My Child!

Time moved slowly
My breath was heavy
Sitting on the bench outside
Waiting, and waiting
The glowing red bulb
only added to my agony

With every shriek
with every cry
My heart bled
"Hope she's fine"
I prayed
"Yes. She is."
I reaffirmed.

The wait was over
A lady in white
pressed my shoulder
"Congratulations! It's a girl!"
Ah! The sweetness!
Those words chimed in my ear.

I ran inside
The relief, the happiness
the excitement of a little child
merging seamlessly
forming a heady concoction
of ecstasy.

There was the girl
I loved the most
and beside her
was the little angel
A piece of paradise
wrapped in white.

She was the most precious to me
I loved her now even more
Respected her even more
Worshiped her even more
Because she has become
A mother. A creator.

She lay calm
Peace, joy, relief
Wonder, jubilation, content
danced on her face
as she closed her eyes
to soak in the nectar.

I looked at the little angel
Felt the higher power around
"Gone on her father" I smiled
"The same sharp nose, and
the same small eyes"
The gentleman nodded proudly.

Hearing my voice
the girl opened her eyes
Those fulfilled eyes
"Papa" she whispered
There, she is my daughter
Ah! The sweetness engulfs me!

-Tara
27/01/09

What women want?

This is an excerpt one of Richa and my regular chats, the topic was rahter interesting and im hoping the girls will add their own pointers and guys will just note them down.mind you never before will you ever get to read such secrets thus revealed! A Femme Fatale exclusive!! :D

Raka: what do you think,we girls want in our guy?
want as in desires and expectation and wishes ?

Richa: foremost presentable

Raka: he should take care of himself

regular bath is a must

Richa: hehe

Raka: :D

Richa: n as in shave

Raka: a must

Richa: depends if i like him more in thorns

Raka: but wont that be rather scratchy?

Richa: then skipping shave is tolerable

Raka: i like my guy clean shaven..makes him look cute melts my bones
u know what i mean :P

Richa: some guys look better with thorns
yeah i now

Raka: true..like my hrithik roshan

Richa: but i like him more in thorns

Raka: what do you think of chest hair?

Richa: :D
i juz go mad over them
;)

Raka: o yea
i second you on this one
but not if they are like akshay kumars like a forest

Richa: i find them most appealin in men

Raka: nice sprinkles peeping from shirt lapels are cool

Richa: say anil kapoor is forest

Raka: yeah yea
dense growth is a no no

Richa: amitabh bachchan in silsila looks so sexy

Raka: ooooooo yeah
:D
i think i guy should know what looks good on him
like some guy to flaunt their physique wearing skin tight tees
i hate them

Richa: i hate that kinda species

Raka: broad men should wear shirts in checks with some buttons undone and sleeves rolled up
what say?

Richa: perfect for me

Raka: and smell?
what should he smell like?

Richa: not very strong
some sexy mild smell

Raka: id say smelly feet are a sure turn off and sure enough is a week old stench of undies and body wanting a bath

Richa: i love his smell

Raka: yeaaaaa
i second you...
some guys just bath in deo n perfumes
they should be subtle

Richa: ewe

Raka: n still on smells
mouth freshner

Richa: yeah

Raka: no onions for lunch/dinner if u r hoping for that kiss
Richa: the smell should b mild

Raka: yup!
lets talk about attribues of a man

Richa: yeah
i hate men who thread their eyebrows

Raka: yew
thats so girlie
i like them the way they are

Richa: n that makes them look even worse

Raka: there is a raw appeal to them

Richa: yeah
yeah
n see our choices match
;)

Raka: truely
hmm what do u look for in a guy richa?

Richa: as in nature?
well
he has to b witty
in the first place
n then
he must treat girls as equals

Raka: absolutely
this one is a MUST

Richa: i don't like pampering much
:D

Raka: yeah but we need it sometimes right?
like once in a blue moon?
coz my bf hardly bothers now that he knows im there for sure
i hate that
as in guys taking girls for granted once they know she is going to be there
the effort should be there throughout

Richa: the guy shudnt take the girl for granted and vice versa

Raka: yep!

Richa: i want him to be talkative

Raka: like you
:)

Richa: i aint na

Raka: huh?
:O :D

Richa: no way!

Raka: yeah you are the tigress
waiting to pounce
Richa: lolz
i'm lioness btw
i m leo by birth
;)

Raka: hehe
i want him to be funny yet reserved
i mean i hate guys who loose talk
and crack dumb jokes and say silly stuff

Richa: yeah
:D
yeah
i mean no senseless crap

Raka: yeah

Richa: :D

Raka: u know
i always wanted to fall in love with a friend
but once he became a bf
i would want him to treat me like a lady
no fooling aroudn hitting me or whatever

Richa: yeah
it happens
like wen u r frnz u can do silly things
but wen u go beyond being frnz
things change

Raka: yeah true

i hope we have given you a decoded excerpts from a woman's mind...more to follow..but not untill the next time...hope you enjoyed it!

Must Haves: Inside the Handbag

Hey Girls,

This time, we bring you the list of contents you must have inside your handbag all the time.

• Besides cash, plastic money, few coins are must have. You may require a rupee coin, to check your weight whenever you spot a weighing machine. ;)
• Always carry your hair brush, sunscreen, kohl pencil, a lip blam and one gloss that may go with every dress.
• A handful of cashew nuts and/or almonds work wonders for mood lifts and they are instant source of energy.
• A pen/ pencil and a note pad may be useful when the need arises to note down a sudden design/ layout that comes across the way and may be useful.
• Carry cotton dabs/ tissues for sure.
• A tampon you know for emergencies (suggested by Harshi).

If you people have some ideas that have been missed out and count to must haves, add onto the list in the comment section.

The Darker Side of a Girl

Okay, now is the time for some fun and controversy.
I am going to talk about sexuality today.
The surroundings we have been brought up in, sexuality has been a tabooed topic. But since now the times are changing, we are not scared to talk about it.
I am not saying that it is a milestone in our country’s development that we can talk about it in open- with our girl friends and our guy friends too.
I have been discussing it with a friend and then the crux was that girls hide their physical feelings. I say why? That doesn’t mean I am a nymphomaniac, but I have brought up this issue because I wanted to find out. Is it so?

I do not come from a metropolitan, but I have seen around myself, in my friends and my circle, that girls are coming out of their shells as far as their sexuality is concerned, they talk about it, discuss it, take and also give tips.
I am not favouring it, neither am I opposing it. Getting physical is a matter of choice, but one should go for it only if they are mature enough to handle it.
So girls, the darker side here talks of the feelings. Do we need to hide them or do we feel free to express them?

Opine in comment section..

To All My Girl Friends

I just got this beautiful forward about girl friends, check it out girls:

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting her mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter. Don't forget your girlfriends, she advised swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you'll have, you are still going to need girlfriends. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them. And remember that "girlfriends" are not only your friends, but your sisters, your daughters, and other relatives too. You'll need other women. Women always do.

What a funny piece of advice, the young woman thought. 'Haven't I just got married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake, a grown-up, not a young girl who needs girlfriends! Surely my husband and the family we'll start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!' But she listened to her Mother; she kept contact with her girlfriends and made more each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her mom really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, girlfriends are the mainstays of her life. After years of living in this world, here is what I know about girlfriends:



1. Girlfriends bring you chicken curry when you need help.
2. Girlfriends keep your children and keep your secrets.
3. Girlfriends give advice when you ask for it. Sometimes you take it, sometimes you don't.
4. Girlfriends don't always tell you that you're right, but they're usually honest.
5. Girlfriends still love you, even when they don't agree with your choices.
6. Girlfriends laugh with you, and you don't need canned jokes to start the laughter.
7. Girlfriends help you get out of bad relationships.
8. Girlfriends help you look for a new apartment, help you pack, and help you move.
9. Girlfriends will give a party for your son or daughter when they get married or have a baby, in whichever order that comes!
10. Girlfriends are there for you, in an instant and when the hard times come.
11. Girlfriends listen to you when you lose a job or a friend.
12. Girlfriends listen when your parents' minds and bodies fail.
13. Girlfriends support you when the men in your life let you down.
14. Girlfriends help you pick up the pieces when men pack up and go.
15. Girlfriends rejoice at what makes you happy, and are ready to go out and kill what makes you unhappy.

Times passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Love waxes and wanes.
Hearts break.
Careers end.
Jobs come and go.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favours.
Men don't call when they say they will.

BUT girlfriends are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you.

Happy Birthday!!

Big day for us. Our 'partner in crime' the divinediu turns 18 today. Its even special cuz it is the first birthday on this blog too :D
So we decided to celebrate it with pomp and show, decorating the blog, have a party here, load her with all our best wishes and gifts.
We turn not older with years but newer every day. ~Emily Dickinson
Here is a wish for u..

Happy Birthday, Special Treasure

God gave a gift to the world when you were born—
a person who loves, who cares,
who sees a person’s need and fills it,
who encourages and lifts people up,
who spends energy on others
rather than herself,
someone who touches each life she enters,
and makes a difference in the world,
because ripples of kindness flow outward
as each person you have touched, touches others.
Your birthday deserves to be a national holiday,
because you are a special treasure
for all that you’ve done.
May the love you have shown to others
return to you, multiplied.
I wish you the happiest of birthdays,
and many, many more,
so that others have time to appreciate you
as much as I do.

~*~

The angels are- Anwesa, Harshi, Ria, Raka, Richa n Valencia;)

Here is the party!!

P.S. the poem courtsey By Joanna Fuchs

Powerpuff Girls

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Girls rock! I know we all know it coz this blog itself is a dedication to us but whats it without proof. Although the Indian film industry is more or less male dominated we have had our share of girl power movies that have been made in the past. I would like to enummerate a few movies which were big hits and were women-oriented. Pardon me if i talk more about English movies coz i feel they have potrayed women in a much better manner as compared to Hindi movies even though there are some exceptions here and there. So here are my list of favourites in no particular order:

1. Charlie's Angels (Need i say more!!)

2. Erin Brockvich (Julia Roberts was outstanding!)

3. Bend it like Beckham (Yes women can play too!)

4. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (Angie's action packed movie)

5. Legally Blonde (Inspiring stuff)

6. Kill Bill (Kick some ass! Yeah!)

7. Coyote Ugly (Lets have some fun)

8. Chak De India (Girl Power personified)

9. Dushman (for Kajol's power-packed performance)

10. Damini (for Fire-brand Meenakshi Sheshadri)

So here i am with my list. All you girls out out there are free to list your favourite "Girl Power" Movies. :)

Spreading my wings!!

i want to run
don't clip my wings
i want to skip,dance and sing
don't just bind me and hold me back.

i want to run
with the wind in my hair
the sun on my face,
throwing caution to the air
dont just bind me and hold me back.

let me dream
feel happy within
let me sore above the mountain high
trust me for i will never let you cry.

love is stronger than unspoken shackles
faith and trust makes it formidable.
no one can escape the clutches of love
so take heart and be calm
don't just bind me and hold me back

i need to think
and breathe free
i want to love and still be me.
i want all this and still be yours if only you let me

Why should boys have all the fun?

PC (Priyanka Chopra) smiles at me showing those pearly-whites on TV , playing smart and saying,"Why shud boys have all the fun?"... Well to be true, I feel no one has as much fun as the gals these days ;)

We have the world falling on our feet literally... Nopes am not being arrogant... Naah! Naah! I, the woman, am not arrogant.

We are shining bright and we are sought after.

Advertising industry has taken a complete turn when it comes to portraying women:

*You have the punchlines changed from "6 hafto mein gora banaaye" to "POWER OF BEAUTY".

*You have a gal funding her father's badi-gaadi ka sapna in a bank's publicity ad.

*You have a father saving for the education of the gal child in another which earlier showed a dad saving for her marriage.

*A leading liqour company is coming up with new series of vodkas to please women exclusively. ;)

Damn! I feel so elated to see US shining... We are everywhere, we are CEOs of the organizations, we are ruling film business,we are ruling the health and beauty industry, we are towering people in IT now. OMG, I am so happy for us.

Men are advised to use AXE, Fairness Creams and what not just to land an impression on their women. ;) The whole perspective is changing gradually.

Sex is no taboo for women to talk about. Long gone are the days when women used to give in to what came their way. Now, they demand, they explore and they call the shots too.

Things are changing and I hope they are for good. I feel blessed that my family educated me as much I wanted to study and I know there are many who are still caught up in the low-side.
I know we still have a long way to go... but I am glad atleast we have started walking in the right direction.

For once, I wanted to say that women are not all about crying and pain. We have moved on. We have evolved and We are here to conquer the world. :) Enough of blame game and enuff of crying behind the curtains. Optimism wins it all at the end.

Kisi mere jaisi Punjaaban ne kaha hain :
"Bas ek kadam badaaney ki baat hain, raastey khud-ba-khud ban jaatey hain. Manzil par kadi nazar rakhney waaley hi ant mein jeet paatey hain".

Let's Keep Walking!!

Nari Shakti

Contrary to what the title suggests, this post is not about rebuking men . I think men bashing is so passé. Now since it’s a girl blog and we are all for nari shakti. In this 21^st century when we consider us equal to guys there are things I believe hold us back and make us aware that we may try and progress, but we never will in actuality for it is the mind that draws us back. It is the mind first that we need to conquer and train, otherwise I believe there is no use talking tall talks of progress and equality.

We girls need to free ourselves from cobwebs of prejudices and conventions, we must realize that there are certain traditions and rituals that we can do without and train our mind and body to think beyond that expected and from there a new lady will be born, someone who will move ahead and pave for all those who are yet unsure to step into a world that is waiting for us.

Our minds are such that not only do we fashion ourselves following our traditions and cultures, but we also instill the same prejudices and superstitions in the minds of ur younger counterparts. When I was about 10-12 years old my mother called me up and said young girls shouldn’t play on the streets it gives a very wrong impression to the world. And this is what probably we will tell our nieces, sisters or other relatives. But why? A child deserves to play along with education, she needs to run around, have fun and grow. But no in the name of convention we put shackles on the little girls restricting them to move about.

Those five days which every girl goes through is far from easy. Despite our body being racked with spasms of pain and cramps, with an alien object making its presence felt in the most private of places. In such extreme conditions we carry on our daily activities, we do to work, schools and colleges, we play, and run, swim and god knows what not. But when it comes to seeking some solace at home, often women are subjected to alienation in the hands of her own mother, who bars the daughter from going into the temple, food is flung in plates away from the usual eating area. Hygiene is a must I agree but why ill treat a girl for something that is not her doing?

Instead of explaining to the young girls, that she must keep quite about the molestation she has had to endure and not spread the word. Why don’t we warn our girl child that most of the molestation happens first at home, to be alert and to raise alarm in case of such cases and not keep mute and let the perpetrator roam free?

There are a lot of things that a girl is taught as she is growing up. She learns that she must not behave in an overtly friendly manner with the male counterparts, she must not roam about in a gangly uncouth way, she must be poised and graceful and she must bear whatever comes her way etc. but as mothers or elder sisters we must ensure that the tonality and the way we say such things should not have adverse effects on the young girl or she maybe scarred for life. Take for example this friend of mine, we were just in our teens and needless to say we were developing physically and at that time we hardly knew the right from wrong, or the correct way to move about. Her mother once accused her of enticing people, behaving atrociously in a slutty manner and welcoming voyeurism, all because she was wearing a tee which was earlier loose but since she had grown had become tight and no one had advised her not to wear such things or just how and what to do in such cases. And the girl was scarred she felt something was wrong with her, she hated herself and felt guilty of something she didn’t understand fully well. This feeling of sinning didn’t leave her until quite late when she had to seek help at school for it led to low confidence and insecurity and poor grades. We must realize as elders we must use our discretion to part a lesson in the best possible way so as not to make the child uncomfortable or uneasy and surely not to scar the child for a lifetime.

Here are just a few examples and there are many more. What we need to do is judge for ourselves the conventions we are blindly following, if practically they are worth it we should follow it but never if it makes no sense and is doing more harm than good. And we must remember just because we have suffered it, it is not necessary that people after us deserve the same fate. Realize and act, prevent another you from suffering. We are the nurturers and we can do it if we try.

Lipgloss and chapstick

Yes, it is a girly blog. This is a girly post. All the way, baby!!

I have lost track of the number of chapsticks I have.

Apple, Strawberry, watermelon, Mango, Mixed fruit, Lichi, Vanilla, Mint, Classic...Heck, you even get Cola and Mirinda flavours now!!

Lipstick is more for the 'occasion'. You can't wear lipstick to college. But gloss? Sure!

It's there, but it isnt. That's what makes it so girly. Mysterious but flirty at the same time. It's chic. It's cute. It's definitely HOT.

Life without it?

NOOOO!!!

So, to all the girls of this blog- authors, readers and followers, this is my gift to you>>

The guys...well....you get to look at pretty girls. THAT is rewarding enough. And if you're lucky, you even have one of these wonderful people to call your own!

Muuaaahhhh!!

5 things a gal likes in a guy

Every gal wants the following in a guy:
1-understanding- but should provide some personal space(where were u last night ?-is a strict no).
2-friendly-but only with his gal
3- rich- but not money minded
4-honest - but must never say "u look terrible today" to his gal
5-good looks- but should not overshadow his gal at any cost

**there are so many things a gal likes in a guy,
but everywhere a tag called-CONDITIONS APPLY**

Wat say ppl? Agreed??

Fighting Holiday/Vacation Hangover.

So, Christmas is over and so is the new year party you had last nite. Time to get back to work/school/college. Time for a reality check.

Okay! so you did binge, you did drink and dance till your feet and spirit gave up. Great! Now what??

Damn! Itz so tuff to get back to the normalcy and monotony of life once the beautiful holiday dream bids adieu...But..But...itz not impossible. With some easy-to-be-happy tips we can get back to the groove :)

I thought why not discuss some of them here. Here are some holiday-hangovers(as we call it) and some tips to beat them :

1. Food and Weight : Aha! the chocolate ice-cream was delicious, so was the Pizza and Chicken but that was too expensive for your weight. :)... No worries. You can fix it in few weeks. On an average a person gains from 1-2 kgs of weight on holiday binging, so no need to get panicked. You need to alter a few things in your daily routine and its all back on the track.

- Water Therapy : Drink 7-8 glasses of water. Now when it is winter season, you need water more than ever. I recommend HOT water, it helps in digestion as well as weight loss.So drink the most wonderful zero calorie drink. :)

- Eat Healthy : We all have our own definitions of healthy food. All I would say is fruits, veggies should be there but make sure you indulge in more Vitamin C foods in winters, they help in increasing the immunity against infections. Don't eat after 7:30pm and don't ever miss breakfast.

- I Love Stairs Therapy : Walk to office if its near and avoid lifts, give urself a STAIR-challenge for a week and trust me, you will feel great abt it when you will find people following you on it.

- Don't Starve yourself : Eat nuts like almonds 5-6 in numbers or Bhooney Chaney when you feel hungry. Best snack is a Fruit like Apple or even a pack of peanuts(without salt).

- Walk : Take your pet for a walk, watch the kids play in the park while you walk or catch up on your favourite music and take a walk for 30-40 minutes every morning or evening as per your comfort.

2. Eye bags and Dark Circles : Cucumber is the best for eyes. Keep slices of cucumber on your eyes and relax for 10 mins. Alternatively, you can always freeze some rose water in your ice-tray and then rub those rosewater cubes on your eyes, it helps a lot. Also, there are some really good exercises for the eyes that we'll discuss in coming posts. Also, you can always hide ur dark circles under a concealer and if you hve dark circles avoid Kohl, go for eyeliners on upper lid of your eye.

3. Bad Hair : I know when we celebrate, we literally let our hair down. They need help after a party or holiday. Give them good conditioning with Henna or Curd Pack. Also, u can use warm coconut/mustard/almond oil with 2 drops of lemon in it to massage your hair before you wash them. You will get a really good shine after that.

4. Painful Legs : Soak urself in a hot water bath and apply a really good aroma-based lotion to your feet and legs.

5. Work : Getting used to work/skools/college after a long holiday is like beating the Monday-blues. I suggest, extend ur leave by a day and arrange for all the stuff you would need in office and avoid attending to your formal life a day after partying for new year. Stay home, rejuvenate, plan and leave for work the next day with a fresh outlook and a great smile.

6. Okay, I think I forgot stomach trouble : A remedy for it is to bite into some nimboo ka achaar or you can put green chilli seeds (5-6) in a spoon of honey and take it with warm water.

Hope these tips help you to get back to being the energetic-self.

You can also ask us for other holidy disasters that we missed on and we will try and get the answers from our personal experiences.

Wish you a beautiful New Year from the team here at FEMME FATALE. Ciao!

We Are Here to Stay!!

So finally, the Femme Fatale is open and out. This is an all girl blog, where we, the buddies, gonna hang out, gossip, rant, make revelations and confessions, share fashion and beauty tips and recipes, discuss love and relationships spices and woes, to be naughty and mischievous. We are here for fun with no strings attached, so leave behind your tensions and fatigue, sit back and relax this is going to be one fun ride. But hey, dont mistake us with beauties without brains, there will be enough to tickle your grey matter as well.

We will speak our mind without any fear or withholding anything, so beware of what you read, and read at your own risk. We are here to express ourselves un-censored. But, we do not intend to be rude or abusive to anyone. So if you are here, be ready to read and see things, the all girl way. We are naughty, we're nice, we're bitchy and kind, we're wicked and funny and spicy too. So look out here we co