5th April – 11th April 2015 [Chinky - Rinky]

 

House Hunting: It is easy and at the same time very difficult also. If one had very limited options, it becomes easy to make decision. But if in same budget, you have many options, you try to compare and weigh the options and you fall in trap of ‘not able to make decision’. We have following options, and I have stopped looking for more options. This weekend was target date, if nothing else make decision by throwing a dice! And still waiting for fate to intervene and decide.

Option one, ‘Very near to office, but on two levels.’

Option two, ‘Exclusive and posh Bunglow costly by 5k, but near to office.’

Option three, ‘Spacious and cheaper, but no lift, stand alone building.’

Option four, ‘Excellent society, spacious but for 11 months only’

Option five, ‘Brand New flat, spacious, lift, society but 3 km from office’.

Sharat with his best buddy.

11^th Sat: Sharat’s birthday is today. And believe me, when I say, ‘Sharat will give us best gift ever on this birthday.’ What, how, where is to be replied in confines of the family walls. I am very much in ‘masti’ mood hence this gogglii for all readers. I will be heavy critized for this statement alone, but can I stop myself? Ha….Ha….Ha…..Sharat had very creative birthday celebration with his office friends and Dhwani+Kashyap from family. For location, he arraigned a Bunglow in Koregaon park, planned some group games, with snacks and biryani as food choice.

Lot of things are going to change in next month or so, I am talking from the point of view of Business, Money, Relationships, Life approach, Spirituality etc. Big change is expected. Life keeps changing, yes, but the pace, the implication of change, the reach of change in next 30 days in going to be talked about for years to come maybe decades.

Why I am saying this? I will put my neck on block and say ‘Pure intuition’. Hope ‘Chutki is hearing this.

Sat: I took all the ‘beties’ of the family, to Seasons mall for window shopping. Next trip will be of actual shopping. Insha-allah. Muskan – Dhwani – Chinky – Rinky - Chutki. Malls have become like modern gardens. Earlier evening out was spent at local garden, enjoying fresh air, giving kids horse or ‘Cheekla’ ride and eating Bhel – Singhdana etc with Golla. It was relaxing time for few hours in lap of nature. The same is now a day’s done at posh malls in lap of man made luxury items. As working parents have less time for family life, they combine the relaxing time with grocery or other necessary and pocket permitting, unnecessary shopping. I see the same mixture of crowd of as in earlier time gardens and today's mall i.e newly wed’s looking at each other coyly, couples with baby in pram or in arms, few scattered grandparents with grand children, dragging themselves, few modern 'topories' boys and girls. However, attire has changed dramatically, today you see few traditional suits, very few saris, many jeans and T shirts, some adults in shorts and frocks also. For men, it is same as always, pant/jean and shirt. The noise level of earlier gardens and today's malls is same, loud. As dinner time approaches, crowd starts getting thin.

Rinky has set likes dislikes. Likes to eat Donuts, want to hear only English songs, gives daily minimum five kisses to her mum, one instruction each, every hour to Chinky etc is must for her. One dislike which I regret is she just can not stay in front of camera for long enough to click picture. Whereas Chinky is typically Dodeja, chilled out and relaxed. whereas Rinky has by nature Dodeja trait.     

Akshay – Muskan’s routine is being set as work in Mumbai from Monday to Thursday/Friday. Come and relax, visit doctor for ailments, chill out, spend some time with family during weekends. All in all, precursor week indicating to major change in scenery of in L G Dodeja family.

  

Waiting anxiously for 3^rd May.  

 

by P G Dodeja

20th July 2014 – 26th July 2014 [Carnama - 3]

• On Spending: If you spend money on things which you do not need, soon you will have to sell things you need.    
•  
• On Honesty: Honesty is a very expensive gift, do not expect from cheap people. 

Third car in our family came with the economical revolution in India. In early 80's when India shifted gears and moved towards robust, proactive, aggressive model of economic development, first sign of development was "Maruti Udyog Ltd". However, people in general were septic, saying let the production start, let’s see how strong and good cars are, how they will service those modern cars, then we will think of buying. On last day of advance booking, I finally disagreed with this viewpoint of Dad & Thakurdas and took proactive step. Just few minutes before closing time after Dada's consent (so that Dad & TMM do not take objection), I submitted two forms, one in my name and other in Bansi uncles name with 10K draft. It was for first time in India, that Maruti delivered Van-Car not on first come, first serve basis but on lottery system. 

Bansi Uncle’s Van arrived in first lot and my Van arrived in 5^th Lot. And most probably it was first Van in Ghatkopar. It was fun to see all eyes diverted on humble Van at signals and parking lots in those early days, curious citizens asking many questions. 

With Arrival of Van, our picnic’s which were getting less and less, jumped up. On drop of hat, we will make picnics and short trips. Khandala – Pune – Palgar –Secundrabad – Ghanpati Phule – Mahableshwar – Panhala – Goa - Vadgaon etc were visited during early years of High Roof Van’s arrival. We clocked more than 2.0 Lakhs km in Vans life span with us. Finally I sold Van with heavy heart to ex-staff of Noble Printer after brief bargaining standing outside Prabhat Cinema at 80% of original purchase price!

Akshay learned steering wheel handling at age of three, sitting on my lap, in Maruti Van. Mummy and Bindiya liked the leg space it provided. I loved it because if needed we can easily accommodate Chandan family for Aarey Milk Colony etc picnics. And yes, this was the vehicle in which I first time crossed 100 km speed. Wow!    

Chinky goes to College: The standard sentence should be, how time flies. Girls really grow faster then the boys. Just look at her photo. Chinky completed her school and started college life with no funfair, but in most sober, serious way.

This is on record as first week of Chinky’s College life. We were more excited about her then Chinky. On her first day She attended all lectures which Akshay was not able to digest. He kept guiding her that you should bunk at least few lectures daily, as he and Muskan had done. For Chinky there were no jitters, no excitement, no new friends nor any adventure. In her words, 'Boring'. However by end of the week, she has already formed her group of 4 girls, whose names Rinky can recite, it looks Rinky has already started her college life as 'Proxy Chinky'.

She will soon be using two wheeler, till than old trusty ‘Riksha’ is her mode of travel. Poor Rinky is already missing her sister very much.

  Lali & Sharat returned from Singapore in Saturday. Hopefully the trip was good for them. Will know about it on Monday, when Lali comes to office. How times have changed. In recent past, a foreign trip was considered a major event and immediate and extended family was all excited and involved. Plans would be made for send-off, guests would drop in to say hello. No such activity nowadays. Today, such trips are considered as a visit to Laxmi Road. Well, may be for some, foreign trips are more frequent than visit to Laxmi Road or say Shaniwar Wada. 

by P G Dodeja