Hindustan Times
You know what I love?
I love candyfloss in a jar.
The stark red, green and black of carved watermelons on a pristine white plate.
Raspberry lip balm that makes my lips feel deliciously fruity.
I love elephantine fluffy coloured cushions strewn across a dark, oak-wood floor.
I love walls whitewashed in reckless perfection.
I love a fleeting moment captured on a Polaroid photograph with an illegible caption in black ink scrawled across.
I love the aroma of piping hot dal wafting through the home on a Sunday afternoon. I love the anticipation of eating it.
Snuggling into my happy, patchwork, thick quilt that hides me in a distant world of my own.
A pretty pedicure after ages.
A good hair day. Definitely love a good hair day.
I love the intoxicating reek of petrol especially while tanking up on a road trip with friends.
I love my friends.
I love my F.R.I.E.N.D.S
The idea of sinking into a gigantic bean bag with a book in my hand and not a thought in my head.
Loud, shrill, violent games of Taboo played with an incorrigible bunch of people (read friends).
I love dancing with crazy abandon in front of my mirror to the appreciative applause of a million imaginary people.
Reruns of my favourite shows just as I’m taking a break from work.
I love relating to tragic rock songs after heartbreak.
The crimson flush on my face after a brisk walk and a cold shower.
I love the tingling ache in my tummy after an uncontrollable laugh.
A whiff of freshly brewed cappuccino.
A canopy of towering, lush green trees over a straight, gleaming road.
I love peppermint breath.
I love writing messages to myself from the steam of a hot bath.
The unburdening of sorrows and confessions to a friend who listens, not judges.
I love licking the salt off hollow pistachio shells.
A firm yet friendly first handshake.
A huge, lung-squeezing, rib-cracking bear hug from a friend I meet after eons.
I love long, personal emails and my equally long, personal responses to them.
I love quirky SMSes that are typed with thought not indifference.
Flying on a swing until I’m soaring into the sky.
Gigantic, luminous sunflowers in sprawling green fields.
I love digging my toes deep into cold, wet sand while azure waves splash gently at my feet.
The gleeful sound of my dad’s inimitable laughter.
Lying on a hammock strung between two shady palms in a cozy beach cove.
I love a painless waxing session.
I love entwining my fingers around the slender stem of a glass filled with deep red wine.
I love eating when reading and reading when eating, and both satiating me completely.
Laying my head on mom’s lap to seek eternal solace.
I love thinking about everything I love and explicitly describing it to people who may or may not give a damn.
(19 votes, average: 4.42 out of 5)
Loading ...Posted by Tasneem Nashrulla on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 1:18 am
Filed under Mumbai · Tagged candyfloss, cappuccino, green and black of carved watermelons, hot bath, Polaroid photograph, sunflowers
OMG lady,
You just reminded me that at the end of the day, there is ME. I had almost forgotten myself amidst so many things juggling on my head. We all find pleasure in so many petty stuffs. And instead of just waiting for long-term happiness, we must give ourselves regular doses of such moments which curl up your lips for a smile.. Aaaah.. Smile and a hearty laugh.. Isn’t that a recipe for spending a day and a satisfaction when I call the day off. Why not just wanna perk myself up with something I had been longing for ages. Or may be just a double chip chocolate muffin to treat myself!!
I just wanna say this –
‘Give yourself a reason to smile with whatever you have, and wherever you are.’
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Tasneem Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 1:05 am
hey isha…yeah sometimes its best to just revel in the teeniest pleasures of life!!! like a double choco chip muffin !!! calories can go take a hike.
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Cooool list - tells a lot about you
You are a cool person!! Hi Five!!!
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Tasneem Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 1:06 am
HI FIVVVE sanket!!!! l
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in whole history of humanity. there is only man recorded to laugh when born. Zarathustra. as Zarathustra took birth he laughed and uproarious laugh - on the cosmic joke - that this universe is. all is just a joke. enjoy !
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Tasneem Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 1:06 am
err okkk….i will, thanks vishrant!
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This one just reminds me of how beautiful life can be.
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Tasneem Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 1:07 am
thanks hussain
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Tasneem …………… a wonderful post , relived my memories as I went through the lines. You have an awesome candid style of writing, very fresh and keeps the reader glued to the screen.
Even I write blogs, but I want to add to my styles of writing. Maybe I can learn something by following your blogs .
keep writing, will wait for more from you.
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Tasneem Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 2:47 am
hey shahnawaz thanks so much…i dont think you should really take tips from me! i;m a first time blogger and to be honest im still a very reluctant blogger! im sure ull find your own style works best! send me a link to ur blogs. cheers
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Shahnawaz Soni Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Tasneem u want me to beleive your words that you are a RELUCTANT BLOGGER? Well if there was a competition of the MOST RELUCTANT BLOGGER , both of us would be competing and I will win.
And the reason I said I want to take tips from you, is because I want to expand my horizon of writing, maybe both of us can learn from each other, I know I am not perfect and even u r not.
Okay let me explain it this way (hope u knw ur cricket well) - Sachin Tendulkar has been an openinig batsman, he has played a role of a middle order too ………. and both the position needs a different style of play. So right now u r Sachin Tendulkar who is opening the innings and I m the Sachin of Middle Order.
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Shahnawaz Reply:
October 17th, 2009 at 9:27 am
Hey you asked me for the link to my blog posts, here it goes http://www.my-heart-thinks.blogspot.com/ , one more thing I have so many unpublished blogs, now that I have a chance that readers like you r gonna visit it, I will definitely publish them .
Wishing you a Happy and a Safe Diwali
me tooo me tooo….
i love all these things n many more :))))))))))
ah makes me soo nostalgic in the middle of my offc humdrum!
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Tasneem Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 2:45 am
doesnt it just?! i think everyone should think up such lists when ur bored to death in office or elsewhere.
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So beautiful! And disarmingly candid
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Tasneem Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 1:07 am
thanks!! i think i was a bit toooo candid! now u know all my little secrets!
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i could add another long list, like curling up on the terrace under the winter sun, sinking my teeth in a chocolate every other day, countless conversations over coffee…ah, it never stops !!
glad u shared this
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Tasneem Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 1:09 am
yes yes, those too!!! i love making lists like these. SO much better than making to-do lists
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Mast…………
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Tasneem Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 1:09 am
thanks!
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By the way what is the remaining 3/4th of you please.
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Tasneem Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 2:44 am
still have to figure it out.
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Amazing list, surely makes me wonder, why have i forgotten to do the things i love to do or give me some pleasures !!!!!
Just one question, where can i find someone to get painless waxing done ???
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Tasneem Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 1:11 am
hahaha. well there isnt one secret place which give painless waxes…but sometimes..,..very rarely, if ur reallly very lucky, ull have an almost painless one. i reckon when u go for the next session, just think abt all the things u love, might ease the pain
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This was awesome…. The one i miss the most being away from home is : Laying my head on mom’s lap to seek eternal solace.
This post was something which I didnt read but it it just went into my mind giving a calm and reminding me things i had looong forgotten
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Tasneem Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 1:12 am
thanks aram!!! yeahhh moms laps are a haven !
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I love reading such blogs which tell me there is so much to love ..cheers !!
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Tasneem Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 2:44 am
thanks abhineet
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tasneem this was just amazing!
i read the list many times (lost count)…
took me back to the things that i like, and there are quite a few from your list…
many thanks!
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Tasneem Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 2:43 am
Hey, glad you liked it ashim!! cheers
)what are the things from my list you like?
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“love licking the salt off hollow pistachio shells”. I would replace it by namkeen ‘chana’. Must do it today. BTW, only small things bring joy in life. Big things always come with some unpleasant riders.
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Tasneem Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 1:13 am
yeah yeah. chana also i like. but i like the salty shells more than the actual chana!!
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Typical girly traits
I love going to cinema halls after mixing my cold drink with alcohol. Try that once, no movie will bore you anymore
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Tasneem Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 2:42 am
yes, i can be quite girly. should have mentioned kickboxing and giving choicest hindi gaalis in the list!!!
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Sharat Reply:
October 21st, 2009 at 3:28 am
Well that may be 3/4th part of you.
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u forgot one thing….
me?
haha…anyway,very nice and refreshing….and may i add…the smell of kebabs coming from the skewers…
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Tasneem Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 2:51 am
aaah …..kheeli tikka is also yummy
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loved your list ! covered so very many of my own “I love” - conversations with friends, tragic rock songs and aches after uncontrollable laughs … one of my own loves : getting off an airplane and seeing your loved one at Arrivals! (I belong to three places so always missing someone somewhere - so you can imagine my thrill )
Awesome, Awesome =)
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Tasneem Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
hey YK!
I know thats an awesome one…its even better when you dont expect them to come!!
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i love:
to see the bucolic hay huts surrounded by fields pass by when i drive.
to feel the late night city breeze on my rooftop.
to hear distant thunders signaling the arrival of imminent showers.
to listen to liberating trance music while under the influence.
to read 1/4th of me while pretending to work at the workplace.
and many more..
thanks for such a wonderful post and for reminding us of the things we love…
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Tasneem Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
hey kunal,
lovveeddd ur loves (esp the last one
thanks so much
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Loved the way this blog reminded me of how blessed we are to have small happinesses in life!
Love the smell of the wet earth after a rainy afternoon, freshly washed green leaves after a spell of rain, receiving ‘just like that’ gifts from a friend, biting into hot jalebi dripping with cold rabri, smell of my dad’s perfume, giggles and squeals of a tickled baby, unexpected holidays in the middle of the week…. the list goes on!
Thanks for this one! Surely among my favs!
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Tasneem Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
hey jagriti,
yep freshly washed leaves after rain…LOVE that one and just like that gifts from friends…..a rarity but thats the novelty of it!
Thanks for sharing
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You’re too cool, Tasneem!
you’re blogs are so much fun. All the way I have to fight the urge to keep nodding my head and shout, Hey, me too!! 
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Tasneem Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Thanks Shalin!
haha, i love that there are so many of us out there, with so many things and thoughts in common!
kinda cool - this unseen bond between all of us!
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Perfect list! I am going to make one of my own too & stick it on my fridge to remind myself often the simple pleasures of life
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Tasneem Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
geetika, thats actually a really cool idea!! think i’ll do that myself!
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Hi Tasneem,
A lovely blog as always. you reminded me of that song from the movie ” the sound of music”, which goes like… “these are few of my favorate things!!!”
One thing i love the most when i am happy or sad or depressed is eating “golgappas”!!!!!!!
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Tasneem Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
thanks so much jaya…yeah i actually thought to put that song as the title of this entry!!
haha, i love golgappas too, especially when theyre too big for the mouth and the cold paani dribbles down my mouth!!
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polariod
smell of petrol
friends
book in hand
Rock
firm handshake and warm bear hug
long mails
things i love from your list…
apart from loving your article itself, i also love you for being kind enough to reply to most of the comments… usually i don’t comment on blogs just read them and then go thru the comments… but this time i felt like write some good words coz i’m sure you’ll read this comment and would reply… that’s good manners and courtesy which i really like and appreciate… not a common thing amongst netizens these days… someone writes something and people start giving opinions without even thinking twice if their comments are appropriate or not… so much of hatred and foul sentiments, that life becomes toxic….
this is a welcome break and i sincerely thank you for writing this piece….
warm regards,
abu
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Tasneem Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
hey abu,
I actualyl feel real guilty about not replying to so many comments, but its not out of a lack of enthusiasm but a lack of time.I lovvee reading everyones comments, but sometimes I just dont find the time to reply. but the fact is that if you guys can take the time out to read and comment, then i can surely find some time to reply!!
thanks for that
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A nice post!! We smile in the same language. It costs us nothing. One size that fits us all. As one of my friends said, “Sometimes we get so tired of life’s burden, that we forget how good smiling feels. Then, a stranger we pass on the street or on a train grins at us. Reflexively, we smile back. Suddenly, our spirits lift. You are right… it is these little joys of life that really make life worth living. Loved everything in the list and it is so so true. Very well-written!!
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The blog was soothing,,,,,calm…..
it reminds us about our own world
Your line….I love eating when reading and reading when eating, and both satiating me completely….just reminded me of myself…..
lovely reading….
many thnks
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i SO SO LOVED IT tasneem….i run short of words…found a lil bit of me in you…
thumbs up! to free xpression…!!!
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That doesn’t sound like an article, but deep in there is a deep thought to find solace/satisfaction/laughter in the small pretty mundane stuff. Thanks for writing it, though being a guy sitting in office wrapping up work, it reminded me of alll those things that I love and just the thought of those things brought a smile.
Very artistic. keep writing!!!
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