47: ye tera ghar... ye mera ghar

Just read an article about some lady who went into Shabarimala temple and touched the idol...

So many people have stood against her and are outrageously filling court cases against her.

Why? Because, any lady in the age of 10-50 isn’t allowed to enter the premises of that temple. There are many Aiyappa temples elsewhere in the country wherein everyone (read everyone) is allowed to go and worship. I am quite surprised as to why they have singled out Shabarimala temple for that reason? Some say there is some long followed tradition behind it, some say it as their duty to respect the ritual that is followed for ages, and some are equally clueless as to why this is accepted on the face of it, etc.

Also heard is ‘dev Prashnam’ in the same connection, which is prescribed by tantriks through which it is possible to read deity’s mind at shabarimala in order to find out if some wrong doing is done....!!!! Reading God’s mind... now that is something...!!! Wow....

God is no longer an omnipresent force I feel..!!!! It feels like he is one amongst us... People fighting for him for some lady encroached upon his private property and they all feel that he has taken it to heart since he never likes any woman in his property.... a dialogue echoes in my mind...‘Tune mere ghar me kadam kaise rakha, teri itni himmat...???’

I am just wondering what’s next....

There is already land legally in the name of Prabhu Shri Ramchandra at Ayodhya... and guess what he fought a battle for 17 long years to finally get that small piece of land... it feels as if God was so helpless that he had to actually go through the famous Indian judicial system to acquire this feat!!!

I feel that, the day is not far when the God would be summoned to be present in the court room in order to give statement for his stand....

Its people who make a God out of an ordinary human being and its people who make an ordinary human being out of a God...

Tedhi hai par kya kare...public hai...

46: A piece of life....revisited..!!!!

Not all soft songs touch your heart... but then there are few ones that leave an indelible mark!! More so, because you connect to that particular song with not only the lyrics, music piece, and enchanting voice of singer but because they remind you of some sweet memories in your life...they remind you of the time well spent...

There are many ones that strike a chord with me...

Aadat by Jal has a very fond memory ... In our annual cultural event, one of my friends at college had sung Aadat and the way he sang it, it almost seemed like he meant each and every word that he was singing...at the end of it almost everyone in the arena had Goosebumps... even today whenever I hear Aadat by aatif, all my ears listen is my friend’s voice...n yes those Goosebumps they still there.. .very much there!!!

‘Na jaane kabse umeede kuch baki hai....Mujhe fir bhi teri yaad... kyuuunn aati hai...’

It used to take me almost 2 hours one way everyday to reach home from college during my initial 2 years of engineering life. Along the way there was a 10 mins long water stretch while travelling beyond Vashi. One song that gave me an apt company everyday along that route was Maula mere from Anwar- a masterpiece is all I can say about that song...A perfect amalgamation of RoopKumar Rathod’s voice, tune, lyrics, and godly chores...and to add to it... the expanse of sea while listening to it made the journey purely divine!!! Although I listen to that sing more often in my car stereo now, I am still instantly taken back to those train days ...when those 10 minutes would mean utter serenity!!!

'meraa dil yahi bolaa, meraa dil yahi bolaa,
yaara raaj yeh usane hai mujh par kholaa
ki hai ishq mohabbat, jiske dil mein
usko pasand karta hai maulaa'

College canteen was the ultimate place where the whole group would retire after sustaining through the dry lectures...!!! When sun had already begun on its drowning journey...and twilight is about to set in... It was perfect time for Lucky Ali to come out of closet and enchant me with his compositions...!!! Along the way back, when I had shifted to my new house which was around 20 mins away from my college, Scooty-Pep, twilight sky and Lucky Ali... was all I yearned for..!!!

'Anjaani Rahon me tu kya dhundta chale.. duur jisko samjha woh toh paas hai tere...'

The ultimate romantic song for me can be none other than ‘tujhe dekha toh yeh jana sanam...’ why?? I am a huge shahrukh fan although he may not churn out hits anymore... but DDLJ is special, Shahrukh is special!!! And more special is the way I have seen the movie DDLJ at the tender age of 11 yrs...!!! We (friends) took stall tickets in black for 20 rupees to see this movie and sat in first row of the stall to see this film...!! It was grand... of course it would be, any film would be if you sit in that row of any theatre...it’s the first ever romantic film I have seen in the theatre...although the word ’romance’ didn’t mean anything then...!! But Shahrukh was etched in my mind with his splendid hat and leather jackets and the oh-so famous cow bell..!!!! I still remember I had almost harassed my mom for getting me a similar cow bell..!!! So one thing is sure... If my guy has to woo me he has to sing this song to me... no matter what!!!! No one knows romance better than Shahrukh Khan (who thinks?? I think so...)!!!

'tujhe dekha toh yeh jaana sanam... Pyaar hota hai deewana sanam..'

Reason for this post is I was in for a treat today... After a long while, I tuned into these songs... and I was instantly taken away to an era which had passed by... which may not revert back ever but which still smells afresh like it has been just yesterday...

45: Maybe I shud flip a coin...

I am dwindling between which way to go... on one hand tried n tested paths are appealing...road less taken is calling out on the other...

Some big shot person has said that -Life happens to you when you are busy making other plans...!!!  So maybe I should stop making any plans...and wait for life to happen...but that loser attitude wont put me to peaceful  sleep ...coz a decision needs to be made...not between good and bad...or right and wrong...but between different life paths...

My question here is what if ... two paths that you have to decide about are both equally good and equally bad??? equally right and equally wrong??? equally bright and equally dark???

44: Anything for my girl...

Once back from office...all he could think of was some moments of rest...

But, she was getting cranky...she wanted him to spend more time with her... wanted to feel that she means family to him...

He sensed her discomfort...and took her out... she held onto his hand tightly, as if never want to let it go...

He was ready to do anything for one glimpse of her smiling face...

She spotted a helium balloon vendor at the crossroads...and demanded balloons from him...

She was mesmerised to see big colourful helium balloons that went up on loosening the thread and came down on tightening it...

He readily took those balloons for her and put his hand in pocket to get some cash...

At that very moment his grip over the balloon thread loosened and up went the balloons... he jumped and tried to get back the thread...but in vain...balloons went up...Up and up...

He thought of buying another set of balloons for her... But she stopped him...

He could see her smile and she was utterly pleased....

She loved the thought that those balloons were free and that she was the reason for them to be so...

And she said to him-‘Dad, they look beautiful up there and not in my hand...’



For her... she experienced her ‘we’ time with her dad....

And for the single Dad in him...the day was made...!!!



(http://verne10.wordpress.com/2010/11/13/anything-for-my-girl/)

43: First Day of Diwali...I am running mom....

I still wonder where the time has gone. Circa 1990s...6 pm back from school and I had all the time in the world to do my stupid pranks with my building friends... we were a bunch of pranksters who would bully the bozo losers. Diwali would actually start for us 10 days in advance... with buying new clothes, to bursting small revolver band crackers, to making mud forts (killa in Marathi) Diwali was much more than simply sweets and relatives!!!

I still remember it was so much fun to actually go about each house and collect funds in order to buy warriors and Shivaji statue from the market for our beloved fort. And more fun it was to actually protect our fort from getting damaged by pranksters of our neighbouring buildings...

A day prior to Diwali we would have a small get together to decide what time we would be heading for fire crackers next morning... and the whole night would go in anticipation of what fun we were gonna have the next morning!!!

First Diwali morning would be one of its kinds...getting out of bed at 5 am was never so easy than on this day (because I could hardly sleep on the previous night). Making my bro to get out of bed was the toughest part though. We had a small ritual in our family in which I had to give tel-maalish (oil-champi) and utna scrub (a fragrant powder scrub) to my brother on the first day of Diwali (I don’t know the mythical story behind this ...but most of maharashtrians and south Indians have this ritual) and thereafter he will have his bath and then later I used to get same oil champi and scrub thing done to me by my mother (U see... I was a cranky person wanting to do everything that my brother did...lolz...). Now the big issue was till the time my brother doesn’t get his things done I cannot have my bath and get ready and go down to play with my friends...so almost every year on first diwali morning I used to fight with my bro to make him to move around doing his chores quickly.

Bursting crackers is the most awesome memory that I attach with my old Diwali days... we used to have a big municipal corporation tank right opposite our building and that would mean that several of the municipal water pipes (the big black ones –one in which we can easily crawl and go...) were lying unused just outside that tank and in front of our building. These pipes were part of our ammunitions. Have u ever tried bursting a sutli bomb in such a pipe?? (You aren’t that lucky  ... I Know... giving you the devilish smile...) But it used to sound like an alien attack on the Earth (take it from me... been there done that...)... the whole area would shiver like anything...!!! And yes separating each single cracker ladi (single stick of cracker from cracker necklace-TajMahal cracker...) was the most important task since that would ensure that we could burst the limited stock of crackers for a looonnng time..!!!!

Thereafter the barood-laden hands were straight directed to the washbasin by mom once back home for the Diwali Breakfast (in Marathi we call it Faral...). Chakli, Besan Laddoo, Chivda, shankarpali, Karanji, sev ...wow... no other breakfast in any world cuisine can beat that... and with this the end of breakfast would mark the second round of fun with friends...The Mandir(temple) time!!! We used to head for Ganesh temple that my town had...one could easily see the whole of the town youngsters bustling in and around that area...many new contacts would take place ... many new hearts would start beating and many new stories would begin at this time of Diwali in and around the temple area... For us children... it was all sheer amusement..!!!

With all the appointments dutifully followed in the morning, noon time was time for heavy lunch after which Goddess Sleep would descend on my eyes... Laxmi-poojan would follow with lots of prestigious fire cracker bursting.... the 10,000 necklace and similar kinds of big fire crackers...were regulars in the evening!!! Such was the golden period when I used to look forward to the first day of Diwali...

Circa 2010, there are children all around and 21 days vacation too ... but no forts in sight instead we have children hooked on their video games and cyber world.... I have oil and utna at home but bro isn’t in the country...Miss you bro... Friends are scattered all over the country and abroad too ...with facebook and gtalk the source of bonding between each one of us...temple area is no longer frequented by youngsters what with most of them preferring cyber dating sources today!! Getting up at 5 am is pain today... what with most of the office work carries on way past midnight everyday... Chakli, Besan Laddoo, Chivda, shankarpali, Karanji, sev everything is still there but calorie conscious self isn’t ready anymore to bask in their goodness...Laxmi-pooja is still there... but guess we are more running behind earning wealth than earning Laxmi these days... When Goddess laxmi showers her blessings, one should feel the utter peace and serenity in one’s life ... but that picture is far from true... All we are concerned about is putting away cash for our new home, new car, new holiday home... but amidst all of this the question which bothers me is  where has the time gone? Why aren’t we putting time into our lives?

And I am not blaming anyone with this but just doing a self retrospection...as to where my time has gone?

My mom keeps asking-“Diwali is approaching... I need to clean house, maid isn’t that helping... you will chip in na...” and pat comes my reply... “Mom I have deliverable this weekend... I am still not done with UAT (i e. QA in software lingo)...I am not coming home before 10 today...” Once back home, I have bills to pay ... mails to reply too...SMSes to reply to, studying for GMAT... looking after MBA application requirements... thinking about the next day in office ... doing the monitoring work for the systems that run during the night...and I don’t know how it strikes 1 in the night...I see around and everything is so quiet... everyone has slept... night has fallen to sleep with a hope to see a better first Diwali morning...& I feel the guilt in me... that I am not putting away time for my own life.. For my people...but rather all I am doing is putting away money and more money and doing everything possible in order to stack away more money...

There was a time when we used to personally meet friends and say “Happy Diwali” and now we just prefer to set our Facebook status to wish everyone... All because we don’t have time to call up or meet every dear friend of ours..!!! I feel guilty I feel helpless because I don’t have time...

Because I am running for money...I am running for good life... I am running for better designation ... I am running for more stability in life... when all I am aiming for is right in front of me... with steady cash flow... good loving family... spacious home to stay...and an already stable life I can say that yes I am leading a good life, but the satisfaction has disappeared... the peace is gone!! All I am getting is wealth not Laxmi’s blessings...anymore.

First day of Diwali:-

Mom: “C’mon have your breakfast... it’s already 10 am now...what are you doing?”

Me: “Wait a minute mom... I am running...”



(pics for representational purpose only... )

42: Questions to which I have answers...

Do you get irritated when someone wakes you early in the morning by sprinkling water on your face? (BIG YES)

Do you hate drinking milk first thing in the morning?? (Yes)

Do you feel sleepy right after taking your hot bath in the winter morning?? (Ohh yes!!!!)

Do you get bored watching Amitabh Bachchan in each and every ad on television?? (Yeah he is so boring now...)

Do you feel cheated by all the cosmetic companies advertising their beauty products??? (who doesn't.....)



Do you feel Wednesdays should be official holidays just like Sundays?? (Yes baby bring it on...)

Do you actually plan your workout every week but then excuses destroy them?? (Hmm ....no comments!!!)

Do you feel sorry for street beggars but then you don’t help them thinking that they could ideally work and earn than simply sit and beg?? (aur nahi toh kya...most of street beggars already own a house in MUMBAI...)

Do you feel given opportunity to go back in time you would make your life different??? (Maybe No...)

Do you get stumped when suddenly some person whose reference you don’t remember clearly mails you and asks hey can I get a moment to talk with you? (Yes...because it takes me a moment to first register who is this person; do I know him/her??... lolzzz)

Do you feel office is taking up 80% of your life??? (BIG YES....)

Do you call on wifey/husband to ask about her whereabouts but don’t find enough time to hug her once back home?? (N/A yet... lolzz)

Do you feel TOI has lost its lustre? (BIG YES...)

I just realised I have answered yes to almost all... you can go ahead and give your own answer...

And

If you answer yes to all the above, then all I can say is -thank god I am not alone to think that way!!!

P.S.1:  where did I get these questions? Well the third nerve next to medulla oblongata near my cerebellum generated them.... (Is it that crucial to know?? cant I just get  bored at office...????  :P)

P.S.2 : sometimes you do certain things because you don’t have anything else to do...: P

 (image courtesy: www.targetlyme.com)

41: Daily life analogy...

I was lying on my back at midnight hoping that goddess sleep would bless me soon when the below words fell on my ear… I don’t know if somebody actually said them or I was dreaming… but I remembered them word to word when I got up in the morning… hence I thought of penning it down…

It went this way…

“People who are very close to each other in any relationship, at times take things for granted while people who are separated from each other by distance put in that extra effort to see to it that, they keep the spark alive…something similar to, when we stay very near to office, we take things for granted like, I can get a cab in 2 mins and reach office in 5 mins flat, he will seldom consider what if I dont get a cab in 2  mins?? what if the cab breaks down in the travel?? but on the another hand, a person who would come travelling by a bus or a train that takes him or her more than an hour to reach office would seldom start late taking anything related to bus or train granted…”



Its is more often than not noticed in many organsations, that people who stay close by often  report to office late while the ones coming from faroff are more often than not in time...I am clueless as to how and where I heard this, but it made sense totally!!!

I guess “being close” and “taking things for granted” has some connection, though blur…

(Hope this is not an indication, that I am taking someone for granted…. *pondering*)

40: An account of a weird day in my life...

The day was filled with lot of weirdness to it…and I couldn’t help but wonder why the hell everything was so goddamn different today….

 To start with... I didn’t fight with any rickshaw guy over the fare… he readily agreed to take the standard rate.Even after starting late and almost reaching 5 mins late at the bus stop, office bus was still standing at the stop maybe to pick me up (I told that reason to my own self… felt nice that bus specially stopped for me) and surprisingly the moment I got in it, it started from the stop, and this all despite me not telling anyone to hold on the bus for me!!!

Normally I sleep for max 20 mins in the bus in the morning… from 3^rd stop till my office building, but today I didn’t sleep for a single minute, although I had slept for only 5 hours the night prior. I tried sleeping by keeping my eyes shut throughout my journey still I don’t remember falling asleep and seeing a short fazed out dream… which I usually do!!! Okay alright… I dream in those 20 minutes daily… so what???

Once in office, I reached cafeteria for a quick tea and chat….and voila… tea was no sugar syrup today it was very nicely made authentic Mumbai strong tea with lots of Masala and Adrak (ginger)!!!! Am I dreaming????God must be super happy with me today ….I thought!!!

Biggest surprise of the day was the halogen light( Icall it halogen light-since it is that bright and eye-tearing) that sits exactly above my desk in the artistically made PoP false ceiling-which bothers me every day which strains my eyes everyday and which is supposedly the ‘emergency light’ that cannot be closed without closing out total power of building which got damaged..!!!! That means today that light will not bother me…my eyes won’t strain… and I can doze off in between if I want to(esp half  an hour after lunch is bad phase), that too without getting noticed..!!! This thought was so pleasing that I started smiling secretly..!!! Finally my good deeds are getting paid I realized!!!

Since I didn’t had much work at office today due to recent release, I surfed online quite a lot…expected Picasa and Flickr to be banned in my office network…but another surprise was waiting for me…it was not..!!! This day was certainly very different…Sites which were banned just couple of days back were not any more… spent lot of time viewing friend’s photographs… commented … and for the first time I felt like, I don’t work in a sophisticated high society jail!!!

Well it doesn’t end there… Meetings are usually dry time passing strategies with zero output mechanism to keep staff busy but I had back to back 3 meetings today related to very crucial new project requirements, designing phase and CSR activities and for once it made me feel that all these meetings would not have been complete had I not been present in them!!! Feeling accountable and responsible for all the work that I do and get paid for that was an amazing feeling!!!! Received Appreciation and felt good about my own self … thought why not go have a nice Dairymilk Cadbury in the cafeteria and treat myself... to my surprise… today my cafeteria was hosting Bournville in chocolates section… and I was on top of my happiness..!!!!

 It was 6.20 and my cell fone rang… my colleague had got car and he asked all of us who stay in new Bombay to come along for home drop….it was sharp 7.15 and I was at home enjoying my cuppa of coffee!!! 7.15 … when usually I am at IIT entrance on JVLR highway waiting for traffic to clear out…and in hope that I may reach home by 8.15 at least!!!!

Day was different..!!! It was so goddamn GOOD!!! And I felt so special today... as if I am the favorite child of GOD on this earth!!!

And now I hope I stay his favorite everyday!!! :D

39: India celebrates...

There have been an example of irony that I witnessed couple of days back, and thought why not pen it down…

Sept 11^th … more known for being 9/11- for the obvious reason that happened 9 years back is one such example. While on one hand, US is facing one of its most discussed controversy –The Ground Zero Controversy, India on the other hand is locked up in age old battle with Pakistan for everything including, PoK , Kargil war, religious differences to 26/11 terror attacks.

Cut to 9/11 in the year 2010…this day was different…can say an epic day- on which Ramazan Id and Ganesh Chaturthi both occurred…

A day sacred to both Hindus and Muslims world over… Where on one hand Hindus celebrated the onset of Ganesh festival that lasts for 11 days Muslims on the other hand celebrated the end of their holy month of Ramazan…!!!

In spite of so many pot boiling issues between Hindus and Muslims and Indo-Pak crisis, India is still the best place wherein you can find people of all religious background mingle in harmony and peace…9/11 was indeed one day when every Indian celebrated individually and also together!!! There are many Ganesh Pandals in Mumbai which are manned by hard core Muslim people and mind you they have been doing this for quite some years now… sadly good gestures like these never get noticed. While I know many people, some amongst my friend circle too, who fast during the holy Ramazan in spite of being hard core Hindus. An irony of its sort!!

Little pondering over this thing... made me see the biggest irony ever…the fact that the name ‘RAMAZAN'- has ‘RAM’ in it… and the word ‘DIWALI’ has an ‘ALI’ in it..!!! Super irony isn’t it???

Well, I sincerely feel it’s all in the head and nothing in the name...

Ganapati bappa Morya…Mangalmoorti Morya...!!! Eid Mubarak…to all!!!

38: Ground Zero- the battle continues...

Ground zero –is sacred to most Americans. Sacred, not in religious sense but in humanity sense. Grounds, where once stood the very famous twin towers of World Trade centre, epitomize the loss of thousands of near and dear ones who lost their relations to one of the world’s most tragic attack on humanism.

An attack which, not only  saw a nascent militant group by name Al-Qaida become notorious for its gruesome and heinous crimes but also gave rise to sheer hatred for another word -‘ISLAM’!!!

Chicago Tribune quotes-“Our Constitution guarantees the freedom of all faiths. Not just the ones most of us are comfortable having as neighbors. Not just the ones that attract the most members or the ones whose faith traditions resemble our own, but all faiths. Yet, the notion of an Islamic center two blocks away from a site many New Yorkers view as sacred ground is sure to produce visceral responses”



Post 9/11 many citizens of US who were Muslim by religion were tortured and harassed under the reason of ‘doubt’.  Here I recall a movie by title ‘Khuda kay liye’ which I happened to see couple of years back. It was based on the living condition of Muslim people in US and how they were picked up from their houses simply on the basis of doubt and questioned and tortured for months in the cell… Indeed, what happened in US on 9/11 was horrendous act of crime but what happened after that was equally horrendous for sure!

Nobody can justify the act of crime meted out to Americans but neither can one understand the abandonment of a particular religion on sheer basis of few people stooping low on their morals and going on rampage destroying peace and harmony in the society. Society is built on the foundation of assimilation and acceptance. If any one particular person/group tries to rule and create his monopoly, democracy gets compromised. And that is something which is precisely happening in America and for that reason in world over.

Americans on other hand are taking this a notch higher by turning it into a political drama. There are thousands of people protesting against the mosque saying-‘Islam is not a religion... it’s a political and militarist group’. Forget about civilians, there are people like Sarah Palin who is busy giving her anti-Islam bytes as well.  There were demonstrations that happened in US where people wore "Vote for Jesus" T-shirts and carried signs that said "No Sharia law for USA”.  The mosque opponents are referring to this as not a constitutional issue but rather one of sensitivity to the New Yorkers, most particularly the families of 9/11 victims who lost their loved ones.

The most powerful story of the new century is of course 9/11 with its 2700 dead wherein myth of American invincibility came shattering down and the realization that there were foreigners who hated them enough to trade their lives for the Americans came to the fore. !!! 9/11 has infused a deep hatred in the minds of Americans for anything remotely associated with Islam. In process Muslims throughout America are being attacked because of their religion and this is making ‘bigotry’ worse than it ever was.

Although, Barack Obama is making all the kinds of bold statements to ensure that American Government is supporting ‘Freedom of all Religions…’ Streets of America are echoing different sentiments altogether.

Sitting in India we often, complain about government making political issue out of religious sentiments of people but I guess, world over the picture is same!!! Why can’t we truly understand that what we give to others comes back to us in equal and proportionate measures…? And this applies to only the American-Islam feud but to every individual’s life in all the respects…it’s time for self introspection!!! Indeed!!!

Facts courtesy: Chicago Tribune, the Huffington Post.

37: Someone said appraisal...

What I always knew was - Appraisal is something that takes place during the month of April or in the month of December for those who have Jan-Dec cycle.

To begin with I had never heard of anyone having an appraisal in the month of august... forget about 200% hike. 200% HIKE..????????? Are you kidding....? Of course not...if you don’t know whom I am talking about, well then this is the super elite class of Indian Government MPs who very recently had their appraisal for the stupendous job that they performed for all these years!!! Is the figure 200%??? Huh... You don’t believe me? But yes that’s true (I can see ...all super elite MPs blushing pink...)!!!

Okay then, maybe they must have performed that well, that they got that huge a raise..!!! Oh yes they did... What? You want me to point it out, Sure anything for you...

To start with, we had a terrific job done while handling aircraft business by Mr. Praful Patel who diverted a whole civilian aeroplane so that his daughter could watch IPL match in the stadium...mind you plane was heading to Delhi but then it just got diverted a bit and halted at Jaipur dropped off his daughter and left for Delhi... big deal boss!!! Hota hai ... she was his daughter!!!

Next we had our very old friend Mr Arjun Singh- yeah the same old education minister...making list of more and more reservations... actually the fact is he himself don’t remember which all bills he has passed on. Infact, some time back, little birdie leaked the news about his own grandson asking him... “I don’t have any quota granddad... where will I get admission now???” So sure this guy needs money to see to it that is grandson can get a paid seat admission... poor him!!!

 Next we have our very own prime minister, Passing Nuke Bill for such shallow cap on the remuneration for God forbid any tragedies that might occur in future...!!!  With this bill, he iterated the fact that life of a single Indian is very cheap, if you take it away, it’s okay, pay some nominal fine and get away with it...!!!

Common Wealth Games is such a hit worldwide that now many countries who are hosting next world cup, T20 cup, FIFA world cup, etc are taking tips from Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, on how to make away with the wealth (err... Common wealth...errs... Common Wealth games).

They want to raise a statue of Chhatrapti Shivaji Maharaj, in the Arabian Sea near Gateway of India...why? I feel to appease some section of opposition parties, who they are constantly at loggerheads with... But they can’t afford to complete JVLR project –the prestigious World Bank project in time. Who cares boss? They still have huge time to eat in more money in the process. But seems they don’t get to eat more money in that process so I guess even 200% hike is justified for them..!!! Hmm ... maybe!!!

The hike in salaries stand at 200%... plus

• every year 1,50,000 phone calls free of charge


• 18,000 INR for broadband connection


• INR 14,00,000 in foreign travel ( one return ticket can go to avg INR 50,000  that makes it 28 foreign trips ever year... free free free...)


• Residence in Delhi-Rental 9,00,00 each year ( that comes to INR 75,000 rental per month...well actual rentals are less than half of that....)


• And much more...

 Frankly, I am exhausted counting their perks!!! All in all I know, now Government will spend almost INR 50 lakhs for each MP of India, India as in we taxpayers that is, in return of roads with potholes (err... potholes with roads in btw them...), increasing unemployment, Marathi-Hindi clashes in the society, shabby CWG in Delhi, extreme unrest in the valley once again...Eternal clashes between Naxals and other Eastern and north eastern states, pitiful state of Indian Hockey (National game) and above all the issue of terrorism and a nuisance country called PAKISTAN!!!

 Every now then, we do hear many public figures exclaiming that we should rise to the occasion and fight it back and we should raise our voice and defeat our enemy called terrorism...but very honestly, we are a bunch of tolerant people who are extremely timid to take any steps, what with the fear looming that someone might just bump us off this world if we raise our voice... didn’t I tell you Indian life is too cheap!!!! A newspaper daily carried a front page headline stating that Mumbai police has started a face book account and has urged people to spy on in the city and report anyone breaking a law, along with photo proofs on to it and then they would look into it.  Well , no harm in being so tech savvy, but guess it’s time to implement hard rules that would make people fear a person in uniform than think of him as some tech savvy jerk waiting for next update to be posted by public on his face book account!!!

 Gosh, we drifted from our topic; well getting back to the 200% hike in salaries... this got implemented very recently on the background of already implemented 6the pay commission- revised salary rates for all these MPs...!!! And the best part is , they dont have retirement clause in their employment!!! Some people are sure very lucky in life!!!

Wondering... will I ever get a hike of even 50% ????

36: His Libran Girlfriend...

“Rip it off… throw it off… I don’t want to deal with it… it makes me go nuts…why can’t for once in life you decide something??? ” and bang hits the door….!!! She noticed that he left the room..!!!!



She pondered …is it that simple? Am I a moron to take so long to decide??? She thought that its time she should think about what she really wants??? But she didn’t know what she was all like? What was her true self…???  What was she really really like??? Alright she thought… good direction to start with…what am I like?



She noted few bullet points:

Sweet

Smiling

Loves arts

Creative

Slightly short tempered…

Balanced person

……..

………

…………

Hell No, this is not a matrimonial ad page…. Alright then… on I go…let me try and make sense….

I don’t want options…I want answers…I don’t want possibilities… I want circumstances…I hate contemplating… I like agreeing…I hate dilemma I like decisions…

Might someone help me do it…I want to learn more…I want to learn it one more time…Powers of decisions… that make you feel satisfied… I want to experience one…

I like balancing… I like peace… the soothing music of rains makes me serene…

The more I share… the more I gain (not weight …: O)…its gives me pleasure beyond words can spare…you start a topic and leave rest to me… then I can take you through all its ups and downs…talk for hours and still say … you know what, there is so much I want to tell you about!!! Talk less listen more... Mom says too… but what to do? Can’t help… the Libran nose can hardly stop poking…

You ask me whether u r fat???? I would say …. Well, best part is u r looking great today… not this diplomatic every time… you do something wrong and ask me whether you were right... I would say you are grown up now… but then, if you coax me further and a honest reply is what you seek….I would say maybe you should reconsider your stand…I won’t call spade a spade…but neither would I call it a magic wand….making justice at each step is what I am born for!!!

Money is important…it gives security and balance….but spending it the way you want, gives meaning to your hard earned money. If I go to mall, Yes I spend…how much? Well never kept a tab of it…dressing to the detail is my forte…accessories, footwear everything should be coordinated… well, yes coordination is my other name!!!

Things happen my way and I am content... planned things take place and I get confident…but when everything seems different…no plan works out…no decision is right… gloominess phases in and my demons surround me. I don’t like them, for they make me weak..I want to knuckle them…kill them…shoot them… but they keep growing stronger…this is the point where I need someone who could see me through this…fortunately  I have people with me…they like me... they adore me.. They love me…they respect me…and life becomes manageable…

You criticize me... and I won’t take it nicely…you explain me and I would admire you throughout my life…I get influenced so don’t  try and shuffle my mind thousand times… you may piss me off that way …

A healthy amalgamation of style and panache…. I can hardly bore you…look in my eyes and you will be mesmerized …look to what I talk and you will be intrigued… they don’t call me party person for anything…they don’t call me live wire for anything…

Get me on an activity and I would be one amongst the buddies…get me to a candle light dinner…and you would see me blushing…get me to a movie theatre and you will have to keep an extra handkerchief ready…

I see dreams…I live them… I make characters that forever live a part of me…some dreams transcend into reality and I am overjoyed…others don’t see light of day …but then who cares …I forget those dreams the moment I wake up…

More than gifts, affection wins me… (Not that I don’t take gifts... of course I love taking them…) but I can sniff the fallacy the moment I look into your eyes…so beware… if you don’t mean it don’t say you love me forget about gift…well I won’t kill you… c’mon who wants to go to jail…but respect once gone is hardly a retake shot!!! Be true to yourself… and I would be all coy in your arms… dreamy to the core …romance is something which you will never have to teach me... have faith and I can move mountains for you… with that dialogue now you know why I am called dreamy and romantic to the core!!!

“Moments are never special... you ought to make them one…” I live by this… walk by this… survive by this…so, don’t worry about surprises there will be plenty… of course they would be pleasant!!! And receiving surprises… well, it’s my favorite past time :)

I love being with people… I need them... my emotional design collapses with desertion and loneliness… I need strong arms that can protect, embrace and hug…I need a smile daily to make believe that things are fine…Don’t worry, I am not that complicated …whatever I ask you to do I would do that 10 times more for you…you ask for promise??? I give you my word..!!! Life is not easy I know…but I try and maintain balance that I am an expert at!!!

At decision making... let me falter sometimes… don’t expect me to take razor sharp and crystal decisions … give me my time and I would come into my own… but it’s okay yaar I just take more time to gather information for that decision…simple!!!

I forever ask God to Give me that power …I need it right now... than any other time in my life….Just once in my life I want to be sure…I want to be certain… I want to be bang on….My decision is right… my decision is fine… let somebody tell me that this is something that was always in my sight...well I know what I want… but far too many routes makes the story long…and I don’t know which route is better… which is clear.. Which one is dear and which one is to fear!!!

Husshhh!!! She said… so this is what I am..!!!! Gosh….. 2 full pages of word document…!!!! Okay so is this really me? Or whatever I wrote before??? But now, I guess bullet points are easy to analyze and help take decision… but what about this description?? Maybe I can ask him... who among these am I? Maybe… It’s high time...!!! Alright….I should only decide…



But then….bullet points…. Yeah maybe…



Naah… the description is bang on….

Aargh!!!! Maybe I should think over this after sometime... or should I directly ask him???

Forget...maybe the answer will pop up just like that...maybe I should go have a coffee and think over this... oh yes I didn't write in description that I love coffee....hmmm that means description is right... hmmm maybe...!!!

So I am indecisive huh!!!!  so he wanted to say that I am indecisive??? Of course not... I can take decisions... maybe coffee first...!!!!









P.S:- no intentions to hurt any Libran person…its one from the series I am writing on zodiacs and the people…so if any coincidence found with any person dead or alive it’s okay.. Be considerate to them….Being Libran is not a joke!!!!

P.S2:- everything here is what I have observed in most of the Librans I have met till date... there can be exceptions....so plz dont search for my head...

35: Short story: Do all relationships come with a past??

This post is for the Soch Lo Indibloger contest...Do all relationships come with a past?

Now,I know what love is all about...

‘People come and go and what leave behind are footprints…’ what a clichéd line you may feel…. Sharon felt it too… but then life did something so drastic with her thoughts that all things which seemed fake and unreal to her started making sense!!!

Childhood for Sharon was all about her… petty quarrels with big brother, keeping her foot down for lot of stupid things and crying over to get it, she had done that all. Sometimes, those things were really important to her but then once certain threshold phase would go; those things made no sense to her, forget about liking them… this was her first brush with knowing her true self that she gets bored of things easily!!!

Things, one can still understand but her parents, especially mother was worried for she hoped that this tendency doesn’t creep in while dealing with people. Sharon used to argue saying-‘how can I ever get bored of people???’ She used to ask her-‘have I ever got bored of you? No right? because it can’t be… people whom I love and who love me can’t bore me…simple!!! ’ her mother had no answer to this... only that she secretly prayed to God to make her daughter see the better side of life and generate some compassion in her heart…!!!

Circa 1990… Sharon was 16 and by far the only girl in her group minus a boyfriend while cupid was busy playing games with all her other friends. It was hard for her, to understand her friends who would dress up in order to please their boyfriends although those outfits looked horrible on them.  She used to mock them saying that ‘its better I don’t have to do this in my life…’ But on inside, she was a confused person about this whole dating theory.

For a girl who never in her life gave more importance to anyone other than her own sweet self, it was not only tough but a personality changing step to fall for someone and make him ultra special in her life. She had two options to deal with this, fall to peer-pressure or stay away from all this. Quite obviously, she chose the latter.

At the age when most of her friends were basking in the sweetness of gifts that they received from their boyfriends, Sharon would question in her mind –‘is this all necessary to do at this time?? Am I wrong somewhere in not wanting this??? ‘And this confusion made her more indifferent and irritated with the dating concept. As most girls would start discussing their love life once they met each other, Sharon stayed away from them as far as possible. Now, most of her best friends were guys... who didn’t gossip about their love life, even if they had it!!! She liked the fun part of being with them… she was one amongst them… she would hang out ,watch movies, play bowling, study with them and with each passing year, she started changing too.  Now she was more of a party maker, less on temper and more on fun….less on rules… and high on life!!! Indeed Sharon was happy in her self life!!!

Ross- fit, 5”9 was a happy go lucky guy, upbeat about life, easy going, and level headed. He used to say-‘Life is too short, why waste it worrying???’ He was one those guys who would date girls just for the fun of it. But as he would get to know the girls more, the narrow-mindedness which they possessed about relationships would scare him and he would run away as far as possible from them. Frankly, he was never serious for any of the girls he dated .For all Ross knew was healthy flirting, dating and good bye.

It was one of those university days when Sharon was late as usual for the presentation that she bumped into Ross. She heard a loud shriek from behind her that almost numbed her ears. She turned around to find a straight out of bed looking guy balancing files in his hands and running towards her cab. ‘We are in same university, don’t worry, I have no intentions to harass you, I am getting late for my lectures, can we go together???’ and the moment his statement was over, he was already inside the cab. Sharon had no other option, but to take this jerk along with her since she was in no mood to argue with anyone that would delay her presentation even more.

After taking some quick breaths, Ross thanked her for the ride. Sharon at once exulted –‘don’t thank me you jerk, pay half the bill and get on with life’. Since then there have been many altercations between them, and later they both were the thickest of the friends that the university ever saw. Many times sitting beside each other all they talked was silence and both knew that they had the best conversation ever in their life.  Ross and Sharon never judged each other and they never had to justify their actions too. They respected each other’s individuality and strived to never interfere in each other’s personal space. Ross was her punch bag whenever she was frustrated with her life. Sharon was often the middle person who would introduce Ross to girls who he wanted to date next… At times, she felt stupid and sick of helping him this way but she always knew that he meant no harm to any girl and that it was all in healthy spirit of flirting!!! Sharon knew all the tactics that he used to date girls and he knew very well that Sharon was one no nonsense girl to be handled with care…. Their friendship indeed was one of its kinds… Ross liked listening to all the girly gossip that she would bring… and Sharon liked listening to his dating escapades feeling pity for all the girls he dated… They were two real buddies in their own world!!!

After graduation years, a girl who was so self centric had changed a lot. There was someone in her life, someone who knew her well, who respected her, who cared for her, who was there for her always, who meant happiness to her. There was Ross in her life and her mother had rightly noticed that but their friends thought that they meant only friendship and nothing else. Also, with a girl like Sharon, anything apart from friendship was a distant dream. And Ross respected her for that. At times, he did feel that if ever any person on this earth can handle him, it can be Sharon only, for she knew him far too much than he knew himself. But, relationship and Sharon were two different entities…and he knew that too. Ross never uttered the word ‘relationship’ in front of her although there was part of him that had started loving her since more than anything, she was his best friend and this friendship was too precious for him to lose it for anything in this world.

Dejected Ross moved NY in search of better career prospects when Sharon started meeting guys her parents had shortlisted for her marriage alliance. Nothing seemed to click between her and the guys she met for they were either too ‘taking for granted’ types or they were too timid to hold their fort against Sharon…Indeed handling Sharon was not everyone’s cup of tea!!!

Her mother finally confronted her over Ross and their friendship… Sharon was stunned since no one in her life had ever questioned her whether she liked Ross??? She fumed, she argued, she cried  because for once she was realizing that whatever her mother spoke today, was all true!!! She was indeed searching another Ross in all the guys she met. She knew Ross was gone never to be back. And if he does then it might be lot of years later, probably with his wife and children to meet her and her family. She realized the longing and love she had in her heart for Ross for the first time in her life, and she realized that love was not all that bad; it was much more than just giving and receiving gifts, it was much more than just calling each other every 1 hour to ask about whereabouts, it was more than just being together all the time. She realized that love was to trust a person unconditionally, to stand by him through all the thick and thin and to live moments of life together than just being together. Finally, Sharon was in love.

It was 9^th august 2010, and there were Ross’s birthday celebrations!!! Being married for good 10 years, Sharon was now a loving wife and a caring mother. And, Steve and Ross were integral part of her life what with Steve being her strength while Ross -her biggest weakness!  Steve had woven a blanket of affection and love around Sharon which made her feel secured, loved and cared!!!  Being by her side in all her insecurities, Steve ensured that he was not only a loving and doting husband but also her best friend whom she could always trust and fall back on… He not only loved her but also adored and respected her. Steve had filled the void in Sharon’s life so perfectly that her past never made any difference in her present life and Ross, their 8 yr kid was the reason why Sharon understood, what being beside your love forever meant…

Circa 2001, winter was chillier than it ever was…Sharon was happy in her marriage life and Steve made sure his wife- his love of life was never short of anything!!! As the maid was about to finish her daily chores, house bell rang musically and she paced to open the door. From the corner of her eye Sharon gave a glance to who was at the door and froze the moment she saw him!!! For a second she thought she must be hallucinating… or maybe she has overslept. But after another stunned minute, it finally sank in. She was indeed seeing him in flesh and blood at her doorstep. He was looking skinnier than before, and with nicely tucked in shirt and crisp ironed trousers Ross looked even more handsome than he ever did. Ross was overjoyed on seeing her. He took a step ahead to hug her just like old times…but braked in his path… for the indifference and discomfort in her eyes was unsettling for him. Ross understood as he always did!!! Sharon was happy and she had moved on in her life he observed. Nevertheless, she welcomed him in her house. After exchanging pleasantries, and talking for good 3 hours, Ross wished Sharon the very best for her life.

That night, Sharon decided to let Steve know about Ross and what he had meant for her at some point of time in her life. After dinner, Sharon spoke at lengths about Ross. Steve listened to her each single word with utmost caution, and gave all his ears to what she was saying. In the end, Sharon was in tears and she said-‘we are married Steve, you are my husband, my present and my future, but the kind of lovable Sharon you see today is Ross-made!!! He made me to see what love is all about… what being for each other meant …Ross is gone Steve …. And I am here not because we are still in a relation but because I want to be here in this moment with you… not because Ross deserted me few years back but because you made me to see that Ross-like love in your eyes each single day…and I for once now know, whom I love unconditionally… and Steve that person is you and will be you forever…  ’. Steve took her shivering frame by his arms and the moment was sealed. Steve and Sharon were married and it was for life!!!

Another year down, Sharon was expecting her first child. She was over ecstatic and so was Steve…

Amidst all the celebrations and parties, Steve named the baby - Ross!!! Sharon’s eyes moistened. The word ‘commitment’ had just started making sense to her!! She realized that it was not about saying ‘I love you’ 10 times in a day… but it was about saying-‘I know what you want ‘one time in a day!!! Past can never be ignored but it all depends on your present, on how it wants the past to affect the future life!!! And Steve made sure there was no room for any Ross to ever make a comeback...

Indeed, all relationships have some past, sometimes it’s pleasant and sometimes it’s weird… sometimes it’s pitch-dark and sometimes it’s the source of light that brightens your future life path…Soch Lo… but life is too short to waste it worrying…Ross came, he saw her, he loved her, he changed her and he went away … and what got left behind were his footprints that changed Sharon’s life and made it more lovable and innocent!!!

And on Ross’s 8^th birthday, Sharon and Steve were the cutest couple on the dance floor while Ross was indeed a lucky chap to have them as his parents!!!

Kindly vote for me on Indivine

34: Eurotrip: In love with Brussels....

Not quite pacy like Mumbai, not too laid back like countryside but, there was an instant Connect with Brussels, the moment I stepped on its land!!!

Wide and clean roads, disciplined zebra crossing people, delicious dessert -chocolate Waffle… pleasant and soothing climate, extremely low levels of pollution in the air, cute and well maintained trams that connect major areas of the city, yummy Leonidas branded Belgian chocolates and famous Belgian cookies …all of which was too much to not fall in love with the city..!!!!   

     

On one hand Brussels is quite, serene and sophisticated while on the other hand it is hep, vibrant, colorful and extremely joyous!!!  On one hand we have oldie grannies weaving lace apparels while on other we have ravishing ladies strutting their stuff in D&G…

On one hand there are old world trams still making their presence felt on Bruxelles streets while on the other hand High speed trains like Thalys, Eurostar, ICE (High speed train networks) connect Brussels to all major European cities like London, Paris, Cologne, etc.





On one hand Brussels is filled up with French, Flemish and German people while on the other hand diversity is well represented by whole lot of Africans, Latin Americans and also Indians!!! Brussels indeed, has much more to offer than just beer and wine!!!

There were days when I could see police guys on horses and then there were days when I saw them on Harley Davidson….!!! It was really super cool and so different to see polizie (French word for police) in that avatar..!!! Seeing so many well built and fit cops made me to sadly sigh in my heart that had it only been similar back in Mumbai, Mumbai would not have been as vulnerable as it is perceived!!!!

Oldies form major part of Brussels population. One can easily see many oldie couples walking hand- in hand at tram stations, and supermarkets..!!! Here I recall an incident, told to me once by my bhabi which so happened -an oldie handsome dude went across the other side of the street so as to caution vehicles that his oldie gorgeous dudette is having some problem with walking and made her to comfortably cross the road..!!! That was really heartwarming..!!!





        

Markets and Supermarkets are the buzzing places full of ladies wanting to buy the usual grocery and meat, while on the other hand shops like Camaieu, Zara at Rogier serve to charming fashion wanabbes…!!! Jackets are almost worn like second skin by everyone in Brussels…so now you know when you go next to Brussels … you just have to buy a jacket there!!!! Brussels has one of the finest collections of jackets for all seasons, all moods and all genders….

Central Park in Brussels hosts amazing Belgian beer cafes, souvenir shops, Belgian chocolate outlets and so many fashionable, trendy and branded apparel outlets that it pulls almost whole of Brussels’ hep population to this area throughout the day…

         

The only sad part about these markets is that all shops close by sharp 6 pm each day and the further worst is that … all shops are closed on Sunday!!!! Can you believe this??? I was equally shocked on hearing this… but when I got to learn the real reason behind this approach of the government I guess it almost made sense…Belgian people believe in living life outta each moment… each day… hence after gruesome office hours, instead of spending time shopping and eating unhealthy food at malls they believe in going out on family trip… for some skiing, for a nice game of squash, or tennis or for that matter just spending time with family helping your wife in cooking!!! Sounds nice??? Indeed… an ideal life that we forever crave for is forever in front of us…just that we don’t see and respect it..!!!

Why can’t we see many people in India cycling their way to office??? More often than not… we affix cycling with belonging to lower strata of society… there was this email that I received few days back stating how westerners used to ride their Porsches and Mercedes before and are turning into cycle lovers now and how we Indians used to cycle then and have turned to Mercedes now …!!! Irony is hard to neglect it!!! Belgian style of living, urged me to question my mind as to whether really implementing such basic things in India are that difficult??? No… it’s not difficult but probably keeping our people’s interests and welfare before individual’s selfish desire is something which is difficult for our politicians and government..!!!

I wanna go to Brussels again... :D

33: Give me an answer...

Do you face questions??… Tough ones? …easy ones??… Lighter??...darker??… simpler ones… complex issues???… Almost every type baffles us if we either don’t understand them or we don’t know an answer to them…!!!

Questions like blue or white shirt??? Morning or evening slot for gym??? Normal cheap vegetable vendor or slightly expensive Reliance Fresh??? Normal hair blow dry or permanent straightening?? …. are often simpler and easier to tackle… a bit more pondering over them can easily lead you to an answer or best you might consult someone before arriving at the decision… and lest assured that the decision is one which you are convinced at totally!!!

But then there are questions which catch you off guard!!! Questions which have more than one right answer to it… which makes you to think and think… and wherein you might not come down to any particular answer. Such questions can create havoc in your life and by that I mean that it can bring doom or bloom...You don’t know!!!!

Indeed, we are tested all the time… and life is eventually made in all the answers that we give it back…

Being a true Libran, I am blessed with highest level of indecisiveness that can not only make me one crazy human being but at times also irritates the hell out of others around me. Not able to take a quick decision gets on my nerves like anything. Not wanting to falter in anything and everything and yet making sense out of every decision is just too much to handle.

More often than not, we know answers to life’s most difficult questions beforehand...it’s only that we don’t accept them or wait an eternity in hope of finding a more better solution!!! Believe me; I never succeed in finding that other better solution but I still do the same thing every time!!! Amongst the two best options (answers) available there is always one that is correct as per my mind and the other that is correct as per my soul…and more often than not there is this whole big battlefield that goes on between them…

But now I have made peace with myself in this case...and I think everybody around too, should try my way of arriving at decisions if in any dillema...

What??? Haven’t heard about age old methods huh???

“ Simply toss a coin…wherein one side supports your mind while the other one roots for your heart…and while the coin is in the air…Your soul secretly knows what it wants the decision of coin to be…”
Try it out...!!!

32: Germany...u disappointed me!!!!

I am disappointed today… Didn’t ever expect that my favorite team and my favorite player would play so badly in FIFA world cup…

To hell with the so- called Octopus who predicts match results... all I wanted was a genuine fight and genuine struggle to win…sadly, I could see neither..!!!

Absence of Mueller was not the issue… but the temperament of players was!!!! Klose, Podolski, Schweinsteiger, Ozil form a formidable side in itself… all they wanted was a positive frame of mind to get over the octopus prediction and see to it that their fans won’t believe the octopus theory ever again… but, guess what, now the octopus is next to GOD …!!! SICK!!!!

After showing no sympathy towards a team like Argentina… Germans were not supposed to bow out of tournament so shabbily…!!! Nobody expected that!!!

The go-getters Germans were reduced and confined to only their half defending and trying to get a glimpse of ball for themselves…Neither could they find gaps within Spanish attack nor could they create true German styled pacy attacks. First half was drowsy with almost nothing great to look out for …except missed header by Puyol… and another well saved attempt by German Goalie Neuer and of course there was an episode of a fan sprinting all the way in the ground and two cops behind him and I guess that was more entertaining than the rest of first half.

Ball possession was the major issue….Spaniards didn’t allow the ball to slip out of their control for too long… they were all over the field diving, running, dodging the ball and doing everything possible in their capacity to keep Germans as far away as possible from the ball and their half of the field!!! Spaniards too missed out on so many opportunities themselves… there was a diagonal pass from Pedro to Villa which villa missed out on…and also the famous Pedro attempt to put ball in the goal which was thwarted by a German defender, but which was a potential goal had it been passed to Torres…But amongst all, must say the missed opportunity by Kroos did cost Germany heavily!!!



Had Germany played well and lost then I would have applauded Spain for their awesome display but with Germany playing so horrible, it made me to shut off the TV and reach out for my bed well before match actually ended!!! Most of the German players were heard giving bites to print media prior to the match that this match is crucial... Spain’s are favorites… they are the best team in the world…!!!! All agreed that yes Spain are Euro champs as well and yes they are a good side and of course one should be modest… but not to the extent that it can start making you feel weak and underdogs..!!!! A team that can beat Argentina 4-0 can never be an underdog!!! Along with above mentioned statements… Mueller’s absence and Paul the Octopus BABA’s prediction…proved to a catalyst in changing a formidable and ferocious German side into meek and nervous team that only aimed at not conceding any goals…but didn’t aim at scoring some!!!

Often, “NOT FAILURE BUT LOW AIM IS CRIME….” …so true!!!



Miroslav Klose – my favorite footballer and the only reason I root for Germany also the winner of golden boot last world cup … didn’t get any opportunity to display his talent!!! Poor passes…bad playing strategy… mental pressure…wet field… did Germany in!!!

Spaniards must be applauded for their amazing control over ball… although I feel Spanish too weren’t at their best that day!!! But if we go by “may best team win approach” then I guess Spain deserved more!!!





But, am I disappointed? Yes I am…!!!! I am sulking since yesterday!!!

31: Eurotrip: 3 days of trying not to be on trip….

At 10.30 in the night, Sun had just gone home and the sky was dark reddish with hues of purple scattered all over… was it spectacular? You bet!!!

Beds were amazingly cozy and fluffy (I know cakes are called fluffy and not beds...!) … and the moment I jumped in it… I almost sank in it... Pullover supplied enough warmth that although temperatures were freaking low… I could sleep peacefully!!!

True colors of bed were visible; the morning thereafter… sinking deep in the bed whole night, my back ached like hell..!!! It asked for stability, for strength, for security… don’t laugh guys… sleeping on incorrect bed whole night can never give you pleasant experience!!!! Trust me!!

My Euro trip was not the real reason; I was visiting Brussels to appear for one of my entrance exams, for which my center was Brussels –Belgium. It gave me perfect setting to club it along with my Euro trip one which I was planning since January. My exam was on 5th June , Saturday and hence 3rd and 4th were the days which went mostly in showing off that yes I am studying… and roaming about in the local markets of Brussels… most important part of this exploration was tram no 81,84 that goes to Montgomery.

Cut out the studies part… let’s not talk on that…!!! Let me begin with my exploration…

On 3rd, we got up early in the morning at 11 and kept on blaming each other for waking up so early..!!! Btw... That means India time we got up at 2.30 pm… lolzzz… Eating through the thick oat porridge was almost making me to miss my office half-cooked poha all the more… (i.e. Because I hate THICK oat porridge…I like it thin and kheer-like). With tummies full we (me, my bhabi, and her sister) headed for morning jog… (There morning jogs can be taken anytime of the day…I loved their flexibility). Running through the dense greenery of Jubel Park was not only soothing but it also healed my back pain to some extent!!! We couldn’t keep up with the pace of other regular runners there, but we were decent… After almost half an hour of running and stretching we headed for home…this time taming the tram and plunging on the foot… but an Indian woman will always be a gharelu Indian woman, then she may stay in any part of this world!!! The moment she sees ‘market’ she will jump in with the force and swiftly walk around collecting her vegetables, yoghurt, beans, eggs, kiwis, strawberries… and what not!!! That’s my sweet bhabi for you!!! Bribe for bearing up with this shopping was a box full of strawberries (delicious and yummy) and freezing ice cream at a joint on the way back..!!! I had never tasted such yummlicious and beautilicious yellow colored vanilla ice cream ever!!!! Well, color yellow since originally Vanilla is a flavoring derived from orchids (if authentically made…) unlike what processed vanilla ice cream we get in India..!!!!

We came back by 2 in the afternoon, and realized that we haven’t had our lunch. Time for my bhabi to get panic…!!! After lot of struggle in the kitchen bhabi cooked delicious food and we finally ate , bathed and finished our morning chores by 5….rest of the time was spent mostly in TPing around.



After my bro was home we headed to THE GRAND'PLACE (Grote Market - Market Square) – place famous for all sorts of markets and eating joints and pizzerias…!!! We took tram from our place till Merode metro station and thereafter took metro till Gare centrale to reach the market square… it was a huge square with ancient historic buildings surrounding all around it…there is also bourse- the stock market of Brussels just round the corner, which keeps on buzzing with people at all the times… all n all it is one of the crowded place in Brussels that turns into this hep place for all youngsters, alcohol connoisseurs, fashion babes to strut their stuff post 6.30 pm !!!

 We had dinner at pizzeria that served Veg pizza called ‘fungi’ (not fungi as in fungus but fungi as in phungee) and its core ingredients were mushrooms..!!!! God I hate fungi….aaarghh mushrooms!!!! I had to make do with pizza vegetariana of which I removed almost all out of this world looking toppings and converted it into pizza maragerita… but nevertheless it was WOW!!! 

 4th was the day of almost no outing, since it was the day prior to my exam and at least I needed to show on my face that-‘yes exam matters to me more than Euro trip’…!!! Spoke to my mom and dad over VoIP and god for the first time in life I actually felt that, I was indeed very far away from them….!!! Taking blessings from them for the exam, I retired for that day on the same sinking bed with the hope that I write exam the next day properly.

It was dawn of 5th… clock showed 6 am and there stood my bhabi a.l.a my dad style who wakes me up every day at home and shouting-‘get up girl…else u gonna miss your exam…the thing u r here for!!!’ I was supposed to go to International school of Brussels which was good 40 minutes away from the house. Again, we changed from tram to train to bus and then on foot to reach at it..!!!! Didn’t I tell u that going from one place to another; you at least need to change 3 modes of transport minimum..!!!! School was extremely scenic and beautiful… situated on a hillock it had everything necessary for the development of the child’s overall growth!! It had swimming pool, athletics track, martial arts section, gymnasium, football ground, tennis courts, basketball courts, theatre, play area, etc and much more!!! Above all it catered to children of 3 till 16..!!! It was my seen till date, most complete and accomplished school!!! Benches were cozy and comfortable … birds chirping around made atmosphere pleasant!!! And for the first time in my life, on exam day, I actually felt most relaxed!!!

Exams got over like a whiff and the actual Euro trip was about to begin..!!! :D

I was extremely anxious as to what lay next from here… one goal down… only next goal in sight was ‘Grottes caves at Aywaille…!’

Felt like 3 days went like wind…and I hardly had chance to stop breath it... feel it… experience. Topic on the dinner table was quite obviously … how was my exam? Mom asked over phone ‘how was your exam?’ friends tweeted and inquired on FB how was my exam?? Frankly I was frustrated and tired of answering everyone hence let me take this opportunity to declare that, “Exam was good...!!! Don’t ask me to predict marks now… coz my predictions are as good as MET department of Mumbai! PERIOD.”

That’s the way... aha aha…!!!