Stay connected to your Creative Self!!

Microphone(nick named “Mike”) is a dumb technical device having its roots in 1665 after which it was finally transformed to its fashion state with time invested at Bell Labs by Thomas Edison. He and many such researches spend their lives providing us things which later become our necessities.

Necessity to make our voice reach beyond ourselves and help us stay connected to our creative self. One such effective use of Mike, is what I witnessed at Caferati this Friday (an event which happens every last Friday of the month somewhere in IHC).

A mike, standing tall on podium waiting to be put to use to showcase the emotions, views, laughter to the people, who have come to appreciate creativity. Among them were – college students, youngsters (in their mid 70’s with radiant white hair), Insurance agents, business men, housewives and audience like us. People, who would have winded up their day’s hectic schedule, to be there to share what we call “freedom of expression”.

In open mike, you can never anticipate what people may say - current situation of the country, home abuses, wife problems, boss problems, cheap jokes – as you could speak anything there.

But it was not exactly, what I was expecting.

There were “Mango people”(aam aadmi), with a flame of creativity still burning in them along with what they are programmed to do. Yes, I often feel, we are programmed.

As we grow, each one of us is queued up to develop ourselves to professionals who earn well and have a set living pattern. A youngster hanging a guitar around his shoulder is seen with a raised eye brow by many parents who just want their children to score 90% & above. Extra-curricular activities are often termed as a simulation for brain, but then get back to studies. Am sure most of the people, who take up arts, literature, theatre as their profession, would have definitely faced this question “Kam kya karte ho”. In this race, we often under-nourish a section of the heart (& brain am sure) which craves for doing something different, something creative.

So here I was today, among people who nurture with care that section of their heart (& brain) and were there to express themselves.

Event started with moderator’s witty comments, politely threatening all to be sure of what we were there to attend. The evening had a mix of expressions through - Songs, Hindi/English/Urdu/Punjabi poetry, comedy and a rope magic by a brilliant magician. Some mind blowing 2 minutes I would never forget –

• Hindi ghazal/poetry by a girl which explained the pain of finding the right man for marriage - How she tries to explain the Basic features/Specifications (pun intended!!) required in the man for life. How she is often mis-understood, ridiculed and gives up explaining any further.

• First timer showcase of how boys face parent’s strictness on not having girl friends. What exactly happens when his friend (but a girl) calls on the landline? How he fumbles to respond while his mother picks up the intercom from the other room and the girl says the killer statement “Teri mummy aa gayi kya”.

• Hindi song by a young guy to understand & quest with god on, why his one sided love was not reciprocated.

• And a hilarious act by a Surd, who wishes to be a girl and he feels they get all the privileges and trainings. Trainings on how to look at people, talk to people and they are corrected where they wrong, but boys are just told to go and play. How he felt all fashion designers just focus on women clothing and how much men clothing has been primitive in its designs.

• Last but not the least - one common topic was - love for our mothers (including our bharat ma) – Mere pass bhi ma hai, hayen!!. One person extended this thought to Dadi ma and said a few verses on how meager she was to spare money.

Others 20 performances - included Songs/Ghazals to explain the meaning of life, the impact of corruption, encouraging youth to change, Punjabi songs on romance and many such brilliant performances.

With the last performance, as the clock struck Nine – I felt as if I just came out from an AURA – back to my programmed life. But the evening re-energized me to get re-connected to my creative self.

And the outcome is “A blog"

Dedication :- Through this blog, I would like to encourage my friends, family, readers who have engrossed themselves and their cute children to life’s cruel pattern, to PLEASE STOP & just see if they need creative stimulation as well!!

Yeh daftar, yeh makan, yaheen reh jayega,
Teri zarurat ka har samaan, yaheen reh jayega,
Teri mehnat ka paseen, chand ansoon mein beh jayega
Jeeley yeh zindagi, aye janibey khuda
Bus yeh dil ka sukun hi hai, jo tere saath jayega!!

Bahut dino baad...

"Sorry my readers if you have missed me for long, Something in my life was going very wrong,
Now my feelings for writing has become very strong, so am back with a storm :-)"

Its been 1 year, 2 months and 15 days when I wrote my last blog on blogspot. That was my last working day in my last organisation and the day when I took up a new job and a new challange in life. My success or failure in the new role is yet to be proved,but what I definitely lost in between was "being myself".

2 onsite trips to Boston, a wonderful whale watching ride and my most memorable visit to Niagra falls (with storm Irene on my side) have been some of my great accomplishments other than a award which I got for client focused delivery in my new organisation.

All this at the cost of losing most of my friends was not a very good bargain.But kudos to my friends who have still wished me luck on every interaction on facebook, have sent me their wishes on my birthday.

Though I have made a few new friends and many foes with my working style, but still I wonder, is this all what I should be doing. A 12 hours job, with 24 hours of worry, a passion to perform with no recognition or is there something else in me which am losing.

Though am gaining a lot of weight, but I am losing on hobbies which I can pursue, am losing on things I love to do, am losing on good friends and most cherished educational spree.

So, here I am wondering where to start, what more to do and first call tomorrow will be to catch up with long lost friends to hear a naughty welcome "Bahut dino baad ...."

For the best people in my life!!

It was a strange feeling when I stepped into Route 2M today and saw all faces gleaming at me with a smile. They are my friends, with them I have shared a very different bond. We have so much age gap, but that never deterred exchanging any thought. With them I could be what I cannot be in a professional world.

Among them, some will be married in a few years time, some would take up further studies, some married gals would have pot bellys soon and some are planning their honeymoon. Our lives are different, priorities are different but in bus we all cohabitate as best friends.

As I move on today, I have a mixed feeling of happiness and grief, happiness for a new life and a better future but along with it I am moving away from those who have been the world to me.

I will miss the times we spend in bus, I will miss the jokes, the games and the fun. Here are some verses of laughter & Pun J


Whose leg will I pull from tomorrow,
Whose heart will I pierce with verbal bow and arrow

Whom will I tease for a weird nail polish shade,
With whom will I fight for a card of spade

Whom will I call cheapo and stale,
With whom will I exchange chains of mail

For whom will I carry books to exchange,
Who will compliment me when my looks will change

With whom will I work out and fight,
Whom will I guide what is wrong and right

With whom will I match a step in dance,
With whom will I gossip office & romance

From whom will I snatch a chocolate piece,
With whom will I share my happiness & grief

Memories are endless and dear to keep
Our friendship is a bond which is quite deep

Whenever you miss me, just send me a beep

..beep beep !!

Friends……. just Keep smiling as it costs nothing.

Mission impossible!!

She pointed towards a peak right in front of me and I looked up in utter disbelief that I will be able to make it. Last 15 days in gym balanced with birthday parties (sub’s, calzones) has not given me results which I could count on.

My heart missed a beat, because I knew it would be tough and painful, but I had to do it. The helicopter ride which I had partially counted on was strategically negated by my group as they had planned the climb at night. 13 km, 4 hrs seemed like a major target set for my yearly appraisal, when my boss had decided to fire me soon.

When I looked around, there were member’s who were regular visitors and were planning to take it bare foot, some were planning to run up while I was thinking will I be able to sustain. It was a tug of war between slim and fat, young and old and belief and disbelief.

7.30 PM Feb 5th 2011, is when we started off for the climb in the midst of loud enchants of Jai Mata Di on a road covered with shops hanging souvenirs, head bands and sticks for support. Following the spirit I picked up a headband giving me the look and strength of a pakka bhagat.

My dissatisfying first stop was at first 50 steps on the climb, when I was gasping for breath and my heart was pounding so hard as if it will come out right now. I looked at members of my group who were enviously treading fast on the slope, and I started calculating the hours it will take if I go with this pace. “Jai Mata Di”, said my friend with smile and gave me a sip of water. He told me, this is how it is but it is not impossible.

With further slower steps and strange realization that I have to make it through we started walking forward. After a few quarter to half kilometers(couldnt count kilometers), we joined back with my group who were dancing on the beats of Dhol. Amazed by their enthusiasm and encouraged by the beats I joined in Bhangra steps.

Enchanting Jai Mata Di with a strong belief in almighty together with infectious vivaciousness of my group, their encouragement at various steps when I was tired and my friend’s constant support eventually helped me climb the rest of the 9 kms(in 5 hours, not a bad target achievement in IT). As we climbed further heights, the winds and the view brought with it a freshness of an early morning stroll. Refreshing cold water bath took away all the tiredness and we were soon standing in the queue for the eternal Darshan of Mata Vaisho Devi.

People have a strong belief, that her view is possible only if she sends you an invitation and yes I was standing there in front for her, with hands folded in bow. It was she who had called me here, it was she who wished I should meet her which made me reach here.

It was 4.30 AM in the morning and the next major step was Bhairon Baba temple, which was another 1.5 kms with a steep climb. I had given up hope as I was aware that I had to walk back 13 kms, but the spiritualist girl among us forced me to complete this important and mandatory Darshan. I couldn’t possibly walk back if I climbed it, so planned to board a horse(pittu).

It was the most horrendous experience(where I felt the importance of a seat belt), with a Langoor making an anti climax entry, making the pittu take a U turn to my horror. Adding to the romance of the trip was a continuous down pour of rain along with strong wind sweeping us of our feet. The improved weather did help us walk down quickly but baby steps to avoid slipping and leading to severe calf pains.

Last 2 kms felt like a never ending lap in the race to home, which was made worse by a gentle man’s suggestion to take the stairs in the last lap. 163 plus, 60 plus and misguided 531 steps later my walk was reduced from a human to a penguin stroll.

Just then my friend pointed towards the same peak which I had doubted yesterday and I couldn’t stop myself from a smile in jubilation, “WE MADE IT POSSIBLE”.

My sincere thanks to my great friends and Route 2M family members who planned, encouraged and supported me in making this mission possible. Jai Mata Di!!

Family No. 1!!

It’s said, Friends are better than family, as we can chose them.

Route 2M, a cryptic name for some has emerged as a god given family to us. Each one of us has found a relation which has been our support when we were dull, has given us strength when we were tired and given us hope when we were lost in disillusions of corporate world.

Every member in this family has a beautiful role to play in our life which makes it a whole. From Lata mangeshkars of the world to Sachin Tendulkars, from great gamblers to “Ghar ki Bahus”, all cheer up for each other, for five days morning & evening for 1.30 hours.

The length of journey, which is unbearable for non family members who rarely get to sleep, is enviously very short for our family, as we have never felt the pain of non adjustable seats of the royal brand.

A true representation of multi cultural India, with a conglomeration of Punjab, UP, Himachal, Bihar, but the common religion which ties us together is a single word, enjoyment. Every day is sparked by the brilliantly imagined game plans, whether it is drawing the road side signals on a touch screen, to dumb charades, cut the cake, UNO, antakshari and recent additions like volley ball, clap at 3 and dictionary.

Extending this spirit are numerous parties for birthdays, Roka, engagements where members celebrate their happiness. Saviors for these treats range from temptations, grilled sandwiches, patties but the venue is always the same, our not so hygienic but a very warm spirited bus, where we are not charged on a per plate basis. It is an open house, where we can snatch from each others hand but it is ensured the driver always gets a share for bearing the loud voices and longs waits on the stops when some members are late.

Work pressure, boss problems, personal issues are never discussed within the group but are every day replaced by jokes, leg pulling, a melodious song and special dance parties on numerous occasions. It makes us feel the comfort of home, before reaching our own families. Bahu’s feel free to dance, sing and enjoy forgetting silence & shyness they have to maintain at home and married men for once just forget that they are tied to commitments. Our spirit has encouraged some shy members to dance on an unimaginable dance floor and reacting to the video coverage as if he/she would soon be on television.

A family which is hard to part with, a family which is always there for us and a family where we can be what we are, is our family No. 1..the Route 2M family!!

Dedicated to all the members of my family who have shared with me a great bond, the Route 2M bond!!

My Best Friend's Wedding!!

For one of my very best friend, as we share a special bond which is hard to define.

Hands half covered with Mehendi, face radiant with pre bridal gold facial and a huge smile. From Boy cut to shoulder cut, from jeans to sari and from tom boy to shy bride such is a change love brings to a woman as she progresses in her life. She has been one of the most intellectual gals I have ever known. We always used to talk about further studies, career and a bright future and strangely guys were never a part of any of our conversations. She has been a friend, a philosopher, a guide, has made me smile when I was dull and wished me success at every mile.

It was an exciting occasion for me to attend for two reasons, one to meet her after 2 years and second to see her sport a saree. Am sure she would have practiced wearing it around 20 times. When I landed in Mumbai, I was greeted by a happy Punjabi family full of fun and enjoyment. The evening was all set for “Geet Shangna de” and I had done my homework by revising some Punjabi marriage occasion songs. Mehfil was already in full mood when I joined the group singing songs. “Madhorama pencha vey”, “Charkha channan da”, “Main chali piya pekdey” were some of the number I could encourage everyone to sing along a with a song where I made a boy dance with a chunari based on theme, where bride tells her mom that she doesn’t want to go to her husbands house.

2 performances were a hit in the function, one by me where I put up a sale for each member of the family for “Dhai Aaane” and another was from her bua ji who had created a medly of old songs and matched them up with couples in their family. It had combination of songs where the elderly couples like Nana ji and Naniji actually performed a disco number. I was amazed to see how well a preparation was done for such a special occasion for her and this must be the kind of love she spreads in her family.

Night ended with a lot of chit chat with her relative aunties who told me stories of how they felt when they got married and catching a glimpse of the magnificent view of Mumbai, where sea was right in front of me, blushing with reflection of light.

I woke up at 5 AM as was hardly able to sleep and so was bride to be wide awake concerned about color of her Mehendi and all convincing her it would be right for the occasion. Everyone was hurried as the mahuarat for the havan was fixed for 7 AM when she was to wear chura which is worn for 40 days in Punjabi marriages. Being appointed as a “Sarabali”(bride mate) I was on my toes and had to be next to her at all times. We quickly got ready to reach the venue as it was in Mulund around 1.5 hours from bandra and soon hit the road cutting our way across the Bollywood city of India. Poster of upcoming movies, Amitabh, Shahrukh, aishwarya entertained us on the journey to a Marathi wedding.

The boy’s family greeted us with great affection and with a lot of rituals which I have seen for the first time. Clad in Marathi silk saree, my friend looked a beautiful doll while she walked towards the mandap. Her parents looked so happy when the couple exchanged rings and continued to perform the rituals, but her mum had a little tear in her eye. In the festivities and emotions my mind just circled back to the watch and it was already time for my flight. I wished the couple a happy married life and her family goodbye.

9th November 2010, will always be a special day in my life and every year when I wish her a happy anniversary, the memories of this occasion will make me smile!!

Break Ke Baad!!

I still remember the days around 20 years back, when weekend was marked as a festive time as VCR from Kalra Movie gallery along with four movies was to arrive in the evening. Movies were played one after another, songs forwarded and eyes glued to the TV sets whole night to watch the latest movies. Mum still used to frown as she was sent to kitchen to make some snacks & tea and she would keep an eye on the kettle while catching glimpse of the scene standing in the corridor.

From 4 PM to 10 PM BST, the same sequence was repeated as I watched three films in a row and the last one being break ke baad. From those times to this time, it actually was a Break ke baad for me.

After watching that movie, I couldn’t resist writing this blog as that movie was yet another movie which hit a cord with me after Dil chahta hai. A story written by Prasoon Joshi, a famous advertiser and story teller has brought forward the concept of a aggressive passionate girl who has dreams to become a movie star. She is an outgoing courageous woman who can leave behind everything to pursue her dream. People who loved her tried to come in her way in the sake of relationships as boyfriend, as mother but soon realized that her passion is everything for her.

It clearly showed when a person is following a passion, he/she can be blinded to other view points for those around them. Like her mother was an actress herself and she had gone through a lot of pain which she didn’t want her daughter to face, so wanted to protect her and even tried to be angry. She was right in her own sense and that emotion of hers made the gal realized that a passion is as good a goal as is her loved once support.

It had a similar impact on her boyfriend, who actually was her friend and was so used to her that he first tried to push himself on her. But with a break from her, he started following his own dream and made a mark in what he was good at with a support of some strangers, who became his friends. He soon realized what passion means to the person who is following it and he becomes more of a support than being annoyed.

Movie also highlighted role of friends in our lives and how friends love us for what we are but not for what should be. They can be away for a while, but they are always there for us when we need them.

Kudo’s to the independent, confident and fun loving girl’s character that Deepika has played in the movie. It also addresses a positive change which has come within women in India, who now dream and wish to fulfil them. Also, they can now propose to men with their knees bent rather than waiting for the man to take the first step.

I often wonder the creative thought which goes into finalizing these characters(Lillet Dubey, Naveen Nischol, Sharmila who had marvelous contributions to their role), their role, the outdoors, visualizing and actually making these movies. We as audience just pass our review comments on a Rs. 150 ticket which we sometimes feel have gone waste on a movie, but reality is many of such movies actually give us a new direction/a new thought on life.

Great work on “Break ke Baad” and my next blog after a long break. Enjoy the movie!!