I heard some voices , saw faces after a decade and a half,when I heard the “Hi” ,an uncontrollable smile popped out and the bare hug melted the years.

My mind actually spoke out at that moment, “Did we really not meet for so long?”

The feeling of anxiety sets to rest after rediscovering the lost connection.

Then one by one all old time flashes come in front of you – bunking of classes,the sandwich stall,the missal pav,the cutting chai,the canteen and the list just goes on…..

All this while in my busy life I thought I was suffering from short term memory loss like most of us feel these days ,but it was a quick realization that I am fine and memory is just doing an awesome job by keeping the old time memories intact,letting it out at the right time :-).

As I begin to pen down I really don’t know what to write and what to miss so please bear with it –

Waiting outside the college gate before the first lecture,forgetting the ID card ,finding out ways to enter.Some students were best known to be the second lecture students, who would consistently never make it for the first – reasons most commonly given are they come in groups and one surely is late everyday.Some would have calculated well in advance how many lectures would they have to attend in a term to meet the required attendance percent.Last category would work towards 95% plus attendance and their funda would be a contingency plan incase for some reason they don’t get to attend lectures in the latter term.

The fun part – friendship day,teachers day,rose day (rose queen) , did we ever have a rose king 😜,saree day,traditional day…..

The first crush, first affair, a place where hearts met, broke , everything has happened just under one roof.

Some experienced ATKT’s – it was one of the new experiences in college.

The photocopy shops flourished when the exam dates got closer – the amount of notes we would photocopy knowing very well that we would barely have the time to scan through.

One rupee coins were most valuable , in that also we could only use the new coin to call from the Public call booths 😉

We have all had our share of experiences there.

We started there and now we are here now.

Even today we carry few of these memories with us.

Let me stop here.

It’s a nostalgic moment.Eyes go moist but surely has that twinkle which brings out the smile.

When we were young our parents took care of us to their best ability –

Good food,clothes,health,vaccinations etc.They have had sleepless nights when we were unwell.But they never complained of getting tired or that they couldn’t work next day as they fell short of sleep.We were not born potty trained ,they have done every bit for us,cleaned our vomits…Many of us have been picky eaters they have adjusted with that too.They have taken loans for us,understood our needs,desires and made us what we are today.They have dealt with our mood swings.They are our parents who gave us this life so we can say it was their responsibility.This is one phase of life.

Then comes one phase where they

are getting old (referred as second childhood).They are getting weaker,fall in immunity,become picky eaters,not able to walk,not able to change their clothes -dependent on us for every basic need.At that time what are we doing -complaining,getting irritated,running away from responsibilities ,sending them to oldage homes,only bothered about our future,well think if they had thought the same way.There is a huge gap between the phases,we are prepared by them to bridge this gap.Consider yourself lucky if your parents are growing old in front of your eyes and you are able to take care of every bit they need with a smile.Ask those who have lost them young and regret that they couldn’t do much.

Parents maybe financially sound and independent but a holiday from you or a small surprise gives them immense happiness.Thats when they feel they have earned the most important thing.

Talk to them often it need not be a long conversation but the thought that you are there gives them the urge to live long 😊.Our parents will always love us and bless us unconditionally.

Over the last few years digital technology\smartphones have taken over our communication habits.We have been very accommodative in keeping track of the fast- paced digital world.

Symbols have taken over words\expressions.Yes,I am referring to the “EMOJI’S”.For example the “tears of joy” emoji 😂 and the “heart” ❤️ are the most popular emojis.

In a world where face to face conversations are becoming increasingly rare, it may be tempting to send an emoji to express but it can totally have an opposite effect on the receiver.

When you pick the phone and have a conversation it carries the warmth to the receiver.An emoji actually does not express what you really meant to.

We have become so used to short-cuts that we have actually stopped thinking before taking an action.

We have stopped calling people on their birthdays which once was a priority.Typing a wish with all Birthday related emojis (cake,whistle,balloons….hugs,kisses) and finally press the enter button and forget about it..It’s like a job done ✅..

We lack socialization.Instead of talking to and spending time with other people, we are getting all our information from the Internet.Internet is amazing but it can’t teach or give you everything.It doesn’t tell you the value of spending time with your near and dear ones.Countless texts are sent back and forth 24/7, and conversations lose their meaning. People run out of things to say and become redundant.We post our entire lives online, and expect the people to have something new to comment at the end of the day.Number of likes and comments have become ego boosters.We have lost social skills and manners.We expect everything to be delivered to us as fast as the Internet does.We are constantly distracted. We try to multitask at all times, having conversations with people while looking down at our phones, writing emails while in a meeting, and even driving.

Technology is making us a “ZOMBIE”.

Technology is a beautiful thing, but if we cannot learn how to use it responsibly and in moderation, our future may not be as bright as the screens we are holding.

If somebody makes fun of your accent,just let the person know –

“When someone has an accent,it means he knows one more language than you do.”

Our parents are the yesterday who gave us today,we are the today going to give our kids the tomorrow.Many things we disagreed then, today we realize it was right and now our kids disagree to the same.Phases of life move in circles without an end point.So just keep moving 😊.

Juhu beach,one the most famous and visited beaches.

Famous for local delicacies and street food. The food stalls set up here offer excellent cuisines and mouth watering snacks.Place to relax and enjoy after a long, tedious day.

Watching the sunset there is a dream like vision.A great place to be with friends and family,it’s easy on your wallet and all in all fun.Not a place for swimming and surely not for sun bathing.

Mumbaikars lead a fast pace life and the beach is a complete contrast to it,when you face the beach and stand you feel everything around has come to a standstill.

It is a crowded place and each one has his\her own reason to be there.Mornings you would find joggers, many celebrities are regular there.The magic about the beach is even when you walk alone on the beach it will not bore you.

Afternoons are mostly love birds there,teenagers.

Evenings,the real carnival time – Beach cricket, making sand castles,many would have made castles with a cave down and shook hands with friends\parents.

Not to forget the balloons,multicolored paper fans,toy sellers,tattoo artists and the best of all the guys who predict the future.We also have the mobile hawkers selling chana jor garam.The pestering hawkers and beggars…

I am going to leave alone the cleanliness and parking issues else that will become the discussion and the sweet memories will vanish.

Food we look for –

Pav bhaji,masal pav,kala katta and milkmaid golas,faloodas,juices,chaats etc….drooling already.

Rides we look for – horse rides,giant wheels,merry go rounds etc..

Most of us have seen better and serene beaches in other parts of India and abroad.Waters where you can see your reflection clearly.

Despite the negatives,it still brings back a lot of memories.Now we have various options to take our kids but once upon time for most of us juhu beach was the only option,a weekend getaway.We would go in large groups – family,building friends ……So much of packing – spare clothes,bed sheets,mats,packed food,frootis’….

How far things have changed today-

Friends go to the beach,they are seated and munching some food from the stalls.After sometime they see some poor kids walking towards them asking for money,which is a normal feature there.The friends decide to buy them food instead of giving them money – very noble.

After giving them the food one of them decides to go and sit besides them and says let’s eat together, wow again what a thought.

He calls out to his other friend and tells him , ” ek photo khich de yaar” ,one of the kid spontaneously ,”Bhaiya Facebook pe da loge” the guy suddenly goes speechless and ashamed.He asks the kid tumhe kaise pata – kid says aaj kal yeh hi

tho hota hai- sab kuch Facebook ke liye hota hai.

Heard my old weighing scale talk to the new one – All the best to you!

I have been serving them for the last few years.Keep this in mind you can never make this family happy.They are way too demanding,you would be expected to give higher numbers for their children but they less for them.They will always have a grumpy face and will never trust you.Pray they move you to the kitchen, may be then your presence would have some control over them and give them a reason to smile 😦 :-p.

Life is a book with chapters displaying the different phases.

Some happy moments,some sad,joys,failures,lessons,

achievements,pride.Each chapter taking you towards the end of your journey.You have been the author throughout but then the end, the highlight of your journey is captured by somebody else.

Do we talk or make backup plans for our children if they fail in their exams? Do we talk to them about options (fall back)?

We normally discuss ,what subjects to take,which college to apply?

It’s good to be positive at the same time practical.

We don’t always fail because we don’t work hard.

Sometimes it’s just a bad day.One bad day can’t cost our life.

This beautiful life has a purpose and we live in an era where there are umpteen options.

Why are exams (boards) so overrated?

Don’t people fail professionally,in relations…We fail many times.We should discuss failure it’s not a shame.

Don’t buckle your kids under your pressure.

When you plan their future also consider planning what if it doesn’t happen this way and make a list of options.

Relieve them from the burden\stress.

Let them know you are always there with them good or bad.

Reassurance reduces anxiety.

School kids leaving their houses and running away or ending their lives – why?

Discuss with them about their exams ,how they performed – Don’t make it a closed ended conversation good or bad?

Let them talk.

We all want somebody to hear us 👍🙏

Kapil was back from his annual leave and was resting in his room. He was tired and a bit unwell after his hectic travel. (knock at the door) Hey Kapil! “Got to know you are back, so came to see you”, said Kartik his younger brother. How was your holiday? Hope you had a great Birthday. I keep thinking how do you enjoy going to the same place every year. “It was good”, said Kapil. “You don’t look so well, what happened”? asked Kartik. Well, nothing new its the same old thing. It started off well, a warm welcome, music, great food. They took care of me royally and my diet too. Ten days of royal treatment! The last day is the day I dread or should I say I have been dreading for years now. Every year I go with a hope to see a change but get disappointed. (Kartik getting annoyed) -Why do you have to go every year, when they can’t keep up the same commitment. “It’s not like that Kartik” said Kapil. They wait for me the whole year and prepare for my visit. I cannot disappoint so many people for a few. That won’t be fair. (Kartik getting furious)-Look at your joints, that swelling hurts. If they love you so much, how could they do this to you. I can see you have a fracture too. (Kapil’s eyes swollen and filled with tears) You are right brother. They wait to see me off but they don’t wait till I’m out of sight. Wish they turned back to see, if I was safe. What happened to me may heal in couple of days but what I saw will remain with me forever and that saddens and angers me the most. “And what is that?” asked Kartik (sounding concerned) After ten days of royal treatment I never expected my farewell to be so dark. Hundreds of thousands had gathered to bid me goodbye. It was emotional both sides. In the midst of the crowd were some who had consumed liquor and were misbehaving with young girls and women. It was shameful for me. I could neither hold my head high nor could I hide myself.
{Yes, Kapil is Ganesha for you, the remover of all obstacles and the giver of unlimited happiness}.
Also, the mother water has been polluted with pop and toxics. She is getting choked with plastic. They don’t realize they will soon be
the reason for their end. They are their own biggest enemy, by not protecting their planet. If they don’t realize soon I will also not be able to help them. “This saddens me the most Karthik”, said Kapil.