Living Diagonally In My Parallel World!

My Path on Your Map I. The Arrival – Mumbai It was mid-August and the monsoons had arrived in Mumbai like a long-awaited lover—wild, unapologetic, and full of drama. Rickshaws splashed through puddles, vendors covered their carts with blue tarpaulin, the aroma of batata wada’s mingled with frying samosas and scents of incense from roadside shrines. Music blaring from loudspeakers reminded everyone of the on-going Ganeshotsav festival. Meera Kapoor stepped off the train at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, her dupatta clinging to her damp pink kurti. She was 26, born in Delhi, raised in a middle-class Punjabi household where ambition was encouraged—but only within the bounds of tradition. Her father was a retired bureaucrat, her mother a Kathak dancer turned homemaker. Meera had grown up surrounded by books, ghazals, in a protective family and the quiet pressure to marry well. She had been engaged to Sameer Malhotra, an ex-IIT grad, ex-IIM now a successful finance executive who wore his a...

My version of “Autumn Leaves” Some time in my teens, I had heard Nat King Cole’s “Autumn Leaves” (also called sometimes as “The Falling Leaves”. Nostalgia is a strange thing. It captures the bittersweet essence of love lost but not forgotten, resonating with anyone who has experienced similar feelings of longing and reminiscence. The song is addressed to a past sweetheart in an intimate tone, reminisces about their joyful past. The imagery of autumn leaves symbolizes the transience of their relationship, as memories and regrets are likened to leaves gathered and carried away by the wind. The falling leaves represent the end of a cycle (like summer) and the beginning of a new one (like winter), prompting reflection on life's transitions and the acceptance of what is fleeting. Check this link for his original with lyrics. A short 3 minute song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS8x-4sE6dE This song was recreated by Sapan Chakraborty for Amitabh Bachchan in Zameer – Tum Bhi Chalo Hum B...

Parenting is a role that has to be learnt on the job using the experiences we had as a child. While we tend to “teach” values to our children, we also “learn” a lot from them. As a parent we impart and encourage our children to imbibe culture by sharing stories, traditions, experiences, and rituals that connect them to their roots, making heritage a living experience. We teach humility through example—by showing grace in success and dignity in failure. We nurture ambition in them by encouraging curiosity, setting goals, and celebrating effort over outcome. Humanity grows in the child when we, the parent model empathy, kindness, and service to others. We instill in them the values of decency through our everyday actions—speaking truthfully, treating others with respect, and standing up for what’s right even when no one is watching. The following lines bring out these emotions. From A Parent To Child As the world endures beneath our willing feet, Here we stand in purpose bold and sweet...

 तूम तन्हा था मगर उदास नहीं था मैं ख़ुद ही की ख़ामोशी में पास था मैं तेरी मुस्कान ने जो दस्तक दी रात के सन्नाटे से रास था मैं हर बात में तेरी एक लौ सी थी उस उजाले में ही खास था मैं कुछ सच्चाइयाँ भी चुभती रहीं फिर भी … उस दर्द में ही रास था मैं तुम से मिलके तो एक दुनिया खुल गई जिससे अनजान था , उसीके तो पास था मैं

  Karwaa Gujar Gaya Ghubaar Dekhte Rahein After Independence there was an expectation among the youth about opportunities being created.  India as nation was then still in its teens and the populace aspired for progress. The youth  wanted jobs and participate in the nation's progress. But like most dreams, these aspirations were not fulfilled.    The 1966 film Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal was about such unfulfilled aspirations. This song is about the disappointments and hopelessness felt by the protagonist. Sung by Mohammed Rafi , penned by Gopaldas Saxena (Neeraj) and set to tune by Roshan , it sums up story of the film of how a lot could have been accomplished, but wasn't. The story starts with a bright student with stars in his eyes seeing immense potential for improvement of India. He leaves college and joins politics but is used by politicians for their own petty gains. By the time he realizes this, its too late.   The film bombed at the box office. A...