Musical End Of An Year

2011 has been mix kind of year. It saw the good, the bad and the ugly of my life (not necessarily in that particular order). But jo hua so hua. Ab to time hai aage ki aur dekhne ka and hoping for the best. And what better way to expect good things in life than to listen to some of the most beautiful music the whole day of 31st Dec. The Dewarists, Agnee and Raghu Dixit - you have made my day today.
Looking forward to an amazing year ahead.

Mind Without Fear

First season of The Dewarists started with this beautiful composition called Mind Without Fear by Vishal Shekhar & Imogen Heap. This show was telecasted sometime in October. For some reason, I just could not catch up on it in spite seeing lots of tweets and fb updates from my friends. And I will always curse myself for this. It was Xmas week that I finally got the chance to see this show and thus started my journey with The Dewarists. 

I am bowled over by the show. Mind Without Fear is right there on the top of my charts (and by that I mean it is the only song in my playlist now). And this is not the only song that has done it. Every episode is an experience in itself. It's not just the music, or the visual treat that the show has provided in the background, or the inspiring stories that artists share with us or the beautiful host. It's the entire experience of seeing something as beautiful as music created, that makes me fall in love with this show. It shows how feeling flow from our hearts & soul to get transformed into reality. It's this purity that inspires. 

Coke Studio has done something similar to me in past. I love Coke Studio not just for the music it offers me but also the way it gave us that music. The artists are not just performing on that stage. They are living their music. They are enjoying every moment they are there and we get to live with them in those moments. The camera is up and close to their face. We can read their eyes, we can cherish their smile [remember Jal Pari by Atif Aslam in Season 2]. It's this closeness that makes us believe in their efforts. The Dewarists does the same thing and takes us even closer where the artists actually talk about what is going through their mind and heart. Amazing camera work and storytelling efforts by the team. I'm on a spree right now and will finish watching all the episodes of this season before this blog posts become visible to the world.

Don't forget to call me when you read this post. My new ringtone is the theme song from Dewarists and it gives me one more reason to worship Raghu Dixit's music.

Pal Do Pal Ka Break

Raja posted this on his fb profile and read to me in mid of a heavy discussion about primary and secondary at the month/year end. Cannot stop myself from sharing it.

Microsoft's Bill Gates decided not to invest further in Punjab after receiving a letter from Mr Banta Singh .

To : Bill Gates, Microsoft
Date : 1 April 2011
Subject : Problems with my new computer

Dear Mr. Bill Gates,

We bought a computer for our home and we have found some problems, which I want to bring to your notice..

1. There is a button 'start' but there is no 'stop' button. We request you to check this.
2. One doubt is whether any 're-scooter' is available in system? I find only 're-cycle', but I own a scooter at my home.
3. There is 'Find' button but it is not working. My wife lost the door key and we tried a lot to trace the key with this ' find 'button, but was unable to trace. Please rectify this problem.
4. My child learnt 'Microsoft word' now he wants to learn 'Microsoft sentence', so when will you provide that?
5. I bought computer, CPU, mouse and keyboard, but there is only one icon which shows 'My Computer': when will you provide the remaining items?
6. It is surprising that windows says 'MY Pictures' but there is not even a single picture of mine. So when will you keep my photo in that.
7. There is 'MICROSOFT OFFICE' what about 'MICROSOFT HOME' since I use the PC only at home.
8. You provide 'My Recent Documents'. When you will provide 'My Past Documents'?
9. You provide 'My Network Places'. For God sake please do not provide 'My Secret Places'. I do not want to let my wife know where I go after office hours.

Regards,

PS: Sir, how is it that your name is Gates but you are selling WINDOWS?

Bitter Sweet Symphony

One of our most loyal companions are our playlists. They grow up with us reflecting every change in our taste and likes. Whatever the mood, they are generally the perfect reflection of it.
And most important of them, they can take us back and fro in time.
I just heard the song Bitter Sweet Symphony from Verve and it took me on a time travel. Bangalore, the hangar, all the gala time we had there and what not - so many memories came flashing.
Add to that list songs from Lucky Ali, Euphoria, Bryan Adams, Floyd, Coldplay, Oliver Shanti & Friends, Karunesh, Jal, Rockstart etc and I've almost prepared myself to write my autobiography.
It's good to be reliving your own life.

Don't know if its appropriate or not, but I feel I am loving these lyrics at this moment.

'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Trying to make ends meet
You're a slave to money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
where all the veins meet yeah

No change, I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mind
I am here in my mind
But I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mind
No, no, no, no, no, no, no,no,no,no,no,no(fading away)

Well I never pray
But tonight I'm on my knees yeah
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now
But the airways are clean and there's nobody singing to me now

No change, I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mind
I am here in my mind
And I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mind
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
I can't change
I can't change it

'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Trying to make ends meet
Trying to find some money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
where all the veins meet yeah

You know I can't change, I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mind
I am here in my mind
And I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mind
No, no, no, no, no

I can't change my mind
no, no, no, no, no,
I can't change
Can't change my body,
no, no, no

I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
Been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
That you've ever been down
That you've ever been down

RT Free Falling

If I wanted to write a blog today, it would have got the exact same soul as this one which I wrote almost 4 and half years back - Free Falling
Only If I could write so well today. Will make do with a RT today.

Buddha is smiling

Buddha is smiling.

This not-so-chilly winter has sprung up some surprises. Good music, good food and some really good time with family. And it makes me firmly believe that all the the efforts are worth it.

Rockstar soundtrack is in a continuous loop in my playlist. I wish I had the videos of all the songs too. If Rahman has done magic with his music, the director has done really fitting justice to Rahman's magic.

A short trip to Indore is all I could afford to arrange in the mid of month end closings and start of a new month. But it was worth every moment. Eating in sarafa, long conversations with my cousins and Gunjan, my time at home with family and all the fun during Arpit's shadi. Oh yea, Arpit is married now. Best wishes to you guys - Arpit & Rajul. Welcome to the club.
So it does not matter, if the Khurana Travels bus was really bad, if they treated the passenger like a cattle herd, if they dropped me in mid of nowhere at 5am in the morning without really helping me out with directions, if the month end was happening while I was going through all this and if I really hated every moment of the struggle to buy just some time with people whom I love. It just did not matter.

Buddha is smiling. And that is what matters.

See I Told Yea

I've found myself saying this again and again these days. I could genuinely say it to everyone around me and proved to be true too. But ironically, when it comes to my own life, I don't have that much certainty and surety. One day I was on top of the world, while the very next day I was pulled down and crushed in the dust. Resurrection is the only way out for me, but then I am no phoenix. At least not on every day of the month.
I wish I could say to myself today - "don't worry mamu... all izz well..."

Sadda Haq

Sadda Haq is the hindi rock anthem of the year. Or actually one of the few that have happened in Hindi Cinema. Rock on and now Rockstar - there is something about these long-haired weirdly-dressed smoking-drinking-abusing young musicians. They are what many of us want to become - passionate, carefree, rebellious. I always wanted to see the Blue Man Group live. Not just for their creativity, but for their attitude and passion with which they do what they do. (You could argue the same for Lady Gaga, and then if that is not enough, you would want me to watch Rakhi Sawant too.)

Eurotrip was my carefree phase of the life. We traveled with full enthusiasm facing every difficulty that came our way. Not that things changed drastically post that, still I've seen a change. And it pains me to term that change to 'being responsible' or 'maturity'. Yes, I'm married now, and I am working. But why does it need to change everything. I've lost the track of my life a little. It's that phase of life where changes are inevitable. But I'm sure I'm going to cross it soon. Sonam, you are right. I've changed from the guy who wrote at the same blog a couple of years ago. Some of the changes were forced while other happened without my knowledge. I'm starting the reversal process now. The old me is roaring to come back to life.

Wait for it... It will be legendary soon...

Diwali Kab Hai... Kab Hai Diwali?

Yesterday when I got up, I had just one question in my mind "Is it really the Diwali time?"

Diwali has been my favorite festival since I don't know when. Even in school during most of my exams,  I wrote essay on Diwali when the topic merely said "You Favorite Festival". It's a different thing altogether that for obvious reasons, there was more material to write on Diwali than any other festival. While in school, an eight pager essay is guaranteed to fetch more marks than 4 pages one afterall. :D

I would plan well in advance on my firecracker requirements and stock them up. If there is anything in this world that I've been really disciplined about, it was my rationed usage of firecrackers over the five days of festivities (and of course some buffer stock was exhausted on the eve of Gyaras Khopdi). Those were the days.

I was missing those days yesterday. I was missing home. Clearly it was not the best of the mornings that I could have. That too on a day when I am alone, physically not in the best of the conditions and about to gear up for one of the toughest day of this job. It indeed was not a good morning very soon. I made a total fool of my myself in the Team call.

But that was it. I don't know what happened one I hung up the call, I just got lots of energy and enthu. I had nothing to lose afterall. And I started on my market work. Met a couple of people. Spoke to many. And tried to motivate them for the work. I did not know then how much effective it will be. But I did it with all my heart. A late lunch on a hot 'almost' summer day, coupled with a couple of chai and colddrinks here and there. And I got a chance to enter one firecracker shop. I cannot explain what prompted me, but I felt so much like those good old days. Remembered most of my Diwali in a flash of a time. Bought some and then moved on to do my job for the rest of the day. I don't know if I will be using these or actually gifting to friends.

The day ended on a much brighter note than I had expected. It was one of those days when I would have died to come home and eat nice homely food made by you and then gone for a walk with my wife holding her hands.

Everything is not perfect but. Some wishes remain unfulfilled. But I know anything is possible. And it will happen soon.

Today morning when I got up, I had just one thing in mind. Today is the most important day for my work this month. And I've to give my 100% and more come what may.

I'm gearing up for that. Better things are surely on their way.

Till then...

Change is Welcome

I have finished reading 'The Immortals of Meluha' and bought two books as reward for the good job in reading. 'The Secrets of Naga' is on its way to completion now. It indeed takes up not just the story but also the level of storytelling from where it was left in the end of 'The Immortals of Meluha' and takes it up a couple of notches. History, mythology and religion can be interesting read if written with the right set of audience in mind.

This space is seeing less of me now. So is my photoblog. And I just cannot justify the reason behind this. Am trying hard to keep the tempo up on FB and LinkedIn. For the first time in my life, I am feeling that I am finding it tough to be in touch with everyone. Including myself. I'

Tweet of a post

is waiting for "The Oath of the Vayuputras" and "Rockstar" and Nokia with WP7.5 and of course going to Bangalore. I know which wish is getting fulfilled soon. :D

just in case...

Just in case you are planning to get married... let me tell you...

• Your playlist will be named crap and you will have to listen to random senti mushy songs day in and day out.
• You will be asked to select between various options of Tata Sky which have Colors, Imagine, MTV etc etc amongst the only one possible option in name of chosing DTH for home.
• You will be asked a hundred times "breakfast me kya khaoge?" at a time when you are about to die of hunger.
• You will be tortured to taste half-cooked experimental new recipes (directly off the internet, or from call) in name of please check 'namak theek hai naa?'
• You will shop every weekend - for curtains, decorative items and a hundred other things whose only contribution to your life is a reduced bank balance and big credit card bill.
• You will be shouted at if you don't show interest in selection of Samsung's 21L microwave oven. Never mind if microwave oven is the last thing in this world you should have an expert comment on.
• You are bound to reply all calls, messages, tweets, blah blahs, no matter whatever time they arrive.

more to follow...

Househunting and other stories

Hyderabad seems to be a relatively 'chill' city. Temperature has been moderate so far. Tempers too. I did not bother anyone and so did they. I love any city that shows this character.

People's definition of traffic jams here does not match mine as I learnt about these things in Bangalore, Mumbai and Gurgaon. Road sense seem to be off the mark by quite a distance. Thank god the roads are wide otherwise I wonder where would these people show all their driving tricks and stunts. It's not easy to find metered auto. Nothing new when it comes to big cities. I wonder how did they manage to build this culture in Mumbai Autowalas to use that black box called meter.

I've still to find a place which I can and will call my home. Till that time, Taj Banjara is a good makeshift abode. In spite the stink that has marred the surrounding lake, it is still a beautiful place to be. Night skyline from my 8th floor room is as memorable as you can imagine in any of the city hotels. And guess what! I serves an ossum breakfast buffet. My +1 for Taj Banjara if you really are looking for some comfortable stay in this city. For those who do not speak the language of '+1', I've a few invites left in case you want to join the bandwagon on G+. Who knows, you might be riding another wave.

Redifining Joy

The smile that pops on my face when I think about going home next time.
Or the drop of tear that could not stop itself when I was leaving home last time.
Food that she makes and eats with me from our plate.
Or the tea that she makes every morning.
Long conversations that we had while walking on the beach side in Langkawi.
Or those which happened aankho hi aankho mein...
Fights that did not last more than 10 minutes.
Or discussions which lasted even lesser.
To shop or not to shop.
Or rather to stop her or not to stop.
Stealing those little moments in front of everyone.
Or waiting when no one's around.
My time, your time and our time.
My work, your work or no work.
That shine in my parents' eyes.
Or the affection that she has spread all over.
It's a new way of life.
One that I am cherishing to my best possible.
Marriage - it's a new definition of joy.

Keep Walking

Trying to keep up with the changing time!

Status Update: Wk18

• Shopping for the big day - Done [Well, this will go on till the last moment. Signing it off for now, just to not have many pending todos in the list]
• Watch some good movies in theater - Done [Rio, Dilli Chalo and Shor in the City - I recommend them all]
• Visit Kathmandu for an outbound - Done [Do try the Everest Flight by one of those local airlines. Sagarmatha is stunning.
• Listen to some refreshing music - Done [Shor in the City - Saibo and Karma is a bitch are just not getting out of my head now!]
• Try out some new gizmos - Done [HTC HD7 is amazing. I am a fan of Windows Phone 7 interface now. Loved the seamless connectivity in my phone, facebook and email accounts. Touch interface, Camera and Sound are amazing too, to make it a wholesome experience.]
•  Take some nice pictures and post them on picasaweb - Done [Kathmandu trip photos uploaded here.If you are on ovi, you can download this app "Dream Factory" to access my picasaweb page from your Nokia mobile.  I am sure I could have done much better work there. Damn!]
• Pack the bags for the big day - Done [same as shopping task]
• iPad2 - WIP [It's love at first sight. Waiting for the right moment to propose her!]
• Write blog - Done [well almost done. If not a proper blog, I wrote some crap at least.]

- Pritesh

Belvedere Park

I live in a corporate jungle called Belvedere Park. My apartment is just amongst the 270 odd apartments situated in this multistory building complex. And I am one amongst the thousand plus of its resident. I believe the feeling of being part of a society ends here. I don’t know the name of my neighbor and doubt if they could say anything different about me. I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t know about my existence altogether. I will still give them benefit of doubt. After all, anyone can guess that an apartment is occupied by seeing at the fresh news paper lying in front of its door every morning.

I get up every morning listening to the screeching sound of our door bell. It’s our maid. We have instructed her to not leave any stone unturned to wake us up every morning at 6:45am. She comes from some far away locality. I wonder how she managed doing it day after day without fail during those chilly winter mornings.

Every time I enter the building complex, the guard at the entrance looks at my face carefully and tries his best to record a picture of mine in his memory. It’s a tough job. There are just too many of us. Our nomadic ways of existence that we fondly call ‘geographical mobility,’ have ensured that people from my tribe ‘the new age go-getters’ keep changing their abodes before the guards start finding a familiarity in our face. I pity those guards. They have not yet got themselves upgraded for linked-in age.

I eat, that is when I eat, at the nearest food court. Sometimes if I feel lazy, I order food from some of the nearby restaurants. It’s expensive and it’s inhuman. Sometimes I lose my appetite at the apathy that the restaurant boys and delivery boys show while providing me my food. How I miss my stay in Europe on such occasions. The warmth that the service people showed there was the main reason we survived 3 harsh months living on just bread jam, fruits and subways. Why am I complaining so much! I can cook and I should have done it when the things are so bad. I ask myself this question again and again. I cannot find a reasonable answer.

My apartment is on the 15^th floor. From the balcony of my apartment, the car parking of our building complex appears to be a showcase filled with matchbox toys. I’m not a big fan of heights. It takes you away from reality. Time I spent in the lift is the most awkward of the moments of my existence here. I enter the lift. He (or she) enters the lift. If anyone is in the most brilliant of the moods, there will be a smile exchanged. And then there is silence. Nobody will speak even a single word. Wait for your floor, which in my case is the 15^th (or actually just 14^th as there is no 13^th floor by design and vastu reasons) seems like eternity. Makeshift jogging track is a better place in that aspect. You see somewhat familiar faces there if you are regular. But, is regularity my thing? Well no!

There is more to my life than just the cribs above. Let me be very frank that I don’t blame it entirely on the people or the culture here. I am equally responsible for the way things are turning out to be. It’s a 6 month long transit break for me before I move on to the next location (which mostly will be a more permanent place, so to say). Life shall be more settled then. Till then, I will continue my tryst with Gurgaon.

These thoughts have been in my mind for long, just that today I got the enthu to pen them down for future reference.

Staying Alive

Last fortnight or so has been hectic. Work - Family - Friends and things in between sums up to my life in recent time really well. Interestingly, all of them are giving me a high now. Yesterday, I had a long chat with my sister. The mood during the conversation has raised my hopes of getting back to life faster than what it appeared in last couple of months or so. Mom and Dad seem to have kept themselves busy. Good and bad, it's one way for them to get back to life (again faster than what I had imagined it will take). It's not the best way out, but then I have no other solution either. So let the music play!

India - SA was a heart-breaking moment. But then India - Aus made up for it. And what better way to make up for all your sins in past than sending the arrogant Aussies back with a humiliating defeat in WC quarter finals. I am excited about the Semis now. Looking forward for a historical event on 30th. :D

My camera has been taking lots of mobile phone screen shots in last couple of weeks. I can imagine how much it would have abused me for doing that. I know, I have to take it out to the beautiful Old Dilli and bring it back to life. Don't worry my love 550D; we are going there soon.

Vo din ab dur nahi hai.. Ab dilli dur nahi hai...

Delhi, Agra and Dry heat of Gurgaon

Taj is beautiful. If not the most beautiful thing in this world, it still belongs to the top rung of beauties in this world. Qutub Minar and India Gate belong to the same league, in my opinion. It's not just the architecture. It's the mix of architecture, folklore, national pride and collective imagination that comes with combination of these.

They are a photographer's dream come true. I have had a couple of good dates with these in last couple of months. I am loving my time in Delhi now. While Gurgaon is still dry (and now very hot), Delhi is vibrant and lively. Food is another plus in Delhi's favor.

Another three months before I move back to field. These three months are going to be eventful to say the least. Looking forward to them.

Delhi Diaries Slideshow

Delhi Diaries Slideshow

Avadh ki ek shaam

Lucknow minus its garbage reminds me of my European experience. The city is filled with historical and political monuments and there is a strange obsession with erecting tall statues. There are huge green patches of gardens in mid of the city. Many a offices and government buildings boasts of big domes. This is all so European.

Most of the credit should go to none other than the Big Sister. History is being made here. City has caught up with an obsession with buildings with tall facades. Boundary walls are high. Guards are always on vigil. I wonder whom are they guarding? The elephants? Soon this city will boast of having the most number of elephants. Kanjiranga National park must be feeling threatened today.

I am surely enjoying the Avadh experience. Pani Batase with variety of Pani, Batase with Dahi Chatni, Kachori (which in my language were more like Poori than a Kachori), Garama garam kesariya doodh with rabadi... and yes malai kulfi - I could not have asked for more. My 550D has captured it all. Forever.

The evening has just begin. I know Lucknow has a lot more to offer than just these.

Gurgaon - A Second Chance

If my first encounter with Gurgaon was during the hottest month of the year, second one happens to be in the coldest one. The city has not changed a bit though. For me, it is as cold as it has always been. It's a strange feeling. I find faces more families than ever [I think I can attribute this to my sudden transfer from Hubli to here]. Still the warmth, that I felt in any other place I have been so far, is missing here. It's too early to decide; I can tell myself at this moment. I will give Gurgaon a proper second chance. Every city deserves this.