The city of dreams

The city: where Indian dreams are born, lived, squashed and reveled in. Some dreams make it big, some don’t. This is the Indian land of dreams and don’t stop dreaming.

So much has been said about the city by different people in all kinds of different media, that it momentarily makes me stop writing about it.

A short visit to Mumbai: the city of dreams and my mind was full of its thoughts. The city is boundless, not restricted by limits; according to the geography, other districts might start and end, but as a whole everything around is known as Mumbai. Some parts of the city are ethereal, with the beauty being though wild yet pleasant. From the windows of the local train, a carpet of green cover can be seen around the edges of the ocean, which peeps in and out across the city. The ocean is eye-soothing, though it is not the exotic kind like in other cities, but it has life.

It seems like the city has a soul which is benevolent and kind. It houses in itself people from all over, believing in different religions, of different social classes and most important of all, it tries giving employment to every individual. The city is like a mother, which helps her children grow by encompassing everyone in its loving embrace.

The city’s history is magnificent in its grandeur. The parts which were built by the British still exist. Such structures give the occasional tourist a feeling as if he has stepped back in time. The CST terminus which is majestic and looks more like a ancient palace than a railway station; the building that houses the Times of India and the structures nearby. The Gateway of India stands tall with the undulating waves of the vast ocean lapping its feet.

There are many more such things that are awe-inspiring in the city. But, what exactly strikes a human heart is the spirit with which people live in the city. And unfortunately the number of people living there also becomes the dent in its shining armour. There is crowd everywhere in the city. Not a single place exists across the city where there is peace and quiet and travelling becomes a pain. Though the life line of the city: the local trains are too efficient and try to make the travel a bit bearable, the crowd again becomes a problem and especially for the people who are new to the city.

There will come a time, when the city won’t be able to take anymore and it will collapse. Its serenity is getting lost somewhere.

Zayka North India ka..

It was in the second week of December that I and my family went to attend a cousin's wedding in Lucknow, well to be specific it was Suprit weds Anuradha :). It was a fun fare and the shaadi was North Indian to the core. There was lots of food, great amount of dancing and even more of healthy discussions, conversations and very loving people. I had fun meeting everyone there after such a long time. The fantastic part was that, even though a long time had passed, all of us met as we were in contact on a daily basis. Not even for a moment, did I feel like an outsider. It was a refreshing change to see people talking to each other and enjoying each other's company just because they wanted to and not because they had to. And there was color, glamour, music, fun and every needed masti ingredient.

And that's the zayka of north india. I stared with wide eyes at the glitz of the wedding. The amount and taste of food had me feeling as if i was eating for the first time in my life. It had an allure that you cannot find anywhere in the world. And the loving way I was fed everything (twice!!) was very touching.

I fell in love with some of the things. Fufaji's home where we stayed, it was a history in itself. A kothi from the nawabi era, it has housed generations of people. I could not get over its greatness and grandeur. The chudi wali gali that housed a number of bangles's shop and which was so narrow that at a time only two people can walk together. The winding narrow lanes getting connected at numerous places and yet when the houses emerge in those lanes, they were huge and great structures. The malai makhan, a delicacy I haven't had anywhere. The chat that was prepared right there in our house the night before the wedding. And last but not the least the dholwala and the incessant dancing. In saari cheezon ne mann-moh liya humara :)

Every part of India has a different flavour to itself. It is unlike any other. I loved every moment of the wedding. Though it was not the first time i had been there nor was it the first time I enjoyed, but it is just the first time to write about it. Even after so many days have passed, we at home still talk about it, as a moment in time we savoured.

(I just wish I had some images to go with this)

The era of Remixes

Last night, I was enjoying my tryst with late night radio music. There is a certain fun when the next song about to be played is not known. I guess that's one of the things which draws me to the radio.

A little while later, I was pleasantly surprised to hear the remix of the song - "Hum bewafa hargiz na the par hum wafa kar na sake". As it played in the encompassing silence of the night, I remembered its famed remixed video as well. The guy from the city in his open top white car getting attached to the scorching hot sexy village belle; the villagers grouped together against their alliance.

I recalled the time period when Instant Karma had recently released a remixed album of choicest songs. There might have been other remix done but i can't think of one which had become as famous as this. So much thought had been put into those complete set of songs, changed the music in such a way that it was soothing and subtle and quite alluring. They brought back the old songs to the lips of everyone, the crucial point being, that all of it was done without degrading the original essence of the songs. Even today I can remember them: "Meri soni meri tamanna", "Saamne yeh kaun aaya", "Baahon mein chale aao", "Nahi nahi abhi nahi" and lots more..

But then an era of remix erupted and every other song was being used and abused. Yes, I use the word "Used" because the originality of it was snatched from it. Even the videos were colored, dirty, so was the music, the changes made so the song would seem sexy though in the first place it was not, hoping and rooting that the modern populace would love it. A business had begun which required not much talent and yet fetched money.

But I am glad that such work has reduced over the time. No wonder as the general public rejected it with feeling.

Making remix also needs finesse and talent. When moulded carefully and gracefully, another art form can emerge.

Little joys of small moments..

With our stress induced lives, all moments in time worrying or thinking about one thing or the other, small magical moments make a refreshing change.

Since I don’t know from how long I have been working constantly with a all too near deadline. But though the work is enjoyable, sometimes it becomes a wee bit tedious and monotonous; a large part of it being the absence of near and dear ones at office.

But these small pockets of happiness bring a beautiful smile to the face..

Since two days, Ahmedabad is resembling a hill station. A light drizzle, almost no sunlight, wintry winds, foggy atmosphere, it’s beautiful. This Sunday my boss was giving a party to all the team mates celebrating his wedding anniversary. It was Sunday afternoon, though afternoon was not the word one would have used to describe the time. The venue in question was almost more than 20 kms far from my home. Before starting, to me, it felt like an uphill job (yes, job!! that's how it felt..) I am not much into driving. The thought of a long a drive through the crowded streets of Ahmedabad, crossing the old city was overwhelming.

But when I started, plugging my cell's earphones into my ears, the journey did not seem huge. With the wind blowing through my hair, very few people on the streets, everything felt marvelous. I was singing the songs along with the music player at the top of my voice coursing through easily without having to pay much attention to things other than the sheer pleasure I was experiencing. The speed of my vehicle was a bit more than it usually is, giving me a thrill. Not a single thought passed through my head, only the lyrics of the songs..

I felt free, on top of the world with nothing following me, not a worry in the world and as if i was cruising through the clouds fully attuned to the musical world.

Across the Wall

It stood unyielding and strong
Running miles long
My hand lightly traveled
It’s rough mossy surface
Over me the ancient wall towered
What lay beyond, not giving a view of the space

Everyone crosses to that side
One time or the other
With someone standing beside
An almost stranger
Or with a known ride

The moment comes late for some
For others it is ahead of time
As for me, I don’t know what it is
Made me a bit worrisome
I assume it’s going to be a life changing find

A lone figure I stood
But together two can cross
I was seeking the one with whom I would
But my eye tried to glance across

I was curious
A little bit anxious
Of what lay beyond, of what would happen
What will I discover
Will my spirits fly or will they dampen
Uncertainties hover
I force them to sink
Hunting for a crack to glint

Just a glance
A small peek
To quell my mind’s thirst.