The Delhi Diary - Part III

Contents:

Part I -

1.  Dream to visit
2.  Let's give it a try
3.  Yes! I got a call letter
4.  Pre-departure Drama
      4.1. The domestic tussle
      4.2. The collegiate contention

Part II -

5.  The Travel Tale
6.  Hustle for address
7.  At the MP's residence house
8.  Search for shelter

9.  The Fighting Father

10. Inside NITI

     10.1. Work

     10.2. Life with colleagues

Part III-

11. Bruhan Maharashtra Bhawan
      11.1. Life at BMB
      11.2. New Friends
12. Exploring Delhi
      12.1. "New" Delhi
      12.2. The other side of Delhi
13. Time to Leave
14. Life after Internship

PART III

Hi folks,

I hope you're here after reading the first two blogs of the series.

If NO, please click on the below links to visit those blogs -

The Delhi Diary - PART I

The Delhi Diary - PART II

11. Bruhan Maharashtra Bhawan

      11.1. Life at BMB

    

      As I mentioned earlier that I was residing at Bruhan Maharashtra Bhawan (BMB) in Paharganj area, which was actually for someone who visits Delhi for short duration, but we need to stay for a whole one and a half months.

my bed @ BMB

It was not a big task for us to convince them, as there were already few people living at the same place for over 11 years.

Yes, even I was shocked!

We used to get morning breakfast with tea and dinner.

Breakfast has only two dishes included, which were given every alternate days. One day Poha & the other day Upma.

Let me be a cheap food blogger here by describing the poha & upma in detail😅
The upma was something which we prefer to drink, than to eat. It was thin textured and ofcourse tasteless.

And the Poha, well enriched with oil. 

I think the amount of oil they would've used in Poha was probably double the quantity with which they used to make curry.

I usually never woke up early when there was upma in breakfast. Also, I never had Chai, as I'm coffee person.

The meal was relatively good, as much as the people there.

some blurred views from terrace of BMB,
which I used to look for hours

I used to sit on terrace watching the traffic jam at Paharganj square, with a pen and paper in my hand or sometimes headphones on.

     11.2. New Friends

     I used to sleep on floor with 25-30 people in a big giant hall. My bed was beside Pathak Ji, the person who was there for 11 years, who was working in Press Trust of India (PTI). 

The other one was working as a Journalist from Bhopal. 

One more from Yavatmal, was there for studying Share Market, while the other was a Kendriya Vidyalaya teacher who was fighting his case in court.

There was a person from Sangli, named Mohd. Riyaj who was there to present his research paper in IIT Delhi.

I also met a person from Nashik, who was an entrepreneur. His company was creating different types of sensors, and was ofcourse the most sensible person I met there.

We used to roam around BMB after dinner. Somedays we used to sit on chairs talking about life & each other's experiences. I was not qualified for such talks but I did so.

12. Exploring Delhi

      12.1. "New" Delhi

      New Delhi was actually something to feel awe about. The administrative buildings and most of the major organization's headquarters were there in New Delhi. 

It was clean, planned and sophisticated. The people there were all professionals.

Jama Masjid, Delhi

Red fort, New Delhi

More than half of my day was spent in New Delhi, where I explored the Lotus Temple, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Vigyaan Bhawan, Red fort, Akshardhaam Temple. I also observed Namaz at one of the biggest Mosque of India, the Jama Masjid, that too on Eid (Eid-ul-fitr). 

Illusion at Vigyaan Bhawan, New Delhi

Each of these places can have a seperate blog of my experience during the visit. Let's keep it all for some other day. 😉

     12.2. The other side of Delhi

      The other side of Delhi is not only the old Delhi (Puraani Dilli) but the other side of the same city which I experienced.

I used to commute from Paharganj to Sansad Marg in bus. You just have to assume that in the bus full of passengers, there are definitely 5-6 pocket pickers in the same bus.

I have seen incidents happening in front of me, but no one gives a damn, coz they need to travel everyday, the same route.

One day while roaming around BMB, a person was all surrounded by 3 thieves and the one who was with me said that, keep an eye on him, something is going to happen, and he was right. That person was robbed.

The other day a lady lost her handbag to thief & no one was there to be the hero or to help her. They were all used to such happenings and they didn't even bothered to give it a look. 

One day on Saturday, me and Gaurav bhaiya went on a walk and had ice-cream. Two boys came and snatched the icecream and insisted us to come and take it back. Then Gaurav bhaiya left it and we went back to BMB & he said, या लोकांशी वाद नाही घालायचा, हा त्यांचा इलाका आहे (never mess with these people, it's their territory)

I again explored Cannaught Place and almost all the chor bazars including Sadar Bazar, Chandani Chauk, Palika Bazaar, Sarojini Market and Karol Bagh.

Again the experience there is a different one, altogether. (Puri kaahani hai boss)

Oh, this was everything outside BMB, but I lost my Comb, Mobile charger and even my Baniyaan in BMB. 😅

13. Time to Leave

I was sad when my dad left Delhi just after 3-4 days of stay, but this time I was even more sad, coz it was my time to say goodbye to this city.

We interns offered a small gift to our domain head & he said, "Hamare 4 saal bache hai retirement ke liye, tb tak Delhi me kbhi bhi kuch bhi kaam ho toh yaad krna" (I have 4 years before retirement, till then whenever you've any work in Delhi, feel free to reach out to me).

We felt good with those words, I collected my Internship certificate & left the office.

On the other side, I had friends at BMB of varying age. They were used to such scenarios of saying goodbyes. I feel happy to share that I'm still in touch with few of them.

The last night at BMB was the toughest for me, I haven't slept for more than an hour that night. 

I was just staring at the street light outside the window, which was hitting straight in my eyes, and I was awake till the sunlight hit me from the same window.

FROM night  ------ TILL morning

With double the weight of shopping for my family members & me being alone, I dragged it all to New Delhi railways station.

The bags were heavy, but my heart was even heavier.

It was all mixed feelings, which can't be expressed in words.

14. Life after Internship

After Internship, my parents were proud & they used to tell every relatives about my internship & I was like, no papa, please!

My teachers were happy & proud. They flagged my name on Notice board with a Congratulations message.

I saw a change in me & a change in others around me as well.

This internship helped me crack many interviews thereafter.

I wish, everyone should get a chance to explore something beyond their comfort zone, an unknown city, numerous challenges & tons of experiences with millions of memories.

It just opens up your mind. It widens your perspective towards the same life & it gives you a feeling that you're no less that others. It's just that you haven't tried yet.

Life is what you get from it, the learnings & the experiences, so enjoy every single challenge you get, coz you know, right? That's life.

Leave the rest, just give your best!

More power to you!
.

.

.

Hey there, thanks for following my blog all up to here at the end.

I hope y'all like it.

Please hit the FOLLOW button on the upper left corner to get in touch with the latest blogs and writings OR follow the page on Facebook - The DrunkKalam 😍

Craving for your love...

ABOUT ME  |  CONTACT ME

Happy Reading!

The Delhi Diary - Part II

Contents:

Part I -

1. Dream to visit

2. Let's give it a try

3. Yes! I got a call letter

4. Pre-departure Drama

      4.1. The domestic tussle

      4.2. The collegiate contention

Part II -

5. The Travel Tale

6. Hustle for address

7. At the MP's residence house

8. Search for shelter

9. The Fighting Father

10. Inside NITI

     10.1. Work

     10.2. Life with colleagues

Part III-

11. Bruhan Maharashtra Bhawan

      11.1. Life at BMB

      11.2. New Friends

12. Exploring Delhi

      12.1. "New" Delhi

      12.2. The other side of Delhi

13. Time to Leave

14. Life after Internship

PART II

I hope you're here after reading the first blog of this series.

If not, CLICK HERE

5.  The Travel Tale

Now the tickets being in place & I being above the place, we planned to go Nagpur in afternoon with a general ticket & then will head towards Delhi in Kerala Express.

I was having my last practical exam that day & I got back home, quick and fast, had my lunch & bhurr.

My mother was there for a see-off with happy yet numb face & wetly eyes.

The journey from Amravati to Nagpur is of merely 3 hours & we were in Nagpur at around 5 in the evening. My dad wanted to meet one of his friend, who fortunately showed up at station. 

The layover time passed well and then we left for Delhi at around 8 pm.

The journey is actually long, but it was even longer for me, who was excited for the next day more than anything else.

I was enjoying every moment of the journey, as trips were not common for my family, then.

I bought a book written by APJ Abdul Kalam, named Wings of Fire, with a box of Petha on my way, at the Agra Cantonment Railway Station.

Then later the day, after a hectic Journey of 22 hours & an almost 9 major & 144 minor stations passed, we are finally at the "Dil walo ka sheher", the Capital City- Delhi. 

6. Hustle for address

As soon as we stepped out of the railway station, we felt like a celebrity. Jokes apart, we were mobbed by many taxi drivers, but as soon as we told them the address, they were like, "Arey ye toh bohot dur hai, yaha se nahi milegi taxi!" (This is too far, you won't find a taxi from here!)

One kind person suggested us to take metro till Khan Market & then a taxi thereafter.

We had the experience of metro for the first time.

Then we were searching for the exact address & found after a few hours of dig.

7.  At the MP's residence house

As we entered the grand house, our first meet was with the caretaker whose name was Somnath ji. He was from Bihar & we found his way of talking little hard to grasp.

Picking up keywords from the sentences he threw, we used to guess what he exactly said. Thus, we got to know that MP sir was out of city for couple of days. 

Somnath ji made us settle in the guest room, full fledged with carpet floor and AC.

When we were in search of food/shelter,
all over walking

8. Search for shelter

We then got freshen up & went out to look for residence nearby, as the stay at MP's place was just for a week.

Ghar toh nahi mila, par khana mil gaya (we didn't got the shelter, but found a cheap place to satisfy our hunger for the night)

Now this is a thing about Delhi, you will find small dhabas everywhere, more or less like the viral "Baba ka Dhaba", in recent times.

The place where we ate, barely had a proper light.

We got back home (MP's residence), as tomorrow was a big day.

9. The Fighting Father

The next day early morning, we hired a taxi to Sansad Marg, that's where Niti Aayog was.

A morning coffee made me ready for the day.

When I was IN, my dad was out finding a place for me to reside. 

He found a place named Bruhan Maharashtra Bhawan, which provides shelter to residents from Maharashtra, but just for few days.

There we had evening meal included in the charges.

This place was at Paharganj (पहाड़गंज)

Bruhan Maharashtra Bhawan, Paharganj

So, we need to figure out for lunch.

I had my dad, the superhero knows it all.

He also found a canteen near my office to have my lunch everyday, 30 rupees a meal. This is much better than the office's canteen, which charges 90 rupees for a one time meal.

As we were new to the office, my dad was not allowed inside the office & was stopped by the CRPF Commandos.

That first day, after searching a place to live and a place to eat, dad was sitting on the table outside my office, all day long, and this made me senti & I felt helpless.

I asked him to go home and rest, but baap baap hota hai.. (father is your father, afterall), he won't listen to you.

10. Inside NITI

     10.1. Work

    So, the first day, we had our Entry pass created and met the Advisor of Science and Technology Department. 

It was then that I got to know, we need to undergo one more interview round to be selected for internship.

ID Card

I was afraid for the fact that, if this goes wrong, my dad and me would've been back to Amravati.

The students there were all from big institutes, IITs, Delhi University, London School of Economics, etc. And then there was "ME" from Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University. 

Even while giving intro, I need to mention Amravati from Maharashtra, beside Nagpur.

Fortunately I cracked the interview & boom, we are allotted with our first project, which was a research project basically. We were working with DRDO officials & presented the final report to Dr V. K. Saraswat Sir, former DRDO Chief along with Forensic Expert & our S&T domain head.

As we met the officials of AIM (Atal Innovation Mission), we got to know the level of the officials there. One of them was MIT, Massachusetts passout, the other did her PG & Ph.D. from IIT-B.

After a fortnight, we were asked to work on technical project for AIM for accepting applications for Atal Tinkering Labs, an initiative by Indian Government.

We closely worked with National Informatics Center (NIC) who handles every official website of Indian Government. 

We got the website created and Done.

    10.2. Life with colleagues

    All of us were almost from different states, but it didn't took long for us to match the vibes. 

Interns from other verticals were also friendly enough to spend our coffee break with.

The internet speed there was just great, so one fine day we decided to make use of it in proper way. 

There was a big LED TV in our conference room, where we connected our laptop & enjoyed the IND vs SL cricket match. 

I rarely accompanied my fellow interns for lunch, as they used to have their lunch in NITI canteen. 

But one fine day, they stopped me and asked "Tum roj kaha jaate ho? Hamare saath khana khao na." (Where do you go everyday, why don't you join us for lunch?)

Then I told them about the canteen which dad suggested, and guess what, from next day, they all joined me for lunch. They all were like a temporary family for me, then. 

Left to Right - Mohit, Me, Vrishank, Shatakshi

We enjoyed there.

I remember the day when we spent most of our time in the big giant library of NITI Aayog, the other day we got to know that PM Modi & other officials visited there in the building & we make a hasty run towards Amitabh Kant's cabin to see them.

My days at Delhi were about to end, & one day, they decided to order Pizzas. 

Looking at my pocket & tight budget, I denied saying "Bhuk nahi hai" (I'm not hungry)

I think they understood and said, we will pay for you, don't you worry. Then I said, there's no issue of money & I called home and asked mom, if I could join them & she agreed owing to my last days there. We enjoyed that day.

The weather there was really humid.

When Delhi was heating me up, these were the guys who made me feel comfortable, no matter what.

We explored Delhi together (in budget 🤭), and the memories of the then 2017, is still fresh in my head & will always be.

.

.

.

.

.

For further story, let me catch you in the 3rd and the final blog of this series.

The Delhi Diary - Part III
CLICK HERE.

Hey there, thanks for following my blog all up to here at the end.

I hope y'all like it.

Please hit the FOLLOW button on the upper left corner to get in touch with the latest blogs and writings OR follow the page on Facebook - The DrunkKalam 😍

Craving for your love...

ABOUT ME  |  CONTACT ME

Happy Reading!

The Delhi Diary - Part I

Contents:

Part I -

1.  Dream to visit
2.  Let's give it a try
3.  Yes! I got a call letter
4.  Pre-departure Drama
      4.1. The domestic tussle
      4.2. The collegiate contention

Part II -

5.  The Travel Tale
6.  Hustle for address
7.  At the MP's residence house
8.  Search for shelter

9.  The Fighting Father

10. Inside NITI

     10.1. Work

     10.2. Life with colleagues

Part III-

11. Bruhan Maharashtra Bhawan
      11.1. Life at BMB
      11.2. New Friends
12. Exploring Delhi
      12.1. "New" Delhi
      12.2. The other side of Delhi
13. Time to Leave
14. Life after Internship

PART I

Dil walo ka sheher, as we call it.
Yes, the capital city of India - Dilli (New Delhi)
No matter wherever you travel, if you haven't been to Delhi, then you are yet to explore the Heart of India. You know nothing about a person if you didn't touch his/her soul, the heart, the true person. 

Same is valid here in this case.

The vibe, the essence, the feeling you get in Delhi is nowhere comparable with the other cities in India. The air of the city definitely has something mixed in it, other than the pollution ofcourse. 

The city is like- The more you get to know about it, the more you want to know about it.

1. Dream to visit:

Being a small-town boy, who won't like to see the big city? and what could even be better than the capital city of India?

As a child, we observe things with minute details, or we can say, we observe things with a wholly different perspective. 

Even small things attracted the sight of my wobbly mind, like I used to see the 26^th of January parade being eager and ever desirous, like how I observe Namaz of Jama Masjid (one of the Biggest Mosque in India), and many more like this. The movies, news and articles about it acted as a pure catalyst to make the bond between us even stronger in no time. 

Though Delhi was not as cosmopolitan as our Mumbai (Aamchi Mumbai), I was well prepared to indulge myself in the solitary culture of this dynamic city.

I desperately wanted to see this city, whatsoever, and when this Delhiite superstar Shah Rukh Khan said in Om Shanti Om movie - "कहते है की अगर किसी चीज़ को दिल से चाहो तो पूरी कायनात उसे तुमसे मिलाने की कोशिश में लग जाती है" (When you wish for something from the bottom of your heart, the whole world unites to fulfil your wish), I FELT IT.

2.  Let's give it a try:

Back in 2017, it was early May. People call it the period of vacations, but we the university students call it as an Exam Season. 

The region of Vidarbha(in Maharashtra, India) has a very dear relation with the Sun. It seems like the sun stays over Vidarbha & not around the globe as a whole.

Those days, parents being out of town and air cooler doing the rest of needful for me to keep my books aside and laze around, I did so. 

Also, some days were still spare for the preparation, so I went a step further, I opted for a nap. 

Procrastination at its best, that time. (or even now, maybe!)

Like every child, I was checking my mobile before I doze off. I saw a few text notifications, a couple of News bars and a Low Battery Warning.

I took a sneak peek at the news which was having "Ministry of Home Affairs decided to..." kind of something in its headline. Whatever it was, I went through it and there was a link below, which pointed me to NITI Aayog website. 

NITI Aayog, New Delhi

Back then I was not known about it, but then I searched and did whole research, thus got to know that it was a Government body working under the Ministry of Home Affairs of Government of India. It is called as the "Think-Tank of India", as it structures policies and provides technical support and advice to centre and state governments. 

It was also called the Planning Commission of India, for that sake.

Going back, I saw an option on that website citing "Apply for Internship".  Without even thinking twice I clicked on it & filled a lengthy application form asking for academic background, personal background and an unusual question asking, "What are your reforming ideas for new and Transforming India?" I fill in with whatever little I could think of and submitted it in a go.

Now that I've to wait for a few days for the reply mail, I kept the mobile and sacked off with dreams of Delhi.

3.  Yes! I got a call letter:

About a fortnight later, when I was out of the examination hall in college, I got a mail from Deputy-Adviser of Science and Technology (S&T) Department of NITI Aayog saying, "Congratulation! You are selected for the Internship Programme".

There were 2 theory and 3 practical exams remaining and they called me in 10 days.

I was on cloud nine or even higher, after reading the mail.

My friends and I used to gather after the exam, at the cafeteria to discuss about the paper, but that day, I was like, "Not today man!"

I make a hasty run towards home to inform my parents about the same, as they were not even known about my application. They got to know that I have to go to New Delhi for one month, I explained to them what all it is, and also that Shri Narendra Modi is the Chairman of NITI Aayog and everything else that was needed to be told.

I saw a proud expression on their faces, which I didn't get to see often.

Nevertheless, Dad was a bit bewildered.

4. Pre-departure Drama:

    4.1. The domestic tussle:

So, what was the issue?

As I mentioned earlier that I'm a small-town boy, belonging to a lower-middle-class family. The sudden demand for money, like this, is not less than an avalanche for us. 

Yes, my father was definitely happy for me, infact more than me, just like my mother and sisters. They were more pleased to know that I was among the only 3 students, who were selected from all over India for this once in a lifetime opportunity. 

They didn't have enough money at that time, to bear my expenses. 

I was told by the NITI officials that I have to have my personal laptop with me, which I wasn't having at that time. Though my sister was having one, that too was on a ventilator, which needed a lot of service from the service centre. 

It would probably take a week-long time and I was not supposed to risk this much time. 

My college friends tried their best to provide me with whatever help they could. One of them even asked her father to give his office laptop for a month, and the other tried to seek help from a faculty member in college, but it gets us landed nowhere.

So, with no option left, my sister got it fixed in a local store at Pune and also sent a travelling bag with it, again for the fact that we didn't even have had a travelling bag at home(funny but true). 

The time was not appropriate neither the situation was in my hand. 

At times I was so depressed and worried about the financial situation, that I thought to drop a reply mail saying, 'I won't be able to join', but then my sister and father were there by my side, saying, "We are here for you, but you just make the best out of it!" 

    4.2. The collegiate contention:

Reporting date was on the 1st of June but I was having my practical exam till June 2nd. The first year HOD Sir was persuaded off eventually after a lot of efforts. He then permitted me to give 2 practical exams in one day. 

I managed it and get it done from my side.

My region was not that developed. 

My college didn't witness a single case prior to mine, that a first-year student was opting for an internship. They were not easily convinced to consider my leave. 

One fine day, I visited my 'going to be' 2nd year Head of Department and told him the scenario and then he permitted me for the same. This was all just to get the No Objection Certificate which was needed in NITI from college officials.

Even Principal Sir questioned my application at that time, saying "Kya karne wale ho waha jaakar?" (What are you going to do there?) & trust me, with that tone of sir, it doesn't seem like a concerned question.

Okay so, now it's time for pocket-friendly shopping. 

Wohoo! Dad got me 2 shirts and a trouser.

He was moreover worried about my residence though, as we were not supposed to get residence from their side. He visited the home of a local politician who knew the then Member of Parliament from our region. 

MP's residence (our home at Delhi for 5 days)

After several hits, he managed to get me a letter allowing a week-long residence at MP's place. But still, my dad accompanied me, as I was the small kid who could find it difficult to settle himself in that big city.

Thus, he managed the train tickets and we were ready to depart with a lot tensed mind & bubbly heart.

.

.

.

What happened next?

Wanna know?
The Delhi Diary - Part II

The Delhi Diary - Part III

Hey there, thanks for following my blog all up to here at the end.

I hope y'all like it.

Please hit the FOLLOW button on the upper left corner to get in touch with the latest blogs and writings OR follow the page on Facebook - The DrunkKalam 😍

Craving for your love...

ABOUT ME  |  CONTACT ME

Happy Reading!

This girl aims straight to the Bullseye!

Humankind is judgemental!

Yes we are!

We cross someone & pass a judgement in a fraction of second.

That's what we are; judgemental.

In recent years, we have this word buzzing around, "Image"; Image of us, of someone else, of someone we are judgemental about.

It is nothing but our views about the other. Like of any doctor, our friend, our neighbour or a scientist.

Similarly, everyone has their own image of an "Athlete".

Someone who is fit & lean, little heighted atleast above mean, is what I thought how an athlete is seen.

But wait, isn't it incomplete?

Where's the mind? where's the heart?

Yes, ofcourse! It is integral part.

80 & 20 percent is what the share of mental & physical fitness looks like to be an athlete; little hard but satisfying it is to be an athlete.

Once, I went on tour; a tour to the Sahyadri mountain range with an adventure group. Just a couple of them I was known to, who were the only mutuals with others, for me.

Introductory session was the time we first got to know each other's name & what they all do.

A girl sitting in corner with her head lying on window glass, just uttered a couple of word; her name it was & "archer" being the other word.

It was not so common introduction for me who've been in locals all around, with very little of us shining bright in sports.

Her friend, whom I knew, just pushed her words to shook us with the reality.

She is an International player.

Multiple National Championship with 34 National Medals, represented India in several International Championships as much as 16 times till now, and won 12 medals on international level.

Being a 2014 Asian Games' Bronze medalist was her biggest achievement till date.

The list & appreciation could go long & long.

But just to add a few to the list -

She was honoured with Maharashtra's Biggest Sport's Award, "Shiv Chhatrapati State Sports Award".

She recieved letter of appreciation from former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee Sir.

She had special interviews scheduled on quite a few channels on TV.

I was literally awestruck with her achievements.

It was hard for me to handle this much information about a single person, in one go.

I'm sure, it is tough for you as well.

She was not tall, but talented; not an extrovert, but down to earth & kind of all.

She broke the glass of wrong perception which I was having around myself about an athlete.

No pride of being what she was.

Definately, she deserves it all.

Once Sir Ratan Tata said in his speech-

"If you speak or sit next to a Nobel Laureate, he/she will never tell you that he/she won a Nobel Prize, other people will tell you."

So, I wanted to be among those "other people" to tell you about the gems, to shout out for such hidden talents in our locality.

That girl definately has changed my mindset to look at an athlete; and I wish that whatever she aims for, should hit the Bullseye 🎯, no matter what.

Hey ya, thanks for following my blog all up to here at the end.

I hope y'all like it.

Please hit the FOLLOW button on the upper left corner to get in touch with the latest blogs and writings OR follow the page on Facebook - The DrunkKalam 😍

Craving for your love...

ABOUT ME | CONTACT ME

Happy Reading!

Experiencing the Bombay in Mumbai with that Girl

Hello there,

Welcome again!

Is it raining or still hot & humid?

Probably these are the two weather conditions most of the Mumbaikars are more accustomed to, but back then when I went to Mumbai, it was a bit cold. 

It feels more, even if it isn't. Especially when you just harked back from a heartwarming but freezing trip of North India in mid-December. 

Yes! It was mid-December and I just came back from a week-long college tour with Shimla, Manali, New Delhi, Chandigarh & Amritsar being the major halts.

A bit tired, but I was ready with my further plans for the rest of the month. 

With my bags swaying alongside I arrived at Amravati station around 10 in the morning.

What's next? Unpacking?

No way!

I was back again on my way to Mumbai (or Bombay as for the fact that this word gives a feel).

With my tickets already booked & my team being excited and with at par entho, I started my journey towards this City of Dreams for the third consecutive year. 

Ohh!

Did I just forget to mention, what my team was so excited for?

It was Mood Indigo, Asia's Biggest Cultural Festival. It's a 4-5 days long fest with footprints being in lakhs & celebs in hundreds, not just from India but from all over the world. Talent from across the continent come up at this fest & showcase it to the world.

Plenty of competitions are being organized, covering different genres of copious art forms. Of those, we were there for Dance. 

Though we gave our best shot, it was not enough for the level of Mood-i.

Thus, with those rejective results underneath, we hover to enjoy numerous concerts and pro-nite shows for the rest of the days. Also, who won't like to explore Mumbai, to wander on the seashore, Juhu, Marine Drive, Gateway, etc etc. 

No matter what, we all have a separate corner in our heart, for our love towards these Bombay sites.

On the last day, we friends peregrinated over different parts of the city and went to CSMT. Few of them wanted to visit Marine Drive, while there was one girl who wanted to meet her friend.

As this was my 3rd time, I chose to stay there at the Fashion Street where the girl was supposed to meet her friend. I never wanted to be the Kabab me Haddi, so I was rambling over the street. With that, we forgot that we have had to head back to the railway station, not CSMT but LTT.

The troop which enjoyed the Marine sights reached CSMT & took local. 

Now I was left with that girl, unable to contact them as my mobile was dead.

Okay, perfect time, let me confess something-

Though I have had the experience of Mumbai local for more than a dozen times, I'm still afraid of the crowd it has.

This time the responsibility of a girl added to my fear.

But apan sakht hai.. Mar jaenge pr chehre pr darr nahi dikhayenge.. (I'm strong, I'll die but will never let the fear reflect on my face) 😛

Thus, we got hold of the handle & as expected the crowd had a surgical strike on us. The attack was so devastating, that my body was no less than an empty Pichku ketchup sachet. I can barely imagine the condition of that girl mobbed all around. 

With little efforts, I managed to make my way towards her through the throng & then protecting her from the mob.

No, I was not trying to act like Hero!

But the situation demands me to do so.

A few stations passed, couple of uncles asked us being concerned, where were we going? And thus suggested us to head towards gate or else the crowd won't allow us to step out of the train on the desired station.

We somehow got hold of each other's hand and managed to land on the platform with our bags alongside.

Time was running fast than our nerve signals. The girl was panicking but was having faith in me. I told her that the train is 20 minutes late, just to make her feel calm and relaxed. She might've thought, how dumb this boy is! How can a train be late at its origin station?! 😅

Yeah, little silly! but with no options left, I had to console her with whatever I could manage to think at that time.

Our bags swept the whole platform, searching for the exit gate, and our hands clenched so tight that it starts sweating after a certain period of time, but we got hold of each other till we had a seat in our taxi to LTT.

Arriving at LTT station, we collected our remaining luggage from the cloak-room & board the train on the last minute with mixed emotions.

Now seating at the window, I started thinking with deep breaths.

Sometimes, when your dear ones left you in between, try & trust a stranger. I assure, you will regain your trust in mankind or will learn another lesson. 

But you'll not feel hurt this time, coz it's a stranger whose little can be more to us, at least more than the close ones.

Thanks to that girl for the trust & cooperation in this "Operation Onboarding". 😜

Looking forward to experiencing some more exciting journeys the next time, for me to learn from life or to add one more stranger in my friends' list.

Hey ya, thanks for following my blog all up to here at the end.

I hope y'all like it.

Please hit the FOLLOW button on the upper left corner to get in touch with the latest blogs and writings OR follow the page on Facebook - The DrunkKalam 😍

Craving for your love...

ABOUT ME  |  CONTACT ME

Happy Reading!

The seat next to me...

Hey there,

Yes you, the lone wolf! I appreciate your survival.

I know, Life is the most erratic of all. But no, not the bombshells every time. Life isn't that harsh to roast you every fckin time macha. 

Sometimes life is too busy to think of you, that it just fulfil the wish you have. The thing you've wanted from so long, desperately, could be all yours. You could end up getting the thing you wanted & not everyone knows about this mysterious hush-hush, which Rhonda Byrne quoted as "The Secret", so think wisely.

You should wish for a whirlwind, at least you would end up getting a "Hawa ka jhoka" (a mild gust), which is not bad either.

Okay, so keeping the book stuff apart, I personally feel that it's not always you, your mind & your thoughts in this chapter of life, a life more or less be yours. As I've already told you in the last blog that we are the puppets and the strings are with life. 

We wish for things or living, who ask for it like, I want it in this way & by this procedure only? No, we don't. 

We just want the chocolate, who cares for how it is made & how you get it? No one gives a damn.

Life will give you, definitely, but the way? that won't be of your choice. Expect the unexpected, my dear.

Life can be on your side
or the other, but for a reason, that's for sure.

Some meets with unknowns, some happenings on the go, some incidents and accidents are just a part of the path to whatever you desire for. Every tick of this journey has an eloquent lesson for you to shape & make you for the time you wished for.

On the path, everyone is temporary, except for the blood ones. Those temporary people are in your life for a purpose, to teach you or to learn from you. They're there to celebrate your birth or to cry on your funeral, else everywhere it's just YOU! alone, fighting, striving, hustling & living.

Known people are like an ocean for us, few parts are known as its visible, but you can't see the deep pools of dark mysteries. This is not the case with unknowns, the strangers. They open their heart out if they sense you as the right one. Ofcourse I'm not talking about the clingy uncle-aunty types, but a sensible and genuine person with a good amount of knowledge, who knows how to behave, how to be a bit savoir-faire.

Once when I was in Delhi for a couple of months, I used to commute from Paharganj to Sansad Marg by bus. On the very first week, I didn't find anyone worth talking to, but after a week or two, I found an aunt in the bus. She was sitting on my favourite seat, that's the window seat beside the door. I managed to sit on the seat next to it.

She was the age-old lady. The one with common Indian dressing, visibly happy with a grinning face, calm, composed and decent. She initiated the conversation on the first day. We met for almost a week continuously.

Every day, she used to share something which motivates me a little more than the previous day. Her stories don't seem to be scripted. More than the office, I was excited every morning to hear today's story. Those stories were not a fairytale kinda or some Raja-Rani (King-Queen) types. It was all her life, her struggle & the misery.

I got to know she was a sweeper at an office next to mine, and that day I ascertain the fact that poise and deportment are to be cultivated by choice, not by the profession.

The first day was so satisfying that the next day she herself booked a seat for me, this time the window seat, & the same goes on for the week. She was a true Gentlewoman.

One fine day when she thought we connected with our minds, her story was that- how she escaped from her son's house at Gaziabaad, who used to treat her as a household drudge. She left Gaziabaad with no hopes, alone in Delhi, making her life like a youngster hustling in his 20s.

Her story that day taught me, Everything & Everyone is temporary; this time, including the blood ones. They're there for a reason as I said.

The next day, I clasp the door of the No. 181A bus and what I saw was sad though. The seat next to me was empty. Even she was temporary I guessed, to teach me some life lessons worth listening for.

As I said, the path is not our choice, but it gives the best experience, whatsoever.

So think of your life to be the best, the best of your kind. Fight for it and cherish the path as much as the destination. Meet the people, learn, but don't be attached. Coz after all, it's the solitary life, you alone have to fight.

So, you my champ.

Yes you, the lone wolf! I appreciate your survival.

Hey there, thanks for following my blog all up to here at the end.

I hope y'all like it.

Please hit the FOLLOW button on the upper left corner to get in touch with the latest blogs and writings OR follow the page on Facebook - The DrunkKalam 😍

Craving for your love...

ABOUT ME  |  CONTACT ME

Happy Reading!

The Life before Death

Well Good Morning, for whatever the time is!

Let's feel fresh for a while.
Who knows when life's gonna end? Let's have a cup of tea to start it fresh from wherever you are now.
Coz it's never late to begin.

Life has been a constant fickle at times when we want it to be clear and stable. We choose life to be a slave of ours, we want to drive it no matter how harsh the driving might end up to be. We think that our life needs to work the way we want, which might be the words of fact for some of you, in your early days of hustle. Everyone has a hot and warm blood, with a fire within to achieve whatever is there in mind, whatever that gives them a kick within.
But...
What if you get to know that those plans of ten years down the line is nothing but a hallucination, and you are left with a week or month or a year at the most.

Ever thought of it?
Take a moment and pile your wishes, your goals, your plans into one place. Now figure out what time will it take to get this all.
A whole life? May be Yes!

You sacrificed some or the other thing for this till now? Definitely, you would've. Otherwise, it's not what you ever wanted, coz you didn't even fought for it champ.
Okay, I consider you want it desperately.
What next?
Your life is gonna end as I said, in a week or a month. Now there's no dream, now there's no milestones, no pain, no sacrifices and it's no more a hustle.

Now is the time to get down to reality. Life has these strings in hand and we are the puppets. The one without soul, lifeless & poor.

I have a short story,
Once an entrepreneur full of ideas, plans, goals & whatnot, was on his path to become what he wants. He never has had anything less to live with. A well-furnished flat in the city centre, that too in a reputed society, a sweet & loving wife, a child he was blessed with, two months before & a lavish sedan car. What I forgot to mention was his well-settled startup, with a decent outcome.
An entrepreneur tends to have an insatiable appetite. Infact, it's the human mentality. The more you get, the more you wish. No one wants to know the world above it.
He wanted his company to scale the ladder of fundings and make more & more profits, counting more notes. Several sleepless nights, constant work schedule & quite a few mental breakdowns, but who cares! we just want to excel. The time he was supposed to spend with family is been spent in the office. Consider a few nights as well. Also to put a highlight on the personality, get yourself known to the fact that he met his son all about 8 to 10 times hardly. He has put his blood & sweat into it for the time till now & guess what!

One fine day, like his early attacks, he got one again. But fortunately, he was at home this time. His wife took him to the hospital and was stuck to the mind-boggling words of Doctor which states that the brain tumour her husband has, was in the last stage.
So, what about his startup?
Fuck all...
He has just 20 days to live, maybe less but not more.
That night, he was through all his life till date, but not the next day.

The next day was a new life. He started to cherish the presence of his lady. He woke up early to catch the early morning sunshine which he hasn't seen for a while. Watching at that orange sky, his emotions were all naked. The regret was within but not on the lips, for the time he took for granted. He who used to deliver speech fearlessly in a crowded auditorium, is now shivering to utter a single word in front of his own wife. He wanted to play with his child all over again, but his tears would pop out of guilt.
He then managed somehow & lived the life more personally and not (or less) professionally.
He can see his end, so he wanted to do everything his heart ever wanted.
Remember "Your heart has those wishes which are always quashed under the materialistic wishes of mind", coz it has the control whatsoever.
You must have to go through this kind of phase to know what your heart really wants.

Imagine yourself in his place.
Imagine for a while.

“Not life, but good life, is to be chiefly valued.” – Socrates

Why can't we have a balanced life?
A life where you earn as much as you want, maybe a little more. A life where you'll have a little spare time for your loved ones, to share some thoughts, feelings and advices.
A life of living and not suffering!

Those 20 days of his life were tougher than anything he could imagine of. Even worse than the death itself.  Getting through this phase is an invitation to all-time depression and a want for an early and permanent leave as well.

So, now that you know the key, you don't need to suffer through those malignant thoughts.
Love your loved ones more than they do & invest in them more than what you get in return.
Keep in mind that material wealth is mortal.

Live your life like you have this one single day, the next day is a mirage. You'll get to know what it is when you get close to it.
So, rest for a while, think of it & say a fresh Good Morning to your life to start it all over again.
Coz you know, It's never late to begin!

Hey there, thanks for following my blog all up to here at the end.

I hope y'all like it.

Please hit the FOLLOW button to get in touch with the latest blogs and writings OR follow the page on Facebook The DrunkKalam 😍

Craving for your love...

ABOUT ME  |  CONTACT ME

Happy Reading!

No Expectation Policy

Professional World- the World of Entrepreneurs, Employees, Boss, Manager, Office, blah blah blah.

There's a lot qualities needed to be a part of this professional world. Some are within us & some are needed to be indulged with us.

Among that list of hundreds & thousands of qualities, we come across a word 'Professionalism'.

For some, being professional (professionalism) might mean dressing smartly at work or doing a good job.

For others, being professional means having advanced degrees or other certificates framed & hung on the office wall. 

Yes, definitely.. Professionalism encompasses all these definitions, but it also covers much more.

To sum up it in short, we can say that,

Professionalism is an ART..

An art of working selflessly for your designators..

An art of extracting work from your employees..

An art of being polite..

An art of being humble..

An art of having a learning mentality..

An art of living with your ability, your skills..

An art of keeping your status, your attitude..

An art of being Money-Grubber..

It's an art of being "Professional".

Every child, being a non-professional personality, is very keen and desperate to know about this world of Professionals, & so was I.

I was the smallest in my family. I have two sisters who had already spent a couple of years in this world.

I use to fetch as much information as I can from them.

It includes the procedure to get hired, what happens there in the office, the terminologies & some about the qualities we should possess, our mindset and our attitude, etc., etc.

I stepped into the train of Graduation in the latter half of 2016.

My mind was thoroughly concentrated on the semester, because it's the grades of the semester, which the society asks you about, rather than what you actually learned, whether academic or non-academic.

In spite of the concentration towards exams, my grades were not up to my expectations.

Yes, It was 'All-Clear', but still, the hunger of my expectations is not completed yet.

So, from then I decided that I will never work for the expectations; rather I will work for the work to be done & that too in a perfect manner.

Because, expectations are a kind of mood changer.

If you get what you expected, you will feel like you are on top of the world, but if by chance you fail to stand up to that expectation, you will face a severe depression.

So, better to work with Zero Expectations.

Keeping the same thought in my mind, I entered the second semester.

With the same "No Expectation Policy" I tried my luck in dancing.

Successfully qualifying the two audition rounds, I finally got the chance to perform on stage with the senior competitors.

I didn't expect this, but it happened.

This all took place in the mid-Jan.

Then in the end of January, I was trembling with my friends in the college campus. I saw two boys and a girl with full suit ON, sitting beneath a tree at Cafeteria with a table and some chairs.

They were all black suited, so I got a little excited to know what it was exactly.

We reached there asking what it was.

Then what?

They started their recorded speech & explained me in detail about the event, that it was a National Level Technical Event organised by their college. They told me about different competitions, their entry fees & prizes.

They also told us that accommodation facilities are provided by them & food is the only thing we had to pay for, in their college canteen.

With this many facilities showering on us & the college not being far away from our city, I agreed to attend the event.

Right after that I called my childhood school bestie Utkarsh asking him about his interest in this event. He showed a green light, so did my classmate Pravin.

We three left for Shegaon early morning.

The college Bus was ready at the railway station to pick up the students coming from different colleges.

When we reach there, we were 2 hours late according to the scheduled time, but luckily like all other events in India, this too started late!

We three were deciding, which event to participate in. There were many events like C-Genius, LAN Gaming, Web Designing, Talent Hunt, Box Cricket, but my mind was stuck on Mock Placement.

I asked them how it will be.

Listening to their explanation, I was excited. I asked Utkarsh, whether he is interested or not, but he denied with a "NO" gesturing move.

"I'll try my luck in C-Genius & Talent Hunt", he said.

So then, I was ON for three events, Talent Hunt in a group with Utkarsh and C-Genius & Mock-Placement individually.

I appeared in C-Genius Test & instantly after that rushed to Talent Hunt, which was basically a Quiz Competition.

Its first round was a written test in which only one group member can solve it. 

So, as expected, Utkarsh pushed me in that well.

Fortunately, we survived & survived well, we stood second topper in the list.

Then gone through the Second & Third rapid-fire rounds, but it was the finals between top four teams, which forced us to return empty handed.

Right after the Quiz, I make a hasty run to Mock Placement.

Earlier that day, I asked my Sister about the sequence of rounds in placement and some keys to clear the rounds. She explained me in a subtle manner, that placement comprises of three main rounds, namely Aptitude Test, Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI), all in same sequence.

"To excel the rounds, your attitude must be positive, your thoughts must be clear & your way of thinking must not be simpler and regular one", she said.

She added that, "In Group Discussion, you must not cut others point, but to appreciate their thinking and put forth your point of view. Don't be arrogant, aggressive and disrespectful, either in GD or in Interview.

She also told me about some common questions & how they should be answered.

Also the way to present myself in front of them.

I reached the Mock Placement room.

The first thing which shook my mind was that, it was Group Discussion round, while my Sister told me that it'll be Aptitude Test first & then GD.

Later I came to know that the sequence was intentionally inverted just for the sake of maximum rejection.

It was among the last few slots.

Without waiting for a moment I entered the Discussion Room with whosoever waiting there. Later, sitting inside I came to know that they were all 3rd year and 4th year Students.

I was little Shattered.

But then I explained myself, that it is just a matter of ₹50 (entry fees). I don't have anything to lose, but surely has an experience to gain which worth way more than that ₹50.

Then, with a positive intend I got ready to face the challenge.

The GD-Conductor there threw-in the topic of "Whether playing the National Anthem compulsory in Movie Theatres is a good move or not?"

He offers us 2 minutes to think if required, but I was so desperate to win this round that I don't even used 30 seconds of that two minute & started discussing and delivering my thoughts.

Taking a favour side, I introduced them with some facts & possibilities. All other candidates put forth their views & thoughts which again make me to talk more and more. But then, the time reaching the finish line & our all aspects of the topic being covered up, we finally put a full-stop to the Discussion.

Among the slot of eight, three candidates were selected, of which I was the part (luckily).

After crossing the first hurdle, I don't even get the chance to take a two step run for the second one.

The second hurdle was of the Aptitude Test in the neighbouring room.

As my sister explained the level of Aptitude Test was in between of JEE & GATE.

The test seems interesting to me, with all types of questions like logical, mathematical, physics & reasoning.

I utilised my time & answered as many questions as I can.

Hush..!!

Finally the first day ended successfully.

College representatives promised us to offer good quality hostel & food, but the fact was completely opposite.

They made us to sleep on a piece of cloth spread over the room floor, which was a bit uncomfortable.

Even the washrooms were not clean enough to take a bath.

We ignored all that & took a look towards the food, but when we asked the canteen contractor about food, he ignored us thoroughly saying that "I was not informed to cook food for anyone except my daily mess tiffins."

We met the Kabaddi team of our college during the talk with Canteen Contractor. They were also angry & frustrated towards the management of the college.

Fortunately, we were little familiar with that city & know a bit about outside accommodation options, but what about the students who came all the way from Mumbai, Pune, Nashik & Aurangabad.

They too had to face the same consequences of poor management.

After a brief talk, we all decided to knock the doors of the Lord Gajanan Maharaj Temple.

Gajanan Maharaj Temple is a sacred place there & people visit there from different cities, have food & can sleep as well.

The afternoon 'Mahaprasad' is for free, but had to pay a little cost of ₹35 for dinner.

After that, we borrowed mattress & cushion from there for ₹5 each.

The Kabaddi Team had their finals next day & I too had my Finals i.e. the 3rd round of Personal Interview which was scheduled after the result of Aptitude Test.

We enjoyed there at the temple creating a chaos situation for others & slept silently when scolded.

Next Morning, a new day with new challenges.. But our mind was fresh & ready to face those challenges.

The first challenge was of charging mobiles. After a sturdy hustle for charging, we got ready & ate the Shegaon famous Kachori in breakfast, twice.

Taking the worship of God, we visited the college. Uptill then I was so excited to see the result, that without waiting for a minute, I make a quick run towards the Notice Board.

Being a First Year Student, I was so relieved & satisfied to see my name in 3rd position in that list.

Then at 11 in the morning, I was called for the Interview. I was preparing myself mentally for the challenge.

With my not-so-formal dress ON & the not-so-professional resume in my hand, I entered the waiting hall.

Two senior faculty members of T&P Department were ready in their respective cabin to peel-off our skull to see what's there in our mind.

I got two of my senior competitors sitting beside me, waiting for their turn. One of them was a guy from PCCOE College, Pune & the other one was a girl named Raksha of the host college itself.

We three had a brief chat, which turned into a good friendship, which is alive till date, especially with Raksha.

Not only students, but the Teachers there were frank enough to discuss our problem with. Our formal chat was going on & a guy with black shirt & the red tie ON entered the room.

The guy from PCCOE told me that the boy was from Sinhgad College of Engineering, Pune & he knew him very well as they were classmates in junior college. He also added that, "He never loses any competition related to communication skills. He is the best speaker the college ever had."

Prior to that, I was tensed because of my informal attire, but was then relieved by Raksha, as she was also not in a formal dress. But listening to the PCCOE's guy, my level of nervousness​ doubles.

But then I make myself to remember about the "No Expectation Policy" & entered the cabin.

So, here the encounter begins, I greet the interviewer & was asked to sit on chair.

He threw-in some short technical questions, then turned towards my GD topic & wanted me to re-elaborate my opinion on the same topic.

He was shocked by hearing the fact that I was from the First Year.

By the end of the interview he said that, "Whether you'll be winning or losing, I can't tell you, but after competing with your seniors and after successfully cracking GD & Apti, you are sitting here in front of me is indeed a great achievement for you. Good Luck for your future."

I was so happy to hear that words. Even the teachers standing outside appreciated my efforts.

Then after that was the time for the final match of Kabaddi between our college & the host college.

We were pretty sure to win & were ready for a maffick, but unfortunately the day was not ours.

Our college lost the match & stood Second.

Despite of the defeat, we enjoyed the DJ songs there, might be more than their college students.

The Felicitation Program was scheduled in the evening. We waited.

Then it starts..Still a little late.

The dignitaries were being greeted & then Prize Distribution begins.

After 5-6 announcements she said, 

“Now the result of the most awaited competition 'The Mock Placement'. It is big because it has the most number of participants in whole events i.e. 230+

The Runner-up of the competition is Pratik Kale from SIPNA COET, Amravati."

I was so overwhelmed to hear these words.

She added that, "The most interesting fact about this boy is that he is from first year."

Listening to this, all students there started clapping & all dignitaries and Chief Guest stood up & congratulates me.

After collecting the trophy, certificate & a cheque of mine & also of the Kabaddi Team, we make a quick run to the Railway Station.

That was the first time ever in my life that I travelled without a ticket.

When I returned home & informed my parents about the competition & my win, they were actually happy for me.. I felt like my efforts paid off.

Then my Dad asked "Who is the winner?"

I told him about that boy from Sinhgad, his achievements & his skills.

After listening to this, his happiness was doubled thinking that I compete with this much experienced boys.

And believe me, I can literally feel their happiness & promised him to get more trophies like this.

Thanks to MGI's IGNITE 2K17 for such a great experience.

Hey there, thanks for following my blog all up to here at the end.

I hope y'all like it.

Please hit the FOLLOW button to get in touch with the latest blogs and writings OR follow the page on Facebook The DrunkKalam 😍

Craving for your love...

ABOUT ME  |  CONTACT ME

Happy Reading!