Is baar nahin - Prasoon Joshi

Is baar nahin

Is baar jab woh choti si bachchi mere paas apni kharonch le kar aayegi
Main usey phoo phoo kar nahin behlaoonga
Panapney doonga uski tees ko

Is bar nahin

Is baar jab main chehron par dard likha dekhoonga
Nahin gaoonga geet peeda bhula dene wale
Dard ko risney doonga,utarney doonga andar gehrey

Is baar nahin

Is baar main na marham lagaoonga
Na hi uthaoonga rui ke phahey
Aur na hi kahoonga ki tum aankein band karlo,gardan udhar kar lo main dawa lagata hoon
Dekhney doonga sabko hum sabko khuley nangey ghaav

Is baar nahin

Is baar jab uljhaney dekhoonga,chatpatahat dekhoonga
Nahin daudoonga uljhee door lapetney
Uljhaney doonga jab tak ulajh sake

Is baar nahin

Is baar karm ka hawala de kar nahin uthaoonga auzaar
Nahin karoonga phir se ek nayee shuruaat
Nahin banoonga misaal ek karmyogi ki
Nahin aaney doonga zindagi ko aasani se patri par
Utarney doonga usey keechad main,tedhey medhey raston pe
Nahin sookhney doonga deewaron par laga khoon
Halka nahin padney doonga uska rang
Is baar nahin banney doonga usey itna laachaar ki paan ki peek aur khoon ka fark hi khatm ho jaye
Is baar nahin
Is baar ghawon ko dekhna hai
Gaur se
thoda lambe wakt tak
Kuch faisley
Aur uskey baad hausley
Kahin toh shuruat karni hi hogi
Is baar yahi tay kiya hai

Prasoon Joshi

Mumbai at WAR

Mumbai at WAR for the 1^st time after the 71 Indo-Pak war.. this time the enemies – 22 year old kids who should be thinking about which girl to go out with in college and not be motivated beyond imagination to randomly kill people with AK-47s and grenades.

We are prepared when they blow up our offices, our buildings, our trains, our buses, but this time when they came in from the waters and took to the basic form of terror – on the road with the ammunitions – IN YOUR FACE.. shoot the people whoever, whenever – be there.. “akir kya bigad lenge” attitude of these terrorists has shaken the very roots of each mumbaikar. Like loads of leaders and prominent people are saying ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. The politicians can continue to sleep and enjoy their personal security, we the mumbaikar will now not sit around and hope and believe that the people whom we directly or indirectly put to power will wake up, at least after this incident and do something that will make a difference.

A 105 iconic building The Taj Mahal hotel, an awesome state of the art hotel – The Oberios, after 24 hrs still battling and hostage to the madness and the mayhem created by these inhuman plans.

Café Leopold the only place where u can enjoy a tower of awesome beer and mad music at the top. Just 30secs of madness turned this wonderful beer tower, foreigner gauging place to the start of a battlefield.

Nariman House, a place that was just an address or a location on colaba causebay is now a NSG operation area.

Another 6 locations where there was shooting or a bomb blast happening in the last 26 hrs.. starting 26/11/08 9:34pm to still happening.. when will this end!!

The Mumbai Police, Maharashtra Police, NSG, navy, army and all the people involved are doing such a fantastic job in this endless war against terrorism. With the kind of salaries that they get, the kind of politics and political pull and push that happens to them and the sad state of affairs for our armed forces in this country, they are a bunch of seriously motivated officials who donot think before putting themselves on the front line to do their duty. To the 3 top officials, ATS Chief Hemant Karkare, the encounter specialist- Vijay Salaskar and the Mumbai ACP - Ashok Kamte and the other 11 police officials – We Salute You.

To all the innocent people who were injured or lost their lives – wish u were in some other place, safe and ok. Condolences for your loss and hope the families have the strength to go on.

Corporate India and the hospitality industry have proved that that’s an industry to work for. Apparently they are doing something right, for their employees to take their jobs SO seriously. At both Taj and Oberoi, the staff has turned out to be heroes, doing their bit to make sure that the guests who sometimes can be mean, can demand the skies because they are paying for it, are safe and the staff have “made it a little more bearable” for the people. Again putting themselves on the line.

For once, at least 3 TV channels have shown that journalism and intelligent and relevant coverage still exists in this country. NDTV, Times Now, CNN-IBN. Hats off to their entire team to make sure that the relevant, necessary and timely information was given in plain simple language.. no bollywoodisation happening to it. It is on days like these that the professionals are separated from the amateurs.

Personally, I wish the relatives weren’t asked questions like “what’s going on in your mind right now” or “how did u feel when u 1^st heard the new of your relative in this place” or “how are u staying positive”

There are so many questions that u would want answers for:

• Why did this happen
• Who are these people
• What were they told and sent here that they were so motivated and so brave at the rotten thing they are doing
• Could we have been more prepared
• Did the 3 bravehearts and the other 11 cops loose their lives because of the best they did or because our governments did not provide them with any protective gears.
• Now what?

Now what is something that can answered.

Now is the time to sit up and take notice

Now is the time to make sure that things happen and result in a better life

Now is the time to not rely on other people but do everything as citizens of this wonderful city called Mumbai

Now is the time to be a true mumbaikar, resilient, strong and for the 1^st time – take action.

There has to be something that people of this city can do to make things better in this city. To make it safer, not so vulnerable to mad psycho attacks. This time I know I am not the only one feeling this way.

You were not safe in a train or on a bus or in a popular building.. these u can avoid.. but the road, how do u avoid that, how do u go for a walk, get from one place to another. That’s saying like your home’s not safe. Not a good feeling and don’t want to live on with that. This city is too awesome to have this feeling about it.

What i as a mumbaikar am going to do is stay patient in malls when people are checking my vehicles, stay patient on the road when there is a naka bandi, stay patient when there is a line to get to a cinema hall and hope that they find what they are looking for.

What i will not do is NOT rely on the politicians to take action inspite of the fact that they were pre-empted abt this.

All i have to say to these cowardly terrorists in true mumbaiya style is: "Garden main ayela hai kya.. saale ch****, chal diye hamare shahar main aur aisi acchi jagah par aisa hamla kiya… Bombay main garden ki jahan nahi hai.. apne ghar jao and phir dubara nahi ana." *

Disclaimer: Pls ignore the language, it comes from the heart of a mumbaikar.

Moonlit walk down "The Walking Street"!!

the title sounds very romantic... but it is as far away from romance as it can be

It was 12.30 in the night…. After 2 hrs of dancing and the first 6-7 rounds of Red/ Black LABEL, SMIRNOFF, a gang of 6 lukhas (Pattaya gang) ventured out into moonlit walk on the famous WALKING STREET… expecting to see what they had heard of … expecting no surprises.... but man were there surprises!!

One Guy in a drastic “culture shock” and another one in a state of shock (and excitement) the walk down walking street was full of surprise... the other two guys who are always in perpetual influence of ALCOHOL and always searching and wanting more... (ie. THAI street food and more Daaaaaru specially the ready mixed Johnny Walker).. The guys expected the two girls to be in real trauma but we seemed to kick some real ass and played important roles in saving the cultural shocked guy from the ladyboys….. We were the PROTECTORS!! It was all up to us the girls to make sure the boys got back home safe and sound, at least the 2 married men to their wives…

Scene 1: From dildos ( really small ones ) being slammed on the concrete floor to item-log feeling the guys up when you walk alone to girls and ladyboys in real micro mini skirts calling for some REAL action…the walk is one of the most remembered and talked about times of our lives...

THE GANG had a center shock when they read a sign board which says “Fastest on the street” “ ONE BAHT per ONE MINUTE’’.. Green coloured glow sign right in your face bang in the middle of Walking Street.. the discoverers, BD and Manish thought the obvious!! What else would you think, it was Walking Street, in Pattaya and next to Bangkok.. After all the street was meant to take your imagination there… BUT.. education prevailed in that street too.. the Door said “Internet Café”

Scene 2: The pole dances on the street… according to the guys – “oh man can those girls move”… more poles, less dancers.. must have been the break time when we passed by… cause I didn’t see them dance.. or might be you need an eye for these things.. the untrained eye doesn’t see much!! Which also means that I am a good cultured girl coming from good family background.. (hehehhehehe)

Revelations and analysis: With insect delicacies in Manish's and Ghosh’s stomachs, meat and fruits in the rest of gangs stomachs followed by a fantastic 1 hr foot massage for only 200 baht.. the nite ended with 7Eleven being our savior for the nite.. picked up provisions by which i mean, cold drinks, mid night snack and peppermint to take back to our daru adda…

So the analysis begins over a glass of daru and the video camera in Bhavnas hand.. Mr. diplomatic was in deep cultural shock.. His commerce background spoke and we explored the idea of how the Economists of the country were operating at full potential. One Indian Saree creating 70 Pathaya dresses specially designed for the Walking Street. And it is our duty to bring in exchanged foreign currency to uplift the economy of this country which would help the people buy food, shelter & above all some clothing as quoted by Mr. diplomatic. More foreign currency more food (more Clothes?).

The reference and the indepth analysis of the evening can be better understood by the 6 people that were present there and no one else.. its an experience that non of us would forget…

PS: the visual representations of the Walking Street were beautifully captured by the skillful hands of BD but... the camera wanted to keep them for itself!! formatted the memory card and ate all the photos.. hope they digested!!

PS1: The title is also arguable cause u never know where u fall in love.. just because it didnt happen to any one of us doesnt mean it cant happen.. :)

PS2: The foot massage either was TOO relaxing or we were all too pooped by the events of the evening.. we all slept through the massage… only to be told later that we were hammered upon and acupressure instruments were used on our feet to make the effect of the massage fantastic, ironically I don’t remember any of it…

..End of The Walking Street!! (there was more to the exp but words dont hold good..)

PS: the blog was edited after Abhishek didnt think it was elaborated enough and did justice to the entire experience of the nite.. hence the same was modified with the help of contribution from Abhishek's blog..

Tumhare Haat Main Jaadu Hai... Jaadu... Jaaadu... (repeat chorus) ..courtesy Krish & T Series

Bangkok - Pattayya Offsite Special Mention Topic NO 1: The SPA and Thai/Bangkok massage experience

Worth mentioning separately cause it was an experience.. Thailand truly is a place for massages.. all kinds and the best of SPAs exist there... All that tired feet need is a grt food massage and the guys would elaborate on the Thai body massage.. but theres something in the blood of these thailandies people... awesome technique and awesome massages...

Our 2 days in Pattaya always ended with Thai foot massages... would kill for that massage at the end of each long day in bombay..

Pattaya was the massage hub for us. didnt get any time in bangkok to anything but shop.. :) so!!

In Pattaya the girls - Bhavna and I actually got treated to 5 star SPA & Free Steam

It all started out with us getting sold onto the idea of the SPA at the Siam Bay Shore Resort & SPA.. the ambiance, the look, the feel and the way in which the sweet SPA lady painted a beautiful picture of the whole experience.. we couldn't resist.. hence the conversion happened from baht to rs and then we convinced ourself that would never get anything like this in bombay at that rate and thailand ake spa nahi kiya to kya kiya... so post loads of balancing acts in our minds and weighing swimming in the pool to a good 2 hr spa experience like never before, we gave in and went in for the spa... :) (not that the decision making process was soo long.. just makes it more dramatic and thought through.. )

Just out of the flight, from bangkok to pattaya and into our rooms we went into the beautiful exotic spa location like bhangis - tracks, t-shirts, hair tied and our hearts full of hope and excitement for a never before once in a lifetime experience of 5 star spa..
Nice jasmine cold tea and 2 1/2 hours of massages, scrubs, steams, oil.. wow!! thinking of it relaxes me all over again... wow!!

these women actually have jaadu in their hands.. didnt need to take a bath for ages thats how well we were cleansed... the music, the aroma, the clothes, the sheets, the flowers, the beautiful ambience... i can go on!! need to experience it to FEEL the way i do... WOW!!

When it finished, we didnt want to get up but... we were so relaxed and drowsy.. the session ended with hot jasmine tea... and then running to the 1st 4pm team building sesssion... for which we were late!! :(

That was the girls exclusive fantastic, may i say expensive experience at a spa and a massage thai style... we also experienced foot massages and thai massage in Pattaya.. what a treat for tired explored feet!!

2 nite in pattaya ended with excellent foot massages and with those were complementary shoulder, neck and back massages too.. must have been something in their massage technique or just that it was the last thing for the long day that we got done in pattaya, we all would doze off and sleep like babies.. the guys also got thai body massages done.. looked very fresh post that so i believe they were excellent... from the literature that was put up in the parlour, thai body massage was like our kerela massage... breaking bones kinds.. hard and totally relaxing..

complementary teas were missed, beers were ordered and through all the hammering (supposedly.. recollection of the same) we had fantastic foot massages for only 200 baht.

Theres so much massage talent in thailand that Reshma can be a millionaire there... our personal masseuse here in india.. An experience that has at least got the girls hooked onto it totally... if only we could transport pattaya massage parlours to bombay or better if we could go there for the massage..

Siam Bay Shore Resort!! - the Fun (offsite) Begins

The bus ride started with Neetu aunty in her fantastic pattayya accent gave us a long lecture on the history, geography, science, economics, land price, everything being expensive etc etc etc till we got half way to Tiger resort where we had breakfast.. menu being: cornflakes, bread butter jam, yummy sweet fruits, sweet chole and puri and universal anda...

PS: The pet name of the King of Thailand is abt 2 sentences long.. his real names abt 4 lines i think... cause neetu aunty went on and on and on...
for a thailandies, she knew an awful lot abt India and its culture.. we ended up teaching her gujju also.. GUJJU Ki Jai...

Special mention.. our Mr. Manish Kumar aka Patayya boy started his food experiments from breakfast sitting with the guide to eat authentic thai beef or was it pork.. no idea what all hes eaten.. and then some fruits and then some more road side thai meat..

Special Mention No 2: Writting at the back of the toyota van - MR BALLS SERVICE... :)

PS: proof attached. this innocent looking van was parked before the tiger resort and it just caught our eye.. such a unique proposition couldnt be left alone.. we had to bring it back to India.


This was also where we had our breakfast and ice-cream and beer for 55 baht.. (only the beer costed 55 baht.. breakfast free.. ice-cream me no remember)

so the journey to the Siam Bay Shore Resort starts... btw there a Siam Bay Hotel in Pattaya in Pattaya city also.. :) so pls donot get confused!!

so we get to our hotel.. awesome place btw.. nice big double rooms... electronic swipes for the ladies, single keys for the guys... girls get the pool and garden facing room.. guys get the yard and the wall, girls get the new construction.. guys get the existing old one.. Notice the preference.. i am not complaining.. :)

Siam Bay Shore resort turned out to be a grt exp.. the toiletries, the tea packets, the room service (not that we could afford it), the swimming pool by the beach and the one by the spa, the reception, the seats, the statues, the scriptures, the people, the SPA (special mention later.. wow), the conference room, the food, the snacks, the juices, the water, the pencils, the projector, the music... loving it totally..

For more information pls visit their website.. google it to find the address.. :)

so we had our 1st session at 4pm.. which got postponed to 430pm and it was 1 by the time we checked in and sunk the entire resort into ourself and came out!! now what to do!! took permission to not go for the scheduled lunch.. Manish put it in us that we were now experimenters with food and would have local thele wala khana... thank god for him we actually ended up eating loads of local thai food over the next 4 days!! AWESOME (special ref only to the food of thailand coming up later...)

so lunch skipped, the spa looked very tempting.. went in to enquire and never came out... Partners in crime - Bhavna and me.
So with the guys exploring the beach side pool, we ended up in the spa...

...End of Patayya and Siam Bay Shore resort!!

Indian Airlines ki udan sankhya IC 963 to Bangkok main aapka swagat hai!!

Indian Airlines.. the pride of Indian skies ke udan se hum sab naujawan bangkok chale... wah.. bangkok ka feel aur IC ke aunties.. kitna maja aya.. :)

Special mention to Abhishek being scolded twice by the aunties.. 1) Personal request sir, pls sit down... we are serving 2) Sir, pls mind your leg!! we need to walk.. (exaggeration included.. after all talking abt abhi)

except for all of us who occupied at least 65% of the flight, there were gujju honeymoon travellers (i saw 2 couples at least that fit that description) and business peoples going to bangkok..

we were very decent and very nice people.. didnt ask for more drinks, didnt ask for more food, didnt make too much noise, didnt trouble people and most of all.. Bhavna was quite during the flight.. no laughter.. i think that was only cause it was a A320.. small sweet aircraft with no leg room for anyone above 5.2 1/2".. i was maha comfortable with head on tray table till the aage seat honeymoon couple decided to push their seat full back.. so sleeping like normal people happened...

then the auntys came again... Namaskar, we are landing shortly at bangkok airport, pls fasten your seat belts, seats upright, tray tables folded and u in your seats!! hope u have a good time.. etc etc etc (pls refer to air hostess training manual for full speech.. )

Bangkok airport looked awesome from the runway.. ponds in the middle lined with green trees.. airport lounge in triangle dome shapes with airobridge direct entry... nice pleasant weather at 6ish in the morning their time... very good!! impressed... i liked bangkok airport!!

PS: the photo is from the outside cause thats when we actually got our cameras out...


1st we all rushed to the loo... international loos are no different than the indian ones.. they look the same and u do the same thing there also... profound thought... but anyways

we walked on the perambulator (ref left side.. no people on it cause didnt want the others to feel bad).. this was a path walked by all hungamaites who went for the offsite.. some with baru bottles freshly purchased at the duty free and others with their own bags...

so post immigration and baggage collection we all were greeted by Neetu Aunty, Mausi, no dadi and her brother Mike with Huge Hungama placards calling for us... so we waited, got segregrated into two buses and moved onto our 1st destination Pattayya.. Me, Meet, Abhi, Bhavna and Manish in the same bus so we were assured of fun..

...End of IC flight experience

Hungama Offsite Team Building!! - Bangkok and Pattaya - the introduction!!

Once upon a time.. in a land Far Far Away... (sounds like the start to Shrek... heheh) lets rephrase it!!

Once upon a time.. in a land called Mumbai, was a company called Virtual Marketing.. pyar se log use Hungama kehte hai... the big bosses decided the team needed some building and bonding so HRs KRA for the quarter was a team building off site activity... Bangkok gets announced for the senior rankers and alibaug for the junior rankers..

Alibaug happened before and the baccha had a rocking time.. they ate, they drank, they danced, they enjoy and came back as the team they were...

So back to the main topic.. Bangkok team building!! approximately 75 people ended up going... the passports, visa stamping, the foreign currency... the bangkok shopping fever.. the anticipation to only fill bags while coming back and the hope to find out whats the team building offsite going to be like..

Coronation of MEET and ABHISHEK and 2 of the team leaders...
heheheh.. ! responsible guys sharing HRs responsibility to take care of Hungama team in terms of what daru, what size shirt, when to get to the airport, goodie bag etc etc etc.. with our guys in the core planning team, 1st hand info received big time!! whats the 4 day iternary, what can and cant be done, who got allocated which room, who got what room partner and who all are coming.. excel sheets on excel sheets were scrutinised and looked at minutely to analyse, deduce and interpret... hehe na.. the only analysis done was whose room becomes the daru ka adda and when do sessions end for fun to begin... thats it to the point.. kaam se matlab..

We at this point in time.. btw are not even close to leaving bombay to get the bangkok... cut the long story short.. 2 mails from HR saying u can leave at 430 to get to the airport at 9 and another saying the last mail was crap.. find your way to the airport, we left office at 530 and got home, then to the airport at 930pm..

as always apna gang was the last to checkin so got dispersed seats.. Meet and BD sitting together so we were assured of loud laughter at regular intervals..

Highlight of the trip... Indian Airlines flight to Bangkok.... Auntys service on the flight seemed not so compelling but who cared.. we wanted to just get to bangkok..
did i mention it was a 1230 flight which took off at 2.. so had a nice cramped aunty time on the flight...

so we were off to bangkok...

PS: no snaps taken.. people still not in the holiday mood!! no cameras out!!

...End of introduction to the offsite

Mere Paas MAA hai - on a tatoo behind my ear!!

Once upon a time... in a land not so far away there was a tall angry man who said "Pura naam, Vijay Dinanath Chauhan, baap ka naam, Dinanath Chauhan, Maa ka naam, Suhasini Chauhan, Gaon Mandwa. Umar Chatiis saal....".... no relevance, just like the dialogue!! heheh... :D

So.. Once upon a time... in a land not so far away there was a man who answered".....Tumhare paas kya hai... Mere Paas Maa Hai"

12th Oct 2008 marked the day when i was DAAGED for life.. As a smallest tribute to my mom - my anchor, my soul, my inner voice.. i engraved myself with the "Mother and Daughter" words in Chinese behind my left ear. (Ref - the chinky photo on the left)

Supposedly the most painful place to get a tatoo is on a bone and this was my Skull.. thankfully really solid.. :)

Why that place.. my mom's my soul, couldnt get it tatooed on my brain and the heart didnt seem the right place so inner voice translated to the ear and hence behind it was the apt location.




Along with me, my partner in IPL crime Khusbu joined in to get her tatoo done and thanx to her, got a step by step process of my tatoo making..

Step 1: The bleeding Ear - with anesthesia liquid - 4% to reduce the pain


Step 2: WAIT - 5 mins to get the numbness!! - nopes it not like u wont feel anything.. u still do!!

Step 3: Positioning (sounds like the 4Ps of Marketing) - very important stage - like they say "Get your fundamentals right"

3.1 Paper positioning - that is my hand!! looks nice doesnt it!! :)


3.2 Paper placing - apparently paper sticks to behind my ear!! adhesive place!! :)



3.3 Tracing - been a while i had seen the blue carbon paper used in sarkari offices to make duplicate copies!! he used the same to trace on my body! Apparently i knew very little abt the process of tatooing!! now me the expert!! (not exactly but no challengers as yet!! :D)


Step 4: The actual process starts!! it was Sandeep - the tatoo artist's 1st time doing what he did best in that position... he was kicked abt the whole idea and all geared up for the job!! thats what i loved abt him.. his attitude and of course his skill to paint so brilliantly.. not one moment of doubt or discomfort to complete my madness and my convoluted thoughts to be put into a tatoo onto my body!!


Who knew this cute small nice looking kid is a complete stock of talent and art

Quote from the process:
As u can see he had a task at hand to keep the ear away from the place where the tatoo was being done to give himself a canvas so he was holding my ear... me the nice person i am (hehe) and wanting to be an active part in the process asked him "Kaan pakdun kya"... both of us burst out laughing after that!! :D

Step 5: 25 long minutes... the process is still on!!

Disclaimer: pls note this is another photo (not the prev one), the stage of tatooing is way ahead.. if u could see my face (hidden in the shadow of the hallo at the back), i was closing my eyes trying to bear the pain!!

Step 6: Final Cleaning and revealing the tatoo to the world!!


after 25 mins of buzzzzzzzzzzzzing tatoo machine sound... finally it is over!! Sandeep is also happy and i was just waiting to see it!! wait for 2 more mins and the head is held high!! right then - sheer exhaustion and at breaking point of pain bearing... phew!!
(P.S. a bit of exaggeration allowed.. after all i got a tatoo on the hardest bone)

First pictures of the tatoo


If the lighting was good and the skin showed, the place is red!! blood red.. atleast i know there is blood circulation to my brain and the blood has the red colour!! :) but looks awesome doesnt it!! (the redness visible in the 2nd photo on the blog of the tatoo)

Step 7: Ready to GO!!!


The tatoo getting packed and sealed and ready to go!! actually there was no place to pack it up like they generally do..
the tatoo is covered with cling film and around the tatoo it is tapped... now ek to mera chota kaan.. uske upar uske kaan ke peeche bahut hi kam jagah and then the tatoo... so he had another task on his hand to put this together!! hehehe....

So there is my tatoo...

More to come!! tribute, thank u speech.. for later!!

Khubu bids farewell to Hungama...

To my wonderful friend Khusbhu.. my partner in IPL, Cricket, SRK crime..

As days go by, your sweet presence in the office is totally missed.. my road to Saleem's office has become less interesting and is more or less restricted to work and troubling neha.. miss having u around but truly wish u the VERY BEST in all your do!!

btw u missed the road to the office.. :D

Hi Guys

Seems like ages ago when I walked into Hungama and into this massive, fast speed, high growth telecom industry and now at the end of my stay here, I believe it is due to this company and its people I am what I am professionally, hopefully still pleasant and rich with experience.

Over the year and a half, everyone has taught me more than I could ever ask for and, in some cases, might not have asked for. :) I have been fortunate enough to work with some absolute wide variety of people who have taught me invaluable lessons.

What made the biggest difference were the amazing bunch of people here.....with whom I have had a fun time working. Last but not the least, to all my friends across departments, we have tried hard to execute and successfully launch numerous services and processes and there could not have been a better & talented set of people to have worked with and so much excitement at work.

Thank u each and every one of u for your overwhelming support and I have been honored to be part of such a fantastic family. A big thanks, all the very best to all of you & hoping you stay in touch!

P.S. - But before I leave, I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know what distinct pleasure it has been to type “Today is my last day.” J J

Yours in Farewell

Khushbu

Have you ever really loved a woman!!

Have you ever really loved a woman!! -- Bryan Adams

i wonder if this song is dream, a fantasy to know any woman so well.. and why are such songs only written abt woman... even in these times are men supposed to do all the work.. too much load on the poor man and then they say "its a man's world"
it could also be that theres so much to write abt the woman breed.. they are so interesting.. (or complicated.. :) )
i just like this song!! utterly romantic...

Do you really love a woman?
to understand her, you gotta know her deep inside
her every thought, see every dream
and give her wings if she wants to fly
nd when you find yourself lying helpless in her arms
you know you really love a woman

When you love a woman
and tell her that shes really wanted
when you love a woman then tell her that shes the one
Because she needs somebody, to tell her that its gonna last forever
so tell me have you ever really, really ever loved a woman

To really love a woman, let her hold you
till you kno she needs to be touched
you gotta breathe her, you gotta taster her
till you can feel her in your blood
when you can see her unborn children, in her eyes
you know you really love a woman

When you love a woman
and tell her that shes really wanted
when you love a woman then tell her that shes the one
Because she needs somebody, to tell her that youll always be together
so tell me have you ever really, really ever loved a woman

Oh you've got to give some faith, hold her tight
a little tenderness, you gotta treat her right
she will be there when you take good care her
ohh you gotta love your woman yeah

And when you find yourself lyting helpless in her arms
you know you really love a woman

Just tell me have you really, really every loved a woman
Ohh just tell me have you ever really really ever loved...

She's Always a Woman to me

She's Always a Woman to me - Billy Joel

A person would can bear so many tantrums, moods, ideas, shades, brain waves, thoughts et c etc etc is an awesome human being... but when u really read the lyrics, it is human shades being put in one line.. if u know and can handle this specially abt a woman, u know her in and out and can live happily ever after (hopefully)... unless your tastes change and the mystery element abt your woman is lost!!

She can kill with a smile, she can wound with her eyes
She can ruin your faith with her casual lies
And she only reveals what she wants you to see
She hides like a child, but she's always a woman to me

She can lead you to love, she can take you or leave you
She can ask for the truth, but she'll never believe you
And she'll take what you give her as long it's free
Yeah, She steals like a thief, but she's always a woman to me

Ohhh... she takes care of herself
She can wait if she wants, she's ahead of her time
Ohhh... and she never gives out
And she never gives in, she just changes her mind

And she'll promise you more than the garden of Eden
Then she'll carelessly cut you and laugh while you're bleeding
But she’ll bring out the best and the worst you can be
Blame it all on yourself 'cause she's always a woman to me

She's frequently kind and she's suddenly cruel
She can do as she pleases, she's nobody's fool
And she can't be convicted, she's earned her degree
And the most she will do is throw shadows at you,
But she's always a woman to me

Farewell is a sweet sorrow!!

My farewell mail to BPL, my life for 4 1/2 yrs.. somewhere still is... :-)

Dear Team Mobile,

I walked through the main security gate on 3rd Nov'03 as a young, nice, naive management graduate out of her 1st job from campus into this massive, fast speed, high growth telecom industry to work for a company called BPL Mobile Communications Limited. That day seems like yesterday and now at the end of my stay here, I believe due to this company and its people I am still young, hopefully still nice, confident and rich with experience that today defines my very being.

What made the biggest difference were an amazing bunch of people here......

.............people who made me rack the monetary side of my brain and wonder why it existed (read Finance)

.............people who made technology seem both simple and rocket-science together (read IT / Tech)

.............people who made me look into every nook and cranny of my "oh-so-AMAZING" products (read CAG / CS /RRMT & other back-end teams)

.............people who verified and re-re-verified the products (and made very needful suggestions) till the time we changed it to a new product to be verified (read : the front-end teams)

.............people who supported in all this madness of work in a strong and silent way ( read HR /Admin/Legal)

.............all the sales and marketing gang, who despite anything and everything, made work so driven and full of fun

.............the entire VAS team with whom I have had a fun time working..

last but not the least, to all my friends at BPL Mobile across departments, we work hard (numerous 1st time products and processes), we party hard (Racing aheads) and we believe that this company is the very best in the industry.

There could not have been a better & talented set of people and so much excitement at work. Thank u each and every one of u for your over whelming replies to my mails. It is very touching and I am honored to be part of such a fantastic family. A big thanks, all the very best to all of you & hoping you stay in touch !

One response worth mentioning that really really touched my heart:

Dear Nirupama,

I take this opportunity in wishing you all the best for all your future endeavors

And all the best in your personal life too..

What I loved about you... is your openess to suggestion and implementation.

And Most important is you ' Listen ' and not just ' Hear ' . I Guess this will take you very far in your professional life as well as personal.

You are Simply the Best we had in Marketing. We will surely Miss You.

Many years down the line, I know u will remain the same... Pls do not change..

All the best !!! Keep smiling as always !!! Keep in touch !!!

A BIG GOD BLESS TO YOU & YOUR FAMILY....

Warm Regards,

Kellen.

-- This was one of the many many many mails i got back from a team of more than 400 people.. felt so nice and humbling and fulfilling that i was able to touch people's lives in a way they have touched mine. made me realise, its important to voice your appreciate more often than wait for someone to leave to tell them the importance they hold in your life and the effect they have had.. try and do that!!

And miles to go before i sleep...

makes a different sense to me everytime i read it. am i getting wiser or this poem just has many meanings... i dont think many people know that the poem has another name!! :)..
My miles to go before i sleep... long miles everyday - 21 kms before i sleep everyday from work to home in the bombay city... and specially at 11pm, the sleep seems more important and the miles ironically seem longer than usual.. :)

my 1st impression of this phrase was when at age 3 i saw it on a traditional embroidered cloth framed and put in my uncles house made by my cousin sister for her art class project.. those words got her an A grade in class.. i am sure not for what they stand but simply cause she was that good in what she did even if it was creativity at a different level...

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there's some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Life is UNFAIR

life has its way of hitting back at u when things seem to be going right. my 3 yr old niece was diagonosed with luekemia when she was only 1 yr old. for 2 yrs she went through painful cancer treatment from injections to chemo.. abt 2 mths back, due to this new treatment given to her, she was diagonosed to be perfectly alright.. now when she is going to school, doing grt at that, a happy child playing around with beautiful black curly hair, her cancer has come back. out of the 12 children that we rendered this treatment, she is the only one with a relapse and docs says it will be tough.. WHY is what u ask. a 3 yr old kid. WHY???

30th Oct 2008 -
Anishka or Ajju like her folks call her, just underwent a stem transplant abt 4 days back.. shes under 60 days isolation and another 2 months of intensive care to make sure that she recovers from her cancer.. As a family, these are testing times for us... our sweet little baby needs to undergo so much pain only so that she can be better and we believe.. she too sweet and too strong to not fight this and come out a winner.. would any one of us trade places with her.. in an instant..!! always.. anytime..

Superstitions, prayers, thoughts, love, god, rituals all come into place now and we wont leave any stone unturned to make sure we do our bit to take care of our sweet girl!! an angel, a brat but a very sweet one! the darling of our life... :)

09th January 2009

Ajju is back home after abt 2 months in the hospital and some really painful times, shes back home to us. healtier, much better and touch wood free of cancer. the operation worked and as they say if its alls well that ends well.. the means and the struggle are justified.. never ever do we want anyones' children to go through anything like this.. it just doesnt seem fair but like i keep telling myself, the top guy has a reason and here 1 reason i can think of or something that i have learnt is the strength a 4 yr old can have to face this, understand this situation and get cured... i am happy and thankful to whoever is looking over her.. i pray that whoever is looking over her.. always does... :)

Khubu - i think its ur angel.. :)

7th March 2010

Ajju got her check up and she is clean!! :) cute, tall, nice, grown-up (pretends to be!!) 7 yr old.. i hope she has an awesome time and is able to fulfill all that she wants to do!! :D very happy for her with her 8th bday coming along in 2 days!! :)

thank u god!!!

Virudd- Brave movie

A fantastic movie to hit the Indian Cinema Screens abt 2 yrs back. everytime this movie is shown on indian television, it reminds us of the legal systems that exist in this country and only if u fall into a legal battle does the durt and the political control come alive.

A hard hitting movie that makes us youngsters realise that the country needs educated people like us running it. The choices we make as citizens can influence the way the country is run. Even if each one of us over 18 votes intelligently, we can see a difference, not today not next yr but in a decade..

Preview from a site:

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Producer: A.B. Corporation Ltd., Satyajeet Movies P. Ltd.
Director: Mahesh Manjrekar.
Music: Ajay-Atul.
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Sharmila Tagore, John Abraham, Sanjay Dutt.

Viruddh is a bilingual film that addresses various issues of a common man’s plight against the system. Mahesh Manjrekar, the director has strongly denied the accusation. Now it remains to be seen how much Viruddh resembles Saaransh…

Viruddh is the story of a person (John Abraham) who accidentally witnesses a criminal act and loses his life in his attempt to intervene.

Viruddh is the story of standing up against a well-established paradigm of power in defense of his/her convictions. It is about dissent, refusal of fear and of extraordinary courage and tenacity amidst extreme pressure and adversity.

Viruddh is also about an ordinary sixty plus couple, Vidyadhar Patwardhan (Amitabh Bachchan) and Sumitra (Sharmila Tagore), who are forced to search for their faith in human values and society after the death of their only son. In this process they undergo the most testing struggle of their lives.

The ingredients of Viruddh and its theme are universally identifiable. Set in the networked and global milieu, it tells a tale that has classical elements and structure and can be relocated in almost any context.

The film expresses individual and social vulnerability in the face of a corrupt system and how this equation continues to be the same even as the ways of the society change.

The film is scheduled to release on July 22nd.

National Memorial for Indian Soldiers post 1947

Today is the 26th of January 2008 when India celebrates its 58th Republic Day. During the republic day show today morning where the entire parade is shown, there was this small piece on how theres no national memorial for those brave and daring armed force soldiers who have given their lives to save our borders.
I as a citizen, no where connected to the armed forces except for a few friends who are armed forces’ children, it troubles me to see that we donot respect our safety at all. This is a question of pride and achievement and not of bureaucracy and two ministries not able to take decisions as the story said.
If people can get together and do something so that by the next republic day we can see this memorial being constructed and finally giving the due credit to the brave soldiers.

A Thousand Splendid Suns - By Khaled Hosseini

If kite runner was a moving story, A Thousand Splendid Suns was over the top. This story not just reflected the tough times in Afghanistan during the taliban regime, also very beautifully tells the story of 2 individuals – Mariam and Laila. It also shows the world the situation and status of women in Afghanistan. What comes out of the book is an understanding of where Afghanistan was in its glory days and how war can ruin all that’s known to the locals. A fantastic tale of a country only known to people as the country that USA invaded. For someone like me, a woman enjoying the previledges of a better country and policies, having the freedom to choose what i can make of my life, this book makes me realise how lucky and how fortunate the woman in my country are to be able to lead the life i lead.