Northern Sojourn: Day 4

Early morning, rise and shine. I sincerely didn't want to get out of bed. After the Contessa the night before, I just had the best night for the last 4 months with my beloved, my blanket. But like all good things, this had to end. Sadly I had to bid goodbye, and this would remain, a one night stand.
The most entertaining part of the morning was this incident.
After having rum the previous day, we all were very happy and warm. Early morning, while we were brushing our teeth, Parag went to Nippa and asked him for the toothpaste. Nippa was sleepy and so was Parag. In this daze, Nippa extracted the tube of Odomos from my pouch and handed it to Parag. Parag blissfully unaware, used the Odomos, and after 5 mins he realised that his toothpaste had no froth. We were rofl so hard we had to hold our stomachs for an hour. Parag is know re-christened "GODOMOS".
Somehow, I picked myself up, and after an eventful bus ride from Shivpuri to Rishikesh and a connecting ride from Rishikesh to Haridwar, we reached Hotel Alaknanda. This was where we would stay for the next two days.
The ride was eventful. One idiotic and clumsy gentleman on the bus managed to bang his very heavy bag right on my head, and went off without batting an eyelid. This led to the invocation of the word "JhatBuddhi". Another one of my creations, added to our Group patent.
We entered the Hotel lobby not knowing what to expect. But once we crossed the lobby, we fell in love with the place. The rooms were just the right size, with all the amenities one could ask for. The hotel led to a ghat on the banks of the river Ganga on the far side. One could sit there all day watching the mighty river flow.
I admit I spent about 3 hrs in total at the ghat doing something all my friends despised and which I myself have laughed off several times in the past.
But all in all, the effect was brilliant.
We spent the afternoon watching a very old movie starring Sanjeev Kumar and Sharmila Tagore. We were all particularly impressed by the style of swearing used by Sanjeev Kumar. "Teri Maa ka".
All the others except me, Nippa and Prateek had gone to see the Evening Aarti of the Ganga. After that it was dinner at the "Asli Mashoor Chotiwala" consisting of Aloo Parathas. Back to the hotel and retired for the day. The bright spot of the day was when Nippa found a packet of Menthols for Prateek. Suddenly the two of them were the best of friends and all animosity was forgotten.

Northern Sojourn: Day 5

Cozy and warm in the family suite we had booked, the morning of the 5th day dawned on us, as we prepared to visit the temple of "Mansa Devi". Me, Nippa, Prateek and Yash camped in the suite on the first floor, while Niranjan, Arvind, Kunal and Parag camped in the suite below.
After a quick bath, we embarked on a tour of Haridwar. After the steep climb on the way to the temple, where we were witness to the wonderful civilisation of the monkeys, we reached the temple. In groups of 4 we visited the shrine. Me, Nippa and Niranjan devoured some delightful Samosa, Kachoris and Jalebis at the temple canteen. The descent was quick and enjoyable. Within no time we were at the "Asli Mashoor Chotiwala" and it was here that we enjoyed some heavenly "Chole Bhaturas". Prateek warned me of some impending disaster that was eating at his senses nad excused himself to go stand on the banks of the river Ganga.
After lunch, we were off to visit the gigantic and awesome statue of Mahadev, erected in the city. After an enjoyable hour there, in which we managed to obtain some brilliant Patelshots, we trudged back to the Hotel.
It was evening, when Nippa took me, Yash and Prateek for a puff and Tea to add flavor. Needless to say, the Tea was out of this world. I fell in love with the tea and soon gulped down no less than 3 cups.
Soon it was time to go and one dinner later, we were on the "Vikram", back to Haridwar station, to get on the train that was to take us to Delhi.
The train arrived on time and after an eventful and enlightening night during which me, Prateek and Yash made certain shocking revelations, it was time to sleep and look forward to day 6.

Northern Sojourn: Day 6

The train pulls into Old Delhi station. We all get off, heavily apprehensive. Old Delhi station is obscenely huge, with the platform system being a touch too confusing for a Mumbaikar. Somehow we get out, avoiding the rungs of Rickshaw wallas trying to woo us with supposedly alluring offers. We manage to get details of the nearest Metro station, which turned out to be Chandni Chowk.
We entered the Metro station, purchase smart cards, which allowed the holder to roam about all day on any line of the Metro, no questions asked. Which was good. We don't like questions.
Taking the metro, we got off at New Delhi station on the Metro, took an auto, and dumped our stuff at the place where we were putting up for the day. Despite all botherations, I have to admit, the Chicken Grilled Sandwich they had on their menu was brilliant. After 3 days of "ghaspus", we finally got to indulge our taste for meat.
After this short halt, we were off to Connaught Place, now known as Rajiv Chowk. Another short ride in the Metro and there we were. Most of my friends were awestruck at the sight of hundreds of cherubic, nubile nymphettes around. Size-Zero was running through each of their heads.
After agitated conversations on how each of their girlfriends matched up to these high standards, a disappointed bunch left for our hotel. I must admit, I picked up a Mumbai Indians cap from the Connaught Place outlet of Adidas, and buying that cap in Delhi adds to it's sentimental value.
Back to the hotel we trudged, another round of chicken grilled Sandwich and soon it was time to be off to the station for our last train journey. The journey back home.
As we reached the station, it was announced that our train would be 30 minutes late.
Angry, tired and frustrated, we were resigned to fact and rested our world-weary arses on the station benches.
The train did arrive, although 45 minutes late. We got on, aware of the facts that it was a minimum of 21 hrs before we would finally say that the trip was over. A good night's sleep and before we could realise it, 'twas day 7.

Northern Sojourn: Day 7

Everyone is wary of the fact that in spite of having travelled for about 12 hrs, we seem to have reached nowhere. The train is apparently running 4.5 hrs late, and that, approximately, puts our arrival time at somewhere aroundd midnight. We're all agitated and after 7 days away from home looking at the same 7 faces time and again, we don't blame each other.
Finally, we reach Ratlam. We jump off the train and buy some junk to chomp on the train. As soon as we'r back on, an old beggar comes up. In our agitated states, we simply told the beggar to move ahead. The beggar came up with an astonishing observation and here I quote "Aaj kal ke bacchon ko charbi chad gayi hai!"
(meaning today's generation is too irreverent)
Another short nap after that and by the time it was evening, everyone was prepared to go home. To pass the final few hours, Yash confronted Arvind about a certain "acquaintance" of his with whom he conversed for approximately an hour under roaming charges when at times, he wouldn't answer our calls citing the obscene roaming charges as an excuse. The rest of the time was spent in trying to weed a confession out of Arvind. Time fruitlessly wasted, if I may add. "Nippa" baba was at his adventurous best, trying out each bathroom turn after turn, filling each one with the heavenly aroma of Classic Milds. Finally at about 9.21, me, Kunal and Parag got off the train at Borivali and thanks to dad, got a ride back home which was much more comfortable than anything we'd had for the last 7 days.
Peace.

The "****" effect

My followers(who sum up to grand total of 3 including myself), have been seriously depraved of reading some really good stuff on my blog for the last month or two. This owing to my fantastically elongated examination period, which by the way stretches for 27 days to accommodate 5 papers.
As I unleash this here post, I still have two more papers to worry about, but my blog deserves some attention I guess. So here I am, at the very beginning of a new year, writing about certain arbit things, which I'm sure, no one is interested in knowing.
Most people plunge head first into the world of "New Year resolutions". That world I believe, runs on a parallel time dimension, where time destroys everything in a week or two. If you're exceptionally strong in the head, I'll give you a month. Not longer though.
I for one don't make any resolutions. Yet amazingly, this year, I find myself embarking on a self improvement spree. The reason for this spree, my dear readers, is a certain special, omnipotent, all knowing, ever-lasting effect.
The effect is patented and owned by a person, who unfortunately hasn't yet given me rights to use the name. So we shall have to suffice by saying that it is THE "****" EFFECT.
The special parts about this effect are, it does not work on anyone except me. Also, the rewards on offer for improving one self under the influence of this magical effect are truly "out-of-this-world". I simply write all this so that one day when I'm awesomely improved, I can look back and remind myself of how it all started.
Point noted. Effect sucked.

Passing thought

Slumdog Millionaire. The new movie everyone's raving about. Probably deservedly so(because I haven't seen the movie and am in no position to judge it). It talks about a slum kid who appears on Kaun Banega Crorepati and wins the show.
But my point is not the book, nor it's premise.
When I read stuff about this book, it's the way people say the slums and the poverty and the sheer apathy shown in the movie/written in books such as Maximum City, Slumdog Millionaire etc is the "REAL INDIA".
I agree totally when you point out that India has slums, poverty and more than it's fair share of unscrupulous people, but in compensation, India also has brilliant infrastructure, a strong foundation of education, India has some amazing cities and beautiful sights and historic places.
What I mean to say is, you cannot simply magnify a singular part of an entity and identify it with that single attribute. The "REAL INDIA", is the sum of it's parts. It is an amalgamation of villages, slums, towns and cities. Of poverty, mediocrity, riches and more. Just like you cannot say for example that New York City is the "REAL AMERICA" or for that matter that Eastern Europe is the "REAL EUROPE".
Examples taken are purely those that spring to my mind immediately and may or may not appear relevant or conclusive to you.
But the message I wish to convey is, India is more than just the sum of it's parts. When even the sum of it's parts cannot completely depict India, how can you try to summarize our country in a single strata of society.
Peace.

Ad infinitum

I head into my end of semester exams in about a fortnight's time, and all that my acquaintances ask me is how much progress I have made with my syllabus.
As a rule, during the preparatory leaves, I lead a totally unsocial life. This includes not stepping out of my house for days on end. I love being holed up without being in touch with anyone. Some people do stay in touch, somehow or the other(curse mobile communications) but that I tolerate more as a formality.
What I hate most about mobile communications is messaging. I hate messaging. I prefer calls anyday, but there is a distinguished class of the public who are too busy to pick up calls or do not attend to calls and hence as a direct consequence, you have to message them. I am now looking for a cell phone that does not have the "sms/mms/ems" functions. Sort of like a reverse pager.(A pager was a phone without calls and facilitated reading of messages for the uninitiated).
But sometimes messaging does help.(very rarely)
I also happen to know that none of the people who are referred to in the above post, will have the inclination to read a blog, hence the freedom with which i unleash ab imo pectore.
The consequence of this being that I have now become a long haired pillock with an untamed stubble who has no love of civilisation. Indirectly, you can say I've become something of a caveman albeit without the trademark sexual urges and lack of hygiene.
The effect that the P.L has on me is amazing, I am a different person when I have college to attend though I must admit, I prefer the P.L version of me.
As and when I find a mobile with the features I so crave, I shall be kind enough to post a picture of the same on this here page.
Peace.