Lost and Found....

An alphabet lost a word. The word lost its meaning
A meaning lost life. It was going nowhere
A direction lost a traveler. The traveler chose the road less trodden
A love lost two hearts. They were lost in each other before that
An innocence lost a child. He grew up to be a man
A melody lost its song. Never did we hear it hummed
A follower lost religion. He is free
A road lost its way. Now it goes everywhere
Losing is a journey, gaining is the destiny
I lost 'Me', to find 'We'
And 'We' lived happily ever after...

The Wanderers - I

I was not willing to let go off her hand. It was the final paging call for me and I knew this is the last time I would be holding her hand the way I did.

Two days ago when I landed at the Mumbai airport, she was already there. She had come to pick me up. I had booked a hotel for myself and didn’t want to bother her, but she insisted. I came out the airport and was welcomed with a warm hug. I knew them from a long time. I had their company at the weakest and the happiest moments of my life. I hanged on for little more time and so did she. Then I flung my bag to the rear of her car and placed myself on the passenger seat. I didn’t want to drive; she asked me “So, where is the master wishing to be driven?”, ‘Someplace where a hot cup of tea and a friend would be present’, I replied.

“So what about your Hotel?”

“There’s a booking and I can walk in anytime I want to, but not now”
I was tired and she understood, she didn’t speak all through the journey upto her apartment.

Only when I got down, did she tell “Apu passed away, last week”, her voice was quivering and I knew how much she loved him, her pet puppy. She had told me the day he passed away but I think people, when they are brooding, tend to forget stuffs.

Ali was at the lift, he has been managing the lifts ever since Mia moved into the apartment. Must be 6-7 years. I at times wonder, do these guys have anything like promotion. I mean what would be promotion for a lift guy, something like; Mr Ali is promoted and from tomorrow he would be working from 1st floor and upward only, no more ground job for him.

I walked into the lift behind Mia. He looked at me and smiled, I smiled back, no words exchanged. ‘Fourth Floor’ the mechanical voice of the lift announced. We walked out of the lift. Mia was walking infront of me. She was always in a hurry and I was dragging myself. Too much of work over the week had drained out all of my energy.

She rang the bell of her apartment, Bina Kaki was there. She has been taking care of her since her childhood days, almost a mom-like figure for both of us. She hugged me with that motherly affection of her, that I was very accustomed with. “Kitna dubla ho gaya hai(How thin are you looking)” she said, she is always like that. Very caring and very sweet. I just smiled and said “Iss baar lambi chhuti pe aaya hun, mota hoke hi jaunga (This time I am here for a longer time, I won’t leave before I am fat enough)” and both of us laughed.

Mia had been uncharacteristically quite since the morning. I knew there must be something bothering her but I waited for the right time to ask her.
Mia showed me the room I was meant to be in. I took a shower, changed my clothes and came out. The breakfast was ready and there was Bina Kaki’s special tea. Mia joined for the breakfast and tea.

“So how you feeling now?” she asked. “Fine, infact much better”, I replied. “I spoke to your mom, she was complaining that you have not been calling her up regularly?” she was a bit angry, trying to be my mom. She has been like that all the while.“Actually I have been a lot busy”“I think you just try to be irresponsible”, that was short and sharp.

I didn’t dare to speak more. We finished our breakfast. Carried our cup and went to our fav spot. It was her balcony. It opened to an artificial lake and greenery, a rarity in Mumbai. And something for which you pay an heavenly price.

We sat there for sometime filling ourselves with the serenity of the atmosphere around us. We knew, inside there was a turmoil that was building. She moved closer, laid her head on my shoulder and closed her eyes. I didn’t want to disturb her, I didn’t move a muscle.

“So how is your job treating you”, she broke the silence, without moving“I am liking it” I said. “And how have you been doing?”“Not bad either”, she said.“What are you reading now?”, she asked“Nothing, in fact not getting enough time”

I just loved it when she rested on my shoulder, and that fragrance of her body filled me with a sense of pride.

....To be continued....

Delhi Destiny...

After a long time there was going to be this long weekend and to add to that there was no client deliverables, so I had a long weekend and all for me… Swati was here. She was coming to Delhi for the first time and she wanted to be a tourist. I chose to be the guide. But unfortunately the weather played the villains and she decided not to roam around much. So we went to Old Delhi, I took her to Chandi Chowk. She was really thrilled to see the old Delhi, Love Aaj Kal had actually left a deep mark… Then we moved into the Love Kal mode, I mean we went to Amby Mal Gurgaon. And by the time we were through with one movie and a game of bowling, it was time to go to station. She had a train to catch to Shimla. I dropped her there and returned home…. It was a day well spent. We have been friends for more than 12 years and every time we meet, the kid within us surfaces and we let it play…

Its true, you can be yourself with your friends…

The Jaipur Trip...

This was one of the time when there was no planning before I embarked on this trip to Jaipur. It was one of the most impromptu decisions taken for a trip. Last weekend was a long one and thts when me and K decided to go on a trip. Shimla, Jaipur, Chandigarh and even Delhi trip were al discussed, a few friends were asked to join us but all denied and thts when we decided that come what may we would be going.
It was not one of the pleasant beginnings. We started with a hit on the road, by hit I mean we met with an accident as soon as we hit the road. But it was a minor one and I didn’t let tht affect K. She chose to drive and chose to drive her mad all the way with my sense of humor and choice of music. It was a long way to Jaipur, and the rain and beautiful weather just made the things better.
It was a wonderful road trip. Driving among the lush green fields, between hills and at times on the road between no where. Our first stop was at Midway, where we halted to have some tea and samosa. Then we again got rolling, this time me handling the wheels.
We reached Jaipur around 3-30 pm and headed straight for the Amer fort. It was drizzling and touring the whole fort on foot, with drizzle and cloud giving company was bliss. It helped us to enjoy it thoroughly. Where else would you have the pleasure of watching the fort in the dune city in the hues of greenery, but when it rains. I had heard tht a girls charms can help you achieve things, and k made me believe that, when she got both of us get into this boutique kinda place inside the fort, which is reserved for some serious buyers and must I say the things inside were real royal and royally expensive too. Your charms did the magic babe...
Then we moved to Chokhi Dhaani and it was an awesome place. With all those old world charm and everything around it felt like a walk into the past...
Jhoola, camel ride, bio scope, chuski, dal bhati, gatte, bullock carts and what not...
And when the time came to get back to the concrete jungle... We had no choice but to bundle up the memories in a safely treasured corner of the heart and keep it for eternity.
One of the most enjoyed trips in my life...

Kaminey: Awe'f'ome movie

There have been many times when we come across a path breaking movie, the one that doesn't go with the flow but tries to break the mould and try something different.
Kaminey is a movie that does exactly that. It makes people think, this certainly is not a movie that would have too many followers. Probably the mass connect of the movie is lacking. But then you can never sideline the fact that you are watching a movie that makes you sit on the edge of the seat all the time.
Well when we talk about the story, its about twin brothers, who happen to be chalk-and-cheese, then they are caught up in a crossroads, where they change lanes and how things take a turn from there on.
The ensemble of brilliant actors is just a beginning. Where would you have had Amol Gupte acting as Bhope Bhau. There is a long list of first time actors, Chandan Roy as Mikhail does a memorable act.
Shahid pitches in with one of his career's best performance and Priyanka just adds range to her already versatile acting prowess.
But at the end the movie is a vision of the director. The director, who has given us Indian version of some of William Shakespearen tales. With this one Vishal Bharadwaj stamps his authority at telling intelligent story, making himself stand out in the crowd of movie makers.
The movie would have been incomplete without the cuttting edge cinematography and brilliant music. The dark and dull look makes this movie look morbid which adds to the story line...
Watch out for the petrol pump scene between Shahid and Priyanka, Face off between the twins at the end, Amol Gupte (Bhope) and Chandan Roy (Mikhails) childish banter and of course the final action scene....
A must watch recommendation from my side.....

A Shortlived Vacation....

It was a cool evening yesterday and to my surprise the pleasantness stayed on till the morning. It was such a wonderful thing to see the sun wearing shades and not scaring you with its wrath. I love a day when it starts with an out-of-office message from sun and cool breeze blowing across. Its just an icing on the cake to know that the day happens to be a holiday... what else do you need.
No clients, no bosses, only bliss; sitting on the balcony sipping tea out of the zodiac mug (the one with your zodiac sign) and stretching lazily... Reading newspaper is a luxury tht hard working souls like us can rarely afford in the morning, but today was a different thing... I had sometime to flip through a morbid newspaper. Yes, morbid since you find swine flu written everywhere.

Well now that I have to rush to office, yes it was a shortlive one... and i tried to squeeze in some time for myself....

Love You Maa

I am off to home, not been long when I was last there but then whenever I feel exhausted or need to rejuvinate, nothing better than home comes to my mind.



I still remember long time back, a couple of decade ago i presume, when i was a little boy, i remember falling off a swing and banging my head against an iron rod. I had done some major damage near the right eye, tears had tricked down those eyes then, she had felt the pain more than me and she still does, when I am hurt. Yes Maa. She is always there for me and always loves mewithout telling me how much she loves me and how much I mean to her.

As children we all thought our mothers to be nothing sort of a super human, i mean where else would you find someone doing so many things and not even once thinking about herself.

Every exams we take are like her exams, she would stay up all night only to ensure that we dont fall asleep. And I doubt if we match her excitement every time we succeed in our life, she is the first one to celebrate our successes. And she is the first shoulder that we all like to hang on to at every small or big failures in our life. She is the emotional balance that we all cling on to.

I remember the day I left my home for further studies, she had emotions flowing down her eyes, and I know she still misses my presence. But she will never let me feel that. She is a strength that I always rely on.

I miss those hot cup of tea she used to serve me during the exam times, late in the night. I miss those shouting at me when I used to keep my room unclean. I miss her hand made food. I miss her pep talks when I am down. I miss my antakshari sessions with her. I miss her lullaby.



Maa this is for you: telling you that all that you have done to me and all that you would be doing I love you, I respect you and I miss you. I know you would be there for me when I need you the most and even when no one would be there to hold my hand, you would be there to take care of me...



LOVE YOU MAA