Dhoop ke makaan sa

A few days back, here in Lippstadt, the nature seemed to be having fun. It rained, snowed and the wind blew recklessly.

It was very difficult to stride ahead as the wind kept me pushing back. My umbrella took an entirely different shape and served some unknown purpose.

Meanwhile a wonderful song kept me moving ahead towards my destination.
And I realised that I have been listening to that song every time I put my player on.

Like we say, it is a silent stealer sorts. With wonderful lyrics and a great acoustic version, this one is a treat, and it finds a place in the list of my favorite songs.

This one's dedicated to all those who cherish the journey more than the destination.

Song: Dhoop ke makaan sa..
Movie: Break ke baad

Baarish hai khayalon mein,
sab dhul jaayega
Roshan rasta naya
ik khul jaayega
Beh jaayega, tinka tinka kal ka silsila
Chalo
mil jaayega aur ik haseen kaafila
Chalo

Dhoop ke makaan sa yeh
hai safar dhalaan sa yeh
mod meherbaan sa hai yeh

Chhat tapakti hai kabhi ehsaas ki
Yaad aati hai puraani pyaas ki
Par naye naye baadal baras kar jhoomte hain
Boondh ki ladiyon se maatha choomte hain
Dekhne ki yeh ghadi hai,
ik nayi rut sang khadi hai
Baat chhoti par badi hai

Dhoop ke makaan sa yeh
hai safar dhalaan sa yeh
mod meherbaan sa hai yeh

Kitni unchi shaakh pe khushiyon ke pal
Phir bhi kuhshboo tod li humne uchhal
Haan, kaanch ka samaan the aur gir gaye hum
Jod kar khud ko banane phir gaye hum
Duur dariya ke kinaare
Zindagi karti ishaare
Aasmaan pe hai naye taare

Dhoop ke makaan sa yeh
hai safar dhalaan sa yeh
mod meherbaan sa hai yeh

 

Love Again

Amidst the chanting of hymns
For the Gracious God
In the vast playground
For the children - restless
And young
Among the millions who
thronged in the Shamiyana
in the name of devotion
It all seemed Faux
That's when, while
they walked on the pathway
and talked
and it felt
like the raindrops kissed
the bosom of the earth,
she felt bliss


In the traffic of emotions
On the road
With plenty of thoughts in minds
Numerous emotions in hearts
Immeasureable decibels
he asked her to voice
What she held inside
she spoke to him
And he heard with care
and it felt like
he helped her push
a mountain
she felt peace


Under the vast blue
which looked so grey
in the absence of  Sun
with a selfish moon
When time flew
fast, and she
couldn't hold it
He shone like a sun
She couldn't look into
his eyes
said, "Time's over"
and it felt like
a thousand lives and more
she couldn't thank him
for shining so bright.
Once again
she felt love

Visitors on my Blog

Mom called me the other day and said that someone had visited my blog and liked it very much.

I understood what she meant, when she said "someone". She has been marketing her daughter really well it seems.

Out of curiosity, I checked the visitor hits and saw this.

Mom, is this what you've been doing?

@Visitor: I really appreciate you visiting my blog :) Do stay glued!

Dortmund vs Stuttgart

The Eurobahn is a very very famous thing out here. The train, I am talking about! They say, if you don't travel once atleast in the Eurobahn, your entire Eurotrip :P, I mean the Europe trip is useless.
So there, we thought it, and we made it!

We took the train from Lippstadt to Muenster, via Hamm. And while we waited at the platform for the train to come, I saw a few young lads, heavily built, wearing these Black and Yellow Jerseys which said "Dortmund".

I inferred that there'd be some rally, or some college fest must be going on, and therefore they all wore the common thing.

A few minutes later, the train arrived. It looked chic. I'd never boarded a metro in all my trips to our national capital, but looking at this EuroBahn.. Jeez, I thought, the purpose of my life would now be fulfilled.

And when that thing came to a halt, I tried to analyse my situation.

I was utterly confused.

The temperature felt like Europe, but the crowd was so India!

Yes, the train seemed no less than a local train of Mumbai. The supporters of Dortmund football team had created a ruckus. There were people standing everywhere. The only colours that I could spot was Blonde - their hair, White - their skin, Black - their jersey and a few yellows here and there saying DORTMUND!


Finally we found a place to settle.
How I wished they spoke in English! The group that was standing closest to us had 4 boys aged around 13-14.


I asked one of them "What's going on?", pointing at his jacket.

"This? Soccer! Dortmund vs Stuttgart.", one of them replied in fluent English.

"Are you going to Dortmund?", I asked.

"Hell Yeah!! DORTMUND jdfhsjkdfh sdjfhsdjkfh suifhs DORTMUND!!", he screamed.

I was taken aback when the entire crowd began cheering. I wouldn’t have been surprised if there were cheer girls too.


 The train was literally overcrowded, and while people yelled, they stood so close, that they must have put their words in the each other's mouth.


That close.


I was having a good time.


They all opened beer bottles and finished it bottoms up. One after the other, then the other and it went on.
The atmosphere became really warm, because of the heater inside the train and the excess accumulation of carbon dioxide. At one point, I'd almost started to sweat. It felt so much like Mumbai. So much like India.


 I wondered things are not really different on this side of the Earth. Every one needs a reason to let go off their sanity and enjoy like one has never done before.


For this crowd, sure it was soccer. I was overwhelmed to see so much energy in a 3 compartment train.
I cannot really comment about the train. But the people, and their craze for soccer.. Boy!!


For record, Dortmund won! :)

Travel Diaries - Germany (Weekend plans)

Apparently, there is an Indian couple who is staying in our motel, and this evening while returning from work, I saw him park his VW SUV in the parking lot.

I ran upstairs immediately and told my colleagues, that the Hella (Company name) guy has a big car.
And weekend was almost here! :P

So my colleague, Mr. S, decided that we go to Muenster this weekend, without spending any money, in the Hella Guy's car!!

So he went across the hall to the next door and at 7 pm in the evening, rang his door bell.
The Indian obliged by letting him in.

But Mr.S had a real weak memory about the places and so as to talk to him about the weekend plans he needed a laptop!

So he ended up inviting the couple for tea at his place.

Finally, the bhai chara showed true colours and they started yapping about the wonders of India, how Germany is different etc.

This Hella guy had stayed in Germany for 8 long years, he sure was perfectly eligible to become our tour guide.

So Mr.S began,

"So, What are your weekend plans?"

"My wife and I plan to go to Hamm."

"Hamburg? Wow!!", exclaimed Mr.S

"No just Hamm. H A M M", he spelt it out.

"We re going to Muenster. Why don't you come with us?", said Mr.S

"We need to go to the temple there, so I think we cannot change our plan", said the Hella guy.

"Ok. So how are you going to Hamm? What is special there?", asked Mr.S

"The temple in Hamm is really a beautiful one, plus there are a few Indian shops. And I have my car ", replied the Hella guy.

"Can we go too?", Mr.S asked bluntly.

"Umm.. am sorry but I have other colleagues with me, I am taking them along", he replied humbly.

"No no, if we want to go, how can we go", Mr. S asked.

"You can rent a car, or take a train.", replied the Hella guy.

"So what is the plan for next weekend? We are planning to go to Amsterdam. We can go by car.", said Mr.S

"I plan to go to Brussels, I am sorry to disappoint you again.", said the Hella guy.

"No, I meant, we will rent our own car. I was just asking for a suggestion, or if you wanted to join us", managed Mr.S covering up for all the double meaning talks he was making.

"Oh Ohkay. Great then." said the Hella guy.

"We should plan a trip together to someplace (So that atleast we save some money!!!)", said Mr.S

"Yes, then we should all go to Paris on the 12-13th Feb Weekend, as it would be Valentine's day", said the Hella guy giving a glance at her wife.

"Sure", said Mr. S and he realised that daal nahi galegi yaha.

After a few exchanges of ideas, suggestions and talks, the couple left.

Mr.S had decided that he would not visit Paris this time, as he had been there before, but that was the only supposedly free trip that we could have cashed on.

It was great to see two Indians bargain. Bargain, in the sense, keep their sides safe.

That's why I say, where ever you are, your heart ought to be Hindustani while making deals!!

I love my country, and my people!! :)   

Travel Diaries - Germany (Revelations )

1. In Germany, THERE ARE NO ANTS.
It's been 4 days that I have put Mango Malai barfi on the table, and they still are  unaffected by ants or any insects! Mind you, they were kept totally uncovered!

2. You, cannot, simply cannot, commit suicide by coming under a speeding truck, van or car. They'll stop and wait for you to cross the roads even if you are 100 metres away from the crossing.God bless them!! :)

3. The people here DO NOT DRINK WATER.
I was very thirsty, tired of drinking coffee and juices and a deep urge to consume water arose. I also wanted to have a bottle to keep it on my desk. I went to the canteen and asked the guy there,

"wasser zum trinken?"

"Ya", he gave me a bottle and it clearly said 'SODA'.

"I want plain water. Trinken wasser", I reiterated.

"This bottle, less gas, that bottle more gas", he said.

"No gas, Plain water?", I asked.

"Sorry!", he replied.

I finally bought the soda bottle, with 'less gas', threw away the contents of the bottle, washed it thoroughly, fetched some nice lukewarm water from the kitchen tap and drank it.

Felt Heavens!!

4. Indians in Germany refuse to give back a smile.
This is something very pathetic. I saw an Indian on the road, the other day, and was so glad to see Him. I gave a smile. I passed a vibe saying "Achha laga, ji aapko dekh kar".

He gave back a silent vibe ,"Hmmpphh".

Some people do not let go off their ego! Shhaayy..

I am wondering whether he really was an Indian. Or was he not?

5. Sun hates Germany.
I think it stays more in India :)

Travel Diaries - Istanbul to Dusseldorf

Of all the wonderful things about travelling abroad, one of the most interesting thing is missing the flights.Yeah, I missed my flight from Istanbul to Dusseldorf. I was sleep deprived since ages and another 4 hour wake up sprint was the most unwelcoming thing at the moment.

So what is the most lucrative thing that one could do when the waiting time for the next connecting flight is 4 hours? One blogs! :) And I consider that i am The One, like Neo in the matrix, because todayI feel I have found out what is going on in each mind.

All the people here speak in some strange language. Turkish, probably. There are some who speak in French too. But as I sit and observe each and every face, I realise what an amazing thing God has made.

The inside of every human is so intriguing. The lady in black with sexy leather stilettos, wearing pearl tops must be sure from Paris. There seem to be no fashion faux pas when I look at her. At, around, 50 she looks sleek and stunning.

Her mind probably is thinking about how can she attract maximum attention.

A strange man is wearing a sleeveless t-shirt and flaunting his arms. He seems to have been working out regularly. He looks drab, but he is all ready to fight the chill and bare his body.

It is really something strange. People go to any extent possible.

In his mind: I can't remember where I forgot my jacket. 

I can imagine a total nautanki scene out here with all these wonderful characters. A smart male sitting in front of me, a couple who pretend to be so much in love, a mother changing her baby’s nappy, an old man, staring at every one who’s passing by and me of course, who is looking everywhere and typing away the observations!

There are times like these when you feel that you have been made only to jot down your opinions, but reality, mere dost, is that your opinions are seldom valued.

Finally, it's time for security check it seems. One Bhala Manus, an Indian, apparently travelling in the same flight, came up to me and said that the gate number was changed and that I needed to board the flight from Gate 216, instead of 213.

Seriously, paraye desh me apne hi kaam aate hai. I would have almost missed my flight again, otherwise!

I sit in the waiting area as the security check, for other passengers goes on.

When my turn came, the security official asked me to open my bags. My accessory kit was checked thoroughly. My bracelets, earrings and bangles were scanned again, for what reason, I have no clue.

At the end of everything, the security dude, gave back my stuff and asked me to proceed for the flight. He seemed happy playing around with the little kit, it seems.

I have finally boarded the flight. Now I am sitting, next to a hot female, totally checking her out like I have never seen one before. With lots of resolutions and promises to get into shape, I realise that I am lulling to sleep.

I think I better take catch up on some sleep until they drop me at Dusseldorf.

Been ages since I slept, Maa Kasam!!

***

Dream

"What do you do to keep in shape?", she asks

"Nothing, just good diet and Yoga", I reply.

"Will you teach me yoga?", she asks

"Sure", I flaunt my slender legs, as I change my position.

***

Yeah! I reached Germany safe and sound and that, dear friends, was my dream!! :)

Angrez ki Aulaad

Apparently there was some fest/seminar going on at the Symbiosis college campus in Hinjewadi.I reached Wakad square and waited  there for an auto.
An autowallah came by and started conversing with me in English.
Neither did I look like a foreigner nor was I wearing something extra ordinary so as to make an impression that I only spoke English.
He began.
"Madam, Where you go?"
I ignored him. I thought he was drunk.
"Shaam-bee-o-Shis?", he asked.
"What?", I bursted out into a chuckle and asked him to reiterate.
"Shaam-bee-o-shis college, you go?", he asked.
"Nahi, bhaiyaa", I replied.
"Then? Info-shis?", he asked.
"Mc D, Hinjewadi square", I replied, considering the option of boarding that auto.
"Sit Madam. 10 Busk", he replied.
"10 Busk??", I laughed and said to myself, "10 bucks. Great!", and got into the auto.
I wondered what was all this effort about. While I was having a hearty laugh, he broke again and said, "Very winter it is"
"Yes", I replied.
"Weather said, 3 degree it go tomorrow", he added and I realised he was trying to get into a conversation.
I was reluctant initially, but then I thought, this would be something really interesting.
"Aap ko thand nahi lagti, bhaiyya. Aap ne sweater nahi pehna", I asked him.
"No. Habit Madam. No winter, No Summer.", he replied.
"Yeh Symbiosis college me kuch hai kya?", I asked him.
"No Madam.", he said and gestured that he didn't know, finding no words to express.
"Aap English me hi baat karte ho kya?", I asked.
He laughed.
"Why, not good?", he asked.
"No, very good, very good", I replied.
"Passenger to Shaam-bi-o-Shis, daily comes to my Auto and talks Engliss. I shtart also. Eajy talk, lot passenger log, money get eajy.", he replied merrily, fluently and without a hint of the words he was speaking, let alone the grammar be.
"You want to learn English?", I asked, in English.
"No, Madam. I talk English. No learn. I know very much. Very much", he said confidently.
I still had no clue, why this fellow was speaking in English, where all the Autowallahs of Pune proudly conversed in Marathi.
"Bas yaha rok dena bhaiyya. Side me.", I said.
I have him a 20 Rs note.
"10 busk change?", he asked.
"No. Sorry", I said controlling my laughter.
"Why sorry, madam. Never sorry. Only Thank you", he said, realising that he had found a good listener in me.
He gave me coins in return and I left.
"Madam", he called out.
"Engliss, good no", he asked.
I showed him a thumbs up as he kicked his Auto and approached another passenger waving from the other side of the road.

I couldn't make sense of what happened. But it was one of the memorable auto rides for me. What the Britishers left behind, still prevails, to some extent.
The craze for emulating the west is still there..
aur usi chakkar me, kai baar, Aisa kuch bhi hota rehta hai :)

liVewire

They locked the house and left. They’d forgotten their scarves.

"You go and get it", she said.

"No you go, GET it", he insisted.

"No you”, she said.

"I don't know where it's kept", both said together.

They looked at each other and giggled.

"Jinx", he said.

She loved the jinxes. It made her laugh.

The Unexpected

One fine morning
You find no sun
You wake up yawning,
Wonder what's the fun

One wonderful evening
The sun refuses to set
The pastures that are greening
look brighter than the red

How do you feel?
When you fetch water-
all saline
How do you deal?
When nothing quenches your thirst
It's all sublime.

One dark night
The moon crazily laughs out
The watchman whistles right
and talks with a pout

How do you feel ?
When everything seems
Oh-so strange
How do you seal?
The lips which convey
feelings beyond range.

One beautiful day
A part of your soul meets
while you are on your way
to the Fisherman's street

How do you feel?
When unexpected becomes -
really true
How do you reveal?
The bliss that surfaces
from deep within you.

One honest prayer
Which you held really close
Was heard sometime, somewhere
a thing you humbly chose.

How do you feel?
When you get all you ever wanted
to take
How do you conceal?
The treasure you possess and
the bid you made

Down the memory lane

I had an amazing start to the New Year, unexpectedly so.

My sister and I went out for shopping and we were desperately seeking a Reebok Factory outlet. It was no where close to where we stayed, so I decided to go to Kamptee road to check out the showroom there.

Most of the interesting things happen while I ride my bike, it seems :)

Both of us got talking.

While we traversed from west Nagpur towards east Nagpur, we realized that we were going down the memory lane. Our School- the roads still cramped with dozens of rickshaw fellows, school children dressed in red cardigans, fitting inside one auto, the old lady who still stood there selling the famous "Khatte ber".

Further as we moved towards the other end of the city, we reached a crossroad which looked familiar. I could have easily made the way through it to the place where I spent some of the golden days of my childhood. It was my grandparent's house.

Right after retirement, my grandfather, settled in a rented house in Kadbi Chowk. Everything in and around the locality had changed. I was telling my sister about the roads which led to Daddu's home.

I thought of going and actually checking out the building, if at all it existed.

I took a left from the Chowk. Then took a first right, and went straight until the old banyan tree hung it's branches drawing shed to the tiny road which led to the old Parsi bungalow which stood mightily next to Daddu's house.

I finally reached there and saw some workers working in the compound. The house was converted into a godown. The owners who stayed there had a big house in front, and a small passage led to the small house where my grandparents lived 20 years back.

My sister was apprehensive. She started to warn me not to talk to the workers, but I had started a conversation with one of them, already.

"Andar jaau kya bhaiyya", I asked.

"Kyu madam, kya kaam hai?", he asked.

"Hum pehele yahaan rehte the. Andar wala ghar ek baar dekhna hai", I said, looking intently at the construction which stood in front of me bringing back all those wonderful memories.

"Jaaiye", he permitted, wondering I was some crazy female.

We walked carefully tossing the possible insects, dried leaves and reached the place where our grandparents stayed. It was broken. It was spider's haven.

My sister reacted just like Ron would have reacted after seeing one of those huge spiders.

The entrance still had the three racks intact, which held Daddu's tobacco and shaving box. He would sit there, chew tobacco and shave. I still wonder how he multitasked.

I went inside and checked out the hall. I could imagine the old back and white BPL 14 inch TV playing Chitrahaar and my grandmother singing along. Avva, as we lovingly used to call her would always be in the kitchen -cooking, or making those delicious chutneys for Daddu or for us.

I could clearly recollect the fragrance of the strong Sambhar powder enriching the daal which cooked merrily on the gas stove. As we'd go in, Avva would make us sit down and serve us hot idlis and boiling hot  Sambhar, wondering when will Daddu finish his shaving business. Her’s was one of the best Sambhar’s that I have ever tasted. Her culinary skill is another topic to write about!

Daddu would only ask for a tea and nothing else.

All fragrances, voices, scenes, memories stood alive. It was indeed nostalgic.

We walked out and my sister pointed out to a lemon tree which stood right in front of their house. I think, that is the only thing she vividly remembers.

We walked out of the house analyzing the surroundings, how things had changed, how some things still remained untouched.

We spent some really wonderful days there, flying kites, making swings out of broken tyres, climbing up trees and playing hide and seek.

I wonder how long will this construction stand. It might be destroyed to pave way for a 40 storied residential scheme.

Where some little houses made fond memories, a few more houses look to be constructed to make newer memories. But what the little, decent and conservative constructions gave; the tall 3 bhks residential apartments would never be able to match.

I still vie for solace in a place like this.