Why we meet?

8th March, 9.30 AM at Ross Frisco(Texas USA), I stood in a dilemma looking at travel bags, a black and a grey. It was too early for shops to open and shop keepers cleaning & smiling at me. Having bitten by shopping bug and its side effects, my bags couldn’t accommodate all I had bought and I had to shop the last gift for myself, a travel luggage. LOL!!

As I walked around luggage displays, I just wished I had someone who could help me make a decision. I didn’t even notice a gentle man standing next to me looking for another bag. I was talking to myself when he cracked a conversation about a choice between Samsonite and Nautica. I asked him about my dilemma and he helped me for next 5 minutes to make a choice. I bought the bag we both felt looks good and then he left the place.

As I paid the bill and walked out of the showroom, I was just thinking why did we meet? An hour in the day, when people are just wrapping breakfast, why was he in the shop? Did he come to just help? Or was I open enough to talk so he helped?

It was the day when I was traveling back home and was stuck in a bad chaos at airport. The American airlines staff mis-guided me thrice and I was just an hour away from my flight time and still waiting to get a boarding pass. I was panicked to hell and tapping my legs furiously. A man standing ahead of me just turned and smiled. He started with a small conversation and told me the late you get, more chances are there for an upgrade. He not only told me to relax, but continued his small talk to make me laugh at the incident. He was coincidently on the same flight as mine. On the 18 hours long journey, we had good conversations about life experiences, hot & pity topic of shaadi.com and a man’s view of wife and life.

Had I been on my own, I would have missed it but he also helped me get an express transfer at Heathrow airport as well as we had less time between flights. I told him I would name him as express wala in my blog, to which we laughed aloud.

I thought the day would be easy since all the drama had ended, but as I landed in India my mobile was not recognizing sim card and there he was helping me call my cab. 5 minutes more together and then we waved each other good bye.

I have often travelled alone and have managed my way, but this was the most awkward journey with incidents to remember. Was it all supposed to happen to me and so I had some one next to me to help especially on this one.

Such incidents often make me ponder; Life is a very strange journey. As you walk the path you meet people, stay together for a while and then move on as if we are strangers. What dictates when we are supposed to meet, why do we have feelings when we are together? Then why we curb those feelings and silently walk away from them as strangers.

A friend once told me, we need such memories along with breathe which justifies that we are living. But life and its experiences, keep this wonder writer wonder….why we meet?

Touch down to a technology experience.

On a ride of universal studio tour, I learnt a lot about the art of film making. As they say we tend to believe what we see, but the level of effort which goes into making of 90 - 180 minutes feature films is just amazing. From concepts, to models, to miniature creatures to use of technology, Hollywood is way above all others. Jaws one of my most favorite English movies had an automated model of shark and 75 ships were used to create its scenes. The tour also showed us Jurassic park dinosaur models, sequences creating floods, artificial models to show earth quakes, accidents etc. It also covered a 4D experience in which the tram we were on, become a victim of dinosaur attack and then king kong saved us.

2D, 3D concepts which I had read in graphics subject was exhibited in real life, as shows and rides. The best part of day was the transformer’s ride. In the ride, I was in a car and was stuck in a world attacked by Robot’s. As the alien robot held my car, the effects on the car made me feel it is happening for real. We often see in movies how people fall from a building and the same effect I could feel with my eyes. The ammunitions hit me for real and the bombs exploded next to me. It was such an amazing use of creativity, technology and mechanics, which I have never experienced before.

The special effects stage represented yet another Pandora of knowledge on how a small model can be converted to a real looking effect. The use of storyboarding, image art, giving voice to miniature creatures and putting this all together, is a tremendous effort for creating cartoons. Their creativity is amazing and so is their willingness to do better than their earlier efforts. And this has been happening since the years of Mickey Mouse, Tom & Jerry and is being given a new direction now.

The real advancement of technology and its use for entertainment, for education, health etc. gives so many avenues to the children today, which we rarely have seen at our times. As I wrote this blog, I was just remembering the days when we used to write essays in school on our holiday experiences. Collecting feathers, describing lentils etc. was the only thing we used to know about. But children today are exposed to so many new advanced technologies and am amused thinking what they would be writing or reading about in holidays.

I would appeal to all my friends with kids- as responsible parents- to expose their children to knowledge and the amazing use of it for their better future. Other than the subjects they study enable them with use of internet, amazing games and such holiday experiences, so that their minds develop to be more creative than us. Also impart them with the knowledge on how this is created and how this relates to the subjects in science. This way, am sure they will become successful innovators and contributors to the world.

How often do you find people like these….

How often do you find people who just are there for you, even if you don’t ask anything of them? Whether you call it passion, empathy or just care, they come forward to support, guide and hold your hand to reach - a goal you are just striving to live.

I have recently been through a bad phase of my life, when I met some one. I was all depressed, lost and frustrated of the situation, and there was a support. An unconditional support, which brought me out of those 5 days, through just laughter and care. Only few chats, santa banta jokes and some inspirational quotes was the remedy, which helped me stand back and fight the world.

I was left with an Inspiration to improve my looks, an inspiration to improve my soul and look towards the world in a different light. It moved my focus away from appraisals, 5% salary hike differences, performance improvements, competition, frustrations, selfishness & revenge.

I forgot the problems, I forgave the people who did wrong to me and moved on to improve a person I was negating all along – MYSELF.

Since then my life’s path has been filled with positive experiences and positive people. People, who didn’t look at what I am, but what I am trying to be. My struggle became their struggle, my passion was added on with theirs.

Without demanding anything in return, they came forward to help, check on me when I faulted, challenged me, shared their experiences and were always there with me to keep me motivated.

We have not been friends for long, we don’t even know anything about each other’s lives & struggles and we might soon be on different paths of life. But their suggestions, their care and their support is what I would be indebted to forever.

I often wonder, who brings them to our lives when we need them the most. How can they easily relate to our passions or struggles & what encourages them to help us, without expecting anything in return.

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!!