26th August 2013 to 1th September 2013 [Bithday]

30^th Aug : Kashyap once again celebrated his birthday in different way. Instead of having evening party, we selected few went out for morning breakfast after cutting his first cake of the day. Sharat, Ankit and Pallavi,  joined us at Jyoti restaurant for south Indian breakfast.

As I was telling my children, first ever birthday celebration was done in 1973, when Avi turned one year old and that continued till he was five years old. After brief pause of few years, next birthday season started with Neha-Akshay, which continues till date. However, it was Kashyap who created big hype on his birthday, and as it turned out, most of his birthdays are celebrated in some unique way. I would treat a whole week as his birthday week, we all would enjoy every day as birthday, doing one mad thing and other!

 Most surprising birthday for us was when he returned on 30^th from Malaysia, where he had gone for ‘Jungle’ TV show edit. He landed on 29^th Night in Mumbai, gave a surprise appearance to Dhwani at Matunga [they were not married then] and reached Pune, around 8.30. We are lucky to have good combination, Akshay is sober and never gets much excited on such occasions, where Muskan is bang opposite in this regard. Kashyap whereas is like Muskan, and Dhwani is not exactly like Akshay, but she is sober to some extend.

31^st Aug : We have moved into the turbulent waters of changing time. Be it on national level, [high inflation, highest $ price, heavy corruption, election fever] or on business level, [major change in office, additional business] or on family level, [sharat’s wedding plans]. What was thought in Jan 2013 is not relevant at all today! And in those new changes the old tradition old ways thrived. Today Mummy made some snacks from 50 years old recipes for Ritu, who is going to Ireland! Muskan had joined her in preparation and  believe me, she was continuously praising 'Pakwan', 'Lolo', 'Badam Sera.' When I told her that we have grown on those snacks, she was jealous. Dhwani is busy with Anup-Nikita who have come to stay overnight. Thanks Sharat!

Quote:  “Always borrow money from a pessimist. He won’t expect it back.”

by P G Dodeja

19th August 2013 to 25th August 2013 - [Rishte]

 

20^th Tue: Mummy-Muskan-Akshay left for Mumbai for Raksha Bundan. Dhwani was already in Mumbai. Mummy must be holding some kind of record for tying Rakhi without break every year in last 6 decades! I must confirm with her.

They all stayed overnight so that Mona-Amar 40^th Wedding anniversary party can be attended. 

21^st Wed: Appointment was fixed for 2.30 at Mantri Center, FC road. A skinny, balding young man Mr. Mutha, who normally looks after ‘Land Purchase’ department of the company, was there for agreement finalization. Few points were discussed and I asked him to consider some concession in Dealership Fee amount. He readily agreed. He waived of 10%. Afterwards I thought the possibility of 25% discount was there. Well, we all are bad at bargaining, except for Ladies, especially Manju. Lali was very happy and I see a new dawn on horizon. But still lot of bridges to cross before we can say, YES! 

23^rd Fri: Tejri celebration is on. Muskan always likes to celebrate every ‘Tauhar’ in elaborated way and in full excitement. And it is nice to see that she gets good company from Mummy, or it may be other way round. However, other ladies of family are bit boring in this department, they do not get excited and jump with joy on such occasions. But Pinky fasts for long life of her husband along with Muskan. 

The celebration season starts with 15^th August holiday, all ‘Tauhars’ like Tejri – Chaliho – Janmashtmi – Dassera – Diwali - Ganpati  etc will be celebrated with same gusto and interest, ending with 31^st Dec year end party! And yes, I forget to mention few birthdays and anniversaries during this period!

Akshay binged on 21^st night at Mona’s party so much that he was bed ridden on 22^nd, 23^rd and 24th. He needs to develop his resistance power, heath wise and eating wise.

Aachal Arora, was our neighbor at Mira Society. Her mother ‘Pali’ was the first person to entered our house in Mira Society and made us feel welcome. She is still good friend of Bindiya and others. Her three daughters were always part of our kids team. It is now 15 years when we have left Mira and they have also shifted. But credit to this Punjabi Kuddi Aachal and our kids that relationship formed in those days continues. She ties rakhi to Akshay-Kashyap-Sharat. On Sunday, she invited all her brothers for Rakhi, keeping modern times other necessary commitments, this delay is pardoned. This is a Punjabi attitude of keeping relationships warm, what ever the situation is commendable.

Presenting few lines from….[guess who?]

Makaan Chote thee, Dil bade thee

Mahmaan ko bhagwan mante thee

Char kiyon? aap challis aate, kahte thee.

Cheeni dukanoo mein hoti nahin THEE

Per mithas hAr rishte mein tha hee!

Joa tha batike khate thee

Bhook mita, jeevan savarte thee

Aaj chiness, Italian khate hain

Bhook ka to pata nahi, bhimari bulate hain!

ü  Quote: As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will, and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit.

Emmanuel Teney

 


by P G Dodeja

12th August 2013 to 18th August 2013 [Peters Week]

Last week was ‘Intezar Week,’ [of more then 7 items] well this ‘Intezar’ [of 5 items] continues. However, I would like to call this week as ‘Peters’ week.

Dhwani’s brother Meeth and Harsh stayed overnight at B7 along with Meeth’s fiancé [Aska] her sister [Goral] and her cousin [Soham]. Like Muskan who is popular for her stories, Aska is also very famous. We all laughed at her cost, but to her credit, she also laughed with us. All enjoyed her stories as narrated by Soham.

Kashyap was interested in going to a late night horror movie show. This movie topic kick started the discussion on spirits, ghost, after life etc. While Meeth and Kashyap were gone for arrangement of tickets, Akshay prompted me to tell all my horror stories. Soham was a ripe ‘Murga’ ans Harsh seemed easy prey. He was trying to act macho and Harsh was scared just at the mention of ghost! So I targeted Soham. 

We exchanged haunted house stories, Ghost stories, Super natural Stories etc.

Around 10.0 clock our party shifted to Muskan’s room, as she had gone for bath and vacant room behind the closed door of bathroom was scaring her! I was telling our guests Dada’s Vaishnavdevi Yatra story, all were engrossed and deep into it, looking around for spirits, getting scared at small noise. Akshay know's how to dance at the chance, he thought this is good chance to scare them more. He started narrating all about the web site, ‘Peter Answers’. Soham kept saying I do not believe that a good spirit can talk via computer. He kept asking me, uncle do you believe this?

This heavily charged atmosphere got a huge boast when suddenly lights went off, as it keeps happening in Pune. But this time, Muskan screemed at top of her voice. ‘Akshay…’ we all laughed and enjoyed her discomfort. She cannot rush out of bathroom and at the same time cannot bear the darkness, with ghost stories very fresh in her mind, as she was listening every word. Akshay & Soham used mobile torch to light her bathroom via door glass to calm her down.  

While this was going on, Kashyap was not successful in getting horror movie tickets. So it was decided to call Peter and continue experience of horror. 

In the morning Dhawani told me that Soham got so engrossed into it that in spite of his logic and modern thinking, he believed all the spirit mambo jumbo, so much so that he started believing everything which was typed by Kashyap. They finally have to disclose the secret as he had started to shiver and get feverish! So after Gopal Dodeja – Meet Doshi – Moni Bathija it was Soham’s name on Peter’s fame list! If you are curious, just click the following link.

http://www.peteranswers.com/

Neha had come to Pune for Rakhi celebration on Thursday, as Friday was holiday and Mehak-Palak enjoy Pune. But it seems there was change of program of stay till Tuesday and so she returns to Mumbai on Sunday, after tying Rakhi two days in advance!

 

by P G Dodeja

5th August 2013 to 11th August 2013 [Intezar ka Hafta]

 

This week has started with all good news.

•       New business venture is getting all positive reports.
•       The long awaited 609 deal is at the verge of closure.
•       Kash is posting quotation to his prospects of MIM.
•       Lali’s three property deals are again getting active.
•       Aviva Insurance, which was gathering dust has resumed its activities.
•       Sujay Shah of Andromeda is processing our loan application, answer expected in 3-4 days.
•       Project Milap

What will be final outcome? What will be final result?

7^th Aug : 11.30 Akshay-Lali and myself reached Xrbia office. Our meeting was fixed for 10.30, but the concerned person, Mr Tulli, (Open heart Punjabi with stylist talking ) reached his office after us at 12.15. We sat down and discussed few points which we had thought of. During our meeting, Mr Tulli tackled his 1^st September marathon plan, continued his Jingle making plan, cleared our queries and prepared LOT for Lali to sign. We made the commitment and now the grind starts.

8^th Aug: After lot of see saw, counter offers, finally current position on Plot 609 is, No deal! Just on Monday, Bindra had said, it is done deal, only we have to give buyer 10 names of 1^st lot!

Well in place of 609 plot sell, one more project got activated, a secret project of ‘Milap’. The activity on this project started with bang. With huge excitement and investigation, common view is that let this project grow and mature in its own time. It being secret, I will just inform about it in very general terms. So much so that the concerned party should not get wise.

9^th Aug: 1^st ever Exbhition of Utsav at Koregaon park, starts today. Vijay Dodeja has also participated in the event. Akshay-Muskan team will be busy for the next 10 days there. Today was Eid holiday, but response was not so encouraging.

11^th Aug: Sunday: Muskan-Kashyap_Dhwani made a flying visit to Mumbai for Kunal-Kajal function. This is a Punjabi ritual, wherein expecting mother is decorated with flowers, near and dear ones are invited for Lunch. Nice simple function. I like this idea of celebrating life in small portions of 12 parts in a year,  enjoying life on day to day basis, then having a one grand function in 12 months. You need to curb your ego for this kind of joy. What is important, happiness or ego trip?

 

by P G Dodeja

29th July 2013 to 4th August 2013: [Brunch-Lunch]

 

Winds of change are flowing very hard just as climate is very much pleasant and enjoyable. Atmosphere is extremely charged and lots of changes are around the corner not the least the climate change as Lali observed. He said, this is the first time in last 50 years that we have seen continuous rains for last 60 days! All said and done one should pray for happy and contained life. This week will go in history for me as the week which changed our life drastically. I cannot put everything on paper as I need to keep few things hidden from public view. But I can hint.

Politically all parties have geared up for elections. Someday, it looks like BJP is going to come back in power and someday it looks like third or fourth front will be in power. Nowhere, congress is in sight of winning elections. So the possibility of congress coming back is also there. Because, this is how nature works.

BJP is projecting Modi as future PM, who has bad image with Muslims, is also somewhat dictator type. Congress is hit by lot of corruption and bad governance. Third & Fourth front very much divided. Nitesh – Lalu – Mamta – Patnaik – Mayavati all feel they have good chance of king makers. Due to high young generation population, development issue to very important and Modi is leading on that plank.

India is seeing lot of changes in development field. Latest being the ‘Affordable Housing’. Lot of builders have ventured into this field. They are building mini cities in 40-50 acres of land with smallest flat being 285 feet, with price tag of 12 Lakhs. These projects can be called as Modern slums with good facilities, like shopping plazas, gardens, Gym, Swimming pools, schools and hospital.

We wish to be the part of new India. How/ Only the time will tell. Say within 30 days I will be in position inform about this, so stay tuned in. Exciting times ahead, beware!

Rinky made a wish and we tried to fulfill her wish. She said, ‘Let’s eat Breakfast together.’ 

This breakfast suggestion turned into Brunch party at planning stage. And in turn the Brunch party turned into full day picnic at B-7 Sacred Heart Town. Climate was excellent, the menu was very much inspiring and unique, mood was pleasant.

After fulfilling Brunch [Tacoos-Idli-Bhaji-Fruits & combination of all) we played games as suggested by Dhawni. It was screaming fun, all shouting and making fool of themselves. 

Part of Brunch, ‘Pizza Sandwich’ by Manju was turned into late lunch at 3.00 p.m.! This party which started for us at 9.0 a.m. with preparation procedure ended with hot tea served by Sarika our maid and light drizzle at 4.15 p.m.! A happy Sunday.

 

by P G Dodeja