Smile and Wave !!

Another year, another summer, but this summer is like no other I have ever experienced before. Its my first summer in Chandigarh, where I spent my summers before is a long story and a different place every year :) It has been a very interesting summer so far. While the winters were cold and the general environment in my apartment complex / colony peaceful, as soon as February arrived, and the temperatures started to rise above chilling, our colony suddenly seemed to come alive with strange noises at night. No longer were my nights filled with silence and peace. The source of the noisy intrusion? Air Conditioners! Believe it or not, as soon as the temperatures climbed to above 20 C at night, the general populace began to feel the need to start their air conditioning. Frankly till the end of March, I did not even need the fan at night. But, then of course, in our country who am I to point such criminal waste of energy. The response I expect is I have money, I am paying for it, what...

I am in a very thoughtful mood today. Recently returned from a 2 week holiday, just joined office and yet to get into the daily grind. Still in the holiday mood. A holiday which I can only describe as a trip to paradise. No. it was no exotic location, in a foreign country with azure seas, beaches, (down boys, no scantily clad girls either), none of the stuff that we have been conditioned to expect when we imagine paradise. What is this paradise then, which I experienced? What is paradise for that matter. I would define it as a state of mind. When I planned this holiday in Dec 2011, (No fear, the story doesn't go that far back), I had no idea it would be so much fun, no idea of the hassles and haggling I would have to endure with my boss (it was quite trivial actually), had no idea that it would be over in  flash, and would leave me unsatisfied and wanting more. Anyway, it was a 2 weeks well spent, in the company of friends, family, some of whom I haven,t seen in over a...

The title is the amount of time that has roughly passed since the evening spent in Shimla, sipping coffee with my stuff all packed and thinking about the new job and the life I was going to begin in Dehradun. Sitting here in Chandigarh, I am trying to look back at all that has transpired in this time. Trying to make sense of it all. Moving to Dehradun was fun, I found new friends there and helpful colleagues. A landlord who treated me like family and a house with a view.  It was a good time in Dehradun, work wasn't exactly great, which is why given the choice I opted to relocate to Chandigarh. But that will come later. Around this time I found a lovely companion. Some one who really tests my self control yet with whom I can lose all control and be myself, no façade or masks.  A person pure of heart, witty, sticks to her guns like glue, shares my passion for reading, hates pink, and most of all likes me for who I am. I wouldn't have it any other way. In Dehradu...

A much delayed post. But it could not be helped. To write anything, even a post, one needs to be in the right mood, have time ones hands, finally have access to an internet connection, working personal computer etc not necessarily in that order. A little over a month back, I had the opportunity to go to Goa. Home sweet home, there is no place like home etc etc all those sentences came flooding back to me as i sat in the plane from Delhi to Goa. The occasion was Diwali and all the family, my family that is, was coming together. That included my brother, mom and dad, my in laws, my sister in law and my wife. It was wonderful to have the family all together. Makes one realize exactly what and how much one misses when staying alone.  To count the material stuff; well good fresh fish for one, I stuffed myself literally, home made food, having beer or drinks, the beach, the warm humid climate etc. Bliss! But it was the non material or qualitative stuff that mattered t...

Its been an absolutely fantastic year so far. Its been mostly good, with certain downs and lows, but on the whole good. I spent 2009 and 2010 largely alone, in Delhi, Shimla and Dehradun, away from friends and family, except for the occasional visit to Goa and the long long vacation in December 2010. 2011 is not so, its like my loneliness has been done away with Mukta entering my life. And that too despite the fact that Mukta is in Bangalore and has been here at best a total of 20 days all of 2011. Hell, she hasn’t even been to the Chandigarh house yet, but I am not alone. I have had the immense good fortune to have mom spend almost 4 months with me this year. This counting the time till September 22 that she intends to spend here. Nonetheless, it has been fun. I would really hate to see her go back to Goa. I am hoping Dad would join me here instead. Its so wonderful to have your mother around, it can be slightly stressing at times, what with the number of controls one has to exert ...

Although this may seem a plagiarised title, it is apt for what I have been feeling lately. I had the pleasure of a holiday without ever leaving my home these past few days. My family was here, all of them under one roof. Although the entire family was together only for a few days, the members all arrived in batches, which means my holiday started way back on 16 th May with the arrival of my mom. On 11 th June, dad and aniruddha arrived, adding to the fun and finally on 17 th June mukta arrived, completing my family. It was fun. My family was together after 6 months. It really gives one a sense of satisfaction to spend time in the company of your dearest ones. Whats all this got to do with the title. J For a few days of happiness, Aniruddha coordinated his leave, Mom stayed with me a month, dad came all the way from Goa to Dehradun for just a week. Mukta dropped everything and took off for a few days from Bangalore to be with us. I contributed to the pool by taking a few half d...

After a very successful Industrial Expo and accolades coming in from all quarters, it was time for the entire team to unwind. Somewhere during the period prior to the expo I had become a part of the team, sort of accepted, either that or the guys were just being nice to me or may be there is some other vested interest that I have not yet imagined. Whatever the reason, I was invited to join the team on a week end holiday. I must confess to planting the seed for the holiday. All I did was suggest to my colleagues that since the expo is done with and very little to do immediately, that we take his opportunity and the available weekend to check out Dehradun’s first and only multiplex. The guys were not too interested as no good movies were on. It dawned on them that they hadn’t taken their families together for an outing in a while and so it was decided that a weekend overnight trip was due. After much deliberations as to the appropriate choice for the holiday, Asan Barrage was decided. ...