A life less ordinary

Life is all about experiences of different kinds which make it so happening and meaningful..Every ordinary one has some great incidences which are very special for him/her and make once life special for self :)!! On the eve of Independence Day, I remember such an incidence which is very special for myself...

I belong to a small city-Miraj..My school, Jubilee Kanya Shala, might not be among the best known schools in the country, but it is definitely one of the most prestigious and very well cultured schools.. It has many traditions which sets itself apart from other schools. I am so glad that I am the alumna of this great school and it gave me such a nice opportunity to experience precious moment..

Usually some famous chief guests are called up on 15th August and 26th January Flag hoisting ceremony. But in our school, where students were the treasured, had different arrangements. On 15th August, the youngest girl in the school, usually fresher in standard 5th had the chance, had the honour to hoist the flag. And on 26th Jan, the student securing first rank in half yearly exam had the chance. I was always fascinated by this idea and wanted to be the part of it. And my only chance was in 10th half yearly exams J!! And I am very glad that I could make upto it :)..the day when half yearly exam results were declared, the first thing that came to my mind was--man, I am gonna hoist the flag on 26th Jan..woww!!!

The day arrived.. I reached school with my parents.. This day I was the chief guest and stood along with the principal and all the teachers ..in front of all my friendsand other fellow students.. The ceremony began..On the rhythm of band, I moved towards the flag.. The NCC cadets guarding the flag saluted me and stood in attention.. I was thrilled and brought my hand forwards towards the string.. On the speaker announcement by our PT teacher, I pulled the string and our TIRANGA brandished and started riding on waves.. I saluted it with a complete pride.. I tried to record that moment and feelings in my brain..in the pindrop silence we began singing our national anthem.. “Jana gana mana adhinayak jay he bharat bhagyavidhata”... those 31 sec were magical.. a feeling of great responsibility filled my mind..It’s MY country..It’s MY duty to take care of it.. And I can do this even as an ordinary citizen.. Its not only restricted to our military, police force and the government.. Its ME, who’s accountable to all these.. I should contribute my share to serve our country, however small it may be.. that day, I realised what keeps all those mighty Men in uniform on duty whether it rains or shines.. I felt immensely proud of being INDIAN..Then was the turn to hoist the school flag..My school where I spent wonder years of my life.. I had attended flag hoisting ceremonies but never felt like this before!!!

In the speech, my class teacher, Kamble sir, mentioned a very peculiar observation..He said, “ In last few years, I have always noted that the student who gets this flag hoisting honour, couldn’t achieve first rank in Final Board exams. I know you have potential to do it ,and I want you to break this jinx.”..I could see the strong expectations in his eyes.. And when I stood first in my city in final board exams, he renounced it proudly at the results celebration at school on same stage..I felt very proud and humbled at the same time.. as I looked at the flag, I said to myself that “ I have done my bit towards my school..and I can't explain how exhilarating it feels!.. I should never miss a chance to fullfill my duty towards my country, in my whole lifetime..

This is my memorable flag hoisting which makes my life less ordinary :)!!!

Office madhli dupar!!!(Marathi)

Potabhar jevlyavar me parat login karte..
Ani 5ch mintat mala zop yete…

Screenvarchi akshare dhusar hou lagtat..
Aajubajuche aavaj kami zalyasarkhe vatatat…

Thode pani piun baghte..
Thodi gani aikte…

Taripan mitnarya dolyat zop mavat naste…..

Prayatn karun me mail karu lagte..
Pan dole-mendu ani haat yancha sampark tutato…


ani screenvarti chitravichitra akshare umatat…
gar gar panyat maze pay budalel astat…
kukarchi shitti vajat rahte..
eka kushivarun dusrya kushivar valaycha me prayatn karte…
mag ekdam maza project manager yeun haak marto….
.
.
Aani khadkan maze dole ughadtat …

:D

The One with the F.R.I.E.N.D.S

I am totally hooked to watching ‘Friends’. I don’t even remember when I started watching it. When I peep into the flashback, I remember watching it ones or twice in my schooldays.. but I didn’t really like it that much ( Actually, I couldn’t understand American English accent that time :P).. I got introduced to this sitcom again in college days and I knew that this friendship gonna last till long..

Even before facebook started with “which friends character are you?” quiz, we have been categorizing all our friends into them. So we have got many Rosses, Rachels ,Phoebes and even Gunthers :P!!!!!! While I can see myself closer to Monica( though I don’t like her the most), Punit is more of Ms.Chanedilier bong :D ( true 'Friends' Lovers will get this ;))....no doubt our most favourite character is none other than ‘Joey’!!!

Punit and I, are huge fans of it. We have all the seasons on the laptop and we watch 3 -4 back to back episodes late night on weekends. When I came to Mumbai leaving all friends and my people behind, I felt a bit lonely in this crowded city. But when I watched FRIENDS, that feeling used to fade away.. Life moved on, and I got some fantastic friends over here and still making more!!! But this one is for this unknown bond between me and those imaginary characters who made me laugh in the loneliest times. The One With The F.R.I.E.N.D.S!!!!!!!!

PS: I had written this in original FRIENDS font, but I dont know how to publish it in the same. Please help if you know!!!!

Movie Marathon

Recently, I have been watching English movies almost daily. Generally I switch to 9PM movie on HBO, Star Movies ,World Movies or Pix after dinner.. If none is screening any interesting movie , I have back up plan ( movie folder on my laptop ;))!!! Here is list of some movies which I liked:

1. The Holiday
2. Serendipity
3. Definitely, maybe
4. Curious case of Benjamin Button
5. Madagascar-2
6. Something gotta give
7. P.S: I love you
8. Before Sunrise
9. A walk to remember

Suggest me some more which I can add to my list.

What's in a name?

Shakespeare has once said,” What’s in a name? “. But with all due respect, I will beg to differ on this. Since birth some phonetic sounds called name are attached with the person, it becomes his identity for the rest of his life. However common, however weird, however difficult to spell it may be, but everyone loves it!!

When I was born, my mom gave a list of names to my father and asked him to select one. My dad gave it a glance and said, “Third from the top”!!! I tried to register my vote and cried a lot, but nobody could understand which one chose! So, now I had a name. I had 2 other names also. ’Suchitra’ as suggested by my grandfather. He suggested this name because all my aunt's names start with ‘Su’ (Sushama-Suvarna-Sujata) and my mother’s name was ‘Chitrarekha’ before she got married. Another ‘Maitreyee’ as given by my youngest aunt. Oh come on, I had 2 better options. But my birth certificate laughed at me and displayed the name –‘Dhanashree’!!

Frankly speaking, as a child I never liked it. I felt that people didn’t even hear of this before. So when I used to play with my grandma, I would daily change my name and insist that she called me with that new name. But an opportunity was on my way to change my own name. In 3rd standard, I realized that I have to change school after 4th and register again in high-school. I decided to change my name that time, and till then I had a lot of time to search new one !( which never happened actually, because I forgot this thing in the enthusiasm to join highschool :P). Another one came when I got married, but till then my name was an instant hit in ‘Indore’ .everybody liked it very much since it was new name for them and nobody from my family allowed me to even think of changing it!!!

Even though my name wasn’t changed, it has too many derivatives. There are very few people who call me with my full name ‘Dhanashree’. When I was in 2nd class, my class teacher (Patwardhan mam )called me ‘Dhantya’! My school friends call me ‘Dhanu /Dhani/Dhane’!! When I came to Pune, it was a different story. My college friends call me ‘Dhana’( one fine day sonali called me ‘Dhanukali’ :P). And then, there was Punit who introduced to his friends as ‘Dhan’!!! If you are wondering if there could be any form which is shorter than this then let me tell you, one of my cousin aunt calls me ‘Dha’!

But in 24 years I have changed a lot. And I didn’t even realised when I started loving my name so much. It’s different. It’s unusual. It really makes me proud when I see my certificates, when I see it written on the board in my school. It makes me very happy whenever a chat window pops up and I find my name written in it. People don’t spell it correctly , people don’t know how to pronounce it correctly. But still, I love my name and that is who I am!!!

PS: one of my friends reminded me of the worst form of my name- Dhanno!!!!*(^*)(&%*

Music is Magic!!!

On a lazy Sunday afternoon, I was surfing channels on TV. This is my favourite timepass (which Puneet hates the most :P!!). Among the chaos of different voices on every channel, I heard the melodious Flute tune in the movie Hero . I paused and as I listened the song, I was lost in memories.

It was a usual night as hostel. I was trying to sleep. Tried everything to fall asleep but all my efforts were in vain. It was the time when I suffered from insomnia. Every night I tried to sleep but only kept tossing in bed. Something was hurting me. Some unsaid thoughts were rusting my heart. It was some awkward feeling which was depressing me. I wasn’t happy even if my friends thought so. Finally I was tired of it all and decided to take a walk in the hostel corridor. It looked like runway with dim lighting. As soon as I reached the stairs, I heard a singing voice. I followed and reached the hall and what I saw was amazing!! The hall was full of shawls and sweaters..Many gals including our madam were sitting. A girl was standing in a corner. A soft candlelight had enlightened her face, and sang in her enchanting voice—

Chaar Dinon Ka Pyaar Ho Rabba
Badi Lambi Judai, Lambi Judai
Baag Ujad Gaye, Baag Ujad Gaye Khilne Se Pehle
Panchhi Bichhad Gaye Milne Se Pehle
Koyal Ki Kook, Koyal Ki Kook Ne Hook Uthaayi
Hay Lambi Judai
Chaar Dinon Ka Pyaar Ho Rabba
Badi Lambi Judai, Lambi Judai
Honthon Pe Aaye Meri Jaan, Duhai
Hay Lambi Judai

Chaar Dinon Ka Pyaar Ho Rabba
Badi Lambi Judai, Lambi Judai

There was a pin-drop silence even after the song was finished. And then came a roaring applause which broke my concentration. I was thrilled by this live rocking performance. Her voice was so pure and sharp, that it touched our souls. It didn’t need any music or rhythm to create the magic. That song totally changed my mood. I went ahead, hugged her and said,” It was magical. Thanks a lot!!!”. She looked startled. But there was no time to explain her.

I was overwhelmed. That song got all the itchy and sad emotions out of my mind. And I felt as fresh as a daisy. I went to bed humming that flute tune. I had read in news that music has healing power, but had never experienced before.

That night, I felt like I was sleeping after a long time!!! 

Crush, Infatuation and Love!!

As I have grown up, i have understood the difference among crush,infatuation, and love.

On 16th march 2000, just after my last SSC paper was over, we went to watch the movie 'Kaho naa pyar hai'. And then it all started..I kept on thinking about him him and only him..I dreamed to meet him..tried to gather all possible information about him ( that too without letting anyone doubt on me ;))..I collected as many photos as possible..I read all the news in the papers in which he was praised or criticized by almost every critics..He was threat to my another idol ( none other than SRK) , but still I was loyal to my hero..he got married later,but it didn't change my liking for him :P!!! it was nice feeling which I experienced in my life..I was head over heels in love(??) with ---Hritik Roshan :)!! Hang on--this was just a 'Crush'!!![ I learn this word after all this crazy thing which I called love had evaporated , and I was studying(??) for my HSC exams :P].

In June 2005,after chilling out in first three yrs of engineering, suddenly everyone was serious about career, campus placements, and further studies. I was as confused as Karan (played by Hritik Roshan...uff!!) in Lakshya. One day I visited D'Oks academy,and I came out with this strange affection for GRE and MS.. suddenly I realised that every one studying for GRE..everyone was discussing strategies to tackle maximum score.. I studied the US map with enormous interest :D..info about universities. SOP's,acads, hobbies spiced up my life..I made timetables to study,bought Barron's :D...after first 20 words in the word-list,my enthu was diluted.. and it took me hardly some time what 'Infatuation' was !!!!

Now in last week, when I reached Pune on a sunny morning, my heart was filled with a joy..I remembered every corner and signal of the roads..I remembered the best time of my life which I spent here..I was soooooo much happy to see the old friends, and my family..I felt how much this city means to me..My dreams, my plans everything was attached this place..I felt the same energy with which I lived my LIFE..and no thoughts about pollution,traffic,ruthless autowalas(:D) could change this my mind...I chatted with the air as I was riding on a bike..I prayed that I could come back and stay here forever..This is what I call as LOVE :)!!!

welcome

Welcome to my first blog..
I hope this affair will last till long :)!!!