Every Second

10.48 in the night and there's still no electricity. All darkness around. The night is alive again. The only difference is, that there is an ear-pressing silence everywhere. With no electricity, the refrigerator is silent. The TV is off. The tubelights, which would usually hum right till midnight are mute.

As I lay on my bed, I think of all things that are happening at the moment in the world around...

At this second, waves are lashing on shores.
...birds are flying.
...people are rushing to their work.
...dogs are barking.
...children are playing and having fun.
...winds are blowing.
...people are talking, fighting, discussing, relaxing, working, smoking, drinking, and what not.
...earth is rotating and revolving.
...water is gushing out in volumes from waterfalls.
...rivers are rushing out to the sea.
...writers are writing, readers are reading.
...people are eating and people are starving.
...trees are cut down and made into furniture.
...lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, bears, and other such animals could be hunting for prey.
...people are praying for a better life.
...flocks of sheep grazing out and munching on a content life.
...birds are flying in the open sky and fishes are swimming in the expansive waters.
...time is ticking.

Uplifting Experiences

Ting! The doors open and you hear a cool female voice: "Fourth Floor." People in the corridor rush in just like commuters rushing in to catch the just-arrived local on a platform. And just like a platform that's quickly deserted after the local has left, the corridor is empty.

Cramped inside, you'll barely have space to move. And even if you have, you might feel awkward doing so, ensuring that you don't attract a lot of attention in the closed space. If you see a colleague inside with whom you are not particularly inclined to talk at that moment, you will probably busy yourself in your mobile, watch, papers if you have any in hand, or just pretend that you aren't aware s/he's there with you. If unluckily s/he pings you, you will show your surprise and say a few words to that effect. In reality, you will curse for waiting for the lift and will step out at the next floor even if that wasn't where you wanted to go.

Most of the times, you won't get a ride going up or down when you need it most. That's where nature compensates for your loss of patience and want of exercise. You can almost hear Her say, "Man, you are taking life too easily. Let me put in some obstacles. In any rate, staircases are safer places to move. You'll get more space and can keep moving all the time." You will obviously wait for a long time until one of the cages finally come, typically full. Cursing again, you will run up or down the staircase. And I am 200% sure that the next lift that arrives at your floor is the one that's empty and goes in the direction that you want. But of course, till that time you are halfway up or down your way.

It will so happen that when you wait for a lift for some time, the crowd in the corridor will increase steadily and then when the lift finally arrives, there will be a hustle to catch that blessed cage. Waiters (people waiting for the uplift) will barge in for their emancipation, regardless of their rank, number, or seniority. Youngsters will show their spark of quickness at moving and be right at the end of the cage before you say "May I?" And that's one time again where male-chauvinism is foremost. Ohh, you possibly can't expect men to wait for women, especially pregnant women to catch the elevators. That's old-world gentlemanly behaviour. We are in the modern world now! No one has told them yet that elevation needs high standards.

Finally when you are lucky enough to step in the conveyor, you will get to hear all kinds of conversations. You will get to know the latest score of an ongoing cricket match, lunch plans for the afternoon, movie reviews, critical work issues and their possible solutions, traffic khabar, latest gossip, who's leaving (if you are lucky to have HR folks with your), and even kid-tales if you are (un)lucky enough to get a bunch of working mamas in the lift.

When you go in a lift, remember a few things. First, remember on what floor you are and the floor that you want to go to. Secondly, if you are sleepy, it is better to take the stairs. You will at least shake off your sleep. Because it might just happen that you enter the lift on the fifth floor and keep on pressing the button for the fifth floor when you actually want to reach basement two. If you are lucky, someone will point out: "Madam, yeh fifth floor hi hain!" If you aren't, you might just have to wait for someone else to get in, or till you get back your senses and understand that lifts won't work if you don't make them budge from their floors.

One more thing you ought to watch out for is the direction. It's a universal law that when you are desperately waiting for a lift, the ones going in the opposite direction will all make a stop. None will come that takes you in your direction. Steps are better. They take you up and down at the same time. Staircases also make a healthier option.

Your workplace can be a healthier and curse-free area, if you purposely avoid these iron cages to commute. But then you will also never have such elevating experiences. Ups and downs will always be there. You got to definitely know on which floor you want to get out!

Ting! Ground Floor!

Chintoo Darshan

उठल्या-उठल्या सकाळी

घोष्ट करावी पहिली

उघडावा "सकाळ" आणि वाचावे "चिंटू"

He majha breed vakya. Khatyal, niragas, kadhi-kadhi agau, vratya, lobhas, cute ashi sagli visheshana tyala lavta yetil. Diwasachi survaat majhi Chintoo vachunach hote.

Jevha Chintoo suru jhala tevha kahi tari vegla Marathi madhye asa jhala hota. Halu halu itka chaan misalun gela aplyat ki varshanuvarshanchi olakh ahe asach vatata ata. Mhana ata kiti tari varsha jhali tyala. Tarihi navinya tikun ahe tyat.

Mulancha vishwa, khel, mitra-maitrini, abhyas, navin vastu, bhandana, kadhi tari current affairs, udaharanartha nivadnuka, kinwa, cricket, ashya vividha vishayanvarcha Chintoo vachayla majja yete. Ekhadya diwasacha vachun lahanpani chi athavan yete. Kadhi kadhi, mala pan hech mhanaycha hota asa vatata. Kiti tari vela, amchya gharat asach ghadta asahi vatata. Asach ek Chintoo je amchya gharat baryach veles hota...

Kahi tar itke cute astat ki "Cho cute!" asech udgaar yetat. Hyatlach ek mala awadlela Chintoo ...

Ek ajramar Chintoo mhanje PuLa jevha gele tevha. Ekahi shabda na bolta chatka lavun gela.

Chintoo che Aai-Baba, Pappu, Mini, Baglya, Raju, Neha, Sonu, Sateesh Dada, Joshi Kaku, Aaji-Ajoba hya saglyancha gamti vachayla kharach majja yete. Hats off to Charuhaas Pandit and Prabhakar Wadekar. Hyanchi official website ahe...http://www.chintoo.com/.

Chintoo cha ani majha ajun eka babtit ekmat ahe...ki aamche vadhadiwas phaar usheera yetat. Doghanche hi November madhye yetat ani varsha chya akheris aslyane ajun kiti vel thambaycha asa hota. Aso!

Aaj Chintoo cha vadhadiwas ahe. So, Happy Birthday Chintoo!

An Eventful Evening

Driving, photography, and fretting about the car...those were the events that made my evening yesterday.

With free time at hand, I thought of visiting some places around the city. The first one I chose was Aga Khan Palace. It is a beautiful place. Built in 1892 and donated to the country in 1969, this palace is more known for the samadhis of Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai, Gandhiji's personal secretary. Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai both died here under house arrest.

Just four rooms are open for public in this huge palace. One was occupied by Sarojini Naidu, the other by Mahadev Desai, and the third by Gandhiji and Kasturba. The fourth room is a big hall with paintings, photographs, a sculpture, and some other informative writings, though not enough.

One room holds some things that were used by Bapu that include of all the things forks and spoons. I was amazed. Why did Bapu ever have to use forks? I am shocked and kind of disillusioned too. It has made me think if he really did live in as simple a lifestyle as it was known.

Anyway, the one room that was used by Ba and Bapu can be seen from outside. You cannot enter that room. It is this huge room with Bapu's charkha, and other things, a gaddi, some chairs, and other stuff. A huge bathroom is attached to this room containing a wash basin, a tub, and a western toilet. Really simple living!

The worst part of the rooms is that the paintings, photographs, writings, and other things on display are kept in such a bad condition. Decayed and not cared for, it is shameful that we can't preserve our history proofs in a better way.

The samadhis of Ba and Mahadev Desai are nicely made and lie in tranquility.

Inspite of all the neglect indoors, the grounds are beautiful and well-maintained. Beautiful green lawns, huge, green trees, fountains, and flowers are spread in the ground beautifully. The entrance fee for visiting the Palace are 5 Rupees and I suspect that all those are used to maintain the gardens and not the indoors. I had fun taking pictures in the grounds.

When we returned to the car park, we realised that the battery had run down because I had inadvertently left the lights on. I tried starting it. But it didn't work. Then I tried calling some emergency numbers, but that didn't work out too. Finally the security guards at the Palace helped me start the car by pushing it and starting it. Thanks to them all. I had always seen how cars are restarted when the battery is run down. But that was in movies. I now have a first-hand experience of how it all happens. Of course, I did not jump-start it, because I didn't know how to do it. I shall be able to do it next time, I am sure. I just hope I never have to do it again.

That was how the evening ended.

Godaan

Munshi Premchand...a very respected Hindi and Urdu writer. I came across the translation of his most famous work "Godaan" and I picked it up in sheer curiosity. I was never a great reader of Hindi literature. But I remember having one of his stories to study in school. I picked up the book just to know why it was so famous.

I may not be able to tell a lot about the book. But this book is definitely a good read. The translation, I suppose, could have been better. But I found it entertaining.

Godaan is the story of Horiram, his wife Dhania, son Gobar(dhan), daughters Sona and Rupiya, and other characters in the story, which are quite a number of them. You will meet most of the usual crowd that you will find in a village drama, the local policeman, the sahukars, the pundits, the city-bred folks, the upper-caste and lower-caste people. The novel records Horiram's dream of owning a cow, which is not just the pride of the household, but also considered sacred, the problems he faces, and how society plays an important role in all this.

Horiram's utter poverty, deprived conditions, loans to run the family and household, and social norms that he faces and succumbs to is a major theme in the novel. Loan sharks take away his money, his farm produce, his bulls, his self-respect too. But there's one thing that they just can't take away...his dreams. Horiram is just a representative of the lakhs and crores of farmers who share the same plights. Their world is almost similar to what is shown in the book. And I doubt it has changed much since the book was written in 1936. The socio-economic deprivation of small, poor farmers is, I guess, still the same.

Premchand has very intricately shown a diaspora of themes intertwined with each other. You have the problems Horiram faces due to his loans, the extravagant celebrations at Rai Sahib's place, the city-bred folks and their discussions on politics, money, life, social standards, their hypocrisy, a disruption in social order as high-caste men ensnare low-caste women, life of the city dwellers, marriages, weddings, social festivals, and human emotions all spun in the same tale.

While at one place Horiram's life is dwindling towards ulitmate destruction due to loans, Premchand portrays the exhuberant and lavish life of the city folks who are great talkers of social reform and greater misers who exploit farmers, labourers, and at times, even helpless women. Life at its best and life at its worst...all shades and all walks of life.

I guess at its time, the novel would have been quite forward in its thoughts. It shows a lady doctor, Miss Malti, who has come back from England and who falls in love with a philosopher, Mr. Mehta. In the end they both accept their love for each other but decide not to get married but still stay together and love each other. I think this was an unknown thing at that time...staying together without marrying (although in a city) was not much heard of. Moreover, they might have been ostracised by the society. But Premchand was ahead of his times and had the courage to show this, especially because the lady suggests this option which the philosopher readily accepts.

Premchand also has shown widow-remarriage. Interestingly, Jhunia, who is a widow starts loving Gobar and becomes pregnant. Gobar too loves her truly, but is apprehensive about his mother's reaction. He abandons her at his parents doorstep and flees when he is sure that his mother has taken Jhunia under her wings. Till the end, Jhunia and Gobar are together as husband-wife, yet they are never shown as actually married. I found that amazing.

Matadin, the son of the local pundit ensnares a low-caste chamarin Siliya, impregnates her, and then disowns her when her family force him to eat meat. Siliya really loves Matadin and prefers to raise the child with a quiet determination of loving Matadin forever. She believes that Matadin will come back to her and ultimately he does.

In all this, Premchand shows the hypocrisy of religious men, of men in power, of wealth, of social norms, of principles, of ideals.

Premchand's characters are full of life and three dimensional. Most of the landlords and loan-sharks behave just as they should, just as they have been doing all these generations. And so do the villagers. They come to wish luck for good tidings and thwart the miserables when in dire conditions. That's what everyone does. It's human after all to be there with people when they are going through a good patch and desert them when life turns bad for them. Life's like that!

Dhania is a very strong woman. She is (in)famous for her acrid tongue. She does not take a single abuse, injustice lying down, especially against her own self, or her husband, who is rather a simpleton and god-fearing. She is ready to fight the ridiculous and unjust social laws, yet is held back every time by Horiram. In spite of that, she respects Horiram and supports him. I admire her character especially in two situations...one is when Jhuniya, five-months pregnant, lands at her door. Dhania was aware of Jhunia and Gobar's affair, and had vehemently talked of never letting Jhunia step into the house if Gobar married her. Yet, when she is at the doorstep, Dhania complains initially but ultimately does not turn her out. She welcomes her in house as her own bahu and loves her all the more. She never mistreats Jhunia and showers her love on Jhunia and her son.

The second incident is when Siliya is outcast by the village. Dhania gives shelter to Siliya and allows her to stay at her place fully knowing that the whole village was angry with Siliya. She did not care about the whole world but stood by Siliya although she was a low-caste woman. Dhania's strength, struggles, a modern outlook towards life, pride in her family and kids, heart-wrenching pitiable state, yet her will power make her an outstanding character. I liked her the best in the novel.

When I started the novel, I was only sceptical about it. But slowly I got interested, so much so that I could barely put down the book. When I got up in the morning, I was wondering what all was to happen to Horiram, Dhania, Gobar, Jhuniya, Siliya, Mr. Mehta, Miss Malti, and the other characters.

A social documentary, Godaan is a charismatic tale of Horiram and his life, interlinked with so many others, going through the same hell or heaven at that time. Times have changed. But I guess the society is still the same. The only difference is that Horiram toiled hard to return his loan of Rs. 250. Now farmers have to toil hard to return their loans of Rs. 25000. Sort of déjà vu, isn't it?

Floored!

Beautiful yellow flowers, a nice cake, gifts, and a handful of lovely friends!!! That was the surprise I got today. It was fantastic! It was delightful! I was so happy. It was a wonderful feeling to see friends come and make my day special! Hats off to all who took efforts to make it such a pleasant, heart-warming, thrilling surprise! Especially after a "duh-" Sunday.

Thank you so much Pallavi, Aparna, Shubhangi, and Revathi. You made my day! Love ya!

Life is good! :)

If Wishes Were Horses...

...I would be in Seattle right now.
...or in Mahabaleshwar.
...I would have my own house in Shimla or Darjeeling.
...I would have a farmhouse in Konkan.
...I would have a driver sometimes.
...I would have my own room.
...I would be able to write better.
...I would never have to work again.
...it would rain oftener.
..."Zoka" would be reaired. Or at least, I would get the entire series in a DVD set. Check out the title song of that serial here.)
...Patience wouldn't try me so much.
...I wouldn't have had to make this (never-ending) list.

Walking Back To Life

I saw a programme on one of the channels that featured a factory in Jaipur, a factory of the famous Jaipur foot.

A boy of 8-10 years didn't have a leg below the knee. They showed on the programme how they produced a Jaipur foot for him. It was amazing to watch how they made a foot of wood and nylon fibres. The programme informed that the Jaipur foot can be prepared in an hour.

But the best part of the programme was when they put that foot on to the little boy. The moment it was fixed, he started running and my first reaction was clapping and acknowledging the triumph of life over misfortune. It was an exhilarating moment. Something that I won't easily forget. It was wonderful to see the little boy's face illuminated with a big smile.

He had got his life back and it was an awesome feeling to see him walking back to life.

Here's some more information about Jaipur foot: http://www.jaipurfoot.org/

Clicking Away!

Some of my favourite pictures that I clicked...

This one I clicked in the University of Pune. This is a lamp post and I loved framing it with the green background.

I clicked this one on "Tripuri Pournima, " a sacred full-moon night on November 2, 2009.

Taken at Karla. After I saw this photo on a bigger screen did I notice the cobweb. That made it an interesting picture.

 I liked the red and green colours. Nice contrast! And the sharpness of the flower is beautiful.

 This one I liked for the positions of the two trees. Just two trees at either end diagonally in the picture make the frame interesting and characteristic.

 "Terda" Those are the flowers. I don't know the English name for these flowers. But we use them especially in Navratra, so I liked taking their picture.

 I liked this one for the combination of red, blue, and green.

 Loved this one for the little birdie and the timing.

 Liked it for the perspective it offers because of the fence, the playground, and the building.

 Taken from a film camera two years back, I think. I like this one for the vastness of the landscape and the lone farmer in the middle toiling. The arid landscape bring out his efforts in a stark reality.

 I love this one for the inky blue colour of the sky. It is awesome.

 One nice doggy at my place basking in the sun.

 One small lamp in the darkness. I liked this picture that places the lamp so strategically.

That's all that I could find. I think these are enough pics at the moment.

"Preetam Aan Milo"

Have you seen the movie "Angoor"? It is a hilarious movie based on Shakespeare's drama A Comedy of Errors. In Angoor, there is one scene where Sanjeev Kumar tells Deven Varma to sing the song "Preetam Aan Milo" as a code word.

Do you remember different code words that you use? These could be used in daily life as well as in some special occasions.

I remember when we were kids, our parents had to keep us home alone. Our old home then did not have a double door. So, we had some code words. My dad taught me and my sister that it is called "paravalicha shabda." It used to be any simple word. One day, when we were alone at home, he knocked and we actually asked "Paravalicha shabda kay?" He did answer. And when we allowed him in the house, he told us that we shouldn't ask that question. Just ask "who are you?" or a question that is related to the answer. That was my first introduction to a code word.

Have you come across similar code words? I know of people who use code words while talking. For example, some people are given code names which are used while talking in general public. This gives them freedom to talk whatever they want without letting others know of what they are talking. We had named our manager "kawla" for his extra-stringent management. We could talk about him in front of others and have fun at his expense.

"Gondya ala re" was another such code word used by the brave Chapekar brothers to assassinate Charles Walter Rand. There is an excellent film about these Chapekar brothers and the assassination. If you care to read about it, here it is: 22 June 1897.

Can you remember one of the famous code words that we have always heard about? Let me give you a hint...it's an Arabian tale. Can you recall it now? Here's it: Khul Ja Sim Sim. Very famous words!

And all those underworld code words...khoka, peti, ghoda...all have become well-known because of films. Filmwallahs would know these code words. They are usually in contact with the underworld, or so we hear always.

Anyway, so such are code words...fun with words.

Some Things Are Good Old

Some things taste better when they are old rather than when new.

Puranpoli...Majha asa thaam mat ahe ki puranpoli hi masta tupa barobar khavi. Ti dekhil kaal keleli aaj khavi. Kay surmat lagte...ahahaha! Tashich gulachi poli dekhil. Awesome lagte.

Another dish that tastes better when old is "Birada." Mala mahit nahi ki birada he kiti janana mahit asel. Birada he kadvya valancha kartat. Koknatlya lokana sahasa ha prakaar mahit asto. Kadve valanche vividh prakaar banavta yetat. Pan mala tyatla sadha birada hech sarvat awadta. Ani te dekhil kelyachya dusrya diwashi khalla ki kay smacking lagta...slllllrrrrrppppp. Arthat birada he sahasa kelelya diwashich sampta karan jyana awadta, te tar taav martat. Tya mule jar dusrya diwashi milala tar mag tumcha nasheeb joravar ahe asa mhanayla harkat nahi.

Sarva prakarchi "murleli" lonchi jevhadi juni tevhadi changli lagtat. Majhya matanusar ambyachi ani limbachi lonchi sarvat chaan lagtat jast murali ki.

Shrikhanda pan chaan lagta dusrya diwashi. Tyat tumhi toop ghalun kadhi khalla ahe ka? Ekda try kara, masta lagta ekdam. Perhaps tumhala ti chav ruchnaar nahi. Pan toop pan assal gharcha pahije haan, shudhdha gaicha (ashudhdha gaiche kase aste kinwa lagte mahit nahi).

Ani ho, majhya aai ne kelela chicken. Masta lagta dusrya diwashi pan khayla. Tyat jar te thoda dry kela asel ani dusrya diwashi te bread madhye ghalun sandwiches tayaar karun khalle tar mag....aflatoon!

Ajun mala ya kshani tari athavat nahiye. Tumhala athavatay kahi?

The Sound Of Night

On a silent winter night, when you are all curled up in your bed, reading a nice book, have you ever heard the night sounds?

The crickets noisy presence is felt and you wonder what is happening on the other side of the world. The other half of the world is enjoying the day and you are about to tuck it in. As you mark the page and keep aside the book, you will hear the night musician at work.

You will hear the night watchmen whistling and keeping the otherwise silent night lively. You will also hear them making a characteristic "thok, thok, thok" sound with their sticks. Then you will hear some rash ruffians driving their stupid, noisy bikes at full speed. Sometimes, you will hear the siren of an ambulance and you will hope that the sick get medical help as soon as possible. You will hear some dogs howling happily into the night and also hear some other dogs replying back. If you stay near a cowshed (as I do, right in the heart of the city,) you will hear the tinkering of the bells and wonder how long the cows will stay awake. You will wonder if they ever stop chewing cud at least while sleeping.

As you get cosier in your bed, you finally realise that you have got to go to work next day and try to sleep. Just as you are about to sleep, you are awoken by the sudden, violent grunt of your old refrigerator. Cursing the icebox, you drift off to sleep again.

Devalatil Ghanta

Devalatli ghanta....konihi yava ani vajvun java. Jagatlya teen prakarchya lokancha devalatlya ghante sarkhe astitva asta. Ek jyana bara nahi, dusre jyana nokri nahi, ani tisre jyancha lagna hot nahiye.

Jyala kirkol bara nasel, udaharanartha sardi-khokla-taap, athava potdukhi, aslya mansala je koni bhetatil te salle deun jatat... "Tumhi asa kara ratri zopatana garam pani pya." "Tya peksha me sangto, tumhi satat garam paani ghya. Tyane tumhala itka lavkar bara vatel mhanun sangu...mala sardi mhanje kay mahitach nahi karan me gele 20 varshan pasun satat garam pani ghet ahe." Ekhadyas khokla jhala asel tar tyala: "Madh-halad kha." "Kho-go chya golya satat theva barobar. Khokla ala ki lagech tondat takaychi." "Aho, majha aika tumhi, jyesthimadh theva barobar. Hi ghya...majhya kade nehemi javal astech. Kasa ahe kona na konala tari upyog hotoch." "Majhi sardi nehemi vapharyane jate. Tumhi pan ghya ho...ashshi jaate ki nahi sardi bagha." "Meeth-panychya gulnya kara, halad ghalun. Ekdam soppa upay."

Ata evhade sagle salle ani upadesh aikun manus thodach gondhalnaare? Bara tyacha doctor cha pan aushadh chalu astach mhana.

Arthat doctor kuthala changla hya var dekhil charcha hote. "Te koprya varche Dr. Dixit phar changle ahet. Tyana dakhavun ghya ekda." "Aho te amuk-tamuk hospital madhle Dr. Kalashetty-nchya hatala changla gun ahe. Tumhi tithech ja." "Aho, allopathy jaun det. Tumhi asa kara ayurvedic kadhe ghya. Phakta donda ghyave lagtil kadhe. Lagech thanthanit tumhi." "Pan kafa var upayukta asa pahije na...tumhi na homeopathy aushadha gheun bagha. Majhya kade eka changlya doctor cha patta ahe. Me sangto kasa jaycha te."

He sarva hoi paryanta, bahuda tya mansacha sardi-khokla-taap bara houn to kamavar jayla lagla asto. Mala dar veli koni ase salle gheun ala ki pratyek sallya barobar ek ghanta asa naad aiku yeto.

Teech goshta nokri nasnarya bicharya lokanchi. Hazaar loka yeun hazaar goshti sangnaar. "Tujha arja de majhya kade. Majhe ek olakhiche ahet, tyanchya kade pathavato." "Apan asa karuyat, ki tujha arja ek mahititli company ahe, tithe pathavu. Tithun bolavla ki mag pagaracha karu vichaar." "Sadhya kasa ahe, milel ti nokri ghe. Jasa jasta anubhav milel tevhada jasta changla." "Halli manasarkhi nokri milna itka durmil jhala ahe ki tadjod karaylach pahije."

Ase anek tarheche "premal" salle miltat. He sarva aike paryanta nokri milnara manus itka vaitagto ki aadhi pasunach tyachya nokrichi kahihi atee nasatana ajun hirmusun jato ani samjayla lagto ki tyala nokri kadhi milnaarach nahi. Bichara.

Ani tumhi jar tisrya prakaraat modat asal tar mag tumchi avastha pharach bikat aste. Jar tumche lagna hot nasel tar pratyek "premal sallagara" la asech vatate ki tumchi kahi tari chook ahe mhanun ajun lagna jhalela nahi. Mag pahila prashna pratyek natevaik/palakanche mitra vichartat to mhanje: "Mag ladu kadhi denaar?" Khara tar ulat prashna asa vicharayla hava ki "Kuthala havay? Dinkacha ki alivacha? Nahi mhanje apan apli aawad sangitlit tar Chitale madhun aanata yeil."

Bara hya prashna varun bhagat nahi tar lagech, "Kay ga, tujha tu tharavla nahis ka ajun?" Eke kali muline athava mulane swatahacha lagna tharavane he karante-panacha lakshan manle jai. Ata jag kiti badalala ahe he hya prashna varun kalel. Bara ha prashna vicharnarya bahutansha lokancha asa samaj asto ki changla mulga athava mulgi hi bajarat bhaji ghetlya sarkhi sahaj milte ani ti milavne hi ateeshay soppi goshta aste. Phakta kaan ani dole ughade thevayche astat.

Aso! Jevha majha me koni pasand nahi kelela asa uttar milta, tevha lagech pudhche anek prashna vicharnya karta hi loka asusaleli astat. "Patrika jamat nahi ka?" "Atee pharach distat tujhya!" "Kay phoren chach mulga hava kay?" "Tuch aadmuthe pana karat asasheel ani mulana nakarat asasheel!" Ase sarva prakarche vichaar aikayla miltat.

Bara ya sarva prashnana kay uttar dyaycha hyacha neet vichaar kara. Karan jar tumhi ya sarva prashnana "Nahi" ase uttar dile, tar mag tumchi kahihi khair nahi. Karan mag reetsar tumchi patrika tyanchya tabyat jate (tumcha kinwa paryayi tumchya palakancha patrike var vishwas asel tar!) Mag he lok tya patrike cha "study" kartat. Ani mag vividha prakarche todge sangtat. "Asa kar Vaidehi, dararoj Rukmini Swayamwar chi pothi vaach mhanje lavkar hoil lagna." "Me tujhi patrika baghitli ahe. Tyatun me tujha bhagyanka kadhala ahe. Ek chota yantra tayar kela ahe. Te eka korya kagdavar lihi ani javal thev. Nehemi upyog hoil. Ani agdich kadhi nirasha aali, tar ek chotasa shlok deto, to 108 vela mhanaycha. Sarva adchani door hotil." "Me ek yaadi keli ahe jya nusar jar tujhi patrika jamli, tar tya sthala barobar kahihi vichaar na karta 'go ahead.' Kahi kaljich nahi mag." Bara nakki 'go ahead' mhanje kay? Jar patrika julnara gadi ha gunda, badmaash asla tari go ahead bara ka! Ya upar ek nikshun sangna asta..."Me je upay sangat ahe, tyane tota nakkich honaar nahi. Jhala tar phaydach hoil." Than, than, than! Ghantancha satat awaaj aiku yet ahe ki nahi?

Evhada sagla houn tumhala sodnaar nahit. Tumha samor sthalanchi raangach mandun thevtil. "Aho Vishakha cha aai, majhya nandechya javayachya bhavacha mitra ahe. Itka chaan mulga ahe. Smart, handsome, jhalach tar changlya IT companit nokri la ahe. Tumchya Vishakha karta ekdam sajesa. Kadhi karaychi bolni sanga!" "Me kay mhanato, tya muli la ho mhanayla kay harkat ahe tula? Disayla bari ahe. Ani mothyancha aadar karte. Jatana saglyana namaskaar karun geli. Halli asha muli kuthe miltat!" "Bahergaon cha mulga baghayla kay harkat ahe? Shevati kay manus mahatvacha. Gaav kay, savay hote." Mhanje khedegavat padla tari chalel. Shivay nokri nasli navin thikani tari tyachi kay parva tyana, mulga ani gharana uttam ahe na! @$%#$#%$

Ani ho, he sarva jhalya nantar mukhya goshta te sangtat mhanje..."He bagh, he lakshat thev ki aayushyat tadjod karne phaar garjecha asta. Ya na tya karnane tadjod karavich lagte. Tyachya shivay chalnaar nahi. Shevati kay jeevanat sukha javasa evhada ani dukha mana evhada. Dukhkha shivay pragati hot nahi." Ata mala sanga, "tadjod" mhanje nakki kay karaycha? Lagna hot nahiye, tar je sthal alay to jara banel asel, daru pine, cigarette odhana vagaire goshti karat asel tari harkat nahi. Lagna hotay na, tadjod kelich pahije! Asa chalel ka? Kinwa gharche agdich asanskrut vatle ani vagayla-bolayla kahi patle nahit, tari dekhil tadjod keli pahije mhanun pudhe jaycha ka? Bara dukhha mhanje nakki kay te hi ekda sanga. Mhanje mag amhi amchi kiti pragati karun ghyaychi he kalel aamhala.

Hya sarvatun phakta ekach hota, ki hya sarva prakarchya upadeshakana karmanuk milte. Aamhi mhanje kiti mahaan, amhala yatle (aushadha, nokri-vyavasay, sthala, ekunat aayushya) kiti kalte, ani amhala tumchi kiti kalji he sarva dakhavun jhale ki tyancha karya sampta.

Tyat jar chukun tyanchya olakhitun tumhala nokri milali athava tumcha lagna jamla, kinwa agdi tyanni sangitlela upay tumhi tumchya rogavar kelat ani bare jhalat, tar mag "Bagha, me sangitla navhata tumcha kaam majhya kadun nakki honaar!" he aajanma aikun ghenyachi manasik tayari theva.

Tumhi jar ajari asal, kinwa nokri chya shodhat asal, athava (Dev karo ani ase na hovo) "lagnalu" asal, tar majha ek premal salla ahe...Krupaya swatahala bhumigat kasa hota yeil hyacha vichaar atta pasunach kara, jenekarun tumhi aslya premal sallagaran kadun aapsook vachu shakal.