My 25th Birthday:-)

It was a memorable day I spent …From getting surprises at the blink of an eye to getting wishes from the most unexpected people….I surely have enjoyed myself..
I can’t thank the three of my most special friends who have really gone out of their way to make this birthday of my so special for me….K, J and A thanks so much for being around…though I really missed N.:-(
As much as I feel about writing on how I spent my day, I am at present too tempted to pen down 25 of the most memorable moments of my life so far. They are not in any particular order, just the way they are crossing my mind…

1. When I scored a 95 in my board exams, mathematics paper. I had almost flunked my prelims. That was literally one of those moments I couldn’t believe what I’d heard- My sister told me “ you’ve got a 95!” I could see tears well up my mother’s eyes. Her effort had finally paid off. Thanks mummy…
2. Holding my 6 month old nephew, who was fat, cute and quite calm. I could hold him, pull his cheeks, or simply try to tickle him, only so I could see him smile
3. When I cried looking at my sister and Abu’s photograph in Prof Lochan’s class and he told me “You have taken me too literally my child. And I am happy you took this exercise to the heart”. This was in reference to an assignment he had given us. He almost reminded me of my grandfather I never had the privilege to be with…
4. When I learnt to drive and the pride with which I drove on the Delhi roads…Also can’t miss out on the subsequent car breakdowns I’ve witnessed so much so that it made me master my mechanical skills…
5. My first job, the offer letter for which took ages to reach me. Recession year and I had almost thought I had missed the opportunity!
6. Silently crying sitting in one corner of the room thinking about the irony of my life. Ambitions of becoming a CA, turned me into a media professional. A sure shot decision of staying with MY PARENTS FOREVER landed me in a city like Mumbai where I was all alone
7. My first salary and spending it all on my family!
8. When one of friends dragged me into the waves of the dirty juhu beach and we enjoyed digging ourselves in the dirty filth that had flooded the water there! Ewww! That day I truly went wild!
9. My trek to kalavantin with a bunch of strangers. When we had reached the peak and I could see a blanket of stars in the sky... As we all spent the night wondering if only that moment could freeze….
10. When I gave my mother the most special surprise of her life by landing up home without any prior intimation. I was at the door and called her up. We began having a regular conversation after which I rang the bell and she said “ hold on. Someone’s at the door”. I was anxiously waiting outside. She opened the door and stood there ….numb…not knowing how to react!. She then hugged me and said “ I am so glad you came”
11. When I cuddle up and sleep with my mother, I sleep peacefully
12. I was at the Bangalore airport when my parents came to drop me, so I could catch a flight back to Mumbai. I was fighting my tears. Didn’t know how to say goodbye. Could see how tears were waiting to drop from my father’s eyes. But he obviously pretended he was in control of his emotions! Sigh!. Never seen him get so emotional
13. My bungee jump! I wasn’t as nervous while I was up the crane..But when I took the fall, it was exhilarating! I was praying to land safely. When I was brought down, I almost wanted to relive that moment again
14. My first international trip to Turkey..
15. Feeling a colleague’s baby inside her womb as it kicked and then seeing it in flesh and blood after it was born. WOW! Motherhood is indeed a special feeling
16. Attending the aarti at Siddhivinayak which still brings tears in my eyes. I feel like I am close to God. I can feel him around me and it gives me a kind of strength …
17. My sister getting a job at a good MNC after a long wait! A job which is now taking her to greater highs
18. My small medical procedure to address an infection I had developed. I was inside the operation theatre, something which always intimidated me…. …To be experiencing it was scaryyyy…Phew!
19. Rediscovering extended family members. One of them who had changed for the better. From the attitude driven, status conscious person to a simpleton. And another who had presented an ugly streak! Made me think I am a bad judge of character indeed. Also taught me how first impressions are not always the last and circumstances you are in end up shaping your personality!
20. When my friends surprised me by giving me a coconut, coconut powder, coconut oil and dahi for my 25th birthday. This konkan coconut just loved it!
21. Feeling hurt when my best friend consciously decided to stay away from my birthday celebrations. Made me wonder if our slight tiff had affected our friendship to such an extent that I was given a royal ignore. Hurt me
22. My promotion .
23. When a colleague asked me “ Do you really think this job is worth staying away from your parents?” . I am still trying to find an answer to this question!
24. Late night conversations with my rommie on how much our lives had changed since we came to Mumbai or for that matter simply recollecting childhood memories
25. Writing my blog after a year! Thanks beens for igniting the spark in me

I must confess as I was proof reading this I thought instead of random thoughts I should follow the order in which I lived these moments. May not make for a good read as it may have lost its rawness, but its ok. I’d like it to be this way….

Happy Teacher's Day

I was 16 years old, when my school planned to take us to the Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet the then President-Dr. Abdul Kalam. Excited by meeting some-one as great as him for the first time many of us were carrying sheets of paper on which we could take his autograph. I remember managing to grab a seat for myself in the front row so that I could get a better view of Dr. Kalam as he began to talk. After the regular round of introduction to my school and its larger aims, my teachers decided to leave the floor open for questions. So the questions from most of us were “How has your journey been so far?” “How do you see India 20 years from now?” etc. Then Dr. Kalam, decided he needed to ask some questions to the bright minds of the future. So he started pointing at people and asked “What do you want to become in life?” Most said Doctor, lawyer, engineer…blah…blah…. When I was asked, (listen to this!), I said “ I intend to become an entrepreneur and in turn want to contribute to India’s growth story.” How diplomatic and perfect an answer could that be? Huh… After a while Dr, Kalam responded saying “How is it that none of you mentioned that you want to become teachers? Is it that bad a profession? I myself have been a teacher and I so enjoy engaging with young minds like you” That question he posed did hit me then.

My mother still considers the teaching profession to be the best. “After all”, she says “It doesn’t require late shifts, which enables you to have enough time for yourself and your family, unlike other professions” Hmm…true, but yet how many of us actually decide to take up a teacher’s job as our first carrier option? Quite a handful I guess. Well, honestly, I think I can afford to leave that discussion for some other day, for some other post. Today, I want to write my heart out. Today I feel like thanking all those people who have been instrumental in giving direction to my goals and provided me with a platform to explore newer avenues. My parents are definitely my first teachers, but today, I would like to dedicate this space to those other few, whom we only recollect during this day of 5 September each year.


Ms Radhika Khanna: If I have been ever able to understand will, determination and passion for anything, it is from you. Be it the festivals you organized f or us in college or the enthusiasm with which you have driven the Journalism Department of Kamala Nehru College to scale new highs! Or, simply going out of the way to in trying to help me out when I was actually confused about my career choices. I must admit you have helped me be more confident of my decisions.

Ms. Anubha Yadav: If there is some-thing called a critical eye, you’ve helped me open it. You have pushed me into doing things which I thought I was never good at, but which have paved the way for my informed choices today. As a teacher, I believe it is pertinent to acknowledge talent in a student and hone it. YOU have done that for me.

Ms. Rina Mandal: Though I may not have interacted with you as much in my three years in college, as I do today, YOU are from whom I’ve learnt to be vocal about one’s opinions irrespective of what the world thinks. I can’t thank you enough for going out of the way and researching on the topic of my first film. Your constant encouragement of reading has stayed with me ever since.

Prof. Rajiv Lochan: Well unlike my other teachers whom I have taken a while to understand, you have, whom I have been the most open with ever since your first lecture. Your ability to look beyond academic qualifications in a student and to recognize the potential each student is capable of is what I appreciate the most. Sir, you have been so imperative in making me realize my strengths, my weaknesses and accordingly guided me into working my way out from it. Had it not been for you I wouldn’t have been able to cleanse myself off, all the negative energies that I am otherwise confronted with all the time. Your capability to mould yourself as per the requirement of each student is what fascinates me the most. Its almost like saying I am experiencing and sharing as much as I am learning in each of your classes. The creative vibrancy and the freedom which you allow your students to work on are what I firmly consider as significant in an individual’s growth process.

These mentors apart I am privileged to have been blessed by other teachers like Ms Seema, Mr. Aggarwal, Ms Vijaya, Ms Uma Rane, Ms Lata, Mr. Bhopal Singh, The late Mrs Batra, Ms Renu, Mr. Sohail Akbar Ms Gargi Sen and Dr. Sabharwal. The only reason I fail to write at length about them is because I have lost touch with some and with the others I’ve never really struck a personal rapport! A FACT I truly REGRET. I also cannot miss out on all my primary school teachers, the names of most I seem to have forgotten. But teachers who have contributed in building a certain kind of Universe for me which today I am proud to say I belong to.


I could sense the affection with which some of them spoke as I called them up today. I must say I was pleased to hear them respond. This was the biggest gift that I as a student could have ever given them. The fact that they are remembered and looked upon years after passing out from that educational institution is what gives them a highJ. I personally am not of the opinion that there is only once in a year that 5 September comes. For me, each moment spent with all those quoted above has been nothing less than a covert celebration. However, considering we so often tend to give a miss to the one’s who have really helped shape our lives, I thought today would be the right day to express my tribute to each one of you. I am confident that at each stage of my life I am bound to come across many more like you. I sincerely wish my association with each one of you strengthens and grows with each passing year.


Thank you all for being there!