Busy Bee and future plans

~ Akshay ~ 4 Comments

The last two and half weeks have been very busy for me. I have been juggling work, attending classes and writing stories. A lot of you may be aware that I have joined a Creative Writing Certification course at St. Xaviers College. The course will last for a period of 6 weeks with classes being conducted every Thursday from 6:30pm-8:30pm. The first two weeks have been really good. I am getting to know the different ways to write a story, how to creafte a scene, how to write a dialogue etc. My personal goal is to be able to write a short story by the end of this course. I am also thinking of joining Symbiosis for a Creative Writing course which lasts for a year. It all depends on what I am able to achieve in this course. I hope it goes well.

I am still expecting the results for CISA exam which I had given about 6 weeks ago. I was hoping that the results would have been out last week, but haven’t received anything in the mail. I am just hoping all turns out well.

The last two weeks, especially over the last week, I have undergone a lot of changes in terms of my behavior. For some reason unknown to me, I have become a lot more aggressive and get depressed equally soon. I don’t know what is bothering me so much. I know I have been thinking a lot lately about my career and personal life. I hope I get over this phase soon as I don’t really like myself this way and in the last couple of weeks may have ended up hurting a few people.

Mumbai Marathon

~ Akshay ~ 4 Comments

Warning Long Post

As you know from the previous post, I was running late for the Marathon. The train finally arrived at the CST station at 6:40am, just 4 minutes before the event starts. We got across the street and started to look for the holding area at Azad Maidan. To our surprise, we had to go all the way towards Metro station and then enter the grounds from Gate 3. By the time we got there, it was already 6:50am. I put on my number “5200”, gave my bag to Sid, who was of the opinion that we should carry our bags and run. Finally better sense prevailed and they decided to keep the bags at the counter. After giving them the bags, I decided to start running. As soon as I got near the start line, there were plenty of people still ahead of me, behind me, music playing loudly and a lot of people cheering us runners. Before I get going, I want to let you know that I have not practiced running since the time I have left Kolkata which is 6 months back. So anyways, I started running from CST at around 7:05am. Initially I was very much ok..reached Flora Fountain in like 2-3 mins, then the Pizzeria and then Trident, took a U turn from there and kept running until I got to Chowpatty. I decided to stop running and then walk for a few minutes since I felt I was getting tired. The lack of practice had started to show up. After walking for a few minutes, I ran until Kemps Corner flyover and then walked up the flyover.. started to run, going downhill. The footpaths were full of people cheering us on.. clapping for us. It really felt good. All these people taking time out of their normal Sunday morning, coming down and cheering common people like me running/ walking for a cause. I kept running until I reached Heera Panna, assuming that I will be going back very soon. I soon went past by Race Course and reached 10km mark. It was there that I realized I was cramping up big time. So I started stretching my legs and walked until flyover at the Atria Mall, turned around and started running. After 12km mark, every step that I was taking was actually amplifying my pain. With my legs cramped, I wanted to give up. I don’t know what kept me going. May be cheering of my friends, with whom I was in constant touch with, may it was my cousin who asked me not to give up or maybe it was me.. I dont know. On reaching the race course on my way back I started running and ran until I reach Pedder Road flyover. There again there were people who gave us Parle G biscuits and water. I had a couple of biscuits and got a few pats on my back and encouragement to keep running. I walked up the flyover and started to run on reaching the midway part and kept running until I hit Wilson College at Chowpatty. I think there I had breached the 16km mark. It was then that I realized that my body cannot take it anymore. I was very badly cramped up. I did a few stretches again and settled down at a chair where I was given an icepack. I kept the icepack on my legs for a couple of mins and started to walk again. The next 2.5kms were a mixture of walk, brisk walk and run in total agony. On reaching the 19km mark, I started to run again. A lot of people were telling, that it is just 2 more kms, you can do it. Finally on reaching the 20 km mark, I slowed down, kept running and finished at 10:15am. A total time of 3hrs 10 mins. I know it is not great.. but I am really proud of this feat.

I finally realized how much stress I had put my body under when I was standing to collect the certificate of participation. I could barely stand. I took my certificate and looked at it with a certain amount of pride and satisfaction. I know what I had endured to get that, the amount of pain I went through (still going through), the way I pushed myself to my limits.. so considering all this.. I was really happy.

On a side note, I don’t want this to sound like sour grapes.. I read a lot of news reports about the Marathon and almost all of them carried news about celebrities. I feel the Marathon should not about the celebrities who just come out to support or do whatever they are there to do. It should be about common people. While I was running, there was this 65+ yr old lady who was carrying the Indian flag and ran all the way through the half marathon. There was this girl, was extremely tired and exhausted, but kept going. This old uncle, who was way in his 70’s running the senior marathon. These are the stories which people need to be told, instead of flashing celebrities to sell the paper.

Azad Maiden at the end of the Marathon looked like a ‘Kachra Maiden’. There were so many orange peels, banana peels etc on the ground..people just throwing them anywhere instead of the garbage cans, which I didn’t see much of.

All in all it was an awesome event. I really enjoyed running the race and look forward to running it next year again.

A hard place

~ Akshay ~ 2 Comments

Mumbai, as I have observed over the last 6 months, is a very difficult place for someone who is new to the city. The sheer pace of life, the number of people on the streets, the traffic etc.. can take a toll on anyone who is not used to such frenetic life. I encountered one such person today in the train. This boy was sitting on the 4th seat and was feeling uncomfortable, so he was moving his arms, head around and constantly irking his fellow passengers. He finally got up at Bandra to get down at Dadar. Once the station arrived, the crowd got empty and this fellow went to the other side of the door. After a few seconds, I heard a girl cry out a name. On hearing the name, the boy responded but it was too late for him to get down. By that time, the people had already started boarding the train. He tried to move against the crowd and get down.. but it was an impossible task. The train started moving… the shouts of the girl for that boy kept on increasing.. until the train moved out of the station. The boy, even though new in the city, kept his composure and asked where the next station would come. Unfortunately for him, he was in the fast train and thus he would have only got down at Mumbai Central. I didnt see him get down at that station. I hope he is ok and reunites with the people he left behind at Dadar station. In some ways this city is very cruel. May be in some other city, people might have made way for him to get down.. but not today, not in Mumbai where everyone is running to get somewhere.

Good lyrics

~ Akshay ~ 1 Comment

I have been listening to this song, since yesterday. It is called Maahi, from the movie Raaz II.

Tujhe milke laga hai
Yeh tujhe dhundh raha tha main

Tujhe milke laga hai
Yeh tujhe dhundh raha tha main

Tujh mein hai kuch aise subah sa
Jiski khaatir main tha jaga sa
Aa tu mere Khwab sajaa ja re

maahi aaja re maahi aaja re

Tujh mein hai kuch aisi subah sa
Jiski Khaatir main tha jaga sa
Aa tu mere khwab sajaa ja re

Dil roye ya ilahi Tu aaja mere maahi
Dil roye ya ilahi Tu aaja mere maahi
Dil roye ya ilahi Tu aaja mere maahi
LyricsMasti.com
Mere maahi Mere maahi
Tu aaja mere maahi

Tujhe milke laga hai
Yeh tujhe dhundh raha tha main

Tujhe milke laga hai
Yeh tujhe dhundh raha tha main

Tujh mein hai kuch aise subah sa
Jisko khaatir main tha jaga sa
Aa tu mere Khwab sajaa ja re

Dil roye ya ilahi,Tu aaja mere maahi
Dil roye ya ilahi,tu aaja mere maahi
Mere maahi mere maahi Tu aaja mere maahi
Dil roye ya ilahi tu aja mere maahi

Maahi maahi maahi
Maahi maahi maahi

Dhadkano mein maahi saaanson mein hai maahi

Tu hi hai mere dil ki tamanna
Teri hi yaadein har lamha
De Mujhe de apna aanchal
Dhoop mein jalta main harpal
LyricsMasti.com
Tujh mein hai kuch aisi ghata sa
Jiske Liye Hoon mein pyaasa sa
Aa Tu Meri Pyaar bujha ja re

Dil Roye ya ilahi tu aaja mere maahi
Dil ROya ya ilahi tu aaja mere maahi

Mere maahi Mere maahi
ho Aaja mere maahi Dil Roye ya ilahi
Tu Aaja mere maahi Dil Roye ya ilahi

maahi maahi maahi maahi maahi maahi

Bas Mera tu maahi saaanso mein hai maahi
Hain mujhe hai tera armaan hai tuhe hai mera banna
Har ghadi teri dil mein aahat ttu mile mil jaaye raahat

Jud Ke bhi tu mujhse juda sa
Mulke bhi tu kya hai khafaa sa
Aaaja meri baahon mein saja re

Jud Ke bhi tu mujhse juda sa
Milke bhi tu kya hai khafaa sa
Aaaja meri baaho mein saja re

Dil roye ya ilahi,tu aaja mere maahi
Dil roye ya ilahi,tu aaja mere maahi
Dil roye ya ilahi,tu aaja mere maahi
Dil roye ya ilahi,tu aaja mere maahi

A City of Discrimination

~ Akshay ~ 3 Comments

This thought stuck to me while I was traveling in the train. The people in the city are the most cosmopolitan as well as most discriminating. Right from the train travel where we have 2 types of compartments, 1st and 2nd class. In 1st class people are dressed well, sharp, look sophisticated and generally have an attitude of superiority. While in 2nd class, you will see people of all types. I wonder why do we have such classes? Why cant all citizens be treated as equals? I have used public transport in quite a few cities around North America and there I didn’t see any divide between suit wearing hippie and a construction guy. They all travel in the same manner. I guess even after dividing people based on their religions, caste, sub-castes etc. we are still not satisfied. We want more division. We just want to live with “our” type of people. Nowadays even housing societies in this city are dictating which “type” of people should stay, what kind of food they are allowed to have? This is just plain ridiculous. There are pure-veg societies. Some only allow people from one particular religion, caste, sub-caste to stay/ buy the property etc. If this was not enough, there is now discrimination between outsider and natives. This is just so backward. No wonder the Britishers were able to rule us for such a long time. I dont think we have learned anything in the last 60 years of our independence. This is the state in India’s most cosmopolitan city, I fear how things might be in other cities or small towns across the country.

Life moves on or does it?

~ Akshay ~ Leave a comment

So finally after 60 hours the siege over Mumbai ended. There was celebration in some streets, people mourning in some, for some it was relief, for some were overcome by grief, but for a lot of them it was rage, anger that their city, country had to go through this.I wait and hope that this anger is constructive and something positive comes out of it. As I sit here and write this, I know that we may move on, the city might come back to normal, but we will not forget what happened on 26/11/2008.

Terrorist Strike Mumbai Again

~ Akshay ~ 1 Comment

Update Almost 31 hours and the crisis are still not over. This is just frustrating.

I am very sad and angered after following the events on the TV for more than last 12 hours. Ever since the first sms I saw at 6:30am, until the time of writing this post.. the favorite part of my city has become a virtual war zone. The Taj hotel, The Trident, Leopold Cafe, CST are some of the places which are very close to me since I spent most of my college life in these areas. Just a couple of weeks back, I was sitting bang opposite Hilton towers and discussing life with a friend of mine.

I am really angered by the apathy shown by the government. Just a few months ago, when blasts were going off in every city, the government should have done something. Mumbai is a sitting duck for any dick, tom and harry to attack. Once again we will have the politicians come and go, give speeches, etc. But after a couple of days/ weeks nothing will have changed. People will be back to their normal lives and “Mumbai” spirit will be saluted. A friend had her away status “Mumbai is living a nightmare”, I would say “Mumbai is a living nightmare”.

My condolences to families who lost their loved ones today, My prayers are with the people who are still holed up as hostages.I hope you are rescued soon.