DULHE RAJA AA GAYE !!!

This time of the year is pretty much like a bride’s home at the time of her marriage where everyone’s attention is fixated on the dulha, i.e. the New Year and the bride cherishes the memories of her maiden home, i.e. the Present Year, one last time. So, this time the dulhe raja is 2014 and the ladki wala ghar is 2013. 

You all know what 31^st December is all about, there’s nothing more or less I can possibly tell you about it. Every year this day comes, we send New Year messages, go out to party, and make silly resolutions, hoping the New Year would be the answer to all our problems. 

That last line, JISE MAINE BOLD MEIN LIKHA HAI, is the very reason why I feel this day is often exaggerated. After all, it’s just a new date, new month. I’ll come back to it later.  But still, the most relevant question at this time is how was 2013 for you all? Since this is no video chat happening here, I don’t really know your answer to that, infact mujhe to ye bhi nahi pata ke koi ye padh bhi raha hai ya nahi!  Anyways, let me share my experience of 2013 with you all, of course in brief, because I know sabko party karne jaana hai... 

2013 was a very interesting year for me. It taught me some good lessons in some not so good ways.
It gave me a sense of professional success, though that at a very nascent level. 2013 reiterated the fact that I am a reticent person, but when I open up about my feelings, MAIN TO BARASTA HOON!!
I realized the value of some persons in my life (these “some persons” don’t even know how much valuable they are to me). I fell in love, among other things, with some English sitcoms. 

Some personal experiences didn’t go the way I would have ideally wanted, but they brought a sense of clarity. Baaki to wahi... nikal gaya saal bas theek thaak se. 

Now coming back to the point of why I feel today is often exaggerated.... 

I see people making elaborate plans about how they will incorporate some changes in their behaviour, how they will pay more attention to themselves, to the ones around them, so on and so forth. My point is ki My Lord; you don’t need a new a calendar to bring some changes in your life. 

It doesn’t matter if its 31^st December or 31^st May, if you want to do something better, change for the good, then do it right then, that very moment, irrespective of what date it is.
Samajh gaye?? To chalo, I rest my case.

Mann ho to you also tell me how was 2013 for you all, aakhir mujhe bhi to kuch padhne ko mile.... nahi to ek baar happy New year hi bol do.
So here’s wishing a veerrrryyyyyy hhaappppyyy and prossppeerroouusss Dulhe Raja 2014 to all of you. Have a great one.

 

Now go and enjoy :) 

See you next week....

Take care!                                                    

The 20 Moments of My Life...

I will be 21 in a few months and this blog will also be two years old in about the same time. All this while, the idea behind writing this blog has been to share some of my experiences, my thoughts with you all. Be it my cricketing idols, relationships, people, relatives, our very own mind and so forth, you’ve read it all.
So today, as the year draws to a close, I would like to share twenty lessons that life has taught me so far.
No back story, no explanations, no reactions.... just 20 lessons, because sometimes, a few words are enough...

1.  Sometimes, when your feelings don’t change with time, you realize they were honest right from the very beginning.


2.  The things, the events you hate the most at first, later turn out to be the best things that ever happened to you.


3.  Often, people don’t change with time, but it’s your equation with them that does.


4.  Every relationship goes through testing times, it’s the intention of the ones involved in it that determine its fate.


5. Not talking to someone doesn’t always mean that you don’t want to, but maybe, you don’t know how to.


6.  Just because others don’t reciprocate the feelings you have for them doesn’t necessarily make them wrong. Like you, they also have some reasons for their actions. If they matter to you, you’ll try to understand.


7.  If you are happy even when you’re alone, you wouldn’t let anyone get upset in your presence.


8.  The best of things happen in the most unexpected ways.


9. You need bad experiences in life, they make you appreciate the good ones.


10.  Being reserved isn’t synonymous with being arrogant. Just like being an extrovert isn’t the same as being empathetic.


11.  Nothing will take you closer to your dream if the only time you spend with it is when you’re asleep.


12.  Some people will talk behind your back, while some will say things to your face. You need to take both in your stride.


13.  One’s faith in God should be UNCONDITIONAL. You may not realize it, but he knows what you want dearly and makes sure you get it, eventually.


14.  Sometimes, you need a big jolt to tell you that you can do something, that you’re capable of achieving something.


15. You can’t say that you have a good sense of humour if you can’t laugh at yourself.


16.  Moving on is easy. The difficult part is letting go.


17.  At times, its better to come open about your feelings and face the truth, than hiding them inside and enduring for eternity.


18. Don’t view yourself from the eyes of others, you have your own.


19.  YES and NO.... most of the questions in life have an answer way more complicated than these two. 


20. Yes, you will regret some things you did in your past. But if at this very moment, you’re happy, it means you’ve done more good than wrong. 

Wherever I’ve used “you” in the above points, I have been in that position, and I don’t expect you (yes this time I mean you.. the reader :) ) to understand or relate with all of them, because each one of us writes his/her own script. That script is life....

Until next time....

Take care. :)

It's All In Your Head...

Titan, Tianhe-2, Stampede, Sequoia...  

The above are just a few examples of the best super computers in the world. But how are they relevant to this blog today? Well, to a great extent, our minds are pretty much like these super computers only. They process information, analyze it, store it, fret over it and guide your decision making. So, today I thought of sharing my views on those three topics which often undergo processing in that magnificent mind of ours. 

Here they are..


·  HAPPINESS: 

We all know what happiness means. There’s nothing more or less that can be taught to us about it. But still, some of us are happier than others. Why? Because it all comes down to what happiness means to you. If you count your happiness on the basis of the hundreds of friends you have, how happening your life is, how many luxuries you possess, how often your phone beeps, whether or not you’re in a relationship, how much popular you are... you are well on the wrong path my friend.
Happiness, in its basic sense, is a matter of choice. You’re as happy as you choose to be. You don’t need to be happy just because others around you are, rather be happy for the sake of yourself. Program your mind like that. You shouldn’t be dependent on others to stay in a jovial mood. Personally, I sometimes shun my phone and just have a bit of what they call “me” time. I might watch TV, listen to music, write, or whatever... but all by myself. Gradually, whether the phone rang or not, that WhatsApp beep came or not hardly made a difference to me. I was happy by myself, and I honestly believe that if you are happy when alone, you can make others happy as well. 

·   LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS: 

How often I come across status updates about these two things on Facebook! Everyone has their own definition of love, of a relation, of a certain “him/her”. That is exactly how it should be in a way. Neither can you teach others how to fathom these things, nor can you program your mind as to how to deal with them. They gradually come to you, it could be when you are 20 or 25 or even later.
Don’t force yourself in a relationship just because that falaana friend of yours is in one. In the end, it all comes down to the equation between you and that special person. Give that respect and your mind will automatically figure out how these things work. Your heart can even give private tuition to your mind in that regard.   


·  CAREER: 

The simplest career advice I could give anyone is “It’s your life.” You don’t need to be a doctor just because the neighbour’s son is pursuing MBBS. You don’t need to go for engineering just because others tell you “iska bahut scope hai aage.” Go for something which you want to do. Those relatives, friends, peers wouldn’t take the blame if your life doesn’t go the ideal way. So install this thing in your mind: “ITS MY DAMN LIFE!!” Figure out what you want to do with it, what are your expectations from it and how can you get there. Prepare a blueprint.
You must have seen those people who board buses and metro without any idea of their destination and seek others for help. You don’t want to be like that person when it comes to your life, do you? So don’t worry if you need to drop a year just because others will race ahead, in the end its you who has to cover the distance, not them.

All of the stuff written above is pretty much my take on life as I see it. I would love to know your views as well.
So until next Tuesday....

Take care. :)

Kuch To Log Kahenge...

LOG.
A simple three letter word with varied meanings. A log of wood is pretty much common to all stories. Those of you who’ve had a tryst with mathematics and statistics would remember those log tables and allied formulas.
But the log I am talking about is entirely different.
I’m referring to the log used in the phrases as follows:

• Log kya kahenge?
• Log kya sochenge?
• Log dekh rahe hain!!
• “Chaar logon me naam kharaab kar dia!!”

I am especially curious as to who the 4 log in the last sentence are. I’ve heard about them many times and they have indeed played a big role in spoiling our lives at one point of time or the other.

If the already billion plus population in India was not enough, these log further play spoilsport in our not so bad lives. How many times we want to do something, say something but refrain from it just because of these unidentified people surrounding us? 

• Many a times parents force their students to take up a particular course/stream just because the children of certain log in their office are doing it.
  
• There’s a girl in your school or college whom you want to talk to, but don’t because of the log around her.
  
• Wives especially keep telling their husbands about the lives of these unseen people... “logon ke ghar dekho... log ye karte hain, log wo karte hain...”

The examples are endless. That is the reason why I am so eager to find out who these people actually are and want to ask them “yar tum logon ki problem kya hai??”

The reason you came onto this planet, apart from your parents’ wish (obviously) was that God chose you from his factory, to live a life on Earth.
A life which belongs to you and only you.

Do what pleases you, irrespective of how the people will react.
Say what you want to, without paying heed to the murmurs of others. If you keep pestering yourself with the thought of others, you are well on your way to destroy that gift you have, called life. Haven’t you heard the song...
“Kuch to log kahenge. Logon ka kaam hai kehna”?

Remember that scene from 3 IDIOTS where R.Madhawan finally convinces his parents to let him pursue wildlife photography and drop out of engineering? His dad tells him what the neighbouring Sharma Ji will say, what the people will say and Madhawan tells him it’s his life, not Sharma Ji’s.
That’s precisely my point here. 

People were always there, are and will be. They said, say and will continue to say things in future as well, but it’s your choice how much heed you pay to them.

I think I’ve already shared a lot of gyaan. To sum up, I would request you all to contact me if you get hold of those 4 people jinke beech hum apna naam kharaab karte hain. To quote Mr ACP from CID.... "pata lagaao ye log aakhir hai kaun !!"

Before I finish, here’s a line I read somewhere and it made real sense to me...

                  “Agar Log Kya Sochenge Ye Bhi Hum Hi Sochenge....
                                   To Fir Log Kya Sochenge???”

Cheers :)

To The Master...

It’s been over two weeks since the test match at Wankhede stadium got over. The only reason that game meant something was that it was one man’s 200^th, and the last appearance for his country.

That man... a 5'6'' Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. This post is dedicated to the master. I know it’s a bit late, but hey, he was doing his job and I had do mine, that being my semester exams! 
Anyways, as they say, “better late than never.”

I still maintain that he was not my favourite cricketer, that spot was always for Rahul Dravid, but that day, 16^th November’2013 taught me a lot of things. It taught me what one man meant to a billion people, it taught me what emotions are, it taught me what being “humble” actually means, but most importantly, it taught me what greatness means.

Listening to his speech, seeing the moist eyes almost everywhere.... it seemed a bit surreal at first. But why did Tendulkar mean so much to the world and Indians in particular? The answer was pretty easy. Talk to your father and uncles about their cricket memories, and they will mention Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Shastri, Amarnath etc. Talk to teenagers and they will go gaga over Kohli, Dhawan , Yuvraj and Dhoni. Talk to 20 year olds and they will cherish the fact that they witnessed the Fab 5 of Indian Cricket for almost a decade. But one fact thing that will resonate with all three generations is Sachin Tendulkar.

He was a man of generations, a master with the bat in his hand, just like Sir Don Bradman. But none of us saw Bradman’s last match, but here we had a chance to witness the end of a 24 year old magnificent journey. It couldn’t be missed. That's why he was special, the occasion was special. 

The world will remember him for the thousands of runs he scored, the hundred 100s he got, the innings he played, but I will remember him for some different reasons.

He thanked everyone in his speech, right from the relatives with whom he stayed for a while as a kid to his manger to the photographers.
This showed how much he VALUED the ones in his life.
This is what I will remember him for.

He bowed down and touched the pitch at the end of the game in respect. That showed his HUMBLENESS, the fact that he knew he was never bigger than those 22 yards, and that this very piece of land made him what he is.
This is what I will remember him for.

But most importantly, he taught me what GREATNESS means. It’s not about the success you get, not about the fame and money, not about the numbers, but it’s about your dedication to your work. 24 years is not a short time by any means. Just for example, my sister was 3 years old when Sachin started playing. She grew up, completed her education, got her degree, earned a good job and is married now, but that man was still playing!

We get bored after a week or so in school, a month in college and at times get fed up with our job. But that man stood committed to his “job” for over two decades. That’s what made him great in my eyes. The fact that he loved, respected and felt honoured doing what he did and gave in his best every single time. That’s what you inspire me to achieve Mr. Tendulkar, you have inspired me to achieve greatness.

The defining moment was not the last West Indies wicket that fell, it was when on a sports show the next day, he was referred to as “FORMER” India cricketer. Though my record of not crying since 7^th standard is still intact, his retirement filled me with some novel emotions.
I didn't feel like this when I saw Dravid’s retirement press conference, but may be that’s because it was a mere conference, none of us knew on 28^th January’2012 that we had already seen the last of Rahul Dravid for India. Had such a thing happened that time, I’m pretty sure my “no tears” record would have been in danger.

To some up, I would recall my mother’s lines when India were struggling against Pakistan in the ASIA CUP match in 2004-05, 
“Abhi Tendulkar Hai Ki Gaya?”


Finally, after 24 years, Tendulkar gaya....

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.

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Thank you Master!!