4th May – 10rd May 2015 [Blessing of Indra Devta]

 

  7^th May : Once again Lali & Myself did 500 km tour in a day. We were out investigating Land stretches for our prospects. This time our focus was in and around Karjat area. For last few years, this area is under sharp eyesight of all builders and developers. Major projects are underway in this area. Karjat – Murud road has being made recently, it goes through vacant stretchers of land on both side for miles. It is kind of rare experience to drive for 10 km without and man made structure on both sides of road, a rarity.  Superb road recently completed, no traffic and clean air with expanses of land and lot of heat. Wow.

For company we have Deepak Amar. A prospect of Landson, saw and decided against buying land, but offered us 165 acres as he had liked Landson project concept. He is experienced guy, has worked as Security In charges, PA of a politician cum don, Toll collection center's manager. In 9 hour journey he told us all his life history, his struggle, his religious beliefs, his love story. A simple man, honest, not ambitious, believes in God very strongly. We met on 9^th, and our tune in was so, that within 24 hours we were zooming around in i20 with him, he entertaining us with his life as well as Ulhasnagar stories. He told us stories of Srichand Hinduja, Papu Kalani, his Boss Shetty, his father etc. He is good story teller and here is example, telling us how he started reading Gita.

Nearly two decades back, he was going through very rough patch of his life. His Mother had paralytic attack, wife had continuous fever for 90 days, he was without job, as his boss was put behind bars, he had to take care of 2 year old son all by himself. He was sad and lost, felt like end of the world for him. One day he was whiling away his time in local ‘mandir’, there he received Gita from a mandir’s  sadhu, to sort out his problems with instructions to read and understand it.

After 3 days he was asked, ‘Have you read it?’ ‘Yes’ he replied.

‘Have you understood anything?’ Again he said ‘Yes’.

‘How much have you understood?’ ‘Full’ he replied.

The saint started laughing, drawing attention of others sitting in the room. This same conversation and reaction was repeated. He was confused, embarrassed, surprised, at loss. What is there to laugh about? In his words, he had no idea, what was happening, why ‘sadhu’ was laughing like mad at him. Finally saint saw his confused face, lost thoughts and told him, ‘I have spent 20 years, read it again and again, and still I find I have understood only small portion of Gita. Keep reading it again and again, you will learn more and more every time.’ 

This simple incident changed his life, he started reading Gita, very seriously and it has helped him a lot.

Day View from Living Room, with KK in center

Sat: Climate is getting nasty, day by day. Pune heat has started turning into humid, sticky, very hot. It keeps hovering at 40-41 degree! For days, with no respite predicted by met department. Then suddenly on Saturday night things changed. We had full family members first dinner at 510. Lali left soon after dinner as he and Sharat are going to Banglore, early  morning. Suddenly, no movement in air turned into a breezy, thundering ‘toofan’. A light drizzle changed the situation in just few minutes. We were planning to see old movie ‘Andaz Apna Apna’, as Amir Khan mouthed first few words, ‘Aila, Juhi Chawla.’ We said, ‘Aila, thunders and breeze, let’s go and sit on terrace.’ I turned off TV and we all moved to terrace.

Full family together, great lightening show, relief from stifling heat, gentle soothing drops of bliss falling from skies, excellent songs in back groud, and ‘sone pe suhaga’,   Strawberry + Vanilla Ice cream treat. What else you need?

 

by P G Dodeja

26th April – 3rd May 2015 [Shifting House]

 

 House stories:  I was born in Mumbai and I lived my first few years in Sindhi Building, ground floor, Ghatkopar. A far away suburb, open grounds, dirty roads, fresh air and sunshine. Those were the days when home really was made up of four walls only. No net connection, no TV, no Fridge, no Cooking Gas, no Air conditioners, no Music systems, no Telephones, no Cell phone, no fancy furniture, no wall units. For entertainment, you had radio, movies and friends.

Before I was five, Dad – Mum shifted base to Ahemdabad, Gujrat. Here we lived in rented houses. Dad settled down finally after changing two places in a flat near ‘Kankaria’. By my 9^th birthday, we returned to Ghatkopar, Mumbai.

We lived in same Sindhi building, but this time on first floor, where Anil Chandan is staying nowadays. From there we shifted to second floor and stayed there till August 2006, long period of 40 years! Akshay – Kashyap both were born there, did schooling while living in that place. Whereas first Lali, then Avi and  Mummy shifted to Pune, followed by myself in 2006.

Mummy has lived in various localities and cities, and changed home for maximum times. [In Mumbai city, 3 locations, Gwalior Tank – Santacruze – Ghatkopar – In Ahemdabad city, mainly in Kankaria area – and in Pune city, 2 locations Mira Society and Wanwadi.]

In current generation, Kashyap has lived in maximum cities and changed many homes.  [In Mumbai city, Ghatkopar – Andheri, England (London) – In Pune city, Wanwadi area, but two locations]

 1^st May 2014: Finally our ‘Dhana Pani’ in Sacred Heart town society is over. We had planned a shifting marathon, all on Labour Day, so that we remember the labour involved in shifting. 

All of us will cherish the memory of B-7 very fondly, no two opinions. It is most peaceful, serine society, all necessary requirements available, excellent garden view, very near to office, ample space and decent neighbors. What else you need. Landlady got good offer and wanted to sell it. Our agreement was getting over by June 15, so we agreed to shift two months in advance.

Muskan with her precious 'Bhagwans'

In one day, all family members got busy in shifting from one society to other. We started at 9 am and completed on 5.30pm. This was achieved in very constrained budget. 

No commercial movers were appointed, who asked 25k. We did successful shifting with our staff and our routine transport boy. Dhwani, her mother who has come down to help, took charge of setting new house, I along with Muskan and her right hand maid, Namarat was in charge of packing and dispatching, Lali – Avi – Akshay - Kashyap kept rolling the pipeline, so that this assembly line of movement of goods never stopped. Load Xylo / Tempo, unload at Parmar Park, move it to 5^th floor and from there in its proper room/place.    

Along with this shifting, Tata Sky connection was restored at Parmar Park, minor carpentary work was finished along with plumber job. Pinky – Mummy supplied us with the fuel to run along. Excellent ‘Rasam – Rice’ made by Pinky – Mummy filled our plate.  By eight 85% setting was finished, now we will start re-arranging, this I assume will take few weeks.

First Tea on First Day, Ash Court, Flat 510, Parmar Park Wing 'A'

Meanwhile, I and Kashyap plan to sleep out in vast terrace.

 

by P G Dodeja

19th April – 25th April 2015 [Move On]

 

Sunday: Akshay and myself attended important meeting of General Body at Ashoka Hall, near Neelayam. JV was discussed and debated. Practically all stack holders were present for the first time. After due deliberation votes were taken, 65 said yes, 4 said no. Builder, we hope will start the process and we all are crossing our figures and hoping this will be done on fast track, hopeful are saying 4 years, practical people commit 5 years and cynics say anything between 7-10 years.

At this meeting I met Mr Chandan Chwala from Bangkok. It turns out that he used to live opposite 1306, Shukerwar Peth and is Girish Dodeja’s friend. He knew about our family in detail and spoke of those days with fondness. He remembered Bansider, Dada, Manu, and Bharat Kagad Bhandar. Wow. This type of connection raised few question in my mind.

Are we meant to meet people like this?

What is aim of these chance meeting?

Do they have any objective?

Thursday: This guy, called Gurav is a bundle of talent. He writes his lyrics, composes his creation, plays guitar and to top it, sings those line with feeling! In the short span of life, he has faced lot of hurt, gone through emotional turmoil. This reflects in his work. A sensitive guy. In one song, he brings lot of variation, tastes. Kashyap – Dhwani have become his friends. He gives live performance in posh restaurants for hour or two on weekdays. So Muskan – Kashyap – Dhwani – Sharat all visited restaurant just to enjoyed his singing. After stand up comedy, this new trend has started in Pune, Live music. Few other restaurants are also taking up this trend, live band, informal sitting, good food. [You can even sit on floor!].

 

Friday: Man proposes and God disposes. In 2006, when we shifted to Pune, plan was to stay together, enjoy life. We are staying together and enjoying life but there is hidden agenda of God. Staying together part has huge wholes, gaps. In last 9 years, Kashyap had stayed away from Pune for various period of time, in London for one year or so, then Malaysia for his TV show, then in Andheri (W)  for few years, struggling to get toehold as free lancer.  After marriage he shifted his base to Pune, but his few days in a week stay in Mumbai continued for some time. Just recently, he had given up that practice.

To compliment it, Akshay has started living in Mumbai for few days a week.

This is irony of life.  

Saturday: Rinky's movie evening was skipped this Saturday. House shifting process can be enjoyed if you are not attached to particular location. I firmly believe that four walls do not make home, but the family members attachment towards each other make home. So this whole process of shifting is kind of fun. You come across many lost things, open up old memories in this process.

Life has settled itself in a groove, on an edge, on a major crossing, in twilight zone. Like Budha, we have taken what life throws at us and need to continue in same mode. One moment the sights are filled with un foreseen good and very pleasant surprises and next moment is filled with worry, tension, uncertainty about future. This process has being going on for quite some time. Hope this gets settled in our favor before ‘Chutki’ arrives.

 

And please do not ask who is ‘Chutki’.   

Click on following ........ enjoy
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmQxdSNFigw

by P G Dodeja

12th April – 18th April 2015 [Education Quiz]

 

 

I need to change the heading of this blog.

From “WEEK THAT WAS” to the “WEEK THAT WAS NOT”.

Yes, this week will count as the week which was not there in my life. No, this was not in any way very stressful, very forgetful, extremely exciting or difficult week. It just vanished from my time line. How it came, stayed and went, is beyond me. I must be getting old.

So what now?

Why not play a quiz, based on all family members, education.

1: Mummy has studied in convent school, what is the name of that school. It is still a landmark and huge school with excellent ground in Santacruze (West). Most of the Bajaj girls have studied there.

2: Lali & Myself did our primary schooling in Ahemdabad. What was the language of that school? Hindi – English – Sindhi or Gujarati?

3: Bindiya was the student of National College, Bandra. But she wanted to be in a profession, which was, a> Chef b> Nurse c> Teacher or d> Fashion Designer?

4: What is educational qualification of Manju?

5: Pinky was very good sport person during her school / college days and was captain of her team. She was captain for which game? How many trophies she had won?

6: Avi passed his SSC due to being DODEJA. He was helped in big way by other Dodeja sitting behind him in SSC examination. Without that help he would have flunked SSC. Who was that savior?

7: Akshay was never interested in studies and hated to go to school. But he loves his college life. Was it for making friends like Naresh and Dheeraj? Was it for enjoying ‘mauj masti’? Was it for bunking and doing time pass? Or was it for some other reason?

8:Neha had studied in Mary’s. But she has being a teacher / instructor in local school. What is the name of school?

9: From where Sharat has done his MBA? Easy, well to make is difficult, what were his subjects?

10: Dad wanted to do journalism, but grandfather forced him to do Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from college in Pune. Grand Father had plans to open a glass factory, and for that he needed a technical person to take care of factory production. What is name of this world famous college, kind of exclusive in its time?  

School days Muskan

11: Muskan loves her college life and fondly remembers those days. Those days were more filled with tension then joy, but still for her those days are priceless. Why? and follow up question, Why she still loves her college life?

12: Kashyap’s first editing experience was in, “College of Arts, London”, “Lallus”, “Babloo classes”, “Join it” Classes?

13: Dhwani has huge (a) number of school friends, (b) she had made profession with help of studies, enjoyed freedom and (c) visited many cities at young age in school trips. What is most precious for her?

 

Jumbled up Some Answer are: Engeenering Collge, Lallus, School Trips, Symbiosis, Meeting with Akshay, St Tressa, Gujrati, Nurse, Inter, Cricket, Pappan, Meeting with Muskan.

by P G Dodeja

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