Facing the face of fear

Now, would you believe it...even my family doesn't know how I look with spectacles on. I never want to be seen wearing specs. I take them off before attending meetings or wherever I am required to be in the public eye. If someone walks up to my desk, the first thing I do before a Hello is take off the ugly accessory from my face. The "why" is pretty straight forward...Yes, someone must have told me sometime that I looked lizzy like (Like a lizard) in them.

My Parents and I

I was born to my parents after 7 years of marriage. Everyone said I was gifted from a lot of God's my parents worshipped before they could have me. ...And I cannot thank God enough for giving me my parents!

They sent me to India's best boarding school when I turned 9. I remember how mumma prepared me for the entrance exam to Mayo. I had to wake up at 5am during my winter vacation to study. Well, it wasn't just studying, it was violent studying. I remember mumma slapping me because I hated memorizing the Paryayavachi (Synonyms) ....There were more than 500 to learn. It was tough but Mumma, I couldn't have done it without you.

I think I was 6 or 7 when Mumma went for a Teerth Yatra with a lot of relatives and my brother and I were left with Papa. For my brother and I, our world had come to an end. How can I forget the way we cried. We could see Mumma everywhere and this was the first time we had to live without her. Well...but...it turns out that that period also left behind fond memories. We bonded with Papa. He would dress us up for school, sometimes even assist in preparing omelette's and even drop and pick us up from school. Papa always has his own touch to things...and "that" is always the best!

My school - Mayo College Girls' School

If there is something I would give my hands and legs for...It has to be going back to school! The teachers, friends, food, games, curriculum, academics...defines perfection! Mayo is the best gift my parents could have given to me. I spent 8 years of my life there. Started as a little girl with very poor hindi, went on to become the house prefect, house vice-captain and then the Captain. My poor hindi skills were honed and by class 12, I was heading the Hindi Debating Society. I was an average singer and yes Mayo recognized me and shaped me well enough to win 2nd position at the National Classical singing competition. Mayo made me work hard and if I did manage a 90% up in class 12, it is because the teachers made me believe I could do it and wouldn't settle for anything less than that. And you know what...its been 8 years that I left Mayo and the bar just keeps rising! Thank you Mayo for everything! I owe it all to them...now even my husband! ;)

Anka in Wonderland

I never understood what was so secretive about secret diaries. I mean I rememeber being inhibited with my own diary because I anticipated someone reading it. I was always paranoid. So, I guess my life is always an open book because I maintain a book for family read.