13-03-2011, A Sunday

There are days when you wish you have full control over every action of yours, no body interrupting, engaging or disengaging. Yesterday night only I planned that tomorrow's day will be mine. I didn't know how exactly it will go but still I told her that I'll be unavailable throughout, right from six in the morning. I got up at seven, left room at eight.

Left for Vile-Parle. ISKCON. For few days this streak was developing in me to see Krishna, and to reinvent the lost spirituality.

Nokia Maps is a big no. After 1 MB download it failed to show my location. I downloaded Google maps instead and decided to take it by foot, 2.5km from the station, closely following the map guideline. In between I stopped at a kiosk for water and asked the man there about location as my previous experiences following online maps have always led me nowhere. The man gave me directions and asked me to take left from 'Amitabh's home'. Something hit me.. Is it? Is it really what he said? I asked again, confirmed and then left. Following my map after about a km of walk I took a left and asked 2 guards sitting there about the temple's directions. They confirmed amongst themselves and finally told me what they affirmed was correct. I agreed.. Just when I was about to turn I asked him - 'Amitabh's home is nearby too?' They look amazed and one of them pointed his finger downwards confirming my worst fear. I was outside 'Pratiksha' and interacting with 'Amitabh Bachhan's' security guards. I recollected myself, as if voice was looking for words to come through. I asked again and he said, this is Pratiksha, Jalsa is nearby. I stood there for few seconds and before it could have turned into more of embarrassment, moved. Few steps.., then sat for a minute on the foot-path nearby and then left for the temple.

Apart from small turnoffs stay at temple was fulfilling. One of them being: 25k for Life-membership. I don't know why I asked for it at the first place. Interacted there with some people, sat near Krishna.. it was good.

Way back it was again Pratiksha, guard was smiling.. I didn't respond and took right.

Now the question was where the hell I should head in scorching Mumbai heat of March. I thought of Colaba, had some purpose at Hazarimal Somani road. That’s all I knew of the place I had to go.

Vile Parle to CST is a big journey, only slow local stops. Could have changed a train at Dadar to reach soon, I decided to wait for CST train. Waiting there I lost myself in some obtuse thoughts. Either that station didn't fit that place or I didn't fit there. That locality was appearing strange and people looked stranger. I pulled out laptop, inserted the CD I took at temple. Tried murmuring along, felt strange(-ly) strange and shut it next.

You can never imagine an empty train on Mumbai railroads, mine was, half. Opposite me was a 30 something hunk with his-quarter-sized wife. I thought of concentrating on man's gadgets. A cellphone embedded watch, an iPad size mobile and a Bluetooth headset. When I realized that my continuous observation could easily have been mistaken, I tried observing other things around.
Women.

In a semi filled coach you see men all around with few women dispersed amongst them. India's gender ratio certainly takes a dive in such observations.
All men were sleeping, other than those who hung by coach's entrance.
Each of the women was like looking nowhere, lost into something. 

Anyhow I made it there, and started looking for what I had to. I was able to locate the locality but couldn't find the place. There after I killed time, roamed in Fort area.

Twilight is good at Gateway. Spent evening writing at a distance.

05/03 - 06/03

Real long I enjoyed company of opposite sex.. Well, that was before yesterday. A colleague/friend trusted my know-it-all attitude and we decided to go for best laptop hunt for her. I wanted to meet her so I wrought the plan and we left at 830 for InOrbit. An hour down we were done with laptop enquiries and as planned (Last week's plan that didn't come up then) we were in at CCD. Confident enough I chose my drink, leeche ice Tea. She settled for Frappe.

You can't blame an Aus-NZ match bad enough to put your eyes off a pretty girl. It happened and kind of irritated her too but then Cricket is Cricket and I think I made it up for that to her. Leeche had started tasting awful by the time we left.

Conversation gripped up and it was like we both were looking for some deaf ears to puke out all that was in. Would have loved tossing in a Beer and then blaming it up for that but that was not the case to be. Effect was. I felt.

I don't know why most of us who are now in their mid 20s always had dream of making it into armed forces. She narrated a few incidences related to army; her SSB experience and how army-men can charm any of the ladies with their short neat hair-cut and chivalry. I don't lack into any of them. My father always insists on one having a smart short haircut and I have always been the one who according to him needs a haircut just after one. I agree now short is cool and smart.
And I was reminded of my conference-outs in SSB.

One more thing is in for people of our age group these days. Marriage. Either one wants to/or one wants to attend one of his/ her friend. Girls of our group who are ageing in at 24 are experiencing the in-house commentary of being a 'paraya-dhan'. Its a matter for family which should be done away with as soon as possible. Boys can relax for now.. 2-3 years later for them. My elder brother too will get married in a couple of months. Ehmm.. World is changing, in fact Our World is changing. She told me a kissa wherein, on her family’s insistence she went out to see a boy. I could visualize and this makes for a bollywood scene, Boy coming out of kitchen holding a plate of Poories! ( No offence buddy if you get to read this, chances are slim though. Others.. There were just three of them at home he and his parents :P ) God's grace or what, Merchant Navy guys earn a lot (and suffer a lot!). They agreed in their one-to-one that marriage was not on either's cards for 2-3 yrs and commitment was not in foresight.

Not very hungry we moved in at a Paratha corner, and for the first time in my life I settled after one.
A group of office girls spotted us and I was reminded what girls do best. I counted,7. Ah..ohk.
Next 2 hrs we were together in Society Park.

05/02

Birthdays can pine you to write. Perhaps it’s the bliss I derive of it that pushes me to. Legally it’s the fifth month I am into job, almost same time I made last entry. In between has been involving/engaging - tussling/adjusting. One lesson learnt is you can't sail into two boats; for that you got to be experienced/or a woman /or for a take have backup in case you have a fall.
Almost 3 years my MBA nerve hasn't let me peacefully wilt. I am in job after a long fight - You club the dream, club the gift, club the girl -Where does a job fit in ?

Not that I do not like it. Coming to Mumbai and perhaps being in office has changed things around. When I am giving 9 hours a day to something I believe I can excel in that(and get well paid.)

On my way to Mumbai after training there was this gentleman named Bill, a Canadian - a 55-60 aged man you can distinguish from crowd. Something made us strike conversation and I won’t shy away from saying that perhaps because I am a good communicator, I can strike it well with most of the individuals, same was with him. 15 minutes into the conversation and he was sharing his personal album on my personal laptop - his son/his family trips/work/private parties. Conversation loosened and I shared what I always have on my mind and I am glad I did. His answer was logical, perhaps one which any man with healthy brain activity can arrive on - but at times you want someone else's gut/instinct to think upon and to close down. Now when the girl is out of picture he asked me to give the gift time, to sustain and evolve, not 6 months but an year or two; and then 2 years down the line you can make a final decision which can help you stand up financially also. A job can become the job and eventually the gift can also sublime that. Next two years are going to be the best experiment of my life. I got to contain two things, my tummy and...