Dreaming...

28th Floor of a mumbai skyskraper
Sounds of waves of the ocean
Can someone paint this picture?
Me in my own creation..

Sun gleaming through the window bright
I get up at my own pace
Soaking in the music and the sunlight
No fight for the rat race..

And then is this home away from home
Where heart prevails and smiles spread
Colorful, red, green and chrome
You and me, love and fred!!

The tram line, and we...

I am lucky to live in a city which is by far the best in public transport system. The need for your own car/ vehicle never arises. Around a year back, atrociously, the bus stop near my home disappeared. This was thanks to the new tram line construction (from Solna to Alvik, in Stockholm, Sweden where I reside). And thus began the journey, which our neighbourhood is still reeling in. The 800 metres walk to the nearest metro station is suddenly extended to 1200 metres. The whole day we have sirens to warn against the loud thump of dynamite blowing the rocky terrain, to build a tunnel for the tram line. I would like to mention that the sound of this dynamite is much less than the honks and noises of the blue line buses in Delhi. You get to feel a thump (reminds me of "Jurassic Park").

A couple of days back, I returned back from work to find a box of Marabou chocolates in my post. The box is specially ordered, and has a "Tack" printed on it. That means "thank you" in Svenska (Sweden's local language).

 There is a note attached to the box as well. I have translated it (the note was in Svenska as well). It is a "thank you" note from the construction company NCC who are handling the tram construction work and SL, the Swedish public transport company. 

The note thanks the residents of the area for their patience, and tolerance towards the disruption of normalcy in the locality. They thank us for enduring the noise, the disturbance in  the walking track and barriers on the road, which have led to discomfort to the public. 
An immediate curve on my face, and all becomes fine. :). I am excited about the whole process now. I am looking forward to the day when I will use the tram to reach my favourite shopping destinations, or to my friend's place. Thanks to the Marabou milk chocolate and the simple thought from NCC-SL, just the concern for the common man, 

Being an Indian, I tend to immediately compare the situation with the construction of the Delhi Metro, whch is the latest which comes to my mind. Just as a reminder and a stark comparision - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11161014


The tram line is expected to be on in the summer of 2013. 

Romance @Anuja Chauhan

I got this book  - "Battle of Bittora" on the shelves of a good friend. That was the only "light" read amongst the whole set of non fictions. I picked it up. I had heard about the title earlier. Once I started the book, I couldnt leave it, and finished it in 3 days (ofcourse it wasnt 24*3 hours). If you are a real die hard romantic "fool", this book is meant for you. Love, blossoming between a handsome hunk and an Indian beauty (not the bollywood type good looks though). I am one of those real romanctic dreamers, and so not to mention I fell in love with the storyline, the characters, the plot, and "Battle of Bittora" (BoB) became one of my favorite rom-com novel.

Next, I ordered a set of books from Amazon, and while browsing, I found a couple of books by "Anuja Chauhan". Well, Anuja of the BoB fame. I instantly ordered "The Zoya Factor". History repeated itself, and I picked up the pick and this time finished it in couple of days (thanks to a relaxed work schedule).

Both the books have a striking similarity. Similar plot, similar love lorn, lustful characters. Similar family emotions in the beautiful blossoming love story. Intriguing. 
The Zoya Factor was the first one, and what a successful one. It was rated among top 5 in many newspaper rankings. A rom-com with the spice of Cricket, the angry young cricket captain Nikhil Khoda (we Indian's worship cricket) and a young girl next door Zoya Solanki, and the superstition. Zoya could make or break a cricket match because she was born at the very second when India won the Prudential World Cup in 1983. Nikhil was a true believer of hard work, and "luck" was not in his dictionary. Wow!! And love blooms!! 
BoB is the second release of Anuja. With this book, Anuja touched the close-to-Indian-heart topic - "Elections". Be wherever, we will follow the Election season, state by state, constituency by constituency. Vidhan Sabha, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, any Sabha, President Prime Minister or Sarpanch - all elections are a matter emotional connect. And so, love during election campaigns, oh wow!! That two a hindu muslim love. The plot was excellent.

Though, "NOTHING OFFICIAL ABOUT IT" - In both the books Anuja could do a lot more though. At some places it seems a true dream (ZF : Cricket captain meets Zoya Solanki near a poolside in a hotel at 12am in the night to discuss the email his coach wrote to the Board of Control chief, no1 notices!! Bwaahhh) And that is why this storyline could be  the bext feed for bollywood superhits. 

But, and a big but - WHO CARES!! Because - Anuja Chauhan - YE DIL MANGE MORE!!! 

So Miss OYE BUBBLY @Anuja Chauhan - When is your next book release??

PS: All views of this blog are personal, and my own, with Arpita Sharma copyrights. ;) 

Dil chahta hai..

कुछ नया लिखने को दिल चाहता है

लगी एक नाव और नदी का बहता पानी,

घटाएं घुमड़ती, गुनगुनाती कहानी,

दिल अकेला कहाँ मानता है..

कुछ नया गाने को दिल चाहता है!! 

रेत पे लिखा तेरा मेरा नाम,

लहरों के डर से सिमट्ठे बिखरते.. 

जब दिल ने देखा उन्हें सिसकते

दिल दुखियारा ये कब मानता है

कुछ नया कहने को दिल चाहता है

Ringing in the new year 2012 - Timeline 2011

Once again, its that time of the year, when you are in the holiday mood, party hard, have fun with friends and at some point, sit back and reminiscence about the 365 (or 366) days of your life and the world. I love watching the news channels (ofcourse now through the online streaming) and recapitulating the best and worst of the year (2011). 

My year has been full of highs, professionally and personally. Just one deep trough, the weight loss plan which never seems to work. I can do nothing more, just thank god for the blessings bestowed on me and my family. 

A timeline with events impacting my thoughts: 

January 24 – Bharat Ratna Bhimsen Joshi dies: A legendary singer of Hindustani classical music, Pandit Joshi died in Pune, aged 89.

 March 30 - India and Pakistan PMs watched cricket: PM Manmohan Singh and his counterpart in Pakistan, Yousuf Raza Gilani watched the Indo-Pak World Cup semi-final and hold bilateral talks. India won the match!! 

 April 2 – India wins the 2011 Cricket World Cup: On April 2nd, India won the 2011 Cricket World Cup, defeating Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in the final, played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in presence of 33,000 spectators. India got world cup after 27 years. India lived Sachin's dream come true!! 

April 4 - Anna Hazare initiated anti-corruption movement from Jantar Mantar in Delhi. It gripped the whole nation during the 12-day hunger strike. The movement has been named among the top 10 news stories in the world for the year 2011 by Time magazine.

June 9 - M. F. Hussain, one of India's best-known artists, died in Royal Brompton Hospital in London, of a heart attack at the age of 95 in exile from his homeland in India.

July 27 - Harish Hande and Nileema Mishra win Magsaysay Award: Two Indians Harish Hande and Neelima Mishra made the country proud by winning the prestigious Magsaysay Award. The award is considered as Asia's Nobel Prize.

October 10 - Renowned ghazal singer Jagjit Singh died at the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai after he suffered a brain hemorrhage at the age of 70. Golden voice, Jagjit Singh made his mark with hits like Hontho se chhoo lo tum, Tum ko dekha toh ye khayal aaya. 

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/top-3-jagjit-singh-ghazals-picked-by-ndtv-com-surfers/213215

October 26 - Sushil Kumar, a computer operator and tutor who earns Rs.6,000 per month, went on to win the top jackpot prize of Rs 5 crore rupees in ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.

October 30 – For the first time Indian Grand Prix, the 17th race of the 2011 Formula One season took place at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Germany’s Sebastian Vettel from Red Bull won the race.

November 5 - Bhupen Hazarika died: Padmashree Bhupen Hazarika, who was on the ventilator for four months passed away at 4.37 p.m.at Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai. Lyricist, musician, singer, poet and film-maker from Assam Bhupen ji  is acknowledged widely in the Hindi film industry for introducing Hindi film to the sounds and folk music of Assam and Northeast India.

 November 9 - Har Gobind Khurana, the first India-born person to win the Nobel Prize after Independence, died of natural causes in Concord, Massachusetts, on 9th November morning. He was 89 and is survived by his daughter Julia and son Dave.

December 4 – Padma Bhusan Dev Anand Died: Dev Anand died at The Washington Mayfair Hotel in London at the age of 88 on 3 December 2011 (4 December 2011 by IST) of a cardiac arrest. Indian film actor, writer, director and producer Dev have acted in 140 films and is a national award winner. He was considered as the top romantic hero of his time. He was my first crush as any Bollywood Hero. 

Apart from these, the year gone by has been very eventful, happy and unhappy moments have adorned India and our lives. I pray the balance tilts towards joyous moments in 2012, and all my family (special mention to Mansi and Karan as they begin their new chapter in life, to Adhishree who will begin her professional life this year, to Arnav who is going to give the final round of Olympiad this year) and friends enjoy the best days in their lives in 2012!! 

All the best wishes and Welcome 2012!!