HELMET - Take care of HEAD

After graduating in business Commerce\economics & getting International certification in I.T., I got a decent job in a I.T. company. I had no pressure from my family to get married as they are all aware of my affair with Shilpa.

Unaware of my love-dovie, during caste functions, most of my relatives pull me over to show me girls so that they can convince me for marrying their daughter\relatives and happens to meet this girl under such arranged marriage system for my cousin's & I also started liking this girl. Unfortunately it was my first such experience of seeing a girl & getting rejected - outright on my face. Later, out of curiosity, I asked my relative as to why she rejected me? My relative gave me a reason that she is expecting to marry a rich man.

I understand that most of the girls want to marry rich guys and It is very unfortunate how men are reduced to price tags. Put the details aside, what that girl was trying to do is an exchange of her “beauty” with “money”: Person A provides beauty, and Person B pays for it, fair and square.

However, there’s a deadly problem here, Girls beauty will fade some day, but money will not be gone unless for any good reason. The fact is, my income might increase from year to year, but she can’t be prettier year after year.

Hence from the viewpoint of economics, I am an appreciation asset, whereas she was a depreciation asset. It’s not just normal depreciation, but exponential depreciation. If that is her only asset, her value would be much worse 15-20 years later.

By the terms we use in Stock Market- every trading has a position so marrying with her is also a “trading position” So if the trade value dropped, we will sell it and it is not a good idea to keep it for long term – same goes with the marriage that she wanted and expected. It might be cruel to say this, but in order to make a wiser decision, any assets with great depreciation value will be eithr sold or “leased”.

I....ofcourse moved on in life and got married to a girl....love of my life.

15 years later i.e.years in 2014, on one the signal in Kandivali, I saw the same beautiful lady at a traffic signal with her husband seating on rear seat of their Honda Activa. While on green signal, she was trying to kickstart their scooter because seems like the battery start was not working. I looked out of my newly bought Sedan car and I briefly looked at her. Though she recognized me but still i didnt called her and without any hint of recognition, I moved from her eyes away, far from her... because I prefer to stay safe from such spices of human.

At that moment, after driving a two wheeler for over 25 years, first time in my life I realized the value of a helmet as she was trying to hide her face in it....

So always wear a helmet in your own safety !!!

PICHKARIII

There is no doubt that USA is an expensive country & the civic services are of the best standards.

So this was an incident while we had been just moved to USA in 2019. I had been to Taco Bell for munching its inventive, often whimsical, Mexican-inspired items. While placing an order I happened to see an Maharashtrian look-alike Indian man sitting on other side of table. This man was looking typical Marathi as he had wore Mahi Gold Plated Peshwai Bhik Bali 

Apart from his wife and two children, this man & was also accompanied by his old age father of 70’ age. It look like they were on their holiday in USA as they were sitting with tons of luggage bags.

I could hear a noise of son annoyed & firing his father- left & right. I overheard their discussion & which made me laugh out spontaneously ...

They were traveling on 66 highway, one of the express ways from Washington to other state. This Indian Family were in their car and coincidentally was followed by a Local Police driving at a safe distance. Suddenly this police  saw head of an old man coming out of their window and was vomiting blood. A lady cop took a quick action and inform 911 (The three-digit telephone number "9-1-1" has been designated as the "Universal Emergency Number," for citizens throughout the United States to request emergency assistance. It is intended as a nationwide telephone number and gives the public fast and easy access to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for help.)

In no time, there appeared an Air Ambulance Helicopter provider utilizes an advanced fleet of jets that are configured as hospital intensive care units as to provide the best care possible. In the meanwhile, the lady police forced their car to park on curbside. 

Looking at Police car & Air Ambulance, these Indian family got scared & could not utter a single word to them. The well trained staff quickly shifted this old man on the stretcher. Oxygen supply started in helicopter itself. Experienced Doctor who also flew in Helicopter started examining him And Sometime later, the old man was declared safe and fit to travel again. 

Kudos to Quick Help and Well Done the Police for their quick action.

But for these services, our Bhau had to cough up USD$ 3000. 

With these unplanned heavy financial charges, this man was in shock and he blasted on his Old Aged Father : "Tichi Ayalaa, kay tumhi pann....Khiḍakīcyā bāhēra guṭakhā khāṇyācī ani pichkari marnya chi kay garaj hoti? “

EVERYDAY IS MOTHERS DAY FOR ME....2021

 My conversion with my maa, THEN & NOW

THEN...

Maa: Beta, I fought with death when I was giving birth to you. I had spent sleepless nights when you were sick and crying. I remembered that I never ate without feeding you first. I bore so many pains to bring you to the stage that you are in today so tell me how will you repay me, Chetu?

ME: Maa, I promise you that When I grow up, I will find a good job and earn lots of money for you so you can enjoy all happiness of this world.

Maa:Your Papa is already doing this and I do not expect this from you too. Also by the time you start earning, I will be old and will not be in need of any worldly luxuries.

so I thought for a while & reply her 

ME: “okay then I will find a pious girl and marry her so she can cook for you and will also take care of you.”

Maa: That is not her duty my Chetu and neither should you marry for that reason. It is not compulsory on her to do any service to me, neither do I expect this from her. Your marriage should be for you only, a companion and a comfort for you as you go through this journey of life.

I didn’t know what to answer her so told her 

ME: “Tell me Maa, how can I repay you then?”

Maa: (With tears in her eyes) Spend quality time with me or call me often when you away from me. As a mother, I only require this much from you while i am alive. 

but when I die, give me your shoulder and burn me with all respect.

Whenever you perform prayers, supplicate for me. 

Give out in charity for me. 

Remember all your good deed will benefit me in hereafter so be good and kind always. 

Fulfill the rights of all those around you. The sleepless nights and pains I took to bring you up, was not a favour to you, my Chetu but was it for my creator. God blessed me with you as a beautiful gift and as a means for me to attain His pleasure. 

Your every good deed becomes my repayment.

So Will you do it my Chetu...?

ME: (Cannot speak and had tears in my eyes)

NOW: 

I lost my Mom 34 year back but all her memories are very well alive in me. After Maa's death, My Papa is playing dual role of father-mother for me. 

While in India, I used to make sure to call Papa every alternate days. I used to make sure to meet him every Sunday to hug him, tight. 

After I moved to USA, I used to call him everyday- just to say HI & How are you....that makes him sooooo happy....

As said by my siblings, everyday evening between 8pm to 9pm, he is awaiting for my call & I make sure to call him toooo...

Because everyday is mothers day for me...

Daylight Saving- The Change Of Weather & Time

                                        

This is what I experience in USA that Daylight Saving Time is the practice of setting the clocks forward one hour from standard time during the summer months, and back again in the falls, in order to make better use of natural daylight.

Say from Daylight saving time 2020 in United States began at 2:00 AM on November'2019 (exactly when we migrated to USA) till April'2020. The Clocks are set forward 1 hour for DST in the spring. The sculpture is of "Six Public Clocks" in USA & many other countries too.

“Spring forward, fall back” is one of the little sayings used to remember which way to set your watch. You set your clock forward one hour in the spring when DST starts lose 1 hour), and back one hour when DST ends in the fall regain 1 hour). Though its funny but from past many years, same raga has been followed here in USA. Even many of my friends who stayed in different states of USA, had different timing in their watch.

Fyi, both the picture comparison captured on same time but on different months i.e. November'2019 & May'2020...

    

ROAD TO ELYSIUM...

I didn't realize, like a speed of light, how this 6 months passed by. In a nick of time, a days slip into weeks, weeks turn into months and soon months will transform into years. Calendars are changing by leaps & bounce...

Away from all, far from Indian soil & after loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children, my friends, now I have started loving myself.

In certain things, age has mellowed me down, in others I have become more aggressive. Sometimes I find myself acting very wise and sometimes I just go crazy. Certain issues will have me speaking vociferously whereas at others I just shrug and remain silent in this unknown & new environment.

Within this 6 month, I have realized that I am no more “Atlas" and the world does never rest on my shoulders.

Way back in India, I used pay autowalla and walk away without waiting for a change. The extra money might bring a smile on his face. After all he is toiling much harder for a living than me. Here everything's online so I can't raise my hands to stop cab or shuttle. No human touch at all.

Many times, my papa talk to me same childhood instances repeatedly, so now I have stopped telling him that he had already narrated that same story many times. After all, his repeatative story makes him walk down to his memory lane and relive the past.

At work place, I have learn not to correct americans, even when I know they are wrong because i feel that the onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection so I prefer keep mum. I give compliments freely and generously to everyone. After all its a mood enhancer not only for the recipient but also for me.

Here, I have learnt not to bother about my creased shirt or mismatched shirt & tie because my pleasant personality & smiling face speaks louder than my appearance. I also don't bother if my beard has grown & whites hair depicted my old age. I don't bother of fine lines are showing on my forehead Because beauty of my soul outshines the beauty of my face in my 40's..

In this different land, I have learnt that its better to drop the ego than to break a relationship because one's ego will keep aloof whereas with relationships, I will never be alone so i am connected with everyone.

This life taught me & have learnt to live each day as if it were the last day. After all, one day.....it might be the last day, no one knows the future.

Now every moment, I am doing what makes me happy because I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to me.

And I am loving the new in me.....in this new land of opportunity !!!

TRY, WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH

A young girl and her father were walking along a forest path. 

At some point, they came across a large tree branch on the ground in front of them which was stopping their way further to move on. 

The girl asked her father, “If we can try, do you think we can move that branch?” 

Her father replied, “I am sure 1st if you try alone, you need to use all your strength.” 

The girl tried her best to lift or push the branch, but she was not strong enough and she couldn't move it. 

She said, with disappointment, “You were wrong, dad. I can't move it.” 

“Try again with all your strength,” replied her father. 

Again, the girl tried hard to push the branch. She struggled but it did not move. 

“Dad, I cannot do it,” said the girl.

Finally her father said, “Young lady, I advised you to use 'all your strength'. You didn’t ask for my help.

Moral of this picture...

Our real strength lies not in independence, but in interdependence.

No individual person has all the strengths, all the resources and all the stamina required for the complete blossoming of their vision.

To ask for help and support when we need it is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of wisdom.

Top Of The World...

FROM MY OLD ARCHIVES OF PARIS VISIT...

An unforgettable moment awaits for us in Paris’s most iconic site. We have discover a superb view of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower along with a pleasant dinner. 

A tour guide escort us to the first security check of the Eiffel Tower. 

Feels like top of the world when one reach to the 276 meter of height, one of the 3rd floor of Eiffel Tower & with only antennae above me, Paris lies below my feet. The  noise of the boulevards cant reach me but the cold wind catches me & heart begins to race with it. 

At 276 meters high, we were contemplate the scene in front of us and overlook the main sites of the capital: 1.Montmartre, 2.les Invalides, 3.the Montparnasse tower, 4.l’Arc de Triomphe, etc.

We had priority access to the floor. Arriving at the top of the Eiffel Tower, we were enjoying the exceptional 360° panorama ( from Level-III) that overlooks all of Paris. We had experience astonishing sensations at 276 meters high, while observing this unique view of the landmarks and iconic monuments of Paris: the Louvre museum, the Orsay museum, the Hôtel des Invalides and its gilded dome, the Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre, the Montparnasse Tower which is considered as the highest in Paris, the Champs Elysées, the Arche de la Défense, the Parisian bridges etc. 

It was an Charismatic experience to being on top of the world...