Few of my favorite things :)

So, I sat under the moonlit sky, pondering on what happiness means to me. Yes, happiness has indeed got different meanings for different people. For me, happiness is staying close to my brother, bringing a smile on my parents' face, and yes buying gifts for them. Because I feel a sense of achievement when I see them smiling and I am the reason behind it. It instantly makes me feel proud of myself. 

Apart from this, a sense of faith that someone somewhere exists who will truly love me and make me believe that I'm the best thing that has happened to him. And that he breaths under the same sky makes me blush even more! The wait for true love to hit you can be romantic too. *wink*

Chocolate and ice cream - the stress busters are always welcome to add happiness to my life along with pizza and cold drink to go with it. And then there are the small little things that we often let go unnoticed... these things are like fresh air and can take away all the gloom in seconds. The morning dewdrops on flowers looking like pearls, snowflakes in winters falling like cotton, the romantic drizzle that vanishes all pain, the fragrance of the wet sand, reading a good book with a cup of hot coffee while tucked in a cozy blanket, or picking up my pencils to make a sketch... everything feels heavenly. 

Playing with my cousin's dog and clicking his pictures, pouting with friends for a selfie, laughing like a carefree baby, crinkle my nose at the silly thoughts, and then tickling my best friend to annoy her all these things make me happy.

That's not all. Recently, I experienced a different kind of happiness that felt eternal. Spending a day at the orphanage, listening to them is such an unparalleled moment of untainted joy. Eating with them, playing with them and simply looking at their maturity made me feel so delighted. And when they let me hold their pet 'rabbit'... oh the bliss! I can never put that feeling in words because they flaunted the rabbit in front of me as if they are showcasing priceless diamonds. In that moment, I realized how small little things can be bigger than the biggest things in life as they hold so much importance in somebody's life. 

So, whenever I'm feeling a little low or sad, I simply remember one of my many favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad! In fact, I feel refreshed to indulge in many more naughty tricks and pranks. While recollecting happy moments from past, I end up creating more such moments in present, perhaps to cherish in future!

And when it comes to cherishing the moments and make them memorable, what better than gathering over a canteen table and make some noise, laugh endlessly along with 'thanda matlab coca cola'. :) After all, it's not rocket-science to be happy and make others happy! #Iamhappy

And I felt like a Magician!

It was an ordinary day, which suddenly turned extraordinary as I held the magic wand in my hand. I reached my workplace in time and started my work tasks for the day, when I remembered that I had to go on a photo walk that evening and I had forgotten my camera at home. I somehow accomplished all my tasks for the day and left office.

I met my friend Riya at the decided venue and told her that I will not be able to go further as I don't have my camera. She assured me that it won't be a problem and winking at me she gave me her phone. She told me it would serve better than a camera, I just stared at her dumbfounded. I remember calling her insane and how can she even think this will beat a camera. She just smiled and taking my hand she literally dragged me. 

We started clicking pictures once the whole team had reached the venue. I was amazed at the camera quality of this phone - ASUS Zenfone 5. I was awestruck as I continued to use this new PixelMaster that captured perfect professional pictures.

Soon, it got dark and I could see my helplessness getting back. The whole team was now using flashes and I was feeling weird, looking at the phone. 

'Okay then, that's it for me, I guess! I should call it a day and head back home', I told the team. 

'Leaving already? But the night photography is the best part of this photo walk. How can you just miss it?' Varun tried to stop me and lure in the plan. 

My friend, Riya convinced me once again by showing some incredible features of the Zenfone - Low Light Photography.

Added to that, with Time Rewind feature in the phone, I was just too intrigued to click more. I enabled Time Rewind, and the PixelMaster camera automatically started recording images two seconds before and one second after pressing the shutter button. During this three-second period, 31 photos were recorded for me to choose, meaning that the perfect moment is never missed if you click from this phone.

I felt like a magician capturing shots that added to my memories. That night, I decided to stay at Riya's and explore this incredible phone. 

It was fun, 'this phone has super powers', Riya hushed at me. I eyed her and told her she should not exaggerate. 

'I know this is wonderful, has a powerful extraordinary camera, but super powers? No, please! Let's be realistic', I said to her.

She laughed it off and showed me the super power for real. 'Okay so this is called The Incredible Searchathon - this is like WOW! It can help you trace any of your friend just by imputing some information', she opened the feature. 

I simply drooled and gasped, curious to discover how it works. 

She continued, 'With this feature, you can see what others can't see and do what others can't do. Do you wanna try?'

'Of course!'

'Okay, so look all you have to do is open this Incredible Searchathon and start filling in the details - the phone number, name, and link of his/her Facebook profile and click on 'GO'. Simple, isn't? And then it simply traces your friend's phone location and takes you along with him on this map.'

'Oh well, it's superb. Almost like the magical map from Harry Potter!'

'Yeah. Isn't it fun? You know what, its 5 inch screen has an amazing display that will help you writing and editing docs on the go. You being a writer can utilize it to the fullest. It has multiple themes and fonts too.'

'I am just speechless.... My search for incredible ends here! - ASUS Zenfone 5. Thanks Riya for introducing me to this simple, peaceful, and beautiful phone.'

Bliss of Being Published! :)

I started as a reader, turned into a reviewer. Gradually treaded the path to become a writer and an editor. The constant love and encouragement from some really lovely people around me helped this journey to stay as smooth as possible. Today, as I hold these 6 books in my hand, I instantly feel a curve forming on my face. I laugh and memories cling me. The past 2-3 months have been really memorable! A roller coaster ride indeed and yet worth while. I remember how it began and today as I go back to reviewing, taking a break from writing, my mind at once feels much relaxed and happy. A happy heart is passée, but a happy mind is something rare. Basking in this glory for sometime. Yes, I am much Humbled! :) Thank you to one and all for believing in me and letting me live this dream. May your dreams fulfil too and may I keep spreading love and happiness around, like I always used to do. God bless us all.

Love,

Ila :) 

Thank you note!!

They say that an Author is nothing without his/her readers. I personally believe in the saying. So here I am thanking all my blog readers for their appreciations. Thank you so much Tavleen Kaur, Basil, Princy Kurian, Jayashree Tripura, Anadi Sir, Ashish Dadgaa, Komal Panwar, and all the others I have missed out for your appreciations and encouragements over the time.

No writer can write in vacuum. So the writings are always influenced by the surroundings. My writings are no exceptions. I write what I experience, what I see around me, what I feel from the bottom of my heart, sometimes I write what my friends face, etc. And because they are real, people connect to them much easily. People all around me suffer from heartbreaks and other such common feelings like being left out in the crowd. So,  I write about such incidents, it is to make them see a possible solution and work towards it. I believe that together we can make sadness temporary and happiness will be a permanent state then!

When you guys tell me that you found my blog interesting, it gives me a boost to keep writing. Every work of art needs to be commented upon. Critics/ or bad comments helps in improvising while praises help in strengthening one's belief in oneself. So keep them coming. Your reviews, feedback, even a line is essential for me to keep writing more and more.


P.S. - Life seems interesting to write about when you all are there to read about it. ;) And yeah feel free to share your personal experiences like you always do, so that I may include them. Obviously names will be changed if you don't want to be mentioned. :P

Here I am signing off for now,
Love & Laughter,
Ila :)