Dil ke chhalon ko koi shayari kahe, to dard nahi hota
Takleef to tab hoti hai, Jab log wah-wah karte hain
Apne hisse ki zindagi to hum kabke jee chuke,
Ab to sirf dhadkanon ka lihaaz karte hain,
Kya karen in duniya walon ka,
Jo aakhari saans pe bhi aitraaz karte hain.
I love those airtel ads. Its so mushy mushy. The characters chosen are brilliant. So i thought of making one with the same concept in mind. The regular ads talk abt the Value Added Services and tariffs this talks about the network.( though after the friday mishap, mumbaiites will beg to differ).
Coming back to the ad.
The scene…the girl is in Delhi and the guy in Mumbai. They exchange sweet nothings over the phone..on the Airtel network obviously.
Girl : I m missing you like crazy.
Boy : Hmmm
Girl : Cant imagine living without you.
Boy : Hmmm
Girl : Wanna be with you …together..hamesha.
Boy : (Silence)
Girl : hello….hello…
Girl : Are You there ?? ( there is no sound from the other end)
Long pause.
Boy : ALWAYS.
I always make it a point to brush up the local lingo whenever i travel locally or abroad. So it happened one day when we were to be picked for the dinner cruise. I had planned to shop after the cruise. So I asked my cousin to tell me what do you mean by less in indonesian lingo. He said MORA. I have observed that anywhere you go and try speaking the local lingo, they really appreciate the effort. Its easy to strike a conversation. It makes you feel good. Its worth the try.
So trying to strike a conversation i started in english and then spiced up with some local lingo. Refering to the few people around i said “Indonesian Orang (people) Mora “(less). The driver asked me what i said. I repeated “Indonesian Orang (people) Mora” (less). In Indonesian normally the first word in english is their last word. I meant there are very few people in Indonesia. The driver looked a bit annoyed, i think stunned to what i said. Then a little further i again commented that Indians here Orang Mora. The driver was surprised. He looked confused. He then told me what did i mean by saying Orang mora. So i said that there are ver few people around. To that he grinned and said. When you say less or few it means Sedikit. Mora means CHEAP.
I was really embarassed. I had been telling him all this while that Indonesians are cheap people.Orang Mora when it should have been orang sedikit. Thank god i said that Indians also Orang Mora here. When i told my cousin he couldnt stop laughing. He said that i told you use Mora when you are trying to bargain and not when refering to people. Bach gaye nahi to GPL padti thi.
Lesson learnt.
Selamat Datang - BALI
Coming back to Denpasar as its known. There are lot of activities you can indulge in. Like the normal snorkelling, scuba diving you can also do the underwater walk and Tree top endurance test. The latter was really tiring and energy sapping. By the end of the course i just couldnt move.The tree top endurance is all about climbing,sliding, balancing on the cables hanging between the pine trees and swinging like tarzan across the course. In the underwater walk they take you 20 feet below on the sea bed and make you walk experiencing the marine life.There’s a big helmet placed on your head which gives you oxygen so that you can breathe. I looked more like an astronaut with just swimming trunks on. Underwater the sign language is so important that you must follow the instructions. I must say, that more than the fishes i was having a whale of a time looking at the svelte russian blonde in a bikini walking right in front of me. This was the major attraction apart from the colorful fishes that gather around you when you feed them.
Then there was this day cruise to Lemboghnan Island where the sea wanted to spoil everyone’s fun. Forget the precious dollars i paid for this outing. The sea was so rough i would term it as WILD that its just didnt relent. It tossed the catamaran as Shaq O Neal, would to a basket ball or the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park going wild at you. Can you believe 90% on people on board which was predominantly Japanese and its neighours were puking. So much so that the crew ran out of those plastic bags. Luckily we managed to hold it back. The great Indian spirit came forth fighting against all adversities. Actually we have become so immune to all this because daily we traverse paths which are full of filth and the smell is so unbearable. That a sight like this is nothing. There are so many upheavals in our own lives that what we experienced would look very miniscule. But then you live only once. If it would not have been for Farida’s prayers the almighty had different ideas.( I can see farida grinning ). Lubo loved it. For her it was like sitting on a see saw. We reached the shore and the ordeal came to an end.
We also got a compensatory dinner cruise in lieu of this traumatic experience. Thanks to Ida the manager of the cruise. The dinner cruise was much more pleasant and calm…but not cool. It was HOT inside. The cabaret really burnt the floor. So did Lubo showing them Bollywood steps an doing a lil bit of Helen. Lubaina was the only kid dancing on the floor with those oriental helen’s.
Off to Kuta. The beach at Kuta is really happening. I would say, rocking. You will see a range of bodies from beer bellies to size Zero. I realised that the Indians are the most well behaved and well dressed species. Lot of these firangs dare to bare , for most Australians have hardly anything on top. Bali has some amazing places to eat out at. The Balinese love their meat balls with tofu and Satay. The restaurants give you a choice of sea food,ducks etc. I had the privlege of enjoying a lot of these.
There’s so much to write about but i feel its better to be there and experience it. On our return back, farida prayed again when the aircraft lost and gained altitude alarmingly and there was a lot of turbulence. It seemed that the excitement would never stop.
Bali is definitely the place to put your money in for your next holiday… go to Bali & JUST CHILL. Gumpang. But avoid in December, everything is at its peak.
The calm before the STORM
May Day !!
May Day means a distress call. An SOS. Do saal pehle ki baat hai. It was May Day,the 1st of May and we were all set to return home from our far east sojourn. It had been a non stop exploring Singapore , and KL and at the end of it…we wished we had more days to spare.
So we checked out of the hotel at 2 and according to the schedule were suppose to take the 8 pm flight. We were jus doing total time-pass. Going up the pool and clicking pictures and then watching the persian beauties waiting to check in. I must add this for my wife’s sake that there were handsome Iraninan men too who were being watched … So as i normally do, i started checking our passports and tickets..everythin was ok. Except the flight time. It was to depart early. As luck would have it. It departed early, only on that particular day. As some one says assumptions is the mother of all F@#% ups it happened with us. To make matters worse we had exactly an hour and fifteen minutes to reach if we had to make it…but the airport was quite far. How i wished i could fly (pun intended) to the airport. How i wished, if only i had checked my tickets an hour back. Though i managed to arrange for transport to the airport. The driver made most of the oppurtunity and my helplessness. But all i wanted, was to reach the airport.
As soon as we arrived at the airport..in true filmy style i got out of the moving car and dashed towards the check in. When i reached they just shook their heads and said NO. I was stunned. I pleaded to them that i have to board this flight but they just wouldnt listen. Finally to give me some consolation they asked where my baggage was. I tried looking for farida n lubi. But just couldnt find them. The KL airport looked like a big maze…and i just could not find them. Finally they managed to reach the check in… and farida just let it go. The ganga jamuna from her eyes wouldnt stop. The check in staff would just not oblige.Looking at farida i could remember a scene straight from our films. The most cliched ones. ” Bhagwan ke liye hume jaane do. Tumhe tumhari maa ki kasam hai”. But she fell short. The award would still go to the check in guy. Who just didnt move to our emotions. I think he should have got the filmfare award for the best acting in a still role. He just didnt react.
When things dont go your way….they really dont. The ticket we had was a no date change and non refundable. So the airline staff refused to confirm my tickets for the next day. I was then told that i need to issue fresh tickets. Thankfully, some common sense still remained with me even though luck deserted. I tried calling the agent who gave me my schedule. But as it was May Day and a holiday the offices were closed. Things were just not happening. Alas a thought came to my mind. The agent rep would be at airport receiving or dropping other passengers. So with this hope i went around looking for that saviour. She was a young lady, and very kind and co-operative. She managed to get me accomodation for the night and assured me that the agency will take care of my return.
Next morning i tried my luck. A new day…maybe things will be better. The day was bright and sunny and it was a good omen. I reached the airport and gave my tickets to airline check in staff. He asked me ” So you didnt get a seat” I nodded. He said ” The flights must have been full.” He asked for my baggage and i said, its in the hotel. So he printed out the boarding pass and handed over to me. I was surprised. Would sound like a foolish question but i just asked. “ Does this mean i can fly” he said YES. This word sounded so sweet. I just felt like bowing down with my hands up and saying thank you my lord. I just ran to the telephone booth and told farida to call the agent and tell them to do nothin about the tickets and keep our bags ready. I reached the hotel picked the bags and dashed back to the airport to get it checked.
But before this when i was waiting to go back to the hotel with the boarding passes in hand. I saw this group coming from India. It was a typical scene. These guys were coming down the escalator with not bags in hand but trollies on which there heavy bags were placed. The moment the first person was about to alight he tripped because of the movement of the trollies on the escalator pad. The scene would make Charlie Chaplin proud. All others followed suit tripping on one another, when finally the airport official stopped the escalator. On the ground laid heaps of bags and people and to say a real tamasha.
So we checked in, collected taxi fare from the agent for the travel from hotel to the airport and also the room charges for one night of sleeplessness and anxiety. Finally we got into the main area. I told farida lets just get lost in the crowd. What if they see us and stop. So we just moved around the airport till we got our boarding call. They were again checking the tickets and all i did was pray..pray and pray. We got in to the aircraft and finally that was the end of it. Goodbye KL…………………..
Oh CALCUTTA !! In the name of the Lord !!
It was last december when we were in Kolkatta attending our friend Jay’s wedding. We were staying in the temple premises. Our room was supposed to be on the 4 th flr. The first time we entered the lift the lift attendant chanted ’ Jai Siya Ram’. We looked at him expecting him to press the button to move us up.But he just stood there. After a while he said the lift will only move if we took the name of the lord. We all did it reluctantly..nobody wanted to climb 4 floors after a 36 hr journey from the west coast to the east. After refreshing our bodies with the water from Howrah river i think..we were least ready to refresh our souls..once again in the name of the lord. Do it or the lift doesnt move. The next time when we were about to go back to our rooms..we seeked for divine intervention. Hoping to avoid that guy. But man proposes and god disposes..he was right there. One of my friends refused to give in and climbed up the stairs, with my other friend wife. While both of us decided to chant the lords name..who cares. After taking the lords name on our journey up, i mean to the 4th floor this guy asked our name. My friend remarked Vijay Dinanath Chauhan and when it came to me…i said..naam mein kya rakha hain ( he would have got a shock of his life for reasons we know). Wot say… All in the name of the lord. He was taking us up..to our abode.
A short essay written long time back…a true story (hahahaha)
I remember those days in school. When we used to have our Athletics Meet. I always used to compete. In the morning of the Meet my mother would make me have a raw egg mixed in milk. How I used to hate it! She believed it gives you stamina and energy. It almost became a ritual every morning during the Meet, and so did me coming back home in the evening a loser.
During the Meet I would sit on the stadium stands, cheering and clapping for the winners, so did the entire crowd. But deep in my heart I had this dream that one day, I will be out there standing with my head held high on the Victory stand basking in glory and admiration from all. So what if I was a lousy runner but I believed that someday I will make it there. Always remember Failure doesn’t mean God has abandoned you. It only tells us that God has a better idea. I had this dream of mine and I stuck to it. So what if I ran slow, I could walk fast.
In our Scouts Athletic Meet, I took part in the walk race. I said to myself,” Murtuza, this is your opportunity to go for the gold.”. I could feel the adrenalin pumping and I was very determined that I am going to WIN. I Won. My dream was fulfilled. It took a while for the feeling that I had finally won to sink in, I achieved what I desired. There I was on the Victory stand right at the top. The feeling was amazing. This whole experience made me believe that, if you have a dream to achieve something, never give up. Never give up on something, Miracles happen every day. Always aim to be the Best, being good or doing better should never come in your thoughts. If you want your dream to be fulfilled. Then create a strong desire for it in yourself, have a firm determination and then just go ahead and do it. You will always then deserve of what you desire. It taught me the virtue to pursue and persevere. Success is not a destination, it is a journey.
Here’s a little story I would like to share. In a primary school the teacher gave an essay to the children. The topic of the essay was ’My Dreams’. When the teacher checked the essays, she pulled up a poor kid and said, ” How can you write and think about dreams which is not in your capacity to fulfill. You are poor. What you have written is very vague, unrealistic and imaginary”. She returned the essay and told the kid to re-write the entire essay and get it the next day so that she could give him a grade.The kid returned the next day and gave the same essay back, which he had written. But attached a small note. It read ..YOU CAN KEEP YOUR GRADES. I WILL KEEP MY DREAMS.
But remember. ‘If you want to achieve your dreams. You better wake up and move.’
Sitting alone watching the sun set down,
Frustrated with life, all i have on my face is a frown.
Observing that day by day life is becoming a bore,
Thinking about the past, make the wounds more sore.
Nobody is ever content with what he has We always ask for more, more.. and more.
Maybe i just aint feeling right, or not in a mood.
Maybe reading or going down for a walk, will do me some good.
But life out there is more miserable than what it was above,
Hatred for people around, leaving no place for love.
Why in this life there is no time to spare.
No time for leisure, tell close ones how much you care.
Is this hunger for fame and money too much.
That even your own disown you as such.
Will there be no end to problems in life.
Will there be only anguish, struggle and strife.
Oh Lord please, show the way for people who are tired.
He says Son, this is the stage called Earth, Perform or you are fired!
So for if you have time to spare,
Cherish these moments for the one you care.
For my friend life is running so fast , it will be very difficult for you to last…
This is something i wrote some 12 years ago..they rhyme but i jus called them Poetic Prose..( Its my funda). Also for some one who wanted me to write somethin of my own on my blog.
What is Love ?
Love is a feeling, a feeling so rare.
For the one you adore, for the one you care.
Its in love, you see a person rise and fall.
For when you rise, you rise high
And when you fall you have no one to call.
Some people say to fall in love is an unpardonable sin.
For they by nature are narrow-minded and mean.
For if falling in love is a crime
Why does this history repeat every time.
Life becomes beautiful and simply divine.
You are happy and merry and having a great time.
Till the going is smooth life is fine
But when the heart breaks, and the tears flow
You want that shoulder, the one to say dont worry you are mine.
To stay together as one
Is a feeling matched by none.
Though the bodies are two, but together the souls merge
We hope together in life ahead we will surge.
Its said to be God’s greatest gift of all
Which only someone get to know.
It gets you high when you are feeling low
Your heart beats faster from the love that flows.
Its one thing after money which turns things around.
For once the world is straight, the next upside down.
You see yourself flying high in the air
Before you can realise, you fall flat on the ground.
Forgiveness, Sympathy ,and Maturity you get
Which even the greatest books would not have fetched.
Lot to understand and lots to learn
Some times its painful, some times its fun.
You plan your future
Waiting for the sunrise, you see a new dawn
Those insecurities go with the night that has just gone.
You laugh you cry, from love you gain
But all this gain has its own share of pain.
You hope life to be a smooth pleasant sail
But even the best boats rock in storm and gale.
There will be mistakes, misunderstandings and prejudice
For even the purest mind has some vice.
Fools will perish and clever become more wise
For if this bond has to survive
Its better to forgive and compromise.
To love someone is not an art
Its that feeling, that instinct which comes right from the heart
For the bond to break, you are yourself to blame
So try and keep going this is an Eternal Flame.
An angel of truth and a dream of fiction..
A Woman is a bundle of contradictions
She’s afraid of a wasp, Will scream at a mouse,
But will tackle her husband alone in the house.
She’ll take him for better, She’ll take him for worse
She’ll break open his head and then be his nurse.
But when he’s well and can get out of bed.
She’ll pick up the tea-pot and throw it at his head
Beautiful and keen sighted yet blind,
Crafty and cruel, yet simple and kind.
She’ll call him a king and then make him a clown.
Raise him on a pedestal, then throw him flat down.
She inspires him to deeds that ennoble man,
Or make him her lackey to carry her fan.
She’ll run away from him and never come back
But if he runs away she’ll be on his tracks
Sour as vinegar, sweet as a rose
She’ll kiss you one minute, then turn up her nose
She’ll win you in range, enchant you in silk
She is stronger than brandy, milder than milk
AT TIMES REVENGEFUL, MERRY AND SAD,
SHE HATES YOU LIKE POISON, BUT LOVES YOU LIKE MAD.
One evening an old man told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves, which live inside all of us.”
One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?”
The old man simply replied, “The one you feed!! “
Shayaris..its just 2 lines and sometimes more….but says such a lot..dil ka bayan kar deta..sirf chan lafzon mein…
