For all my Guru's

Today being the auspicious day of Guru Pournima, I take this opportunity to spare sometime of my life remembering all those who have been Guru to me, all those who have imparted knowledge in me which has been the base of my life..

Bharti Teacher - She was my primary school teacher. She was the one responsible for making me good at Mathematics. I've had a lot of pasting from her but I think she has always been very concerned about my studies.

Zeverina Teacher - My secondary school teacher. One thing to learn from her is her patience and perseverance. I apologize her for all the trouble which I've given her. Inspite of that, she never gave up her concerns about me doing well in my studies.

Rakhi Tai - My elder cousin who really gave me the worst time while studying, the one who really had to curb her natural impatience just to let me understand things at my own pace, the one who took complains about me and made sure I did not repeat those. She had been there with me in my early years and a lot of what I know is because of her.

Sawant Sir/Rane Sir/Nikam Sir - I owe my success of S.S.C to these wonderful gentlemen, who were my tuition teachers. I don't think I would have done as good as I did in S.S.C if it had not been for the constant guidance by these men.

Bhandarkar Sir - I did below average at my H.S.C. if I compare my overall academic performance. However, it was this man who made Chemistry so very easy for me to grasp. I don't remember memorizing anything in Chemistry as the lectures conducted by this man were simply awesome. I owe my best score at H.S.C (92/100 in Chemistry) to him.

Patwardhan Sir - From being an average student in first year to being the topper in college in the final year of BSc IT is an achievement I shall always be very proud of. I could not have done it if it had not been for this man, the one who taught me most of the IT knowledge I know.

Zafar Khan - I won't say much about this man because I cannot verbalize what I have learnt from him; whatever it is, it is worth remembering for ages.

Hemant (Baba) - I have always been fond of dramatics and used to consider myself someone great in it until I met this man. I don't think anyone else would have abused me as much as this man. He made me learn humility, apart from whatever I have learnt of acting and dramatics from him.

Bhavesh Sir - I owe my knowledge of graphics & web designing to this man. He is a friend as well.

My Parents - My 24/7 guru's, need not say anything about their contribution.

My Friends - I have learnt a lot of things from you guys. Love you all.

I truly respect these people, and this is just a small gesture of gratitude to my Guru's. Lot more to live, lot more to learn, lot more to achieve in life. I am sure I shall be having many more Guru's as I travel the journey of life. So far so good :)

Entertaining journeys in Mumbai local trains

It's been close to a year now that I have finally started working(and earning), and my weekday routine is now set. Just like every other Mumbaikar, I commute by local trains. It takes around 3 and a half hours of commuting time for me, 1 and half while going and 2 while coming back, and this goes on from every Monday to every Friday a week(unless I have taken a leave). So, like every earning adult, I am spending most of my 'active' time in office and in the local trains. I leave early from home, and reach home late, eating and sleeping are the only 2 activities I do back home; I am sure so is the case with most of my earning friends!

After a tiring day at work, returning home in the local trains feels very boring, isn't it? You don't always like to listen to the same playlist in your ipod, the book you are reading can become boring, the newspaper must have already been read, or "the person you are trying to reach is busy on another call. Stay on the line or call..." is being heard on your phone! Trust me, the journey can really be very entertaining at times. You just need to keep your eyes open for these wierd, amusing characters that you will see in the journey.

Once, there was this young guy who was literally gymming in the train. He must be a degree college student and was doing his exercises vigorously. He held the handles and did push-ups, then used the seats to do dips and namaskars. He was a skinny guy, for sure he needed to exercise and build up muscles. But was it that necessary, that he was doing it in the train! Perhaps the guy must not have had some money to get into a gym, or he might be going on a date and doing so to impress his girl, maybe! Never really got a chance to know anything of this, coz the entertainment lasted for hardly 10 mins, and he had to get down. Just as he left, everyone who noticed him, burst out laughing, me included!

Then, there was once this unusual begger. He boarded the train, stood near the door and started taking deep breath. This went on for about 5-10 mins, and very few people had noticed this, and those who did had no clue what was coming up. Suddenly, a thumping sound was heard, as if someone is slamming a wierd sounding bongo and some inquisitive minds were wondering what's going on yaar. The begger started singing, and the thumping sound was coming from him. He was slamming his stomach, very hard, to come up with that sound. I don't remember the song, but it was surely not the regular ones and with his stomach bongo, he was really doing something different and good. He did receive appreciation from most of the people (I gave him 2 bucks while getting down the train).

I found a vacant seat, next to a guy, playing those irritating bhojpuri songs on loudspeakers of his mobile phone. Unfortunately, my ipod was down on battery so I could do nothing about it. After sometime, an middle aged man came and sat beside me. He too had a fondness for music, I suppose, and the other guy was enticing him to bring it out. He did, he started playing his own south indian songs on his phone. To add to my discomfort, both the guys had 'China' mobiles, which are too loud devices. Jugalbandi was happening between the 2, and people like me had to bear the brunt of it. That entire time, none of them received a call or an sms, and music was going on continuously, until 1 of the mobiles was low on battery. The bhojpuri guy was more happy now, and there was this mean smile on his face. But, it didn't last long; his battery was down in some time too, and I was like "Thank God. China rocks"

Then, there's this guy who sleeps on the entire seat even when the coach has enough people standing. The guy who was singing shayari's, and the guy who was drunk and trying to call up himself on his phone. There are plenty such characters to talk about, although I dont happen to see one everyday. These are the people who add a different dimension to the life of a common Mumbaikar like me, the dimension of unpaid and unasked entertainment! These crazy bunch of fellows amuse you, entertain you and bring a welcome smile, even if for a little while, on your face! The otherwise mundane journey is no more mundane now. Whatever be the destination, the journey is made cheerful by these idiots. If you have come across such people, you know what I mean.

You haven't? No problem, just keep your eyes, and your mind open the next time you are commuting by Mumbai local trains!

Thank God, I'm still alive :) :) :)

As I am still alive, I am able to write this new post, otherwise...

What I mean is I have had some moments where I've been walking on the thin line between life and death, and till now have landed on the 'life' side of it. Those incidents do come up in my dreams some times, making me realize how lucky I've been and I really thank God for this. Here are those 'wonderful' incidents, just for you guys to know:

#1: We had been to Aksa beach for a one day picnic. I was playing in the water, although not knowing to swim. By the time I realized the water level rising, I was in deep water already. My dad spotted me and came running to fetch me. I was being dragged inside by water and dad was trying to get hold of my hand. He tried once, failed(even he didn't know swimming). He tried 2nd time, my hand slipped from his. 3rd time, finally, he got hold of my hand and pulled me out.

#2: I was in degree college and was going to visit my granny. There's a short cut from Lower Parel station to her place by following the railway track. There are 5 railway tracks laid down there and I had no clue why one of those was never being used, as I had seen no trains going over that one(till that day). I had seen many people following that track to reach quickly, so did I on that day. I don't remember what I was thinking, just walking over the track, lost in my thoughts. I could hear a whistle, a strong one, but did not bother to look out where it can from. It was getting louder and louder and suddenly I thought of turning back to see where it came from. What I saw was a train coming over the same track on which I was standing, and it was just about 50 metres apart at that moment. I stepped down the track, and the train went past me making such a thunderous whistling noise, I can never forget.

#3: I was new to biking. I had to pick up dad from his office. He was waiting on the other side of the road and I had to cross to get to him. Without watching for other vehicles coming from behind, I just rode by bike towards dad. Something hit me hard the next moment and somehow I managed to gain control over my bike and stopped myself from falling on the ground. I was dumbstruck, my dad even more. Another biker, coming at a swift speed from behind, had dashed me. Somehow, even he controlled his bike. After some time, that guy came to me and just said, "Thank God, we are alive!"

Well, these are the incidents when I knocked the door of Mr. Yamraj. Fortunately for me, Mr. Yamraj was asleep then, I guess. On a serious note, I think God gave me chance to rectify these mistakes. Now, I can swim, I never cross railway track but use footover bridge and I am a safe bike rider. But more than all these, what I now believe is I should not take my life for granted. My life is precious, for me, for my family and my friends and its my responsibility to take care of it. I think I am doing a good job of it till now; and whenever I would feel I'm not, I'll have a look at this post again...good idea, isn't it?

Feelings for her

Sometimes you can't really come up with the 'right' words to express something for your 'someone special'. It happened with me as well. Thankfully, after going through a lot of music I have been able to identify those which are so close to what I felt. Here are some words, some really touching words, just to express my feelings for her, for those unforgettable moments that took place when I had nothing to say...

Light showers on one evening, we were facing the sea, calm & quiet, like the deep blue ocean, her head on my shoulder and our eyes closed:

You fill up my senses, like a night in a forest...

Like the mountains in spring time, like a walk in the rain...

Like a storm is the desert, like a beautiful ocean...

You fill up my senses, come fill me again...

Come let me love you, let me give my life to you...

Let me drown in your laughter, let me die in your arms...

Let me lay down beside you, let me always be with you...

Come let me love you, come love me again...

-- John Denver

It was not just one of my many birthdays; full of surprises, my favourite chocolate cake, the shade I was looking out for my shirt as a gift, all my loved one's with me whole day and all the arrangements wonderfully thought, organized and executed by her, just to make my birthday a special day:

It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart...

Without saying a word, you can light up the dark...

Try it I may, I can never explain...

What I hear when you don't say a thing...

The smile on your face let's me know that you need me...

There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me...

The touch of your hand say's you'll catch me whenever I fall...

You say it best, when you say nothing at all...

--Alison Krauss/ Ronan Keating

She could not see me off that day, as we always did otherwise, and I was going away for a few days, which made me a little upset with her...Change in atmosphere was much to handle and I was down with fever; she was not around and I needed her beside me:

If tomorrow never comes, will she know how much I love her...

Did I try in every way, to tell her everyday, that she's my only one...

If my time on earth was full, she must face this world without me...

Is the love I gave her in the past, gonna be enough to last, if tomorrow never comes...

--Ronan Keating

Things have changed pretty much; anger is gone, hatred is going away, friendship is dwelling again...but there's a vacuum; of guilt, lack of faith & other priorities, not letting us come back to each other, like before. I really can't do much now, maybe something simple would help:

Smile, an everlasting smile, a smile can bring you near to me...

Don't ever let me find you gone, coz that will bring a tear to me...

This world has lost its glory, let's start a brand new story now, my love...

You think that I don't even mean a single word I say...

It's only words, and words are all I have, to take you heart away...

--Ronan Keating

P.S. I love you

Nostalgia - I Love You

I was on my way to Virar some days back and happened to go from Grant Road. There's a famous Vada Pav joint outside Grant Road station, so popular that his inventory turnover ratio is really very high(in layman's term, the vada pav's get sold off very quickly) But I prefer the potato bhajiya pav there. It is very rarely available though. I guess I was lucky enough that day to get a bhajiya pav, garnished with his special sweet & sour tamarind chutney(Yummy!!!).

Suddenly a flurry of thoughts went right through my mind. I remembered those days when Pratik, Rahul and me used to regularly hog on the vada pav and bhaji pav while returning home from our SSC classes. The day when a girl from my private tuition passed me chit saying 'Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, ______________' while in class. The day when Pratik took me to the cyber cafe for the 1st time, despite the fact that I knew nothing about it. So many such incidents stood right in front of my eyes and most of them made me smile!!!

I belong to a group of enthusiastic X-students who get a chance to perform in the annual college event every year. We perform events like dance, drama and singing. I had my rehearsals for the same event and thus was on my way to Virar. Lost in the stream of those good old days, I could barely realize how soon I reached Virar, I mean its a 90 min journey from Churchgate, if not less. I was miserable at dancing(may be I still am but when I started I was nothing less that pathetic, trust me!!!). I remembered how Ameya was taking so much pain to teach me those steps, which I find quite simple now. How much patient he was with me when I was really pissing him off with my pathetic dancing skills.

There are so many such incidents, I can hardly narrate all of them. These are really special moments of my life. No one can take these away from me and those who shared these moments with me. I will cherish them all my life. Each time I discuss these with the one's I shared these with, I relive these moments. Ofcourse, I am not able to capture the finer details but nostalgia certainly does. And, you never know when nostalgia will throw up something at you again but whenever it does, it feels something we just cannot express in mere words.

Nostalgia, I love you.

Hum Tum...Its getting too much now!!!

Well, the title would surely remind you of the famous comic characters from the movie 'Hum Tum' complaining about each other...those cartoons were really well made and the whole concept of using them as transitions in the movie was awesome...kudos to Kunal Kohli!!!

Alright, this post is not to highlight the creative brilliance of some movie director; its about this 'cold war' which has been going on between girls and guys for, god knows how many, long years now...

Guys face a lot of criticism with respect to being dishonest, being superficial, wagging their tail behind a girl and so on...The points, in general, made by girls are one part of the story...Don't u think the guys should also speak out their minds...may be girls will notice something they have never noticed before!!!

Following are some points from a guys perspective:

1) Yes, guys can make it without girls!!! But why shud they make it without girls if they can make it along with them? After all, 2 is a company!!! And what better company for a guy than a girl!!! Aren't guys and girls meant for each other???

2) Guys are labeled as being dishonest but do girls always tell the facts, in exactly the same way, as things happen? I dont think so, no one can!!! When a guy lies, its only for the sake of not hurting the relationship...and a guy will only lie if he does not trust a girl enough to tell her the truth...if the girl is genuinely loving and understanding, there's no reason for a guy to lie!!!

3) Its a fact, guys are physically stronger than girls...they will always be that way...just as guys are strong, girls are graceful...and every graceful thing needs to be taken special care of...thats what guys do, coz we can, and most importantly, coz we care!!!

To keep it simple, I would conclude this by asking both sides to accept each other with a broad mind...its no point in complaining about each other if we are going to eventually stay with one another...nothing is perfect, it will never be...and just coz of that, should we drop the idea of trying to make things perfect between a guy and a girl??? Lets accept each other as we are and capitalize on all the good things in us, leaving behind the bad ones...I guess, you are with me on this one!!!

Life is a wonderful journey, not just a final destination...so enjoy the journey, it makes life much more meaningful!!!

LOVE - It's complicated

LOVE, a very special word, close to everyone of us. Why? It’s a very special feeling I guess, a feeling everyone identifies with and relates to that someone very special. Well, Love is a broad term and it has various forms like love between you and your parents, between you and your friends, between you and your pets and so on. I would be talking, or rather writing, about the most complicated form of love, love between a girlfriend and boyfriend (Interesting ha!)

Our generation has really been thinking in quite modern ways, we are chilled out, enjoy our life the way we live, do what we please and also love the way we feel is right, and also, love as many as we like. Your best friend happens to call you up and say, 'You know what, I love her yaar' and one fine day he says, 'I think, I don’t love her anymore. You know that girl in pink. I think I have feelings for her now'.

Internet is a part of our personality now and our personality is rightly captured by social networking sites as well, quite accurately! Facebook gives you an option to set your relationship status to 'It’s Complicated', just an indication that so much is being documented about our personality and the way we think on this immense virtual world of networks that helps people understand you, your interests, your dilemma as well (Its Complicated). Moreover, we don’t mind being complicated about something like Love and display it to our entire social circle.

What is so complicated about Love? Love is perhaps the most genuine feeling, I think. Genuine feelings don’t stem up for everyone, do they? Remember the fake smile which appears on your face when someone from your college, whom you just know a little bit, looks at you or waves at you. On the contrary, remember the thing which you really wanted to possess and your best friend gifts it to you on your birthday and you smile and hug him/her. Well, you remember, don’t you? All I mean is that some feelings are genuine for all of us and Love being one of those, should we have any complications about it?

Love for me is not complicated. Let me put it this way, if I love someone I care about her; I feel possessive at times; I feel insecure at times; I joke, laugh, cry, fight, comfort, understand her which in simple words would mean I share me with her. Being able to share everything with someone is something you just can’t do with everyone. You give away this chance to only a special person and thus, I feel, it can never be complicated (Unless you make it complicated)

What do you think is the most important thing in Love? I feel it is commitment, a quality which is lacking in our generation. Love becomes complicated when we are not really committed to the 'person with whom we are in love'. Some people part ways after being in 'love' for a very long time. The time they spend till they part ways is not an ordinary time, however long or short it may be. That time is very special, something you cherish for your entire life. Those photos, those lovely gifts and greeting cards, the bike ride, the walk on the sea shores-everything is just so special! Relationships should get better, stronger with time, isn’t it? But still, many people part ways even after experiencing such wonderful things. Why? They are no longer committed to each other, I feel. Why should we be committed? We have so many options, don’t we? We can flirt on Orkut, Facebook, Hi5, Yahoo and all, such that we really get a variety of options. Why spend time with just a single person, if we can get a chance with more than one? Life is all about options, right?

Love is a special feeling and the way we deal with it is a matter of worry. We take it for granted, completely! 'Things are not working out between us? Fine, you go your way and I'll go mine' Where is the commitment, isn’t it lacking out here? If things are not working out and are creating problems, we tend to go our own ways. Why do we never try to solve those problems? Maybe we feel that the problems can never be solved! How often have you tried to solve them? How much important to you is the problem being solved? Why worry about these issues when we can part ways and try our luck with someone else, hoping to get a better person in future! I think, we mix up problems with facts. Problems CAN be solved; if they can’t be solved they are facts, not problems! What stops you from doing anything? It’s YOU! What stops you from solving any differences which come up between you and your love? Commitment!

I feel we should start realizing the importance of commitment. We can’t take love for granted; it’s a feeling which should never loose its charm! Something is not working out well between you and her/him, talk about it, be true to yourself and then see if the whole issue can be resolved. Give it your best efforts. Things will turn good again. If they really don’t, only then accept it as a fact and move on. Love can happen more than once, I feel. But it’s you who really know if the feeling of 'love' is genuine or not. Be committed to yourself, your relationships and you'll see the way it enhances your life.

Never give up easily; Who knows, you just might win!