Thirties Here we come!!!

So we turn Thirty!!!!!

It hasn't sinked in yet, but I will look back at those 30 years sometime soon. In short, the last 30 has been a busy one with studies, start-ups, jobs, love, heart-breaks, friendships, life-long bonds, parties and many more unforgettable moments. It was fun. But there is a gut feeling that th enext 30 will be the ones that I will be remembered for.

As Selene put it to me

The only time you really live fully is from thirty to sixty. The young are slaves to dreams; the old servants of regrets. Only the middle-aged have all their five senses in the keeping of their wits. - Hervey Allen

Only that I refuse to be called middle-aged :P.

It's been an amazing birthday till now. Friends gathered for my cake cutting. I was down with food-poisioning, yet, we braved a lot of vomits to welcome the thirties with a satisfying sip of single-malt, cake smudging on the face and amazing gifts. And I do want to boast about the best gift ever. I was looking for this elusive out-of-print copy since ages. And Selene made it possible for me

Next sweet thing was my mom waiting all day long, before calling me at 4:36pm and saying "Now you have turned 30".

Week long parties have been planned. Small party today, followed by few card parties, and a big bash on Sunday afternoon. Should be fun :)

So I haven't planned how my next few years are going to be, but some things I want to do are

• Have my own start-up
• Visit one country each year for the next few years
• Watch as many sports events as possible (This itself is a long list)
• Get back to playing sports everyday
• Brush my teeth in the night
• Improve my dietary habbits
• Have a large collection of alcohol
• Keep on dodging the marriage bullet

And some more things that I will add to this list soon.

Cheers !!!!

To Selene - Part III

It's that time of the year when I have to log in and wish you at a place that reminds us of the beginning of the "beshtest" friendships of our lives. And suppose that you don't like the gifts (which I doubt) , I can always say that I am updating this blog just for you, after 9-10 months so you cannot complain (I am cheap like that :) )

A VERY HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY TO YOU

Its a milestone birthday and you must be looking back at the things you achieved, the people you met, the bridges you made and the moments that made you smile or cry. And when you do that , I am sure you will see us like the icing on the cake ( spot-light hamesha hum pe bani rehni chahiye). I am proud to say that the last two and half years that we have spent together is like thirty years if not a lifetime.

And the last one year was no exceptions. And the highlight of it was the trip to thailand. I was going through a previous post of yours of thirty things to do before turning thirty. The trip puts a check on one of the items :). I can proudly say that this was by far the best vacation I had ( Goa vacation ko bhi neeche karna padega iske liye toh :P ).

Last year was full of interesting food ( your south india recipes and my bihari mutton) , long discussion and debates ( I have to admit that I still can't beat you in a debate:) ), crazy dancing nights at our favorite watering hole, vacations, gambling (:P that would be mostly me ), watching movies, shopping, shifting houses and running around to make both our houses a party place and uncountable number of beers.

We did have our share of fights, those difficult and sad moments and those disappointments , but like always, we have come a long way and our friendship is all the more beautiful. You have been my biggest support and like I always say , I have grown with you beside me. Thank you :)

I strongly feel that your decade is here with this 30th birthday. This will be the decade because of which you will be remembered for. No one might believe what I say , but my gut says so ( and you know my gut is never wrong). Even though it's your birthday i am putting a wishlist for you for the next decade

• Write at least five books.
• Learn 10 different cuisines from 10 pars of the world ( refer gift :P)
• Visit 10 new countries (strictly on vacation and of course with me )
• Become very famous
• Earn a lot of money (its only for me so that you can fund my ventures, give me expensive gifts and take me to fancy places)
• Have at least 10,000 books in your bookshelf
• Have a smile for at least 64800 hours while the rest 21600 hours are spent in deep sleep.

I will keep on adding to this list from time to time :)

And after you have done all of it (of course with me being around), I can so imagine celebrating your 40th birthday with you in a hot cotton saree and me in linen shirt, both of us with salt an pepper hair, saying cheers to beer :)

A very happy birthday to you. The magical number always is and always will be 42 :)

Tere jaisa yaar kahan
Kahan aisa yaarana
Yaad karegi duniya
Tera mera afsana

Meri zindagi sawaari
Mujhko gale lagake
Baitha diya falak pe
Mujhe khaak se oothake
Yaara teri yaari ko
Maine to khuda mana
Yaad karegi duniya
Tera mera afsana


Mere dil ki yeh dua hai
Kabhi door tu na jaaye
Tere bina ho jeena
Woh din kabhi na aaye
Tere sung jeena yahan
Tere sung mar jaana
Yaad karegi duniya
Tera mera afsana

2011 : Koi Roko Naa ....

I am definitely late for a birthday post or a year ending post or even a year-beginning post, but yet here I am with a "better late than never" post.

One of the main reasons for such a delay is my job which has been really keeping me busy. Oh!!! Did I tell you I have shifted jobs? :) Yes, now I can be put in the one-that-changes-jobs-every-year club. But, this job is really interesting, just the kind I had been itching to lay my hands on. It's a successful start-up in the internet industry. And for a change from my previous job, majority of my colleagues here believe more in working and not indulging in politics. BTW, the firm is into fashion and luxury items, which means that now, I know what pumps, hobo bags, ivy-caps or faux-fur outerwear are :P.

So, coming back to 2010, there were three major things that happened.
Firstly, I managed to dodge the marriage bullet. There were many proposals and some close shaves. I am sure this year will be the toughest of all. But I am equally convinced this year that marriage is not my cup of tea and also that I don't like this particular "tea". I want to concentrate on my career, do a lot of travelling and many more interesting things on my own.

Second important thing was my job shift. And finally after ages I am actually working more than eight hours a day. I am working on weekends and that too by choice. I am enjoying every moment of it.

And the third and the most important thing is that I am no more a virgin when it comes to Goa. Yes, I finally got to to see Goa, thanks to Selene. There were innumerable occasions in my life when I was very close to doing a Goa-trip and every time something or the other happened. And I was tired of hearing Goa stories. And it was Selene who always said that Goa is one place so made for me. And after one and half years of planning, we finally did Goa. And what a place that is. I like the water a lot, I like beer a lot and I like lazying around a lot. And all of it happened in Goa. There was beer, the sea, more beer, the beaches and yes more beer. We sat for hours sipping beer, devouring sea-food, watching the waves and not uttering a word. We did party a lot in the night and lost money in the casino , but my favorite moments were the quiet ones, sitting on the beach and watching the waves rise with grandeur and collapse in front our feet in total submission. Majestic!!
And I have promised myself that I have to do a Goa trip every year. Sher ke mooh mein khoon lag gaya finally ;)

2010 was a good year for me. I bought my dream car, partied like animals and traveled to a few places . And yes, I shifted to a new house which i intend to make a perfect bachelor's pad. So what what plans for 2011, you ask?

Well, no big plans but some things that I want to do are

• Work harder and build a name in the industry
• Concentrate on my health a little more. I haven't played a sport in ages and that's so not me. 2010 will be the only year in my life where I didn't play at all. But I don't want it to happen anymore.
• Travel to Ladakh. Again, you can blame Selene for that because she says you can travel to whatever part of the world, but if you haven't seen Ladakh, you haven't seen anything. So, hopefully in July will make a plan.
• Also, want to save some money and do a trip to a firang country. The idea is to see at least one country every year.
• There's a strong urge building up inside me . And that is to go the start-up way again. I don't think it's going to happen in the near future, but the itch is growing every day, so you never know :)
• And finally, dodge the marriage bullet again :)

The anthem for 2011 is

Koi Roko Na Deewane Ko

Mann Machal Raha Kuch Gaane Ko

Koi Roko Na Deewane Ko

Mann Machal Raha Kuch Gaane Ko

Koi Roko Na ..

... because …

ik raasta hai zindagi

jo tham gaye to kuch nahi
ye qadam kisi muqaam pe

jo tham gaye to kuch nahi

Experience Life !!!