Itni Si Khushi

I cannot believe that I haven't written a word since more than two years! It's not just saddening, but also downright depressing. Getting caught up in "life" and not dedicating time to one of my favourite things is eye-opening. I think I have been callous to just let go of this passion, and I want to remedy that. 

Here's me promising myself that I'll write more regularly.

This past weekend, I managed to find some time to relax and do what I love most — read. (What else!) It was because my daughter had a playdate with her best friend, busy doing whatever pre-teenagers do nowadays, and basically not bothering me the whole day.

I enjoyed the day reading and watching some TV, listening to all the screaming coming from the closed  door of my daughter's room. It reminded me of a scene in one of my favourite books, Hotshot Doc by R.S. Grey. It's when Bailey and Matt are in their room, listening to Bailey's sister, Josie, and her friends screaming in the living room. 

The book vividly describes a typical scene of school-going girls hanging out together and having a great time. For them, there are no worries outside that room, and no thoughts outside the very important discussions that they have. As I heard my daughter and her friend arguing and screaming, I could easily relate to that scene. It made me sigh in contentment and joy.

Joy that we as parents can give our kids such precious gifts of time and place to hang out with their friends without adult supervision.

Can you ever remember doing something like that when we were kids? Playing with friends behind closed doors was never even thought of, not because it was not allowed, but because there was never a designated "kids" room. There was always one or the other parent around; if not the parents, then the grandparents. Frankly, not being alone wasn't ever an issue. Like all kids, we were always in our world, unbothered by the spying eyes.

Nevertheless, I'm glad to give the time and place that today's kids need to be on their own and have fun. It doesn't mean that we aren't keeping tabs on what's really happening behind those closed doors. But a bit of privacy is good for everyone. :)

Revisions

Exams are on and my days end with revisions. Not for my little one who's taking her mid-terms! The revision is for me.

My little one has agreed to do revisions with me on the condition that I do all her study again after she is done with her revision. So here I am, dreading the revision, not because I am afraid of the little teacher, but for different reasons altogether!

Here's an example:

My work is on the right!

Writing in a four-line pattern is not a joke now. With my fingers that are used to computer typing and not holding a pen, forget even a pencil, it is such a task to make the fingers move to write in a legible handwriting. My little teacher is very strict about not writing beyond the top and bottom red lines.

Whenever I get such a revision, I am reminded of the lengthy answers that I had to write, including the English, Hindi, and Marathi essays in school.

I also need to remember to (deliberately) make mistakes so that my teacher can correct me. The teacher is also very clever. She sometimes dictates the wrong words and "corrects" those in my notebook!

But my teacher is also very generous! If I so much as make a crying face, she will immediately give me a couple of more stars with an Excellent! remark even when I don't deserve it! Such a wonderful teacher indeed!

So the next time you sit down with your kids for revisions, do send a "Good Luck" to me too!

Like Mother Like Daughter

The other day, I was at home having lunch. As I finished my lunch, being in a super relaxed mood, I started talking gibberish. And then I grinned! A big, happy, proud grin!

The reason for that grin is that my daughter, Mahika, does exactly this the whole day. She just keeps talking gibberish the whole day, sing stupid songs, make up songs randomly and impromptu, and sing them in a sing-song voice, with her own music!!

It drives me crazy at times to listen to her songs! It mostly is the words that are just being spoken. So  you might be saying, "Mahika, please pick up your clothes!" Immediately, you'll hear from her: "Pick up your clothes, shadoo-do-do-do-do! Aaya-Munni tells to pick up the clothes shadoo-do-do-do-do!"

Or may be:

Pick up the clothes
Fothes, Toathes, Glothes, Mothes, Shothes!

Duh!!!

But then, I shouldn't really be complaining! You see, my mom says that I was just like that! Ohh...I mean, she is just like me! I used to do all these weird sounds, and be constantly talking all the time. Apparently, my daughter has inherited the wrong genes from me!

But then, to own it, I feel good, even proud! And I get a glimpse of what my parents must have gone through (ohh the boredom of hearing those stupid words and senseless songs!)

It is looking at my own five and a half year old self! 

The Drama Of Fancy Dress

The new year of the school has started. We are covering the portion faster than the last year. And in the middle of all this, we get a notice of a fancy dress competition for the 4-year olds in 3-weeks time.

After last year's experience, we decide to start practising right away to ensure that the little one progresses to the final round! There's a preliminary round, and kids who do well are selected for the final round that takes place a week later.

We started discussing what Mahika wanted to be and she came up with the idea of becoming a house! Oh my!! Couldn't she think of something easier?

So then the journey started of trying to find out what to make, how to make, how feasible it is! By that time a week and a half was already gone.

When I was googling for some ideas, I stumbled upon some videos of kids performing in fancy dress as eggs, and we stuck gold! Mahika now wanted to be an egg!

The next phase of the journey started. I viewed those videos online and came up with some lines that she could learn. I made her practise the lines with appropriate gestures. She too enthusiastically learned the lines without getting irritated by the number of times that I made her repeat them.

We got the costume on rent from a nearby shop and made an egg cutout at home to go with that. Mahika was all excited about the whole fancy dress competition and the egg cutout.

With (more than) enough practice for Mahika (and for me where I had started reading eng. - read ‘engineering’ as ‘egg’), we finally were ready for the D-Day!

The school was thronging with multi-coloured fairies, Barbie dolls, fruits, trees, soldiers, policemen, pilots, farmers, and animals. There were different types of mobile phones, toothpastes and toothbrushes, Dairy Milk, Maggi, Bharat Matas, and vehicles.

A few odd ones that stood out were a newspaper (Mahika had become a newspaper last year-they stole our idea!), an egg (Mahika), a rainy cloud (with an umbrella having cotton on the outside for the fluffy cloud and shiny strings to the umbrella as rain), and a rakhi.

It was a pretty sight! All colourful and exciting! The younger kids were looking apprehensive. The older ones, who had already had a fancy dress last year knew the drill and were looking out for their friends.

Girls and boys with their different props were hustling and bustling to their classes! All those props made me think of how hard the parents had worked! All this for the drama of just a couple of minutes!! So much of trouble, so much hard work…all over within a few minutes!

Some parents had been smart and rented out outfits! Some had painted and cut and coloured and pasted the props themselves. Some others might have just reused items that they already had…There was this little girl who had become a fairy. One of the parents said that the girl must have worn her birthday frock, because every girl must be having a frock like that!

Once all kids had been tucked into their classes, the parents were all outside the closed doors. Only after the school got over did we meet the kids to know how they did! And all we got to know was, “आया, मी छान म्हणाले egg चं !"

All parents thought that their kids had done the best and were expecting that they would be selected for the final round. But only a handful got selected. Mine wasn’t! Frankly, it was a little disappointing! But then, participating is what is important.

To take it in the right note, as one of the parents mentioned, “Thank goodness the kid wasn’t selected! We don’t have to do this fancy dress drama again for the final round!” How true indeed!

The rented outfit is returned and the drama is over! But we still have the egg cutout as a reminder of the good fun we had!!

New Year New School

Mahika started her new school today. It must have been quite an experience for the little girl. New place, new teachers, unknown faces, unknown surroundings, and new friends. But like all new kids, she put up with it rather bravely.

The day started with us all waking up early, getting ready, and starting for school on time. We reached the school well before time to see a whole crowd waiting at the school gate. Various school vans, buses, cars, bikes were parked on the road. All parents with their little ones were gathered together waiting for the gate to open.

After waiting for around 25 minutes, the gate was finally opened. There was a huge rush to go in, just like entering a theatre for a movie. A total chaos reigned for some time where nobody knew which line was for which class, and how long it would take to go in. In the big rush, students and parents were all cramped towards the gate, sweating, and getting irritated by the minute.

But even in that big rush, the little ones were really brave. I couldn't hear anybody crying. Every little one was anxious, and fearful of what lay ahead. But they all were very forbearing and brave. Kudos to the little ones!

As we entered, we could see the school buildings, playground, and the surroundings. We all took our kids to their respective classes and left them at the doorstep.

It was a big moment. My little girl had grown up to go to a big school. Her eyes were so expressive, full of anxiety and fear, yet trying to be brave, and holding back her tears. Although not completely heart-wrenching to see her go, I did feel a little shaken to see her sitting in a strange place, coping it up with everything. Brave sweetheart!!

All parents waited outside the gate for the first day of the school to get over. We formed groups and talked about the school, studies, experiences of interviews in different schools, and remembered our own school time.

Soon enough time was up, and all parents again gathered at the gate. A few first goers returned with crying kids and there was an eerie silence around. Each parent was wondering how his/her kid was.

I picked up Mahika from her class. She did cry for some time on the first day, but was a bit settled as I picked her up. Today, she didn't cry at all. Bless you!

The first hurdle is crossed. More to go. But to start well is half done!

I am proud of you dear Mahika!

... कभी ना बीते ये चमकीले दिन

I had been on vacation with my parents, Sanjeev, and Mahika. And it was a great time. It was a short vacation but really good.

We drove down to the place and for once, I was in the front seat without Mahika. She was with my parents in the back seat. We were a bit cramped with a lot of luggage. But despite that, we weren't too tired when we reached our destination.

Mahika behaved really well in the trip. No tantrums, no irritating behaviour! Possibly because she had her grandparents with her with whom she doesn't get enough time to spend. She didn't complain about the food and ate whatever we gave her.

She had a gala time in the hotel and enjoyed the lavish breakfasts in the hotel. Although she did insist on certain set of her favourite clothes, she wasn't very unmanageable.

And what she really enjoyed was being at the sea. It was her first trip to the sea and she just loved it. She wasn't afraid of the water at all and was bold enough to venture out on her own in the water. She also had fun on the beach collecting sea shells, playing in the sand, and being overall very dirty. It was great to watch her at sea.

I had a minor stomach upset and had to take rest. This trip will most probably be the only time when I could rest when I was really unwell and not worry about Mahika, because my mother was there to look after her. I dozed off to sleep while Mahika played with my parents and could get the much needed rest.

While returning, although I drove for some time, I also sat with Mahika in the back seat, enjoying the breeze, greenery, nature, and the drive. It really reminded me of the song from Dil Chahta Hain..."Dil chahta hain, Kabhi na beete ye chamkile din..." as I looked outside the window. I could see the sun streaming in from the high trees and felt really good.

As the song aptly says, this trip has given me a lifetime of memories that I'll always cherish. I only wish the vacation wasn't over so soon!

Side Effects Of Being A Mother Of A Toddler

As your baby grows into a toddler, the Side Effects of Being a Mother slightly diminish and you develop the following side effects of being the mother of a toddler:

• You can sing all nursery rhymes, even those that you never knew in your childhood.
• You keep humming the nursery rhymes throughout the day.
• You are unaware of any new film songs, or for that matter any new films.
• Your diet has changed from 'bahar ka khana' to 'ghar ka healthy khana' to benefit your kid.
• You keep on searching for newer recipes for snacks and breakfast.
• You use the new vocabulary that your kid has developed. You'll probably use all those words when you are at office and with friends. You'll also use the same phrases and the same intonation.
• As a mother, you would be the only person who really understands your kid's language.
• Your friends and colleagues are most probably bored to death by listening to your kid's stories.
• Your schedule still revolves around the toddler and becomes a little difficult when it is disrupted.
• You have most probably gone through the kid-starts-school phase and gone through the heart-wrenching 'rona-dhona'. If you haven't yet, you'll soon go through that and you must steel yourself for that.
• In gardens and public places, especially in society parks, every parent will ask you your kid's age. The immediate question thereafter is which school you've chosen for the kid. The third question is the fee structure, followed by the board of education, and where do you keep the kid when not in school.
• You'll secretly compare your kid to the other kids of the same age and pride yourself on your kid's progress.
• You'll hear at least 75% of mothers complain to each other about how the kids eat nothing or are extremely fussy eaters.
• Ultimately, though you love every phase of your kid's childhood, you'll remember your kid's baby days and wonder how fast time has flown.

My Daughter Is Growing Up

Mahika, my daughter, is already two and has started Playgroup. It has been a wonderful journey seeing her grow up to a beautiful, adamant, smart, funny, little girl.

Sometimes, she seems almost grown up while at other times she seems a helpless baby clinging to her mommy.

But I am immensely proud of my little angel. At most times she is well-behaved and cares for everyone around her. She has her temper tantrums and drives me crazy when she throws them. But then, no fun without that. It would be so boring to have a tantrum-free child at home.

Mahika has been going to the daycare since last year. She also used to be in the Playgroup class then. That has given her an added advantage of knowing all the rhymes and loves all the activities there.

But since her official class has started, I've suddenly realised how much she has learnt. She knows most of the nursery rhymes and songs. She knows a few opposites too, in English as well as in Marathi. She can count up till seven in Marathi and up till 10 in English. She knows almost all the colours, blue being her favourite. A few months back it was (b)ink. That's pink. She sometimes says 'b' for 'p'.

Although she can say all sounds, she purposely replaces some on her own. So she used to call herself Makka, which changed to Mika. And now it's Pika.

And she now wants to do everything on her own. It is fun to watch her try things out.

Her sense of humor is quite astonishing. She can laugh at all absurd things and even at herself on some word play that occurs inadvertently. Her humor, playfulness, and caring nature endears her to everyone.

The apple of everyone's eye, she's growing up real fast. It won't be really long when she will be totally independent and out there in the big world.

Change Of Status

It's been months and months since I have posted here. The last one was in October when I was staying at my mom's place. Now so many things have changed.

I have now moved to a place closer to office, staying apart from in-laws. It was such fun to set up my own place, decide where to put what, buy the required utensils, and generally manage the household. It definitely is a job to keep a tab on all things in the house: grocery, washing, cleaning, changing of bed linen, ensuring guests have the required things, bathrooms are cleaned, maids are kept in check, monthly expenses are monitored. But I love doing all this and enjoy it immensely.

Being closer to office means I don't have to travel a lot. It also means that Sanjeev can pop up home earlier and whenever required.

Having my own place means my relatives and my parents can visit me without inhibition. I can do whatever I can, place things the way I want them, and generally be the queen of the hive. :)

But most importantly, what has changed is my status. In April, I was blessed with a beautiful daughter. I am now not only a wife, but also a mother. And that makes all the difference.

My daughter - Mahika is two months old now. And these days have gone in a whiz. My mother still works, so she could come and support me only for some time. Now I am alone managing a two-month old baby and the entire household. It is tiring, trying, and frustrating at times. But it is fun.

I am on maternity leave now. After few more months, I'll start working again. I don't know how my daughter will cope up with that or how she will react. There's still some time for that.

But the new status of motherhood is a lot of things. It definitely is fun. But it is also a big responsibility. As a mother, I need to take care of so many things for the baby. Playing with the baby, feeding, nursing, bathing, nappy changing, all those things are obviously there. But what comes naturally is the unconditional love that is showered on the baby. Even with the sleepless nights, frustrating times, and constant attention that the baby requires, one look at the baby and you know you can do anything for it.

So far, things have gone well. I am sure I'll enjoy it more as Mahika grows. Sanjeev and I are both tremendously happy that we have a daughter. Now, it's impossible to think of a world without her. Bless you Mahika!

रात्रीचे भजन

काल जन्माष्टमी. मुरली मनोहराचा आगमनाचा दिवस. खरं तर रात्र. रात्री झालेला जन्म आपल्या कृष्णाचा.
ह्या शुभ रात्री शेजारच्या मारुतीच्या देवळात रात्री साधारण दहाच्या सुमारास भजन सुरु झाले. रात्री श्रीकृष्णाचा जन्म होई पर्यंत चालू असावे.

असावे म्हणाले कारण मला भजन संपायच्या आधीच झोप लागली. खूप शांत झोप. कित्येक वर्षांत भजन ऐकता-ऐकता झोपण्याचे भाग्य लाभले नव्हते. ते काल रात्री जमले.

खरे तर भजन म्हणणाऱ्या लोकांचे आवाज काही खूप खास नव्हते. पण तरीही खूप तन्मयतेने भजन चालू होते. टाळ-मृदुंग, आणि हरी नामाचा जप ह्याने आसमंत दुमदुमून गेला होता. हवेतील कुंद गारवा भजनाचे आवाज दश-दिशांना घुमवत होता.

मला आठवण झाली काही वर्षांपूर्वीची. आमच्या घराजवळच्या मारुतीच्या मंदिरात दररोज रात्री भजन होत असे. तेव्हा रात्री झोपताना भजनाचे हलके स्वर आणि टाळ. खूप आल्हादायक वातावरण व्हायचे. तेच काल रात्री अनुभवायला मिळाले.

आज-काल भजन पण ओघानेच ऐकायला मिळते. गावा-पाड्यात अजून होत असतील रात्रीची. पण शहरात अभावानेच.

भजनाकरिता काही सुरेख आवाज असण्याची गरज नाही. मनात भाव असला की ते थेट अंतःकरणात भिडते. म्हणूनच भजन म्हणायला कोणी "Indian Idols" लागत नाहीत. भोळे-भाबडे, कष्टकरी लोक जमवले की झाले.

थोड्याच वर्षांमध्ये आपले म्हातारे-कोतारे लोके पण नाहीशी होतील, तेव्हा भजन म्हणजे काय हे सुद्धा
सांगणारे उरणार नाहीत. तोवर आपण भजनाच्या रंगी रंगून जाऊयात. 

Letting Bygones Be Bygones

In a budding relationship, with all the trust, love, and faith you have in the other person, it is necessary to let bygones be bygones.

Whether you are in office, with acquaintances, with your family and loved ones, you cannot build on hostile feelings. You need to sit back one day and try and understand what is really holding you up.

When in office, you may come across some of your colleagues with whom you are not comfortable. Yet you need to work along with them. Sometimes, it is much easy to ignore the little quirks that may irritate you as long as the work is done. You can easily do that, because after all, it's for a short time that you are together with that person.

Eventually, you get used to the person and the whims and fancies. You come to accept the person as he or she is until your work is getting done and until that person is not a real hindrance to your job, position, and progress. If someone is a hindrance, dealing with that person is an entirely different story.

But on a personal level, what do you do? When a person irritates you, gets on your nerves, and does not let you be, what can you do?

Sometimes, it's best to ignore. But, it certainly is not easy to ignore and let go. Then at times, you don't know how to deal with a person who cannot understand you, is really self-centered, doesn't give you the required space, cannot understand your point of view, is obstinate, and has entirely different goals.

That's the time when you sit down and make each other understand what the goals are. The short-term goals and the long-term ones too. It is time to sit down and clarify things, make each other understand what you like, what you don't.

Mind you, it's not easy to see through somebody else's point of view. Most of the times, the person who has felt dejected, unloved, and lonely will feel themselves to be martyrs. And for you, that person may seem to be the culprit for all the wrong things that have happened.

You wouldn't be able to forget the smaller fights, the real big fights, and the hurt that has been caused because of being headstrong, stubborn, and unhelpful.

That's when you need to keep patience. Handle each situation very, very delicately. Put forth your points, your ideas in a way that will help the other person see your perspective. The other person may not believe in your perspective, but will at least understand that, finally, that is what your feel. And the most important factor in all this is not to keep reminding oneself of all the fights and hurt in the past. For some time at least, you must keep them away. Keep them on the back burner.

You may want to pick on them again when the issues at hand are resolved. But it is extremely important that at the time when you are trying to patch up things, you let bygones be bygones. Slowly and surely, the soreness, the feeling of being hurt and unhappy fades away. A real understanding between each other develops. That's when peace will return!

Just A Small Gesture Made All The Difference

It was a Saturday and the roads were quite busy. We were on bike and there was a small truck ahead of us.
We were trying to overtake the truck when the cleaner who sits on the left signalled us to wait before overtaking. Sanjeev patiently waited till he signalled back that we could now overtake the truck.

As we passed the truck, Sanjeev waved to him. He smiled a big smile. I waved back too. And the way he smiled was so beautiful.

All along the way, he had been guiding other vehicles, allowing them to overtake, or signalling them to wait their turn. He was an old man, with missing teeth, unshaven face, and yet with a beautiful smile.

We both waving to him was such a wonderful thing. He smiled a smile that brought tears in my eyes. He was so happy to be acknowledged for the small work that he was doing. Perhaps for him it was nothing extraordinary. But to get attention for your routine work, to be acknowledged and thanked for that, was great for him. His face expressed the sincerity and truthfulness that he had. His old, wrinkled face that was full of the wisdom of so many years exuded the childlike joy that he felt when we acknowledged him.

When he waved back, it was just like waving back to his own kids, and giving them that lovely smile that makes your heart jump with joy.

Just a small effort from us was needed to make that man feel happy and loved and acknowledged. Perhaps he will remember us some day, perhaps he won't. But I will always remember that old man's blissful face. I will remember how it seemed like he was blessing when he waved back to us.

The man was certainly old, but I do wish that in the remainder of his life, he stays happy.

Just one gesture makes so much of difference in the world. World is beautiful! Let's try and make it more beautiful!

Shakespearean Words By Baba

It is not the thing in itself that is good or bad.
It is the maker of the thing and what thou thinkest of him
That makes it thus or thus.
Done by the one, it is remarkable,
Done by the other, it is reprehensible.
Done by the one, it is commendable,
Done by the other, it is condemnable.
And thereby hangs many a tale.

Story behind these lines

Baba: Can you recall from which Shakespearean play these lines are?
(He recited the lines.)
Me: Are they from The Winter's Tale?
Baba: (Smiling cheekily, pointing to himself) They are by this Shakespeare!

Amazing what Baba can come up with!

Baba As A Teacher

Baba has always been a great teacher, be it English grammar, Sanskrit shlokas, English literature, and even Marathi literature. He has always helped us understand the grammar rules and the logical ways of learning a language. And he has always been a humorous teacher. He would explain things in a funny way, giving funny anecdotes, play on words and bring out the humor in the language.

But of all this, I become proudest when I hear his praises from his students. All over Pune, somewhere in a mall, on a road, in a hotel, in a ticket line, we come across his students. All of them say that he has not changed a bit since all those years. They name the students from the batch, the year when he taught them.

Baba never remembers them. He never remembers names or faces. But his students remember him even after so many years. That, I think is the sign of the greatness of a person. That people remember him even after so many years, including the way Baba taught, what subjects he taught, his jokes, his personality. That is when I feel proudest!

I feel emotional and extremely happy to see his students bowing down to take his blessings. I grin madly when I hear the students telling their spouses or friends who are with them about how wonderful a teacher he was, how much it has affected them, and how much they still remember him.

Baba has taught students of standard five to right up to the university. Now-a-days he teaches English to students appearing for competitive exams. There have been so many cases where students have remembered him in the smallest possible ways and repaid him.

I remember a Bengali student, Shaunak, who used to come home to learn English. After he passed his exams with flying colours, his parents had specially come to present Baba a gift. They had also gifted Aai a saree. Frankly, it was completely unnecessary to gift a saree to Aai. But that was the power of Baba's teaching and Aai's hospitality.

Another incident that happened recently was when a student offered them a trip to Goa, all costs paid. It is extraordinary how people have reciprocated their appreciation and love. And I love it all. I say it again, I feel extremely proud.

I am so glad to have a father like Baba. My sister and I have been really lucky. Love you Baba!

Chai Time Musings

It's 5 PM and a weekday. In office, after a long-drawn meeting, you decide to take a cup of tea. Because your friends had already been earlier for tea, you are left alone. A cup tea all by yourself is always welcome. Gives you time to relax and contemplate.

And so I walked into the canteen, got a cup of tea and some snacks. I tried getting a good spot at the "balcony," but the best ones were occupied. After around 5 minutes, one of the tables became vacant and I quickly moved on to sit at the balcony.

My office canteen is an open area on the first floor overlooking a road. Across the road as I had mentioned in an earlier post, the Yerwada Jail fields are spread out. There are around four-five two seater tables arranged just at the canteen railing. These are really good for a quick chai and a quick dekko.

The road has been newly constructed. Earlier it was a dusty road, bumpy all over the place. Now it's transformed into a tar road and got a character of its own.

As I sat having my tea, I could see so many things happening around me. People in the canteen were enjoying their break from work. The food caterers were busying serving. A few people were having "chai-time meetings."

What intrigued me most was the road below. Earlier when it was a dusty road, hardly anyone walked by. But now, although not a main thoroughfare, there were a lot of people walking by, going for their work, teenagers talking loudly, gossiping, and laughing away to glory. Some bikers zoomed past on the smooth road. And I watched it all.

It felt as if I was standing still in the vast ocean of activity and life was happening and passing by. I felt as if I was the only stationary object for whom time had stopped. It was a kind of strange feeling. I suppose it's exactly how old ajobas and ajjis feel when they sit at their windows watching people walk by.

My own ajji had her house in one of the busiest places in Pune, right in the centre of the city. We all cousins used to fight for the coveted place in the small window that opened out to the main road. I remember  looking at the people working, talking, walking past, loitering, fighting, travelling. People going on with their lives and we mute spectators. It was like a bird's eye view. It was how God would look at the going-ons in this world, except that it was not at all our creation. Things just happened and we were the by-standers watching and observing. Never playing a part in it.

All ajjis and ajobas would be feeling the same I guess. They must be contemplating on how life has been for them, what future they have in store, what problems they faced, and how they overcame them. What life really was for them. Waiting and watching!

That's what perhaps I will be doing 30 more years down the line. Who knows! I will be one of those ajjis in the window up there, looking down at the fast world around me, thinking of my own life gone by. While everybody then would be in the fast lane, going at a speed of 80 km/h, I would be ruminating at my life in the slowest and farthest lane, going at a constant speed of 30 km/h.

The destination would be in my sight, but no deadline of reaching it!

Royal Rajasthan

I am back from a week long holiday in Rajasthan and boy! What a time we've had! We've travelled a lot and  visited four cities in Rajasthan. There were so many new things, different people, different landscape, different weather, different surroundings, and so much to see and learn and enjoy!

I am going to attempt capturing all that we experienced in our trips in my blog posts here. The aim is to help other tourists to plan their Rajasthan trips. And of course, I want to pen down all my thoughts as I travelled in unknown lands. I also want to note my experiences, my understanding, and the rich culture and history of Rajasthan.

Do wait for my next posts. Till then wishing you all a very Happy New Year! Have a safe, joyous year ahead!

दरवळणारे सुगंध

गरम-गरम, आलं घातलेला, वाफाळलेला चहा...एका झटक्यात सकाळ सुवासिक बनून जाते. अशा चहाचा गंध घेऊन ज्याला चहा प्यायचा मोह होत नसेल, तो माणूसच काय!

प्रत्येक सकाळ ही एक नवीन सुगंध घेऊन येते. कधी पावसाची चाहूल, कधी थंडीची ऊब, तर कधी उन्हाचा तडाखा. प्रत्येक दिवसाचा जसा रंग न्यारा, तसाच सुगंधही. दिवस कसा असेल हे प्रत्येक सकाळच्या सुवासावरून कळते.

चैत्र महिन्यात वसंताची चाहूल लागते. सकाळी उठून एक उल्हासित सुगंध दरवळत असतो. जणू सांगत असतो की झाडांना नवी पालवी फुटणार आहे. नवीन आशा, नवीन स्वप्ने, नवीन आकांक्षा. सारं काही नवीन. निरभ्र आभाळाखाली एक दीर्घ श्वास घेऊन सभोवतालचा आनंद आपल्यात सामावून घ्यावा आणि मगच दिवसाची सुरवात करावी.

जशी उन्हाची तीव्रता वाढते, तसाच सुगंधही बदलतो. एक तीक्ष्ण असा सुवास येणाऱ्या तप्त दिवसाची चाहूल देऊन जातो. उष्णता त्या एका सुगंधात लपली असते. हा सुवास जेव्हढा उष्ण, तेव्हढाच कोरडा. सूर्य आता तापला आहे आणि आता कोणाची खैर नाही असा प्रेमळ इशारा असतो.

पण याच दिवसात एक अजून अलौकिक सुगंध घराघरांत दरवळत असतो. एका टोकरी मध्ये बंद करून ठेवलेल्या त्या फळांचा सुवास घरा-दारात भरून राहिला असतो. उगाच नाही त्याला फळांचा राजा म्हणत. खरा तर आंब्याच्या सीझनला असा एक दंडकच केला पाहिजे की  सर्वांनी उठल्यावर प्रथम आम्रसुगंध घ्यावा, आम्र-फळास वंदन करावे, आणि मगच दिनचर्येस सुरवात करावी. तसे न केल्यास आजन्म आंब्यांना मुकावे ही शिक्षा.

जसा आंब्याचा सीझन संपत येतो तसा येणाऱ्या वर्ष ऋतूची चाहूल देऊन जातो. "आज भयंकर उकडतंय, नाही?" "पाऊस येणार वाटतं!" "पाऊस येउदे एकदाचा, खूप झाला उन्हाळा!" असल्या उद्गारानीच आपण पावसाळ्यास सज्ज होतो.

सकाळपासूनच हवेत आर्द्रता जाणवत असते. मेघगर्जनेसह वळवाचा पाऊस हजेरी नक्की लावणार असे वाटत राहते. सकाळच्या दमट सुगंधाने शुष्क झालेल्या मनाने उभारी घेतलेली असते. पण नेहेमीसारखाच पाऊस हुलकावणी देऊन जातो.

कधीतरी रात्री धुमाकूळ पाऊस पडून जातो. सकाळचा पहिला श्वास तुम्हाला रात्रीची कथा सांगून जातो. वातावरणात, वळवाच्या पाऊसाने केलेला पहिला स्पर्श अजूनही तरळत असतो सकाळच्या धुंध वासात.

वर्षा ऋतूच्या विलक्षण सौंदर्यात धरती न्हाऊन गेलेली असते. दररोज सकाळी अधिकाधिक बहरत जाणारी झाडं, फुलं, पानं, सगळंच  विलोभनीय असतं. याच दिवसात पारिजातकाचा वेड लावणारा सुगंध तुमची सकाळ मोहवतो. रातोरात खुलणारी रातराणी, जाई-जुई, सायली, आणि मोगरा, या फुलांनी तर सर्व आसमंत भरून जातो.

सकाळ-सकाळी फुलांनी लगडलेल्या पारिजातकाच्या झाडाखालून कधी गेला आहात? किंवा, झाडाखाली कोणी हिऱ्यांचा सडा टाकला आहे, असे भासवणाऱ्या फुलांना वेचायला कधी गेला आहात का? फुलांचा सुगंध तर अप्रतिम असतोच. पण झाडाखाली पडलेली फुले वेचतावेचता, जेव्हा झाडावरून पडणारी फुले कधी आपल्या पायाशी, तर कधी आपसूक परडीत येऊन पडतात, तेव्हा काय अप्रूप वाटते! आणि नुसतीच फुले नाहीत, तर त्याबरोबर पानांवरून गळणारे टपोरे थेंब, कधी हातावर, तर कधी पाठीवर पडतात, आणि अंगावरून एक सुर्रकन शिरशिरी जाते.

पारिजातकाची फुले हातात घेऊन बघा, आणि त्यांचा सुगंध मनात साठवा. ओंजळ रिकामी केलीत, तरी सुगंध तसाच टवटवीत आणि मोहून टाकणारा येईल तुमच्या हातांना.

पावसाच्या सुरवातीस अजून एका प्रकारच्या वासाची खासियत आहे. सगळ्यांनाच हा वास आवडेल असे काही नाही. पण आहे मात्र या सीझनचे खास वैशिष्ट्य! छत्री आणि रेनकोट यांचे वास. वर्षभराने काढलेले छत्री आणि रेनकोट यांना नेहेमीच एक वेगळा, खास पावसाळी वास येतो. या वासाने मला कायम बेडकाची आठवण होते.

या दिवसात आपल्याला अजून एका वासाची सवय होते, किंबहुना सवय करून घ्यावी लागते. ओल्या, दमट कपड्यांचे वास. आपण कितीही प्रयत्न केला, पूर्ण झाकणारा रेनकोट-टोपी हे सोपस्कार केले, तरीही कपडे ओले होतातच, आणि लवकर वाळत पण नाहीत. आज पाउस येणार नाही, या विश्वासाने आपण बाहेर पडलो की पाउस हमखास आपल्याला फसवणार. मग ओलं होवून घरी येण्याशिवाय गत्यंतर नसतो. शिवाय रस्त्याने जाणाऱ्या वाहनांना तुमचा कोरडेपणा रुचत नाही. ते पावसाची कमी पुरी करतात. एकुणात कपडे ओले राहून दमट वासाची सवय होते.

असे भिजून आल्यावर कांदाभजीचा वास खुणावतो, आणि "खाण्यासाठी जगावे" ते पटते. गरम-गरम भाजीचा वास का एकदा नाकात गेला की मग ना पावसाचे भान, ना ओल्या कपड्यांचे.

श्रावण येतो आणि खाण्याची रेलचेल सुरु होते. नुसतीच सुवासित फुले नव्हे, तर खरपूस, खमंग, जीभेचे चोचले पुरवणारे, एक-से-एक, पदार्थ आपल्या खाद्य संस्कृतीत आहेत.

दर श्रावणी शुक्रवारी एक वेगळा पदार्थ. जीवती देवीच्या व्रतामुळे दर शुक्रवारी वेगवेगळे पदार्थ बनवले जातात. एका शुक्रवारी पुरणपोळीचा घमघमाट असतो. खीर, घावन, आरत्या, चवाचे कानवले या सगळ्यांचा एका पाठोपाठ क्रमांक लागतो. दर शुक्रवारी कामावरून घरी शिरल्या-शिरल्या असा काही मस्त वास येतो की ते वाण-बीण बाजूला राहिलं, लागलीच पानावर बसावे.

हे झालं शुक्रवारचे. पण श्रावणात तर प्रत्येक दिवसच साजरा करण्यासारखा असतो. घराबाहेर पावसाने चिंब झालेल्या मातीचा सुवास, तर घरात वेगवेगळ्या रुचकर पदार्थांचा. नागपंचमीला फळे, शिळसप्तमीला सांजा, पौर्णिमेला नारळी भात असले स्वादिष्ठ  पदार्थ. 

नागपंचमी ला मेंदीचा धुंध सुगंध. ओल्या मेंदीचा, हातावर सुकलेल्या मेंदीचा, आणि रंगलेल्या मेंदीचा सुगंध वेगवेगळा येतो. जितकी मेंदी रंगते तितकी मज्जा वाटते. पण जशी फिकी पडते तसं वाईट वाटतं. नक्षीदार मेंदीने सजलेले हात जेव्हा पूर्ववत बेरंग होतात, तेव्हा वाईट वाटते. पण आश्चर्य म्हणजे त्या पांढऱ्या हातांनापण अजून एक अती सूक्ष्म सुवास येत असतो!

खमंग, सुरमट, साजुक तुपातला नारळी भात घेऊन नारळी पौर्णिमा येते. पाठोपाठ येते जन्माष्टमी. दूध-पोहे आणि दही-पोहे इतका सोप्पा आणि टेस्टी नैवेद्य घेऊन!

मग वाट पाहतो आपण गणपतीच्या दिवसांची. धूप-दीप, अगरबत्ती, फळे, केवड्याची पाने, कमळाची फुले, लाल जास्वंदीची फुले, दुर्वा, पेढे, खोबरं-साखर, साखरफुटाणे, खारीक-खोबरं, सर्व गोष्टींचे मिसळण होवून एक अनामिक मंगलमय वातावरण तयार होते, बेहद्द आल्हादायक!

गौऱ्या घरी आल्या की आनंदाला उधाण येते. चिवडा-लाडू, करंज्या, अनारसे बनवले जातात आणि स्वागताची जय्यत तयारी होते. खीर-घावन, वरण-पुरण, वालाचे बिरडे, बटाट्याची भाजी, पुऱ्या, श्रीखंड, लोणचे, पापड, अगदी लिंबूच्या फोडीचा वास देखील पोटातल्या अग्नीला आहुती वाहतो.

विसर्जनाच्या दिवशी घाटावर जाऊन नुसते उभे राहिले तरी भरपूर फायदा होतो. घराघरातल्या विसर्जित होणाऱ्या गणरायांचे दर्शन होते. शेवटच्या कर्पुरारतीच्या सुवासाने आसमंत भरून गेलेले असते. आरत्या आणि "पुढल्या वर्षी लवकर या" या घोषात उत्साह शिगेला पोचतो. या सगळ्या उत्सवाचा आनंद तर घेता येतोच, पण त्या शिवाय अजून एक मोठा फायदा म्हणजे वाटल्या डाळीचा प्रसाद मिळतो. त्याकरिता तुम्ही घरातलेच असायला पाहिजेत असा काही नाही हां! येण्या-जाणाऱ्या सगळ्यांना मिळतो हा प्रसाद. कधी सुकी डाळ तर कधी ओली. पण त्याशिवाय गणरायाला निरोप कसा द्यायचा?

गणेश विसर्जना नंतरचे दोन आठवडे म्हणजे आपल्या पूर्वजांना प्रसाद देण्यासाठीचे दिवस. आपापल्या पितरांना श्रद्धांजली वाहिली जाते ती घरोघरी. हा काही सार्वजनिक सण नाही. तरीदेखील जेव्हा घरी "तीथ" असते, तेव्हा गोड वडे, तिखट वडे - खीर, आमसुलाची चटणी. गवार-भोपळ्याची, कारल्याची, भेंडीची भाजी, कढी हे सर्व पदार्थ केले जातात. मला तिखट वडा - खीर हे combination कमालीचे आवडते, अगदी कायम पण खाऊ शकते.

पितृपंधरवडा संपतो न संपतो तोच नवरात्र सुरु. नवरात्र म्हटला की मला आठवतं आमच्या घरी बाबा धूप लावतात दररोज संध्याकाळी तेच. आमच्या आईकडे देव बसवतात. सकाळ-संध्याकाळ पूजा आणि आरती. संध्याकाळच्या आरतीच्या वेळची घंटा आणि धुपाचा सुगंध मन एकदम प्रसन्न करून टाकतात.

घरी सवाष्णी घालतात त्या दिवशी चंदनाचा सुगंध येत असतो. चुलीवर मसाला दूध उकळत असते. एका बाजूस सर्व सवाष्णीना द्यायला घरचे विडे बनवले जात असतात. अश्या वेळेस मसाला दूध आधी घ्यावे की पान खावे हेच कळत नाही.

दसऱ्याच्या दिवशी पुरी-श्रीखंड हा बेत ठरलेला. श्रीखंडामध्ये भरपूर जायफळ घालायचे...नुसत्या वासानेच दुपारची वामकुक्षीची guarantee. दसऱ्याला आपट्याची पाने सोनं म्हणून सकाळी पुजायला ठेवतो तेव्हाचा त्यांचा वास आणि संध्याकाळच्या पानांचा वास वेगवेगळा असतो. संध्याकाळची पाने थकलेली, उदास वाटतात. पटकन कुस्करली जातात. कुस्करलेल्या पानांना पण वेगळा वास येतो.

दसरा संपतो आणि दिवाळीचे वेध लागतात. पावसाळा संपून हिवाळ्याकडे वाटचाल सुरु झालेली असते. पण म्हणून काही रविराजाला विसरता येत नाही. दिवसभर चांगलाच तापतो आणि तापवतो. पण संध्याकाळी गारवा पसरतो. दिवसा पानगळतीचा वास खूपच मस्त वाटतो.

आणि एक दिवस गल्ली-बोळातून जाताना बेसन भाजल्याचा घमघमाट येतो, आणि लक्षात येते की आली दिवाळी चार दिवसांवर. रस्त्या-रस्त्यांवर आकाशकंदील दिसायला लागतात. कुठे चकली, कुठे शेव, चिवडा, लाडू, शंकरपाळ्या, अनारसे, ह्या सगळ्या फराळामुळे दिवाळीची वाट आपण उत्सुकतेने बघायला लागतो. नवीन कपडे घेतले जातात. तुम्हाला आवडतो का नवीन कपड्यांचा वास? मला खूप आवडतो. दसरा - दिवाळी निमित्त घेतलेल्या नवीन कारच्या interior चा वास पण आवडतो.

आम्ही लहानपणी मौज म्हणून दिवाळीला "मोती चंदन" साबण आणायचो. दिवाळीच्या दिवशी पहाटे-पहाटे नवीन चंदन साबणाचा सुगंध, घराबाहेरून फटाक्यांचा वास, आणि सकाळचा थंडीचा वेगळाच सुगंध ह्याचे एक विलक्षण मिश्रण तयार व्हायचे.

भरपूर आनंद देऊन दिवाळी संपते आणि मग कडाक्याच्या थंडीचा मौसम सुरु होतो. भर थंडीत, अगदी दुपारीपण गोधडी घेऊन झोपावे, असे मस्त वातावरण होते. तेव्हा दुपारी उन्हात गेले की थंडीचा वास दरवळत असतो. याच दिवसांमध्ये दुपारच्या चारच्या वाफाळलेल्या चहाचे महत्व कळते.

जानेवारीमध्ये संक्रांत येते गुळपोळी घेऊनच. गरम-गरम गुळपोळी, त्यावर चमचाभर साजूक तूप, आणि चवीला बटाट्याची भाजी. ह्या combination ला तोडच नाही.

मग येतो वर्षातला शेवटचा सन, होळी! रंग, फुगे, पाणी, संध्याकाळची होळी, अन अर्थात पुरणपोळी. प्रत्येक सणाची काय वेगळी मजा असते ना! संध्याकाळच्या पेटलेल्या होळीने सर्वत्र गर्मी पसरते. येणाऱ्या वसंत ऋतूची चाहूल अलगद देऊन जाते.

वर्षभर वेगवेगळे सुगंध घेऊन आलेले ऋतुचक्र पुनश्च सुरु होते. गतवर्षीच्या विविध सुवासाची पुंजी घेऊन नवीन वर्षात आपणही जायला सज्ज होतो!

ती. बाबांस आणि सौ. आईस,

ती. बाबांस आणि सौ. आईस,

शि. न. वि. वि. पत्र लिहिण्यास कारण खरं काहीच नाही. सहज मनात आलं, की तुम्हा दोघांशी पत्रातून बोलावं. म्हणून हा प्रयत्न. खरं तर मी तुम्हा दोघांना खूप जास्त miss करते. बऱ्याच वेळेस असं वाटतं की तडक तुम्हाला येऊन भेटावा. पण वेळे अभावी नाही जमत.

आज लग्न होवून दोन वर्ष होत आली. मी रुळले आहे नवीन घरी, नवीन ठिकाणी. तरीही तुमची आठवण पदोपदी आल्यावाचून राहत नाही. आज आई-बाबा काय करत असतील? आई निघाली असेल का कामाला ? बाबांचे क्लास्सेस कसे चालू असतील? असे कायम विचार येतात.

तसे आता "रुटीन" चालू झाला आहे. खर तर, काही महिन्यांपूर्वी असे व्हायचे की खूपच आठवण येते आहे तुमची. पण आता, जसे प्रत्येक जण सवय करतो, तशी मला पण झाली आहे सवय तुमच्या शिवाय राहायची. तुम्हा दोघांना पण झाली असेल कदाचित. तुम्ही "मुलगी सुखात आहे" यातच तुमचा सुख मानता. पण म्हणून मला तुमची आठवण येत नाही असे नाही.

घरात स्वतः काही गोष्टी करताना विचार येतो, की मी कशी होते लग्नाआधी. मग विचार येतो की आई-बाबांबरोबर कसे करायचे मी ह्या गोष्टी. मग थोडा लग्नाआधी करायचे ते, आणि मला जे बरोबर वाटते, अथवा करता येते, जसे करता येते तसे, असे दोन्ही एकत्र करून एक वेगळ्या प्रकारे केला जाते. त्यात पण गम्मत आहे.

आधी सगळेच नवीन आणि वेगळे वाटायचे. पण आता माझा स्वतःचे वेगळे आयुष्य चालू आहे. काही गोष्टी ज्या मी आधी कधीच करायचे नाही त्या करते. आधी ज्या करायचे, त्या आता बिलकुलच करत नाही. खूपच वेगळे आहे, तरीदेखील सारखेच आहे. प्रत्येक लग्न झालेल्या मुलीला असेच काहीसे अनुभव येत असणार.

मला फक्त कधी-कधी असे वाटते की मी मुलगी असल्याने तुमच्या जवळ नाही राहू शकत. त्याही पेक्षा, मुलगी म्हणून स्वतःच्या आई-बाबांची जबाबदारी कमी, आणि सासू-सासर्यांची जास्त, हे बऱ्याच वेळेस ऐकते, त्याचे वाईट वाटते. तुम्ही देखील किती तरी वेळेस म्हणाले आहात...की आता त्या घरचे आधी सांभाळायचे. त्याचे थोडे वाईट वाटते. मग जास्त आठवण होते. असा आपल्या समाजात का विचार केला जातो, हेच कळत नाही. आणि आवडत त्याहून नाही.

मला कायम वाटत राहते, की शेवटी मुलीच्या आई-बाबांचे हात रिक्तच राहतात का?

असो! एव्हडेच सांगायचे होते की मी मजेत आहे. काळजी करू नये. पण तुम्ही दोघे नक्की स्वतःची काळजी घ्या.

तुमचीच,

प्राजक्ता

आठवणी लहानपणीच्या गणेशोत्सवाच्या

आज हरतालिका! आणि उद्या गणेश चतुर्थी. सकाळी उशीरच झाला उठायला. पूजा-अर्चा नाही झाली सकाळी. फक्त देवीला हळद-कुंकू वाहिले. दररोज सारखी office ला पण आले. कामामध्ये थोडा विरंगुळा, म्हणून office cafeteria मध्ये उभी होते, तेव्हा एकदम लहानपणीच्या गणपतीच्या आठवणी आल्या.

आम्ही लहान होतो तेव्हा आई हरतालिकेच्या दिवशी उठवून नाहायला लावायची. माळ्यावर कुठे तरी जपून ठेवलेली, जी फक्त तिलाच माहित असायची कशाची आहे ते, ती plastic ची पिशवी काढायला लावायची. उघडून बघावे आत तर काय! वाळू! मग आई आम्हाला त्या वाळूने पाटावर हरतालिका देवीच्या दोन बाहुल्या शेजारी-शेजारी, आणि त्यांच्या पुढ्यात महादेवाची पिंडी, असे तयार करायला लावायची. (उजवीकडे काढून दाखवले आहे.)

मग त्या पाटावर साग्रसंगीत पूजा व्हायची. हळद-कुंकू, गंध, अक्षता, फुले, पत्री, हे सगळे वाहायचे, दूध-साखरेचा नैवेद्य दाखवायचा. एखादे फळ असेल तर ते देखील ठेवायचे देवापुढे. त्या नंतरच खायला मिळायचे. भूक लागलेली असायची. पण "आजच्या दिवस तरी जरा दम धर" असे सकाळीच ऐकवलेले असायचे. मग गपचूप पूजा व्हायची वाट बघायची.

आम्ही खरी वाट बघायचो ते हरतालिकेच्या संध्याकाळची. आई ऑफिस मधून कधी येते त्याची आतुरतेने वाट  बघत असायचो. कारण संध्याकाळचे मुख्य आकर्षण असायचे...शनिवार वाड्यावर जाऊन गणपती बघायचे.

आमच्या घरी गणपती नसतो. म्हणून आई-बाबा आम्हाला घेऊन जायचे सगळे वेगवेगळे गणपती बघायला. काय मज्जा यायची! सर्व प्रकारचे गणपती असायचे...मोरावर बसलेला, हत्तीवर बसलेला, सिंहासनावर शिवाजी महाराजांसारखा, साई बाबांच्या वेषात, मुषकावर, वीणावादन करणारा, कृष्णासारखा डोक्याला मोराचे पीस असलेला, आणि किती तरी विविध रूपे.

खूप सारे काका-काकी आजू-बाजूला असायचे गणपती बाप्पाला घरी न्यायला आलेले असायचे. किती तरी मुले बाप्पांना घेऊन जात असायचे. एखादी हातगाडी दिसायची. त्यावर आठ-दहा छोटे-मोठे गणपती असायचे. सगळ्यांची तोंडं झाकलेली. एखाद्या चाळीतील सगळी मुले गोळा झालेली असायची, जोरजोरात ठरवा-ठरवी चालायची त्यांच्या मुलांच्या मंडळाचा गणपती कुठला ठरवायचा ते.


शनिवार वाड्याच्या त्या पटांगणावर पूर्ण फेरफटका मारायचो आम्ही. रात्री उशीरा पर्यंत. इतके सारे सुंदर गणपती बघून डोळे दिपायचे. मग आमच्या comments असायच्या...हा गणपती एकदम बेरकी दिसतोय, तो फारच cute आहे, हा छोटा फारच मिश्कील आहे. तो मोठावाला कॉमेडी दिसतोय. एकाचा डोळा जरा तिरका आहे, तर दुसऱ्याचे पोट जरा जास्तच बाहेर. काही गणपती "कृष्ण-धवल" असायचे, म्हणजे एक पूर्ण पांढरा, तर दुसरा एकदम कृष्ण सारखा काळा. काही ugly वाटायचे, तर काही जात्याचे सुंदर.

असे करत-करत कधी रात्रीचे दहा वाजायचे कळायचे नाही. मग दर वर्षी सारखे आम्ही विचारायचो: "एक छोटी मूर्ती न्यायची का?" मग नेहेमीचा संवाद व्हायचा.

"नाही न्यायची!"
"पण का??"
"आपल्याकडे गणपती नाही आणत."
"पण का म्हणून? सगळ्यांकडे असतो. आपल्याकडेच का नाही?"
"नाही."
"पण काय होता नेला तर? वाटल्यास पूजा नको करायला त्याची."
"अगं असे नाही चालत. मूर्ती आणली की पूजा-अर्चा सगळी करावी लागते."
"मग करूयात ना."
"आपल्यात नाही करत."

शेवटी मग compromise म्हणून दोन कमळं घ्यायचो. त्या कमळांचा काही उपयोग नसायचा, तरी घ्यायचो. आणि ते गणपतीमागे लावतात चक्र, ते देखील घ्यायचो.  just मज्जा म्हणून. त्यातच आनंद मानून घरी परतायचो.

मग दुसऱ्या दिवशी गणपती बसायचे. ज्यांच्याकडे दीड दिवसाचा गणपती असायचे, त्या सगळ्यांकडे संध्याकाळी जाऊन यायचे. गौरी-गणपती असतील, त्यांच्याकडे जाऊन यायचे. बिबवेवाडी, धनकवडी, मार्केट यार्ड, असे पुणे दर्शन करून घरी परतायचे.

विसर्जन ज्या दिवशी असेल, दीड दिवस, पाच दिवस, गौर-गणपती जातील तेव्हा, त्या सगळ्या दिवशी घाटावर जायचे. विसर्जनाची मज्जा बघायची, आणि मुख्य म्हणजे वाटली डाल, खिरापत, आणि पेढे, असे वेगवेगळ्या, अनोळखी लोकांच्याकडून पण प्रसाद मिळायचे. काय मौज वाटायची! आणि सगळे लोक अनोळखी लोकांना पण प्रसाद वाटतात. अतिशय उत्साही आणि मंगल वातावरण असायचे.

एव्हड्यात दहा दिवस कधी संपायचे कळायचे नाही. आदल्या-मधल्या दिवशी रात्री आई-बाबा गणपती दाखवून आणायचे. दगडूशेठ हलवाई, मंडई, तुळशीबाग, बाबू गेनू, जिलब्या मारुती, हिराबाग, खडकमाळ, जोगेश्वरी, कसबा गणपती, नातूबाग, गुरुजी तालीम, हत्ती गणपती, असे किती तरी. सगळे चालत-चालत बघायचे. कधी कधी थोडा पाऊस असायचा. पण तरी सगळे गणपती cover करायचे. कणीस खायचे आणि चालत-चालत फिरायचे. खूप धम्माल केली.

अनंत चातुदशी च्या दिवशी आमच्या काकांकडे अनंताची पूजा असते. मग आम्ही त्या दिवशी सकाळी अकरा पर्यंत जायचो त्यांच्याकडे. आई प्रसादाला कायम बोटव्याची खीर करून न्यायची. येत-जाता किती तरी मिरवणुका दिसायच्या.

रात्री लक्ष्मी रस्त्यावर मिरवणूक बघायला जायचो. शेवटचा दगडूशेठ हलवाईचा गणपती गेला, की एकदम खाली-खाली वाटायचे. आता गणपतीची भेट एकदम पुढल्या वर्षीच, असे मनात म्हणत घरी परतायचे.

आज इतक्या वर्षांनी सगळ्या गोष्टी जश्याच्या तश्या डोळ्यां पुढे उभ्या राहिल्या. खूप nostalgic वाटले. आठवणी पण साठवून ठेवाव्यात, असे वाटून गेले, म्हणून पटकन लिहून काढले. या पुढे पण गणपती उत्सव होईलच, ढंग नक्कीच वेगळा असेल!

Another Award

...yes, I got another award in office yesterday as an appreciation and recognition of work that I did in the last release.

The last release that happened in the end of July was a real big release, and I had absolutely slogged out for that. I was handling three products, three writers, interacting with numerous, numerous people, and overall handling complicated information.

Out of the three products, the one that I was supposed to only manage was the one in which I ended up writing too. It was being handled by a novice writer, and ultimately I had to review and almost rewrite everything that the writer had done. It was a learning experience for me. It taught me patience and working in pressured environment. I learnt the lesson that for novice writers, I need to adopt a different strategy.

The second product was again being written by a junior writer. I spent a lot of time again in making the writer understand the mistakes, only to find the same mistakes being committed again and again. By the time I could again help the writer understand the fine nuances of writing, I had to concentrate on the third product, which was going to be the toughest of all.

I learnt a valuable lesson while handling the second product. I learnt that how much ever you try to be at all places every time, you cannot. How much ever you try to do all things on your own, you cannot. How much ever you try to make people do things perfectly, they will not. Because, they will do it only as per their capacity.

And finally, that you have to let go. You simply cannot do all the things, all the time, all the way. You have to stop yourself and not stretch. You have to let go and understand that you cannot be there all the time, and that you are not responsible if people do not do work as you want them to do.

The toughest was the third product. Information was hard to come by, and when it came, it came in hordes. Multiple people commenting on existing information in the documents, providing new information that had to be added, requesting to delete some information, requesting for a fourth or fifth review of the updated information. It was crazy! But there was method in all this madness.

I could handle it because I had learnt how it was to handle the third product from the last time. I had faced similar people and similar sources of information in the last release. I was prepared for it. The good part was that people had started trusting me with the documentation for that product and readily helped me.

There were days when I was struggling with my information. At times, I was at loss to understand where to start. For some information, I couldn't see when the reviews and comments would stop coming. A week before closing the docs, I was done with most of the documentation. However, with my past experience, I knew that there was one block of information that was still pending from a team.

That's what exactly happened. It was crazy handling the complex information. But I could do it and get the reviews too. It was a mammoth task of interacting with so many people and getting information from them.

But I have learnt so much from this. I have actually seen myself grow as a writer, as a senior person in a team, and moving on to handle bigger things. I really, really love my work here.

During this last release, it was only once that I was off my rocker when I was facing issues on my personal front and when there was  just too much of information to handle at work. But then, all my colleagues helped me and supported me. My manager especially knew how hard I was working and asked me to take a week off when the release was over.

I have really been lucky. I thank God for giving me opportunities to perform, to excel, to help me grow, and to test my mettle. And I thank Him for putting me in a set of people that support me, understand me, and help me grow!