Reminiscing The Years Gone By...

Prologue

In all these years my better half Neha has kind of complained that I haven't written much for her...
I want to set the record straight on our 17th Anniversary by saying "You, Neha have been the inspiration for making me what I am-you have been the inspiration for my life...period"


Here's something that I wrote for you on the eve of our 17th Anniversary as I was stuck in the traffic jams on the way back home

Thank God for the jams in Mumbai
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stuck in a jam
As I am
I decide I must ponder
And write about the years abounder...


'twas 20 years no less
The time I met you life somewhat a mess
I set my eyes on you
Nothing told me that
Moments wouldn't be few...


Remember the deptts you did?
Times when my emotions from you I hid
For I made sure you didn't go too far
Didn't want you away and my destiny to mar...


You hid them cigarettes
Oh and I remember many more bits
When I thought you wanted my attention
Only to find oft that it was my minds detention ...


Days to weeks amd weeks to months
Not seeing interest from you I opened other fronts
Thought that would make you jealous
But you surprised me God bless ...


Damn..I thought you were giving me a pass
But that my love was your class
If you love someone set him free
That's what you'd done for all to see...


Each time I found you there
Rock steady and always fair
Giving me a patient ear
Why oh why did you do that my dear...


So you had fun at my expense
By keeping me in so much suspense
Friends we had grown into by now
Bloody good ones and how...


So much that all around us
Did us discuss
We were unaware and vain
Damn they made a story like us after so much pain...


Talking about which makes me think
Lifes been going on in many a quick blink
That I question why isn't this also part
And hope that the traffic moves for a start


Strange are my moments of inspiration
The sea, maidens, people and perspiration
All a big play of this slice of life
But this ones dedicated to you my wife...


My life is dedicated to you I feel
You made me what I am for real
Our stars that grow every day
They do brighten up our lives I say...


I am an incurable romantic
That has no clue of the symantic
I look at life through colored glasses
And by my side its you with your long tresses...


You do feel i'm not don't you
I haven't expressed it you'll say but that isn't true
Haven't I you'll say taken you for granted
Maybe yes and maybe i'd planned it...


I do know one thing and that's for certain
Love is this some soothin' some hurtin'
And I do believe I did something good
That I got you like I always knew I should...


Perhaps i'm not perfect perhaps i'm not ideal
But you got saddled with me-not such a bad deal?
I wanted to grow old with you by side
Always so young and coy like you were when a bride...


The jam is clearing I can see
Our journey goes on ever so free
Glad I am that I tried my hand at this rhyme
With you by my side life I know will be just fine...


Its only year number seventeen
Gosh our girl's already a teen
Don't you love it you have two to call you mother and boy do I have a bother
When someone calls you my daughter??

Hari Kirtan, Slumdog and Pandit Jasraj or How I managed the Half Marathon

18th January 2009

Last night started early

8pm was when I called in

My greatest fear isn't about the run

As much as it is about waking up

And that I manage...

The walk to the start is a warm up

In itself given the fair distance

As a result the take off is

delayed by 3.48 minutes..

Nobody seems to mind

The gathering is humungous

Less than 8 weeks after 26.XI

This is a terrors delight.. I think

As we run past Flora Fountain

My mind relaxes-let them come

And this time they won't need

A court..for lynched they will be

By humanity…

The thrill of running on the road

With no traffic is my first high

The second is going past Oberoi

My story began here…

The staff handsomely attired are out

And I wave them with gratitude

As they inspire me on...

The sea on my left gleams in motivation…

"The Oberoi Turn" reads the board

In the same graphics style..

that's branding for you..

The Ambassador roof top majestically beckons me

And from a distance I hear it call me closer

Passing the Rock-On lookalike group

I switch on the first concert I have lined up-

Hari Kirtan on my ipod stuck to my arm

The Lord spurs me on as I pass some run-walkers while some run past me…

Its the flyover on Marine drive

There are TV crew on it as are numerous other Mumbaikars..

Chowpatty approaches albeit slowly

I shall resist walking I tell myself…

The fun starts now as I follow the group onto Peddar road

My pace slows as I ready my calves for the climb..

Suddenly Peddar doesn't look all that appealing..

Why oh why did I do this the demons laugh..

To see the numbers on Peddar is

An athletes delight as that is how I feel..

I start the fight within..

I'm sure to lose I hear a voice over the other voice in my head eulogising the Almighty…

perhaps my way of having him by my side..

The early runners have begun walking…

I enjoy the downhill run down to Cadbury and then Haji Ali…

The juice centre should be open…

Hopes dash as some water on my self I splash…

And that fortunately will be my only attempt to rhyme..

Purely unintentional..

The sea appears again..

The cool air is a blessing..

The Mela turn is fast approaching…

Haji Ali ends..Worli begins..I spy Atria..

My first hurrah ..I haven't stopped my jog yet…

The 2nd hurrah soon as I turn and cross onto Atria

and the full thon runners come abounding…

Like black gazelles…they are sight to behold

Yipee I've beaten them…paisa vasool

Onto slumdog soundtrack now…

Boy am I charged

I flay my arms at ARR's magnificent composition

My hand brushes something matty..

Holy shit..I yelp..

Two enormous sheep and my petrified discovery of them

Raises a few laughs around…

A few cops chase them off the road…talk about sense of humor..

Back on Peddar-thank God no flyover...yet…

I support thee Lata ji…

But WTH ...the climb is there nonetheless

I realize is my real experience that ..

The skin is successful in keeping all my organs in..

Still no stop…

Petite hands hand out glucose biscuits…

God bless them all…

I wolf them down as

A deprived fourth world inhabitant…

And hey how much water have I had…

Chowpatty again…the sun on me

The cap feels heavy

If I survive no cap next year..

Jai ho..says Rahman as if intended…

Jai ho… I echo

The music pounds my drums

I'm desperate

My demons will win-No I scream..

Top gear now-I flick my pod

Its Om by guru Jasraj..

The power that is Om I learn quick

The adrenalin slowly creeps back in

I remember Avis' short note

Ruk jana nahin tu kahin haar ke..

Thanks Avis..nahin kabhi nahin..

3kms to go..I look at OM left

30 mins more

A quick calculation tells me I need

9mins per km to help OM help me cool off as well post the finish..

The demons lose the battle with my head

They're all over my legs and shoulders

Cheaters..

2kms...

Then One…

Over OM I lip read the furios shouts of "come on" from the bystanders..

500 metres...I m making it

I see a placard

“Well done Dad..”

Someone else’s kids

But I know back home that's what mine are saying…

My demons ..ha ha..they're off my back

Flung on the way side

Writhing on the road

Begging to be taken back.

Crying in pain..

As I take that final surge ahead

Cross the line

For Mumbai..

For humanity..

For the power

That I saw by my side as I won my battle today...