That brings a smile across...

Happiness has many definitions. Some relate it to inner peace that you may find at a quiet place up in the hills or some may relate it material wealth. According to me happiness is something that I find in the smallest of things. Happiness is not something that you go in search for, it knocks on your door in a million ways and you just need to notice it and acknowledge it with a smile on your face. 

When I sat down to make a list of those simple reasons that make me smile, every time I penned down a reason, my lips automatically curved and brought a smile across my face. Here are a few:

1. Watching Kuch Kuch Hota Hai on TV all of a sudden:
        This is one movie that I can watch any number of times. It had released when I was in my 6th std in school. I remember getting my haircut done like Anjali in the movie and walking around with those blue dungarees. 

Courtesy Youtube

2. Morning sunshine that flashes through the curtains:
        Each morning as the sun's rays flash through the curtains in my window they bring the joy of a new day, the warmth oh a bright morning and new hopes to soar high. 

Courtesy Flikr

3. A cup of coffee made by my husband:
       Whenever A had a holiday, he makes an amazing cup of coffee and hands over the cup to me by sipping it a little to check if the coffee's good. How I love that cup of coffee made with so much of love.

4. A discount sale when you actually need it:
         Oh that word sale makes my wallet bigger and brings such a huge smile on my face especially when I so absolutely need it. 

Courtesy Brandwatch.com

5. Going for a long walk around the city:

         Ever tried walking aimlessly, not knowing where to go with all the time in the world and with no goals to complete. I try doing it a number of times and at the end of it there is so much fun in seeing some new places, observing people and their habits and quietly walk all by yourself. 

6. Going out for a health checkup and landing home with a fighter fish and a fish bowl

         Two weeks ago, I had gone for a health check up and on my way back found a small shop where they sold aquariums and fish bowls. I had a strange desire as a kid to have a small fish bowl with just a single fish inside it. I walked into the shop and bought my first fish bowl and a beautiful blue coloured fish. 

My Blue Fighter Fish

7. Swimming in the night and finding the water warm

        On a cold day all you need is a warm water bath to make you feel great. How great would it be to go swimming when the water is warm just for you..

Do watch this commercial by Coca-Cola India

India's Daughter - BBC Documentary - A must Watch !!

In 2012, when I first heard about the rape of a young girl in a moving bus, I had felt an uneasiness in my stomach. The uneasiness twirled a few cells in my body and made me want to vomit. Today when I saw this video going viral on the internet, I felt the same. Even after 2 years, the uneasiness remains. The reason why it does is because the mindset remains the same. Even after the rapists were given the highest sentence, rapes continue to happen.

Today when I watched the video, I was in tears. A young woman who would have grown to be a very good doctor, a young woman who had dreams to help the underprivileged, a woman who was brave and struggled hard to make ends meet was killed. We lost a woman who would have made a difference. We lost a woman who would have been an inspiration to all those families who feel that a daughter is a burden.

What we are left with is just a system that delays and delays justice of every kind. What we are left with are just shattered dreams and painful tears that wouldn't stop.

We are told that the only way to end this is education. But today when I heard the defence lawyers for the rapists speak in favour, I realised that education alone cannot make a difference. One of the lawyers mentioned that "A woman is like a flower, if it is left in the gutter it will be spoilt and if it is kept in the temple it will be worshipped, while a man is like a thorn that protects the flower".

The other lawyer even spoke about Indian culture which never allows girl to befriend a boy. He even goes ahead saying that he only looks at woman "with sex in his eyes". The NGO for Rape victims and Juveniles even said that we live in a very tolerant country where decisions cannot be based on public outburst.

Just because we have been tolerant all this while has such an incident even happened. Our tolerance has hit a limit and now we cannot be silenced. If a very strong punishment had been given for rapes in our country this incident wouldn't have ever happened.

In the entire video, I cried when I heard the victim's parent speak. But not a single drop of tear fell when the parents of the rapists spoke. There was a burning anger inside me that made me question why did they ever give birth to such criminals. The bus driver who is shown narrating the incident is equally guilty. What shook me was the statements given by the defence lawyers and it made me realise where the mistake is.

The mistake is that we live in a society where men like this do not feel a pinch about such incidents. It will take years before we see a change, before we see every man respect every woman and only with respect will things change.