Let the magic begin...

TV Show Review: Once Upon a Time

Imagine a world where every character you've ever read of in books are living, breathing people- a world where happy endings exist. And then imagine the most evil witch of all time making a curse where all these characters are transported to our world, with new identities and their memories erased. No one remembers who their parents, children, friends and spouses are. Within a few seconds, their happy endings are turned into living nightmares. 

This is exactly what ABC's Once Upon a Time is about. Ten year old Henry Mills (Jared S. Gilmore) runs away from the fictional town of Storybrook, Maine to find his birth mother Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) in Boston as he believes that she alone can unlock the curse that has been put on the residents of his town. He believes that his mother Regina Mills (Lana Parilla) is actually the Evil Witch Queen who cast the spell in the first place. Henry tries to convince Emma that his teacher Mary Margaret Blanchard (Giniffer Goodwin) is actually Snow White and the resident coma patient David Nolan (Josh Dallas) is Prince Charming, and that both of them are actually Emma's parents. According to him, after learning that the Evil Queen was going to bind them with a spell they decide to put their newborn kid in a tree chamber that would keep her safe. After listening to Rumplestiltskin (Robert Carlyle) who tells them that their baby daughter is the only one who can save them, they decide to risk their lives to protect hers.

That is only the basic storyline. As the show progresses each and every fairytale character's back story is revealed, and they are portrayed in an engaging manner of swapping between the Enchanted Forest and Storybrooke. Parallels are shown between the lives of the princess/princes and the modern day people. There are different twists to each classic fairytale and it's such a delight to know each of them.

Unlike in the print version where all the heroines are shown as damsels in distress, in Once Upon a Time the female characters are strong and powerful. The feministic flavour of the show is worth relishing. One might not stumble upon the show with an intention to find such strong characters and they will truly be bowled over. 

The cinematography is out of the world, and the locales are just beautiful. The seamless merging of Storybrooke and the Enchanted Forest is shown so brilliantly, and it's a delight to see how smartly the parallels have been drawn between the fairytale characters and their modern day counterparts. The cast is excellent, especially Morisson and Parilla. Young Gilmore excels as well.

This show is a dream come true for so many people who believe that their favourite fictional characters are actually living breathing people. Like the famous Harry Potter quote goes 'It is real for us'. It instills hope in a person and makes them believe in happy endings. It's such a magical and smooth show that each episode leaves the viewer craving for more. And in the words of Mary Margaret Blanchard, 'Believing even in the possibility of a happy ending is a very powerful thing'.

Let the magic begin!

Unparallel, unbeatable.

Unparallel, unbeatable.

The anticipation and anxiety had taken over my body as I clutched Aishu's hand tightly while the auto-rickshaw jolted all the way from my house to the Chidambaram cricket stadium. On reaching there both of us paid the rickshaw driver and ran towards Gate 5 and 7, from where we were to collect our free tickets and meet with our friends Deeptha, Keerthana and Subashini. The atmosphere outside the stadium was really upbeat. Vendors came upto us and quickly started painting the national flag on our faces. I even bought an Indian flag and waved it around proudly as I walked.

A reporter from NTV walked to us and took our interviews. She asked me who my favourite player was and without a moment's hesitation I said 'Virat Kohli' and Aishu said 'Sachin Tendulkar'. On being asked what we wanted Yuvi to score today, both of us said 'a century, we want him to score a century'. Then Aishu's friend Adithya gave us the tickets and we stood outside gate 5, waiting for our other friends. I was getting all panicky and frantic as the three of them hadn't come yet, but when they did, I screamed out in delight. It was finally happening. I was finally going to see my Team India play live.

We were the only girls in a stadium filled with men, and as worried we were about the fact, we didn't think of it much. We were slightly disappointed to learn that the New Zealand players were practicing near our stands and not our Indian ones. But the minute the first Indian player, Irfan Pathan walked into the grounds all of us in our Nike blue jersey screamed out loud for him. The real screams and cheers were heard when our Punjabi prince, my Muthan incarnate, Yuvraj Singh walked out into the field, taking the blessings of mother Earth.

All of us were chanting ecstatically 'YUVI! YUVI! YUVI! YUVI!'. They wouldn't stop. We could see his face on the screen, grinning happily. Standing next to me, Aishu muttered 'oh God he is smiling, he looks so happy!' I looked at her and smiled broadly. I was so happy to see him. The wound of Muthan's loss was still so fresh in my mind that seeing Yuvi there, fine and healthy after beating the nasty cancer made me very, very happy. I had tears of happiness in my eyes. When Virat entered the field everybody screamed, but I just kind of went silent, I have no idea. I was trying to get a better look, but I didn't scream that much, not then.

Long before the match the five of us had exhausted ourselves. We had already screamed so much. We decided to pause and get some snacks and drinks and take a few photographs. Then it was time for the toss. Dhoni and Ross Taylor walked onto the pitch and within moments we learnt that India had won the toss and had selected to field. All of us cheered loudly once again. Then, before we knew it, it was happening- the match was starting.

For the first over of New Zealand's batting innings, Pathan took a wicket. I jumped up and down, roaring like the wild, untamed lioness I am. I turned to Aishu, who looked puzzled. 'WICKET WICKET WICKET' I screamed, before she burst into a happy dance. During the next over Yuvi was standing in front of our stand - not next to the boundary line, much further, but close enough. All of us began chanting 'Yuvi Yuvi Yuvi' again. He turned around and waved amiably. The crowd grew louder. What an amazing sight it was.

For the next over Virat stood where Yuvi was. The crowd started screaming 'KOHLI KOHLI KOHLI' while I screamed 'VIRAT VIRAT VIRAT'. He turned around and waved at the crowd vaguely. A few minutes later Aishu, Keerthana and I began screaming for him again. While they chanted 'Kohli', I screamed 'Virat'. We screamed so much that he turned around properly, looked at us and waved, grinning that trademark sheepish grin of his. We kept screaming for him that he once again turned around, looked at us and signalled us to increase our cheers. We laughed and did so.

I don't know whether it was my overimaginative brain or something, but I think he did turn around quite a few times, looking at us. Twice during a particular over he came towards the boundary line, and both the times I jumped onto my chair like Damon 'Awesome' Salvatore and called out to him, jumping up and down excitedly. He looked back, waved and laughed. I think all these little moments will remain etched in my memory forever. 

When Ravichandran Ashwin came to our boundary line Deeptha went insane. She started screaming for him so loudly that he turned back and waved to her atleast a hundered times (the poor girl almost lost her voice). The bunch of men sitting next to us were very nice. They weren't the typical lechers, they actually cracked good jokes and even helped Deeptha catch Ashwin's attention. I was glad. Maybe not all men here were creeps.

Then it was India's turn to bat, and my favourite Delhi duo of Virat and Gauti opened the innings. I cheered loudly. Each time Virat was at crease I kept screaming out his name and each time Gauti was at crease I kept screaming out his. Whenever it was Virat's turn to bat I became super anxious. I didn't want him to get out. I kept clutching my copy of Muthan &Ammamma's photo, begging for them to make sure he hits his first T20 century and also that India wins the match.

When he got out I just slumped down on the seat, disheartened. He had hit 70 from 41. I then remembered Muthan's text to me after the RCB vs DC IPL11 match 'Virat Kohli played and fell like a hero'. Truer words haven't been spoken. We were 45 from 42 balls. I believed we would have an easy win, but I had wanted Yuvi and Virat to be there till the end. I hated how the crowd cheered when he got out. I get the fact that they love Dhoni way too much, how would the batsman who just got out feel? 

After that the match lost it's previous feel. Dhoni kept hitting singles and dot balls. Yuvraj's midwicket sixes were like the sky opening up after a period of drought, but all that went down in vain. Virat's brilliant knock went down in vain. Yuvi's comeback went down in vain. Despite all of that, he made the best comeback ever and I was SO SO SO SO proud. It was amazing to watch his mother's face light up on seeing his first six. :') Aishu's face too bore a similar expression.

Sometime in between the match Harsha Bhogle passed our stands and Aishu was left speechless. She kept looking at him, her eyes following her idol as he made way to the dug out. I have never seen this noisy little thing so speechless before and I was so happy for her. I knew exactly how she felt, because I would have been the same if it had been my Queen Jo Rowling in Harsha's place. 

I was so hot headed because we had lost the match by one freaking run. We threw away what truly belonged to us. But we did gain a lot too. We saw Yuvi's much coveted comeback. Virat waved at US and turned back and looked at us randomly. Yuvi did a little bhangra for us. Virat played a brilliant knock. Ashwin turned around and waved at Deeptha. Aishu saw Harsha. Aishu and Keerthana cheered on for Sachin despite him not playing. We lost, but we gained a lot too. The five us also made a bond of friendship unique, since none of the others were there to share this special moment with us. No one else knew what it was like to be there, to experience every moment like we did, to feel what we felt when someone special and close to our hearts waved and grinned at us, to feel the ardenaline rush inside us as a ball went for a sixer. It was truly a one of a kind experience, unparallel, unbeatable, and nothing shall ever come close. After all, it's the little things that make all the difference in the world.

I dedicate this post to Virat- a person who means more to me than I care to admit, Yuvi- who made me feel like my Muthan was still beside me, Aishu- my best friend and partner in crime, Deeptha- who almost lost her voice screaming for Ashwin, Keerthana- who continued cheering for Rohit Sharma even though we taunted her about it and Subashini- who is totally insane and fun to be around. Thank you for the memories.

And with this post I'd also like to take the opportunity to congratulate Virat on winning the 'ICC ODI CRICKETER OF THE YEAR' for his extraordinary performance. No one deserves it more, and I'm very proud. :)

Cheers,

Nidheya.

An open letter. :)

Dear Crush,

I honestly have no idea what to write to you because I don’t even know whether you qualify as a crush anymore or not, but yeah, I’m still going to write to you. I don’t really believe in the great love anymore. I’ve become really cynical about the concept off late, and trust me, you have no hand in all of that. It’s just something that came from within. I don’t really think I’m capable of being loved like that anyways, but that’s not it.

It is seeing people around me, their obsession with love and boyfriends and relationships. It’s also seeing how people almost lose themselves because of their so called ‘loves’. I don’t like that. Even when I did believe in the great love I knew I was incapable of making my love or boyfriend or husband the center of existence. My family, my friends, my writing and all have been around for way too long for me to weigh one person over all of them/that.

I’ve seen how lightly people take the concept of love. Even after seeing each other for like five years, they conveniently break up and decide they were not meant to be together. What, didn’t they know that during the five years of dating? Did they only suddenly realize how incompatible they are? Bullshit, I tell you. 

Yes, I know I don’t know their story, but still, everything is so frivolous around me, that I don’t believe in the existence of the great, true, everlasting love anymore. The world around us is constantly changing and people are changing and no one values relationships anymore. I’m not talking about romantic relationships, I’m talking about human relations in general. It’s a pity, really.

Then again, I frankly told my mother the other day that I wont marry someone just for the societies or my parent’s convenience. It is my life at the end of the day and I wont compromise on that for any reason. I simply wont. So yes, I’m confused. But I can openly say that I don’t believe in the great love anymore, but if it happens, well and good, and if it doesn’t, well and good again. :)

I wish you all the best in life and may you achieve whatever you want to. :)

That’s the most I could write without giving away who you are, so yeah. :D

Goodbye,

Me. 

Alcohol & Drugs: My view. :)

Just about a few months ago I used to be strictly anti-alcohol. I used to think that drinking was a disgusting habit and ought to be curbed. But then came along this fantasy of mine to get drunk. Like fully drunk. To get high that one single time and just forget about it after that. I thought it’d be fun. I still do, as a matter of fact.

Now, I honestly believe that occasional drinking is not a crime. To go out, socialize for a bit and have a glass of beer/wine/gin/whiskey might not be such a bad thing after all. Some people might even view it as polite. Social drinking is not a problem. As long as one knows to keep her/his drinking under control, it not ought to be a problem. Only if a person resorts to alcohol as a source of comfort or escapade, only then does it become a problem. This will eventually lead to alcoholism, which leads to destruction of physical, mental, emotional and social well being. 

Media largely depicts alcohol as something people resort to when they’ve undergone a break up or a financial crisis. In movies and shows they show the characters going to a bar, drinking their heart out and walking home in a drunken stupor. Media has a large influence on the average person’s life, believe it or not. After seeing this, young (or old) people might end up imitating the character’s actions. Just imagine, while they are walking home, what if they meet with an accident, or get sexually assaulted or die due to overdose? Isn’t that a much more horrible problem than a mere break up? Seriously!

One more thing I can’t understand is the orthodox belief that women mustn’t drink as it’s vile and cheap for them to do so. Why is that so? Just because we belong to the ‘fairer sex’ doesn’t make us any less of humans. Yes, there is the safety bit involved, so in case a woman is going for a drink, it surely is advisable that she has another female friend with her, for obvious safety reasons. If men can drink, so can women. Honestly, I know women drinkers and men drinkers. Some of my very good friends drink occasionally, and trust me when I say that these women are way better than some of the sober men I’ve met in my life as well. So yeah.

Coming to drugs, I think it’s quite stupid for people to experiment with it. Deaths due to drug overdose is more common than deaths due to alcohol abuse. The negative effects of drugs are worse than those of alcohol. I would never, ever try out drugs, because I think I know better than that. I also know to not judge people on their decisions to turn to drugs or alcohol, because frankly, judging is just not right.

At the end of the day I might end up drinking alcohol occasionally in the future, but I know for sure that I will never experiment with drugs. Never.

Dreams.

In ten years I’d like to be happy. Like truly happy. Blissfully happy. I would love it if after ten years, every day of mine is filled with happiness, not of the usual kind, but that ultimate happiness. I would like to be in peace with myself. I want to get rid of my insecurities and I want to truly accept myself for who I am. I am on the process of doing that, but, perhaps I’m not just there yet. Don’t worry, I will get there soon enough.

In ten years from now I hope to be on a road trip with my closest friends, and blogging about it later on. Or perhaps during the road trip itself? I might actually end up reading this very post then. Okay, I’m starting to sound dumb now. :/ But yes, that’s the intention. Road trip. Friends. Live laugh love. :D

I also hope to be a published author by then. I want to change lives just like my role model J.K. Rowling did. I want to create stories that will live on in the hearts of my readers for the rest of their lives. I want them to escape into my stories when their own lives are too harsh. I want them to find solace and peace in them. I want children to grow up with my characters. I want to introduce at least one child to the joy of reading. :)

There’s one more thing though. Ten years from now I hope to be living up the mountains in a nice cozy cabin. The wind would be howling outside, and the fire would be roaring inside. There will be a nice cozy couch in which I would snuggle, with a nice book in one hand and a cup of hot chocolate in the other.

Dreams. :’)

Random rambling :)

Put it up on my tumblr as a part of one 30 day challenge. :)

I’m not in any relationship, nor have I ever been. And you know what? I have absolutely no regrets about it. I don’t sit and brood over the fact that most people in my college have boyfriends and I don’t. Honestly, I don’t care. I don’t really think that my life is incomplete or anything without a boyfriend. I feel perfectly content with myself. And to be completely honest, I don’t think any of these ‘couples’ will eventually end up getting married, so yeah.

I am really enjoying my single life. I get to do whatever I want and I don’t have anyone fussing over me (besides my parents that is). I’m not answerable to anyone besides myself (and parents, but that is not the point here). I have the freedom and the time to do stuff I love. To do stuff I will do even ten years from now: like reading books, writing, listening to music, spending time with my friends, eating. These things have been a part of me since I was a little kid and I’m pretty darned sure that they will be a part of me even ten years from now.

I believe that I’m better off investing my time doing things that are a permanent fixture in my life, rather than wasting time on relationships that most probably wont last. I know I sound so darned cynical, but that’s what I believe. I think 18 is too young to decide who the love of your life is going to be. I think 18 is the time to do loads and loads of stuff you love. :)

I don’t see myself getting into a relationship in the near (or late) future, truth be told. I just don’t see myself as that kind of a woman. I have always been comfortable with the idea of spending my life alone. And with friends and family, you are not really alone, are you? And better than all of that is the company of books, my true love, so why will I be ALONE? No, I wont. 

I believe that if a person is comfortable in his or her own company, she will be perfectly fine, happy even. Not everyone is going to find a special someone in another person. They should realize that their special someone is they themselves. They should know that they are the number one person in their own life. Then, just then they’ll be able to live a life of complete bliss and solitude. 

I don’t think that the key to happiness is loving someone so much that your heart bursts. To me, the key to happiness is loving yourself to the extent that your heart swells. And this love will neither result in arrogance or conceit. It will just give a person complete, blissful happiness. :)

Realizations. :)

There comes a point in your life when you realize who is to move on forward with you in your life and who is to stay behind. The people who stayed back in your past did so for a reason, and those who made it from your past to your present did so for an even better reason. You will realize who matters, who never did and who always will. Sometimes just by looking at people you love laughing and smiling, your heart swells with happiness and that moment you know the reason. You know why they are there in your life. You know that their happiness means just as much as your own, and you know that you are going to count your blessings and not look back at the past. The past is then gone. Over.

I used to be a person who thought that planning something always brought out the best result. Today proved me wrong. After a failed attempt at completing an assignment, two of my friends and I suddenly decided to visit the beach. We travelled by two buses and finally reached our destination and it was such a pleasure to have the salty breeze welcome us so warmly. 

Without much ado, the three of us ran into the water, with our bags and all. For a while we just stood there, letting the water caress our feet. What a feeling it was. Then we decided to go in pairs of two so that one of us could photograph the other two. I let my friends go first as I wanted to photograph them. 

As I watched these two stand by the water and laugh out loud, I felt so warm and giddy inside. It was wonderful. I held onto my camera and photographed away to glory. While I certainly knew that these two meant a lot to me, this moment made me realize just about how much I loved these two friends of mine. 

Soon it was time for me to go and play in the water. I ran over to my friend and we played in the water. We laughed, we got wet, we posed for photographs and what not? I don't remember laughing so much in a VERY long time. I don't remember being this happy in a super very long time. 

Then my other friend came over and we decided to get drenched, head-to-toe. What an experience that was? We just sat down on the shoreline and let the waves hit us continuously. We even lay down on the shoreline so that we could be COMPLETELY drenched. We pretended to be high-five swami's meditating, trains and what not? We even ran around the shoreline, trying to drench ourselves.

In the midst of all this fun, I sat down, letting the waves hit me. I contemplated, I thought. There had been a few things that had been troubling me yesterday, and all of a sudden I realized that I didn't care anymore. I really didn't. I was happy, content and completely at peace. I thought of the people in my life and thanked God for their very existence in my life.

These two beautiful friends of mine were among the reasons why my life was actually wonderful. Their constant support, care and love was what kept me strong and made me hold on even when I badly wanted to let go. Both of them are such patient, wonderful listeners and are always there when I want to pour my heart out. Not a day goes by when I don't laugh with them. They are most definitely the most intelligent people I have ever come across, and I know for sure that when I most want to give up, they will make sure I will not.

I have always said that one true friend is worth thousand relatives and how true is that? I have never felt this happy with any relative of mine. These friends of mine make my life worthwhile. I also realized that it's better to have four to five true and loyal friends than have a hundred fake ones who wont hesitate to talk ill about you behind your back. Friendship is about loyalty, honesty, trust, support, care and love. It is not just about hanging out and taking pictures. It is about sharing, and truly caring.

To you two,

Thank you for making me realize that there are people who care for me and will be there to pick me up when I fall down. You guys are the light I see at the end of the tunnel and as long as you are there I will never be alone. I really, really love you a lot and no matter what happens, I'll always be there for you. :*

-Me.