Happy New Year 2015

It was the night of 31st, of course no need to mention that the 31st means 31st Dec, & I was travelling to my hometown. My observation throughout my IT career says that “Going Home” is the sweetest thing for IT professionals. Same was the case with me & I was happy. I had my dinner & reached the bus stop from where I usually get picked-up by the travels. This time I hadn't done the reservation; just thought of directly asking the driver/cleaner for any available seats as this is off-season for travels going towards my place. I left the room little early so that I can have multiple options to choose from lot of travels, but it took around an hour to reach all the travels at the stop. Till the time I didn't had any option other than waiting, so I sat on a place & got engaged in the road circus.

As it was the night of 31st, means celebrations, parties & enjoyment. Lots of people were heading towards the various parties, DJs arranged. My friends had asked me for joining them, but I had to go to home. Happiness was all around, but not around me. My mood was little mixed with happiness of going home & sadness of not celebrating New Year. And whenever you don’t have complete happiness, the sadness overtakes it; your face shows it completely. In between, I got the travels with 25% OFF on ticket cost, which made me little happier as IT people always look for such offers regularly. The travels was quite empty, I took the 2nd row seat. I don’t like to sleep in travels, hence throughout the travel I was thinking about my mixed mood.

Of course going home makes everyone happy, but celebrating/hanging out with friends gives you lots of happiness until you are bachelor. I mean only bachelor, not single; because once you leave your single’s degree, there are lots of things that need to be taken care of. People who are in a relationship will know these things very well.

As the journey progressed, I was figuring out the different ways people use to celebrate the new year, like “Group of friends decide to the whole day celebration plan like Movie in afternoon + DJ Party in evening + Dinner”; “Family person takes his/her family to a movie in the evening & then to a good famous restaurant in night”. So are other ways, but would like to keep them under curtain for a while.

When my friends asked me to join them, I could have joined but then a sudden thought crossed over my mind What’s point in going to such big DJ party for new year celebration when you do not have companion. Just I said that with friends you enjoy a lot, but when you are with someone special then your enjoyment gets double; And I am sure people having such special person in their life would agree to this. But you can’t ignore the other side of coin & it is – If you are single & you go to such a big parties, there is a chance to find your special one and if God has planned something like that for you, you are going to get it for sure. But God had planned something different for me as I was going Home.

The clock struck 12.00 and I wished my friends a Happy New Year!!!

We were almost midway through the journey with 12.30 AM in the clock & suddenly driver hit the brakes like he was about to break that brake, when the thought of becoming double from single brought a smile on my face. Everyone in the travels was jolted out of their slumber. Some of them cursed the driver as well. I also tried to find the reason for stopping suddenly which woke up everyone. Driver was on the road & was talking with two wheeler rider. The two wheeler was actually loaded with three persons & all of them were heavily drunk. They were coming from the opposite direction & were in our path while overtaking another vehicle. Rather than saying sorry or asking for forgiveness, they were quarreling with driver for not driving properly. They were from the nearby area and to avoid more argument, driver asked them to remove their vehicle from our way. In the mean time, a long traffic was blocked on both sides.

The drunken people removed their vehicle & we again commenced our journey. The driver was talking with his co-worker & from the discussion I came to know that the people were badly drunk & reason for it was New Year Celebration. This is other way of celebration which I kept under curtains & didn't want to mention here. But few things are always need to mention irrespective of the situation, people present, etc, etc...

Still, I don’t understand why people get drunk if they can’t handle themselves? Every time these people say I am OK, I am Fine & in next minute they are on the floor. People do not understand the simple concept – Celebrate New Year with drinks & make some promises, but if they have met an accident on the same day, what they are going to do for rest of the year? How they are going to keep the promises they made on the very first day of year? And this is worst side of New Year Celebration. If those guys would have met with an accident with us, then the life of them would have been in danger along with that the life of driver who wasn't part of this anymore.

I have few friends who are regular member of drinks, but I am proud of them as they always keep themselves in limit, especially when they have to travel after the drinks & when to have to go home just after drinks to avoid home clashes. I also have seen lot of people who are in limit & I am happy that these people really understand the importance of life of their as well as others.

The time was 2.00 AM & our travels was at some dhaba for a tea break. There were other travels also & almost everyone from each travels was outside for having tea in the cold season of winter. Coldness was there in the air, but it feels very good when you are taking tea in the winter & especially on dhaba. I am not a regular tea in-taker, but I don’t wanted to miss this chance of hot & cold combination.

I headed towards the cash counter, where a girl was quarreling with the person on counter for not giving proper change in return. I was standing behind her in queue & was waiting for it to over. Finally it got over & the girl turned back. Unknowingly I went so close to that girl that when the girl turned back we almost crashed into each other. She had already taken the tea-cup & now that cup was on my hands, i.e. the whole tea was splitted on my hands spoiling my hard earned Rs. 10/- note. The girl was already angry & then our cute, at least for me, accident made her more, but somehow all her anger was converted into sympathy for me.

First of all, I was little shocked when she showed a sympathy to me, but I was more stunned when I saw her face. It was crystal clear glowing in moon light, complete black eyes & chiseled round face. I was completely like “Uncle muh to band karo!!!” or “Ek Ladki ko Dekha to aisa laga..” 

In a minute I felt like I am in heaven & one of the angel is in front of me. I was looking at her face like I am the only one who has got chance to see such a beautiful girl in the whole world. Her whole attention was on my hands & mine was on her face. All around us was a big noise of trucks going on highway, people in the dhaba, but I was hearing her voice only. She was asking for water & saying sorry in between. All my concentration got broken when the person besides me put some cold water on my hands. The cold water in such low temp was enough to freeze my blood, but her touch to my hands kept the temperature maintained. Her touch increased my Blood Pressure with my heart was pumping at the rate of 200 MPH like an F1 racing car.

I shouted on the person in a louder voice for putting such cold water on my hands, but he shouted back on me saying that the hot tea was splitted on my hands. When I saw my hands, both were showing some design made up of brown colored tea with some dots of water, just like we found usually on ladies apparels. I said “Sorry” to that person & “It’s OK” to that girl for showing some awareness of the situation, but mine was completely fall-off.

I went to the wash room, cleaned my hands & when I came outside I saw that the girl was still at the same place & looking at me with a very very cute smile on her face. The smile made her more beautiful than the previous one. She came towards me & asked about my hands. I said hands are OK & asked for forgiveness. We both said Sorry to each other at the same time & it lead us to laugh for such a co-incidence.

For showing some generosity, I asked her for tea & she said yes without any hesitation. Her yes brought some confidence in me. When I was going towards cash counter, she told me give only exact amount as these guys do not give proper change in return. I took two tea for us & asked her to come outside of dhaba. I brought her outside as whole dhaba was looking at us like we are couple & have left the house for our future. In the cold environment, the tea was perfect one to have.

I started the conversation with saying that the tea is very good & she also nodded her head like she was completely agreed with me. We exchanged our name & then we talked little more about my job & her education. She was the student of 3rd year Computer Engineering in one of the best colleges for Engineering. As I am in IT field, she showed more interest in me & that time I feel proud to be an ITian. She was little worried about the job due to such a recession, but I told her that since you are in very good college, you will get a job for sure. That sentence brought a cute smile on her face once more which made me happy as well.

We finished our tea & said bye-bye to each other. As her travels had come to the dhaba before us, it will go before us. She went towards her travels & got seated into it. She was in the window seat; hence I was able to see her. She was also looking at me & raised her hand for final good bye. I also went into my travels & got seated into it.

There were about 10 more minutes for us to leave & suddenly I heard her voice. She was calling me. I went down the travels & asked her, What Happened? Why are you calling me? She was asking for my mobile number. I asked her the reason for same & she said “Don’t you want to meet again?” I just got confused, “What she is saying?”. But I made myself conscious & felt very happy when she asked for my number. I gave my number & she said she will be giving a miss call so that I can have her number as well. She was having a HTC Wildfire touch screen mobile & the wallpaper of the mobile had her cute photo. I think she had taken that photo on any of the Mumbai Beaches.

She called me & my phone rang. I saw my mobile & it was showing my roommate’s number. I got more confused, how she can have my roommate’s number?. I picked up the call & it was the voice of my roommate. He had called me for wishing a Happy New Year. I replied back with same wishes to him & cut the call. I saw around - There was no girl around me, nothing was going, travels was running like a jet in sky & everyone in the travels was sleeping like “Kumbhkarna”. 

All in sudden I came to know that all it was a dream & there is no girl asking for my mobile number. All my happiness fallen down like a bungalow of cards. I was just laughing at myself.

Why doesn't GOD plans this same scene in real?. I hope God has planned something similar in future but just giving me an hint for the same.

By the way, A very very Happy New Year to all. I wish all the happiness of world to you & your loved ones. And please wish for me as well. Also, make sure you follow the 3D policy on road, i.e. “Don’t Drink & Drive…”

The Oath Of Independence Revisited!!!

“आपण हिंदवी स्वराज्याची स्थापना करून एक परिपूर्ण राज्य बनवू आणि त्याची नेहमी रक्षा करू.”



Shivaji Maharaj taking Oath

These are the words of Oath that Shivaji Maharaj took for the establishment of Swarajya. When Shivaji Maharaj was seventeen, they decided to transform what were till then simply games to a reality. Shivaji Maharaj and their friends encouraged by Jijabai and Guru Dadoji Kondeo, decided to take a formal oath to free the country from the shackles of Muslim tyranny. At the cave temple of Raireshwar in the Sayhadris, Shivaji Maharaj and their select band of teenaged Maratha friends slit their thumbs and poured the blood oozing from it on the Shiva-linga.

I had read this oath, when I was in school – 4th Standard, but never thought that I will be visiting this place in future. Since I have been into Pune from 2 years now & this place is only 100 KMs away, I was just waiting for the time to visit the shrine place – Raireshwar.

We all know that, summer starts from February, but you feel the heat in April. This year heat has started suffering us right from the February and it was the main concern for me to arrange a trek to Raireshwar fort. Usually, I recommend one day trek only, but the heat was not allowing me to make it a one day affair. In the mean time, I came to know about another fort in the close proximity of Raireshwar, i.e. Kenjalgad Fort, and one can do these forts in two days. And finally, I decided to go for the night trek of Raireshwar & Kenjalgad forts.

February 4 & 5, 2012 - was the dates fixed for trek to Raireshwar & Kenjalgad forts. I circulated the mail to few of my friends and they accepted the invitation as usual. The plan was to go by S.T.Bus, but it got cancelled and we left Pune on our own vehicles (not my own, but of course my friend’s is mine as well, at least vehicle) with the total head count of 19. The plan was to reach Raireshwar base – Korle Village in the evening –> start trekking –> Overnight stay in the temple of Raireshwar –> Trek to Kenjalgad fort on 2nd day –> Lunch & Return to Pune.

We left Pune on 4th Feb at about 4 pm & reached Korle Village in 2 hours. There is a Sunset point in the mid way of Raireshwar fort & we managed to reach over there in time. I was attending the best moment of my life and Aniruddha captured a great one(he does it every time).

Sunset at Raireshwar Fort

There were 5 people from my project team on this trek. It was the first time for us when we were together and having fun outside, otherwise one can find us in our project space always, even on weekends. All my teammates were having fun & the song came automatically - “Saari Umra Hum Mar Mar ke ji liye…ek pal to ab hamein jeene do..jeene do…Give me some sunshine……”

My Teammates

From this Sunset point, the trek to Raireshwar fort is only of half an hour and it made our mood little unhappy. Hence, I decided to go back to base & start trek and to my surprise the decision was appreciated by almost all. Five from our group (people who didn't wanted to go back & trek) went to the Raireshwar fort directly from the Sunset point & reached the Lord Shiva temple in 1 hour.

Now, the remaining 14 were at the base of Raireshwar & about to start the trek, but before that we had to order our lunch on 2nd day. After inquiring to villagers, we got to know about a family which prepares a lunch. There we had some evening snacks – poha, which was full of quality & everyone dreamed to have this family for breakfast in our offices. We ordered the food for second day & started the trek.

We had brought sweat-shirt, jacket for protection from cold, but in next 15 minutes everyone removed those as it was making us tiring and feeling burden as well . It was a 7 Km walk & the light of full moon made it more delightful. The Moon-light was so clear that there was no need to have a torch. Earlier I said, it was the first time for my teammates that they are on a trek and hence it was taking time. The people who are regular trekkers went ahead & almost lost in the darkness.

After 2 hours of trekking, now we were above 1200+fts & the cold air was giving us a kind of refreshment which no one of us have experienced before. Just the better place to live, rather than the apartment system in big cities. The people were so happy that they called their friends & started telling them the thrill of night trek. Still a 1 hour of trek was remained & we were feeling hungry, so we removed whatever we had brought for eating & grabed it like we were hungry from months.

We reached the temple in an hour (at about 10.30 pm) & had the dinner over there. The dinner was simply great though it was not enough to fill our hungry stomachs. We found some bushes & bamboos around, and bone-fire was the plan. Afterwards, we found a place for sleep & slept there. The coldness was increased little more, which made us to shrink & sleep in close proximity.

Sleeping Time

Bonefire

There is a statue of Shivaji Maharaj, a school atop fort. A sign board is there as well. It gives the information about fort & history. Another 2 temples are there.

Shivaji Maharaj Statue

Signboard atop Fort

Feb 5th – The second day of our trek.We all were set for our next destination, i.e. Kenjalgad fort. But, before we start a morning tea was most needed thing & we found a home which gave us a hot tea.

Trekkers set on 2nd day

Now, we all were on the way of Kenjalgad fort. Sun was rising little fast, actually considering our speed. We were feeling the heat. It was 10.30 am, and we had reached only half of the way for Kenjalgad. The heat was making us to stop in every 15-20 minutes, which actually was leading to the delay, but can’t help. We took a long break in the way & there we had some Glucose – D powder as well, which gave little energy to walk for remainder.

On the right side of our way, the back wtaer of Dhom dam was looking awesome & water had created a structure like amoeba(photo by Aniruddha).

Ameoba

Few of us were leading throughout the way & they had reached the Kenjalgad fort. And we were at the final patch of the fort. It was very risky path as there was a space for only one person or even small for single one, but it has to get crossed & we did it with the help of each other. Without help, it was completely impossible. After one hour we were finally at Kenjalgad Fort with all the players of team tired. Some were tired, some were bumped, some were shivering, but everyone was smiling for photos.

Kenjalgad Fort

At Kenjalgad fort, we had our breakfast at about 11.30 am which is a lunch time for general people. But of course,we are not general ones & that's why breakfast time is 11.30 am. Don’t know about lunch time . Now, it was time for departure. We said bye bye to Kenjalgad & Raireshwar forts, and started to descend. The people who went ahead took the wrong path & were going down with the speed of any car. The path was completely slippery. But they were having the fun of Go-Carting. Following them, we also enjoyed the Go-Carting experience. It was first time for us that we are going down to base of any fort with this speed.

Few of us were too badly tired to walk further for final trail, so we made one clever thing - the people who reached the base first, had to come back again along with the vehicles so that we can take those tired ones on the bikes & make them feel comfortable.

Lunch Time

We had our lunch in the house behind us & walked off from the village at around 3.00 pm. Everyone was very happy & kicked their bikes for Pune. The meeting point for Pune was Sinhgad Bridge, where all reached back to back & got dispersed in no time as everyone wanted some rest to come to office on Monday.

Flying Fox Thru Waterfall @ Tamhini Ghat..

It was 5.15 AM, when my cell rang; the call was from an unknown number. I picked up the call & before I could say anything, I heard the following sentence -

Hi Amol, I will be waiting for you at INFOSYS Circle at 6.30 am.

I was about to say something and the call got disconnected. But I was able to figure out the following things from that call -

The other person in the call was a girl.

She was in a great hurry.

I was confused; lots of questions came into my mind – 

Who was she?

Why she called me?

Why she will be waiting for me?

Before I could get the answers of all these questions, I saw my Adventurizants T-Shirt hanging in front of me on the rope, which I washed last night for my today’s trek. In a second, all my confusion came to the result that, the call was from one of the participants of today’s trek, 

Flying Fox Thru Waterfall @ Tamhini Ghat.

But the question was – Who is SHE?

As usual I woke up half an hour late. I finished all my morning activities like etc, etc.. & called the drivers to reach the boarding points on time. Meanwhile, I received 2-3 other calls from another participants for the same. The driver of the bus, which has to start from my room, called me and I boarded the bus. I told the driver to take the bus directly to Infosys circle, as I was eager to see that girl, who called me early morning.

After reaching there, I walked out of the bus. There were 3-4 girls who boarded the bus. Just to confirm that the same girl has boarded the bus, I called back on that number. Unfortunately, the number was switched-off.

I was about to ask those 3-4 girls, but I thought to wait for another bus, which joined us in next 10 mins (I was thinking that the girl might have boarded the another bus at previous stops). There I met the most awaited person from our core team, Rajendra Ronge. Both the buses started, we did our formal introduction with Idli-Chatani breakfast and then it was the time for our favorite Antakshari.

After 2 hrs of journey (Antakshari), we reached at the decided spot where the Flying fox activity has to be done. As soon as I stepped out of the bus, my eye-sight stopped at such a beautiful waterfall. I just pinched myself to make sure that I am witnessing this creative Nature’s beauty & to make it memorable my friend Amit helped me this way.

We walked towards the activity point, where Jayant Sir  was waiting for us. In next 5 mins, Jayant  explained all the necessary details that needed to be considered while doing the activity. Everyone listened him carefully, and ignored in the same manner. There were two different arrangements made for completing the activity, considering the count of 80 people and doing the same activity on single rope may have taken the long time. Some of us were very eager to do the activity, while few were little conscious and wanted to make sure that everything is working fine. I went 4th; completed the activity and Amit again clicked a nice one! 

After completing the activity, it was a time for Lunch. I had my favorite Shrikhand. By the time we were about to complete our lunch, the Mumbai team also joined us, who did the activity after having the lunch.

While having lunch, I heard the ring-tone of my mobile. This time it was a miss call; but it was from the same number. Suddenly, a different kind of enthusiasm was there within me and I started searching for that girl in all directions. All the girls were busy in having their lunch; no one had mobile in their hands. I called that number and again the same answer - Number is switched-off.

Before I get out of this, one of my friend asked to come and help them to take out the bus which was jammed into the mud.

After doing such a hard-work, it was a time for little rest. Then, me and Rajendra did some trekking; slipped through the way and finally reached the waterfall. It was far away from us, but still it was worth to get a sight of it. We clicked some photos there and returned to our bus.

Now, it was the time for Antakshari rather than our return-journey. Also, it was time to depart from Tamhini-waterfalls; it’s beauty.

We reached at Infosys circle by 6.30 PM; some people left the bus whoever boarded from the same spot. I came to the another bus; reached home around 7.30 pm.

As soon as I reached home, I got a message saying that - “Thank you very much Amol. It was a nice experience, especially getting interacted with you. Thanks a lot again for arranging such a nice trip!!!” 

No need to mention that the message was from the which number; but this time I didn't call-back, because you know it will be switched-off again.