nanlostinthoughts

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[nanlostinthoughts]

THE MOST INSIPIRING WOMEN I KNOW…

This is going to be like a story; a story of a women I know; a story of a women who had influenced me directly or indirectly. No, I am not talking about my mother, who had backed me up then, now and forever. But an old woman, a widower, a lady who stood up as a live example when I was wondering what being “Independent” is all about – My grandmother.

I was born at Trichy, a very conservative town, atleast to my knowledge. I did my kindergarten there – growing up seeing my mother as a homemaker and of course a very caring and loving paternal grandma. My brother and I used to go to Chennai for every vacation but I hardly remember those days. Due to unavoidable reasons, we had to relocate to Chennai leaving my father at Trichy. I still remember that journey from Trichy and Chennai. I was worried how I will survive in that big city, in a new environment, new school, without any friends. I had all the things to worry about and the thought about my granny topped the list - Manorama, who is a sister of my maternal grandma.

I was told that she is going to help us in terms of our education for the welfare of my family. Obviously I was too little to understand what she was doing, but all that I was wondering was why she is not as caring as grandmothers are projected in movies. One cannot say no her. It doesn’t matter what she offers to you, ten day old candy or a fruit that you hate to the core – you better accept it or you will be screwed royally. I was always afraid of her. Whenever her name is said, my friends will be curious to know if I am a granddaughter of yesteryear actress “Manorama”. While I always wished if that could be true, with too much of embarrassment, I will just reply them as “No”.

Time flew. When I complained my father that I am missing him and the life at Trichy, he said only one thing – “You are in safe hands. You should always be thankful for being in Chennai with granny”. That’s when I realized. When I looked back, I realized my granny has given me the best life I could ever ask for. My brother was no more a little boy – he was a bright student at one of the leading schools in Chennai; a sportstar; a well-disciplined boy as exclaimed by many. On the other hand, my mother was an entrepreneur – a professional makeup artist, another “self-made” person in progress. That’s when I realized I should look up to her. I realized she had been a single women for major part of her life and she never backed out because of it. She was able to choose a career on her own; a life partner on her own. She could speak about any topic under the sun – Politics, Government jobs, current affairs, Entertainment and what not? That was a major inspiration. No one could mislead her. She always had an opinion on her own. The best part is, she respected other’s opinions as well. I have always admired the way she was being respected by my relatives and also neighbors. When she retired, she built a house, explored the world with her friends and proved me “it’s never too late”. I realized as years gone by, she had always been my support directly or indirectly.

Little did I know that the hardest part of growing up is realizing my grandma is growing older. A traveler who explored the world as much as she could, have no clue what are the countries she had visited so far. An intelligent women, who could immediately guess a strategy behind every political move, do not have an opinion on her own on current issues. An optimist person is now cribbing about anything and everything that comes her way. A self-made women who had been guiding many for years together, is now listening to them without even thinking twice. The most courageous women I know is asking me stay away from social media and return home early to avoid “unnecessary problems”. I could also see that sarcasm in her, is slowly fading away.  I can’t believe what time has done to her. I can’t digest the fact she is getting old and she is slowly losing her self-confidence. I wish she could be the same old strong person who could have all of us under her control. Whatever may, am sure life is not going to be the same for us if she’s gone. And that’s haunting! May god give her all the strength possible to survive this selfish world all by herself, just like how she has been ruling it till date!

Ammama, I may not have expressed how much I love you, but deep down every single action of mine is taken only after thinking through how would you react if you were in that situation. Btw, I wouldn’t have been this proud, even if I was a granddaughter of actress Manorama. You give me goose bumps whenever I talk about you to my friends. :)  

I love you and I owe you for what I am today!

Stay healthy and Stay strong! 

With Love,

Nandhini

Not-so-favorite-granddaughter-of-yours

[nanlostinthoughts]

When I keep arguing that I'd prefer movies rather than books, this happened! 😍 Learning life through illustrations and comics are the best thing I could ever ask for! @manimaran3939 You never failed to surprise me. Thank you for always treating me special 😛 This is by far the best-est gift ever, when I needed the most! 😂 #blessed #bestbirthdaygift #latebutgreat #mypunchingbag #4amfriend4life #daidoikudumpam #friendslikefamily #happiness #zenpencils #calvinhobbes #billwatterson #gavinaungthan #ralphlazar #lisaswerling #readingtime #comics #illustrations #smallthingsinlife (at Karpagam Gardens, Adyar)

[nanlostinthoughts]

More inspiring quotes here

[nanlostinthoughts]

Sleep doesn't help if it's your soul that's tired!! #justsaying #randomthoughts #handmade #joblessness #paperart #papercuttingart

[nanlostinthoughts]

Life is what you make it!

We don’t really realize how important our life is, and how blessed we are!  Life has never failed to surprise us. But have we ever thought about it? Recent news about an accident did shake me a bit; made me realize how far we respect our presence in this world.

Wearing a helmet while driving, seat-belt in the car, obeying traffic signals, not drinking and driving and not using phone while driving – these are just “rules” for us. I often think what sort of life we are actually living when we don’t find time to admire the kid in the car beside us, or to the story of kids selling Dora drawing books or ear buds, while waiting for a green signal. Those 30-60 odd seconds while waiting for the red to become green, we aren’t normal. What’s so hurry? Like seriously??

We are in a world where we call the man who spends most of his life on the road for the sake of us as “Mama”; make use of the way in a busy road when someone gives way for an Ambulance; Overtake when a girl is ahead us; honking unnecessarily even when the signal is still red; jumping signals just to show off!  

Obeying traffic rules is not an art; it’s basic common sense. So many lives can be saved if we do the right thing. When we take so much effort to cover our face with a stole and hands with gloves so as to not get tanned, why can’t we wear a helmet to save our lives? It’s sad to know that we really don’t give importance to our life as much as we give for our skin care! It will not take a second to realize that we are not risking our lives alone, but everyone else’s on the road!

We are blessed to own a car/bike when many still struggle to get a bus pass; to have a family to embrace us when we get back home, while many don’t even know what family is; Respect your life and that of others’! By the time we realize all this, it’s often too late!

Life is beautiful. You never know what’s in store for you. Respect yourself, cos‘ your existence in this world means a lot to your loved ones. Don’t lose your life without even realizing what life has got for us. Wear helmet/seat belt; obey traffic signals!

Love,

Nandhini  V

[nanlostinthoughts]

One of the best films I’ve seen in recent times. Especially this quote of the film scares the shit outta me every time I think about marriage. Forget about that psychic part, but even otherwise isn’t that marriage is all about controlling each other? While I was brought up by a typical Indian parents, I always thought that marriage changes people upside down. My parents make a beautiful couple. But it was never easy. It took a lot of pain,sacrifice for each other to make it successful. Now that am in mid twenties and marriage is the next major step of my life, it freaks me out already. Few years back, when I think of marriage, all I could imagine was happy faces around, shopping, love, colours, families,relatives etc. Infact I even dreamt of a grand wedding that to be remembered forever in my life. But now, all I could see is the trauma that the bride’s parents undergo to make it successful both financially and mentally; The bride’s anxiety to move into a new family, the grooms added responsibility, relatives drama, what not?!

I am glad that I am not married yet. Not that am afraid of, but atleast am prepared for the worst part of it too. Had I been married before, I would have still believed that marriage is all about love and I don’t think I would be able to manage the dark side of it. These two years had changed me so well, made me independent to an extent that I am all by myself. I still believe that I’ve chosen the best guy for me. Even otherwise, I can still be happy with him.

This movie did impact me - made me realise how far I’ve travelled so far. After all, life is all about surprises, isn’t it?

[nanlostinthoughts]

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[nanlostinthoughts]

#ellendegeneres ❤️

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[nanlostinthoughts]

Yes, I am rarely bored alone! 🙈 Cos, when you see how peaceful it is to be alone, you really don't wanna deal with people! 😂 #lifeasyouknowit #beingaloneisbetter #beingsocialisnotfun #selfrealization #epic2015 (at Adyar, Chennai)

[nanlostinthoughts]

Spot on! #lifeasyouknowit #sotrue #hope #muchneeded #theoryofeverything #moviesforever #keepcalmandlovemovies

[nanlostinthoughts]

Christmas 2015 couldn't have got any better!! Being alone has its own perks! 😁 #moviemarathon #bestfilms #differentgenres #mademyday #keepcalmandlovemovies (at Adyar, Chennai)

[nanlostinthoughts]

Undoubtedly one of the best films of the year 2015! #brilliance #cinematography #casting #costumedesigning #whatnot #bajiraomastani #moviesforever #loveformovies

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This is how our new chick introduced herself to our family! 😂Heights of joblessness 🙈 #mycollections #newaddition #kinderjoy #littlesurprises #weekendmode (at Karpagam Gardens, Adyar)

[nanlostinthoughts]

#manamadraskosam ☺️ Much love to the Tollywood industry. Title says it all ❤️ #chennairains #tollywood #loveoverflowing #wewillriseandshine #strongerthanever