“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

“May you have love that never ends, lots of money and lots of friends. Health be yours, whatever you do and may God send many blessings to you.”

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love

Yes, its holiday season's and I would like to wish all my near dear friends and family ~

"Season's Greetings To All"

As you can see the festive ocassion brings so many surprises and happiness and I love this time as it gives an opportunity to be with your friends and family to share those joyous moments and make them feel we are still there caring and loving you all :)

Before the ice is in the pools,
Before the skaters go,
Or any cheek at nightfall
Is tarnished by the snow,
Before the fields have finished,
Before the Christmas tree,
Wonder upon wonder
Will arrive to me! ~ Emily Dickinson

“It doesn't require a special day to express how much I Love You... if every ordinary day is more than special when I am with you.”

Many times in the midst of work and homely tie-ups people tend to forget that in getting successful in all these, they do have someone who is constantly supporting them and encouraging them to do so!
Its not that one doesn't think about them but its often the right time that we think of expressing it and the right time sometimes never shows up... :)
I dedicate this post for my loved ones :)

“It's easy to let life deteriorate into making a living instead of making a life. It's not the hours you put in, but what you out into the hours that count. Learn to express rather than impress. Expressing evokes a ''me too'' attitude while impressing evokes a ''so what'' attitude.” ~ Jim Rohn
I have seen often a tough person tends to cry for some simple reasons and people might think how weak they are or how come they cry when it’s a very simple thing than what something bitter can be described…but they tend to forget tears are a way of expression…where words don’t support or even reach near to the expression…!
We cry with those whom we love the most …this is I believe which doesn’t mean that the person is weak or can be taken advantage of :D

“Tears are words the heart can't express”

I remember a person who was a boxer and tough on everyone but when he used to see a kid crying the boxer used to cry even louder than the child … lol! It’s the love!!!
All I want to say is love whole heartedly express it and show it in your action but don’t think that is your weakness…as love makes you stronger than anyone else ;)

“Love cannot express the idea of music, while music may give an idea of love” ~ Louis-Hector Berlioz

“Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story”

It was a hectic and busy weekend –meeting and greeting friends was quite fun!
I had a chance in all this to watch the movie ‘Umrao Jaan’ the new one!
Though I have not seen the old one and neither I knew the story of ‘Umrao Jaan’, my only intention was to watch this movie for its story!

“If you've heard this story before, don't stop me, because I'd like to hear it again.” ~ Groucho Marx
Frankly speaking, even though I am a fan of Abhishek I don’t want to comment on the acting part of the duo as I felt they are not matured enough for this kind of role!

A time came where Ash was crying and am sure the audience is supposed to feel the pain and suffering and usually I get touched and carried away with the story but here – I said to myself :D Ash…your acting is not making me cry even or feel bad!

“Maturity begins to grow when you can sense your concern for others outweighing your concern for yourself.” ~ John MacNaughton

But yes the story of Ameeran (Umrao Jaan), really was touchy! I felt had it been a guy would there be some effort done to search this kid who was taken away and sold in a brothel by couple of guys who were taking there revenge on the father of that kid!

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” ~ Maya Angelou
How the value of a girl-child is and/or was degraded makes me feel the pain! Even though the kid when she grows and gets an opportunity she comes searching for her lost family and identity and she doesn’t get any thing from the people who were alive – mother, brother or even the people of that village!

“You are not our protectors…If you were who would there be to protect us from?(Posed this conundrum to the male gender)” ~ Mary Edwards Walker

A question kept lingering in my mind…(may be coz am Papa’s daughter :D), had her father been there would he be taking her back? I guess my friends can add there thoughts to ponder here ;)

“Any man can be a father, but it takes a special person to be a dad”

I am sure my friends will agree that the old Umaro Jaan’s music is still young and melodious with Asha Bhosale’s voice but yet Javed Akhtar’s lyrics is awesome and the music makes sense as it goes along with the story! The songs I liked very much are
‘Ek toote huye dil ki awaz’ (voice of a broken heart), 'Main na mil sakoon jo tumse' (If am not able to meet you..) all in Alka Yagnik’s voice ;)

Can be heard here: http://www.musicindiaonline.com/music/hindi_bollywood/s/movie_name.8651/

But no marks to the hero-heroines ;)

Anyone who has seen has a different opinion?

“People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“I think of life as a good book. The further you get into it, the more it begins to make sense.”

The Thanksgiving long weekend was actually a treat for me as I also had an opportunity to visit the library which was after a long time!

Usually which ever book IAM looking, I never get those…either the book is gone out or its not available in that particular location…(why it has be to with me always ..LOL)

This time as usual I tried some and then got upset and was turning back when I saw this book lying on the shelf ~ “Amad’s War, Ahmad’s Peace” ; immediately I took a look at it and I just issued this for myself

“Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement; then it becomes a mistress, and then it becomes a master, and then a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster, and fling him out to the public.” ~ Winston Churchill

I came home and started reading and believe me I was so hooked on to this book that I got scolding from my friends too! But to everyone’s surprise…the craving was so much that one day I was feeling very uneasy at work and so came home early and guess what…I was able to finish this book :D and friends the sense of achievement is one thing but the learning and awareness about a whole Country people, the culture and thinking of Iraqi people. It’s so much similar to me and you!

“You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend.” ~ Paul Sweeney

The author Michael Goldfarb ~ this is the first book of his that I am reading but I was so surprised that the author is writing a book through Ahmad. In fact it is a book of Ahmad, who had a very good life in Iraq one time in his childhood, like we all are having now and then how things changed as he matured in the regime of Saddam Hussein. But one thing I like about Ahmad is that he is so sure of his vision and thinking ( which comes all through his eagerness of studying and traveling places). Even the last moment he sticks to his thoughts and the betterment of Iraqi people!

“Who is more to be pitied, a writer bound and gagged by policemen or one living in perfect freedom who has nothing more to say?” ~ Kurt Vonnequt Jr.

A time came in the book where I thought ~ oh! So after Saddam was caught he might have got some position in the Government. The irony of this book is in the title itself ~ Ahmad’s War, Ahmad’s Peace: Surviving Under Saddam, Dying in the New Iraq

"I never think of the future - it comes soon enough" ~ Albert Einstein

This book really touched me as how much a guy struggles through out in life to see a dawn and in all this he has his love and passion towards a family, a beautiful girl and in all this he has his mission to educate his Iraqi people as education is the only thing that will bring democracy in his country and will make realize people that they are so far behind in everything from the World due to the self motives of there Saddam Hussein

"Laws alone can not secure freedom of expression; in order that every man present his views without penalty there must be spirit of tolerance in the entire population." ~ Albert Einstein

The best is that in Iraq what we think it’s a Muslim country and all that but this country has people who are Kurds, Sunni Arabs, Shi’a Arabs and even Christians :D
A lot of mention about there culture and the sayings conveys many things about the community but they all have same thinking such as We!

“Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you'd have good people doing good things and evil people doing bad things, but for good people to do bad things, it takes religion.” ~ Steven Weinberg

Can you imagine, Ahmad’s kids were all educated and his daughters were not in scarf or burkha’s/Hijaab’s ! Ahmad, himself was a khurd didn’t believe in God until his old age and his wife Afrah who was an Arab and was very religious muslim but religion never came in between them neither in raising there kids ~ I think we all have such in the family where our one parent is religious and strict and principled and one parent is more practical and still nothing is imposed on us as what should we pick!

“Religion is to do right. It is to love, it is to serve, it is to think, it is to be humble.” ~ Ralph Waldo

I can write on and on about this book and Ahmad but if you read only then you will realize how Iraqi people have suffered and continue to endure!

"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." ~ Albert Einstein

This book also shows how the author and his hired translator (Ahmad) became such a close friends like one family, that he dedicated this book for Ahmad's Family

I guess by bringing this post I pay my tribute to Iraqi people for the sufferings and for people around the world who have been kept in dark!
Americans are understandably focused upon the loss of our own blood and treasure as the war in Iraq drags on. But this extraordinary work should remind us that it is the people of Iraq who suffered under Saddam and who continues to bear the brunt of the ongoing carnage

“The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.” ~ Bible

“I love a hand that meets my own with a grasp that causes some sensation.”

In a working environment, as much as comfort, tools and other amenities are required for one to do his/her job, so is something called ‘respect’

“He who wants a rose must respect the thorn.” ~ Persian Proverb

I believe if a person who has some element of self-respect will definitely won’t do a charity also without any respect for him/her

“Never take a person's dignity: it is worth everything to them, and nothing to you.” ~ Frank Barron

A person whether he/she is eligible for a certain kind of work or is over qualified for the job both have the right to deserve the respect, as without respect I think no saint will try to remain as saint unless it is our MK Gandhi :D

“You should respect each other and refrain from disputes; you should not, like water and oil, repel each other, but should, like milk and water, mingle together.” ~ Buddha
A incidence took place today and for which I felt that the person who is well educated and over qualified for the kind of job he/she is doing; tries to bring in some ideas and suggestions as what can improve the quality of work and service and his supposedly boss with a kind of ignorance (that’s what I felt) shouts at him saying what he needs to do to improve his task! At that I felt that person is a fool even to give any ideas to such people who don’t respect others and there ideas/suggestions!
The boss is not worth of any role I felt – neither manage his people nor his department

“In the end we are all separate: our stories, no matter how similar, come to a fork and diverge. We are drawn to each other because of our similarities, but it is our differences we must learn to respect.”

If it was me I would never work for such people who don’t respect there team members
At least I am proud of my self-respect, education and valuable experience

“I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.” ~ Jackie Robinson

I hate injustice happening to anyone and this is something I strongly oppose!
Friends speak up for your rights as its only you who can show them what you deserve!

“Don't rely on someone else for your happiness and self worth. Only you can be responsible for that. If you can't love and respect yourself - no one else will be able to make that happen. Accept who you are - completely; the good and the bad - and make changes as YOU see fit - not because you think someone else wants you to be different.” ~ Stacey Charter

“Joy in looking and comprehending is nature's most beautiful gift.”

Its been a long weekend due to Thanks Giving in US. I had an opportunity to be with some friends and at the same be host for some of my friends!

“A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.”

Mean while I had a chance to visit Half Moon Bay which comes on the way to Santa Cruz and the pictures will speak more on the nature’s painting!

“In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they're still beautiful.” ~ Alice Walker
“If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you can bet the water bill is higher” ;)
“Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books, for they speak with the voice of God.” ~ George Washington Carver



I loved the sunset very much along with the greenery, waves on the shores and the slight reddish sky with tinch of orange and blue!

“I've noticed that being with you, I smile more often, I anger a little less quickly, the sun shines a little brighter, and life is so much sweeter. For being with you takes me to a different place: a place called love.”

“If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand.”

Yesterday was a usual day…I knew I am going to attend the program ‘Kaifi Aur Main’ ~ a program/drama on poetries written by Kaifi Azmi (A great poet and a true country man) delivery through Kaifi Azmi’s wife Shaukat Azmi (actress and a true party woman). The diary written by Shaukat Azmi was read by her daughter Shabana Azmi and the poetry was recited by, well known poet and one of my favorite Javed Akhtar Sahab (Shabana Azmi’s husband)

“Sweet the coming on / Of grateful evening mild; then silent night / With this her solemn bird and this fair moon, / And these the gems of heaven, her starry train.”

The presentation was awesome as Shabana reading her mom’s diary with the expression the mother wrote how she fall in love with Kaifi Azmi and the momentary poems that were written by Kaifi Azmi for his beloved Shaukat Azmi was read by Javed Akhtar and to add the cherry on the cream – Jaswinder Singh ~ yes the same friend of mine about whom I had mentioned in my blog ~ he sang some beautiful nazms (poetry) written by Kaifi Azmi himself and believe me I could never find him so good if I wouldn’t have attended this program!
What we hear him on my radio blog, I felt the initial him and now his voice has grown more powerful with the feel of pain as he sings those songs ~ it was terrific! At time when Shabana recited her mom’s feelings and when Javed Akhtar read his verse on Kaifi Azmi as ‘Aisa ek aadmi hua karta tha , kaisa hua karta tha wohh aadmi’ (There used to be a guy , and how this guy used to be) tears rolled out of my eyes and to add to it Jaswinder’s voice~ and that moment I felt how emotional one can get through words and prose and the recitation…but to feel that one has to feel the pain and I guess they all have gone through in there life to reach at this level of achievement

“Talents are best nurtured in solitude, but character is best formed in the stormy billows of the world”

As Javed Akhtar is my favorite, I bought one of his book ‘Quiver’ ~ it’s a book with his introduction and his poetry which is dedicated to his two kids – Zoya and Farhaan and guess what he wrote ~ and for (my name) :D with his autograph!
I had a chance to talk to him and I realized mostly he was signing everyone’s book but wasn’t really looking at there face…but I stopped him from doing that ;)
I introduced myself to him and said am a great fan of him and he straight looked into my eyes and gave that glimpse of smile…which I always loved it even when he received his awards :D! While he was signing I told him how crazy I am that I had come to meet him in Mumbai and he was not in town in fact he had gone to London and he said how long you have been here and then he said next time when you come do come and meet me :D
Boy! What else I want….he is such a talented guy…he asked my name again and again and said yes next time when you come we will meet :D

“Every human has four endowments- self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom... The power to choose, to respond, to change.”

I am so much hooked on to it that I am reading his book since I left the show :D
But this doesn’t ends here…I went to see my friend Jaswinder and guess what this was my first in person meeting with my net friend :D…memories are always good to cherish isn’t it?

“The best things in life come in threes, like friends, dreams, and memories.”
They are still in US performing in Phoenix, LA, Washington D.C. and New York, if you have an opportunity to attend and there is also a good cause behind attending this as they are supporting the charity organization in India. The schedules can be seen from link on the right hand side of my blog as a link.

“The life of a man consists not in seeing visions and in dreaming dreams, but in active charity and in willing service”

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”

As usual...since I heard of James Bond's movie and the related controversies for the new Blonde Bond..:) the tinch of anxiousness grew to watch this movie :D
So far...I have always seen Bond's movie on the day its released ....this time there were other things that kept me engaged but hey...its not too late...:D....Today I had a chance to watchi Bond ...that too the Blonde Bond :D!
I had seen Daniel Craig's (Blonde Bond) interview on NBC, and I kind a liked him but I was more curious to see him in and as James Bond :D...and friends...let me tell you - He is HOT ;)

There are many new things about this Bond and good things ! He is like a sprinster and yes he is very active, robust and fast!

But one thing in the beginning of this movie there is a terrific chase of a Uganda guy (I found him super hero ;) and yes that's how the Blonde Bond gets the intro..)
This makes me believe there will be one day when the Bond will be someone from South Africa too...boy they have the terrific nack of it ;)

If you love action movies ...you must see this movie its not bad...but yes I missed Q as he used to be one of the most integral and important part in James Bond movies

“Aspire rather to be a hero than merely appear one.”

I like the Blonde Bond - James Bond ~ shaken but not stirred ;)

Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That's why it's a comfort to go hand in hand.

Today am going to talk about relationship and the fast paced life!
It seems like today I got an opportunity to relax back and give a glance to the past
And I was wondering how things were in our parents time…or even when we were kids

"Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save"
I remember how my Dad, used to take us to city for shopping, watching new movie in theater and then dinning out and always without forgetting my ice-cream :D…yes I always remember how my dad, used to whisper about my ice-cream order to the waiter with a wink to me so that mom doesn’t know whats going on :D…and by the time the waiter brings the order, my mom used to give a look…as if why special for her :D

“Love lasts when the relationship comes first.”
Yes, all this reminds me how family tie-ups were there and am sure some of the ladies such as my mom would agree that Dad used to spend time with family if not going any where but at least at home by watching movie or cooking something special…or even just by listening to music.

"The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time"

I have so many such sweet memories and I wonder now days what happened to those tie-ups? Today people don’t have time to spend with the loved ones…forget about going to places!
No wonder why so many misunderstandings take place in relations and distance is built among them!

"They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself"
Is it life has become so fast or is it the need of one’s has changed? I wonder and pity…
Because by the time they run after other things and turn back probably they might have gone far from there beloved ones and then crying or repenting doesn’t make any sense!

Come out of the circle of time
And into the circle of love.

I wonder and keep wondering…why cant those days be back…is it that difficult. When I ask some of them, they say life is fast and one has to catch up ….but catch up what???
I have read stories where soldiers used to be in the battle field for months and yet there mind were with there family, just coz there werent any means where they could be with the family…!
I guess sometimes it’s the value how much you care for your family and the loved ones..!

"Present your family and friends with their eulogies now - they won't be able to hear how much you love them and appreciate them from inside the coffin."

My message is... spend as much time with your loved ones and don’t wait for the next time…as it may not come ever!!!!

"Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey.
It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again.
What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived."

“For today and its blessings, I owe the world an attitude of gratitude.”

Friends...since my childhood, my birthday has always been a big celebration! I guess my parents did celebrated it in grand and the routine went on...years went by but my celebration I remember used to start a month before the actual date :) and I was surprised this year...I was reminded about my birthday (which is like a shock to me as my birthday comes as the falls end and winter begins so you can imagine ...lol)...when I received a friend sent me a gift and on the same day I got my birthday card from my parents....this year is a unique one I must say :D

“It is not more surprising to be born twice than once; everything in nature is resurrection”

And I owe a lot to all my near and dear ones....for wishing me best wishes it started more than a week ago and today it started early morning 6.15 a.m. :)
I find myself very lucky to have such loving people around me to love and bless me for all the good things in this world

I am happy and content!!! I love you all my dear ones ~ Thank you is so small try to get into the depth of it for my sake ;)

“The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.” ~ Eric Hoffer

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

“So, the world happens twice
--once what we see it as;
second it legends itself
deep, the way it is.” ~ William Stafford

Yes the duo are coming together once again after there 1999 Album: Marasim yet another one they released 'Koi Baat Chale'
I am eager to listen to the ghazals as there are 8 ghazals all written by Gulzar and they are in Jagjit Singh's voice

“There was never a century nor a country that was short of experts who knew the Deity's mind and were willing to reveal it.” ~ Mark Twain

“Tolerance and celebration of individual differences is the fire that fuels lasting love.”

My best wishes to all my friends across the globe on this auspicious day of Diwali and the much awaited Eid... May these festival brings out all the indifferences and make everyone to celebrate the love and happiness
“Fly free and happy beyond birthdays and across forever, and we'll meet now and then when we wish, in the midst of the one celebration that never can end.”

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born

Today am going to discuss about my latest net friend :D…yes its not that I don’t have any other net friends or so…I do have and many many wonderful people they are!

The sharing of joy, whether physical, emotional, psychic, or intellectual, forms a bridge between the sharers which can be the basis for understanding much of what is not shared between them, and lessens the threat of their difference ~ Audre Lorde

But this friend of mine is a bit famous too ;) ….and hence I felt that I should share things with my other friends here who all should know about him as I didn’t know until he told me…:D

Depth of friendship does not depend on length of acquaintance ~ Rabindranath Tagore

One day I got this message where someone appreciated my poetry craze and they attached the brochure which is on the right side of this blog as a link ‘Kaifi aur Main’! I was quite happy and surprised to receive this as the guy – my net Punjabi Ghazal Nawaaz (poetry favored/patronage) Jaswinder Singh – I remember once he was felicitated as the best singer from the famous TV program ‘TVS Mega Sa Re Ga Ma’ , where all the new talented people come and compete in singing with other singers and believe me it’s a very tough one as everyone is learning music from a very young age and many times to the pro-singers and musician judges had tough time to select the best one!

A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
After that I never heard anything about him until when I received this brochure… :D! I was zapped and I thanked him for sending it and made sure that he is the same person who had won the best singer award.
Guys, since then we are very good friends and we make sure that we chat whenever we have that opportunity :D…! Songs sung by him are couple of them which I have uploaded on my radio blog and you can listen to it and witness as what I say…he has talent and the fire ….yes I always believed that everyone who gets success had and have the fire and that’s why where they are….

We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

This friend of mine has a show tomorrow in Mumbai-India and am sure its going to be a rocking one…as his down to earth nature, the softness and sweetness in his thought is what makes him a true artist!!!

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You, too? Thought I was the only one." ~ C.S. Lewis

His voice is versatile as you hear different ghazal you will find him different and I guess that’s what makes one to listen…that curiosity which keeps igniting one to listen the next and then next!

Remember, no man is a failure who has friends

He is going to come to US, UK and Canada and guys if you want to know what he will sound like then listen to his ghazals and then decide if you want to miss his concert :D!

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom ~ Marcel Proust

Our similar interest towards poetry has made us to know each other and when we had a chat, a lot many reasons poured in that made us good friends :D so that’s another feather in my hat guys…with you all :D

Perhaps the most delightful friendships are those in which there is much agreement, much disputation, and yet more personal liking ~ George Eliot

“Some times, another's ego can corrupt a true friendship.”

After such a nice topic on music tag-game, I feel sorry to start a topic on ‘Ego’!
Yes, this is such a small three letter word but could cause disaster in one’s life!

I personally, never met anyone who has an ego…and I never got caught with this disease…probably
Cause as a kid I heard my granny telling me that – ‘there is nothing bigger meditation than forgiving someone’

“Give up all bad qualities in you, banish the ego and develop the spirit of surrender. You will then experience Bliss.”

I always feel an ego is something which not only destroys a person’s image but his/her relationship with family, colleagues, friends and overall with every human existence …probably with animals too if you have pets …lol!

“One may understand the cosmos, but never the ego; the self is more distant than any star.”
I just felt someone I met who is so egoist that everything that person takes it personal and has no chance of taking it in a sportive way…!

“Let's face it; God has a big ego problem. Why do we always have to worship him?”

Don’t know friends what you have to say...? Have you met someone with ego (instead of metlife…lol for those who don’t know its an ad for Insurance and quite emotional and touchy ads they give with Indian culture and traditions ;)

Okay so question for you guys…have you ever met someone with ego? If yes, how do you handle with them?

I think a person with ego spreads lot of negativity!

“ Ego is the biggest enemy of humans. ” ~ Rig Veda

A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence

After yesterday’s long trip to Napa and back….I was kind a tired and was just going through Manish’s blog when I saw that I have been tagged :D…well its not so often that Manish involves himself in the tag-game so when he tagged me…I readily accepted and not only that but also the topic is Music :D…how can I be away from my soul – Music !!!!
Hence…it goes like this:

1. Your favourite lyricist and the lyrics you remember the most..
This is a very tough question specially when a person has more than one as favourite… :D…and I want to give credit to all my fav lyricsts…that’s just the way I am…want to give equal credits :D though it’s a tough job to select…as there are more than one of these each lyricts creations :D

Gulzar:

YEH KAISI CHAAP QADMOON KI SUNAYEE DE RAHI HAI
KOI AAYA HAI YA KOI UTAR K JA RAHA HAI
YEH MERI ZINDAGI...HAI
NA YEH DASTAK DE K KAHTI HAI
BINA SAAHIL K BAHTI HO
AKELE KAISAY RAHTI HO
WAHAM HAI JO KOI DILSE GUZAR K JA RAHA HAI
KOI AAYA HAI YA KOI UTAR K JA RAHA HAI

[For my friends who don’t understand Hindi - ;) poet says that his life always without a knock says- without any shore, you flow…how do u live such a lonely life…but then there is this imagination or conjecture who walks by my heart and it seems someone has come or someone just left by – around there]

Javed Akhtar:

mai.n ne dil se kahaa
ai diivaane bataa
jab se ko_ii milaa
tuu hai khoyaa huaa
ye kahaanii hai kyaa
hai ye kyaa silasilaa
ai diivaane bataa

[I asked my heart, hey madman tell me since you have met someone you are always lost, tell me what’s this story all about and what’s this sequence tell me madman]

Ahmed Faraz:
Khush huaa ai dil ke muhabbat to nibhaa dii tuune
log uja.D jaate hai.n anjaam se pahale pahale

[am happy for my heart at least it fulfilled the part of loving, as people waste there entire life before it gets to the end of it]

2. Your favourite song on friendship..
I don’t know but whenever I think or listen to this song from ‘Sholay-movie’ it makes me very emotional as it reminds me of my friends and the relation and the emotion that I share with them….

Ye dosti hum nahi todenge, todenge dam magar tera saath na chorenge :D

[This friendship of ours we will not break, life may break but will not break the companionship]

3. Which song are you humming today?

Phir gulaabon ka mausam khila hai
Phir koi yaad aane laga hai
Dur khulti hui khidkiyon mein
Koi angadaiyan le raha hai – sung by Jaswinder Singh and yeah not Jagu :D

[Its again the season of roses that’s blooming, and at such time it reminds me of someone, seems like far away through those opened windows, someone is taking out there tiredness…its more or less poetic word as for a women when she gets up in the morning from her sleep…]

4. One song which brings tears to your eyes

Tujh se naraaz nahi zindagii,hairan hoon mein,
Tere masoom sawalon se pareshaan hoon mein!

Jine ke liye socha hee nahi dard sambhalne honge
Muskurayein to muskurane ke karz ootarne honge
Muskuraon kabhi to lagta hai jaise honton pe karz rakha hai

[am not unhappy with you life, but am surprized. Coz of your innocent questions which makes me worried. As I never thought to live I have to preserve all my pains and to smile, I will have to repay the interest and hence when I smile also I feel as if some debt is kept on me]

This song specially when Anup Ghoshal sings it literally makes me feel the poet’s heart!!! No matter how much I have tried but this song always drags me to listen to the lyrics carefully and think deep into the meaning of it!!!! I love this song!!!!

Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness. ~Maya Angelou, Gather Together in My Name

5. A song which gives you hope,reason to try again and again,a reason to say that life is beautiful:)…
Someone related this song to my personality…until then I never heard this ghazal but when I did…I felt proud about the way person thinks about me and the way I reflect on my people’s mind :D…but then this one really makes me feel for three reasons…1. ofcourse that person related this to me and 2. the lyrics and 3. its sung by Jagu :D

Zindagi mein sada muskurate raho
Faasle kam karo dil milate raho

[In life always keep smiling, even though there is distance keep the heart united]

6.When you want to be with yourself,silent and content but with music,which song would that be?

This song always touches my inner chord and believe me the lyrics and the way Jagu has sung this…takes me far away from this world…one can listen to this on my radio blog

muu.Nh kii baate.n sune har ko_ii, dil kaa dard na jaane kaun aavaazo.n ke baazaaro.n me.n Khaamoshii pahachaane kaun

vo meraa aa_iinaa hai mai.n us kii parachhaa_ii huu.N mere hii ghar me.n rahataa hai, mujh jaisaa hii jaane kaun

[What we say from mouth everyone listens but no one listens the pains of the heart, in the midst of noisy market no one recognizes silence. That seems my mirror and am its shadow, in my house there lives someone who resembles like me but don’t know who?]

Without music life would be a mistake. ~Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

7.If you have to express your love for someone with a song which would that be?
It’s a very old song…ofcourse its near to my heart coz of Gulzar…and its sung by Late Hemant Kumar- I love his voice and the gesture with which his voice takes waves :D

tum pukaar lo, tumhaaraa intajaar hain khwaab chun rahee hain raat bekaraar hain honthh pe liye huye, dil kee baat hum jaagate rahenge aaur, kitanee raat hum muftasar see baat hai, tum se pyaar hain

dil bahal to jaayegaa, is khayaal se haal mil gayaa tumhaaraa, apane haal se raat ye karaar kee, bekaraar hain tumhaaraa intajaar hai.. pukar lo ..

[Call me as am waiting for you, night is restless as my dreams are picking up! Just one thing on my lips that’s from my heart, how many nights will I be awake like this – its just the simple and gratis matter that I love you! I can console my heart by knowing your situation in this restless night..its all that I am waiting for you so please call me… some where there ;)]

8. Five Songs which you listen to the most ?
This is something which I don’t think is easier for any music lover…coz one listens to there favs but also explores…more and more…of it! But since its only five …to be listed here am going as: since its about Hindi music, am not adding my English craze! :D

· Dil ko thaama oonka daman tham ke
· Paas rehata hai dur rehata hai
· Gulshan ki faqat phulon se nahi
· Ab to hai tum se har khushi apni
· Do deewane shehar mein

Music is vibration. So are human beings at their most basic level and so "Music Lover" is an expression of the sensual blending of two forms of the same thing intertwined in an expression of love.

Play the music, not the instrument. ~Author Unknown

“Be happy. It's one way of being wise.”

Quiz Score: 10 out of 12

Compared with others, you are quite a happy person. You seem to maintain a good balance between what you expect out of life and what you actually receive. High scorers like you are socially well-adjusted. You are attractive to others because of your live-and-let-live attitude.

Take this free PhD personality test by Clicking Here>> or going to www.chatterbean.com/ruhappy/

“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence” ~ Aristotle

“Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.”

This post of mine is something which I had thought of writing and then you know one of those days when you are not able to write due to your busy schedule or when you are sick …yup this was supposed to come before that confused state of mine post :D..!

“You can never correct your work well until you have forgotten it” ~ Voltaire

If you remember I had posted on paint ball game and the gun craze in USA, yes and as I look around myself I see these many and find that common people find it very difficult to raise there kids!

“Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up because they're looking for ideas” ~ Paula Poundstone

The other day I happened to be invited for a get-together where everyone gathered…people with there husbands and kids and everyone had a gala of time as for people like me :D….delicious food was prepared and for men who would like to drink had those arrangements too!
Kids were the most excited as they were able to meet there friends whom usually they don’t meet since they don’t go to the same school!

“The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things.”

I remember there were many boys and couple of gals among the kids…and one of this boy seemed to be very aggressive in whatever he does…he will jump and scream and the mother was getting very upset… as when she looks around other kids…they all seem to play and share things where as her son is always demanding and sometimes using words such as …”I will kill them all” ..or “I will shoot them” all these made the mother very emotional and I tried to console her saying boys are a bit aggressive than gals and so just chill out!

The boy got scolding from mother and he started crying…we felt bad for him since it’s always embarrassing even when we were kids and our parents scold us in front of other friends and family!

“Some are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same, and most mothers kiss and scold together.” ~ Pearl S. Buck

But the sooner the guy got pacified, he talks to another friend of his mom that “we should stuck that in there throat and should kill them” – I guess this was the last straw and the mother got very angry with tears in her eyes - She said I feel so bad when I get calls from his school saying your son is being very naughty!

“The joys of parents are secret, and so are their grief and fears: they cannot utter the one, nor will they utter the other” ~ Francis Bacon, Sr.

That day I kept on thinking about the mother…her worries and concerns for her only son…whom should we blame? The parents because they love him and want the best for him ….or the little boy… who has no clue at this age as what he is saying and what’s the literal meaning of it!!!!

“Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven.” ~ Henry Ward Beecher

And guess what, it’s the craze of guns in USA. I was wondering people talk all kinds of terrorism and the camps and the activity camps where they teach teenagers to use the guns etc but that is at least at that age but in USA what I see is …the cartoons and the movies all of those shows are about guns and killing the other person and being a hero!

“We call a child's mind "small" simply by habit; perhaps it is larger than ours is, for it can take in almost anything without effort” ~ Christopher Morley

Which is the schooling ground? And does this have any age???
Think about it and I wonder sometimes where we are heading with all these….!

“Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.”

“There are perhaps no days of our childhood we lived so fully as those we spent with a favorite book.”

Today I am going to write about my childhood memory which now a days keeps on coming into my mind…and sometimes I wonder is it trying to give me some kind of signal …!!??!!

“Good friends are like stars.... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there”

Well this is when I was 1st grade and I remember our school was a co-ed and hence the whole class was made to sit as one gal and one boy! You will never see any two gals sitting together or two boys sitting together.
I also had a bench partner – a Punjabi Jatt guy Harpal Singh, I often remember him..in fact even now I remember him in his maroon turban the one the kids have not the grown-ups. It was only on Wednesdays that he used to wear a white one since that was our PT day and everything has to be white. But I used to like him very much in the sense I always used to feel I have a special bench mate with the turban where as all other boys were without turban!
Harpal, though a true jatt in physical aspect because many times new teachers often used to ask him if he is in 5th grade and I remember I used to tease him a lot!!!!
Gosh, I always thought I was a sober, shy and reserved person but now I think I wasn’t: D
But Harpal’s behavior was more or less was like a child…a careless, carefree and selfless kind. We used to fight a lot because we had so many differences but somehow I always used to appreciate his innocence –yeah it was only in my mind. I never expressed it and probably that’s why am here today with my story :D

“There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.”

He had a craze about Trains…such a bad that I think probably he used to even dream during day time :D…! Any free period we used to get he used to ask me what am I going to do and I used to tell him ..am going to write and he as usual says – I am going to draw rails (yes these were his words) and he used to make the steam engine so black that am sure his grand-parents always had to store pencils for him :D!
This guy will either draw train or else he will make the noise of the train whistle with his hand and friends its not only that but the whistle no one was able to hear as all the saliva used to come and spread like a sprinkler on the desk. I used to get mad at this and I remember we often used to fight for this simple reason!

We used to become friends also very quickly and let me confess it was him who used to forgive everything and come to me to talk and he will also apologize and say that now on I will make sure I don’t do like that :D….now when I think …he was so innocent and loving guy!

I remember one day it was games period and the teacher was sick so we had another teacher who just made us to sit in the class and said do what ever you like but with limited noise.

“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.”

I remember I was drawing some mountains, sun and peacock where as this guy started his train and I said you always draw trains and nothing else..! He said ok today am not going to draw and make a mess of the desk so he packed his bag (since it was our last period and he always like to get ready and set out of the school as the first bell rings for us to go home) and started his brrrrr noise with his lips trying to drive the truck ………….GOSH! that was it as his saliva started falling on my drawing and I got so mad that I pulled out his turban and I remember it got loosened a bit and he started crying….:( I guess that’s when I was too harsh on him. I apologized immediately but I made him understand how he should behave and you know what he told me guys….I have no younger sister or brother …am the youngest and my elder sisters they all scold me or spoil me with pamper and my grand-parents they never scold me and always protect me from others scolding!

You are the one who always make me straight and when I go home and tell my Didi’s (elder sisters), they all make fun of me and probably that’s why I fight with you but now on I am not going to fight with you…we will be always good friends and we will show our class that we are the best buddies :D….!
It was sad that next year he never joined my class and when I enquired he had left the place as his grand parents and sisters they all were moving to Punjab!

“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart”

Harpal no matter where you are…whether you remember me or not…but I do remember you…the real friend with who I grew up and Trains always remind me of you.

This is a true remembrance from my side for my friend – Harpal Singh

“My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.”

“Sometimes I'm confused by what I think is really obvious. But what I think is really obvious obviously isn't obvious...”

Yes! its been a long break after the Onam feast...I guess that also gives a lesson as no matter how good and tasty the food is..one must think of his/her own capacity ;)

"I seldom think of my limitations, and they never make me sad. Perhaps there is just a touch of yearning at times; but it is vague, like a breeze among flowers"

Well...its not that I had nothing to blog but I guess more or less it was at a point where I had too many things to blog and you know what I was not being myself...coz otherwise I wont be thinking whether to blog or not! Hence what! I lost my topics and thoughts too :(

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”

But never mind...I have retained my spontanity where I will write whatever I think about ...whatever that prompts and provokes my thoughts :D

So for now....no more chillin ;)

“Who among us hasn't envied a cat's ability to ignore the cares of daily life and to relax completely?”

Feast, and your halls are crowded; Fast, and the world goes by

Onam the time when Mahabali visits the state Kerala where everyone want to show this king that his people are living in happy and lively :) ! This is expressed by having variety of food (believe me you will love them all - its pure vegitarian), though there were discussions on this that its not compulsory to have veg as after all its to express your joy and happiness and if someone is happy with non-veg then why not ..lol!
Well, I had the opportunity to meet at a friend's place where it was a pot-luck sadya (feast). There were lots and lots of delicious food items and four types of payasams (desert).

“I am not a glutton - I am an explorer of food”

To add the beauty and welcoming note there were flowers decorations as shown above to welcome Mahabali for this year Onam.
I had an awesome time, did you all Mallu's? Well let me take this opportunity to wish all the Keralites across the world a Very Happy and Joyful Onam. May Mahabali bring the good luck to you and your family.

“May good luck be your friend in whatever you do and may trouble be always a stranger to you.”

“Force and mind are opposites; morality ends where a gun begins.”

Thursday was a very normal day. There wasn’t much work on the project and we had a team event planned in the afternoon – Paintball Game :D

I didn’t bring the proper clothing for this game and hence was in two minds whether to join the crowd or not…but by the time it was 1:00 p.m. everyone started pushing me to go home and change as we have play against Development team ;) and guess what I took off for home and got changed and reached the venue of the game.

“You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.” ~ Albert Einstein

This game I have never played before but I have seen on TV which I could only figure-out when I was in the game! In Canada, at least in Toronto I have never heard of such a game and neither there have they allowed anything that has to do with a toy-gun!

“A Canadian is sort of like an American, but without the gun”

You have to wear multiple layers of clothing and you get the vests and masks and gun with the paint balls. These balls are hard coated from outside and inside you will see the liquid paint which when you get hit by the ball breaks and the paint splashes all over you. By the way did I tell you this paint is not washable: D! There are big bunkers created in different shapes where you have to hide yourself and tactically hit the opponent.

“The way a man plays a game shows some of his character. The way he loses shows all of it.”

Our first game was against Developers and believe me, no one was an expert and more over our team was a small one with only few members as compared to the development and guess what :D we won …we shot them all and conquered there space!

The rule of the game is if you get hit by the ball you must voluntarily come out of it, and the thing is you cant lie as the paint is splashed all over you and so you have no escape ..;)

“Life, like all other games, becomes fun when one realizes that it's just a game” ~ Nerijus Stasiulis

Any way, I must say I enjoyed the game as many people left and still we were some crazy people out there who were still playing and over all we played more than 5 games.
I got hit on my right wrist – which I could only realize when I reached home. The second on the shoulder and the third on the back….boy, I never thought any one would shoot be from behind …well it’s a good fast paced and strategy planned game but somehow it left me with the thought that…the motive is to shoot the opponent and in US everywhere I hear about gun show, shooting games and all these makes me remember the incident which took place in Texas school where one kid brought a gun in the school and shot couple of his classmates.

“Life is the only game in which the object of the game is to learn the rules” ~ Ashleigh Brilliant

I remember these things were banned in Toronto schools as such things give ideas to small kids and hence the results that we used to hear in US schools.
Anyway, I was damn tired of this game and hence came home, had a shower and got down to watch a movie ‘Inside Man’ to my amazing when the star casts are shown the music in the background was ‘Chal chaiya chaiya ‘from Indian movie “Dil Se” haha boy I totally got zapped and started wondering if I picked up the wrong video but to my surprise in this movie where ever they needed a background music this song was played…:D! Good for AR Rehman!
Movie is awesome; if you get a chance and haven’t seen, please do so! A lot credit goes to the script writer I would say – of course Denzel Washington adds his glory along with Clive Owen and the rest.
I have some bruises but I was happy to be in the team event ;) we were the winner :D

“Individuals play the game, but teams win championships.”