The Haunting

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALL THE CHARACTERS IN THIS STORY ARE REAL AND THERE IS NO RESEMBLANCE OF ANY OF THEM TO THE IMAGINARY WORLD
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was one of those Joyful days in City of Joy, Kolkata. Roads were wet after the overnight rains. And there was mild sun glimmering over the left drops here and there. everything seemed to be brimming with life. Ankit was there to visit his relatives in the town. And the kind of invitation that this weather threw was impossible to ignore for anyone. Ankit has always been an enthusiast in roaming through unknown streets anyways. He asked his cousin brother for his bike's key and off he was on the Kolkata roads, relishing the beauties of Bengal.

He wandered through the old streets of Kolkata, amused by the red structures. Stooping here and there relishing the local delicacies and savoring tea ofcourse.
It was almost dusk time when he decided that he should start back to his place. And thought of buying some gifts for the relatives back at home. He asked some of local elders for nice place to do marketing. Seeing his interest in traveling he was suggested by localites about one mysterious CHOR BAZAAR (Thiefs's Market). He was informed that he would be able to get various branded items at pretty reasonable prices over there.

Ankit was interested too after listening all these. Next he headed to the Chor Bajaar. It did not take him long for him to reach the place. After parking his bike in one of the secluded corners of the street he went towards the more happening nooks of the market.

It wasn't tough for him to select the gifts. In an hour or so he had wrapped up all the shopping he had to do and made up his mind for going back home. Giving little attention he tried to reach to the place where he had parked his vehicle. When he could not see his bike over there he thought that he had reached some other place. But then he saw a pillar which he had noted just as a symbol for returning back. He started getting anxious. beads of sweats were flowing over his forehead and he could feel his heart beat increasing now. He was kind of sure that his bike was stolen and collected the courage to turn back and head towards the nearest Police Station for FIR. But then he did not even have his driving license or bikes documents with him. He was utterly confused.

I those moments of numbness he noticed a very narrow street running besides the pillar. Seemed like a dead end in itself and there was hardly any light there. He did not know why but his legs started moving into those directions. On moving inside the street there was a big right turn which opened into a huge area after walking for some 200 feet He never expected this and he was even more bewildered to see what was happening over there.

It was like a stock market for used bike parts. Everyone seemed busy is just dismantling the bikes which had any recognizable shapes. Only noises there were perhaps of the tools interacting with the way vehicle parts. He did not know what to speak to and whom to speak to. There was a young muslim boy in lungi and vest with a cap over his head, throwing a stern look over him which perhaps questioned his purpose of being at the place.

He hesitatingly approached him and told him that his bike has been missing from the markets outside. The other guy asked whether it was 6083. When Ankit showed his consent with him the other guy gestured towards some dismantled parts and ankit cold see his no plate lying some where too. he lost his temper after all this and started shouting that he would complain to police about all this illegal activities happening over here.

All of a sudden all the people who were peacefully doing there work stood up and started approaching Ankit with their tool in their hands itself. their was furosity in each of those eyes and fear would be only thing that could be seen in Ankits's now...The circle of people surrounding him was reducing in size and he admitted to himself that he had done a mistake by losing his patience and started thinking of good and bad moments of his life. He closed his eyes losing all the hope.

Suddenly he wakes up in his bed. Feels as though the very same beads of sweat are still there on his head. takes few moments to realize he is still in Gurgaon and thanked god for bad things happening in dreams only :))

Losing the madness in the mountains

I so very not want to miss the opportunity of writing a blog on my bike trek to the himalayas. I know no words can do justice to the feelings that are effervescent when one rides to the natures castle. Still here is an attempt to sum up the events during the trek. We started on Saturday, 5th of Dec for Kotdwar. And it was not the best of beginningss. Started late than we ususally do and got lost in the maize of cannaught place's circle before reaching to anand vihar. The entire process of finding out the correct way just took too much time. But once we reached Anand Vihar things changed. Roads got better, almost creamy from there on. But my biking partner and me lost track of each other. Assuming that both of us would keep moving, and we did keep moving met at some place near Meerut. Discussed about the directions and the best roads with the locals present and we were all set to rule the roads from there on, our next targets being Kotdwar. Soon bikes were taking with the winds making a noise that every biker loves. Views changed as fast as a movie played on fast forward mode where you know of eevrything happening around and at the same time you don't know of anything in proper details. Anyways reached Kotdwar by 3o'clock. It was time for some food. We hadnt had anything since morning except some tea and the fags, the fellow biker ddid,t smoke so he was devoid of that too.
After having our food we decided to move on for destination next , Lansdowne, some 45 kms from Kotdwar. It was a moment which played on my nerves because I had never driven bike in mountainous ranges and path to Lansdowne is known to be no  less tortuous than any   of its counterparts in shivalik mountain ranges. Anyways, risk is the name of the game. Prepared myself mentally and set we were for the next part of the trip. Was anxious at first few turns, especially the U turns but got hold of things pretty soon and it did not reallly take time when I had started to enjoy biking there. Stopped at many spots in between  when ever got a view worth trapping though the lenses . Though after every shot clicked got the same feeling that God is the greatest painter and eyes are the best cameras invented.

The images that i was clicking were not doing anything close to justice to the panorama of the hills. With this process repeating after every 20-25 mins it took us some time reaching Lansdowne and  we reached there by 6 o'clock . It was my first time at the place  and I was just mesmerised by the tranquility the town threw at you. Very small town, hardly commercialised , offering you with decent market where one can get all basic amenities (I hope you all understand).

We did not rush for any more hustle and bustle, got a cheap n decent  room for  ourselves. Made use of the basic amenities to beat the chill and got a nice sleep in the lap of nature.
Next morning was equally serene and temperature was not as low as the previous night. We were late in waking though and missed the chance to trap amazing sunrise through the curtain of mountains  in our gear. Without delaying it any further we started for our next destination Tarkeshwar temple, lacated 35 kms from Lansdowne this was probably the most solacing place I visited in the entire trek. It was amazing to see that the roads ended at that point and we were there  biking till the very last nook. The temple had a mystique associated with it and it hovered over you just as you a get a glimpse of it. Surrounded by tall coniferous trees from all around and zillions of bells hanging everywhere, the landscape it presented to the eyes could be nothing other than a treat. Ride back to lansdowne was amazing too, was feeling pretty fluent with driving in rocks now and had made friends with the curves. Once we reached a point from where there were two ways one back down to kotdwar and other to lansdowne it was a emotional moment. Other friend(Ashish) was returning from this place as he hadn't any more leaves approved with him and I was supposed to go further in the terrains alone. Well we bid each other happy journey for the rest of the trip and moved ahead on our respective paths.
My next destination was Khurshi (An even smaller village in Pauri) some 100 kms from the Lansdowne. Was not sure whether it would be worth covering so much distance. Had read about this village on Internet and that was all the information I had as it is not a well known hill  sttaion type of place. But doubts were all erased when i witnessed the sun set over the snowcapped mountains on my way to Khurshi. Reached the site late evening took a room and went straight forward  to sleep. As the market was all closed when i had reached.  Next morning was special. roamed through the narrow foot walks in the village observing the details of the place and the beauty of nature of course.

It was amazing to see how people living there adjusted their lifestyles according to the tough conditions these terrains provided. Interacted with some elders of the village who introduced me to the history of the  village, the knowledge of mountains, and the bliss of having abode in those mountains.  On feeling content with my intimacy with the place I decided to start my journey back home but through a different route to learn about more unknown lands. Rode from khurshi to srinagar. This time the confidence was all boozing while biking. I could feel a knowledge of those curves. How they wanted me to react. And it would not be wrong to call it gliding on the curves rather than driving. Stopping again at unknown nooks interacting with locals, the nature enjoyed every bit of  it. After reaching sri nagar I had made up my mind of wrapping things up fast now and not stopping that frequently. But the mountains were also in love with me by that time it seemed. The terrains got rougher forcing me to stay longer.

It was tough and challenging but equally enjoyable.
Next stop was at Devprayag. After this the roads turned better and raced up my accelerator. Did not stop much. Though did stop a rhishikesh n haridwar for small breaks and some odd clicks which did not come well in all those hassle. Went nostalgic when i stopped at roorkee in front of my college. Never thought that just passing in front of it would have such an effect. Had first good meal of the day at Punjabi Dhaba(A name all roorkee passouts will recognize without taking a moment).
It was already dark by that time and was time for cautious driving. Delhi was still 170 kms and body was feeling the tiredness too. Did it the best way I could and when I was just few 100 mts away from ma place in gurgaon a smile effused on ma face broad and loud, celebrating the journey, the destinations and every moment of it.

PS: There is so much to write that I can just go on and on. Still have tried to brief it up expressing the best parts of it.

A special note of thanks to Ashish Wahi, the co biker. It was always his idea to bike in rocks. Thank You dude for persuading me enough to come out of my shell of apprehensions.

Last but not the least, I do hope that i did lose some of the madness inside me in those mountains :)))

Yaaro dosti badi hi haseen hai !!!

Its funny how one gets busy in life, gets lost in an unknown desires of oneself and keeps running the marathon for the very same reasons. And in between when there are small pauses when  one looks back at time, just to get a glimpse of the reflections of beautiful moments of past and yet again starts chasing the mirage. Well, may be this is what life is. But those small miniature breaks are the moments that make life beautiful, which make you realize that life is not only a race to win but also a beautiful walk which keeps pacing itself alongside.

And one of better ways of relishing the beauty of our existence is meeting the god old friends. Its almost unbelievable how one tends to forget that its been years for those moments of fun which occupy the most profound nooks of heart. What is there in fact is the spark,alive and bright. There is an incessant flow of feelings and rest just goes with that magical flow.

Last few weeks brought alive the very same feelings in me. Meeting the best friends from college after such a long time was a bliss in itself. It never felt that we were meeting after such long times.

PS : Dont expect a period of decades. It would not make any difference though.

Fun and frolic knew no bounds and each moment of our togetherness just extended the sheer meaning of the above used phrase in fact. Things became so simple and straight forward.
No formalities, no professionalism an no unneeded social etiquette. The only feeling that kept hitting was the various layers of formalities that we keep adopting with growing age have ebbed away.

Getting  into the details of the re-union will make this blog go long like eternity. So lets end it over here.

Kudos to friendships   :-)

CHEERS

For bachelors to screw up any chance of getting a place on rent

Well it was gmail status of a friend hope u ppl like it....

Bachelor Guy: Sir, aapke liye kya jyada important hai?? Aapki ladki yaa aapka flat??

 Landlord: Kaisa faltoo sawal hai ye. Of course meri beti.

Bachelor Guy: Sir, aap apni beti ko kissi bachelor ko doge yaa kissi family waale insaan ko ???

Landlord: Ye kiss tarah se faltoo sawaal pooch rahe ho tum??

Bachelor Guy: Sir, jab aap apni ladki tak to bachelor ko dene ke liye tayaar ho to apna flat kyun nahi dete ho bachelor ko???

Mode Chillax!!!

Life is a Roller Coaster Just Got to Ride It...This song of Ronan Keating would be the apt most to describe how I am taking to  life these days. No tension no plannings,life mein socha to locha philosophy, just taking life as it comes each day and in all endeavors responding to it in the most fun loving way which comes from heart. But brain does interrupt when I seat at time like these to write these blogs. Can it keep on going like this forever or things need to be changed or may be let it get changed as on its own if it is destined to, after all this is how i like living.

Farji hai sab farji hai...

Recently got an opportunity to take interviews in my new company. Had a nice and proud feeling while doing so but the tricky part was that i had to take interview which was not my area of expertise.

Anywayz, marta kya na karta waala proverb u know, downloaded some quick interview questions from net. Read some answers too just in order to protect myself if in case some questions are back fired on me. Before calling the interviewee wished myself good luck and made a list of easier questions, to start with, which i was feeling little familiar. The interview  went pretty smoothly. Had to fake at many moments though  that i was able to understand the answers. But overall had maintained a respectable position.

Anyways, the feeling that really haunted me when I was trying to relax after reaching home at night time was "What kind of farji world this is?". Just few days back I was searching for a job and continuously giving interviews at different places. Could it be also possible that there were persons sitting on the other side of phone who couldn't really understand what I was talking, leave alone the question of evaluating me. Same could have happened to the person I interviewed today. Maybe the times when i was faking an understanding of his answers were the most important works of his that he was trying to explain.

Alas, things happen this way too :( .

Bachao bachao !!

There was a poem I read in standard 8th or 9th may be. This Is Going To Hurt Just A Little Bit written by Ogden nash....was about poet's feeling regarding being caught in a vicious circle of visiting the dentist so that his teeth could be in good shape and he din need to visit the place again. I found the poem particularly amusing but had never thought that life wud be bestowing ample opportunities that would  remind me of the poem, again and again. 


Take last friday for an instance. Got a task in my office which should have never been given to me. And to be very frank, can never think of enjoying it even in my dreams or in any earthly imaginations of mine. Kind of induces sleep which i am so very proficient in without any inducing agent :( . Anyways only one thought flashed through mind at that time, to complete the task as soon as possible and get rid of it. The fighter feeling..you know. So gave my best. By the time the task was almost completed my eyes felt so drowsy that I kind of doubted that the work was done properly, in the way it was asked for to be least :P. But yes had a sigh of relief that it was over.


Alas, the destiny hadn't decided so. There was some miss communication on behalf of the task assignment and the person apologized for his mistake while allocating the task to me and asked me to redo it.
Was in perfect Monday blues  kind of mood and on top of that this crap.....not again.
couldn't think of anything other then getting some pity by writing it on blog... :P


Those of you who really feel pity. Blog is over.
Others Continue :P :P


Personal message to Mr. Nash.


Dear Mr Nash,


Mr. Ogden Nash hope you are up some where there in heaven's dental clinic getting a tooth drill, amused to see your poem's readers' reactions. I wouldn't have been this fearful, if i hadn't read your experience.
Hope though that  mine is not as vicious as yours.


PS: No puns intended sir.


Regards,
Vishal

jara hat ke jara bach ke..ye hai india meri jaan

Had a funny start to the weekend morning. not so funny for the other person involved in the story....was sitting on the rear seat of the bike and njoing the cool nice breeze brushing ma face...and all of a sudden.....crrrrzzzzzzzz (brakes of old dying CBZ u know )....the super tall n healthy haryana policeman standing in front of us.......
what happened uncle ??? both me n ma frnd saying in unison....though both of us knew why he had stopped us...
Show your documents he said....his voice almost as coarse as the braking noise  desribed above...
okays uncle....replied ma frnd in a candid and cool way...pretty confident that he had them all and threw an assuring look......took few min in finding out the docs from his bag strewn with (God knows what??) many other documents may be...
do it fast....otherwise i will fine you faster....  
just a sec....
ok ok show me ur Driving license....
here they are...
insurance paper...
yes sir....
bike papers...
here sir......
pollution document...
here they are sir.....
and this was all we thought....my frnd gave a wily smile kinda shrewd one.....
just at that moment the police guy retaliated.....this pollution doc has not been updated...its uptill march 2010 only....
is it??? asked my frnd.....and then in his defence...but that expired  last month only right....i will get it updated dont worry uncle...
the cop replied in reassuring way...no problem son....we will fine you right now....you can get it updated any time you want....
must have seen my frnds face at that moment......and then the voice came...go now otherwise i will see other docs in detail too..... :P :P
now was the time for some one else to throw the clever guy look....positions had changed....i was there njoing the combat though.... :)))

marketing guys

have been thinking for so long what to write....its like my break from blogging has put a brake inside me as well. everytime i try to write something the only thing that i can think of is that i have not been writing for quite some time..and what happens afterwards is that either i delete the draft or it gets automatically saved...kudos to google, but nothing goes published.

As you ppl might see nothing different is happening today as well except the fact that i have a link of a nice book given below whaich i have bought as well. there will be something for the guys on my blog if not a nice article. hope u ppl like it and we all can discuss it together afterwards...will give a reason to write as well...

hope that this stupidiy acts as a trigger to writing more frequently and if possible more creatively.

My take on Indian Teams performance in T20 World Cup I

Well well well....Indian cricket team failing to do well in T20 World Cup is making more buzz than some other team would make on winning it.

PS: Let me make it very clear that I am an ardent fan of cricket and have been greatly disappointed with our teams performance in tournament.

Our media has gone behind the team players with equal ferocity as they go against Pakistan in case of any bomb blast in India. All the news channels questioning the players for late night parties in IPL and under performance during the World Cup. Passing senseless comments like "Yuvraj kyo ban gaye hai gamraj". And things like these don't do any good to the sports other than forcing the selectors, already at their political best, to take some random and eccentric decisions to convince the media that they they have at least performed their roles dutifully.

Apart from all these isn't it now too much to expect our team to perform well in every tournament they get on field. Its true that cricket is the only sports which India play and plays well to certain extent but that is not an fault of the players who finally play in the national team. Good teams like South Africa also got thrown out of the tournament in almost the same pathetic way as India did. And we are pretty fair in saying that their good players did not really click at critical moments. So why cant this fact be digested with the Indian team. Indian turks like Yuvraj, Sharma and others were not in best of forms. And so was Indian cricket team in not in its best shape.

So, what I believe is we should not be this erratic time and again. Of course we all wish our team performs better in coming time.