NEW YEAR

Suddenly another year passed by ushering in a new one along with lots of hope, aspirations, anticipations, dreams and wishes.

If I look back to last year, I am amazed to find so many firsts, good times, friends and what not. It is really interesting life never stops to crop up surprises, those surprises make it more interesting. In the amazing journey of life one has to be ready for the unknown corners around the street. Succumb to your Fads and Whims and make it more interesting.

Let me wish my reader tons of good wishes for the new year, let us have more nice surprises and have the best  part of the cake of life.

Lets say: Fantastic life!!

CHETAN BHAGAT: MY FAVOURITE NOVELIST

Few years back, I needed a slim book preferably a racey novel to read over the two hours plus span of journey from Delhi to Dibrugarh. I glanced over the books displayed in the airport book store (Odyssey) and found a slim book on an unusually tall stack of the same book. The attending salesman was courtetius enough to explain, the book was the best seller from their store for last fifteen days. I picked up a copy, as usual checked the back cover. A new novlist named Chetan Bhagat, presumably a nerd has writen a novel. I wondered why people are reading his nerdy statements. I picked up the book "Five Point Someone" which costed me less than a hundred bucks and with an intention of having a good nap if I got bored with the book.

It was an exhilirating experience once I started reading the first page and could not put the book down till I finished the last fullstop. Chetan Bhagat has that in his writtings. His language is remarkably Indian, unlike other Indian english writers and the story line is engaging. Those who perfected their english by reading Shakespear, Wordsworth, Wodehouse, Arther Connon Doyle will find it very annoying to find some unorthodox english expressions but that is what is being liked by millions.

Then the controversy cropped up of giving credit to story writer even if its movie right is purchased. I did never agree that Aamir Khan did a splendid job as the hero in the movie version (3 Idiots), but that helped them both. The movie turned out to be a big success and Chetan Bhagat became a household name.

Chetan Bhagat followed me up with few more books "One Night @ the Call Centre", "The 3 Mistakes of My Life", "Two States" and "Revolution 2020" at regular interval. His popularity grew day by day across all genre and ages. I found my wife reading "Five Point Someone" recently, she was quick to explain that was her fifth reading. Teen son devoured all of them and Chetan Bhagat became his third favourite after his music player and Arsenal FC. Tween one started reading him discreetly, when we found out, we allowed him to read Chetan Bhagat as he has only one year more to his teens, a lame excuse I must admit.

We can always have some lame excuses to favour our favorite writer.

OH, ANOTHER NEW MOBILE !

During my childhood days my father used to boast about his Olivetti typewriter. It was a beauty, encased in a brief case and with greenish taint paint. He owned it for at least two decades and  if somebody asked about his typewriter he felt good. I can not recall that he used it very regularly, except for typing out occasional official letters. All personal letters were hand written in those days. My father gifted it to someone who really needed it and felt very good for the rest of his life.

I got a mobile connection a few years back and settled for a good basic handset, I was the proud owner of it for around three years. However, I had to upgrade as my colleagues already did and bought a swanky new handset while on tour with some additional features like one mega pixel camera, music player etc. without thinking of even consulting my family. On dinner table when I announced my new mobile handset:

You had one already!
Why did you settle for one mega pixel?
Does it have boom box? (what was that)
What about e-mail facility? Synchronization? GPRS? Push mail?
Apps availability, compatibility? etc. etc.

It was a discussion among us for a very long time without me participating. I was not the proud owner of my new swanky mobile any longer. I needed a better model with better facilities and meeting all the parameters discussed in this grand forum. Probably then only I shall be a "proud owner".

I secretly negotiated with my tween son, he was happy to keep the set as a music player without connection, once I buy a new set which will make me feel good. I consulted with my colleagues, googled and settled for a pricey handset with touch screen, tons of apps and amazing processing power beyond my laptop (a three year old vintage).

Oh, a new mobile!
Dad, you should have waited for another two months, better models are coming to market.
Can it up upgraded to newer version of software? 
Facebook, Tweeter, GPS?
etc. etc.

Another long discussion, but I was mentally prepared to remain loyal to this new handset. It burnt my pocket to a very wide hole. After that there were two newer versions of this handset within one year or so. I resisted my ardent urge to buy the newer versions and be an example to my sons on mental strength.

On a fine day, my teen son impressed me to hand over this set to him as he was tired with his old set and exhausted his pocket money and I should buy the latest version which will make me feel good. I got much awaited desired support, so I bought the latest model available in town costing a fortune. I kept it in my pocket, did not inform about it during dinner. I am going to use it for making phone call and for text message, but I am no so sure if I shall be a proud owner. Other facilities? No I am not that adept to them and do not find any use of those mostly unnecessary apps. My wife knew my plight of fidgeting those apps to her dismay. She discovered the new set when I placed on bedside table, she just whispered

Oh, another new mobile!

and fell asleep without uttering another word.

OH, ANOTHER NEW BLOG !

When I passed on the information on my planning to start a blog to my family-"Oh' another new blog'; pat came the reply in unison from my wife, a teen and a tween sons.


Where will you find time? 
What will you write?
You are not very good at expression even you face is not expressive.
Lets see for how many days the blog will last.
OK,agreed but what will be the name of the blog?

I told them I have already registered and passed the name and the domain of my blog to them. Suddenly, a loud silence filled the room with apprehensions. Five minutes passed, my tween son encouraged me "Dad you can do anything with elan, just like my last project work ". That was when he was six, now he is twelve; but I knew he was genuine. Teen aged one requested to write and read at least twice before posting, at seventeen he can give me advise, I felt very proud for him.

My wife agreed to extend her valuable supports in all forms, including but not limited to encouragement, if possible, by contributing her writings.

So, here I am with lots of gutso in front of you.