They who make it Home! :)

A

“Not here!”...” Not now!”...” Didn’t I tell you?”...” You guys just don’t understand ya.” We have an Oxymoron right there because; it is her who is impossible to understand. One moment an angel and the next moment the devil's first cousin ;) well not really... actually you just can’t tell.

An observer, quick thinker and just when you begin to look up to her like she’s some sort of a genius, who knows it all...has been there and done that, she turns into a mind warped little child who just needs to be given a small hug and half a kiss to melt like wax from a candle. Aarti Bhatia is one of her kind. I’ve never known someone like her and till date I haven’t been able to decide whether I’m happy about that or not. I have never had someone find so many faults with me like she has, but she will never forget to buy flowers for Friendship day or bring me something every time she comes back from a trip. Because there is such a huge gap between the way she sees me and the way I see myself, I see a different me through her eyes. She’s like the mirror which makes you look fat, and even though you know that you’ll look pretty in another mirror, she did for a moment make you want to look better than you do! That’s what makes her her. She always makes me want to be better than I am. I mean who else would show her affection to me by saying “You have such nice features you know, I’d beat the fat out of you if I had my way.” Haha!

She’s the friend who I earlier couldn’t do with, and now can’t do without. A girl who’s choosy but has impeccable taste, it’s like through everything she possesses, she’s trying to express something. She reminds of the spider that kept climbing the wall till she completed making her web. A fighter...a delicate little rose bud that has grown in a garden of thorns...a survivor! More power to one of the most powerful and sexy girls I know! You kick ass baybeeee. :) Here’s to you! Xoxo

V

She’s my cushion, as beautiful and quiet as a prayer...my strength and advisor, my friend and elder sister... all in all a complete creation of an angel...my angel.

If I had to compare Vinaina Suri to an animal, I’d compare her to a deer...Lean, beautiful and someone who thinks and acts on her feet. Easy going and friendly and quite amusing sometimes. The best thing about her humour is that she isn’t ‘trying’ to be funny, it’s just the way she is. Small things are a reason of worry and they worry her till she has the matter sorted out in her head. Sometimes she gets so quiet that I begin to wonder whether everything is alright.

She claims to be the kind who gets romantic 6 times in a year!!! Her happiness comes from small things like making dal, cleaning the kitchen, buying groceries and of course receiving flowers from a very special someone...ahem ahem ;) She’s like the girl you read about in books, so proper and yet so confused. Yeah! One day you’ll think she’s so genuine and you know her so well and the next day she’s most unpredictable.

Whoever said that charm lies in simplicity was right. The presence of Vini in my home is proof of that...she makes life simple by her warmth and care, and it’s magical how seam less she makes it look. I pray for lots more happy and good times with her and hope that I learn from all the positivity she exuberates both in our home and in my life. Cheers Vini!

Us

Starting from our tootpastes to our mood swings... we were just destined to be together at some point in life. Someone very special to me once told me "Every relationship either comes for a reason or a lifetime!" In retrospect it sounds so true. It is times like these that make you feel that yes there is a god up there who makes the world go around. When he brings two or more people together, he does it for a reason, and even if the journey is rough and unpleasant at times, it is the value that each of these moments add to our lives that makes it all so bloody worth it! So Girliesssss, here's to a rocking roller coaster life at House No. 12 May Queen Apartments! :)

XoXo

Priyam

Social Media- A Law that is illegal

News at one point in time was what made the world go around. The television and newspapers was the medium that made possible or accelerated the conversation during the morning tea. The morning tea has now changed or rather taken different forms like an evening snack, a glass of beer or even a lavish lunch at office. Discussions are now done on the digital space like social media sites in an untraditional way. Of course sounds odd to those who educate themselves only during their morning tea. Any other piece of information that comes their way during the day is considered ‘not so credible’. Is that the space social media digs up? The answer is yes, and no. Here is how that works.
My colleague today sat next to me and did full on status updates on her client Dance India Dance on facebook. Meanwhile I created my signature e-mail and read extensive articles on what social media is all about, all the while hoping that I was doing what my colleague sat and did next to me. The thrill to be able to influence peoples mind about what I think is way too tempting for me to want to do any other form of P.R. But the question that arises is “should that be legal?” I ask this question because a friend of mine actually asked me the same when I told him that I’ve got a job with a social media firm. I really took up the case with him and asked “do you think what the media (newspaper and print) is doing 24*7 is legal? Isn’t the P.R. campaign for Levis brand of Akshay Kumar’s unbuttoning act the most talked about P.R. campaign of all times?” Did the media ever think whether that was legal? The media never got questioned then, of course Akshay Kumar did. What is interesting here is that it’s never the media no matter what form that is questioned and therefore social media and its tools are only going to get bigger and more powerful.
Social media of course has its own traps. Shashi Tharoor is one of the most educated people from Stephens who got totally ripped off by people for commenting on people travelling economy class as “cattle class”. Therefore, there is an unseen intangible law governing even the social media. The internet is a boon to mankind because access to information is so much easier. It has contributed to the lifestyle of young adults and made accessibility to the world much more comfortable.
I do not say that twitter, facebook, my space and my blog are not addictive, of course they are. There are much more tools than we would actually use or should ever use. But why it should not be ignored is because it is two way communication. Isn’t that what XIC taught me for eight long months? That P.R. is about two way communication. So, is social media illegal? Well, I don’t think so!

So Far... So Good!!

For seven years Mr. Abhijit Duttroy and Mrs Anuradha Duttroy were living a happily married life in Calcutta, now Kolkata, when suddenly one Sunday a third member entered into the family to disrupt their peace and quiet. But, however they like to believe that they were given the most beautiful gift of their lives on 10th of January 1988, which is my birthday. My mother named me Priyam, which in old Hindi or Sanskrit means ‘the most loved one’. Today, after twenty one years as I sit down to write my blog, I’m left wondering as to how much has happened since then, both in my and their lives.
As my mother was (still is) a working woman, I was put in a crèche school at the tender age of one year and three months. It was a lovely school in Kolkata called ‘Dolna’ (meaning swing in Bengali). I learnt music and dance along with my studies which is till today an integral part of my life. I spent five years in this institute and after my promotion to class two; my parents decided that a boarding school life would teach me the necessary self discipline and exposure that would help me in my life in the future.
And help it did. Convent of Jesus and Mary, Waverley changed my life forever. The picturesque location of my school on the hills of Mussoorie and the various activities that was offered by the school taught each student how to fly high. Waverley was the citadel of knowledge, we were taught to excel in all we do. I pursued my love for music and learnt piano for six years in Waverley by an Expert pianist Ms Phelomina Dias. In the annual piano concerts that were held every year, I won prizes for five consecutive years. Also, I won prizes for regular attendance, English and good conduct. Therefore, my staying away from my parents and the comfort of home for five years was definitely worth it because I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the lessons I learnt at Waverley. But, unfortunately I couldn’t continue my studies there because Waverley Convent had classes only up to class ten. I was thus suggested by my parents to get admitted in a school in Kolkata as it would be very difficult to get admitted in later for higher classes.
I thus gave admission tests in two schools in Kolkata, got admitted to both and joined Lakshmipat Singhania Academy from class seven. Initially I got a cultural shock. I was used to a disciplined Convent school life and here at L.S.A, everything was different. Everything, starting from the class rooms to the teachers and students; was vibrant, fun and colourful. Luckily I got over my shock in a very short time and became a part of the fun. The USP (unique selling proposition) of this institute was the friendliness of its Principal and teachers. I started participating and winning many dance competitions in the various Fests that were organised by the different schools of Kolkata and finally went on to become the Head Girl of my school.
During the period of Headgirlship, the Marketing Executive of ‘The Telegraph in Schools’ (TTIS- a supplement of ‘The Telegraph’) noticed my communication skills and offered me an internship with TTIS. During this internship I realised my love for communication and changed streams from commerce to arts and completed by graduation from Loreto College Kolkata in History Honours.
But, unfortunately I did not experience the kind of college life I had envisioned. At eighteen I was all set to bunk lectures, date cute boys and have party nights on every weekend. But, alas! Not only did I go to college every single day, I spent long hours attending lectures about the Harappan Civilisation and ancient Rome. Also, may I add, it was enough to scare away any cute boy with the introduction of “Hello! I’m Priyam and I’m doing History Honours from Loreto College”. Jokes apart, today, I’m extremely proud to be a graduate from Loreto because although I cribbed about the strictness and discipline of the college, I know that it has shaped my personality in such a way that helps me stand out in a crowd.
On the basis of my foundations in all the institutes that I’ve studied in, I finally got admission to the college of my dreams- Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai. Once again, it was time to leave home. Living in Mumbai has taught me a lot. In three months I feel a lot more independent, grown up and pro-active. I realise that happiness comes from an inner peace and knowing within yourself that you have the capability to deliver! When you learn how to correctly react to problems, they don’t seem like problems. In a month from now, I will be called a PR professional and although I have no work experience, my focus is to make the most of every opportunity I get.
Like many others, I keep the best for the last. Whatever I have done so far has constantly been guided and supported by my parents. They are my best critics and I’m fortunate to have such honest yet indulgent parents. Had they put too many restrictions on me, my spontaneity would die and I wouldn’t be who I am today. But they did just what they should have done as parents and they are the reason I’m sitting here today writing my blog with a smile on my face, which I presume depicts that I have had a good life so far!