Memory Lane

Sushma Swaraj, tweeter to jail!

2011-01-25T18:29:00.001+05:30

Sushma Swaraj.. A journey from tweeter to jail!

The so called named ekta yatra is I think going to turn the republic day in to the most violent republic day ever. How the BJP has used the situation to gain ovr the congress is really breath-taking.

There are some plain questions need to be asked to everyone:

The BJP makes it look like a true patriot will attend a flag hoisting ceremony. So if today I don’t cry out in support of their so called EKTA yatra that means I am a traitor of the country. But isn’t flag hoisting one of the symbolic gestures of potryaing your love to the country? It definitely cannot be said as a criteria for patriotism. Don’t these BJP fuckers realize about patriotism during the other 363 days of the year considering they act the same way at the Independence Day too.
Its so clear that BJP is trying to politicize the issue. There isn’t an iota of doubt un my mind that they are trying to make it emotive and express their sudden ‘love’ for the country. Its utterly shameful that they are trying to gain ground from the ruling party over the issue of tricolour. Its such a disgrace to the party. The same brains who master minded the Ayodhya & Godhra massacres today are fighting for National Interest & National Integrity. Is it really necessary to start a yatra right from West Bengal and spend so many resources and show the world with so much carnival that J&K is an integral part of our country?
Wasn’t Advani himself in talks with separatists till a few months ago? Some say because they burnt the Indian Flag and hoisted the tri color, BJP is doing this. Agreed its bad and it hurts my patriotic sentiments too but look at Jammu & Kashmir over the last 2 years. With the state government hardly able to control and central government sleeping for months, the tension itself has been so tremendous.

This for sure is going to lead to an escalation of tension and I really hope that we don’t see a blood bath on our republic day. I think atleast tomorrow let your ego step down for the greater good of the country. Just because a set of hooligans (read separatists) behave like monkeys and lunatics.. doesn’t mean that we put our hair down and emulate them!

And sushma swaraj… atleast don’t tweet when you are doing something as stupid as this. It is really damaging the little ijjat that you have in the minds of the common man.. God bless you..

Ohh the news just came in that she is taken into custody. Our opposition has failed miserably. They could have taken off the government after issues of price rise, inflation, medi-ocre growth, corruption cases, some more corruption cases and even more corruption cases..

Praying that there isnt a blood bath tomorrow!

Year 2011

2011-01-24T15:39:00.002+05:30

Some-things that I want to accomplish before the end of this year:

Keep ca final books neat and complete and be regurlar in classes
Save money on Xerox copies and not to resort to xeroxed notes unless there is a fatal need of them
Do well in the B.Com final examinations.
Decide what you want to exactly do academically in life.
Gate-Crash one wedding by year end.
Train and participate in the Bangalore Ultra-Run 37.5 kms and complete it successfully. November 2011
Train and participate for the Full marathon January 2012
Learn the basics of how to play one musical instrument by year end.
Hit the gym.
Learn Jive & Salsa
Get a D-SLR by hook or by crook! And click amazing random black and white pictures.
Learn to cook only exotic dishes – chicken varieties, salads and mocktails and serve it to friends
Always be positive and not give a fuck to what the world thinks about you
Mutter “I am the best” everyday five times in the morning while making the bed right.
Be a little decisive about the confusion and indecisiveness rampaging in the head.
Have a vacation only with friends.
Get the entire series of How I Met Your Mother and try to find why people like it so much.
Do some social service and get attached to a NGO which teaches under privileged and marginalized children
Spread YTN as far as you can.
Attend the Kala Ghoda Festival.

A girl and A guy

2011-01-13T12:14:00.000+05:30

A little sunny and warm

A cold breeze,

Perfect day and a perfect season.

A sweet maroon dress

A black shirt and blazer

A perfect church set for a wedding

A Reading of love

From the book: Song of Songs.

With jive and waltz and flowers around.

The stage is set

The lines are written

They are revised

The dance floor is empty and calling them

But the guy gets busy

The girl gets conscious

They enjoy the wedding

They hug and leave.

At night,

The guy curses himself,

Couple of days later.

The guy thinks *its now or never..*

In the afternoon

Rewrites the lines,

Byhearts the lines,

Revises the lines,

Gets the flowers,

Searches for a private and cozy coffee outlet,

Rubs his shoes clean,

Tucks his shirt in,

Eats his nails short

Empties the deodorant bottle and eats mint.

Time scheduled for the proposal : 630pm

While packing up and leaving from work,

The downfall starts:

Gets a sms from the boss,

Is called for some urgent work,

Forgets the flowers,

Dirties his shoes,

Ironed shirt looks all cramped

By the bus rush

Meeting last for an hour.

The girl luckily has some work,

Both leave together,

The guy realizes theres no time for coffee,

Then realizes the flowers are under the table at office,

Looks at this shoes and his shirt,

And gets all disspointed.

The roadside dahi puri replaces the cozy coffee,

The walk is hurried

They take the cab and there that’s it.

At dadar station

An overflowing dustbin gives company

A rush hour crowd gives some rave looks

With all the courage of the world

Says “I need to tell you something”

Her phone rings… Ma calling..

Guy thinks in split 2 sec “ everything going wrong.. flowers gone, chat = snacks, appy and majja tetrapacks = expresso, crowded dirty station = cozy & private place

Lets not do it…God is showing signs.. L

After the call

The girls says: you were saying something…

The guy in mime: Its now or never..

He starts: You need to know something..

*determined* He says..

You need to know something

I like you

And I really like you.

I think from the day of the prom you swept me away

Next 5 secs…

The insides crush against each other

He starts smiling and confused and ackward

His wisedom tooth is not allowing him to complete the smile

He is feeling too many things at a time..

He looks at the girl.

She is smiling, astonished and confused…

He forgets all the lines…

He is blank…

He looks at her

Says : “ok bye.. lets go home and think about it!”

Hugs and leaves no..

Actually hugs and runs away!

An Interesting Eight Year Old and a 30-min Journey

2010-12-31T16:34:00.000+05:30

The other day I met this kid, Rishi traveling in the train with his dad. He was sitting on my lap and his dad was a little distance away. I started speaking to him, asked him his age and school and his ambition and also about his new year plans. Then I asked him to tell me some of his new year resolutions. He was a little confused at first as he dint know what are new year resolutions so I explained to him about his plans for the new year about behaving like a good boy and etc ete. For the next 30 mins till Malad he went on telling me about his plans for 2011.

Rishi : First Bhaiya, I want to be a good boy. My mom shouts at me when I misbehave (*becomes sad*) but then I make a Sorry greeting for her and she forgets everything. Now drawing and painting will get boring na?

Me : why re?

Rishi : Arre didi tells me only kids do drawing and painting. Next year I will be 9 (smiles proudly) so I ll behave a ‘little’betterso I ll have to make less cards.

Me : Ok.. that’s interesting.. what next?

Rishi : I ll talk less in class, wont pull Meghna’s hair (I m *surprised*) and wont eat other’s Tiffin. Priya miss gives me negative remarks (sad again)

Me :But why do you do mischief?

Rishi :arre majja atta hai bhaiya, tum nahi samjoge!

Me :Achaaa theek hai.. why do u trouble Meghna and eat others tiffin?

Rishi :Simple na bhaiya, others get paav bhaji and dosa and I take morning theplas and aachar! (sad again) and Meghna (smiles), she is my best friend.

(others in the train start smiling at him)

Rishi :Bad boys..! Friend only! Meghna cannot be my girl friend she is two inches taller than me.

(everyone is embarrassed and amused)

Me :Okkkkk… What else?

Rishi :I ll come second in class this unit test in January and submit my worksheets on time

Me :Huh? Why second? And not first?

Rishi :Meghna is very smart. I think she copies during exam. Bhaiya how can u get full marks in each paper then? I get full marks in science, history and maths and geography.

Me :That’s very good. What rank do you get?

Rishi :Second only bhaiya.

Me :Then whats so great about your resolution?

Rishi :Maintain karma difficult hai bhaiya.. class mein competition bahot hai. Voh Patel addha mark peeche hai total mein

Me :Hmmm… Correct..

And many more things he told me about life, but then this was the last and the best one…

Rishi :And I want to keep only one girlfriend.

I along with others are surprised cause he is just 8.

Me :Only one as in?

Rishi :Arre bhaiya, in class my teacher and other girls love my curly hair.. they keep staring only.. then one day I have my tiffin with some girl and the other day with some girl.. Meghna gets very angry… she is jealous I think..

Me :Ok Rishi.. it was fun and interesting meeting you.. Bye happy New year.

Rishi :Stay in touch Bhaiya. I ll add you on facebook. I have 18 friends only.. L

I was not only shocked but happy that I ll be in touch but he hasn’t yet sent me a request.. he mite have just forgotten cause like me he might be having many more fans of his curly hair, cute smile and humorous straight forward talk.

i got the knowledge of going around in the 8th grade. i got my FB profile in the 11th grade. And here we this 8 year old has lived life faster than.. I really adored him.

Tribute to a Friend

2010-12-29T14:40:00.002+05:30

people want us to date each other, people want us to be together always, people want us to do so many things., thank you.. we like being teased with each other :)

there are these sweet lines which urvashi vishrani a common friend put up :

Dedicated to Parag Vaidya and Radhika Karadkar "Perhaps,after all,romance did not come into one's life with pomp and blare,like a gay knight riding down;perhaps it crept to one's side like an old friend through quiet ways;perhaps..perhaps love unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship,as a golden hearted rose skipping from its ...green sheath."
-Anne of Green Gables

and some more sweet lines by Priyanka Kanani aka Shakespeare:

You guys are like writing a novel... Parag you are like a comprehensive and a very good book and Radhika is your table of contents.....

Thank you......

To Radhika,

your support for the last 5 years has been terrific. we have fought only once on the last 5 years and we share a relationship which others are jealous of. all guys want a Radhika in their life :) From being waving friends at Sudhir Sir's 11th standard classes to BBMing the full day today. Same college, same CA class, same office, same cell phones (:P).. the only thing is we were never alllocated to the same audit place except for one day at Benetton :)

Love you,

PV

Life at Podar

2010-12-27T12:21:00.007+05:30

The last 5 years have been just perfect. Life at Podar was something I dint imagine after stepping out of school. Still there are a few firsts and other notable things in college which I would like to list down here,

Sidhesh Raut: sharing the same institution with you for the last 18 years has been excellent. I ll miss traveling with you, bunking together, having a crush on the same girl and most importantly fighting at home and covering up for each other for the same thing.

Radhika Karadkar, Miloni Mehta, Preeta Mondkar and Mitali Marolia: The bond that we have shared over the years has become strong with time and I am grateful to you that you have beared with me all through these years and not once got irritated by my no-nonsense and short tempered attitude in class or even my sad jokes. Talks on katta, the usual last minute preps for the Sunday tests, the stories during coffee, and the countless plans that we made but dint work out., I ll miss them all!

Priyanka Kanani and Apoorv Modak: I wouldn’t have come up with The Photography Club had you not given me the nod to do it. Its been quite a journey with you from the Confused and complex Piyu of FYJC to the still confused and complex piyu of TY Bcom. As for Apoo, you ll be a dear brother... i can connect with you very well!

Kush Maheshwari and Satej Rao: The beautiful years of Junior College are all because of you. Missin the first economics paper wouldn’t have been so much enough without you around. The way we cried on our way to the station and the way we laughed in the train back… is something very few and ‘lucky’ folks like us can experience.

Rochil Nichani: FYJC without you would have been incomplete! Will always miss you around.

Pratik Jain, Rohit Dube and Shreyas Guntuk: Right from playing for the soccer team in junior college till organizing RAPPORT RETRO, its been so wonderful. Just amazing. There are no other words which I can think of right now to explain my feelings about you guys.

Rajiv Iyer: The Ladies Man! You ll marry me na? :P From the time your cell phone sang ‘kava kava’ when Anik was firing us together for bunking Petty Cash Book lectures to cracking some lame PJ’s. Life has been fun!

Priyank Savla and Rebecca: Thank you for everything over the last two years! wasnt life much more beautiful then?

Hanita Malharkar & Sharayu Sardesai: I know you guys will love me for writing your names together. Honey, you are one crazy girl I have met in my life. And sharayu, managing celebs so easily during Enigma you did a stupendous job!

Jairaj Vaidya: Last day of rapport, some one walks up to me crying and telling me that he is going to miss me and hugs me saying: “I have passed two years because of you, salya!” Exams wouldn’t have been half as interesting and adventurous if not for you. J

Pooja Shah, Kritika Matolia and Lavita Cross: Junior College was so much fun together. You guys will always be special!

Niyati Dahisaria: I loved your sugar cube. And I ll always find time for you. No matter what. You have been my closest junior and I ll treasure the time we spent together though it was in G6 only. :P There is this bond that we share and we can connect with each other very well. Love you always. J

Sayali Arte: You asking me to fail for 3 years is the sweetest thing that anyone has ever told me. Thanks for everything. I ll miss you more than you ll miss me.

Noopur and Kanika Thanawala: You’ll are some brilliant talented all rounders and your kidas with Shety are so hilarious.

Manali Patil: You ll always be special for the confusion!

Nishant Khombadia: Hemlya, scoring for Enigma and Rapport was interesting only because of you. And the girls’ stories in and out of your life can make up for a best selling book if you author it!
Bhagayshree Dave: The most responsible girl around. And the most misunderstood also. Thanks for everything. :)
Priyank Sanghvi: The DJ of our batch and I really mean it when I say that i loved your mixing.
Megh Doshi: I ll never forget you for that dialogue on you and also for the creatives of enigma and rapport! :)
Mayuresh Kambli: Your dance moves especially ghati and contemporary are etched in my memory for ever.
Gauri Ghag: I a really sorry for being mad at you in the admin room and i really regard you very highly for the way you took all the jokes cracked on you as they came... :) but for your bows :P
Pranav Loke: The ride on your bike in that thandi at 3 am and having idli sambar, wada sambar and coffee and parle buscuits will be one of my most beautiful memories of life in podar!
Vijay Chauhan: I haven't seen a funnier person than you when you are drunk. But everything in moderation is good :) love you brother!
Pushkaraj: We had no one for comparing and hosting events. You were God sent! very talented! :)

And to all seniors who made my stay at podar memorable, a big thank you! And to those who has worked with me in the Cultural Committee for 2010-11, its been a pleasure to work with you. And to all juniors and batchmates who pured out their hearts while writing sugar cubes..... I am going back home with a treasure!

Best year of My life - 2010

2010-12-17T16:18:00.004+05:30

An exciting year draws to and eventful close:

I think I had everything this year. January gave me this feeling that 2010 is going to be great and this will definitely be till now the most memorable year in my life. I had an exciting January with the Mumbai marathon, a boring February with books, a anxious March and April because of approaching exams, a pictorial and fun-filled June and July in college activities, A little sad and a lonely August, a disturbing yet a curious and confusing pre October, an anxious post October and November, and second half of November and December have been the really the best days of my life except for some minor depressing glitches.

As I watch this year go by and as I see the year ahead.. its going to be definitely one of the most important years of my life.. With my graduation year ahead, my send off from my second home – Podar, my last year in a protective and loving office, its going to be painful yet path changing

The Social Network

2010-11-18T11:19:00.000+05:30

i dont think i have ever come across a movie like this. i was so engrossed into the movie that when the credits for the movie came in the end , i was like shit this shouldnt end man.

i wanted it to go on and on. mark aka jesse is awesome so are the other charecters but what one must remember is that the director&producer of the movie is one great story teller.. and yes justin timberlake can act...

you must catch this one guys... without fail...

PS: just out of one more round of exams... not that great but some respite for the coming months. we have some great things coming up ahead. i ll fill you in with them soon!

Watch out for…

2010-10-21T21:03:00.003+05:30

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Watch out for…

A future Leader in Adi Thackeray? And a present Teacher in Dr Welukar?

The idea that the principal of my school writing a negative remark in my school handbook would terrify me as I would think about their implications at home and the reward that I ll receive from my parents. Imagine your college principal writing to the entire city what a pathetic student you are and he being disappointed by your Hitler-style-behavior of burning books. My parents would have hammered me but wait hold your breath, The Thackerays would have patted Adi’s back and said, “Well done, shabaas we are so proud of you!”.

Descending from a family of power, sorry actually inheriting the trouble-making-power, one more Trouble sorry Thackeray entered the scene. (The T sound gives me pronunciation problems at times) I fail to understand why he can’t think differently? Hasn’t he noticed that the educated hate Shiv Sena? Hasn’t he noticed that the people have progressed while his party is still stuck to their stagnant criminal idiologies from 1966? Guys, you need to change :P

There are still some questions which the common man would like him to answer!

Don’t you come from an Indian family which respects books and more so worship it? Dint you think about this while you burnt books?

As you go on burning more and more books to raise some unwanted negative publicity for yourself and your party, try and look back to what you have done. Try for some remorse! I m pretty sure as copies are burnt down in tens, hundreds and thousands, are you so stupid enough not to understand that you are creating more curiosity and more advertisement for the book! Two positives - that I can see from this criminal act of yours!

1. Rohinton Mistry will go on adding some more thousands and lakhs to his bank account benefiting from your campaign and the normal human tendency of curiosity-induced-buying.

2. People all over the world will realize that the soon-to-be-best-seller book potrays the truth how shiv sena is brewing trouble right from 1966 on petty issues which they claim to be untrue but still get largely affected by it!

My teacher had once told me. “Every human being is entitled to be stupid. But some people are idiots to abuse it!”

Your family has a weird idea of gaining publicity. Your grandpa used to visit the jail. Your father takes helicopter rides around the state to click photos. And I must say that you have very well entered the league of doing something unusual right from the word GO. Dint it occur to you that instead of getting so much negative publicity, you could have used your name & power & resources by helping the needy, feeding the hungry or teaching the illiterate? You could have at least gained some respect but I think thats against your family tradition. As of now you have even lost the respect of authors, poets, bloggers and even the common man who appreciated your poetry!

You are heading the youth wing i.e. you are going to be portrayed as leader of tomorrow! We want a leader who understand the power bestowed on him, a leader who knows that power brings great responsibility, a leader who works to gain respect and love by doing justice to this responsibility. A leader who has a vision of the future which is not limited for the next 5 years of re-election. A leader who can prioritize and move ahead with times.

As for our Vice-Chancellor words fail to find me. All I can say is that there are only two possibilities:

· 1.Giving due respect to his credits, degrees & a doctorate, achievements over the years, he has reacted as if he has reached a stage of professional incompetency!

· 2.He was under such immense political pressure that he had to work overnight, read all rules and regulations of the university and find a rule never used in the history of our 153 years old university! Quite a task, Sir!

With such extra-ordinary trust that I have on the Thackeray khaandan, I think the second is more befitting!

Enjoy your Sunday Adi Thackeray.. Try for some remorse.

http://pintomihir.blogspot.com/

Thanks!

2010-10-09T13:02:00.002+05:30

The blogspot gyys have come up with this cool idea. You actually come to know how many people over the world have read your blog atleast once and where exactly my readers are located.

A big THUMBS UP to the guys!

A very big thank you to my readers. J *a warm bear hug @ all*

*shades in green show the location of readers of this blog*
*the darker the shade more the density of readers*

Beauty - My eyes behold!

2010-10-09T12:56:00.000+05:30

One life-insurance commercial says “Life can surprise you”. With the tagline ‘Be Equipped’. But this is in my case happens with beauty around me. It’s not just nature but even girls :P

But wait hold, on this is what humans and not just guys are weak in. When there is beauty around you how many can control their feelings? Try to think what you thought when you had been to a vacation at a scenic place? Yes you were all smiling astonished and saying “Oh fuck. Holy shit!” But what was the thought process involved? You really never know. I try and think so many times while traveling back after such experiences. An hour on the Queens necklace, At one of the peeks of Sahyadris overlooking the lush green valleys, at Jaiselmer’s sand dunes overlooking the deserts to Pakistan, at the beaches of Goa, in the Alphonso mango fields of Ratnagiri, At tea feildsin Mangalore… I have tried hard to think what I was thinking about. But have usually failed.. A poetic phrase often heard “enthralled by beauty”

Life - Nature can surprise you…

Same is the case with girls. The ladies coach is generally in front of the Gents first class. And it happens with so many guys that once girls get down and a beauty catches your eye. Your eyes will follow her till either the train moves outside the station or she goes out of sight whichever earlier. But wait let any reader not misunderstand this as ‘chamdigiri’ of the guys. Bcoz it was a girl writing this, there would have definitely been another example J And no one can again recollect what makes our eyes involuntarily follow her is not lust or love at first sight but just that our eyes behold beauty!

I know this is weird stuff..

But I think things are so. So next time. Remember: Life can surprise you be EQUIPPED

confessions of a mr hide....

2010-10-08T17:24:00.000+05:30

i met this fellow in my dreams....

its difficult remembering the dreams but its a gist of his dialogues what i write here:

"i have so many friends but why is it that i have to talk to you. why is it that there is only a few who can actually look into my eyes and respect my confessions. i am one of the best sons, the best friend and the best disciple. even then when sorrow grips me it shakes me away. my roots get damaged. i turn into a creeper. i see a tree and want to be like that one. i sway with the wind and get carried away. i do stuff which i never would. i fail to realize the very purpose of my existense. friends joke that i m a waste of human resources. but i misreably feel like one."

..
...
....
.....

zzzzz

2010-10-08T16:15:00.000+05:30

zzzzzzzzzz.....

Trapped in a cage

Pondering in rage

The freedom it longs for

The freedom it looks for

It plans to escape

But its conscience awakes

It’s tortured all night

With chains controlling its might

The heart is strangled with fire

The mind is lost in desire

A light far away shines dimly

It’s the only hope precariously

Soon the sun shines outside the enclosed room

The bird chirps outside the dark room

Voice fails to escape the stitched lips

As the throat craves for a few sips

Trapped in a cage

Pondering in rage

The freedom it longs for

The freedom it looks for

It plans to escape

But its conscience awakes

Confused for what its made for

Bewildered for what it longs for

For outsiders it=lush green mellows

But inside it burns up in smokes

It wants no sympathy

But only a little empathy

As life gives some jolts galore

Dropping the burnt ashes to the floor

It waits for someone to butt it away

So that it goes far away

To end the pain in the cell

To die under the pastor’s bell

Then he wakes to the alarm bell

To end a life of dreams trapped in cage

The freedom it longs for

The freedom it looks for

It plans to escape

But its conscience awakes

My First Failure

2010-08-07T20:14:00.000+05:30

Some verses that rhymed in me when i stumbled across my first failure..

My First Failure

Experienced it with a thud

It came from a single beep

Left me a shocked, a broken bud

For there was no leap

Of joy but crest fallen hearts

As a thought I couldn't accept in

As a reality which didn't seep in

Never my imagination brought me here

Never visited in nightmares here

Failure, they say

The stepping stone to success

But who knows what it takes

To stand below these dreadful steps

To travel that booky past

I don't fear hardwork

I don't fear the world talks

But I fear my conscience, my failure

As a thought I couldn't accept in

As a reality which didn't seep in

Never my imagination brought me here

Never visited in nightmares here

But still today, I stand here

And now I have nothing to fear

With experience and a shattered confidence

Each leg on either side of the Inter fence

I ll be here for the next half year

But I hope the rainbow is definitely near

I don't want the conscious tag

I don't want this heavy guilty emotional bag

I ll move ahead and ahead in some time

And then we'll together dine!

For now we have a fable,

A fable of half-handshakes

A fable of half-hugs

A fable of half-pedhas et all

For this thought I cant accept in

For this reality which doesn't seep in

Never my imagination brought me here

Never visited in nightmares here!

adiós,
mp aka pv

The Mumbai Marathon 2011

2010-07-24T22:05:00.003+05:30

The Race to the Start Line has Begun

When Mumbai ran this year on the 17th January for the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2010 and Every Mumbaikar ran not for himself but for some other Mumbaikar, you might have watched from your comfortable sofa sets as to how each participant contributed to the Nation. For those ignorant of facts and figures let me elaborate. The 7th Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon (SCMM) started at the crack of dawn with thousands out there in the streets of Mumbai : not just participants but also the men, women and children cheering and motivating all participants. This event representing each individual running for their cause is undoubtedly one of Asia's largest philanthropic event.

Though I have been entrusted of motivating maximum articles to join the Gokhale & Sathe Contingent for The SCMM 2011, I thought a mere mail on the group cannot encapsulate the myriad range of feelings that one encountered while at this carnival. Still I feel that, there were three defining moments in my entire half marathon: One, the energy and enthusiasm of the participants at the starting line gave our hearts quite a hike. Second: the shouts of fellow participants: "Bharat Mata ki Jai" on the stunning and mighty Bandra-Worli Sea Link gave me added energy and the view of the rising sun from the city landscape was so beautiful that Rahul Sir decided to 'just' walk the entire sea link as he wanted to spend a long time on that engineering beauty. Third: Approaching the finish line and crossing it is another experience.My legs were literally going away. My toes were starting to turn inwards, my calf starting to bend backwards and my thighs unable to sustain any more body weight. But the energy which people cheering you from the roadside gives you is unimaginable. With that I sprinted my way to the finish line and heaved a great sigh of relief to have completed my first Half Marathon.

It is really a big appreciative effort on part of the populace to turn up to attend events like this and make their august presence felt and make Mumbai known for what is famous the world over. – For its welcoming hands and open heart. At the end when I was sitting alongside my parents at the Azad Maidan, I thought over it, "This was my Marathon.. and I lived, loved and cherished each kilometer of it..."And I decided that I would come back again to participate next year...

BE a part of The SCMM 2011.. The race to be there at the Start Line has begun.. For more details visit the link http://www.procamru nning.in/ scmm/

In the end it went right!

2010-07-09T14:40:00.000+05:30

I had planned it over the summer.. Set up a team of like minded friends and batch-mates.. We were pretty comfortable with the nature trail planned out a week ago..

But come tuesday before the trail on sunday we were in a fix. Students enrolling for the programme were increasing by the day. We dint close down the entry as we wanted all to learn and have fun. Come thursday, we were had to cancel our partnership with Trailblazers as there was some misunderstanding in the terms of agreement. So we were in a state where we had no fixed transport agent and nor any guide in the forest area.

Friday the picture was changed. We had guides and we had a transport company. Everything was in place and we were pretty healthy financially also. But then on Saturday, the rain had a field day. there was water logging everywhere. It rained the entire day and I had a tough time getting back home on Kavish Jain's bike. Though he did a marvellous job of riding through waterlogged streets.

It was drizzling at about 9pm when i started getting frantic calls from students and even our teacher.
"Are we going tomorrow?".. I gave a standard answer to alteast 50 callers : "its too early to call it off. if it continues to rain through the night i ll sms everyone that its cancelled."

I slept early after watching the Arg vs Ger match. Woke up by a call at 3:30am. somebody asking.. " hey dude are we going today ? " ...I was so mind fucked that i said yes and cut the call..

It was safe to go. No flooding along the course to karnala.. At 4:30am I called up the bus driver who was to reach Malad at 5. he said he was sleeping and he ll be coming only by 6.! i was like WTF! After arguing and calling his owner he made it by 5:15am.

Another shocker.. due to pressure inside the bus at night the side glass of our bus had broken and the 4 seats were drenched with rain water. And then again it started raining. More calls. Same Question but a different answer. "We are reaching college in 30 mins!". Once in college, slowly students started coming in and in the end we had 10 people losing out for reasons better known to them.. But as for the remaining it was great fun .. excellent pictures and full on dhamal.!

There should be someone....!

2010-06-30T15:06:00.000+05:30

this is a poem i read somewhere... it sums up the need of a man to have a strong female by his side always!

असावी कुणीतरी

असावी कुणीतरी

आपल्या हाकेला 'ओ' देणारी

रिमझिमत्या पावसात हलूच छत्रीत बोलावनरी..

असावी कुणीतरी

आपल्या सोबत चालणारी

चांदण्यात फिरताना हातात हात घेणारी..

असावी कुणीतरी

कधी वाद घालणारी

खोता रुसवा आणून, पुन्हा आपल्यावरच रागावनरी..

असावी कुणीतरी

मनमोकले बोलणारी

काहीही न सांगता, अगदी मनातल ओलाखनारी ..

असावी कुणीतरी

खूप काही विचारनारी

लहान लहान गोष्टीसाठी शपथ घालणारी..

असावी कुणीतरी

In memory of my Grand-Father

2010-06-28T16:45:00.000+05:30

Miss you!

Why am I writing this today?

After almost 5.5 years from that day,

Somehow on the weekend when cousins came down,

I missed him here down.

My Aojaba,

A person respected by all,

Not because he was the eldest,

But because he was Thee Best.

The walk with him to the chowpatty shores,

His push at the Japani Gardens swing,

His longing for Bhelpuri by the roadside,

The bond he shared with the Vada-pav vala,

His stories about life, learning and love&affection.

His effervescence presence in our room

His love and affection for all grand children alike

His 'family-ness' with aaji, aai and baba...

His lessons of importance of time to us all,

He would say,

"One more day has dawned

Half of which is gone!"

One day we had shira and cutting chai in the evening,

He then went for a walk..

From where he just dint come back..

Just dint come back..

We miss you!

Happiness to me!

2010-06-28T16:06:00.000+05:30

Quest for Happiness

I like to be alone,

Not that I don't have Friends.

I like to be alone,

Not that Friends aren't Friends.

But somehow I prefer to be alone.

Its been days I went out,

Its been days I laughed my stomach out,

Its been days I have smiled,

Its been days I have enjoyed.

I pondered and wondered,

What am I missing in my Quest of happiness!

A new TV and music system

A new Picnic and some new friends!

But nothing got the better of me out.

And then one fine Sunday,

It changed...

I dint laugh my stomach out

I dint just with someone hang out

But I experienced something I never had.

Sunday the 20th it was,

A solitary walk down the Banganga Tank,

A nostalgic feeling at the Hanging Gardens,

A tear slipping out at the sight of the Witches' Boot,

A Chanajhor-garam at the Chowpatty,

A wave crushing at my feet ,

A walk along the beach sand & waves,

A gushing breeze from the wayward winds.

Made me smile and smile..

I think after ages.

Its then I realised,

I like to be alone,

Not that I don't have Friends.

I like to be alone,

Not that Friends aren't Friends.

But somehow I prefer to be alone.

My friends are perfect genuine gems,

They approach me always

Knowing my answer that i turn them down

Its not that I don't like my friends,

In fact I love them all,

Its not that I don't enjoy their company

But that's not what is happiness for me

There is life beyond living and dieing

There is life beyond socialising and gossiping

My definition is not yours,

And yours is not mine.

I am sorry,

But I like to be alone,

Not that I don't have Friends.

I like to be alone,

Not that Friends aren't Friends.

What what cant change is

Somehow I prefer to be alone!

gone in 45 secs!

2010-06-12T19:59:00.000+05:30

this is the time in which a proposal thought over 100 times, formatted, drafted and redrafted 50 times and proof 'readed' 25 times by atleast 25 students over 15 days of vacations was disposed off for being 'unreasonable'!

total mind fuck!

uhhhhh... but hold it there.. we wont give up.. we have nothing to loose and nothing to gain... just some fun.. sorry some 'tamasha'. we will still try again and again...!

adios...

busy... very busy!

2010-06-06T13:11:00.000+05:30

hey friends,

i always thought that i ll get back to my memory lane everyday. but it just dint work out. am i dumping this friend of mine? no i m not.. its just that i m so busy with work and college that i find it increasingly tough to get time foe this. but this friend of mine is very understanding. it doesn't ask questions and seek explanations. it is very understanding and very supporting. mite be someday i ll find someone like this..

till then i quite busy.. and i really love it like this.. with different hues and rotaract... i know this year is going to be great..!

regards,
PV

LIfe in Madhur Part II - Kandars 1.0

2010-05-17T16:05:00.001+05:30

An evergreen happening childhood, with roughly 15 guys of your same age group leads to quite a few eventful things. And when all these guys are competitive enough to cast their firm stronghold, we ended up with many cases of some of the weirdest and craziest things that one can ever hope to come across forget actually being an integral part of them. These cases were a result of countless hours of playing together, warming those benches and gossiping, conspiring and joking and a relation among friends which i cant put forth in words.

These events are what I define by heading this post as "Kandars version 1.0". Every such version will have 3 to 5 of the events. And then it will be contiued later. These events are niether aligned as per their magnitude of after effects or the amount of stomache paining laughter which followed. They are randomly arranged here.

A common disclosure: All cases have been recited here to the best knowledge of the author's information regarding the same. Any material mistatements should be either mailed to mihirpinto@gmail.com or written here as a comment. Any changes deemed to be fit will be done in reasonable time. The author has no responsibilty or a participating share behind any of these events otherwise than mentioned.

This post is dedicated to only Madhur Friends and hence in order to protect identities, their initials will be used.

Now I think its time to be on board this friend 'ship' and travel back to those wonderful times:

Kandars 1.0

Case 1: My First Diwali Dhamaka

A fantastic festive morning in early winter is one of the most wonderful serene pictures of Indian culture, but for a few it turns out to be quite the opposite. I think it was Diwali in the year 2006. My parents had asked me to enroll for a C Programming Course as I was wasting my vacations on the playground. I was never for this course but after what conspired on that Diwali morning I could not thank God and my parents enough.

The class was at 7am in the morning and when i left everything was quite normal and perfect like it always is. Our watchman, bahadur wished me "shubh diwali sahab" and i was off for the day. When I returned at noon. The picture was drastically surprising. There was no Madhur Premier League going on even though is was a holiday, not a soul in the compound giving sweets. I had this git feeling that something was wrong. I checked the noticeboard for a notice on 'dukhadnidhan' but there werent any. Something was truly amiss.

I went home. Wished my mom and dad (as they were not up in the morning when I left) and seeked their blessings. Thats when Mom told me. Her words "Thank God you had a class today though you term it as stupid. Because if you hadnt been there, I m pretty sure you would have been in the police station now." I could make neither head nor tail. I asked her whats wrong.

She said your friends while bursting crackers blew up a dustbin.

I was like, that ok. Some mischief. But why police re ?

Then she told me: Your friends blew up the ground floor door and those bhadekarus have filled a police complaint as your friends said they knew nothing about it.

I thought, If mom is telling me such dangerous things there is actually some problem. But the problem in my head was, WE alway tell our parents a part of the story say 25%. I was like what is with these guys. If this is 25% what the hell is 100%.

The question was solved easily. I met HShir (chairman) and asked him what actually happened. Then he told me a series of events which i really couldnt believe.

The real : Its a tradition to wake up early, wear new clothes and burst crackers in the morning. Some of my friends (read ATay, AKul, SKam, HShir and not sure about PJad) had come for some normal fun. After bursting crackers in open areas they thought about trying something new. They tried bursting crackers in plastic bottles, under some soil. Still no danger no damage. Then they thought about the dustbin of the ground floor tenants. One volcano bomb inside that plastic dabba was enough to make all khachra and particles burst like the lava. Still Fine. After all it was just a dabba. Then ATay shouted "khopcha (hole in hindi) mila, khopcha mila." It was actually a small hole in the sanmaica in the entrance door of the flat. One more Sutli bomb over there. And the hole became a little bigger and the sanmaica cracked slightly. Still majja nahi ayaa re. Then came the deadly blow. ATay put in as many as 3 sutli bombs in the crack and lit them together. It is said that HShir, Akul were apprehensive about it and even asked ATay to avoid it....And that was deadly. The door shattered broke midway and came down like the twin towers. Next everyone decided not to let out a word and reclined to their favourite sofas and beds.

Hmmm easier said than done. Some neighbours saw ATay, AKul and SKam at the crime scnee and they got involved. HShir was seen by his favourites Deshmukhs and he got invloved too. But then everyone had decided not to let out anything when the tenants Jr. Lakhpati comes. Irked by not cathcing the culprit, Jr Lakhpati approached the police. ATay was taken away for questioning. And others for 'sakha'. He repeatedly said no. But then later gave in and said that he had done it. ATay's parents asked Jr. Lakhpati to withdraw the registered case and the mamla to be sorted out outside to the court. The same was done and a new door was gifted in this diwali.

It so happened that Jr. lakhpati was a newly wed couple and it was their First Diwali together. And hence this post is named My First Diwali Dhamaka which resulted in a hole in the door way and an obvious constraint on the privacy necessary for 'celebrating' the first diwali together.

All this was recited in the evening and everyone including those involved laughed over it. HShir repeatedly cursed his fav dushmukhs for their unconditional support in bringing him down. Their flourishing relationship will be the main subject matter of one of the cases that will follow. But i could not thank God enough for the class that I enrolled in. Phew one down!

Case 2: Window Panes

The cricket ball is very notorious. It always finds the panes. Always. We might have broken countless window panes. Its pretty hard to sit back and account for each of them. But there are some strange things that we managed to do.

HSin, ATay and HShir while palying football craked the window panes of the ground floor people. And it was not just one or two. A series of window panes. A Half line of the bathroom panes and many more. The residents were increasingly surprised how we mangaed such a feat but our sardar puttar had a very interesting argument. " aunty the ball was hit that side only but its just that it hit the stone and turned its directions." This was one of his many arguments. Though play resumed ony next day and we had to abondone the game after the glass broke we laughed over the reason, the umpti and rice in glass and what not. Till today only one glass has been replaced by HShir and oll other promisies made have been easily forgotten. The other day ATay missed a record. While playing on a certain hot sunday, the bat slipped out of his hands and it landed straight on a Car windshield. After slipping out the bat might have gone atleast till the first floor and then it landed with a thud. Just a scratch not even a crack and ATay missed the record. Laughed to no end.

Window Panes though routine in any socirty have been quite distinct in out society....

Case 3: Tough Task of Facing Parents when Porn is concerned.

TSin approaches PVay with a a neatly covered book in his hand. The book is neither curricular nor etra-curricular. He asked him please keep this with you for the next 2 weeks. Quite amusing when it is neither of any importance to you nor of any interest. When asked for reasons for the same TSin refuses to say anything. He is all in al lost for words. When PVay took the book in his hand , he realised that there is something amiss with the cover. On further removing the cover, he noticed what the problem was. It was a old CD of hardcore stuff. The very thought of holding it in the hand and anyone finding out was enough to force it back in his hand. Let alone keep it at home.

All these proceedings were closely followed by AKul who had the god gifted vision of narating this story as an exchage of consignments and whose over concerned father came home the next day to give a full naration to my mother. A test at home after coming from school on this topic is far more screwing up when parents are concerned,

When some people (read Hshir, PJad) say that its dificult to explain to parents what does the short from BP stand for, facing them with an acquisition is like pissing in the pants.

A pathetic situation to be in..

(to be continued in Version 2.0)

The Magik of... youth, bushes and much more!

2010-04-24T21:47:00.002+05:30

As I walk back down the road to the back roads of Chincholi Bunder (Creek) I enter a new world. A world different from where i spend my entire day. The entire day is normally at home where the time table swings up and down between books, leisure and family. A evening stroll to a place which was once an untrespassed territory but now a different world all together. The lane starts with dim street lights with glass buildings on both sides and a mob of youth having their favourite snacks at the roadside Tajs & Oberois. Everything fine till now. A more closer watch will enable you to spot about people in the corners smoking their favourite sticks during their team breaks. The density of smokers is so high that a friend of mine can easily say thats Four Square, no Marlboro or today its Willls. Get a life i think about telling these guys and girls but then i tell myself i have no business nosing around their business. Glass Buildings here run round the clock supporting calls for the those abroad. Talking with a typical thick euro-asian assent these guys lead a carefree life.

This is the first Magik that globalisation and westernisation has done to our cultural base. Nothing wrong but then its rightly said Aping others was , is and will never be cool. And loosing your identity to just be cool is completely wrong. Not to be prejudicial to our Western Borthers but if In Rome you do as the Romans do Then why do Indains in apna pichvada have to ape the whites and their ishtyle.

As i move ahead I take my usual seat at the steps of this Garden built by the BMC or a like-government body. A 10 min rest over there and you will realise that the ultimate purpose for what these parks were built has gone drastically wrong. Yes it was supposed to be meant for Recreation, Exercise and Amusement for Children. But its turned out to be an epic centre for romance and a public display of affection. The Park sends out a strong signal of changing the edifice of our culture and the principals of Public Display of Affection laid down by it. Still nothing wrong, they say. Our life and our body. But then when you see children ogling at these engrossed couples , pointing and giggling, its a tough time for their parents back home. A crictic says bal manavar parinam hota na! The other day i was sitting outside when a terse couple got out from the rick arguing at the top of their voices entered the park and took a secure hiding place. The place I think was behind some bushes. The gardener had I think deisgned those bushes in such a way that the eye cant find a thing. But when they came back 20 mins later while I was still sitting outside. The scene has changed. A peacefull looking couple, the cuttest if its kind, walking hand in hand and laughing and smiling as thought they hadnt fought each other in their last upteen lives forget about the last 30 mins, presenting as thought they are a couple with the tag line: Till death do us apart.

A word of caution to my friends and and their better halves. Constant Vigilance always!

Regards,

Life in Madhur: Part I - MPL

2010-04-22T21:26:00.002+05:30

Brought up with atleast 15 guys of the same age, give or take 5 years, in a society, old as this one. We are I think the third generation to step foot here and by far as I can estimate we have been the best. A perfect exposure to academics, sports and daily upbringing. Yes, I think i am quite fortunate to have grown up here, made some great friends and shared some ever-lasting memories.

And that's the reason I thought about adding a couple of posts to my Memory Lane.

The fever of every Sunday and Public Holiday: The Madhur Premier League (MPL) and secondly
The Madhur Kaands

Now for the time being, lets go through the Madhur Premier League.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) started exactly 3 seasons back. WE on the other hand started 4 years back. Nope we never stopped playing cricket ever in our society even when we were under repairs. The sadness of loosing out on the Big Ground for a mere free of cost 140 sq metres was a big blow but it did lead to 3 new avenues (pitches) under our MPL scanner. And this I think to the ritual of MPL.

Yes friends, A ritual followed like no other one. A desire to play and prove yourself every time you go out there. The passion which defines what the Sunday Morning Cricket of a mere 2 hours, is to us.

There are lot of stark differences with the IPL. Some funny bulleted points are as follows.

We are not Cash-Rich like the IPL. I think we are more of Cash-Stripped. Every Sunday begins with Malay getting some his Dads used Tennis Balls. If that does not suffice our Chairman ( referred to ahead), then we argue on who should fund out Rs. 35/- only for the Ball of the Day. After a discussion of 5 to 10 mins we end up contributing Rs.5 each or else catching A Bechara Bakra for the Day. Yes then the agony of someone going and getting the ball. No one wants to do an extra bit. After the new Ball comes. Everyone wants a piece of it and then the comments flow in......
We dont have a scandalous Lalit Modi to frame the rules but yes we indeed have a Chairman. A Chairman who is heckled for rules and regulations and accused for rules unframed by him. It starts with a shout and ends with some chus, MCs, BCs. an lot more. And his taste of shifting the stumps until he is satisfied.
And then we also have the Secretary who keeps a close watch on the proceedings and always keeps on bouncing from one Sunday to another with his characteristic shouts of 'Aai Aloo..'
We dont have a Chidambaran who provides security and cover to our players. But we have a bowler who couples up as a Security Man. Well please dont under estimate him guys, he is a specialist nut-cracker. (*Experienced*),
No Mandira Bedi . No Gavaskar. But yes we indeed have our own Arun Lal for the Extra-Innings who keeps a tab on the proceedings with the usual laugh, the unusual expert comments and the sickening feeling that he gives as thought he has coached Sachin Tendulkar.
We are all domestic under graduate players playing for pride and entertainment. But we do have some foreign players like Chitli, Pudi and some friends who are free agents.
We have no scorers , no statisticians and no umpires. All 15-20 players are umpires and scorers at the same time
Every Ball is increased by the Bowling team and reduced by the Batting team. Then it is counted twice and then Recounted to the satisfaction to the opposition.
Every Run on the other hand is decreased by the Bowling team and increased by the Batting Team. And then recounted.
Every run out is battled out there and every catch is re-casted in the mind. Such is the passion and decibel levels that people are in their balconies beckoning us to play or asking us to go home.
The payers are characterized into many classes: we have the Radyas, the Fast Bowlers, the Cheaters, The Shupa Rustoms, The bouncers, The Creatives etc.
We have the Shirke Riders, Vakde XI, Kulkarni Chargers,etc.
Generations will come and go but this I think will always stay. We have done everything. Thrown bats on Wind Shields of Cars after they slip out. Broken countless window panes and paid of just one till now. Injured passer-bys. Cracked Out People. Etc

I can think on only these many points as of now. I ll definitely add a few more when i recollect next time.

And yes for the next post of the Madhur Kaands, the readers will have to wait.

Disclaimer: All charecters and incidents are imaginary and any resemblance to any person alive or dead is purely co-incidental. The main objective of the author was to make a point of these evergreen instances in his memory lane.

Podar Clickers

2010-04-18T21:28:00.003+05:30

Well the next academic year we start with a new forum in R. A. Podar College of Commerce & Economics. The Permissions taken, the plans have started being penned down but the name still hasnt been decided...

So its a plea to all those reading this blog to suggest an orginal, dhasu and an uptown name so that I and Priyanka Kanani can zero down on one.!

The Draft Rules are as follows:

1. The Club will be called ___________ (herein referred to as The Club).

2. The Object of The Club is to promote and foster the study, practice and appreciation of Photography by means of meetings, lectures, demonstrations, competitions, exhibitions, on-field practice and such other means as are deemed appropriate.

3. Ordinary membership of the Club shall be open to all those who are interested in photography from R. A. Podar College of Commerce & Economics. Membership is open to present as well as ex-Podarites.

4. Membership of the club implies the undertaking to comply and abide with the rules laid down from time to time.

5. The Committee shall be empowered to confer Honorary Membership on those considered deserving of such recognition.

6. The Officer Bearers of the Club shall consist of a Core-Committee consisting of Chairperson, Secretary, Joint-Secretary, Treasurer and Data Manager(s). At the discretion of the Committee, members to the post of Coordinators will be appointed. No member shall hold any office, other than the office of the Chairperson for a period longer than one academic year.

7. The affairs of the Club shall be managed by a Committee consisting of the Office Bearers selected under Rule 6, together with a maximum of four Coordinators from the other ordinary members of the Club.

8. The selection of images to represent the Club in external events and any selection that may be required in connection with domestic competitions shall be conducted by a Selection committee, consisting of up to five members appointed by the Chairperson and he shall have the sole authority to consult any person or expert of the field of photography as he may deem to be fit. The Members of the Selection Committee may or may not have the Membership of The Club.

9. The Chairperson will be the principal of The Club and will overlook the working of The Club. The Chairman will be the Teacher-in-Charge of The Club as appointed by the Principal of R.A.Podar College of Commerce & Economics.

10. The Secretary and the Joint Secretary shall keep the Minutes of all Committee Meetings, Documentation, Reports of all visits and shall be responsible for the general correspondence of The Club. Photography, being completely dependent on the subject matter that is chosen, it is the responsibility of the Secretary and the Joint-Secretary that the group will be guided by a firm set of strict rules and regulations which shall be formed keeping in mind the Ethics and Values of our society. The Secretary and the Joint Secretary will be appointed by the Chairperson of the Club.

11. The Treasurer shall collect all subscriptions and monies as authorized by the Committee from time to time. The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of all financial transactions and shall prepare a income statement in the prescribed Excel Format for audit and inspection by any member of the club who has reservations regarding the application of money and transparency of the transactions. The Treasurer shall also have authority to make payments on behalf of the Club, and to determine, in consultation with the Chairperson or/and the Secretary which payments are, or are not, to be made. The Treasurer shall be appointed by the Secretary and the Joint-Secretary in consultation with the Chairperson.

12. The Data Manager(s) will be responsible for collecting all the photos and images immediately after the field visit. The Data manager(s) will save all these images and organize the database in a systematic manner. They will be keep a Back-up of this Database with the Secretary. The responsibilities also include maintaining the contact details of the Members in the prescribed Excel format. The Data-Manager shall be appointed by the Secretary and the Joint-Secretary in consultation with the Chairperson.

13. The Coordinators as appointed by the Committee will act as a link between the Committee and the Members. There shall be not more than 4 Coordinators appointed in the first meeting of The Club after a justifiable selection process conducted by the Committee. One from the Junior College, Two from the Senior College and One as required for the smooth functioning depending on the requirements for the Club.

14. The Entrance Fees shall be payable at the earliest opportunity. Any student whose subscription is more than two weeks in arrears shall be struck off the Register of Members by the Committee. New members joining at any time during the year will have to bear the full amount of the Entrance Fees.

15. A Member may be expelled or asked to resign from the Club at the decision of the Committee. The Committee may request a member to appear before it, provided that where any accusation or charge is made, the Member shall be given full and reasonable opportunity to put forward a defense and bring witnesses at a later Committee Meeting. All Committee proceedings called under this rule shall be treated as privileged and confidential.

16. No alterations of, or additions to, these Rules shall be made hereafter. The wording of any such alterations or additions shall be included in the meetings and conveyed to the members.\

17. Any contingency not covered by these Rules shall be dealt with at the discretion of the Committee.

Quite a task to frame them.. Please comment here and give us suggestions for the name of our club.!!

Regards,
PV