Get-to-gether at my place...

Finally when all my excuses exhausted, I invited my book club members for lunch. Frankly it was under sheer pressure from Amit that I decided to invite book club members for lunch. When Reliance declared Saturday as a holiday, Amit invited me for lunch. I declined the invitation for 2 reasons: first since this was a historic decision in the life of reliance, I wanted to celebrate / enjoy by sitting at home; secondly since we travel daily from Borivali to Ghansoli I avoid travelling this side of the place. However, I never thought I would be caught in a Catch 22 situation!!!. For the simple reason that then Amit said if you can’t come then I will come!!!...I had to stock few excuses for the subsequent Saturdays and Sundays so as to postpone him coming to my place or me visiting his place…

Finally, when none of the excuses were left, decided to invite all of them for lunch. Date was 31^st May 2014 (Saturday) at 12.30pm. Vignesh dropped out citing some personal work. Pratibha was unable to come since her father was unwell. She visits his place on weekends. Sumit couldn’t join for lunch as he had already planned to go to Pune with his friends.

Amit, Karthik and Deepali managed to come for lunch. Since Ketan (my younger brother) was alone at home, requested him to join for lunch. Niyati (college friend) likes meeting new people. Invited her also for lunch.

I knew Karthik and Amit would land at my place before time. Hence very strategically gave them only partial instructions of reaching my place. I underestimated their intelligence….They managed to reach my place at 11.30am!!!!! I prefer finishing all the work before the guests arrive. Usually, the host is in the kitchen preparing dishes and the guests are left with either watching TV or reading newspaper / magazines or worst playing the host’s kids or still worst responding to the tons of Qs asked by the host’s family members J

Luckily I had envisaged this and was prepared by then. Part of the menu was ordered from outside. Since Karthik and Niyati were veg, few of the dishes were veg. In addition to that, Karthik prefers starters to a five course meal. Keeping in mind Karthik’s preferences and Amit and Deepali being hard-core Non vegetarian had to balance the meal. On the top of that, I wanted to show some of my cooking skills as well sans spoiling their appetite!!!.

After giving much thought to the menu, decided to do the following: Chana Chaat, Aam rus, Potato wada, smoked chicken was self- made and the starters (Veg Spring Roll, Paneer Hungama & Chilli Garlic Potato), Veg Biryani and Chicken Biryani ordered from Hangout. Deepali came with a Cake (Hangout) and Mango Ice cream (Naturals). Amit managed to get Vanila ice cream (Amul). Niyati got Punjab Sind’s Lassi and Chhaas.

Over the lunch, we talked (cursed??) about our office experiences. It started with lunch and ended with 3 servings of Tea!!! Have realised, when we discuss office experiences it is usually the worst experiences we discuss and never the good ones!!!! We had decided that we will not be discussing books but later on the conversation drifted to what we were reading….Ketan left post lunch citing some excuse. Deepali left since her husband was travelling the same night. We decided to go for a movie. But Amit said he was more comfortable lying down on the floor than sitting in the chair and watching a movie…

So we decided to sit and chat at home. Niyati likes to read, but lately she couldn’t get hold of a good book. She wanted to know a good read. This becomes very subjective. I don’t think there is such a thing called a “good read”. It depends on your likes / tastes to read. Depends on your state of mind at the time of reading. If you are occupied with tons of disturbing thoughts, any reading will not be a good read!!And if you like reading, then it doesn't matter whether it is a fiction / non-fiction / comic/ spiritual / philosophical...

I think we enjoy reading only when we want to read. As usual Amit and karthik ended up giving 'gyan' to Niyati on reading. Since Karthik lately has been active on writing blogs (his name was included in the one of the top five bloggers in Chennai ) he suggested her to write. 

Guys, please give a serious thought to this..I and Karthik have been urging you for long to start writing your thoughts. Atleast start writing by reviewing the book you read. Just pen down your thoughts on the book you read...If reading is your hobby, add value to it. Not just by reading but writing a review of  the book.  

At 6.30 pm,  it was time for saying good byes!!!     

Minutes of the Book Club Meet held on April 29, 2014

Amit: Black Friday / S. Hussain Zaidi

This book is about bomb blast which happened in across Mumbai in March 1993. Book covers comprehensive coverage of the blast. Movie on the book was also made. However, movie doesn’t cover all the details which the book has covered.  I still remember the sound of the explosion it made. We were staying at Railway officers flats (courtesy father), Churchgate.  One of the bomb blasts was at the stock exchange building. Following the blast, curfew was immediately declared. I had heard various adventurous experiences of my mother. Got to know actual one such experience when my mother decided to venture out during the curfew just to find out what was happening on the streets!!!!  

Deepali: From Dongri to Dubai / S. Hussain Zaidi

This is the first book that presents the history of the Mumbai mafia, and details the lives of Karim Lala, Chhota Rajan, Haji Mastan, Abu Salem, and Varadarajan Mudaliar. The main part of the book revolves around Dawood Ibrahim and describes his story starting from a young age as a boy in Mumbai to the international terrorist he has become today.

To read and to actually get a first-hand experience are entirely two different things. Deepali narrated her real life experience when she was staying at Dadar. She had witnessed many such fights of the mob, killing people, burning the house.....

I went to visit the Oberoi and Taj post bomb attacks on 26 Nov 2008...Looking at the fire and the broken glass was itself a nerve wrecking experience...Couldn't imagine the real situation when the attack must have happened and the panic stricken people who were stuck inside the hotel... 

Karthik: Hidden India and My India

These books were in Tamil. Title Hidden India meant that there are so many things which are of Indian origin or which were first thought of / originated in India.However, outsiders have claimed these things to be be their own origin!!!For eg. Patent for turmeric (Indian origin, US wanted to patent it), Hanuman; superman in US!!!!...Kohinoor now in UK...

The Saraswati image is believed to have been at a temple at Bhojsala is now at the British Museum in London.

The Birmingham Buddha, the largest surviving Buddha image of ancient India, was discovered in 1861 from the site of a monastery at Sultanganj in Bihar during a railway construction. It is now at the City Museum and Art Gallery in Birmingham.

In the late 19th century most of the main Amravti sculptures were taken away from the site and sent to museums. Many are in the British Museum.

List is endless!!!!

Pratibha: Bird in a banyan tree: my story  / Bina Ramani 

Gives the readers an insight to her life, inclusive of all the ups and down she went through. From her personal to professional life, everything has been penned down in detail. Adding to this, Ramani has mentioned and talked about the Jessica Lal murder case in which she was one of the main witnesses.

Sumit: Bhagvad Geeta as viewed by Swami Vivekanand

Bhagvad Geeta can be interpreted in many ways. If you need to learn management learns best books are the epic books!!!...Applicable in today's life also....According to Sumit, BG doesn't preach or make you think that one need to behave in a sober manner or one has to imbibe only the niceties of life....In short, ye mat karo, woh mat karo...aapko hamesha achcha he behave karna hai.....jo sahi hai voh karo...only catch is "SAHI KYA HAI"?!!!

I think, person who knows he / she  is right(to have a knowledge of knowing that he/she is right is itself a big achievement!!) has a different kind of aura / confidence....

Vandana Karande: The top 5 regrets of the dying / Bronnie Ware

1. I wish I'd the courage to live a life

2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends

5. I wish I had let myself be happier

This is so true.  We all undergo all these regrets at one point of time...We have so many dreams in our life..But some of them remains unfulfilled simply because we have ump teems of reason for them. Believe me, when we have reasons, they will remain unfulfilled. Friends, at least, dreams which are small don't keep them hanging. It is just our laziness that comes into the way. When the time goes by, we realise there were so many things which we could have done / fulfilled. Have heard, people who failed many a times, but still got up is the real winner. The ability to get up after failure is a sign of success!!! Don't repent over failure, get up and start again....Sheer hardworking will get you what you wish for..LUCK alone doesn't play a role in life....

Secondly, People work work and work...they forget to enjoy life. We think of doing things post retirement. For that, we strive to work and accumulate wealth. What happens post retirement: either we are too old to travel, there are too restrictions at that age, your better half may have left (either divorced or in heaven)!!!!!....You are left alone with your wealth...

Thirdly, We take granted that other's know what we feel about them...even our parents think that it is but natural that they love their kids...and this the kids should know...Most of the time misunderstandings happen just because of this!!!We don't tell people what we feel about them..we assume that they know what we feel about them....It is very important that we express our feelings...it helps in any kind of relationship. It will help them in knowing where they stand in your life...People are happier when they know what you think about them...Be honest with your feelings...

 Fourthly, Don't forget your friends in your busy life. Friends are important part of your life...Imagine your school days, college days, office days, etc..would you have survived without friends??...The are one of the pillars in your life!!!!They have contributed to your life> They were there in your Ups and downs in your life...however over a period of time, when you are working or married, other priorities precede than spending time with your friends..When you become old, you have only memories and NO FRIENDS....It is not necessary that you spend entire day with them, only a short message or a tinkle that they are thought of will keep the bonds of friendship strong....Any kind of relationship needs constant efforts...In trying to make new friends, don't forget your existing friends...As Amit said...just as water your plants everyday in order to grow them, you need constant efforts to have healthier relationships....

Last but not the least: Be happier in life...To be contented in life is an achievement itself in life....It is very essential you realise this in life...Live for now..enjoy the happiness of NOW!!!If you are happy life will be beautiful..If You create an healthier environment around you, indirectly you are helping others also to be positive. Life is full of challenges...what can be a better victory than overcoming those challenges and still ready to face further challenges...There are problems in everyone's life...Person who overcomes those problems is real winner.. At times, you will not be able to find solutions, dicuss with your friends, families, colleagues, you have a larger view of the problem..someone may gone through a similar problem, they can help you with their approach..Dont despair...There is always a way to face the problem...I remember my ex boss saying once, if there are no problems in your life, then there is some problem with your life!!This doesn't mean that you dig some problem when there are none!!!!!Bottom line: try to be happier in what you have,  don't delve on what you don't have!!Live for the MOMENT....I remember when I went for treks, We were told the distance we need to walk..We were so busy in covering that distance, that when we reached that point we forgot to enjoy the moment we were busy in thinking the next point!!!!!!!!!