3rd Aug 2014 – 9nd Aug 2014 [CarNama – 5]

 

Be systematically heroic in little unnecessary points, do every day or two something for no other reason than its difficulty, so that, when the hour of need draws nigh, it may find you not unnerved or untrained to stand the test.

Now we shifted gears with regards to Cars. Till now, necessity was the main motivation for having a car. In late 90’s all necessary needs for vehicles were full filled. For office we had 2 wheelers, for Sunday outing we had Maruti Cars in Pune and most reliable Van in Mumbai. Sanjay booked two Piguets Cars when Premier announced booking. Dad was furious, but for unity of family kept mum. He liked frugal living. However, we waited for one year but those cars never came in the market and our deposits were total loss as we were not able to recover from Premier Auto.

In mid 90’s we were doing extremely well. Paper business was expanding; our construction business had crossed major hurdles and rushing forward to finishing line.  Avi’s wedding preparations were on and again this time also Sanjay booked two UNO’s. One was for Mumbai and one for Pune. Dad this time was not angry, but bit ‘Khafa’, why two, he asked.

 

New Generation of Dodeja Drivers getting ready to drive

We did maximum of trips to Wadgaon in UNO’s. And during one such trip [During Diwali ] Avi banged UNO into bullock cart near Dehu Road, head on at 70 km speed. We were following in other car. With Avi were all Kids of the family. I had near heart attack when I saw the banged UNO. Thankfully, I saw Akshay curiously watching the scene, no panic at all, immediately I knew all were safe with no injury, not even a scratch. UNO was first luxury car in our family and Akshay used this car to impress Nikita during his courtship days very successfully.

Both Uno Cars were white elephants, not ideal for Indian roads. We regularly developed silencer problem. Our weight, low clearance, pot wholes, spead breakers, weak suspension will work together damaging silencer, again and again. Considering our record of holding Cars for decades, these two were sold much before 1^st decade approached.

4^th Mon – Meet – Aska  were invited for dinner. They reached around 10, nearly 3 hours late, due to rare Tyre puncture problem! We all finished dinner. Full family corium was present, as Dhwani and Muskan will say, No TV, Family Time. Aska loves PJ’s, the kind Avi has become expert in creating after his Hrishikesh trip. Avi claims this all was started by Kashyap. And individually you may not like those PJ / Riddles, on the contrary they are very irritating when you can not judge the reply, but in group you do enjoy. Here are few examples of his creation. These are latest creation by Aska & Avi. For more visit 'Being Dodeja', it is brimming with all variety of PJ's.

1: What do you call China’s Key?

2: Who takes permission from his wife before eating? 

3: Which is a city where every  id, war takes place?

Avi creates  PJ’s / Riddles while sitting on his ‘Singhasan’, in morning and shots them off, first thing in morning from office. And because they are addictive, one struggles for reply, this makes a very irritating days opening. 

1: Chinky [Chini + Key]

2: Meeth [Me+Eat]

3: Haridwar [Har + id + War]

Wed: Mummy slipped in her room, result was a small cut on her elbow and panic in everyone else. Why she slipped, is she ok. But it happens, especially in old age, I also thought this was due to high blood pressure, but it seems that is not the problem. She slipped due to her wrong footwear and raised tiles in her room. Mummy along with Avi family had planned a stay at Sacred Heart from Thursday as Akshay – Kashyap – Muskan – Dhwani all are going for the Goa wedding. She will guide our new maid, Namita. Kashyap – Dhwani left for Goa in 6.45 pm train. Till 6.00 pm Dhwani was busy recollecting items to put in her bag, such is there management. Finally I forced them out to take train from  Pune station which was 20 minutes away in normal traffic, if it rains heavily, then it may take much more time. My second daughter is one step ahead of her. At 10.0 pm it was announced, she is ready, all I have to do is put my cloths in bags.  I told her, just for fun of it, this process will take 3 hours minimum. I was off by 1 hour, it took her to pack bags all of 4 hours! For 10 minutes job.

Thu: Akshay – Muskan left in Xylo for Goa at 6.40 am. Muskan called me. The excitement was 100% genuine as she poured out her happiness.  During the rains the ‘Ghat’ section to Goa is heaven. Rolling hills, fresh shades of unimaginable green, swinging palm trees and misty, tingling, shivering fog makes a cocktail of beauty which words cannot define, only can be understood by someone who has experienced such happiness filled with joy and by those whom natures blesses with just experiences. 

Kunal - Aarti wedding : Mehandi Location at Goa Wow Factor

Fri: Goa pictures are coming in. Constant feed back from location is very enlightening. Kash-Dhwani are multi-tasking as CIS members doing shooting taking interviews, and also attending wedding as one of Chawla Cousins. Whereas Akshay is full on in holiday mood. Muskan is busy attending functions and also using her make up skill on any willing 'Bakra.' 

by P G Dodeja

18th Junly - 20th July [Skit Weekend]

In my mind I was going for the weekend at Khandala with Chawla family, as usual.

But I forgot, this extended weekend was organized by Mona because Pinky had planned to conceive, create and rehearse the full skit during weekend. Kunal Narang’s wedding preparations were full on. Venue was set, invitations were on its way, menu was fixed, dress selection was over and sequence of functions was set. Now only thing left was to execute all things as planned. This wedding has being planned as Holiday Wedding, i.e. all events will take place in single resort in Goa. Goa is very beautiful in rains, hopefully rain God will contribute and make this memorable wedding.

Skit practice is one thing which requires presence off maximum participants, in this case all cousins. Earlier Pashu-Dimpi-Pinky team was enough for entertaining skit, with Dimpi in England, this responsibility has fallen on other two. However, Kashyap-Dhwani have joined the team in big way.

This year monsoon was late in coming but it did arrive and made our week end fabulous. In Pune instead of 6th June, rains arrived on 14th July, that also with lot of 'Nakras'. Daily Muskan-Dhwani will plan 'Kanda Bhaji' party, but in end will be canceled due to non arrival of rains.

In Mona Bunglow at Khandala, clouds literally walked in the living room of Bunglow, embraced us, gave us ‘pyar ki Jhapi’, moved around for some time and left us, feeling high!

Suddenly during the making of skit I realized that the people whom I consider as kids are grownups with lot of attitude, own personality, life and thinking. Out of 12 kids(!) present, 8 were married and that also for years. Most of them were working, having own career, personal demons, life outlook. It was a reminder that life has moved on.

And next day in morning, surprise of all was the ladies started talking about the age. Mona started by claimed she has crossed 60. Wow. One thing I can say for Chawla DNA. Most of them look at least younger by 10 years! Be it Mona, Bindiya or Kids, sorry young adults of family.

Some observation on how life dries up juices from your system. The spunkiness, the spontaneity, the youthfulness, the unbounded happiness which was trade mark in such gatherings in past, was coming in bits and pieces, not like earlier times in continuous flow. And yes, cell phone kept interrupting the flow.

But then life is such, it keeps moving and changing scenes. It is time for Mahek - Maher generation to take over, but where is their 'Sena'? 

On Friday, Pinky & Kash sat down and planned the skit for 12 – 15 minutes duration. Kashyap did the good job by downloading the songs, editing them in required length. Pinky kept repeating, ‘I know who will dance and who will not, I have planned my skit accordingly.’  What a sign of maturity. She was prime planner for all skits done till now for all cousins wedding. And then she made a big announcement. She said to my shock, ‘Now I am 37, please get married before I turn 40, I do not want to continue with this job in my 40’s!’

This ‘Skit Making’ is thankless job. Non dancers want out, lazy bugs want slow number, audience want fast number, moody people want impromptu number, all want others to do sync with them, some want old numbers and some latest. Thankfully, all were in for Hindi filmy songs only. And in all thisdifferent requirements we want something different. Are you ready for hard work? No.

Those on floor practicing got tired and retired by 2.0 am. However, Ashish – Sunny – Kunal – Pammy who were more of observers drank Coke, eat Maggie and went to sleep around 5.0 am. Saturday passed like a blink, planning – executing – practicing all songs. Day was glorious, comfortable, drizzling and cool. It was an excellent set up for such activity. I enjoyed the day thoroughly. And to make a evening more pleasant, Nanda dropped in suddenly late at night, with Khushboo & Karan, just for overnight stay. Their inclusion brought in new momentum and again we slept very late on Saturday.

On Sunday we returned, tired but happy.

 
by P G Dodeja