NaviGating through Hearts

Student life has it charms and fancy.The start of a new course and the new set of books bring unique kind of joy.There is excitement about the proceedings. .It was one such day during my CA Course .I need to head for Institute in Town for Registration and collecting New Course Material.

Town and suburbs are two bifurcations only Mumbaikar will understand. Travelling to Town is always a pleasure. No Rikshaw on the road makes it bit heavy on your pocket . Especially if you are student dependent on your pocket money.

But Going by lanes of the marine drive, watching the old buildings  Like Bombay High Court, give you the sense of royalty. Even though you have born and brought up here you still feel the awesomeness in the air. The roads the feel is all different .You feel like grown up while navigating through nooks and corners of Churchgate.


I was excited and nervous.Inside the institute, you are treated like faryadis .After going through all the formalities .It was time for Collection of books. Like everywhere in India, I was greeted with the crowd. There is the line for everything  in India I wondered. Must be due to population or scarce resources.
Standing in line, I was doing my favourite past time. Observing people .That when I was awestruck by the presence of a pretty Girl. Wow, a pretty girl and Ca Course. Beautiful and intelligent . Now its understood that 19-year-old guy sees beautiful girl obviously, he wants to have reason to chat. But my  shy nature always finds me wanting in this talking to Girls.

Soon I collected my books and Regretted at the opportunity lost .I had nothing to lose still I was scared to make the move. Even if the attempt falls flats on the face it had no after effects. Why  cry over spilled milk? I thought.

Book were quite heavy and I had to travel in Best Bus. too much trouble I thought .I headed toward bust stop when I noticed my newly crowned princes of heart .waiting there too. Opportunity never knocks twice I heard. it was knocking again.

Lot of crowd had gathered at bus stop . Perhaps the bus was giving me another chance at the destiny i thought. I was thinking at option I have to strike the conversation . Of all the crowd we both were carrying huge packets of books . So we were much more in despair waiting than others . Should i ask her to share a Cab with me . It was logical excuse , i thought  but why only her when there were so many people around.I would be caught ,. Also it will public embarassment if she says no .I was in  Many minds and i once again could not gather guts to strike the conversation . You Fool!!!, even God must have said  to me that day.

And I cursed myself for being so shy .Just then Magic Happened.  Newly crowned  princes of  my heart walked up to me and asked WILL YOU SHARE TAXI with Me? .OMG,  now it must be divine intervention .'Just what Doctor ordered ", Ravi Shastri would have said if it was a cricket match situation. YES, I said  to her highness in a jiff, hiding my excitement.

As we were navigating through street of town i felt the air was cold . There was music in the air. I asked her name and her college name . we had the light conversation about study . It was simple pleasure of life when you are young. Just having a conversation with the girl gives you too much sense of self-belief. .It was a time when we didn't have mobiles . It was pre-facebook era hence chances of conversation in future were very bleak. I still valued  those moments   as navigating though street of Churchgate i had navigated through heart of someone.

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Navigate - through Jungles

I was packing my bags in the hurry . I need to reach in Time for my flight to Kolkatta. My visit to IIM Calcutta was my first, Although I had visited Kolkata many times before I was always as my transit to Tata Nagar and back.I remember Once I was hold up in Kolkatta for two days due to lack of Flight From Kolkatta due to Sahara Airline Fiasco.

As I reached the airport .Good one and the half hour early as always. I am Over Punctual, as my friends call it. I make sure I keep the margin for optimum time. Most of the time although I end up waiting for everyone
So I check in my luggage .with Boarding pass in hand, I head toward my favorite place a bookstore.
.
I had ample time on hand.I have my companion  with me, my book.  I sat to wait for boarding. Occasionally  looking around if my flight had announced.

I was in for a long day I Guess. The flight which was supposed to take off at 4:30 P was no were at sight till 6:30 PM. I was bound to fate. After Fellow passenger fights and protest we were offered free food. Finally, The flight took off at 9:30 PM .good  five hours late.

by the time I checked out of Kolkata airport it was passed midnight.I hailed the prepaid taxi to my Guesthouse near IIM Calcutta. Being living in Mumbai  City that never sleeps I was alarmed when I didn't find a soul on the road. IIM Calcutta was in outskirts of the city.My Guest house was nearby.

Google Map showed me the turn which I was not able to spot on the road without street lights.I was navigating through and fro on the road Google map showing all kinds of a way but Just would find the right turn. Lack of proper lights made it difficult to spot the Hotel Sign Board.

After one hour and 6 trips of to and fro on the same road surrounded by semi-Jungle, I called up  Guesthouse. No landmark.No people on the dead road to find the direction in an unknown city.

Finally, I spotted one guy on a bicycle who was heading toward somewhere in the middle of nowhere.
Do you know the place.Like angle in disguise, he said he did. I finally made him sit in my Car .He was a navigating angle for me. With him around we reached the right place. on the same road which we circled 6 times without having a clue.

Finally reached my destination. IU thanked the Navigating angel. I offered him money, which he refused.It our job to help the tourist he said. Incredible India Indeed.


This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can  apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.

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IMPACT -Its how you take it

IMPACT mean  high force or shock (mechanics) over a short time period(WikiPedia).So take out from the word is that it should be big jolt i.e it should shake you up.May not be physically but can also be psychologically and  it should be sudden out of the blue, meaning  you can't plan to be Impacted.So all of sudden if something jolts you it is IMPACT.

You can be impacted in multiple ways. Truth can impact you if you were fed by the Lie. Reality may impact you if you were high on the Dream. Someones vision may impact you or self-realization may impact you as well. Troubles or Sad news may impact you but so does Success or Good News.

In all, there may be Positive Impact or Negative Impact. Either it will take you down or it will move you up. Let see the following cases 

A young guy Varun. He is studying in College. His mom always used to scold him for his waywardness. Though he was good in studies. He never left his video games.His Mom always wanted him to study well and become something in life which she always told him. He, however like many youngsters, aimless. Only concentrated only on his games & movies or  his Time out and football. His mother dies in an accident. Varun gets a jolt of his life.Like everyone he never thought life was cruel.He goes into shell shock. He gets bog down.He loved his mother like we all do. but her sudden death changes him completely. He withdraws from everything he loved. From games, movies, friends. He goes into depression. His grades drop and everyone pity him more.Varun goes into the shell from which he never recovers. He became cranky and delusional. Varun who would have been wonderfull football player  suddenly become the lost kid in depression.

Another  young guy named  Varun. He is Studying in College. His mom always used to scold him for his waywardness. Though he was good in studies. But He never left his video games.His Mom always wanted him to study well and become something in life which she always told him. He however like many youngsters aimless.Varun gets the jolt of his life when his mother dies.Like everyone he never thought life was cruel.However, Varun realizes what Mom always wanted to teach him all these years. He starts taking life seriously. He makes it fullfill  his mom wish. He wanted his mom happy. He realizes his tribute to his mom would be to become the person his mom wanted him to be. He studies hard follows his dream with passion as a commitment to his mom.  He grows up to became the successful automobile engineer. Designing new cars  was a key strength.He always fascinated by great cars by Tata. Always wanted to design something extraordinary as Tata Zica.

Impact truly depends on your own mindsets. Two stories of Impact by the same event showed us how you can be impacted positively or negatively. 

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Musical Love story

What soothes the broken heart better than time. But even if much time has elapsed from the breakup, and you hear the something which you termed as "OUR SONG".It may be the song on which both of you may have  danced or song was her caller tune which you listened every time you called her, you invariably become nostalgic about your past. Music thus  has the power to eclipse Time.

“Why This Kolaveri, Kolaveri, Kolaveri  Di …..” was playing on Car stereo. Siddharth mind wandered toward Shweta.This  was Shweta's caller tune  since day they became friends.  He had changed him to the same song.In love, we adopt or rather start liking everything she likes.Shweta, the girl who he always has in his thoughts or shall I say he never forgets.They have not been talking to each other for a long time now.The relationship was in the mess anyway after that night. That night had just been too terrible, icy, cold words being flung at each other! They were chatting thru Whats App that when she said those words which brought their relation to the chaos they have been in since.

Shweta was pretty, sweet, caring, kind, everything a man would want in a partner. However her confused, vivacious, indecisive, now -on, now - off behavior was turning a little childish at times but he was used to overlooking it.

Siddharth, on another hand, was understanding, Mature but sensitive. He liked her very much from the day he first saw her sitting on carom table near canteen. Whether it was love, at first sight, he didn’t know. Since that day he invariably kept noticing her every time. His eyes were following her without effort.He was completely smitten by her.He always wanted to talk to her but never had guts.He always made a point he is around her in the hope she will notice. Wherever he wanted to go he always took route passing thru her even when it meant taking a longer route. A few days later, he gathered guts to strike conversation over a coffee machine, didn't care, all he wanted was her attention, which fortunately for him he got that.He always had his eyes on her.His eyes followed her everywhere his vision permitted. He always wished she would return a favor smile at least. A couple of days later, their eyes met, he hoped that she would recognize that guy she met at the coffee machine, and then, God answered his prayers.She first smiled at him, his eyes were struck by twinkle that smile brought in her eyes.That day he was smiling whole day.

I guess Coffe Machine has played a key role in  Many Successful office romances.It was some nonsensible as coffee is too light or I feel more sleepy after drinking this.But he

Thereafter they casually talked here and there.How’s work going ? or sitting late today ? were the common questions. But they didn’t have anything in common that would have brought them together. Work wise they were doing different & unrelated projects.They didn’t even share their ways to home They lived poles apart .he lived near Andheri and traveled via Road while she in Worli and always took Train.


But his  big day came when she wanted to go to Andheri.Luckily for him, she had little idea of the way to take, which meant he had her precious company. There was traffic on the road like always but today, Siddharth, who always cursed his luck, was loving it, as more traffic meant longer the time he will spend with her. On the way he came to know a thing like she hails from Indore & was in Mumbai for work.She lived in Hostel .etc. they discussed various topics like careers, family. Hobbies favorite past times etc. time flew like anything & in the process made them good friends.

After two hours of Journey they reached the place she wanted to go. thereafter she thanked him for taking his hands into hers.His eyes were affixed on her that twinkle still shining brightly. That touch of a hand, that smiling lips and  that twinkle in her eyes made that moment heavenly. That two hours he spent with her are few moments in life he will never forget.

All his life he had met many girls some of whom he liked, some who liked him but this was different here he was with the girl so perfect the girl he was searching for till date that whole night he would not sleep. Thereafter he just wanted to be around her. Every day he made it point that he would go and talk to her. His liking for her kept growing. He became the man of limited hobbies, no pastimes other than Shweta and work and Shweta and work and Shweta. Life meant hanging around with Shweta after a hard day at work.

Thereafter came a period when all her friends in Office got whims about his feeling which was anyway quite obvious. whenever he went to say hello, they were reacting too much.teasing her all over, she was getting upset at it
It was so difficult for him thus to avoid such situation he started to avoid talking to her To avoid talking to her was & is the most difficult thing to do for him. I take lots of effort to act that way. That made her more upset with him That was period he was so confused because a thing was not happening.Everything he did was just taking her away from him.That’s when he realized that she perhaps don’t see him the same way as he do and so he decided to talk to her to clear things out. he told her that I want to talk to her alone but she seemed to have got “intuition” about things he wants to tell her that she didn’t seem to listen. She just thought of an excuse every time he asked for her time.That’s when he decided to calm things out to behave casually with her .,
And then came the night when she over an SMS rejected the proposal he never made.her SMS was just shocking for him.Out of the blue, She told him she was “not interested” even when he didn’t pop the question.He was just trying to normalize things, he didn’t know she was holding so much grudge against him.

They had not talked since then.He was hurt big time.He had invested his heart in this relationship. In return, he was treated like a loafer or worse a roadside Romeo. He thought he deserved a sorry. Unsure of whether She would come, He continued his life like she never was. Pretended to be busy at work.Overlooked her even though she was around. Although while opening any message, he would go it-may-be-Shweta. Thanks to all SMS chatting they had including that terrible fight Also spending the major part of the day around her made it difficult for him.What wrong on earth did he do to deserves this? the person he loves most is around him but not with him like to banks of the river which travel together for life but never meets. Life can be cruel at times.

Six months  went on with he waiting for her to come back, The fault was not quite visible but the words were, the actions were! Each thought the other was wrong.. Traffic chaos brought him to reality. Car Stereo had changed to the latest Item number.He wanted to reach office early today. After all, today was the day on which  promotions would be announced.

He entered office amongst the  celebration and congratulations. Siddharth was promoted becoming youngest Manager in the whole team. He finally  settled down after series of congratulatory talks with everyone dropping by.He was on the verge of calling his family
when the unexpected happened. Shweta was standing beside him with a big smile on her face. " Many Many Congratulations, "She said.The conversation went on for pretty long. They could feel the warmth they shared with each other.
They both realized what were they missing. Somewhere in the background 'Why This Kolaveri, Kolaveri, Kolaveri  Di " started playing  or so was Shweta thinking

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#Colgate360GoldMornings

Tic -Tac Tic My Alarm went off ,
Surely it was time for me to get-off.

Lazy and twizzy, I opened my eyes,
No one paid attention to my soft cries.

Sleepy and weepy i went to washroom,
Its time for my teeths, to sparkle as groom . 



I got my eyes on something splendid,

Toothpaste was old but toothbrush was new.
Like shining armour it looked like gold, 
It also had some thing Black and Bold.

It made my teeth cleanest white, 
Image inthe mirorr smiled bright .
It cleaned  My Tougue,my Teeth,
It didnt leave My Gums or cheeks .

Complete cleaning experience was my first,

Colgate like  always delivered on trust.

I felt  freshness though out day,
Tooth problems were kept at bay. 

It was the new Colgatre 360 Gold Toothbrush,
When it got to brushing ,I would always rush .

#Colgate360GoldMornings were the best,
I now recomend it to all the rest.



This was poem which i penned after using Colagte 360 Charcoal Gold toothbrush.
I felt Fresh and cleanest after using Colgate 360 Charcoal Gold toothbrush' it really turned my morning into Gold Morinings . #Colgate360GoldMornings 

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Pursuit of Happyness

Inspiration .We all are looking for inspiration. What is purpose of Life?A good ( high paying ) Job. good ( spacious ) apartment, good ( loving) partner.good (branded) Car. Suppose you have earned enough to afford all of these. What's next?. A good ( higher paying ) Job. good ( More Spacious ) Apartment, Good ( Less Nagging) Partner, good  ( Many Branded) Car. and then what's Next?Will this ever end.? Are we getting into the vicious circle of life. At the end of the day, do we feel content that we have achieved  by earning more money. I guess NO, it's hollow feeling  and the search continues.

They told me about an NGO Help Age India, Which worked for Aged /Senior Citizens who have no one to look after them. Either have no relative or their  Relatives don't need them anymore.

My thoughts immediately went to my parents. I have lost my parents at early age.I miss them a lot.I can not comprehend people who disown their parents." Love Your Parents ,We are so busy growing up .We Often Forget they are also growing old .Aging is process so natural.We are all going to get old one day .Your Parent are Someone who brought you up.Someone who took care of you.why can't take care of them. How can the world be so selfish?

They spent their own life on you.But I guess its matter of convenience. I have heard of  people have  many children fighting on who will keep them.Why should I? I know it's  difficult. I have gone through. They get sick can not move around, but it's same like new born children you have to look after them all the time.But when no one disowns their children, why did they disown their parents? I guess it's about hope. Children will grow up  and will make you proud. But old people are going to die in some time.I remember the incident. When my dad was in ICU for extended illness. Every few days  he would slip into COMA. After one month, the doctor gave up hope.He  told me that his condition is  deteriorating so much that  he had to put in the ventilator and will cost you too much. I asked him if I had a choice. He said, "I did', I told him, 'I didn't "I still had hope .I  waited for two days outside ICU(you are not allowed inside ICU ward) , almost awaiting the inevitable news .Next day evening , when a doctor called me in, I saw my dad sitting on a bed and smiling. I had tears in my eyes. Doctor gave me the assuring look. The smile on my dad's face was worth billion. I did have an option, option for hope .

Coming back to Jayasuriya  and Nikhil who was sitting with me. They appraised me with work Helpage India did.

Help Age India has various Programs ranging from Old age Homes to Active Aging Centres, It also ran Specific Medical  Help in a form of Health Camps, Cataract Surgeries, Cancer ,Physio Care etc

 Some Statistics for Elderly population in India (Source :Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation )

• About 65 per cent of the aged had to depend on others for their day-to-day maintenance. Less than 20% of elderly women but majority of elderly men were economically independent. 
• Among economically dependent elderly men 6-7% were financially supported by their spouses, almost 85% by their own children, 2% by grand children and 6% by others. Of elderly women, less than 20% depended on their spouses, more than 70% on their children, 3% on grand children and 6% or more on others including the non-relations.

I was more than keen to make a donation to them. (You can Donate Here).We got chating about other things that when they told me that they are volunteering  for Help age India. They were graduates working in Leading Banks and they do Volunteering in their free time. Jayasurya spotted guitar and asked me about my hobby. He played few tunes too. My thoughts immediately went to Youth of today.It made me realise that these people  are similar  to me. They enjoy the playing guitar and  may be they are Rock music fan Like many. They may be big movie fan or Bookworm. But In spite of whatever  they are, they are also empathic towards a cause. Whenever I thought of doing something good  for society,  my question to Self ' Where is the time ?. But in Front of me where Live examples of Two Youngster taking time out of their Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, movies, Guitar, Reading, Personal Life and Work  and  did something for society .Until then, for me, Image of Youth of the country   was only their accreditation to everything international from Music to Movie stars . One who can not watch Kahani Ghar ki but swear by Sitcoms Like How I Met your Mother/Friends. Who is unaware of RD Burman but Idolise  Backstreet Boys/Brain Adams /Justin Bieber. For some people Volunteering is about giving , but for likes of them it is way of living 

But I was in for the rude shock , Not only Youth of today  had shattered my misconception but at the same time taught me the lesson .They gave me inspiration for doing something good for society.When I, myself did some Volunteering work.I tried to do my bit.I urged my friends to do the same. Even one hour spent at Old age home can bring happiness to one person in the world.It will make them feel wanted.If you have the will, you can do more. My plea of  lack of time is a myth when  I was surfing through irrelevant channels. I did same volunteering  even in my own area not travelling much it and  have certainly funded one Old man's Cataract Operation. The two youth spending their Sunday gave me much hope and inspiration. It not only changed my perception about Youth of today but also toward life. Change is within you .



I will quote  Mahatma Gandhi."The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others" .It surely the best way to find yourself. .True happiness is always in giving. An ounce of Giving gives you  mountains full of Pleasure.
You must be the Change, You want to see in the world.Something is better than nothing Small contribution of all can create huge impact

The youth of today can lead us to Break stereotypes and amplify social change .Click on YOUTH KI AWAAZ to know More. You can too #SpreadTheVibe about such social change.

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Mumbai Meri Jaan-

My Favorite city, without the doubt, is Mumbai.

The name Mumbai was derived from the word Mumba or Maha-Amba the name of the Hindu  goddess called  Mumbadevi of the  Koli  communities and Aai meaning "mother" in the Marathi language, which is the mother tongue of the kolis.

Everyone says Mumbai take Care of you as mother

English its MUM, Gujrathi its Ba and Marathi its 'I" makes Mumbai Mother for all, rather word jugglery but proves the passion Mumbaites have for the city that never sleeps.

The seven islands together constitute Mumbai were home to communities of fishing colonies.Mumbai is the financial and entertainment capital of India.Most connected through the world from Sea and Air makes it a rational commercial hub .


Drive:

Its 12 o Clock in the night, any many other cities in the world you will notice empty road and street dogs, But If you are at Dadar Station you won't be able to tell if its 12 in the night or 6 in the evening.

 passion is what drives Mumbai. If you want to the Mumbaikar drive, You must travel in Mumbai Local. You will see the fights for the place, You see Games at play, you can hop  & shop .In Mumbai, only you will get the 'train Friends'

Design

Mumbai is the city of dream .it are a collection of island  and a spectacular view of seas at multiple points. It has beaches like Aska Beach, Girgaum Chowpatty & Juhu Beach .It has lakes Powai, Vihar Lake .Who won't get mesmerised by Queen Necklace which is flocked throughout the day?You have Nightlife like no other. Nightlife is not only defined by numerous nigh hot spots for rich and famous. You would just take walk and bandstand or Worli sea face with the sip of cutting' Chai  and munch onto chana or garam  or butta in mid of the night .Where else you find a National park in Mid of the city which turn bliss. Rainy season is another key point in Mumbai where many blame Mumbai rains for chaos but still enjoy it on seashores. It has caves Jogeshwari, Mahakali, Kanheri & Elephanta. Geographically Mumbai is complete packages in spite being a concrete jungle.

You have Place of Worship like Mahalaxmi Temple, Harbaugh cha Raja, Mount Merry Church, Haji Ali, Siddhi Vinayak etc were people flock irrespective of religion throughout the year.

Mumbai Film Industry is the  biggest Attraction in Mumbai which attracts many starry-eyed people in search of their dreams.

Connect :
Mumbai is divided into zones Town or Suburbs ,Western and central  but there is no disconnect between zones . Public transport and freeways connect Mumbai from corner to corner .Even though much improvement is desired .City works 24 X7 needs the link to serve the people better .Rail, Road, Air Sea are available for Local commute within Mumbai. It has metro and India first Suburban rail network  which is termed as Lifeline of Mumbai.

If you have lived in Mumbai it will always be the special place in your heart .You can love it or hate it but can not forget it .It will always remain Mumbai Meri Jaan 

It has drive design and Connect .

If you want to know who have  have drive design and connect click Tata Motors Lionnel Messi 
  

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