Curvy Tales

Conviction is something

I am unable to afford

Once I had it in-plenty

Now left with empty coffers

Hard grip I had on that little victory

Now it's passing through the holes

Alike the grains of sand

And the awareness of this gravitas

Is also not giving the essential push

Darkness shall be inevitable

Yet I ain't feeling any remorse

Difficult it seems to wake up

For the dream is getting cosy

Hoping to find that conviction soon

Before everything becomes, again, curvy

-SR.

PS: It's essential for one to display any kind of failure on the same board where once, you flashed your success. Here, the intention isn't to garner sympathy from others. But to keep yourself awake and aware that the journey is not over yet.

PPS: May The Force Be With You!

The Transformational Generation

There is lot of fuss going around (by around, I mean social media), about the New Year this time then it was ever before. The obvious reason is the pandemic. So for a change, I have chosen to talk on something different today which won't be related to Lockdown/Covid 19.

This story belongs to those, like me, who were born in the decade of 80's or early 90's. They all will agree, that no generation is suffering today, more, than us. And most of the suffering is not our karma. It might intrigue you, how is that even possible or if any such thing can actually happen? Honestly, I would agree with you too. But, then, after closely going through all the happenings in the three decade plus life of mine. I can surely provide some instances as to why I came to this conclusion. Note: This isn't a typical write-up but just collection of thoughts.

• Music

I remember quiet vividly, only once I had watched my parents marriage video. Firstly, I was naive to understand anything in it. But what I still recollect is, watching video was not as easy as it is today. That was the era of Cassettes and Video Cassettes Recorder. And we did not have any VCR back then. We had to borrow the same from a friend of my Baba, in order to watch the videos. So, back then, a person having an urge to think of having VCR at their own place wouldn't be wrong. It is same like today if someone wishes to have a home theatre or 55'' or higher version of Smart TVs. But the fun part here was, by the time we could think of having or buying any such thing, it had already become outdated. 

If I talk about sound system, when I was in 6th Standard (Yes, I always prefer using Standard over Grade), a boy in our class had bought tape recorder in school for some party. Either it was Childrens Day or the Christmas party. (Deja vu moment: The best part of the party was the work of placing all the benches one over the other on the corners of the room, to make space in between for everyone to dance. And I loved the task of doing it). 

Coming back, it was almost same as the one we had at our home, but with one trick. As against mine, this boy's tape recorder speakers could be detached from the main system. Earlier back home, we weren't allowed to use our tape recorder on daily basis as it was kept in a locker. So when during the Sundays, when parents use to give permission to play the same I remember trying to detach the speakers from the system. Realisation dawned, that the system wasn't the same as of one the boy in my class had bought. But a childs mind won't accept the technicalities. So trials happened for some more days too.

By the time we went to Junior College a new terminology was becoming a household talk, Deck. This consisted of two big speakers which you would attach on the two corners of the room and the main system that use to play the cassttes and CDs as well. Yes, by now even cassettes were going in the history as the dawn of Compact Disk had come. So, as usual, now I had craving for this too. But it was hardly 2-3 years and then the MP3 songs era came in. So instead of listening on a Deck or some big sound systems, people started using the MP3 players.  

• Examination

Circa 2003, the time when I was going to give my SSC Board exams. Ours was the first batch who had used the Barcode Sticker and Holocraft stickers on the answer papers. I remember our classes had did a mock drill on how to stick the same on the answer papers. 

Then come to year 2005. I enrolled myself in Degree college for the course Bachelors of Commerce (Accounting & Finance). This was a new baby back then and our batch was third one in the history of this course. So that meant, when we were in First Year there was no one who had received this degree from the Mumbai University. Even in my college, the Final Year batch had only 8 students. Basically, this course was under Self Financed category of the Mumbai University. Where First Year B.Com was charged at around Rs. 3,000/-, our FYBCAF  was charged at Rs. 13,000. So ours was the last batch where I got admission in the First List inspite of having 69.50% in my 12th Standard. Today, if someone goes to seek admission in the course, you'll need minimum 90% =/<.

Now let's turn your clocks to 2016. I was due to give my Professional Examination - I (PE - I), the first level exam for Chartered Accountancy course conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. It was somewhere in September 2016, we were in our classes for the Accounts lecture by Professor Anand, in Sukh Sagor Institute. He was very boring, as he use to take way too much time to explain things. So as usual, on that monsoon day we were bracing ourselves for another impact, all of a sudden the professor came in with a beaming smile. The first thing he told us was to close our books and just sit back as he had some big news to give as well as explain the technicalities of it. I still remember, he was saying like, "I am very much jealous of you all". So for the first time, we all were actually interested to listen what Professor Anand had to tell us. That was the day he broke the news of launch of Common Profiency Test (CPT) which will be replacing the current PE - I. This test will be a Multiple Choice Question format exam as against the theoretical PE - I. And most importantly, our Articleship will begin immediately after clearing CPT. So that meant, if things went good, then from the start of 2017 I will be getting my first salary. So, here, I was part of the First CPT batch. Being there first experiment, maybe, the result of December 2016 was 69%. Which is way off the mark from their standards of 3-5%. Luckily, I was part of the successful 69% (First and Last success in a ICAI exam). With that, I got my job and first salary in February 2017.

Jumping few years back into 2012. Since there was no success in the above area, so I had to look for some other opportunity. (Another Deja vu: This reminded me, a bit off topic, I had missed an opportunity of enrolling myself in LLB course. As I had mentioned above, how the BCAF was a new course back then when I was enrolled in it. The differences when compared to other UG courses was in the timing of exams and results as well. B.Com exams use to happen in month of March every year with their results coming out by June. BCAF or BAF, how todays generation refers it to, use to have exams in May and the results use to come in August. So by the time our results were out, the LLB academic year may even start their year.)

Coming back, I registered for Masters in Commerce (M.Com) in 2012. And, if I am not wrong it was around the same year a new course pattern of M.Com was launched as well. For years it has always been M.Com Part 1 & Part 2. Now this was changed to a new Semester Pattern. I remember the chaos. During one of my exam of Part 1, we had received two question papers for the same subject. One was as per the Old syllabus or the Part 1 and another was as per the new syllabus or the Semester pattern. As we weren't aware, which paper had to be solved so we all waited for further instructions. The exam clock was already ticking. After around 10 minutes, the co-ordinators came and informed us that, you can give which ever paper you wish to. Yes, you read that correctly. So, yeah, I was part of this transformation as well. And we have the paper which was much easier.

Another course which I was part of for some time was Company Secretary (CS). A decade ago, when I registered in it was know as CS - Intermediate. But when I registered, it became CS - Executive. And in another year, it changed its entire structure and syllabus or subjects and also realigned their Groups as Modules. So here too, every year I use to look up for notifications if there is still any more change in the course. 

• Job

This might sound hilarious, as even the companies policy did not spare us. It wasn't big, but it was a policy change that was applied to all the employees. Every MNC's have an option of Internal Job Posting, which allows one to apply in another department. This may be on the same level or a step above of your current designation. So I too had used the opportunity of making a shift in my department. Now, in my case it was going to be a same level transfer. But back then our company did have a policy of giving hike in your salary even for transfers on same designation. So when I was shortlisted, I was called by the HR to discuss the compensation. Surprisingly, the HR said the company is shifting the policy of making same level/designation transfers as not eligible for raise in the salary. I was a bit taken back by that news, but luckily for me a good news followed. HR confirmed that since the policy is still in draft stage so you will be the last person who may get benefit of the same. But they did try to scare me by saying, if you take this hike in salary now then there is a probability that you may receive a minimal hike after the year end performance reviews or in some cases might not receive any hike. So while I was listening to it, I was also processing the information. My output was like, future is uncertain. We don't know about it. So why give up this present opportunity. Hence, by accepting the hike for a transfer on a same level, I became the last person in the company to be the beneficiary of that old policy.  

These were some of the incidences I could recollect which justifies my claim of being in the transformational generation. I am not considering the ones which had an impact on majority of the population like the Internet boom happening for the elites, to it becoming the household necessity; the mobile phone era; TVs becoming LCDs to LEDs and then the Smart TVs, the political shifts from One Party Government to Coalition and back to one party etc.

But I am sure what I have experienced uptil now isn't the end and that this will go on. There may come many more such instances where we are either going to be part of it's Sunrise or Sunset.

If you look the other way, isn't that quite adventurous? Yes, it does have its own boon and bane. Depends on your perspective or on which side you are standing, metamophically. 

One thing is for sure, we may be the last thread who are holding the 20th century and 21st Century together. (In case you didn't notice just now, the transformation of 'th' to 'st'). In the times of T20s, we are still holding on to the values of TESTs. In the world of virtual materialistic fiction, we still believe in the old school personal touch. Yes, we will be called outdated by some now and many in the coming few years. To be honest, those comments do not effect me as on date, atleast. At the end of the day, if doing something in certain way or feeling about something in a particular manner is going to get smile on your face, peace in your heart and a sound sleep in the night. Then I DGAF about any other views. (Yeah, learnt that current generation short form today).

-SR

PS: May The Force Be With You.

Postcard Wishes

१९-११-२०२०

प्रति: सिद्धेश राणे

प्रेषक: निकिता नाईक

स. नि. वी. वी

पत्र लिहिणयास कारण म्हणजे तुला वाढदिवसाच्या शुभेच्छा देण्याचं. तीस वर्षाची घोडी झालीस आता. काळजी पूर्वक धम्माल कर. 

नुकतीच दिवाळी संपली. मागचा महिना थोडा कठीण होता तुमच्या साठी हे ऐकून होतो. परंतु सगळं आता नीट चाललं आहे हे समजल्या वर बरं वाटलं. 

पुणे मधल्या नवीन वास्तू बद्दल समजलं. खूप बरं वाटलं ऐकून. अशीच प्रगती करत रहा.

भेटवस्तू बद्दल म्हणायचं तर या पुस्तकबद्दल ऐकून होतो मी. तसं वस्तू तुला देण्याचं काही अर्थ नाही कारण ती तुझ्या कडे आधीच असायची. म्हणून ही लहानशी पुस्तकरूपाने भेटवस्तू. आशा आहे की तुला आवडेल आणि तू आधी वाचली नसावी.

घरी काका काकूंना माझा नमस्कार सांग आणि शुभम ला आशीर्वाद.

इकडे सगळं ठीक आहे. काळजी घ्या. तिशीच्या मंडळात आपले हार्दिक स्वागत.

- सिद्धेश राणे

हो विचार होता पत्रा द्वारे शुभेच्छा द्याच्या. आणि पत्र म्हणजे जे तुला पोस्टमन ने दिलं असतं ते. पण मग ते कधी पोचेल हे माहीत नव्हतं. आणि गिफ्ट अन् पत्र वेगळं पोचले तर थोडा अन्याय होतो त्या गिफ्ट वर. 

विना शब्दांच्या गिफ्ट जर मी पाठवली तर ती वस्तू वाटते मला. 

आणि सध्याच्या काळात मी असं एक पत्र पाठवून द्याचा म्हटलं असतं तर पोस्टमन स्वतः म्हणाले असते, " व्हॉट्स अप कर की गड्या, का त्रास देतोस आम्हाला "

वाढदिवसाच्या खूप खूप शुभेच्छा. 

-SR.

The Yogini

It’s been quite sometime I haven’t scribbled anything in this space. Like how, someone, when buys her/his own house? They have a larger than life proud feeling that they finally own a space on this planet. I mean, I am not sure how much you can fathom the gravity of that feeling? Let me try to explain you in terms of Physics language. In the unending empty Space above us of this One Universe, among our known Nine Planets (Yes. Please don’t consider Pluto as just a dog) in our Solar System, the billion stars in it, the ‘n’ number of unexplored galaxies beyond the wormhole and the further ‘n’ number of solar systems in each of those galaxies etc. As on date there in only one planet with life forms on it, which is known to mankind i.e. Earth. And when you Own, even if it's few square feet, an area in it. Well, now imagine how much one should be proud of.

Okay, that was a bit off the topic, you know. I know you might have the look on your face which says, “Kehna kya chahtey ho”. 

To sum it all up, I just wanted to say, currently I may not have a physical space of my own. But in the virtual world, I do. And this blog is it. You see, sometimes the dreams which don’t let you sleep, always tend to appear in all your daily activities or you may end up linking them somehow. So that’s why the off topic comparison.

Coming back, this story is about a girl, whom I met at my workplace some four years ago. We were in the same department but in different teams. So I only knew about her, as I liked to talk or know people. But never got an opportunity to talk. But that was going to come soon. When I was being shifted to a new department, I was supposed to give the handover of my work to her. I will confess here that, she troubled me a bit even after my transfer was complete. Some or the other query use to pop up in our internal messenger or on email or on phone. Sometimes it was so much that my new team members asked whether we should ask our seniors to intervene as it may impact the new work.

Yes, it would have been an easy route to stop it. But I generally do not use or choose the options which are kind of last resort. I try to solve things amicably as much as possible. After a month or two down, the troubling stopped as she had synced in the new work. And then we rarely had much talks. Once in a while a ‘Hi’ or ‘Bye’ if our paths crossed

 

Two years ago when she was shifted to my department, our communication actually started. We use to talk, like, almost daily as our seating arrangements were nearby. Asking/sharing food when hunger use to take control or working together for the Annual office event or those traditional days. And most importantly, we both had a same hobby. Trekking. So sometimes we use to go together for those events as well. This was like a regular routine. In this period she was also back from her Maternity Leave. And generally, a little weight gain is quite normal post delivery. Sometimes I use to feel like suggesting her to think about Yoga or Brisk Walking. But then, I refrained from doing so for couple of reasons. One, being a full time mother plus a full time working professional, it isn’t easy to take out time from those restricted 24 hours. And secondly, you just cannot or rather should not directly drop in suggestions to some one about their personal lives, even if it is genuine. Not every time they may be welcomed. So I use to just tell her to start climbing steps while coming to office and since she was into trekking so the walking part also got covered. For the record, she has completed a trek of Lonavla to Bhimashankar which is almost 75 KMS in just one and half day.

Now, fast forward to March 2020. The biggest speed breaker of our lifetime came in, Corona.

We all were working from home now. And this had disturbed all our regular routines. For me, more than the office routine I was missing my morning walks/cycling. Plus the pandemic resulted in cancellation of all running events and also the trekking events too. It is a more of a necessity for me, you can say, as for a person who has been a obese for so many years. These were the habits that helped me to bring my weight a bit down. So, now with no movement meant the schedule will be broken which was established over a period of 4 years.

But let's see how The Lady fared in the Lockdown. I don’t know whether it was April or May in this year. She suddenly started uploading pictures of herself in Yoga poses in her Instagram. Initially, it was a start of something new so I had appreciated her. I was hoping it stays consistent, as in fitness world, that’s the most important thing. Well, the lady was in with a plan it seemed. The pictures started coming daily, now with more hashtags and yoga trainers tagged in the post. Slowly more exercises were added in and pictures got converted into videos now.

Generally, we take a break on a Sunday. But since she is on a mission, she is always trying to snatch some time of everyday for her new found passion. The one signal to know if you have converted an activity into your passion is when you regret, if you miss a day. And in one of her post, where she had detailed how she felt sad about missing a session on account of some other work was that signal. Though she was content that she had tried to convert her regular chores into a compensatory workout on that day as well. 

Even when she started the journey, she hadn’t bought the Yoga Mat or any accessories. That is another signal when you can say safely, that the person is doing a particular thing only for herself/himself. It's not been done to show off or just get some likes or to attract some lime light. But it is done, just to achieve peace of mind.

So after some time I stopped messaging or complimenting her on every post. One reason is, ofcourse, it may become a cliché. But more importantly, I knew she has gone beyond now and she isn’t waiting for anyone’s approval or hearing good things about her journey. She is self motivated.

Through her posts, I was reading some Sanskrit names of the asanas for the first time. By now, the captions of the pictures were also becoming longer. And without mentioning it in her 'Bio' of Instagram, she is turning in, to be an Influencer. I remember one comment I had heard about her earlier, that the way she manages her work + home + hobbies is actually commendable. Even I feel that too. I mean, who doesn’t has problems? But few are able to keep them inside and keep a smile on the outside. It always sends out positive vibes. She is able to do this.

For me in the Corona times, I use to keep doing something or the other which, I hoped, would at least compensate for some percentage of the regular walking schedule which I had before corona. But, being in home, it isn’t that easy to stay motivated all the time. Sometimes you feel the need to breathe some fresh air. So her regular status updates was providing that fuel. In case, on a day if I skip doing those little somethings, then her post use to remind me about consistency and make me regret that I missed it. 

I remember asking her suggestions on some Yoga Asanas for me to begin with. I also use the option “Save for Later” in Instagram to some of her post if I wish to attempt it later. One of the great moment in her journey, according to me, was when she had begun attempting the headstand. It is one of the difficult pose and one needs ample practice for the same.

She is also, now, being invited by trek organising group to join their Instagram Live session. And she herself has started taking Live Training sessions too. 

I believed that this is the story that needed to be documented. Yes, it is just a gist. The real struggle can only be described by the person themself. We all know that every persons story in this world is unique. But we are so much engrossed in our day-to-day routine lives, that we miss out on observing the uniqueness or living our own story.

So this post is to your story, Lady. I wish, what has gone by uptil now are just few pages of the book. Keep them coming.

-SR.

PS: I have already reserved my free lifetime membership if she plans to start a fitness centre in future ;-)

PPS: May The Force Be With You.

ऋतु पावसाचा

तसं पावसाळा काही माझ्या आवडीचा ऋतु नव्हे

पण पाऊस पडताना, प्रसन्न मात्र वाटते

वाऱ्याच्या खांद्या वर सवार होऊन 

पावसाच्या सरी जेव्हा जमिनीला स्पर्श करतात 

तेव्हा उठणाऱ्या त्या मातीचा सुगंध 

आत्म्यास थंड करून जातो

ओसाड पडलेल्या त्या डोंगर रानांवर 

जेव्हा त्या सरी बरसतात 

तेव्हा जणू त्या डोंगरांनी हिरवा शालू नेसलाय

असं भासते

तसं पावसाळा काही माझ्या आवडीचा ऋतु नव्हे

पण पाऊस पडताना, प्रसन्न मात्र वाटते

असमान कडे आस लावून बसलेला बळीराजा

जेव्हा त्या पावसाच्या थेंबाला शेतावर बरसताना पाहतो

तेव्हा त्याच्या चेहऱ्यवरचं आनंद काही वेगळाच असतो

अक्षय तृतीया नंतर सणांचा जो अकाल पडतो

तो वारकऱ्यांच्या टाळांचा गजरा सोबत सुरु होतो

ते ह्याच पावसाच्या आगमनाने 

म्हणून पावसाळा जरी माझ्या आवडीचा ऋतु नसला

तरी पाऊस पडला की सर्वत्र आनंद मात्र नक्कीच पसरतो

-SR.

PS: May The Force Be With You.

Go कोरोना Go

ज्याची आतुरता गेल्या महिनाभर होती

अखेर त्या पावसांच्या सरी आज बरसल्या 

हो पण या वर्षी काही भिजायची सोय नाही आहे तशी

कारण नुसती सर्दी जरी झाली तरी तुम्हाला कोरोना तर नाही ना?

असं प्रश्न सर्वांनाच पडणार

तसं हा वर्ष एक कसौटिच आहे जगासाठी 

कोरोना ह्या महामारी ने सर्वच त्रस्त आहेत

मन मोकळं फिरणं ते, एके काळचे 

आज नुस्तं घरतना बाहेर पडायला सुद्धा भीती वाटतेय

कुठल्या क्षणाला कोणता व्यक्ती किवा वस्तू पासून

कोरोनाचा संसर्ग आपल्याला होईल 

त्याचा काही नेम नाही

जे देवांना देवळात शोधतात त्यांची दारं तर कधीच बंध झाली

आता तर मात्र आपल्या लाडक्या बाप्पांनी देखील 

क्वारांटीन होण्याचा निर्णय घेतला आहे

तसं ह्याची कल्पना होती मला

कारण जेव्हा लोक महाराष्ट्र दिन किंवा शिवराज्याभिषेक 

या सोहळांन साठी सज्ज होत होते

तेव्हा एक जाणीव होती मनात 

की कदाचित ही दिवाळी सुद्धा सुकी सुकी जाणार

कधी कधी तर त्या कोरोणा पेक्षा त्या रुग्णालयांचा बिल

ऐकुन काळजाचा एक ठोका चुकतो

असो ! कदाचित या वर्षातून सुखरूप बाहेर पडणच

२०२०च ध्येय असणार सगळ्यांचं 

-SR.

PS: May The Force Be With You.

मैत्री जिवाभावाची

कुटुंबाची निवड आपल्याला करता येत नाही. पण मैत्री हे नातं आपण ठरवतो. आयुष्याच्या प्रवासात आपण अनेक लोकांना भेट तो. पण सगळेच आपले मित्र असतात असं नाही. कारण मैत्री करणं जरी सोपं असलं तरी ते टिकवणं सगळयांना जमत नाही.

कॉलेजच्या काळात आम्ही सर्व भेटलो. तेव्हा उद्या येणाऱ्या आयुष्याचे इतकं कोण विचार नाही करत. १५ - २० ची टोळी मधून आम्ही ६ उरलो. पण आज आमच्या नात्याला १४ वर्ष झाली. आणि नुक्त्याच उमगलेल्या फुला सारख ते अजून टवटवीत आहे. आज ही तेच हास्य, एकमेकांना टोमणे मारणं, काही कारण नसताना भांडणं. कॉलेजच्या तीन वर्षात जे रोज भेटायचे ते नंतर फक्त काही ठराविक उत्सव पुरतं मर्यादित राहिलं. परुंतु नात्या मधला ओलावा काही कमी झाला नाही. आम्ही आपआपल्या ऑफिसच्या म्हणा किंवा दुसऱ्या मित्रां सोबत अनेक पिकनिक केल्या असतील. पण आमच्या या १४ वर्षाच्या नात्यात आम्ही एकच पिकनिक घेतली. अर्थातच तिच्या आठवणी आहेत पण मला मात्र हे सर्व आज हि शिव्या घालतात.

कधी कधी तर आम्ही कित्येक दिवस एकमेकांशी बोलत नाही. मुद्दाम असं नाही पण रहदारीच्या जीवनात राहून जाते. पण आयुष्यात कुठला हि काठीन प्रसंग आला कि सर्वात पहिला ज्यांचं नाव मनात येत ते हीच लोक. निस्वार्थ मैत्री काय असते हे मला यांनी शिकवलं. एकमेकांनच्या मदतीला वेळप्रसंगी  धावून येणं हे मी यांच्याकडून अनुभवलं. जरी रोज आमच्या आयुष्यात काय चालत असेल हे नसेल ठाऊक आम्हाला पण सवांद कधीच तुटला नाही. नुसतं एक कॉल वर सगळं काही भरून निगत. यांच्या शी खोटं बोलायची गरज कधीच पडत नाही. कारण एक मेकांच्या आवाजावरून आम्ही ओळखतो सगळं काही ठीक आहे कि नाही. 

नशीब असावं लागत आयुष्यात खरे मित्र मिळण्यासाठी. आणि मी ते या जन्मात अनुभवत आहे. आज आमच्या मधल्या काहींचे लग्न झाले तर काहींचे शोध प्रक्रिया सुरु आहेत. कुटुंब हा जरी वाढतोय पण त्याचा पाया आज ही मजबूत आहे. माझ्या तर्फे मोहमद रफी साहेबांच्या गाण्याचे शब्द मी या सर्वांना अर्पणकरू इच्छितो 

एहसान मेरे दिल पे तुम्हारा है दोस्तो 
ये दिल तुम्हारे प्यार का मारा है दोस्तो  

आपली मैत्री चिरायू होवो 

Note: As Sent To Maharashtra Times on 6th June 2020, with hope that it gets published.

It was published in Mumbai Times (Supplement of Maharashtra Times) on 24th June 2020.

-SR

PS: May The Force Be With Us !!!