6th Oct 2014 – 12th Oct 2014 [Muskan, Karva Chouth]

 

Mon:  Akshay has reached golden age of 32 years. His birthday was celebrated with Muskan gusto and family gathering. I must give full credit to this energetic, forceful, life loving girl. Single handedly she cooked with help of her maid, Namrata, a delicious dinner for 15 family members. Dhwani-Kash are in Mumbai. Black Dal -  Rotis – Biryani – Gulab Jamu – Pinapple raita – Dal Kichari! All dishes were perfect and delicious, some ten on ten and some seven on ten. I do not know about others, but I am very proud of her. God bless her.

She loves having fun and works very hard to achieve that.  In the process if others benefit, enjoy, so be it. She never demands anything in return for making your life so good. One must also acknowledge family values incorporated in her by her parents.  In last six years I have never felt or experienced any incident which tell me she values anything more than, Akshay, Parents [Both Mumbai-Pune], and other family members.  It is hard, but worth it. Keep it up. 

  

It has taken nearly 10 months, but finally there is some moment on front of adding new member in family. ‘Well, I can hear every ones wrong assumption. By new member, I meant, Sharat’s wife.’  Manju has after returning from Singapore, seriously started the hunt for her DIL. She wants to enjoy this process, so things were on hold, till she returns. Let’s see, what will be the result by year end.

Wed: Day of fresh hopes. Within span of 2 hours, 5 projects, which we expected to bring lot of ‘Green Bucks’ moved in unison one step towards fruitful closure. Avi had discussed with Mirani and told him, ‘We many times achieve 95% success and final 5% breaks the tempo and project, and we miss on major financial gain.’ Why?  And Mirani repeated what he had earlier said, ‘It is ‘Vashtu’ of this property, which is impairing final success. Get it rectified.’

Punjabi Kuddi

Muskan with Dadi

Karva Chauth: What we used to see in Bollywood movies, I see happening in our home. Muskan dresses up properly for the celebration, New colorful dress, fancy kungans, mendhi, fresh paint of nail polish, mithas, delicious dishes. ‘Surgi’ which MIL gives, is arranged by Muskan only, but she does that with Gusto. For Mendhi, she goes to Nagpal House. Pallavi Nagpal has become a good Punjabi friend of her, so Muskan’s Punjabi pan comes out frequently, and I enjoy it the most. So I need to thank Pallavi for making my Punjabi Bahu, more Punjabi. Muskan likes to say, “I am Sindhi.”
And yes, Most  important, messages to well wishers is sent. To Nandani, Kajal, Mumbai Mamma, Pinky Chachi, Chinky etc.
‘The moment you see the moon, call me.’ This year Moon was helpful and turned up around 8.30.

 

I am getting this Déjà vu feeling for last two nights. In 60'c, 70’s & 80’s, after watching movie with Bathija or Bajaj family on VCR, we will sit and gossip. Daddy was master in this. He used to shift from one subject to other, presenting same subject from different angle. Whenever intensity of discussion, debate got low, he will prop up subject with his unique twist. This will continue even after Bathija or Bajaj family has left. Normally such nights will end after 1 O’clock or so.

And for last two nights we are doing just this. TV is switched off and gossip starts. We dissect nature of one and all, analysis incidents, we predict our future, make judgments, but all in good humor. Dhwani gives her psychological input, Muskan brings in her rustic good judgement, mummy speaks from her insight, my input is based on past experience, Akshay suddenly will surprise with his blunt, direct, clear insight and kashyap will always be mature sound of debate. This sittings are killed by TV, how sad.

  Subjects are plenty. I bring up past stories, Muskan talks about Punjabi’s life style, whereas Dhwani speaks about her ‘Matunga’ life. Akshay never participates in such debate; he hears, and then makes the final statement. This matter is like this and not like that! Kashyap will join only if some technical angle is there in story, otherwise he is good listener. Last night Mummy was in form and she recalled many stories, surprising her grand children. It was 2.30 am to my utter surprise, when I hit the pillow. 

 

by P G Dodeja

6th Jan 2014 – 12th Jan 2014 [Birth and Birthday]

9 Jan : Muskan updated her status by becoming ‘Buaa’. She was very excited and had gone to Mumbai to be with her family. Kajal was in Delhi, and her doctor has planned delivery on 9^th morning by operation. And a baby boy, looking like his grandmother was born.  The similarity is very much striking and accurate. 

 Nandini while accepting congratulations said, ‘Uncle tell Muskan to make me massi.’  I told her, 'Mere Dil Ki baat, Cheen Lee.' 

 So this is my way of telling her to make Nandini  ‘massi’. And ofcource lots of other people will also change status. Most of us will move to next generation.

10 Jan : Dhwani wanted to Cut her Birthday cake exactly at her birth time. i.e. 8.30 pm.  Whereas Bindiya is very punctual and follows a very accurate time line, Dhwani on other hand is exactly opposite her. She does not have time measuring knack. Her two minutes can be 30 minutes and 60 minutes can be 5 minutes.  Everyone knows this. So it was 8.30 and I was relaxed, watching TV along with Bindiya. Not expecting Dhwani and party to reach home in time. Suddenly bell rang, all kids of the family entered and table was set on war footing. And believe me, Dhwani cut the cake at 8.36 pm! An achievement in itself.

The cake was a present from Kashyap & Muskan. They had baked this unique cake made up of exotic product range like some very special cheese, strawberry paste and fresh strawberry, some imported diet biscuits, few other ingredients which I cannot pronounce. All sourced from Dhorabjis. The whole birthday celebration was done in very fast forward manner, so much so that we do not have a picture of cake also! It got finished within 5 minutes. This is Fast & Furious generation, so be it. I agree we enjoy food, but to me also this is the limit!

Dhwani again also celebrated her birthday at office. The staff of Cutit decorated cabin with ribbons and brought a nice creamy cake for her to cut. So the second cake was cut at cutit studio. Lali wants to start this celebration system for all staff members of Noble Printer! But I find it childish.

11 Jan: Kashyap & Dhwani left for Nashik. Dhwani’s ‘Phuiaya’ had some urgent work in Devlali. They returned home at 3 0”clock in morning. And Akshay also returned home at 2.30 am. Today's generation's sense of timing is very much improper. Maybe the internal clock setting is changing in all human being. For centuries, human being timing was set by rising & setting sun. Now that for last 100 years due to electricity the need for Sun is not so strong, this timing is changing.

Here is very interesting episode of Akshay. Around 2.3 pm, I received a call from Akshay, all excited. ‘Papa, arrange for 250 Voyager 11 Silver color bag. Inquiry is very strong, get in touch with Robert, who is out of reach, as he is attending annual meeting.’ Just after few minutes, Amol called with same request. Now Voyager's sell in year itself is much less than 250 pieces in all sizes and colors. So this was worth pursuing, and no one for a minute though about genuineness of inquiry.

The story behind this inquiry is unique. Ali is a distributor in Hyderabad. Last night he was feeling bored, so at 11.0 he started for Solapur in his car. He picked one distributor from there and reached Pune in early morning. He called all AT dealers with whom he had enjoyed Andaman Trip, and generated the 250 quantity inquiry of Voyager! He played this prank with all and by evening all dealers, Akshay included meet him. They all realized the truth of this inquiry and laughed. They then planned ‘Sinhgad’ trip.  But by 7 O’clock in evening Sinhgad gets closed, so they have to return back. They all went all the way to Lonavala to eat dinner at Tony Da Dhaba! This guy Ali, returned back to Hyderabad after 40 hours roaming around! What people do for boredom solution.

 

by P G Dodeja

28th October 2013 to 3rd November 2013 [Happy Diwali]

Sunday: Evening. Rinky suggested, ’Lets have party in Atlantis.’ This place is just across the Sacred Heart entrance, above Macdonald.  Our dinning out has reduced so much that we have not visited this restaurant, in last 6 years! Atlantis printing is done by us, chef has personally invited us and offered 10% discount also and above all food review is very good.

Rinkys suggetion was taken and sharp at 7.30 Avi & family reached the venue and rest of us were there by 7.45. A very good start as per Dodeja standard, no one has to wait.
We were celebrating birthdays of Lali – Neha – Muskan & Chinky. 

Dhwani & Myself has arranged for Butter Scotch cake from new cake shop, bang opposite Atlantis. This cake turned out the best cake eaten in resent times. 

This cake fulfilled brain hunger also by putting a nice cross word puzzle on its face. 

 Sitting was arranged by management on a long table in main area. Pinky asked them to allot us small room they had for 12 people. Pinky told them, we will manage 19 people, but we want party room. It was a very good call by her. All of us were in good mood, occasion was great, all were getting ready for Diwali mood, Dhwani has instilled some creativity by asking all to bring unique gifts for four of them and also arranged some group games. Mahek-Palak represented childhood, Chinky-Renky represented teenage world. Umesh has not warmed up with us, I wounder why? But Neha along with her kids has started now joining us on such occasions, which makes our family complete. 

Digital world was amply present in three cameras, mobile cameras clicking away everything. The food turned out very good. This party will be considered as one of the best. Muskan was ‘phultu’ excited, and thanked earnestly.

Wednesday: Pre-Diwali activity should start with Cleaning of Home and Soul. Then it is turn of Shopping. Nowadays actual shopping is done on a whim, requirement and whenever shopkeeper puts SALE banner on its display window. And just to suggest for taking eight women for shopping is like asking for admission to Yervada Metal Hospital. It is nightmare for all males, and above all if you consider that this group comprises of four generations! No offence intended. 

However, to get the Diwali shopping feel I took all ladies in Xylo to Mundai. That place is still charming enough for me to enjoy the scenery and for ladies to make purchases of Diyas – Kandeel – Pooja Samgiri – Mittai and other knick knacks. Chitle Pede/Bakerwadi, Murlidhar Ghane-Ka Raas, Sind Karachi Grocery Shop, mandai Building take me back to early 70’s. It seems they have frozen the time for nearly 5 decades! They are still relevant and yet carry old world charm. And I wish them to survive 4 more generations, as they have already done. 

Dhawni - Neha - Mahek made a round of Tulsi Baug, hunting material to make ‘Toran’, and visited Chitle for Peda Purchase. Pinky - Rinky – Palak made round of shops to buy useful things for home, Mummy – Muskan – Myself made round purchased Pooja samgiri plus Kiran needs. I was able to Park Xylo in parking building next to Mandai, a new modern addition to area.    

Sunday: Diwali Pooja was fixed bit early due to Mahurat timing. Our staff  has increased a lot so it was very much crowded. The usual routine was following. Pooja – Plate - Bonus along with Mithai Box. From next year we are going to make some drastic change. We need to change this generations old tradition. This year Kashyap has hired three softies for taking family pics. Idea was to click some professional looking pictures. But we did not succeed in that as we kept shifting from taking professional pics to family candid pics with staff pictures in between. 

However we did click some good frames. I am planning to put that on google after creating a good album. However, here is just one frame of ever green, ever smiling, every ones darling, Muskan. 

Laxmi devi ka nur aap par barse
  Har koi aapse loan lene ko tarse
  Bhagwan aapko de itne paise
  Ki aap chillar paane ko tarse
  ***** HAPPY DIWALI *****

 

by P G Dodeja