Break Unbreak!

Some decisions are just random. Like the one I took almost two years ago. I decided to take a break from work and explore the options for myself. The break lasted seven months, and as it turned out, it was just a break for me from work. Time and life both moved on, and neither stopped to teach me lessons. 
Meanwhile, I started spending time reading books, I learned to swim (completed a certificate course in swimming). I also used to sketch sometimes. One of the things on my mind was to set up a business. I always felt that owning a business will give me necessary flexibility to manage my life and time. So I started working with an acquaintance who was running his own business. I came up with some great business ideas, researched on these ideas, and tried to build more understanding on what it takes to start a business.I worked on the business ideas for around 2 months, during the break. At that point, I realized that I should go back to work for a few more years, and keep trying for business simultaneously. 
It was then that I started to look for jobs. After reaching out to many companies, and placement agencies, I finally got interview calls from two firms and that too, within a span of two days, while I was at home. Both the jobs were based again in Mumbai. It felt like, no matter how hard I tried to get away from Mumbai, life was trying to keep me stay put in the crazy city.  So I came back to the city, gave both the interviews, and surprisingly got through them both. 
One of the profiles dealt with wind energy, and it clearly asked me to travel in the remote areas of the country. The other profile, on the contrary, was related to market research and strategy consulting. After elaborate discussions with family, ex-colleagues and friends, and I decided to take up the market research job as it appeared a logical continuation of the work I had been doing. To my surprise, and rather a pleasant one, I was asked to travel overseas, the very first day I joined the company. 
Its almost two years, that I took a break from my job and one and a half years I joined the new job. I have travelled to lots of places including South Africa, Kenya, Cameroon, UAE and China. I might travel a lot many in future. In addition, the work I am doing has got me more closer to understanding the business environment. Looking back, it does feel like the random decision did work out for me! I have to say, it was an interesting turn in my life. Hoping for some more, going ahead! 

New wake up alarm

They come every morning,
With the dawn of light, always on time,
"Just give us the food, and let us sing"
Is what they say, in their very own sweet way,
I kindly oblige, and get up, rubbing my eyes
Fetching them a fistful of grains, I bid goodbye to the night gone by!

Made my day!

This blog post is the outcome of a fairly simple event, and I shall keep it that way.

My maid didn't come in the morning. The day in office was unusually frustrating. An 80 year old client has become the albatross around my neck! I couldn't find anything to lift my spirits throughout the day. Even the office junta was constantly cribbing about work, or about their plans to change the job.

Done with work, I came back home all low and tired. I wondered how to manage my food. Being depleted mentally, I had almost given up, and was just about to crash as is. 

Just then, the door bell rang. It was my maid, who appeared unannounced. She said "I thought I should check if you are home, since I didn't come in the morning" I was delighted. I got her to make Pyaz Pakoda, along with dinner. 

This was it, my mood changed, and I was happy again! And so I thought that there should be something, which I must find every day, that would make my day, every day! 

Bulbula!

Aadmi bulbula hai pani ka,
Aur pani ki bahti satah par,

Tootta bhi hai, doobta bhi hai,
Phir ubharta hai, phir se behta hai,
Na samandar nigal saka isko,
Na tawareekh tod paayee hai,
Waqt ki mauj par sada behta,
Aadmi bulbula hai pani ka!

Golden lines by Gulzar! 

Still Falling

"I wonder how high have I been flying, that I am still falling down!"

Read this line somewhere and it stuck to me. I thought may be I should just post it here :) 

The 21st Century Oasis

I had a chance to visit Dubai this January. The city is extremely safe, organized and well administered. Unlike the other gulf states, Dubai has a very open culture with majority of inhabitants being foreigners. Dubai metro can take you to most of the places, and even car rentals are not so expensive. The food is affordable, and there are lots of good places to eat, such as Pappa Roti (you must try the buns here)! 

The entire city is characterized with huge skyscrapers and endless malls.

Dubai

I was also lucky to witness rains here, which is otherwise very uncommon in this desert city. If you are looking for a quick foreign trip, to unwind and enjoy, Dubai definitely must be on your list :)

Weaving it and stopping by!

Life is a string of moments, which we weave. We always love to pause in a little while, to observe how good it looks. Sometimes, we try and weave it very slowly, to ensure that even the smallest bit of it comes out perfectly, and spend hours admiring it, whereas sometimes, we unknowingly weave it very fast, without spending a moment to cherish what we are doing or experiencing. Very often, the pace with which we weave and the elements we use, are not under our control.

For the last one month, mom had been with us, in Mumbai. Dad joined us towards the end of the month, to celebrate mom's birthday and new years. As a no surprise, the time flew very fast. I enjoyed every bit of time spent with my family. Me and my dad used to go for a walk every day, after dinner. He is more like a friend, than a dad, and listening to him about how he has lived his life and how content he is now, is always music to my ears. Though without mom's approval, we even managed to sneak out to a nearby restro-bar for an unwinding session. One of his best qualities is that he always tries to fulfill his wishes and also encourages us to do the same.

While mom is quite the opposite of dad, she is one who has the capacity to work perennially, and loves it too. Its almost impossible to see her take rest, and relax. She gets up every morning at 6, and takes the responsibility of all the household work to be done. A Phd in sociology (gold medalist) and a housewife by the course of nature (as she often says), she is simple, naive, energetic,a doer and an inspiration in herself! 

Gutlu, my little niece, turned 8 months today, is absolutely adorable. Even now, when she is yet to grow teeth, she greets everyone with a smile. If you are new to her, she will take her time to scan you, and only after she is done scanning, will she make you her friend. Just seeing her smile is enough to make your day. 

A short trip to Mahabaleshwar was definitely one of the high points of this family time. It gave me, didi and jiaji, the Mumbaikars, a way to temporarily break out of mumbai's mundane life. While mom and dad were neutral, they definitely loved visiting a new place. Great resort, thulping at Mapro, twice, good weather, me, jiaji and dad posing beneath the three monkey point and stopping at small shop to buy an induction cooker, which i doubt, will be used ever again, definitely made the trip memorable. 

Office was more or less neutral, barring the team outing we had yesterday, which was terrific. I am also scheduled to travel to Dubai, next week, for 6 days, and I am really looking forward to it. 

With all the elements I have been presented with so far, 2014 looks like a good year in the making. So here's to the continuing life. I hope to weave out a good story for this year, and who knows, may be I'll stop by more frequently to cherish it as well!