Bubble

One tries to create a bubble as big as possible. The larger it gets, the level of excitement elevates. But it's of no comparison to the level of excitement when the bubble created is enormous and someone acknowledges that it is stunning. The feeling is astronomical; totally out of this world. But if the bubble is small it does please one but nothing in comparison to a huge bubble. Once you have experienced this you don't get excited with a small bubble just because you like it big and each time you try you want it to be larger then the previous one. Once you are done with the bubble and it pops. Its all over and done with, which is commenced by the question, what next? The level of excitement just drops and you are back to square one and all one wants is something that can top the very last one just to experience the excitement of a higher or similar stature. 

I experience this all the time, especially when it comes to someone special. I just want to top it all. And to make it exceptional the element of surprise adds to it. But once its done, I just feel like nothing took place at all and all I can think of is what next? This is the question that grinds my gears. And over time the surprise factor is not a surprise anymore as it is expected because of which I don't want to repeat the same thing over again. As a matter of fact, it comes to a point where one starts to believe that there is just this much one can do, but the funny thing is that what ever you do after that is going to amaze the One. Not for what is it but for how it was done. Its not always the price tag but being innovative is if factor thereafter. But you aren't satisfied because you ain't experiencing what you did once which was simply out of this world.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

In 2007, on New years eve, I was confused,afraid, disturbed, excited, hysterical, all at the same time. If you haven't experienced it, you don't even want to go there. But it was a phenomenal experience, such that one would love to be in such a fix. 

If one wants something, he should give it a shot and not hold back thinking about the possible consequences. I learnt this during new years last year and I strongly believe in it now because it made me realize that until you don't give it a shot you aren't aware of what you really want and what will make you happy. 

The question that precedes it is "What if??" This argument has always managed to grind my gears just because I would hold myself back. Now I have decided to always give it a shot, this way I get done with this argument and can move on and wouldn't sit back, down the lane, and think, "What if things would have worked out." 

There is one such question that is a splinter in my mind and I am hoping that the New year would disclose the answer to this particular query. 

Happy New Year to everyone. I hope everyone has a blast and that 2009 is unexpectedly better than anticipated. I heard about the New Year celebration issue in Dubai but folks there is loads one can do under such circumstances. Make the best of it as no one is aware of what is kept in store for them. 

Aaite folks cya in 2009, over and out!!  ;)

December 22nd

December 22nd, 2008, last year, was a big day in the lives of the Herekar's. As it was the day when Prarthana Herekar, only daughter to her parents and only sister to her brother, set forth to be a part of the Pachapurkar family, to be know as Prarthana Herekar Pachapurkar.

The wedding took place in Pune because of which I got to vacation to India. As a matter of fact I was visiting India after ten and half years and I had no clue what to expect but like anyone I was hoping for a fun trip. Unexpectedly it turn out to be a trip of a life time, to the extend that at times I feel that I must have been on mescaline and it was a figment of my imagination. This trip is going to be cherish by the Herekar's for life, until something occurs to top it, which is highly unlikely.

The wedding was scheduled during the afternoon because it was considered auspicious as per the priests math. Once we were done with all the rituals, lunch, the whole nine yards we were back to the rented apartment. By the evening, I was all worked up to do something fun and so along with my cousins and friends we went to Gold Adlabs, Pune. We all did have quite some fun played many games, had dinner and also went to the horror house as well.

Eventually, we all ended up going for Taare zameen par. What made the movie hilarious was Jayesh's reaction to certain scenes in the movie. This is one of the movies which I consider as one of my personal favorites, not just because of the fact that it was a good movie but because of the occurrence of a series of blissful events and the movie was a part of it. The kind of events which often leads to the change in ones view point towards life and start pursuing things differently. I actually experienced being on cloud nine. I would love to bring back the time in order to experience a Deja vu and freeze time at that very moment as I would love to live that very moment over and over again.

Piece of Work

Bionic Six, Centurions, M.A.S.K., its a list which is ceaseless. But the ones to top them are TMNT, Tintin, and Transformers. These were the cartoons I would live for as a matter of fact die for. I would watch cartoons day in day out. There wasn't any limit to it. I still do watch loads of cartoons but not to the extend I did at one point of time.

Soon it came to a point where I tried to get these cartoons onto paper and was totally into drawing, painting, sketches, etc. I loved to draw cartoons characters like Mickey Mouse, Turtles, Goofy, and so on. This was a phase, as it just lasted for couple of years. But i still do like the concept of sketching and I did give it a shot some time back. I just drew what ever came to my mind and here is the end result.

Well it's nothing that great, its just some rocks put together and sketched out. I have the rocks shaded taking the light aspect into consideration. Once it was done, I was quite impressed, not because I think I did a good job but because I actually managed to replicate what I had visualized.

This was the very first time and the last time this has ever happened and I doubt I would be able to duplicate what I imagine. Well there is a reason why I have this sketch still with me, there is a lot more to this sketch then just some rocks because there is some kind of logic to it. So far there are couple of people who have seen it, but couldn't make sense out of it. I went into total rapture looking at their reactions.

Now the question that lies in front of you folks is, what is in the sketch? Hint: Very strong liking. Well, I am looking forward to your comments to this particular post.

Flashback

There have been days in Dubai where I would leave my apartment due to boredom and go to my Aunt's apartment to see whats happening at their place. As there wouldn't be much happening there as well, I would stick around watch TV with my Aunt or just talk to her about general stuff. We both enjoyed cricket and so that would be the topic often. After sticking around for a bit she would make me something to eat regardless of time. There were instances where my Aunt and I would pull pranks on friends or family who are just visiting. By the end of the day, it used to seem like a fun day and then I would tell friends and my parents what stupid thing we did.

In Dubai, when ever anyone spoke about vacation it normally meant a trip to India. My parents would plan a vacation like every year or once in 2 years, which I dint really care about, as I preferred staying in Dubai and spending time with friends during summer. The only reason I would consider actually going to India and Bombay to be precise, was because of the fact that I would get to meet my first cousins and the same Aunt from Dubai. Once we got to Bombay we, my family and my first cousins, would plan to visit places within India. I as a matter of fact envied my Aunt and her family because they would travel very often, keep relocating and above all board a plane. As I always did and still do enjoy a plane ride. My Aunt was know for relocating back and forth from Dubai and Bombay. And for some reason if my Aunt and her family weren't there in India and if there are plans being made for a vacation I would try my level best to call it off.

I could get away with murder when it comes to my Aunt. There were times when I was kicked out of my house, for being a moron or for coming home late at night, I dint really have to worry as much, as all I had to do was go to my Aunt's place and tell her that i got kicked out and she would laugh it off and ask me to join her watch some movie or if its really late she would have my bed ready and would tell me that I can do whatever I want and here is my bed ready for whenever I intend going to bed.

Festivals or some occasion that we would celebrate, my younger first cousin and I would always look forward to it because of the gifts that we would receive. But in this case I loved my Aunt's idea of gifts, as her gift would always be an envelope with my name on it. This would excite me the most as I always knew that it was going to be cash.

Even though we were a nuclear family, the way we lived and did things, did seem like my first cousins and I were from an extended family. Every individual in this extended family was consulted for different things and I was called in when there is anything related to technology such as computers, video games, tv, home theater systems, etc. Till date this particular fact remains the same to the extend that my younger cousin calls me internationally from India and would ask for my help. My Aunt wouldn't even have a second though of what I had to say and would go by my word. To add to this my Aunt had a special corner for her son and I. My younger cousin and I would by default get the best in every aspect from gifts to complements. Taking all this into consideration I did actually tell my friends that we are an extended family.

All this reduced drastically when I relocated to the U.S. to pursue my undergrad and I would travel down to Dubai once a year. But would have a month or two of vacation filled with loads of love and affection which would balance out for the whole year that I would spend away from family and home. I wouldn't have to even name it and I would get it. It was more like my Aunt and my Mom were telepathic. When it came to them I was given anything and everything because they concluded that it would make me happy. The funny thing is that one doesn't appreciate or value such things until there is some kind of catastrophe following it. We as humans take things for granted as long as we possess it.

Imagine walking up the stairways for your room in the dark and to think that there is one more step then there is. Your feet falls down through the air and there is a sickly moment of dark surprise. Its a feeling that no one really enjoys and wouldn't want to experience it again. In the recent past I did experience something similar, but the difference is that the sickly moment lasts for a longer period of time and one would regret it as long as they aren't ready to let go.

On October 29, 2008 I get a unexpected call giving me the sorrowful news of the demise of my Aunt. This is an eposide that the Herekar family is going to dwell upon for a very long time. Ever since I have been living in the past, remembering the time when I would surprise everyone in Dubai by unexpectedly just landing up. My Aunt would have a big smile on her face, ear to ear, and would get so excited with a disbelief that I am actually standing in front of her. She would then hold my face and give me a kiss on my forehead and make me sit next to her till when it doesn't sink in that I am actually back. This would initialize a series of plans where she would take me out for dinner and cook something special for me. She would actually call family and friends and let them know that I am in town and narrate the surprise.

I met my Aunt last in December 2007, when I went to Pune for my sisters wedding. I was so engaged in spending time with friends that I dint get the chance to spend proper and enough time with my Aunt. There were relatives complaining about the fact that I dint spend time with them. My Aunt was the only one to stand up for me and tell the relatives that their allegations are all wrong and no one knew me better than she did. I am still in disbelief that I wont get to see her anymore, talk to her or have her hand cooked food anymore. She would tell me to get done with my schooling as soon as possible, in order to live together as a family. There are many such things and lot more for me to say but there isn't going to be an end to it. I could go on and on. But somewhere I have this feeling that I am going to meet her someday, sometime, somewhere in the future. Such perspectives are often considered naive and as I have claimed it before, yes I am naive.

I would like to add one more thing, if you have every lost someone very important to you, then you already know how it feels. And if you haven't you cannot possibly imagine it.

This post is in the loving memory of my Aunt, Renu Herekar a.k.a Jaanki Desai a.k.a. Renu Kaki a.k.a. Renu Mami, who is always going to be remembered regardless of the occasion. She was dear to all of us and is going to be missed on every occasion. I love you, Renu Kaki.