Family.

It might just look like another photo from the 70s/80s but this is my dad and his 4 siblings. And the room that this photo has been taken in is actually our house. My dad’s family was raised in those 4 walls. My grandpa, grandma, my dad, my 3 uncles and my aunt. Yes 7 people!

They were raised from birth to their adulthood in that room which was a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, dining room and a reception, all squeezed in one. Space was not a constraint. They never complained or ever moaned about having a bigger house. Grandpa and Uncle got the bed,  grandma had one uncle and aunt on either side on the floor. Dad and the 3^rd uncle slept under the bed. And they were still all very happy.

Today whatever liberties and luxury that our 3^rd Shinde generation is enjoying is all down these humble people of our family. No matter what we do or where we get to in the future, my family will always remind me to keep my feet on the ground and remind me of my roots.

Their sacrifices have ensured our better future and I will strive to do the same for my little girl. No matter what luxurious car I drive, I will always remember my grandpa’s cycle rides for miles every day from his village to Pune in his heydays for work. No matter how many sleepless nights I have, I won’t forget my dad’s life of working during the day and college at night. No matter how many responsibilities we get, we will never match the hardwork our Mum n dad has put in.

We are what our parents made us.

A very humble photo!

Public toilets

Something about having a crap is just funny. You might hold on to it for a few hours no matter how "urgent" it is but the moment you see porcelin, it becomes a matter of life and death before you can undo your pants and not shit yourself.

On the other hand, some public toilets are so filthy that I think even your shit must feel shit. maybe it runs back up refusing to come out. Makes you gag more like than shit!
Yucks!!!



Ummmm butterscotch cream. ;)

I wish a wish

It was a starry night. I was on the lonely beach. Tired, exhausted, confused. Sitting on the tiny couch of the hotels challet. Lost in my world, the world of a Single man in love for the first time ever. Taking in the breeze. Taking in the music that played lowly on the old radio in the distant challet. Lost in my thoughts. She came in from behind me. I glanced at her. She looked equally lost. But she looked surreal. Just like the night. She had her sweater to keep her warm from the cold night. She looked at me. And then, sat down on one side of my lap making herself comfortable resting her head on my shoulders.

There was a moment of silence. We both didn't say a word. Time stood still. I couldn't hear the music or feel the breeze or see the night sky. Nothing made sense. The only thing I felt was the warmth of her touch, the smell of her hair. We sat speechless both staring at the ocean and taking in the moment The feeling was blissful. Something that you wish you could capture in a box and keep it with you for the rest of your life. I didn't know when we both fell asleep. Right there on the lonely beach, on that small couch.

When I woke up, I was alone on the couch. The sun was about to rise. I realized it was a dream. I lasted for the feeling again, I wanted to sleep again. Go back to the dream. I was gutted. 

I stood up, wore my sandals and someone tapped on my shoulder. I turned around to see the Challet's worker. Semi-asleep, rubbing his eyes.

With a frustrated face, he said, "YES Sir, can I go now?"

Me: "What? Go where?"

Him: "Home? Where else? I had to keep the bloody gates open because of you…."

Me: "......what? because of me why?"

Him: "WHY? You went to sleep with your bloody gf on that stupid couch. I was going to wake you guys up when good thing your mate stopped me and paid me a fuckin fortune to keep the hotel gates open, else I'd have kicked you out I swear to god. I don’t usually hAJPQWNK DLKA HDPJHP WEMASDMK L:AJSK LHPIJD NKANMD KNKLJDSJDJBNSLDBNOL..."

She was there..she was!

In Lonesome valley

What is it with us humans and loneliness that makes us think and think and think and think some more. My mind right now is like a wild forest-fire - Unstoppable!

I look outside and it's absolutely breathtaking. The entire horizon is snow laden. It looks like a scene right out from some movie. Everywhere you look and everything you see, is covered with snow. Beautiful. But..I'm in my room. Sitting alone. Absolutely no one in the house.

Some have gone to work, some have gone to their loved ones, some are back to their real home to celebrate Christmas with their parents. How much fun it would've been if there was someone to enjoy the evening with. The perils of being away from home for your career - Right there!

But past few days have been quite normal. Nothing extra ordinary. People keep on amusing me with their behaviour. You sometimes get into a cocoon mindset where you make an image of someone which you believe won't change. Like someone you know for years and you think he/she is trustworthy or he/she will never back stab you. And guess what, they do just that. That's when you, what nature likes to call it, come out of the cocoon - the transformation.

And then you meet someone new too and it feels like you've been knowing that person for absolute ages. Such a brilliant feeling.

In my case, as much as that feeling was exhilarating, it almost cost me the next day. My enjoyment at meeting that new person resulted in me sleeping at about 5:30 am and getting up at 5:45 am (after 15 mins if you didn't get it) to go off to work. My eyes looked like I was high from a dosage of ecstasy. After 3 red bulls, I seemed alright. Hey, but you know what, it was worth it!

The day started quite well at snowy Ascot and soon the racing was cancelled because of the storm that we experienced. That was one of the most breathtaking sights I'd ever seen in my life. I stood in the balcony of the grandstand and all I could see was white from top to bottom. You couldn't see the horizon. I couldn't see anything past 5 feet from me. It was just amazing. We finished quite early than usual and predictably, next day's races were cancelled as well.

Hence today, I'm home, I'm writing this.

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS to all you good people out there!

This song is much much deep than the vocals, something clicks in you.

Epigraph

I've sat down on a snow-laden beautiful lonesome evening to write another one of my rare blog entries. I always keep on thinking of writing one every week if not every other day but I am too lazy for that. It always takes something awe-inspiring to happen for me to sit down & pen my dispostion. I get bored rather quickly even If I decide to update my blog which, for the record, I reckon hardly anyone ever bothers to read anymore. So who am I kidding here? But its always good to pen your thoughts down so you can go through them whenever you need a bit of introspection. Anyway, so one would wonder why the crapiola now?

Well, things happened. As they always do. And always will.

I was goin through the papers a couple of days back. Its a common read about an awful lot of teenage stabbings and teenage suicides and what not. It is such a pity to see someone at the age of 13 has to think of ending his misery by putting a blade through some mates ribs and ending it all. Over a girl? Over a pety fight? Over "respect"? It takes me back to my teens when my worries included, how to dodge dads erate eye because a teacher called home for my less than impressive showing in the exams. Or worry about not saving enough money for a movie at the weekend. Or to worry about a new kit of cricket. I had fights. Arguments. But it all went out of the window after a few days, if not hours.

We all are going down the dirty road. As I once previously stated, I wish I could just lock my future kids in a box somewhere till they are about 30 so that to keep them away from this new culture, these new people, these new trends and this new society.

A 10 year old now "must" have a cell phone which for the record, I only got to lay my hands on secretly when I turned 17. All the monetary "blessings" that I used to receive in India was actually the real reason why I could afford a Cell phone during those days when even picking up a call was chargeable.

Now we all follow Lady Gaga, her music and her fashion sense!

Oh well, those were the days. Bless us all!