Thursday, July 26, 2012

Things to do before I die.


Inspired by the “Things to do before you die” on Travel and Living and "The Buried Life" on VH1, I often wondered what my list would look like. So at 25 years of age, the following is what I would want to do before my life’s clock stops ticking someday.

1) Drive a Supercar at more than 250 Km/ Hr preferably on Autobahn.
2) Go for a long bike road trip with friends across mountains and rivers.
3) Go skydiving and bungee jumping.
4) Open a charitable hospital in the name of my late grandfather.
5) Be a part of a rock band as lyricist, singer and guitarist.
6) Do theater.
7) Make a short movie.
8) Write a novel, and at least get my blog published as a book for me to read.
9) Spot a UFO and catch it on film.
10) A ride in a fighter jet.
11) Go camping on the banks of the Ganga.
12) Six pack abs.
13) Have a cabinet full of trophies and certificates.
14) Go for a past life regression therapy session and know who I really was before.
15) Make a retirement home in the garb of nature.
16) Become a public figure.
17) Buy a 2-seater convertible, a 4x4 SUV and a cruiser superbike.
18) Start an NGO for education of under privileged kids.
19) Feel the thrill of a standing ovation for me from hundreds together.
20) Feel the exhilaration on accomplishing something impossible and punching the air.
21) Test fire a machine gun and all the different arms and ammunition I can.
22) Learn as many musical instruments as possible.
23) Visit Egypt and go gambling in Vegas.
24) Do an “Into the wild” or “Motorcycle Diaries” – Set out on an adventure not knowing what to expect.
25) Fulfill every dream of my parents and be the most ideal son, brother, husband and father.

Friday, July 20, 2012

The Knight shall rise.


Never before have I been so excited and spontaneous to write a blog post… never in past have I endorsed products, written movie reviews…but today was an exceptional day.

Coming straight from a night shift, I didn’t want to miss out on watching the ‘Dark Knight Rises’ on the very 1st day of its release. I’m not a movie freak and watch only those I actually look forward to, have high expectations from…somehow I have always preferred to go to the theater all alone, more like a movie critic than as a audience. Came back home at 12.00 noon, 12.15pm left for the theater taking a chance to get a ticket…12.45 the show starts.

What happened in the next 3 hours was mesmerizing, enchanting, a dream of a movie that left me speechless…I was awestruck with the direction, editing, acting…everything was just perfect and I really wished it did not end. All I could do was to be the first one (among the few) to give the movie a standing ovation for what I had witnessed. 

Nicely dressed in a smart formal wear, as I walked through the mall on my way back, looking at many couples, friends, students, people window shopping, etc caught my eye…It made me relive the past…I observe life everyday closely which brings me immense happiness. While looking at those stores with expensive stuff I had once thought I could not buy from, a credit card (with a good amount as limit) and a Galaxy Note in the pocket (of my own savings) provided much warmth and satisfaction. I really have come a long way in the past 20 years in Mumbai all on hard work and struggle.

With almost 60-65 batch mates from my medical school getting into some sort of a post graduation course and me walking the less travelled path and failing twice (of not getting into premium B schools after 2 attempts at CAT ), I do at time felt like an idiot or a complete loser…Don’t know why but I’m still very happy and satisfied with life, to stay with my family, go swimming in the rain, biking everyday to work in the lovely weather on my modified cruiser, playing TT ( and kicking some ass even after 10 years), music...God has really been kind.

Also, a candid talk with my friend Vidur Mahajan (one of the most down to earth person I have met in 25 years) on phone yesterday did cheer me up too. “We live life just to be happy. Good that you have defined what makes you happy. Even a person doing a MD medicine from AIIMS might not be happy…but do save money from your earnings.”, was what he said.  It was nice to settle a few misunderstandings too. (He was pissed off on me for not attending his wedding in spite of being 3 hours away in Delhi).

Well the movie has definitely cheered me up. I’m ‘happier’…. feeling good about myself...my self esteem…profession…. The Dark Knight did rise…. I shall too, someday.