Strange Meeting

Well, the title of the blog may be borrowed from one of war poet Wilfred Owen's celebrated works, but I assure you it is nowhere similar to the plot. In fact, this story isn't about war. It is about love. That knows no barriers. Of countries or language. (And this ISN'T inspired from the recent film Kites)

*incidence of a real life*

I met him on my first trip abroad.
I was really excited about the trip in the first place. It was to Star Cruises, on a three day cruise journeying Hong Kong- Sanya in China- Hoang Long bay in Vietnam. Having a cruise journey was exciting in the first place and then being able to have a glimpse of the three destinations, I was super excited and particularly about visiting Vietnam. And it happened there.

We had to take a ferry ride from our ship to reach the shore of Vietnam. He was in the same boat as me. I was casually having a good time with my group, we were singing, clicking pictures, having fun and he was with his folks there. The moment I saw him, we just kept looking at each other. At first, stealing glances and then we came close, interacted with each other. I then realised that we would never be able to speak with each other. He was from North Korea. Those mesmerising tiny eyes, that ruffled hair, the soft skin, he was dream-like. I instantly got attracted to him. We fooled around for some time, taking pictures, making faces at each other. I was so excited, it felt like I fell instantly in love with him.

But as we landed on the shore, he went ahead with his group n I with mine, exchanging just a smile with each other. I hoped against hope to see him again, meet him at the ship again. I saw him a few times after that, we smiled, fooled around for moments but it was too short a time that I could say we spent quality time with each other. That night as I went back in my cabin, I actually kept looking at his pics in my camera before I fell asleep. I was really attracted to him.

The next day was sad. very sad. It was the day of departure. And I was hoping to see him for a last time before we departed. I didn't know if we would ever meet again. I mentally decided I would take his contact details, take the first step when I meet him next. Waiting at the departure area, my eyes kept screening every boy to see if it was him. My group was constantly teasing me that I had indeed had a love story in the ship and I blushed real hard when they said that.

Finally I saw him. But this time, he just smiled and walked away. Didn't wait to talk to me, didn't wait to give me time to say anything. Just walked away with his folks. I was very disappointed but kept the smile on my face and waved him bye. I then got busy chatting with my group diverting my attention, trying hard not to think of him.

Suddenly I heard a pat on my back. I turned around to see it was HIM. I couldn't believe he had turned and come back to see me. And then it happened. He asked me to come closer to him. I did. And then, he gave me a peck on my cheek n said, "I'l miss you." He actually said that as a tear rolled from the corner of my eye. I told him I'l miss him too. And keeping that moment frozen in my memory, we walked ahead. In our own paths. I was so mesmerised in the moment that I forgot to ask him for his contact details.

I briefly saw him at the waiting area outside the ship again. And then I gathered courage to ask for his contact details. So I went up to him, greeted his parents n asked his dad for any contact that I could have of theirs so that I could send them Timmy's pictures. He did.

And since then, I briefly keep emailing them and speaking with Timmy's mother. And you know, my baby has matured from kindergarten to elementary school now. I just got his latest pictures in the mail today. And I'm soooooooooooooooooooo thrilled!!!

Two cities, One soul

I believe in dreams coming true. I believe that when you really wish for something real bad, wish for it with all your heart, it does come to you and sometimes in the most miraculous ways. One such wish/desire came true in 2009, for which it will remain one of the most memorable years of my life.

Like the profile of my blog says, I love to travel and the one place I've always wanted to visit has been Paris. Fondly called La Ville d'Amour (The City of Love), spending some time of my existence here has been a dream I've cherished since years altogether and have raved about it to every single soul I know including my senior colleagues at work. So when my senior colleague called me to inform that my birthday gift was underway and I get to travel to the city of cafés and couture in October 2009, it was hardly believable. But as I headed to my journey, a new revelation unfolded.

I wrote a lot during my brief stay in the city. As much as I saw the city, I craved for more. It was much like discovering the varied facets of your own soul. And realisation struck to me on why I love this city so much...
I found Paris to have a soul quite like my first favourite city in the world Bombay. I instantly found multiple reasons to prove this.

• There are tonnes of food places around. Several bistros, patisseries, restaurants alongside Chinese takeaways, Italian joints; offering a very global feel to the city.
• Parisians love being by themselves quite like any Bombayite.
• They are as protective about their language like a Mumbaikar, at the same time as global like any Mumbaiite.
• They are a complicated set of people, love their own space. Hence, they might come across as snobs. But they are very welcoming people.
  
• Paris like Mumbai has several narrow roads, with long cars screeching their way through them. Traffic is a problem there as well.
• There is some magic in the air. While you would see people standing on the bylanes, sipping coffee and watching the world go by, you sense the character of the city in itself, the soul of its surroundings. It just makes you feel alive.
• River Seine and the Arabian Sea keep the cities' soul stirring
• People living with hearts on their sleeves. Both the cities are the haven for lovers. While we find ours crowding up in Marine Drive or Bandstands, theirs stand in the middle of the road expressing their love as the voyeurs pass by. The musicians on the sidewalks, the smiling waiters, fill you with the sense of life that you might feel while taking a walk in Marine Drive.

• You can endlessly keep walking in the city and yet discover a new thing, a new aspect, an architectural wonder everytime.
• And like Bombay, Paris never sleeps.

I still reminisce the introspective moments spent in the city. Going to a quaint little store near my hotel to pick up some souvenirs for friends back home, having small talk with the shop owners nearby, passing through the cafés to smile to absolute strangers, the city told me to come back again, to discover some more, to fall in love with myself all over again.

This is to both Paris and Bombay, two cities with one soul. This is to that soul. Je t'aime.

Happy 2010

Its an utterly depressing state when you start deteriorating and more depressing it is when you let it happen. I've let it happen for sometime now but have had enough. Being a business journalist sure can have its cons. For one, you get so badly stuck with the jargon that everything seems to be a market, you analyse everybody's strategies, growth prospects, investments and expansion plans! I have been so stuck with this same thing that even after realising my passion for blogging needed fuel, it was let to exhaust in the back burner.
Hence, besides others, my 2010 resolution is to blog diligently. Write, create and rhyme once again and what best to start off with than to look back in the decade gone by.

It was a decade but today it seems like a lifetime in itself and what is life worth if nothing is learned from it?

I've learnt...

• grades aren't everything. But you still need them
• that repeating mistakes though best avoided, isn't always bad. They might give you a different experience everytime
• people don't change. They evolve... for better or worse
• sometimes your best friend is your worst enemy
• you must indulge in sinful desserts
  
• its great to be impulsive
• college is the best phase of your life
• it is important to bunk classes
• music is the best soul soother
• I'd love to travel to discover new people than new places
• first times have a charm that no other time would have
• getting your first salary is a moment of sheer pride
• happiness is spending your hard earned money on your parents and little sister and not saving them in a bank account
  
• it is a great thing to be confused
• to love and let go
• nothing and no one for which/who you would have to lie to your parents is ever worth the lie or to be a part of your life
• chirping birds, sunshine and rains could sometimes give you more happiness than anything
• good things always happen to bad people
• it is okay to start small in life. The scope of growth then, is much bigger
• one of my fondest memories of 'me-time' was to ride the bicycle early morning on my way to school
• you might have a million loved ones around you but you still live and die alone
• your gut instinct is the only thing that doesn't let you down
  
• not everyone you might meet through the virtual world is fake, but most are!
• its important to follow your passions. Its the best way to make yourself feel alive again

After all these, seems like it was quite an eventful decade. Phew!
The new decade will come with its bunch of surprises, learnings and excitement and after a crazy NYE with some of the most cherished people in my life, The Gibberians, I say... 2010? Bring it on!

Profiling

"So when will you write something on me," he asked me last night on the call that he had finally managed to make after months of silence. "Well, I don't profile people. That's not part of my job," I replied, quite curtly which I realised once I'd said. "I mean, I do not just profile any person unless he's part of the industry on which I report. The most you could be profiled is on my blog," I added swiftly.
He: Oh so you blog?
Me: Well used to do it religiously earlier, want to get back to it.

I wonder if a known devil is better than an unknown angel.

You meet people who take your breath away. Just a glimpse of a stranger who you'd meet passing by, makes you smile to yourself and then you go on, moving forward on your journey. This is not about them.

You also meet people when in the first glimpse your mind tells you, "This isn't where its going to end." And it doesn't. It just sparks off a series of small talk, initial discussions, meetings. And most often brief intervals of disappearing acts between the two. Someone told me once, "Its about playing calculated games. You need to play your cards smartly. I didn't call you 'coz I invested my time to meet you." Really???!!! Wow! The question remains what do the impulsive people, who do not know to play those mind games, go along with the stride do?

I wouldn't profile you Anon. However, you've been one of the most interesting people I've met. FYI for you: I hate people who do the 'Disappearing Act'. After all, he/she either is or isn't that into you!

Love at First Sight

I've developed very strong attraction towards cars these days. Seeing Mr. Tata flagging off the Fiat 500 at the Magic India Discovery was a spectacle in itself. What an amazing car?!!! A complete heartthrob. Then there are the some others like the Merc, Honda City, Lamborghini which remain constant eye-catchers! But something that remains an all time favourite is the Vintage Collection. The new interest has perhaps come from the realisation that machines are more loyal than men.

I got out of Churchgate station at about 10am heading to hail a cab to work. There's a rush to get the first cab, leaving behind the trail of people heading towards the first available taxi. Also not to forget the mental notes that are being taken preparing the 'to-do' list after getting to office and the music blaring in my ears through the earphones to keep my calm.

Waiting for the taxi is quite a pain especially with the attitude of most of Mumbai's cabbies to choose the ride they'd want to take up. Amidst the busy roads, the search for a taxi and the mad rush of people, there she comes. It almost feels like 'love at first sight' where the rest of the world goes blur and all you see is her. It looks like that mesmerising beauty who you know is difficult to possess and keep for yourself but be happy dreaming about being with her.

It was quite similarly that the navy blue Rolce Royce passed by amidst the busy roads, with the beholders holding their breath, some smiling their widest as the driver drove it with utmost honour and pride of his possession...

As my eyes wandered from right to left not missing any glance of it, admiring every part of it and grinning to myself, I caught sight with a cute stranger doing the same. As the eyes then met, we knew what we had communicated to each other, smiled at each other, caught the last glance of the vintage as it drove past us n resumed in our rush to occupy the next available cab. What a beautiful beginning to the day! Cheers!

Of victories and distorted images

Had a great weekend first watch a refreshing movie, one of the latest hindi movie flicks Jaane Tu... ya Jaane Na and later followed to watch the spectacular game of the Wimbledon finals. One relaxing and a fun-watch, the other nail biting at ensuring that you remain at the edge of your seat till the tail end of the game.

Though the film was a refreshing watch, it was very raw with several characters left at loose ends within the film. At several shots, the camera work was seen to be very amateurish. On the other hand, the music of the film has been an undoubted winner. Keeping the technicals apart, kudos to the first timers. I've personally always appreciated and loved first times as they have a charm about themselves, anyways talking about that some other time. Special mention to Babbar boy and the red-haired friend who within their short period of screen time managed to leave a mark on the viewer, at least on me.

The game was spectacular with both Nadal and Federer ensuring that you watch it to the last shot. Though Federer hit some marvellous aces, I sincerely felt that he wasn't in the best of his spirits in the game. He fought till the last game for a win but was evidently not playing with his aura and style. On the other hand, no one deserved the win more than Nadal for his brilliant display of energy on the field.

All in all a relaxing weekend with victories ensuring you push yourself harder to acheive the unattainable as nothing really is beyond your reach; as also with the distorted images of the raw characters in the movie.

Trying new waters

Variety may be the spice of life but as humans we will always be skeptical to try new waters, deal with change and accept them. On the other hand, the same human beings hate monotony and do like to venture out of their shells to experience new things.

Well, so have I. After blogging in a different link for about three years, I decided that it was time to eliminate the old and go for something new. I want to explore. I want to unwind. Care a damn about the world and yet express everything that this damned world doesn't allow you to.

And so, without second thoughts, with one hand in my pocket and the other giving a high five, I am moving out... away from the beloved, to a zone of anonymity, to experience change and to stare at it in the eye and prove that I can survive.