Have you ever come across a random realization? Dont expect me to explain you what exactly I’m trying to say. If you understand it, THAT probably might turn out to be a random realization. For example I suddenly realised that I’m thinking as if I have so many things to do and I’m indeed looking very busy on a day like today when I have absolutely no work. Add to that my boss is also not in office. A couple of colleagues have also asked me if I’m very busy. But I’m not. I’m in fact chatting with some friends and trying to think of a topic to rant about. But I realised I tend to think about all the good topics on the days when I have the maximum work. Like I have been thinking about a new story for last few days when I had work. For the matter of fact, I had been working till midnight yesterday. And yet the story was making rounds on my temple and my finger tips. Probably my virility as a writer comes from the fact that I’m challenged by conditions around me. That brings the best out of me and the stories like ‘When they met in Paris’, ‘Draped’, ‘Man in the mirror’ or ‘Beyond Memories’ are just the outcome of it.
Realizations again can be sweet or bitter. Marriage is a good example of it. You never know how patient you are until you have actually got into an argument with your wife and emerged a winner. You wouldn’t also realize, until you are married of course, why it is required to lie to your wife about meeting your ‘male’ friends after office hours. But it becomes imperative after all, when the match is so important and the glass of free beer is just not the one to be missed. You also realise that these realizations were not important to you when you weren’t married and still into your affair/courtship. And you suddenly realise that the wedding belled you 
I realised I could write, when I was in 10th standard. Now there is a sarcasm here (and I hate to explain it). People dont realise they can only scribble and not actually write. Having said that, since the time I started writing, I have also realised that it is turning out to be a very satisfying experience. Many others have started believing it. I had written this post few months back about inspiring 10 other people to write. Well now the count went up to 16, with another friend joining the blogging community. I have realised, good work and perseverance pays
… or Stunned? That is what the spectators and fans of Indian team are looking like. We, the recently crowned number one team in the world, playing against the number 2 South Africa on our own soil and on a flat track in Nagpur are staring haplessly at innings defeat.
Defeat now looks only a formality. I haven’t seen a better application of perfect reverse swing and pace for a long time. We are stung by the Dale bee. Or should I say we are Steyned?
I’m talking about test cricket! Anyway, that makes me ask you a question. Do we deserve the No. 1 spot?
A baby elephant with his mother
Location: Jim Corbett National Park. Time: 8am
I’m a writer of Love Stories myself. But I rather reluctantly admit that the only credible romantic novel or book I have ever read is the book, ‘Love Story’ by Erich Segal. I read the book and became a fan of his almost about 12 years back and I still believe that there are very few in the world who can match Erich’s narration capabilities.
The author of the popular books ‘Love Story’ and ‘The Class’ tragically died of heart attack couple of weeks back (on 17th January 2010 to be exact). It is sort of a personal setback to the readers and writers who had taken up romance as the topic to read or write respectively. Erich’s novel ‘Love Story’ in particular became the house hold name and remained in circulations for almost 3 decades after it was first published in early 1970. The ‘Love Story’ is regarded as one of the top best selling novels of all times on NYT’s best seller list. A movie made based on the novel also went on to become the biggest hits of the 1970 receiving several award nominations.
Erich Segal had been suffering from Parkinsons disease for last 30 years, a reason he could not deliver more interesting novels to the reader community. Never the less he will still be remembered for his best works. In fact for all his works are regarded very highly.
A love story he started still rules a million hearts around the world. His love story may have ended on 17th, but the soul of the story continues… I offer a tribute to the great writer.
Yay! …and I’m happy about it.
Picture Courtesy: Flickr
The post I wrote about the car pooling received good response and reviews. People commented and also spoke to me about it. But despite that, I didn’t receive a single request or offer for Car pooling. So with all the tyrannical thoughts about obtrusive foot stepping fellow commuters and after vehemently denying my own call for going the ‘public’ way, I finally stepped on the road instead of driving on it.
I had a trial run two days back and it turned out to be great. It was a combination of MSRTC and BEST. Without denying the fact that MSRCT bus quality is still painstakingly pathetic, BEST has upgraded its fleet like any thing. MSRTC buses are like those old wary horse riding warriors. They are effective, they are fast, but they never give you the comfort feeling that you are safe in their arms. Anyway…
So coming back to Public transport, especially buses, I think every one of us should think about it. And for all you people living in Thane, especially on GB road and travelling to Andheri daily, BEST has launched a new bus from Bramhand Estate to SEEPZ via GB road, Dahisar Check Naka and WE highway. I know for sure there are many more desirable routes BEST has launched.
BOSS! You gotta give a chance to Public Transport. East or west BEST is best! Truly!
PS: I didn’t find an appropriate title to this post. If you suggest me a good one, I’ll change it.
I was watching Australian Open quarter final match between Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams few days back. (For those who have come from the moon, let me tell you that I’m talking about a tennis match between the two female players. Anyway…). Anyone who knows even a wee bit about the two players would have easily predicted Serena to win the match hands down. Of course the skinny, shrieky Belarusian was no match to her much skilled and stronger American compatriot. But what happened on the centre court was completely different. Victoria won the first set and raced to a 4-0 lead in the second one, much to the surprise of many who had come to watch the match. It looked like Serena was going to be dumped out of the tournament. But there was some thing that happened in the fifth and sixth game of the second set that changed the course of the match. Without forgetting Serena’s exceptional performance, it was Victoria who let the game slip away. She took the loose balls casually. Probably she took things for granted and was already dreaming about the place in the finals. What looked to be a easy victory for Victoria turned out to be a disaster. Serena eventually won the games, the set, the match and later the Australian Open.
I remember a similar incidence from my childhood school time memories. We used to have annual sports meets. Since there were too many kids in the school, the selection to compete in the finals was done through preliminary rounds. Getting selected was not such a big deal for me. I was an athlete back then and I used to compete in all competitions. This incidence is from one such preliminary rounds when I was in standard 9th. We were having selection trials for the 200 meters race. The race started and I gained a small lead over my closest competitor. When we had completed 100 meters, that boy who was second to me, fell down. I continued running but out of concern I looked back to see if he was alright. I saw him struggling to get up. By then I had gained a healthy lead. I thought I will win easily. I relaxed and slowed down. When I was just about to cross the finish line I felt a guy zipping past and ahead of me. Before I could realise what happened, I was told that I have failed to qualify.
Both the examples above are similar to each other and self explanatory. It teaches you that you are not victorious unless you have actually won the race. Victory is never near till it is achieved. Nothing is guaranteed. Let us not be complacent. Because complacency is dangerous.
I learnt my lesson then and I hope Victoria learnt hers as well
Location: Lonavala; Time: around noon on a rainy day
PS: Even this picture has been taken by a mobile camera
Have you read the novel ‘Yayati’? It is a Marathi novel written by V.S. Khandekar, also available in a translated version in other languages. If you haven’t, try reading it. It takes you on a brilliant journey of a ‘King’ who happened to exist before the Mahabharatas, encompassing the topics such as indulgence, addiction, betrayal, infidelity and selfishness very well. Why am I asking this? This is why-
I was searching some thing yesterday on the web. By mistake I entered a wrong url. It turned out to be a site for adult entertainment. :-P
Indulgence is difficult to control. So after some moments of visual satisfaction, I turned to the articles related to counselling and stuff like that. I bumped into an article with the same title, and to my surprise, I liked the article for content. I’m sure most of you must have visited such sites is your teens (or still do). So you know how difficult it is to keep your eyes fixed on the text and not look, rather ogle at what is on display. But this German guy managed to glue me to the ‘text’. He had actually analysed the addiction and what leads to us getting addicted. In his opinion, addiction is a triggered phenomenon. He was referring to a particular case of his patient who was addicted to sex. He said when many methods, including meditation couldn’t help him, he thought of trying to go to a root cause. He came to know that the addiction to sex was a result of the old time high school attitude of being a stud amongst girls. It was less of a desire, much less of a passion and more of a reason to prove the strength of your libido. It started there, and soon became a habit. Now whichever female the guy saw, he thought of sex and only sex. This is some thing similar to what Yayati went through.
Another point the doctor noticed was that he (and some of his other patients) also had a habit of smoking, drinking, drugs or even over eating, which they were finding difficult to control. He compared it with simple things such as drinking coffee. People did it because it gave them heightened pleasure. They enjoyed a coffee more than a glass of milk. Soon, the body became habitual. He called the over indulgence into one thing, leading to a bad decision and then addiction of the other. Same guy was also a coffee addict. He couldn’t control drinking coffee either, which considerably reduced his power to control other temptations. (Not the coffee, the ability to control).
You think indulgence can lead to addiction? Are you addicted already and struggling to get rid of it?
Maxmayur blog got a new header today. Looks sexy is it not? I’m sure you want to know how I made it :-P
Thanks to Harshad Bhai for the new look. “Kamal thayi gayo Harshad bhai. Nava header to bahu saras lage chhe. Maja aavi gayo!”
You need a header like that? Visit his blog
