In Conversation with the Universe

00:31
It was a sleepless hot summer night, one of those tasteless moments where you have to lie in the middle of your bed to maximize the chances of the cool air of the ceiling fan hitting you, and even with that you are trying to wrestle with your pillow to induce some sleep.
Yet sleep was far away, its tardy self, I would have to have a stiff word with it I had thought to myself. My mind had drifted to what Puneet was saying.
22:15
“See CK, you cannot really tell me that you will not marry!”
“Why? What is wrong with that?”
“In our society, and up bringing we cannot really get into a live-in relationship, it just will not work for us.”
“I meant living single Puneet!”
“Why? Don’t you think you will find a woman you want to share the rest of your life with?”
“No, considering the track record I do not think so”
“You have to keep your mind open to all possibilities my friend”

KEEP SELF OPEN TO OPPORTUNITIES

“And besides, you can always get your mother to arrange something for you.”
“I have made it clear to my mother that I would not let her do something like that. Arranged marriages are not for me, I do not want to be married to someone I do not love. And even if I get married, a scary thought, I want to know if it is worth it.”
“You have to work to make it worth your while dude.”

YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT WORTH YOUR WHILE

00:33
I woke up, got out of bed and walked towards the fridge. The summer had really started penetrating our sanity, as our brains were starting to melt into mush. The cool air blasting out of the fridge was very welcoming, I always find myself lingering at the fridge in the summer, surveying its ware as if I was looking at it for the first time. A big piece of watermelon, a half bar of MarsTM and some Alphonso Mangoes®. Food was not a good option I thought, I did not want to have a bout of acidity and bring out the green monster (a chronic nightmare). I settled for a bottle of water and closed the fridge. As I turned around, sipping some water from the bottle, I saw a figure wearing a silken robe and Gucci shades. The water went down my windpipe, and I was gasping for air, trying to Heimlich myself.
She opened her mouth and I knew I was having one of my better nightmares, her elegant tone was heavenly.
“Do not be alarmed, my name is Hielal, I have come to speak to you”
“Sort of obvious no? You are standing in my kitchen, alone, with me in my shorts in the middle of the night, if you are here for anything else I would be quite shocked, and disappointed to say the least”
“Ha Ha Ha, are you done?”
“No, wait I think I have one more…no I am done”
“Good, do you think we can sit down to have a chat then?”
“Why not, would you like some Alphonso Mangoes®?”
“I have tried it before, it wasn’t for me, I think it is highly overrated”
She seemed to have similar tastes as me, I liked this woman, her being imaginary or celestial notwithstanding.
“So CK, what troubles you? What keeps you up late at night, surveying the fridge for tidbits? Are you eating your frustration and deep angst?”
Was this celestial therapy? I asked myself, then I thought might as well ask her.
“Is this celestial therapy?”
“No dear, this is me Hielal, better known as the Universe, talking to you”
“This is cosmic then, not celestial?”
“Err…ok, whatever puts your mind at ease.”
“Tough luck, nothing is going to put my mind at ease, not when a cosmic being, the all pervading, omnipotent being is present in my hall on my sofa. Don’t you think being calm is out of the picture?”
“Sometimes my tone does the trick.”
“Maybe so, but I go deeper than that, and the deeper I go it is scaring me even more.”
“I hold all the answers.”
“Duh…I think that came with the job description. Do me a favor don’t state the obvious, that way we can get through this a lot faster.”
“You are going to die at 58, there, are you happy now ?, I gave you something you weren’t expecting.”
“How do I die? Is it painful?”
“I don’t want to state the obvious. And no, I can’t tell you how you die, that is against my code.”
“The cosmic code I am sure. All right, more pertinent question – Why are you here today?”
“You ask many questions to yourself, about your future. How successful you will be? How happy you will be? How many places you will go? How your family will be?”
“Doesn’t everybody?”
“Sure everybody does. But I am here to address one question that you keep nagging me about.”
And we both said it in unison
“Will you/I ever find the woman of your dreams?”
“Tough question”
“Important question, so I thought, I might as well come down and have a bit of a chat with you. Ck, you are a stupid, dumb, lame, loser who is waiting for me to do everything for you.”
Now those were fighting terms, but she was too cosmic to fight. So I listened, in anger, with a look of protest in my eyes, but I listened.
“Wipe that look of your face, you buffoon. What haven’t you got? A marvelous family, a splendid life, some of the best friends, a good job, great colleagues, your life has basically been a jolly ride, but you are just stuck on the one thing – Love.”
“Am I being selfish?”
“Not selfish, but moronic yes. The reason I haven’t been able to give you what you want, is that you are not ready for it. You have to love yourself before someone can love you. Otherwise, I will put two lives in jeopardy. You blame me for not finding the right one, I found two really great ones. And you drove them away with your incessant self loathing. If you hate yourself so much, why do you want others to think differently?”
I was about to say something here, but good sense prevailed.
“Can you love yourself? Can you be more open to life? Can you be grateful for what I have given you?”
“YES, YES oh a thousand times yes. But when will I find the girl?”
“I don’t know. Close your mouth, nothing is preordained, I have to manage everything in real time.”
“But you said I would die at 58.”
“That was bullshit to keep you on your toes. But now that I have said it I can manage it that way.”
“Hmmm, all right, so what you are saying is, be cool – be money”
“Swingers??? You are going to quote Swingers right now?”
“Good movie!”
“Excellent movie, but you cannot quote it here. You have to be open to life, and yours truly will make things happen. I do not want another black mark on my appraisal, you have to really shape things up all right.”
“Appraisal? Are you answerable to God?”
“Well, you have to meet Her, She is not really my superior, it is a flat organization you see. Enough of that, I have to go. Don’t let me down.”
“One last thing, will I ever be able to find eternal happiness?”
“Hahahahaha, I will let you know,i am working towards the same thing. Kiddo it’s the journey, not the destination. Cheerio”
00:42
I woke up in a sweaty mess, the fan had stopped, I was writhing in the wet bed. I sat up in my bed to gather my thoughts. It was a dream, pretty wild dream. It gave me some perspective, an idea, something to keep handy when I get absolutely nervous and anxious.
I took a sip of water from the bottle, and then went back to sleep. As I closed my eyes, I realized, that bottle had to have come from the kitchen.

Sad and disturbing news

Recieved some terrible news coming out of Mangalore this morning, an Air India Express plane crashed after overshooting the runway. 165 people are feared dead. Lets take a moment to absorb that.
There is a lot left to unfold on this national tragedy, but i wanted to set the context for everybody. I know that a lot of people would be surfing for more information on this news, from India, from Asia and from the looks of it America as well. For all of them this would be an introduction to Mangalore, for me Mangalore and Bajpe(the airport town) is a home away from home.
Bajpe is a village about 30 km from the port city of Mangalore. Its biggest claim to fame is its Airport. Connecting western Karnataka to the rest of the country, but more importantly the Middle East. The gateway for thousands of expats working in various countries of the Gulf.
I had recently gone to Mangalore via air and had the opportunity to take a close and personal look at the facility. It was a modern international airport teeming with activity, all the remnants of the three flights a week airport cleared off with care. Incidentally while in Mangalore i had to pick my uncle and his family as they were flying in from Dubai on an Air India Express(the coincidence has moved me to write this). Waiting at the arrivals gate of the international terminal, was akin to waiting for the train at a large suburban station in Mumbai. The place was littered with people who had come to recieve their sweethearts. The ratio was easily 5 people for every passenger. As the passengers trickled out and met ther kin, the waterworks were in full swing, the smiles are from ear to ear, and the place fills up with the good vibrations.
Thinking about it now, makes me sad as i imagine the 500 plus people who have no idea what to do, where to go. Most of them are from towns far away, and would have the women and children in tow. Out of the165, at least a hundred would be the sole bread winner of the family, with a minimum of 3-4 dependants. It pains me no end to think that not 100 odd but close to 500 lives have been destroyed.
There are two more entities that are close to my heart and have been severely hit by this incident- the Mangalore International Airport and the Air India Express. The Mangalore airport runway is going to be blamed, the place will come under the scanner, and may lose the priviledge to accommodate international flights.
Air India Express-the only squeaky clean asset of the debt laiden behemoth NACIL(National Aviation Corporation of India-Air India), will now be under the same cynical magnifying glass as the rest of the company.
This tragedy has brought the eyes of the world upon us. We owe it to the 165 to apologise if there was an error. The rest of the country needs to know what happened and if we can be safe in the air again!

Prabhu Deva - chikku bukku

Made it

This is a post for all those times that i couldn't write. It was for all the times that i had an idea and i just let it slip away because i was too lazy. I am not a modest animal, i think i am beyond the rest i think i am unique. It is this quality which sets me apart from almost every one. Yet this is the quality which is crying of mediocrity from every single pore.

Though i want to be special, shouting out for some unique quality, i know i am just about as average as everyone else. The searching quality in me is not new, i search for that je ne se qua, just like every other being.

Though life is said to be easy, it bites you in the ass to remind you that it is not. The corollary to which, is that each time you take life to seriously it beckons you to its lighter side.

So is it balance that we are all looking for, the elusive state of being between seriousness and callousness, stupid unhindered actions to carefully thought out machinations.

Is the search of such a balance our quest in life.

All i know is that i want to write, i want to talk to the world, i want to leave something for people to read, to experience, to ponder over - to love.

I can't think of a more glorious way to do it than to write - to put to the test that which is my calling. The job of a story teller, the one who writes fables, histories, biographies, fiction and states facts. Volumes of two score, to parchment of dirt. Anything consequential and yet absolutely worthless.

I set out to write something , i believe i achieved what i set out to do. Was it short? Did it say what i wanted to?

I do not stop to ask such questions. I answer to a higher cause - that which still remains elusive.

Silent Lucidity - Chungking Express

We watch movies on a regular basis, two maybe three a month. If you are any where close to a movie buff you would watch about 4 - 5 a week. But if you are anyone like me you would go on to watch anywhere close to 7 - 8 in a week. Don't ask me how we accomplish this feat, i am at a loss myself. What is the point of establishing this fact?....oh yes because of the enormous library of movies it becomes very difficult to actually get your hands on something which just blows you out of your seat. After a certain point you have already seen it, interpreted in a certain way, shown in a particular way and nothing really affects you in the same way as you were before. You start losing hope and then you are just drinking the same wine in a new bottle.

Every so often, not regularly you actually come across something worth while. Something that you are compelled to share with the world, something that jumps up at you and restores your faith in the life long pursuit of movies. For me it was Chungking Express.

I am a big fan of Cantonese movies, i started with the classics of Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, Jet Li then i was a big fan of the gangster movies Chow Yun Fat, John Woo, Andy Lau but only recently did i realise that there is a world beyond these movies, movies about every day people, every day emotions. I was introduced to Wong Kar Wai and Tony Leung - subliminal is the only word i can think of. There are scripts, there are actors, there are directors and there is cinematography and then there is treatment. Treatment of the smallest most mundane of things can be so precious, its only when you see it do you believe it. Pineapple in a burger sounds yuck right? but if done right it can be heavenly. You try it and if you don't have it, you will ruin some good ingredients.

Chungking Express is exactly that, treatment of human emotions, depicted beautifully by four fantastic actors. Their story is not extraordinary, its not legendary and most definitely not historic. You immediately connect with the movie because it is either a story of your life or somebody that you know of.

There is an obvious down side to this, you have tasted glorious taste of a fabulous dish, now...where do you go to get some more. Sorry, you have to wade through mountains of movies again and just when you think you have lost all hope.......BOOM - Silent Lucidity

LSD - The Acidic Trip

Hallucination of the real Indian world, replete with colorful renditions of a grim and harsh realities of the Indian way of life. Albeit this is only true for the Urban population, but i am sure it can be stretched to cover some of the more popular and infamous towns of India.

Love Sex aur Dhoka is straight of the bat comedy. Nothing about this movie should be taken seriously, the narrative is hilarious and even parts where people will be stunned in silence is extremely funny.

The acting was the star of the movie, each and every character was well portrayed, apart from the main cast do watch out for Lalaji's frank behavior and Meter Down's fantastic one - liners.

The stories didn't go anywhere, there was no cinematic closure to any of them, thats the point - that there is no point and that got most of the audience baffled and confused. A terrible tragedy, but if they chew on it a bit more, they will come around...i am sure of it.

An audience member was so confused, he started asking his friend if 'he' understood what was going on. I couldn't help but feel bad.

The movie has its obvious humor and its subtle hilarious magic - trouble is there is more of the latter and that will hold this movie from commercial success.

Many people told me that there was a bit missing in the movie, just a bit, somewhere - i completely disagree its just right anything more or less would have ruined it.

The acidic trip was short - sweet and got me singing the title track all the way home - 4 / 5 and a must watch.

Magic - JoTeCk

"Shee ya...the weekend is getting over and we have to go back to work tomorrow", said Joanna in a very dejected tone.

"It's not over yet..Jo....Mumbai is still about 3 hrs away", Tejal being her usual chirpy self

"All i care is that i had a fantastic time", chimed in Chennakeshav from his comfortable seat in the blue Shivneri

Joanna sank back into her's and closed her eyes. Her calm porcelain visage cracked into a subtle smile, as she was transported back to her school. St. Joseph's Convent, Panchgini.

Joanna a native of Shivaji Park (Mumbai), had been admitted to this school as an eight year old. Where most children find it difficult to stray too far away from their mother's apron strings Joanna had to live far away in Panchagani's famed girls school and away from the safe haven of her daddy's arms.

As she had gotten off the bus at Panchgani, with her two friends in tow, she was feeling the familiar feeling of anxiousness and joy that she felt oh so many years ago. Her happiness was visible as she peered at the deserted main market of Panchgani at 7 in the morning.

After much inquiry and asking around, a room was found - at Geetanjali Hotel, half a click (km) away from the main market. The bags were duly 'dumped', and the morning ablutions were taken care of.

Joanna skipped and hopped the trail from the Hotel to Lucky Cafe. Lucky Cafe is an old establishment run by a family of Bahai Iranis. The fare of Cheese Omelete bread, Bun Maska, Sausages and Chai was quaint, yet delicious. The trio had licked the plates clean before settling back to breath a sigh of relief. They felt that this was a time of careful reflection and gratitude.

"It feels so good to be out of the city and just be doing something out of the ordinary"

"The food here is bloody awesome man, i mean i have had this stuff before, but the food is magical."

"Next we see your school right?"

"Yes, lets settle the bill."

A small hike up the road from Lucky's lay the gates of Joanna's school - well it was the back gate as Joanna later informed them, but it did feel like a fortress of sorts. The company entered the school passing the kitchen and then up the stairs passing the refectory (dining room) to the party corridor and bumping into Sister Admin. Sister Admin was the short dimunitive lady in her early seventies, but with eyes that would put a wild cat to shame. Joanna quickly introduced herself and Sister humored her as a polite and cordial sister would.

She proceeded to tell them about the on goings of the place, this was Joanna's turn to humor her as this was not vital information for them to know. After the St. Joseph's Fortnightly as told by Sister Admin got over, they took her leave and walked to the principal's office.

For Tejal and Chennakeshav this was a novel experience, walking through the ancient halls and corridors of an institution that had lasted over two hundred and fifty years and was going strong. The silent edifice could tell a thousand tales, of a thousand girls who became women right in these halls. The rooms where they learnt the facts of life, to be self sufficient, to be honorable, to be boisterous, to support another, to breathe in nature and absorb life through its pores.

Joanna caught up with her once physical education professor who was now the principal of the school. Gentle lady who commanded respect, but oozed warmth and charm.

The alma mater of the school then guided her friends up the slope to what was once her old basketball court. Chennakeshav wondered how nice it was to have a basketball court overlooking the valley. The court also overlooked the massive sports ground of St. Josephs...the perimeter of which was a respectable 800 meters.

Chennakeshav sat on the steps of the sports ground, taking in the view. In a flash he could see it all, the sports, the championships, the camaraderie, honorable battle, good cheer and intense passion. The roar of the supporters, the sweat of the valiant and the brave. Hundred years of competition.

"Do you think we can go back to Panchgani right now?" asked Joanna to the two

"Yah right....maybe we can go back and slap the manager of Geetanjali for kicking us out like that", exclaimed Chennakeshav

"May be we should...but another time...Pune was a lot of fun too ya"

The group nodded in agreement and fell back into silence. Tejal looked outside on the western express highway as the Shivneri hurtled towards Mumbai and he thought of the ride to Pune.

The guys were approaching Pune on the Indica hired from Panchgani. Joanna and Tejal were busy playing scramble on Jo's Iphone when she screamed - "Sydney Point"

"We should look out at the scenary that lies around us"

Chennakeshav and Tejal looked out the window with Jo and felt a bit sad, they had not seen Sydney Point as they had meant to the night before. But they were going to make the most of what lay before them - Pune.

The journey to Pune was quick, three hours and a short rickshaw ride inside the city to the quaint Hotel Laxman on Prabhat Path off Deccan Gymkhana in what can be called the Heart of Pune. Extremely famished, the gang dumped their luggage and walked outside. Tejal was in the mood for some Maharashtrian fare, and the gang agreed that that was the way to go. Tejal took the initiative to find out where the delicacy could be savoured in all its glory. A helpful shopkeeper pointed them towards Mathura - a misnomer for a Maharashtrian joint for a city/kingdom deep in the heart of Uttar Pradesh, but bad politics aside the place was known for its Maharashtrian fare.

Alas the place was closed at five and the trio had to make do with a multi cuisine restaurant and satiate their hunger. Not losing hope they had decided to return to Mathura in the evening for some dinner before going to Sheesha (KP) after, for Hookah and drinks.

Evening saw Chennakeshav and Joanna put on their best clothes and charm ready for a night of Music and entertainment at Sheesha with Tejal in tow. Tejal on her part was very chic in her black top with pyjamas and dupatta with glasses to complete the intellectual vagabond bohemian look - hey if she had to dress down, she would do it in style.

Off they trotted back to Mathura (restaurant, lest you confuse it with the city) determined to succeed in getting a bite. They soon found out that this was the mission of many , the line was dense and long. Nearly losing all hope the gang made some phone calls to their trusted confidants for some alternative arrangements.

Anirudh Shiva, a young aspiring Public Relations consultant based in Mumbai but a long time Punekar came to the groups rescue. He told them of a place called Janseva, up the steps from Chitale Bandhu on Laxmi Road. The hungry three went to eat.

Double Bee, Tondli, Dahi Wada, Cauliflower, Thali peeth, Gulab Jamun, Dal , Bhaath (rice), Khichdi(spiced dal rice) and some more of it, lots more with Papad, Koshimbir(Salad, raita) Poli (Chapati) in tow.

At ten o' clock the gang ambled out of Janseva and walked back to Laxman. Happy and content at the wonderful food that had been consumed. It was too late for Sheesha but not too late to party in the room. They huddled into bed, switched on the telly and proceeded to watch. Ten minutes later the eyes were heavy, the remote was forgotten...silence.

Shivneri came to a halt on the Western Express Highway at Drive - Inn, Lonavala. The trio walked out for a bit of a stretch and drinks. Joanna and Tejal got client calls and were now intensely fixed on their work. Chennakeshav stood there looking at his friends, colleagues, mentors.....

"Ck lets go to Panchgani", said Jo

"Sure lets go, but who all?", he asked

"See, if you are in then we can ask Tejal and perhaps Niharika and Anuya"

"Makes sense, you ask we can go some time"

"We should go tomorrow!"

"Uhmm...ok...how are you going to convince everyone?"

"I am going to tell them, whoever comes we go with them"

"Allright!"

The day had come, Friday....only Tejal had confirmed. Joanna and Tejal had been Chennakeshav's mentors at their Public Relations Consultancy in Mumbai. They had taught him, reasoned with him, answered his million questions, moulded his views, fired him, grilled him and directed him to the light. He had learnt to fear them, respect them, understand them....love them.

To go away on a vacation with just the two of them was going to be a unique experience for Chennakeshav. He knew that he was going to be a boy with these women, not a man. Though he was at ease with them, he still was worried about what they would say. He would joke around with them but still be within his bounds. He would not act funny with them because they were like family to him.

Tejal looked at Ck and thought of how he had changed, from a college boy to a man in a short span of three years. Her thoughts drifted to the argument with the manager of Geetanjali.

On the second morning , the manager had asked the trio to vacate their room. This was a surprise for them as they were under the impression that they had made their plans of staying two nights at the establishment clear to its keeper. They tried to reason with him, they tried to pressurise him, they tried to appeal to his humanity and then they threatened him. In a brief glimpse of leadership, CK told the manager that he would leave the room right now and not pay a paisa to the hotel. The girls followed CK and took off with their luggage.

"Where to now?" asked Joanna

"To Lucky for breakfast and then to Pune"

The plan was set in stone and the adventurers moved....

"Guys get into the bus, its about to leave", hailed Ck to the two and got into the bus

They sat next to their boxes of fresh fruit bought off the market at Panchgani. A Gujarati and a Chinese woman had haggled carefully with the sellers to get the best deal for all three of them. Perhaps the best mementos from a completely organic town.

"I want to go back to Panchgani right now", squealed Joanna clearly in withdrawal of a high that was the hill top hamlet

She looked at the hills of Lonavala and she saw the three of them hiking the road to Table Land.

The winding road took them up to the lava formulated tables of five, which gives the area its name. They reached just in time for the yellow circle to hide slowly behind the magnificent mountain range of the Sahyadaris. Within moments everything was draped in a brilliant orange hue.

Joanna walked them across the breadth of the table took them to Gods Valley, the beauty and the majesty of nature lay before them. Then around to the crater filled with water which reflected the tall trees that overlooked the water body as it has for centuries.

The three stood still, the light breeze came from the east and caressed them. Perfect Harmony for the three right there on Paach Gani.

Magic