20th July 2014 – 26th July 2014 [Carnama - 3]

• On Spending: If you spend money on things which you do not need, soon you will have to sell things you need.    
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• On Honesty: Honesty is a very expensive gift, do not expect from cheap people. 

Third car in our family came with the economical revolution in India. In early 80's when India shifted gears and moved towards robust, proactive, aggressive model of economic development, first sign of development was "Maruti Udyog Ltd". However, people in general were septic, saying let the production start, let’s see how strong and good cars are, how they will service those modern cars, then we will think of buying. On last day of advance booking, I finally disagreed with this viewpoint of Dad & Thakurdas and took proactive step. Just few minutes before closing time after Dada's consent (so that Dad & TMM do not take objection), I submitted two forms, one in my name and other in Bansi uncles name with 10K draft. It was for first time in India, that Maruti delivered Van-Car not on first come, first serve basis but on lottery system. 

Bansi Uncle’s Van arrived in first lot and my Van arrived in 5^th Lot. And most probably it was first Van in Ghatkopar. It was fun to see all eyes diverted on humble Van at signals and parking lots in those early days, curious citizens asking many questions. 

With Arrival of Van, our picnic’s which were getting less and less, jumped up. On drop of hat, we will make picnics and short trips. Khandala – Pune – Palgar –Secundrabad – Ghanpati Phule – Mahableshwar – Panhala – Goa - Vadgaon etc were visited during early years of High Roof Van’s arrival. We clocked more than 2.0 Lakhs km in Vans life span with us. Finally I sold Van with heavy heart to ex-staff of Noble Printer after brief bargaining standing outside Prabhat Cinema at 80% of original purchase price!

Akshay learned steering wheel handling at age of three, sitting on my lap, in Maruti Van. Mummy and Bindiya liked the leg space it provided. I loved it because if needed we can easily accommodate Chandan family for Aarey Milk Colony etc picnics. And yes, this was the vehicle in which I first time crossed 100 km speed. Wow!    

Chinky goes to College: The standard sentence should be, how time flies. Girls really grow faster then the boys. Just look at her photo. Chinky completed her school and started college life with no funfair, but in most sober, serious way.

This is on record as first week of Chinky’s College life. We were more excited about her then Chinky. On her first day She attended all lectures which Akshay was not able to digest. He kept guiding her that you should bunk at least few lectures daily, as he and Muskan had done. For Chinky there were no jitters, no excitement, no new friends nor any adventure. In her words, 'Boring'. However by end of the week, she has already formed her group of 4 girls, whose names Rinky can recite, it looks Rinky has already started her college life as 'Proxy Chinky'.

She will soon be using two wheeler, till than old trusty ‘Riksha’ is her mode of travel. Poor Rinky is already missing her sister very much.

  Lali & Sharat returned from Singapore in Saturday. Hopefully the trip was good for them. Will know about it on Monday, when Lali comes to office. How times have changed. In recent past, a foreign trip was considered a major event and immediate and extended family was all excited and involved. Plans would be made for send-off, guests would drop in to say hello. No such activity nowadays. Today, such trips are considered as a visit to Laxmi Road. Well, may be for some, foreign trips are more frequent than visit to Laxmi Road or say Shaniwar Wada. 

by P G Dodeja