Once upon a time long awaited day; now any other day except for the fact that it brings a lot more wishes & memories.

AND you need to “Take care of your memories, for you cannot relive them.”

With the wife away to Tirupati, all celebrations in abeyance, though the day, nay night started with a text from a gentleman whom I respect extremely for his business acumen & the way he has lived his life Mr. Mahesh Sarda.

And then the flood began, birthday bumps.

Curiously, Mehul called early, Naren followed up with a personal visit; whilst Hemant just sent a message. Of all Prithviraj(cookie) did not call, text wish on FB also; thoughts swirling in my head, but do not expect everyone to drop what they have on their plates to wish at my time.

The afternoon, lunch, a simple affair, with my daughter, parents & in laws! Soon the wife called & all was right with my world.

Come evening, waiting for Mehul, who surprisingly had been insistent on picking me up for couple of drinks, bachelor style. My daughter had gone off for a friends treat, so that was it.

Started for the club, with plans to visit the Bar, which is done up in old British style, a personal favorite. Closer to the place, knowing my aversion to Chinese food, I was guided to their restaurant.

AND the penny dropped ~~~ People who matter to me had made time; my daughter had grown up, using her Mehul uncle, Dharti had organized a small party. Nivedita & AD (anjali) were already seated there, with Naren & Meena expected to join. However, the biggest surprise was Hemant the Gajjer, all the way from Ahmedabad, who had been unable to keep his promise to come for the anniversary, had come the previous day & stayed back on Mehul’s insistence!

Now it did not matter, whether chinese, bar or wherever — favorite scotch was ordered; bottles of wine opened with the food ~~Wine Bottle 1Wine Bottle 2

Starters
Dim Sums (Chicken & Vegetarian - need to do something about the veg)
Chilly potato (surprisingly different than the one at holiday inn)
Lamb fry (good)

Soup
Mon chow - universally good

Main Course

Assortment of Noodles; Fried Rice; Veg Manchurian; Hunan Chicken

By the time Prithvi, Naren, Meena joined, everyone was enjoying themselves so much, that no photographs were taken further.

Gave dessert a mis in favor of a last one for the road along with the lovely cake, that my daughter had organized! She has certainly grown up.

What more could one want in life??? of course the wife, but there is always a next year….. And for friends Thank you: two small words to convey the infinite feeling in my heart & for all the memories past, present & future. God Bless!!

Discussion is An Exchange Of Knowledge..
Argument is An Exchange Of Ignorance

As you grow older, stop counting years, wrinkles… comes the day which you awaited once with bated breath for the wishes, presents it brought; now with fear for the year gone by, fear for the future that is unknown and you seem ill equipped to deal with.

BUT all this is for another day……..tomorrow and there after because today I counted my blessings with friends, relatives, well wishers reaching out to touch & wish me.

With the electronic medium - text, email, facebook, no book, every book it turns to a virtual party……and the variety of wishes, each one precious as the other; but a couple that shall be remembered more

Forget things that make u sad, And remember those that made u Glad, Forget Trouble that passed away, And remember Blessings that Come each day…..Have a great birthday!

You will receive a lot of good wishes, profound gyaan and unconditional love today … Sit back and soak it all in, of course but also during the course take time to make new resolves and new rules for yourself that start from this day forward. Have a great day, my friend!

For all this love, goodwill, wishes showered on me through the personal calls, text, facebook, emails by everyone

I can no other answer make, but thanks, and thanks for the memories past, present & future. God Bless!

And I pray to the almighty, that this continues in times to come…..particularly for me who counts wishes as wealth!

Knowing when to tread carefully, when to put your foot down is a lesson all must learn; most particularly in business.

Was dragged to watch this by my daughter a SK fan. Cinemax Versova listened to the consumers, parking is now open (good going guys).

The beginning was pretty decent, though SK tried clenching his six pack jaws, but was kept in control. Loved the scene where the girl promises to be a good wife (purely a indian thought & speaks volume about the culture in which one is brought up).

The entry of Raj was all down hill…..Retro was better in OSO….

Anoushka was a better actor, with changes as a punjabi amritsari kudi wanting to break out of the mold than Deepika of OSO who cannot act but is better looking.

The end was better, maybe thanks to SK not allowed to interfere….does not show Raj winning & the Polaroid shots were consistent with the movie play.

Editor should have prevailed, cutting out 30-40 minutes, most of it histrionics to make it better.

But worth a watch once!

The only thing I don’t understand is “Me”, other then that I know everything.

Insane people are always sure that they are fine. Its only the sane people like us who are willing to admit that we’re crazy

It’s so hard when I have to, and so easy when I want to…

The Art of Jewellery magazine did a study in December 2008 trying to find out from industry as well as people who had brought organized retail to the industry.

I was one of them & was quoted extensively in the article.

One more photo opportunity for the bollywood brigade which would prove nothing.

What difference is a black band really going to make?

Is it going to resurrect the dead? It is a meaningless gesture symbolic gesture that says you have done your bit. It is taking the easy way out.

Will it undo the ghastly tragedy that has befallen Bombay? Will it bring sense? Will it change the way everyone keeps talking crap about Muslims, Hindus, Christians - all caste & creed.

On one hand everyone given a media opportunity shouts from the roof tops that we are all one, we are all Indians, so on and forth; then why the need to go the extra mile to prove their allegiance with such stupid tokens of protest.

Let us understand & accept: Terrorists have no religion other than death.

It is a convenience factor to protest whenever one wishes to - Monday wear black, Wednesday wear white, another day light a candle at Gateway, all other building societies do their own number. AND the duly elected, so called people’s representatives dance around (resembling a cabaret with chorus - thanks to the so called security & hangers on); put large hoardings with their name in bold congratulating everyone & no one.

If you really want, declare the 26th of every month as remembrance day - do a non violence march/dress whatever universally across caste, creed, locality, the works. And that day - Why just Muslims? Every Indian should be wearing black bands in order to be counted as one. A befitting reply to those failed nations created on the basis of religion.

Save all this humbug crap BUT hold on the feeling of frustration, dissatisfaction. Use it to focus & galvanize oneself into action.

A Saturday afternoon stretching into evening - alone at home, tired of watching/reading repeats on Terrorism, Economy, Politics; melancholy taking over and asked myself the meaning of Life today. A long read expression maybe incomplete but…..still significant.

Once Life meant:
A winter evening, Four friends, Mild Rain, Four pegs of Rum…

Once Life meant:
100 bucks for petrol, Two rusty old bikes, An open road..

Once Life meant:
Maggi noodles, A hostel room, 3.25 a.m..

Once Life meant:
1 Prep leave, 1 night, 1 book, 8 duffers..

Once Life meant:
1 girl, 1 number, 4 friends, and a fight..

Now Life means:
old friends, separate cities, separate lives and endless efforts to earn..