Hitting base with old friends

You haven’t spoken to each for ages and Facebook notification pops open with friend suggestion what with the dozen common connections. What to do? Click on the profile and see how much they have changed over the years, on a travel spree, married with kids, sporting a fat belly or flat abs.  The friend you would swear upon once in a dusted time may have hardly changed in appearance but your equation certainly has. Quite tricky when both of you have moved in different directions in life. Hit the friend request or not! Probably you would ponder on giving a miss to the add button. Anyway, no harm in adding the person and give them time in reverting to you.  Put plainly, swallow pride or ego to send a harmless Hi or simply wave.

Now that you are friends, checking the social media pictures or status to gauge whether they’ve turned into Bhakts or sickulars, Modi Bhakt or Raga fan is quite something. Trophy girl friend or wife and Richie Richie husband. Don’t we all do that! A decade may be quite a long time or five years flitting by but nothing on earth hurt in sharing phone numbers to take it on Whatsapp. The latter is quite a medium what with forward messages makes it easy and smooth to trigger conversations or phone calls.

Buzzing a long lost friend for few minutes’ conversations can break the ice, first with formalities on what you’ve been up to kinda chat and the trick lies in not keeping the conversation too long. That way both of you are able to nurture the mental and real space of connecting with each other. I personally believe long conversation can be a drag, particularly when speaking to someone after a span of time and the uneasiness creeps for you don’t know what to tell.

Do not hesitate to send a personalized message on birthdays and birth of babies or give a short but sweet call.  There are special occasions serving the right purpose not only to hit it off but also reaching out. It goes a long way and time is a magic weaver.

At times, too much water has fallen under the bridge and pretending each other’s doesn’t exist in remembering an old age tiff. We all have our stories of friendship turned sour. I have mine. After some time, a short phone call came out of the blue and random conversation on Facebook about almost everything. Done deal! Yes! Since there is always a possibility of old chums not wanting to be in touch, wish them well, keep the good memories in the heart and march ahead.

Splash of love and sprinkle of rain

Windy breeze caressing senses,

Fluffing hair,

Pure love, obsession or madness

thrilling seduction 

Pally mood became a long lost friend 

One fine day it disappeared,

breaking the heart of the wandering soul,

when the sun shone brightly,

waving and offering its tenderness for company, 

crouched slowly to disappear in the distance 

Wound was nursed,

the friend that never was,

law of attraction can be deceptive 

another day rains lashed,

gush of shower sprinkled,

to become the loyal friend,

staying for long,

accompanying the soul in tribulations,

laugh, dance and smile,

swirling to its tune,

taking the form of an enamored lover,

offering memories made in heaven

life is like that only,

seasonal, loyal and moody like the friends we make, 

some last for a life time,

like the splatter of rain,

adding flavor and taste to the cutting tea like the honeydew,

a splash of love and happiness

With love

V

It's not called friendzoned but men-women friendship

It's not a tale of estrogen meeting testosterone and the X-factor of sexual attraction that hinges on everything imaginable. Yes! Not everything needs an electric shock running dizzy in our body to burst alive our sex bubble. Men and women can be friends and need not be in a platonic-cum-fancy one-night stand relationship. Pure friendship exists.

Image credit: Google

It was in the college days when a flatmate that I abhorred told me how men and women can never be friends. I shrugged it off! Stupidity has an invisible human form. There was a time when I was chaperoned by the hottest and most attractive women during my student days where some turned out to be the best buddies that I ever have. Nah! I didn't feel the need to offer my friendship as a shield to hit on them. There were no sour grains. We turned out to be the best of friends.

These women became my confidants and incarnated the 'guys talk' where I discussed anything with them right from the crushes, the woman I was madly in love with and swearing in front of them. Being in their company was pure bliss where we shared everything under the sun. There was no hesitation or constraint that I am speaking to a female and never became conscious to delete words or adjectives. We shared a certain bond. I would call them my 'male buddies.' Yeah! Right! They do the guys talk much better than the males I hanged around with whenever I freaked out about the love (s) of my life. Mind you! These super hot and perfectly beautiful women turned out to be the best companions. I never hit on them for there was a conviction about this riske job where friendship would go for a toss.

We are such a complex and confused society when it comes to the man-woman relationship. It's high time to move beyond this cliche that only one relationship exists between them. Men and women can exist without the sibling relationship and still share a sacred relationship based on deep bonding, respect and minus the attraction or sexual angle. For people who claim that both sexes can never make it as amazing 2 a..m friends probably never had someone of the opposite sex as a chum.

Friendship is sacred and bears no time limit, nor it's seasonal. It's genderless. There is one thing that I have always treasured and been emotional about and its friendship which matters more than anything else. Why paint the relationship between men and women? The moment we do it, the friendship is tainted and ruined forever. It's one of the most beautiful aspects of this timeless relationship. I would always hit off with a female buddy, smoking, watching a movie, go high on a joint and for that matter, catching up with beer. A flurry of shit is exchanged as the conversation veer about everything in life and coming with ingenious solutions that would put Einstein to shame. Poor guy! Must be reeling inside his grave and whining, 'Why the fuck I never came up with this one?'

The boy-girl-man-woman friendship is what vibes are all about. It's not even the friend zoned that naysayers would say and scorn at this relationship which never shies in blossoming in any season of the year. There is a thin line between friend zone and true friendship where the former doesn't even come into play since there is no attraction. OK! Be honest. There might be a certain degree of attraction but it's just a plain and passing feeling. It's a relationship based on trust where we respect each other's space and privacy as humans who bat for each other and standing tall during the rough weather. This friendship hold meaning for nothing can change even after decades.

Yes! A man and woman can be great friends and share a deep cum rooted cum meaningful relationship. It's not about whatsapp group but true dosti that stand the test of times. You don't make friends looking for sexual or material benefits. I think there is a dividing line between attraction or love on one hand and friendship on the other when we speak between the man-woman equation. The rest doesn't matter whether it's society's twisted mind or the faulty eyesight.

Love
Vishal

Letter to mere yaar's ki ex-girlfriend

Hey!!!!

That's how loved ones and admirers call out to each other right! It's been a decade now and time for me to pull the curtain to declare of my being your secret admirer, babe. You must be the hottest chick around that I may have seen or met. Actually, the word 'babe' is a wrong way to call you. We know each other, right. But, you know those stupid rituals that prevented me from asking you out. Hold on! It might be stupid for you but sacred for me.

Image credit: google/http://www.authorlove.com

After all, you were dating my buddy and in fact, you guys broke up. But, you know how it is between friends. We draw a morally right circle that we promise not to transgress.  Friendship has always been sacred to me where we don't dare to cross the lines. But, you see I am human. You were too hot to handle in college. I cannot be blamed for being attracted to your appealing features. After all, human beings have desires. No! It doesn't make me a traitor friend or sinner.

Once you asked me why I was silent and perhaps, deep inside you knew the reason or you didn't for that matter. Anyway, that's not important. What matters is the 'dangerous attraction' I nurtured for you and the envy to hold your hand, caressing your features and stealing a light kiss. I shall not go deeper into that. It's an unsent letter that you will never see. We are in touch on some social media channel. You are already married to someone else and not to my buddy. So, I guess that things hardly matters now.

But, this letter in all its forms has to be sent somewhere in this world and I gotta vent out for mental peace. Actually, venting out is so overrated as an epithet to describe the state of mind. Honestly, how I wish one day we could sit over coffee and me declaring the flame for you, going back in time, Pehle baar we dekho each other and how it sent the adrenaline rushing or getting drawn to your physicality or calm demeanor. I loved your long and jet black hair. Your gaze and the way you react to things, walking with the unique charm as if you are a bride getting ready for the saat phera. It wasn't love at first sight. But it was an attraction,  a plain crush and the desire to make love to you. An adventure that I wanted to be part of the growing up and fond memories during those carefree days. How I loved your soft and silky creamy in those days?

 Suppressing the matters of the heart is the biggest lie we men love to tell ourselves where we often forget how human we are. Though not many would believe it, a man is human and born with feminine appeal that cares for the world and that special person for whom he can go soft on, fighting the world and singing, 'My Heart will Go On.' This is another facet of love. You were the object of manly desires in college. You were a bombshell. You are still one. It was not just about being sexually desirable but it goes beyond that. There were an emotional bonding and connection that we could have done with. I could have called you Saakhi, a companion which is free from the bondage of attachment where the light would have traversed between our souls. There are so many things that we could have been or done together! I don't mean worshipping our beauty and being content with only holding hands together as the flowers bloom together.

I choose to write this letter after more than a decade, when most of us have moved on different directions in life. I feel that the line between friendship and falling for someone is quite blurred. There are different ways of looking at things from a relationship perspective. Would I fall for a friend's muse? It gets complicated. On one hand, there is something called friend's loyalty and on the other lies emotions that make us human beings. It's a major flaw, in fact.  Should we cease to be humans? By that, I don't mean Salman Khan's tee.

I don't know whether I would like things to stay inside me. Perhaps, you should know better or had an inkling of things. Does it serve any purpose? It makes me wonder. Yes, at the end of the day. I may still choose friendship over dating you. Babe! You rock and you know that.

We shall get closure about the whole thing the day I decide to bare my heart open. After all, we belong to the young generation who hate to make things complicated and both of us shall still laugh over things.
 

Love
Vishal

Fiction: I am not your boyfriend

I read the message from my best friend and couldn't believe my eyes. It's beyond human comprehension to understand girls. Not human but man's defying logic. Oh! Women! I tell. One day they will not speak but the next, they will sulk for ignoring their calls. I don't think I can ever understand Shraddha. This girl is driving me nuts. Ok! I was always crazy about her. Love sucks. Never fall in love with your best friend.

It was one summer afternoon when we met in college during our induction. I was plain bored since there were only the two of us  in class and when I heard her name, I was like oooh! Shradha, cool name. Hot chick. Actually, she might be fake, unlike her name. I tore a paper into pieces and threw it on her hair plait . We became friends. She still doesn't know about the prank. I dunno what fun or thrill I was getting by doing that. She was too hot to handle.

She disappeared from classes to resurface in the classroom like some celebrity gracing some event. One day she popped in front of me and asked for notes. After all, who has the gall to refuse a hot chick? I dashed to the small shop to make the xerox. I asked her for coffee. She agreed.

"You don't need to do all that. Going all the way to make the xerox for me. I can do it," Shraddha said.

I pretended to be cool like the dudes who are serenaded by girls. "Come on, I am not your boyfriend," I winked. We laughed together. We became the best of friends. There was no day that could pass without speaking to each other. I took pride walking to college with her and we sat together, often hang out at coffee shops or watching movies together. The guys were jealous of me. After me, she was the trophy girl. I was falling for her. I was suddenly happy and gloom for no reason. You know the feeling, right? Falling in love for your best friend. There is always the risk that she might run away from you. I woke her up in the morning so that we don't run late for lectures.

One day, I called her frantically and she was so upset that I was behaving that way when she couldn't pick up the phone. "Get a life, dude," she fumed. Shraddha would avoid my calls and messages. I went mad and losing sleep. I cannot understand that woman.

One day, she called, "Hi, we need to meet now only. What's wrong with you? Not picking up the phone." We met at the same Barista on FC Road where we would  often hang out together .

Shraddha took a sip of coffee, "It's getting delicate and complicated, dude. I was avoiding your calls because you are falling in love with me and I don't want it to happen. When I am gone, you will be in pain."

I protested. "Shut up, you idiot. I know you too well. Goodbyes are always painful. Love cannot happen between us. It's better we part away but I know we will treasure memories spent together. You are my most important friend. But, we may meet again tomorrow. But, promise me that you will not cry and will start dating someone if you have truly loved me."

I promised to her. We hugged. I was pissed with her for behaving that way. After all, Shraddha doesn't have a heart. The next day, I received a call from Shraddha's number and a female voice asked me to come to the hospital.

She was lying like a dream with an angelic smile on her face. The glitter never faded away. Shraddha was adorned in a red sari, bangles and red lipstick on her like the most beautiful bride on earth. She was gone. A lady in her 50s touched my shoulder, "Beta! I am Shraddha's Mom. She died of cancer and left this letter for you." The lady broke into tears.

"Dear Karan,

When you read this letter, I'd be gone in heaven. You promised to me that you will not cry. Whenever I think of you and me together, my pain disappears and I smile every time. I loved you till my last breath. I made so many plans that we would make beautiful babies. I guess, it was not meant to be. Respect our love. Promise that you will not cry and tear yourself.  Crying means that you have removed me from my life. I will watch over you and distract you when you kiss the next girl you will date. Be a gentleman. Yes, don't tear paper and throw on her hair. Girls don't like it.

Love

Shraddha."

First days in college: Fresher's world

Hey, freshies! College has started for you and amid all the excitement and hoopla of breaking the bridge between junior school and college, you suddenly find yourself in a new world. College days are the best of one's life where we make memories, seek friendship, dating, falling in and out of love. The three years in college life gonna define you for the rest of your life. Make memories and years down the lane, you will sorely miss those days. College in India is so much fun where you fall in love with life and look with pride at your alter mater, branded institutions or not. 

Picture source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/

It's your first days and months in college, post the induction period, you are bound to face the pang of home-sickness and how do you fit in comfortable or break the ice! Trust me, it matters to get the best of everything.

1. Don't overdress to kill

The first few days in college will kick the nerves and it's bound for the stress level to kick. It's all about being comfortable in what you wear to flit around. Take it easy peasy. Branded jeans is cool and you don't need to blow a bomb on this pair of Levis jeans, cool tee or blouse to stand out in the crowd. You can fish for decent stuffs at good price. Since the Monsoon period is discount time and smart shopping there are so many shops such as Pantaloons or West Side where you can make a steal. Chuck out the over the top make up and for dudes, those fancy shoes. Be comfortable in who you are. Get yourself a cool bag which you will get at decent shops on the streets or slippers will do during the monsoon for rainwater soaking into socks and shoes makes it difficult to walk around.

2. Break the ice

A cheerful Hi or smile doesn't cost anything but will go a long way to break the ice for a snippet of conversation with classmates about anything and everything, about the city new to you or hang out spots. Casually ask for a conversation at the canteen or restaurants. Walk up to teachers and introduce yourselves or ask for help about the subjects. Always walk to them in the campus and strike a conversation. Trust me, it really helps. My teachers have always supported me and can't repay what they have done for me by going out of the way. Honor them during Teacher's Day and a small token never harms. 

3. Chilled Space

Don't overdo things or go over the top to be accepted by your class mates in class or campus. It's a very simple rule: Wear your heart on the sleeve and be yourself. The ones who matter will accept you in the group and those who don't will not, no matter how much you turn into someone else. Read, attention seeker. Be chilled, relax and comfortable. Being friendly and helpful to others matters the most. There must be days when you are clueless looking for the class or fishing for the timetable but being easy going or of a helpful nature will make others warm up to you and offer help. 

Be open to make friends and understand the culture of locals.You need local friends and don't stick solely with people from your home town. You will spend the best time of life, indulging in laughter, silly pranks and adventure, laughing laugh at the movies for friends are the ones who will stand with you during the break up or days when things are gonna get tough.

4, College fest

You name it, you get it! College fests is the time where you will make loads of fun in college and is an ice breaker. It worked big time for me. I volunteered for every small things in college be it our biggest college fest, Oorja, Wallstreet at Fergusson College in Pune and what's not. It's the time when you discover yourself, helping for decorations or bonding with pals during meeting or running like crazy. You will make the most amazing friends during the college fests and just let your hair down.  I was an introvert and the college fest was the time I opened up to people. It was the best times and every year would look up for it. Be a volunteer and make memories.

5. Dating scene/home sick

There will be days when you will fall home sick and shed bucket loads of tears, waiting for that call from parents or calling from the STD-ISD booth, Don't stay alone. Socialize at hang out zones and make as many friends as you can. Be open to the dating scene and go for a fling. Trust me, it's a great buster to filter off the home sick feeling. You are embracing a new and kick ass phase in life. It's the time where we experience life in equal measure, a near perfect world and get a kick in the bum. I''ll go an extra mile and even say to explore your sexuality! 

You took a major decision to make life swing and don't let it fly away from your hand. Study, attend lectures and skip some for the best learning lesson happen with friends outside the class room. Go crazy with your date, fight out and fall in and out of love. It tastes like cherry on cake. Make sure you know everyone, be it in hostel or in college.

6. Money

You don't have a money tree. The devil of temptation lurks and you know that you cannot afford everything like the super rich dudes and babes splurging. Watch for your money the moment you withdraw at the ATM and first settle rent, grocery, prepaid mobile for college days is the time you become responsible in managing expenses. If you don't have a flat mate, look for one or two that way rent will be split. If needed, look for some extra work by doing freelancing. Nowadays, there are so many opportunities and you can turn into writer making extra 4k in a month or may be a call center job. Spend wisely and you don't need to party every Saturday night. Invite friends at home, share the costs of food and alcohol rather than blowing everything in the night club.

Memory Stick

Memory is like the magical wand. Over time, it fizzles like dust flying out of thin air and nicely hidden in the misty cloud. We try to live closer to reality yet the good times struck us like pricking sensation on the skin every now and then. In our quest for everything wonderful to repeat itself pretty much like the time that wheezed away, we lose and strive, at the same time, to discover our real selves. After all, where has the hay days gone? It feels like yesterday only.

Picture credit: Awanija Sharma.
The days of glory with Professor Joseph Lobo, Pravesh Jung Sir and students of Fergusson College, our batch at the Katta.

Today, a classmate and a very wonderful girl Awanija (Thurday) tagged me in pictures of college days with our most favorite Professor Lobo Sir, dressed in his trademark sleeveless blue denim cardigan along with Jung Sir, who shared a laugh as they stood at the college Katta during some fest going. Yes! Fergusson College is a famous for putting the desk at the Main Circle or Katta where volunteers sat and did stuff. There were students standing and sitting, laughing together and it kindled decade old memories like a flash point. Truly, a Kodak moment in an age where phone camera were not tucked in every tiny pocket. It's been a decade when we left our alma mater Fergusson College, the place that gave us priceless memories. These were the best days of life where we stood face-to-face with our destiny. It was the best thing that ever happened to us.

Why do we hold on so much to a time that elapsed where everything neared perfection? Honestly, it feels like yesterday only where nothing on earth could ever go wrong. The pictures sent a floodgate of good moments spent together, making me emotional and drop of tears spurted on the cheek. I mean, it's so vivid and lively, traveling to the past that I adored. At times, I feel whether such things really happened to me or I just woke up from three years old slumber, imagining some random and perfect college days.  I can't help getting  the jittery sensation of being out of sync with reality that is too much for the brain to take. Flashback! Reality! Flashback. Again Reality!! It sends shock waves that travel faster than the light to the grey cell, a tale of two worlds alien to each, and being stuck like glue together. Quite a herculean task! Trust me on that. It seems like a thriller potboiler that connects the dot in one's life.

There were special days when we would storm our way in college, pretending to be early birds which we were not, by the way. Wallstreet or Oorja were our college fests. Superhits!!! On a normal day, an invisible ghost would be a better student than us, attending the first lecture of the day as early as 7 a.m but we were not. Of course, college fests were an exception to the rule.

Once I attended my Sociology lecture after ages during the first week in January 2005 when Vishal Sir, my namesake, greeted me, 'What a pleasant surprise. Vishal in class. New Year resolution.' We spent our time, not in lecture halls but Savera, the now defunct restaurant just opposite college, the hang out spot of Fergussonians. It was the best of time. Ha! How can I forget the only lectures I would attend were those of Bhalerao Ma'am Economics lecture and Lobo Sir's Philosophy. Yes! Lobo Sir's class was curry for the soul, discussing at length about ethics, marriage, euthanasia, friendship, freedom, sexuality and religion, just a few things my silly mind is able to recollect.

It feels like a moment of a lifetime shimmering in all its forms and magnificent glory in the box called brain.  Think about it, frolicking throughout the year, skipping lectures to laugh in our favorite hang out, watching movies, college festival and freaking out three months before exams. We had a date set with Xerox wale bhaiya, borrowing notes from our diligent friends and hopping across the road to get things done. What a treasure trove of memory carved in Pune! It was pure bliss and selfless love. We lived life King Size, took things for granted, be it our friends, college, and life itself. Pure and simple souls we were and yet to explore the vagaries of a ruthless or bad world. It wouldn't be wrong to say that we were shielded from nastiness. Friendship was and is still very pure to our eyes. Yes! I was immature and getting worked out over petty squabbles.

The college years defined and gave us an identity which still mirror our reality as human beings. This memory gave us a reason to smile, cheer, laugh and cry as we harked back to the past where we studied together in group, shared notes and discussed exam timings over SMS. It was a beautifully simple world where Facebook never existed nor did WhatsApp! Social networking meant meeting everyone in person and no plan was made, but landed straight to Savera or college. 

There are moments that we can never dissociate ourselves from. It's called memories that would bear such an impact on our growing years, seeking the small pleasure of life in all its hues and forms. No word can describe that era where every moment of life was relished unlike the fake and mechanical glory of sharing every possible shot on Facebook or Instagram.

Innocent crushes, there were many. The sheer excitement of falling for someone and drooling over her, adorned our college lives like the honey drop. Some of them became super awesome and loyal friends who stood with us through thick and thin. We made so many good friends, who shouted at us for being such assholes or idiots, bore the brunt of our anger and laughed at our stupidity. The times spent were priceless and blessing falling from sky.

It would be quite a task to revive a dollop of goodness and perhaps, a memorabilia won't suffice to recollect the awesomeness flung at us by life. We laughed and cried the loudest, indulged in immature antics and behaved at our stupidest best. Our personality and emotions came alive and college days made us who we are today.

I can't believe it's been 10 years since college life ended. Somebody, please give me back those days of flawlessness. Everything was painted white and not black. I still remember sitting with Aditi who taught us Philosophy and me & Neraj fighting or my coffee breaks. Aditi was laughing at how her students keep fighting or exited her class to make coffee in the kitchen, every now and then.

Or, the stupid Environmental Studies lecture we gotta attend on Sundays and how much we whined about it. Yet, we had no choice to be able to get our SYBA mark sheet. Facepalm! Winking!! It's another story that some of us faked our friends' attendance by writing down their roll numbers at the end of the lecture since they were too busy sleeping after Saturday night parties. And, the project to had to be submitted on Monday. It was a Saturday. I chilled as if the project was some game played by our college and the filmy buff in me chose to watch Filmfare Awards instead when Adi and Neraj came down on my neck urging me to copy someone's neatly designed project with quotes cum pictures. I recall Neraj visiting us and told me, 'You are too chilled out.' Finally, someone submitted for me on Monday when I was busy somewhere, doing what I don't know!! Thanks for such friends who corrected my project which was a total mess and made it appear presentable.

Stealing happiness;

We made life happen;

Memories were just a name;

We opened our palms to grab stars;

It shall remain  etched forever;

in our nerves;

Soulful experience that didn't leave us and never will. 

Stream of tears,

longing for moments to reappear.

You know what's magic?

Once it happens, it will probably never repeat again

Bringing a smile to faces and gently stroking the heart.

It's such fragrance in our lives that never let me give up on anything, no matter how tough and rough things can be.  Memories of our college days echo happiness in all its forms and the joy or insanity cannot be described in Shakespearian terminology. There are so many emotions flowing right now to describe the re-kindling of feelings, sorely missing those college days, friendship and happiness that cannot be traded for anything else. A time in life where race, class, creed, color or class didn't or will probably never matter. Grateful to what life has offered!

Postscript: The post was prompted by Awanija tagging me and a couple of other friends-cum-classmates or comment by Avneet on our famous Xerox trip.

With Love
V

String of friendship

String of friendship pulled,

For there is always a reason season to celebrate and renew the bond.

As we hark back to the past,

we were just kids playing together,

kicking the ball and lolling in the paddy field,

Chasing each other,

silly fights we had,

Only to be friends the next day and hugging each other.

A bonding that moved beyond time.

True friendship never rustle with time or altered over time. 

Celebrate the differences in high spirit and let friendship soar in the sky.

With Love

Vishal

2012 in a nutshell

14 days to go and 2012 will soon become the year that was..period! The year that started marvelously started to unfold itself in a flick of time as events, totally unforeseen unwrapped itself. It started, moved ahead and waned away like thin air. It's been a beautiful year, surprises sprouting minus a few hiccups. But, then where is the excitement without a few dollops of upset. It's been a warm, very successful and amazing year both on the personal and professional year.


1. January started on a fun-filled and rollicking manner. I woke up to my amazing holidays in SoGo (an euphemism I just coined for South Goa). I partied at a frenz frenz marriage in Miramar and danced to the joy of the newly married couple. It started with a bang and as I look back, perhaps the saying hold true when they say that when the first day start on a great note, the ending is truly fantastic. Holier than true.


2. March was the month when I obtained the much expected appraisal which shot up by three and a half grand. Patience is a virtue. Well said. As mom says, success belong belong to those who try. A slow but sure indication of great things happening in life and reason enough to motivate the self to work even hard. This was cherry on cake. The best was yet to happen!


3. Love is an oxymoron. Well, the most ironic part about me is that I happen to fall head over heels with someone but only to realize it's not love. Yes, yes, I admit of not able to bring the relationship to the next level as lose interest. It's an entirely malfunction of both my head and heart. No! not that!! I am focused on some career plan that propel the love funda to take a back seat. The good part is that I nurture three crushes on three different women and post the crazy manifestation of the head, I'm back to normalcy. The most serious crush happened in the month of May, the first one happened in Goa in June and the other one seeped in much before May.


4. I just love the social media. I've been forever present all over the place blogging my way to happiness, make a special guest appearance on Twitter, Linkedin and forever in a full fledged role on Facebook. It paid high dividends. FB made me win..oops sorry renew bond with old frenz..i'm amazed as to how I become friends with school and college pals with whom I would exchange a mere hi, hey..whatever that means. I met a few friends with whom I was fell out of touch on FB and in November reunited with a dear friend Shikha after twelve years. Could you believe that? A school friend..we started chatting like old and lost buddies. There was Aishwarya who was my class mate at Fergusson College, Pune and I dropped a hi and we added each other on g chat. We hit off instantly and became such great friends. Who says that social media is devoid of a heart?

5. June & December. Professionally speaking, both months are intertwined as in June I spent two years in the media as a professional and justice had it that on December 14, it made two and half years. Started as subeditor and this year shifted as a reporter and since then, there has been no looking back. Did  tell you that I lined up great interviews this year..the list is long..Dr Karan Singh, Rajya Sabha MP and ICCR president, Uma Tuli of the Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust and Miss South Africa, Melinda Bam. The list is long. To cut a long story short, I lined up nine interviews in a month. That month was August. I was short of number ten since September 1 fall on a Saturday. Unlucky me! I ended up biting my own fingers.

6. 2012 is a year that I will cherish for a very long time. I made great frenzzz at work and during my trips in Mumbai and Delhi. Life can't be more beautiful and as they say, there are good people on earth. Like a couplet, I go and sing a song dedicated to frenz and networking.

7. October/ November. It was unexpected and I was taken by storm. I was chosen by the Indian Government to be part of journalists delegates to cover the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation known as IOR-ARC at Gurgaon. Well! That's the end of the surprise and that's what I referred to above as the icing on the cake. I had the bestest of time and biggest professional fulfilment. It's been an emotional route, amazing and fulfiling journey where I made such great friends in Gurgaon/Delhi and learned so much from colleagues in the media fraternity. I stayed at the amazing Trident in Gurgaon and attending the conference at Oberoi is, was and will remain awesome. It add zing to one's life as I got back my mojo! The kind of networking and visibility I experience cannot be told but felt inside. It' such a great feeling which words fail to express. It will remain with me perhaps forever and I haven't still recovered from it. I made great friends in Gurgaon and Delhi. What more can I ask from life?! Better than that spoil the gorgeous feeling. I am grateful to those who facilitated my trip, including my boss, Indian Government and MEA.

What's life without a few unsettling and unfulfilled tasks. Here, it goes:
8. I started my novel and a few scripts but like always, it's still hanging somewhere in the closet. The range of progress made is far far from satisfaction. But, the work continues.

9. I have been unable to save money, a huge credit card balance hovering on my head and the salary been quite late for past few months. Hopefully, it shall be a thing of the past like the great year that 2012 been. I am an optimist and looking forward to smashing end of 2012..hey dudes and babes, in fourteen days lotsa things gonna happen..there's my new cell phone and i-pad on the cards. Looking forward for an awesome 2013. Hope yours was great as well and 2013 will be even better.

Love as always,
Vishal

An ode to friendship

Friends are the siblings we never had.
A reason to celebrate our being into existence.
They are the ones that bring a smile to our faces.
They become the parents and sustain us on our way to heaven.
Friends are the oxygen that maketh us breath.
True friends doesn't come for a season,
They come for a reason and a lifetime coz they are not part-time frenzzz.
As I pour myself a glass of whisky, I fondly remember the wonderful moments spent together, dear friend.
Our friendship is what matter the most,
the rest is reduced to nought.
Who cares about the whole world when we have frenzz that matters?!
Friendship is like the polished diamond.
It has neither resale value nor a price tag.
It is just the most beautiful and priceless thing in the world.
True, it is an investment.
Then, if you invest in something as priceless as friendship,
Why do you wanna let it go?
It is beyond life and death.
Till death do us apart.
Happy Friendship Day.

Blessed with such a friend

Flashback: Pune 2004-06
We shall not part.
We stay in each other's hearts.
That's what we tell people when they ask where do we stay!!!!!
No matter what, we shall stand the test of time.
That's what true friendship is all about.
We may have issues or disagreements.
But, at the end of the day if all goes well,
That's means our friendship was not made of clay.
Celebrating the joy of friendship.


Today, I narrate the story of my friendship. A friend that I met in college, Adi..my bro and perhaps my everything. He became one of my biggest support system in Fergusson College in Pune. That was between 2004 to 2006. Adi shouted and yelled at me when I was fucking up things. Over the years, we turned out to become great friends. We met in a party for the first time and we were shit drunked over Smirnoff India vodka with orange juice. Since then, there was no looking back. He was one of the few people I didn't take too long to connect with. Normally, I take a long time to connect with people but this friendship was here to stay. I knew about. My sixth sense told me and I am never wrong in that way. I trust my sixth sense:)
He is the mature one and I was the kid in the group coz I think with my heart and not the head..I mean I am still a kid who has never learned the ropes of the rational world. Adi was always pissed off with me....
Dude! What a born chutiya you are, Adi would tell me.
We would get engaged in a heated argument. Once, we were so sloshed in a party and he told the girls make sure I am dropped home.
To which I would reply:
Haan, mein doodh peeta bacha hoon na.
There are several such anecdotes and incidents that ocurred during the course of our friendship. I guess writing a 1000 pages book on it won't suffice. That was the bonding that we shared during our college days. Ha! How can I miss the lunch and dinner treat at his home. His mom prepared the best food in the world. The coffee that aunty makes is awesomely fab! I still miss aunty's Maharashtrian food and not to forget the mangoes that his dad would bring all the way from Nagpur.
The gaalis that we would generously throw at each other...Abe madarchod tu abhi gyaan mad de..I would tell him. That was in response to the crush I developed on Miss M..I saved her number as princess M. He would tell me:
Chutiya. you are not cut out for him.
I would reply: Abe gandu chup karna....
That was our friendship.
I would call him bastard and he would call me asshole. We were known as asshole and bastard and not to forget our 'gay act' just for fun as we got pleasure in teasing the gal he was dating. Mind you! The bro-mance was done in the presence of his then girlfriend at that point of time.
I vividly remember the crush I had on miss G. I wanted to declare my feeling to her but there was some hesitation. She just came from her holidays and I was grilled by Adi and four more people. I was shit scared since we were friends and there was always this fear that I might lose my friendship with her.
That was the fun part as those four guys were like..abe chutiya just tell her and this bhosari ke going by the name of Adi just took my phone threatening me..gandu if you don't tell her, I am going to tell her pretending to be you. Well, he taught me self-confidence that I never had.
Adi-Bhenchod..now just tell her 1 4 3
Me- Chutiya yeh kya hai?
Adi-I love you
Me-Abe lund..marwage kya?
Adi-Saale tu bhaiyya bole dena usske..take a chance chutiya
I wrote 1 4 3 as I reach for miss G reliance number..
I hesitate, close my eyes and press her number..
Five, ten minutes gone..no reply ting ting
Me-Gandu dekh pakka ussko gussa aayi
Adi- Chutiya!
Beep beep..
Miss G-What does that mean
Me- (Of course prodded by this chutiya): What do you think it is?
Miss G- Well, it was a stupid game that we used to play in first standard.
Me- (Not entirely my doing)..G..I wanted to tell you that since long...I really like you..................

The next day she sent an sms..Vishal, I am sorry that I was rude to you yesterday...nopes I am not revealing anything on this space..the rest is history and I was dancing in the kitchen.
Well, Adi thanks a ton, dude.
Whether playing truth and dare where he made me reveal soo much or smoking and discarding the butt in his magic pot or skipping the exams, we have done all that...We bonded over alcohol and smoking.
There was time when we were not speaking terms at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!He was pissed off with me for some time, entirely my doing as I went into my shell and decide to cut off from the whole world. He moved to Australia and me to Mumbai. Then, once he called me from Australia and we spoke for some time.Quite formally I would say! Then, we re-connected on Facebook and it was like the good 'ole' days. We called each other a few times and degree of awesomeness cannot be quantified.
Today, I can say that this is a friendship that stood the test of time. Amen to that! We haven't seen each other for almost 5 years now and we shall very soon meet each other in India. I am confident of that. Like I said, my sixth sense cannot and shall not fail me.
To that, cheers to bastard and asshole.

P.S: It's about my equation with Adi. If the Hindi cusswords offend you, please refrain from commenting.

Main Hoon Na

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The oft-repated, comforted phrase, Main Hoon Na, I will always be there for you. We always say it to a pal on phone, chat and sms. Hey, call me if you need anything. Does it sound a bell? It's the empty promises. kiddy stuffs that we make and yet we keep our promises. Oh! God! Am I getting delusional. Time for someone who will chide us, what happened last time when he or she promised you with the comforting, Main Hoon na ya Apun hai na,load mat le.
I don't think that many of us really keep up with their promise of always being there for us. It's worse than the simple I love You or I will always love you, no matter what. Equations change, situations alter as we make new chemistry and our bond changes from friend X to Y and Z. Our best friend is replaced by a new best friend who rules the heart.
Our 4 a.m friend becomes the complete stranger, Anjaana ya Anjaani oh yea yea yea..Well, that's life isn't it? This is the problem with our generation. We end up making promises that we cannot keep. What happened to this friendship. It has gone to dust. There are so many keep promises and the lamest excuses, Dude you need to move on in life or adapt to new friends in an altogether new environment and new people waiting to embrace you. I have my own priorities in life.
On that matter, I am very traditional. If I promised to someone, Main Hoon Na, I will always be there for you, I stick to my principles. I try my best to stand up for that person and be there when the person needs me. A friend will always be one.

"True Friendship withstand the test of time."
If you cannot make a promise, then don't do it. It's as simple as it gets. I don't hold a dagger to your throat and make you promise those meaningful words. Coz when you make a promise, I build a certain degree of expectations and when I need you as a friend, I expect that you will stand by me coz you are my friend not some other by-passers which I happen to cross path with everyday by exchange a Hi or What's up. I believe that in a friendship there should be mutual respect, understanding and people involved in the relationship should always be there for each other. Of course, we all have our own priorities with studies, career, family and  boy friend or girlfriend. There are other people in our relationship that counts. So is our personal space which should be respected coz at some point in life we must be alone and our own. Personal space in a friendship should not only be understood but treated with respect. Respect my space and your space is the first step towards the solid foundation for friendship.

But, if I promising something to you, my mind will not get twisted and when you are afflicted by the downslide and sorrow, I will not run away from you only to come back when everything is hunky-dory. If I do that, I do not deserve to be your friend at all. When your boyfriend or girl ditched you, I will be here coz you need to shoulder to cry. I will not here to preach and tell you where you were wrong and your ex is not ass or sleeps around. As you friend, I will only listen and try to understand. Criticisms, if any I shall it for a later time as I believe as a friend I have the right to tell you as a friend. But, not before listening to your own perspective The genuine friends are the ones who do not judge nor they do get influence by outsiders to condemn you or worse break a friendship.
As I reflect on the simple yet powerful words we constantly use as we hug our friends, I wonder whether years down the life whether we will really live up to them. The sad part is the way we utter these words as if we are saying good morning and having a cup of chai. Well, if we believe in friendship we should make an effort to mean what we say: Main Hoon Na..Bane chahe Dushman Zamana, Salamaat Rahee Dostana Hamara.
You think it's filmy?
I don't

Bond of friendship

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It's a connect we have with like minded souls. It started with some silly bickering in football ground as we were teens..not really!silly me.We moved on with time. Perhaps, there was this innate jealousy in me. He's a smart dude surely loved by gals as I was struggling to be accepted. We met quite a few times, then on Facebook. We connected as we met 2 years back.
Sam..my new found buddy or the brother with whom we both are able to connect. We are like minded as fellow humans. In a nutshell, he's one great guy with whom I am able to connect. We both share the same values, have different ethical perspectives on life. We spoke about the girls who were part of our life. How we connect with each other has surely got god's hand or some invisible power in that. People do connect and when it matters it matters the most. The start of a beautiful friendship among equals and it got to do with our respective education and our unwillingness to accept things in the order it is.
I have always believed in the values of being genuine to fellow human beings. I don't need to jump on a roof to tell you that I care about human values and emotions in life. It shows on one's face. If you are fake with people, giving the impression or being plain diplomatic, the insincerity shows. It's what Stephen Covey calls, the emotional bank account. You gotta invest and you will reap the dividends and the rate of interest.It goes the same with your relationship with people, be it with the family or an organisation. Invest in people and they shall reward you with the dividends in life.
I used to be very unsure about myself and had a myopic view of life at some point. Then,everything changed. For starters, I am a sucker of human emotions and quite stupidly, I wanna be accepted among people and would try to suit the requirements of common accepted goals to fit in. But, realised that it's not the way and being myself is the best way to live life fully. There are so many of us who refuse to see the inner reality. Just be genuine and you will win so many friends for life.
Today I am a happy men with so many genuine people around. Sport a smile and you'll get one in return. Sameer or Sam is one of the few genuine people with whom I can be myself. A friend, a brother who has always been there..giving genuine, mature advice and who understand the intricacies of life. A rare quality which so many of us lack. As I always say, I love being with like minded people and been blessed to have genuine persons in my life. Cheers to that brother and our bonding.
 

Osama Mil Gaya re!!!!

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The big news..Me waking up as Mom plays reporter..Osama Mar Gaya..Ah!Really! I refuse to believe coz it's a near impossible task..I double check with Mom,did you hear it correctly.I check on TOI.Indeed, Americans said that Osama died in Pakistan. Basatrd! I knew that he was hiding in Pak. No wonder, the terror attacks perpetuated against India. Still can't believe it.
There is some similarity in Sadam's capture and Osama death..I feel like humming the track fom Raavan Ek gaya ek aur gaya..Nopes, I don't have any intention to capture terrorists,please spare me from the horror! Ok back to similarity. It was a Monday, me was in first year and was preparing for lecture when we received news that Saddam has been captured. It made good things to me. It was a topic of converso and this is how I became friends with KumKum, my crush, the woman who still gives me goosebumps. I had wonderful meemories with her. Toh kya hua! She was standing near A7-Anyone who's been to Fergusson college will remember this spot..Acha!Certainly, not the best way to start a romantic conversation. It wasn't and we spoke on politics, bad people and being Indian. She's a muslim and we agreed that we are against the people not the community. It was the start of a long, beautiful friendship. We both knew one thing: I like her and she liked me and both of us knew bout it. Unfortunately, nothing happened and perhaps I should have pushed up things. She used to call me so that we attend lecture together. One day I called her and she was supposed to travel somewhere and that she'll be back in 3 weeks. Since then, there were no phone calls. I guess some friendship reaches an expiry date. I still have wonderful memories about her. KumKum is a dedicated Bharat Natyam dancer and wanted to be in films and she was doing modelling. I hope she cracks it and looking forward to watch her on screen like many of my friends. Cheers lady.
Moving over to other stuffs. Yesterday Maharashtra Day was celebrated as we dedicate the victories of Shivaji Maharaj. He was one of the greatest warrior and patriot the country was known and was instrumental in freeing India from the Mughals. A man who made immense sacrifice for both Maharashtra and India. We should all learn from his legacy and values which still makes sense in today's world. May 1 is also the day to celebrate workers' rights and unfortunately nowadays, the speech lingers too much on politics, caste and then religion. The whole issue is blown out when we should focus on challenges facing workers in terms of training, technology and skills. Anyways, that's politics and one thing I could never understand. Or, Politics could never understand me and will never!!
Osama mil gaya re...how about making a film on this title..He must be Tere Bin Laden and the Americans laid a trap and he was caught. See the power of Hindi movies, Dear Yankees..But, me know you will deny that and show the world how brave your soldiers are and remember it took you more than a decade to nail him and you were searching and searching. No big feat either, Americano..Nopes, I'll prefer a Capuccino. Hope this time, I have a love story and Osama sparks a magic in my love life as Saddam did. I love you, Saddam.

Straight from the heart

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This post comes straight from the heart. There is no concept behind the mind as so many post have nor do I have any clear picture running madly on the nature of the post. Frustrated!bah!I am for having less time on my platter to pick up stuffs,materials to read and I am unable to watch DvD's.Tired like shit from work.
But truly blessed I am.Yesterday,wrapped up work at 10.40 p.m and in a flick of 5 minutes, the transport left me and spent three and a half hours in office waiting for the next transport. I slept in the reception room. But,as I was travellling during the night, I feel a felt a gush of fresh air,opportunities running down my spine. Someone from the farther world was telling me,dude no worries better things are coming your way.It was an aha moment in life and sometimes one feel the blessings. Came home a lil bit earlier and met 2 friends online.Who?My college mates. Vandana was a class mate and she's now settled and married in London.It feels good to connect with classmates and as I look back,it felt like yesterday only. Time is a real bitch and it never had the decency to tell that it had reached and so many stuffs can happen in life nor does it tell that it left us.
Mobzz another mate of mine in college with whom I had the best of times in College.Damn cool dude and been telling me to come back to Pune.I will,I promised.Life is moving and we are beckoned to to come to terms with it.I've been a bitch as well.Everyday been saying that I will write to my Philosophy teacher but time been failing me. Sorry Sir.I shall try my best this week.I'm frustrated and I'm intellectually,physically,emotionally drained,not necessarily in that order.Im loking forward to a big break from work and there is a need to spend time with myself. At least,dat d mental state right now.My Mama came to visit us from London and I couldn't met him since I had to report to work.Wow!The word report to work sound so-ooo-soo huge and complex a word to use. Hopefully,things hould tirn out to be better.It's just a matter of time.Arrg!Time yet again!No time for a harmless fling,casual encounter with a beautiful lady.Time!Indeed!By the way who invented the buzz word time???I wanna fire the guy or gal right now.
Things can get bigger and better. True!Very true! i've started writing in a diary bout stuffs I wanna do in life and the approach to make things sound right. Dream list and how to make it happen.The trick is list 1000 of your dreams and be completely wild,like dating Deepika padukone or britney Spears or perhaps becoming a billionaure,owning a space craft.What those souls who were there before us did and how.Then,eliminate the less imporatant ones if you fail to write why you have the passion and how to proceed.Concentrate on better stuffs.I've yet to do this part.i shall soon reach out to it .
Unleash the passion or shall I say and let not be wary of people.Go and embrace the world and I shall embrace ma bed in a few minutes.Time to catch up with sleep.
Adios Amigos.
Comments gals and guys needed here.Who's gonna be the first one coz a surprise shall be waiting for u.
Good nite.Young minds rulzzzzzzzz
 

Love ya Fraanship

Akriti and Purab were the best friends in college and they were admired whenthey walked together. Their friends were saying that they make the perfect couple. They weren't dating. They were always together,studying, going for coffee and movies. Two inseperable friends who were not dating each other since they had love interests for different people.
Then, one day it was bound to happen. Puran was falling in love with Akriti. He couldn't muster the courage of telling his best friend, for fear of losing her. He confided to some of his friends and all of them coaxed him to share his feelings with her since they were always together and she would not say no. One fine day he told Akriti that he loves her and he will go to any length to make her happy. She didn't thought twice and slapped him. She let him know that he had hurt her feelings and has ruined their beautiful friendship. She stopped talking to each other. Years passed, they met and started talking to each other and met often. But, things were different.
This is something which affect many of us in college. So many times we fell in love with a very good friend or worst, our best friend. It becomes very delicate and complicated. On one hand, it is a question of telling the other person the truth and on the other hand, there is always a risk of losing him or her. Should we take a risk?
A risk is always a risk. First of all, we must find out if she is going steady with someone. If yes, how serious this person is in its relationship with their boyfriend or girl friend. Perhaps, if we have a chance we should not rush and do it smoothly. Or,say it with flowers and small gestures to make the other person feel that we are caring as a lover. She already knows that we care as a friend but certainly he or she doesn't know us a lover.
Secondly, no matter what position we are,not overindulge her nor overdo things which will scare him or her away. Or, else they might have this misconception that we are some fucking asshole who was just using him or her to date or sleep with. Such acts is a mind blowing recipe to tear apart a Friendship which has taken years to bloom.
Last but not least, always behave normally as possible and do not in any situation act in a weird way. Don't try to be aloof with your best,cute friend or try to be over friendly. Over friendly gesture such as acting like an obsessed lover, potential husband or wife and act like a father or mother. Don't give gyaan such as with whom arr you speaking too long on the phone, why do you smoke too much. Certainly, do not withdraw or cut off contact plus hanging with new set of friends or ignoring her in the campus for the new hottie. Coz when or she finds out the real reason, they will be hurt and it hit the most when your best friend does something like that.
I had been in this situation in college when I fell for this girl who was a very good friend of mine. We were hanging out together and when I asked her out, she countered back saying that I knew that there is someone in her life. Well, I took a risk down the aisle and shared my feeling with her. At first, it was odd with us but later things went back to normal. In a few days, there was her birthday and we went to college,clicked some pictures together, gave her a huge hug. A tight hug indeed! It was awesome. Well, I was fortunate that she understood my feelings and never hurt me,in whichever way. I'm proud such a friend entered my life. I've been an asshole and started behaving weirdly, was rude. I'm genuinely sorry for that and I know that thingy will not be the same again. We moved to different countries.
Yet gain, I disgressed from the main topic:Love ya Friendship. Though,it's sensible not do anything to break the relationship, it is important to share your feeling with your friends with whom you've fallen for. Do it in a subtle manner. Personally, I believe that it is important to keep friendship and love apart. They just don't blend,except in a very few cases and the relationship is bound to be affected in some way. Expectations from each other will stoke up. But, God is not always kind to us. Sometimes, we do fall in love with the best friend and little can we do to change the situation. It is always a risk and we fall in a catch 22 situation. Should we or should we not?Tough and delicate situation. Take some steps but make sure that you don't hurt the other person with whom you shared your dark secrets, had the best laugh with ,clapped hands and cried together in the movies..the magical moments of life. Your take entirely.
With loads of love
Vishal