love may be shared with other humans, animals ,plants or even art. I have learned to love and so can you.

Happiness-An Uniterative Facet Of Life

How often do we come across situations where we try to wear an artificial smile but deep down find no cord to connect with it. We feel like sulking, crying or being angry but also fail in bringing out these natural emotions. But,when our soul is happy, we are happy. Everything around us seems to be exciting and even the daily mundane activities in life hold some significance. Well, I sometimes come across situations where there is no apparent reason for me to be unhappy but, I still don't want to be happy. Is happiness related to an external factor or some abstract driving force in nature? Happiness, just like medicines, have to be injected to provide tranquility to the soul. Once the soul gulps down the doze of happiness, life seems amazing, even if, for a brief period of time. Sometimes, I feel it takes some effort on my part to be happy but, why not? Life is really short and since it it is mostly plagued by rough waters,why not remain afloat for one more day, by just being happy. The  one possible method of filling the void created by no feelings could be filled in by activities which keep us busy. This way we at least prevent our mind from turning into a devil's workshop. My dad keeps saying that if I try to be happy the world will be happy and vice-verse. I guess, somewhere his words have a lot of meaning. But, I know, somewhere in the corner of my mind that if I keep waiting for a positive incident to bring happiness in my life, I'll soon be doomed!  Life is a weird combination of positive and negative incidents and it is up to us to remain happy all through. Happiness definitely doesn't iterate but who says it can't persist!

Dreams-Roads to Ecstasy or Agony

Dreams,do they ever mean anything? I'm talking about those dreams you happen to experience when you are fast asleep.You may break out in a cold sweat and wake up or just end up crying in your sleep.Gosh!they can actually freak you out.But do they have some hidden meaning? The worst feeling is when you can remember the consequence from a dream but not the dream itself,funny,ain't it?I sometimes feel we also dream at the conscious level,possibly when we are just about to wake up.but,what significance do these dreams have?.Do nightmares come to you to scare you away in life or are they just those booby traps laid by the almighty to teach us something? I feel dreams pull you into a quick sand of unanswered questions,the more you try to wriggle out of them,they just pull you in.Don't even foray into the the subject of 'Dejavu'.This has always been something which has sent chills down my spine.I remember that when I was younger I used to suddenly freeze while doing my daily activity thinking that I had already done it.Something would make me feel weirdly familiar with whatever I was doing or seeing.Or,are dreams just those puzzle pieces which you collect over a while and finally put together in your grave? Dreams compel you to take some actions even when you are awake.There is a feeling  that what you faced in your dream must become a reality.But,after all,we are humans and god only knows whose pulling those strings up there,that we humans mock at ourselves at times.But anyway,sleep is something I badly need at this point and I am sure to slip into a third world again where I may be absolutely happy or may be bewitched.All said and done,I definitely believe that dreams cannot make us good or bad where as,situations can.

Slumber-The Best Medicine

I keep wondering as to why I have become so very utterly restless, behaving as if I were a drug addict craving for the last sniff of the remaining pod. Even though work is available in plenty, my mind seems to be racing ahead of its time trying to find that 'Pit stop' where it can be reguvenated. I have heard people talking about 'sleeping over problems' but, hey! all these philosophical takeaways look beautiful in books and not in reality, right? Nevertheless, I am just waiting for a break, a break where I can take a breather and send myself into 'Slumber'.

A Soulful Sojourn

Many a times I feel there is some pent up nervous energy waiting to escape my body and that never actually leaves but instead brings some more frustration.In this situation my mind actually loses sync with my body and I really fail to comprehend what really needs to be done.I happened to be faced with a similar situation today and, without batting an eyelid I chose music to make some effort to wave a white flag at my restless soul.I correctly recall organizing my playlist with a set of melodious songs and started listening to a song by focusing on the background score and the other instruments and within a few minutes felt absolutely peaceful.You could call it  a miracle of some sort because I suddenly started feeling happy and my mind started churning positive thoughts.The happiness which enshrouded me was something I couldn't describe but it surely did sweep me off my feet.It could be the combination of the words,beats and the notes which doubled up to be the perfect recipe for happiness and folks,that is what is our aim in life,isn't it?Muisc does wonders when you are completely involved in it and make sure you listen to music in a peaceful envoirnment.There is no definition for good music except,listen to any piece of music from any domain which you like or you can easily connect with.So folks,all you have to do is shut your eyes tight,get into the vehicle called 'Music' and be transported to the world of happiness.

Doing something by doing nothing

Have you ever imagined what life would be like if we just slowed down for a day and took a break.Well,don't ring bells in your mind about the loss of one day from your short life time because,even God up there wants you to apply breaks on your lackluster life.People may actually worship  their work but that doesn't mean they shouldn't stop and check out whether they are on the right track.If you feel that some demons will come around and plague your idle mind,stop cribbing and start 'ideating'.The idea behind taking a break is to let your brain contact your soul.In simle terms,you'll get to know yourself better.Try to find your passions and hobbies so that your mind will never be idled when you next take a break.The main reason behind this is to break the monotony you subject yourself to.Seriously folks,I have tried it and that is  where I found my passion for gardening and you could find your's too.Life is an interesting book and don't buzz through it to just read the words-'The End'

Books-A Constructive Indulgence

Moving away from my garden was the last thing I wanted but,in reality,a majority of  things in life are ineviatble.Well,since I am a student living away from home,every time I have to leave,my plants actually hold me back.But my mom is incharge of my garden until I get back and so I can be relieved.To take my mind away from this obsession or love for my plants,whatever it may be,I have started reading books and I must say that they can be really soothing for the mind.When I am reading the first few pages I feel like a light sleeper,who is pretty much aware of his surroundings but, after the next few pages I feel like I am travelling through this amazing world where characters actually come alive and start making sense to me.And believe me,if the story doesn't unfold in the manner I want it to,the entire day seems gloomy and everything seems sad.I many a times feel I have gone crazy but, hey!books  ultimately create this wonderful atmosphere which absorbs you deeper and deeper as you latch on to it.Secondly all the daily activities seem all the more monotonous and boring.I feel,books are like muses,once you are done with one the next is waiting to entice you.I must say that as we grow older everything in life has a hidden meaning and that we just need to discover it.When I was younger,I definitely read books but didn't really understand what inner power they had.I guess,with maturity comes 'meaning' and I am happy to have become an avid reader.

Experimenting with Veggies!

The moment the 'Gardening bug' bit me I went all out in ensuring that my empty pots were filled up with plants.Doing so,I ended up duplicating one particular variety to a great extent.But for terrace gardeners,the wonderful gardening dream can come crashing down if the available space is not managed properly.And let us be realistic,every gardener wants to have the maximum variety of plants that can be accomodated in the available space.Trying to build on this idealistic dream I wanted to grow my own vegetables.And believe me people,there are many out there who are experts in 'Container Farming'.Anyways,to start with my vegeatble garden I bought the 'Lady's Finger' seeds from the local grocery store.But after directly planting these seeds in the pot I soon realized that only the fittest(barely one or two of them are fit) survived.Also the saplings which were healthy started to wilt or just refused to grow anymore.Well,without losing heart I plucked out all the remainants of the 'Lady's Finger' plant and shifted my attention to sowing 'Brinjal' seeds.Taking my grandmother's advice seriously,I have planted the seeds in a makeshift container.But I must say the waiting time until the seeds sprout is absolutely agonizing.I just hope that the sprouts start showing their faces or I'll be heading back to square one,where duplication(of the existing plants) is the best option!
    

A boon for terrace gardeners

Choosing between plants and a vacation can be daunting,especially when you want to take off from a hectic schedule.But you keep feeling guilty about leaving your beloved plants with no one to water them while you are away.Well,I constantly face the same problem too and I must say that the weather in Mumbai is never co-operative and drying of plants in the intense afternoon heat is imminent.A simple solution to this problem is to create 'Self Watering Containers'.If you google more about this concept,you will see that a number of people growing plants in pots are opting for this kind of a concept,the primary reason being that Self Watering Containers know better than us as to how much of moisture is required by the soil.I did a little bit of digging(I mean the internet) and found out that, we many a times,unknowingly over water our plants and the primary reason for this being the fact that we are not blessed with some sort of X-ray vision to look deep into our pots.Ok,let me cut the theoratical crap and get to the practical part of this concept.I have shown below a step-by-step procedure to create a Self-Watering Container.

Firstly,you'll need to gather an old 'pet' bottle,a pair of scissors,a knife,a small bag of mud and an acrylic or cotton string about half a meter long(try getting an old shoe lace).

Now,using the knife cut across the neck of the bottle and seperate the two parts.The cutting should be gauged properly so that,the cut upper-half should be deep enough.

Now,insert the tip of the knife into the cap of the bottle to make a hole,large enough for the acrylic thread to pass through.Ensure that the thread is longer on the outside of the cap.

Invert the upper half into the bottom half.If you closely observe,the upper part of the bottle forms the pot and the lower part forms the water storage facility.

Since the container has been successfully created it can be used to plant any sappling of your choice.For this fill three-fourths of the inverted upper half with mud(the newly formed pot) as shown below.

I have chosen a 'Chrysanthemum' sapling to be planted in the 'Self Watering Container' since the roots of this plant do not spread around wildly and the plant is also a rapid grower.

Make sure you pour water into the lower half such that the water doesn't touch the cap.

After a few hours you will notice that a small part of the thread that is jetting out from the upper half(from the mud) will be completely wet.This indicates that the water absorption from the facility at the bottom has started and be assured that your plants will do the rest.Make sure you change the water at the bottom from time to time to prevent growth of algae.

Voila!We have successfully created a 'Self Watering Container'.The reason this setup works is because it ensures that the plants get the right amount of water they need and hence prevents unecessary rotting of roots due to over watering.Certain studies show that plants become more susceptible to diseases mainly because of wrong watering.

So folks,that is all I have to say today,I'll come back with some more thoughts and gardening tips later.

     

Coming Back Home

I must say it feels really good to be back home after so many days.The pleasure of technically doing nothing during a vacation really brings a smile on my face,especially saying a goodbye to those wreched engineering text books ,even if, for a brief period seems amazing.But the two things that made me happy on coming home were,seeing my mom after such a long time and secondly,coming back to my garden.Ofcourse nobody can ever pamper a person better than his mother.That holding true,I must also say that,hogging into some of the most amazing gastronomical delights that mummy cooks has a feeling which is absolutely special.Now,coming back to my garden,I must say that growing plants in an apartment is really tough.In the confined space allotted to me,I have around twenty plants,consisting of a combination of roses,shoe flowers,jasmines,chrysanthemums and some lovely flower bearing plants,whose names I do not know.Nevertheless,the weird connection I share with my plants is something I can never describe.However I just cannot thank my mother enough,for she takes such good care of my plants in my absense.I have loads to write but I'll save it up for my subsequent blog posts.Remembering what my best friend always says,"Blogging is really addictive!",its me signing off.

A Prologue

Hi folks!For all you guys who don't know me,I'm Nishanth.Well, there is not much to say when you start to write your first blog post,but I'll try.I guess we write blogs because there is something more to it than writing a diary,which may get bitten by dust over a period of time or turn out to be a shocker for the person who accidentally happens to read it.I have started writing so that I can convey my thoughts and write about my favourite hobbies-Gardening and Art.Listening to music is something else which I ardently do and I mostly listen to Indian-Classical- fusion.My subsequent posts may really help you paint  a clearer picture of me contradictory to my hazy introduction.Ok guys,it is getting late now and I seriously ought to catch some sleep ,to write something new tomorrow,in the meanwhile keep listening to good music and sing the same to your plants if you are one of those crazy people like me,who keeps looking at his plants every two minutes to see if they have grown any bigger.