Aahh!!!
The sheer thought of two of my favorite things - DnD - Delhi & Driving fills me with incomparable delight. Discovering Delhi on my own had always interested me...and ever since I learned to drive 7 years back, my wish had got 4 wheels.
I have to admit that I have always been scared of getting on a two wheeler - and that too not without a reason - after all, how long can you expect gyroscopic motion to compensate for the lack of balance...I, for one, always compared riding a bike to walking a tight rope! I would rather prefer to walk miles, or even expose myself to the excruciating experience of a Blue Line than get on anything less than 4 wheels...And since the day this thought had surfaced in my mind, I had decided, it had to be car...
Learning to drive a car is one of the most anticipated and eagerly awaited time - at least for the guys...and that too for multifarious reasons. I, too, like most of us had learned to drive from the local driving school. The Thapa's visit for fifteen laborious, stressful but exciting rotations of the earth was a time I planned my day around. The first lesson of ABC (accelerator, brake and clutch for the ones not aware of it), the fidgety contraption fitted in the old Maruti 800 and my first day out on my father's car are some of the most indelible moments from my driving experience so far. Though, I had to hand it out to my mum who patiently sat out, and that too very quietly, egging me on as I tried to smoothen my hand on a real car (and not computer games for once). Yes, there were accidents. Very funny ones at that too...after all, trying to park a car in 3rd gear @ 40 kmph is rather funny...banging it into your neighbours ride is even funnier...and then trying to convince him that his vehicle wasn't parked the right way, is, as Mastercard calls it, Priceless...
But life, like the inevitable flipside of the coin is not always funny. Take it from me...there is nothing more scary than losing control of a car speeding at 120 kmph on a state highway, skidding away and colliding with a bus head on! The moment when you realize that its not in your hands anymore, you see your entire life flash by. But then life has its own ways. You come out unscathed, as alive as you ever would be, thanks to your seat belts. Trust me, these things work great. And it is events like these that change your concept of driving forever...or for the next few days at least.
Now, being a commuter in Delhi, especially if you happen to drive, is always an interesting time.
Though, New Delhi is rated as "the best city to drive in" in the entire country, I have always wondered how other metros would be if Delhi is the No. 1 benchmark. I have tread endless miles on Delhi roads...from the widest lanes to the narrowest corners, from the butter smooth paved roads of DND and NH-8 flyways to the tarmac in the potholes of Kapashera and Gurgaon, Delhi roads have a plethora of experience to offer. Not excluding the fact that 99% of people on the road do not know to drive the right way despite 100% of us knowing the basic traffic rules is another ingredient to this enriching journey.
Whenever I am Delhi, I have to drive! And I set off on trips traversing from Eastern most parts to the Southern most corners most frequently. While mostly I am speeding my way through the heavy traffic trying to reach my destinations as early as possible (without the intervention of teleportation), this time I wasn't my usual self. For my latest journey, I had to meet a couple of friends down in Gurgaon.
Anyone well acquainted with Delhi traffic knows that you leave 2 hours in advance to travel such a distance. I did the same. But something was awfully different this time. I don't know. Instead of putting ear blaring and mind numbing music, I opted for some soft melancholies. And snap, I wasn't pestered by the fact that I will have to drive down through the usual crazy mess. For once, upon noticing the traffic lights turn from green to yellow, I didn't press hard on the accelelator. I wasn't worried about having to wait 90 seconds at each of the lights. Nor did I want to jump any of those...very unlike me...but the sheer thought of abiding by the traffic rules had started making me feel good from inside. When required, I was changing gears with ease, precisely at the speeds prescribed by the manufacturer. I wasn't changing lanes haphazardly, indicating every time I needed to. I wasn't speeding, ensuring that I was well within the permitted speed limits at all times. The thought of people whizzing past me in their rides didn't seem to bother me anymore while on other occasions I would have been game for a race. Upon getting stuck up behind someone, I wasn't honking the horn, patiently waiting for the driver ahead to get a move on. The sights of the traffic signal showing red, yellow and green simultaneously didn't even make me whiff. I wasn't cursing the administration for the whole mess on the roads. I would usually get down in a verbal volley with anyone if they didn't budge out of the way or if they tried to give me lessons on how to drive. This time, all I had were the words "Thank You" and "Sorry" for them. Life on the road seemed a whole lot peaceful. No more stress, no more tension, no more hurry and a lot more enjoyable.
While on my way back late night, I was wondering what had made this difference.
The message in the side view mirror got me thinking - "Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear", like it was shedding light in the immense dark around me.
I realized that all this while, it was only up to one factor to decide how I saw things, how I reacted to everything around me,whether I liked it or abhorred it - ME. Anything else was just an excuse. And now as I sit penning down what I had been missing all this while, I'll take another twenty seconds for a few lessons -
1) Never hurry on the roads, there is someone waiting for you to get back home!
2) The difference between 60 kmph and 100 kmph is a few minutes, its just not worth that risk
And I saw the next one on the Noida DND (I smiled as I went past this one)
3) I love Traffic rules!!!
Hope you find your Best Drive Ever soon!!!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Mirror
You are a sigma of your roots, your traditions, your upbringing, your beliefs and your experiences.
Unsure as I may be, I for one, believe that time carves out multiple "us" - an entire range of persona between two ends of a spectrum. Our traits, our behavior and our lives are always under oscillating in this unique band of ours.
What interests me most are the two extreme ends of this vibgyor! This so called Mirror
Unsure as I may be, I for one, believe that time carves out multiple "us" - an entire range of persona between two ends of a spectrum. Our traits, our behavior and our lives are always under oscillating in this unique band of ours.
What interests me most are the two extreme ends of this vibgyor! This so called Mirror
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Some Important things...
Yes, I know you are busy. In fact, the statement "Life is very demanding" will seem like an understatement to you at this juncture of time. To be truthful, I am also living a very eventful life...too eventful at times...too tiring...so much so that the thin line of difference between fun times and hectic times cease to exist...that things which were adventurous are now metamorphosing into burdensome activities.
What are you slogging it out for?
Why doesn't time agree with you?
When does it ever occur to you that you are not only answerable here but somewhere else too?
Your thoughts, efforts, sweat - for whom are your killing yourself?
Isn't it time your broke these shackles and set yourself free?
Money, success, recognition...is that it?
Are you wondering whether these are your destination, your final resting place? Or is this just the start? Think again.
Eat this:
You are 65. If you are lucky, you would pr0bably be lying on your deathbed and thank god for spitting mercy on you. There's no one next to you. You have dreary eyes with tears in them wishing for your loved ones to be there. And there's only one question -where is everyone who called them yours?
But you are wrong, as equally as you have been for the last 45 years...the question is do you deserve them?
Your brain does a quick re-wind of your entire history...flashes of all the people that could have and should have meant so much more rushing by...only now its too late for the same. There's no redemption, only repent. You yearn for another chance. Just a few moments with your parents - to tell them how much you are grateful to them, for the every li'l sacrifice they made for you, for always putting your need ahead of theirs. Your brother for just being their - through all the thick and thin...and that you are sorry for not being there for him when you should have. To your friends who patiently listened and responded to all your meaningless yapping. To that girl who made you feel worth it...to that love of your life...to your wife, to your children. Everyone!!!
You suddenly gasp for air...you are going to choke on yourself...you don't want to die...you want to live on...you resist..you pray, for once with all your heart, to take you back...to the times when you could have done all these things...Things that are way more important now and ever...
Suddenly, you wake up from this nightmare, or your future to be...
Its not too late.
Have you ever thought about this? Or are you too busy?
Get a life!
What are you slogging it out for?
Why doesn't time agree with you?
When does it ever occur to you that you are not only answerable here but somewhere else too?
Your thoughts, efforts, sweat - for whom are your killing yourself?
Isn't it time your broke these shackles and set yourself free?
Money, success, recognition...is that it?
Are you wondering whether these are your destination, your final resting place? Or is this just the start? Think again.
Eat this:
You are 65. If you are lucky, you would pr0bably be lying on your deathbed and thank god for spitting mercy on you. There's no one next to you. You have dreary eyes with tears in them wishing for your loved ones to be there. And there's only one question -where is everyone who called them yours?
But you are wrong, as equally as you have been for the last 45 years...the question is do you deserve them?
Your brain does a quick re-wind of your entire history...flashes of all the people that could have and should have meant so much more rushing by...only now its too late for the same. There's no redemption, only repent. You yearn for another chance. Just a few moments with your parents - to tell them how much you are grateful to them, for the every li'l sacrifice they made for you, for always putting your need ahead of theirs. Your brother for just being their - through all the thick and thin...and that you are sorry for not being there for him when you should have. To your friends who patiently listened and responded to all your meaningless yapping. To that girl who made you feel worth it...to that love of your life...to your wife, to your children. Everyone!!!
You suddenly gasp for air...you are going to choke on yourself...you don't want to die...you want to live on...you resist..you pray, for once with all your heart, to take you back...to the times when you could have done all these things...Things that are way more important now and ever...
Suddenly, you wake up from this nightmare, or your future to be...
Its not too late.
Have you ever thought about this? Or are you too busy?
Get a life!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
That Strange Feeling!!!
Lub Dub...Lub Dub...weird isn't it?
You must be bamboozled by the way I started this post. But don't worry. Its not weird at all. In fact, any sane spirit is expected to react the very way you did. And no, I haven't lost my mind...at least not yet.
I have spent the last few days traveling...nothing out of the blue for me. 'Was hitting the hills again. There's this thing that I always like about traveling...it gives you loads of time to indulge in past times that you like...some of us like to read, some like to write, some listen to their favorite music. I, like to think. And there's nothing like the cool milieu of the mountains to get your thoughts straight.
Most of the times I have preferred to engage myself in ideas that influence me in my habitual routine - work, science to list a couple of 'em. Primarily, because you can quantify and easily recall what you thought all that while. But for the first time, I decided to venture into something more poignant - more by chance that by choice I presume, thanks to some of the music on my playlist.
Now, romantic music has not been my cup of tea, nor has romance by itself. And so haven't any matters related to heart (I don't intend to mislead you into falsely believing any thoughts that may be surfacing in your mind). I will be candid. I have always been a vicarious learner in this arena. I haven't thought of plausible excuses for the same but I think I am too weak hearted.
Now, I don't know what your concept of 'love' is. Nor am I very clear on what mine is either. I have not read any of the Mills & Boon ever. Yes, I have had crushes. Everyone does. Those phases when you are totally, wholesomely engrossed and immersed in thoughts of that single soul are as equally healing as they are pinching. That oscillation between the crests and troughs of the emotional wave is by far the most excruciating feeling to experience, let alone describing it. Probably, that's why some of the most pristine proses are written during this heightened course. There are thousands of instances to cite - at one end of the spectrum are those ranging from the painful wait to just catch a glimpse of your loved one every evening, that enduring look at the phone to check for messages, the disappointment at the end of the day when you haven't had a word making you feel that this day on this planet was not worthwhile...to the sheer joy and ecstasy you experience when there is that surprise message, the brief exchange of small talk, the skipped heart beat when you do manage to see 'em. Too many of 'em to put across but I am sure that I got my point across.
The only complication that I have envisage in this whole scheme of things is the utter need to express it. Truly said, "when it comes to love words just don't fit in your mouth at the right moment. You always blabber or remain silent when the lady love strikes you".
Wish 'twas easier. Where is telepathy when you need it?
That reminds me of a nice li'l story that I came across on the world wide web few days ago, and it aptly fits the previous dialogue...I don't know who the original author is but my sincerest thanks to him for giving us this following work...here it goes - its called "I wish she was mine"
10th grade
As I sat there in English class, I stared at the girl next to me. She was my so called "best friend". I stared at her long, silky hair, and wished she was mine. But she didn't notice me like that, and I knew it. After class, she walked up to me and asked me for the notes she had missed the day before and handed them to her. She said "thanks" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I wanted to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.
11th grade
The phone rang. On the other end, it was her. She was in tears, mumbling on and on about how her love had broke her heart. She asked me to come over because she didn't want to be alone, so I did. As I sat next to her on the sofa, I stared at her soft eyes, wishing she was mine. After 2 hours, one Drew Barrymore movie, and three bags of chips, she decided to go to sleep. She looked at me, said "thanks" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.
Senior year
The day before prom she walked to my locker. My date is sick" she said; he's not going to go well, I didn't have a date, and in 7th grade, we made a promise that if neither of us had dates, we would go together just as "best friends". So we did. Prom night, after everything was over, I was standing at her front door step. I stared at her as she smiled at me and stared at me with her crystal eyes. I want her to be mine, but she isn't think of me like that, and I know it. Then she said "I had the best time, thanks!" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.
Graduation Day
A day passed, then a week, then a month. Before I could blink, it was graduation day. I watched as her perfect body floated like an angel up on stage to get her diploma. I wanted her to be mine, but she didn't notice me like that, and I knew it. Before everyone went home, she came to me in her smock and hat, and cried as I hugged her. Then she lifted her head from my shoulder and said, "you're my best friend, thanks" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.
A Few Years Later
Now I sit in the pews of the church. That girl is getting married now. I watched her say "I do" and drive off to her new life, married to another man. I wanted her to be mine, but she didn't see me like that, and I knew it. But before she drove away, she came to me and said "you came!". She said "thanks" and kissed me on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.
Funeral
Years passed, I looked down at the coffin of a girl who used to be my "best friend". At the service, they read a diary entry she had wrote in her high school years. This is what it read: I stare at him wishing he was mine, but he doesn't notice me like that, and I know it. I want to tell him, I want him to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love him but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why. I wish he would tell me he loved me! `I wish I did too...` I thought to my self, and I cried.
Now that your heart is buoyant beyond control, let me hold things back and finish this off on a lighter note, thanks to www again...
"Today I caught myself smiling for no reason... then I realized I was thinking about you"
The End.
And as Richard LaGravenese so beautifully crafted,
P.S. I love you
You must be bamboozled by the way I started this post. But don't worry. Its not weird at all. In fact, any sane spirit is expected to react the very way you did. And no, I haven't lost my mind...at least not yet.
I have spent the last few days traveling...nothing out of the blue for me. 'Was hitting the hills again. There's this thing that I always like about traveling...it gives you loads of time to indulge in past times that you like...some of us like to read, some like to write, some listen to their favorite music. I, like to think. And there's nothing like the cool milieu of the mountains to get your thoughts straight.
Most of the times I have preferred to engage myself in ideas that influence me in my habitual routine - work, science to list a couple of 'em. Primarily, because you can quantify and easily recall what you thought all that while. But for the first time, I decided to venture into something more poignant - more by chance that by choice I presume, thanks to some of the music on my playlist.
Now, romantic music has not been my cup of tea, nor has romance by itself. And so haven't any matters related to heart (I don't intend to mislead you into falsely believing any thoughts that may be surfacing in your mind). I will be candid. I have always been a vicarious learner in this arena. I haven't thought of plausible excuses for the same but I think I am too weak hearted.
Now, I don't know what your concept of 'love' is. Nor am I very clear on what mine is either. I have not read any of the Mills & Boon ever. Yes, I have had crushes. Everyone does. Those phases when you are totally, wholesomely engrossed and immersed in thoughts of that single soul are as equally healing as they are pinching. That oscillation between the crests and troughs of the emotional wave is by far the most excruciating feeling to experience, let alone describing it. Probably, that's why some of the most pristine proses are written during this heightened course. There are thousands of instances to cite - at one end of the spectrum are those ranging from the painful wait to just catch a glimpse of your loved one every evening, that enduring look at the phone to check for messages, the disappointment at the end of the day when you haven't had a word making you feel that this day on this planet was not worthwhile...to the sheer joy and ecstasy you experience when there is that surprise message, the brief exchange of small talk, the skipped heart beat when you do manage to see 'em. Too many of 'em to put across but I am sure that I got my point across.
The only complication that I have envisage in this whole scheme of things is the utter need to express it. Truly said, "when it comes to love words just don't fit in your mouth at the right moment. You always blabber or remain silent when the lady love strikes you".
Wish 'twas easier. Where is telepathy when you need it?
That reminds me of a nice li'l story that I came across on the world wide web few days ago, and it aptly fits the previous dialogue...I don't know who the original author is but my sincerest thanks to him for giving us this following work...here it goes - its called "I wish she was mine"
10th grade
As I sat there in English class, I stared at the girl next to me. She was my so called "best friend". I stared at her long, silky hair, and wished she was mine. But she didn't notice me like that, and I knew it. After class, she walked up to me and asked me for the notes she had missed the day before and handed them to her. She said "thanks" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I wanted to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.
11th grade
The phone rang. On the other end, it was her. She was in tears, mumbling on and on about how her love had broke her heart. She asked me to come over because she didn't want to be alone, so I did. As I sat next to her on the sofa, I stared at her soft eyes, wishing she was mine. After 2 hours, one Drew Barrymore movie, and three bags of chips, she decided to go to sleep. She looked at me, said "thanks" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.
Senior year
The day before prom she walked to my locker. My date is sick" she said; he's not going to go well, I didn't have a date, and in 7th grade, we made a promise that if neither of us had dates, we would go together just as "best friends". So we did. Prom night, after everything was over, I was standing at her front door step. I stared at her as she smiled at me and stared at me with her crystal eyes. I want her to be mine, but she isn't think of me like that, and I know it. Then she said "I had the best time, thanks!" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.
Graduation Day
A day passed, then a week, then a month. Before I could blink, it was graduation day. I watched as her perfect body floated like an angel up on stage to get her diploma. I wanted her to be mine, but she didn't notice me like that, and I knew it. Before everyone went home, she came to me in her smock and hat, and cried as I hugged her. Then she lifted her head from my shoulder and said, "you're my best friend, thanks" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.
A Few Years Later
Now I sit in the pews of the church. That girl is getting married now. I watched her say "I do" and drive off to her new life, married to another man. I wanted her to be mine, but she didn't see me like that, and I knew it. But before she drove away, she came to me and said "you came!". She said "thanks" and kissed me on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.
Funeral
Years passed, I looked down at the coffin of a girl who used to be my "best friend". At the service, they read a diary entry she had wrote in her high school years. This is what it read: I stare at him wishing he was mine, but he doesn't notice me like that, and I know it. I want to tell him, I want him to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love him but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why. I wish he would tell me he loved me! `I wish I did too...` I thought to my self, and I cried.
Now that your heart is buoyant beyond control, let me hold things back and finish this off on a lighter note, thanks to www again...
"Today I caught myself smiling for no reason... then I realized I was thinking about you"
The End.
And as Richard LaGravenese so beautifully crafted,
P.S. I love you
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