20th July – 26th July 2015

Sapna’s son and Sunita aunt’s niece are getting married, we received invites from both sides, but only Avi left for this grand Hydrabad wedding. And Muskan in spirit of pulling his leg, gave him instruction like, ‘Do not lean our of door, do not accept eatable from stranger, take care of bag.’ And what happened? Within few hours of journey his Mobile was stolen!

Few years back, we all family members would have gone to attain this type of wedding, and that also in XYLO. And we would have thrown in few sightseeing days also. Nowadays, it has become difficult to even spare two days flying visit, everyone is busy in his/her sphere of activity and committed in such a way that to extract two days of free time appears impossible!

“Dil wahee chahe fursat ke raat din”

What more relaxing way is there for Sunday?

And there is one more wedding in Hyderabad in October. Vijay Dodeja’s daughter, Bhavini is getting married to a boy, related to Bal, settled in Hyderabad. It appears, Mumbai has lost as First option for wedding location in Sindhi community. Goa, Baroda, Hydrabad, Pune, Mahableshwar are preferred locations, in short, native place.

Thursday: Kabir received his life’s first three injections in one go. Poor guy cried and cried, his kegs kept hurting him, he nearly brought tears in all ladies eyes. He also had slight fever. So all 4 ladies we engaged for the day, trying hard to pacify him.

Is this process of long drawn vaccination process, lasting 14 years; necessary?

   Two conflicting views are there. Some say it is good for future health, some say it is more a marketing gimmick by drug companies.

Friday: Muskan and Akshay are off to Mumbai. Muskan will be in Mumbai, her father is getting operated for Gall Bladder removal, than she is off to Baroda for wedding. It had taken lot of cajoling by Nanda kids to make Hemchand [Muskan’s father] agree for operation. Like father, like daughter. It is minor operation which will be done in two stages.

Saturday: Finally I was able to sort out Black and White photographs. I use lot of digital media, but physical pictures are still holding its charm. I have finished 90% of album for Kabir’s grand children. This album contains picture of four generation belonging to [Lokram – Girdharilal – Prakash – Akshay] from 30’s to 90’s. I will seal it in airtight container and keep it as heirloom for future generations. Now I need to sit with Dhwani and write basic intro to picture.

by P G Dodeja

23rd Nov 2014 – 29th Nov 2014 [Dosti Ke Din]

 

Sun: Property division requires Saturday and Sunday should be kept as working days. During launching of a project you need to visit Site, do meetings, take training and work 14 hours a day to convert calls into booking.  Press & Distribution work is usual working days with Sunday as holiday. Cut-it studio working is very erratic and uncertain. For a week you are idle, with nothing to do and then suddenly for 4 days you work 18 hours a day to complete the project.  This, is in short working pattern of 21^st Century. Gone are the days when one can take paid holiday from work for 10 days, for long trip or wedding event. Or if you are cricket buff, 5 days holiday when cricket match was held at CCI, Mumbai. Inevitably every tom – dick – harry is working 24X7 due to mobile connectivity.

Lali nowadays believes that Stars do play a role in our life. For last so many weeks, first three days of week give us high hopes of major deals being completed, and next three days bring the sad news of those deals fizzling out. Keeping this statement in mind, I give below the recent activity details.

On Friday, Cut-it studio AV formed its own life, kept all of us on toes and kept even Akshay busy till it is delivered by 27^th. Xrbia pre-launch period was ending on Sunday, so again our office worked from 9.0 am O’clock to 9.30 pm, handling calls, planning site visits, making sale pitch and converting into bookings. Even Lali has to go for Site visit and all this pat good dividend.

Distribution section received major stock on Saturday from Virat Ind. Our C&F agency’s first delivery started this week, which kept our staff busy for 2 days.   

Press was after long time, busy on Sunday, Lali & Avi preparing quotations. It has been long time, when we have this opportunity of preparing elaborated quote. Let’s see, if that is approved and makes some good profit for us.  Best part keeping 21st century attitude in mind, all jobs are quick jobs, to be completed within a week.

Major Deal’s division was again busy, with ususal work, i.e. meetings, meetings and meetings1

In short, Lali’s contention that Stars do act gets more strength and we are left wondering, how much their impact?

Xrbia has spent  crores in launching of its 4 new projects. A major Exbhition is currently being held at Mumbai, BKC with collaboration of TOI. We are also receiving many enquiries due to this exposure in Pune. They have plan to conduct similar expo in Pune also, where we would be participating. It is extremely busy time and also wedding time.

On last count I collected 5 wedding cards. Relatives [via Bajaj & Sanjay Dodeja], friends [via Kashyap], business [via Paper & Property Business]. 

Meet Doshi, currently settled in Dubai, is ‘Langotya Yaar’ of Kashyap. I call him, little master. He is the last one to get married from Kashyap’s ‘Ghatkopar’ friends group, [School Friends] is now fully booked and cooked. I had fond memories of playing with them, making fool of myself and those 7/8 years old kids. Making them dance on Salman Khan number, playing computer games and taking some pictures. They have practically grown in front of me. Soon they will be visiting Pune with kids in tow. How time gathers momentum!

Sat: Pinakin, also belongs to same group, more so as our home was second home for him. Illa was second mother for Akshay and Bindiya was second mother for Pinakin. I must have scolded/ argued with Illa few times, and always for her strict handling of Pinakin. Akshay & Pinakin are today also thick friends, and more so, Kashyap & Dhwani have become buddy with Payal and Pinakin in big way. In some odd way, Kashyap is 'Ladla' of Illa.

Today i.e. 29^th Nov is birthday of Pinakin’s twins, born last year. If we had continued living in Sindhi building, I am sure, I would have had one impromptu party during this week. But then some you win, some you lose.  

 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

29nd June 2014 – 5th July 2014

 

“Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.”

Once again it was proved that MAIDS are prime assets of any ‘Grahani’. This story is unique in its own way. Currently in our long list of changing maids after ‘Hira’, we have currently in our employment,  called ‘Komal’. She is not कोमल from any angle. I have never seen a servant working at such a break neck speed, as if some hard task master is behind her life.  She was appointed for day & night and after one week, she resigned, saying I do not have any work to do, I am getting bored! It was refreshing and revealing the psyche of current generation, bravo. So Muskan, who has become very good sales person after joining Xrbia tele caller department, used her skills and convinced her to work from 9 am to 5 pm. She agreed.

Now come’s the twist in story. 3-4-5 July are Meet Shah’s wedding dates at Silvasa. Kash-Dhwani are already in Silvasa with full Shah family. Muskan – Akshay – Avi & Family were supposed to join them at Silvasa on 3^rd for wedding. Due to Chinky’s college admission Avi & family dropped the plan and got busy in college admission. Sharat who was supposed to join them, but pulled out at last minute. However, Akki-Niki plans was on. So Bindiya & Muskan planned on war footing the 3 days management of home front. Komal was given detailed instructions, trained for the mission on war scale. On 2^nd afternoon, Komal took Muskan in a corner and said, ‘I am not ready for this mission. I resign.’ It was bolt from the blue for Muskan. After full on consultations with various parties, it was decided that ‘Silvasa’ attendance is cancelled for Akki-Niki.  Muskan had just previous night shopped for the dress and was excited to use it. This was bigger disappointment then missing on wedding! Shah’s were informed, Dhwani was put into loop.

I have to give full marks to Muskans capacity to talk on cell phone. She started her complain charter with Komals Mother at 6.30 that also against her daughter and continued till 7.30, and mind you she was complaining to her about her daughter! During this period, lights went off, she set the dinner table, heated the dinner, rolled the ‘chapaties’ and served the food, all through talking on cell. This is called multi tasking.

3^rd July: We had Pizza party and Mummy along with Chinky-Rinky joined us. Kids are growing fast. Chinky has started speaking in stylist accent. She is getting ready for College Life. Whereas, Rinky has taken big interest in Sharat’s wedding plans. Normally, I initiate this topic, this time Rinky took the charge and kept hampering on it, till we all got involved in it. She complained, 'Chachu, what is wrong, you always initiate and take forward these topics, why not today.' I must give credit to her for taking this topic so deep. She kept us busy for two hours, planning Menu – Selecting Songs on which to dance – Designing dresses – Fixing color combination – Planning location. It is wonderful to observe that this family trace of management style which I had seen in Grand Dad, Dad and myself, present in Rinky! We all love and enjoy planning more than actual event, be it wedding or travel or party.

For Muskan 5^th July is more important than her wedding anniversary! Like her birthday, which she celebrates twice, one according to Hindu Tithi and other according to English calendar. she celebrates 5^th July as AMD day, i.e. Akshay Meeting Day. Her logic is, if 5^th July had not come I would have not meet Akshay and I would have not married him!  Same logic applies to 4^th July also, isn't it, if 4th had not come, how 5th July could had come?  

Kashyap-Dhwani returned from Silvasa wedding late at night, around 12.30 and again will be shooting today in Pune. This is high profile wedding of Dubai Sindhi’s. Kashyap’s main worry is that they should keep the schedule as per IST and not as per Sindhi Standard Time.

Why I have this feeling that next week is going to bring major changes in our life? Any clue?

 by P G Dodeja

Shadi Ke Shad Mane [Dodeja - Wedding]

Akshay & Nikita finally said yes to each other! Frankly, they had said 'YES' long long time back. But being in India, the family yes also counts. The family 'YES' took its own time and after years of wait the day came.
Just one day before 'Shradh' month's start, Roka (Formal 'YES') ceremony was performed. Very close family members, Dodeja's - Chawlas - Nandas were present. The full program was planned in Pune. However, due to our 'fun' attitude in all matters, at last minutes suggestion that lets do the Roka in Khandala (It being very cool and cloudy) was considered very seriously. Mummy was not happy, but accepted our suggestion. However, after confirming, the plan was dropped as, no Hotel was ready to provide food for 40 odd people at last minute.
Currently I am going through the happy phase of wedding. The planning. As travel part is always best in a trip, so is the planning part of wedding. Daily, Lali - Myself and Avi consult, discuss and work on small part of event. The every 2nd day, late night meeting and discussion and observations and plans are held either at KK or at Sacred Heart. All said and done, real fun time. The tensions, the problems and issues will come just 5 days before the event, till then, I am Loving it.
But then, every possibility is that tensions, the problems and issues may not surface at all! So, god bless.
To start with, wedding is planned in Mahableshwar, a hill station, 210 Km from Pune. So the planning part is very crucial and delicate. We have dispatched the invitation letter, 2 months in advance. The letter was received with many compliments. The passing comment by maharashtrian friend of Sharat, 'Akki chi Jhali Nakki' was gleefully pouched and used in letter. Every one liked it and this letter is being refered to as 'Nakki' letter!

by P G Dodeja