Romancing the Rains...

What is it about the rains that makes a pluviophile's heart go a flutter?

Is it the first raindrop that lands on your head unawares till your fingers that were carelessly combing your unruly hair discover it prompting an impromptu giggle?

Is it the uncanny godliness of the fresh-earth smell that bowls you over?

Could it be the damp nose of your dog that feels drier but cooler and more lovable than usual?

Is it the shorty drizzle or the longish, plump droplets that travel faster than your shamelessly stark ogle and reach the ground?

Is it that heart-skips-a-beat feeling that brings back fond memories of your first brush with romance?

It could be a million things, or more.

I feel it is more about 'romancing the rains' rather than 'romancing in the rains'. It is like falling in love with the idea of love, not with a specific person. But then the person, even if imaginary, would be a welcome treat!

A perfect rainy day is one that allows you to laze in your den with your favorite murder-mystery, a hot cup of coffee, and your dog curled up next to you. You can listen to the sound of the rains and appreciate the magnificence from your window or balcony. And of course, you have a soulful 'raga' playing in the background. It could also be a 'ghazal' or a 'soft romantic' Arijit Singh number. Total bliss.

The perfect rainy day could also be one when you are by the sea -either at the beach or in a café, gazing at the beauty unfolding in front of your eyes. All you do is appreciate what you witness and immerse yourself in that unrestrained love.

Ah well... a perfect rainy day could also be one which brings old friends or family together - a chance encounter perhaps.

As your mind wonders and wanders, enjoy romancing the rains :)
 

My Friend Ganesha!

Ever since childhood, I have been fond of God even though I am not particularly religious.

As a child, my favorite Goddess was Saraswati. Fasting for the Saraswati Puja every year used to be very exciting. It hardly had a religious connotation. I would get to wear a sari, have yummy narkel kul and topa kul (perhaps called Jujube fruit in English), and use doat- kolom to write the Saraswati mantra on coconut leaf. The best thing about Saraswati puja was that by 8 am the puja would be completed and so the fasting ended too! We could have as much kul as we wanted along with sweets galore. And yes, we were not supposed to study on Saraswati Puja...one more reason why that day was extra-special :). Goddess Saraswati has a veena (multi-string instrument) in her hand. Since I love music, I was automatically her fan.

Next, I was mesmerized by Jesus Christ. This may be the impact of spending too many years in a missionary school and college. But there is a certain aura about Christ that appeals to me all the time. Besides, churches and chapels have a calming effect which I enjoy. In my teens, I would buy pictures of Christ, as I would buy of Sachin Tendulkar and Salman Khan. I loved wearing a cross round my neck too. Jesus is symbolic of true love, peace, and compassion.

Thirdly, of course Loknath Baba. I learned about him from my father when I was in Class IV, I think. In Class VII, during my P.T class, one day, my sports shoes were not washed. I had completely forgotten to clean them the night before. In the morning, all I could do was paint some chalk on the unruly pair. It was almost like applying face powder on a black shoe. Our teachers were extremely strict when it came to snow-white sports shoes. I was very scared. When my teacher came for inspection, we were all standing in a row in ‘attention’ position. The girl standing next to me had dirty shoes and was sent for detention. I had kept my eyes shut and was constantly praying to Loknath Baba to save me J. And yes, it was a miracle! The teacher did not notice my unwashed shoes! She moved on to the end of the line and caught two more girls. Ever since that day, Loknath Baba is a family member. He didn’t come to my rescue during my Maths exams though! He asked me to help myself :p.

I don’t know how and when Ganesha happened. It certainly has a Mumbai connection. In Kolkata, in our puja room, my mother has several Ganesha idols. My favorite is a pristine white Ganpati. Mom usually drapes a green or golden silk scarf around him. He looks simple, yet gorgeous. He used to be pampered the most during Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year) celebrations at home.

After shifting to Mumbai, I witnessed a lot more celebrations around Ganeshji compared to Kolkata. Today being the final Ganpati visarjan day (Immersion ceremony), I thought of writing this post. My fondness for Ganesha has grown a lot after I moved to Mumbai. Ganesha has an endearing personality and is more like a friend than God. He always seems so content with himself, perhaps that is the trait I admire the most. In my ex-office, there is a very elegant and cute little Ganpati that brightens our workplace. For years, I loved offering flowers to that Ganpati every morning. Simple things bring such unprecedented joy! After I left IBM, I miss that. But I know my friend Ganesha will always be by my side.

Happy Ganpati to everyone!

 

Life's Sudden Surprises!

Sometimes, life throws sudden surprises at us. Not all of them are pleasant and there is an instant sense of disbelief when you encounter such a surprise. It may be a breach of trust, unfolding of a new episode in your life, or just a plan that didn't work despite the best of intentions. While some people find it easy to stay emotionally detached, for some others - acceptance takes time. Ironically, these surprises are thrown at us when we least expect them and are perhaps in a happy frame of mind. To be fair, that's the way it should be! Otherwise how do we appreciate the good phase and the rewards that life bestows upon us?

Moving on by accepting things as they come is perhaps the easiest way to stay happy. More often than not, it is a trivial incident, a comment made in the passing, or a silly misunderstanding that disrupts your thought process and changes your perspective towards life! And as you grow older, you feel that certain things do not matter at all. You get that little jolt when unpleasant surprises catch you off guard, but it doesn't shock you anymore! You may get hurt temporarily, but there's nothing that makes you want to do something to change it. I don't know if we call that maturity or compromise. Whatever it is, it happens with everyone.

At the end of the day, we have learned. The experience has made us stronger to face the next sudden surprise of life!

Memories...

I don’t know if I am experiencing this state of mind in anticipation of year-end festivities or for some other reason, but today somehow I have been reminiscing the happy moments of 2013. The general mood around me is happy and my mind seems to be constantly replaying the cherished memories of this year, like a recap.

It’s no surprise that the good memories almost always are a result of the people in our lives or the people we welcome into our lives. New places, exciting events, good music, books, great food etc. remain – but more than often they are memorable because of the people with whom we enjoyed the moments or the people we remembered while experiencing them.

I cannot say that I had a perfect 2013. I had my share of ups and downs but the few moments that made the year special will always be with me and be the reason for more smiles to follow even several years down the line. February had been a very happy month – the Sula Fest, Valentine’s Day, and simple chit-o-chats with new found old friends made the month special. The trip to Thailand in October again resulted in beautiful memories as did my week-long stay in Pune when my mother visited Mumbai. This year I spent a lot of quality time with friends and family, which resulted in a myriad of happy memories to last a lifetime.

I thank god for the people in my life and for the memories they help me create. We don’t realize when moments become memories and smile back at us through pictures, letters, mails, videos or flashbacks in the mind. Some people become permanent in those memories and can never be part of our lives again. Nevertheless, the love we have for them just refuses to fade away. On the contrary, it grows deeper and the memories become invaluable with time. We cannot hug them no matter how much we want to. Perhaps they know. Perhaps silence speaks.

The most painful happy memories however are those where there isn’t even an iota of possibility that the person in your memory can talk to you again. That’s when God chooses to call them to reside in heaven happily ever after. Yet we feel those souls around us, blessing us like guardian angels.

But in the end, all is well. I have learned that people who stay in your life will stay regardless of everything – even if that means coming back after years of silence. In the true spirit of Christmas, there is always hope. The good always prevails over the evil. Just have faith and love life.

Merry Christmas everyone!

"The only reason people hold on to memories is because
memories don't change when everything else does."
- Anonymous

Loving Your City

A city says a lot about its people.  To a great extent, the environment we inhabit shapes our personality.  A city can make a person a hero, a romantic, an artist, a martyr, a rebel etc.  Just like our upbringing defines us, the city we reside in contributes in multiple ways to nurture and nourish our individuality. When we move to a new city, we embrace the culture, the society and a new set of people. Settling in a new place has its own teething problems. But some places attract you instantly and before you realize you are in love with the place. It may be due to the people you meet, the weather, a new college, job or house, or simply the character of the city. The chemistry we share with a city we love can only be felt.

Of the few places I have been fortunate enough to explore and spend some time in, there are some places I can never get enough of.  Every visit seems incomplete and there is always a reason or an excuse to go back.

My top five in random order are as follows:

Kolkata (Calcutta), India

This is my city and I belong here. Though I prefer the name Calcutta to Kolkata, that doesn’t make the city any less lovable.  The city gave me more than I ever expected –A loving liberal family, friends for life, education to cherish, a beautiful childhood, adorable pets, a treasured adolescence, and more.  My love for books, music, and cricket started from Kolkata. Whether as a student of history, an animal lover, a foodie, or an employee – Kolkata has encouraged me to grow, learn, appreciate, and endure. Despite the bad traffic, poor roads, dismal government and other shortcomings, Calcutta will always be home.  There is much more to the city than I can ever attempt to summarize in a paragraph. Someday, I will write at length on Calcutta.

Mumbai (Bombay), India

The effervescence and energy of Mumbai attract me more than anything else. Bombay exudes this get-up-and-go spirit that makes you want to love life all over again no matter how tough your challenges are. The best part of this cosmopolitan city is the sea. The sea and I share a great rapport, which keeps both of us happy! I enjoy the vastness of the sea the most during the rains. On the flip side, Mumbai has bad traffic, bad traffic, and bad traffic. But I am lucky to have my workplace near home J. I have good friends here and I started actively contributing to my blog after moving to this city. Mumbai has given me a new taste of independence coupled with an increased sense of responsibility. This is the city that makes me believe in dreams and miracles.

Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India

I don’t know of anyone who has visited Manali and not fallen in love with the city! This picturesque hill station in Himachal Pradesh, India is among the most sought-after tourist destinations in India. I have been to Manali twice and each experience was novel. Perhaps that is the magic of the city – you find newness each time you meet the city. The breathtaking landscape – the pristine beauty of snow-capped mountains, lush-green dense forests and crystal clear water of the Beas River –Manali can make a writer or photographer out of any ordinary mortal. If you are artistically inclined, this is the place to be. Unfortunately, only residents of the hill states can buy property here. This hill station always welcomes me with open arms.

Sydney, Australia

I have been to Sydney, Australia just once – three years back, thanks to the organization I work with. The experience was fabulous. It is a city that gives you more than you can imagine. The weather is amazing and the dynamic nature of the city mesmerizes you. For me, it was as if the city was daring me to perform better, to pursue my dreams, to stay positive and to stay fit. The happiness among the people there is infectious. A clean, green city with the bountiful sea – Sydney gives an out-of-the-world feeling to any first timer. For a lover of cricket, Sydney had an added attraction – the Sydney Cricket Ground. I have to go back to the city and explore it in its totality again.

Pune, Maharashtra, India

Pune is second home.  The weather here is romantic and comforting. I have been staying in Pune for a few days now and I feel that in several ways, Pune is like Calcutta- the simplicity in people, their love for arts and culture, the zest for education et al. I can sense an inexplicable spiritual power in this city. I feel at home every time I visit Pune.  It is a busy city and almost everyone here owns a two-wheeler, just like Chandigarh. But Pune has a character of its own. Even amid the hustle-bustle of city life, you will manage to find your quaint corner here. I like spending time reading or writing in this beautiful city. The adjoining areas in the outskirts of the city add to the beauty of Pune (Lonavla, Khandala, Sinhgad, Khadakvasla, Lavassa and more).

Finally, I have to mention Goa for all its charm and spontaneity. Though it doesn’t qualify as a city, the Indian state of Goa is like a mega-city. This is one place where I feel totally at peace with the surroundings. You can relax, play, work, chat, write, click pictures – or do nothing and still enjoy Goa. I have been to Goa several times and I wish to keep it that way- at least once a year. Again, the sea in Goa is the main attraction. Sometimes the sea is ruthless and wild; in some beaches it comes forth as calm and peaceful. In few others, the sea is playful. It is very difficult to leave the seashore and go back to your home or hotel while staying in Goa. The scenic beauty captivates you and there is a sense of fulfillment. The spirit and character of Goa has not changed over the years. Perhaps that’s what makes the state so special.

Dump them when they are old?

'Worried about your retired parents? Contact XX Active Senior Living'. I was quite taken aback when I read this message on multiple hoardings on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. It took me some time to absorb the message and understand its intent.

I have heard about old-age homes. As a child, I visited a beautiful old age home in Kolkata way back in 1991. I remember it being part of an NGO initiative. We organized a cultural program for the residents there and they were delighted to have us over.

But this concept of marketing 'old age homes' as a parent-dumping ground was new to me. I made a note of the ad copy. The first line asked me if I was worried about my retired parents. All okay there - It is natural to worry about aging parents. We worry about how to guard them better against health ailments, plan their insurance and also discipline their food habits. But the idea of handing them over to an organization because they are 'physically old'? I didn't get that. Logic: Parents bring up their children. Children become adults and take care of their parents. It's that simple.

Let's walk down memory lane- quick flashback of life in early childhood. Even if we don't remember- there would be photos or videos that show how cutely terrible we were as toddlers. Each time, we looked up innocently at a helping hand for support. A loving mother or a doting father was always there - pampering us to no end. 

Think of the growing years next. Am sure you can visualize a gawky teenager who wanted the world at her/his feet. At that point in time, our friends meant the world to us and parents? They came from a different planet altogether. Every little demand was a fight and finally when parents gave in to that demand, it became an expectation. Rather - it became our right. Against all odds, the parent would go the extra mile to see a smile on the angry young teenager's face! They didn't send us to child correction juvenile homes or dump us so that specialist strangers would 'bring us up'. We always talk about how important upbringing is. I wonder if people who send their parents to old-age homes know what it means.

A couple once told me that their parents have willingly opted for these homes for a taste of  freedom! I found that quite insulting - do my parents have to go elsewhere because they feel jailed in their own home? Teenagers have innovative excuses to keep their mothers awake all night during exams as they get bored of studying alone! As an adult - is it so difficult to stop the parent from leaving home? Interestingly, a loving senior citizen at an old-age home states - 'I left home as I realized I was a burden to my son's family.' Of course, he did not tell that to his son. But it is appalling that the son didn't understand what was going on in his father's mind. 

However, I must admit that Senior Citizen homes are doing a great service to society. At least senior people now know that if their children are uncomfortable taking care of them - there are options outside home.

Today - are we so busy with our work, our priorities and our 'web-based social life' that we don't get five minutes to sit down with our parents and share a cup of tea or laugh over a simple joke? If you are worried about your parent, why do you think someone else can take better care of them? If a parent is the best thing that happened to a child- isn't it the child who can be the best caretaker for the parent?

A spontaneous evening date with the sea

Off late, I feel closer to nature – especially to the sea. I don’t know if this is because of the decisions I made recently or due to the rains. Spending time with nature is always refreshing, rejuvenating and comforting. There's some magic in the embracing openness of mother nature that helps me shed all inhibitions and savor the peaceful, silent moments.

Yesterday after work – I found myself planning an impromptu visit to the seaside. It was raining and the sea beach is at least an hour-long journey from my office. But then my heart said ‘let’s go’ and I didn't want to kill the impulsive wish :).

I walked by the sea for sometime and then entered a coffee shop adjacent to the sea-shore. It is among my favorite tranquil corners in this busy city. I got myself a cup of tea while rejoicing the beauty of silence. The only sounds that my ears would register were that of the roaring sea waves and the soft 'whoooosh' of the gentle sea breeze. My tea was cold in seconds but that did not matter. My date with the sea was far more intriguing.

I kept gazing at the sea waves and the rocks that they crushed against, time and again. It was as if I was witnessing a love story. I set my imagination free. Silence can speak volumes! 

Each time the sea wave approached the rock she said, "Here I come again. Don’t let me just go past you- hold me and let me stay with you. Or better – why don’t you break into pieces and we can flow together?"

The rock did not move an inch. But he became shiny and lively each time the sea wave kissed and embraced him. 

"I want to come with you’ – the rock said. "But I cannot. Don’t you see that’s how I am? If today, I ask you to stand still beside me as a rock, would you be able to? Oh would you?" 

The sea wave replied – "I wish I could. But just like you, I am also bound by nature. I will come back to you every day – but will never be able to stay with you. Isn't it beautiful that we cannot do without each other and yet we cannot stick to each other? Our differences make our relationship so beautiful."

"I love you" said the rock. 

"You are my lifeline" replied the sea wave. "Our love for each other ensures we bump into each other’s arms a hundred times, every day".

The rock smiled and took his time to respond. "It is these moments that make us love each other so passionately, perfectly. No matter how far we are from each other, we will always co-exist. Again, no matter how close we are, we can never be tied to each other." 

‘I’ll always come back to you – even if you don’t move or come along with me", the sea wave promptly added.

"I will wait for you forever" replied the rock, "No matter how much you hurt me with your violent mood swings".

In response, the sea wave suddenly hugged the rock tightly and said, "I cannot say - don’t leave me and go. But I look forward to hugging you once more – oh just that one more time". 

Life’s choices are like that. We can choose to be the free-flowing sea wave or the solid resolute rock depending on situations that life challenges us with. 

Once again today...

Once again today – I feel the need to write impromptu. Once again today – I love the environment that surrounds me and wish that these moments lasted forever. They are not extraordinary events, they don't involve 'something happening' nor can I say that other people have not experienced such moments. But still for some uncanny reason - I love these moments. They are simple, carefree moments that bring such immense inexplicable joy. Enjoying an unplanned coffee, talking engagingly about an insignificant topic or just enjoying silent moments alone or with people you want to be surrounded with .... in other words - living the moment. That's magical.

I don’t know if I feel this happiness because of the onset of monsoons or because of the familiar fragrance of loved ones around.

Some people bring a lot of happiness by just being beside us silently. I have this feeling since childhood - relationships grow deeper in silence- friends come closer when they meet after long intervals and joys are doubled when someone you don’t expect to see turns up at your doorstep. Spending time with loved one is important - that can be by just being with each other and enjoying in the quiet; that can be by talking for hours over the phone; that can be by just exchanging smileys online; that can be by meeting everyday. As long as the people we love are in our thoughts and on our mind - life is beautiful.

Life has funny ways of making us smile in the weirdest of circumstances and of catching us unawares in embarrassing situations before people who have never seen us that way before :p. And at moments when we are indecisive and feeling a bit messed-up, life gives us an opportunity out of nowhere and floors us with the marvel of simplicity.

I thank god for life and for the people who create beautiful moments to make my life worthwhile.

It's all about priorities!

More often than not, I have seen that the most successful and happy people are the ones who have got their priorities right. After all, life is all about priorities. Setting your goals, prioritising them, aligning them with activities and evaluating the results to see what you have achieved - that kind of sums it up.

Yes, there are those unplanned times when everything goes for a toss and dealing with the circumstance becomes your top priority. For instance, dealing with a sudden loss- death of a loved one, sudden health issues, natural calamity, robbery, infidelity, breach of trust and so on. Coping with the loss, accepting it and springing back to normal takes enormous strength and is time consuming. But it has to be done - nonetheless.

Coming back to planned priorities - I believe each one of us can lead a healthy, happy and successful life by setting our priorities right. Making a decision always makes life peaceful. Setting priorities help in the decision making process too. So when you have a goal and some other peripheral springs up, your top priority irons out your indecisiveness and enables you to make a just decision. For me at least, setting priorities help me decide better.

Sometimes when we are at the crossroads and suddenly have too many things on our plate - we tend to get swayed by the most attractive item on the platter. We look at it as an attractive opportunity and grab it without much thought. However a little later, we realize that in our sudden zest to conquer something we never wanted to, we have neglected the dream that we have cherished for years. We don't even realize when this 'back up' or 'stop-gap' became our life and when we lost track of our 'top priority'. When realization dawns on us, there is resentment and regret. Sometimes, it becomes too late to restart work on the goal we had set for ourself 'once upon a time'. Under these circumstances people tend to get into a depression.

So - the rule is quiet simple. If you have a dream- dont lose sight of it. In my latest favorite book #Manuscript Found in Accra, Paulo Coelho sums it up beautifully. He says, when you are running towards your dream, it is also running towards you and is equally excited to meet you. So, if you love your dream, keep running. If you stop, it will stop coming towards you too. In The Alchemist, there was a further elaboration of this thought. It said, when you really want something, you get signs that show you the path towards it. We call these omens. However, if you keep neglecting them or postponing them thinking you will do them later - after a while they stop appearing. The signs vanish and suddenly you realize after y-e-a-r-s

that you never found the time to do what you always wanted to do. That's because you never had the time to set your priorities.

If love and family is your top priority - ensure you have the time and the intent to do all that you have always wanted to do for a loved one. The most important thing here being- spending time with them and loving them.

If a particular career option is on your priority list - make it happen. Don't subdue it and force it to subjugate under a backup career. Sometimes, taking a RISK is the best decision to make.

It is always good to have a second career option in mind. But sometimes it is dangerous too. Why

dangerous? Because it has a tremendous pull - a pull that can take you away from your top priority. Don't let it happen. If it helps, write down your priorities somewhere. Everyday, just look at them once. It will help you stay focused. It is helping me :)

Good luck to everyone who has a dream and a priority plan to make it happen.

Been a while...

It's been a while since I have written here- in my space. Life has been good and there is no dearth of topics to write about! Yet, every time I open the New Post page, I close it after a while thinking there is nothing meaningful to write about. This has been going on for over a month now. I just realized, I have unnecessarily been curbing my 'want' to write.

When we write, we don't always write about one topic. There is always so much going on in the mind. With the rate of gruesome crimes committed in India going up every hour, it is disheartening to read the newspapers every morning. Today, we have more like-minded compassionate people who take up causes and live by them. I am positive about a better society in the days to come.

On the self front, there is work to finish at office and home, there is right writing to do, there is the Indian Premier League (IPL) to watch and get ovetly emotional at the end of every match! And of course, when you get to snatch time for things you want to do - there is that one good book you want to curl up with before calling it a day. For me, off late - that book happens to be 'Manuscript Found in Accra' by my all time favorite author Paulo Coelho.

I read the book early this month on a flight. I got engrossed and finished it at one go- all in two hours. But since then, I have re-read the book at least 10-12 times. I have pages and paragraphs underlined that I have read again and again. This is definitely not the first time I did this! It started with 'The Alchemist' days. I read Alchemist in 2003 and loved it. I picked up some more Paulo Coelho titles- and kind of got addicted to his books. 'By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept' is straight from the heart and I love the book too much! Simple writing - yet so compelling, so moving. You cannot help but get completely absorbed in the book. I also liked 'Veronica Decides to Die'. And of course, 'Brida' was an instant favorite a couple of years back. I can go on and on about Coelho's books and writing. When I read him, I want to visit Brazil and someday- hope to read his original work in Brazilian. If the translated writings in English are so enticing, I wonder how beautiful the original must be. The people- the places he talks about in his books- I want to visit them. Traveling round the world and staying in East Europe or in Bali, or maybe amid the bountiful nature in our very own Manali... it would be so joyful to reside in these places for a while and write to your heart's content.

For all the honesty and the simplicity in expression - I can connect with Coelho's books instantly. His quotes always have a way of finding a place in my heart. Most of these are timeless... immortal.

If you really want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it - this line from The Alchemist has changed people's lives. It continues to motivate people to pursue their dreams and realize them.

Writers are dreamers and dreamers make things happen :)

Thank God for Friends!

I don’t think I can ever thank god enough for the friends in my life! They make my life worthwhile in more ways than I could have ever imagined! In each phase of life, they come in different avatars – Parents, pets, classmates, teachers, college mates, siblings, spouses, children, colleagues… and many more. We make our own screenings and shortlisting and somehow select our friends for life. How we do that is a complicated process and I don’t know how it works.

Nevertheless, we always happen to bag the best J. The people who matter to us always keep coming back in our lives in some way or the other.  Everything happens for a reason but we don’t always know the reason. Ignorance is bliss at those times.

I have been quite lucky that way. Touch wood! In happiness, distress, emergency or fun – I’ve always had friends by my side. That has made this journey called life meaningful and happy. The most important of those friends are the ‘being there’ friends. You know – no matter WHAT, they are always there for you!

If your spouse is your friend, life is a party! If your school/college friends like hanging around with you even in your 30s, you are blessed! And if you have the friend you always loved by your side even after horrible misunderstandings, god loves you!

Parents make great best friends. I am partial to mothers in this regard. Unwavering unconditional love is available whenever you need it. Family is perhaps the best example of forever friendships. So when we have really close friends- we call them family. Likewise, when we can open up to family members and share anything under the sun with them – we call them best friends. Friends and family have always been so passionately intertwined!

There are some friends who are indispensable- the ‘cannot live without you’ types.  You want to share any happy moment in your life first with them. Or if something wrong happens, you look for that perfect shoulder to cry on. Regardless of how infrequently you have been in touch, when you want to share your story, funnily enough – you usually have the same pair of ears listening to you…smiling at your follies and loving you just the same.

Getting over unrequited love is perhaps easier than getting over severed friendshipJ. There are no expectations, no set patterns, no rules, no strings attached. And yet, the bond is so strong that it grows on you over the years. Even with strained relationships, if your ‘friendship’ is true, it always finds a way to come back to you after a prolonged hiatus.

Pets make great friends. I read somewhere- why is dog a man’s best friend? That’s because the dog loves you and licks you all over even after you left it alone all day! All that your dog looks forward to is the evening - when you come home to them.

Coming home to your friend- no matter how late in the day sums up friendship. Each time I realize that I have friends who love me for being me, I feel blessed.

I don’t know who invented the term ‘friendship’ or how this unique relationship was born. All I know is - I can never thank god for the gems in my life called ‘friends’.

Mockery of Loyalty!

Film Review: Cocktail

Cast: Deepika Padukone, Saif Ali Khan, Diana Penty, Dimple Kapadia, Boman Irani

Produced By: Saif Ali Khan and others

Directed By: Homi Adajania

Music: Pritam

My Rating: 3/5

The English Dictionary defines ‘loyal’ as ‘firm and faithful in your support.’ Cocktail twists and tweaks the term per convenience. The lead characters give their best to justify disloyalty in the garb of loyalty! Confused? Well, I sure was after watching the movie. I wondered if I witnessed a mockery of loyalty in friendship for three long hours!

Cocktail and the hype around it created a lot of expectations from the Saif- Deepika onscreen chemistry (think Love-Aaj- Kal). But I was disappointed—not with the movie so much but with the casting. Had Mr. Khan just remained producer of the movie and let a younger hero like Ranbir Kapoor, Ayushman Khurrana or Shahid Kapoor play the male lead, the movie would have fared better. I have nothing against 40+ heroes. In fact, I love many of them (Salman Khan rocks!). But this movie just wasn’t cut out for Saif Ali Khan.  

Coming back to the story, Cocktail doesn’t say anything new with the script. But the treatment is different. And this is where Deepika Padukone’s character stands out. As Veronica, she sets the screen on fire with her spontaneous acting, beauty and sex appeal. The characterization is refreshing. Veronica rescues the damsel-in-distress Meera (Diana Penty) and the two soon become the best of friends. Diana adds freshness to the movie and acts quiet well in her debut film. Her character is opposite to that of Veronica and she exudes the ‘mystery girl’ charm (the one who plays hard to get).

All was good till Saif (Gautam) entered their lives and ruined the friendship. For a while, the friendship between the trio was building up well. But too much of Saif-ism failed to blend with the persona of the two young leading ladies. The music is good and the ‘Tum hi ho bandhu’ track is my favorite.

The movie stretched in the second half. It was indeed a cocktail of affairs with Gautam sleeping and sharing even the toothbrush with one of the girls and romancing the other! He was literally ‘in love’ with one and ‘in bed’ with the other with all three sharing the same apartment! Imagine the ordeal of the audience.

I give full marks to the director for trying out a new concept through Veronica’s character; and a big zero for failing to take the concept to fruition. The woman with ‘high morals’ has to win! And win what? A 42 year old good-for-nothing geek whose only passion in life is to sleep with women and fool around with an equally foolish and loose uncle! There is NOTHING about Gautam’s characterization that will impress you! Being the producer himself, Saif could have worked a bit more on his character. If this was a Hollywood flick, both girls would have dumped this pathetic guy! Dimple Kapadia as the mother and Boman Irani as the uncle are totally wasted in this movie.

In the end, I want to ask the director: Did we really need a mockery of loyalty? The youth in this new age are fast, ambitious and like to enjoy a good life. But does it mean they are disloyal to their friends? On the one hand, we have movies like ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’, ‘Ek Main Aur Ek Tu’ and even ‘Bol Bachchan’ celebrating loyalty and friendship. And here we have a ‘Cocktail’ where loyalty and friendship are at par with one-night stands! The equation between true friends is seldom so shallow.

The movie is worth a one-time watch only due to the music, the cinematography and the girls. But you can easily skip it if you have something better planned for the weekend!