Diwali 2014

The last few months have been very tough. We recently (as in 2 months back) shifted to a rented accommodation, from our own house (in-law's house) and awaiting the possession of our own flat which was promised last December (#NCRflatpossessionwoes). There are, obviously, a lot of limitations and challenges we are facing as renters, decor being one of them. Also, with my in-law's place being hardly an hour's drive from our new flat - all festivals have to be doubly celebrated. This, while being a lot of fun, also turns out to be quite hectic.

This year, somehow, my enthusiasm for Diwali was pretty much on the lower end of the spectrum. My husband was surprised and made all the efforts to keep me upbeat. He brought flowers, without being asked - I hardly used them. He brought Rangoli colors - I didn't make one as I was worried I will stain the floor with the colors. Basically, I was walking a tight-rope with the whole "being renter" business. You must be wondering that I am exaggerating the situation here, but the fact is we will hardly be staying in this home - max till March. I don't want to be too connected to this home and put too much of an effort or energy into it that it becomes difficult to dissociate myself. We are also house-proud people and know that this is someone else's house - something that we can not take for granted.

Since we had promised that we will show you a few glimpses of our own homes, to familiarize ourselves with you, here's my take on Diwali this year. Tell us what you think about whatever little I have done.

Fold your hands together as I begin with my Mandir :).

May I Come In : Reny's Nautical Abode

You remember that time when the height of cool was remembering the “My Heart Will Go On” lyrics verbatim, or trying the Titanic pose every time you are on a ferry boat or any boat or near water or just because there are 2 of you? I, actually, went through a phase from 1997-2002 where I believed I will meet the temporary love of my life (come-on I will not marry a hippie for crying out loud!!) with casual wind-swept hair, talking to me about art and living for the moment (home loans be damned!!), on a ship. Then came the Internet revolution and this whole “mistakes in the movie TITANIC” kinda extensive researches, Leo’s (yeah I can call him that) conscious departure from cute-boyish to serious-rugged style, it all made me sigh and move on. My love for the vast open ocean and the dream of a cruise trip is still intact, though. So imagine my thrill when I get to meet Reny who shares the same love, actually more, much much more. So much more that when it came to building his house, he built it totally around the look of a ship’s interior. 

Come along with us as we take a tour of our very first theme-based home. Let me first properly introduce Reny. Reny Joseph, who works in the Merchant Navy, is the proud owner of this nautical themed home, along with his lovely wife Reena . He claims the ocean to be his first, oops, second (sorry Reena) love and with a man totally smitten, he displayed his love in his home. The theme has been played along with a lot of usage of sturdy wood, glimpse of which you receive as soon as you enter. The first thing you notice is the massive wooden door with the glass cut-outs making the sun-light do a jig of their own. I am actually imagining a tail-coat wearing door-man opening it for me with Celine Dion providing the background score (I am still at –it with my Titanic references – Gawwdd I am stuck in the 90s!!).

May I Come In : An Ultra-Glam Guest Bedroom

So I am back (No, not like KJo, dahlings :P) after my month-long hiatus. I would love to describe what all I have been doing all this while but I can see how how eager you are for me to (NOT) tell that story. Let's cut to the chase, shall we? I am sure the title of the post has got you all excited - don't we all love to have a sneak-peek at others' lives (Facebook) or others' homes (this blog!!). So, without further ado, I bring back to you, our decorator extraordinaire, Samreen. You remember her right - the one with the agree-to-adopt-me-and-I-can-leave-my-parents level of awesome nursery??

Well, she heard my pleas (read threats) and did some grown-up magic at her home. As a designer myself, I know the easy and hard bits of decor - a blank slate being easy and a renovation/redecoration the tough part. Samreen, being the decor ninja she is, tackled the tough bit with a nonchalance unbecoming of someone just entering the biz. How about a look-see at the dull and drab "Before" shot of the guest-room she touched with her magic wand?

The Diwali Post - Finally :/

OK I can't stop kicking myself. This is the longest I have disappeared from this blog and boy, do I feel bad. I don't even want to make excuses because they are so downright silly that I will just feel embarrassed if nothing else. Just for laughs, I think I will just tell you. The genuine reason, for starters, is that the sudden change in weather really hit me hard. I was unwell and taking full advantage of the same, I made sure I didn't even lift a finger and turns out, being on the bed for long makes you rediscover the joys of TV viewing. I have to ask, do you like me sometimes forget to even switch on the TV? If not for my husband and his "Political News" and "Cricket" obsession, TV does not even play a role in my life and is just an extra thing I have to get dusted. Being under the weather, I had developed a fixed schedule. Work from home from 10 to 7 and begin the TV marathon from 9 pm. Starting with Masterchef Australia (my husband wants to know when I plan to cook that Mussels they showed in a particular episode) followed by Whitney (it's weirdly funny, really!!) at 10, then Up all Night at 10.30 (I see my not-so-far future coming alive on TV and really who doesn't love Maya Rudolph??) and end it with the final show of Castle at 11 (It's not nail-bitingly thrilling, more of a refined version of our desi C.I.D. but I am hooked!!). In the process, though, the blog was neglected and I can't say sorry enough!! Now, since I promised Diwali pics, I guess I will just go ahead and bombard you with them. Hopefully, next year I will be more prompt :). 

May I Come In - Vin & Mel's Abode!!

** Working on the Diwali Decor post but how can I be away from you guys for so long. Why don't you enjoy this beautiful home in the meanwhile :).

As couples, my husband and I have a very God-like marriage, specially in terms of home-decor. He proposes, I disposes (all the Grammar Nazis out there, dispose-S work-S better!!). So it really baffles me when I see my Jewelry Designer friend Vinita married to Melvin, who has an Interior background, have a perfectly balanced home and actually have similar aesthetic sensibilities. I couldn't help but share their beautiful home with you, my dear readers. And oh, did I tell you that they will very soon be joined by a gorgeous hunk of a little boy - so pls bless this handsome couple and wish them luck.
Here's a glimpse of their Living Room -

We get a look-see of their Living Room, Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom. The Nursery and Vinita's home-office is still in their final stages of completion.

May I Come In - A Nursery to Die for!

As kids, I shared a bedroom with my brother (trust me, not an ideal situation!). In a perfect world, one would expect your parents to make it kid-friendly - you know, like a Princess theme or a Barbie theme or if you are giving your son's opinion any importance - Mario themed. Well, nothing like that happened. We had a pretty basic, bland room with 2 beds, 1 study table (yes 1, my parents had given up hope on my brother quite early in their lives) and 2 wardrobes. Add into the mix, some random shelves over-flowing with toys (his) and books (mine) and you get the picture what my room (yes mine!! Eat dirt, brother) was like, growing up. So, when I came across a nursery decorated by a dear friend, I realized what I have been missing all my life (Dad, Mom explain that to my shrink :P). All I can say is that I want to go back to being a kid - yeah right!! Let's get real - Samreen, adopt me now!!

Introducing on these pages a dear friend and decorator extraordinaire Samreen Moyeen. Mum of two bonny little girls, she has recently started her own career in Interiors at Dhaka, Bangladesh. Like all indulgent parents, she loves living vicariously through her kids. Here's her beautiful nursery for you to die and reach Nursery Heaven.

Come Away With Me : The Swades Moment

So it happens (cue the Shehnai background score from the movie pls!!). You can run but you cannot hide. Your roots, they unearth you and take you back to where you belong. I am proud, I really am but growing up, Bihar was an albatross around my neck. You want to be known and identified by your roots but who wants to be stereotyped? So I threw attitude when I could, avoided answering when I could but abhorred using “Main” and “Haanji” from the very core of my being. We are Biharis and our “I” is Hum and our “We” is Hum. And really, when you can’t say “Aap lijiyega” sufficing with “Aap loge” then why add a respectful “Ji” to a basic “Haan”?

I don’t want to start a regional warfare zone here but I have a husband who takes “Being Bihari” as a cause in his life and enlightening others as his responsibility. I, obviously, have to be his star student and spread the awesomeness around. I was visiting my parents and one fine day we decided to make our stay worth its while, so we drove up to discover Nalanda.

You can read the history and the story above as I hardly remember the details of what the guide said. What struck me though was the sheer beauty of the place, the stories behind the walls and how the knowledge centre, probably the greatest in this world, was reduced to being a tourist spot?