In tough times!

It was last Wednesday when that deadly news came. The biggest tragedy my life has seen since it originated. Shook me, it did. Well, life's realities are some times bitter. But then, in the darkest of nights the lights shine bright. And the last few days have been days like that. It is dark and gloomy, but small lights, lights showing the next few steps have been ever present. There is HIS magnificent Grace which I will have to write about here someday; But today I want to write about one other light which is keeping us going, through these tough times.

Friendships! Often been taken for granted; In these dark ages the saying goes, that friends come and go with the wind. When the wind is not blowing and the dark days are showing its face, it is often said the friends will no longer be seen. I don't believe it anymore. Exceptions are there, but they are only exceptions.

The friends have kept us going. The phone calls, the innumerable messages, the prayers, the visits have been humbling. Overwhelming would be a better word. A friend booked me tickets, a friend put me on to the plane, another picked me up in the airport, one cried with me, one stayed with us, one cooked for us, and the list is big. Mine, My brothers, my fathers, my moms, my aunts, my uncles, my sisters and it goes on.

Of course family has been the back bone. The extended family has been amazing. And so for me there is no difference between the family and the friends. It has been one big entity. One big family.

Thank you all people. You all have kept us going. Thank you so much

Legends and Longevity - The capital 'L'

It was tense in the centre. The atmosphere was electric. India playing Pakistan. He was young, confident, considered one of the best at the local level. One shot and he will be the toast of the nation.

Hrishikesh Kanitkar had his moments of glory. A swept four in those tense moments against the arch rivals made him a hero. The nation celebrated him. But,sadly life stopped there for him. The average man knew him as a one game wonder. May be even a one four wonder!

As a nation we are self congratulatory. One singular achievement denotes 50 years of progress. But sadly it will be forgotten in the evening. That was the tragedy of the Kanitkars. The next generation will not know them. And that is what make Sachin and Dravid the legends they are.

Of course yes, they had their individual moments of glory. In fact they had too many of them. Dravid had bailed the team on 'God knows how many times', and Sachin had been a permanent feature ever since I knew what television was. That is what separates the men from the boys. That word Longevity. That is what makes them the legends.

When Sachin and Dravid went in to the ground today for one last time in coloured clothing, life stood still for a moment. For a moment, I had a lump in my throat. I know life will move on. And the Samsons of the next generation will become bigger heroes.

But surely, legends live long. In the record books, In our memories and more importantly in our hearts.

How I wish life could be like this for eternity!

So here am I taking a break from life itself! Hell no. I am not quitting. Just taken a break. Plain and simple. Between the rigorous civil service preparation phase to the 'God knows what next' phase. So I don't do anything basically. Just sit and read some thing or blog some times.

It was a typical Friday morning. My friend U messaged saying that he is planning a two day road trip to the outskirts of Pune where he and his wife make their home. I felt envious. I told him, I will try to spoil his trip by telling his wife D (My college mate and a good friend as well) that driving alone is dangerous. This was supposed to be their first trip driving by themselves. The next moment I found myself calling D. D was her usual self. She believes her husband upside down. Though her feminine instinct said the opposite, she will never refuse her husband driving her on a road trip. Yet, she also said "Sam, you should be here! What are you doing there?"

That last statement set the ball rolling. I called my brother to ask whether he can sponsor a trip and got an immediate affirmative. Five hours from that moment I landed in Pune. All this happened without my friends knowledge. D had arranged for a cab to pick me up from airport and there I was in front of my surprised and excited friend the very same evening. Another friend of D joined us that night and here we are, four of us ready for a two day road trip.

The first day we went to a brilliant lush green plateau. The climate was the definition of what we call 'awesome'. The yellow flowers made me go 'awwwww'! The lake on both the sides of the plateau made breath taking view. The silence was defeaning. Life! After taking some snaps we went to a water fall. Two huge water falls just beyond a deep valley make you feel small. 'Wow' would be an understatement. I know I'm going too far, but can't help it. We also went up the waterfalls and were able to take some scintillating pictures in the river about to fall. Then the return back was as much fun as was the going.

The second day was the surprise. D said she had booked for water Rappelling. Never in my mind I imagined what I will end up doing in the next few hours. Around 20 of us were taken to the top of a huge water falls. 150 feel fall is what I consider huge. So we are on the top of the water fall after some walk. Now comes the activity Rappelling. We are to tie ropes around the body and will have to climb down the steep mountain along with the water fall. Oh! what fun it was. Just the purity of adventure. Adventure in its highest form. Suddenly I found myself tied to a rock, climbing down 150 feet clinging on to a rope.The 10 craziest minutes of my life. I even posed for a picture mid way in the air! By the time I got down, my shoes got torn. And I had to walk back, almost a kilometre on four legs in the deepest of jungle along a gentle stream. Huh! I am short of adjectives here. After all four of us finished our turn to come down, we went around taking snaps again in that serene environment. Serenity personified!

Well, It has to end some where. Two of the best days of my life. Full of fun, full of laughter. A Beautiful couple, a nice friend and a kind brother is all it takes to make life exciting. I am back in business. Business of deciding what next. Reality! But, How I wish life could be like this for eternity.


                                                      Just beyond the water fall! Four of us

There I am! Rapelling!