The Prudent Indian

Friends, let me make some candid confessions, knowing fully well that I am no celebrity or any man of importance or consequence and certainly not an intellectual (as my “Right” leanings are sufficient to disqualify me from being a part of this “elite” group), what then?  What then, makes me admit some things which make no impact on you or your lives! Neither am I sure why somebody would be interested in what I say. Any way!

Life, so far has been Good and great for me. I have no complaints. It could have been better, had I been really “Prudent” enough, but then; on hindsight anybody is wiser. If only one knew what future held for him/her, no body would ever have made a wrong choice! Isn”t it? Here are my some “Candid Confessions”.

Let me began with confessing to my Dad first. He is no more amongst us and I owe him much.

Dad, I started smoking when was in class 12^th. I am sorry for that, but it is the truth. You caught me smoking much later- good six year after I started.

Dad, I never wanted to be a Doctor, so I did not appear in Pre Medical Test, I bunked exam and spent the day in a friend”s house that day. Sorry! I had lied.

Dad, I myself had requested my boss to transfer me to Chandigarh, not the other way around, as I told you, then. I know Mom was apprehensive, but I thank you for the support you extended to me, then.

Finally Dad, some thing for you to feel good about. You”re sane advice to me to stay away from “Gambling, paid sex and indulgence in drinking with friends”, have been and shall always be the “Golden Principals” of my life.

To Mom, she too is not amongst us.

  Mom, besides the entire above, one exclusive confession to you alone. My phone call from Simla, asking you to cancel my “engagement” as I had met with an accident, was a “HOAX” call. I had an affair with another girl then, and did not want to marry the girl you had chosen. You know well Mom; I had been like this only and you were insisting; I had no choice so do not mind please.

To Didi she is five years elder to me.

  You always suspected me and suspected right. Yes, I had a huge crush on your friend “H****”.And I am not apologetic at all.

Some more

Personal appearance.
I had always been very conscious about “my light brown eyes”. I used to feel bad when my friends called me “Billi”. I felt very bad the day a girl turned me down for the only reason; I have “Brown Eyes”! “Billi aankhoon wale par bharosa nahin hai”, this is what she said. (Can not trust “Brown eyed man”, loosely translated.)

Just for the above reason, one could hardly see me with out my “RayBan”. I posses two (Green for harsh summers and light Brown for all season) and they are my “prized” possession.

  I have a fetish about shaving daily. Except for Sikh friends, I detest those who do not shave daily.

I am very much “dress conscious”. My crease should be razor sharp and freshly ironed. Every morning I iron clothes for self, JJ and kids. On tour, I miss this routine and this “irks” me.

I just avoid a night stay at any one”s house. I prefer to come back home ' even if it means a very late and long drive or prefer to stay in hotel/guest house.

Professional.
I confess that I joined a company a little too early in my professional career. It would have been better if I had waited a little longer and concentrated on studies. Simultaneously pursuing higher studies with regular job was not a great idea.

 Wife and Kids.

I confess to JJ, that despite my claims, I am a lousy finance manager. I blew some much money in “waste full” adventures. I should have been more “prudent” in financial matters.

I confess that I am impulsively attracted to beautiful women. JJ (My Beautiful Wife), used to get very upset earlier, but now she has learnt to live with this. In the same breath I confess whenever JJ is around, this “pleasure” just gets multiplied. Do not know why? But it is true nevertheless.

I confess that am very possessive about my family and guard our private affairs conscientiously.

 Some “few”, my kids want me to admit (my response in italics) I am just following their dictates.

They want me to confess that I am a big bore, go in to unnecessary detail every time they ask me some question about studies. Yes, some truth is here.

They insist that I admit to the “alleged” fact that I like to visit their school on any and every pretext, for all other reasons, than enquiring about their studies. Ummm ! No comments.

They allege that I am “arrogant with an attitude”. Not entirely mislaid, as I am accused by many more, even by mature friends too I think as kids they “probably” do not appreciate the difference between “arrogance” and “confidence”. I expect my mature friends would value the distinction.

They mock me with the “harshest” of comments about my “incredible knowledge” of Mathematics. Latest doing the round is, “It is Sin to ask Papa about Maths”. I admit, with bowed head.

 I am very scared about

The way I die. I do not want a long and painful suffering before I die ' death is inevitable, of course. I wish for self, an instant and immediate death; whenever it comes.

  Fear of balding. It is my worst “nightmare” to wake up a day and see self as a bald person. I know most of you will laugh it off, but most of men are scared of it. I too am.

Lizards.

 Three things I want to do before I die.

Complete the book, I have not yet started writing. Amen! (Busy studying the material).

  Make a movie based on the Khushwant”s novel “Train to Pakistan“. Amen! (Will spend my own money. I will produce and direct it).

  To see, Riya”s first “fashion show” as a designer and spend some time with Tanya (her being a diplomat on a foreign mission), she aspire to be one. Amen! (I am confident- though, we (both,me and JJ) never set goals for them ' and sure, we will be proud of them, in whatever they choose as career. We simply wish them all the luck and shall strive to provide all we can afford to realize their dreams. May God bless them, always.)

I would love to
Own a house in Chandigarh. The city I love.

Sacrifice self at the altars of the country I love most; that is Bharat.

.See in my life time the “resurgence” of Hindu Pride. Amen!

anil.

With Warm Regards,
anil,JJ and Kids.

Mumbai Blasts Anniversary . My Respectful Homage.

I am in Mumbai on this day and just an hour back was standing at the Khar station, looking at the spot where many people 'all innocent ' lost their lives a year back. Many people were around, paying homage to their loved ones. Almost all had tears in their eyes. I too paid my homage and came back.
My heart felt sympathizes with those whose loved ones were killed.

Prudent Indian.

Pic.courtsey http://barbarindians.blogspot.com/

An obituary for a friend who expired a day before yesterday.

Out @ 89, Kohli Saheb? HUH!

So, Kohli Saheb did I not tell you, you will be out before completing a centaury? I did Sir.

Only that I wanted you to win this time.

Kohli Saheb.

My neighbor, a drink buddy and many times simply THE bore, yet adorable and a free thinker, much much ahead of his times and in his thinking.

He passed away yesternight, while sleeping and blissfully not knowing that he will sleep for ever-this time.

What a way to leave this world! I wish self such a death, whenever, wherever.

Suhkijinder Singh Kohli,

Born some time in1917 or so m not sure. At Layal Pur (Now in Pakistan and is known as Faisale Baad now).

An encyclopedia of politics, then and till yesterday.

A widower and Father of two daughters (both settled abroad, and both much older than my self)).

An Ex. Post Master.

A master (Or a Doctotaterate), in swearing words, especially in PUNJABI ones. (But then His Gallis were welcome and often as blessings)

Often, I used to ask him,Kohli Saheb if the way and at the speed u drink you won't complete a century. And he would retort Bhexxxxx,I will.Ma xx xxx. I will and would make a peg then gulp it again. Have a bet with you. NO! U won't. I would often tell him teasingly.

You will loose, "I am a good sixty years younger than you, Maxxxxxx" he said this last time,when I teased him. How I wish I could have been wrong. But then this happened some good six months back, perhaps on Christmas Eve. As far as I remember.

As on yesterday I was leaving my house to pick my wife and daughters from wife's parents place. I again bumped him at my gate. Once again, carrying a poly bag and a bottle of Bacardi in it.

"Oye,Tu kitha jaan rahen?",He asked.

(Where are u going?)

"Voti tey bacheayan nu len",I replied while unlocking my car.

(to bring Wife and kids back)

" Oye! Bhenxxxx adi jaldi?",he asked.

(oye!xxxx so soon?)

"Ke gal, oh halli rehan de",he advised.

(let them enjoy and stay there)

"Nahin Kohli Saheb,Didi aay rai hai tey bachanun len ja rahena hain.",I replied while starting the car.

(No Kohli Saheb since sister is coming so going to bring kids home)

"Tey,ah bottle koun piyaga,tera Pau?", he asked.

(Who will share this-bottle then- with me you're DAD?)

"Tusi office chale jao,tey andar baith jaao,Komal kucch snacks mangeva dege",I told him and waived and sped .

(U please go to my office and be comfortable Komal (girl who manages my office), shall bring u some snacks.)

"Khota",was the last I heard him saying and I smiled.

(Khota=Donkey. But is taken as a love expression from elders)

Just at the corner of the street I looked at him; standing there with poly bag in his hand I lit a cig. And phoned Komal that he was coming upstairs, so ask him to sit in office and bring him some snacks.

Much time later as we reached back home, I saw people were standing in front of his house. I was shocked to know he was no more. What! How? When?

I entered his bed room and there he was wrapped in his bed sheet, sleeping.I attempted to move forward but was held back by another elderly neighbour.He just patted my shoulder and shook his head.

Neighbors decided to cremate his mortal remains and bid adieu as his daughters, though were informed over email and they asked since it could not have been possible for them to come so soon. Hence along with all our neighbors we cremated his remains at electric crematorium (a boy was asked to record on a digi cam and send it across to both daughters) and took his ashes to Kankhal, Haridwar for the eternal journey.

Just as I entered my office since then, the Bacardi bottle is still lying on the stool near sofa and two glasses, one empty and one full (for me he might have made yesterday) the drink he used to make. A small one, on the rocks. Though the ice had melted.

And so is he.

I have decided to keep the office closed, as even the neighborhood grocery shop, chemist, barber and even the paan wala too.

It is really too much for me to write an "obituary" for a friend, but then as I am seeing these two glasses one empty one full, do not know what to do?

As for the bottle, I have decided to put a cork in its neck and keep for as long as possible And when ever I feel like missing him shall make two drinks one for him and one for self.

Cheers Kohli Saheb.See you there.

To The Bore, I just happened to see off, for ever.

Anil.

Let me confess honestly, I like women, enjoy their company and at times do some flirting too. I had always been lucky to find my self in the company of women, albeit unlike Khushwant Singh.

Most of my 'readers' would be shocked-as they judge me by my views, often known as on the right side of political divide-but all just what I have said is equally true too.

 As far as my views are concerned, they have their meanings, context and conviction.But; will I be denied the right to be a simple 'human being' just because I happen to hold these views? I leave that for you. To comment upon or frown in disgust, all are welcome.

I had been traveling for past 20 days or so first with wife and kids and then for a week on my own. While driving all the way, here and there, I happened to revisit my past, and then I rediscovered self.

I have 'rediscovered' how important is the word called 'love'. Just how important are 'women' in our life?

In those good old days I had fallen for so many beautiful girls and none would respond, last time I fell  "Heads and Heals" for,is my wife, NOW!"

Besides her My MOM (Who is no more), my elder Sister, Wife and Two Daughters are the women in my life and I am thankfull that they are.

In case you are interested, shall tell you about my first 'love' and how it culminated.BTW I met HER again this time.

Anil.

1^st.day of the New Year and I am back at my 'workstation', my 'WORLD', my 'PLACE'??? When away from it I long for it, when at it I long for another place I feel I 'belong to', doubting self all the times, indecisive, fickle minded, inconsistent, call it any thing, strange but true and I am unrepentant about this 'dilemma'.

Hi! You all, HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Now! You may ask me what is all this? What all this has to do with us? So! My answer is, thanks for being 'brave enough' to read my blog and 'being braver enough' to leave a 'comment' (pun intended) and on serious note questioning self.

 Still at sea? Trying to figure out has this man gone 'soft' in head or what?

Right! I spill the beans. I had been to my PUNJAB, MY PUNJAB (emphasis is emphasized). The place where my Father, Grand Father, His Father and Grand Father and then Great Great Great Grand father was born and lived, the same soil they tilled [despite being a 'Brahmin', a farmer]. While there, at my native village (Pind Badani Kalan near Moga), amidst the few who played with my Late father and some one among them even recall the name of my late Grand Father, I felt I belonged to THEM.A TRIMPH! INDEED! SENSE of belonging? Definitely YES!

Just Imagine, you walk the same place your long Departed father walked! Think about sleeping on the SAME BED your father "started his own journey in this World" OR imagine about the chair your GREAT GREAT grandfather sat on. Just Imagine!

Intoxicating!?

And by any chance if you get the 'emotions' right or my portray is right which I am doubtful- wear my shoes and IMAGINE! Could I have slept on the bed where my Late father was delivered in to this World, irony is He is NO MORE and has gone back after completing his SOJOURN here?

[Forgive me for being too emotional. By the way I am not 'ashamed' of being 'emotional' any way!]

Back to where I had started from  (by the way I must 'appreciate' your patience, that you are STILL reading this!) after two days I become restive about knowing the 'world', in our lexicon Internet, I did get the opportunity when ever I found a cyber station, limited though yet 'better than nothing'. I missed you all folks 'then' and NOW I miss the place I really belong to. This is the Dilemma.

Do give me at least one 'comment' since you have read the entire" BORING" post.

BY THE WAY 'THE TUBE WELL IS, WAS AND SHALL EVER BE THE MOST FAVOURITE PLACE TO HANG ON’.

Regards,

Anil Joshi