Avoid Whirlpool products

Whirlpool, Whirlpool! The products we purchased actually made our life a whirlpool!

We had purchased a Whirlpool refrigerator (6th sense technology) and a Whirlpool washing machine (6th sense technology yet again!) - the sports version in February 2010. And after much research we thought Whirlpool is a good buy.

Unfortunately, we had to sell off the refrigerator in September 2012. Why? Because in these 2.5 years, it gave us so many problems that we just had to dispose it off. I was lodging a complaint every now and then in the time the refrigerator was with us. The problems ranged from the sensor, compressor, light, freezing or over-freezing,... The list would go endless. Uff! Now we bought an LG refrigerator and we are happy. Life's Good!

The Whirlpool washing machine has been giving us problems since earlier this year too. And I've been placing so many complaints that it's a headache! Our washing machine is not working since 22nd September 2012. And as per the Whirlpool technicians, the new part is not available. Somebody came and changed the motor & the washing machine still didn't work. And now they are telling they are trying to find a new part and they may find it in 2 days or it may take 5 days or a bit longer. When, they can't tell! This washing machine will have to go. Unfortunately.
We'll buy an IFB washing machine soon.

I've always had this thought that if a person wants the best, money has to be shelled out. Not that we didn't spend a good amount on Whirlpool - just that putting in an extra 4-5 grand on IFB then would have helped us avoid this re-spending on a washing machine so soon. And an additional 3-4 grand on the refrigerator would have made our life good from earlier.

My rating of Whirlpool - 0.5 stars out of 5 stars.

In fact, Kajol and Ajay Devgan being pretty decent actors must avoid being the brand ambassadors of Whirlpool. They can try being brand ambassadors of other better products. Are you listening?

Oh! The terrible lie...

Woke up this morning
Trying hard to hide my melancholy
I've joined you for breakfast
And we continued our lie...

Every day it's similar
You are so cheery
And so am I
Oh! our terrible lie..

I do wish sometimes
As I leave for work sullenly
Dreading the day already
Weeping far within...

The lie, terrible and unending
Would cease to be
And I would know the real you
And the real me...

...and no one knows

I am alone,
so very alone.

I am hurt,
so very hurt.

I am ignored,
just thrown aside.

I am security,
for others to have.

I am lonely,
there is no one close,
no one sees the pain.

I am alone,
and no one knows.

...

I shed a tear today,
Silently, I let it fall...
You caught it, you shared it...
Held it, felt it,
Then...
Suddenly, it wasn't so big after all!

What good is love...

I waited for your love in hope
That ours would come again
And makes me feel like the things
When we were one then...
But then time and distance have erased
The things I wished anew
And now I find myself alone
Even though I am here with you...

What good is love, that does not touch
What good is love, that gives you pain
What good is love, that makes you run
And makes you lost out in the rain?

Too painful is this - to journey back
To times of love and laughter,
The times we lay together with
A sense of you, and a sense of me...

I still want to journey with you
What good is to journey alone,
But at time too, I shall ask,
What good is love...

Ridiculous!

"Aa Re
Pritam pyare, Banduk mein na toh, Goli mere
Aaa.. re
Pritam pyare, Sab aag toh, Mere kurti mein re, Zara hukka utha zara, Chillam jala..
Pallu ke neeche Chupake rakha hai, Utta doon toh hangama ho..."

I was listening to this song for the first time earlier this year from the movie Rowdy Rathore and I didn't know how to react. Actually I din't give much of a thought that time. Then I watched this song again few more times whenever it was being flashed on one of the channels. What atrocious are the lyrics! As per the song, all fire is in that dancers shirt? And why would she show to all what she has hidden under her 'pallu'?

And who was the choreographer for this song? The dance movement look cheap!

Consider another song from the movie Kya Super Cool Hain Hum -
"Hum toh hain cappuccino, tum pee lo zara haseeno..."

And while singing this song, the two actors turn their backs to the camera and pull down their pants (I'll not prefer to call trousers) to show their colorful shorts with something written on them...


Has the standard of people gone down so much to prefer songs with these kind of lyrics? What happened to the golden era of songs from Hindi cinema? The list of beautiful songs is endless. Listen songs from that era today and they are still melodious and sweet!

"Ek ladki bheegi bhaagi si, Soti raaton mein jaagi si, Mili ik ajnabi se, Koyi aage na peechhe, Tum hi kaho ye koyi baat hai..." from Chalti ka Naam Gaadi
"Ajeeb dastaan hai yeh, kahan shuru kahan khatam; yeh manzilain hain kaunsi, na tum samajh sake na tum...", from Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai

Come on music directors of today, you can do better!

Daughters

In India, I've seen that there is a definite difference between a daughter and a daughter-in-law. No matter what anyone says, a daughter-in-law is never regarded a daughter. A daughter leaves her home and comes to a new home. And still, she is hardly accepted as a daughter. And it is a very sad situation.

I am a daughter. And a happy one for my parents.

And I'll wait for a daughter-in-law to be part of my life. To make her a daughter & pamper her with all the daughter love.

Children as teachers

Hey there!

My child is growing, and so am I with him. He is teaching me so much that I find it amazing how such a small child can be such a lovely 'guru' or a teacher.

The first time I learnt from him was when he was as small as a 3-month old child. He had got his shot of DTaP and BCG, the after effect of which is fever. And fever he had that particular night. He didn't even sleep the entire night. I was all sad, and feeling irritable as to why my child has to go through such pain. He was miserable with around 101 degree fever - and still he was smiling at me every now and then through the night! It was as if he was telling me, "Mom, don't be sad - I'll be ok." He was smiling in what was his adverse situation and in turn I was smiling with him. That was what was his first teaching to me - smile no matter what & this too shall pass.

And since then, there have been more things I am learning from him - every single day. And I'm sure I'll continue to learn as each day progresses.

Still old habits die hard. I do get angry at times & badly. There are reasons - something happened, someone said something, I do something I don't want to do... The list would go on. For example, today I got angry at my small child just because he wasn't taking his afternoon nap & I was too tired! I took out my anger at him by shouting at him! DUH at me. And now I feel miserable!!
What I need to understand is that I get angry because of myself. Not because of the situations or people around me. I need to stop the situations and people to affect me in a way that'll make me lose my temper.

Love you, my child. And thanks for being my 'guru.'
Children can be fabulous & creative teachers - all I can say is that listen to & learn from them.

Lots of L.O.V.E.

Impressing someone?

The other day, I was reading an inspirational quote (I suppose that's what they call it).

"You don't have to change to impress others; they should be impressed that you don't change to please others."

Yes, true to a big extent. If a person is trying to change to impress someone, the entire effort, as per me, is not worth it. As I've said earlier too, anyone wanting to change, must have a will supporting it. (Not the legal will - DUH! However, yes, an internal will to change)

Maintaining one's individuality is an important trait in a person. However, at times it gets difficult to maintain it in a relationship. I've seen friends whose elders have given unnecessary examples about their lifetime, which may not be valid in today's scenario. How those elders managed their life was their decision. And my friends/acquaintences had to put up with it. And tried to change their lifestyle valid in today's scenario to an old world scenario.

So, are you trying to change something in you to impress someone? If yes, stop and think - will it make you happy? If yes, go ahead & 'impress' that someone. If it won't make you happy, chuck the idea of impressing anyone. Life will be much easier. And much more happier.

Realize = Seeing with real eyes.

Over time, I've realized that the only thing that is constant is 'change.' Looking back over the last six years, there have been so many changes I couldn't have imagined. Or imagined. Our family has grown, we moved to our own home, relatives left the city, some elders have passed on, and much more.

And over time, what I've also realized that never ever plan much much in future. Things are so fluid that the idea is to live in NOW. There have been things I planned and what happened what diagonally opposite. And I felt totally helpless as I couldn't do anything about it. What I've not learnt totally is to go with the flow. To some extent, maybe yes; however, not totally. And when I've not gone with the flow, I've been on the verge of breaking down - mentally.

So, the only thing that is constant is 'change.' What do you think?

All things Indian!

I had gone to Dilli Haat few months back. What is Dilli Haat? Translated as is, it means Delhi Bazaar, where you can go and shop for ethnic Indian stuff. Be it clothes, paintings, bangles, furniture, and much more. Clicked some photographs then. There was a lady selling bangles, clicked some of her photographs. She was more curious about where her photographs will be printed and she continued to pose! :)

I bought a beautiful, blue-colored, Kashmiri stole (smaller version of shawl, you can say). A bit on the expensive side, which most products in Dilli Haat are, still it is okay. All you must visit Dilli Haat once.

Speaking of ethnic Indian stuff. I am a big fan of FabIndia. The products at FabIndia are hand-crafted from traditional techniques. My personal favorite to buy clothes and home accessories. I've visited all FabIndia stores in South Delhi and can vouch that the FabIndia store in Vasant Kunj is the best. Way to go!! Visit www.fabindia.com to visit the online store.

Avoid Easy Cabs!

With time, the convinience and ease of traveling from one place to another in India has increased. Be it going from one city to another or from one location to another within a city. I still remember when I was younger, the option to go to my aunt's home was by a bus. Now it's not only bus, we can reach there by metro rail, auto, and by a radio taxi too! The options have amazingly increased.

Talking about radio taxis, we have various options where I stay. Mega cabs, Meru cabs, and Easy Cabs being the most used. Personally, I would rate Mega cabs the best. The rates are decent and the drivers are well-behaved. 4.5/5.
Which cab service is to be avoided? Easy Cabs. Three times I've had bad experience with them. And that's it - no more booking an Easy Cab in future.
What were these experiences?

1- I booked an Easy Cab to go from office to home for some urgent work. The booking was taken and they sent me the booking number. I go down at the appointed time & don't find any cab. I call back Easy cabs & ask them about the cab (I quote the booking number). And I was told, sorry, cab is not available! Hello, at least tell!! I can make alternate arrangements. But no.

2- Another time, I book an Easy Cab. And this time, the cab came in 25 minutes before appointed time. My work wasn't over; therefore, I told the driver to wait till the appointed time. He sounded as if in a hurry and asked me to come immediately. On reminding him that he arrived much earlier than the appointed time, it didn't matter to the driver. I still told him to park the cab & I'll come over. He unwillingly parked the cab. After around 10 minutes, he called up telling me that he is leaving because I'm taking time & he cannot wait. When I said I'll complain - he said it's ok I can complain to whoever I want to, but he's still leaving. I was left fuming!!!

3- The latest incident as new as today. I called other radio cabs, but due to rush, I called up Easy Cabs. A cab was available & it arrived 5 minutes late as on appointed time. This driver called saying he reached and I should come out immediately. I simply said ok, you've just reached & give me a minute. This driver seemed in a hurry too & kept telling me to come out immediately. I went. My small baby was with me. On the way, he applied brakes suddenly and it led to a jerk in my baby's neck. I simply told the driver there's a small baby with us, driver carefully. And this driver started shouting, "It's not because of me - this car in front stopped suddenly - I am driving ok." When I asked him not to shout & lower his volume, he shouted again, "My volume is always like this." At that point I wanted to hit him hard - but couldn't as I had my baby with me & I had to take him to a doctor.

I've decided not to book an Easy Cab ever again. You make your choice.

!!!

Last week was one depressing & gloomy week. Not only was the weather grey & gloomy, my mood was giving the weather company by being equally gloomy - maybe more. I did realize it was a phase of post partum depression. I was hoping it won't strike; however, it did. Bad thoughts, in fact depressing thoughts loomed large the entire week. No matter how much I tried by thinking about happy memories & thoughts, it didn't help. Now it's better though! Much much better. The weather helped too - it's sunny and cheerful.

My husband and I completed six years to our wedding few days back. Six years of love and togetherness, ups and downs, and a bond that has strengthened with every passing moment. Love you, my husband.

Have you ever felt a sense of helplessness? You really needed / wanted to do something; however due to circumstances / people, you couldn't? Or all you wanted / needed was some time from someone; however, someone didn't have time whole heartedly?

I'm sure many of us would have experienced helplessness at home or work, with family or colleagues, or on top of it with yourself. I've experienced helplessness too & am in that feeling now.