Alcohol, Music and Peace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE0Tqd8NlmU

Time Flies...but the Memory Remains

Today a Facebook post from one of my friends reminded me how far we have come in life ... not just in time but also distances, be it physical or emotional. I still remember the days when I was a young boy, without anything to worry about. All we used to do was laugh and play and torture our parents and siblings. That was fun, as I am sure my brother and my parents would agree. Afterall, what is life if everything is perfect? I remember the time my brother used to make fun of me at my mausi's place because the soap that my mom had given me when I joined Kgp had been unused for a full year. And this year, when I met the same cousins, they said I had grown up - I wasn't the same young, carefree kid anymore. That was never my plan. I never wanted to grow up but I guess in this fight between time and me, the odds were never on my side. Atleast I have given time a tough fight emotionally but I guess I am tired now. I have so many things to think about and I guess that is what happens with everybody. Time forces everyone to grow up although I am sure no one in this world would prefer being an adult to a child. Anyway, what one can do is remember the times when the mind was young and relive some of the best memories of the days gone by. Now let me think - where do I start from? Ahh, I remember this one - I think this was the 4th standard - my brother's friends had got the movie True Lies from the local club and they must have known what to expect because they never let me enter the room while they were watching the movie. My bro gave me strict instructions not to watch that movie but I guess everyone in this world knows that that is the best form of encouragement that one can give. I have seen many 'A' movies since then but I remember that one because it was my first ever defiance of authority to do something naughty! Bravo :) Next up - we had a really hot friend - Taj who used to live quite far from the city centre. Now I had got a new bicycle, a racing one in 8th standard. Rather uncomfortable to ride but I would like to think it would impress the girls in my city. Two of my friends borrowed my bicycle as they wanted to impress Taj. How they thought of impressing her when riding pillion on a bicycle, no matter how pretty, is beyond me. Anyway, they could not even get close - the bicycle was just not meant for pillion riding and ofcourse they met with an accident. Till the day, they claim it was an Ambassador that hit them but I am sure they just fell. My 1 week old bicycle had to go through a total makeover and my 2 friends had to visit the hospital for a few days. Ha! If only Taj knew how much these guys had done to impress her, I am sure she would have dumped her boyfriend and gone out with them (she did go out with one of them actually ;) ). Now the story of Taj reminds me another one - when Monu and I had bunked school just because Taj had done so as well (Monu liked her too - well Monu liked every girl that walked). And what were we doing? We were just standing outside Taj's place and wasting time. And then came Hazra, the guy who was madly (and I mean it) in love with Taj's sister. And he wanted to enter their house and when Taj's sister did not let him, he broke the windows and then used the glass to cut his hands and wrists and I don't know what else! Now you see - 'madly' in love! And from roadside romeos, we suddenly became firefighters. We stopped Hazra, called up his parents and ensured that he did not hurt anyone. Taj's sister usually despised us but that was one time that she said thanks to the 2 of us! Score ;) Ofcourse, if I start with Monu, I will be stuck in a never-ending blog of stories. With him, everyday was a blast! Be it stories of him and Kundrai, his crazy gf who ate rat poison or whose neighbour chased us when we were again standing and wasting time outside her house. Or when monu had to buy sleeping tablet ot give to her mother when he was spending the night at their place!! OMG, I am rolling on the floor even today when I remember those days. I have some of my own stories too - like the time we were, ermm once again standing and wasting time, this time at a bus stand and a girl who liked me wanted to cross the street. Being a brat at that time, I did not have good relations with the girls in my city and to avoid getting seen, she was crossing us through some bushes across the bus stand. Co-incidentally (and I mean it) I got nature's call and I rushed to the bushes and taking this as an act of aggression, the girl ran away screaming and complained to some neighbours there. Again, we started our beloved two-wheelers and we ran - only to realise after 10 minutes that we hadn't done anything wrong! Then arose the tiger in me and I went back to speak to the people and to the girl that what had happened was an accident and a bizarre coincidence as none of us had seen her sneaking through the bushes. Our esteem was restored and we left that place with our heads held high! Now there was a time when the end was not the same. Here comes Monu again - So Monu had bunked his tuitions (he regularly would) and I had long stopped going to this Chemistry one. Although my mom did not know about it so I had ensured a monthly pocket money of Rs. 100 and 2 hours of unquestioned free time. Sadly Monu's parents saw us riding our Scooty, around the same bus stand area. This time they chased us. We thought of outsmarting them and went and parked in the Chemistry tuition teacher's place and went and hid on the terrace. Monu's parents followed us, came up to the teacher's place and started shouting at us. The teacher came out as well and all the diligent students who were sitting inside also witnessed the merciless bashing we received! I will never forget that moment. I lost my monthly income and a lot of other priviledges for the next few days but now if I think about it, it was worth it. Phew! I am tired now - not remembering them but penning them down. I think I need a break - more for the next time :)

Looking Forward to the Future

Tomorrow I fly to a new land. For a person who loves traveling, it's like giving a new toy to a child - I am so looking forward to the long walks. I have heard Hong Kong is quite like New York, with the tall skyscrapers (I've read that HK actually has more of these), the gardens and the flowers (nothing can match Central Park though and no, I am not gay), the beaches in the untouched southern part of the island but most of all to the typhoons. They go up to category 10, with wind speeds as high as 250 km/h! And usually there are 3-4 in a year like these! Yayy! People in Hong Kong wake up every day hoping to hear the Met Dept. declare a "Rainy Day", when all offices and schools are shut down, just like they used to in my school days. After living in London all these years, I had almost forgotten what a downpour looks/sounds like. A few days back I relived the memory when rain drops the size of tennis balls fell from the Delhi skies. I was scared to go out and get wet (although I desperately wanted to) lest I get hurt. I've read that the rains in Hong Kong sound like drumroll! Although I used to hate rain, I think I will love to watch the drops on my window, with a cuppa in my hands and fond memories in my mind.

100

It's such an amazing number - centuries have always been special. I never understood the fascination with the number. Let's consider cricket - how is the 100th run more important than the 101st? If the psychology of a batsman is to be taken into account, then I am sure that the 100th run, on an average, takes lot more deliveries than the 101st, so the team should actually be cheering for the 101st run even more. But that is not the case. This just adds to the reasons why I hate cricket. Atleast the hoopla about Sachin's 100th century is now over and now the whole team can focus more on winning matches and not on individual achievements. Not that I care. For me, the number means a lot more - it means a dream, a promise and hopefully one day an achievement. But not yet. For now, life goes on - and unlike cricket, it seems I am playing a game of snakes and ladders, coming back to square one after so many attempts but I have hope that one day the venom will run out. Someday...

A New Beginning

Inspired by someone's return to the blogging world, I thought I should also revisit my creation. and i have things to write about too... so much has happened in the last year. for starters, my marriage - which has brought a lovely person into my life. as for the downs, well let's just say 2011 hasn't been that generous. but that is life - maybe 2012 will have more ups and maybe everything will be much better and everyone will be happy. maybe I dream, but dreams do come true... and hopefully they will.
So last few weeks have been blissfully spent in traveling, gorging on yummy home cooked food and sleeping till noon. this trend shall continue for another few weeks - with friends' weddings coming up. the bride, the groom, the lehenga, the little starry lights, the mutton - so many beautiful things all at one place. how high will he be lifted before jaimaal? Will she be able to reach him? will she cry? so many question, so many moments to capture. I think it is going to be amazing.
And then I move to Hong Kong, the only 'global city' I have never been to before. I was excited about Tokyo, 3 years back, but it failed to live upto the expectation. I have always loved New York and London, but the friends might have been an important factor there. I loved Singapore, but it's almost like home. I have left my closest friends behind - I am going with a clean slate. Is it going to be crazy and tough, like Tokyo or will it take me in, like New York? will I live a part of my life there, like in London or will it be a fleeting pit stop in the continuous search for home - where family and friends all live together? there are so many questions I do not know the answer to right now, numerous aspects of my life in limbo. will this start tie all the lose ends or strain them even more? I don't know and there is no way of knowing right now. only thing I can do is enjoy the next few weeks and wish the best of luck and happiness to those embarking on new journeys themselves.
So to all those who might have had a rough 2011, I say keep fighting and never give up on things that matter because nothing in this world that is worth having comes easy. and from an eternal optimist to the world, as I read somewhere, 2012 - it is going to be legen...wait for it...dary!

Cheers to 2011

I have always felt that the celebration on New Year's eve is so meaningless as what is 1st January 2011? It is just the day after 31st December 2010, just like 2nd January is a day after 1st January. But now I see the reason behind celebrating the new year. A new year gives a person hope.... hope that this time it can be different. If you didn't succeed the last time, this time you can. If there was something that you wanted to do but could not for some reason, now you can start again. And even if a person changes everything about himself, picks up new habits, let's go of some old ones or tries to be a different person altogether, no one frowns or questions if that day happens to be the 1st of January.
2010 was a year that I will always remember in my life. A complete fun-filled roller coaster ride it was. Now let's think how we can ensure 2011 to be infinitely better. In what ways am I going to change myself? Hmmm.. not many but I definitely want to remind myself of one thing - to make every moment count. One really can't be sure of anything in life. Maybe that is what makes it so amazing and that is why I think it is very important to enjoy every second...and this is how I plan to make the most of 2011...

More 'family' in life - Because they matter the most and specially the one tiny addition coming in a few months (he/she is going to be the cutest there has ever been)

More music in life - from the songs of Aandhi to remixes like Bin tere Sanam, from Jhoka hawa ka to Sheila ki Jawani, from Oasis to Linkin Park...(add the Roger Waters concert to that please!)

More physical activity in life - regular gym, tennis, swimming and anything that I can find a partner for (no dancing, sorry)

More fun in life- no more being lazy on weekends; if possible, rope in the weekdays as well (without compromising on sleep obviously)

More food in life - try out the good stuff like Nobu, Amaya, Arbutus etc without ignoring the likes of Chipotle, Ping Pong and other regular favourites (yummm)

More travel in life - from Cancun to Turkey, Morocco to Iceland, I must travel (I must I must)

And finally, more words in life - staying in touch with old friends and maybe a bit more frequent blogging :)

I think with all of the above, 2011 should be a smashing year! Hakuna Matata - no worries and have a blast. That is my mantra for 2011 and that is how it is going to be!

A Solution to the "Flipped Socks" Embargo

It was the mind of a genius who had come up with the idea to flip socks inside out and wear them again the next day. Simple idea in hindsight, but one that reduced man's efforts by half thus increasing efficiency "two-fold", literally! Sadly, this well kept secret was revealed to the whole world by Mr. Prasoon Joshi, lyricist of Hum Tum. Since then, I think girls have always kept an eye out for guys who are wearing socks inside out and instead of appreciating their efforts to conserve manpower, which is a form of energy and even President Obama would agree that we should save energy, they have always looked at them with derision. Now, I have come up with a solution to the same problem. Why not wear one sock inside out the first time and the other one straight? Next time you can flip them both. This way, when caught, you can always say that you put on one of them the wrong way by mistake - a very believable argument, and can continue enjoying the fruits of man's genius while contributing to the environment by conserving energy! :)

P.S. I know I can never use this strategy since my girlfriend now knows but this is my sacrifice so that all you guys, who can claim that they have never read this blog, can be the lazy bums we are meant to be.