मुलगी म्हणून

जन्माला आले मुलगी म्हणून

कधी हट्ट नाही केला 

कधी उलटून नाही बोलले 

नेहमी धाक बाळगला......मुलगी म्हणून 

सारं ऐकून घेतलं 

न केलेल्या कृत्यांचे आरोप सहन केले.....मुलगी म्हणून 

स्वतःच्या पायावर उभी राहिले 

घर आणि दार सांभाळले 

कुणाचं मन नाही दुखावलं

सगळ्यांना समजावून घेतलं.....मुलगी म्हणून

पण कधी कुणी माझा विचार केला? 

कधी मला समजून घेतलं?

कधी माझा भावना समजून घेतल्या?

का मी असंच मन मारत जगायचं......मुलगी म्हणून?

Life is beautiful...

Childhood

As far as I remember, I was never a naughty child. I loved biscuits and chocolates a lot and that was proved by my decayed molar teeth. I was very afraid of any noise. I would get frightened by the whistle of the pressure cooker, diwali crackers. I was very curious about small things like every child. Where does papa go to work? what does he do there? What is a school? What does studying mean? There used to be a tuition class in our neighbourhood. A lady used to teach there. I would always go and peep inside. The teacher never shouted at me instead she always sweetly asked me to come inside 'Ye na Pinky' (come Pinky). But I just played hide and seek. I used to love when she called me pinky. I was so crazy about the name pinky. I would think, 'why my parents don't call me pinky'? Though my parents called me by the sweetest of names 'rani' (queen or darling). But I wanted to be called pinky. I guess the reason to peep in the class was the name pinky. I used to feel so happy when she called me pinky.
Later as I grew up I hated the same name and thanked God that my name was not Pinky.


School Days:
I remember my day of admission to school. I had been taught the basic alphabets and numbers 1 to 10 at home and was told by everyone to speak there. I had gone with papa. I just remember that I was crying continuously and did not answer a single question though I knew it. But fortunately they gave me admission. But still I was supposed to give my interview before I entered my class on first day. That day I had gone with my uncle. I was happy in new uniform and school bag. And I was only smiling. The sister asked me the same questions, 'What is your name my child? Say A to Z.' And I told my name confidently and said the alphabets and felt great that I answered everything. The sister also was happy and my uncle was relieved.
And then I loved school so much. If ever I missed a day due to sickness I would take the whole house on head.
In school I was a good student by default. No efforts had to be taken by my parents to coax me to study. I did my studies well and without any tension or pressure. My teachers were also very supportive and encouraged me into other activities also. They had confidence in me. When I was in second standard I was afraid to participate in elocution competition. But my teacher said that I have to take part and she had put my name in the list. I remember the topic 'Good manners'. My dad helped me to prepare a speech though he was not so well conversant with English. When I showed it to my teacher she discarded it and gave me a new one to prepare. I prepared. When the day came I had butterflies in my stomach but once I was on stage I started and went on confidently and got a second prize to my surprise. I shared it with my classmate Swapnil. Coincidently Swapnil and I shared a first prize in elocution competition in tenth standard too. swapnil always competed with me in academics. Whenever we got our answer sheets after checking, his eyes would be first on my paper. Even before I could see he used to ask me what was my score.  We mostly shared the first rank in class otherwise he would be second. Once he was ahead of me by 2 marks. He was so delighted. He had calculated everything before our report cards were given to us. When the recess bell rang I was taking out my tiffin from my bag. He suddenly came near me. I was startled. He said excitedly, 'my percentage is so and so, your percentage is so and so. I am first and you are second.' and he went away. I was thinking what kind of a boy he is. But Swapnil was very intelligent.
School days were golden days. I enjoyed a lot in the class. Boys played pranks on each other and we used to  have a great laugh. The most colourful days, miss them a lot.
Junior College days
Fergusson college. On of the topmost colleges in the country. I was very privileged to get admission there. I was in the first division of Science stream which was with a cut off percentage of 86. So it was a class of all high scorers but little did I know that it was a class of high class girls and boys, with a trendy lingo, trendy clothes and fat pocket money. There were people like me too from a middle class background and rooted to earth. I could never interact with these girls from St. Helena's, St. Mary's, St. Joseph's-Pashan and some other hi fi school. My first crush, he may have been the first crush of many girls in our college. Light eyed, blonde haired and fair and a style of his own that made him unique. Well but I never had the guts to talk to him. Two years, short time, didn't get acquainted with many people but made some good friends.

Then life moved on to architecture college. It was destiny that we 18 people had to come together here and be great friends till today. Had some life time experiences in these five years. Enjoyed the study tours, monsoon trips, birthday celebrations to the fullest. Then a year of job.

And then the most fortunate thing happened - admission in CEPT for masters in landscape. It was like a dream come true.
Those two years was a different life altogether. Living away from parents, managing your own things, late night working, late night dinners, mid night birthday celebrations, watching movies, trashing from professors and then recovering from that becoming a bit shameless and then ignoring their shouts. It changed me a lot. Got a different perspective of looking at life. And the greatest thing got a recognition for my efforts of not only two years I guess but my whole academic life. Gold medal made people to look at me who once considered me worthless. It was a dream come true. My parents were the happiest, the joy could not stop flowing from their eyes. Their efforts had been rewarded. Education ended on a good note.
Looking back at life until now I feel satisfied and happy. I got the best parents who gave me best of education, best of values and support in every step of life. Then there were few friends, especially my old childhood buddies who always stood by me.
Everything has happened unpredictably in my life but it has always been the best thing that happened. So I never regret anything. Looking back I feel that life has been so crazy and colourful. Could not have asked for more than this.

Indeed life is beautiful!!!

My Daddy's daughter

The only man who loves me is no other
He is the one and only my dear 'father'.

Always caring for me like a baby
Even when I say 'Dad, I am old enough and steady.'

Never since my childhood an angry word or a slap
Just affectionately patting my head on his lap

The only pillar of support who has always been there
When others backed out and didn't care

The only one who trusts and believes in me
Even when I fail and my mind is killing me

He dreads at the thought of me going away
But inside he realizes that it has to happen someday

Very sensitive at heart
From whom I can never be apart

Proud to be my Daddy's daughter
Would always want to be one in every life hereafter....

हे वयच असं असतं

कोणी तरी आपल्यावर भरभरून प्रेम करावं

आपण त्याचा प्रेमाच्या छायेत विसावं...

त्याने सतत जवळ रहावं
फक्त माझाकडेच पहावं...

दोघांनी कुठेतरी दूर जावं
हातात हात धरून फक्त चालत रहावं...

त्याने माझी खडी काढावी आणि मी रुसावं
मग त्याने माझी समजूत काढून मला मानवाव...

दोघांनी पावसात चिंब भिजावं
थंडी वाजल्यावर  त्याने मला मिठीत घट्ट धरावं...

क्षितिजावर सूर्य मावळत असताना
एकमेकांना आयुष्यभर साथ देण्याचा वाचन द्यावं....

मन असं सुंदर स्वप्नं बघतं
काय करणार हे वयच असं असतं!!!!!

My Birthday-29th March 2010

00.00:  My cell vibrates and I wake up to see Shrutika calling. I am surprised to receive her call. Shrutika( my blockmate from Ahmedabad) wishes me a very happy birthday and  also wishes that I get a husband soon. I laugh & thank her for her wishes. I didn't know that there was another surprise waiting for me.

As soon as I disconnect I see '1 new message'. I open it and see that Vijay(my friend form Architecture) has sent me a message at exactly 12 midnight. It read 'MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY!Happy BIRTHDAY!!!'

God I was shocked as I had never received his message at 12. But I was too happy and all smiles.

I wake up at 6 in the morning. Dad wishes me. Then Mom hugs me and wishes me a happy birthday. I get ready with my new top of Mom's choice. Must say that Mom's choice is very good. Before that I had missed Pratima's call. Again while leaving Mom hugs me and kisses my cheeks again wishing me. I am very happy. I go to the station at 8.40 to catch a local train to go to office. I try calling Pratima but she is not reachable. The train is crowded as usual. I get a place to sit after some 4 stations. I start reading my book. In sometime I receive Manish bhau's call - another surprise. He wishes me warmly. I thank him and crack a joke with him. Then he gives his cell to vahini(bhabhi). She also wishes me warmly, but then I am not able to hear her. I tell her that and say that I'll call her in the evening after going home.

9.35: I get down at Shivajinagar Station. I walk a little futher towards the stairs and find Nilesh smiling at me. As I had expected he was not knowing that it was my birthday and as expected he comments on my top 'kay ekdum hi-fi?' I ask him if it is looking good. He nods as we walk further where Vijay is standing. Vijay gives me a pretty smile( rare of him to smile this way) and wishes me 'Happy birthday' with a warm handshake. Then Nilesh says 'Oh I am sorry I didn't know' and then he too wishes me with a handshake. Then he says ok lets meet for your party in the evening or else we can have it now. Vijay says 'yes anyways she does not have time in the evening so let's party now'. I say I have no problem but then Nilesh says we will have it when we all are at leisure. I say fine and we leave in different directions to go to office. Vijay and me walk together till the bus stop. On the way I receive a call from Prasad(my school friend). As soon as I disconnect I get a call from Aditya(archi friend). He as usual asks me how old I have become. I ask him to shut up. He giggles. After some talk we hang up. And I realise that I have reached the bus stop. Vijay says bye and walks further towards his office in model colony. 

I don't have to wait much longer for the bus. I get my ticket and soon find a place to sit. Within few seconds I get a call from Amol. He wishes me and says that Dipti-his wife and my friend- remembers my birthday and is not wishing me one month late as  she always does. I say that 'I have not yet received a call from your wife'. He says that she will call soon and ends the call. After I get down from the bus I receive a call from Abhijit Deshmukh. He starts with 'Aaj tuza b'day aahe mhane?'(it seems that it's your birthday today?). It is his usual style. I say yes and you are late in calling me.(Always he is the first one to wish me). He says that he had slept early at night and then wishes me and asks for a party when he comes to Pune. I say ok and we hang up. Immediately I receive a call from Dipti. She says that she is wishing me on time. I thank her for that. She asks about party in the evening. I say let's see. She says that she'll call me in the afternoon.

10.05: I enter my office and Vijay  Bansode(our manager) wishes me. He had also sent me a message in the morning. Others don't know about my birthday. Ajay knew about it but he wishes me after sometime remembering about it. 

1.30: We get ready to have lunch and Prachi madam asks to wait to cut a cake for me. Another surprise, I had not expected. Umesh sir wishes me. I cut the cake with everyone singing the birthday song for me. Others also wish me.

After lunch I receive a call from Anagha(my senior and friend from architecture). She always remembers my birthday. She wishes me and asks about my plan for the evening. I say don't know yet. Let's see. 

Then I receive a sms from Shalasri( my classmate from Ahmedabad) another surprise that she remembered it. I reply back thanking her for her lovely wishes. Then I receive a call from Dipti as she had promised and works out a plan for the evening. It would be late for me to go home so I tell her that I'll ask my parents first if they are ok with me celebrating with friends and not at home. I call my mom and tell her about it. She says that give them party on some other day but dad says that today is the only day so they allow me go with friends. I immediately call up Dipti and tell her that yes it will work. I send messeages to everyone including those who did not wish me to meet at Surabhi - a restaurant on JM road at 6.30 in the evening.

Then Pratima calls me and wishes me. I ask her if she can come in the evening. But she says that it is impossible for her because of her baby. She asks me if Dipty(my childhood buddy who is in US with her husband) has called me or not. I saying feeling sad that 'no, she has not yet called me'. Then Pratima makes me understand that there is time difference and she may call me tomorrow. We both have a laugh and she hangs up. Soon after that I get a call from Dipty from US.


I am so happy to receive my best friend's call. We chat a lot and she reminds me of my birthday when we were in third year of architecture. That time they had got a water melon to cut instead of a cake and we had enjoyed it a lot. She feels delighted that we all are meeting in the evening and she will miss it. While talking to her I miss two calls one from Chetan and the other from Abhijit Shinde both my archi friends. It's almost 6 o'clock and I tell her that I have to go now. I try calling Chetan but he does not receive the call.


I call Dipti and ask her to leave immediately so that we don't get late and I leave from office While on my way to bus stop I call Abhijit Shinde and talk to him for some time. 


6.45: I walk towards Surabhi wondering if Vijay has reached as I had warned him to be there at 6.30 and not be late. I prepare myself to get from him as I was going late. Alas, after reaching there I find out that I am the first one to reach there. Then I call up Dipti and Vijay. 


Dipti and Amol come at 7.00. They give a bouquet and wish me. We find a table in Surabhi to sit. Amol as usual teases me about my non existing boyfriend. Vijay comes in 5 min and the discussion goes to Dipti and Vijay's professional meetings and then we all start pulling Dipti's leg for her bhurtegiri. After sometime Chetan comes and he is sorry that he didn't remember my b'day and wishes me and we to another table where we all can accomodate together.
Sagar had played a prank on Chetan telling him that I was giving a party bcoz I had got engaged and the most funny thing was that Chetan believed him. Sagar is known to be a liar. We all laugh at Chetan for believing in Sagar. Chetan says that he was very excited to hear that from Sagar and was curious to know about my would be husband. By the time Vishal and Nilesh join us. Chetan feels sad that his excitement was broken and we all laugh at him. 
Dipti and Amol have got a cake for me and we wait for Sagar for sometime. Then all decide that I should cut the cake now. Nobody has a camera. I give my mobile phone and Nilesh clicks photos while I cut the cake and others sing for me the birthday song. 


It was such a nice feeling. I was so happy that my day was going so nice.


Then we order Pav bhaji and finger chips while we again start pulling Dipti's leg. 


Poor Dipti, she always becomes our bakra. 


As we eat we remember our college days, the pranks we played, the time we enjoyed. We have lot of fun remembering old days and comparing with the present. It is getting close to 9.00 and I think of taking pastries for mom and dad. I pay the bill and tell the others that I'll come in sometime. I bring the pastries and then we call it a day. All are happy that we met after a long time and had great fun. Dipti wishes me again. I hug her and thank her a lot for arranging this.


Nilesh, Vijay and me walk towards the railway station. I ask Vijay to hold some stuff from my hand. He holds the pastries leaving the bouquet in my hand. We reach the station and before the train comes we bid good bye.


While I lie on my bed I think what a fun filled day it was. It was my most memorable birthday. I receive Vishal's message 'Thanks for the treat and Happy Birthday once again.' I reply back saying thanks and thanks for making my b'day memorable. I sms everyone, "Thanks for making  my b'day a memorable one. I will always cherish these moments." 


Remembering the day's events I close my eyes and fall off to sleep with a smile on my face and my heart filled with happiness.

 

Gold medal

Almost everyone whom I met after my convocation asked me the same question, "so how are you feeling after getting the gold medal?' I just didn't have words to answer. Even I myself didn't know its significance until I saw tears of joy in my mother's eyes and a sense of pride of having me as his daughter in my dad's smile. At that time I started realizing its value. It was not the metal that mattered but the efforts for which it was worth. Efforts of many people including my parents, my teachers and also my friends. It was a reward for my parents' hard work, dedication, determination and their faith in me.

Finally I would say that definitely it was a lifetime moment for me which still seems like a dream and the happiness of my ma and pa was the greatest joy for me. This is what I feel after getting the gold medal. Thanks to aai and papa without whom I would not have been what I am today.

Bus journey

Everytime after I board the highly crowded 'Swargate Sangvi' bus (the one which takes me to office on time and that's why I dare to enter it) my mind shrieks out 'Oh God not again!'. The entire bus journey is a struggle for existence.

The first step of entering the bus is like winning a running race. A sense of victory fills me but it is short lived when I find no space to stand even on my one foot. I try to balance myself on the entrance steps while the bus starts. Here even the moment of inertia fails as I am stuck in the same position until the next few stops. In the same unbalanced awkward position the conductor expects me to buy my ticket and I oblige him by trying to reach out my hand with money from somewhere. People start pushing from behind as more and more start getting inside at each stop and the conductor keeps yelling "pudhe chala" (keep moving forward).

Without an effort on my part I reach somewhere in the middle of the passage (courtesy: the moving crowd behind me) and finally I get some space to breathe. Now the impending crowd pushes from sideways to get out of the bus and in the process I tumble on some sitting passenger and the word 'sorry' instantly comes out of my mouth as if I have been chanting it since my birth. The screeching brakes keep me moving forward and backward (here the moment of inertia works). I wait eagerly for my stop. And then my heart fills with happiness as the bus approaches my destination. And finally I pop out and give a big sigh of relief and thank God for bringing me safely.