God's Own People

Some people we come across in life are soo soo very cute that you cannot forget them even if you want to. Not because they’ve done something especially for you but just because they’ve been there when you needed them them the most. That feeling is just like the one I would  get when I’m sitting alone somewhere with a cup of tea, into my own thoughts and someone just holds up a pack of Parle-G in front of me. Here, I am good alone. I have my cup of tea, I’m not hungry, I don’t NEED anything but still those Parle-G biscuits add up to my tea. This is the kind of people I’m talking about. I cannot relate them to me in any way.

Today, I’m just being nostalgic while I remember Sushma - Simant and Aarya - Abhijit. They’re the ones who are not the neighbors of my sister-in-law, neither are the friends of my auntie’s second cousin’s daughter..............(he he he this is too much). Yes, they’re no way close to my native but they always understood what we felt, what we needed.

The day: We were finally moving on from Chicago.
The time: 9:30 AM (Prasad had already left for some important office work) knock knock - It’s Sushma. Hah I was relieved that someone’s here to cheer me up with the tasks. I had hardly got Pingu up and done with her breakfast. She came in n took Pingu with her to drop her at Aarya’s place where she had Parnika to play with. We had already packed almost all the things last night to minimize the last minute pains but still it seemed as if the whole world was before me to clean up. Moreover, the shipping guys didn’t show up till noon.

The time: 12 noon. knock knock - It’s Sushma again. “ Ajita ye sab box packing mai kar deti hoon, aap apne luggage packing pe dhyan deejiye” - those relieving words came from her. And within an hour or so the boxing had been completed.   

The funniest and moreso an embarassing part on my part was when she climbed the towing truck trailer for my wall clock. We had dumped some of our stuffs in the car trunk which was to be shipped. The car shipping guy came, drove the car over the trailer and was about to leave the parking lot when she saw the huge wall clock hanging there which can neither fit in any of the shipping boxes nor in any of the luggage. She simply took out the clock put it in a fresh trash bag, padded it with n number of useless plastic bags while I was on phone trying to ask the trailer driver to hold on. Sushma just climbed the trailer opened the car and dumped the wall clock  into it and came back smilingly as if nothing had happened. The temperature outside was nearing 0 degree C, she wasn’t even wearing a jacket and just had her slippers on.

I went late that afternoon at Aarya’s place to check out on Pingu’s lunch, just to find that she’d been fed, bathed and was about to doze off for her noon nap. From no one would I have expected this and felt like never leaving these wonderful people. With all the issues and tensions in my mind, I wouldn’t have eaten that afternoon if it was not for Aarya. When I left Aarya’s house that day I was in tears (obviously) which were not because I was leaving her but I was being thankful to my destiny for having her as my friend.

For that one day, I can go on with the incidents without a pause where they were someone more than GOD for me. The same day Simant came back early from office and drove me n Pingu at the Airport. Both Sushma n Simant came along till the waiting lounge of the Chicago airport to hand us over to Prasad (It would’ve been so much hassle for me to travel in a cab with so much luggage and Pingu and then trace where Prasad actually was waiting for us at the Airport).

As we bid them good bye, I was filled with so much love and respect for the two of them. They left without turning back even once to expect a “Thank you”. What I saw was a Happy couple so much filled with love that now they spread the excess of it to the world. THANK YOU for being there.

Resolutions n more

It is not even 1 month now and I know that I am not doing this despite of a great morale boosting from Prasad. This really makes me wonder why this weird thought of making “New Year Resolutions” came to my mind in the first place. If I want to do something I can do it anyways and if I don’t, I won’t, come what may..

The story starts 1 day before the new years eve. Prasad n me discussing over a coffee about the new year resolutions of the two of us. I was really very practical and I knew that this isn’t going to work out for me - Making a decision and following it throughout the year every single day. But with Prasad into it, I thought to give it a try. If it worked, good for me; If it didn’t, hard luck. As it is, with my weight crossing the early fifties, I was equally worried. Out came the declaration, I shall run at least 1 mile per day without fail. Prasad agreed to co operate and compromise if it meant no lunch box at times. I agreed to compromise an hour of my early morning sleep. 31st night was exhaustive and we hardly slept for say 4 hrs. There dangles my very first day of keeping up with my own “Resolution”..........frowny day and demoralizing of course.

Then, I thought of getting myself a partner who would accompany me. May be that would work as a driving force for me to the Gym. Off started my search for a Gym partner (By the way the whole idea was lost during this search, as if I can NOT go to Gym alone). Days went by and I deliberately made myself forget my own resolution. In came invites for a number of birthday parties back to back. I was excited and digged my wardrobe for the best dresses, best sweaters n coats. Alas !! they wouldn’t fit, or to say I wouldn’t get in them anymore. That was an eyeopener. Moreover, at the parties, posing for a snap would just be about competing with my breath (The amount of time I can hold it in till the snap’s taken).

That was it !!! I decided to join Prasad in his early morning Yoga and Pranayam. He told me the techniques and off we started with it. But that was very very boring, and the results would be too far I knew. Still I continued with it till I could find another option. Then I found GOD in disguise - Swati. She was equally interested and we decided to make it work.

So, now my day starts at 6:30 AM followed by 45 min of running, and I’m free all day to eat all the crap I want to. But I should do something for my eating habits as well. Wait a minute, that large box of chocolate chip muffins we got last week will be wasted in that case (Wasting food is a bad job - me to pingu). I have to live up to it and finish them up myself. One more thing, Tina’s planning to have us invited for a smacking Lasagna party. I’ll call her up and tell her not to add any cheese over mine. It’s Rishika’s birthday and her mommy’s making delicious Samosa chaat for all of us. Why do people plan parties and get alongs when I try to plan my diet? This is not happening with me.

For now, I’m good with my running a mile schedule (It’s only 2 days it has started and I’m equally unsure how long it is going to last). Oops, I’m late. It’s already 6:30 and Swati must be waiting for me. One last thing, that I can remember here is the last line from a poem by Robert Frost - “And miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep”.
Well actually, I’ve just woken up and for this day at least, I have to go 1 mile, literally - Paiiiiiinnnnnn

When some things go well............

"Been there done that" is never a thumb rule to keep things going the way we want. Travellings and outings is what I like and have liked all these years since childhood. We've always planned some really nice trips going places and having fun. This time it was a bit different trip. It didn't have the usual sight -seeing, hotel stay, junk food and the like. It was a visit to a friends place. Our first friends ever in this alien country, whom we missed soo very much since we shifted to another city in search of a better "roti, kapda n makaan". Both of us even missed the city, anyone would - Chicago. But ultimately the charm is not the city but the people who reside in there in the bonding they make with you. The love, affection and to be precise a very very non-formal attitude in welcoming us at midnight when the entire building was quiet is what alarmed me and made me feel really at home.
A 7 hr road run from Cleveland to Chicago, Pingu Puking in midst of a highway, skipping all the exits and rest areas just to be there with our own people as fast as we could, hungry as hell and tired but excited was the way we reached Chicago at our friends place that night at around 12:15AM. Hey........we're here, finally we made it. After a long gap of 9 months, we were finally at "Briarwood Terrace" with Aarya-Abhijit-Pari. All of us were soo soo excited n happy to see each other. Chatting n chatting n chatting...........went on till Pingu was tired n hungry. Wouldn't she be at 2 AM in the night ?? I gathered my senses and fed her something. Off she went to sleep, and the night was ours again. Pari had slept in more or less the same time and Aarya was free then and off started my inquiries about our gang at the chai party. the night kept moving, we had our dinner around  4 - 4:30 AM and as tired as Prasad was, he could've actually slept anywhere in any position he would've been in. Finally we decided to lay down at 5:30 AM.
Next day was drowsy, getting up late elders n the kids too. As planned, we had to have our lunch at a famous Indian restaurant which we missed so so badly out here. They had a lunch buffet which was open till 3 PM, and we realized this at 12:30 PM. Off we hurried with the kids and their food and got ready but the first stroke of destiny came in here : The battery of our car was drained off throughout the night and it would not budge come what may. Then the series of numerous phone calls to the car rental guys and through them to the insurance guys started. I had lost hopes that we're making it today to priya (The Indian food joint). But thankfully, the insurance guys were quick and they fixed the car by 2 PM. Quickly we started, and reached there around and before their closing time. Then came in the taste of already delicious food - why not after so much longing. All the people left, the buffet table was taken up, the server even held the check before us but we weren't moving so soon. The cleaner even came up with the vaccum machine roaring to our feet and we thought of rounding up but not before a snap (Prasad hates my idea of having a pic everytime but I leave him with no option). The evening was great at one of the famous malls and we were sent home by the Mall authorities as it was Christmas eve and the mall closes at 6. Later that evening was a time with my own gang at one of the friend's place. Mona - as enthusiast as she is, called every single person and those of them could make it, did. It was a blast with me shamelessly asking Mona to prepare some Dal-rice for Pingu so that I could have more time with them (not to mention she already had made delicious Khaman and a crunchy sweet pie).
Next morning was no better than the previous one with late risings. Suddenly Pari wasn't well. she had some fever and getting all fussy. Aarya-Abhijit dropped the plan to be with us that day and we had to  move alone. Some long awaited shopping at the Devon street and lip smacking chaat at the Sukhadia's covered our afternoon. With all the hands full of shopping bags and tummy full of great food were looking at the 2nd stroke: A parking ticket. I could well imagine the shopping that I could've gone through with the $100 that now we have to pay for parking our car in a tow away zone (Thankfully they didn't actually tow away our car). Sadly, I wished the clock to turn 3 hrs back and We could park our car somewhere else. With the spirits collapsing, we dropped the plan to pay a visit to downtown Chicago.
Driving back, we realised that we're running out of Gas and were in search of a gas station. Not ready already but sensing something fishy we well had another stroke : All the gas stations were closed for the day(It was Christmas after all). somehow we managed to reach home and had ourselves relaxed with the coffee, Aarya had made for us. After a while, Prasad n abhijit got Pita Inn food and we enjoyed it together. Then I was into packing up things as we had to leave the next morning and Prasad went to have a quick meet up with some of his old colleagues n friends (By now, everyone knows how quick a meet up can be). Aarya n me kept talking and sharing things till Prasad-Abhijit were back that was around 2 AM (I wasn't surprised).
Next morning we were supposed to leave at 8:30 AM but........we were up at 9:20 AM. Somehow we managed to freshen up and get Pingu ready, packed some food for her and actually started off at 11:30. We had to return the car maximum by 6 'o' clock in the evening and we were trying hard to make it up. We stopped once to feed Pingu and get some coffee for ourselves. By 4:30 we were sure that we aren't going to make it by 6 and we called the car rental guys to get us a work around. Something was waiting for us there as well: After 6, we will be charged a days rent. And we slowed down and reached home peacefully. I cooked something, we had dinner and the three of us were off to sleep at 8:30.
Next day was painful as Prasad had cold n fever, it was snowing and he well had to go to return the car. When all was settled, he decided to work from home that day and relax a bit. Still next day when he went to office he came to know that he had some 5 sick leaves pending and that they would lapse away by 31st if not used. So today, Prasad is on leave, to make up for the family time, the sleeping time that he had missed out on the last weekend. Had we known this earlier..........??? What  could I have known earlier :
1: That the car lights were still on through the night which caused the battery to drain away
2: That the place where we'r parkig our car is a "tow away zone"
3: That if it is Christmas, all the gas stations are bound to be closed in the evening
4: That the car rental guys won't let us go away with that 1 hr late drive without a penalty
5: That Prasad has 5 sick leaves pending to be used, which can be availed anytime
6: That if at all we had to pay that penalty, I could've spent some more time with such cute set of friends
This is life................U never know what's coming next till it is already there and you have to be ready to face whatever, however, whenever it asks for. Nonetheless, nothing is as great as meeting old friends and experiencing all the warmth they have for you. This one thing I know personally that I haven't called up many of them since I left Chicago, but still I know they love me and miss me as much as I do. Nothing overcomes this feeling of being loved and cared for..................not even the pain of writing this up and sharing  at 4 AM in the morning........
Till next time it's me wishing you a Happy New Year and a Happy life ahead.

A Midnight thought

Yes !!! It is 12 midnight and what am I doing ?? Sleepy ?? No !! Clean-ups pending??  May be there are but I don't WANT to care anymore !!! So.........what is it ?
In this season of "DEAL OR NO DEAL" I wonder what is the best deal I've got yet ??
Great parents - of course it is a good deal but moreso it is due to God's grace
Good school and good grades - a good deal earned with hard work
A superb life-mate - This is really a good deal which is just pure luck wrapped in a cover of God's blessings
Ever thought how this DEAL, a blessing in disguise fell into my pocket ??
A gigantic calender called life with years passing by has given soo many surprises and sweetness that I can cherish for ever and ever...........
                                       Not too much of friends in a different city, no interests whatsoever in any art or music, so what do I do the whole day staying ALONE with a couple of other girls of my age all studying in the same college as mine and equally frustrated as that was an "All girls" college ?? I just hop into a cyber cafe in a prestigious, social and bustling area (needed to specify this). FACEBOOK was not heard of those days. All that was in the name of social networking was live chatting in chat  rooms just like the one on YAHOO!! I didn't forget ORKUT but purposely left it out as I never liked the soggy interface and kiddish themes of that application!!
I simply turn into one of the many chat rooms just to find out what's in there and if only I could make a few new friends. Flirting was out of option those days for a girl like me with a low level of confidence (But yes !! Did wanted to try it out sometime). Soon I had close to 10 friends over there from nowhere, not to mention all of them were boys. I was shocked yet cautious not to be too much in it.
Days passed by and my trips to the cyber cafe increased, may be my interest in "SOCIAL NETWORKING" had increased. As usual my friends list kept on increasing and I found a new friend each time I logged into the system.In came a casual "HI" from "Prasad79_2k"and there it all began !!! Somewhere in jan 2004 the seeds were sown unknowingly for a tree of Love to flourish.
I continued chatting (& flirting) with all the caution not to disclose my identity, my background n all but at the same time I was so convinced myself to believe in the words that came in from the other side. For the person against me, I was a microbiology student from the same city which obviously was not true. Prasad's answers to all my questions used to be more or less diplomatic which again made me to believe that he wasn't genuine. Apart from that, whatever discussions we were into, he was never mean, cheap or something I wouldn't be comfortable talking about. We discussed all from recipes of bhindi masala and baingan masala to whether BJP Govt was better than Congress.
Just as he had told me that he was a software professional, I tried checking on his knowledge by asking if I could do any certification course in computers. Smart as he is, he directed me to an APTECH center where the head of the center was his close friend. As I went there, I filled up an inquiry form which was merely a
formality not bothering much about the mobile number I mentioned in there - That was mine. That was the beginning - of late night calls, good morning messages (I truly know that he'd never "TYPED" an SMS before that and neither after till today ) and all sweety sweety talks. But hey.........we haven't met yet and he just knows that I study Microbiology.
Then arose a question "How does he look"?? With all the courage and determination not to let me him see my pic first, I asked him i f I could see his pic. As simple a guy as he was, he promptly e mailed me a "scanned copy of his passport sized photograph". In this fast paced world where U could share your photos the moment they are clicked, I took about 5 months to see just one of his photo. One need not be surprised to know that I was never going to e mail him any of my pics. when I asked him whether he wanted to see my pic, came a smart reply (which may be the one I was waiting for deep inside) that he just wants to meet me !!! "Venue" was a great topic to hassle around as it was not easy to find a place to meet a "boy" without being noticed by someone you know, especially relatives who reside in tons in the same city. Gathering all the courage, we decided to meet at "CCD" on July 31st 2004 at 4:30 PM. And he was late.................by some 10 min. But that's enough for me boast about the entire life. Then we settled down and I somehow could not sustain the fake identity of mine, and I introduced myself afresh: Ajita Dani, B-Tech Cosmetology belonging basically to Chandrapur (around 3 Hr drive from Nagpur). Then I felt relieved, and could talk much better. That was him - Not too thin, not so fat; impressive personality especially eyes; a sturdy and confident voice; And a cute smile (usually this is said about girls but I actually liked his smile).
Once been there, done that - I had no fear of meeting him in public (somewhere I knew this is the man I want to be with). Diwali was approaching, and he wanted to buy some gift for his mom and elder sis. He smartly planned something - took me along to buy a gift and from there to his place to meet his parents. They had a dual surprise and so did I !!! It was a smiley smiley evening and I was happy to find out that both of us shared the same family background and culture.
As the story unfolds........I'm dreaming about all that has passed and suddenly feeling sleepy........Shall definitely carry on the story which is my own on a similar midnight when I want to sleep but can't !!!!