That 'Heartbroken Umbrella' At Signal !!

Travelling to office through a cab can be a fun ride or the most boring thing if the distance is too much and your co-passengers are not of 'Your types'.

While commuting to office from home and vice-versa, my cab has to pass through Lulla Nagar signal everyday.

'Signal'. It's not merely a halting spot but an open-air school if you are very observant. Especially during rainy season, you will definitely see/learn something new/weird thing at a signal. It may be a romantic chat/gestures between a couple on a bike standing next to your cab or a businessman talking on phone in his car in such a way that he is making that deal with all the people standing at that signal or a specially-abled person/kid tapping on the window of your car seeking some help or 'Signal Special Sellers' who sell small toys or car perfumes or tissue papers etc. You may also frequently witness arrogant citizens breaking traffic rules and still arguing with 'Mama' or sometimes the Mama is in mood to show his 'Mamagiri'!!

Coming back to Lulla Nagar signal. Similar to Facebook 'Likes', I bet this signal might have received maximum 'Curses' from the drivers as the duration (Red to Green and vice-versa) of this signal is merely 15 seconds (I am not joking!). So if you are lucky enough, then you may face the Red signal only once at this chowk or else you have to be a witness of the colour changing process at least 2-3 times. In the process, the face of the drivers also become Red ;)

Anyways, last month while going to office on a rainy evening, my cab waited at this signal. I was sitting next to the driver. There was a car standing ahead of our cab and an auto rickshaw ahead of that car. A signal is the only chance for the Signal Special Sellers to sell their stuff. One lady wearing worn clothes, had couple of nice umbrellas to sell. She approached to the auto rikshaw mentioned above. I was unable to see the customer sitting in the auto but soon caught hold of the sight due to their animated conversation. The customer from the auto was bargaining too much than the offered price by that lady. The lady kept pleading to give a certain amount but the customer didn't budge. Suddenly the signal turned green. The customer handed over few notes to the lady and the auto took off. The lady was screaming to give the desired amount and ran few steps behind the auto but the auto passed in a flash in front of that helpless lady. The poor soul kept looking at the notes with a great disappointment. Somehow she had found a customer but not a human being!

This incident made me think deeply. 
The customer from that auto had money to travel by an auto but couldn't afford the price of that umbrella which the lady quoted. 
Was that customer so poor than that lady? 
Didn't he/she felt inappropriate while giving lesser money while buying the umbrella and rudely going through the auto when the lady kept running behind it? 
Would that customer behave in the same way in a mall? 
Was that customer more needy than the poor lady?
Did that auto driver felt guilty of the overall process of carrying such a heartless passenger? Or was he made up of same genes as that of the customer? 
Will that customer ever realize his/her mistake while protecting himself/herself from rain using that umbrella? 
Does that lady ever got an amount as per MRP quoted by her?

World is moving so fast and so does time. Agreed, but is it a mandate to become insensitive to such an extent? I immediately discussed that incident with my driver who also noticed this scene. He also felt the wrong doing of that customer. The old man was of the same opinion as mine that people are becoming so ignorant towards others that they just see their own benefit. Feelings are getting lost day by day. If today's parents are developed in this way then I wonder what their offsprings of tomorrow would be like.

This same signal has many pot holes but the hole which this entire episode created on my mind will always remain and remind me of that unpleasant incident whenever I pass through this signal.....

A Different Dinner !!! (29th June-16)

In office, even though I like to go for dinner with my team mates, it seldom happens as my dinner time is never fixed. Yesterday, had a creative task in hand do due to which I happily delayed my dinner. The reason being I didn't want to break the flow of what I was doing.

Anyways, what I was doing is not that important as compared to what happened later. It was finally 11 p.m. when I went to canteen knowing that today too it will be a lone dinner. As I entered the canteen, I saw the regular site of all the chairs arranged on the tables (Laziness shuddered inside me). I looked back to see if any chair was still available to carry my weight for the next 1 hr (max) on floor and thankfully I found 2. And guess what, I found a company to dine with at such a late hour.

There was one of our security guard (Mr. Sachin) sitting in a corner whose dinner was about to get over. With a pleasant thought that I will get some company, I immediately joined him. He happily took some stuff from my tiffin box which I offered him. Then gradually, we shared a brief information about each other. He shared that he does a 12 hour job as a norm of their security agency. Sometimes we crib even if our shift of 9 hrs get extended by few minutes or hours but there is another World where 50% of the day are the actual working hours. Overall it was a nice talk with him.

By the time he was leaving, a housekeeping guy came in and was searching a chair. He saw that the only available chair on floor was near my table and for fraction of seconds, he was hesitant to join me. I realized his dilemma and immediately invited him to join me with a thought that the 2nd half of the dinner will also have a new company!

This person (forgot to ask his name) had just come from Pandharpur (holy place in Maharashtra) after attending a family function. So he shared the current situation of Pandharpur. He also had a very vast knowledge of various topics like climatic changes, its side effects, real estate, commercialization, IT Boom, nuances of construction business and much more. He happily shared his insights with me. He shared his few personal experiences too.

It was a perfect, surprising dinner for me. We dine with many people regularly, have lot of conversations, fun and it becomes a regular habit. However, dining sometimes with a different set of people gives you lot of strength, courage, knowledge, much needed positivity and a sense of belongingness.

While commuting home from office, the driver of my cab offered me Rs 10/- at a toll naka. He had borrowed Rs 10/- few days back from me at the same toll naka as that was the shortfall of the total toll. I had forgotten this small fact as well as the driver to whom I gave it (may be due to night shift effect or the ever growing power of my eyesight) but the driver was an honest person. He remembered it and tried to give it back which of course I didn't take from him.


A single day...... 3 different unknown people....... teaches you precious things of life which you actually expect in those who are around you.... and what's the cost of this teaching????
Just be a normal human being (without any designation/accent/inhibition) and treat them with respect....just like another human being!!

*** " बारिश की आस " ***

ए बारिश!! 

तू क्यूँ अक्सर 'हाईक' की तरह लापरवाह बन जाती हो
कब, कहाँ, कितना बरसोगी ये किसीसे जताती नहीं हो,
हम फ़िर भी तेरे लिये रोज, दिवानोंसे तरसते हैं
सब्जीयोंके भाव देख़कर, तेरी शैतानी पर हसते हैं!


तेरा आना, तेरा जाना, 'हाईक' की तरह ही, मेरे हाथोंमें नहीं हैं
मैं जितनी भी तेरी गुहार लगाउँ, तुझसे मिलना इतना आसान नहीं हैं,
तुझसे सालभर उम्मीदें लगाये रखता हूँ पर तेरी धोका देने की आदत जाती नहीं हैं
क्यूँ करती हो मुझसे ऐसा खिलवाड, क्या मेरी मन्नतें काम आती नहीं  हैं??


थक चुका हूँ तुझसे लगाकर निरंतर आशा जिसकी तब्दीली होती है घोर निराशा
बादल गरजते हैं, बिजली चमकती हैं पर तू न आये ये कैसा है तेरा रोजका तमाशा,
तू आये तो कुछ पल रोमँटीकली जी सकूँ वरना रोज ही है जिम्मेदारीयोंका बोझा
तू आये तो थोडा प्रक्रूति के करीब जा सकूँ वरना रोजही है ए.सी. में ठिठूरना


मौसम विभाग का अनूमान और 'हाईक लेटर' कभी किसीके समझमे आता नहीं
सपने तो ढेर सारे है पर तेरी गैरमौजूदगी के कारन, वो कभी किसीको बताता नहीं,
तू आती भी है तो बडे धीमे पाँव, मानों आहट सुननेसे पहले ही तुम नदारद
क्या तुझे कोई गिला-शिकवा नहीं, कभी तो ठैर जाया करो बनके मेरी अमानत


लगता है तुझे भी 'मॅनेजमेंटने' खरीद लिया है, जो तू अपनी मनमानी पर उतर आयी हैं
पर जरा गौरसे देख, तेरे ना होने पर न जाने कितने घर बिखरसे गये हैं,
अब आना ही हो, तो दो-चार कौडीयों के 'हाईक' की भाँती मत आना
ऐसे बरसो की न सिर्फ़ मैं बल्कि इस प्रूथ्वी का कोना-कोना भिगो देना

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  सुरज ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Happy 2nd Meeting Anniversary" !!

"Meeting"!! 

Till then, I associated this word only with boredom/Gyaan session in office. 

In personal life, meeting meant yet another session of 'Match-fixing' which was irritating as it always had a 'Formal' touch. 

The only time when this word excited me was when I used to plan a meet with my close friends after many years.

But all my notions related to a meeting got changed in just one single day. 

A 'Meeting' which I was damn sure won't last for more than half an hour turned out to be a 5.5 hrs 'Pleasant Experience / Extravaganza'. 

'Lord Shiva' residing at 'Omkareshwar Temple' showered his blessings. 'Gandharv' blessed our tummies and finally 'Mahatma Phule Museum' set the tone to bring out our common aesthetics sense. 

Time had finally struck the right cord in our lives.

We both realized that this particular 'Meeting' was certainly different than the age-old ones which we 'Encountered' and so does the opposite person. 

Very rarely it happens that you start trusting someone right from the 1st meeting itself. That trust composes a symphony of a beautiful relationship.

Sadly that 1st meeting had to end due to the scheduled 'Paid Night Walk' (night shift in office) but we both knew that there would be lot more to come in near future.

Post that meeting, nothing remained same. Happiness was calling us with its arms stretched for us.

A madness journey was just round the corner!!

After many successive filmy events (jiske details fir kabhi/holded back for my autobiography), that meeting was culminated finally into our 'Marriage'!

It's odd that I am writing this on our '2nd Meeting Anniversary' but it doesn't matter as whatever I penned till now has always found a sure shot reader in terms of my Wife.

So this is a small token of appreciation from my side to her for all the love she has showered on me till date...right from our 1st Meeting ;)

"Happy 2nd Meeting Anniversary Baayde" !!

कविता -" कुछ खो रहें हैं हम "

रंजिशसी कुछ होती है दिलको, जब नंगे पैरोंको कडी धूपमें खेलते देखता हूँ

हमें तो आजकल AC की ठंडी हवा भी रास नही आती

मनचाहे इत्तर है अलमारीमें पर न जाने गिली मिट्टी की वो पुरानी खुशबू की कमी, क्यूँ आजभी खलती है



ना 'DG Cam' का हमें इल्म था ना 'Selfie' की ललचाहट, यादें तो बस अपने आप दिलोंमें कैद हुआ करती थी 




वो बरगदके पेडोंके लटकते झूले हो या आसमानमें टुटते तारे, सारे आजभी सपनोंमे सैर करने चले आ जाते है

आजभी वो  तितलीयोंके पिछे लगाई दौड याद आती है.....वो गिलहरीयोंसे की हुई बातें याद आती है

वो बचपनकी सादगीही थी की गैरोंमेंभी अपनापन मिल ही जाता था वरना आज....... कुछ ना 
ही कहूँ तो बेहतर है







सब  कहते है बचपन बहुत सुहाना होता है..... शायद इसीलिए वो मौसम बीत जाने पर हर शक्स परेशानसा नजर आता है 


दिल आजभी बचपनकी उन गलीयारोंमेंही कहीं अटका पडा है और मैं पगला, बेफ़िजूलही जिम्मेदारियों का कंबल ओढे उसे फ़ुसलानेकी नाकामसी कोशिश रोजाना किए जा रहा हूँ


बस एक इल्तिजा है यारों, हम तो हमारा बचपन तकरिबन खो ही चूके है...... हो सके तो अनेवाली पिढी का बचपन संवारनेमे अभीसे जूट जाओ......क्या पता कल हमें हमारा खोया हुआ बचपन उन्हींसे दोबारा मिल जाये!!!

कविता - " करवट ले रही है जिंदगी धिरे धिरे !!! "

कुछ अधूरे छूटे ख्वाबोंको, अंजाम देनेको दिल चाहता है

गुम हो रही मुस्कान को, वापस लाने को जी चाहता है

पीछे छूटी किताबोंकी दुनियाँमें, दोबारा डूब जाने को जी चाहता है

कमबख्त उम्मीदोंसे, दोबारा इश्क लड़ानेको जी चाहता है 

ठोकरें मिली जरूर, पर उनसे मिली सीख को सलाम करने को जी चाहता है

जंगसे भरी बेडीयाँ पैरोंसे निकालकर, फ़ेंक देनेको जी चाहता है

हर एक दुवा क़ुबूल करनेवाले, उस ऊपरवाले को नमन करनेको जी चाहता है

जिंदगीकी आगोशमें सुकूनसे, हर एक लम्हा बिताने को जी चाहता है

न जाने आज ये खयालात, अचानक क्यूँ उमड़ आ रहे है

यूँ मानों के सब मिलकर, एक नई राह दिखा रहे हैं

वो राह सही है या गलत, इसी कश्मकशमें पूरी रात निकल गयी

पर अगली सुबह, मेरे हर सवालोंके राज़ खोलती चली गयी

कुछ ओसकी बूँदें, हँस पडी मेरी ओर देखके

इक हवा का झोंका, झूम उठा मेरे करीबसे 

कहींसे एक नन्हीं कोयल, कानोंमें आके गुनगुना गयी

पगले!!! फिक्र मत कर, करवट ले रही है तेरी जिंदगी धिरे धिरे !!!!

'Theory Of Everything' With 'My Pyaari Of Everything' !!! (14th Feb-2015 Special)

You never want to disobey you wife, especially when it's your very first Valentine's Day after your marriage J

So when my wife suggested watching the movie ‘Theory Of Everything’ on this Valentine’s Day, I simply had to oblige her. Jokes apart, I always trust her choice which is same as mine. We happily went to see this movie having a fair idea of the theme.

This is where it all begins

This movie is an adaptation of a book “Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen by Jane Wilde Hawking”. The movie takes us back in the late 60’s. It portrays the college life of Stephen Hawking, his then girl-friend Jane who marries Stephen knowing that he has a motor neuron disease and that he shall die in next 2 years. The movie also talks about the struggle Stephen faced as his disease progressed but it emphasizes more on the sheer passion and determination which he had for Physics, his different theories which he kept validating as time progresses and his love for his family and overall positive outlook towards life itself.

The Beginning Of A Real Chemistry

In this movie, Stephen Hawking is played very efficiently by Eddie Redmayne and Jane is portrayed by beautiful and sensitive Felicity Jones. Eddie has superbly absorbed all the nuances of Stephen Hawking and thus shows all the stages of Stephen’s life very effectively. His twisted wrist, legs, neck and entire body speaks and connects with the audience. 

An Incomplete Yet Different Family

A Mesmerizing Beauty !!

Felicity also plays a very determined, sensitive, caring, sacrificial lady who is an equal match for Stephen. In many scenes, her eyes and facial expressions show her utter efforts to improve her husband’s condition and her failure to do so. Still she fights back every situation till a moment when Stephen feels a need to change their lives.

Felicity & Eddie Along With Real Stephen Hawking

Frankly speaking, I was much illiterate about Stephen Hawking and his work which includes The Big Bang Theory, Theory of Black Hole etc. This movie definitely made me aware of this live phenomenon called Stephen Hawking. The movie is really an inspirational one for all of us in many ways. If you have a positive will/attitude for everything then even death need to take a bow and so it did in Stephen’s case who is today 73 years of age and still writing through a portable computer and speech synthesizer fitted in his wheelchair.

After the movie, I and my wife were damn sure that it will win maximum Oscar awards. Unfortunately it won only the best actor award which the 33 year old Eddie Redmayne truly deserved. The way he has played Stephen from his young age till the old, almost immovable, speech affected Stephen is simply commendable.

Pillars of Stephen's Life

Till last year, I always wondered how a Valentine’s Day could be. However this Valentine’s Day taught me ‘Theory Of Everything’ !!!  For this, a special thanks goes to my Fair lady for making my 1^st Valentine’s Day so memorable….. And not to forget 'Mughal Darbar' and the 'Loud, Scary and Crying Baby' ;)

A Valentine's Day Can't Be More Memorable Than This !!! :)