Sarkar - Anyay ke saath me kaise jiye jaaye...

Well, I dont know the date; but it was surely one of the weekdays, when I dared taking my wifey for an underworld movie - Sarkar. I was prepared to be at the receiving end of the anger and yelling if she doesn't likes it; as if hubbies can ever get to be the one throwing the tantrums in today's world!!!

But it turned out to be a pleasant experience, and this movie helping us turning some tensed husband-wife moments into funny laughter sessions. Most of the times, I have this excuse ready to my rescue - "Ab tum hi batao mai kya kar sakta, family problems hai, union problem hai, ". But she is smart enuf to use this when I am stubborn sometimes - "Tu to chiku se bhi zyada ziddi ho gaya hai". Its this fascination towards Sarkar - the movie, that we keep repeatedly watching this movie every now and then. And each time, I can jealofy wifey with the 2 minute role of Nisha aka Priyanka Kothari.

I still remember the beer drinking session with Mahen and Vindy opp Manas lake, when I declared in full high that I want to see Sarkar upon reaching Vindy's home - as if I am 'the' Subhash Nagre. And we three cracking jokes until dawn; with me n Mahen taking quickest naps in between words. We also laughed remembering the 'quote of the decade' from Mahen - "Yaar muzhe mera weight dekhne de, I have been laughing all the night; aur haste rehne se weight badhta hai". And how can I forget mentioning here another mindblowing one from Mahen to Vindy - "Oye, go to the gal's dad and say Fiss"!

Though it's lil bit childish to derive this kind of fun from a movie all these years, but this really is worth it. And another one being 'Ek aur Ek gyarah' where the trio - Tara te Sitara te Pitara aka Aj te Vindy te Mahen have their set of laughters since ages together. More about 'Ek aur Ek gyarah' when I am in a mood to write some crap like this. I do have sympathy of the visitors of this blog page, and I mean it. But the sole purpose of jotting such incidents down is to visit this after some good 2-3 decades and cherish these moments!

The Sattiday that was...

I found my bike missing the friday eve when I returned from office. It was parked on the roadside besides our apartment gate. Just one moment of unpleasant feeling, but the next moment, even before I rang the bell of my flat, I was sporting a smile on my face. Told wifey that the bike is probably stolen. It was hard for my wife to believe, because of the smile. Went down for a round in the nearby societies, just for the heck of it. And then found out which is the Police station that covers this area. Was all set with my documents to report to Police and get an FIR, so that I can start the insurance claim procedure (The reason behind the smile). Post dinner, I had funny talk sessions with Mom and with Seemaji (sis-in-law), with Mom a bit concerned about how would I handle all this, and Seemaji asking for sweets, coz I will be buying a new bike now. She knows of my fascination towards Bajaj Avenger these days. I was busy making my plans, about what actions need to be taken, and how do I manage my life without a bike for few days/weeks.

Let me give some more background here - I have a 2003 TVS Victor and have been using it for all these years. I want to replace it with a power bike, but don't want to do it before I relocate to Pune/Mumbai/Hyderabad. The handle lock of the bike was not in order since Feb 2009 and so it is having only the ignition lock for safety. And moreover, this lazy bum (also called as 'I, Myself n Aj') was too lazy this time to park it within the apartment compound every evening. The bike was lying outside the compound since Tuesday - a full 4 days and 3 nights together.

Thread 1 : Next day, Sattiday, I asked one of the watchman on the street if he knows anything about the bike; and he was trying to tell me something in Tamil, which I understood little. I called Suresh Uncle for translating help, which he did happily - and we were told that the bike was probably taken up by the watchman of the opposite mansion. I went to the mansion asking for the bike, but was not being treated well. They thought of me of some loser college going/just passed out kind of foreigner (non south-Indian), and asked me to again contact them on Monday. That's when I had to use my skills to convince them that they will have a tough time if they mess with me. All this conversation was in Tamil(watchman) and broken English(myself). Finally, the bike was traced to be with a guy named Das, who went out of Chennai for the weekend and parked the bike near his workplace. I got Das's mobile number from the Mansion, and my body language convinced them that they better return my bike without any delay. I did not talk to Das, but those watchmen talked and hinted of the scenario. Meanwhile the mansion owner Mr. Sridhar arrived and took my side to report to the police. This made the watchmen and few residents of the mansion feel the heat.

Thread 2 : As I came out of the mansion, I met Adv. Jesu Raj - the chairman of the society next to our compound, and I greeted him. I just mentioned to him about the bike incident, when his facial expression turned into a bit angry one and almost scolding me - "how can you keep the bike unlocked on the street, that too opposite our society for 4 days together?" He infact informed Chennai police that an unidentified and unlocked vehicle from Maharashtra is lying there for 4 days, and police would be coming anytime to pick the vehicle up and carry out of this street. After some drama, he understood what action is needed now, forgetting what has happened.

Now the iron was hot and I decided to hammer it at this time. So I called up Das, and handed the phone over to Adv. Jesu Raj, who in Tamil, explained him of the seriousness of what he has done, and how Das has taken up a 'probably' stolen bike, and what kind of action can be taken against Das. So, Das finally gave up and agreed that he will make arrangements so that bike will be handed over to the owner by Sattiday eve. By this time, the mansion owner Mr. Sridhar also arrived and talked to Das in a pacifying tone, so that Das is calmed down and he makes arrangements.

Meanwhile, everyone in our society came to know of the story, and everyone tried to explain me how wrong it is to keep the bike unlocked. And how more wrong it is to park it on the street. WTF! As if I dont know what a lock is meant for!!! The bike was returned to me by around 5pm, and once more ppl asking me to fix the handle lock, and park it inside the compound.

I informed this to Mom and Seemaji. Seemaji couldn't control her laughter and announced that "Aj's bike is in such a condition that even thieves return it back". Dad was suffering from a very very sore throat, and I kept myself from talking to him on phone for Sat-Sun-Mon. This will serve two purpose - unselfish purpose : the lesser dad talks, the sooner he recovers; and the selfish one : I am saved from his scolding about being like a careless teen.

Daddy Cool

It was during the bus travel from Yavatmal to Darwha with lil Hriday, that it came to my mind. I reached my town by 1:45, and hired a hand rikshaw. Hriday is a freak - he likes Hand rikshaw ride more than bike or car. And he is moody when it comes to choosing an option between his car or a state transport bus for a distant travel.

So, both of us went on a noisy riot once in home. Everyone except for Bai (granny) n Anjali were taking the lazy afternoon nap, but we spared none. Goldie was confused to the core. She is too young to understand why she was woken up, and why her Papa n Hriday are laughing and making noises. She was crying and Mom trying to pacify her. That's when Bai declared - Aj to Hriday se bhi chhota ho gaya hai. I am not wrong in saying that, I am growing younger with each birthday.

Post lunch, after checking on few routine things like the backyard tin shades and counting custard apples, along with checking if there are any signs of life in the soil where I planted green chilly seeds. There was no sign :-(

I had convinced Amu for hiking the mountain behind the railway track, near Chintamani temple. Mummy n Bai were opposing to take Papa for this hike. Mummy finally gave up saying that - you take him out, but dont let him hike. But I was not sure, if dad would agree and join us. So, I convinced Amu to convince Papa. But Papa said yes, upon asking for the first time itself. I was all excited.

The weather was too good. Cloudy but not dull, with spells of sun rays in between. The country side was lush green, and it rained the previous few days. We were a gang of four for the hike - Papa, Hriday, Amu n myself. So we finally reached the spot on the road, from where we would start the hike. Hriday was excited to see the 'train ki patri'. Upon crossing that, we reached the point where there were a lot of white stones (the ones which we played with as young kids, striking them against each other in dark, to see the sparks). Dad was the first kid to start collecting those, and giving ideas as to what can be done with them. When the hike became a bit more vertical, we kept all those stones at a point. Hriday was as if looking for this opportunity and asked me to lift in arms, as it was his first time. I was all prepared for this, as Hriday is just 5 year old. But his fear and probable tiredness was short lived, coz he asked me to ground him; and he happily hiked to the top without any fuss.

After spending some 15-20 min on the top, taking snaps in dad's mobile camera, it was time to get back. Collecting those white stones, we got into the car, then to the Chintamani temple. And as usual, I asked for the steering wheel while returning. Don't know how long it will take for me to master the four wheeler drive; but myself and Hriday have a story to tell our buddies about what we did last weekend.

Peace Peace Peace!!!

After loosing peace, the internal one, I have understood the value of it. I was getting premonitions that - "hey, where the hell am I leading this way?" But being carried away in one of the emotions, and taking uncalculated risk, this is where I have landed. I am not lost at all. May be, I am just wandering here and there and looking for some kind of satisfaction and eventually some peace.

May be this is what is called as life-crisis, or something else. I don't have mindset to study what it is called, but this is certainly a kind of dangerous disturbance. Various thoughts and principles are rioting internally, and disturbing law n order.

Having tried to re-start many of my loved tasks and hobbies, I am still not able to achieve what I wanted to. I have become highly dependent on individuals for peace and happiness. The human desires are raising their heads every now and then, and I don't know how to crush them, or atleast control them. I am not really sure, whether dependence on Humans is better than dependence on objects. And this thought keeps my mind busy and anxious.

Another fear is - is my survival possible, if the individuals go away one fine day, leaving me all by myself? The actual fact is - I would survive, but I don't want to survive just because I am not dead. There's hell lot of insecured feeling, even if I try to my best to convince that feeling of insecurity itself is more insecure than insecurity itself.

So much is already been said-researched-analysed-preached about how to attain internal peace, but me being a people person, find it difficult to isolate from individuals. Would becoming stoic help me attain peace? But then what about my desires? Is there no way other than crush the desires?

Who knows, this might just be a phase of life, and will pass on the way peaceful phases pass. Let's see...

Complete You...

Latest on the block....

Random Ride to ECR

It all started with me broadcasting on the group skype chat "mereko bahot bore ho rela hai", that I thought of riding off on ECR (East Coast Road). Fortunately, Sam's Honda Unicorn was available. The next thing to make available was 'getting some vella but interesting guy for the ride'. Upon doing some mischief with 'Chhota Supari', the dudes n damaads agreed for it happily.

Finally, Aj-Ankur-Viru-Vikas landed up near the escalator corridor, and Vikas kept asking - "Abe jaana kahan hai? Kya karna hai?". The next challenge was to find Sam's bike in the parking lot. But it turned out to be easy, as all the four of us started looking for a MH-12 registered bike. Once again at the office exit gate, Vikas questioned - "Karna kya hai? Jaana kahan hai?" with amazingly nice question mark on his face. No one was clear, what is the plan; but it was sure, that we wanted to ride for a good 15-20 kms on the coastal road.

So it started, with instructions on how to escape the probable fine, if policemen obstruct us. A hot tea and a round of smoke at a roadside stall, excitement was at the peak. With Vikas's ambitious plans for some firangs on the beach, we took a left turn on a road which was not that bumpy. And in all this excitement, I bumped the bike I was riding straight into the beach sand; and spent a lot of energy to get it out of the sand.

The beach was totally isolated. There was a guy (a kid probably) who was holding some rope/thread and a dark block was following him on the shore. We dont know what he was doing exactly. There was a gal on the scooterette, who accompanied her friend. And her friend was hand in hand with her bf for a long walk. All assumptions. While walking towards the waters, we obviously had some plans as a gang for the gals. The plans went in the air as soon as we reached water.

Good breeze making us feel good, and triggering us to do similar things more often. So the plan is to go for a catamaran ride sometimes in the coming weekends, and to visit Pondicherry on bikes in the next few weeks. Now, since we have all the enthu for outings, it made sense to return back to office. Yeah yeah, this short and random beach ride was planned just after the lunch on a working day.

The gal was still waiting on the scooterrette for her friend and friend's bf :-) Isey kehte hai yaari-dosti. Dost ke liye isolated beach par akele wait karne ki himmat.

The bike ride back to office was non-stop; and the excitement and happiness was at its peak! Nothing can beat the sense of achievement when we do something different.

World is a small place

While commuting back to home from office, in the office bus, I saw Nitin Kabra as one name in the bus muster. This immediately reminded me of one Nitin Kabra who is my cousin's - Pavan Holani's friend. I will never forget the scene when we escaped drowning into Khadakwasla damn on the Rangapanchami of year 2000 in Pune.

It so happened that on the day of colors, just to save ourselves from colors and masti, we (myself, Pavan and Nitin) planned for a visit to khadakwasla and Sinhagad. Though none of us knew swimming, we were keen on taking a dip in the sunny afternoon, before going ahead to Sinhagadh for the sunset. So we all got into the water, and one step ahead there was a pit under the waters, which we couldnt see because of the muddy water. While Nitin was almost into it, I gave him my hand, and I held Pavan with the other, so that I do not loose posture and balance. And inexperienced the three of us, with water, we all were slowly getting into the pit. This was when, Pavan raised an alarm and both of us joined. Came from somewhere were 3-4 good swimmers who rescued us, and gave us a good scolding in return, which we deserved.
We got out, had some food on the adjoining stalls and went ahead to Sinhagad for the sunset. After returning back, the waiting roomies did color us :-(

This incidence in my memory got re-freshed, and I mailed Nitin to know if he is the one, and came the assertive reply. We planned to meet in the break room on my floor. It was a long gap of 9 years. And when we saw each other, he said - "Teeno zinda hai abtak!" (All three are still alive).

World is really a small place! Lost people do have a chance to meet up again.

Rejuvenated!!!

It was over a month, and I was not able to visit my hometown. My wife was in Darwha and I was in Chennai. Wife was bitterly angry with this. Surviving the anger of a wife, is no joke - let me tell you.

5th June : 12:55 pm : Wifey called, and the call was missed purposefully. I called her back again - and finished the call in 50+ seconds. Told her that - I am in Saravana bhavan ordered my lunch, and that food in my plate is served, I will call in another 30 min after finishing the food and then can talk in details. I could sense anger in phone disconnection as well.

Wifey assumed I am in Chennai, whereas I was in the bus to my hometown, roughly 10 km away.

5th June : 1:20 pm : Hriday n Papa came to the bus stand to pick me up, and the first one to be surprised is lil Hriday. He could not control his sweet smile n laughter for next 20 min after seeing his funny 'Chashaa'. Next in the row was Amu. Papa called her at the car shade, and that was the place I surprised her with a 'bhowk'! Amu was happily annoyed for the next 10 min, that why no one told her about my arrival.

And next in queue was Anjali - sleeping in the room with my daughter Goldie. Hriday on my shoulder, still laughing loud with the events, I went to the room, Anjali got up of her sleep with this noise. And she had a perfect 'dumbo' expressions seeing me in front of her. Laughing with Hriday! She was expecting my call in 30 min, and it was complete me by her side in 30 min.

With all the laughter and initial talks, it was already 2:30, when I demanded food. Puran Poli was the special menu as Mummy and Bai were already aware of my arrival. Hriday was like waiting for my food to be over so that we both can play with stones on the tin slope in the back yard (bhata phekna). By 6 pm, we had the barber at home, who actually made my taklu daugher a real taklu - Mundan!!! By 8 pm, Anand Bhaiya and Bhabhi too arrived, and no one knew when the clock started ticking the am hours - time to sleep.

Next day started with a bang - I misleaded Hriday to call Amu Buwa as 'Taklu Buwa'! And Amu was just up from the sleep with these fine words - all the anger unloaded on me snatching my long hairs; and triggering my mom n bhaiya to ask me to cut them short.

Went to 'Valsa' for devi darshan in the eve, and Amu was driving while going and I took the driving seat while returning back. And yes, I was good at the reverse gear and the typical rural pedestrians as well. Yess - I was good with the reverse gear. Read it again - I was good with the reverse gear.



The real laughter session started once we returned back and I showed this video to Hriday. We laughed till our tummy started aching badly, and then I had to stop this video. And Hriday was still having episodes of intermittent laughters, remembering the dog.

Next day, the 7th June 9 am, was the time to board the train back to Chennai, and this was the first time in past decade that I wanted to get off the train and go back home, to be with family!!!

Rejuvenated like a new born baby!

The Yawns!

Ever wondered, how amazing a yawn can be? I think, its the most contagious expression of humans (or dogs as well - I have noticed them yawning together). So this friend of mine - Ravi, has so many yawning babies in his orkut photo album, and each time I visit his profile, I keep yawning. Once I was irritating someone on skype chat with yawns, and it was me who was actually yawning at the end.




I think, this fascination of myself towards the yawns is the reason my daugher Goldie yawns so lovely. She started yawning with a sound since she was 5 and a half months, and I love it. This is generally an age for kids, when people around them are longing for any kind of non-crying sound from them, and this Yawn is a feast for my ears.

No wonder why researchers have spent a lot of time studying in and around of yawns - even the researchers were fascinated. People do hate yawning, as it indicates bad-manners and lack of interest. But who cares for bad-manners when we have more interest in yawning.

I know the reader of this blog must be busy yawning by now, and yes, I have achieved what I wanted to!

O M G - Another one!

O M G! Run Run Run!

What a pathetic writer I am! I really pity, those who read my blogs with some hope. Well, its a good strategy, that I criticize myself so much, that nothing is left for others :-P

Looks like, there's this 'pathetic pessimistic sadist hopeless useless Ghost' takes control of my mind, and such words are written on my notepad. The ghost story is for them, who might be wondering, what negative motivation, Aj has got to compose such poem!

I know, I have a life, many people can just dream of; and remaining others can be just jealous of - he he ho ho ha ha. I am the happiest man on earth, at this moment, and as long as earth is around.

The Lunch

The Lunch
What's there in a lunch? Especially, when its lunch in the office, when people move their bum out of their seats, just to fill the tummy and get back to work. That too in a 'so called' dynamic and fast paced work environment.

No - this lunch is way more than just a lunch. Now don't start bugging me with questions like, if its a multi course meal, and do we have daily sponsors! The lunch is great because of the preparation that goes into it. Even though the standard time for lunch is 1240, the preparation starts something around 1210 almost everyday - with atleast one of the members dying with hunger, wants to have lunch earlier. But ignoring his hunger screams on skype chat, the lunch usually is at the same time. Whether Bama insists on lunch 'at 1 plz', or I am arriving late to the office, lunch must retain its timings. Yeah, you got me wrong. I was talking about this preparation, not the preparation as in 'cooking the lunch'. Who cares, how the lunch is cooked - all we care is its cooked, and its edible, and snatchable too (especially the sweet from Kanchan's plate being snatched by me and Sam).

To add to the food, we have all kinda gossip about specific people. Dracula and Paapi Gudiya topping the charts. There are few more names but I better rename them before using on this public forum.

Whether the soft target Rana, who's legs are pulled for no fault of her, or its chachu who keeps distributing his food amongst us, the lunch hour is the most energetic. Whether Bama's food is being snatched away, or its Sam's yet another fit of weird attitude, laughter is never reduced. Whether its the occasional guest MoJa who will steal the show or its Deepa who is always in a hurry to end the show, The Show Must Go On!

The best day

What can be a better start of the day than receiving a call from my cousin Sneha to have breakfast with them. Especially when I was longing for home made food. As usual I did not say 'no' for the invite; and reached Mundraji's apmt by 11 am. The stomach feast started with amazing paneer parathas. Home made food, with the blend of perfect spices, and company of like minded people. I knew this day's gonna be best day so far in San Jose.


With parathas for the tummy, and a pixar movie - 'Wall E' for the soul. Some people say, its a animated movie about robots, but I say this is a perfect love story about Artificially Intelligent emotions. The movie made me realise, I can stand cockroach for so many minutes together. Now the hope is restored that, one fine day in this life, I will stop hating cockroaches. (Now its a different story that I killed about a dozen of them when I returned back to my apmt in Chennai, seeing them occupying my apmt).


Then started the long drive to Livermore Temple, with some mindblowing views of the hill side houses. One of my favourite person dreams to buy a house on the hills, for the retirement. And
seeing the houses, I realised the dream is really worth it.



All the Gods were doing fine, and happy together at the temple. After spending some time there, and having prasad, the drive for Gurudrawa started. This was sometimes around the sunset time; and all of us have this likemindedness to enjoy sky colors. It was a good talk while we reached Gurudwara.


Listening to Gurubani and Kirtan, with eyes shut, and heart beating to the rhythm of live tabla, I think this was the only time in a long while that I was quite blank and happy too. I did not want it to finish, but then the langar was waiting. Had the special Tea of the Gurudwara, and drove back home.


I can really call this - the best day in San Jose. 'Thanks' would be a small word for the lovely couple - Sneha and Anuragji.