What to do?

One of the first steps you take, when you are buying anything new is, the market research. Finding out whats hot and whats not, the cost of the product, the topsides and the flipsides. When there are a lot of options to choose from it’s a tough process to make a decision. On the other hand, if there is just one option then the decision making process is restricted to…… whether you want to buy the product or not!!
I went through a minor bike accident on 16th November 2007. There was quite a lot of damage to my bike (I own a 125 cc Hero Honda super splendor.)….the front ferring and the visor cracked, the rear end fibre body parts and the rim were broken, one of the indicator lamps was destroyed and the handle too had suffered some damage. Lot of people advised me to sell off my present bike and buy a new one. Reasons being…..either superstitious or downright factual…(it is said that the inner frame of the bike is deformed on large impact which happens during an accident…..the bike is never restored to its original state.)
So I started my bike hunting just a few months back……. I decided to look out for 150 cc bikes (or higher than 150cc) …..because now that I have driven a 125 cc bike……there is a natural tendency on my part to look for a vehicle that is more powerful, more performance oriented and more superior….stability wise too. I started collecting information…..Went to the Honda showroom first……Enquired about Honda Unicorn......
Honda unicorn is known for its great ride quality and engine refinement which is characteristic of honda bikes. It has a very smooth power delivery at all gears. The top speed is less than the Pulsar 150 and I have heard that the bike struggles at high speeds. Looks wise it is good, but I feel none of the 150 cc bikes can beat the Pulsar in looks and styling. It is priced at Rs .64050, Honda gives bike delivery 15-18 days after bike is booked.
Next I went to the bajaj showroom and enquired about Pulsar 200, went for a test ride too….Pulsar 200 is a perky bike….….has the typical bajaj pulsar ‘crude’ sound which some people love, some people hate, and some others (who are ignorant about bikes) who ask ‘what just roared by?’. Pulsar 200 is priced at Rs. 72500. Bajaj Pulsar is probably the first indian bike which has a digital speedometer. As mentioned above the looks and styling have no competition. Delivery period is same as Honda’s. One of my friends is having a lot of problems with his pulsar 150….digital speedo does not work…..clutch plates have been changed….he has a 1.5 year old pulsar….of course it might just be bad luck, many others have no problems. Somehow I always think that the Pulsar’s tyres have a large wheelbase as compared to that of other 150 cc motorbikes. (Is that so? Some of the Hero Honda sales people told me that it is not so…)
I test rode two of Hero Honda’s bikes……The Hero Honda Hunk seems to be quite like the Pulsar in terms of ride quality, I heard that it has a top speed of 107 kmph. Didn’t test it though!! Hunk is priced at Rs 63500. Delivery time is 0 days. Bike is delivered on booking. Karizma is truly a beauty…225 cc, is built like a sports bike and rides like one too….. great pickup and great top speed. However the front ferring looks too large or so I feel.
Lastly I went in for a test ride of TVS Apache RTR 160….what I found good about it was its comfy seating…..doesnt hurt the crotch of a small 5’ 4” fellow. Looks a bit small too. Kerb weight is on the lower side too….136 Kg. All the other 150 cc bikes are heavier with weights of upto 145 Kgs. But then it helps the power to weight ratio which is very important for stability and road handling at higher speeds. Has a digital speedo too. Ride quality is good and pickup is great. It is priced at Rs 63500, which is same as the 150 cc Hero Honda Hunk. All the above bikes have alloy wheels……the thing I find irritating about the Hunk, Karizma and the TVS RTR is that there is no heel gear pedal, just the toe pedal. So you actually have to ‘lift’ the toe pedal shift to higher gears. For me, this will take a little bit of time to get accustomed to, because I am used to stepping on the heel pedal to shift to higher gears.
All in all, all the above given bikes are good. One of my friends advised me to go in for a bajaj pulsar, other one who owns a pulsar told me don’t go for it, go in for a Honda Unicorn, some others told me to try RTR 160, saying that it’s a good bike. My grandfather told me to buy anything apart from a bajaj!!
So it’s a dilemma of course, a tough call, again there are also factors like my height and built being suitable for the bike, and also a question of whether I really want to buy a new bike at all? My present bike in repaired condition is also performing beautifully, why to sell off this bike, also its just completed 2 years…..?

SOPs for the home......and the dodka sms series!!!

One of the golden rules of my home is to eat whatever is made for the day……whether you like it or you don’t. As per mom’s ‘SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for the home’ this rule is to be followed and if not followed the option of going without food is always open. I am a young fellow and being so I cannot go in for the latter option. So I have to eat whatever is made whether I like it or not!!! Its not that I don’t like a lot of foods that are made at home but there are some which I simply hate!!! For instance I hate ‘Bhendi ki sabji’. Some people love that but I simply hate it. Whenever I eat ‘bhendi ki sabji’ I get the feeling that I am chewing on some squishy and leathery substance. I fail to understand why it is called as ‘lady’s finger’ in English when it looks more like ‘crocodile skin’ or ‘green rubber leaves’!!! Many of my friends have similar rules at their respective homes. One of my friend hates ‘Dodka’ or in english ‘Ridge Gourd’. His mom once made the ‘Dodke ki sabji’ twice in the same week…!!! He was quite distressed and sent me an sms that evening after dinner….This series of sms and their replies is worth recording in this post…..

Sms from R:
How can you have Dodka twice a week?

Reply sms from me:
If you can have Vodka twice a week……why not dodka?

Sms from R:
Vodka gives me a high…..
Dodka makes me sigh……

Reply sms from me:
Alright then,
Cheers to vodka,
Jeers to dodka!!!

Next day my dear friend seemed to be a little bit too hungry in the morning!!!


Anyone who reads this post LIKES ‘karele ka sabji’? If you do.....Congrats!!! You are the lucky few who won’t have any problem following ‘SOPs for the home’.

A salute!!!!

Today I watched an episode of the History channel’s famous series ‘Dogfights’. A dogfight may be defined as air to air combat or an aerial battle between two military aircrafts. Dogfights were not uncommon, but this episode featured a pilot who actually made a last ditch attempt to destroy the enemy aircraft by ramming his own plane into his enemy’s and still lived to tell this heroic story. (Interviews were given by both the pilots………..the one who rammed his plane on the enemy’s and the one whos plane was rammed!!! Don’t ask me how they survived, call it the height of luck or the limit of mortality!!! See the documentary). And then, of course, who can forget the term ‘kamikaze’. The fearsome Japanese pilots, who, loaded their planes with explosives, bombs and in a last bid attempt to destroy enemy targets, would intentionally crash their planes onto the targets….!!!
Call it madness, sacrifice, love of mother land or whatever……
What must be passing through their minds, I often wonder, when I see such type of documentaries? What must they be thinking of, at that moment, at the moment when you know death is onto you, when you know that all is lost, when you see your comrades falling one by one….those people with whom you had shared some rare friendly moments……said best of luck to them before the mission and with a twinge of sadness said “Hope to see you again soon!!”. It is a blend of all these thoughts that brings a man to his final frenzy……..he readies himself at last, drives all these thoughts away……and thinks of only his target…….after that a bright light of explosion and then total darkness…… This is what I think, happens. I have not been in such a situation, even if I would be in such a situation I would not have the guts to carry out the final action. I think it would scare the shit out of me and I would run away or, in case of a plane, bale out!!
A salute to all those soldiers who died fighting for their country!!!

Happy holi!!!

Wishing readers of this blog…..a very happy and colourful holi (a bit late I guess but its ok)!!! Didn’t exactly ‘play’ holi this year….chilled out at home….did some work….and relaxed. Watched the children of our neighbourhood play, though and wished that my friends would come for holi too. They didn’t turn up.I was a bit annoyed with them !!! All thanks to some rubbish reasons such as we are ‘grown ups’ now and so playing holi isnt fun anymore (What ???? Yeah one of my friends told me that once in recent times..!!!) and the ‘sensitive’ skins that develop rashes……Anyway……a big BOOO to those who have these views and don’t play holi….!!! Holi is fun as long as it is played within the limits of…….hygiene and decency…….So once again wishing everyone a very happy and colourful holi!!!

Uncle???????????

Being the ‘shorty’ of the class, I was always made to feel like a kid in a class of teenagers!!! Felt bitter hatred against the people in the class who teased me…..fought with a few too…..and came out ‘tops’ in those fights at times too!!! Being short and skinny and being teased by other people (sometimes even the adults….who used to laugh and say “oh hahaha…..what a tiny fella!!!) sort of developed into an inferiority complex. I went into a sort of shell for many years…..Had that feeling…even in early college days. No matter what exercises I did (swimming, basketball, stretching exercises etc.)….my height did not increase…..my weight did not rise……always looked younger than my age. Finally I gave up on my height and decided to ignore the insults thrown by people regarding this matter….after all god had given me 2 arms and 2 legs and the other senses…..he had not send me to the world handicapped.! This sort of thinking made me a mentally stronger person. Later on weight training helped me to some extent, atleast for gaining weight!! In fact I started feeling happy about the fact that I look younger than my age and started bragging about it…………….until recently there were was an incident which shut my bragging up………………
I had just come back from office and was enjoying a glass of lemonade, mom wasn’t there in the house. The doorbell rang. I opened the door and found two kids standing at the doorstep……both must be around 10 years of age…..they had come to collect some funds for some voluntary organizations through their school

Kids: Uncle, Uncle….we have naaaa…come to collect funds…..Please give us money so that we can give it to charity….

Me: Uncle is not home, boys.

Kids: But if you have money, uncle, you can give it to us no?

Me: Uncle is not home, boys, I told u so….

Kids: We meant you….uncle…

Me (Thinking): These stupid brats……….calling me uncle……

I snatched the paper from their hands in which the entries of the names of the people who had given donations had been made. People had donated varying amounts ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 20…I took my wallet and took out a twenty rupee note, signed my name on the paper and gave it to them.

Kids: Thank you, uncle.

As they turned to leave, I thought of something and I called them back and said

Me: Look here boys…..I will give you this Rs 50 note for your donation if you promise not to call me uncle……if you ever see me again!!!!

Kids (Took the note): Thank you, bhaiyaa!!!!

Me (Thinking): Much better, you little jerks..!!!

Bachpan me ‘chintu’…….abhi uncle………Saala…..JAWANI KIDHAR KHO GAYI??????

I love to watch...........

I love to watch……………

The sun rising up over the horizon spreading a halo of divine light….splashing the blue with a blend of golden yellow, orange and red……the beginning of a new dawn…..the commencement of a day…..its radiance and overwhelming power which has sustained life on planet earth….

The crystal clear, peaceful, aquamarine and settled waters of a river…..the soft ‘plonk’ of a small stone….thrown by me…..the wee splash and the soft ripples it creates on impact….

The dew drops on the leaves shining like pearls……a sprinkling of precious stones by ma nature….

The full moon in the open skies , illuminating the night. The stars twinkling as if winking naughtily at me…..

The dark shadows of the palm trees on a beach on a full moon night…….the palm fronds rustling and waving in the cool breeze of the starry night…..

The dark sillouhette of a lady sitting in the sands of a beach……….throwing her head back lazily, wind blowing her hair, slender legs stretched out in the seemingly white sands in the night……

The first rains…..the appearance of dark clouds…..the fragrance of damp soil….the cool, fresh breeze at its onset…..the soft patter of raindrops as they fall on the roof…..and the downpour of rain….enjoyed likewise by the child, youth and the old……

The small delicate bud of flower…..which appeared only yesterday….. it will bloom full into a beautiful flower and will embellish the plant like a diamond necklace on a charming someone…….

The nostalgia of travelling by a ST...

When I was younger (much younger than I am today!!!) my mother, sister and I used to make a lot of trips to pune. Pune was well and truly what I can call as my ‘native place’. This is because all my grandparents stay in pune and my mom, dad, my sister and myself all were born in pune. So whenever my summer vacations started it used to be like “ I am going to pune!!! Hooray!!!! They say that when you are younger, your happiness lies in smaller things…….very true!!
In those days, there used to be only two ST buses a day which travelled from vashi to pune. One used to depart in the mornings and the departure time for the other was 3.45 p.m in the evening. Asiad buses were almost non-existent (1 bus per day) and fares for asiad buses was more than the usual red coloured ST buses’ fare. So my mom used to make reservations for the 3.45 p.m red coloured ST bus (We used to call ST buses as “Laal dabaa” which means red box! It is red coloured with yellow stripes and has a box-like shape!). My sister and I used to count the hours till it was finally time to go to the ST bus stop. Once the journey started it was great fun….Never a moment of dullness….!!! The wind in my face, the rocking motion of the bus and the rattling of the metallic boards and the seats (some of the STs had seats in such deplorable condition, that I had once seen 3 seat cushions coming out of their seat frames after the bus had gone through 3 potholes in quick sucession), the typical revving of the STs powerful but noisy engine and the great outdoor scenery. Whenever the scenery got monotonous, I used to observe the passengers. Some of them used to doze off, their heads drooping sideways, backwards or forwards, some of them sleeping off with their mouths open. It was an even funnier sight to see all these sleeping passengers’ eyes going WIDE open whenever the bus’ tires hit a ditch in the road……Seeing their eyes open that way was like seeing a bulb lighting up for just a second before going off again. Then it was the ghats……the curved roads, the view of the mountains, the tunnels all were simply amazing to see. The ghats used to be the section of the mumbai pune road we used to wait for. And then it was lonavla bus stop. The ST bus used to stop there for a 15 minute break. Mom used to buy ‘batata wadas’ for us……which used to be a real treat!!! After this the journey was relatively boring till pune….we used to keep asking mom every 10 minutes or so as to how long before we reach pune. Mom used to tell us that it is very near. Finally after 4 hours of total travelling time from vashi to pune our bus would reach the pune ST stop (swargate). Grandpa would always be there to pick us up in his FIAT. Finally we were in pune and going to our grandparents house!!!
However, times change and with changing times, things change…………A new road…..the mumbai pune expressway has been made due to which maximum travelling time from vashi to pune is 2 and half hours. We have a car now…..we rarely travel by the ‘Laal dabaa’, the number of red STs commuting from vashi to pune has been increased from 2 buses a day to 1 bus every 15 minutes!!! Grandpa sold his FIAT and bought a new Wagon R!!
However some things never change…..the ST bus is still called as ‘ laal dabaa’, they still have very noisy engines and rattle hard and the last thing that will never change ever again………..IT STILL IS A BIG TREAT WHEN SOMEONE BUYS ME A ‘BATATA WADA’ !!!!!

Nature, the surprise package!!!

This weekend I went for the darshan of my ‘kuldiavat’ and ‘kuldevi’……in case any of you reading the post don’t know the meaning of the marathi words ‘kuldiavat’ and ‘kuldevi’……it means the god and the goddess which has been worshipped by the family from ancestral times or a better way to put it would be ‘The clan god’. Anyway….the trip was wonderful. I don’t feel like posting the travel description because it might be too lengthy. So ill just highlight the special moments of the trip. The temples of my kuldaivat (Kal bhairav) and kuldevi (Bhavkadevi) are situtated in villages called wada and padel respectively. These villages are near the town of Kankavli in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra. These temples at wada and padel are not large or rich….like the temple of siddhivinayak in mumbai….but they were very peaceful and even though smaller in size they were clean and well maintained. My concept of a ‘darshan’ is not quite the type where you stand in long queues waiting to get a glimpse of the idol!!!

So anyway talking about the trip in general, there were some sights which were totally unexpected in pleasing manner:

1) As we were travelling from Kolhapur to Kankavli…..it was a flat road surrounded by plains on both sides. After sometime we came to a road with a somewhat sharp incline beyond the top of which nothing could be seen from our car. I thought that maybe this was just another road and beyond the incline there would be nothing but flat land again. When we came to the top of the incline we had a breathtaking view of a deep valley!!! We had come to the start of the descend of ‘karul’ ghat!!! The view was simply mindblowing and the sight was absolutely refreshing!!!
2) When we were travelling from kankavli to wada….. it was just the same old flat road with flat plains and greenery all around. As we came near a curve on the road, we saw that there was a bridge ahead, probably on a river, I thought, many rivers flow through the konkan region into the sea, As I drove the car onto the bridge and looked sideways……I suddenly realized that it was not a river over which the bridge was built…..it was, in fact, the sea!!!! It was a creek bridge!!!! I could see the endless expanse of the waters below the bridge!!! It was a totally unexpected sight, seeing the sea after a perfectly plateau type land form!!! I knew that we were near the sea from the start, of course, but that sight…..Ah!!

I can never forget these two moments when I saw the deep valley and the expanse of the sea so suddenly. My heart felt a different kind of emotion…..one of joy, elation, happiness, jubilation……adjectives would be inadequate to describe my feelings!!! I leave it to you guys reading the post to imagine!!