tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62498016137954608612024-02-20T16:45:05.148-08:00Spring Blossoms...My Take on Life...My Thoughts...Desires...and all that comes to my mind... :) ...Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-55462805567087645202012-10-22T04:34:00.003-07:002012-10-22T04:35:28.621-07:00Friends & Friendship<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">Okay, so today seems to be a rare day; this is going to be my second post in a day! I guess I've ignored my blog for a long time (some have gone from calling my blog to be 'dormant' to 'dead'!), but today, the words seem to be flowing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">This was a comment from my sister on my a post '<a href="http://springbl0ss0ms.blogspot.in/2010/01/pet-leopard.html">The Pet Leopard</a>' and I thought of writing a separate post to reply to it.</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">".. aam.. Talking about friends and having *soo many of them*.. I had a some things that I noted and I wanna share em with you. Do you know that the Oxford word of the year is *Unfriend* (to remove someone off a Social Network like FB) </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">-1- If you are on Facebook, how many friends do you have?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">-2- What is the difference between a friend and an acquaintance?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">-3- Compare "friend" to "comrade (in arms)". Comrades have a reason, perhaps even a life and death reason, to associate. Why do "friends" associate?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">-4- Do friendships, just like "emotional relationship" but perhaps to a lesser degree, require "work"?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">-5- What is the difference between a Facebook friend and a "real" friend?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">-6- What is a "real" friend?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">Answering all of this, i believe, would be a lot of work for you.. But I'd be glad if you could do that.. rather if anyone could do that :D"</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">Gugs, h</span><span style="color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">ere's what I think about friends and friendships...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">I feel that in this world of Facebook and Twitter, the definitions of a 'friend' and an 'acquaintance' have become muddled, and these words are often used interchangeably. But, in my view they are vastly different. Facebook may call everyone on your list, a 'friend', but the reality is vastly different. Most of the people on the everyone's lists are 'acquaintances'; people you've met somewhere and want to get in touch, or stay in touch - maybe 'potential' friends; but, not friends for sure. The one thing that differentiates friends from acquaintances is the feeling that you've for them, and whether you care, or not.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">Friends do not associate for a reason; rather, 'friendships' based on the foundation of a reason, or a vested interest are often short lived. I've heard this many times that the bond of true friendship can only be forged in the childhood, or maybe it can only come into existence if two, or more people meet in PERSON. But, my views and experiences on this are different, in fact, vastly different; friendship doesn't know any boundaries, physical, or those of age. You can find a friend anywhere, and in the most unexpected ways. I believe a lot in Destiny and Karma, and feel that it has a lot to do with all of this. People come into your life when you may not be expecting them to come, change your life for the better or worse (in both cases, we learn important lessons and grow); and sometimes, they stay, sometimes not.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">Friendship is an emotional relationship too, because without emotions, it cannot be a friendship at all. And, like any emotional relationship, it requires nurturing, and like you said 'work'. Which genuine relationship doesn't have fights, or problems? But, if it is a genuine bond, it doesn't feel like 'work' and the genuineness overcomes all problems. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">A 'Facebook friend' may be 'real', and vice versa. But, a 'real' friend is, umm, real. :) You know that a person is your friend and no one needs to tell that to you; you just know. Many a times, sweetness of a person is mistaken to be something else, but if you listen to your feelings, you'll know if the sweetness and emotions are genuine, or not. No one can tell you that, and even if someone did, it won't convince you, till you're convinced yourself. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, Gugs, and I hope that I've answered your questions; I've tried to do so in the best way I could, with what I feel and think. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">Here's an image that I love; it depicts friendship and a lot of other emotions. :)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjM913E_XIKUCmzh_GEk7AfunWcPksT9s1rpZVD6VtGRKA2WN5DX_F0YteIcKnd30Q97maPrIXGop8vykIm4GeauCLXNkBpuyFSEp0J0mfLJRI3BC4Q7QAEcbjkmeGCRRhK4BTZs_1DA/s1600/squirrel+-+love+friendship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjM913E_XIKUCmzh_GEk7AfunWcPksT9s1rpZVD6VtGRKA2WN5DX_F0YteIcKnd30Q97maPrIXGop8vykIm4GeauCLXNkBpuyFSEp0J0mfLJRI3BC4Q7QAEcbjkmeGCRRhK4BTZs_1DA/s320/squirrel+-+love+friendship.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">===============</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0d0600; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">I'd love to hear the thoughts of anyone who reads this, sort of an an open letter to my sister. Until the next time, see you!</span></div>
Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-17837183903102009992012-10-22T02:50:00.002-07:002012-10-22T02:52:09.477-07:00The Hug of the Beloved<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The inexplicable calm, the unending peace,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px;">The unblemished love, the care unconditional.;</span></span></div>
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The healing and the faith.. That protected feeling,</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px;">The purity and the abandon.. That content feeling; </span></div>
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The rain and the warmth, the joy and the strength,</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px;">The soft firmness and the tender plinth;</span></div>
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The longing, the longing..</div>
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The <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">hug</span> of the <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">beloved</span>, the <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">hug</span> of the <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">beloved</span>..</div>
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- KB</div>
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Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com2Mumbai, Maharashtra, India19.0759837 72.877655918.835877699999998 72.5617989 19.3160897 73.193512899999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-74236738239849632942010-10-12T15:32:00.000-07:002010-10-12T17:04:38.765-07:00The Girl in Black & Maroon - An October Night in Ahmedabad during NavratriIts Navratri* season, and Garba* is in the air. The night is abuzz with the excitement of people going out for dancing and having fun with friends and family. And its result - this post right in the middle of my exam season! Its based on a fictional setting describing something that happens a LOT all through the nine nights. A guy and a girl meeting while dancing, sometimes talking to each other, and most of the times, just looking at each other and then moving on. Read on..<br /><br />Part 1 - Karnavati Club, Ahmedabad. (A famous garba location in Ahmedabad)<br /><br />He had gone to the Club to soak in the Navratri spirit with friends and get a respite from his busy schedule. They were dancing and enjoying themselves, and he too was trying to dance despite having two left feet. He was also trying his hand, actually feet, at the difficult steps that the others were doing, and having fun till...... Wham! He saw her.. The girl in Black & Maroon!! (She was dressed in an outfit that had those colors and since he did not know her name, he decided to call her that.) He had taken a break and was standing with his friends. <span dir="ltr" id=":y4">A few had gone to get something from the refreshments stall. </span>And she walked by from between the circle that they had formed for dancing. She was leading her grandpa to some other part of the ground. At first he didn't realize how beautiful she was until she walked by, and then it started sinking in.. and he was flattened! She was so pretty!! The way she was dressed.. the way she had eye lined her eyes with kohl.. her flawless skin.. without much make up.. and the way she was taking care of her grandpa!!<br /><br />He told about her to his friend and they headed in the general direction where she had gone without much hope of seeing her again, since the ground was filled with hundreds of people. But, then they reached this part of the ground where a trained group of dancers was dancing amazingly well and doing stunts. They were surrounded by a lot of amazed onlookers, and to his amazement, one of the onlooker was...the Girl in Black & Maroon! She was standing there with her grandpa, and later he noticed that she was joined by her mother. He and his friend watched the dancers for a while, and when it ended, they all headed for the refreshments stalls, including she and her family.<br /><br />Part 2 - His home.<br /><br />Later in the night, he lay on his bed thinking about her. He was fast forgetting the way she looked, because he had seen her for only a few times and that was from a substantial distance, except two times, once when he saw her for the first time when she had passed by him, and the second time when their gazes met while they were looking at the trained garba dancers. He didn't want to forget the way she looked, because this incident was playing over and over in his head... because this was the first time that he, Mr. Shy Guy, had seen a girl he had never seen before, and was actually not scared to try and approach her to talk. But sadly, she was with her parents and he couldn't talk to her.<br /><br />Their gazes met quite a few times.. when he first saw her, later when they were seeing the dancers, and also during the break near the stalls. But then, he saw that her father looked in his general direction, and he freaked out and left. Later as he sat down with his friends, he noticed that she was gone. And then, he saw her again! She was going back to the part of the ground that was meant to be used for dancing.. but it was only a small fleeting glance........<br /><br />He kept thinking about her and wishing that he should have talked to her somehow... anyhow... He could have tried...<br /><br />And all he could do was think, and hope that destiny would make them meet again, like it did that day... someday, somewhere.. The Girl in Black and Maroon might pop out of nowhere.. and dazzle him with her smile!<br /><br />* Navratri <em></em>is a nine nights' festival, celebrated in India to thank Goddess Shakti (Hindu Mother Goddess) and her various forms, for her blessings. And Garba is a traditional dance form performed during this festival by the revelers.Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-49342801056694337442010-08-05T13:34:00.000-07:002010-08-05T15:59:31.534-07:00Happpppppppy Birthdaaaaaaaay!! :) :)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Fm85o7xYp8ka19cdkr2NqZyCFLBsHDL5Mz3eFa51xyrRbSmcfCFTXVtAi5D2A6cL7rnqrSmGxl6ttKrfdSfbnzBaQ1A6_6NtBAbRoKJ7l1ovDHRH6Wvf2aRJ6ch5AlKQiOqKrV36gK8/s1600/cake.jpg"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"></span></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHLbL6WYBO6xTFkWxasf9moaMza8eosrMd2Hz9kWpR8yhbODgk09X8_YwAkk0c7UNThA6jbJWmUw4H4b9n7jOHNc-WYDiCHARM-j7_G4Brc-Z7lH7N-jpLFGmX_1N-xyMKwFLXG_J-Ro/s1600/gulabjamuns.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 131px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHLbL6WYBO6xTFkWxasf9moaMza8eosrMd2Hz9kWpR8yhbODgk09X8_YwAkk0c7UNThA6jbJWmUw4H4b9n7jOHNc-WYDiCHARM-j7_G4Brc-Z7lH7N-jpLFGmX_1N-xyMKwFLXG_J-Ro/s200/gulabjamuns.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502032763077390322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA91PYY344-sedSBdARlCmILe0jqUzDptrT-g5-HGND-PKj4YzmQ1ofsxCiXjA2KTqdNNRIh_xoDvub4uy5K3myVcVoSZ_4xJ1acbHjhYhWny86mMKTD8jGQ1GnrwKRdFYUdMuyPaRh9c/s1600/rasgullas.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA91PYY344-sedSBdARlCmILe0jqUzDptrT-g5-HGND-PKj4YzmQ1ofsxCiXjA2KTqdNNRIh_xoDvub4uy5K3myVcVoSZ_4xJ1acbHjhYhWny86mMKTD8jGQ1GnrwKRdFYUdMuyPaRh9c/s200/rasgullas.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502032386419968930" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWjPdWEt4DWvKXX2ZlBrxsH8qGrxU9thuJ16dJTwcPhaBCNkMAaYGNuoFe-b5D_CXzyV9Wf3AZsWgc9I6Rsy74aX0HyhqzmbPGCLv_dyLt_gB69a0yWemH6yQD7n3B6QZ1PIR_TLie-k/s1600/rasgulla_bg.jpg"><br /></a><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Some gulab jamuns and rasgullas.. :D</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Some motichur ke laddoos.. :P</div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Do6ICoaZLGsDahQZ_Q7w3AlNQKzjkadUT2aP3oVMWapL4TLp2G1GUn6tmSIjMyigCaubO6yz6sXM6PF1WgXSgp0hkSLxe0BDIlJ9fZdrtSus5CuKxchcdKE7_DvyXZSr8CmVCDCU-aE/s1600/motichoor-ladoo.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Do6ICoaZLGsDahQZ_Q7w3AlNQKzjkadUT2aP3oVMWapL4TLp2G1GUn6tmSIjMyigCaubO6yz6sXM6PF1WgXSgp0hkSLxe0BDIlJ9fZdrtSus5CuKxchcdKE7_DvyXZSr8CmVCDCU-aE/s200/motichoor-ladoo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502033655147117826" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQ2tHW5yy6w0tR5mVk876mebGyd9rUu-INMwdEOtAqy7Jw5zT-7-lF3awUTWrxIggZlWxomEpGWpbg7qrIg2ZwF-ugnVjYGEkeabLXJZ7apQLOmTCYPnLewFdCDy2Rvo63oP4iU3qbOM/s1600/Evas_chocolate_truffles_work_Dec_2007_004_99190958_std.35155540.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQ2tHW5yy6w0tR5mVk876mebGyd9rUu-INMwdEOtAqy7Jw5zT-7-lF3awUTWrxIggZlWxomEpGWpbg7qrIg2ZwF-ugnVjYGEkeabLXJZ7apQLOmTCYPnLewFdCDy2Rvo63oP4iU3qbOM/s200/Evas_chocolate_truffles_work_Dec_2007_004_99190958_std.35155540.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502034492983601058" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 138px; " /></a> </div><div> Some assorted chocolates and cakes.. ;)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> And last but not the least.. The cake! :D</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg57YCPqXGbXzMgDnrD2-B0AU64j8u6h0eBUJasp7X52K1SLBgkFYpejQPf1JHtGgOr8jEPscBL-MezqLUtnlfMCnZTe73sHRjfCmk5QBbBTy2JMqQKtMNgGuIMeHchQivI8N9Po0F7FI/s1600/cake.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg57YCPqXGbXzMgDnrD2-B0AU64j8u6h0eBUJasp7X52K1SLBgkFYpejQPf1JHtGgOr8jEPscBL-MezqLUtnlfMCnZTe73sHRjfCmk5QBbBTy2JMqQKtMNgGuIMeHchQivI8N9Po0F7FI/s400/cake.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502035656479091826" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 364px; " /></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, now that we're done with the mouth watering part, i'll come </div><div>to the main part of this post.. :P</div><div><br /></div><div>This post is for one of my bestest buddies.. one who has been </div><div>always there for me.. during the smiles and the tears.. </div><div>HAPPY BIRTHDAY <a href="http://thenefariousangel.blogspot.com/">Ms. Isha Chawla</a>.. May you have a great </div><div>year ahead with ALL your wishes coming true.. :) :) </div><div>May you not have to deal with any more 'paidal' stuff!! ;) </div><div>Keep flashing that trademark smile.. :) .. alwaysss.. :) :) Forget </div><div>the calories for a day and enjoy! :D </div><div><br /></div>Appppieee Budddaaae!! Janamdin ki baut bahut badhai!! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">Saal Mubarak!! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">Janam diyan ji lakh </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">lakh </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">wadhayun! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">Joyeux Anniversaire!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">(a lesson for your french and a few other language </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">classes! :P) :D :D </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">PS - In case you're wondering why does the cake have a piece </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">missing.. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">ummm.. aaaaa.. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">what can i say.. it was too irresistable! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">lol.. :D</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">PPS - This post has turned out to seem like less of a birthday wish </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">more of a sweet </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">shop </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">advertisement! lol.. :P</span></div>Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-4351544624330307502010-04-10T04:55:00.001-07:002011-04-02T01:39:30.030-07:00THANK YOU from the 'Spring Baby'!! :D<div><div>This post goes out to my friend Isha, and all others who made my birthday special. I wanted to write this earlier in this week, but I have my exams coming up soon, and somehow I was not getting the time to write. But, I had to thank Isha for the lovely <a href="http://thenefariousangel.blogspot.com/2010/04/happy-birth-day.html">post</a> she wrote for me on my birthday. Secondly, it is spring, and I did not want to miss this opportunity to write a post on the spring season on a blog called 'Spring Blossoms'. So the motivation to revive my dormant blog was aplenty. :D</div><div><br /></div><div>So, here goes - </div><div><br /></div>The flowers are blossoming, trees all around are filled with a riot of colors, birds are chirping, and the climate is not as hot as it gets in the peak of summer. In short, its that time of the year which we call 'Spring'!! <div><br /></div><div>The calls of the cuckoo bird (or Koel, as it is known in India), the Gulmohar trees laden with red and yellow flowers, the breeze all through the day, and lots of such 'small' things are making me reminisce. We often ignore all these things all around us as we rush through our lives at break neck speeds. But, I have always had an affinity towards this special time of the year when nature is at its bountiful best. I have been noticing all these small things and smiling all the time, ever since I heard the Cuckoo at 4 am one day, for the first this year. All those memories of my childhood in Ahmedabad are coming back. And, the 'Spring Baby' is happy!</div><div><br /></div><div>And, all the love and affection shown by my friends and family on my birthday made me even happier. The day ended with me reading that special blog post, and going to bed with a BIG smile on my face. :) :) ... Thank you ALL!! :)</div><div><br /></div><div>PS - I know I have been away from my blog for a long time, and have not been able to reply to comments out here. I'm extremely apologetic for that, and will be back soon after my exams. :)</div></div>Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-75509894175000158212010-01-30T11:37:00.000-08:002010-01-30T12:11:46.164-08:00The 'Pet' Leopard<p class="MsoNormal">The bunch of 10-12 year old kids watched with wide open eyes as the guide put his hand inside the bars of the cage and petted the leopard inside it!! They were scared.... and amazed at the same time. The leopard was behaving as if he was a pet dog!! </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The guy (let’s call him Mr. X) turned to the kids and said that it was a wild leopard and none of them should even think of doing what he just did. "He will bite your hand right off!!", he said. The kids gasped!! And Mr. X only smiled. He could see it written in their eyes. They were seeking an explanation, and he was about to tell them one of the biggest truths of life. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">“This leopard was badly injured and rejected by his peers when we found him. He was in a bad shape, and everyone thought that he might not live. But, I decided to do something about it. I gave all that I could to the poor animal...medical attention, care, companionship and love. Yes, Love. I gave it to him at a time when he needed it the most. I cared for him when he was down and out, and had lost the desire to live. At first there was not much improvement. But then slowly, he started responding!! He healed and was back to being the ferocious wild animal that he was.” Mr. X said with a smile on his face. “But there was one big difference. He knew who had been there for him in the times when he was down and out. And he remembers that. And that is the reason why he lets me pet him, because he acknowledges the fact that I was there for him when he needed it the most.” His grin grew bigger, and the kids eyes even bigger!! </p> <p class="MsoNormal">And one of the kids in that group started a blog called ‘Spring Blossoms’, much later in his life. Me.<span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span> </p><p class="MsoNormal">That incident left a life-long impression in my mind, and a lesson I need to remember, but forget repeatedly. The love given by a friend in times of need has the power to tame even a wild animal, leave alone the supposed civilized humans. At times, I forget this while figuring out who my 'friends' are and who are 'the others'.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We might have many ‘friends’, but we fail to realize the difference between friends and acquaintances. The ones, who are there for you when you need them, when you are down and out, are the Friends. The rest, you might want to call them acquaintances or something else, but definitely not friends.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had learnt an important lesson that day – “Be there for your friends, and value those who are there for you when you need them, with your life.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">THANK YOU ALL MY WONDERFUL FRIENDS. YOU ARE MY ANGELS. <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span> (I need not name anyone, because you know it. <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span>)</p>Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-17367877936097091432009-12-07T11:09:00.000-08:002009-12-07T22:21:28.548-08:00The 'Jab We Met' experience...................<div><div>Prologue -</div><div>--> Jab We Met is a Hindi movie in which the female protagonist misses her train and then meets a guy with whom she eventually falls in love. Lovely movie- go watch it if you have not. :)</div><div>--> Mumbai Central, Kurla, Byculla, Dockyard Road, Borivali are all sub-urban stations of Bombay, and the city is full of countless such stations for the local trains.</div><div><br /></div><div>7th December, 2009</div><div><br /></div><div>We all have heard about the 'kissas' that keep happening day in and day out in the city of Bombay. I too heard them. But, today it was my turn to witness one such 'kissa' first hand. (A 'kissa' is an interesting incident.)</div><div><br /></div><div>After a lot of trouble, I had managed to get a confirmed ticket for going from Bombay to Amritsar. The scheduled time for departure of the train was 9.25 pm on 7th December, 2009, from Mumbai Central. </div><div><br /></div><div>7th December also happens to be my Mom's b'day. That was the reason why I had booked my ticket on a night train. But then, since I was leaving, my Mom decided to celebrate it with our family at my maternal home. So, we left together and stopped for 5 minutes to buy a cake for her. I had decided to travel by a local train to reach the boarding station, since going by road in the rush hour would amount to foolishness. I reached Kurla from where I was supposed to get on another local for Byculla and get a taxi from there to reach Mumbai Central. Bombay and its commuting...PHEW!! </div><div><br /></div><div>All this would normally take around 1 hour. We left the cake shop at 8.40. (First mistake -10 minutes late.) We reached Kurla at 8.50 and I quickly boarded a train that would take me to Mumbai CST (a terminus for all local trains) by literally jumping onto a moving train. After a while I asked a co-passenger about the time it would take to reach Byculla. He said around 15 minutes, and I thought, 'Okay, I think I would make it'. After a couple of minutes, he said that, 'You want to go to Byculla?? This train is a harbour line train, and it does not go to Byculla!!' (Bombay has 3 lines of local trains - Western , Central & Harbour, & Byculla is on the Central line.) I was shocked!! I knew well about the different lines, but in my hurry to get on a train, I did not realize that I had got on a harbour line train. (Second mistake that cost me 5 crucial minutes.) I called up a friend and asked about the nearest station to Byculla on the harbour line, since all the lines of local train lines run parallel to each other. I got off at a station called Dockyard Road. I ran and got on a cab, and asked the cabbie to get me to Mumbai Central ASAP, and also offered to pay extra to him for getting me there in lesser time. We hit traffic, but still managed to reach by 9.25. I was praying all through. I got off the cab, jumped over the divider and RAN. I got a porter to grab my baggage and ran with him. I reached the platform from where the train was to leave...huffing and panting.</div><div><br /></div><div>I could see the train's end. It was chugging away, slowly. It had left on time, and I had reached about 2 minutes late. I had missed the train................................................</div><div><br /></div><div>I quickly decided to run and try to catch the train from the next stop called Borivali, the last stop of my train in Bombay. I hopped on the local train completely packed with the rush hour crowd. People advised me against getting on the train, since it was very crowded, and it would only get more crowded before reaching Borivali, thus making it almost impossible to get off. 2 bags and a laptop bag would not have made my task any easier. But, still I had to get on it, if I was to have any chance of making it in time to get on my missed train. I explained my predicament to the co-passengers, and was delighted to see that all of them were ready to accommodate a silly guy who was trying to catch a train. One of them gave me space to stand with my bags, another one told me about how much time the train would take to reach Borivali, and yet another guy tried to calm me by saying that I would reach in time. I got to know from the railway inquiry (computerised and manual, both), that the train was running late by 22 mins, and thus it would reach at 10.24 pm. I called repeatedly to confirm the same and was relieved when I got the same info each time i called. I thought that I just might make it. One guy even called up his friend to find out if my train was indeed running late. He even offered to help me get down off the crowded train, and eventually did so too. I LOVE Bombay, and its lovely people. :) </div><div><br /></div><div>I reached Borivali at 10.14 and could not find the train anywhere. I inquired at a tea stall, and got to know that the train had LEFT. At its scheduled time of 10.06. I reconfirmed the same at the Ticket Checker's office. The railway inquiry was wrong.</div><div><br /></div><div>OMG I missed the train!! For the first time in my life, I had missed a train. And that too right in the beginning of a fortnight long trip.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some might term it as irresponsible behaviour on my part, or maybe laugh it off, or hold me responsible and scold me, or even say that 'you advertised about your trip to everyone, toh pakka kisi ki nazar lag gayi hai'. I agree, it was irresponsible on my part, and I should have left earlier, and with a buffer on my hand. It was funny to a certain extent as well. But, still it has been a great learning experience. It was a first in my life, and I hope it would be the last. And somehow, as soon as the realization sunk in that the train has left, I somehow had the feeling that it happened for the good.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, now I have booked a ticket for 10th, and I would be skipping the Amritsar leg of the trip. (I guess Babaji wants me to come to him at some other time.)</div><div><br /></div><div>This is how my 'Jab We Met' experience unfolded. Full of drama, tension, helpful Mumbaikars, running around, and ironies, but sadly without 'my Kareena'!! :P</div><div><br /></div><div>PS - This post is a narrative of the day's dramatic events, as well as a confusing guide to the confusing commute of the Bombay city. LOL</div></div>Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-19982206554417588102009-07-30T06:50:00.000-07:002009-08-01T03:31:29.238-07:00Fake Currency Notes - Some Tips to identify them<div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:48px;"></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:7;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">We all have been hearing about the recent fake notes racket - a tool being employed by the anti-social elements to destabilize the Indian economy. Huge amounts of fake money are being used to fund terror operations, and as per various sources a sizeable chunk of the total currency in India is fake. Out of the total fake currency in circulation, only a miniscule percentage of it has been confiscated by the authorities. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">A few days back I withdrew some money from the ATM. I make it a point to count and check the notes after withdrawing them. So, while I was doing it, I came across a currency note that looked like it was a fake. And needless to say, I became very anxious. It was well past midnight and the bank was obviously closed. A fake note from the ATM..!! But, when I showed it to the bank people the next day, they told me that it was not a fake. </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Nonetheless, I feel coming across a fake note is not a very rare possibility. And thus, I thought of listing down a few pointers that we as laymen can follow to ensure we can spot a fake note from the genuine ones if we ever come across them. I had noted down these points some days back after watching a special show on the topic on a news channel. </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Though it is very difficult to tell the difference, there are a few prominent differences.</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">(All the features pointed can be seen with the side of the note having the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi facing the observer.)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><table class="MsoTableGrid" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;border:none;mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt; mso-border-thememso-yfti-tbllook:160;mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4ptcolor:text1;"> <tbody><tr> <td width="54" valign="top" style="width:40.5pt;border:solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:normal"><b><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td width="275" valign="top" style="width:205.9pt;border:solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:normal"><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">A Genuine Note</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> </td> <td width="288" valign="top" style="width:215.7pt;border:solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:normal"><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">A Fake Note</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54" valign="top" style="width:40.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1; border-right:solid windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-top-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor: text1;mso-border-left-alt:windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-thememso-border-right-alt:windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt:solid;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4ptcolor:text1;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">1) </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> </td> <td width="275" valign="top" style="width:205.9pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1; border-right:solid windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt: windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-bottom-thememso-border-right-alt:windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-style-alt:solid; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4ptcolor:text1;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Certain things on the note appear in intaglio print (raised print). They are –</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span><span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- </span></span></span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The seal of RBI</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- The Guarantee & Promise Clause</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- The signature of the RBI Governor</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- The Ashoka Pillar Emblem</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- The portrait of Mahatma Gandhi</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- Below the floral design, a mark can be seen. The shape of this mark varies according to the denomination of the note. Different shapes for various denominations (Rs 20 - vertical rectangle, Rs 50 - square, Rs 100 - triangle, Rs 500 - circle and Rs 1,000 - diamond) are used. This mark is useful for the visually impaired to identify denomination of the note.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> </td> <td width="288" valign="top" style="width:215.7pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1; border-right:solid windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt: windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-bottom-thememso-border-right-alt:windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-style-alt:solid; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4ptcolor:text1;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Intaglio print is absent in a fake note. The printing will be smooth. The 2nd and 3rd point will have a lot of differences when compared to a genuine note.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54" valign="top" style="width:40.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1; border-right:solid windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-top-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor: text1;mso-border-left-alt:windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-thememso-border-right-alt:windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt:solid;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4ptcolor:text1;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">2) </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> </td> <td width="275" valign="top" style="width:205.9pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1; border-right:solid windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt: windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-bottom-thememso-border-right-alt:windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-style-alt:solid; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4ptcolor:text1;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The marks inside the floral design on the left hand centre of the note form the complete & perfect numbers of the denomination of the note when held in light.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> </td> <td width="288" valign="top" style="width:215.7pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1; border-right:solid windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt: windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-bottom-thememso-border-right-alt:windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-style-alt:solid; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4ptcolor:text1;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">There is a gap in between numbers formed in a fake note.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54" valign="top" style="width:40.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1; border-right:solid windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-top-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor: text1;mso-border-left-alt:windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-thememso-border-right-alt:windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt:solid;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4ptcolor:text1;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">3) </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> </td> <td width="275" valign="top" style="width:205.9pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1; border-right:solid windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt: windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-bottom-thememso-border-right-alt:windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-style-alt:solid; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4ptcolor:text1;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The colour of the denomination in the centre will change from green (when the note is held flat) to blue (when the note is held at an angle)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> </td> <td width="288" valign="top" style="width:215.7pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1; border-right:solid windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt: windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-bottom-thememso-border-right-alt:windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-style-alt:solid; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4ptcolor:text1;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">This change of colour cannot be seen in a fake note.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54" valign="top" style="width:40.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1; border-right:solid windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-top-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor: text1;mso-border-left-alt:windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-thememso-border-right-alt:windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt:solid;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4ptcolor:text1;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">4) </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> </td> <td width="275" valign="top" style="width:205.9pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1; border-right:solid windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt: windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-bottom-thememso-border-right-alt:windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-style-alt:solid; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4ptcolor:text1;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The security thread in the note appears to be broken when the note is held flat, and it has 6 distinct segments. When the note is held in light, the thread is constant, and has the words RBI and Bharat (in Hindi) inscribed in it.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> </td> <td width="288" valign="top" style="width:215.7pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1; border-right:solid windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt: windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-bottom-thememso-border-right-alt:windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-style-alt:solid; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4ptcolor:text1;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Continuity of the thread is not maintained in a fake note. It would also not have 6 distinct segments.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54" valign="top" style="width:40.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1; border-right:solid windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-top-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor: text1;mso-border-left-alt:windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-thememso-border-right-alt:windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt:solid;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4ptcolor:text1;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">5) </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> </td> <td width="275" valign="top" style="width:205.9pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1; border-right:solid windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt: windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-bottom-thememso-border-right-alt:windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-style-alt:solid; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4ptcolor:text1;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">On a genuine currency note Mahatma Gandhi’s sketch in the watermark is detailed. The denomination of the note is also visible on the left side of the watermark.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> </td> <td width="288" valign="top" style="width:215.7pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1; border-right:solid windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1;mso-border-left-alt: windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:black .5pt;mso-border-bottom-thememso-border-right-alt:windowtext 2.25pt;mso-border-style-alt:solid; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4ptcolor:text1;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Watermark at the left hand side bears a thicker sketch of Mahatma Gandhi in a counterfeit note. Also the sketch is not detailed and appears cartoonish. The watermark is also not very clear.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54" valign="top" style="width:40.5pt;border:solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themepadding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4ptcolor:text1;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">6)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> </td> <td width="275" valign="top" style="width:205.9pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 2.25pt;border-right:solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-theme mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4ptcolor:text1;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">A genuine note is made of cotton pulp paper and thus is very smooth and thin.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> </td> <td width="288" valign="top" style="width:215.7pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 2.25pt;border-right:solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-theme mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4ptcolor:text1;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">A fake note is made of wood pulp and is usually slightly thicker and not very smooth.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr></tbody></table></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">There are some points of difference that can be seen if one has access to a machine that can project the note in ultra violet light.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">1) Sprinkled dual coloured strands of optical fibres can be seen in UV Light. In case of a fake note, such strands are far lesser in number.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">2) When a currency note is exposed to UV light and slowly tilted, then in a genuine currency note the silver bromide strip changes from silver to a greenish tinge. This thread will not glow in a fake note. In some very high quality fake notes, the strip might glow, but the change in colour would not happen in the same.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">(All the features mentioned above can be found in the recent notes that have been issued by the RBI. Some of them were not used by the RBI earlier, and might not be present in the notes. In case of any confusion, please contact your bank.)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Given the quality of fake notes that are in circulation these days, chances of getting a fake note from an ATM are real, but banks are in a state of complete denial. To avoid any losses, always check the notes that you get from an ATM and preserve the ATM slip. </span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">If you suspect that suspect that you have get a fake note, take it back to the branch of the concerned bank. Provide the details like time of the transaction, the amounts involved and the denominations. The bank may be able to trace the transaction.</span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><b><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Disclaimer</span></span></span></b><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> – </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Although the above points can help in telling a fake note from a genuine one, they are not fool proof. These days, the quality of fake notes is very good, and it can become very difficult for even experts to tell the difference, leave alone a layman. So, be careful, and whenever in doubt, contact your bank. </span></span></o:p></span></p></span><p></p></span><p></p></div></div></div>Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-72031544273863440812009-07-30T06:34:00.000-07:002009-08-01T03:30:57.685-07:00Life is Fragile.... Love is Not...<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; "><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I had written this post a few days back, but </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">couldn</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">’t post it since it was raw. Finally putting it up over here.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span></span> 8</span><sup><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> June, 09</span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Today i saw a movie... ‘A Perfect Day’... And to say the least, I was touched by the movie. I mean i know that all the movies have some or the other message, but movies like these preach you something very important about what we call 'LIFE'.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This movie talks about a guy who is reasonably well off, and then he loses his job, and is disheartened & low on self confidence. But, then his loving wife tells him that she believes in him, and how he should try to pursue his hobby of writing. She helps him in writing it, and the story he writes is inspired by his wife. He does, and he touches hearts of all the people who read his book. He becomes hugely successful, but then he starts ignoring his family, and the success starts getting to his head. He starts hurting his wife, his daughter, his father and all the other people behind his success. But, then thanks to his agent, and her little trick with the help of her friend, he comes around. It takes the fear of death; the fear of losing his wife and daughter that takes him to realize his mistake.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Part I</span></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> -</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Most of the times in our lives, we take most of the things that we have for granted, not bothering to stand back and think…think about how blessed we are. And, it is only when we lose them that we realize our mistake. But then, it is too late to do anything about it. This stands true for almost all aspects in our life, and the most for our loved ones. This is unintentional at most of the times. Sometimes, it is because of the extremely busy life that we all have these days, and sometimes it is because of what we call – pride, the pride goes to our head, and we start forgetting about where we came from, our roots. This is what is the beginning of a disaster is. When we start forgetting our roots, our struggle, the effort it takes to reach the place that we manage to reach, and take things for granted. The irony is that, a person gets so busy in trying to make life better for the loved ones that he </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">doesn</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">’t get time for those very people. We don’t realize how loving and caring our parents and friends are, until we are served with some rude awakening by God. Poof!! It vanishes!!</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The tumble, the loss of a loved one, or loss of a plush job, something like this brings you back to earth with a thud.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So, I feel we should try and take time out for the ones who matter, because you never know when life might take them away from you. Life is very fragile, and short. Make time for the ones who matter - your family and friends. Remember to return calls, drop into a friend’s house without any particular reason, have a small chat, make a small cup of coffee / tea for your parents, or paint with your kid, spend time the ones you love doing anything, no matter how petty.</span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><o:p><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Part II</span></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> -</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The guy in this movie goes to his Dad, while he is trying to make amends of his selfish and hurtful ways. And there he tells him that he dislikes being called by the nick name ‘Einstein’ given to him by his father, because he feels Einstein was one of the greatest and he is nothing like him, and his Dad uses it to mock him. And when he tells his Dad about what he thinks about the name, his Dad tells him that he called him by that name because he feels his son had great potential and that he was capable of doing great things.</span></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This happens to us too so many times. We assume, we draw our own conclusions about things, we think in ways which might be completely opposite of what the reality is. This holds true especially in the scenarios where our loved ones and close friends are involved- the people who know us well. Most of the times we feel that they are saying something we don’t like because they are angry, or because they feel we are worthless, or there must be some vested interest for them saying what they say. But, trust me on this; I feel there is NO SELFISH MOTIVE behind what the people real close to us – like our parents, wife, grandparents, kids etc., have to say. I mean, yes, at times, it can be clouded by anger or some other things, but eventually (it might be a minute, or longer), they do come around, and wish for our VERY BEST. If you don’t believe me, try seeing something like the passing out parade of the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">IMA</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dehradun</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, or the felicitation ceremony of soldiers in the Independence Day ceremony, or a convocation ceremony of some college. There, you would observe students and soldiers joyous and filled with pride, but if you would observe closer, you would see that the people even more proud are the parents – chests swelling with pride, and eyes filled with tears. No matter what a parent says, he always feels his child is capable of touching the stars, and that is a reality, because the powers of blessings and self belief are amazing. Anything and I mean ANYTHING can be achieved, if you believe in yourself, and works towards getting it. But, don’t forget your parents or doubt their advice.</span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><o:p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I feel that basically though initially I had set out to write about not letting success go to your head and always loving your family and friends, I guess I have also written a fair bit on how important it is to believe in yourself. Always believe in yourself. </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-family:Wingdings;color:black;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">J</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> … Work towards your goals, and do not forget your roots, and do not forget to be grateful to your parents and God.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><o:p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So, love your family and friends, take time out for them, and never let success go to your head. Freak out with your friends and family, have fun with your siblings, kids, friends, make the most of now. And sometimes, when you realize that you have done some mistake, admit it, and go back to them. They would take you back when they would see that you have realized your mistakes. Don’t think about what they would feel, or whether they would be angry, because, </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">life is fragile…love </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">isn</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">’t</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-family:Wingdings;color:black;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">J</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> I’m not saying that nothing can make us stop loving. There are many things that can lead to that. All I’m saying is that, it takes a LOT to sever the bonds of love. Much more than what we think, and way beyond things like anger, self obsession, greed, doubts etc. or events like bitter fights, ignoring your loved ones, or maybe forgetting to be thankful and humble. It is surprising to see how many problems love can endure and still be there or maybe resurface. Don’t assume, or let go something as precious as love, without giving it a proper thought and fight.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><o:p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What I said is a lot easier said than done, and I don’t feel I too do it all the time, but then I hope this post would remind this to me all the time. </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-family:Wingdings;color:black;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">J</span></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:";color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And this post only reconfirms my belief... you can blog only when it comes from within.. when you are touched by something deep within... That is when the words just flow... :) ... I'm sorry for being irregular in writing over here.. but guess you guys would understand... :) ...</span></o:p></span></p></div></span>Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-1583298984564695322009-07-24T12:02:00.000-07:002009-07-29T12:16:29.432-07:00Twelve Things that I want to achieve in my 'TWEENHOOD'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgLB_YWTooy-H15E4UyKz1ZzW9R2nB0ImhAz4VlMXiun3aHGNgXVldyd-yPf2g7UpojnBg91sXFtOGbxDdL5zrwljh3zPFLcj0qFgXzIA6pWWppHZNlM641TM3Usz6xFTB2PgwHA9e-U/s1600-h/Dreams.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgLB_YWTooy-H15E4UyKz1ZzW9R2nB0ImhAz4VlMXiun3aHGNgXVldyd-yPf2g7UpojnBg91sXFtOGbxDdL5zrwljh3zPFLcj0qFgXzIA6pWWppHZNlM641TM3Usz6xFTB2PgwHA9e-U/s320/Dreams.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362348849697949330" /></a><br />Tagged by - <i><b><a href="http://deepikagupta1987.blogspot.com/">Deepika</a> .. </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Thank You.. :) ...</span></i><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div>There are many many things that i want to achieve in my 'Tweenhood', or as we say, my Twenties. I know everything wouldn't be possible, I would be able to do/get certain things, and I might not be able to do/ get the others. But, I'm a dreamer and I would never stop dreaming and working to achieve them.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had read this somewhere - 'The Battle is still not over, as i haven't won it yet.' So, we need to keep trying, and if we are motivated enough, and work hard for it, nothing can stop us from getting it. (I know, i know, i have heard this many times... I'm an optimist. And, nothing can stop me from being so. It just comes from within. :) ....) We can't get something, until and unless we dream about it, and then work for it. Protect your dreams from the practilities of life and keep working towards them. It doesn't matter how silly a dream might be, if you want it, go get it, no matter what others have to say about it. :) </div><div><br /></div><div>But, since i have to list down only 12 things here, I would list down those ones that are high on my priority list. This seems like a list that Vinay Pathak made in the movie Dasvidaniya..!! Lol..!! But, I'm not going to die people. I'm going to be here for a long time to keep troubling you. :D .. So, here goes... </div><div><br /></div><div>1. The most important thing for me at the moment is to complete my <b>CA </b>(and get those two letters as a prefix for my name), <b>start working</b> in a <b>reputed company</b>, and improve upon the foundation of my professional skills, that was laid during the days of my internship. I want to have a life for me, my family & close friends where <b>no price tags</b> exist.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. I will take up my hobbies - <b>photography</b> & <b>singing</b> in a more serious manner. I will buy a professional camera, attend photography workshops, and join a photography club to help me improve my photography. I will also learn singing from a professional.</div><div><br /></div><div>3. I have always been fascinated by the umpteen number of <b>languages</b> that people use to communicate. I know 4 at the moment, and i want to increase that. I will learn French / Spanish, and Mandarin. I will also learn how to read and write in my mother tongue Sindhi. (I can only speak it as of now, but would like to change that, for the better.)</div><div><br /></div><div>4. I will my <b>MBA</b> degree after a few years of work from a <b>globally acclaimed college</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>5. I was a complete non-dancer when i was younger. But, some years back, i took part in a dance performance in a family wedding, and have become addicted to it ever since. I learnt salsa for a brief period, but couldn't continue it due to my internship and studies. I will get back to dancing, salsa and jive in particular, learning it, and taking part in performances. Bring on the <b>dancing shoes</b>.. :D </div><div><br /></div><div>6. I had learnt the basics of the <b>martial arts</b> Taekwondo & Karate when i was younger. I will learn more of Taekwondo, and improve my skills in it. I feel it is very important to be able to defend ourselves and our family in times of distress.</div><div><br /></div><div>7. I will take part in <b>all sorts of adventure sports</b>. I have always been fascinated by them, and would love to do stuff like Bungee Jumping, Sky diving, Para Gliding (all associated with the human desire to FLY.. :D ), Scuba Diving and so on.. :D</div><div><br /></div><div>8. I will learn to <b>blow a whistle</b> (seeti .. :D :P ).. that shrill type which is blown using one / two fingers, it has various techniques. The one they use to call cabs in movies. It can be very handy at times. :D .. (Waise, i do know how to blow one type of whistle - the one without using any fingers, by simply shaping up the lips in a particular way.. couldn't think of any other way to describe it.. :D )</div><div><br /></div><div>9. I will <b>Travel the world </b>- Disney Land at various places, Egypt, Africa, New Zealand, China, Europe, Bahamas, The Carribbean, and most definitely all the intriguing places in India like Lakshwadeep, the back waters of Kerela, The North -East, Kedarnath, Badrinath and so on, I want to see it all. There's only one life to live, and i want to make the most of it. :) .. These travels would begin soon and continue well after my tweens. </div><div><br /></div><div>10. I will <b>marry a girl</b>. (No surprises here, I'm perfectly straight. :) ... ) </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>11. I will <b>contribute to social causes</b> in terms of time and money, to the best of my capabilities. I feel that if i have been given something, i'm blessed, and i should try and give some of it to others, to make their lives a bit better. I pray to God to help me bring smiles on the faces of others.</div><div><br /></div><div>12. And, most importantly, I will <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">ENJOY LIFE</span></b>. Work Hard, and Party Harder. :) ... Accepting each and every challenge that life throws my way, and trying my best to ace it. This is something that I will continue doing well beyond my 'Tweenhood'...all my life.. :) </div><div><br /></div><div>(I also want to learn to fly an airplane. This might happen after my tweens. Too many thinsg to be done before it.)</div><div><br /></div><div>All the above things are high on my priority list, but I have listed them in a random order. One might happen before the other, but i would try my best to make sure that they happen. I have faith in myself and in God. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>I have shared some of my dreams through this post, in a brief manner, since they are something very personal to me, and i don't want to blow my own trumpet on a public platform. I have also left out a few things that are very high on my priority, but still, i wouldn't like to mention them here. I would rather have my actions speak for me. For further details, please contact me. :) ..</div><div><br /></div><div>Okay... now I Tag... </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://thenefariousangel.blogspot.com/">Isha</a>,</div><div><a href="http://netika-lumb.blogspot.com/">Netika</a>,</div><div><a href="http://pun-princess.livejournal.com/">Punk Princess</a>,</div><div><a href="http://comemeetthegoddess.blogspot.com/">Nidhi</a>,</div><div><a href="http://whitelilyz.blogspot.com/">Annie</a>,</div><div><a href="http://milktea-paperplanes.blogspot.com/">GS</a>, </div><div><a href="http://www.anuragbhateja.com/">Anurag</a>,</div><div><a href="http://secretlymoi.blogspot.com/">Gargi</a>... </div><div><a href="http://silence-speaks-here.blogspot.com/">Amruta</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Go on people.. share your dreams.. :) ... And NO EXCUSES.. Everyone has to do it.. :) ...</div><div><br /></div><div>and any other people who are reading it and want to do it..go right ahead.. :) .. but don't forget to leave a comment or a link so that i can have a look.. :) ..</div><div><br /></div><div>PS - I want to thank Yashwi for helping me sort out my confusion and zeroing on such a rocking template. :) .. Thank Youu Yashwi... :) ... I hope you guys like the new refreshed look. :)</div>Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-64462407915235371172009-07-04T04:30:00.000-07:002010-07-05T12:32:04.074-07:00Pitter Patter... My Heartz a Flutter... :) ... :) ...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMqFkjPngRB5xmqZ-001bbvPLyWxCi6FmGUiDJYp9c93TkOeIzvFP8PrrZLgYcamabfFwl2rxyd_zEufoyR2NECd7yYDhGi5GRu46RI9TSFzlXWW3ZGEBlCwQrHstNAdfTkdDUW6gdsY/s1600-h/rainwalk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 232px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMqFkjPngRB5xmqZ-001bbvPLyWxCi6FmGUiDJYp9c93TkOeIzvFP8PrrZLgYcamabfFwl2rxyd_zEufoyR2NECd7yYDhGi5GRu46RI9TSFzlXWW3ZGEBlCwQrHstNAdfTkdDUW6gdsY/s320/rainwalk.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354591689426085026" /></a><div>Okay.. its been a long sabbatical, and I'm back. :) As i have always maintained, i blog only when i feel the words flowing, when something that moves me deeply (in a good way or otherwise) happens. And this time it was nothing less than rains.... :) .. :) .. Rainssssssss... :) :) ...</div><div><br /></div><div>Guess i will cut the chase and come to what i want to write... :) ..</div><div><br /></div>Rains... aaahh.. we all have so so so many emotions attached with this lovely phenomenon of Mother Nature. I LOVE RAINS, and it would not be an overstatement if i said that i go mad when it rains. :P Rains hit that soft spot for me.. no matter how bad my mood is.. or how bad my day was, they never fail to cheer me up... :) ..<div><br /><div>Last year, due to my office, i was not able to go out and have fun in the rains. But, this year i'm on study leave, and i was waiting for it to rain heavily since the past few days. I was determined to make up for the lost opportunities last year.. seeing that it was pouring from the office windows and then forcing myself back to work !! As i woke up today, Heavens greeted me with the lovely sight of a heavy downpour, and no sign of letting up. The whole sky was covered with gray rain filled clouds and the sun seemed to have taken a day off. I studied for a while sitting by the window, but after a while, i couldn't keep myself from going out in the rains any more. I changed into clothes more apt for the weather, literally jumping and running to do it quickly, and then rush out. :D .. :D.. But, then i thought of calling a few friends and to find if any one was willing to accompany me for a bike ride in the rains. I was greeted with no answers and lazy greetings of sleepy people. No one agreed. I even tried to go online and find a person who was willing. Still no one..!! Dude..a bike ride in the rains...!! Had someone offered me the same..i would have grabbed it with both hands..!! </div><div><br /></div><div>So then, i set out on my own. I had decided to go all the way to Nariman Point from my home on my bike. Its around 25 kilometres one way. 25 kilometres of bliss in the rains. A friend asked me..what will you do alone ??!! And i said.. who is alone ?? Its going to be Me... and.. Rains..!! :D (I told you.. I go mad when it comes to rains... :P) I started at around 10.30 and it had been raining heavily since early morning. The thing that mumbai roads are prone to water logging was going through my mind. And at a low lying area called 'Hindmata Flyover'.. that gets flooded after heavy rains for as less as an hour, i was greeted with a long line of vehicles. JAM...!! 'There goes my fun filled day..", I thought. But then i decided to follow the cars, and since i was on a bike, chances of it getting stalled were much lesser. The water level kept rising and at an intersection, i saw certain cars take a 'U' turn and turn back. A completely water filled road awaited me. I almost turned back, but then i saw a car that had almost turned back just like me, decide to go for it. I followed suit. And, i was greeted with 3 feet of water, the water trying to kill my dear bike's engine..!! I trudged along, not knowing what would i do if it stalled. I had no experience in driving vehicles in such a situation, and hence just drove ahead resolutely. Cops were guiding vehicles away from the open manhole covers...making it even more creepy. Eventually, I managed to reach the end of the water filled stretch, feeling victorious, and also lucky after seeing the number of stalled bikes, buses and cars standing at the end of that treacherous stretch. I saw media vans and photographers trying to find food to satiate the voracious apetite of their 24*7 news channel bosses. More Happiness !! I stopped for a minute to marvel at the experience that felt like an experience, and then moved on. </div><div><br /></div><div>The rest of the journey was uneventful and it was also stopping to rain. So, i was praying for a heavy downpour. And soon after i reached the picturesque marine drive, my prayers were answered. The skies opened and it started to pour !! I was ecstatic !! :) :) ... I walked till the end of the marine drive enjoying the angry sea waves trying to run over the rocks and reach the promenade filled with rain loving people like me and couples coochi-cooing under the umbrellas. :P. Inspired by a friend.. I call them 'Marine Drive ke chattri couples' :P :P .. I spent a lot of time there..walking back, sitting on the walkway, and walking again to the tip... getting soaked in the downpour all the while.. :D. I was blissfully away from everything else... no cell fone, no watch. Only me..the rains..and the sea!! </div><div><br /></div><div>After around 2 hours, I grabbed a quick bite (i came to know what time it was after seeing a watch at the place I had my food), and decided to return home from some other route to avoid going by that road again, since i was sure it wouldn't be possible to get through this time, given that the rains hadn't stopped since i had passed there, and the water logging would have increased. The ride back home was even more fun as the rains were coming down even harder.. :D ...</div><div><div><br /></div><div>I'm having difficulty in writing this, since the skin of my fingers is all pickled due to the hours & hours in rains. But, what the hell... I had a ball today.. :D :D. It was a wonderful day away from all gadgets and worries, with the rains washing away all my worries and doubts, and invigorating me for the struggle that lies ahead. :) And it still continues to pour....Looks like a sunday at home for mumbai tomorrow. Aaaahh.. I love rains... :) :) ... they make my heart flutter and dance and sing and what not..!! :) ...</div><div><br /></div><div>Pickled Fingers - :P </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4Ux2_t0VWkMQwkPIiokrqx990zdl3wIEQF10JY3tm69Jy5e38hJuuhVvHBUYRsKlximE6A-eI0LvSY58VQH33SdyAOzFoZWBOSmMN_IWYAzXdr_9L9H2EbBRwz7eA0oYCC7OFV57Mls/s320/04072009160.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354595994754162290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div>(I didn't take my cell phone along.. so don't have any pics. I took this one after getting back home, as a memoir of the ecstatic day.. :D..)</div><div><br /></div><div>PS - An Important Tip - If you decide to go for a ride on a 2-wheeler in the rains.. please make sure that you have protective eye gear. The rain drops can be quite painful for the eyes, even at 30 Km/Hr speeds.</div><div><br /></div><div>PPS - I have drawn a lot of flak for not blogging frequently from my friends. I apologize for my long absences from writing posts, replying to comments and posting comments on your blogs. I would try to be more regular in future. </div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers.. :) ...<br /></div></div></div>Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-86624751390351623442009-05-29T13:21:00.000-07:002009-05-29T14:18:27.852-07:00E-Dependence...Agony.............<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;">Today I experienced one of the worst feelings known to the modern man hugely dependent on electronics like cell fones.. laptops... ipods.. internet.. emails... and so on, but a feeling completely unknown to a large chunk of the population who do not have access to things like the internet, files in soft copies on the computers n external hard drives.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;">I realized today how much we are dependent on our computers and the files we have on them, and how miserable we feel when something happens to that data. We use our computers to do our work at office, store important files and presentations, stay in touch with friends through various social networking sites and chat tools, communicate with relatives living in faraway places, carry out our banking transactions, store our pictures (our memories) , play games, watch movies, listen to songs and sign along, sometimes even record our songs (when the hidden Kishor Kumar in us raises its head..!! ), find out stuff we need to make that college project, or some information we are no able to get in our course books, and what not. In short, it is an inseparable part of our lives, no actually our life !! It would not be an exaggeration if I said that our lives com to a stand still if something happens to our computers. We are totally 'E-Dependent'. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;">Imagine that something happened to your precious little computer. A wretched little thing called ‘virus’ struck, and wiped out all your data!! OMG !! The very thought makes a cold shudder run down the spine. But, I’m sure things like anti- virus softwares and back-ups make us breathe easy. BUT, imagine that something happens to your back-up. Ok, maybe we can get a new back-up from the original source. Phew !! BUT, now imagine that something happened to your back-up while your original data wasn’t there and you were counting on your back-up !!! Today, i had given my laptop away for getting the operating system reinstalled. So, naturally I didn’t have my original data which would normally be there on my laptop. And, before giving it, I took some of the new files that I had on my laptop to my external hard disk (which I use as a back-up). It was painfully slow, and I had no clue why, since it was a reasonably fast computer that I was using to take the back-up and the data was not huge. The computer guy said, “your data has virus”, and I rubbished his warning, since while the data was on my laptop, it was not creating any problems. Once, the transfer finished, I gave away my laptop for reinstallation, and tried to see the data I had taken on the hard disk on some other laptop. And…….. the hard disk didn’t get detected on that laptop. Big deal. I tried again, and again, and then on another laptop, and another…and another…………….. THE HARD DISK DIDN’T GET DETECTED ON ANY OF THE LAPTOPS !!! And my friend who owns the shop said, “You have a back-up of the data on the disk right ??!!” NOOOO.. How many people have back-ups of their back-up ???!! How many people lose their back-up and the original data at the same time ??!! OMG .. as I tried again and again, I felt more and more miserable. The feeling that I didn’t have any of the data – my office files, my photograps..my memories, my e-books, my games, my movies, my songs, OMG everything was on that hard disk. It was working 5 mins back, and now it wasn’t..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;">I was dazed, shocked, worried, actually, really really really sad. I had this piercing head ache as my mind raced with multiple emotions of anger, sadness, feeling stupid, disbelief, and what not. But, slowly it was sinking in and i was growing increasingly sad. I was thinking that, what if i had not tried to take the back-up of such stupid movies, what if my laptop had not crashed yesterday, what if i had forgotten my hard drive at my home, what if i could reverse time, what if this, what if that......</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;">My laptop was finally fixed, and i was forced to wait longer to take some files for installing essential softwares, something i would have done on my own had my hard disk not stopped working. I was feeling miserable, and it kept increasing as i was finally alone as i drove home and my mind was racing again. I was riding my bike, dodging the late evening traffic, but i was in a daze. My mind was in an auto-pilot mode, and it was my sub-conscious that kept guiding me on the familiar road home, as i was unaware of the racing traffic, the blaring horns, and the voice of one of my favourite RJs - Karan Singh on his show Rubaroo coming through my earfones.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;">As i neared home, my Mom called, asking me about my whereabouts, since it was quite late and i had not reached home. The call broke my daze, and i heard the RJ reading out a couplet that kept fighing with my thoughts about my loss, to occupy a space in my thoughts for the rest of the journey. He said -</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;">'Kitne hi khayal syahi mein dhal na sake.... Yuhi hawa ho gaye...<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;">Kitne hi khayal syahi mein dhal na sake... Yuhi hawa ho gaye...</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;">Kaash hum apni ungliyon se likh pate... apne hi khoon mein dubo dubo ke'</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;">He was trying to express the feelings of a poet who expressed the desire of being able to write with his fingers using his own blood to ensure that all the thoughts that came to his mind didn't go back to the winding and confusing lanes of his mind.. mayb never to return back again.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;">This made me think and feel even more miserable about my day. I felt an extremely keen need to have a power to memorize each and every thing in my head and be able to remove it at will. I wanted to have a safe place where things I needed to preserve, like my thoughts, my memories (in the form of the pictures i had in my hard disk :( ...... )</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;">It was made worse by the fact that i had had some problem in my cell fone a few days back and lost all its data, without any recent back-ups. The only back-up I had was more than 6 months old. And it was then that I had decided to back-up my data frequently to make sure I didn’t lost it. But, today I lost my back-up too !! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;"><o:p> There was a glimmer of hope. I thought maybe my brother has my data on his laptop. I called him, only to find<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>that he didn’t have my data. He said that he didn’t have ANY DATA, and his laptop too had crashed !!! OMG this cannot be happening.</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;"><o:p> <span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;">I had no words to describe my feelings when I returned home. I told about it to a few friends. But, what could have they done except giving me a comforting word. But, then I thought of speaking to a friend who is a computer whiz. I thought that he might have a solution to my predicament. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I noticed that Anurag was online. I started chatting with him, and later called him, and he suggested some solutions to my problem and ended with the words “Chinta na kar… aaram se mil jaayega back-up !!!” <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>OMG … I was so relieved !! <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I kept on pestering him and asking repeatedly if I would get my precious data. And he said that I would. </span><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family:Georgia;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;color:black;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;"> </span><span style="font-family:Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family:Georgia;mso-hansi-font-family:Georgia; mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;color:black;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;"> </span><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia;mso-hansi-font-family:Georgia;mso-char-type:symbol; mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;color:black;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;">. Now, I can’t wait to go to the hard drive company’s office and get my data back. Wish me luck !!</span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;">PS – I learnt a lesson through the course of events today. Try doing any of the following things to ensure having a back-up that you can fall back upon and prevent any anxious moments (thanks fr the tips Anurag..n Vandana </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Georgia;mso-hansi-font-family:Georgia; mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;color:black;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;"> ) –</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:black;">1) Burn DVDs – Keep the extremely important data on DVD’s. Don’t use the DVD’s frequently and preserve them. Access them only in case of emergencies.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">2) Take help of Yahoo or Google – Most of our extremely important data is not huge in size. Its our movies and songs that make the data huge. The movies can come back. But, the important data like office files and photographs might not. So, create folders and zip them to make their size below 10 MB(the maximum size of attachments a llowed per mail by yahoo) and mail it to yourself .This would ensure that your data rests safely on the servers of yahoo or google.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">3) If your data is too huge and all of it is extremely important, then keep a back-up of the back-up. Put files on that second back-up only after scanning them for viruses. And access that second back-up only in case of emergencies.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> And of course, use a good anti-virus and keep taking back-ups of your data periodically. I hope things that happened would never happen to any of you, or me too in future. <span style="font-family:Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span></o:p></p></div>Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-83283299649669783052009-05-09T09:29:00.000-07:002009-05-09T09:54:47.364-07:00Happy Birthday Bloggie... :)This is a post that i had written sme days back, but didnt get time to post it. I had it on my comp as a draft, but had my exam on 25th and was caught up in a few other things and just couldn't find enough time to finish it. Doing it today...I guess bettr late than never.. :D ... <div><br /></div><div>Without any furthur ado... here it goes... </div><div><br /></div><div><div>Its my blog's birthday.. it turned 1 on 24th April 2009. Sorry for not being able to wish you on time bloggie.........</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm feeling extremely happy that you have turned 1 today. I was the one who brought you into existence. Its like you are my kid ( I said 'like' before anyone starts to have thoughts... :P ....), and its your first b'day !! </div><div><br /></div><div>Blogging has been one of the best things that I decided to do...sharing my thoughts, and being able to have share thoughts of others, freezing my memories in time, expressing my feelings on any thing that I feel for, interacting with other like minded people, and so many othr things, just by writing a simple post on my blog...</div><div><br /></div><div>I had mentioned this in my in my 'Whats Thr in The Name' post that I want my blog to be able to bring a smile on the faces of whoever reads it. I recently got an award from Annie ... 'You Make Me Smile Award' . Thank You so much Annie. :) :) It is my first award, and to top that, its gives me immense pleasure to know that I have been able to achieve one of the most important thing that I had wanted to by creating this blog... :) ...</div><div><br /></div><div>I love my blog very dearly, and it means a lot to me. I would like to keep growing as a person as i blog more, and i hope to improve my writing skills as time passes. But, one thing is very important for me - Whatever i write is from my heart, and would try to keep it that way. Because no matter how jazzy and my blog might get, if it stops having straight from the heart posts, it would only 'look' nice, but wouldn't be actually nice.</div><div> </div><div>Kisi ki muskurahato pe ho Nisar...</div><div>Kisi Ka dard mil sake toh le udhar...</div><div><br /></div><div>Kisi ke waaste ho tere dil mein pyar...</div><div>Jina isi ka naam hai...</div><div><br /></div><div>Ke marke bhi kisi ko yaad aayenge...</div><div>Kisi ke aansuon mein muskurange...</div><div><br /></div><div>Kisi ko ho na ho.. humein toh Aitbaar...</div><div>Jina isi ka naam hai...</div><div><br /></div><div>This is what I would like my epitaph to say... 'He brought smiles...he brightened days..' I hope I would continue to be able to bring smiles on peoples faces, and I'm would like to apologize for any hurtful things that I have said to anybody.</div><div><br /></div><div>I would like to thank each and everyone who has taken precious time out of their lives to read my posts and comment on them. They mean a lot to me, and are a huge source of inspiration. Thank you everybody, and I hope the comments would keep coming. :) </div><div><br /></div><div>PS - I'm not in the best of the moods today, and i'm not sure if I should be blogging today and putting up a few things that i have mentiond above. I don't know if i would regret puttin git all up over here tomorrow, and if it would be best to forget certain events and move on. But had to wish you today kiddo... :) I'm sorry for not being my usual upbeat self...would be back soon..with all the pjz and smiles and optimism.. :) ... Happy B'day Bloggie... :) </div><div><br /></div><div>Herez a toast to my blog.. :) ...</div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers...</div></div>Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-82078380617830899312009-04-20T09:11:00.000-07:002009-04-20T12:51:24.818-07:00I Resign from Adulthood .....<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I Resign...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">of an 8-year-old again.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I want to go to McDonald's and think that it's a four star restaurant.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I want to sail paper boats across a fresh mud puddle and spend my whole aftrnoon making and flying paper planes.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I want to eat patries and icecreams and candies and sweets, spillin thema ll over my clothes and not worry about how it will affect the way i look.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I want to lie under a big oak tree and run a lemonade</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">stand with my friends on a hot summer day.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I want to have 2 full months of fun, frolic and visits to my Nanima's home during my summer vacations.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I want to spend the all my days with my Dadu n Dadi.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I want to jump like mad and dance during rains as if there is no tomorrow.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I want to go back to the time when breaking a 'kinky promise' meant a condemned life in hell..!! (Well.. I still believe in that.. :D :P)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I want to return to a time when life was simple.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">When all you knew were colors, multiplication tables,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">and nursery rhymes, </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">but that didn't bother you, because you didn't know what</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">you didn't know and you didn't care.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">All you knew was to be happy because you were blissfully unaware of all the things that should make you worried or upset.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I want to think the world is fair.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">That everyone is honest and good.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I want to believe that anything is possible.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I want to be oblivious to the complexities of life and</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">be overly excited by the little things again.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I want to live simple again.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, bills, gossip, illness, and loss of loved ones.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a small write-up that I read somewhere and wanted to share it here on my blog. I have added a few things to it. In our running around all over the city and the globe as a grown-up, we tend to forget all the little things that used to make us roll with peals of laughter and mean the world to us in our childhood, things which we now consider to be petty or silly or even idiotic. </div><div><br /></div><div>What is the first thing that we notice in a kid ?? Its his energy, his zest for life, the mischievous glint in his eyes, the running around all through the day and still wanting more - basically the spirit.. the spark !! We should not let this spark fade under heaps of office work and numerous e-mails. We need to keep this spark in us alive no matter what the situation is. We need to shed our inhibitions and throw caution to the winds at times rather than wondering about the consequences. Or else we are in the danger of getting classified in the category of 'Khusat Buddha'..!! Keep flashing your pearlies... (And if you are worried about how look, go consult a dentist, brush every 15 minutes... but KEEP LAUGHINg your heart out.. :) .. :D .. ) We need to quit thinking too much about each and every problem that life brings our way and breaking our head over it. Sometimes letting go, and allowing things to be is essential. As they say - 'Ignorance is Bliss' !! </div><div><br /></div><div>Being with kids and playing with them helps us become one, and i find it to be very destressing. In fact it makes me happy.. :D . Play with kids and eat 'Desserts' when u r 'Stressed'..!! (Try reading it 'Stressed' in reverse !! :P )</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't care if I have a time machine or a gadget by which I can turn back time. Because, I have already resigned from my adulthood. I know being an adult gives you a few things like Credit Cards, Cars, Mobile Fones and so on.. (what were you thinking you perverts ??!! :P), but what the hell.. Paper planes, Silly Dancing, Toy Cars...here i come!! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">I'm a 8 year old kid from today</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">. Affirmative !!</span> :D :D</div><div><br /></div><div>PS - I do admit that I Still do a lot of the things that I have mentioned above :D :D , but I want to do them more often, actually more more often. :D :D ..!! Cheers..!! </div>Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-89526170717935395412009-04-13T22:50:00.000-07:002009-07-30T06:44:35.578-07:00Everything happens for a REASON...<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; "><div>During the past few days, rather months, a few things have happened that I, as at the moment, am forced to think were not so good. I feel things could, rather should have been different. I was forced to leave a company which many (including me) dream to get into. And, I have my CA exams in november. I so want this course to get over now. I'm eagerly waiting for getting those 'two alphabets - CA' as a prefix in my name. Life seems to have hit a rut. But, as it has happened in the past.....</div><div><br /></div><div>[Past - After my 10th grade Boards I was all set to get into the science stream..to be able to pursue my long cherished dream of doing Software Engineering. I was always fond of computers,and this was something that I had always thought of taking up as a career. I had filed my form for getting readmitted in my school (in Ahmedabad) in the 11th grade in the science stream. But,when I went for submitting the form, I found out something that would change the course of my life forever. I remember it very vividly. I had gone to my school with my Chachu, and Dad was at office. They said the criteria for getting into science was 60 marks each in Maths, Science and English, and I had 89 in Science, 85 in English, and 52 in Maths................. I was shattered !! Maths had always scared me. Thanks to a teacher in my 9th and 10th grade, I had become <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Arithmophobia">Arithmophobic</a>. And now it had led to this - NO SCIENCE....................... I went back to home, spoke to Dad, and he managed to convince me that commerce was not a bad option at all. I somehow filled in my form and got into commerce, and I ended up losing touch with most of my good friends in school who had taken up engineering in various colleges. Their bonds grew stronger, and I got left out. :( </div><div><br /></div><div>And after only 10-15 days of studying in that school, we moved to Surat, and over there I could have taken up science. But, I had made up my mind. So I continued with commmerce, and I used to hate it in the beginning. But, gradually I started liking it, and then we moved again, this time to Rajkot. I did my 12th grade frm there. Over there I enrolled for taking Maths and Accounts tutions, and to my surprise, I started loving both the subjects. I got to study and clarify my concepts from two wonderful teachers (concepts - one of the most important things that one needs to undersntand and like a subject), and I scored well in both the subjects, 90 in Maths !! GoodBye Arithmophobia, Hello Commerce !!]</div><div><br /></div><div>I have this huge regret, or whtevr u wud call it. First, I was this complete shy and introvert baby in school... no fun, only books & a few friends, with whom I couldn't even maintain contact due to my frequent moves from one city to the other. And then I wasn't able to enjoy my college life. During my Grad, I was in a college in lucknow (my Dad is a banker, and we kept on moving frm one place to the other) and to top it all, the college was a boyz college. No activites, no fun, not many friends, just sucky politics, elections and nothin else. And I'm a student of CA which is a self study course, so no classroom studies, no college, no college group... nothing.</div><div><br /></div><div>I so feel that i hv missd out the college group fun - the night outs, the road trips, the hostel fun and the not so fun part of it, the games on college LAN... Oh God... how could i miss so many things ??? I was so not into fun...................</div><div><br /></div><div>But now, when I look back at those petty things in accounts which used to freak me out at that time, I get amused. I now feel that it was so silly of me to think of it like that. The only problem was that I took some time to adjust. By God's grace, things have turned out fine. I'm pursuing two courses which I'm goin to finish soon, I did a substantial part of my internship from a very good place...something which I always dreamed of, and I can say that I have a good set of friends (Touchwood..!!) But still I'm getting this feelin that I mentioned in the beginning of this post.. of life having hit a rut. But, I get a reassurance from the fact that in the past too things were seemingly pretty bad, and my life had taken a completely different course from what I had wanted. And it was all for good. So many things that are happening now, my friends, the cities that I lived in, my experiences, the whole way that I live life, might not have happend had I filled my form for the science stream. I don't know what they would have been, but as I have mentioned in the title of this post... 'EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON' !! I guess there were some very good reasons for evrything that happened... some that I can see.. and some that I can't. One that I can see is that if it wud not hv been this way, then I wudn't have realized the value of such things, people and experiences, which I now do.. immensely. And, thus I'm trying to make the most of it, because these years of life...<a href="http://springbl0ss0ms.blogspot.com/2008/09/best-days.html">The Best Days</a> (refer my earlier post)... they are never going to come back (time never comes back, but these days are extremely special). I'm trying to have a bit of fun, and by God's grace, have been able to come - into contact / back into contact, with a few people whom I consider to be my good friends. :) And then, later on when I would do my MBA, I'm going to make sure to make the most of it, make up for all that I have missed in the past... :) ... Yaaaaayyyy... :P :D ...</div><div><br /></div><div>I read this wonderful mail today...</div><div><br /></div><div>'God know exactly and with perfection about what is being allowed to happen to you in your life at this precise moment...</div><div><br /></div><div>His purpose is simple..He wants to show you things that only you can understand by living what you are living, And by being in the place you are now...'</div><div><br /></div><div>I know God's watching over me, and thus I'm open to all the surprises and challanges that life has in store for me. I'm sure many would not agree to this, and even I would not feel this way many times in my life. But, then I would look at this post, think about my past, and try to get back in sync with the twists and turns. :) I try to be flexible, and would continue to do so, and enjoy the journey as much as the destination !! </div><div><br /></div><div>So Life... Bring it on...!!! :)</div></div></span></div>Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-35064493787207369812009-04-08T11:01:00.000-07:002009-05-19T06:27:00.380-07:00Tagged...!! - 100 Truths...<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; ">Ahhh.. okay <a href="http://netika-lumb.blogspot.com/2009/03/tagged.html">Netika</a>...and <a href="http://ishachawla.blogspot.com/2009/03/100-truths.html">Isha</a>... I'm finally doing th tag... i was feeling too lazy about this whole 100 questions thing... but I'm kinda excted now that I'm going to start doin it..!! :) .. Here it goes... <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:11px;"><strong>1</strong><strong>. Last drink:</strong> A glass of cold Flavoured milk... :) ... just had it before startin gthis post.. all set fr it now.. :P ..<br /><strong>2. Last phone call :</strong> God...!! (No i wasnt reading One Night @ th call centre...!! :P) ... ok ok.. it was Dad... :) he coudlt come online today.. so spoke to him on th fone...<br /><strong>3. Last text message:</strong> A missed call alert..!! lolz... :P :P...<br /><strong>4. Last song you listened to:</strong> Dhadke Jiya... frm the movie Aloo Chat... hv falln in love with this song... cant stop listnin to it... wait.. i hv to listn to it while doign this tag.. !!<br /><strong>5. Last time you cried:</strong> I think its been a long time.. can't recall it... but yes.. I do get all senti and workd up at times... I'm a very emotional person.. <br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Have You Ever...</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:11px;"><strong>6. Dated someone twice:</strong> What ??!!</span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:11px;"><strong>7.Been cheated on?</strong> Well... I was made a fool... :|<br /><strong>8. Kissed someone & regretted it?</strong> No.. Not kissed anyone yet... And i will try to make sure that when it happens.. I don't regret it later...<br /><strong>9. Lost someone special?</strong> My Grand Parents... i miss them a lot...............................................................And if the question talks about the term 'someone special' in the other way... thn... No Comments...<br /><strong>10. Been depressed?</strong> I have been sad at times... but 'Depressed' is too strong a word.. the answer is No..<br /><strong>11. Been drunk and threw up?</strong> I don't drink... forget throwing up..!! I can't find any logical reaason to spend money to lose control ovr my sense..!! No, Thank You very much..!!<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; font-size:16px;">Four Favourite Colors...</span><br /><strong>12.</strong> Light Green<br /><strong>13.</strong> Aqua Blue<br /><strong>14.</strong> Baby Pink<br /><strong>15.</strong> Black<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; font-size:16px;">Firsts...</span><br /><strong>16. Made new friends:</strong> Eh ?? Of course I have... I have stayd in so many different cities... would have died, had I not made new friends..<br /><strong>17. Fallen out of love:</strong> Guess I need to first fall in love... True Love... <br /><strong>18.Laughed until you cried:</strong> Oh Yea...!! I love to laugh.. and make others laugh... :) ... my friends would vouch fr my 'PJz'...!! :P :P <br /><strong>19. Met someone who changed you:</strong> I feel evryone that we meet in life has some sort of an impact on us... There have been a few who have had a very significant impact... My Grandparents n Parents... whom.. technically.. I didn't meet..They were th ones who 'met' me... but i guess it vl work... :) ... also a few othrz I would not like to name here..<br /><strong>20. Found out who your true friends were:</strong> Well... I have always felt that I haven't been able to forge friendships that would last for life... although i desperately wished.. and keep wishing for it... And i think... i have found a few friends in th past 1-2 years which i consider to be my good ... 'True' friends... :) ... Thank you God... :) ..<strong></strong></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:11px;"><strong>21. Found out someone was talking about you:</strong> People will always talk about you.. the more you surge ahead.. the more they would talk... And yes... recently I found out from my school friends that they used to talk 'bout a nerd calld 'Karan'..!! :P ... ( a nerd who.. i quote... "is a thousand times bettr now..!!".. :D )<br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-size:16px;"><br /></span></strong></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:11px;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-size:16px;">Have You...</span><br /></strong></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:11px;"><strong>22. Kissed anyone on your friend's list:</strong> Kripya 8th point refer karein..!! :D ..<br /><strong>23. How many people on your friends list do you know in real life: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">What is the need to count ?? Btw.. wht does 'real' life mean ?? I don't have any imaginary friend calld 'Tinker Bell'...!! lol..</span></strong><br /><strong>24. How many kids do you want to have:</strong> It would be immature to think about all tha right now...<br /><strong>25. Do you have any pets:</strong> No.. n I don't think I would want to have one... too much of a cleanliness freak... but who knows...<br /><strong>26. Do you want to change your name:</strong> I louuuuuvvv my name... :) ... <br /><strong>27. What did you do for your last birthday:</strong> 4-4-2009...my 23rd b'day...Had a super fun time with a special friend and a cousin... Did smething which I'm going to remember fr th rest of my life... :) ... (for all th perverts... no I DID NOT DO ANTYHING like that...!!)<br /><strong>28.What time did you wake up today:</strong> 10.30 AM .. :P..<br /><strong>29. What were you doing at midnight last night:</strong> I was talking to a friend... on th fone...<br /><strong>30. Name something you CANNOT wait for: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">To add two letters as a prefix to my name... 'CA'... And yea.. i cannot wait to go fr a holiday with my family...in Africa... wohooo... Th African Safari... !!! :D ...</span></strong><br /><strong>31. Last time you saw your father: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">:( .... I saw him on 16th March ... at 2 AM.. I had gone to drop him off.. hez in Nigeria... N i couldnt evn say bye properly... :( ... Missin you Daddie............</span></strong><br /><strong>32. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">There are a few things that I regret... like not having a sister... or not having bumchums in my childhood... or missing out on a fun college life... to name a few.. but then I feel everything happens for a reason... Therz a Master Plan carefully chalkd out for each one of us... :) ... ( And my brother rocks... :) .. Lov ya bro... ) </span></strong><br /><strong>33. Most visited web page:</strong> My Gmail... orkut & FB profile and my blog...n Google.. Wikipedia...<br /><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-size:16px;">What's Your...</span></strong><br /><strong>34. Name:</strong> Sssshh... Its a Secret...!! :P ..<br /><strong>35. Nicknames:</strong> Most of my nicknames hv been given by my family members... Babo (thats th sindhi term fr 'Dad'.. and it was given to me by my Grandpa... he said his Fathr had come bak... :) ... ) ... Sonu.. (and various versions of that...!!) (givn by Momie..) Bablu...(givn by my chachu) Bitu... (givn by Daddie) ... and a few givn by friends like ... Bhaloo.. (Isha...plz giv me a reason y ??!!!) Karu... Kibu... ok enough.. this wud nvr end... and now ... STOP loling..!! lolz.. :P </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:11px;"><strong>36. Zodiac sign:</strong> An Arian ... but dont follow zodiacs much...<br /><strong>37. Male or female or transgender:</strong> Male<br /><strong>38. Elementary:</strong> Vandana School - Ahmedabad<br /><strong>39. School:</strong> Maharaja Agrasen Vidyalaya (this was th school where i studied fr 4 years... frm 7th to 10th...) .. thr r too many othrs to name... I remembr once talkin bout this to Mom n Dad... hv studied in around 10 schools in different cities before i finishd it in 12th... <br /><strong>40. Colleges:</strong> Christian College ( It was a BOYZ College...!!!! :( :( ... and it had no activiities whatsovr... except those frigign elections of course..!! now u kno wht i was talking about in Point 32..)<br /><strong>41.Hair color:</strong> Dark Brown<br /><strong>42. Long or short:</strong> Short.. had grown them long once... and kept them so fr around a year... :P ... <br /><strong>43. Height:</strong> 5 feet 10 inches<br /><strong>44. Do you have a crush on someone?</strong> well............... :) ... <br /><strong>45. Ever been in love?</strong> I thought so... but guess it wasn't... it was a conjob...!!! :( ....<br /><strong>46. Piercings?</strong> None<br /><strong>47. Tattoos?</strong> None till date... might think of having one or two in future...<br /><strong>48. Righty or lefty:</strong> Righty<br /><strong>49. First surgery:</strong> None.. Touchwood...<br /><strong>50. First piercing:</strong> None<br /><strong>51. First best friend:</strong> ummm... lemme think...has to be Aditya Chitre... I remembr having fights for him with anothr guy... who tried to make him 'his sole friend' ..!!! (No ppl.. im perfectly straight..!! it was just a silyl childhood fight..!!) and I have lost contact with him now.... :( :( ..<br /><strong>52. First sport you loved:</strong> First...Cricket... I live in a cricket crazy nation.. <br /><strong>53. First pet:</strong> Hvn't had any till now..<br /><strong>54. First vacation:</strong> I think it was The Andamans... or maybe not.. I'm not sure...<br /><strong>55. First concert:</strong> I think it was in 2007...Ali Azmat..of th Junoon Band.. at IIM Ahd's culfest.. Chaos..Hvn't been to many concerts... although I would like to change this andgo freak out smetimes.. :) ...<br /><strong>56. First crush:</strong> It was in my school.. in Vandana... whn I was in 2nd grade... :) ... don't evn remembr how she used to look.. or whr that girl is now.. all i remembr is that I had had a crush.. and her name was Divya... <br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; font-size:16px;">Right Now...</span><br /><strong>57. Eating:</strong> Nothing.. Its 1 AM..!!<br /><strong>58. Drinking:</strong> Nothing..<br /><strong>59. I'm about to:</strong> finish this tag..!! :P ...well not actually.. im about half way through... :P<br /><strong>60. Listening to:</strong> Gtalk going 'clunk... clunk..' .. with new msgs on chat.. lolz..<br /><strong>61. Waiting for:</strong> ummm.. a lot of things.. short term n long term... But i know that they will happen if it is good.. no the BEST for me... and when the time is right... :) ...<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-size:16px;">Your Future...</span><br />62. Want kids?</strong> Yes, ofcourse..!! I LOVE kiddiez... they make me sooo happy... :D ... :D ..<br /><strong>63. Want to get married?</strong> Definitely...But some years down the line.. First need to finish my education and then settle down in my career..Make myself able enough to substain myself.. and then others.. and then Marriage...<br /><strong>64. Careers in mind?</strong> Have a few things in my mind... would be immature to talk bout them at th moment.. lets see how do things work out.. <br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-size:16px;">Which is better with the opposite sex...??</span></strong><br /><strong>65. Lips or eyes:</strong> Both..<br /><strong>66. Hugs or kisses:</strong> Both...<br /><strong>67. Shorter or taller:</strong> Definitely Shorter<br /><strong>68. Older or Younger:</strong> Younger... But it is a stereotype... nvr know what is in store in future...<br /><strong>69. Romantic or spontaneous:</strong> Both.. (okay.. okay.. i know i'm sayin a lotta 'both'.. but it is a fact... :) ... 100 'TRUTHS'.. remembr... :D ...)<br /><strong>70. Nice stomach or nice arms:</strong> Both... (There u go again... :) ...)<br /><strong>71. Sensitive or loud:</strong> Sensitive.... (Phew.. finally i had ONE answr..!! :P ).. on second thoughts... mayb Loud at times... :P ..<br /><strong>72. Hook-up or relationship:</strong> Relationship<br /><strong>73. Trouble maker or hesitant</strong>: It depends on the situation... <br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-size:16px;">Have you ever...??</span><br />73. Kissed a stranger:</strong> What is this quiz maker tryin to do?????? No...!! <br /><strong>74. Lost glasses/contacts:</strong> You bet..!! :P ...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">75. Sex on first Date: WHAT ????!!! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">NO...wht is wrong with this quiz maker ??? Definitely nt an Indian..!!</span><br /><strong>76. Broken someone's heart:</strong> No... and if we r talking 'bout friends and family... maybe I have.. but I try to make it up... say sorry... and try to make that person smile....<br /><strong>77. Had your own heart broken:</strong> :( ... <br /><strong>78. Been arrested</strong>: No<br /><strong>79. Turned someone down:</strong> No ... I was an introvert... Hvn't got any such proposals that I needed to turn down... dunno if that is good or wht......<br /><strong>80. Cried when someone died</strong>: Yes..........................................................<br /><strong>81. Liked a friend that is a girl?</strong> Yes.. many times... I'm straight... remembr ??!!<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">DO YOU BELIEVE IN...</span></span><br />82. Yourself:</strong> Definitely..!!<br /><strong>83. Miracles: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">I'm a firm believer in God.. and i think many things that we see daily are small Miracles.. :) ...</span></strong><br /><strong>84. God:</strong> As much as I beleive that therez air water n earth...!! <br /><strong>85. Love at first sight:</strong> ummm.. i dunno.. wud believe in it if it happend.. :) ...<br /><strong>86. Heaven</strong>: U Bet..!! Everyone pays for their deeds.. good or bad...<br /><strong>87. Santa Claus</strong>: I surely hope he is there... The very thought of Santa brings a smile and hope to millions of kids... I think he exists... :) ...<br /><strong>88. Kiss on the first date?</strong> No.. i don't think so.. but .. who knows.. depends on th situation and the person..<br /><strong>89. Angels:</strong> Definitely... God can't be everywhere... I have a lit'l Guardian Angel ... :) ... <br /><strong>90. Devils:</strong> Every coin has two sides... Angels eixst.. and so do Devils... (and if you think about it.. we witness many devils in real life too ... such sick and evil ppl.......... :( .... :( ... ) <br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:16px;">ANSWER TRUTHFULLY...</span></span></strong><br /><strong>91. Is there one person you want to be with right now?</strong> Yes...<br /><strong>92. Had more than one boyfriend/girlfriend at one time?</strong> I need to have 'a' girl friend first..!!<br /><strong>93. Wanted to kill someone ever?</strong> No... And I don't think I evr would...<br /><strong>94. Among you blog mates, whom would you like to kiss?</strong> Kya kiss kiss kiss???!! I refuse to answer this question...PASS...<strong></strong></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:11px;"><strong>95. Committed a blunder and regretted later?</strong> Yes...commited a few..but realizd it latr that they were nt 'blunders'... got workd up unneccesarily.... :) ... <br /><strong>96. Wanted to steal your friend's boyfriend / girlfriend</strong>? No..!! why would I want to do anything like that ???!! <br /><br /><strong></strong><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:16px;">ASSOCIATE WITH SOMETHING YOU WEAR...</span></span></strong><br /><strong>97. White:</strong> Tee / Shirt<br /><strong>98. Black:</strong> Trousers / My waist coat.. :D ...<br /><strong>99. Red:</strong> Tee.. wht else can be red in a boy's wadrobe ??!! .. correction... a sane boy's wadrobe.. :P ...<br /><strong>100.</strong> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Pink</span>: My baby pink tee... i love it... :D ... hv shirts too.. love this color.. :) ..<br /><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:11px;"><strong>Posting this as 100 Truths?</strong> Definitely..!!! :) ..</span><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:11px;">I tag - <a href="http://comemeetthegoddess.blogspot.com/">Nidhi</a>...(cme out of ur sabbatical now..!! ... :) ... ) <a href="http://milktea-paperplanes.blogspot.com/">Gaargi</a>... <a href="http://prateekvidya.wordpress.com/">Prateek</a>.. <a href="http://my-prerogative-joyeeta.blogspot.com/">Joyeeta</a>... <a href="http://pun-princess.livejournal.com/">princess</a>... <a href="http://secretlymoi.blogspot.com/">Gargi</a> agen... :) ... and <a href="http://deepikagupta1987.blogspot.com/">Deepika</a>.. :)</span><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:11px;">I'm also tagging <a href="http://kavitakhurana.blogspot.com/">Kavita</a>... although I'm nt too sure if she wud b able to do it... Busy Gal... :) ... </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:11px;">PHEW... that does it... a realllllllly long.... but SUPER Fun tag... :) ... :) ...</span></div></div></div></span>Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-81982564220843483122009-02-17T03:35:00.000-08:002009-02-17T03:52:51.845-08:00500....What will you do if you were given Rs. 500 ??<br /><br />What would your answer be ?? "Buy clothes... go for a movie... hv a nice biryani in a good eatery... BLOW IT UP on booze... buy a BRANDED UNDERWEAR...!!! " or wud it be... " ONLY Rs. 500 ?? ahh nothing...!!!"<br /><br />There could be a completely opposite side to this as well... the answers might be ... "pay fees for my school... buy books or vegetables or other groceries for my home... or wud it be... "spend some on my children and save the rest...!!!"<br /><br />I saw this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0XTPSYdP08">video</a> on you tube recently... and it was startling to say the least... how many times do we think before spending Rs. 500 or even much more for an evening out at some plush restaurant or coffee bar... or for buying some branded clothes... alcohol... or smething like a cell fone recharge or bill payment ??<br /><br />There are MANY MANY MANY people in India and across the world who are struggling to earn enough money to buy two square meals a day... leave alone earning and spending it for medicines or education... All the government is doing is giving us 'statistics' ... and earmarking huge amounts of funds for its projects to help the poor... but how much of it is actually reaching the needy ?? A trickle... mayb less...<br /><br />But its not just the government to be blamed... we ourselves are so reckless in spending sums of money which would be beyond the wildest imaginations of a huge majority of people... And i'm not sayin that i don't do this... i too am just as reckless and ignorant as many others... and i feel bad about it... really bad... We too are equally guilty... we don't have any right to blame anyone else...<br /><br />Have you ever thought about how the value of Rs. 10 changes when we are in a temple and in a shopping mall ??!!<br /><br />Poverty forces 70 % of the school going children in India to drop out of school before they reach the secondary level. (Source - Open Space India)<br /><br />Think about it... I too would try to make an effort to change this... because i know.. how a small child, who is forced to 'shine' other people's shoes has a shine in his eyes when he gets Rs. 100 from a 'generous' stranger... I'm not saying that we stop spending at all.. and give it all away... no.. it is insane.. and not possible as well... All i'm saying is that if we make a little contribution... periodically... It would not make much of a difference in our lives... Maybe one less trip to the nearby CCD... But to them it can be a year at school.... or fees for the medical aid of their children... Because that would be INDIA SHINING... Shining with the sparkle in the eyes of the needy.... May God be with us... :) ...<br /><br />Cheers...Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-38444765430841308882008-11-29T08:23:00.000-08:002008-12-19T23:34:52.521-08:00Faith.I came across this set of pictures... Have a look... Don't lose hope... Have Faith in God...<br /><br />Praying.."God..Please Help Us..Protect Us..."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_0S3N5kIXhanof4s8wRDTzQd2V7MAlGrpSkNbzSHl9iUSpTUkCSRh_KDqiHZe3eB1uMWvWv5hGCcsYiG5KrWYR13NzgpqB6upX0-7MHaLHZhZrUQYbdIiqarXaw3pQpwou1SX6KsWJw/s1600-h/1...God...pls+protect+me...jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_0S3N5kIXhanof4s8wRDTzQd2V7MAlGrpSkNbzSHl9iUSpTUkCSRh_KDqiHZe3eB1uMWvWv5hGCcsYiG5KrWYR13NzgpqB6upX0-7MHaLHZhZrUQYbdIiqarXaw3pQpwou1SX6KsWJw/s320/1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274123978892592450" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_PJl2mAFV7q2vtVjFB6W2yTK2eijUMXjmQOTrQEUHKHqBpT28cEm6DoK95Zv9wW_OHkrv9vwb1XbEOkVpP5i31L0iHahmbYq8IGuusMyOEcTGvYnLyT4EwsaLE-UljeXSsivx5fbrvI/s1600-h/2.......jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 156px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_PJl2mAFV7q2vtVjFB6W2yTK2eijUMXjmQOTrQEUHKHqBpT28cEm6DoK95Zv9wW_OHkrv9vwb1XbEOkVpP5i31L0iHahmbYq8IGuusMyOEcTGvYnLyT4EwsaLE-UljeXSsivx5fbrvI/s320/2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274123971807228466" /></a><br /><br />Gets hit by 'trouble'...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWMX4Sdad5EX1BRCCS3DPbjwjF0wK9Xgw_tpawe29Rd2CdlFFBNjulehwzQTx1faoJ8S8u7O6Ezu5k5eIp7JtxFahQXtYrYp-tHxriulbxYDJR3i8UiRv9JW-Vf7XyQz6tEqOSh-OZUE/s1600-h/3...gets+hit+by+a+rock.......jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWMX4Sdad5EX1BRCCS3DPbjwjF0wK9Xgw_tpawe29Rd2CdlFFBNjulehwzQTx1faoJ8S8u7O6Ezu5k5eIp7JtxFahQXtYrYp-tHxriulbxYDJR3i8UiRv9JW-Vf7XyQz6tEqOSh-OZUE/s320/3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274123614514027826" /></a><br /><br />Is deeply Anguished... Asks... "Why God ?? Are you Even there ??"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMiJ6ebEIV9U6gW2s9EowvayBDiYqR284wQUmW2Vymfk0ePSFTlnNkCmTXsXTlKAcSkloHD6c7KPs5FZeE3IFwX9kG77YZKP8v1tqusp9KJPQGyeQkGChZ6CsFz4pHF6JOZtLxSDwwUw/s1600-h/4...+why.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMiJ6ebEIV9U6gW2s9EowvayBDiYqR284wQUmW2Vymfk0ePSFTlnNkCmTXsXTlKAcSkloHD6c7KPs5FZeE3IFwX9kG77YZKP8v1tqusp9KJPQGyeQkGChZ6CsFz4pHF6JOZtLxSDwwUw/s320/4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274123613088226786" /></a><br /><br />Turns Around...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Lr3ztMfvoK08Tn7GBkG7dEk-KZy5rJYNod4q0766rwcL5yWQ-xYezti-ZjGXDDwuOidQ75v5hF0yAPkbM2Y2qk1ppCOmkZr7hUkvlfaNzEmyc0UEr9TBBldTjiGSZwGNCEU_yRWb1wE/s1600-h/5...turns+aroun....jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Lr3ztMfvoK08Tn7GBkG7dEk-KZy5rJYNod4q0766rwcL5yWQ-xYezti-ZjGXDDwuOidQ75v5hF0yAPkbM2Y2qk1ppCOmkZr7hUkvlfaNzEmyc0UEr9TBBldTjiGSZwGNCEU_yRWb1wE/s320/5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274123609896233106" /></a><br /><br />Is astonished...Sees something unbelievable.............<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14nyAdGYCz40mDqBaUHSDy8QbSYTbIt8bC2Thrz7GWI62pY2nhKsnNKeDCQXfw4vRo7V-rCYqhnZ-5bjbfPPrlzpy9Snd3se2kRM7kzSqULsmKIly6aKBu6bPP2qpzt_9D4MtIBiHncw/s1600-h/6...astonished...sees+smethng+unbelievable....jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14nyAdGYCz40mDqBaUHSDy8QbSYTbIt8bC2Thrz7GWI62pY2nhKsnNKeDCQXfw4vRo7V-rCYqhnZ-5bjbfPPrlzpy9Snd3se2kRM7kzSqULsmKIly6aKBu6bPP2qpzt_9D4MtIBiHncw/s320/6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274123607784697794" /></a><br /><br />GOD : "Are you alright my child... I might have missed a small piece....!!!"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBztdr4uWaAN0lGuiQ0Ll2yX8GNZInoAFzt8TCZIBJtKJwgy8NIQPPxwa6AwOHYci5nSFWdKeZsAOvUcIez3EHKnQoBDEjU_VRbdSIIdczlc-PEK_nb7siD5YytDSPG6z50IMUnRenD0s/s1600-h/GOd..Are+yOu+alriGht+my+chiLd...+I+miGht+haVe+miSsed+a+sMall+piEce....jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBztdr4uWaAN0lGuiQ0Ll2yX8GNZInoAFzt8TCZIBJtKJwgy8NIQPPxwa6AwOHYci5nSFWdKeZsAOvUcIez3EHKnQoBDEjU_VRbdSIIdczlc-PEK_nb7siD5YytDSPG6z50IMUnRenD0s/s320/GOd..Are+yOu+alriGht+my+chiLd...+I+miGht+haVe+miSsed+a+sMall+piEce....jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274123603174583602" /></a><br /><br />There are times, when God tests us, sometimes makes ur suffer... Why... I don't know... but i know one thing for sure... He is there... Listning to Us...Looking after us...Hez just an 'Earnest Prayer' away...<br /><br />God...Help us tide over these difficult times...Bless the souls of the bravehearts who have lost their lives...Help the families of those who have lost their near and dear ones...Bless the injured...And help us...Give us strength ...Intelligence..Will...n Safety to do something about all these inhumane acts...To prevent them from happening again in future...May God Bless us all...Amen...Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-28829893194168690922008-09-06T11:14:00.001-07:002009-07-30T06:41:41.284-07:00The Best Days...Today it seems that i just cant stop myself from witing one post after the other... Its a Bloggy Good day today... lol...<br /><br />so now... on with the blog...<br /><br />i saw some of my childhood pics... and today i saw a baby pic of one of my frenz... n i recalled a question that a friend had asked me many years back... "what do you think was the best phase of your life..till now"...n pat...my reply was... "my childhood...when i was really young and used to live with my grandparents..." he asked me a smiple question... "did you know at that time that it was the best phase of your life".... and then it hit me... our childhood is undisputedly the best phase of our lives... whn we dont have any worries... no responsibilities...and we r spoilt by our parents...and grandparents... we dont have any pretensions in our mind... we do what our heart says... blissfully unaware of all the worries n tensions... but... the most imp thing is that we dont enjoy it conciously... we were not aware that what we had was one of the most treasured moments of our lives...and thus it doesnt qualify as the 'best phase'... i feel that the best phase is when you are aware that yes...this is th best phase of my life...most of the times we dont realize what we r living right now is th best phase... it might be our childhood or any other age later on...we give in to the human tendency...longing to do something else.. not realizing that what we have right now might be one of the best things...whn we r kids we want to grow up... when we r in school we want to goto college... and whn we grow up...we want to be kids agen...!!!! we are never satisfied... we need to enjoy each n every moment... rathr conciously enjoy it... coz life is a mix of struggles n joys... for the want of the larger joys... the little bits of joys shud nt be ignored...<br /><br />coming back to the discussion bout the phase....For many it might be their college days... or mayb their school days ... in the senior classes... for some it might be the days when they see their kids grow up into fine people... it can be anything...<br /><br />im nt picking my college days...coz i hardly attended college... i was in lucknow ... my Dad got transferred ovr thr... n my college out thr...although one of the best in lucknow... was so so... oh forget it... its just not worth talking bout it in this post which speaks of the best phase of my life...n not evn my school days which were spread ovr various cities and schools... coz at that time i was a very different person... too shy... had a small number of frenz... i lost touch with them whn we moved out of the city... and somehow whn i did regain touch... i found out that most of them had movd away... the warmth was missing................. :( ..<br /><br />for me... till now.. it has to be th current phase of my life... the time when im just beginnin my career... when im getting my training in a reputed firm... living in the city of opportunities... making new friends... and when im starting to earn a bit... although its just my stipend... which i feel is just some extra pocket money for me... but it has given me the power to be independent... to do things on my own... now im no longr dependent on my parents for each and every need of my life... in fact now i also sometimes surprise them by paying my own college fees... or buying some small gifts for my family... the smiles on their faces give me immense satisfaction n happiness... th feeling that i feel cannot be expressed in words... its somethng which im sure most of us would understand... the phase of life from where you start to be independent... and you start to do little things to bring happiness on the faces of your loved ones like they used to when we were youngr...<br /><br />i know im very young and i have to see a lot of things in life... and its too early to sit and think bout the best phase...but i felt like writing bout what i hv felt till now...there r a lot of things that i would want from here on... in fact as i said...this is just the start...and im sure better days r to come... but thn till now this has to be it... hands down... im thankful to God...my parents..grand parents..my friends..and everyone else who has contributed to whatevr little i hv achieved till today... im thankful to them for making me able enough to see this phase... :) ...Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-87436717122194051552008-09-06T10:33:00.000-07:002009-07-30T06:40:30.192-07:00The Mask....The words of a song i heard some months back...<br /><br />Facing the world with a smile...They don't see wat is hid inside...<br />They see all the happiness..They don't see the tears i have cried...<br /><br />this made me think...this world we live in... the framework of society... the very psyche of people is full of hypocrisy....pretense...masks...people pretend to be somethng different from what they are...i used to hate such people... and used to try n stay away from such people... coz i dint understand the need for such behaviours... but as i grew up... i observed... i learnt thru my experiences that its very very important to keep some cards close to your chest... you have to keep certain aspects of your personality to yourself... i'm nt saying that being a hypocrite is correct... it never was... and it never would b right... but then there is a difference between wearing a mask to protect the inner child... the innocence... and wearing a mask just for the heck of it... or to do so for onez selfish reasons...n its worse when such a mask is worn to hurt otherz....<br /><br />i feel wearing a mask in the society is important... coz otherwise thr r people who r sitting out there.. waiting to pounce upon you and take advantage of your honesty... this world is not meant for the people who r naive to the extent that they dont realize when are they being exploited...you have to be careful and speak in a careful measure... speak only what is required...<br /><br />but then i also dont intend sayin that this mask has to be there at all times... therez absolutely no need for it when you are with your friends...your near and dear ones... the ones you trust... the ones with whom you feel comfortable...n this is where most of us err...trust the wrong people... or trust the people who ought not to be trusted... and end up getting hurt... or taken advantage of.. in whatever way that might be...<br /><br />so one needs to be careful...very very careful...and put on a mask where it is needed to protect the inner child... the 'Spark' ... the innocence inside us... as the song goes...put on a brave face...no matter what you might be feeling inside...let it be known to only the 'right' people... but who are the 'right' poeple... well... we all r learning... getting hurt... n learning evn more...and it never stops...and im not saying that im very good at this...coz i too m learning...Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-35868867059343153842008-09-06T05:34:00.000-07:002009-07-30T06:42:39.214-07:00The Blind Man...Finally...After a long break...today im blogging once agen... i feel blogging is something like any other creative activity... you need to have that thing... that motivation.. somethng which makes you feel like writing... but thn it can also be seen from the other point of view... a blog can be on any and every thing about life... things which we see evryday... things which we think about... things which otherz think about... n wat not... what has prompted me to blog today was an incident which had happend a few days back... about a blind man...but somehow i wasnt able to write about it... today after reading a lovely blog... i felt like writing about that incident...<br /><br />a few days back... on a sunday... i planned to go for a movie... n that day i decided to commute by the trusted local trains... while on my way i saw a blind man... n i immediately did what i have been taught by my mother... and something which i feel is so so neccessary for all of us to do... i Thanked God for all the blessings ... for all that he has given to us... things which we take for granted... things which ppl like that blind man... n many others like dont have... The Gift of Sight... Health... and loads of other things like that in life... n i felt like doing somethng for that unfortunate person... I asked him if he needed any help... and he said that he wanted to get on the train in the compartment for handicapped people...so i took him along with me... guiding him... and since i didint know where that particular compartment would come... (i needed to be at the place on th platform where that compartment would come to help him board the train before it started moving...).. i asked the vendors in the shops on the station... n got to know about it... and all this while i was observing... things which we take for granted... avoiding bumping into other people... nt banging your head in the pillar... stepping aside to avoid stepping into something... all this was so so difficult for that person... the only friend he had was his stick... it helpd him navigate through the complex array of things present at the station... although the difficulty he was facing was so so evident... (oh God...i dont know why you do this... why did you have to take the eyes of that man ??????? If it was for his past deeds... please help me not do any such thing in my life... please guide me God...)<br /><br />i also noticed that he had a very keen hearing ability... he tld me that the place where the compartment for disabled comes at a halt has a loud beeper... that was the day i realized the purpose of the 'annoying' beeper... n found out how important it was for those unfortunate people... i took him to that place... n helpd him board the train after it came... he thanked me... he thanked me for a thing which we feel is such a routine activity... getting on a train... I thank God for giving me sense to help that man...<br /><br />And yes, one more thing...i feel that whatevr little that we can do for helping other people should be just done... and not told about... just do it n forget it... but i felt like writing about this on my blog to share the feeling wihch i got by helping that person... the immense sense of satisfaction that i got by doing such a small thing... n i feel that after reading this blog... anyone did their little part for helping others... th blog would be worth it... coz as it is said... 'small things go a long way in achieving great results...'<br /><br />Thank You God for each of your blessings...Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-77401516822375397542008-05-10T02:36:00.000-07:002009-07-30T06:43:13.542-07:00Commitment..Commitment...this is a very important 11 letter word which has a lot of sentiments attached to it. I have heard a lot about it...the views of guys and girls...but i feel there is a huge gap between the views and the reality.<br /><br />It is a general view amongst girls that guys are afraid of commitment...guys try and find ways to weasel outta any sort of commitment...and usually guys face a lotta flak because of this so-called "commitment fear". But today i would like to do a reality check...is it really as bad as it appears ?? are the girls right and guys actually are afraid of commitment ??<br /><br />Ok lets begin with the views of guys...i have heard this from a lot of friends...n seen it in a lotta movies...and a particular part of the sitcom "Friends" where the guy goes crazy when he suddenly realizes that he is going to get married and marriage means "A Life-long commitment". I was speaking to some of my office colleagues a few days back...all guys...and they were like "Marriage...I cant imagine getting married and being committed for life...i cant imagine myself being a father and having so much responsibilty..." and this was the general consensus amongst the group. Ya ya...i know all the girls would agree to this and say "See I told You...!!...All guys are afraid of commitment"...thats what the opinion girls generally have...<br /><br />But i have a completely different view...and thats when i thought of posting somethng on this topic. I feel that more than being afraid of commitment...it is actually the fear of the "Unknown" ..the fear of "What if something goes wrong in this decision ??" that pulls us down...we always fear anything that we are not sure about...be it taking the first step of our life while learning to walk...or walking alone in the dark...or the final moment of our lives...Death...<br /><br />Commitment too falls in the category of the "Unknown"...most of us are unsure...would it be fine...what if it does not go fine...what if this...what if that...all sorts of thoughts...but i feel this fear is not limited to guys...i think all the girls feel it too...its not right to generalize it with a statement "All guys are afraid of commitment"...coz i think even the girls go through the same feelings...the doubts...the fear...i feel it has more to do with how a particular individual feels rather than the fact that the person is a guy or a girl...its a human tendency. I'm a guy...and im sure i too would feel unsure when the time would come...i too would have fear....but i would not let it pull me down and stop me from getting into the commitment...we never know what life holds for us in future...but then that doesnt stop us from doing so many other thngs...thngs which we do day in n day out...even though just like commitment...we dont know what will happen in those thngs in future...then why single out commitment ?? and why generalize it with a statement that all guys are afraid of commitment ?? thre would be many girls who would be afraid...n there would be many guys...<br /><br />I feel that this is a very debatable topic...and thus cannot be generalized...i dont intend to start an argument. This is my opinion and i know many will disagree with it. But then this is what i feel and what i stand by. I'm a guy, and i'm not afraid of commitment....period.Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-58756950745138197472008-05-01T03:22:00.000-07:002011-01-07T06:19:36.346-08:00The Loving Hug..."Lil Angel"This incident had happened a long time back...in ahmedabad...i had gone to a Gurudwara along with my mom...we used to spend some time out there on sunday mornings. On that day i was about to leave...n i saw a small girl...aroun 5-6 years old...she was playing...having fun with a few other people...splasing water...running around...then i noticed that one of the people around was teasing her...he had taken her dadz cellfone from her...and was not giving it back to her...she was trying to get it back desperately...n that person was unrelenting...he evn ran in front of her...all around the premises...he was tryin to have some fun with her...but he dint realise that she was not enjoying it...she felt that her dad had given her some responsibility...the responsibility to take care of his cell fone...n she was desperately trying to fulfill her responsibility... but when despite her efforts she dint get the cell back...she ran away...n no one went behind her...i did...n i saw her...thr she was...on the steps of the Gurudwara...n she was crying...oh the poor girl had taken th prank to her heart and was crying...n no one was tryin to calm her...i went to her n lifted her in my arms...she was sobbing...she hugged me tightly...ohhh it was such a nice feeling...the poor kid was feeling comfort in my hug...n it made me feel so nice...i asked her about wat had happened...and why was she crying..although i knew exactly what had happened...she told me..amod sobs...that she wanted her fone back...i told her to stop crying n tried to calm her down by telling her that we will get it back...she still didnt stop crying...i asked her her name..."Anjali..." she said...i took her out of the Gurudwara....to a nearby shop...to get some chocolates for her...she didnt have her sandals...so i carried her in my arms...still trying to comfort her...i told her to select some chocolates...she said no...but i insisted...n gave one to her...she said i want one more...i was surprised..she was not ready to take even one..n now she was asking for two...n before i could say anything...she said..."Mujhe meri chotti behen ke liye bhi chahiye...sirf mere liye nahin"....AWWWWWWWW...i was so moved...there she was...barely 5-6 years old...and she was thinking about her baby sister... :) oh she was an Angel...!!<div><br />so we bought the chocolates...n thn i took her back... she had finally stopped crying...n i saw her father had come looking for her..i gave her to her father n she went away...after thanking me for the chocolates...<div><br />n there i was...smiling...happy...very happy...it felt really nice to have made "The Little Angel" smile...her hug was more comforting for me than it was for her...i<br />cant explain that feeling in words...i think one word reaches close..."Contentment"...i was content..</div></div>Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-28799647359830616792008-05-01T01:01:00.000-07:002009-07-30T06:48:40.068-07:00Childhood Memoirs...An Ode............I wanted to write something on this topic since a long time...in one of my previous posts i mentioned about my grandparents...but it turned out to be smethng which made me and others who read it sad...mayb it reflected the feelings i was feeling at that time...so i would like to post something which would bring a smile on my face...and on all the faces who would read it...im going to wirte somethings which made me smile...and which i hope would help me feel better when i would not be feeling so nice...<br /><br />so here goes...an effort to relive some of those sweet childhood memories...an effort to preserve them...<br /><br />the first thought that comes to my mind when i think of my childhood is my Dadu...ohh the very mention about him makes me smile...i was the first child in my family after a gap of exactly 20 years...the first grandchild...so i was showered with love from my all my family members...i was given various nick names...one from each of my family member...n i was closest to my Dadu...the way his face used to get lit up with a radiant smile when he used to see me...it still lits up my day...i lived with him in the same house during the first few years of my life...he used to love me more than anything else...i remembr a few incidents...<br /><br />th time i used to return from my school in the afternoon...i used to be famished due to the sweltering heat of ahmedabad...n he used to wait for his 5 year old grandson to return...he would not go for his afternoon nap...he used give me a bath...feed me with his own hands....n i used to jump around the house...on the bed...n he used to see me...smile...n then we used to go off to sleep together...<br /><br />then there were thos times when we used to go to see the circus...he used to take me...and my mom would be like "beta dont eat ice cream or chocolates..." n wat my dadu wud do is buy me all the chocolates and ice creams that i wanted...and then he used to wipe my face off...clear away the "evidence"... :P ...partners in crime... lol... i recall one particular incident when he took me to an ice cream parlour...n he bought me an ice cream...i ate it joyously..n thn i said..."Dadu ek aur"....n Dadu smiled...he got one more ice cream... n agen i ate it...relishing it... and... wheni was done...he asked me... "Ab chalen ??" ... n i smiled...wickedly... :P ...."Dadu ek aur".... lol...he smiled at me...n got me one more ice cream.... i ate it ...n was finally content... n so was Dadu...it was evident from his smile... :)<br /><br />n then we movd...my dad got a transfer and we moved...we never "lived" in the same house after that.......<br /><br />my Dadu n Dadi used to visit us...in Bhavnagar...n in our other house in ahmedabad...they used to get chocolates n biscuits...toys...all th thngs tht bring a joy on a child's face...they used to travel so far...n given their age...im sure it would not have been easy...but i think th joy of seeing their grand children(my kid bro n me) would have been too luring...they used to take us to the market...buy whatevr we used to ask for... my first carrom board...Dadu got it for me...i still have it...we still play... n enjoy...<br /><br />they used to take us to temples...tell us stories in the night before sleep...teach us to pray...tell us little things...they instilled values in us...my grandparents and my parents...all the members of my joint family...th values which will stay with me all through my life...n help us see the troubled times through...<br /><br />my Dadi..ohh Dadi...she was such a sweet heart...she had sme health problems...n cudnt walk easily because of her knee...she used to feel so much pain while climbing the stairs...but tht didnt deter her from moving all around the house to prepare sweets and other thngs for us...for all the family members....she was an excellent cook...used to make food that im never going to get to relish ever again...she used to make "Mithai" and so many other thngs and would bring them for us...she used to climb the stairs of the house...we dint have any elevators in the two storeyd building...she used to take half n hour to climb...but used to brave it for us....ohh Dadi....she used to stack up the house with those huge containers...with all the things i used to like...used to pamper us...pamper us big time...those weekends with our grandparents used to the highlight of the week... :)<br /><br />n thn thr was this time when the house was in a mess...n my granma was a perfectionist...she used to say "agar ghar mein koi aa gaya toh...??? th house shud be in a perfect state at all times...!!" :) ... so the house was in a mess...n she told me to change the bed sheet...i was so annoyed...i said ok...n when she tried to tell me how to do it...i said..."no...i will do it on my own..." n i ended up makin a mess... i looked up at my Dadi...n we broke into a laugh... lol... then she taught me how to do it... perfectly... n to this day...no one can take out a flaw when i spread the bedsheet in my home... all thanks to Dadi...<br /><br />i dint get to spend as much time with my maternal grandparents...we used to visit Nana n Nani in our summer vaccations...the whole gang of cousins...we have a big family...so the whole house used to get filled up with kids n their momz running behind them... n Nani used to love it...she would cook delicious things for all of us...she would get up early in the morning n extract fresh "Makkhan" using that strange contraption tht she had...n she used to feed that to us...would make sure we ate it...she used to tell us "you have to eat it...how else will you become strong ???!!"<br /><br />we used to surround her and jump around...she used to sit in the centre...n all th kids used to shout "Meri Nani...Meri Nani....!! " n my cousins used to shout "Meri Dadi...Meri Dadi..." :P lol...<br /><br />Nanu was soooo sweet...he wouldnt speak much to us...he was ailing n used to live in a separate room...i think he used to fear that he might harm us young kids coz of his ailments...he used to care so much for us...he used to get chocolates n biscuits n wat not....but he wud never give it to us directly...he gave it to Nani...n she used to pass it on.... :) ... he used to get all those things right before the time when we used to leave...to return back to our homes...to ensure that his daughters would not have trouble regarding food....<br /><br />Tomorrow its the death anniversary of my Nani...2nd of May...Miss you Nani...Miss you all...<br /><br />In the fond memory of My Grandparents...Love You all...Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249801613795460861.post-61194371307543240382008-05-01T00:44:00.000-07:002009-07-30T06:49:31.438-07:00Watz Thr in The Name ??!!Hmmm....sme people asked me...why "Spring Blossoms"...well...the name of my blog was somethng which kept me from starting my blog...for a long time...i wantd smethng which would be....umm...plain...soft...nice...i dint want anythng flashy....i wanted the name to suggest the kind of posts that i would post...i want my blog to bring a smile on the faces of the people who would read it...the kind of smile which comes on one's face after seeing a beautiful flower...a smile from within...<br /><br />n also spring happens to be my favourite season...nature bestows us with so many sweet flowers...n beauty all around...its so pretty...trees n plants laden with flowers...n one of the reasons why i love spring is....im a "spring baby"....was born in april...<br /><br />so...Spring Blossoms it is... :)Karanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06406439314045295842noreply@blogger.com0