Night-outs

Could'nt really bring myself to write down anything in the new year really. Managing the house alone really overburdens a carefree, innocent and creative mind like mine (ahem !!!) . No doubt, there is the independence of operating alone, being the boss and having a gala time. But then its a dud doing all the house work, which is normally taken for granted by us, due to the presence of a certain demigod, called 'mom'.

Well, anyway, when I was younger (a bit younger than I am now.), being alone in the house meant a party at night, at my place. We used to call these overnight stays as 'night-outs'. No one in the house....mom dad gone for some work...it used to be a perfect setting for a night time party at my place. KC, me, laal, irfi, oneil, abhi, dinesh, makarand, chakot........jitik sometimes. Laal and KC used to pick up some cold drinks (no hard liquor in the house), irfi used to bring down a movie CD. Abhi used to tell us that he would come 'shayad'.....dinesh made one or two appearances, oneil was there most of the times and he was my laughing partner

Chakot used to come late (as usual). He used to bring nothing except a sleepy face. Jitik used to come....and it was a wonder when he did.....coz he normally did not. (God knows why?)

The night used to begin at my place after dinner, which we had outside or each had dinner at home or something. The cold drink bottles were out and Irfi's movie CDs were played. We watched them. And no matter how serious the movie was, we always managed to laugh...with one thing or another. We even watched movies like 'omen' and laughed them out !!!

If you asked me...how could you laugh at a serious movie? I would say that, leave it....you would never understand !!!

After this some people would drop off to sleep.....but sleeping wasnt allowed on a night out.....so we would hit these 'sleeperzzz' with pillows, pinch them hard, sit on them or they would receive a mass 'punch fest' !!

We also watched crazy regional movies....which had some hilariously ridiculously unreal and unimaginable scenes...which had us rolling on our sides with laughter.....

It is 'seriously funny' to see a hero on a bike jump into the back of a tempo truck and turn out from the windshield from the other side !!! Or to see a hero somersault from the first floor to the ground floor of a building and then take a back somersault and again land on the second floor !!! Or a japanese martial art expert balance on bamboos and still manage to fight the enemy!!

The hours passed by, and at around 4 am all of us used to hungry....so we used to cook some 'egg bhurji' and enjoy eating it !! Or we used to go out to have the same (Bhurji business is maximum in the early mornings!)

Occasionally, we used to have very serious chats on topics of interest. Used to be fun all the same.

All those times have passed. Its nothing great to be alone at home....its not an occasion...its just ok.

Many of my friends have gone to faraway places to work.

Ultimately, what will remain is memories of these crazy, enjoyable 'night outs'. !!

Oath of a trip enthusiast.

These days I am quite skeptical of planning out a trip with my friends (friends here mean the group of my 5-6 closest friends) . The reason being that whenever a plan is made its almost always cancelled. There is a popular saying that rules are meant to be broken. In my friends' group case 'Trip plans are made to be cancelled'. No doubt that we have been to some of the most unforgettable trips and tours. But then even those plans were always made by a single person (my friend Irfan, bless him, God !!) Rest all of the people are experts at ruining plans, citing 'genuine' reasons like......
1) I have no money. The trip is out of my budget.
2) I have some work. (Right ! We have none.)
3) My parents wont allow me to go. (Why? Are we cannibals?)
4) The season is not right.
Personally, I am not a plan ruiner and take an enthusiastic part in planning a picnic. But when others are not enthusiastic, I lose my cool. I am never one to make up one of the above excuses.
1) No money.....Ya right....its going to cost a fortune and nobody's going to loan you any! Its not like we dont have money at all. All of us are working individuals now. Even if we dont earn very much we arent beggars !! . And when an excellent opportunity for a holiday comes your way, you should grab it no matter what !!
2) Work.......Right we have none !!! Work work and work, you have to, all your bloody life. Holidays are planned to get a break from this very work. Its ok to keep it aside for some time and go out with your friends, when you all have a good long weekend.
3) Wont be allowed: Why? Are we cannibals? Are we going to eat you? This was a favourite excuse when we were younger. Now its not. But plans are still cancelled. So who'll bother giving this reason? (Please note that I am referring here to an all boys group !!)
4) If the season is not right, you have to plan going to some place where it is right.

There have been so many times that we have got stuck up because we have no transportation. But then we always had options of hiring vehicles.
There has been so much of trip cancellation now, I have already sort of joined a trekking group through an office colleague of mine. They go on treks regularly. I am also seriously thinking of going somewhere myself with tour companies. No kidding ......these are the only ways that I am going to enjoy seeing places.

My best friends wedding (Part 2) : The party !!!

There are fun times which you never forget all your life. KCs wedding reception party was one such occasion. It had everything......meeting old friends....music......dancing......food.....drinks. It was more of a 'party' than a 'reception'. You can say we saw a mix of traditional and modern ways of celebrations on the same day.
We arrived early.....the party had not started then. We had bought KC and his wife gifts....which we had selected after great deal of contemplations, discussions, brain storming and brain stomping!!. Buying a gift had never been so difficult for us......thats cause we never gave gifts to anyone in our group for birthdays or anything else !!! But since this was KCs marriage we wanted to pick out the perfect gift for him and his wifey. Bhabhiji had suggested diamonds.....she was either joking or being seriously stupid......as diamonds were way beyond our 'reach'. I will always remember the way....me and rohan and others discussed the different kinds of gifts for him. I remember that I had asked some of my friends and colleagues for gift ideas....
In the end we bought them nice wrist watches (and added a packet of _____ as an additional gift to KC.).
Anyway, on the night of the party, we were the first ones to arrive. People began to come in slowly after that.
KC and bulbul came in after some time. KC once again looking smart in a black blazer and bulbul beautiful again in a black coloured dress. The party started with the arrival of the couple. Drinks and starters were being served. People were being introduced to each other. An hour later the music started.....people started stepping rhythmically. Slowly the tempo picked up and the floor was now alive with enthusiastic dancers.
I dont ever remember dancing like that before with my friends. We all have been friends for so long now.....and yet the only time we danced together was probably when we won our locality cricket matches !!! KC and bulbul looked so happy......Indeed by the time the party was well into the night....all the people in the party were happy....some just happy and others alcoholically happy.
There were some truly unforgettable moments.....KC and bulbul waltzing..... KCs brother and KCs bhabhi doing a jive.........People hugging each other simply because they were happy (and drunk, of course !!!)......KCs brother pulling me onto the dance floor and asking me to dance......My friends all looking very joyous.......Jitu dancing so well......rohit dancing like he always does......
At the end of the day (night, I should say) of wedding KC thanked us for supporting him thru his thick and thins...we hugged each other. The first from our group to get married is KC. We all wish him and bulbul a very happy married life.

My best friend's wedding (Part 1) - The marriage

The day had finally arrived. 'KC weds Buls' was the invitation. I was still to come out of that state when you say.....Huh? Yesterday, I was a kid.....today my best friend is getting married.
My best friend's wedding took place on the 18th April 2009. I am writing this date in this post because I am bad at remembering birthdates and anniversaries. So its good to make a note of it. Next year I'll remember to wish my friend KC and my bhabhi-friend bulbul a happy anniversary. KC called me up in the morning and told me again to be there for the wedding. (As if I would'nt !!!). Me and irfan arrived at the temple hall exactly at 11:30 am as he told us. Rohan came up later. Slowly the hall filled with people. There were kids and older men who looked like KC so we came to the conclusion that they must be his cousins and uncles respectively (haha!!) . After some time of waiting I saw both of them climb the stairs and walking hand in hand. It was KC and bulbul.......KC looking very smart and handsome in that slim fit formal shirt, his face looking bright and happy (the facial helped also, i guess). Bulbul, looking gorgeous, in a lovely saree, carrying herself gracefully, with her hair tied up in an elegant knot. Both looked very happy. Before the 'vidhis' started, KC was made to wear the traditional 'pheta' or 'pagdi'. The pheta fitted him like a song. Never before having seen KC in that traditional pheta we found it quite funny and laughed. The 'vidhis' started after that. KC stood up for the vidhi and it was at that moment....when I saw him in the pheta standing beside the guruji for the 'mangal ashtak' vidhi......that I really came to terms with the fact that my friend was finally getting married !!! Until then everything seemed to be so unreal....just like a dream. It was just like , you know when things are going to happen, but still, you dont come to terms with it until they really happen !!! As I saw Kedar (KCs brother) playfully throwing 'akshatha' with unnecessary force.....this scene seemed to roll in slow motion in front of my eyes......and I was reminded of my younger days when I went to KCs place to play.....and he had these physical fights with Kedar...for the cricket bat. When I came back to the present the 'mangal ashtak' was over. Kedar told us to proceed for lunch. When I went downstairs, I realised that my footwear was missing. I had kept it at the entrance but it wasnt there anymore. Oh boy !! I thought !! Its KCs wedding and my footwear is bring stolen !! I had another 'vision' in which an older looking KC and bulbul were telling their kids...."Look children, here is your uncle, whose 'chapals' were stolen in our marriage" and all of them laughing !!!
I grinned to myself. "I am getting too many 'visions' "I said to myself and went to the nearby store to buy a new pair of flotters. We had lunch and left for home. There was going to be a reception party in the evening and I wanted to sleep in the afternoon so that I was energetic to dance in the party !!

Uncle and uncle's bhabhijis

My sister giving me a niece. My best friend KC getting married. Another one, Dr NNA, with his engagement fixed in May. Suddenly, I feel very grown up. Things have changed pretty much pretty soon. My niece will call me 'mama'. Someone who'll call me 'uncle' is something I have to come to terms with. Anyway, mom told me the news on the phone. The baby was born on 7th April 2009...So that's her birthdate. She's an Arien. Curiously, its on the same date as my best friend's KC's birthdate, which is 7th June. The phone rang at 2030 hrs IST on 7th April. Mom told me "The good news has come."
My best friend whom I've known for the past 20 years will be marrying his lady love. And I will have someone whom I'll call 'bhabhi' (Bhabhi is actually brother's wife, but since friends are like brothers, their wife is also called as 'Bhabhi'. (I'll address her by her name of course....but still....she'll be a bhabhi). Congratulations to the lovely couple !!! I've been asking my friend, what gift he wants for his wedding. He says he doesnt his own house to keep gifts. So I told him that I cant afford to buy him a house, but he can ask for anything else !!! If he doesnt tell me, I'll ask bhabhiji and if she doesnt tell me either.....I'll give them a 'Food bazaar voucher' which I guess will be totally useless for them !!!
NNA has been out of contact for a long time. He makes his special appearances only during the ganeshotsav festival at my place. Still it was a pleasant shocker for me to hear that hes getting hitched....He's the kind of guy who would say...."Shaadi kidhar yaar, abhi? Abhi tak to mera MD karna baki hai." Congratulations to him too. Wasnt in contact with us for a long time. Now, he wont remember us at all !!! Meri aur ek bhabhiji.

Funny photo

Hahahaha........I laughed when I looked at this picture again today. Its a mastermind idea and a master piece in photography too......picture had to be clicked at a precise moment.....so that everyone was in mid-air. Unfortunately some of the dumbos in the picture were too lazy or just too tired to jump at the right moment. It was taken after we completed the somewhat strenous trek to ahupe ghat. I would still rate the trek as medium difficulty.....after all we did it in one day and there were people who returned home back to borivali !!!

So ya......the picture......To the right (viewers right side) is my friend PG......hes taken the right jump........just as I had told him to......his jump has come out absolutely perfect.

The second from right is TRM.......I remember that when we started the trek.....he was dressed smartly and looked like SRK (Shah rukh khan) in gogles, a half semi formal shirt and black coloured jeans. However by the time we were midway up he was down to his vests and had changed to a track pant and was panting like a dog on a wild chase. He was red in the face and gone was the smart and perky SRK look which was replaced by a half dead, haggard look!!! Anyway...he made the jump well too....wore his shirt and a gogle again (so that he'd look good in the photos!!!) ......lifted his legs to give him that extra high bounce!!!

Next to him to the left (third from right) comes a very good friend of mine..RAA.....who claimed that day that his stamina had decreased a lot..........it wasnt a wonder then that TRM and he were few of the last ones to come to the top of ahupe. His jump left something to be desired and he looks like he was too tired to move his feet off the ground or maybe he jumped and landed too soon.

To his left, is SSP (fourth from right).........and its a wonder he even got his ass off the ground and even stood up for the photo, forget jumping!!! If TRM and RAA were one of the few who came last in the climb......SSP was the last to complete the trek up!!!!

To his left is AAS (fifth from right).....this fellow has thrown his arms to both sides in 45 degree angle and one of his leg is lifted. The angle of tilt of his right leg reminds me of a dog who is peeing against a pole!!!

To his left in a blue shirt with his face blocked from view is SAS (sixth from right)....he too made a good jump and would have looked good only if he was visible completely to the camera!!!!

To the extreme left (again viewers left) is ORA.........the most enthusiastic trekker in that group. You can see that from his jump itself........he was so exuberant in his jump that the tall idiot forgot to jump straight up and instead jumped up and also to his left, threw up his long arms and blocked two of them from the view..........yes TWO.......in case you are thinking that he has 3 hands which is holding two caps and also has three four legs (2 of them in shoes and 2 in flotters) you are wrong..........besides blocking SAS from view he also blocked a man behind him from the view........that man is actually jumping and he is on SAS's right!!! He was a man from the village of ahupe who guided us up the peak........

All in all we enjoyed the trip, Earlier, I have written a post about the trek. This photo is definitely one of the funniest and the best snaps I have ever clicked!!!

Revisiting childhood playing days!!!

Played football after almost a year today......and got to say that IT WAS GREAT!!!! Never been an expert at it........in fact quite the opposite!!! (sadly, as my friends would totally agree!!) nevertheless its very refreshing to go out in the open field and take a sprint to the goal post. It was like being a kid again...no worries of work, no tensions, not a care in the world......just be out there and run....run like hell.....run loose...run for the fun of it!!! Changed into shorts, they felt so comfortable (half chaddis offer a nice breeze around the privates!!!)...especially after a long day in the office in trousers...putting on sports shoes and da stockings (socks more like). Took the football, kept it on the ground and then kicked it as hard as I could towards one of my friends standing near the goal posts. The feeling of elation when you play is still so pleasingly familiar. As if we were kids just a few days ago and came to play everyday on the grounds!!! So started the game 3 people on 3, a game, a war, a battle, a fight to the finish......thats how I have always thought a game should be!! The usual tiffs come....as they came so naturally when we were kids.......the abuses hurled, so casually.....no one to hear them on the ground....no one to say its "bad to say that"......no holding ur tongue back, shout and yell all you like, shout till your throat goes hoarse!!! . The sweat trickling down in huge drops......the minor cuts and scratches, a fall, and still an almost dignified ignorance to all these, by the true sport, amidst the game!! The twists in the game......the tackles made by members of the other team, dodging, ball control.....it would go on and be endless......lets leave it at that and say that I revisited my childhood playing days today!!!

So much to learn in life from games and sports..........

In life there are times when you'll win and times you'll lose......enjoy the times you win.....cherish those moments. Try to be a good sport when you lose.....,much as you would feel bad for yourself.....congratulate the winners......they were definitely better on that day!!!

When you lose.......try to find where you went wrong....correct the flaw and come back to win another day....higher...stronger and faster.....

Opportunities come and go.....grab them if you see them and score!!!

When you fall, get up, if you don't, you wont be able to chase your goals!!!

If at first you dont succeed, try again................then give up .......you werent probably talented enough for the same!!!! Try another one!!!!

Life is beautiful when there is laughter all the way......

I often have had these 'laughter' sessions with some of my friends who like me, love to laugh on what seems to be a 'whats so funny?' kind of statement or event. Today as we got along together in the evening......we thought about the great times we had in the past. My friend mentioned that, the way we still laugh at the smallest and the most absurd and ridiculous jokes, might probably make people think that we are being silly, but this very ability of laughing frequently and generally, making people laugh, is a real god given gift. I think he's quite right. Even the thought that we still laugh at the silliest of jokes, which only young kids would find funny makes me feel 'gifted'. Indeed laughing this way, takes away all my pains and relieves all the tensions and all the pressures of life (Do not misunderstand the word 'pressures' in this context). The feeling of elation and emotional 'High' that you feel after you have laughed ur guts out is unmatched!!! There are times, when people ask me........are you always like that? Do you always laugh that way? Or are you trying to cover up any deep hidden emotions? And the answer goes.........Yes, I do cover up deep hidden emotions at times, by laughing out.....and at such times laughter is the greatest let out for me......it does a hell lot good to you than any other means of venting out emotions......At other times, there are no hidden emotions, I just laugh. Many a times, I have hurt other's feelings by laughing and have'nt even realised it till they told me so.

As another of my friends had once told me...........Laughter is a free gift ......You dont have to pay a price for it...............nor do you have to pay any taxes!!!

Stay in touch? Sometimes I'd rather not!!!

It is sometimes hard to keep in touch with friends. There are ones who will write mails to you on the busiest of days. Replying will get delayed until you totally forget about it. Others wont write mails anyways........they'll call you up when you are attempting to 'balance a tightrope' or something and have no other option but to cancel the call or answer it only to tell them that you'll call em later. One of my friends once commented that i never bother staying in touch. A week later i called him up and he said he was busy and he would call up later. He did call up later but then i was busy and then the cycle continued until both of us quit. I do send some forwarded mails to people at times. But then some people have a problem with that too......They say.........what the heck? why do you keep sending forwarded mails?
I cant reason with this kind of logic...........What is wrong in sending forwarded mails? Its alright if you say "I didnt like the mail" or something......but saying something like......"This fellow sends only forwarded mails".............Is that a crime? Seems to be with majority of the people....they dont like fwd mails or fwd sms. I always sms (not fwd sms) one of my friends who stays abroad. Diwali wishes, holi wishes, birthday wishes etc. However these too are expected to be on time. If the sms goes in the afternoon of the special day....i get a reply sms saying that.....Thanks....but did you forget to wish me in the morning?
My sister herself told me that she hates my mails because they are fwd.......these days i am sending her more just to irritate her.
One of my other friends always calls up at night.......night here means......'midnight' or 'ghastly hour of the night'. One of my conversations with him when he called up.........

J: Heeeellllllllooooo!!! How are you?
Me (Thinking): Huh? How would I be at 0100 in the morning, stupid?
Me: I am fine.
J: Were you sleeping?
Me (Thinking): No, I was dancing on the tune of Lucky Ali's' shyam savere teri yaadien aati hai'
Me: Yes, I was sleeping.
J: Oh, I am sorry. I'll call up later.
Me (Thinking): Later????? How later than this would you want to call up?????
Me: No, lets talk now....anyway....i ain't feeling sleepy now.

So we talk and talk until he says,
J: Ok, chal ill hang up.....You call me up too sometimes, yaar.....main hi phone karta hu tereko!!
Me (Thinking): Haan woh bhi subah ke ek baje!!!!
Me: Ok, chal bye!!! Will call you up!!!

What i'd like to add here is that, its fine to keep in touch with friends, in fact, one should make efforts to stay in touch. But then, i wouldnt expect them to return the favor!!! Some friends are friends no matter how 'Out of touch' they may seem to be. I know that this post presents a somewhat indifferent attitude on my behalf.........but then thats how I am and I dont think that part of me will change !!!

Do you have photos of your best friends?

Had an 'overnight' stay at my place with my friends yesternight. For the first time in the history of 'nightouts'......I shot a video with my newly aquired handycam. I realised after i watched the video that, somehow...............somehow............i have very few photos with the best of my friends!!
It is ridiculous and strange to actually realise this now, especially when you know that the very same guys have been with you for so many years, been together at these 'nightouts' and during all the evenings when you meet them. Apparently its because we took each others presence for granted and no one really bothered to have a 'best friends group photo'. And we realise it now because a stage has come when every member of the group has taken up their own career path and has to go places for work. Its an ideal farewell gift to a best friend, going to some other place to give him a video CD which has all these memories recorded in it, aint it?
So anyway, I shot a video...........and its come out real funny.........A sincere thanks to 3 of my best friends......KJC, RAA and IAK............for that....
KJC for giving your best facial expressions and beating RAA with that pillow.......which were skillfully captured by my practised Handycam hand....
RAA for throwing in that funny 'BOOO' sound in the dark and his crazy antics behind KJC's back.....
IAK for doing what he does best at 3 am at night outs.............sleepzzzzzz!!! that too in completely odd positions !!!!
YOU GUYS are the best!!!
Wish that some of my other best pals were here at my place too yesternight..........OV, AR, JRS, NNA and MS!!!

21 years ago.....

21 years ago….
Two small kids, both around 4 yrs of age, both nervous, first day of playschool, first time away from their mothers, both crying their eyes out for mom….see each other crying. One asks the other…..what’s your name? They exchange names between sobs. Something in their little minds tells them that this is the beginning of a new friendship.

20 years ago……..
The same two kids meet at pre primary school. See each other in the prayer assembly line and smile. Recognition dawns on their faces…..they know each other….they’re friends!!!

19 years ago…….
One of the kids does not come to school…..the other one cries for him……

15 years ago…….
One of the kid begs his mom to go to the others house to play with him …..his mom drops him at his friend’s place…They have a great time together, playing games and having fun. The day seems to have run by before it is finally time for the kid to go home.

14 years ago……
One of the kids picks up a fight with another boy. The kid pushes the boy who falls down. In turn the boy pushes the kid. The kid gets up and by this time his friend arrives. Both of them bash up the boy!!!

5 years ago…..
The kids (by now they are boys)….discuss their problems about how tough education is and how they are facing their most torrid times…..and the number of KTs they are having…..one of them looks towards the sky and says…..” I don’t know how I’ll do in life”…..and the next moment both burst off into peals of laughter!!!
3 years ago…..
One of the boys gets a good job…..the other gets into a reputed MBA institute….both are very happy for each other….

1 year ago…..
The boy with a good job gets a raise….the boy in the reputed institute gets a job offer with a good company….

6 months ago….
The boy in the reputed institute tells his friend that he wants to say something to him…..the two have a heartfelt chat for around 2 hours…..

5 days ago…..
Its time for one of the boys to shift to another location….things will probably never be the same again…..they’ll never be able to meet everyday……forget everyday…..maybe not even once a year or twice in ten years…..they snap a photo together with all their close friends……..when its time to go…..they exchange hugs……memories of yesteryears suddenly come poring back to them…………….Will it ever again be the same?

THE BLACK PEARL

Dear Blog,
I have a confession to make. I’ll not beat around the bush…. just tell it to you straight away. I think I am in love. I have never felt the same. Everytime I see her, my heart starts beating the conga rhythm. All other things come to a standstill. She comes in my dreams. All those dreams in which I ‘ride’ her all day…..I can hear her ‘sound’ so sweet and ‘purring’ like a well oiled machine……Her eyes shine in the dark……and her ears glow brightly………Her body is curvaceous and sleek and she’s black in colour….In fact a sexy metallic black in colour…..Her backside is ‘well designed’ and her ‘asshole’ is big and it smokes…..I get a lot of jealous stares from other guys……but then I don’t care as long as they don’t come in our way……I have even given her a pet name…..’THE BLACK PEARL’
Dear blog, hope you have, till now, understood that I am talking about my newly bought motorbike……. Hahahaha!!

Goodbye pal..........

This bears reference to the post written on 29th march 2008. It describes my dilemma at choosing a good 150 cc bike. After much speculation on the matter, I finally came to a decision. Booked a Honda Unicorn last week. Will take delivery of bike on 7th May which is considered to be an auspicious day according to the marathi calendar (It’s a day called as Akshay tritiya……its not the birthday of Akshay Kumar or Akshay Khanna or anything…!!) So all in all I am a very happy man. Eagerly awaiting my new bike.
But then there is another side of the story. Ill have to sell off my old bike which means I will have to say a goodbye to it. Will be a sad moment to see it sold off and taken by someone else. After all it has been a ‘humsafar’ and ‘saathi’ for almost 2 and a half years now. There is some nostalgia associated with my bike. I went on my bike for my company interview 2 years ago. Got the job and since then have been travelling almost everyday on my bike to office. Its given me a great ride everyday. For the summer months it’s a great pleasure to ride a bike because you can feel the wind when you ride it. During the winters it gets freezing cold on the bike and in rainy season I feel a childlike joy in riding through the puddles and pools of water. In fact I love to ride a bike in rainy season!!! It’s a great to be soaking wet. People find it dangerous to ride bikes in the monsoons. I find it adventurous!!! I also went for two of somewhat long bike rides on this bike. One to my grandfathers Karjat farmhouse with one of my friends and another time went to Karnala with two of my friends!!! I also survived an accident on this bike for which I have to thank it for keeping me in one piece, and its dear leg guard for well and truly guarding my legs from any injury!!! It saved me while getting badly damaged itself. From my side I serviced it from time to time and gave it my personal attention by cleaning it every weekend!!!
So I dedicate this post and the given below poem to one of my best pals……….my dear old hero honda super splendor……….and I bid adieu to it…….Thanks for being a great pal!!!!

Alvida mere dost,
Alvida mere saathi,
Tum chale jaooge, Par yaad tumhari aayegi,
Is dil mein tum, hamesha amar rahogi !!!

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 bond called friendship...

The journey of life till now has been pretty much good for me. I had my shares of ups and downs. Clashes between good times and bad times, times of frustration, times of satisfaction, times when I felt on top of the world, times when I felt I could never recover from a fall and so on and so forth. My friends (apart from my parents, of course) played a huge role. They were my support system, foundation pillars of a building called ‘ my life’. I am talking, of course, of my circle of some very good friends. We shared our best and worst times together. I remember those old times we played with each other, clapped each others hands in joy, shared our small joys and sorrows, maybe even cried when we were unhappy when we were younger. Lately it is more the company of each other that is important. All of us meet each other every day….in the same place…..near my building….and then go out somewhere……maybe catch a snack…….all the indian fast food…..Bhel puri and sev puri from the ‘Bhel wala Bhaiyaa’ , Veg toast sandwich from the local sandwich store…called ‘Gupta Sandwich’ etc. People ask me, “Why do you meet your friends every day? Its not that you hang out in some cool place or something, you just meet them every day and chat, arent you out of topics by now, what is the attraction in meeting them every day? Its not like you are meeting some lovely lady who is your ‘girlfriend’? You are just meeting boys….who are friends…..of course….but still everyday?” The answer to that question is simple and yet it is annoyingly complex in terms of the number of reasons…..I’ll give you the simple answer. The answer is that there are some matters which you can disclose only to your closest and best friends. Its that simple. Parents can be talked to freely, but even there, there is a limit to this ‘freeness’ which is not there with your best friends. (This can be vice versa too in some other matters). So the thing with friendship, is that it starts between people with some small common interest (like say, 2-3 boys who used to stay in the same colony and loved to play cricket in their younger days…..became friends!) and if nutured and cared for develops into a strong bond called ‘Friendship’. True friendship is that which remains intact, even after the times change, people change, conditions change…..even after you have a misunderstanding with your friend or after he or she has hurt you in some way, in fact, once it has been through all these phases it grows stronger. Till now, friendship for me has been laughter and jokes all the way…..we used to pull each others legs and laugh as hard as we could. It was ok at that time, but now things have changed, we are all older, into our early 20s and more mature, I used to feel sadened by this change a few months back , I used to feel we are losing the old times……but now I know that people have started speaking out their minds, their innermost thoughts in front of friends…..I have also come to realise that there are sensitive issues which shouldn’t be laughed at…even that is not allowed in true friendship. This has been hard learnt lesson for me……me, someone who adamantly refuses to believe that times change…..and its laughter all the way!!!!