--thoughts from 2008--
THE DEATH OF A FAMILY FRIEND
Death in dictionary is defined as:
the act of dying; the end of life; the total and permanent cessation of all the vital functions of an organism.
Most hard hitting is the mention of: “the end of life”.
Philosophers and great thinkers have called it the most certain phenomenon. Long back, I had also seen a tattoo on a wrestler’s arm, which read: “Life is uncertain, death isn’t”.
Death…in itself is marked with agony, helplessness and unaccountable grief…
Someone had rightly remarked long back, “Love and Death arrive unannounced in one’s life. But once any one amongst the two arrives, there is no respite!”
I feel disturbed… truly disturbed.
As I was informed about the death of a very close family friend, the images of the beautiful moments spent with her flashed in my mind at one glance. Just last week, she had visited our home on a religious occasion. Extremely God fearing and full of life, she made it a point to taste the Prasad (the mandatory serve of Dal-Khichdi) offered with pickle because she liked it that way. Her fetish for food had any how taken a backseat owing to a prolonged disease. Diabetes was the main cause behind her emotional debacle. I had heard stories about how she entertained her guests who just dropped in at her nest for a Sunday brunch. Kids loved her, elders loved her, we young ones loved her…and every one else loved her. There was not a moment I remember; we had seen her without a smile on her face. Few months back when she was hospitalised, she didn’t lose her enthusiasm. Once discharged, she was back home cooking stories…making calls and making life memorable for her entire family and friends - known, unknown.
She never knew that the messenger of death was long waiting for her to come along. She might have sensed it but kept evading him for the sake of her family. She loved being amidst people and people loved being around her. Every Durga Puja celebration stands witness to her hearty laughter and spicy gossips. But surprisingly her gossips were unharmful, uncontroversial and unending. Every joke she cracked had laughter written all over them. Every wedding she attended transformed into an event of a lifetime. Every phone call she made transformed into endless conversations of a life filled with nothing else but happiness. It is unimaginable to discover that while she was hospitalised before her demise, she spent her spare time talking to her visitors. The hospital authorities had to request the visitors to leave her alone because they wanted to be by her bedside till the wee hours. No one realised how all of a sudden she was overpowered by the severity of pneumonia and she succumbed to it within hours. The absence of a ventilator made things worse. All efforts of taking her to a distant but well equipped were foiled by the messenger of death, who was armed and well prepared to take her along. She might have definitely requested him to wait for the sake of her elder daughter’s wedding. But he was adamant. He might have explained to her that he too was a slave of his Master and could do very little.
My aunt and mom visited her home to console her family members. But her loss cannot be compensated by any other entity. They both told me how her daughters reacted to their mother’s death. They told me how her husband had lost faith in himself. Lending an ear to the stories, I could never muster the courage to visit their household. I am too immature to handle such fragile situations. I can understand what they might be going through. They were so dependent on her. Because not for a moment did they feel that she would leave the family so soon and so unsuddenly. The fact is she is no more amongst us today. The truth is her daughter is getting married on the pre decided date. The reality is…we will miss her for all the years to come.
Because death is an unchallenged truth. Yesterday it was she, a day before that some one else, today a some body, tomorrow a no one and maybe in future…the clock is ticking. I understand because I too have lost a few good lives who were close to me: My Dad, My Paternal Grandpa, My Maternal Grandpa, My Paternal Grandma, My Maternal Grandma’s Mom, My Paternal Aunt’s Husband, My Distantly Related Maternal Uncle, My School Friend and many more I love and cared for…As I write this, there is somebody lying in a hospital bed counting her last days…
With a heavy heart, I would say I dislike death no matter what it looks like or what it is…But such is life, everything with a beginning has to end one or the other day gracefully or disgracefully.
- vociferous
Thursday, March 19, 2009
DURGA DIVINE
--thoughts from 2008--
Celebrations at Skylord
Just as it happens every year, this year too the entire Bengali community of Skylord gathered on the same ground to celebrate the yearly Durga Puja. Only this time, it seemed to have lacked the traditional lustre and glamour. Thick with politics, the entire atmosphere seemed to be grim and disturbing. Sudden monsoonal threats at regular intervals further jeopardised the somewhat festive mood and the melodious feel of the once-in-a-year very Bhadraloki celebration.
Just as it happens every year, this year too the entire Bengali community of Skylord gathered on the same ground to celebrate the yearly Durga Puja. Only this time, it seemed to have lacked the traditional lustre and glamour. Thick with politics, the entire atmosphere seemed to be grim and disturbing. Sudden monsoonal threats at regular intervals further jeopardised the somewhat festive mood and the melodious feel of the once-in-a-year very Bhadraloki celebration.
WEDDING SHADING
When a caterer’s son decides to get married, he should always remain extra cautious that food is the underlining factor of all the occasions that take place in his life.
With hopes riding high on food and quite a handful of guests in attendance, the premise of Dipankar’s wedding reception seemed to be pleasantly perfect. Making it on time proved fruitful for us as guests. At least we were saved of catching a glimpse of the glamorous photo sessions where the couples are made to look like clowns. Made to sit comfortably on two thrones Dipankar & his wife Geetashree resembled Romeo & Juliet truly in love. Luckily we also happened to be the first to compliment the couple with an envelope of cash. Greedy to be photographed, I made it a point to smile at my best. But distractions of flashing bulbs never make me look like the Mr. Right; girls would drool upon. After wishing the very best to the couple, we were back to our pre occupied seats in the audience. While I had just taken to treating myself to the vegetarian kebabs, the pleasantries arrived in typical Bengali form. Geetashree’s family members carefully carried them in their palms. After an unending round of seeking blessings, Dipankar & Geetashree were finally smiling again for the audience and of course for the camera. Then the host, Dipankar’s loving dad made an announcement, “Dinner is being served”. The venue being an open ground was already susceptible to intrusions. So, in stead of the guests taking it to the buffet… barged in the slumdogs. Not in groups but in hoards. Within 30 minutes like a tornado they gulped away with all the interesting food items. Then arrived our turn, the bhadraloks (gentlemen). Surprisingly nothing of much interest was to be found to lay our hands on. The plates had disappeared, the spoons had escaped and the vessels were visible half empty. The queue refused to move ahead. Unavailability of spoons still didn’t deter the invincible. They bounced on the food with bare hands. The noodles too were not spared of being taken to the plate with dirty hands. The rasogollas (paneer balls dipped in sugar syrup) yelled painfully while they were being squeezed by dirty fingers and the rasmalais were looking for ways to flee the event. Thankfully God had mercy on us mother and son duo. At least we returned home with a stomach filled with not food but love and respect shown to us by Dipankar, his lovely wife, his loving dad and his concerned mother. What still surprised me was the indifferent attitude of some guests towards Dipankar’s dad! They have known him for over 10 years. But they chose not to support him when the slumdogs were busy looting the venue of all the delicious food. I still feel the presence of a security guard at the entrance could have served the purpose. But as we were poised to leave, I turned back to look at Deepankar; clicked a snap of him and his cute wife and invited them over lunch/dinner to our Garib Khaana.
I simply hope the guests who fall in the bhadralok category could have been a little lenient towards the Bhadras. Contradicting the situation, I would say the entire event was truly Bengali and the ambience simply infectious for the many smiles I caught a glimpse of single and married females dressed in vibrantly coloured saris & unrevealing dress materials. And I am sure; the couple is going to live a lovely married life for years to come.
This one is for you Dipankar and Geetashree: Life is full of surprises. Keep surprising each other when two eyes meet each other.
- vociferous
With hopes riding high on food and quite a handful of guests in attendance, the premise of Dipankar’s wedding reception seemed to be pleasantly perfect. Making it on time proved fruitful for us as guests. At least we were saved of catching a glimpse of the glamorous photo sessions where the couples are made to look like clowns. Made to sit comfortably on two thrones Dipankar & his wife Geetashree resembled Romeo & Juliet truly in love. Luckily we also happened to be the first to compliment the couple with an envelope of cash. Greedy to be photographed, I made it a point to smile at my best. But distractions of flashing bulbs never make me look like the Mr. Right; girls would drool upon. After wishing the very best to the couple, we were back to our pre occupied seats in the audience. While I had just taken to treating myself to the vegetarian kebabs, the pleasantries arrived in typical Bengali form. Geetashree’s family members carefully carried them in their palms. After an unending round of seeking blessings, Dipankar & Geetashree were finally smiling again for the audience and of course for the camera. Then the host, Dipankar’s loving dad made an announcement, “Dinner is being served”. The venue being an open ground was already susceptible to intrusions. So, in stead of the guests taking it to the buffet… barged in the slumdogs. Not in groups but in hoards. Within 30 minutes like a tornado they gulped away with all the interesting food items. Then arrived our turn, the bhadraloks (gentlemen). Surprisingly nothing of much interest was to be found to lay our hands on. The plates had disappeared, the spoons had escaped and the vessels were visible half empty. The queue refused to move ahead. Unavailability of spoons still didn’t deter the invincible. They bounced on the food with bare hands. The noodles too were not spared of being taken to the plate with dirty hands. The rasogollas (paneer balls dipped in sugar syrup) yelled painfully while they were being squeezed by dirty fingers and the rasmalais were looking for ways to flee the event. Thankfully God had mercy on us mother and son duo. At least we returned home with a stomach filled with not food but love and respect shown to us by Dipankar, his lovely wife, his loving dad and his concerned mother. What still surprised me was the indifferent attitude of some guests towards Dipankar’s dad! They have known him for over 10 years. But they chose not to support him when the slumdogs were busy looting the venue of all the delicious food. I still feel the presence of a security guard at the entrance could have served the purpose. But as we were poised to leave, I turned back to look at Deepankar; clicked a snap of him and his cute wife and invited them over lunch/dinner to our Garib Khaana.
I simply hope the guests who fall in the bhadralok category could have been a little lenient towards the Bhadras. Contradicting the situation, I would say the entire event was truly Bengali and the ambience simply infectious for the many smiles I caught a glimpse of single and married females dressed in vibrantly coloured saris & unrevealing dress materials. And I am sure; the couple is going to live a lovely married life for years to come.
This one is for you Dipankar and Geetashree: Life is full of surprises. Keep surprising each other when two eyes meet each other.
- vociferous
Monday, March 09, 2009
MAR 01-07 2009 UPDATES
March 1, 2009
AGING GRACEFULLY
Watching ‘THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON’ was a sheer delight. Brad Pitt not only acted well but the plot was pretty interesting. The movie reminded me of the concept that childhood and old-age days are alike. Both need utmost care. So, here is Benjamin born in a distorted form at the age of 80 year old and ages reversely to reach the newly born stage. High on emotions and as rightly reviewed – nothing less than an epic. Cate Blanchett as Benjamin’s love interest just acted to the ‘T’. I felt like grabbing her out of the television and propose marriage to her. All in all, the movie was an experience of its own kind.
Venue: Home Theatre
Verdict: Speechless
March 4, 2009
ESCAPED
At times… almost unknowingly work stress starts taking control of lives. All we can do is allow being preyed upon by its adversities. And when it goes on increasing, energy levels hit an all time low. Last evening that is on March 3, 2009 I had a similar experience. Today it was time to face the truth of life – SCHEDULES ARE GETTING TIRESOME. The mind demanded instant refreshing while the body demanded immediate rejuvenation. Last night I shivered, my body trembled and I realised something was terribly wrong. Today finally I made up my mind to escape from life and before I could set my foot out, a voice stopped me from within. It repeated my thought – ESCAPE. And I escaped.
No Venue No Verdict Just wondering over a thought!
March 7, 2009
PAST COMES HAUNTING AGAIN
“You have to pay for all the sins you commit in your present tense. Nothing gets carried forward.” One of my best friends had remarked a few years back. Born as a human being and groomed to be responsible, I still committed mistakes, crimes and of course sins. Considering myself to be collectively responsible for the same, I was busy living a calm life. But memories of my past have come thumping back into my life to haunt the hell out of me. An already complicated life seems no sooner to get simplified. It will worsen by the day, rot by evening and turn into a horrendous reality by night. Expecting to stay alive and witness the sun rise only seems to be fast becoming an imagination. Entrapped by situation and slightly shaken by the episodes unfolding every single second… I feel we owe a lot to our past. We can never ever right the wrongs of the time bygone. All we can do is locate a support system to protect our present because future is just an illusion. And even though, we keep struggling in the present, the past is going to stay with us. I still don’t understand how the past comes haunting again. Thought process has suddenly hit a road block after having discovered the truth of a khaki clad chap visiting the nest. Already choking… the next bad thing to happen was the black suited guy not responding to frantic calls. On the local level, every thing is lying motionless. The only motion to be witnessed is in time. Tick tack tick, it is advancing at the pace of a bullet. I remain clueless. If I allow my anger to hold my mind captive, I can easily take law in my own hands. But the repercussions would be drastic. With a family behind me, I can not fly over the world in a black suit. But yes, what I can do is set some things right. In fact it is high time, I do so… Considering the situation, I am aghast because of my past. I prefer to leave it but the past chooses to make an exception by not leaving me alone.
Venue: My Life
Verdict: Outraged
- vociferous
AGING GRACEFULLY
Watching ‘THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON’ was a sheer delight. Brad Pitt not only acted well but the plot was pretty interesting. The movie reminded me of the concept that childhood and old-age days are alike. Both need utmost care. So, here is Benjamin born in a distorted form at the age of 80 year old and ages reversely to reach the newly born stage. High on emotions and as rightly reviewed – nothing less than an epic. Cate Blanchett as Benjamin’s love interest just acted to the ‘T’. I felt like grabbing her out of the television and propose marriage to her. All in all, the movie was an experience of its own kind.
Venue: Home Theatre
Verdict: Speechless
March 4, 2009
ESCAPED
At times… almost unknowingly work stress starts taking control of lives. All we can do is allow being preyed upon by its adversities. And when it goes on increasing, energy levels hit an all time low. Last evening that is on March 3, 2009 I had a similar experience. Today it was time to face the truth of life – SCHEDULES ARE GETTING TIRESOME. The mind demanded instant refreshing while the body demanded immediate rejuvenation. Last night I shivered, my body trembled and I realised something was terribly wrong. Today finally I made up my mind to escape from life and before I could set my foot out, a voice stopped me from within. It repeated my thought – ESCAPE. And I escaped.
No Venue No Verdict Just wondering over a thought!
March 7, 2009
PAST COMES HAUNTING AGAIN
“You have to pay for all the sins you commit in your present tense. Nothing gets carried forward.” One of my best friends had remarked a few years back. Born as a human being and groomed to be responsible, I still committed mistakes, crimes and of course sins. Considering myself to be collectively responsible for the same, I was busy living a calm life. But memories of my past have come thumping back into my life to haunt the hell out of me. An already complicated life seems no sooner to get simplified. It will worsen by the day, rot by evening and turn into a horrendous reality by night. Expecting to stay alive and witness the sun rise only seems to be fast becoming an imagination. Entrapped by situation and slightly shaken by the episodes unfolding every single second… I feel we owe a lot to our past. We can never ever right the wrongs of the time bygone. All we can do is locate a support system to protect our present because future is just an illusion. And even though, we keep struggling in the present, the past is going to stay with us. I still don’t understand how the past comes haunting again. Thought process has suddenly hit a road block after having discovered the truth of a khaki clad chap visiting the nest. Already choking… the next bad thing to happen was the black suited guy not responding to frantic calls. On the local level, every thing is lying motionless. The only motion to be witnessed is in time. Tick tack tick, it is advancing at the pace of a bullet. I remain clueless. If I allow my anger to hold my mind captive, I can easily take law in my own hands. But the repercussions would be drastic. With a family behind me, I can not fly over the world in a black suit. But yes, what I can do is set some things right. In fact it is high time, I do so… Considering the situation, I am aghast because of my past. I prefer to leave it but the past chooses to make an exception by not leaving me alone.
Venue: My Life
Verdict: Outraged
- vociferous
Monday, March 02, 2009
FEB 22-28 2009 UPDATES
February 22, 2009LET’S SAIL THROUGH
Attended the Mumbai International Boat Show. The Entry Fees being Rs. 200 per head helped in keeping the disinterested away. There were boats, babes and of course loads to learn & imbibe knowledge from. Being the last day, the event registered amazing number of boat enthusiasts. Every one was allowed to capture images of the kayaks and other marine gears. Simply amazing! Venue: BKC Complex, Bandra
Verdict: Awesome
Verdict: Awesome
UNIQUELY UNFORGETTABLE
Another exhibition that held me spellbound comprised lots but under one roof. From impressive garments to attention grabbing potteries. Extremely well organised, it also facilitated payments through credit cards; quite an exception compared to other exhibitions. Consumer durables were definitely registering a huge number of visitors. Truly worth checking out was the eatery that dished out well grilled sandwiches and a special mention goes to a good looking female. Till date, I don’t know her name. But the way she enticed guests to the stall could put marketing personnel to shame. Her eyes did all the talking and her smile was infectious. While leaving, I bid her a good bye and she just responded saying, “Would you mind trying out dahi puri?” For a food lover like me, it was a slice of life offered by the most beautiful woman I had ever met in my life. Aishwarya please take a back seat and make way for the stranger who knew exactly how to rule hearts!
Venue: Bandra Reclamation Grounds, Near Lilavati Hospital
Verdict: Fantabulous
February 23, 2009
HISTORY IS CREATED
Slumdog Millionaire wins 8 Oscars. A. R. Rehman brings home two while Resul brings home one.
Another Oscar comes to India because of the documentary Smile Pinky Smile.
India Rocks… Because it served as the premise for both. And still we complain of being an Indian.
Venue: Kodak Theatre, California
Verdict: Rocking
February 26, 2009
LIFE IS A BATTLE OF ODDS & EVENTS
Finished reading ‘THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SEX WORKEr’ by Nalini Jameela; herself a sex worker. I was totally speechless having come face-to-face with the problems commercial sex worker goes through. Men might be considered strong. But women like Nalini Jameela through examples put us men to shame. The woman is the creator. We should humbly remain grateful to her for having created us Men. It doesn’t matter whether she is a mother, sister, grandmother, a hooker or a sex worker… she demands respect!
Verdict: Stunned by the power of womanhood
February 27, 2009
BE POSITIVE & ACHIEVE
Started reading IDLI, ORCHID & WILL POWER! by Vithal Venkatesh Kamath…
Status: Still Reading
February 28, 2009
GOOD NEWS
My friend Nilesh informed he is soon going to be a father. I realised how time just flew away like the flight of flamingos. Just yesterday, we were singles… then married. Some marriages survived & some died a silent death. Relationships were established & then forgotten. But Nilesh survived and so did his marriage. With a new member soon to join his household, I pray to God he continues being the Nilesh he always has been – disciplined, humble & honest.
LIFE IS A BATTLE OF ODDS & EVENTS
Finished reading ‘THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SEX WORKEr’ by Nalini Jameela; herself a sex worker. I was totally speechless having come face-to-face with the problems commercial sex worker goes through. Men might be considered strong. But women like Nalini Jameela through examples put us men to shame. The woman is the creator. We should humbly remain grateful to her for having created us Men. It doesn’t matter whether she is a mother, sister, grandmother, a hooker or a sex worker… she demands respect!
Verdict: Stunned by the power of womanhood
February 27, 2009
BE POSITIVE & ACHIEVE
Started reading IDLI, ORCHID & WILL POWER! by Vithal Venkatesh Kamath…
Status: Still Reading
February 28, 2009
GOOD NEWS
My friend Nilesh informed he is soon going to be a father. I realised how time just flew away like the flight of flamingos. Just yesterday, we were singles… then married. Some marriages survived & some died a silent death. Relationships were established & then forgotten. But Nilesh survived and so did his marriage. With a new member soon to join his household, I pray to God he continues being the Nilesh he always has been – disciplined, humble & honest.
-vociferous
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