Is Santa for real?

Jingle bells Jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Here comes Santa Claus!

Right down Santa Claus Lane!
Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer

are pulling on the reins.

Bells are ringing, children singing;

All is merry and bright.

Hang your stockings

and say your prayers,

'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.

Here comes Santa Claus!

Here comes Santa Claus!

Right down Santa Claus Lane!

He's got a bag that is filled with toys

for the boys and girls again.

Hear those sleigh bells jingle jangle,

What a beautiful sight.

Jump in bed, cover up your head,

'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.

Merry Christmas to All!!

We've been singing these carols since childhood and like every other child I was confused if Santa Claus is for real.
I got my answer now,

In 1897 a little girl wrote to a newspaper, which was revered for its truthfulness, to ask if Santa Claus really existed. The newspaper published the now-famous letter and a response.

Check http://beebo.org/smackerels/yes-virginia.html

so what do you think, is he real??

Compliments...

We often get compliments and give compliments, I received a compliment this morning, I received the same compliment many times but then too it makes me feel good everytime. Was wondering why do I feel good and WHAT is ' A COMPLIMENT' and here's what I found.. Dicitonary meaning com·pli·ment ( P ) Pronunciation Key (kmpl-mnt) n. An expression of praise, admiration, or congratulation. A formal act of civility, courtesy, or respect. compliments Good wishes; regards: Extend my compliments to your parents. Some questions When is a good time to give a compliment? Why don't people give more compliments? What are the benefits of giving compliments? Are there any rules for giving compliments? What's a good compliment? Who can you compliment? The Theory Compliments are a simple, yet powerful, relationship building tool. There are many different reasons to give a compliment. The most compelling - it makes you feel good. You cannot give a sincere compliment without feeling great. It's impossible. Why does it feel so wonderful to pay a compliment? Because you are connecting honestly, directly, and kindly with another human being. It is a basic need that doesn't get met often in our fast-paced, media-hyped, negative-slanted, technical world. There are also many hidden benefits to giving compliments. It's amazing that such a small, simple skill like giving away compliments can change the way you view yourself and the world around you. You will experience joy and happiness as you learn to give honest compliments. Knowing something is good doesn't always translate into action. So why don't we make compliments often. It doesn't take long to give away compliments. heartfelt, honest to goodness, acts of kindness. It costs nothing but a little time, energy, and the desire to make your life and the lives of others better. Everyone appreciates kindness and Everyone feels great So pass atleast ONE compliment a day...this blog has also given you an oppurtunity:)

Wedding Bells - its smiles & no tears

Lately its so happening that most of my friends especially girls are getting married Padma, Zoharat, Sunita, Mohini , Parna, Binod.

Congratulations to all !!!.

So these days whenever we talk I hear of lots of shopping...shopping jewellery, clothes for themselves as well as relatives, tailors, printing and distributing cards...meeting friends, huge telephone bills (i.e above 10K), deciding the wedding venue and menu..etc. Whatz more common is that all their parents are getting very emotional and shed tears whenever they recollect that their girl would soon be wedded and no longer stay with them.

Isn't it an irony that before marriage the parents are worried and their only task is wanting to get their lovable daughters married soon but once the mission is accomplished tears roll in automatically.

Even on the wedding day , during bidai all the girls cry, it comes in naturally for some, rather most...and for others..like my bhabhi Anjali....she was being forced to cry during bidai, stating that it is shagun..and Anjali refused to cry saying "Why should I cry.. I am happy , ofcourse will miss my parents but am starting a new life and want to start it with a smile."
I think it takes great courage and strength NOT to cry the wedding day , the moment then is so so emotional. Lemme confess, even I cried at various such occasions, infact in one of my cousins wedding my jijaji(the bridegroom) also cried.

So dear girls of the new generation (including me)....Don't cry during your wedding, Walk in your new life with a smile.Wish you all a very happy and successful married life.

and to all the unmarried ones..All the best for KP's :-)

P.S : Talking of weddings: Yesterday was a royal wedding of Sameer Kalmadi. With all the VIPS and film stars showering their blessings on the newly wed couple, the staff at Pune Lohegaon airport were more worried of the parking...not outside the airport...but inside the airport. There was even a helicopter arranged as a ferry from the airport to the wedding venue.
"Badde log baddi baatein"

How often you make somebody's day

Was reading this blog Little consideration ,incidently one of my colleagues told me a similar thing that happened with him that day. Bhuvan : reshma..did u ever see a twinkle in the eye? me: No..why...I mean what do you mean? Bhuvan : This morning I left home to dump the garbage (some boxes) and a small kid was walking along pleaing to give him the garbage. When asked why.. he said..'saab isko bechunga ..mere khaane ka intezaam ho jayega' (I'll sell these ...and buy some food). Bhuvan gave him his garbage bag and also lended him 2Rs...the boy was grateful..then looked at him and asked if he could give a rupee more...Bhuvan was surprised...that why is the boy demanding for a rupee only...when asked, the little boy said....'saab mai chocolate khaunga'(I'll eat a chocolate)Bhuvan was surprised..'ki..bhai 3 rupaye mein kaunsi chocolate aati hai' ( his punjabi style)..he took the little boy to a nearby shop and brought him a big party size Dairy milk chocolate. The young boy was overwhelmed, and the twinkle in his eyes said it all.

The Pigeon

I am dedicating this blog to The Pigeon who broke my car windshield that I got a chance to drive Kinetic Honda today. After 1 and 1/2 year it was a totally different experience and I learned to appreciate a 2 wheeler much more than a 4 wheeler (especially in the crowded areas). Though the car was also my good saathi so long..but how could I forget my old saathi. While driving it today I felt that I own the sky and was flying with no Air conditioning required just the cool breeze, initially I was aprehensive to drive it thinking that I am used to the car....but once I was on it....everything happened automatically, showed indicators properly,honked properly and dint press my feet for clutch and brakes and why not...have been driving it right from grade 8 its my first love (kuch jyada senti ho gaya na). But its fun..I can stop at any tapri to sip a chai or eat bhel and best is ..today I can go and buy my books to study without worrying much of the parking. By the way..for my friends...dont worry , my leg is doing fine...and its getting better will join the trek group sooon .During diwali vacation I drove to Mumbai too with my bro.

Final touch 

Rangoli by us at Tibco 

The Other (half) Day

After a happeneing half day...now I am very very happy ..My Big B(bro) confirmed his arrival to Pune. After 4 years our family would spend diwali together. not that we are a big big family....but it so happens that diwali time either i was not in India or my broother was not.This time after 4 years we would be together...and this time we have the little one too.Mom is all excited and though we all are supposedly to be on a conrolled diet...all diwali sweets and namkeen..gifts....this time i get to chose my gift too PLUS I would get some imported gifts too. It would be fun to burst crackers with my nephew ... Office front...We had many many sweets to eat....playing music here. We girls made Rangoli @ TIBCO office...and it turned out to be ..(you judge and lemme know.) It was fun making the rangoli....we got the designs from internet ( google is kewl ..it has everything) Happy Diwali !!!

My Half Day Out

Sometimes it just happens that its just not your day.........whatever you do....its just not how we wanted it. Today I had such a day.. I left my house with a task list to do before going to office ( listed priority wise) 1. College - exam timetable 2. Buy Books 3. Deposit Cheque 4. Tailor 5. Office this is what actually happened College - Climbed 3 floors up.....the college was deserted completely(only our department),....and nothing on the notice board...... (hope the exams are postponed :-) ) Tailor - With great difficulty got a parking (am realising roaming with car is just not the best thing to do here) and went to the tailor (climbed 2 floors up again) and my tailor was not there...disheartened returned with an intention of buying books Tailor 2 - so went to laxmi rd..and then was supposed to go ABC.....went to another tailor.. Unplanned 1 - while returning saw a sweet shop.... realized mom told to get khoya i visited nearly 10 sweet shops and none had them..... Deposit cheque - Went to the atm...and the atm was also deserted.....no security guard and no leaf lets to fill in too. So i thought would go to main bank now.. Unplanned 2 - while returning from ATM i realized tht i'd locked my car and the keys were in the car....finally got a scale and unlocked the door (car robbery would be easy I guess) .. Unplanned 3 - after all this when i was about to get in the elevator for office (yes all this happened in the morning and it was 11:30 a.m) my sandals broke ( thtz kinda embarassing) Buy books : with all that once i reached office successfully..I realized that I'd not purchased the books at all. P.S: Now when i think of it.....atleast all the tasks (except buying books) were done.

Special visitors!!!

Today we had one of the top mgmt from the H.O visiting our office. Seeing the preperations reminded me of my school days when the school would undergo inspection and the principal would announce a lot of instructions as to what things to be done. The teachers would instruct as to how to wish the inspector..couple of rehearsals would be done too. The school would be cleaned to perfection...not one weed would be able to grow under the tree, the desks would be well aligned..we had to be best dressed blah blah. The inspector would go around the school and would hardly ask any questions to us and whew once he left the school premises the teachers and principal would relax...(and so would we...arey baba we get a break from all the instructions na) A similar story happened today... the meeting was announced way ahead of time and were promised lunch (on the house).....the core values of the co were distributed (as if he wud ask..wht is the core value...he he ) and we were instructed to keep the presentations short and to the point and all the managers were busy with making their presentations and keeping in synch. the admin was busy with logistics preperations and HR on the company rep. We kept waiting for our 'inspector' who was supposed to be here at 12 noon...which was gonna be followed by lunch (till 1330 and all hungry souls by then finished all the fruits and biscuits available.) the time (or shd i say the 'inspector') came and the lunch arrival was announced....wow yummy lunch with 2 desserts...With all food tucked in we attended (slept) the 3 hour presentation(did they say short and to the point...). The organisors are now taking a normal breath since 'the day' is over and all went fine...and we all enjoyed the great food and 3 hours Zzzzzzzz :) Special visitors always means lots of preperations..this reminds me of times when the guy comes home to see the gal with his family...that is fun too....ha ha ha...will write it some other time.

ting tang tung

ting tang tung ting tang
My Mom : arey stop making that noise.......you disturbing me..........I can barely hear my serials....Shut your room....God knows what you trying to do.
Why don't you Study....Or learn singing....'yeh tere bas ki baat nahi hai'

This is the scenario at home when am trying to practice on my guitar these days.

Yup finally again I joined guitar classes after 4 years, this time with great determination. Guitar has always attracted me since childhood. Always wanted to learn it. Mom has always discouraged me ...She thinks that I should learn singing and I have a good voice ( my friends would agree that I don't...But ..All moms think that their children are the best ..Anyways can't help that). So when I got the oppurtunity I grabbed it. 4 years back I'd started learning...Reached a stage of learning songs too then had to leave it for my US visit...Later was so involved in work and other stuff that my guitar went on shelf.

Last week took it off the shelf and now I am learning from my expert school sir. (Mom dint know until I actually joined the class and told her that I've paid the fees already) Hope after 2 months time...ting tang tung will change to some melodious tunes and I'll be another Elvis soon..Who knows.......

The week that was ................

Last sat...Reached GOA (thanks to Anand bearing the yes and No from me…and arranging the stay), landed at Ronil resort. Got fresh soon and all set to get outt!!! Our first spot was Baga beach, just 5 mins walk from our hotel, thatz what our Goa Guide Mr Ruzan said (took 15 mins though). Debs and Anand cudnt stop playing with the ball on the way (American Football FYI) The guys swam a lot there and dragged Anand into the water since he wanted to go back to the hotel all dry. Seeing the incident Krishna decided to plunge in himself. Debashish also managed to get 2 dead snakes and fish out of water and kept chasing us with it.

Lunch time was the awesome food....prwans,shark,fish,squids,chicken,crabs (I dint eat them...i had the opportunity to see all the non veg guys freaking on it...including our diet conscious fellow..all his diet went for a toss), the lunch would last for minimum 2 hours, Later in the evening we went to TITOs/MAMBOs where the mocktails (especially the names) were good, and then the dance. During the day Ruzan almost broke his right arm ()thatz what he said) while chasing debs at Baga beach (wonder why he was doing that though ;)) and then had to hold the right arm everytime he had to sip his drink. Guys, That was a new dance step for all of us at TIITO’s:)))))))) We then sat on the beach at 1:30, looking at the lighthouse(will visit it in my next GOA trip).

Day 2 had a little late start with KINGSIZE breakfast, then hired the Gypsy and started towards South GOA. Clear weather......no pollution no traffic signals...great gypsy whose horn hardly worked when needed..no mirrors..rather not a single glass with the gypsy...good gears(somebody actually drove it on 4wd and used the normal gears..it took a while to figure it out )), the great beaches. It was fun driving the open gypsy..gave me a convertible feeling, though my friends say the guys driving behind us, kept a safe distance of atleast 50 mts from us when I drove, but I don’t believe them .

Rest of the day was more of sightseeing. We got very good pictures , the digital camera does extend the photography skills. So Krishna and me grabbed Anand’s camera along with the regular SLR. Night time, there was party in the hotel itself. We all got into the Jhaango shirts we bought for the night and sat there watching people doing ‘Latin Dance’.
Late night debs and Ruzan insisted to go to Calangute beach...where they started talking spooky stuff which kinda scared me and they had a gala time laughing at my expense. I feel sorry for Puja though coz my shout in sleep must’ve scared her at night(I realized my throat hurt at night..so I wonder how loud it was) sorry puja.

Day 3, the last day… saddy saddy look on everyone. We spend most of the time stopping the car by the new IDEA billoards and ruzan posing there for the pics. Kept driving towards Margoa, figuring out where the Dolphins were... landed at Majorda... cool beach with white sand and no Dolphins and no pther humans too:((((((((( returned back from there to Baga... had the best lunch ever there for like 2 hours... got ready soon and sat in the bus to reach office on Tuesday morning all tired and tanned.

We had a visitor from Palo Alto office so there was a meet and there were plans floating for an outing just so that people get a chance to know each other. So Saturday we all went to ‘Lohgarh’, 6 cars catching up with each other reached the foot of Lohgarh. I trekked or should I say strolled for a small distance where I got a beautiful waterfall and I stayed back to let others conquer the fort. Sitting besides the waterfall, all alone amidst nature reading the novel and watching and clicking butterflies was fun and very relaxing. The conquerors returned and we had ‘Faqruddin’s Biryani’ (just to people who don’t know ….he serves the best biryani veg as well as non veg in Pune) and some delicious ‘Chitale’ sweets.

Sunday was meet time with my selectican friends again. Zee had invited us for birthday dinner. We got a chance to meet her parents her school/college friends and the gang again. It was fun.She had 3 cakes to cut and we had them to eat

That was my week……. Filled with loads of fun, masti, calories and memories.

P.S: I started drinking…………….port wine got back 2 bottles home from Goa.

zee's b'day 

on our way to lohgarh... 

GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

2 best friends remembering childhood days

GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Gypsies in Gypsy to Go GOA

Winter Season.....Festival season....??

dhin tang dhitang dhin tang dhitag...dhoopp dhooph dhiip dhiip .....chhic chhic chii these are the decibels in air ... As the rain bids goodbye, winter says hiii ....and so does the FESTIVE season with Ganesh festival which lasts for 10 days.

All creative minds of various Mandals erect Pandals for Ganeshji with various themes and decoration in Pune, these are open for all to view and appreciate. Its amazing to see the creativity of the artists. Societies and residential complex organise many activities to socialize like fancy dress,Ek minute antakshari dance performance etc etc (whatever tv shows they are inspired with..I remember the KBC days too...so..basically anything) women call each other for haldi kum kum ( I attended 1 yesterday), attend aarti's (the aarti will be byheart by the last day :0)). Its fun.
After ganesh festival we will have Navratri and Dassera...which wud again be full of fun and dance. We dance till we drop...(its good time for the young lovers too, all the romance blossoms here ...he he he he),
After dassera will be Diwali ..The festival of Lights, The Festival of Nerolac & Asian Paints, The festival to tuck in lots of calories, The festival of fireworks.
Its amazing to see even after so many years the reliving of welcoming Lord Ram back to his kingdom being performed..(Such thing can happen only in I N D I A).

Hardly the calories consumed would be shedding that we here christmas carols and see Santa on the main streets distributing sweets.. My friend invites us home and we tuck in calories (read as lot of cake) again :).

Then will come the new years eve....lot of partying , dancing roaming on streets and wishing each other at midnight (in modern age...with the cell phones net congestion too), then will be Lodhi or Sankranti, 'tilgul ghya god god bola' time which will be followed by the festival of colors....Holiiiiiiiiiiiiii, and then my birthday.

By this time summer is on its way. All the festivals are over..of course some chintuk pintuk festivals are there in summer or rains, but these are the main ones.

On similar lines if we think of USA , even they have festivals in winter starting from the Independence day, followed by ThanksGiving then Halloween, Christmas and New Year.

Have u ever wondered why do all these festivals come up just in winter.

P.S: Monday is 'Ganesh immersion' , making it a long weekend........am gonna immerse myself in the tides of Goa for the weekend.

Is it so obvious?

Yesterday I was hungry even after 7:30 p.m. dinner (remember I go home early these days so by night 11 am hungry again.).So...with a good intention of not disturbing mom watch her K serials decided to cook our favorite 2 min noodles.
When I entered the kitchen I realized that had to find the pack in one of the many dabbas there. So to skip the trouble I asked mom.."Mom in which dabba is the noodle packet?"
Mom busy with her serial responds: It’s in the gol dabba there, should I make it for you?
"No No....I'll make it ...no problem" I replied and started searching......but hey all the dabbas in the kitchen are gol
So I asked again, which gol dabba?
The one on the shelf is what she said; which again was not helpful coz there are so many shelves in the kitchen
so again me asks....which shelf?
Under the kitchen platform (now just for you to know, we have an L shaped platform), so helpless again I said where...she annoyinglingly said....it’s a gol dabba on the shelf under the kitchen platform. You will not miss it. It's very obvious.
Since I dint want to intrude her shot of Tulsi and Ansh.,,..I searched all the dabbas of the kitchen and finally found it.

It was in a gol, flat dabba...(You'll have to come to my house to see it...its different ha ha ha ha ha)

P.S: I think all dabbas in the kitchen should be transparent and different shapes, what say ??

FMS

A friend of mine was once explaining to me the meaning of F M S, today I actually experienced one myself.

This morning was coming up in the office elevator, and our TIBCO office Admin Head got in the elevator too at the last moment.
Me being a girl, could not stand the silence (that too for 6 floors..NO WAY) so I initiatied a conversation.

Me: Hii !!!, you are Meet right? the admin Head
He : ahem...ya
Me : I keep gettting emails from u about the facilities, its nice to know the details as a fresher...blah blah blah
He smiled.
and then I ask him : so Meet, how long have u been working with 'Selectica'

Not sure , if he heard me right, He exclaimed WHAT!!!
Only after seeing the expression on his face I realized my folly and then pretending something caught me in the throat I coughed hard.. ahem ahem..I meant Tibco.
He answered thinking am crazy....and then we were silent in the elevator with me banging my head (virtually).

Now I totally understand FMS

P.S: Golden days STILL not forgotten !!

Do u have a parking lot license?

How we wish that these things would move...you are backing off very well and "BAM" you hit the pillar in the parking lot.
No no...i have not hit the pillar recently...but one of my friend has.
She recently started driving in US (in the parking lot only) and gave her husband an oppurtunity to buy a new audi :o)

Am sure we all have faced this in our initial stages of driving car....
There was a period when most of my colleagues had started driving car in States simultaneously.
Every day we would have a new story...first of all the direction problems....every 2nd day we would here that someone was driving on the wrong side, somebody banged another parked car, somebody got ticket from the cops...some for speeding and some for driving below speed..ha ha ha .. somebody rather 90% hit the pillar, some misunderstood the brakes as accelerator and one was very interesting 2 friends were coming out of the parking lot ..one after backing off was waiting for the other supposedly new driver (friend) and there.....his friend bangs his car right in front of him and he cud not do anything :o)
I too was a part of this....i busted the rear view mirror while backing off ..again with the pillar all well in conscious(in a dilemma whether it wud hit or not)

90%(don't quote me for this) of the hitting happens in the parking lot...I think the trainers should teach how to drive in the parking space first and then on the freeways.

On the other hand, I think in India...there should be driving license for the cycle walas too with a compulsory written and driving test. I have to pass thru Law college rd everyday and I think one of these days am gonna hit one of them...they just come in anytime..... Self discipline (while driving on road atleast) is very important here. Am planning to join SavePuneTrafficMovement, instead of just cribbing lemme see if I can contribute to something.

P.S: Other than the traffic prb...life with the new office is nice..Calm and quiet

My new office.

My new office name is Tibco
It's site is http://www.tibco.com
It is based mainly in Palo Alto California, USA.
My office in Pune is at Nal Stop.
It is on 6th floor.
It has a view of all the mountains around.
It takes me 25 min to drive to my new office.
I have an hp flat screen monitor
I have a Windows XP with 74.5 GB HDD and 1 GB RAM with an optical mouse and DVD ROM.
I like my machine very much.
I wish its stock prices grow fast.

P.S: Thoughts are similar to "Myself' composition written in Class 3 of school .

Adios Selectica!!!

Friday was my last day of my career with Selectica; it’s 5 years that have been a part of this family. Started , as being the 50th employee and parted as being amongst the 5 oldest employees. Many ‘first time things’ done here personally as well as professionally. Enjoyed each and every moment of working, learnt a lot from my Boss(he is a ‘real bhala manus and would love to work with him again) and my colleagues in US. Will miss a lot of things, especially the lunch table conversations and laughter.

Made many friends here,
Uncle David originally from Kerala hailing from chennai who is trying to get his Alto to Pune past 6 months. People have serious doubts if he has one. Lets hope he makes it this time with the help of Mr golden voice.

The Parla boy for his very subtle sense of humor and creation of controversies on the lunch table.

The silent gentle giant from Jabalpur, Only on his command we would rise from the lunch table. Our watches are corrected by his punctuality.

The hulk laughing man Aka bottomless pit who is good both at sports and brains. He is the only one who is very faithful to our PJ expert and laughs on all his jokes and was a very good team mate. Thanks for everything debs.

Mr DivX and download expert who enlightens us with various diet charts and ‘excellent’ sense of humor. He is engrossed in downloading so much that he has to be reminded that he was born and not downloaded. It was great having you in the team.

Nysa the multiple talented Trainer, who always Dares and is popular for pouring tea, coffee, water ink etc on us and calls it ‘sisterly affection’. She is a great trainer (as every conversation sounds like attending a training), writes for newspapers magazines and actually she is a good painter too.

Menon Ali D’costa the frequent traveler, am called her chauffer in the company. Will miss her and all the conversations too and fro from home to office

The ‘Jabaa’ boy who wants to roam the world (or is it only Amrika). Will miss his singing and dancing.

The sensitive cancerian and my English coach, who demands complete attention before he talks and he pauses for so long that we finish up telling a story to each other only to realize his conversation is not over yet. Will miss his smirk face and sarci comments along with all the gentleman giri.

The telugu vaisya girl for her dadagiri or shd I call it didigiri who is looking for a groom with a huge ’acceptable-not acceptable list’ (its almost half after her return from States) . Good Luck girl!!!!

Sprint girl MM for her enthu and active participation in everything at work including work. Never says No, and she is the only one who addresses everybody with ‘AAP’ and it does not sound filmi but its very natural.

Zee for her gentle lovely voice and all the kicks to the guys. Wish you a very happy married life Zee.

Nawab saheb the Sports icon currently in SanHosay, More than him I guess will miss his chef Hiralal for the yummy food.

P.S: Thanks to all for so many gifts and a good farewell. You have really made sure that I cannot afford to forget you :o)

Random thoughts of a patriot

Sunday, India celebrated its 58th Independence Day. Heard our PM's speech on Doordarshan. It was very motivating, especially the way he concluded it with Jai Hind. Later I went back to sunday routine. It was just like another day.
I remember school and college days where we would wake up early morning, and go for flag hoisting. our P.T teacher in school would take a drill, and we had to do Lezim and the wooden dumbels. Used to find it pretty weird those days.
College NCC, we would practice the parade for a month and the salaami with the rifle. Dress up in our best ironed uniform, well polished shiny shoes and then the salutation over the national anthem. That was the real time I understood the importance of the day and enjoyed it too. Its been more than 5 years now that i have actually seen a flag hoist. Why don't companies also have them (well our co did have a little gesture)or maybe a common place where a normal citizen can attend it too.
How much I miss those salaami days, though this time celebrated it in a different way, had the tri color painted on face and cheered for our co for football match.

Honesty is the best policy??

Is honesty the best policy always?? well it dint prove that good for my friend today.

My friend had to shop (ok ok i know we've shopped a lot last weekend..but what can I say..looks like this is shopping week:o)) and we were getting late...so kinda hurried.
I was approaching a signal and it turned amber, by the time i passed it, it was red, which apparently means I broke the signal, and there comes our mama (traffic police) to block me. I parked the car, showed him the license. He walked further; I stayed in my car not realizing that he wanted me to bribe him. He came to the car and said ok...Rs 200/- fine for breaking the signal.
I genuinely took out Rs.200/- (since its my mistake) and asked for receipt. He was astonished and questioned me about the money; I too surprisingly said it’s the fine money he asked for. Not very sure of what to do next ,he went the other side and returned in a moment, to tell that I'll have to wait for 5 min until he gets the receipt book from the station.
While I was wondering what kinda policeman he is without any receipt book on duty (which I could see in his hands), He asked me my details and then told me to go and returned to the crossing to his duties.
To confirm (I was surprised, how could I escape after breaking law) I got out of my car and asked if he would send notice or would get receipt? The surprised (or frustrated?) policeman replied "I said to go..am leaving u, don't do it again"

It was a pleasant surprise and I returned, all happy and gay.

Luckily we reached Shoppers Stop in time and she picked up some stuff. We reached the billing counter expecting a bill of around Rs.2000/- and it showed Rs.1498/-, I excalimed ..hey thatz cool, how much was that trouser for, the sales guy said that this one has a discount so its 1498/-, then the other sales guy checked and said..ohh nope its incorrect, its 2000/- am sorry no discount on this one....and my friend gazed at me. She had to shell out Rs.500/- more.

Well!!!! The honesty policy suited me but not her.

I feel bad, sorry Menon Ali D'costa!!

Making a difference!!!

A friend was walking down a deserted Marina Beach at sunset. As he walked along, he saw another man at a distance. As he grew nearer, he noticed that the local native kept leaning down, picking up something & throwing it into the water. Time and again he kept hurling things out into the ocean.
As my friend approached even closer, he noticed that the man was picking up starfish that had been washed up on the beach and, one at a time, he was throwing them back into the water. My puzzled friend approached the man and said, "Good Evening, friend. I was wondering what you are doing?"
"I'm throwing these starfish back into the ocean. You see, it's low tide right now and all of these starfish have been washed up onto the shore. If I don't throw them back into the sea, they'll die up here from lack of oxygen".
"I understand," my friend replied, "but there must be thousands of starfish on this beach. You can't possibly get to all of them. There are simply too many, and this is probably happening on hundreds of beaches all up and down this coast. Can't you see that you can't possibly make a difference?
"The local native smiled, bent down and picked up yet another starfish, and as he threw it back into the sea, he replied, "Made a difference to that one!!!"

P.S: Thanks to Mangal for the lovely story!!

Yuva Shakti

2100 hrs : At a crowded petrol pump, handed the credit card ,waiting for petrol to be filled
2110 hrs : A salesman takes signature for the receipt.
2115 hrs : Assuming the petrol is not yet filled ,we come out of the car to request them to do so
Salesman : Its done, We filled it.
We: okay, you dint show the fuel meter, anyways..
back to the car, On engine ignition the fuel indicator hardly moved, so wanted to confirm , the salesman insisted that he filled for the paid amount. We denied. Argument begins, the next boss pitches in and the argument continues. Both of us were firm on our statements, then comes the Manager. He was way too aggressive. After a heated argument,din't provide solution, blamed us for everything and fled.
2130 hrs : A "sensible and sensitive" friend of ours opened the complaint book, wrote the complaint ,also contacted the previous complainees to realize that it was very common to
have such that act at the pump.

Next day
1000 hrs : At the Regional Office of the petrol pump, we met the regional manager there.He called the manager of the petrol pump, listened his point of view too (as a good manager would always listen to both parties), then made him realize his mistakes and warned him.
1130 hrs : The remaining portion of petrol was filled at the same petrol pump.

Football

Good weekend continued with watching good football matches. Our company is participating in the football matches organized by Pugmarks and we have to play against Infi, MBT, HDFC, WNS and the list goes on.

1100 hrs : Entered a huge ground which was divided to play basketball, volleyball etc and there was a tent put up in a corner and I was wondering as to where our folks going to play football coz there was muddy water"kichad" everywhere on the ground....a normal person would dare not go near it , I walked further, realized thatz where the match was being played. To confirm I even asked my friend " YOU GONNA PLAY HERE??" Yes was the obvios answer and I got that with a hysteric look.

We had 9 clean well dressed guys jogging and stretching, preparing for the match, all fit and full of zeal and enthusiasm, they had a huddle to get themselves motivated, discuss and plan strategies (to be defensive or attack etc) and then all were on the field. Whistle blew and game started.

The size of the goalpost varied…..well!!!!!!!!! don't wonder so much, it depends on the size of the goalie....if he is huge the post looks so small and if he is a tiny dynamic fellow(like we had) it looked huge. A tip was given to our goalie by some experts "think of the football as your girlfriend, dont leave it " and it worked wonders...we never had a goal in our post :o).

Okay back to the game, All guys were running behind the football,falling, kicking ,shouting names and passing, to make a goal(and We the cheering group also "GUIDED" them play, not sure that they even heard us though......."hey watch that fellow behind, pass it to Shantanu, yeah come on Kapil, good debs, hey kick kick...fast fast that fellow is nearing u, comeon Pore yeah yeah come on come on yeah yeah yeah....Awwwwwwww") and we missed the goal). Its so much of efforts (both for players as well as the cheering grp) but it did'nt stop till the end of the game. The game is so much full of body control --you have to use your legs only, you cant push each other (well one of our members did that and he was shown a yellow card), you have to have the right body language-- be agressive, have that passion in you (one fellow, the same yellow card one...while following the ball towards the border of the field , kicked a chair and it broke into pieces...am sure the opponent team member was thanking GOD that it was not his leg there. We won that game by 2-0.

1600 hrs : 7 ghostly appearing injured (severe and otherwise) walked towards the tent and we were wondering if it was the victory OR end of game that they were smiling about

P.S: For a short, prim guys point of view of the match see this.

Girls just wanna have fun!!!

Perfect day for us girls today.
Completed work well during the day, then Jisha and me got out of office at 5pm, saw a romantic comedy movie, shopped a lot, nice drive with good music and yummy food to eat. What more can a girl want!!! Girls just wanna have fun!!!

Saw ‘Laws of Attraction’ today, starring handsome Pierce Brosnan , endearing Julianne Moore, a lovely movie with quaint comedy and avid witty dialogues. Wanna watch it again. It ended pretty soon though. So to double the fun we two girls went shopping…and shopped till we dropped (therez so many options for girls to shop, had to process my brain and heart a lot as to what to take and what not to take, is this color better or that??) Finally with many bags in hand…a gratified shopper drove home listening to lovely numbers where delicious food was awaiting its destiny.

Wow!! Weekend has started pretty well

Yuva thoughts – Identity crisis ???

In the next 10 years Pune will also become as cosmopolitan as Mumbai, then Kolhapur, then Aurangabad and the cycle will go on. People will come all over from India and try to settle here for better opportunities and prospects. There will be no jobs for the localites; we will lose our culture and our own identity. Can't we have uniform development?Will we also become like US with no own culture at all? This was the thought that our Parla friend brought to the table today.

Has Bangalore and Hyderabad lost their identity, culture or got a new one?

Counter thoughts:
Isn’t being cosmopolite good, and help in development?
Atleast the movement is happening within India and the money and talent stays within the homeland.
Can a country/state be developed, maintain its identity and have a lot of opportunities for all?
Are non-localites imposing things on the local government e.g.: Why is the electricity bill only in Marathi, Why not in the national language (valid point)

What is my identity? Thatz what came to my mind?
Am a Maharashtrian was the answer (ofcourse Guju is my mother tongue and religion) but am a Puneri and follow the Pune culture too along with the guju culture.
So even if Non-Regional people migrate, they do adapt to the regional culture and language and carry it forward. This is how India is and will continue to be. There is unity in diversity.

The identity and the culture would remain but the souls might change was the answer.
“Hindustan Zindabad”

Virtuous Thoughts

At the our office entrance, we have a white board which has some thoughts, proverbs written everyday. Its nice to read them, It sometimes gives food for thought. I even have a habit of noting it down in some book or diary, some which I really like.

This happens to me pretty often, when I read it the first time, I think I understood it and learnt something new from it..but then after some months or years when I read it again The proverb is full of new meanings and depth again. Too philosphical eh...

some more virtuous thoughts that i received today and worth noting. Am sure reading it after some days will have more depth in them.

• "A good home must be made, not bought. "
• "Forgiving others is a gift to yourself. "
• "I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice. "
• "We do not so much need the help of our friends as the confidence of their help in need. "
• "The deepest definition of youth is life as yet untouched by tragedy."
• "It is better to have loved and lost than never to have lost at all. "
• "Love heals all. "
• "It is better to correct your own faults than those of another. "
• "If you scatter thorns, don't go barefoot. "
• "When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. "
• "Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't. "
• "Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired."

Happy Friendship Day!!!!

Last weekend was quite happening
Saturday saw ‘Lakshya’ and evening attended a Salsa performance of a colleague (We all actually bought the tickets, just to see him dance, coz that was beyond our imaginations…To our surprise…he danced well :o), Even another soft spoken colleague commented..”Hey did you see, David can actually shake his ….”, although am sure she meant in a nice way. Truce David.)

Sunday as most of you would know was Friendship Day. Remembered college days all friends would tie bands to each other, and exchange gifts and cards. Well, the trend continues, Few of my friends are still in that college mood hence I celebrated it too (their way) missing F.R.I.E.N.D.S 9 which was being telecasted from morning 10 to evening 10 and the cricket match (Asia cup finals).

One of my friends gave a card and tied the band and I did the same, infact gave her a certificate of being the best friend ever (Archies comes up with cool gift ideas) other friend had invited over for lunch…and when I entered the house was amazed to see the crowd at their house. She had a theme of garlands, all had to wear garlands and enter the house. They were all cooking together, chicken, crab, roti’s cake and what not.(I was NOT cooking for a change, me being a veggie was instructed not to enter the kitchen..else would behave like ‘Phoebe’) It was good to see their efforts when we had lunch at 5p.m (what did you expect with so many cooks around, 1 p.m is it??)and the table was full of food. She actually made us cut the cake. Had a good time. Nowadays, all these ‘days’ are so commercialized. Received so many SMS’s (sometimes late due to network congestion) and had like 10 bands on my wrist.
Seeing the media hype and commercialization, hope the saffron flag guys will not object to this day like they do for Valentines Day, What say??

P.S: Happy Friendship Week to you all!!!!!

Lakshya — my ’lakshya’

Finally last Saturday I saw the topnotch movie ‘Lakshya’, Yeah I know spiderman2 is the top talks and hyped movie these days, but I’d not seen Lakshya yet…Have been planning to see the movie for quite some time but plans failed always.

Attempt 1 : Me and one of my friends (at work) decided to see the movie in the evening after office hours…was kinda surprised when my friend said yes .I asked again ‘ you sure??’ , yes yes absolutely was the answer, would be done by 6.
Still not sure on my friends plan (coz its not that easy to convince my friend for a movie), I told my friend twice that its okay if you have work…we will not go today…on which I was replied “Don’t worry am done, we’ll go today”
At 6, pinged my friend, 10 min more was the answer, again after 10 min got the same answer and then there goes my movie plan. We did Not see the movie tht day

Attempt 2: One Sunday my childhood friend and me planned for the movie. 3 O’clock show it was…morning called her to confirm the plan…she said she would be at my place at 2. I insisted her being at my home at 1:30 (with her rep of being late) and she said okay. 2 o’clock she calls me and tells me, is just returning from the beauty parlor, shd I come over, will we get the tickets. I was like no forget it.

Attempt 3: This was the successful attempt.
Last Saturday me and another colleague planned for the movie. I was supposed to get the tickets in advance, (to be on the safest side). So I go to E-square, park my car(in the correct Parking lot). the security guard requested , Madam could you please park it the other side…I said okay. Got in the car again and parked it the place where he mentioned. Then was very close to the ticket counter when a fellow came behind and said. Madam 30Rs, I was like for what…’Parking fees’. There was no queue at all for the tickets it would hardly take me 2 min to purchase the tickets..he was like no madam we are instructed not to allow that ... blah blah blah. I returned to the parking (sometimes I become stingy just for no reason) and was telling him pehle batane ka tha and all…his generosity popped up and he said, “madam we will park it outside I will stand near your car, you purchase the tickets.” I agreed.
I stood in the queue, there were like 10 men already….reached the counter and said
“2 tickets for 3 O’clock Lakshya show”
The counter lady replied “ Madam the tickets are available, but can you please get it from the ladies counter”
I said(without realizing the matter) : No its okay I’ll get it from here.
Lady “No Madam, you will have to get it from the ladies counter, this is a gents queue”

WHAT THE …., I went to the Ladies queue, awaited my turn and purchased the ticket. After returning I confirmed my friend's availability (Had she said NO, I’d decided to watch it ALONE), but she didn't disappoint me and we saw the great movie and it was worth all the pain. The sceneries were good, and should be seen on big screen only.

P.S : I would advise my 2 'good' friends to see the movie in theatre only :), it's worth it, and I can accompany you again.

The world of Design n Fashion

Fashion (tashhan for North Indians) and Desgin world is no longer limited to clothes, shoes etc, you can see it everywhere even your bathrooms.(remember the Jaquar ads...classy accessories)
 
I'd noticed this substantially on my first visit to States i.e Amrika 4 years back where we would roam around a lot visiting different places (including their restrooms).
 
Washing hands was like a small mystery to be solved there,
Besides normal taps(like in India) whose  knob needs to be rotated anticlockwise for the nirmal jal, there were taps whose lever had to be turned left or right, some levers up, some down...some knobs had to be pushed , while others had to be pulled and the heights was for some there were no knobs and lever at all. I was like 'okay this is a difficult one' and confused as to how do I get water out of this when I saw an American lady helping her kids , then I realized that one just had to place hands under it and the water would gush out.
 
Cool Isn't?
 
These tap designers are really very creative. Fashion is everywhere these days and no longer only a girl thing. The  other day I saw one of my blogger friend wearing a blood RED shoe with only 3 grey stripes and he said it was fashion and the Design was very comfy.
 
 

Pause right else…..Invite Pandemonium

I remember in school days our Grammar teacher would give a lot of importance to all the exclamations, punctuations and pauses we used while reading or while writing.
I never realized the importance much then.

Yesterday few of us left from office (Level 4) and intended to go to the Basement(Level –1).We were generally talking, and I asked my friend "Nisha" about a book

Risha: Hey do you have that book?
We were at the 2nd floor by then, and the elevator door opened, she paused while a guy entered from the Level 2 and replied as an afterthought
Nisha : Yes I am carrying (and paused while the door closed again and the lift started descending)

Jisha (the 3rd friend) insisted her to complete her sentence!!!
Nisha: The book.

To add to this David says, "Okay, we know you are carrying, you don't have to publicize this"

The loud outburst and the weird looks on our faces completely got the stranger confused , as to who was carrying and who had the book, he just looked at all of us in turns..lost completely and walked out at Level0.

David was spanked (u know for what now)

What is A Blog??

Lately, as you all know or realized I've got inspired into blogging, hence I forwarded the link to all my friends(school,college,colleagues etc).But some of my friends are not much into it and are not aware of blogging.

Their reactions!!!

Risha : Did you get a chance to see my blog?
Friend : Yeah I went through it, some of my friends are also into this message boarding.
Risha(thinking): hmm MESSAGE BOARD , interesting definition huh!!

Another friend : Its nice , but I could'nt understand what it is.

Another one : What is a blog?? These days all I writing , I will not write it, I dont have time for such (long pause) "creative" things.
 
My dear friends here is the definition of blog I got from the dictionary,
"A shared on-line journal where people can post diary entries about their personal experiences and hobbies"

I've started blogging as this would be a nice way to keep in touch with all friends and share views comments.
Others (who know the concept), Thanks for the appreciating the blog and the encouraging words. I really treasure them.
 
A thought:
"Prepare your mind to receive the best that life has to offer." 

Rains Anew

"A gently blowing wind sweeps across my face,
right now I wouldn't want to be in any other place
than sitting in my room with pitter patter sound
of raindrops hitting the window roof and ground,
With my own thoughts and my own world
I sit in my bed covered comfy and curled
I think of words hardly anyone would say
I'd love if it rained every single day"

Rains are back in Pune ( they started pretty early this year but then lost their directions for Pune, similar to ghanan ghanan song of Lagaan). Past 2-3 days its pouring again and once more all the rain accessories are out. You can see children in colorful raincoats , gumbooots, caps and umbrellas. People standing under the tree for shelter, and there's chhapak chhapak splash everywhere. Rainy season is good for trekkers, u get swamped in rains, enjoy the serene beauty of nature, witness a lot of natural waterfalls and hear frogs croaking. There's greenery everywhere, this is the best time to see different shades of green.
Some people enjoy watching the rains and eat garam garam bhajiya's(Diet conscious folks may drink hot soups though) and some (especially Moms)want to get some more plants for the garden(Definitions of garden vary in the morden age of flats and apartments).It would be a boon for farmers now.
 
The other side of it though is ..you hear a lot of cough and sneeze everywhere(My Doctor friend enjoys the season coz her clinic is full of patients).
P.S: I hear a sneeze every 5 min in the office and am also a part of it. "aaachhu'

Fond Memories

Went to college last weekend (ya...trying to get admission for MCM 2). We 3 friends decided to pursue a post graduation degree better known as Master's degree and thought(think) doing MCM is a cool idea.

College ambience is cool, reminded me of my college days (around 7 yrs back) when we would hang out , bunk lectures and idle our time in college canteen. It would be a different kinda fun to sit in the corridors chit chatting especially where it was prohibited to do so. We would talk about our future lives and how good it would be to take up a job and have some money in hand and earn. We would always think that taking up a job and earning would be far better than the lectures, studying, proxy attendence, proxy graphs, journal submission etc.

Now when I see college, how much I wish to just lead that life(though its little awkward to walk in the college now)...only studies, and exams...no deadlines no client pressure, no nothing.

A Thought :
"Grass always seem to be greener on the other side of the field."

Brainchild

Past many months am reading blogs of friendz , friend's frienz etc and I liked the idea of sharing thoughts,getting different views & perspectives going back to old memories and the best part is keeping in touch with all friends.
Things are shared from movie, vegetables, politics , Poems , to school days or for that matter even names of places and people's attitude.

I always thought WOW....thatz cool, I should try it too, but my mind and heart kept telling me "ur vocab is horrible..so don't even think about it".

Today I read (again in one of the blogs) that "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new"...so I thought this is a good chance to try something new...atleast I made an attempt, and i convinced my brain and heart too :o) (Its not that easy to convince both of them at the same time..they generally conflict a lot)  Hence the decision to write(lemme do it quickly before they contravene) so lemme start with a thought that has inspired me today (thanks to one of the blogs i visited today)
 
A Thought :
              " I don't know what the secret of success is, 
               but the secret of failure is to try to please everyone"