Take a break.  

Coffee breaks in the office is the best time to vent our frustration... anger and if nothing else vent the way Indian Politics is. These are the topic we discuss over the coffee and tea during the break.  
  I never thought I would be part of such discussion when I was in college. I thought these are the topics made only for elderly people who could never do anything and hence blamed everything. 
And its Our generation who is born to find all the answers to their problem. 
(Remember... it was the time when we used to Dream and never had any doubt about its fulfillment.:) 
 But after a decade when I am part of such discussions with colleagues and friends ...  I am amazed! 
 Without trying we are all time ready to blame Indian traffic, System or government. Honestly I don't have any soft corner for either of it... but I definitely have a question before blaming either of them. 
What have we done to improve it??? 
At least i know i have not done anything remarkable which will give me right to blame it. 
In fact...
Simple things like... 
Do we follow signal? 
Do we really follow traffic rules??  
Do we really throw the chocolate wrapper in dustbin??? 
If yes, I am glad. 
But most of us don't. 
Its just a while ago i realised.. that if i cant do anything prominent to improve my country.. i can atleast follow the traffic rules and put the wrapper in pocket (if dustbin is not around) and take a first step.  
Guys... We all are aware of the problems.  We have analysed and chewed them enough.  Now lets take a break from all of them and think for the Solution.  Its time to move on and take a step further.  
Its We who makes the Nation. 
If we All can just try to find a Solution instead of 
repeating the fact that India is screwed.. guess we can definitely create the difference.   
After all, good or bad it all really starts from Us.   

        Walking Out the Old... Walking In the New!! 

Happen to meet my old gang last weekend. It was a re-union after many years.

We were aware about each other’s updates and were happy for some of us getting married and few of us upgrading to mom and dad.

We all were pretty close but as life moved on… priorities changed and so did the friend circle.

But finally we decided and implemented a plan of re-union.  

It was great coming back and reviving all the funny incidents.

And then one of our friends shared the news.

She said… she got separated legally last year. It was quiet shocking…!!!

All we knew was… she is married happily and settled somewhere in Europe.

But then… she poured her heart out.

And… I must say it was a brave decision.

She has started afresh and she is better off.

Then one by one three of our friends shared their story…

where 2 of them are waiting for legal separation and third one is through with it.

Ahh…

I know what you are thinking.

The basic reason one will conclude is…

Lifestyle has changed.

Nowadays girls have become more demanding and independent.

Now they are not that tolerant the way our parents or grand parents used to be.

But unfortunately,

These friends of mine have struggled for years together before they landed up with a decision to take a complete full stop.

It’s not about a girl or a guy.

It’s about not getting along with a partner and in turn spoiling your whole life. 

Separating legally is not a simple thing. It’s a mental and emotional trauma.

In fact it affects the duo involved the most.

And if they are still going on for a legal separation I believe we need to respect their opinion and their guts.

It’s always good to start afresh instead of dying every day in a sinking ship.

Hats off to all my such friends. 

        Essence of Life.

We all are citizens of one common city. Regardless geographical boundaries and location we still are citizen of one common city. 

I know half of you are wondering which city it could be…. And other half have concluded that I have lost my mind :)

Well… let me answer first half and bring smile to second half….

The name of the city is CurioCity. :) 

Yes!!

Curiosity!

We are so eager to know how it will be… what it will be…

Whether it will be a baby boy or a baby gal…

Whether it will be International board or Central Board…

Whether he will become engineer or a doctor or a sportsman…

Whether placement will be through campus or off campus…

Whether MNC or an Indian company…

Whether MS or MBA…

Whether Love marriage or an arrange marriage…

Whether working or non-working wife…

Whether baby boy or baby gal….

And the cycle continues. :) 

Eons have passed and eons will pass…but this Curiosity factor will never change in us.

Because…

it’s Essence of our Life!!!

Life is Alive… Vigorous… exciting… just because it is full of Surprises.

Just imagine…

if it would have been like an Open source code… or like Google…  where we can search for our future life.

Probably a search engine Boogle

(I know its not a word… but Google was also not a word :P )

where you can find details of individual with time frame.

A…may be search a text like…

Ten years down the line how is Sam going to be…

Oh! I am retired from software… enjoying Himalayas permanently…

Yuppie!

I will love to know this.

But…

if the search engine says…

I am still slogging with the same or similar company…(!)

I am sure I will ruin my present. :( 

And then shockingly search engine also says…

I m very happy with my real old job and I laugh on a dream of settling in Himalayas… :) 

Wooopss!!!

That’s real U turn and unlike me… :S 

And…

I m Curious to know how did it happen…. :) 

Some things in life are best experienced when they unfold at right time…

 That Anxious night before the results…  Frustrating wait before the job offer… 

Uneasy wait near the Visa window…  Spooky moments before the first take off…

Nervous wait before gal friend agrees… restless days before parents accept…

Aflutter news of becoming Mom Dad… anxious wait outside the operation theater…

And then blooming of life…

with unexpected distinction… and the best job offer… 

with H1 Stamped… and a peaceful take off… 

Girl friend upgrading to wife with the blessing of Parents…

And a healthy baby changing your world… :) 

Life is happening… exciting… thrilling… and sometimes boring…real frustrating…agitating…depressing… just because of this magic factor.

This magic factor helps us survive during the tough time…

And keeps us alive while life unfolds with it’s secrets!

Enjoy the Journey!!! 

It’s... a Mind Game.

I was too bugged to do anything. No good reason… it was just that boredom clouded my mind.

I had dead lines to meet… 

tons of work to be completed… 

meetings to be attended...

but it all lack zest and seem mundane to me.

I tried to do work… but no luck. My unhappy state of mind rejected all that was coming its way. 

Every effort put in to kill my boredom went not only in vain but it added to the existing state.

I felt probably…   its a time for break at least a short break.  

But the fact is…. I have already been on a long vacation and have joined just two weeks back. :D

My boss would have not even shared his deaf ear… for my V of vacation.

Hmmm..

Everything was too gloomy and dull adding to my non productive hours :)

After lunch… I went for a walk with friends.

In a discussion… we just realized that next month we can have 5 days holiday in a row…!!!

That...

was a trigger…

One of my friends said….

Goa

and…

we were with Thumps up!!! :)

Pune to Goa with Kokan railway… is the best treat you can give to yourself in monsoon. The majestic water fall of Doodhsaagar… started hovering in front of our eyes… and we were all lost in the arms of Kokan.

Woo!!!

The evolving discussions… pep up my mood and it was a complete 180 degrees change in my state of mind. 

I dono how far the plan will work out but the discussion destroyed my boredom. :)

I could complete my work in half the time and attend meetings with a smile.

It was all state of mind… and games played by it.

I was same person in both the states… but it was my mind that made me react in different ways.

It made me realize that therez something more to me…

Its neither my parents nor my boss…

But my Mind… which controls me!!!

Hmmm…

Thought Provoking… isn’t it??

Guess that’s the reason they say positive thinking attracts positive things in life.

Power of Mantras...

I am a software engineer by profession and a very logical creature.

But these days my spiritual adventures and experiences are making me believe that there is another world yet to be discovered.
I have been to Maansarovar in June.
It’s believed that Maansarovar is created by Brahma G himself. He just thought about it and the lake was created.
There is a myth that on full moon day, all the lords along with Shiva G & Parvati G come to Maansarovar early morning for bath.

I was thrilled with the story and was really looking forward for the visit. Maansarovar is a highest fresh water lake at the height of 14950ft and it’s really one of the beautiful water bodies I have seen.

Its considered to be very auspicious to take a dip in this freezing lake.

Everybody from my group had taken a dip in sarovar, the earlier day and I was the only one left.

It was chilly cold morning and I could not gauge how freezing water could be. It had rained during the night and snowed on the peaks around. Temperature had dropped drastically and so was my desire to take a dip. But few of my friends insisted me to take a dip and somehow I made up my mind. ):

I went in, in the sarovar and immediately lost the sensation of my feet. My legs went numb… completely numb. Water was freezing… may be down to 3-4 degrees. Wind was blowing hard and I had lost my legs. :D

I could not hang on even for 5 min… forget about the dip!!! I was immediately out of the sarovar...and shivering badly.

I was absolutely blank and dint know what to do... Suddenly I remembered mantras and started chanting them.

To my surprise… it helped me distract my mind. It helped me so much that I could not feel the water temperature. I could go in again in the sarovar and this time… can be there for longer time. I could even take a dip in that chilling water without feeling its temperature.

It was shocking effect of mantras...My body was fine now but made my logical mind numb.

I had witnessed completely new and absurd thing. Unfortunately…. It was not some one else’s experience where I can deny the possibility. It happened with me… when I was in complete sane state. How can I deny...

All I understood was.. .this is the real power of mantras. I never knew it and chanted in unknown. But now I know how powerful it can be...!

Also realized that there is a world to be discovered which is beyond the range of scientific experiments or may be science is yet to experiment them.

This weird experience changed my point of view. I understood that one should be open to new things if one say one is logical or rational.

Hard Facts about KMY.

Kailas Maansarovar yatra is considered to be the most gracious spiritual trip.
After being there… I would like to share some Hard Facts about it, which needs to be considered before you jump in.

1.      If you are really keen for it… start collecting money from today and go before you get old :)
         It’s really difficult to do and complete Parikrama at the height of 18500+ fts… so good state of health and mental strength is an advantage.

2.    If you are not so young then keep your belief intact that you can do the Parikrama and trust Shiv G completely. He will show you the way…

3.    Although you pay heavy amount…and your organizer promises you for all the facilities… always remember it’s a Yatra. Its not a luxury trip or a status symbol.
Be mentally prepared for any type of accommodation, food and water.

         3.1    Rooms are very simple and you need to share it with 4 or 5 people.

         3.2    Food is healthy but neither tasty nor hygienic.  Never ever hop in, in the  kitchen…if you do… you will not be able to eat anything atleast for two days :D :P.
 (Two guys of our group did it… and they were down with shock :P)

         3.3    Water is not clean and at times accompanied with some smell…:D
          The way out is you can buy (where ever possible) or get used to drink smelly water   with total trust in Shiv G. :) 
The wise way also could be to carry Alum and give it to kitchen Sherpas. You will atleast drink clean boiled water with smell….:D:D

4.  And the most important thing:  Washrooms.
If you cannot survive without them, this yatra is NOT for you.  Just drop the idea and save your precious time and money. :)
To be precise… washrooms in Tibet are real challenge. And if you are not a trekker or aware about it… then it’s a shock treatment for you. :D
Think about it seriously before you finalize your decision.

5. If food, water and washrooms are secondary for you and your focus is Kailas…. then You must go to KMY. Something special is really in store for you. Trust it and surrender yourself completely to Shiv G. It will be worth everything :)

6. Don’t get carried with discussions and people. Many feel fatigue and will make you believe how bad all things are… just try to be focused and trust Shiv G without doubt. Enjoy the nature around. Trust me… You will miss every terrain after you are back from the mesmerizing place.

7. KM is an awesome place… it’s the place from where whole world gets its Bhrama Chaitanya… it is Sahastraar of the World. This chaitanya will keep you in a blissful state of mind and will also take care of your health… all that is needed is complete faith in the place and Shiv G. Rest all will fall in place :)

All the best, for Your Spiritual Adventure. :)

Begger to Be Ghar ;)

It was end of another rocking weekend.
But this weekend was bit different. It was full of astonishments.
I had so many surprises that by the end of Sunday… I was actually looking forward for mundane Monday. :)

We had to shift to a new flat.(Courtesy Land Lady :).) And it was this weekend we had planned to move our baggage.

Fortunately a pretty good deal was cracked and we were happy to move in. It was 3 BHK semi furnished flat. The owner seemed to be pretty descent and her simplicity made a mark.
The flat was not only good but also provided us an AC (air conditioner).
We happily finalized the things and were completely touched by her generosity of not taking any advance. She was fine to take money when we would shift to her flat.

This all happened a week ago.

Saturday was a day when most of the packing was done. I had 3 big bags full of books. Its my personal collection of all types of books… the total number has now reached to 57 :). And yes… I have read almost all of them :).
Happily I did rest of the packing… and was all set for the Sunday.

We went early morning on Activa with the luggage as informed to owner. However the house was locked. When called up.. the owner said… she is in the hospital to meet some relative and will take time.
However… in the afternoon she had another story to tell. She called up and said she has given the flat to other group of gals who has given her 50K deposit!!!

Immediately we went to her place but guess damage was all done. She was transformed... transformed to a wild House Owner. She was smelling and licking the deposit money, the one she got from other 6 gals. :D

We tried to convince her and remind her, her conscience… but neither of us could compete with an aroma of FIFTY THOUSAND. :D

Dejectedly we left her place... Not sure what to react… and how to respond. It was 29th and existing flat had to be vacated by 31st.

After being pensive for a while…the first thing I said to my roomie was… I am hungry :D:D
She lost her mind and gave me left and right. But at the end even she agreed that its better to have food to face the changing time :);)

After the lunch we thought of all the back up options. Unfortunately two of them had wiped out and the one which none of us wished to consider was of the hostel.

Neither Sulekha.com nor Magic Bricks could bring any magic to our situation.

And so… we decided to hit the battlefield.

We searched thoroughly almost all the lanes and squares of Narayan Peth & Sadashiv Peth.
Also managed to find an agent and see the house. But none of the place was worth even considering.
It seemed as if bad luck was madly in love with us :D. Absolutely nothing clicked!!

In the evening we realized that we are beggar of the house and in a days time we shall be “be ghar”. :D
We were laughing out loud on our skills of rhyming and the situation in which we were caught. :)
We enjoyed the moment with Pani Puri and gave all the good words to the 3BHK owner :P It was amusing.

The day successfully drained our energy and spirits.

It was indeed a rollercoaster ride. A ride from Semi Furnished 3BHK Air Conditioned flat to a room of some remote hostel.

Room of a hostel??!!

Yes!!

Room of a hostel.

After all… that’s the only option, which is left. :D