23rd June 2013 to 30th June 2013

 

Rains have settled down in our part of world bit early. Climate is very excellent, pleasant and romantic. A joke doing rounds is, ‘Barsat, raham kar, itna Romantic na ho. Ham Shadi Sudha Hain!’ But they continue to remain Romantic in our part of the world.

However, these same rains have played havoc in Jharkhand. Looks like, this state is going to face severe challenges in next 3-5 years. Whole tourism is destroyed, with Hotels washed away and Roads swept away.  How many people are buried, drowned no one knows, estimates are in 1000's, I feel it may touch 1 Lakh. TV is announcing the official figures as disclosed by government. Locals will have harrowing time, what with yearly income from tourism washed away, roads destroyed, houses damaged, how they will manage?

On Thursday, Kashyap & Sharat finalized and uploaded Cut-it Studio page on face book. I strongly suggest a critical look of the page. Click on link.

http://www.facebook.com/CutItStudios

Akshay-Muskan-Ankit-Pallavi are off to Mahableshwar. My Grandfather and father used to never miss an opportunity of Mahableshwar holiday. And now Akshay, the fourth generation is also always ready. I have secret weapon to make Muskan happy, just say and do, ‘Lets go to Fountain Hotel, Mahableshwar!.’ She is supper charged and all smiles, which in turn makes us all happy.

Sant Gyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram palki has reached Pune on Sunday. Palki will travel to Punderpur, along with lakhs of devotees. In India, such kind of activities are in plenty. In North, they call is ‘Kavera’

It is big event in Maharashtra and lots of people are involved in free stay for ‘Warkeris’, their food arrangement etc. All is free and for total strangers, who join the Palki in route! Lot of social organization work along with government, for welfare of the crowds, which keeps growing as it nears Punderpur.

Kanan Gala, Dhwani's cousin stayed with us for few days and left for her Baroda Home on Sunday.  She has completed her Architect Studies and soon will start her practice. A simple girl. Kanan Bala was a great singer of 1950's and its is good name. However, we changed that name to Canon, and asked her to marry Nikkon!

 

by P G Dodeja

17th June 2013 to 22nd June 2013 - Adventure Plus

Rains have come early in India and have covered full country. Tuesday saw flash floods in Utrakhand. For the first time in 88 years, these flash floods were witnessed. on TV. They were showing big buildings being swept away in rushing currents, water gushing through narrow spaces. Thousands of Yatri’s to Char-Dham are stranded all over Himalyas. In Hrishekesh, Parmarth Dham, where Madon had undertaken his mothers program was submerged in water and was shown repeatedly on TV. ‘Char Dhams’ have being closed for three year at least! Green brigade is now saying, ‘We told you.’

 

Akshay visited Nashik for Seiko along with National Head Sobuj. There he came across a Sindhi boy who is MD of a major distribution house. Whose daily turnover was in crores.  He had prime, high value brands distribution of Mumbai – Maharashtra – Gujrat – Rajisthan etc. What impressed Akshay the most was that most of the times he is free, just attends phones. He has CEO’s, CEE etc working for him. In Nashik we know Anil Khatpal (Anju’s Husband), who is 34 year old, and coincidentally this guy with whom Akshay meet is also 34 years old, lives in Nashik and his name is Anil K and is a Sindhi!

Akshay started for Goa on Wednesday at 4.0 clock in evening via Goa Express, he reached Madgaon, in morning, checked in a Hotel, visited market for short period. He got sick, fever and head ach, so off he went to sleep. Then he returned to Pune in evening by hired innova and reached home at 3.00 am. A round trip to Goa, not productive, but it had some meaning to it. What? This is third time in last 7 years that Akshay was in Goa when Share market tanked in Big Big way. On Thursday, when Akshay was just trying to avoid getting sick, market fell by 500 points nifty! Shardul K called him and said, ‘Do not tell me, you are in Goa today also!’

It is nice to see kids getting excited and planning for the picnic as I would do in decades gone by. Rinky sat down with paper and pencil to make list of games, food list, accessories etc to take to Adventure Plus.

Sat-Sun. We had an excellent get- together, picnic cum adventure outing with sprinkling of nature walk in most pristine valley of Bhor near Pune. Adventure Plus is place at foothills of Mahableshwar, surrounded by a river, with plenty of adventure sports. The rooms are made like tents with bare minimum facilities. To my pleasant surprise, younger generation was cool with this setting, whereas few ladies complained for lack of facilities. Thankfully rains just teased us, sprinkled some drops frequently,

but stayed away so that we can enjoy all the thrills. It was Mummy with her family along with her one brother, plus other brother’s children. In all we were 34 people who stayed over- night and 7 people who left late in evening. This is the picnic which all of us will remember for long time, will discuss various angles, issues, happening for next few months. Today, we are all savoring after-glow of the satisfied experience.  I have to collect footage from 4 cameras, 2 ipads. I will ignore the Mobile camera collection. We must have clicked pics in 1000’s. And yes, I will be posting links for pictures, videos etc.  

Once again I must thank God for such a great experience.

 

by P G Dodeja

10rd June 2013 to 15th June 2013 - Inorbit Mall [Malad] of 1948

 

Monday: Shyam – Ratna – Moni - Mummy had joined us for dinner. 

In Goa Narendra Modi was appointed as Chief election Campaigner on Sunday. LK Advani, BJP leader resigned saying BJP is now turning into personality based party. This was major shift in BJP. Old generation replaced by new. From LK Advani topic, we shifted to 1947 partition stories, as Dad was in Advani’s Shakha in Karachi in 1945. Shyam Uncle told us how he used to take a flag, walk in neighborhood, few boys gradually joining him, they then asking for School closure. Soon, many bystander’s will join and it will become large rally. Schools will be closed, simply because of a prank of mischievous boy. Such were the times during that period. We asked uncle when did they left Pakistan. 

Shyam Uncle: Lalu was born in November19 47, and when he was two months old, we came to India in a ship from Karachi.

Myself: Where did you stay initially?

Shyam Uncle: First we stayed for few weeks in Lonavala with Karamchand & Madavdas Family. Then we shifted to Malad.

Muskan: (Very innocently) Malad was there at that time?

Shyam Uncle: (Gently smiling) Oh yes. It was there, very much.

Myself: Where in Malad?

ShyamUncle: There is theater in Malad….

Muskan: (trying to prove she in knowledgeable)… yes, Inordit. Right, you lived near Inorbit in 1948..

Instantly, every one of us, including mummy started laughing. Muskan looked around and she also joined, not knowing why?

Now our standard joke is Inorbit was there in Malad in 1948.

Tuesday: Pre-Anniversary celebration was on. Shawn (Kashyap Friend), his Bangladeshi Girl Friend and her sister joined us. Both sisters are identical twins. Lot of fooling around was done with Shawn being the target. Dhwani made his life difficult. And then it came to light that this person gets scared very easily. I rambled on my stock to horror stories. He was so shaken up that Kashyap finally said, enough! We continued on super-natural topic, making Shawn more miserable. Finally Kashyap cut the cake brought by Shawn, and we all said goodnight.

Wednesday: Kash-Dhwani touched 2^nd mile stone of marriage life. Year 1991 & 2013 are same in days-dates-festivals. This was announced by Akshay. And believe me, we both said this at the same time. ‘Wow! Next year will be year of trip 92! A repeat in making?’ Inshaallah.

Friday: Dinner was at KK in Shyam Uncle flat, Moni-Muskan made some variety and Ratna prepared her standard Wadas. The theme was ‘Pakora Party’. After decades I eat pakora in ‘Chemburi’ style. ‘Mirch Pakora + Aalo Pakora + Vanagh Pakora’ laced with plenty of curd, sweet ‘chantni’ and on top of it, green ‘chatney’. I remembered Dad very much as this combination was his most favorite. In 70’s and 80’s our Sunday evening were enriched at Chemburs’ Sind Panipuri. We all eat Pani Puri & Dahi Puri, Daddy will take Dahi Puri and Pakoras!  On top of it Gulab Jamun made by Mummy! Yum.

Saturday: Kashyap-Dhwani first project of MIM result was out. The couple liked the video very much. The excitement in Dhwani’s voice itself told me that it has being appreciated very much. Couple agreed to upload the video for general view a promotional purpose also.

On office front, we added for the first time an agency after lots of bargaining and consideration. Secondly, we arranged for the funds and then we started. I am talking about the international brand called ‘Tommy Hilfiger’. This attitude change is big jump.

Poor Dhwani’s this visit to Mumbai is more on road then with her ‘Peekas’. In last 28 hours she has spent 16 hours on the road. While going to Mumbai, Shivneri developed some problem in expressway and took her 7 hours to reach VT. Then While returning with Kunal Narang, they were stuck in traffic so much that Kunal canceled his trip to Pune and stayed over night at his Khandala Bunglow. Akshay-Kashya-Muskan did chance pe dance, and reached Khandala Bunglow at 11.45 from Pune.

 

by P G Dodeja

3rd June 2013 to 9th June 2013 - Good Morning

 

Vacation time is over. It is time to start daily routine. This is Chinky is in 10^th Standard. The most important school year and most tension filled year. How will she fair?

Monday: To describe Pre-showers relief, after the stifling heat and stiffness in air, is impossible. You have to feel it to love it. Muskan informed me the gathering of clouds so I climbed out of my dug out i.e. office. I meet Kashyap near the gate, all smiles and giving filmy pose and saying, ‘Wow, Papa. Rains have come to Pune.’

As is the tradition since 60’s, first light shower brings among other best things, power cut! Yes. MSEB obliges us with frequent power cut of 45-60 minutes right up to 12 O’clock in night. With blessing of MSEB we enjoy candle light dinner with no TV. Then we sit around a candle discussing anything and everything. Kids call it quality time! After some quality time, Akshay went for his BC party, Kashyap to Ma Faiza, Bindiya to her Bed. So we three decided to take a walk and buy vege’s at 10.0 pm! One round of sacred heart tells you how blessed you are if you live in this place. Thanks to Gods.

Tuesday:  During last night debate it was decided that Akshay – Kashyap should get up early in the morning. And to make that happen, I was given the charge! First day was success, let’s hope this continues.

Thursday: Officially monsoon arrived with great funfair in Pune. Lights and Sound effects were good. And the best part is, myself and Dhawani got wet, reached home and with help of Muskan prepared ‘Garma Garam’ Onion Pakodas. Sorry, ‘Kandha Bhaji!’. And Akshay-Kashyap who usually take their own time to reach home,  somehow they got the smell of hot bhajia and were on table devouring and relishing the Pav-Bhaji.

Saturday: Akshay-Muskan-Mummy-Jia with her child left in Xylo for Mumbai. Now here is story for those cynics who say that there is no effect of planets on human being. While coming to Pune, Jia was involved in serious accident, but she and her child survived without a scratch. And in her return trip to Mumbai, for the first time in some many years, Xylo stopped at Vashi, and it moved only after it was repaired, which took 5 hours time! Muskan says that it was Jia’s travelling ‘Grahas’, effect.

Sunday: Akshay returned with Mummy & SLB family to Pune. In past, whenever we will take our fiat to Pune, Daddy will see to it that car was utilized full. That means, minimum of 5 passengers, dicky full with bags and other material, or if nothing else ready, his books! Akshay has somehow learned to fill up the Xylo at least with maximum number of passengers. What would you say to this, DNA effect? Or ‘Sanat’? Or ‘Sanskars’?

 

by P G Dodeja

26th May 2013 to 2th June 2013 - Cat Visit

‘Bulbul’ visited us for few hours. Neha-Palak-Mahek-Sharat also came to meet her. Chinky-Rinky were so excited and took her in arms and roamed around. No one was willing to part with her.  So delicate, so soft, her hair is nice. Mehak, initially was hesitant, but soon she also joined all the kids in taking her in her ‘godhi’. Dhwani wanted to buy her as wedding gift to Kashyap. I firmly said no and ended this topic. Sharat in his wisdom remarked, ‘Instead of buying cat, why don’t you make baby!’  

 

I have being pushing Chinky to develop photography as her hobby, I had asked her to take maximum possible pictures during her Haridwar visit, gave her few tips also, but all were wasted. She is good in some natural way, but is very lazy.  But on Sunday morning, she was in good mood for Photography, took me as model and Rinky as her assistant. She clicked few pic’s very earnestly and as it happens with teenagers, suddenly lost interest, when she was just warming up on the subject! 

Next week schools start, so they will be back to Kk.

Our link with Deccan Queen continues. Muskan likes to travel in Deccan whenever she wants to go to Mumbai. I dropped her at Station just 5 minutes before departure of the train. She reached Mira Road, Mumbai, safe and without any stress. She will stay for few days. She is very happy for more than two reasons. But I think officially she will be celebrating her mum’s birthday only.

Dhwani got 60% in IRDA Examination. She is putting her hands in too many pies. How she will manage all? One, She has joined Billabong School as Part time advisor. Two, She has started marketing accessories on net, outsourced from China via her friend. Three, She is marketing face of MIM and taking lot of interest in the job. Four, She has become officially AVIVA advisor! I have in my own way given her some advice.   

Akshay went to Mumbai to collect Muskan and meet someone. Kashyap & Dhwani were in Lonavala with friends. They all booked a Bunglow for the night, and while returning back, both were soaked in pre monsoon showers between chinchwad and pimpri.  For last two days, we are getting light showers in Pune also, making the atmosphere fragrant with sweet ‘Mati Khushboo’. Wow. Nature has given us so many free gifts that we can never thank it enough.

 

by P G Dodeja