-: Hats Off To Spirit Of Mumbai :- (Story of My 26/7)

Hi Friends,

Found this article in my very old mails... thought would post the story of my 26/7 -

When Sir Amiya Tripathi came and announced the
dismissal of lectures, it seemed a great relief from
the unstoppable, "nothing great", exhaustive DSP
lecture. It was however unknown what would soon
follow.

Bridges were washed away, rail tracks submerged,
telephone lines hit and large areas suffered power
cuts. Among the worst affected areas were Bandra,
Mahim, Matunga, Dadar, Santacruz, Byculla, Kurla,
Ghatkopar, Mulund, Thane and Badlapur. The city's
lifeline, the train services, were paralysed due to
waterlogged tracks and thousands of people camped in
the stations where food stalls were kept open through
the night.

We (Myself, Akshay, PD) started our journey through
rains viewing it as an adventurous, thrilling
experience filled with excitement. However, later when
we found BEST BUS then half dipped in water with lots
of DBITians inside, a wise thought stuck us to return
to college premises; which we did but not all DBITians
turned up to our proposal. So the fellowship(Myself,
Akshay, PD) again made the move to the BEST BUS.
However, we could not make it due to impactful nature
of rains.

Returning to college was like taking a shade under
our own house. Well, we had a great fun filled
experience; who wouldn't have when there are ppl like
Adhwait, Neto, Ravi around!

Strange incidents were all around.
Myself and Akshay went in heavy rains to bring
something to eat for all. We went through the canteen
wala back gate and to our shock, when we turned back
with vada-pavs we found it locked! Then Anna's
Dal-Rice were overheard being appreciated. Atleast
Anna has something in the good books!

Astonishing statements were made by all the profs
around:

"Anyone found on 2nd floor during night would be
directly rusticated."

"Don't even turn your head while you r on the second
floor"

"(At 9'o' clock) Did u guys had your lunch already?"
Still curious to know what was on the second floor!


We played all the games possible out there. Then came
the time to sleep! We struggled here n there on the
chairs to sleep, but in vain. Thanks to Akshay, he
came up with an excellent idea to remove the curtains
and sleep on it. So when our bed was ready, everyone
jumped onto it to grab a place! Sorry Adhwait, as we
could give you just 6cm of the place.

Morning due to cold , we found our throat chocked up,
may be due to cold, laughter, screaming. Even Adhwait
could not sing his Morning Raga. "I can sing only
BASE of the songs properly" in his own words. Anna's
FREE Black tea would have done the trick for our
singer. We were all reloaded then to spend one more
day(may be even night) in college.


It was indeed not a good time for Hygenious (hopefully
correct spelling) Neto around. Neto came on bike the
same day. Neto undefeatedly, patiently trying to call
to his house right from 3 'o' clock made a striking
statement: "Mere ghar ka cell no. yaad nahi re barabar
se." Anish offered a great help by himself trying to
call from his cell atleast 100 times. Neto ended the
first, and started the other day by the same statement
:- "Ae Anish, phone try kar na re!"


Where were the others?

Melvin, Alfrey: Made it to homes on the same day
(Bravo!)
Austin : came to college next day (Spent night in a
gymnasium)
PD: came to college, went to hotel (for food) n never
returned
Rohit J : Spend whole night in Train (Andheri)

I had a good experience at hand and heartously SALUTE
the SPIRIT of Mumbai inspite of being SIX FEET UNDER,
still keeps on going. Mumbai never stops, Mumbai never
sleeps! It has to go on. That's AAMCHI MUMBAI.

Yeh Hain Mumbai Meri Jaan!

My desk





Adam's law of Compensation Equilibrium

Working more hours than ever? Thinking that you are unpaid for such hard work? Thinking that the work load on you is increasing?
Not True.

I read an article about this, and came across a term called "Virtual Hourly Compensation". It is the total amount of compensation you receive per hour including -

• Salary
• Bonuses
• Stolen office supplies
• Free photocopies, printouts
• Internet surfing
• Preparing your resume for another venture
• Training for your next job
  

Now Adam's law of Compensation Equilibrium states that an employee's Virtual Hourly Compensation stays constant overtime.

Nature finds a way out to balance your workload with your productive work hours to create equilibrium.

So, true.. isn't it???

Work and its Definition

work /wɜrk/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[wurk] Work is defined as anything that you 'd rather not be doing!!!

So, don't think that you are working productively only 8 of the 9 hours expected. It is only for the better. The stock prices of my firm are rising after I joined, I do not want them to go down, by doing something stupid like 'working' !!!

National Theaters - Book of Secrets

“Manav……Ajay’s Phone… ” yelled my mother and banged the phone on my ear. The clock ticked 9.40am on that Saturday morning, and I was on my bed, sleeping. “Chal.. Movie chalte hai… ” was our way of action. Yes, that’s how we always plan, never plan one! Just get up one fine morning, call the other guy, curse him for sleeping, call him a “Kumbhakaran”, open the newspaper (the other opens famecinemas.com), hunt for one, and bang!!! Run!!! We meet in exactly 15min.

This time, however we decided to go for the movie the good old way. No multiplexes for us! What surprises us is NOT “Om Shanti Om” tickets being sold out at 320 bucks, but it is the people, who buy those!!! So, we decided to go to a local theater. Yeah, it was really local. We chose, Moviegem, Dahisar.

Let me tell you, this theater is hidden. You need to have a TREASURE HUNT map to locate it. Even the people around the theater building have NOT heard the word “THEATER” in years. The small tiny building that appears on the road, transforms into a gigantic theater area, in its backyard. Tickets prices were surprising too – Rs. 30/- for STALL and Rs. 50/- for BALCONY. It was so soothing to hear these two words, which we had long forgotten about, all that we remember now is GOLD/SILVER/PREMIERE seats. Still trying to figure out why they are called GOLD, SILVER seats. But STALL and BALCONY… so much clear and appealing. And we chose, yeah right STALL!

Tickets were not computer generated. They are so boring. But we had this person, who has 3 stamps, who applies them one by one just like a machine; ZAP ZAP ZAP, and done. You have it in your hand, even before you choose seats on the computer in a multiplex. The theater had everything. A guard, who checks your tickets and lets you in. He’ll even help you get in, even if you don’t have one. You are so very happy to see the man with the torch light, who guides you to the correct seat. People who know me well, will surely know what would I really do with a STALL ticket, yes try to sneak into, try a hand at getting BALCONY seats. And am happy to say that, it worked too! So, it was Nicolas Cage starrer “National Treasure – Book of Secrets”. In the interval, to complete the movie experience, we even enjoyed some POPCORN.

Ten on Ten to the movie experience! It is so much very important to preserve old theaters, it’s a national treasure! A boon to countless college people, who have to manage their and theirs’ tickets from their pocket money. Well, where else you will see Tickets been sold in BLACK. When would you be able to say – “Black mein tickets kharid ke dekhi”.

gO gOA!!!

Caution:

This blog is highly detailed. It may provoke a quick urge to plan a trip to gOA right away!!!

After a wait of 3 longest months, came the day when we would enjoy our project event to gOA! Still remember the time when we were leaving for gOA from our office. Me, all dressed up gOAn style (shorts, cap, etc.), looking perfectly like a cArToOn, with all dear friends, got into cab which would take us to Panvel.

<< In the Cab >>

Well, people who were in our cab (5 of us) had a cOOL time. Well, why not?

-All soft drinks, snacks lay with us.

-We had the privilege of two loud sony ericsson phones to play our kinda music.

-We did not have GL (to boss around, though he usually doesn’t)

-Everyone, excited to pull each other's legs

Piyush just loved the song played by Vyas. He heard it there for the first time, and would surely hear it for life. ;) After a pit stop with Nitin's (mr. GL) crew, and after pulling his leg about his proclaimed Just Married title, came Panvel Station.

<< Pit Stop at Panvel >>

After, a grand dinner at The Kolkers', oh.. arrived the tomato soup, which Piyush had ordered as the starters! After Piyush ordered the starter-cum-desert, we were off to the railway stn which would take us all the way to gOA!

Memories of the railway cricket that we played on the railway station, is very fresh in my mind. Considering, the Station Master's wall, a stump, cricket brought us all together. Every one was just warming up to enjoy the trip!

Ravi, with an inverted cap on his head, a camera pouch around his neck with his handbag, looked perfectly like a typical marriage photographer! Even the station master suspected him, and called him and bashed him up for us playing cricket, and his clicking pics of the railways.

So, what we do? Just switch the platform, and continue with cricket, what else!

<< Inside the Train >>

Inside the train, after we settled, Shalini served us freshly cut apples. Krunal, still believes, eating apples can ward off the sleep. So, if you feeling sleepy while reading the blog, man, have an apple right away!

<< Thivim Effect!!! >>

After getting up, next morning in the train, all sat and we started with what we always do... sInGiNg!!! We have all kind of professionals available -

-Very old songs (Shalini)

-Sad song singers (Ravi, Akshay)

-Happy songs (Krunal)

-Very different love songs, which you wouldnt have heard (Akshay again)

-Pathetic Singer (mAnIaC)

Well, getting off the train wasn’t a normal routine for us, where you get ready an hour before the train reaches the station. While we were still singing, with station to arrive at 10.30am (it was still 9.45am), Krunal just popped his head out of the window, only to realise that Manmad stn had already arrived.

What was next, we did what all Mumbaitees always do.. RUN for LIFE!!! RUN for gOA!!! Trying to pick up all our stuff, we dint find one of our luggage!!!! Naah!!! Aint, a bag, Vyas was missing!!! Of course, he was in some toilet, but which ones??? We banged all the toilets in reach and yelled "Vyas, Vyas!!!" only to find different people coming out of the doors, we banged!!!

Fortunately, he came out of some door, and got down from the train! Phew!!! That was close.

<< First few Steps on gOAn Land >>

Well, you surely would have heard that gOA is a place of beautiful people. Well, we just experienced it! You know, we were not the only one to step on the platform. There was a full bunch of beautiful people (you-know-who) getting down too. Well, it made all the boys' heads turn... and we realised that we just reached gOA!!!

<< Hotel Green Park Cricket Tournament >>

Lunch was pretty good after we reached the hotel and freshened up. With our car, still to arrive, we decided to play cricket on the hotel lawn.

First ball - From Nitin to Manav. Nitin delivered the ball, and guess what!!! It went feets above Manav's head, and landed in the swimming pOOL!!! Easy, Nitin, Easy!!!!! Every ball, after that of Nitin's, everyone was suspicious about him injuring us!!!

Apart from the fact that Nitin's team suffered a loss (4-1), we had just discovered two players -

-Sharanya

-Shalini

Yes!!! These girls were amazing at their debut match!!! Shalini's ball reached the batsman/batswomen in 2 bounces sometimes, but Sharanya, indeed was a great hitter.

Oh.. before i forget to mention. Ravi, was on field, after applying his SPF (Sun Protection Formula) cream on his already dark skin, to prevent any further skin color loss!!!

<< Miramar beach and the Race Winners >>

We were off to the place, where you ought to be, in gOA.. beaches! We identified a checkpoint, and decided to race!!!! Many of us took part in it..

There were some exceptions of course... Ravi gave up racing before he even started; Vyas was confused so as to whether he should run or not.. he use to take brks in between the race :P. Well, guess who was the winner??? Unbelievable, but true!!!! It was me, mAnIaC!!!! Yup!!! I can run fast...

After taking a stroll in the water, it was time for another race... this time with mr. GL. Well, after he lost the matches (cricket), to cheer him up, I came second deliberately. (Naah!!! Nitin's a great runner!)

<< The Cruise >>

We then, went on this cruise, where they had put up some cultural event (dance, songs, etc.). It was the worst thing on the whole trip; well, you cannot get down, coz you are right in the middle of the sea. Though, some people like Krunal enjoyed it.

<< Calangute >>

No one eager to have dinner (in goa, you never are hungry - goan air is enuf), we all sat on the Calangute sand. No one knew, what was gonna come up.

Krunal, initiated this whole Marriage can change your life thing. What better person to ask doubts, then the man, who just got married. This talk was a headache for some people like me, Ravi and for the girls, from whom Krunal drew out answers. While all the serious-talk going on (which went way above my head), I just realised that someone had buried me in the sand!!!!!!! But I felt great! Like having, a sand massage.

<< Anand Restaurant >>

After rising from my burial, when all the stupid talks ended, we could not find a place to have dinner. Only some "Anand Restaurant" was open. This was a unique experience. Look, what we discovered on the menu -

DAL FRY

DAL MAKHANI = DAL FRY (in butter)

Seeing such inventions, i knew what was gonna come next. Roti, was like spiral coming off the plate. We don’t know what we found out amusing.. but our table of four.. Ravi, mAnIaC, Sharanya, Shalini.. there was something wrong with us.. we started laughing for some stupid reasons.. actually.. for no reasons at all..

It was at this time that I realised -

"In Goa, You Do Not Need To Drink, To Get Drunk - Its All In Its Air!!!"

<< The Napolean >>

After returning to the hotel, we played a game of cards - a new game that I had never played - The Napolean. Its a mind game, so.. you can always guess the winner.. me.. who else? After a great game, was the time to take a quick nap, after which we would enjoy even more - this time with Water Sports.

<< The one with Water Sports and Nitin's bargain - Sinquerim >>

This is part of a 30 km stretch of beach coastline along the west coast of Goa by the arabian sea that begins at Fort Aguada continues as Sinquerim beach.

Water sports was what everyone was waiting for... Water rides' cost were sky high.. so this had to be done fully gOAn style.. by bargaining for the water rides.

Starting with bargaining for Banana Ride, which was projected for Rs. 200, Nitin tried it to bargain for Rs. 180, and he thought he did a good job! (when the cost of the ride was not more than 100bucks) Krunal, was the perfect person to handle the bargaining. We enjoyed most of the water sports -

-Banana Ride

-Bumpy Ride

-Motor Ride

-Parasailing

Banana was the mooooooost enjoyable ride ever. While the ride throws us in the waters, Akshaya was all over Krunal, poor fellow.. he cudnt come up.

Also, Vyas was thrown off the Bumpy Ride and the rider was searching him in waters for a while.

Sharanya and Shalini too, enjoyed the most of it.(You need to see their pics!!!)

Ritesh, trying his best to return from the ride, ended up floating with the waves.. he was trying to swim even after he reached the shore.. and could not get up. Me, Ravi had to pull him over.

The best part of this was that... everyone.. i mean everyone.. enjoyed the water sports.. no one could deny.

<< Girls and Pearls >>

This section is dedicated to the girls who helped me pick up some jewellery for my sisters. Well, I couldnt have figured out myself. Its very difficult, you know. ThankYou Sharanya, Shalini for helping me pick up the shells for me off the beach. They lie @ my home in a bowl!!!

<< Vagator >>

After water sports and after lunch, we reached Vagator. Its a very clean beach, with clean water, shacks and foreigners under the same sun. Everyone just jumped into the waters. We were there for about 4-5hours.. and enjoyed a lot. We learned how we should stand against the waves. It was real fun.

<< Ritesh and his denial >>

Ritesh, when asked to join us in the waters, denied!!! Now, can you believe that? A 20kg man, who flies away with wind, floats away with water is denying??? He said 'NO'???? What was next, mAnIaC just picked him up (see pics) and dropped him into the sea.

Thereafter , whenever Ritesh said 'NO' in the trip, someone or the other picked him up. mAnIaC, Krunal, Akshay everyone picked him up. Ravi, your chance will come too, just look out when does he deny next!!!!

<< Ravi, the catching sensation! >>

On Vagator beach, when everyone was playing catch-the-ball contest, Ravi bagged the title. Naah!!! He dint pick-up max catches or something, but went for max no. of catches like a chicken runs and even dropped most of it.

<< The Round table, after midnight >>

After returning from the beach, we had a splendid dinner in the hotel, such that no waiters were available at the end. After enjoying the deserts (vanilla ice-cream, matka kulfi - new to some people), we sat in the lawn of the hotel. This is how the Round Table Conf began.. it was a good game wherein you have to say something good AND bad about each one of us. We came to know about most of our deficiencies and about our strong points, which people believed about us.

We were here discussing till 3.30am nxt morning, Vyas was asleep by the time his chance came (This is soO NOT very surprising!!!). This is what i just LOVE about an outstation trip. There were many people (Shalini, Sharanya) who wanted to go to bed immediately, but you cannot.. coz.. everyone's participation is a must. They can’t give excuses like they have any work or something.

P.S: We even danced on the song '01-SajanjiVaariVaari.mp3' . Akshay was teaching us the dance.

<< St Francis Church >>

What was next, the day when we had to return had come. We visitied St. Francis Church and off to the Railways again.

<< The one with 'Khatiya' >>

Well, Vyas was given some song to enact (Dumb-charades!!!) and he's hearing the word - 'Khatiya' for his first time in his life. Well, he tried to enact marvellously, but we still can't figure out what was he doing!!!!

<< The one where we were in Karnataka >>

While people were playing different games all over, in the train, i had a short nap and had come back on the seats when i asked - "Where are we?". To which, Piyush replied -
"I think... we are in Karnataka!!!". Not knowing about much of the rail-routes, we started laughing and laughing.. and laughing.. but yeah!! the gOA effect was goin off.. we would have to work again.. same old WORK!!!! WORK!!! WORK!!!!!

Pune came.. and The End. But still, when I look back, I will surely cherish it as one of my best memories ever. And besides me lies the cOKe bottle, that was remaining from the trip.. and I am having the last sip NOW... wish me luck.. coz.. the bottle has come from gOA!!!

59 Koregaon Park

As usual, got up early at 7am in the morning on a holiday! (Never before 8.15am on a normal day!)

After brushing twice, had a shower (first with shampoo with hot water, then with soap, then with water ofcourse!)

Phew!!! Only 7.30am. Here, you have to kill time.

Saw THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, read a few pages of the book, had a few nuts, but the clock still showing 10.30am

To top it all, current goes in my bldg.. What to do now? Again had a bath… and just left the house.. dint know where to go…

What better place than to go other than the MALLS…. Well, there are no other places around! Bought everything from soaps to socks to vicks to hair oil to deo to… black t-shirt!

A whooping 1700bucks. But it dint cost me this. He swiped it twice (yup!! 3400bucks!)

Everything bad enough till now.. but dint knew the time was gonna change.. change for better…

Hopped from one MALL to another ( Big Bazaar, Nucleus, Pune Central, etc. )

Coffee in CCDAY [at] Nucleus was fun, accompanied by POGO and CARTOON N/W. My day had just begun…

just begun to become better.. and better.. and better…

Enjoyed the fresh smell of the soil in the first rain. With bag on my back, as always, was walking down the street with a smile on my face, enjoying the very first rain. Can still feel the aroma coming from the soil. What better way to spend a few hrs by dropping into your pal’s house in the rain… Yup.. that is what I did.. dropped here at my friends place..

**g*a*a and mA*D**s house!

After ringing the wrong bell, finally reached the correct destination to realize they were asleep. It’s a mixed feeling… you don’t want to disturb their sleep.. but surely wake them up.. When I entered the balcony, I just realized that cricket was being played in their own lawn. Couldn’t help whistling to the guys playing downstairs, and sought their permission if I could join ‘em. Just, the other moment, I remember I put my shoes, threw my cell, wallet and ran downstairs.. just like a kid who has just finished his summer exams…

Cricket was cOOL. Though my arm still pains, there’s no beating the fun that I had. My Park ride was cOOL too.. dint like the PARK as much as I liked the bungalows on the way… ya.. the title of the blog is the name of a bungalow on my way!!!

Guess, what next? CCDAY!!!! What a hangout place. Had my favorite food over here, beans! Coffee beans!!! Though, choco-almond-walnut thing was fairly good too. You see many kind of people over here. From red haired Tom Cruise to dark girls with blue nail-polish! Sabhi namune hote hai yahaan…

After having such a good time, quite shamelessly, I yet again invited myself to dinner at their place.

And ya.. I did gave my yogdaan by cutting lowki.. don’t remember the dinner though. It was pretty good, but Seinfeld was great. And they know it really well.

After such a great time…. Will keep waitin… and waitin.. for such times to come and come and come…