होली..

I remember very fondly, the times I was a kid. Living in the by lanes of Old Katra, Allahabad. Well.. don't be envious of me. Big B had left Allahabad by then for studies. Ho Ho Ho .. oh yes Holiii.
Almost one month prior to holi, we kids, my cousins, friends etc , used to get together, and start preparations of food items. Daily we used to go to our respective schools, come back and then peel potatoes, to make papads. Mom and aunties used to crush and make papads and chips and we used to spread those in the sun on cots to get those dry.. Another day, another kind of papads and namkeens, then Balushahi, then Gujias then Samosas.. and in this process we would never forget to count the days for actual holi dayss. Days because, our holi used to start from the last day at the school. Our friends used to colour our faces and leaving our dirty colourful shirts for our moms to wash. Then there was Holika Dahan, then Chchoti Holi (one day earlier), and then the main holi. Though, the next day as well,it was unsafe to go out in the fresh clothes, . Well you couldn't stop if a child would throw at balloon of colourful water on you.
Well coming back to the Holi.. We Kids..used to get up at 5am in the morning.. come to think of it, we actually could never get a proper sleep that night. So from early morning we would prepare our buckets of colourful water. Our Pichkaries,had already been repaired with new washers and grease etc.Then we would apply oil to our hands and faces. wear our holi clothes. Put on a topi and a scarf and move out of the house. Suddenly my Mom would shout and ask me to come back and have a few Gujias and samosas(my favourite till date). With great pain and resistance, I would come back, gobble down the things and rush away, of course after applying colour to the faces of my sisters and parents.
We would only return with friends at around noon, dance at home, sing songs, eat again and then take a bath.. In the evening, my fathers friends, (all Chachajis to me), used to come home, and my mom would bring out a big Parat( a huge copper dish), full of sweets, papads, namkeens etc and we all would sing and enjoy ourselves...

Flash back over...Cut to the present day..

I live presently in Delhi,in a flat.That bliss of living in a joint family has ebbed down. However yesterday, I thought of making Samosas at home, not that I couldn't buy those from the market, but.. it was a way for me to live back in times. I am writing this blog at 9.30 am, because there is nothing much to do at this time. Twice, have I checked the park outside my house, if some activity has started, but No.. Nothing.. I will have my tea now, with samosas that I have made..

My daughter doesn't consume anything fried or sweet, so she might have only a few. I hope I am able to finish the rest of the samosas..

But I am happy... that I have brought back a few of the moments from the good old days.. Happy Holi

WORDS

There is a lot happening about the WORDS, said by Amir Khan, a very fine actor, about the lyrics. If you haven't read those, then you are lucky. As per him, A song is famous because of the actors and not because of the lyrics.. Ch Ch Ch

How could he forget that as per our philosophy, the whole universe was created from a word: “AKSHAR”. Meaning, that which can not be destroyed. Words are first created in the thoughts, and then take shape. Emotions flow through them. And without the given emotions, through the written words, an actor, even of the capability of Amir Khan, can not emote on screen. He would look dumb and faceless on the screen.

Many a songs, which have been in the background score of the films, have been a huge hit. Hindustani music has colour and variety, while English songs sometimes sound monotonous with similar pattern of rhythms etc. BUT.. We still keep singing and enjoying these songs, because of the lyrics. Who can forget the songs like..Its only Words, or.. I just called to say, or.. I am a woman in love.. Or Kabhie Kabhie.. or Neela Aasman..

If his knowledge about the writers is poor, then he can’t blame it on the lyricists. Even Rabindra Nath Tagore’s songs are remembered more for the words.

Please remember that WORDS are the soul, Music to them is the BODY, and actors are only the ATTIRE

High Court finally has come to the rescue of over Five Lakh RICKSHAW WALLAHS of Delhi city. They have asked the city authority to look after them. Please don't be alarmed by the numbers, even if the allowed number of Ricks on the already congested roads of Delhi is only 99,000.

HC is giving in this way,the approval, to the Rickshaw wallas, to cross the roads, when the Red light is on. They can even creat anywhere a rickshaw stand on the road. They are allowed to overtake and scratch any car from any side, and if you get angry with them, then they are even allowed to abuse you. If a car is parked on a road, you have to pay a fine, but Rickshawallahs, are allowed to stand anywhere.

I am really happy for these rickshaw wallas. God Bless Delhi High Court.

A few days back, Delhi was engulfed in a Thick fog blanket. I had to go to visit an ailing friend of mine, who lives near Anand Vihar flyover, East Delhi.

It was about 5.15pm, the roads were almost empty, wheather was cold and light diminishing.As soon as I reached the National Highway Near Mayur Vihar- I, I spotted a young lady of about 29/30 yrs asking for lift. She was wearing good clothes, If I remember correctly now, a nice jacket, jeans etc. Seemed from a very good family and in distress. I have heard so many stories about hitch hiking and there after effects, but seeing a poor girl helpless on the empty and foggy road, made me forget all those stories, and as a good samaritan, I stopped my car and checked with her if I could be of any help to her.She asked me if I could drop her near Bus Terminal.

Though I was going to the same side, but somehow, the Idea of sitting with an unknown girl in the car made me uncomfortable, and I told her that I would be going only till the next traffic light junction, and then will turn right.She however asked me to drop on the same Light, so that she might get something from there to travel to her desired destination. Naturally I helped her and asked her to sit in the car.

Realising that the distance of travelling with me is going to be very short, she immediately after sitting, said " Do you want to do something?" It didn't register to me and asked her What did you say? She again repeated the question and said that she was a call girl. The drops of sweat appeared on my temples, and my mind went blank. I immediately stopped my car and asked her to get out of my car. She said " why don't you take a close look on me." I looked around in my car if there is anything valuable lying in the car, and caught her as well, scanning the interior of my car. There was nothing, and before she could say another word I simply came out of the car, and took out my mobile, as if I was going to call the police. She then decided to come out of the car and went away. I simply sat in the car, locked the doors and drove away, as if I had seen a bhoot. Looked in my rear view mirror and saw her again showing her thumb and asking for a lift on the road. Ufff Phewwww.

Today, I think, that I stopped my car, because I thought an innocent girl in distress was in need of help, BUT, this incident will stop me, now onwards, to STOP AND HELP ANY OTHER GIRL, EVEN IF SHE ACTUALLY NEEDS HELP.

Life has taught me another lesson to ignore and BE HAPPY.