Happy Friendship Day

This blog is dedicated to all my friends! This is my tribute to our friendship!

Wikipedia has defined friendship as " Friendship is a form of interpersonal relationship generally considered to be closer than association, although there is a range of degrees of intimacy in both friendships and associations. Friendship and association can be thought of as spanning across the same continuum. 

Value that is found in friendships is often the result of a friend demonstrating the following on a consistent basis:

• The tendency to desire what is best for the other
• Sympathy and empathy
• Honesty, perhaps in situations where it may be difficult for others to speak the truth, especially in terms of pointing out the perceived faults of one's counterpart
• Mutual understanding and compassion
• Trust in one another (able to express feelings - including in relation to the other's actions - without the fear of being judged); able to go to each other for emotional support
• Positive reciprocity - a relationship is based on equal give and take between the two parties."

My definition of friendship is a little different. I truly truly believe that a friend in need is a friend indeed. Also for me a friend is one with whom you feel good....you enjoy his/her company, you share your concerns, your angst, in fact everything and believe that you will not be judged by him/ her. I also believe that friendship is one relation that one makes on its own and is within your control. I am blessed to have some very good friends. School friends, college friends, work friends, soulmate......all are part of our growing years. I am dedicating each of my friend a part of this blog:

Poonam: We met in school and has never parted ways since. You have been integral part of my life. I have shared my joys, my concerns, my grief, my dreams with you and you have always been there with me. The walks we had while returning from college, the laughter we shared and the food that we shared whether at your house or at mine,   the hot gossip over the cuppa of tea that we shared...all are wonderful memories. Today we  might be living miles apart and might not be speaking as often as we want but you are the first one that come to my mind when I am in need of a friend. 

Ruchi: You are the first face I saw when I came for admission in our B-school. We became roommates and then good friends. I would have never been able to complete my PGDM course without your listening ears and your understanding soul. You initiated me into drinking tea in the mornings and listening radio first thing you are awake. I really miss our Chiku (our radio) :) You have the ability to make me laugh even in the midst of my worst mood. Over the years apart from being roommates we have become sort of like twins joined with the common umbilical cord of emotional support. Will always be there for you sweetie!

Anjali: We share a lot of things in common, our birthday being one of them :D  Let me tell you, you and Mumtaz are the best things that happened to me at Diebold. Your positive outlook towards life has always inspired me and will keep me moving in the toughest times. I know that I just have to look towards you in time of need and you will understand my unspoken language. Your funny one liners, the raunchy ;) songs and the tomboyish ways reduces stress at the workplace. At the same time you don't hesitate to discuss your concerns with me and I love your honesty dear. Believe me, I am always there for you and you have given me a most precious gift....an extended family!

Mumtaz: Beautiful girl with the most beautiful heart! Jitna sona tera mukhda unna sona tera dil! You, me and Anjali joined Diebold together. Although you are in a different department but you still manage to take time out for us. You have been always kind to me and I know that you pray for my happiness day and night! You are warm, understanding and will never judge me. In fact a lot of time you have inspired me to maintain calm in the most stressful situations. I am truly indebted to you dear. Thanks for being my friend!

Supriya: We were together in B-school but became friends only in Mumbai when we became roommates. Since then you are like a rock solid presence in my life. You, me and Ruchi have shared the best of times in Mumbai....be it parties, beach walks, gossip and of course SHOPPING! I think the adage "Shop till you drop" was invented after us :D What fun we had! You spread joy and I absolutely love spending time with you. Be happy like this always!

Vinay: You are truly my soulmate! Need I say more! We are the best of friends. I don't have to tell you what is going inside my mind, you just understand! 8 years and still our friendship is as strong as ever. I know that whatever turn life will take you will always be there with me. You are my inspiration. You have always inspired me to move ahead in life, have guided me in official matters and have taught me patience and perseverance. You have stood the toughest test of life and have come out with flying colours. I have absolute faith in your capabilities and am sure that you will fulfill all your dreams!

Richa, Urmi, Anamika, Jaya, Renu, Anuradha, Supriya Amin......I thank all of you for your support and your valuable friendship. 


I thank all my school friends, my college friends, my office colleagues.....you all have been there for me at some or the other time. Thanks for your support!


Mom....you have been my first and foremost friend! I pray always that if I will be given life again I would be born of you and Papa! Love you Mama and Papa, you are the best parents in the world!I know that whether anyone is there or not, you will always be there with me! :)


My sisters....Bina Di, Nilu Di, Babal Di....love you all! I have always taken advantage of my being youngest :D I do remember the ways I have pestered you....waking you up early morning to braid my hair or cook something delicious for me...wearing your dresses...the jokes we shared...and then growing up you have been my agony aunts! Thanks to you, I am sure I will be a good homemaker! And ya thanks for giving me my darling niece and nephews! God bless you!


Bhaiya and Bhabhi....Thanks for being my friend. I know I can always look upon you!


And last but not the least........Thank you Bappa! Your divine presence in my life has always guided me and I know that till I have your blessings I will not be unhappy. I have full faith in you and know that when the times are tough you will always give me strength to bear the misfortunes with a smile and at the end will make everything right! O my Friend Ganesha! tu sath hamesha mere rehna! :) Ganpati Bappa Morya!

Hawaii beauty

This year I had been to Hawaii Islands. I got the opportunity to travel to Hawaii due to a reward and recognition programme of the company where I work. Even after months the beauty of the place still awe me. Sharing a few clicks of the place.

On the way from Airport...

Still on the way...

At the Hotel lobby of Grand Hyatt...

View of the breakfast room from my bedroom...

View of the ocean from my bedroom...

Early morning click...

This goose stole my heart :D

Just love the fauna...

National Bird of Hawaii...

A lone Myna....

We could see the whales from here...

On way to the Canyon...

A lifetime experience of travelling in the Mustang..

Ahh! So beautiful it was...

The waterfall....view of the canyon

Just before the rainfall...

I loved this tree...

The spinning Dolphin....

I was not able to click the whales but it is a memory of a lifetime. I will always cherish my memories of the place. The beauty of the place is to be seen to believe. It cannot be captured in a camera. The above clicks was just a humble attempt.

Do share some of your memorable clicks....will love to hear from you.

Nature

I love nature....an understatement. I live nature! Yes. Give me any day of clean air, wind touching my hair making it fly, feeling rain drops on my face, taste of fresh fruits on tongue and the juice on my lips, watching stars in the sky on a clear night, reveling in the ocean waves hitting the shores....yeah! that's nature for me!
But there is another form of nature. Human Nature. Surrounded by known and unknown people...observing them...their facial expressions...it gives me a high! I was at a cafe the other day. And it gave me an opportunity to  indulge in one of my hobbies....yes observing nature! At a cafe, sitting alone with nothing to do, I observed both the forms of nature. Outside it was raining and I was loving it. First came gusts of wind with darkened sky warning us of the impending rains, a sweet smell wafted from the earth inviting the rains and then came the first showers of rain. God! its beautiful! I even like the muddy streets although I don't want the mud on my clothes :)

After spending a few moments with rain, I turned my attention inside the cafe. Due to rains a few more people were seated inside now. There was a college couple who were poring over some reading article although I am sure what they were interested in was to hold hands and look into each other's eyes :) every now and then the girl used to coyly look around and then look at the boy and smile. It was fun to watch the lovebirds.
Then their was a gang of friends who were making a lot of noise discussing the latest movie and using all sorts of cuss! I think cuss has become an integral part of the language now. Whether it is the Bollywood, the college going students, the working class or the smartly dresses execs. All are using cuss in abundance!
 Throughout my observation one thing that really interested me was this old man.....a man in his early sixties maybe with all grey hair and wearing a nice plaid shirt and black trousers. He was at complete ease with himself. He was just totally unaware of the world around him and was reading a newspaper while sipping his hot cuppa. He was like totally ignorant of the noise and mess around him. He was just into his newspaper. I guess that comes with age. He must have seen this cafe scene a thousand time in his life and hence was now at complete sync with it. He must have gone through these scenes in both black & white and eastman colour eras. I don't know, I guess with age and time you tend to overlook the things and scenes around you. I don't know that's just my observation.
It also made me to take a hard look at myself. What was the aim of my life? What would I like to do once I retire from work? What is it that I want to do with my life? Is what I am doing today is enough? Am I doing what I really want? Am I on the right track? How long can I continue? When will I get my heart's desires? when will my dreams come true? Am I doing enough to make them come true?........questions questions questions.....but no solutions and I am still searching for the answers. But I am positive...no I am absolutely positive that I will be able to drive this. I will be able to get my heart's desire. I will make my dreams come true. I don't predict future. But I can hope for success and I can work on it! That's human nature I believe. Isn't it?

wo aaye hai shayad...

दिल में यु अचानक एक लहर उठी

दरवाज़े पर घडी घडी नज़र उठी

हर हवा के झोंके से

एक जानी पहचानी महक उठी 

वो आये है शायद....

ऐसी मनं में चिहुक उठी.

Support Anna ji in his crusade

Yesterday I was seeing a TV programme which was in celebration of the launch of the new logo for the TV channel. The programme consisted of the same old formula of dance items from leading Telly Actors and Actresses, the songs, the speeches, the below the belt comedy of the Emcee....the usual stuff. Suddenly a midst the catcalls and the laughter the audience stood up and gave a standing ovation to the respected Anna Hazare ji. The Emcee has called upon the audience to support Anna in his crusade for freedom from corruption...."Umeed ka ek naya chehra" as they called him (which by the way was the theme of the launch). Amazing it was. But somehow I was not convinced.

I know you will disagree with me but I still fail to understand how could Anna's crusade free India of corruption. Forget the Government. It consists of a handful of men who by the way are elected representatives of more than a billion population of India. Can incriminating Government will really rid India of corruption? I doubt.

I give you an example. You are driving a car and is speeding and hence break a signal. The Traffic Cop stops you. You roll down your window and place a Rs. 100 note in his palm and wave him goodbye and speed off again. Same is the case with drunk driving and rash driving. Now who is corrupt? The traffic cop or you? Difficult to make a choice. For me both are corrupt. What would have happened if instead of greasing his palm you would have paid the fine against the challan issued to you? Well you would have learnt your lesson and would restrain yourself from committing the traffic follies in future.

Now consider this scenario. Your son has failed in examination and the current school refuse to promote him. You pay a huge donation to another school and get your son admitted there. You saved your son a full year of education but has taught him to get his way ahead by paying money. This is the lifetime education for him and he will never fail in life because he knows that Daddy and his money is there to save him.

Ok, just one more example. You are planning for a vacation and after much brainstorming and budgeting and planning you decide the destination. By the time you decide the holiday season has started and now you do not get train ticket. What do you do? You smugly pack your bags, board the train with an unreserved ticket and very smartly pay the T.T. his due and get a seat. Wow! Congratulations! you are such a Smart Alec! On train you discuss with your fellow passengers the fallacies of the government and the rampant corruption in India and that India is a hopeless country...."Is desh ka kuch nahi ho sakta...likh lo" you quote, all the while eating and drinking and littering the coach and oh! yes...by mistake you pack the railway provided pillow, towel and sheets! It was a mistake truly! What the heck, you did pay for the ticket no...so you are entitled to take away railway belongings!

What I am trying to say is that any corrupt or illegal practice grows in a society only when there is a propensity in the society for it! Prostitution, black-marketing, pornography, hoarding, exploitation, etc. all are existent in society and these were prevalent even in ancient times when our government was not in place. 

I am not telling that we should live with it. I am just trying to say that if we really want to support Anna Hazare ji and his crusade then we should pledge not to indulge in corrupt and illegal practices. It is said that charity begins at home. Same way honesty begins with oneself. You cannot change the society unless you change yourself! Remember we got independence not only because of Gandhi ji's Satyagraha but because a large section of society stopped using British products by following Swadesi Andolan. When East India Company started incurring losses there resolve of ruling India started breaking and Bapu's non-violent protest combined with the united revolution of our country chased them away from our soil!

So lets start our crusade by making small changes in our daily life even if that means a little inconvenience to us! After all No pain, no Gain! So let us all give our support to Anna ji and make India a better place to live in  for us as well as for our children!

Dekha hai humne

ज़िन्दगी की राह में

क्या क्या न देखा है हमने!

जो न ख्वाब में सोचा कभी

वह नज़ारा देखा है हमने.

इंसान को हैवान, और 

रक्षक को भक्षक बनते देखा है हमने,

रिश्तो का दमन, और 

इंसानियत का बलात्कार देखा है हमने!

महबूब की बेवफाई, और

दोस्त के हाथ में खंजर देखा है हमने,

मौसम तो क्या, तस्वीर

को भी रंग बदलते देखा है हमने!

Rishtey

क्या होते है रिश्ते?

जैसे जीवन के वीराने में

हँसते हुए कमल खिलते.

तनहाइयों के ज़ख्मो पर

लेप मलते है ये रिश्ते.

कभी अपनाते, तो कभी 

ठुकराते है ये रिश्ते.

नींद से बोझिल आँखों के लिए

लोरी है ये रिश्ते.

क्या होते है वो रिश्ते?

जो आसमान पर बैठा कर

धक्का देते ये रिश्ते,

कभी अपना सब कुछ लूटा कर,

तो कभी लूट लेते है ये रिश्ते.

ज़ख्म दे कर, ज़ख्मो पर

नमक छिड़कते है  ये रिश्ते.

कभी ऐसे....तो कभी वैसे होते है ये रिश्ते

पर सच ही तो है

हम नहीं आज होते 

अगर होते नहीं ये रिश्ते!

Aap ka naam

दिल की कीताब पर छपा

बस आप ही का नाम है,

दिन-रात हूँ जो पढ़ती

ये वो कलाम है....

बेखुदी जिस की न जाए...

ये वो विनय का जाम है,

आप ही के लिए हाज़िर

ये ज़िन्दगी तमाम है.

लिखते हुए आप का ये कलाम 

गुम हम अब सुबह शाम है, 

हम ले आए  है तूफ़ान से कश्ती,

साहील  तक पहुँचाना अब आप का काम है.

Kal Aaj aur Kal

कल क्या होगा.....

सोच कर क्यों घबराता है मनं?

कल की आशंकाओ से क्यों घिरा रहता है ये मन?

कल तो जो होगा सो होगा

फिर क्यों कल की सोचे...

कल की चिन्ताओ में 

क्यों अपना आज हम खो दे?

हर आने वाले पल का

हम इंतज़ार करते है,

पर इस इंतज़ार में

खौफज़दा हम रहते है!

जो आज है, वो कल कल था,

जो कल है, वो कल आज होगा..

फिर क्यों कल के खौफ को पिए..

क्यों नहीं अपना आज हम जिए?