The Opening Note...

I'm not a blogger! Or rather, I'd call myself a recent convert. I keep reading about blogs by Amitabh, Salman and other biggies. But have never read one myself. My good friend Malay kept sending me links to his blog full of poetry and prose, and I would lie to him saying that I read it, when in fact, I never have.

So I know, not many people would read this, perhaps. Or better still, not many people would want to read this. I received an email from a friend, Roy, who seems to be a a regular blogger. You can check out his, (what is it called?) Blog page (??) here http://royarya.blogspot.com/

He wrote: "Hey Archana,
Actually I'm running web- blog where I publish women empowering success story.
I was thinking, why not I publish your story.
I know you are thinking, "My story? Come on!"
Yes. Look, being away from home, just to follow your dream & living with it – isn't easy task dear.
It takes guts to live with own dream, and you're doing it. You're listening to your instinct ... believing it … following it. It speaks volume."

I had never thought of this before. I had never seen myself that way. Yes, I am a woman. Yes, I live away from home. Yes, I am following something...(can I call it a Dream?). And hell ya, I am instinctive! That's the word. I have done many crazy things. And I want to continue doing them.

I have been away from home for over 6 years now. Wow, I never thought about that till this morning. I was 17 when I left home. Ok, stop calculating! I am 23 today! And I have been working in Mumbai since May 2007. And what have I achieved? I really can't say. What have a lost? Lots!

But let's not get into all that and make this blog morbid! What Roy wants me to say is that, as a woman, or let's put it this way, as an Independent Woman, I have kind of broken lots of shackles that are still there in the minds of a lot of people in our so-called Civil Society, regarding the Girl Child. But thankfully, my family (My Ma and Pa), have been really really supportive. I always tell my friends, "I was not brought up in a cage, neither was I left in the Wild. I was brought up in a Sanctuary! Where I had the freedom to roam around, and also the security from the proverbial poachers and hunters!"

And today, I am on my own. Making my own decisions. Making mistakes, and learning from them. (Or so I would like to believe!) Falling in Love (fell so bad that I got really bruised!), or at times rising in it! Ever complaining, but hopeful, nonetheless! Struggling to survive, or splurging to celebrate odd moments of joy! Doing a good job, or screwing it up! I am THAT and THAT is ME! And not to forget, I am back to writing. But I am sorry Roy! The credit doesn't go to you for that! There is another person, who brought me back to writing! And this one is for him!

And finally, to quote, Alanis Morrissette: (Nups, thanks for introducing me to this song! It shall always remain our song! I really hope, it shall not remain our Story for ever, though!)

I'm broke but I'm happy
I'm poor but I'm kind
I'm short but I'm healthy, yeah
I'm high but I'm grounded
I'm sane but I'm overwhelmed
I'm lost but I'm hopeful baby
What it all comes down to
Is that everything's gonna be fine fine fine
I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving a high five

I feel drunk but I'm sober
I'm young and I'm underpaid
I'm tired but I'm working, yeah
I care but I'm worthless
I'm here but I'm really gone
I'm wrong and I'm sorry baby
What it all comes down to
Is that everything's gonna be quite alright
I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is flicking a cigarette

What it all comes down to
Is that I haven't got it all figured out just yet
I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving the peace sign

I'm free but I'm focused
I'm green but I'm wise
I'm shy but I'm friendly baby
I'm sad but I'm laughing
I'm brave but I'm chicken shit
I'm sick but I'm pretty baby
And what it all boils down to
Is that no one's really got it figured out just yet
I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is playing the piano

What it all comes down to my friends
Is that everything's just fine fine fine
I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is hailing a taxicab...

So, till next time...

So Long...

To whoever has managed to survive this ordeal!

Smiley --> :-)