HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was Dad & Mom's 30th marriage anniversary today; 30 long years of a beautiful relationship which is the reason of my existence and being. 30 years is a very long time, I haven't even seen or experienced that (means I am way younger than 30!!). Some of you may have (older folks!!) so you may understand the significance of this time, or maybe it looses its importance for some after so much time. It is definitely a special day for me & so it is for my parents. For someone who gets startled by the thought of being married, this is a great example to watch. But I don't follow examples, I like to set examples!!

I have never been against marriage as an Institution & a social & personal entity but you do not have to be against something to not do it. And some things happen only at there right time, they can never get there meaning if done early or late (but better late than never, or too early). I don't understand why others (including friends & relatives etc) get more concerned about your marriage than you. But why am I talking all this... I guess the thought of marriage makes me paranoid, lol. Congratulations & lots of love Dad & Mom, tons of my best wishes for you forever!!!

When I lost my 5 rupees coin....

There is not much going on these days except Delhi being super hot & me being super tired/exhausted all the time; so I thought of writing something from past stories. Recently one day when I was going to the GYM (yes, I go to gym!!) my sister asked me to get a gel-pen refill and gave me a Rs 5 coin for the same. I put it in my lowers pocket & went on for the workout... I was in gym and I did my regular hour long gymming routine. Then I left the gym and went to the store to buy the refill. I asked the guy that how much refill was for and he said that Rotomac (remember, likhte-likhte love ho jaaye!!) is Rs 6 & Reynolds in Rs 10. I told him that my sis told me that there's a refill for Rs 5 & I need that one, turns out that the Rotomac was being offered for Rs 5 as well (I didn't intentionally bargain but it happened, it happens only in India!!). I put my hands in pocket to take out the coin & alas... its not there. I must have lost in the gym I thought, but who goes back to search for a Rs 5 coin & all that. But then I decided to go & look... I went back to the gym & couldn't find it where i was working out. Little disappointed but decided to look more... and yes, it was lying under a bench!!!

I was so damn happy to find my coin back, never thought I could find a lost coin. I'll tell you a ... there was this small kid of 7-8 yrs old whose mom sent him out to market to buy some stuff. He came back with the stuff and handed it over to his mom with the remaining balance, turns out that he's handing over 50 paise less and he couldn't find it anywhere. Seems he must have lost it somewhere on the way. The mom asks the boy to go back and look for the coin and get it back. The boy doesn't wants to go back all the way, that too in night but he has to. He goes back searching for the lost coin on road & everywhere but comes back empty handed. (now you would be expecting that he was beaten rudely & ferociously by his mom and all that, read further....) His mom was waiting on the door for him when he came back, he told that he couldn't find the coin and she didn't say anything. Nothing else happened but the boy still remembers the story and learnt something form it... he learnt the value of money!!

You must have guessed by now that the boy was me (you gotta be really dumb if you couldn't figure that out yaar). I learnt that every paisa/penny has value and it counts. Hard earned money should always be respected.. and you should always try to look for your lost money, lolzz. I remember when I lost my Rs 100 note at DTC Pass Center in Scindia House CP. I was so sad & mad, looking for it everywhere and couldn't find it. It was a big amount & was all my saving from my pocket money. I requested god to do something and didn't talk to him for days for not giving my money back (! literally used to not wish pranaam to god at temples for some days. afterall we think that he's responsible for all that happens, he must be doing it intentionally). Many other occasions I suffered some miscellaneous losses like these or others but hardly was able to recover it. But then you realize that winning & losing is part of the life and every loss makes your next win even more special & cherished. Like getting this Rs 5 coin back!!

So what do you think, giving importance to every penny is right or letting it go as a part of the experience & then blaming god... Alright friends & people, that's it for now. Please keep blogging and keep reading & commenting on my blogs. This is RAHUL saying, Good Bye & Good Luck... JAI HO (I recently heard the pussycat version of the song and its nice)!!!!!

Trip to Vaishno Devi

I went to Vaishno Devi past weekend (Apr 12), the trip was adventurous & fun but as good as a war!! I was with one of my friend, we left Sunday afternoon by bus from Bus Terminal at Jeeval in Jammu (click here to read about my Jammu trip) and it took us around 1.5 hrs to reach Katra. You have to wait in a line to get the 'darshan parchi' (visitor-slip) which you need to collect to get in, it's free. We waited around 3 hrs in line till 5pm but it turned out that they won’t give slips anymore till 5am next day as there are too many visitors for the day. It was quite disappointing but we thought of checking for the passes at the Defense Camp which is 1 Km ahead near Brhamakumari where you get special passes for defense people (my dad is Ex-Defnse Personnel). When we reached there we were told that since 9 months policy has changed and now the passes are not available for families of Defense Personnel anymore. Again disappointment, but we talked to the guy there named Naidu and ultimately he was convinced to help us by giving us the visitor slips (not defense though, but he had few general slips). If you are convinced and work hard, nothing is impossible.. Or may be Maa Vaishno was calling us…

Then the journey upwards began which wasn’t too bad. Just be slow & steady and keep taking short rests when needed. Half the way to the top, the way splits into two… one way goes through Ardkwari in between & then further up to Bhawan (mata Vaishno’s temple), the way is little tough as it is steeper and longer than other way. Darshan at Ardhkwari is not easy as there are long waiting, you have to take a visitor-slip again here for this temple and the waiting for us was 2 days. Then there is the other way which does not go through Ardhkwari and it is shorter by 1 Km, its easier as well (less steep & newer road). You can take a short tunnel through Ardhkwari to get on this way but you end up walking 1 Km extra. The Pony-Ride which keeps coming on to you is a big nuisance, but you don’t encounter them on this road which is good. It took us around 4-5 hrs in total to reach till Vaishno Devi Mandir. Just before entry you have to get your slip stamped and they give you a group number fro entry into temple which is displayed all over TV (but it is hardly followed, you cant go before it I think but can go anytime after your number has crossed. Doesn’t even gives you any priority in darshan line).

Then you have to take holy-bath at the snaanghar which is at the end; just keep walking past lockers etc. The water comes out of pipes from somewhere but it is very cold n chilling, however bath is kinda fun. Then put your shoes, leather stuff & belongings (including cam etc) in the locker & go for the darshan. Darshan are open all day-night except the Arti in Morning & evening. When we got in the line at around 2 in night the security guys told us that darshan are closed till morning… another disappointment but we decided to wait. The darshan were open in half an hour!! It takes around an hour or so to get till the Bhawan Gufa (or the cave in which there are the Pindies). There is no photo or idol but just the mata ki pindies…. If its crowded they don’t let you go in the real gufa but the artificial one which takes you near darshan place (I was told that if there is less rush you get to crawl in that gufa and get closest darshan). They hardly let you see anything and you can’t even stand for few seconds for proper darshan. They don’t take your Prashaad (offerings, you can buy those even downwards before starting the climbing which is better as you get nicer stuff but you have to carry it. Options are less & limited upwards). After darshan you take the halwa prashhad & then it’s done. Don’t forget to take your stuff abck from the locker though…

The next is the visit to Bhaironath & it’s said that darshan is not complete until you visit there (it's said that Maa Vaishno killed Bhaironath who was a evil taantrik, however while dying he asked for forgieness & Maa gave him this aashish). Its 3-4 Kms up and you can walk, take stairs or take pony ride too. We decided to use stairs mostly because it was faster but painful too. The temple was not open early morning at 6am, so I think it’s only open from Morning till evening/night. You can also get some nice pictures from the top spot there. Now you can take another route to return back to Katra which goes through Ardhkwari too. If you have taken the visitor slip to Ardhkwari while climbing, you might wanna check while going back if your number has come, its easier way than waiting there only. Or you can go back to Vaishno Devi and take a tempo ride from there till Ardhkwari which runs ant fixed times starting 8am. The walk back is really tough & painful… climbing up is tiring but if you have not taken enough rest or do not have great stamina, the walk down is very painful & strenuous. You might wanna use stairs to get down which is quicker but be careful as well. I was really collapsing the way back but managed to get down somehow.

The other options to get up-down are using Pony-Ride or Paalki. Also you can take the Helicopter Ride which is very quick & takes you directly up from Katra near Vaishno Mandir (around 1 km walk away). But the fun is in walking and doing it yourself. Take proper rest while going up & coming down, you may even rest at Vaishno Devi for few hours before coming down. Also it’s good to have a larger group so you can support each other & enjoy the journey. Make sure you carry all the money you need before starting as ther are no ATMs on the way. That day, all the ATMs at Katra were not working as well (except one Axis bank ATM near bus-stand). There was too much rush to get the bus back to Jammu but we managed somehow. At the end I guess it’s all about your faith & will and nothing is tough. And as people say, you cant go until Mata is calling you.. And if she’s calling you, no one can stop you. Jai Maa Vaishno, Jai Mata Di!!!

Laugh and make people laugh with you!!!

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Delhi to Jammu to Vaishno Devi to Jammu to Delhi

This blog might be lil late compared to my previous quick entries; I have so much in mind but not getting time to write it. BTW, I am coming back from a trip to Jammu & Vaishno Devi this long weekend (Thu to Mon). The trip was damn tiring but fun as well. I went with my friend for his cousin’s marriage in Jammu. It was a very long drive of around 600 Kms, most of the road is okay but around 150-200 Kms stretch before Jammu really sucks as most of it is one way and under-construction/broken. But ofcourse most of the people suck in driving on such roads as usual...
We left Thursday night and were in Jammu by Friday afternoon. We tried paranthas & lassi at 2 places on the way but they were all bad, not as you would expect from a Punjabi road -side dhaba (my experience from Ahuja da Dhaba in Karnal has been always good but we didn’t go there this time). I attended Mehndi ceremony of the bride on Friday night & then the marriage on Saturday night/Sunday morning in Gurudwara, Punjabi marriages are nice with lots of Punjabi music & Punjabi food too (both could be overdose though, lol). Also we wandered in Jammu city which isn’t very cool, the biggest mall called City Walk was just too small & not god crowd; the crowd was better in Gole Market where there is Pehelwan di Hatti which wasn’t too cool either. Then we went to Vaishno Devi Sunday noon & came back Monday evening (would be writing separate blog for this, click here). After rest on Monday night we left from Jammu Tuesday morning & reached Delhi at night, but had to wait 3 hrs in traffic Jam on Rohini to Janakpuri route.
So this trip was a WAR & I guess we managed to win it, feels good to be back. Would be writing a lot more soon, all of that is in my mind. BTW, have you guys been to Jammu or nearby & how has the trip been? Share your experiences as well here… Alright friends & people, that's it for now. Please keep blogging and keep reading & commenting on my blogs. This is RAHUL saying, Good Bye & Good Luck... JAI HO!!!!!

Fun at Call Centre!!!

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You are LIFE of the Team...

My manager Parasu said this for me in a Casual 360 Feedback we had yesterday, I did expect something good but not something so awesome. How did I feel... Amazing & very-very Happy! of course!! Others had there own views about me... like I am very sharp person, I am smart, I am cool but intelligent and intellectual (i guess people expect Intellectuals to be uncool & boring, I am not). I was also told that I am very friendly, quite approachable and have solutions for almost anything & everything for the team. Also that I am the coolest, most efficient, amazing & best person they ever met and all of them love & idolize me (yeah-yeah, I might be exaggerating at a few places. but so what, its my blog yaar!!). Feedback & Appreciation are very important in Life, not just at work or outside but in our personal lives as well. It's important to get and give the right feedback to your friends & family and make sure you know how things are going and how you are faring at it. It's nice to say a few words of appreciation at the right moments for your loved ones & let them know how much you appreciate them being in your life & how thankful you are. Thanks a lot everyone, Thanksss!!!
TRM Training was a nice experience (had to be, how many times you get paid to get trained & study!!) & I really learnt a lot. I put a lot of myself in these trainings and really worked hard (to not sleep, lol). It was a great team and I would definitely miss it; my manager is a nice guy & I really admire him too (he might be reading the blog so had to say this, lol... ohh, hope he's not reading this!!). It makes a lot of difference if you have the right kind of team & leadership around you, it gives you the right opportunity & energy to perform & grow. And ofcourse it's important to love what you are doing (atleast you have to not hate it...). Now we would be moving on to a new project & looking forward for good times in future (urgh, this is what TRM training does to you and you start talking of Forwards & Futures... grrr!!). Everything else is just cool, nothing special happened. I was on Navratri Vrat which got over on Friday, did all days fasting this time which was cool, Jai Mata Di!!. Alright boys n girls and dear friends, that's it for now. Please keep blogging & keep reading my blogs (& COMMENT to let me know of your views). This is RAHUL saying, Good Bye & Good Luck... JAI HO!!!!!

April Fool...

"April Fool banaya, to unko gussa ayaa" (I made April Fool, she lost her cool), its a lovely song (one of the very few Indian songs for april fool; actually only one I am aware of). Today is Fools Day & I saw a weird dream... Himesh Reshammiya was performing outside my Colony in front of a small crowd in his new short hair look singing 'lut jaun is karzz pe' song from Karzz. Himesh singing on streets may be a happy thought for few people cuz they think this is what he deserves or maybe again painful to hear him sing. But I don't hate him, he may not be great he's an okay singer and i like some of his songs. (He's definitely a terrible actor though and he should just concentrate on music; he was looking okay in short hair though, lol!!). However we need to appreciate the importance of Fool's Day & fools in this world. Afterall they are the ones who let others feel smart; if there are no stupid people in this world, who would we look down at and feel good about ourselves. I am not kidding here... everyone plays there role in this world & so does the so called fools or stupid people (they could be damn irritating & PIA at times though!!!). And what about the tons of jokes & unintentional fun they add to our lives :)

I remember April Fool day as those nice days when it used to be tough to believe anything what friends told you because didn't want to be fooled, and always try & devise ways to make others APRIL FOOL. And not just on April 1 but the game used to continue for the whole week or even month (and the silly pranks used to be like 'ur shoe laces are open' or 'ur shirt is stained' etc, and we didn't even used to believe even if it was true). As a kid you are cheerful and excited about everything and try to enjoy it, but things change as you grow up and sometimes it becomes tough to be even excited about happy things or life anymore. Nothing special has been going on in past days, just usual stuff. Even the TRM trainings were off for 3 days (which was more than awesome) & are going to get over next week. BTW, I heard a news that US is going to give $1.5 Billion every year for next 5 years to Pakistan as aid; i think its too bad & it sucks!! You want to handover money in hands of an irresponsible country which cant take care of even themselves, just imagine how will that money be taken care of... what do you ppl think? Alright boys n girls and dear friends, that's it for now. Please keep blogging & keep reading my blogs (& COMMENT to let me know of your views). This is RAHUL saying, Good Bye & Good Luck... HAPPY FOOLS DAY, HAPPY NAVRATRI , JAI MATA DI & JAI HO!!!!!