"Creative" and "Productive"

Do not be surprised looking at the title, particularly words in quotation marks. This phrase 'creative and productive' always reminds me about good ol' days when Kunal and I were in Friendship -> Wedding transition period. He was in US and I was in India, working in Mumbai.

When he was about to come to India, I took leave for couple of weeks and went to Gandhinagar. In addition to meet him, I had to go through eye surgery and also attend some functions. As I was at mom's place, I had nothing to do..it was a real break in true sense after a long time. I had nothing to do other than eating, sleeping and roaming around here and there.

We had become very close by then and we would talk at least 3-4 times a day though he was busy with exams and last minute packing and shopping.Whenever we would talk, he would certainly ask me how did I spend my day. And looking at my lazy schedule, he would always comment on to do something 'creative' and 'productive'. It's a different story that he is even lazier than I am and thoroughly enjoys eating and sleeping :)

Today, all of a sudden I remembered about this because I spent more time in deciding template, color and fonts for both my blogs that actually writing something. What do you think, can it be considered 'creative' and 'productive'? :) :)

Is it the right time?

This 4th July long weekend, we went to Baltimore to see Kunal's cousin, especially to see their three and a half months old daughter. We just spent little more than 24 hours with them and within such a short period of time, that sweet little kid became so comfortable with both of us, especially with Kunal.

She could easily recognize Kunal, she would laugh when he was around and start screaming as soon as he moved from her. She did not cry at all when she was with him. I know, he is good with kids but this was really something.


So now I think.....it is just the right time for us :)

Where am I from?

It has been almost 4 weeks since I am back from India. But India fever is still up.Anyway...being away from your homeland, the most common question you encounter is 'where are you from?' As soon as you see any Indian, in bus, train, flight, mall, park, grocery store this would be the question in initial conversation. In first level answer, you would name the state and if opposite person is also Gujarati, it will be further categorized based on city and then area of the city.

I am also not an exception, I also have been asked this question hundreds of times. My answer has always been like this - ' I am from Gandhinagar, but my in-laws live in Ahmedabad'. In three and half years of marriage, I could never consider Ahmedabad my home. Though we have all relatives here. Starting from shopping to fun, we used to go to Ahmedabad quite often but I could never feel that attachment with this city.
Even my so-called family belong to this place. I still can somehow manage to pass daytime, but as soon as the Sun sets in I feel like going 'my home'. If I am given an option to choose Ahmedabad or America, probably I'll go for America!!! I do not and never wanted to follow that typical Indian tradition that 'after marriage your husband's home is your home'.

Most of us have heard that filmy dialog ' where do women belong to? first it's dad's house, then husband's and finally it's son's house.' But I am lucky, home in America is MY HOME where I have full freedom and liberty to do whatever I want to. And my parents home in Gandhinagar, it holds special values. It's my childhood home and I'll be completely acquainted with place and customs, no matter where I live!!