To Ziva, Dhoni’s Daughter - We salute your Father

Hi Ziva! By the time you are old enough to read and understand this, you must have already heard everything about the great achievements of your father – Mahendra Singh Dhoni aka Mahi aka Dhoni aka MSD.

It has been more than 20 days since your arrival and your father hasn’t been able to see you, hasn’t been able to hold you, hasn’t been able to see you smile. He hasn’t been there with you because he was on national duty – leading team India in the ICC world cup 2015. And oh boy, what a leader he has been. He had enough time to return back to India for a couple of days to see you but he chose not to. He chose to stay in Australia and made sure that he and his young team were fully prepared to fight against the world in order to retain the world cup, which India won in 2011 under his superb captaincy.

Sadly, today is when it ends. Soon your father, along with his team, will pack his bags and return back to India because India lost against Australia in the semi-final today. I want to tell you that the whole country is proud of your father and the way he led his team in this world cup. Team India had a pretty rough couple of months leading to the world cup, 2015. We performed very badly in the series prior to world cup and no one expected India to perform well in the most coveted competition of the cricketing world. But we did…your father and his team made sure we did.

Don’t believe anyone who says otherwise. Team India, under your father’s captaincy, won 7 matches in a row in this world cup. We topped the group stages and went on till the world cup semi-final where Australia defeated us today, ending the dream run. I want you to know that even in loss, we are proud of what your father has done for us. He led a team of young boys and motivated them to act like men, always leading from the front. He was cool when catches were dropped, he was cool when catches were taken, he was cool when the required run rate was 15, he was cool when the required run rate was 5, he was cool when we were losing and he was cool when we were winning. No wonder we all adore him as the captain cool.

I would also like to tell you that your father was a great leader. His coolness, calmness and understanding of the game were something that is unparalleled in the cricketing world. I won’t even mention the records that are under his belt because this is not the time for numbers, this is the time for words. You can ask anyone who has ever worked under a manager or a leader in any organization and they will tell you Dhoni’s qualities are what they would like to see in them. He motivated the youngsters, always led from the front and whenever required, never hesitated in getting his own hands dirty, making sure that the job was always finished by staying there till the end.

I want you to know that just like billions of Indians even your 'cool' father will go to bed tonight with a heavy heart and a head full of thoughts. I want you to know that even though we feel the pinch of pain, your father would be the one taking the maximum toll. But let me tell you, your father will be back, stronger than before. Because that’s what your father is – a true cricket fan. Come tomorrow, he will carry on with the learning from this series and will improve himself and the team. He will do what he does best – play cricket and lead from the front.

I would like to conclude by telling you that you should be proud of him. Just like the whole country is proud of him. Even today he fought bravely and made sure that we didn't go down without a fight even though players on the other end kept on leaving. I am sure that if you are reading this today, you would already be proud of your father because there’s no reason why he wouldn't have been an equally great father to you. And from all the cricket fans across the globe, we thank your father from the bottom of our hearts and wish you both a very healthy and happy life.

Thank you Dhoni, thank you for being a great leader, a true gentleman, a thrilling finisher and an honest cricketer. We will never forget your contributions to Indian cricket! #DareToBeDhoni

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Playing in my head: 'Zinda' from Lootera

I pledged not to break traffic signals!

Some incidents happen in your life that make you miserable. Some other incidents, they change you forever.

This is a story of learning. About the day I realized why following traffic signals is necessary. Hoping that you guys will understand and implement this too. It was a big change in my life! #StartANewLife

Being an Indian, we just love not following rules. More so, when we are out on the streets. No wonder, we have such pathetic traffic congestions every other day. I am not any different from you all. I never really followed traffic signals. It was like one of those rules that you are ordered to follow in schools which don’t make sense. Even more so, when the traffic is less. It was one night a few months back and I was returning from work very late, around 9.30 pm. I was driving my car while listening to Snow Patrol’s compilation album. As was my habit, I was moving ahead breaking one signal after the other. Since it was so late, there wasn't much traffic. Suddenly my phone started ringing and I decided to take it. I was near a traffic signal and decided to stop as the signal was red, which would also allow me to receive the call. Few seconds later, a car crossed me, breaking the signal in the process. I didn't really cared at that moment. But behind it, another 2 wheeler came in full speed. The guy riding the 2 wheeler assumed that the road was clear because the other car had just crossed the signal. Under this confidence, the biker didn't bother to check and kept on coming. That was when I noticed another car coming in from the left side prepared to cross as the signal for him was green. He was also not expecting anyone would be come from the lane in which I was parked. Both the car and the bike hadn't seen each other and were confidently moving on in their stride. I noticed it but had no time to act. I somehow prepared myself for the inevitable and was about to close my eyes when I suddenly realize I could alert the car driver. As a reflex action, I started furiously blowing the horn and flashing the dipper. Thankfully, my idea worked and I was able to alert the car driver. It all happened in a moment but the car stopped right at the centre of the road with enough space for the biker to squeeze through without a scratch.

That was the day I realized that even though you may be confident, others may follow you when you break the traffic signal. This is actually over-confidence, not confidence. I pledged that day not to break traffic signals ever again in life.

Watch the video below to see how https://housing.com/ started a new life. If I can and they can, then even you can do it!

You are never too far to forget

Distance is just a number. I have been in all kinds of relationships, at least all the major ones. I have been a son, a friend, a brother and a lover.

I am sure we’ll agree that your home, where your parents live, always welcomes you with open arms. You may be in a different location for studies or job but every time you come back for a vacation it still feels the same. Countless kilometres of tiring journey never detaches you emotionally from your parents and that is kind of expected because family, we always take them for granted.

What actually amazed me about humans and human nature is that when a person apart from your family is not near you, we still remember that person and cherish their presence in our lives. That’s how some people touch our lives!

I recently met an old friend and it was one of the best days of my life. That meeting also taught me a few things about life. He was an old friend and a pretty close one when we were studying in school. Over the course of last few years, our interactions first reduced to monthly calls and gradually faded into yearly birthday calls. Although believe me, they used to be crazy long calls, almost stretching to 90 minutes and sometimes even more. Obviously cause we had so much to catch up! I had started to believe that whenever we meet next, ours would be a very strange and boring get-together. I was very sure that we would both run out of words in a couple of hours looking at the fact that we both were leading such different lives, exclusive of each other. But what happened actually was totally unexpected. It was one of the most unforgettable day of my life. From the moment I landed in his city and till the moment I boarded my train back, none of us kept mum for even a second. We discussed everything under the sun – right from our good old school days, our old classmates and the ice-cream seller outside the school to the state of politics in the country, Sunny Leone’s item song and the exciting start-up culture growing in India. We ate, drank, talked and roamed around the city and in the end, we found ourselves hungry for more. When I came back to my senses, I found myself standing at the door of the train, waving him goodbye. All of this, just like that!

The whole way back to my destination, I kept on thinking about what happened and how terribly wrong I was. As it turned out, we both always had mutual respect and admiration for each other. We cared for each other and accepted each other the way we are. Years of separation and kilometres of distance couldn't take that out from us and that’s what relationships are made of: RESPECT.

In order to summarize, I’d just say that respect the people in your life and stop taking people for granted. I have often seen people taking their family for granted and not having enough time for them. That’s not how life works, that’s actually how we kill our life.

In case you are leaving your city for a job and are looking for a house, go check out the listings on https://housing.com/. And once you have your house ready, make sure the people staying in it are valued and respected. In the end, all that your family expects from you is your time. So don’t disappoint them. Believe me, #together with the people whom you love, every other day is going to be memorable.

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Playing in my head: "Baby Doll" from Ragini MMS 2

The Unforeseen Hiatus

 So last week of November 2012 was when i posted last. I still remember those times and i am sure i will not forget them ever. Things certainly were not looking good but then gradually, as they say, times changed. Well, what was bad then could have got much worse but let's just say i managed to stay on the safer side.
Things happened, pieces fell into their right places and i am now much better off than what i had expected then.What can i say, 2013 came and changed my life, giving it a new direction altogether. Thank You!
Since January, 2013 i didn't expect much, from anything or anyone. I was very content with things the way they were because i didn't want to screw up and to be honest, things were fine as they were. Of all those things that witnessed a transition, me drifting away from writing was seriously not something i had imagined. But it happened. I haven't written a single poem in the last 8 months. Even worse, i haven't written anything, not even a trivial post like this.

This was a hiatus that i never planned. Actually, this is a hiatus i never took. It just happened and this needs to be changed.

Starting today, i will try to write more. Ideas and issues are always in the head but it's just that the will and urge to write has almost dried up. Will try to change all this starting today. I don't like to challenge myself when it comes to writing so i won't do that, more so not with poetry. But i hope i do manage to find that missing fire again. I seriously miss writing Poetry, i do!

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The music is back on baby!  :)

Playing in my head: "Hey Jude" by The Beatles

Stubborn History

There are already a lot of quotes, philosophies and rants upon History. Me adding some more wisdom to that list won't really matter but then, since when did we start doing things to make them count?
History they say:

• repeats itself, is re-written.
• is a myth and pretty ambiguous.
• is imaginative.
• is like a memory.
• is a very tough and boring subject, when in school, esp in CBSE.
• is as good as a rumor.
• is a useless heap of facts. (this one's my favorite)

Anyways, besides the above detailed adjectives, there are few more things that History is. The thing that has been bothering me the most since the last few months is a very prominent, obvious and undeniable fact that we all know. However, how many of us think that it matters is an altogether different issue.

History, never changes. It always remains constant and present with us.

No matter what we do and how we play the game, what has been done is there to remain and remind us forever of it's presence. Nothing can be done to change it. We might change places, documents and all other proofs of its existence but deep in our heart, we'll always know what happened. A bright history will always remain shiny and beautiful, an orphaned history is always suspecting and searching, a shameful history is always embarrassing and humiliating and a blot on your history will always remain black, dark, painful and infuriating. 

Deep down with time, the shadows of history and all things associated with it dissolve but the history always remains constant, in block letters like the name of a brand new big budget movie on a billboard. They say our history keeps on haunting us but they don't understand that even if it didn't, we would have still kept on running around history just like a sex deprived man keeps running around brothels. We may deny it in public but every time we sit alone, our history always makes sure that we have company. Such is the power of history, such is it's overpowering presence in our life.

History never changes. A blot remains a blot. Things may not be the same for everyone but what matters for us is all that matters in the end. History is purely relative, just like triviality is. Everybody's history counts, atleast for them, atleast in their eyes, soul and heart. 

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In other news, people who were pretending to sleep haven't opened their eyes yet. All other news, do they still matter? I don't think so.

It's Funny

Life is.
It can be a silent butcher.
It can be a generous whore.
It can be a slutty bitch.
We'll never give up on defining Life in our own words.
We all have our own definitions.
We have our own experiences, good or/and bad.
Sometimes, it makes sense.
Sometimes, it doesn't.
Sometimes, it is all make believe.
We fight.
We let it pass.
We give up.
It is full of surprises.
It is full of setbacks.
It is full of comedies.
For some, god is great.
For some, god is late.
For some, god is fake.
Some say, Everything happens for a reason.
Some say, Everything happens for good.
Some say, Everything just happens, we can't control it.
It keeps you alive.
It kills you.
It plays with you.
It's a cocktail of all the above things.
It's cruel, evil, happy, sad and so much more.
It's but, even after all these things, funny. Amusingly, the joke is on us, most of the time. Sadly, you and me will never get the joke. Nope. Nada! Life is so damn funny. It's funny.

What's amazingly commendable is that, even after everything, we just never give up on our mediocre attempts at life, death and everything else in between.

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To fly

I've been trying to fly
i am afraid, i might fall
i don't understand, i don't want to fall
afraid of heights, it's making me cry

This flight isn't new
I've been there, before
around the blue sky, up so close
it's scary now, I've got no clue

I am not even old
i convince myself i can
spread my wings, believe me i ran
fainted at the edge, fell cold

Perhaps, i don't want to fly
i just need a solitary peaceful life
excuse me, gold, engines, greatness, family and wife
don't shower me pity cause i don't want to fly

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