Truth is stranger than fiction

As I child, I was labelled as a bookworm. Not surprising as these objects were my constant companions everywhere which extended up to the dining table. There were times that I would toy around my plate much to the elders annoyance as my fancy would unfold itself more into the enchanting tales of Enid Blyton. Though this old habit has managed to find the exit door, books certainly have remained steadfast in the journey of my life.  My job as a correspondent involves a lot of reading as I interview several authors and business personalities. Due to this, my reading ranges from a wide spectrum of topics from marketing, leadership to mythology and best sellers.  Some of them of course, are not a part of my job and fall in what I term as the 'recreational reading' department. During this course, I have managed to come across some books which have left some lasting impressions or taught me a lesson or two.  'The Book Thief' by Markus Zusak: World war 2 has always ca

Its just been 3 weeks since Samara-my daughter entered our lives and its been like a lifetime already. Each day is a learning experience as we watch her every move. Trying to figure her out can either be fun or stress you out. Like many CEOs have mentioned, its how you face each challenge that comes your way. Life certainly has changed as your routine for the day is solely dependent on the baby's sleeping hours. You cannot afford to miss a second as every minute becomes precious. By God's grace I have been juggling between working out of home, going to the gym and feeding her. Thats all thanks to the support system I have here. As every day goes by, I look forward to seeing her grow. It is surreal when I hold her in my arms and while I read out stories to her. Thanks to the IPL and the football world cup next month, I have something to look forward to. While its fun being a mom, I strongly believe one shouldn't lose their identity. So its just a matter of time, when I

If I have to summarize my journey through those 9 months- it would spell fit pregnancy.  When I discovered I was pregnant,  my first concern was not to add on those extra pounds and bulges and end up looking like a whale. Since I was a marathon runner and my body was used to a vigorous workout regime, my doctor gave me a green signal to go ahead with my regime but with lowered intensity. The first trimester rushed by and to my relief I had gained only 2 kilos. I continued my normal activities like my work,  going to the gym, my boot-camp which takes place 3 times a week during the wee hours of morning. We would make it a point to socialize with friends, travel and have a good time. The second trimester was a breeze as I increased my intensity and even did some road running. The workouts helped in battling those pregnancy mood swings and irritability which raised its ugly head many a time. This usually cropped up when people would dole out advices on how I shouldn't be exertin