There is the constant need to walk at the speed of light. The need to catch the very local standing on the platform when you're at the overhead bridge. The need to nudge someone moving too slow. The need to be aggressive. The need to be competitive even while walking down the road. The need to go to the sea side to breathe. The need to show your cultural intellect in social surroundings and the lack of it on the street. The need to live in the "posh" localities even if in a pigeon hole. The need to fit in. The need to do something extra. The need to develop into a MACHINE.
This is the "need" of Mumbai. The Maximum city.
Don't get my wrong, I'm no cynic of the likes of Antisthenes or Demetrius. I'm just unsure if this is what we came here to do. to be. I could belt down few lines about life and the purpose of it but its a little overdone already, so lets just say, I think that there should be more. More to all of this humbug called "life". Maybe we all don't have a divine purpose, but we do have only one shot at it. So yes, we will continue to nudge people on the streets and rush to get to places and put up a brilliant facade of "how awesome we are" but I would want to also in reality be "awesome". Do things which are awesome. meet people who are awesome. eat food which is awesome. read books which are awesome and finally feel satisfied with an overdose of awesomeness!! If i had that along with life's humdrum, I would be fine. My personal "divine" purpose would be attained. Sounds simple right? very basic even? But is it? The answer is No, it never is and they never said it would be. Even to achieve the basic is a struggle, a struggle most of us don't mind undertaking.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
The Face of your Car :)
So all my life, since i was a kid, I have observed vehicles and associated a "look" with them. Something which was my favorite pass time during our extremely long road trips (my dad used to love driving) eventually turned into this crazy psychological funda. I used to point at all the cars that went by and associate an emotion with them. So there was the HAPPY car, the SAD car, the ANGRY car and so on. As i grew up, the fixation of noticing car faces never went away and what came in was an added sense of understanding. I now associate car emotions to those of the owner. So say for example, a happy car would never have a rude owner. True or not, these are my perceptions. People use handwritings and hand gestures to determine behavior. I use CAR FACES :) So lets have a look at it.
Lets start with Hyundai Santro Xing. I find it to be a very complicating car. The first look of it makes it seem like a very happy car!I mean its not just a happy car, its a happy,excited,jumpy car. I almost expect it to hop around. But if i keep looking at it, there is this hidden side of meanness which surfaces and gives me the jitters. I have never been sure if its a happy car or a car pretending to be happy!!
The VW Polo on the other hand has one of the sternest faces in this segment of cars. I wouldn't call it "attitude", its more of a primary school teacher strictness and it's a little overpowering.
Maruti Suzuki Swift is such a HAPPY car. Its got the ":D" smiley face. There is something so positive about it and so energetic.
Lets look at The Honda Accord. That is one powerful car, it oozes of POWER. And Sharpness. Its how everyone would want their boss to be. Powerful and sharp but NOT Angry.
The Honda City on the other hand is such a peaceful car. Its got oodles of attitude and this incredible sense of "coolness" but its still a Calm car, a car which can be a rage on the roads but prefers to be just Calm!!! The earlier city was a much happier car. A baby face car. The new one has got the whole attitude thing going for it. Its as if its grown up!!
The Honda Jazz is such a mouse of a car. The pointy nose makes it look like Stuart Little. Its got something so mischievous in its eyes, like its always up to something notorious:)
One of the most "at peace" and honest cars I've ever seen has to be the Maruti 800. One look at it and it fills me up with this warmth. Its smile and its eyes are just so "in" with each other.
Each and every car just says so much. There is something in those eyes which makes them almost human!! :)
Lets start with Hyundai Santro Xing. I find it to be a very complicating car. The first look of it makes it seem like a very happy car!I mean its not just a happy car, its a happy,excited,jumpy car. I almost expect it to hop around. But if i keep looking at it, there is this hidden side of meanness which surfaces and gives me the jitters. I have never been sure if its a happy car or a car pretending to be happy!!
The VW Polo on the other hand has one of the sternest faces in this segment of cars. I wouldn't call it "attitude", its more of a primary school teacher strictness and it's a little overpowering.
Maruti Suzuki Swift is such a HAPPY car. Its got the ":D" smiley face. There is something so positive about it and so energetic.
Lets look at The Honda Accord. That is one powerful car, it oozes of POWER. And Sharpness. Its how everyone would want their boss to be. Powerful and sharp but NOT Angry.
The Honda City on the other hand is such a peaceful car. Its got oodles of attitude and this incredible sense of "coolness" but its still a Calm car, a car which can be a rage on the roads but prefers to be just Calm!!! The earlier city was a much happier car. A baby face car. The new one has got the whole attitude thing going for it. Its as if its grown up!!
The Honda Jazz is such a mouse of a car. The pointy nose makes it look like Stuart Little. Its got something so mischievous in its eyes, like its always up to something notorious:)
One of the most "at peace" and honest cars I've ever seen has to be the Maruti 800. One look at it and it fills me up with this warmth. Its smile and its eyes are just so "in" with each other.
Each and every car just says so much. There is something in those eyes which makes them almost human!! :)
Friday, May 6, 2011
Break Brokers!
"arre madam, bahaut badiya ghar aaya hai. ap dekho toh sahi" and that's how the ordeal begins. Its a vicious circle and all we new bee mumbaikars get pulled into it. THE BROKER. Its easy to recognise the typical broker. Two Phones in hand, another one probably jingling in the pocket. A handful of keys. Friendly waves to people on the street in his "area". Untucked shirt. Hindi mixed with a lot of English. The smooth talker.
They'll suck your blood till you cant give no more. Which part of "My budget is 13k" translates to "acha toh aapka budget 16k tak hai na" ? I stare in disbelief as their "bahaut badiya ghar" unfolds itself in front of me in the form of a dingy no ventilation room in a building falling apart!!
Standing instructions mean nothing to them. So what you communicate over the phone to them or in person is forgotten within 2 mins and they begin to take you all over town showing whatever they want to show you and not what you want to see.
I think after each visit that i've seen it all and that it possibly cannot get any worse. But they outdo themselves and shock me with a creepier dingier and shadier place than the one before!
There was one straight out of a Ram Gopal Varma movie with "naina" scrawled across an entire wall and a cross dangling from the window. Another one had 15 children playing right outside it screaming and shouting, completely shoot worthy! Oh and not to forget the house that ended before it started. The broker coolly asks me to "have a look around" and i wonder what "around" is.
Most of the houses are brilliant from inside but are located in the dingy chauls Mumbai is infamous for. So you'll have ladies sitting outside in the corridor chopping vegetables, analysing you from head to toe as you walk by. Men roaming around in their vests and children, oh the annoying children! Also, the one odd roadside romeo leaning against the wall. As i stare in disbelief at the "good area" my broker insists on me seeing, i think to myself how i'll never find a livable home here.
Making you roam around the whole city in a cab is something all brokers do, but mine went a step further and asked me to hop on his bike! As i looked around to find a cab, i realised i had no option. Sitting was fine, not knowing what to hold onto was not! Grabbing the back of my seat and being horrible awkward I thanked my stars that the place was less than 5 mins away.
Its like speed dating. I move from one broker to another. With the hope to find a better one but end up as disappointed as i was when i my fizzle first fizzed out!!!
So pray for me, as i pray for myself each night,to help me find a HOME! :)
They'll suck your blood till you cant give no more. Which part of "My budget is 13k" translates to "acha toh aapka budget 16k tak hai na" ? I stare in disbelief as their "bahaut badiya ghar" unfolds itself in front of me in the form of a dingy no ventilation room in a building falling apart!!
Standing instructions mean nothing to them. So what you communicate over the phone to them or in person is forgotten within 2 mins and they begin to take you all over town showing whatever they want to show you and not what you want to see.
I think after each visit that i've seen it all and that it possibly cannot get any worse. But they outdo themselves and shock me with a creepier dingier and shadier place than the one before!
There was one straight out of a Ram Gopal Varma movie with "naina" scrawled across an entire wall and a cross dangling from the window. Another one had 15 children playing right outside it screaming and shouting, completely shoot worthy! Oh and not to forget the house that ended before it started. The broker coolly asks me to "have a look around" and i wonder what "around" is.
Most of the houses are brilliant from inside but are located in the dingy chauls Mumbai is infamous for. So you'll have ladies sitting outside in the corridor chopping vegetables, analysing you from head to toe as you walk by. Men roaming around in their vests and children, oh the annoying children! Also, the one odd roadside romeo leaning against the wall. As i stare in disbelief at the "good area" my broker insists on me seeing, i think to myself how i'll never find a livable home here.
Making you roam around the whole city in a cab is something all brokers do, but mine went a step further and asked me to hop on his bike! As i looked around to find a cab, i realised i had no option. Sitting was fine, not knowing what to hold onto was not! Grabbing the back of my seat and being horrible awkward I thanked my stars that the place was less than 5 mins away.
Its like speed dating. I move from one broker to another. With the hope to find a better one but end up as disappointed as i was when i my fizzle first fizzed out!!!
So pray for me, as i pray for myself each night,to help me find a HOME! :)
Monday, March 7, 2011
Wishing and Thanking
Every once in a while there’s that feeling we get, the feeling that today’s going to be super.
The kind when we wake up in the morning with a big smile on our face, for no plausible reason.
The kind when getting out of bed doesn’t seem to be a challenge.
The brightness of the sun doesn’t make us cringe up our nose.
Or the cold winter air doesn’t make up curl up more.
We step out. Breathe. Feel. Live
Just for that ONE day.
We wish for more of such days. But never thank for the ones we have.
(miserable selfish souls we humans are)
We feel. We imagine and We wish
We always wish for more, for better. Maybe that’s why we get better sometimes.
But isn’t the thankless attitude of our race heartbreaking.
I hear women complain everyday about how they aren’t pretty enough or how they want that one pretty Mange dress.
And Men, oh don’t even get me started on MEN!! Yes, agreed, they aren’t always quite vocal about it but they have it too. The wish to be richer, better, stronger and I hope at least God knows what not.
Take a minute, to thank. Not God (if that’s not your ‘thing’). Just thank someone. Yourself even. For who you are and for what you have. Anything.
It’s a tested fact, the lesser you expect, the happier you are.
I’m not propagating an aimless wishless life. No.
Just a Happier more content one.
The kind when we wake up in the morning with a big smile on our face, for no plausible reason.
The kind when getting out of bed doesn’t seem to be a challenge.
The brightness of the sun doesn’t make us cringe up our nose.
Or the cold winter air doesn’t make up curl up more.
We step out. Breathe. Feel. Live
Just for that ONE day.
We wish for more of such days. But never thank for the ones we have.
(miserable selfish souls we humans are)
We feel. We imagine and We wish
We always wish for more, for better. Maybe that’s why we get better sometimes.
But isn’t the thankless attitude of our race heartbreaking.
I hear women complain everyday about how they aren’t pretty enough or how they want that one pretty Mange dress.
And Men, oh don’t even get me started on MEN!! Yes, agreed, they aren’t always quite vocal about it but they have it too. The wish to be richer, better, stronger and I hope at least God knows what not.
Take a minute, to thank. Not God (if that’s not your ‘thing’). Just thank someone. Yourself even. For who you are and for what you have. Anything.
It’s a tested fact, the lesser you expect, the happier you are.
I’m not propagating an aimless wishless life. No.
Just a Happier more content one.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
draft
I was viewing my blogger dashboard today and realised that I have more posts in 'draft' than I have published. Reason: Many.
Sometimes its the lack of words or the insufficiency in which they present themselves. Sometimes its the lack of emotion. Sometimes the sudden scare to not let the feeling out in the world for people to see and interpret. Sometimes the need to remain secretive and sometimes just not enough faith.
As I re read these posts I went back to how I felt when I had saved these as drafts and left them unpublished. How my head functioned for that one second when I shut the window. Its strange, but almost always there was this fear. Fear of people knowing, fear of not being good enough, fear of hurting others.
So if I didn't publish the post about how my friends betrayed me, or how colours affect me, or how that one day I felt like going away...those were days I had the fear. Fear of being seen. Fear of being judged and the fear of just feeling like i'm in the "naked at school" dream. So I let it be. Wrote those anger posts, posts of disappointed, posts of love, posts of not being understood and then just left them safely where no one could find them.
So i'm going to now very quickly press "publish post" with the fear of this going down as another draft.
Sometimes its the lack of words or the insufficiency in which they present themselves. Sometimes its the lack of emotion. Sometimes the sudden scare to not let the feeling out in the world for people to see and interpret. Sometimes the need to remain secretive and sometimes just not enough faith.
As I re read these posts I went back to how I felt when I had saved these as drafts and left them unpublished. How my head functioned for that one second when I shut the window. Its strange, but almost always there was this fear. Fear of people knowing, fear of not being good enough, fear of hurting others.
So if I didn't publish the post about how my friends betrayed me, or how colours affect me, or how that one day I felt like going away...those were days I had the fear. Fear of being seen. Fear of being judged and the fear of just feeling like i'm in the "naked at school" dream. So I let it be. Wrote those anger posts, posts of disappointed, posts of love, posts of not being understood and then just left them safely where no one could find them.
So i'm going to now very quickly press "publish post" with the fear of this going down as another draft.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
THE post.
At times, just when things seem fine and when we finally start believing that life isn't such a bitch after all, it does something to prove us wrong.
There are no reasons for the bad things that happen to us or to those around us. No explanation why some one's life is cut short by 50 years in a flash of a second. Or why some people go Scott free despite the crimes they commit. I'm not young enough or old enough to buy the age old excuse "god just loved them more and wanted them close to him". Sorry, it just doesn't cut it. We've always been told how god is this generous magnanimous energy and then to make us believe that he's selfish enough to take people away from their loved ones? Sorry, like i said it just doesn't cut it!
So if there are no reasons, no second chances, no comebacks; should there be no hope too? should there be no belief?
I know i believe in God and no matter how hard i try to not believe in him, i find myself praying to him every night. He has a way with us, a way of showing us that all is not lost. that all is never lost. In the worst of our times he'll shine a ray of sanity. Something that'll make us believe in humanity and the purpose of living again. It could be the smallest of thing. it could be the cab driver who drove you at 3 in the morning across the city or the security guards who offered you their chair. Absolutely anything.
But then again, are these smaller things power full enough to over power the loss? I highly doubt that. Time they say is the best healer. Everything, even the deepest wounds heal with time. So should we wait? wait for it to pass? Only to know that once this passes, something else will be there to grieve about.
There are no reasons for the bad things that happen to us or to those around us. No explanation why some one's life is cut short by 50 years in a flash of a second. Or why some people go Scott free despite the crimes they commit. I'm not young enough or old enough to buy the age old excuse "god just loved them more and wanted them close to him". Sorry, it just doesn't cut it. We've always been told how god is this generous magnanimous energy and then to make us believe that he's selfish enough to take people away from their loved ones? Sorry, like i said it just doesn't cut it!
So if there are no reasons, no second chances, no comebacks; should there be no hope too? should there be no belief?
I know i believe in God and no matter how hard i try to not believe in him, i find myself praying to him every night. He has a way with us, a way of showing us that all is not lost. that all is never lost. In the worst of our times he'll shine a ray of sanity. Something that'll make us believe in humanity and the purpose of living again. It could be the smallest of thing. it could be the cab driver who drove you at 3 in the morning across the city or the security guards who offered you their chair. Absolutely anything.
But then again, are these smaller things power full enough to over power the loss? I highly doubt that. Time they say is the best healer. Everything, even the deepest wounds heal with time. So should we wait? wait for it to pass? Only to know that once this passes, something else will be there to grieve about.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Its All about relevance!
So YES I am the deprived kind who heard them only quite recently. But I think I've made up for it by hearing them everytime they're in the city. Yes Yes, we are talking about SomeThing Relevant. There's probably only one word that describes these bunch of really enthusiastic guys..."WOW". yes, not quite profound, but the most apt!
I cant quite say what kind of music they play. I'm not the Music genius who drops genre names at the drop of a hat. In fact I think I still define Music as either Loud or Mellow. Thats it! I can not tell the difference between Psy and Tance and Electronic and whatever! Anyway, getting back to the band.
First of all there are soooo many of them, and each so very talented. Yes i know i sound quite lame, but this is my first attempt at describing Music and the 'thought' matters, so shoosh!
So what is so brilliant about them? They literally have it all, I mean right from the lead singer to their fans. Each one of them has an aura of energy around them that reverberates to the audience. Plus, they have someone on the Sax!! (I rest my case)
So incase you havent heard them or heard of them. Go ahead.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zdJkPGiBWk :)
I cant quite say what kind of music they play. I'm not the Music genius who drops genre names at the drop of a hat. In fact I think I still define Music as either Loud or Mellow. Thats it! I can not tell the difference between Psy and Tance and Electronic and whatever! Anyway, getting back to the band.
First of all there are soooo many of them, and each so very talented. Yes i know i sound quite lame, but this is my first attempt at describing Music and the 'thought' matters, so shoosh!
So what is so brilliant about them? They literally have it all, I mean right from the lead singer to their fans. Each one of them has an aura of energy around them that reverberates to the audience. Plus, they have someone on the Sax!! (I rest my case)
So incase you havent heard them or heard of them. Go ahead.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zdJkPGiBWk :)
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Lohri!
One of my favourite Festival, hence I thought it deserves at least one post :)
So this is how is goes (for the unaware), you dress up. Light a bonfire. Go in circles around it. Eat and throw popcorn/til/puffer rice. Sounds like fun right? :P
Throughout childhood, Lohri has been that one festival which always turns out to be very exciting. Whether it was in the unit or with family or the rather adventurous one with HC, they've all had this peculiar charm which sticks on!!
And how can i forget the one last year, with the music and the Samara and the wall climbing madness with street dancing et al.
There's something about it, it makes me miss my dear dear Punjab so very much:) with the colourful phulkaris and the dhol, the singing and dancing...its a very Punjabi affair!
With each handful of til you throw into the fire, you burn away a bit of evil. evil within you and around you. And believe it or not, there is that incredible sense of relief every time you do it :) Its our way of doing away with all the wrongs and starting afresh.
So heres wishing you a rather colourful, happy, mad Lohri :) :)
So this is how is goes (for the unaware), you dress up. Light a bonfire. Go in circles around it. Eat and throw popcorn/til/puffer rice. Sounds like fun right? :P
Throughout childhood, Lohri has been that one festival which always turns out to be very exciting. Whether it was in the unit or with family or the rather adventurous one with HC, they've all had this peculiar charm which sticks on!!
And how can i forget the one last year, with the music and the Samara and the wall climbing madness with street dancing et al.
There's something about it, it makes me miss my dear dear Punjab so very much:) with the colourful phulkaris and the dhol, the singing and dancing...its a very Punjabi affair!
With each handful of til you throw into the fire, you burn away a bit of evil. evil within you and around you. And believe it or not, there is that incredible sense of relief every time you do it :) Its our way of doing away with all the wrongs and starting afresh.
So heres wishing you a rather colourful, happy, mad Lohri :) :)
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Pepsieewwwww!!
I open my facebook page and see an update from my sister and since she hardly updates anything, i click on the link...and EWWWWWWWWWWWW!!! seriously??
It took me to the "NEW" Pepsi WorldCup campaign with Dhoni et al body painted in flames!!! What were you thinking? No, Seriously...WHAT??
According to the VP Marketing, they wanted to bring out the passion and FERVOR and ENERGY that WE Indians associate with cricket. Ummm...i'm an Indian, quite an Indian actually, and reasonable passionate about Cricket and I DONT FEEL ANY OF IT!!!
Sometimes it really surprises me how people with (what seems like) millions of years of work experience take such STUPID decisions! It was as if in one stroke the entire image which took years to create was washed away. But this isn't the first time, Pepsi as a brand has made some very ridiculous decisions in the past too. Compare it to Coke and there we see a sensible marketer, keeping it real!!
Maybe this is a lesson for them, maybe not (im sticking to the whole they are STUPID bit).
I guess its Bye Bye Pepsi and Hello Coke :D
It took me to the "NEW" Pepsi WorldCup campaign with Dhoni et al body painted in flames!!! What were you thinking? No, Seriously...WHAT??
According to the VP Marketing, they wanted to bring out the passion and FERVOR and ENERGY that WE Indians associate with cricket. Ummm...i'm an Indian, quite an Indian actually, and reasonable passionate about Cricket and I DONT FEEL ANY OF IT!!!
Sometimes it really surprises me how people with (what seems like) millions of years of work experience take such STUPID decisions! It was as if in one stroke the entire image which took years to create was washed away. But this isn't the first time, Pepsi as a brand has made some very ridiculous decisions in the past too. Compare it to Coke and there we see a sensible marketer, keeping it real!!
Maybe this is a lesson for them, maybe not (im sticking to the whole they are STUPID bit).
I guess its Bye Bye Pepsi and Hello Coke :D
Monday, January 10, 2011
And IT was born :)
The one question "is there any MBA institute that does not have a management fest?" This one question. It led to the birth of an idea. The birth of our baby..ORION 2010.
And while there were many falling outs and 'issues'...ORION was born.
Like a new born child... it was demanding, attention seeking and kept us awake for weeks!! And like any devotional parent...we didn't really seem to mind any of it.
Starting from nothing but scratch, our whole batch worked their way to those final 2 days. We literally Survived the management, Adapted our lifestyles, Evolved our thinking and we are hoping to Thrive much more this year.
We knew one thing, we are not an IIM or an XLRI, but we are something that none of them are. We are SIMS, with our own peculiar "way of life", something that puts us apart. Something that has made our Alumni some of the most successful people in their respective fields. We aren't about bookish studies, we aren't about High CAT scores or class room teaching. We are about practicality, about street smartness, about 'doing'. We are about partying our heart out but still kicking any one's ass at any competition nation wide. And THAT is what sets us apart. And that is what we wanted the world to see. Not just any Symbiosis MBA institute, but SIMS! Our Individuality!! Hence, the theme last year!!
And we're back again...for another 2 days of complete madness and drama!!
So as we pushed our chairs back and tilted our heads to come up with this years theme, we went through our journey in the year gone by. The entire event last year.
And the one thing that kept bouncing up in our heads like an annoying bug was that whatever said and done, we are NOT having a run of the mill, regular B school theme. Its got to be Fun and its got to be US, just like ORION 2010!! And what better or rather "who" better to describe our life here than our Beloved Murphy! Its almost as if HIS laws were made keeping SIMS in consideration, we have him around all the time :)
So welcome to ORION 2011, you better be prepared to UnExpect the Expected.
Mr Murphy seems to be on our side this time and WE are not making it easy for you :D
And while there were many falling outs and 'issues'...ORION was born.
Like a new born child... it was demanding, attention seeking and kept us awake for weeks!! And like any devotional parent...we didn't really seem to mind any of it.
Starting from nothing but scratch, our whole batch worked their way to those final 2 days. We literally Survived the management, Adapted our lifestyles, Evolved our thinking and we are hoping to Thrive much more this year.
We knew one thing, we are not an IIM or an XLRI, but we are something that none of them are. We are SIMS, with our own peculiar "way of life", something that puts us apart. Something that has made our Alumni some of the most successful people in their respective fields. We aren't about bookish studies, we aren't about High CAT scores or class room teaching. We are about practicality, about street smartness, about 'doing'. We are about partying our heart out but still kicking any one's ass at any competition nation wide. And THAT is what sets us apart. And that is what we wanted the world to see. Not just any Symbiosis MBA institute, but SIMS! Our Individuality!! Hence, the theme last year!!
And we're back again...for another 2 days of complete madness and drama!!
So as we pushed our chairs back and tilted our heads to come up with this years theme, we went through our journey in the year gone by. The entire event last year.
And the one thing that kept bouncing up in our heads like an annoying bug was that whatever said and done, we are NOT having a run of the mill, regular B school theme. Its got to be Fun and its got to be US, just like ORION 2010!! And what better or rather "who" better to describe our life here than our Beloved Murphy! Its almost as if HIS laws were made keeping SIMS in consideration, we have him around all the time :)
So welcome to ORION 2011, you better be prepared to UnExpect the Expected.
Mr Murphy seems to be on our side this time and WE are not making it easy for you :D
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Anger...just this once :)
There are times when we discover a place, a place we can call our own. Where the comfort level is higher and where we tend to bring all our friends.
And sometimes that very place disappoints us. What do we do then? Regret? or forget?
Well knowing me, im not the forgetting sort. Its always been an "issue" with me.
So Regret huh? or ANGER!! oooo i like anger, its so much more less complicating!!
So lets get angry for once, its been so long and i miss the feeling of being all egoistic and angry and maybe a little lame:):)
Here's to NOT being in high spirits!!! :D Cheers!!!
And sometimes that very place disappoints us. What do we do then? Regret? or forget?
Well knowing me, im not the forgetting sort. Its always been an "issue" with me.
So Regret huh? or ANGER!! oooo i like anger, its so much more less complicating!!
So lets get angry for once, its been so long and i miss the feeling of being all egoistic and angry and maybe a little lame:):)
Here's to NOT being in high spirits!!! :D Cheers!!!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Fauj!!
I don't remember, but I am told that i used to gobble down aloo paranthas at the age of one. All thanks to my sahayak bhaiya who patiently fed them to me sitting on the steps outside our house in Gangtok. That's how it all began, MY FAUJI LIFE :)
Everything from there has been a very Red and Yellow affair, or as my father emphasises, Scarlet and Gold!! No matter which regiment you've been in, the regimental colours hold that special place in your heart.
As kids, our fascination for the army was at another level. We'd love to salute and shout out "ram ram saab". Our unit was a girl dominated one, and we made absolutely no effort to include the one odd boy that came along. We'd still play ghar ghar with our barbies and expect the "boy" to play along.
Cycling was probably our only Job. We'd discovered all the roads (the proper ones and the ones for tanks) in the whole of any cantonment within the first few weeks.
All the mess parties spent in the lawns or the TV room, while we gobbled down the snacks from the kitchen even before they could be served, downing cola bottles and playing absolutely ridiculous games and bossing around the younger kids (i was bossed around enough too).
Oh and not to forget the Bachelors, they were always a hit with the kids. Dragged to the TV room to play hide and seek and what not.
Moving from one station to another never seemed to be a problem since the whole regiment moved together, the mess looked the same everywhere, the same uncles and aunties, same kids to play with, same bhaiyas, same vehicles. It was like taking a part of the city to wherever we went :)
As a kid, the most awaited part of my day used to at around 4pm when the DR bahiya would come on his green bullet to deliver the daak. I could hear the sound from a distance and would rush to the door. I think my fascination for bikes (specially the royal enfield) started then.
Being posted in stations like palampur and babina, we didn't really have a "city" to go to like other kids of our age or to be fascinated by the worldly things.(I don't remember watching too much TV either, cable was a "luxury" that smaller towns couldn't afford). So, besides the games and the cycling throughout the day, we came up with alot of interesting stuff, we opened a library in our block which lasted a week. We did alot of completely mad dancing for the grown ups (we had proper shows :P). We went for a million picnics. We formed our own secret club with a club house in the woods and everything.
I don't know how many children have gone through this, but we at our unit have...quite a few times...the Ladies Club!! I remember sitting in the mess sticking rope onto glass bottles to make invitation cards or helping decorate the ante room...I'd say child labour!! But its not like we were complaining :D
The raising day was the most awaited 3 day event of the year!! (yes, it beat New years eve and everything) All the preparations and the excitement. The pagal Gymkhana, the GCOs Vs Officers Basket Ball match, Mandir Gurudwara,the Bada Khana(as we grew up, the Mess Dinner too )...three days of alot of fun:)
We've all fired the Insas in the firing range, gotten a BMP/Tank ride, Even driven them both, sang at least one song with the jazz band at a mess dinner, done ballroom dancing, had our first awkward formal sitting dinner, gotten attached to at least one sahayak bhaiya, taken part in a garden competition, prayed alot when our fathers would be in field/forward area, gone for atleast one adventure camp, fought with another fauji kid who was claiming that his/her unit's better. We've had a life which I wouldn't exchange for the world.
The Garud, The colours, The tag numbers of 260 262 and 264.
Garud ka hoon, Bol Pyare :)
Everything from there has been a very Red and Yellow affair, or as my father emphasises, Scarlet and Gold!! No matter which regiment you've been in, the regimental colours hold that special place in your heart.
As kids, our fascination for the army was at another level. We'd love to salute and shout out "ram ram saab". Our unit was a girl dominated one, and we made absolutely no effort to include the one odd boy that came along. We'd still play ghar ghar with our barbies and expect the "boy" to play along.
Cycling was probably our only Job. We'd discovered all the roads (the proper ones and the ones for tanks) in the whole of any cantonment within the first few weeks.
All the mess parties spent in the lawns or the TV room, while we gobbled down the snacks from the kitchen even before they could be served, downing cola bottles and playing absolutely ridiculous games and bossing around the younger kids (i was bossed around enough too).
Oh and not to forget the Bachelors, they were always a hit with the kids. Dragged to the TV room to play hide and seek and what not.
Moving from one station to another never seemed to be a problem since the whole regiment moved together, the mess looked the same everywhere, the same uncles and aunties, same kids to play with, same bhaiyas, same vehicles. It was like taking a part of the city to wherever we went :)
As a kid, the most awaited part of my day used to at around 4pm when the DR bahiya would come on his green bullet to deliver the daak. I could hear the sound from a distance and would rush to the door. I think my fascination for bikes (specially the royal enfield) started then.
Being posted in stations like palampur and babina, we didn't really have a "city" to go to like other kids of our age or to be fascinated by the worldly things.(I don't remember watching too much TV either, cable was a "luxury" that smaller towns couldn't afford). So, besides the games and the cycling throughout the day, we came up with alot of interesting stuff, we opened a library in our block which lasted a week. We did alot of completely mad dancing for the grown ups (we had proper shows :P). We went for a million picnics. We formed our own secret club with a club house in the woods and everything.
I don't know how many children have gone through this, but we at our unit have...quite a few times...the Ladies Club!! I remember sitting in the mess sticking rope onto glass bottles to make invitation cards or helping decorate the ante room...I'd say child labour!! But its not like we were complaining :D
The raising day was the most awaited 3 day event of the year!! (yes, it beat New years eve and everything) All the preparations and the excitement. The pagal Gymkhana, the GCOs Vs Officers Basket Ball match, Mandir Gurudwara,the Bada Khana(as we grew up, the Mess Dinner too )...three days of alot of fun:)
We've all fired the Insas in the firing range, gotten a BMP/Tank ride, Even driven them both, sang at least one song with the jazz band at a mess dinner, done ballroom dancing, had our first awkward formal sitting dinner, gotten attached to at least one sahayak bhaiya, taken part in a garden competition, prayed alot when our fathers would be in field/forward area, gone for atleast one adventure camp, fought with another fauji kid who was claiming that his/her unit's better. We've had a life which I wouldn't exchange for the world.
The Garud, The colours, The tag numbers of 260 262 and 264.
Garud ka hoon, Bol Pyare :)
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