A Hidden treasure in Andhra: Araku

  Amidst all this halla-gulla of telangana, when we decided to go to Andhra, the reaction of parents and well wishers was, "what? Why? You are getting too adventures" and blah blah. But we knew that "Dikhao pe mat jao, apni akal lagao" As we have booked tickets for Hyderabad in advance, we started our journey from Delhi as per plan. The destination was Vishakhapatnam via Hyderabad.

Vishakhapatnam, Gem of Andhra Pradesh as they call it, is a small business city located at coast side of Bay of Bengal. Its famous for its Harbor and vizag steel plant. Our destination, Araku hills were around 130 Km from her. We reached on 25th dec morning with two of other friends. To describe the city, its called a Big Village. Its developed with time but still people has this village kind of gesture and mentality. So You see high risers, wide roads, big malls but no road sense, very middle class dressing. The coast line is huge, in fact whole city is on coast side. Red sand, dangerous waters. A lot can be done around beaches. Municipal corporation needs to put some lightings, chairs shops etc on famous beaches like RK Beach and Rushi konda. But the other side of story is that the beaches are very clean and natural courtsey lack of commercailization.
There are few spots worth watching in Vizag aka Vishakhapatnam. Two beches I mentioned, Rama Krishna beach(There is a Rama Krishna Mission temple there), and other famous beach is Rushi Konda Beach. The Rushi Konda beach is said to be more violent but we saw more people bathing on Rushikonda than RK.
Also Rushikonda beach has some boats whoch can ferry you in sea but the condition of those boats and life jackets was too horrible. So just had some water-play and photo shoots and came back.

The next place we reached was Kailasagiri. Its a high point of vizag from where you see whole Vizag. Its good to plan to reach there by Sun set. There is a rope way to the top of hill. Cars can also reach there. There are few eating joints on top and a small toy train. You just sit there and watch sun seeting and whole vizag city.
I liked this spot very much and spent around 2-3 hours there. Specially aftre sunset you see whole city lights and huge coast line of Vizag.This was the last place we watched on our first day in Vizag.
Next day we started for the main destination, Araku. Its a Hill area located in Estern Costs. There is a East coast railway line going to this place with just one Toy train running on it. We couldnt get the tickets to this train as it was Chisrtmas weekend. But this train ride is very picture

Houseful: Theater bhale hi khali ho Film to houseful hai

Think of a parent who keep name of their child "intelligent". Even if he is dumb, people will still call him Intelligent. Or keep name of their ugly daughter "beautiful". Its true that we all love our possessions and creations, but that doesn't mean we close our eyes to the truth.
This is what has happened with Sajid Khan. The director, who always lives in a dream, that he is best director and all his jokes, on which most of the only he laughs, are the best jokes. The movie named Houseful, probably they were sure, will never be practically houseful. Though the timing of release was superb, people were desperate to watch movies. No new movie with good star cast was released in last 2 months due to IPL. The theaters were full. But the jokes, over acting, situations failed to bring a smile on audience face.
I am kind of loosing respect for Akshay Kumar after seeing movies like Chandni Chowk To China, Singh is King and now Houseful. With hoers mature and try to act in movies which not only fetch money but also bring them some place in history. But Akki is going other way. After doing such good comedies like Hera Feri, Welcome, Namstey London, he has fallen in trap.
Who was the casting director? Shoot him. Lara Dutta lookes like big sister to Ritesh, Ziya khan looks like daughter to Akki. Deepika is gorgeous and have a perfect belly(years after Shilpa) which she has flaunted almost in evry scene. But the pairing doesn click.
Boman tries to support in second half. He is bit successful as movie is still bearable in second half. And the climax scene, who the hell was they thinking will laugh on scene when a laughing gas will be filled in Queens Hall and everyone will laugh. They should have put some Laughing Gas diffusers in theaters also.
Over all, if you compare the movie with Welcome, Singh is King, it doesn't stand a chance. But if you have not seen a movie since ages and just wanted to watch, can be seen once in Multiplex Morning shows for 80 Rs. I will not suggest to spend 150 Rs for this movie. But any way, its your pocket. :)

Dil to bachchaa hai ji

The art of story telling which Basu chatterji, Guljar knew..in the new age directors I see Vishal Bhardwaj and Anurag Kashyap in the same league. I have seen Makbool, I have seen Omkara and Kaminey and now I see Ishkiya. The same art of story telling. Simple stories with complex human emotions where there is no villain no hero all are characters and each one is trying to outsmart other one. You take abba ji you take langda tyagi you take bhope all of them are neither hero nor villain but simple characters yet they have made their presence felt.
Ishkiya is simple tale of love where each one of characters are following their love and the results is some time comforting to each other some time confronting. There is no villain, no hero. Even a small character like Mushtak bhai and tai,  who fires the lamp is and Kakkad leaves his style. For me Arshad did best of all in front of seniors like Naseer. His language his timing his body language. He is too good. Vidya has done fabulous acting but she couldnt adopt the typical Eastern UP dialect. Her love making scene with Arshad shows the maturity of her as an actress. The small roles like Nandu and Verma also has done excellent acting.
Coming to story, it has some loose ends. Did mushtak bhai got his money back, did he kill the trio, whom did Krishna married in end, did they get money or just their lives back. First half was griping but second half became slow. Ibne batuta song could be put in movie. Over all movie is average. I will not consider it in the same class as Kaminey, Makbool or Omkara. But abhi to Abhisek bachha hai ji....So lets wait for some more from him.....

5 point someone aka 3 Idiots

The book was good but movie is superb. The book was for engineers and young, movie is for masses. Only youth cant make it 300 crores. The story telling redefined by Raju Hirani and Vinod Chopra. Abhijat Joshi and Chetan bhagat prepared the background. After all its a Amir movie which each one of us waits for 1 year. Far better than Gajhni less touching than TZP.
3 idiots impressed my family so much that they removed all the astrological rings from their finger. In todays world, where movies just pass 3-4 weeks in a Multiplex, time is fast, who has such impact. The theme was good, story was superb, actors justified characters, a bit of over acting by Boman and unnecessary delivery scene in end. Barring these small things it was perfect. Kareena looked good after Jab We Met. In very few movies, I like kareena, K3G, JWM and 3 Idiots.
Amir is now becoming an icon of acting. Every time he comes, he surprise you. God knows what will be his next surprise. Even in close ups he looks just like 20 yr old college going as he was in Kayamat Se Kayamat Tak. His body language his dressing, no doubt he is Mr Perfectionist.
I really liked the movie. Watched it twice. The betterment could be in music as except songs like Behati hawa sa tha wo and all is well, no other songs are good. Mr Mahadevan should have got some inspiration from Amir and tried to reduce his tummy. Overall All is Well

Have you met God?

God! As per Wikipedia "God is most often conceived of as the supernatural creator and overseer of the universe." As per oxford "noun 1 (in Christianity and other monotheistic religions) the creator and supreme ruler of the universe." For us, He is someone, who believers says that, will take care of all their needs, help them in distress and make the living easy.

Have anyone seen God? Most of us will say NO. Some will say, you never see Him but you can feel Him, like air. Some rare will say YES. So now I belong to those rare ones. I not only felt Him but saw Him in person.

This happened very recent. I went to see a Doctor for my wife in AIIMS(its India's best medical facility). For those who have never been AIIMS, as its best and only 1 in India, you see people all over from India(we are 1 Billion by the way) coming to AIIMS with their last hope. So its really crowded and even to get the registration you have to stand in a long queue(may be .5 Km long). We reached there early morning but when I saw the queue, I thought it will be impossible to see Dr. as by the time we reach at registration counter, Dr will be OFF. May be we should have come really early morning. We were standing near OPD gate and discussing what to do.

Suddenly a person in his early fifties came to us. He was wearing a Khaki uniform with AIIMS badge on his shoulder. He asked me, "Are you looking for a registration form?" , "Yes" I said. He gave me one and asked me to write the patient details and which department to see. I wrote over the slip. Then next step is to submit that slip on another counter(another queue) and deposit 10 Rs to get registration card. He asked me"Do you have 10 Rs change? or I have 10 Rs" I said "no no I have 10 Rs". He took the slip and 10 Rs and disappeared.

Now I started thinking. Who He was? How did He know that I need a registration slip. Why He helped us? Is He some fraud who took my 10 Rs and disappeared. But then He appeared with registration card with my wife name. Handed over to me and blessed me that your problem shall be solved. I offered Him a 50 Rs saying thanks. But He denied saying that He doesn't do this for money. He just helps people in need. Then again He disappeared.

When was the last time, some one unknown came to you when you were in need, asked your problem, solved your problem without even you asking him to help and disappeared without any reward.

PS: By the way, that was last Monday of sacred monthe SAWAN and I was fasting too.

My IQ

Free-IQTest.net - Free IQ Test

In the name of Allah

Last Saturday, it was Delhi's turn. We all witnessed an act of shear frustration and coward ness. And that too in the name of "Almighty God". As the e-mail sent to various news channels suggest. These so called "Jihad's" or warriors for religion profess themselves as real Muslims and they attack Delhi because its capital of a "Hindutva" country India. All Delhites, specially people living in Karol Bagh and CP and GK, belong to VHP and Bajrang dal and these Freedom fighters wanted to take revenge from them

Now coming to the victims. A family of poor people from Haryana, lost all their bread winners. These poor people were selling old cloths used for cleaning engines in Auto Market in Karol bagh. Another poor guy, who was studying Chartered Accountant, from remote city in UP. He lost his one eye. Another poor rickshaw puller Kasim and Farooq, both lost their lives. He has left Kashmir, because of the violence to live(or die) peacefully in Delhi.

I ask this question to all the Jihads and people having sympathy to their cause. What these innocent people has done to them or their religion. None of them have ant relation to VHP or Bajrang Dal. All of them were serving all religions with equal pride and affection. Then why they?

Just because they are easy prays. These cowards jihads, who boast themselves in name of Allah, don't have even that much guts to face the real culprits. I would have no complaints if they have targeted Narendra Modi or Pravin Togadia or Babu Bajrangi. But these so called jihads are such kind of criminals, I don't know how they face themselves in mirror leave aside facing Allah. Its something like, some Pehalwan hit you hard. You were helpless. Out of sheer frustration, you get hold of next weak person and start getting your frustration out on him. And over that claim that you doing it for religion and Allah. Will Allah boast such acts of cowardice. Even in Koran, which came on earth in this holy month of Ramdhan, its strictly mentioned, Don't kill children and women. Fight when you are attacked.

If these so called Jihads or Indian Mujahidins, for me they are un-organized criminals who are psychologically disturbed. They have some grudges and frustrations and they are taking it out by planting bombs on innocent people, places sneakily. Warriors don't act in hideouts or nights. They have guts to challenge enemy and face them. I spit on the face of these worms, cynical people, someone like that psycho killer who kills innocent people in darkness of night, without any fault of victims. He kills just because he is mentally sick. He enjoys it.

I request all of my friends, enemies, family, non family to take good care of themselves. Keep an open eye and foil any bid by such criminals to disturb peace of our country. For such un-organized criminals, police cant reach everywhere. Its we as citizens has to help ourselves.

Bollywood blogs

Recently I got this new addiction for bollywood personality blogs. These blogs have nothing to do with those blogs referring to bollywood gossips and movie release and review. As cinema is a medium where an actor did is job and when the target product reach target audience can make any opinion on the movie. They may have some complaints be clarification to ask. How to do so?
With the Internet sweeping whole world, film stars also not immune to it. Now they are using this blog medium to connect to their audience. Here they talk to their audience as a person not a film character and share their joys sorrows and day today life. Also make confessions express their weekness. Interestingly such blog are huge hits and getting lot many readers. I give some link to some bollywood blog which i follow daily. Enjoy.

Amitabh Bachhan Blog http://blogs.bigadda.com/ab/ - Regular/Literary

Aamir khan Blog http://www.aamirkhan.com/blog.htm - Occasional/diary

Ram Gopal Verma Blog http://rgvarma.spaces.live.com/ - Frequent/thoughts

Salman Khan Blog http://duskadum.blogspot.com - Frequent/self appraiser

Here I give one more link. This site tells about box office statistics for all indian movie released.
www.ibosnetwork.com

Is it a luxary or bondage?

कभी एक छोटे बच्चे को देखा है? कुछ दिन पहले ही हमारे घर एक नया मेहमान आया है। मेरी बहिन को एक छोटा सा प्यारा सा शिशु हुआ है। देखने में भोला भला निरीह सा दिखने वाला... पिछले २-३ दिनों से देख रहा हूँ..कितने मजे में रह रहा है। न खाने ली चिंता ना नित्य क्रिया के लिए परेशानी। जब मन किया सो गए जब मन किया उठ गए। भूख लगी तो रोना शुरू और कोई न कोई दूध पिला देगा...माँ नही तो मामी नही तो नानी। अगर नित्य क्रिया करनी है तो बस कर दी और रोना शुरू। कोई तो साफ़ कर ही देगा॥ कितने मजे हैं..क्या ऐयाशी है देख कर कभी जलन होती है।



फ़िर ये सोचता हूँ की उस शिशु की क्या अपनी कोई इक्षा है? वो तो एक खिलोने की तरह है। जिसका मन आया उसे गोदी में उठा लिया..कभी खिलाया कभी जगा दिया कभी सुला दिया। कभी किसी और को गोद में दे दिया कभी कपड़े से अच्छे से लपेट दिया की सर्दी न लग जाए। इतनी सुविधा में रखते है उसे पर क्या उसकी कोई मर्जी है? वो तो पराधीन है। वो एक हिन्दी की कविता थी ना॥ "पराधीन सपनेहु सुख नही" तो क्या उसे सपने में भी सुख नही है? फ़िर उसे देख कर जो जलन हो रही है उसका क्या?



क्या हमारी जिन्दगी भी ऐसी ही नही है? जो हमारे पास नही होता उसे देख कर हम जलते रहते है पर उस वस्तू को प्राप्त करने के पीछे जो वेदना है, जिन परिस्तिथ्यो से वो गुजरा है जो बलिदान उसने दिए हैं..वो हमें कभी नही दीखते है। ऊपर की मलाई तो दिखती है पर उस मलाई को दूध से निकलने के लिए उसे कितना खोलाना पड़ा उसका क्या? अगर उस कीमत पे हमें वो सुविधाए चाहिए तो फ़िर क्या बात है?

Important customer care numbers

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Aao chalo kartoons banaye....

Another Good Movie: Jab We Met

So finally I watched it. It was long pending and I have not seen a good movie since ages. This one is best performance by Shahid. He acts so flawlessly, effortless acting. Remember scene where he is in train and Kareena is doing bak bak. Watch his face. Or when he meets dara singh(Kareenas grand father) first time. He is superb. What to say about music. After a long time there is a movie for which you would like to buy all songs. My favorite is Tumse Hee. Director Imtiaz Ali finally got his piece of success. His other movies as Socha na tha, ahista ahista, black friday..all were simple movies with no extreme action or extreme comedy or romance. Even this Jab we met is a simple movie which doesn't leave you heavy head.
Kareena looks pretty. She has lost lot of weight and is looking very gorgeous. As usual did overacting but in this movie may be it was required. Other casts were OK. The film becomes a bit slow after interval. May be director should have shown us more of India tourist spots. We can make a cinematographic good movie without going to Switzerland also.
Last but not least, worth to mention the song "ye ishk hai" picturised in manali. It beautifully captures local himachaly dance and local things.
Final word is that movie is paisa wasool. Should be watched in theater only.

Mauritius : Earths Best Honeymoon Destination

Hey guys! After marriage what next? Obviously honeymoon yaar. I was in Mauritius from 29th Nov - 6th Dec 2007 for 1 week honeymoon. Surely honeymoon, weather in Mauritius or in manali, its the best time of your life. I don't remember if I spend such 7 days and nights so tension free, relaxed, just two of us...lost in each other, ever in my life. Or I will be able to do so again. Being known to my wife for almost 5 yrs now, atleast I didnt have the pressure to impress my wife which was very obvious in other couples. We really enjoyed each and every moment of it to the fullest. We did so many things for the first time in life. Starting from parasailing to going 35 mt deep in water in Sub Marine, dancing on beach, salsa with my wife..and so many more. Ahh..wish I could stay there some more time.

Enough is available on Google for Mauritius so I wont get into those details. May be some time I will put a travel blog. But right now I give some special tips for Indian Couples travelling to Mauritius. These are the things which we missed.

1. Water is really costaly inside all honeymoon resorts. In half-boarding travels, food is free but water is 150 rs a ltr. Better buy few bottles(a pack of 6) from Airport on arrival.
2. Do carry some cup noodles as most of the resorts/hotels dont have kitchens. So even maggie doesnt help. Cup noodles easy to cook and eat. Even heat and eat food is also good as you can use hot water in bath tap to heat it.
3. Carry some home made Achaar or maththee so that when you miss indian taste you can try it with local food.
4. Dinner is served at 7:30 PM in resorts/hotels. Be on time else you miss all good things.
5. Do carry Sun cream of SPF > 40 as sun rays are too direct.
6. In sight seeing tours, do carry some ready to eat food as biscuits cake namkeen fruits etc.
7. Floaters and swiming costumes are must. They are costly there(3-4 times).
8. In hotel, always pay in Euro as euro to MUR conversation rate is very poor inside hotel.
9. There is nothing worth in Mauritius Airport Duty Free Shop. If you plan to buy some gifts, shop around waterfront in port louis. You should bargain even in branded shops. The mall is costly but shops along water banks are good one. There are few good indian restarents around.
10. If staying in Indian Resort, ask your Candle Night Dinner in Haseena(Indian Restaurent) instead of Piazzata(Italian).
11. Catch up all free activities like glass bottom boat, kayak, paddling etc. They are worth doing.
12. La Cassela national park is very near and very cheap. Go for jungle safari. Lion observation is not worth. If you can spend, go for walk with lions(2100/- pp)

Marriages: Made in heaven, celeberated in India

So much is said about Fat Indian Weddings. One more wedding of mine to add. I got married on 25th of Nov 2007 and as usual, a lot of money was spend on decoration, tents, travel, catering. I keep on asking this question to myself..cant we do away with such a huge investment? Is it really a necessity to do so much or just a way of flaunting your economic status. Richer you are, more you spend.
Though it was a love-cum-arrange marriage, with so many Egos' crushed and crumbled, still the money spent on all the proceedings from my side and her side was huge enough to support a middle class family for 1 to 2 years with their monthly needs. I am not talking about expenses on cloths or ornaments or honeymoon as they are with you, but the expenses related to Band, Decorated Car, Grand reception of wedding, lights, camera person etc.
With camera person, I want to ask you people reading this, is there any spring in market which fits in your jaw and you always keep on smiling so that camera person can click your picture for infinite number of times. They say that its one time effort for life long memories, but with advent of these digital cameras where there are no limits for taking picture, especially wedding photographers irritate you so much that if you run all the still images taken by them, you will see a running movie.
What I like about our Desi weddings is the family ties which comes to surface. Though our lives becoming so fast we have very less time, but still our generation and last generation is trying to retain the traditions. Probably the kind of fun whole extended family does at a single place is only the marriages and few days before/after that. In my wedding I saw my mama jee dancing with us, whom we always saw in serious mood.
Obviously, a change cant be done by a single individual due to social fabric of India where each of us looks towards other and peer pressure is huge. The efforts like Delhi Sikh Committee banning night weddings and extravagent weddings are surely welcome. Unfortunately Hindus don't have a single body making social laws so some civil law from Govt might help in curbing such un-wanted and un-necessary expenses.

बचपन की कुछ यादे - भाग १

आज कुछ खास वजह नही है इस ब्लोग को लीख्ने की, बस यूँही अकेला बैठा बीबीसी हिंदी की कुछ कहानिया पढी और अपना बचपन याद आ गया। अब बचपन तो सबका एक जैसा होता है। कम से कम मेरी हम उम्र सबका बचपन एक जैसा था, चाहे वो किसी छोटे शहर में रहे हो या बडे में। मेरी बचपन कि कुछ धुंधली सी यादे मेरे नाना जी के घर कि हैं। उनका घर पहली मंजिल पे था जहा जाने कि सीधी सीधिया थी। एक गंदे से बदबूदार नाले के किनारे वो घर था। सड़क के उस पार एक पार्क था जिसमे एक मंदिर भी था। इन सब बातो कि तसदीक मेरी मा भी करती हैं। मेरे नाना के घर के नीचे एक और परिवार रहता था जिन्हें मैं नीचे वाली नानी कहता था। उनके हाथो मेने दाल और रोटी बहुत खाई है। कुछ धुंधला सा मुझे भी याद है, पता नही मेरी माँ ने बताया इस लिए या वाकई मेरी याददाश्त इतनी तेज थी क्योंकि ४ बरस कि उम्र में हमने वो घर छोड़ दिया।
मेरे पिता जी कि नौकरी एक छोटे से शहर के चीनी मिल में थी। वो घर तो मुझे अछे से याद है। खपरैल का बड़ा सा माकन, सामने खूब बड़ी खेती लायक जमीन जहा हमेशा बैंगन, टमाटर मूली उगी रहते थे। घर कि चौखट से अन्दर जाते ही एक बड़ा सा आंगन जहा बाई और एक टिन शेड मी सूखी लाकदिया और कोयला नहरे रहती थे। दाहिनी और शौचालय और स्नानागार थे। उसके बाद एक पानी का पाइप लगा था शायद बर्तन मांजने के लिए। दाहिनी और ही उस खुले पानी के पाइप के बात रसोई घर था। अन्दर से केसा था इसकी कोई याद नही। रसोई घर कि दीवार तक आँगन ख़त्म था। फिर बाये हाथ पर एक दरवाजा था जो कमरों का प्रवेश था। अन्दर शायद एक सीधी गैलरी थी या कुछ कमरे थे। कुछ ठीक २ याद नही। दर असल ५ बरस तक होते २ मेरा समाया मेरे नाना और मेरे पापा के बीच में कटा। अब जो कुच्छ आधी अधूरी यादे हैं बस यही हैं।
पर हाँ एक बात अछे से याद है और वो है चीनी मिल के गेट पर एक मंदिर। रोज़ सुबह वहा आरती होती थी और हम उस आरती के बाद एक बताशे का प्रसाद लेने पहुंच जाते थे। हमारे घर के पीछे कि खिड़की चीनी मिल के अन्दर खुलती थी जहा एक सुन्दर सा बाग़ था जिसमे गुलाब के फूल लगे थे। मुझे आज भी अछे से याद है कि एक बार उस बाग़ में पर्दा लगा के एक फिल्म दिखाई गयी थी और मैं खिड़की पर बैठ कर वो फिल्म या शायद फिल्म दिखने वाले प्रोजेक्टर और तरीके को देख रह था, मेने अपन खाना भी खिड़की पे बैठ के खाया था। पापा के यह मिल मी जाने का सबसे आसान तरीका था कि गेट पे जाओ गर्द अंकल को बताओ कि फलने आदमी बेटे हैं और बस..आप मिल के अन्दर। खैर ये सब तो थी ५ बरस तक कि धुंधली यादे...

एक छोटी सी कहानी

वो दोनो बहुत डरे हुए थे। शायद ये उम्र का तकाजा था या पहली बार ऐसा करने का डर..लड़की ने बहुत समझाया कि नही मुझे ये नही करना। पर लड़के ने उसे अपने प्यार का वास्ता दिया। "क्या तुम मुझसे प्यार नही करती? मुझपे भरोसा नही है?" अब वो भी तैयार थी। लड़के ने उसे समझाया "बहुत मज़ा आएगा हमे और मैं भी तो हूँ न तुम्हारे साथ!"
लड़के ने पैसे दिए। दरबान ने उन दोनो को घूर के देखा। लड़की ने अपनी नजर नीचे झुका ली। अब वो दोनो भीतर आ चुके थे। लड़के ने अपनी जैकेट उतार दी। लड़की ने भी अपना दुपट्टा उतार दिया। वह पर कुछ अल्मारिया बनी थी। दोनो ने अपने कपडे उसमे रख दिए। लड़के ने लड़की से कहा " पहले तुम!" लड़की ने लड़के का हाथ पकडा और बैठ गयी। लड़का भी उसके बगल भी आकर बैठ गया। उसने अब दरवाजा बंद कर दिया। लड़की ने अपनी आँखे मूँद ली और लड़के का हाथ जोर से पकड़ लिया। उसकी साँसे ज़ोर-जोर से धड़क रही थी। उसके सांसो कि गर्मी लड़के के कंधो पर महसूस हो रही थी। लड़के ने प्यार से लड़की के माथे पर आ रही लटों को सुलझाया। और अपनी हथेली से उसके गालों को थपथपाया।
तभी जोर कि आवाज हुयी और लड़की जोर से चिल्लाई। अब वो दोनो ही बहुत डर गए थे। कभी ऊपर कभी नीचे। दोनो ने अपनी आँखे मूँद ली। लड़की ने लड़के के सीने में अपना मुह छुपा लिया। उसकी सांसे अब और जोर से धड़क रही थी। अब लड़के कि भी धड़कने तेज हो चुकी थी। अब तक वो अपने डर को छुपाने कि कोशिश में कामयाब रह था पर अब उसके चेहरे पे ऐसा कुछ पहली बार करने का डर साफ दिख रह था। या शायद हर बार ऐसा ही डर लगता।
अचानक सब कुछ शांत हो गया। लड़की ने अपनी आँखे खोली। उसने राहत की सांस ली। सब कुछ शांत हो चुका था। लड़के ने दरवाजा खोला। पहले लड़का बाहर निकला फ़िर उसने अपना हाथ बढाया और लड़की ने उसका हाथ पकड़ा। उसके हाथ अभी तक काँप रहे थे। कांपते कदमों से वो बाहर निकली । बाहर जाकर वो बोली " ख़बर दार जो आज के बाद तुम मुझे कभी रोलर कोस्टर पे झूला झूलने लाये तो?"

A new radio channel in town - Meow

This is my latest addiction. Though this channel claims to be indias first radio station, by woman, for woman and of woman. But its also Indias first radio station which is based on talk show. That means there are very few songs and rest is just people calling in and expressing their views on some topics which are sometime picked up from morning Times of India or contemporary.

For me, I normally dont listen FM radio, because I want to listen to the songs which I want not which some body else make me listen. So I always carry a good collection of Cassettes while I drive, yes i still have Cassette player in my car. Now with this new channel, most of the time, while driving long hours from Noida to G.Noida or back, I am tuned to Meow.

In morning, some shows are specifically for woman, related to kitchen, beauty and other stuffs. But in evening, you have tu-tu meow meow where they ask both genders to participate and express ur views. The best thing is that they dont pass judgement and there is no conclusion. So its just a way to listen what others think.

Also one of their programs, between the sheets, which I am not able to listen much as I myself between the sheets. This program is about the topics, strictly related to physical relations what women think about such things. The host is very popular among woman and even the show.

As I get bored with things easily, lets see how much time I am going to stick with this channel. I know I will come back to my good old RD Burman songs very soon..Till then I am enjoying it. And haan I once called in one of the show by Dr Kiran bedi to give my feedback about police reforms.

Best of luck Kailash - Part 1

Tonight it will be last night of my dear friend Kailash in India..at least for a while. Finally after 8 long years of stay with me..he is leaving for new avenues. In this short life we meet so many people, but only few leave mark like him.
We met some 8 years and 3 odd months back when I joined ST in 1999 june. I was a fresh graduate from lucknow, first time leaving my home. I was too scared and bit introvert. I exactly don remeber now, how and when I met Kailash in office or what was my first impression about him. Obviously he was 7 days senior to me in office so it must be office where I met him. The same day I joined ST guest house. He was also staying there and there was a group of Pant Nagar people there. These boys, Rajat, Kailash .... all have enjoyed their hostel life, which I missed being a day scholar, and very extrovert. They always had so many stories to tell about their college days. This was my first set of friends I made. Kailash was freevlous, jolly and was person who can mixup with any group of any age any type and will enjoy. I remember that on my first birthday in ST, just 8 days after joining ST, I was feeling a bit alone. So I invited Kailash and Rajat to join me for a dinner in motimahal(in front of Shipra hotel, sector 18 side) sponsered by me. They were surprised and were assuming that I must have got some other job. Then I told them about my birthday.
Kailash was in my team, led by bhawna and we used to interact a lot in office and guest house. After one month it was kailash birthday and I still remeber how he distributed the sweets and wished by so many people. Next day he was in fever, which he blames on a special person with whom he shook hand. Then came Dr. Midha, who was nearest doctor in that locality and always wanted to put glucose on him. That time, I some how felt a sense of responsibility and did what I could have done for a friend in need.
After spending 3 months in guest house we moved to our first rented apartment. It was fun those days sharing a house with altogether unknown people. Those were some learning years for me where I learnt how to live and how to share.
Coming back to kailash, we again came very close to each other when we spent some 2 months in Catania. It was a new place, new country but Kailash is one of such person who can make any place fun. I was known for my research and knowledge where as he was known for his jovial nature, easy going attitude. Thats why, I suppose, almost whole ST knew him. We shared some very special moments there. Kailash! do you remember our Naples trip? In train how you managed to explain an italian that we wanted him to change his compartment, just by sign language.
I have moved out of that rented apartment beacuse of my another very dear friend Manish has joined ST. But the relation we shared was still the same. Almost same time danish joined ST and a trio was formed. Danish was a sincere, khadoos kind of guy. In coming years this relation was going to reach new hieghts.

काराओके Karaoke bar in Delhi

Those who know me well, also know I have recently developed a passion for Karaoke Singing. Karaoke is a form of singing in which you sing along a pre-recorded background music of some famous song. I have setup a small studio at my home with 5 speaker system and have a good collection of new and old songs.
Karaoke started in Japan where there are bars/clubs where you can go and have lunch/dinner and also share your singng talent with other like minded people. Its something like you have some salsa nights in delhi discos. I also caught some KARAOKE bars in Milan.
Last week while visiting Pacific Mall in Ghaziabad, Near Anand Vihar ISBT, I entered, I suppose, Delhi's first Karaoke bar. Its nice and well decorated located at 1st floor of mall, in front direction as you enter. The bar has small cabins in which you have a TV, a karaoke player and a big couch. You can order, from a limited menu(just snacks and drinks(soft)..dont expect lunch or dinner). Then you can opt for a karaoke session. There exist a karaoke song menu, very exhaustive, both hindi and english including old kishore songs to new Shanker Ehsan Loy songs.
The rates are a bit high. They charge 150 bucks for a half and hour session of karaoke which is extra of what you order for food.

Casteism: Does it still exists in our generation

This is frankly a shocking thing happened to me last week. I was chatting on a site when I met a girl. She was from Noida itself and pursuing her MBA from some Gaziabad college. After usual stuff of introduction, she asked me whats your full name. I asked directly, "Do you want to know my caste?" She didnt reply. Then I said "I am ambedkar". For those who dont know ambedkars are un-touch ables who used to do dirty jobs of collecting garbage's etc in last decades. Now she replied "Bye". I was so surprised. This was first case of Caste ism happened to me on a virtual world. I asked her, "So if I am an un-touchable, you will not even chat to me on a virtual site leave alone sitting with me in class? What kind of thinking you have?" Now she came in defensive mode saying " I hate mayawati and her policies so I hate ambedkars." Which is just a nonsense excuse. Then I took a leave from her and logged out.
But that made me think about the deep roots of this caste ism in us. What if she after doing her MBA joins a company as HR executive who plays key role in selection of candidates. With this mindset, she will never appreciate the potential of a candidate if he/she belongs to some lower caste. If a young girl of our generation has such thought process, what about our last generation where such thoughts were so much deep rooted. People with such hatred and paranoid about schedule castes, that too in most of higher positions of power and selection, will never allow any candidate to enter though he/she is capable for that.
Doesnt this justifies RESERVATIONS. If we, at upper castes, are being un fair to them because of our inherent thoughts, why not they should use some unfair means like RESERVATIONS to reach equal to us? What do you guys say..