Who and What is Avika?

You are that young father who's juggling between a new born baby and work related deadlines

You are that mid manager level person who isnt really sure about what the future in the corporate world holds for you

You are that (over) achiever at work with 3 consecutive promotions and self induced pressure to be the best always

You are that sales person who has targets to meet and the world around you is changing and you arent certain about your tricks of trade anymore

You are that young intern so very hopeful that this stint at work will convert to a full time job you so desperately need

We know all these people, we are these people. Most of us experience anxiety and stress occasionally or perpetually - sometimes due to life events and sometimes in anticipation of work-life events!

Now, let us sit back for a minute and think what we've done in these situations?

Was there anyone who you ended up discussing this with? Not as a water cooler banter about how stressful this is but "really" discussed this to help you get out of this chronic pain?

Was there anyone who went ahead and spoke to a counsellor / psychologist / psychiatrist? Oh, do they actually exist??

In that one-off case where we actually spoke to someone about it, how many of us did take mindfulness / meditation seriously when suggested as tools for calming us down?

Now, let us look at the other side of the spectrum - the organisations that we work in, the place where we spend (either physically or remotely), most of our time at. 

Wouldnt they benefit from ensuring that the mental wellness of the employees is taken care of? Wouldnt they be better off and the choicest place to work for, if their current and potential employees know that they care for employees?

That is what we set out to achieve using Avika.

Avika is a noun, in the sense that, it is the "go to person" for enterprises who intend to lend a helping hand to their employees and cultivate caring and humanise lives. Avika is also a verb, in the sense that. it is what employees would "do" when they are serious about their mental wellness. They embrace openness while being super focussed on privacy. 

With Avika, the employers subscribe to a set of modules - 

1. Digital Wellness Platform that comprises of multiple tools like Journaling, measuring mood, Mindfulness/Meditation techniques as well as host of content that can be consumed
2. Happiness Center - a physical location in the office premises that houses VR experiences for employees to get an immersive experience to help them improve their mental wellness
3. Tele-Consultation with experts (Psychologists and Psychiatrists) for those employees that need or want to speak to a person. This is managed completely seamlessly through the platform while keeping the pre and post wellness plan totally private
4. Physical and In-Person group sessions with experts in the field can be really helpful to raise awareness and cultivate openness within the organisation 

and many more...

As an employee, Avika is that place you go to when you need a platform to set goals for yourself in terms of how mentally fit you intend to be, you can use all the content and tools provided to turn those goals into a reality. And if you need to talk to an expert, they are simply a click away. 

Wellness in general and mental wellness particularly is a journey. With the uncertainties around us, with the often changing and increasing expectations it is imperative that we have a place to go to practice calmness, share our concerns and become the best versions of ourselves.

All of us deserve this!

A grown-up me?

Somehow ended up coming here today...it's ofcourse been a while! And I did what I thought was normal - read the previous blog posts. And then realized something profound - You are what you are, time doesn't age you!

I don't think I've aged in that sense. I can still relate to the vague, dreamy, impulsive person that I am. Am I happy or what? :)

Oh how I wish....

I've read her books (not all though!). I regularly visit her blog. There are some posts that I connect to, get mushy about. I've done her prompts last time around and felt really good about it.
And now, she's back with a new set of prompts and it couldn't have come at a better time. Here's wishing Preeti all the best with her new book

I've more or less had everything I had ever wanted in life - great family, good education, decent job, exciting kids. But who wouldn't want more...

Right now, at this moment I badly need to prioritize things in life. What do I really want, what do I want more - well being of kids, job satisfaction. I need that ever elusive work-home balance. I badly need that since I've been losing sleep over that!

I need to listen more. Listen to my kids blabbering all over the place, my mom/dad whom I rarely call, my in-laws who want to spend time with us, my extended family, my inner self, people at my work place. All I need is that time and peace of mind to listen and STOP thinking about 100 other things while listening to someone.

And yes, I need more money. Am happy with what I have. But I really wish I had more and wouldn't think twice about donating or disconnecting a call when someone from an orphanage calls. I feel guilty eveytime I can't afford to help.

So, what say? Can??

What does an average joe want?

Am I a generalist? Probably yes!
I want to be a good person,
I want to be that great working mom.
I want to be that good daughter, wife
I want to be that great employee...

In this world full of achievers - both super and the worst,
Haven't we forgotten the "average joes"?
Don't they make up the "actual" world?
Am I one of them - oh yeah!!

Do I know what to do with my life, what to achieve?
Do I have a hobby that I can call my "passion"?
Do I want to change and take risks?
It's a NO for all of these but yet I know I do whatever I do well

Do I want to change?
Do I want more clarity?
Do I want to explore new stuff?
It's a YES for all of these but I don't know where to start :)

Me, Myself, and Mine

This has been a relatively laid back Tuesday. Lesser work, a good lunch with friends outside, so why not finish the last Tuesday prompt in style and for a change early :)

1. If you had Rs.50,000 to just blow up (you have to spend it on YOURSELF. Giving to Charity or buying gifts for others not allowed), what would you spend it on and why?

We are at that stage in our life where we've made some major investments - house, interiors for the house, retirement plans from some life insurance company etc. So, with all the EMIs obviously the credit card is taking the heat. So, I'd seriously go and clear that "amount due" thing from my credit card. That would really give me a lot of peace of mind (who said they can't buy peace of mind, I can!!)

2. Name three of your closest friends (not family or spouse) and say why you love them.

I am that sort of a person who is very approachable and accomodating but I don't know why I haven't made a lot of "close friends". My closest friends have been what I've made in college and that was some 12 years back. They still are my bestest friends. Yeah we don't meet often, we don't call or write often but I know I can pick up the phone and blabber away.
So, Aps, Sammy and Putchu is what it's going to be. Together all four of us were called Fafo - Fabulous Four. And yeah we are fabulous together!!

3. Name three books which have profoundly affected you and which you would recommend to everyone to read.

Godfather - It was to me a typical masala movie watching experience which also gave me that peek into intimate/adult writing

Eric Segal - Love Story : That was a book that introduced me to the fact that even books can make you cry! After that there have been many instances where I've read a book and remained with the characters for a very long while.
Even till date when I finish a book/novel in the night, I just can't sleep. Does that happen to everybody?

Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini - That was one mind numbing experience. Taught me how much different someone else's life could be. Made me appreciate the fact of what I am and where we stay.

4. If you know for certain that you can never ever fail, what would you attempt to do?

I'd probably do my own thing (not sure what it is), probably start a franchise for young kids who need to read more, learn more than what is taught typically in their school.
It is not going to be a run-of-the-mill after school activities but something "different".
But I still need to clear my EMIs so needs to make a lot of business sense too!

5. What is THE ONE THING that you want very very badly?

That ability to spend quality time with both my parents and my kids.

Thanks Preeti for all the fanastic prompts. Now I really want to get enrolled in a creative writing course!
Most importantly continue to write and appreciate what others write.

Me and Tea?

Okay here we go again...
And I'm late...lost my spot#13 in the list that I had for the last 2 prompts.
But nevertheless..here we go

T - Time Management Guru. Nah! I am not that at all. But this is one thing that I would love to "grow" into. With 2 kids, a hectic work-life, weird clients, will it not be a great quality to have? I would love to be able to manage so many things and ensure that I don't have more than 2 "accepted" meetings at the same time :)

E - Energetic. Yes on all counts. I can't remember taking a sick leave for a very long time. You thinking that's called Healthy. No, it is energy. I love being there at the right place (actually all places, all the time) and "looking" energetic and lively even though I've had a loooong day already

A - Accessible. I am that person anyone can come and talk to. Family, Friends, People at work. I love being surrounded by people and am willing to listen to any thing any one has to say.

If that's not enough then...

C - Calm. I normally don't get agitated. Try and be that cool and composed person, at least build a very good facade. Work-wise all the times. Even at home and with people that matter, I am always considered that calm and composed person. But there are a very few people who've seen the "agitated", "doesn't know what to do", "walking time bomb" sort of a person that I really am. All I would say is that they are privileged :)

A - Adventurous. Gotcha! I am not that at all and oh how I love being one. I really admire people who are adventurous.
I am so very "normal" that I don't try going to a new place to eat, even if I go I try and eat the same stuff (not the one who experiements), travel the same road to work everyday, not very thrilled about trying anything new at all!

K - Kite-flyer. I am that person who dreams a lot, flies a lot of kites in the sky. Imagine doing this and that. I know I won't be able to do a lot of that but I still love the dreaming part. Who doesn't? :)

E - Endless gossip lover. I don't look like one and that's again something that I've cultivated i.e. not to look like someone who loves gossip. Nevertheless I am a big fan of gossip. For example, the only "knowledge" of sports that I have is what I gather from gossips. Real sports, what is that?

Thanks Preeti once again for this prompt. This is making people like me write :)

Don't fret!

They were soul mates. Enjoyed life to its fullest, learnt a lot from each other, held each other's hands through the toughest times.
They enjoyed that gossip, sharing the life's dreams, talking about the future all that over a cup of garam chai.
Oh, those were the care-free days where everything was rosy, everything was exciting!
And then suddenly, the college life ended and they were thrown into the big bad world.

Life changed dramatically. They decided to choose their own paths.
She met someone else and they were like chalk and cheese. Nothing in common at all.While one was impulsive, the other one was meticulous.
Given the bond that she shared with her friend (in what looked like a previous life now), she still went ahead and told her friend about the new person in her life.
She wanted her soulmate to understand what this new person means to her now. But then that was not meant to be.

She confided in her new friend as to how bad it felt, how much she needed her friend's approval, how much she still valued her friend's approval. But the relationship is now strained.

She might have lost on one but now she has a new soulmate.

It's not the relationships that change (per se). It is the circumstances that change, the people that change.
Being scared of stains and strains in a relationship would deprive you of what is in store for you.
So, go for it - stain or no stain!

This is in context with Preeti's new prompt

Can a relationship be like a tea-stain? Why or why not?

And so here I am - all over again!

Okay...blame it on FB, blame it on whatever else you can pick up, I wanted to write but couldn't write :)
That said, I've still been diligently blog-hopping and happened to land of Preeti Shenoy's blog

Read through, liked it, bought her book (the second one - just yesterday and started reading in the car..so far, so good)

And to promote her latest book, she's started this thing called "prompt" for every Tuesday. Was quite interesting. Have let 2 of them pass and enjoyed reading what everyone had to say.

Also noticed that people have kind of formed a bond and Preeti's given all of them this platform..not sure if she's realised that!

So, now that the background is done, I'll get going..this week's prompt..

The prompt for today is a quote by Bernard-Paul Heroux.

There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea. ~Bernard-Paul Heroux

I have a lot of fond memories with tea and really lot of us share the same thing...that early morning chai on the road, that chai you shared with your friends in college, that evening chai in the college canteen that sucked but you still HAD to go for!

Off late, my fav tea time is the early morning cup.

Our day starts at a break-neck speed...there is a school bus to catch!

Wake up the kid

Insists that she doesn't want to get up

Try convincing her that it's important to get up and go to school - all the while struggling to stay awake!

Milk- check, Ironed Uniform - Check, School bag with books - check, Polished Shoes - check,Snacks box - check

And then that last minute rush to catch the school bus...!

Suddenly the atmosphere at home changes, it's almost zen-like!

That's the tea-time! A tea glass in hand (no, I am not a cup person!) with a newspaper, on the sofa - that's bliss!

Those 5 minutes of uninterrupted time is what gives the strength to tackle the day (however shitty it might look), brings that smile to the face (however bad the tea is!). Then just suddenly, the tea is over.. and it's back to the grind...

It's time to wake up kid 2!!!

Whoever said life was going to be easy, it is just one big roller coaster ride with 5 minute breathers in between. Thanks for being a great company!

Will the tide turn?

When will the good things start to happen again?

And then...

I am back...
No it's not got to do with nothing to write. Is that a possibility at all? With 2 kids at home, tough time at work, marriages in the extended family..
It's just that I was not very inclined to do this. And this has been the case with me for a while.

And then...I went to Dhriti's school over the weekend and they were having yet another program called "Rendezvous with Parents"...One nice little party/get-together for all the parents.
On top of that, they played "old English pop songs" there. It kinda transformed me to my college days..
When they started playing "Heal the World"...I was so shocked that I could still recollect every single thing that we did back then in college, the farewell that we gave, the candles, the formations that we made, everything came back as if it were just yesterday.
It took a lot of will (and ofcourse Dhruv's tantrums!) to get back to the current day and time :)

Yes, I still love my college days, I still think they are the best days of my life.
And I love my kids, I think I'm in a good place in my life now...
While on the kids...they've been growing up and growing up fast too...
Dhruv is developing an extremly strong vocabulary and is in that innocent and cute but naughty phase.
Dhriti is more like a grown up girl now, except when it comes to sharing toys with Dhruv or going to school on a Monday morning :)

Now that I've done some sort of rambling here and also becoz the chaos will never really stop...I am hoping I'll come back here again...and soon.

Give me another chance...

wanna grow up once again...

That's exactly how I felt when we visitied Dhriti in her school today..
They had a session called "Koffee with Kids"...awesome concept...

All the parents were asked to come to school...get introduced to the rest of the kids...play a game, listen to the kids sing for them and then have coffee

It was so much fun...so enjoyable...the kids were sooo adorable...

There was a "mock" ramp created in their classroom...and both Shiva & me were asked to walk down the ramp with Dhriti...she then said..

Hi...good morning everybody, I am Dhriti. Meet my mom Sirisha and meet my Dad Shiva!

I literally had tears in my eyes...I was so proud of her...and I didn't want her to grow up, lose all that innocence...

There were a set of adjectives on the board and we had to pick one that suited the kid..
we picked "Gorgeous Dhriti!!"

she was truly that...and I am extremely thankful, blessed and all that for getting a chance to re-live my days as a kid...

What's this?

Test from Streamr

Long..long ago

Looks like it's been ages since I've come here. Life generally has been "busy".
I wanted to do a typical year end blog post, but then when I sat down to think about it everything was a blur....

Jan, Feb, March - totally lost, don't even know how I coped up after Dhruv was born. Things that I can remember VERY vividly -

The day we brought him home from the hospital. Seeing this very small kid right next to Dhriti, I was literally in tears. When will this guy grow-up, how will I ever live through the next 3 years and see him become his "own-self"

The panic and the "hyper-tension" when Dhruv was diagnosed with Jaundice. Yeah, I know it's very common and all that. But seeing a 3 day old baby in that state was just not something I could take.


April, May, June - whatever happened to these months?

July, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - yes I could have simply said - rest of the year, but the "effect" is lost right? :) So, rest of the year was like "what home"? I was literally working round the clock.
Oh by the way, this year marks the beginning of being connected always. I now have a blackberry and it is addictive!

To sum it up, the year's gone by in a blur, I can't even claim that I've done decently well. Probably saying I scraped through and somehow managed would be appropriate

No, I don't have any new year resolutions but then I want the next year to be a little peaceful, I want atleast a few days off (or few evenings off), I want to see the kids grow up, I want to move to a own house (which means I need lots of money, which again means I need to save :)) )
And most importantly, I want the kids and the family and everybody generally to be healthy.

Looking forward to a rocking 2010!!

Mustafa....Mustafa...

....been to Jai Ho concert....unique one-of-its-kind experience.
Truly a genius...Rahman
and then there's that digital screen that someone designed...don't know who but mind-blowing work!
Having said that the arrangements done by GMR for the concert itself were pathetic...eekss...
but then what we took away from the show was a fantabulous...super experience.

The songs...most of the songs from Rahman movies that he himself sung featured predominently...all most all songs from Jodha Akbar...
and then ofcourse all his famous numbers...

There's something magical with music...I mean...years...ages after we passed out from B.Tech...I can still instantly connect...and go back as if it was just yesterday whenever I hear that Mustafa song...that one song was were ragging anthem...can't forget those days when we helped the non-telugu gang to learn the lyrics and sing (all of us together) EVERY night as an anthem....
And then now years later I heard that song from Rahman himself...and I missed them all...ALL OF THEM...I want my friends back...:(

The concert itself closed with Jai Ho and Vande Mataram...the entire public stood up...joined the song...shouted...and actually felt that pride when they said Jai Ho and Vandemataram...

That was ONE concert...

List...

Yeah...I couldn't think of a better way of doing this - Updates..!

1. Went to Shirdi last week, can't recollect much except the 2 (TWO WHOLE DAYS) spent travelling. There has to be a better way, better roads, faster travel, better weather...

2. Kids are doing fine. Both of them were sick but recovered now. Dhriti still has problem with her tongue...don't even know what the "name" is, but something akin to mouth ulcers...(just that it is 10...no 100 times worse than that)

3. Dhruv has become very very naughty. He CANNOT stay calm, stable for more than a minute. Good news is he is sleeping patterns are slightly better

4. Plan was to go to Tirupathi also this month (for Dhruv's gundu), but postponed it to Dec. Too many travels in a month, leave, finances, Diwali and many more reasons to it. So, bottom-line: He'll probably have a "gundu" for his birthday.
Oh my god, it's already almost one year!!!!Yipeeee...

5. Oh, somewhere down the line last month I realised a very simple reason for belief in GOD. Can't recollect what it is now, but it made a loooot of sense. And I've also realised that I am not a very "religious" person inspite of the family that I was born into. And the best part is there are many people now who are into rituals, why...why the sudden interest?

6. And swine flu. I am scared, very scared. But it is passing. I mean the scare. And I think it's a media thing also. For a few weeks everyday it was the headline. In between we had YSR tragedy and then now recently the floods and swine flu has taken a back seat. By the way, the floods are TERRIBLE.

7. Shiva is still travelling. In and out of Hyderabad. Right now in Dubai. Do I want to go also? Yes, ofcourse!!!

8. Aps has another baby girl, Ruchika....congrats Aps...for the baby, for the no-drugs delivery and ALL THE BEST. You need it :)

To end this all...

Tragic

One word to describe YSR's death...it's a pity his life ended the way it did..
And what a media circus it has turned out to be.

The price a man, more so his family has to pay for being a public figure. They couldn't even get to perform last rites.

What is the world getting to..a leader dies and his so-called "fans" commit suicide...?some people die of heart-attacks??I guess media also has to be blamed for the latter...24X7 coverage...is there anything else left???

Yes yes

the blog is still here to stay. What if I did not write a post since long, not even the monthly one??

I'll do it..

So, what (else) is happening?
Shiva is back to "roaming" and that means we are back to that "how will I stay here without you" mode. Emotionally it might seem very daunting and all but practically its not that bad. With this busy life time seems to be flying.

On an entirely different note, can't believe that Dhruv is already in his 8th month, it is as if he was born just yesterday!

Yeah, the kids are fine. Dhriti is going to school, was (and is) slightly unwell but getting back to normal. (Will have to write a separate post on this)
Oh, BTW I bought a new bike!!! And ever since I bought it, it has been raining.
Why did I not learn driving a car instead, donno. But yes, I would surely love to do that...drive a car...should get around to doing that. While we are on this topic...there are quite a few things that I would love doing. Why not list them down?

1. Learn and drive a car.
2. Yoga regularly
3. Come home early from the office, in time to get Dhriti to finish her homework, feed both the kids and get them ready for the bed (What? Yes I can't do all this most of the days..!!)
4. Stay in a own house not a rented one (and still stay close to the office!)
5. Quit job (maybe a little too much)
6. Get an MBA (and from not less than ISB or IIM)
7. Get-together with all the college friends (that coffee shop visit with Kiran is just not enough, we need to do this quite often, why can't everyone settle down in Hyd guys, please-pretty please)
8. Vacation with Shiva and the kids (and kids SHOULD behave well, no tantrums please)

oh and a lots of other things. I think I need to get going, there is work to do and an office to go to, kids to attend.

Chaloo them ciao. Will be back with a bang.

MIND IT! (Apparently quickgun murugan movie is quite riot!)

The family - Extra Busy

Yes, everyone's been terribly busy.
Both of us with work and Shiva with that extra travel too...
Dhriti with her school..homework etc etc
And Dhruv...yup he's busy too...eating/trying new stuff, crawling, crying
In general, it's been ONE BUSY FAMILY :)

What did we do last month...hmmm...that's the problem with not writing posts on time...but yeah here we go..
Shiva went on yet another trip to Dubai...
I was initially worried that Dhruv was not crawling at the same time (about 5-6 months) as Dhriti did...and probably a week after that he started crawling. And its actually very nice to see him do that!!

We went to see Dhriti's cousins dance performance and I sooooo very much wanted to get Dhriti to pick up an art/hobby. Its just that we don't really have the time to go drop and pick her up from any other extra circular activities.
Maybe I should at least see what their school offers and get her started. I really need more time...seriously!

Oh and I just realised I haven't really said much about what I have been doing...!
Yeah I've been doing work and more work. I've been spending lesser and lesser time at home..
And I've more or less stopped feeding Dhruv, it's over. And I think I am disappointed that I couldn't carry on with it till he was 1 (that was what I was hoping to do) but then I am again amazed that I could pull it off for so long.
It was definitely good while it lasted...much better, convenient and nice than the first time around.

So long then...

Caught up and out of touch

At times you get so caught up with what is happening in your life that you tend to become soooo out of touch with the rest of the world...

The excuse that I have is the working hours and two kids at home. But, is that fair??
No, like so many other things in life...I am not too sure.
I haven't spoken to my friends for quite some time now...there is no where to go on weekends...there aren't any regular calls that I make to my friends, mom, dad, bro, in-laws...nobody.
Yet, none of them complain...!

Friends...just lost too many of the way...just too many. Now when I look back at those college days they all look so surreal!!
Yet, the last time when I went to the US, when I met Putchu, Aps...nothing seemed to have changed...we were more or less starting from where we left off all those years ago...
That for me is friendship.

Should surely catch-up...should invest time in getting to be a part of their lifes...
will the blog help, will twitter help...will calling regularly help not sure...but I know I want to do it.

The family - Vibrant

I've been late with this post...quite late actually. But, yeah my blog so who cares!

Dhruv has been generally very good and vibrant all of last month. So, now finally he is "amongst the people". We can't just leave him, he HAS to be counted. He laughs, he squeals, he cries (at the top of his voice) so in general there is a lot of activity. A new camera has been purchased...(ahem...) and so some nice photos have been taken. [Again I am not saying who bought it or who took the photos]

Dhriti for her part has been enjoying what is left of her holidays...too bad that we couldn't send her anywhere during summer...thought of getting her to join music/dance or swimming. But the heat+baby+office+lack of seriousness from my side played havoc and hence nothing was achieved.
Have to see if she can join some thing once the school begins...(which btw is 10th June...so close :((( )

My parents were here...we went and dropped them off at Vja...nannagaru is okay...but I guess travelling is more or less ruled out...to much of a strain..

Shiva was out-of-station and so in that sense this month sucked big time...
It is great having him back at home,at office and basically having him around in general..

Somehow can't seem to think of anything to write...so maybe a few snaps would help...