a raging thought...

zindagi ki is kashmakash main, na tum haare na hum

zinda hoon kyunki, ab tak hua nahi hain kum

tujh pe bharosa ae zindagi

kyunki na lagi hain na lagegi, kisi se itni dillagi

Bus kuch lamhe hain woh, joh simat kar phir na laote

Kash inmain kuch aur he labz likhe hote,

par hum bhi thay nadan us waqt

jab in lamhon ne diya tha dastak,

par ehsaas hain humain kya tha woh ek lamha 

jisse na maana tha humne tab apna,

issi rah par jab hum thay

aaye thay woh humse milne,

aur humne muskurakar kaha

shayad yeh tumhe nahi hain pata,

hum jee sakte hain tumhare bina

na koi gham hain na hogi shikwa,

Bus kuch lamhe hain woh, joh simat kar phir na laote

Kash inmain kuch aur he labz likhe hote

zindagi ki is kashmakash main na tum haare na hum

zinda hoon kyunki, ab tak hua na kum

tujh pe bharosa ae zindagi

kyunki na lagi hain, na lagegi, kisi se itni dillagi

Apologies Bollywood!

An ex flame once told me "if movies too were realistic what is left in life to enjoy?". The realistic me, that I was, just laughed her off. Today, almost 12 years later when I sat down to watch a particular Bollywood movie for the second time (rarest of rare occassions), I just couldn't help but think about that statement, again.

Bollywood to many has been and will always be a source for living. But for me, from a typical south indian family, it had always been a waste of money. "Whats there to watch guys & girls running around the bush?", my mom would ask. Well, if logical was the answer desired then you know who won the arguement! In a country that cannot stop Hero worshipping, starting from Guru Dutt, Amitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Sunil Dutt to the latest of the lott like SRK, Amir, Salman, Hrithik, Sanjay Dutt and the latest choco boy Ranbir Kapoor each one of them have lived a life which the viewers would want to, both on screen & off it as well. Bollywood like Hrithik said (in the movie I watched before writing this) is like a "Nashaa" but my fingers would immediately reach out to type how Katrina retorts by calling "Nasha" a very negative word, its just something which you cannot stay away from. The reason being "it brings hope" and hope always brings happiness.

One of the movies that I have always made fun of, has been "Hum Aapke Hain Kaun". I would always say (in my mind of course, to avoid getting beaten up by the fans of this movie which incidentally also happens to be almost equal to the population of this mighty country) "Why do I care?". My "sincere" doubt (making sure it wasn't funny) to the fans would be "What if Tuffy wasn't there?". Well if Tuffy wasn't there then the film wouldn't have given a message that all closed doors are not locked.

In an age of uncertainties, Hope is one thing we always cling on to. A slightest of hope and it makes our day! Remember the Govinda movies? An old me would have scorned at the sight of Yellow shirts, red trousers, Black jacket, blue shoes and white glasses. But thinking about it now, imagine the smile & laughter that it would have and still spreads. Bollywood has taught to smile no matter what. You might be in the shi***st of condition but you become a hero only if you make the people around you smile. Yeah, so you might have goofed up on a presentation but 'What the heck! who doesn't bungle, lets cheer on and move in life'. But Bollywood also teaches us to make sure we be serious as well. After all every movie gets serious towards the end, even comdey movies have a serious ending! Each day in life has to be lived in Bollywood style, enjoy it. But when it is time to sign out make sure that the day was worth living.

Its the load that we carry, that defines our activities. Let it go, says Bollywood. Our day starts with the most optimistic blue skies, just like the scene in which the hero manages to catch a sneak peak of the Heroin's beauty. The mid day has to the be as beautiful as the ordeals of wooing the lady in question, towards the evening it has to lead to something dramatic, only to smilingly bid the work and ordeals good bye at evening alike the end of the movie. Bollywood shows that!

Times flies and so does life. That is what the title of the movie, I just watched, intended to convey "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara".

Bollywood taught!

R.I.P. Jimmy

I had planned to write a blog on my experience in Kerala and had almost given it a shape while sitting at the airport lounge waiting for departure, however unfortunately it didn't find it's final lines and here I am sitting writing on a totally different context.

There are times when you just take living beings for granted and more often than not its these living beings that make you feel secured.

There are times when you just over look some living beings when they look at you with twinkle of desire in their eyes.

There are times when unspoken words translated into actions, still don't get the desired reaction from you.

Today as I sit to write this, I have lost my canine back home in Kerala with whom I really didn't spend a worthy time to feel I should miss him as he left abode after almost 10 years of company. But as soon as the news reached me, it wasn't the shock but a hollowness that scared me. It was because of him that there was a sense of security in the house. There was a feeling of someone out there who was guarding you irrespective of the time or weather. Someone who always welcomed you with a friendly bark each time you returned home, what I called as the welcome bark.

All this would be missed.

R.I.P. Jimmy!

3 weeks in Gods Own Country.

So it has been a while since I have posted something on my BLOG. It has been 20 days since I have landed in Gods Own Country. The experience so far has been like a fresh new day, new with each instance. So what experiences am I talking about here?

1) Practice the language before you reach a new place. Learn a few important words. And even after you have done then learn to see people laughing at you for your pronunciations! And just in case you haven't learnt any words then invoke the blessings from The Gods of Dumb Charades. I've been doing just that.

2) "When in Rome Be Like The Romans Are" So it's time for lungi /mundu. The natives still wouldn't accept you completely obviously because you are out of place. Confidence matters but with the fear of what would go faster, the Mundu or your IZZZAT, tell me where is the scope to have confidence and walk!

3) Learn to cook and eat. Unfortunately I am in a land of non vegetarian food lovers and me being an eggetarian struggle to find some good food. Funnier is when you DARE to EAT some North Indian dish and then spend time in the loo. :P It isn't as funny as one might feel on reading. I was MIGHTY PLEASED when I visited a 4 Star with an ambience which could give some of our Mumbai restaurants a run for their money. MULTI CUISINE RESTAURANT, they declared on their Tariff Card and I promised the Manager I would come back soon. The next time I visited the area I made it a point to visit the MULTI CUISINE RESTAURANT. "Paneer Kitne Din se nahin khaaya." my heart shouted!

Waiter: "Sir would you like to have some dish in Paneer for the main course?"

WTF???????????????

Me: "Ah well yeah. Get me a dish of Paneer Butter Masala along with a dish of Appam."

I waited patiently with a wish to have Paneer after 3 weeks! *Slurp*

The wait was't worth, the Paneer Butter Masala completely drowned my desire to come back to this MULTI CUISINE RESTAURANT. So from there I head to my meeting. All of a sudden there is some "hul-chal"

KAHAN?

Stomach dear had an immediate Mood Change due to the food at the MULTI CUISINE RESTAURANT. :( The rest? The lesser said the better!

4) Get ready for an overdose of the local actors on television. Movies, TV Advertisements, Hoardings, you will see them everywhere. If that wasn't less you would see them in the most funniest of poses and clothes!

5) Be ready to meet some visitors who might give you creeps. They are in plenty here. Thankfully the one's that I am scared of, haven't REALLY made their presence felt.

Is it all that bad?

1) The Peace here cannot be bought by any amount of urbanisation. All that we miss in a city like Mumbai is some peace which is in abundance here. :D A day full of working from home and then a walk with an elder to the local temple, the knowledge that you get while talking to them, the fields that you pass by, the local houses from where the kids come out running to see a person whom they haven't seen previously and all the customs and traditions which we as city dwellers can never experience. They still, also, use the traditional methods of cooking with the dried up wood what we call as the "Choolaah"

2) The smile and the warmth of the people whom you might not know and yet they would stand and explain to you, how they are related and then their favourite statements "How would you remember us? The last you had seen was when you were 6 years old!" What memory!!!!!! :-o

3) The weather during evening times is absolutely awesome! I have been experiencing breeze which we "could probably" experience only during Winters in city.

4) The sanctity of the holy places would have to be seen to be believed. The precision with which people follow each of these practices shows the power of beliefs! At many of the temples, including the local one,that I have visited the people still don't cross the path if they see the priest coming. The temples still haven't been commercialised. I have been completely bowled over by a group of 3 kids who used to come ever evening, until their schools started, to recite Bhajans. I doubt if this could be ever seen in the city.

5) Everything over here is so planned and organised in their own little way. We as city dwellers never get time from our usual schedule to have lunch on time, to have tea on time or probably to reach home for dinner on time. But here day in- day out,their schedules never go wrong. Breakfast is sharp at 7 (not for me though), another tea session by 11, followed by lunch at 1pm, Snacks at 4 and finally dinner by 10 pm. They plan for their day-to-day activity in advance. Like for eg. cut the wood and store well in advance before rains for cooking purposes. And to add to it they live a HAPPY (content) LIFE. Makes me wonder, what is it that I am searching for in life?

Each day that gets me a new experience, good or bad, has only reinforced my decision of having taken up a rural internship for my Summers.

So its finally an end for a new Beginning!

I reached college way earlier than the prescribed time by my group for discussing a Viva we are supposed to attend in two hours from now. As usual the discussions would take place an hour before the Viva!

On my way, I was receiving mails regarding a certain picture in which a friend of mine tagged the entire class. She wrote "to all my MMS DIV B friends...i love u way too much...and il always cherish these memories...the BESTEST...class...and the bestest and loveliest pple i have ever met!...mwaaahhh......HUGS***" With the first academic year coming to an end in the next few days everyone seems to be on an emotional high, except one (atleast openly.)

The last one year has seen ups and downs, most of them evident and as ugly as they are evident! Unfortunate! A class which began on good terms, should have had atleast the unity to end it on good terms.

Me on my front am happy that I am doing good with everyone. Touchwood! (Honestly speaking, quiet unusual of me!) I love the entire class and am enjoying my rapport which I had over the last one year. I hit off on a good note with Mandar, Nikhil and Abhilekh.

Over the year, I developed a great rapport with Pen, Manalee and Daxa. People whom I would never forget in my life. As I moved ahead my friendship grew with the Gang of Dudes (Pahwa,Rohit,Gaurav,Farzad,Rahul & Nautanki Pratik) excellent guys with whom I share the last row in class room. The fun and frolic during lecture, in between lectures and after lectures would not have been as fun, if they weren't around. Infact on days when they wouldn't be around, the class would look as gloomy and silent as a graveyard! Moving on still further into the year I found friends like Divyesh, Advait, Vijeyta, Disha and Pooja. I have been sharing an excellent conversation with the first and the last, over the last few weeks. While Divyesh has been busy enlightening me with the various facts of hospitality industry (its immensely interesting to listen to someone as passionate as him) Pooja has been entertaining with her unbeatable PJ's. I have been lucky to be a part of the so called "you & I rock-60-comment" conversation on Facebook with her, filled with utter nonsense and I'm proud of it because I feel that was a tough fight, I gave her. That's going to be remembered life long!

The year also introduced me to friends like Tarang Vasa (incidentally my FIRST FRIEND in college, offered me a mint on Day 1) with whom my day starts with "Namo Jinanam". I am sure that would be for the rest of my life.

Also found some interesting and innovative friends, a tag which none other than Chinmay THE Sakhale can deserve. Chinmay's idea of Buffalo Dress would, Inshallah, come true one day and Inshallah, may he himself play a big role in it! Sanchetti, really enjoyed all our conversations regarding Chattisgarh! We shall plan a trip one day, Inshallah! Btw the other thing I cannot forget you would be for,"White White Face dekhe...dil yeh sasura...." :D Hahaha!

Rujuta's timing of jokes can hardly be matched by anyone except Hrishi! Okkaayy Hrishi! :D I remember Rujuta standing beside me, waiting for some transfer of files on her Pen drive and apna very own "Sam www.160by2.com" picked up a chocolate and asked "kiska chocolate hain yeh?" Rujuta's reply as instant as "0.5 of a second" was "Cadbury ka" and I was roaring with Laughter for the timing of the reply! Sam's reaction was also worth seeing!

Hrishi's timings and mimicry exploits have to be seen to be believed! His antics would always be a part of the most memorable moments of MMS-B. The tri-kone Abhishekh, Ritesh and Pednekar were the ones who used to light up the mood in the last benches. While Pednekar would be with me for the next year too, Abhishekh (this guy is an information database and is fantastic to talk to! Will miss that buddy!) and Ritesh would be sorely missed. Ritesh simply for the fact that he is like the News Feed on Facebook! But on a serious note that guy inspires me as well, as mentioned in one of my earlier posts.

Amongst the other members in the class are Satish, Ashish and Gazala. Must mention that they really were excellent people to go on a trip with! Will forever remember the masti during the Alibaugh trip! Satish apna challenge next sem main continue karenge! We will now play for the ultimate, who attended college THE LEAST in the two years! Apne upar reality television banega, hum kya karte hain jab hum college nahi jaate! 24 hours camera around us, tracing our lives! Hahaha! Phunsukh I love you! Nimyaaa, apna very own desi version of Harry Potter is awesome to be with! Dude, I simply envy the way you sit around for all lectures w/o fail.

There were some silent people who nevertheless haven't gone unnoticed, like Mrinalini, Noor, Mangesh, Bhairav, Abhay, Aakash, Chetan Navare,Hasaan, Sayeed and Sanjeev Kumar. Never had an opportunity to interact much with them but yet they made the class what it is. Thanks to each one of you!

I was never once interested to sit on the first bench but that wouldn't mean that I dislike the first benchers. Reshma, Shahinda, Pooja and Purnima (Mahila Mandal) tried their best to make a boring audience (from prof's view) an informative and questioning class! For classmates like Shimoni and Shweta, it was interesting to see their presentation. Must admit they were among the most interesting I have seen, Niche Marketing being one amongst them. Andrew, buddy you would be remembered for that dance clip posted on Facebook more than your Financial knowledge. No offence but people generally remember others for something extraordinary done and I feel that your dance was way, way, way, way extraordinary than you financial acumen, which is without a doubt fantastic in itself! Keep those dancing shoes on mate! Dr.Kanika, it was fantastic to know you. I still remember you were the only one who took me in her group during the first I.T. presentation and I thank you for that! :D Irfan, mere bhai! The amount of efforts and planning you do behind your work is really inspiring. I hope someday if I get 1/10th of it, I would really be some person then! :D

Finally as I draw to the last lot of classmates they are the ones with whom I had the time of my life, MY FIRST INDUSTRIAL VISIT" Pramod, Pooja Surve, Nikhil Patkar, Sushant Sonawane and Snehalata. Fantastic trip because of the show stopper,a.k.a Nikhil Patkar! Thank you people!

Life is definitely such, people do take some place in your life, in a good or bad way but there would always be some or the other memory which would make you smile one day and that is FOR SURE!

Now to the person who despises all of this, Anukool! For you Anukool "I love you Darling. But life has to move on, so from now on I will search for a new darling to replace you."

Finally the last is always reserved for the best,isn't it? So lets move to the TOPPERS! M&G! (Sounds cool like D&G huh?) M, that exasperation on your face ,when once during the lecture, the guys passed your slippers to the other end of the class would never be forgotten. G, the "noise" in the class would be missed! The energy that you brought about would definitely be a big add on for the H.R. class. Cute naaaaa????? (Stop nodding your head for once, I can see you doing that! :P ) Wonder where you get all that from? Keep topping in life ladies! I'm sure we would never see anyone like the two of you, ever!

I WILL MISS EACH ONE OF YOU! (minus my ex-darling Anukool, no more flying kisses to you)

Random Thoughts...

Confidence comes from Action and not Words!

Finally found it!

Yeah I finally found one of my poems which I had written long back. It was selected by the website where I had posted it (poetry.com)for some worldwide competition and they wanted to publish it in their coffee book. But for some weird reasons I didnt give them a green signal. Today after long I felt like reading it and after a bit of a struggle found it online. Really glad I could find it as I have lost my original book where I used to pen my thoughts.

"WHEN...."

"When the heart beats wild and loud,
When vision sees it all around,
When days are meant to wonder and dream,
When words are less to describe it may seem!
When un encountered days seem dark and gloomy,
When time tests your patience with pain and agony,
When this pain you are ready to bear for life,
When for the person you are ready to strive!
When company is all that you long,
When time together is treasured all along,
When every second is ruled by the thoughts,
When every word and action means a lot!
When pain you are ready to take and joy share,
When for someone you are always there!
When this is how in life you feel,
When this is how before life you kneel,
This is the time you never know happens how,
This is the time when you fall in love!"