Friends & Friendship

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.

This was a comment from my sister on my a post 'The Pet Leopard' and I thought of writing a separate post to reply to it.

".. 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) 

-1- If you are on Facebook, how many friends do you have?

-2- What is the difference between a friend and an acquaintance?

-3- Compare "friend" to "comrade (in arms)". Comrades have a reason, perhaps even a life and death reason, to associate. Why do "friends" associate?

-4- Do friendships, just like "emotional relationship" but perhaps to a lesser degree, require "work"?

-5- What is the difference between a Facebook friend and a "real" friend?

-6- What is a "real" friend?

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"

Gugs, here's what I think about friends and friendships...

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.

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.

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. :)

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. 

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. :)

Here's an image that I love; it depicts friendship and a lot of other emotions. :)

===============

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!

The Hug of the Beloved

The inexplicable calm, the unending peace,

The unblemished love, the care unconditional.;

The healing and the faith.. That protected feeling,

The purity and the abandon.. That content feeling; 

The rain and the warmth, the joy and the strength,

The soft firmness and the tender plinth;

The longing, the longing..

The hug of the beloved, the hug of the beloved..

- KB

The Girl in Black & Maroon - An October Night in Ahmedabad during Navratri

Its 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..

Part 1 - Karnavati Club, Ahmedabad. (A famous garba location in Ahmedabad)

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. A few had gone to get something from the refreshments stall. 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!!

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.

Part 2 - His home.

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.

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........

He kept thinking about her and wishing that he should have talked to her somehow... anyhow... He could have tried...

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!

* Navratri 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.

Happpppppppy Birthdaaaaaaaay!! :) :)

Some gulab jamuns and rasgullas.. :D

Some motichur ke laddoos.. :P

Some assorted chocolates and cakes.. ;)

And last but not the least.. The cake! :D

Okay, now that we're done with the mouth watering part, i'll come

to the main part of this post.. :P

This post is for one of my bestest buddies.. one who has been

always there for me.. during the smiles and the tears..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ms. Isha Chawla.. May you have a great

year ahead with ALL your wishes coming true.. :) :)

May you not have to deal with any more 'paidal' stuff!! ;)

Keep flashing that trademark smile.. :) .. alwaysss.. :) :) Forget

the calories for a day and enjoy! :D

Appppieee Budddaaae!! Janamdin ki baut bahut badhai!!

Saal Mubarak!! Janam diyan ji lakh lakh wadhayun!

Joyeux Anniversaire!

(a lesson for your french and a few other language classes! :P) :D :D

PS - In case you're wondering why does the cake have a piece

missing.. ummm.. aaaaa.. what can i say.. it was too irresistable!

lol.. :D

PPS - This post has turned out to seem like less of a birthday wish

and more of a sweet shop advertisement! lol.. :P

THANK YOU from the 'Spring Baby'!! :D

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 post 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

So, here goes -

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'!!

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!

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!! :)

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. :)

The 'Pet' Leopard

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!!

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.

“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!!

And one of the kids in that group started a blog called ‘Spring Blossoms’, much later in his life. Me.J

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'.

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. 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.”

THANK YOU ALL MY WONDERFUL FRIENDS. YOU ARE MY ANGELS. J (I need not name anyone, because you know it. J)

The 'Jab We Met' experience...................

Prologue -

--> 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. :)

--> 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.

7th December, 2009

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.)

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.

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!!

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.

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................................................

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. :)

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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

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

Fake Currency Notes - Some Tips to identify them

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.

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.

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. Though it is very difficult to tell the difference, there are a few prominent differences.

(All the features pointed can be seen with the side of the note having the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi facing the observer.)

	A Genuine Note	A Fake Note
1)	Certain things on the note appear in intaglio print (raised print). They are – - The seal of RBI - The Guarantee & Promise Clause - The signature of the RBI Governor - The Ashoka Pillar Emblem - The portrait of Mahatma Gandhi - 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.	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.
2)	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.	There is a gap in between numbers formed in a fake note.
3)	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)	This change of colour cannot be seen in a fake note.
4)	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.	Continuity of the thread is not maintained in a fake note. It would also not have 6 distinct segments.
5)	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.	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.
6)	A genuine note is made of cotton pulp paper and thus is very smooth and thin.	A fake note is made of wood pulp and is usually slightly thicker and not very smooth.

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.

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.

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.

(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.)

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. 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.

Disclaimer –

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.

Life is Fragile.... Love is Not...

I had written this post a few days back, but couldn’t post it since it was raw. Finally putting it up over here.

8^th June, 09

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'.

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.

Part I -

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 doesn’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!! 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.

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.

Part II -

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.

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 IMA Dehradun, 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.

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. J … Work towards your goals, and do not forget your roots, and do not forget to be grateful to your parents and God.

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, life is fragile…love isn’t. J 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.

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. J

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... :) ...

Twelve Things that I want to achieve in my 'TWEENHOOD'

Tagged by - Deepika .. Thank You.. :) ...

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.

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. :)

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...

1. The most important thing for me at the moment is to complete my CA (and get those two letters as a prefix for my name), start working in a reputed company, 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 no price tags exist.

2. I will take up my hobbies - photography & singing 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.

3. I have always been fascinated by the umpteen number of languages 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.)

4. I will my MBA degree after a few years of work from a globally acclaimed college.

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 dancing shoes.. :D

6. I had learnt the basics of the martial arts 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.

7. I will take part in all sorts of adventure sports. 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

8. I will learn to blow a whistle (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 )

9. I will Travel the world - 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.

10. I will marry a girl. (No surprises here, I'm perfectly straight. :) ... )

11. I will contribute to social causes 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.

12. And, most importantly, I will ENJOY LIFE. 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.. :)

(I also want to learn to fly an airplane. This might happen after my tweens. Too many thinsg to be done before it.)

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. :)

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. :) ..

Okay... now I Tag...

Isha,

Netika,

Punk Princess,

Nidhi,

Annie,

GS,

Anurag,

Gargi...

Amruta

Go on people.. share your dreams.. :) ... And NO EXCUSES.. Everyone has to do it.. :) ...

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.. :) ..

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. :)

Pitter Patter... My Heartz a Flutter... :) ... :) ...

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... :) :) ...

Guess i will cut the chase and come to what i want to write... :) ..

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... :) ..

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..!!

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.

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!!

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 ...

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..!! :) ...

Pickled Fingers - :P

(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..)

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.

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.

Cheers.. :) ...

E-Dependence...Agony.............

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.

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'.

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..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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......

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.

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 -

'Kitne hi khayal syahi mein dhal na sake.... Yuhi hawa ho gaye...

Kitne hi khayal syahi mein dhal na sake... Yuhi hawa ho gaye...

Kaash hum apni ungliyon se likh pate... apne hi khoon mein dubo dubo ke'

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.

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 :( ...... )

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 !!

There was a glimmer of hope. I thought maybe my brother has my data on his laptop. I called him, only to find 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.

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. 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 !!!” OMG … I was so relieved !! I kept on pestering him and asking repeatedly if I would get my precious data. And he said that I would. J J J. Now, I can’t wait to go to the hard drive company’s office and get my data back. Wish me luck !!

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 J ) –

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.

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.

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.

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. J