Just a day for Friendship?

Just when I had my dinner and logged on to net, my sister buzzed me on the messenger, the instant messenger. After the regular chat, before logging off, she wished me happy Friendship Day. I was reading on internet sites about it, there is a Friendship day coming. I was amazed to see that now even for friends we need a day to celebrate. Having friends, I think, is a reason to celebrate in itself. Why we need a day for it? May be show to our gratitude and indebtedness. But I heard somewhere, there is no thank you and sorry in friendship.

I was curious to know the history about it, so I googled. The first sunday of month August was proclaimed National Friendship Day by the United States Congress in 1935, and has been commemorated as such annually, as told by one of the site of search result. Now, I was enlightened, both, of history of the day and the height of stupidity of these Americans. I wonder in next few years they may even come up with day called 'Selfish Day', the day to celebrate for yourself.

But, I think, there also another dimension to the propoganda of this day. Thanks to the dozens of internet sites. Even though this day was declared in 1935, its just from few years back, this tradition has started. Most of the internet sites are coming with e-cards, gifts and lots of other ideas especially for this day, a pure marketing strategy. The amplitude of this dimension can be estimated by the fact that on just typing 'Friendship day' as a search query, gives search result of more than 170000 pages.

I think, to celebrate friendship, not a day, not a month, not even a year is ample. It probably needs more than that, may be a lifetime!

Me, the hero!

A typical movie's climax scene: Heroine is in the captivity of the bad men. They are torturing, tormenting her. And when it was just going beyond her endurance, apna great hero makes a dramatic entry. He beats up the bad guys and make the heroine free from them. Well, the hero is always hero. He does everything right and at apt time.

I still remember, the first James Bond movie which I saw in theatre was Golden Eye, where as usual, he makes the breathtaking escape from the enemy's den. I say it as breathtaking because it inspires me and makes me envy. I wish I can be like that. This kind of feeling gets cropped in mind especially when I want to do something heroic. There is also other attraction in Bond movies, the fact that there are lot of beautiful women around him. Ofcourse his introduction is charming too. Bond, James Bond

There is another genre of heroes, the one who like to take hardships and goes in the enemy's castle and challenge them. A classic example is 'Vijay' in Deewar, Big B at his best and his famous lines: "Peter, main yahaan hoon." where he single handed thrashes them and comes out from the den after taking the keys from the enemy's jacket. Simply amazing.

I wonder why I love these characters. May be because within me there is a desire to do something like this, no, not thrashing and beating, but something heroic or something that could bring me to limelight for good, that could make center of attraction, hub of news or nucleus of charisma and dynamism.

I wish.

Shall we dance?

Today I came from the office very late, it was almost midnight by the time my dinner was over. Thanks to aunty, my roommate's mother, who prepared delicious rice with sambhar and hot n spicy chicken. As I was having the dinner, my roommates were watching a Japanese movie with English subtitles The name of the movie was 'Shall We Dance?'. This was about the married guy who has worked hard to earn a good living, owned his own house and had a daughter. He got enamored of the beautiful and charming face in the dance center. So he joined the dance club where the art of dancing was taught. Soon, he got so involved with the dance that he started ignoring his wife and eventually he started dancing superbly, with passion. The movement of the whole body started driven from his heart and not from mind.

The movie carried on but it ignited the passion of dancing within me. I used to take participate in the dance musicals while I was child in school, colony cultural programmmes but the passion of dancing got developed while I was doing my graduation, thanks to the thumkas of Madhuri..uff, the free-style dance of Govinda or the dances of Hrithik and SRK filled with panache. Not to forget the rock n roll of Shammi Kapoor era or the simple dance of Big B and Dharmendra papaji or even the exercises of apna Sunny puttar.

Every cultural pogramme at my institute would end up in the so called discotheques. What if it rains or its chilly or even hot, discotheques was the place to Disco. Even the fresher party used to end up with dance party thrown by the respected seniors. This respect to them was for the first and the last time, not that we became stopped respecting but they became more like a friend than mere senior. That was the night I danced as if there was no tomorrow. Khuleke naacho, khulke gaao, It was the time to Disco. An evening which would be on top of everybody's memory of my batch especially my room mate at college, the bihari ( not in real sense!).

I still have reminiscence of the choreagraphy we did in one of our intra hostel competition. It was great to dance on the stage with all of those who had passion of dancing but never had a chance to do so. And the best part of it that we won the competition. I think I missed the golden oportunity while I was in college to have some more experience.

Now, with 9-9 job, it becomes to difficult to continue this but the passion is still inside, burning. Sometimes, on weekends, I and my friend, on the tunes of our young and old music directors, dance freely, energtically, passionately and what is called - 'Straight from the heart', till we are exhausted. It surely gives an immense pleasure to do it. Just do it and enjoy.

Shall we dance?

Something like this happened...

Just when I was thinking what to write today, an idea of some thriller or suspense story came to my mind. But it was total empty and nothing could be concieved on those lines. This was mainly because, I was not a great story writer or simply that it takes great thinking to make a good story. Also, I was sure enough not to write another romantic writeup like my previous creations. Then I thought I must write which was bit exciting and so here is what came to my mind.

Looking back now, the most exciting moment in recent times for me was when I was asked my willingness to travel onsite, New York City, the world's most cosmo city, by my boss for a period of 2-3 months. I was completely taken back on hearing this, as he took me to a meeting room and discussed the matter in private. I had joined the company just couple of months back as a fresher and to get this kind of opportunity, I considered myself very lucky. After the brief conversation, the first thing I did was I went to toilet, where there was a big mirror. I said to myself, looking myself to the mirror, "Am I dreaming, is this real?" and then I pinched myself. Yeah, it was all real. No day-dreaming. Absolutely not.

I wanted to yell, very loud. The first thing I wanted to tell to my parents, but they were out of station and were coming back only in the late evening. Also, I didn't had any good friends, since its been only some months since I joined the company.

It was a dream come true for me. Since my college days, I used to see my travel lines on my right palm to predict my future of foreign tours, yes..yes, Palmistry. I actually studied studied palmistry in one of the summers at the college as fun subject to pataaofy some gals, which still remains one of my dreams...still. Anyways, I couldn't hide my emotions for long and when I was taking dinner with my colleagues the same day, I told them about this scoop. (This is how exactly I am!!) All of them really got surprized and congratulated me. I felt it was the beginning of the trail to reach the acme of my career.

It was now night time, I called my parents and told about all what had happened the whole day, They were also very excited and happy for me. That was one of the exhilarant day I have lived.

Its all about Friends..

It was one wednesday in the month of April. I woke up in the morning, a bit early, got ready for the office. My landlord, a good oldman, was very happy to see me, a lazy and languid by nature, waking up early. Usually I don't like getting up early but this day was special. No, it wasn't my birthday, neither of any relatives or friends or even my girlfriend. It was the day when the advance booking of the tickets of one of the movie was about to start. This movie was Main Hoon Naa, starring SRK and 'Sen'sational beauty queen, Sush. Though SRK's presence on the big screen can't be neglected, but this was not my real intererst. It had Amrita Rao in the supporting role, who stays to be my favourite heroine, not only because of her acting skills but also the oomph factor I feel she has. To add this, I must confess, I haven't missed even a single movie of hers till date.

Continuing, I planned that day to got to office early, leave early and book the tickets. I reached the theatre where the advance booking was going in the early evening. There was a long queue for it. I realized, I made the mistake and ought have come here very early. But still, I waited till my turn came. My realization turned more stronger when I found that all the tickets were sold out for the show which I wanted. Nevertheless, the movie had to be seen at earliest, so took six tickets for the Sunday night show. Six tickets because we were six, planned to see it together. The next day passed pretty quickly, a bit hectic in office. It was friday and one of my friend took me on a morning jog/walk on the beach. When we were about to return, I got a call from another good friend that he's going to his native place for an emergency operation. We were shocked to hear this. He had some problem before but we never expected that things would become so worse. So he booked the tickets and boarded the plane and reached safely sweet home in the evening. The whole day went in finding out how serious the situation was and what actually happened to him.

Then came the saturday, weekend had begun so it was time to enjoy. I had bought some dvds to watch at home but still nothing could fill the sense that time was moving very slowly and it was still a day for the show. I am not sure if all my friends were feeling the same way, but I was really excited and looked eagerly for the moment, like the first date.

Finally the day arrived, the sunday. It was cloudy in the morning and was a perfect day for cricket. Me and some of my friends went for lunch and stroll along the beach. It was great. But the white clouds turned grey and more grey or blackish grey, telling us they would pour heavily. It was evening and the predictions turned true. It started raining heavily. But rains in the water scarce city, were always welcome. It was late in the evening and I was about to prepare for dinner. One of the six friends called me and showed disinterest in the plan. I told 'Main Hoon Naa' but it appeared that the interest of seeing the movie was subdued by the force of the rains. It was difficult to think that the moment for which I was waiting so desperately would go like that. You couldn't blame rains in the city like this one and nor the friends for their unwillingness, it was the time which was bad, alas. Then from other friend also, I got confirmation that he won't be able to make it. Well, this was not because of rains but the fact that he was working like anything in office, to meet his deadlines of the project. I then prayed Lord Krishna and thanks to him, we were now atleast three who were going to see the movie.

The movie was great, I liked it very much especially my crush, Amrita Rao. She was fabulous in the role, not to mention SRK and gorgeous Sush for the amazing chemistry on screen. I liked the movie and was impressed by the glamour, music and the panache. The songs were also well choreographed. Overall, it was total entertainment and the movie eventually turned out to be super hit. But still I felt there was something missing, I really didn't know what.

Next day, one of the friends, who didn't make it, called me and asked about the movie. I just said it wasn't good. Not because I wanted to tell a lie but it was very spontaneous. And it is true, had all of my friends been there, I would have liked the movie much more than what I did, perhaps.

Did you have a coffee today?

It is one of the month of summers. I have passed my junior school with flying colours and now it's time for me to go the high school. High School, yeah it gives me a feeling of seniority and maturity. I'm one of the most senior students of the school and also the one who others feel as responsible and sincere. My opinion is sought as the member of the decision making body, I'm asked for giving my thoughts to the junior classes and responsibilty as a honcho for all the guys in the school-bus. I'm also studing hard for the high school. They say its very tough and highly competitive. So I have stopped playing much with my friends. I gets the scolding from my mom when I go play more than an hour. Finally, its exams time. I am studying day and night to top the exams, doing night-outs for the last time revisions. I'm very nervous before the final countdown. My parents are telling to remain cool and calm, my teachers are doing the same and giving me last minutes tips for the days ahead. Atlast, what was percieved a rough mountain trail a year ago, is over.

Days go by. I'm now in the college studying Science and its explanations for the previously known unsolved puzzles. There are lot of brilliant students with me, with extraordinary callibre. I haven't seen such kind of a group in my lifetime. Some having photographic memory, some having amazing logical abilities but all have one thing in common; to do the best there. However, with exceptions to this one, there are some of them who just lose their track, or their goals are redefined. We are being taught by the best faculties of the country with the infrastructure which no institute provides to its students. Weekends are now auspicious days as it makes us do the things of our choice; for most of them it was sleeping till the sun is almost on top of us or making night-outs at computer center (definitely not for studying!!), catching the autos/rhino horned tempos which emit the black fumes, for watching movies, having dinner outside (hail murga-club) and for the local junta to go to their sweet home.

I'm now in the second year now. Its the first term exams and I'm all set to write the exams. I'm in the exam hall for writing my 2nd paper. There is a junior batch also writing some other exam in the same hall. So a beautiful girl come and sits besides me, at her alloted seat. After the exams are over, I meet this girl in the college canteen. On seeing me, she offeres me a coffee. I readily accept, my favourite drink. Days goes by and now we are exchanging smiles everytime we see each other. I have now got a moped, second hand one (I call it my bike) from one of my seniors. Now my weekends have become sacred. I'm taking her to movies and resturants almost every weekend and also helping her with the lecture notes. She's very nice and very caring. I'm feeling ecstatic fit of love. Or perhaps, I have never been to closer to a girl before like this. But as they say, there are two sides of coin, I'm now bunking classes and started flunking. I am trying hard to cope up with the academic pressure, which I have built up for myself like a mammoth monster. Thanks to my friends who are helping me by showing me the torch of light and hope in this span. Finally, its the final year and almost all the famous companies have already gone after coming for campus placements but I haven't got a single job. Tension is mounting and I'm trying to avoid all friends. My girlfriend tries to console or perhaps motivates me. She is always making me happy and trying to make me confident. Finally the day has come. I got a job in the company which is supposedly a very good, both as in terms of salary as well as reputation in market.

After two years of job, I'm now well settled in life, having a nice job and a caring wife, the young lady who offered me coffee in college canteen.