Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Charitraheen

Most of us may remember this serial base on Sharad Chandra Chattopadhya's novel of the same name being telecasted on DD. It had beautiful song sung by one of the leads quite frequently on the harmonium. The song was done by great Salil Chowdhari. Here it is.


शीतल मंजुल कोमल, तेरा आँचल
मेरी सुधियों में लहराया
झल-मल झल-मल
और एक शाम मैंने तेरे नाम लिख दी

हौले, हौले-हौले
पुर्वा ड़ोले, पुर्वा ड़ोले
ढलते दिन की अरुणाई में सपने घोले
सपने घोले, सपने घोले
और एक शाम मैंने तेरे नाम लिख दी

पंछी एक बिचारा, टूटा हारा, टूटा हारा
सुने नभ में उड़ता फ़िरता, मारा-मारा
मारा-मारा
और एक शाम मैंने तेरे नाम लिख दी

शीतल मंजुल कोमल, तेरा आँचल
मेरी सुधियों में लहराया
झल-मल झल-मल
और एक शाम मैंने तेरे नाम लिख दी

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Monday, February 26, 2007

Road Rage

This post is about road safety. We might consider it to be trivial issue, but believe me, they are tricky and can be life threatening too.

Incident 1:
In Pune every year, I come across at least one road rage issue, mostly involving autorickshaw drivers. And as a third party witness, there is one case every week.

On Saturday evening, I was driving my car along the narrow Apte road, when suddenly an autorickshaw brushed my vehicle, while overtaking from the left and stopped it front of me.

Earlier, when my car was new, these brushes, dents, bumps use to pain me a lot. However, apart from cold stare, I would not create a scene because it was pointless to create Tamasha for others. These days, I hardly even pay attention and display disappointment.

So I was ready to move on, when this tall, dark and fat rikshaw driver alighted, and started shouting something in Marathi. After a while it dawned on me that the guy claimed I had hit is vehicle so I must alight and pay him. He even started pulling door latch, but since I keep the doors locked it didn't budge.

In the beginning was I amused. But soon he started showing his cocked fists at me. That raised my tempers, but I still did not step out. Meanwhile, Aryan started crying too. I just pulled down the window glass and asked him to beg somewhere else with some other reason, and drove off.

But to think of it, it was a clear cut case of extortion. He himself brushed his vehicle against mine, and instead asked money from me. He thought with a family containing a lady & a small kid with me, and with an Uttar Pradesh vehicle registration number, I would give easy money to avoid trouble. His hundred kilogram body, he thought, was his asset, and his fist wielding would make me piss in my pants.

However, I was better prepared than he thought. I know these arguments can take physical turn. Who knows what someone posses as a weapon it can be a rod, a cycle chain, even a gun. Who knows. And this man was already threatening to go physical.

For my and my family's safety, I keep all the doors of the car locked. Whenever, any such argument takes place, I take out the keys from ignition. And, you wouldn't believe it, but I also keep a small box filled with red chilly powder in the car. Usually, it boils down to the fact that the person who takes the first step is the one who gets lesser harmed.

Till now, I never had to use the chilly powder, but I wouldn't hesitate in using it for my defense. I suggest everyone to take some step for your road safety as well. Its a bad bad world out there.

Incident 2:
This one is a case of Mansik Diwaliyapan of Pune's police. On Saturday night, a couple was driving home when their scooter hit a pothole. Both of them got grievously injured with wife dying of her injuries later. Shockingly, the police has lodged the case of negligent driving against the husband!

What about the potholes and night lamps, Copper ? Incorrigible idiots.

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Wednesday, February 21, 2007

I Am Fine Now

Aryan

Thanks to all uncles and aunties who prayed for fast my recovery. It indeed worked.

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Friday, February 16, 2007

After spending a fortnight in Lucknow unscathed, Aryan has taken ill in Pune with high fever, vomits, and stools. Just as Sanguine had feared. However, there is no cough or cold therefore it seems a bout diaohrrea.

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Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Done and Away With

Back to work.

All prayers worked fine. It rained on the morning of 7th. By the evening when the caterers and tent guys became active, skies cleared. Again overcast clouds threatened on 8th and 9th, but just threatened. And then it rained incessantly from 10th onwards.

Close shave.

Marriage was almost hiccup free. Baratiyon Ka Swagat Paan Parag Se To Nahin, Per Phool Malaon Se Jaroor Kiya.

My mother along with the team of my ever reliable cousins had already made the most of the arrangements, and later on I chipped in a bit. Also, the precious little invention made by Martin Cooper - the Cellphone - saved a lot of limb breakdowns. Still, they are sore at every tendon and ligament.

My earlier experiences have shown that it is your own relatives who give more grief than the ones from in-laws side, especially, the likes of hard-to-please Phoophajis, and ever sulking Jeejajis. Not to forget the unsolicited free advice you receive from all and sundry, both good and bad, ranging from a small matter like packing of sweets and fruits to a larger matter like selecting the venue.

One has to make a balance by walking the tight rope, making sure not to ruffle any feathers by patiently listening to all, but doing what you think is right. But since it is a zero sum game, whatever balancing attempt it my take, its hard avoid bruised egos.

These apart, ceremonies went according to plan. Right from the day when the Mandap was set to the day it was taken off. For putting up Mandap, it takes five males. For the want of fifth man, Aryan chipped in. During the ladies sangeet on the 6th, Aryan sat right in between Dholaks, quite intrigued and engrossed.

Our Pandit ji were of bungling sort so during marriage solemnization people had a lot of fun pulling his legs. But he was sporting too, so didn't quite mind them and joined the fun himself.

By the Kalewa ceremony in the morning, it had sinked in that my piece of heart would be gone now. Not that we lived together, so it would have mattered. But it mattered because things won't be same again ever.

By the time she left with her knight, every eyelid was moist and heavy. Damn, its the same while I am writing. Hope the couples do well together, and tug along. If that's be, I am more than happy.
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Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Yesterday, Aryan met with his great grandmother, and they instantly jelled together. Needless to say that it was an overwhelming moment for both of them.

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Friday, February 02, 2007

Just as I was talking about pleasant weather here, it started raining outside, preceeded by a small thunder storm. The missing chill re-surfaced and together with rain and thunder, it destroyed the ongoing reception ceremony in the neighbourhood.

I pray to God for not doing an encore on 8th of February. I have been familiar to this situation during a cousin's marriage many years ago, and it was absolute mayhem.

Now on the happenings. I have been doing shopping and more shopping - both Shadi and personal. Both at Hazratganj and Aminabad - winter sale is the flavour of the season. And not to forget drop dead offers of Big Bazaar and Vishal Megamart. Just pilfered a Blue Oranze pullover at the mouthwatering discount of 70%.

Have already paid homage to Kebabs at Tunde Kebabi and Chat at Royal Cafe, and still many favourite haunts to visit.

Aryan has ignored the chills and has already visited his Nana-Nani. The apple of my eye, is cynasoure of everyone's attention.

More later.
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