"m" n d rocket

Google "m" and you will find about the movie M from 1931; then it would go and talk about M.Night Shyamalan, metre and the metric system would be next and fact that 'M' is the 13th alphabet will follow...

The fact that I am a physicist (of sorts), the letter 'M' certainly strikes my brain cells and triggers the "M theory"...further still, my connect with the economy stimulates the graphic figures of sales v/s month projecting a wavy 'm', the swaying of the elevations and the depressions taking your thoughts along its wave...

Yes, somethings are innate...look at the 'm'
Now that I am up and deliberating about it consciously, the association with 'm' isn't very recent...on the contrary, it dates back to ages ago...

To me, m brings back multiple memories - the afternoon Monopoly games with KV and Rohan back in 10th standard...can't miss them....how we used to gather every day during the vacations at one of our places and while away the entire noon over the dices...occasionally, Sahil and a couple of other blocs would join too...

More strikingly, and definitely more vivid, are the memoirs of the Swing m...probably m denotes the Monkey pool....it was supposed to be just another swing installed by the RWA to perhaps occupy and lessen the emptiness of the park...I don't know....But what I do know is that 'twas the cynosure of all activities, games and the not so usual evening fooling around for us...

For one, you could always enjoy the glorious panoramic view of the entire park from the top of it...your friends playing cricket, even smaller children hustling and bustling around the li'l merry go round, some of the elderly just lazing on the benches...

I also remember when we used to get on the swing and ask Rohan to shake the entire structure...he was always the strongest amongst our group...and he would do so with his entire might...some of us had a tough time holding on during that quake...but it always gave a kick...I also remember some of us shrieked this one time...but surprisingly, I draw an image of the time when it was none other Rohan who fell flat from the top of the swing - dhap!!! is what it sounded like...none of us knew what to do or how to react...first instinct was to burst out laughing...but common sense prevailed and we rushed to check whether he was doing fine or not...thankfully Rohan was Rohan and he wouldn't let a 15 ft fall let his macho down in front of so many girls...

The m formed an integral part of evening activities for all the kids who used to come to the park...used in a combo with the Rocket slide, it was the foreground for the game popularly referred to as "Uunch Neech ka पापड़ा (ऊंच नीच का पापड़ा)"...the one kid who had to catch hold of another kid and tag him/her...we used to run and get on to the slide which the 'denner' was prohibited to get onto...everyone had their favorite spots...some used to get into the small space inside the rocket top, some used to get onto the m, some used to run to keep the game interesting and alive...

Sigh..you grow up, inevitably...

(My memory has started fading...I am lost for words...feel free to carry on the post...)

Of strange Beliefs called Superstitions...

God...Religion...and the associated terminology...slowly moving towards blasphemy...I rebuked my friend Sunny as he tried to justify the importance of Navratras to me this Saturday night...Having spent the day before researching on my supposed roots - Hinduism, I had very clear understanding of the concept of the Brahman and how this world works as per Hindu mythology...the kalps, the avatars, the deities, the puranas, the Hirayanagarbhas were so thoroughly ingrained in my head that I was reciting the entire history even in a state of inebriation...

But this metamorphosed me suddenly jumped back into time...2001...class 10th boards...VK...I remember myself to be a very pious child then...following all rituals which our holy book prescribed...a very devout creature of god...and similar characteristics...

Anyways, our boards had finished in April and we had thoroughly enjoyed our li'l break in May and June (unfortunately the whole fun after the X boards was partially depleted because we also ran through the inevitable cycle of deciding our fates - Science or Commerce or Arts and then starting coaching...but again before all that began, and after all the enjoyment, the time for the results was nearing.

Now, though, all of us had done decently well in our papers, the proven track record of the mysterious CBSE paper checkers and their notorious deeds in giving absolutely opposite marks started haunting us...What do you when that little voice inside you tells you that it could be you who goes under the guillotine...not a lot many options I suppose...we did what most of us would do....we started praying...every evening, I, Rohan and KV would suddenly disappear...only to go to the temple in Sector - A to pray to the almighty. We were too proud and perhaps shy to be caught praying in our own sectors, but with all the mums on their daily evening walks, you couldn't hide with out being embarrassed...

Hanuman Ji ki Jai is what one of us would say and the rest would join in...in fact, even the pandit ji started quoting examples to other people of how the three of us would turn up every day...we were like the 3 kids who stood out in the world which was heading towards depravity...lolz...I would even guess that Hanuman Ji himself waited for us to turn up...I don't know why but somehow going to the temple every day and praying to god made us secure...or as I saw it, in worst case scenario, we had some one to blame if things didn't go our way...

But that isn't the point...we did what we did then out of sheer hope and expectation - as innocent as it can be...I thought to myself; now, I am too educated, too literate to believe, to have faith, to trust unto him...it wouldn't be wrong to call me a heretic. Surely, some one who starts dismissing his own belief as a superstition should be...

Bam!!!

I fall down from my chair and return to reality...swearing at miscreants of fate....probably, in heaven, Hanuman Ji has a smirk across his face as he says...well done, you!!!

Funny Sunday AfterNoons :P

Its been ages!!! Probably epochs if I am not wrong.

After what seems like an eternity, I am watching Tom & Jerry.
Yes, the same ol' everyone's favorite cat & mouse show ...the gut busting hilarity which has been much recognized for sending watchers into spasms of stomach aches...wait...are you making fun of me...go on...you can, but it won't hide the fact that you love it too...anyways, today's show were no different except for the fact that it ran for like 3 hours...No, I am not complaining...when it comes to T&J, the longer the merrier...

But that isn't the point. As I spent these hours watching the show, my precarious yet trust worthy memory swung nearly a decade back...somewhere around '96-'97.

Sundays!!! Aahh...the one day that both I and my brother simply waited the entire week for...nothing could ever match that excitement, that enthusiasm and that child like joy.
Not because we didn't have to go to school (hmm..well that too admittedly). But the truth is that it was one day when both of us got to spend some time with my dad...

He has always been busy...even now. Though he happens to be miles away, I am very sure that he is still in his office...but that apart, during those VK days, he always managed to take out time from his extremely busy schedule for us - we didn't care how long or how li'l that time was, but the sheer fact that he was with both of us filled us with immense joy. On most occasions, the three of us sat together and watched Tom & Jerry - I think it was aired on Cartoon Network at 3 PM during those days...and we used to laugh like crazy...sometimes, mom used to join us too...but that half an hour on Sunday was like an injection of unadulterated happiness...how the entire home used to be full of our laughter which still echoes in my ears...I still remember how I had a stomach ache after laughing so hard that I couldn't go down to play that evening...gosh, how I miss those days!!! Its days like those which always make me want to reverse time and go back...

Hmm...whatever happens, thank you so much Mr. Chuck Jones, Mr. Fred Quimby, and the duo of Hanna-Barbara :) :) :)

Foreword or Backward...!!!

Every one has a beginning. And every beginning has a location and time.

This Everyone is 'me'.

Some of us folks from the SMS generation would refer to the location as "VK". But the erstwhile Vasant Kunj is the canvas for the setting - my life, my side.

The dateline would read as sans 1992 to the greater part of 2003. But for me, its a lifetime. There are moments which define who you are, what you are and why you are. For me, all those moments are delicately strung in this 11 year long thread.

If you still haven't deciphered what this entire blog is about, its most likely, you never will.
Nevertheless, I wouldn't dissuade you from reading on. After all, most things in this world are vicariously enjoyed.

This post is all about my life and time in Vasant Kunj. Once an isolated, undeveloped mess of DDA's concept of living for a middle income group Delhite, VK is now one of the most desirable places to hide your heads under. The place has seen it all, and I am glad that I was around during this transition. It was my first and last abode in this city. Spending the years that I did here has given my countless memories of my short but very fulfilling life. It has taught and given me everything I know today. Strangely enough, today, I relate to every moment in my present life as a deja vu', a nostalgia of things that I have witnessed or experienced my time at VK.
It is no wonder that I have decided to finally put pen to my thoughts about the most indelible memories of my life.

And yes, I would take this opportunity to personally thank everyone back in VK during my times there...from 782 to 1117 to 4104, its all because of you!

Gracias!