(Airborne) | Paragliding at Bir-Billing | The Paragliding Heavens of India

 

The Bir Billing Flying Squad

Courage in your heart, money cash in your pocket, and faith in the chap helping you fly is all it takes to jump in the air from a cliff.  3500 meters above the ground level, tied to a paraglider with the help of strings bungee cords, you got to accept as truth that you will make it through.

Mind is a bitch and sometimes it plays cruel games with you and coincidentally those free fall moments mark the start of one such game. To divert your mind you may ask questions like what lies on the other side of the mountain range on your left, right, and backside.  You may ask your flying trainer about his certifications and his experience. However, that is not the best question you should ask when you are 3500 meters up in the air because considering the way(s) we get certificates in our country his certificate may or may not help you, after all we make doctors and engineers just like that.

If you are scared, you may ask about the emergency measures they take when you fall free or something goes wrong. Most of the times, this question pops up in your head when you look down, the thick forest looks like a garden of colorful shrubs not more than few meters in height. But when you realize that you are up in the sky, amidst the clouds, and sometimes high above them, it becomes your birthright to ask about the emergency measures because you never know, ways of God are just beyond our minds you see. Most of the times they will tell you it will take at least 15-20 minutes to land safely, emergency measures come after that. In case you fall down, the rescue team will definitely find your bones, they are too good at that.

A few days ago, perhaps on 14^th October a trained and skilled pilot, a lady from Czechoslovakia died in the thick forest, which looks like garden of shrubs from the sky above. She was probably a participant in the upcoming Mini World Cup but harsh winds of the Lahaul Valley knocked her down. Nevertheless, if you have to go then you have to go. So we decided to go as well.

October 16 marks the start of the Mini World Cup in Bir-Billing Valley and we were lucky enough to fly amongst the most talented and best pilots of the world. Bir-Billing is amongst the best five flying sites of the world, arguably the second best site in the world. On October 15^th, pilots were doing skill and still testing in the air. When you see someone flying in the air, like a bird, it makes you feel like jumping in the air and lose control but then you have to think about your bones also. The task is simple, wear the safety gear, understand the terminology, which is Run, Push, Don’t Sit, and that’s all. The take off site is approximately 2300 meters above the sea level, and when you look at people flying around you, it looks very easy. 

 

The Take Off Site at Biling

 

The Landing Site at Bir

 

However, you have got to ask this from the man who fell down at the time of take off, injured his knee. You would also like to ask the same thing from the guy who left his one shoe at the take-off site because it slipped while taking off [how that happened, I do not know]. May be they did not find it easy.

Once in the air, you actually do not understand what’s happening because it is your first time. Once the wind starts making mystifying noises around you, and you start gaining height, and you see other gliders flying past you, you actually come to your senses. By the time you are asked to make yourself comfortable and be seated, you are in the clouds. And all of a sudden you see a guy waving his hand towards you from another cloud.

How do you feel then? I think putting that feeling in words is not my expertise as yet. I was wondering what would happen if we collide with another glider. I did not dare ask this question because you should not ask and know about everything. As you start making rounds in the air, just like an eagle or a hawk, your trainer would ask you, “How are you feeling sir?” 

 

Mysterious Silence

If only you can tell him how you feel. I have never remained silent in my life for 45 minutes at a stretch, even when I am asleep I speak, well sometimes. But those 45 minutes in the air are and will remain an exception.

Pessimism, realism, practicality of life, and everything else goes out of the window when you are 3500 meters above the level tied to strings and relying on an unknown guy for your life.

Optimism and Faith work well though.

 

The Man who Lost his Shoe [yet enjoyed] 

Best Time to Visit Bir-Billing: April-May and September-October

Contact Person: Arvind Paul (Champion 2010)

Contact Number: 9418610219, Reference: Sunny “Barot King” from Hamirpur

Flying Fee: 2000-3000 per flight per person, Negotiable though. If you can speak Pahadi, helps a great deal.

Nearby Places of Interest: Barot, Baijnath Temple, and Chaprot

The First Ride - Once Upon A Time In Spiti

You quit your job? You should have at least informed us, if you think asking was too much to do. 

Dad, it was bound to happen, the place sucked to the core and moreover it is over now, let us save our energy for better things.

Choose wisely, it is going to be your life. May I know what better things are you talking about?

She calculated something in her mind and then she remained silent.

What is it now? Her father probably sensed that something was hidden beneath.

I am going for a Himalayan Ride; the trip will last for a month.

Well.

With a group of four friends, I would be the only girl.

And?

We are going on a motorcycle, as she completed her last sentence, she closed her eyes.

Well, for a normal man this episode was enough for a fatal heart attack, but I am not normal, as I have an abnormal daughter, so I might survive. Stay Safe. We can resume our serious talks when you come back.

The very next morning, she was all set to ride in the Himalayas. She had heard stories, seen photographs, and known few people who had been there. She expected excitement and fun but she did not know that in the Himalayas, definitions of fun, fear, and life change, forever. The ride was not going to be easy because the Himalayas are just not made that way for the first timers and once your first ride is over, you become habitual of pain, suffering, struggle, and the Himalayas. And that is when you add a new meaning to an old word in your dictionary, the meaning of fun changes.

Where did this come from, was the first thought that struck her mind as she was riding high on the highest motor-able road of the Earth. Color changing mountains, roads carved through them, and people. The sun and the sky were never so close and she felt as if she could touch the sky with a little effort.  She had never expected life to be so different just a few hundred kilometers away from her place. As she stopped her motorcycle near a restaurant, she saw her face in the mirror and could not help smiling.

They named it right; it is a dry valley indeed, sucks blood through your skin. I look like a retard and my mother might never come out of the coma she would get into if she finds me in this condition, she said.

That’s why I say if you want to look good, kitchen is the best place for you, no heat, no sunburns, no nothing, said one of her riding companions.

I would trade this ride one hundred times over anything. Next stop is 200 kilometers from here and that means eight hour continuous journey, so come fast, she said squatting on the road.

Her friends disappeared soon or maybe it was the grandeur of the Himalayas that absorbed their existence within itself. All she could see was the majestic peaks, covered with the snow and white clouds taking different shapes.

Aren’t they lovely? Moving and yet standing there always. I find them the greatest mystery on the Earth,  distant voice approached her.

A foreigner was coming towards her, dressed up in the pahadi style, the traditional cap resting on his head in a funny way. He looked like a pahadi hippie.

I don’t’ know, what I am feeling right now is not what I usually feel, I am still trying to figure out if I am happy, overwhelmed, or a retard.

Your first ride? Is it? When I came here for the first time, I just could not believe myself. And now when I see your open mouth, charred skin, and your shimmering eyes, I know that you don’t believe yourself either.

Where from are you coming and where would you go from here?, she asked.

I live here.

Means?

What do you think I mean? I live here means this place is now my new hometown, for the last three or four years or so, I have lost count.

Wish I could do that too. This place is just wonderful. When I grow old, I would like to live here permanently, she said as removed the charred skin from her cheeks

Visiting this place and living here are two different things my love and believe me the difference is colossal, the hippie removed his shoes and he too squatted on the road.

May be you are right. I am not sure but this place is wonderful and staying here would be a great thing. May I ask you why do you “live” here? And you don’t miss your “old” hometown?

No, I do not. It took me some time to get habitual to all this. But now, these things have become my life. A silent walk across the village, twice a day keeps me happy. I have all the time I want in my life. For a Wall Street banker, time is an overpriced commodity, available through the illegal means only.

You work at the street? The Wall Street?

I quit my job, I used to, not anymore, I do not work anywhere now. I work in the fields sometimes, trying to learn natural agriculture from these people. Sometimes I teach English to kids here and learn the local language from them.

What about you? Why did you come here? If I subtract these sunburns from your age, you are not more than 23-24. What brings you here?

I do not know. I always wanted to be here. I think I belong to these mountains. I have seen people, they change after they visit these places. I wanted to feel the same.

Ever wondered why? Why do they change when they come here? Why they want to come to these places at the first place, when what we have here is rubble, dirt, scorching sun and practically no facility.

I do not know that is what startles me.

I am not sure if I have figured out a Universal answer for it but I know there is something we all want to be in our life, free. These mountains set us free. When you ride, you ride free. When you walk, you leave all worries behind. These mountains give you recognition, they complement your existence. They do not expect anything in return, human beings are escapists, running away from something most of the times. These mountains hide us; they accommodate escapist of any form, color, and breed. And the best part is that they do not ask any questions. All questions and answers, they leave them for you because when you answer your own questions, you get the best answer. These mountains accept you the way you are made, said the hippie with a dreamy look in his eyes, probably he was smoked-up, I was running away from time, I wanted time for myself and believe me it was not before I had spent a night here in these hills that I realized there are actually 24 hours in a day. Silence is the language these mountains speak, and the irony is of all the things, humans have lost the art of understanding silence.  That is the most important thing the Himalayas have taught me, how to learn the language of silence.

She wanted to share her story too but she just could not speak anything. A different picture of life had overwhelmed her.  A group of young girls approached them and the pahadi hippie left with them.

Class Time, he said, have a safe journey young lady.

In the background his companions were clicking pics with the young girls and asking for directions from the foreigner. 

All she could see were the Himalayas.

From Wall Street to a Himalayan Village, a guy trying to speak silence. Life could not be more interesting.

"Keep Walking - Inwards or Outwards, does not matter", was painted on one of the walls as she rode past the school building on her motorcycle.

A Real Life Incident

The Accident-I

As I sit here in front of my computer and I do not want to do anything, I decided to write about the 'turning moment' of my life.

28thJanuary 2004:

A bus fell into the ditch [200 feet] and 16 people died there and then, on the spot. I was one of them who survived. But that survival was very painful. I used to boast that my body does not have any mark of stitches or whatsoever and there I was lying among the dead with rain falling on my face and I was smiling, counting the marks on my hands. I [was] an intelligent [academically] fellow. I wanted to become an Aeronautics Engineer. I worked real hard to acheive my goal and I [knew] it was there, just few weeks away from me, right in front of me.

I was about to go for the Navy SSB and I was damn sure about it that I would return as a Navy Officer for sure. My mother asked me to come on 24th itself and I postponed the program to 28th. I wanted to stay in Hamirpur for some more time as I [knew] I would never return to this place again.

For me, my life at Hamirpur and for more than 18 years, I have lived here only. That day made me believe that the way Indian movies are picturized, they are actually very realistic, or at least for me they look real unless it is Fardeen Khan/Zayed Khan/Harman Baweja starer.

Here goes the story:

I left from the academy and decided to leave at 9 AM. But, I decided not to and as I was sure that was my last day in the hostel, so I decided to 'बांटो' some 'ज्ञान' in the hostel. Eventually the ज्ञान बांटो session ran for two hours and I decided to leave. I reached at the bus stand and boarded the first bus but as I was/am fond of the first seats, next to the driver, I got down from that bus and started searching for another bus. Soon, the ill fated bus came and I happily sat on the first seat next to the driver, which gave me immense happiness because I could talk to the driver and learn new गालियाँ from him. :)

The bus started and by the time I could finish my book, the bus more than half of the distance.

The driver was smoking बीडी and I asked him not to smoke because the road was dangerous but the drivers are drivers and they never listen to kids. He was driving with single hand and that made the situation even thrilling/dangerous. I slept, for the first time in my life on that route, considering that I had made more than 100 journeys on that route, and by the time I opened my eyes, the bus was flying in the air, I could not sense anything, as I was just feeling the numbness in my feet, stomach and head. I looked at the driver and he was nowhere to be seen, as he jumped out of the bus. I closed my eyes, smiled and then there was rain, blood and cries.

I opened my eyes because I felt a very bright light penetrating my vision and when I opened my eyes, my forehead was covered with sweat and palms too were sweaty. Probably, this is how यमराज decides to beat the shit out of human body.

I opened my eyes and felt rain on my face. I saw myself lying among the dead bodies, flies on my face and my body covered with blood and painful marks.


Part-II in progress.

And they saved our lives-Chamba Diary!

Traveling is fun but traveling with insufficient preparations is dangerous.

We left from Chamba to Hamirpur after enjoying the scenic beauty at Khajjiyar Lake.

Its disheartening to see people throwing plastic and water bottles not in the trash cans but just outside them, even when the trash can is empty. May be they are too busy to notice that.

Anyways, after feling mesmerized by the giant शिव मूर्ती at Khajjiar [image], we decided to leave. This time we decided to take the Dalhousie Route as it was raining and the road condition was not good through the Jot Pass. Jot Pass is good when you are traveling in a group, if you are alone then it is not advisable to go through Jot Pass, as no one will get to know if you happen to encounter any accident, which has very high probability. We went to Chamba through Jot Pass, but the adventurous spirit sped away when it started raining. It was raining and as soon as we left Khajjiyar, things became difficult. I was wearing sports sandals and the rain water was so cold that it did beat the shit out of me. We traveled for ten kilometers and my back was numb. JP had his fingers glued to the handle because it was very cold and we did not have any sweaters, gloves or jackets with us.

Then we saw them, the PWD Laborers, smoking बीडी and enjoying charcoal fire. They were sitting there and we saw them as our saviors. We helped ourselves by heating the 'crucial parts' of our body and also dried our T-shirts and shirts. The place was लक्कड़-मण्डी, which happens to be the highest point [2250 meters] in and around the Chamba town and Dalhousie town. Their bonfire helped us to save ourselves from the chilling rain and windy conditions of Dalhousie.

I noticed in Chamba, that almost every single village/house in the hills has electricity. Abdul Kalam once said that Himachal is blessed and a privileged state because those twinkling stars are actually bulbs lighted inside the small houses on the mountains. Honestly, I felt proud to be a part of this beautiful state because people do not have to worry about the electricity, which is not the same story at a place in Bihar, 200 KM's away from Patna.

It takes just 4-5 hours, if you drive like me, otherwise it is 6-8 hours journey from Hamirpur to Chamba

The travel route >>> Hamirpur---Jawalaji---Kangra---Dramman--Chuwari--Jot--Chamba

The safe route>>> delete the Dramman to Chamba part and add Dramman--Nurpur--Dalhousie--Chamba.

Moral of the story:
1. Wear Shoes while stepping out for a long journey
2. Carry jackets/woolen clothes
3. Do not take the Jot Pass route if you are alone.

MDC

झांसी is a major railway junction in the state of U.P. When one leaves Bhopal towards Delhi in a train, one sees a statue of a man standing on the top of a hill on the left hand side. The hill and the statue troubled me every time I crossed that area, sitting on the doors of the train. I always thought it to be the statue of a landlord or a local leader. however, I got to to know recently (few months back) that that statue belongs to the Hockey legend, Major Dhyan Chand, who beat the shit out of many Hockey playing nations on his own, without failing in the Main Events like Olympics.

The Gold Medalist

However, he stands alone on the top of that hill with birds singing to him his glory of the old forgotten days. The statue is built on the top of the hill in his hometown where he might have rocked his village with his masterclass and he remains there only, even today.

P.S: What Sachin Tendulkar has become today was once his status in his days. Nothing lasts Forever.


Whenever you cross that region, just remember him, may be he will feel good in this over hyped country.

Thanks Letter To Me + Government

Oh Boy! They work also and I would like to thank the Himachal Government for the good work.

Flashback
Tarun Goel was feeling like Rajdhani Express and all the trouble started when his ass started losing its sheen and flesh because of the troublesome buses.

Tarun Goel wrote to the Transport Minister+Chief Minister+Director Transport Himachal Pradesh to start a comfortable bus from Hamirpur to Delhi, on 01-September-2009. The tone of the application cum letter was aggressive and the copies were sent to several people/authorities worldwide. He received an email from the Director of Transport on 22-October-2009, which said that the matter has been considered and the application is forwarded to the Transport Minister.

On 12-December-2009, he received another email and a letter that stated that the matter has been discussed in the Assembly and they have decided to start the bus. Another letter and email was received on 25-January-2010, which stated the bus will be started in near future.

Here are the details of the letter sent to the minister:

Dear Ministers,

I, Tarun Goel, am a frequent traveler from Hamirpur to Delhi. As the only medium of transport is bus from here to Delhi, I have to rely totally on the buses only. But it is a matter of deep regret that not even a single comfortable bus runs from the Educational Capital of the state.
There are 2 buses, which are termed as Semi-Deluxe, but the condition of those buses is just pathetic. The seats are adjustable but if one leans back on those seats then the person behind him cries all the way till he reaches his destination. The road condition is as good as the buses and they ensure that no passenger reaches his destination in single piece.
It is my sincere request that please start some good quality buses from Hamirpur like TATA AC.
The TATA AC buses are comfortable and affordable also, so please start at least 2 TATA AC buses from Hamirpur to DELHI.
It is my request that if you are not going to start the buses (TATA AC-Comfortable BUS) then please travel by these so called Semi Deluxe buses and you will yourself understand my grievances.


05-February-2010

The bus service has started and it is the same bus that was requested by me. I went to the bus station and said जिंदाबाद and clapped also.
I don't know whether it was my threatening letter or something else that forced them to do a sensible thing but who cares. I would like to take this opportunity to thank myself for this amazing work done by me. :D :D

P.S: Those who want the solution can go here

Mini Trip's Mini Diary

On my birthday = 12 October, I left for Chandigarh because my sister was to be operated for Pancreatic Calculi Stone at P.G.I and presence of an extremely intelligent+talented young man (me) was mandatory there to deal with the government officials. I started at 18:45 and the bus belonged to Haryana State Roadways. Following are the important observations made by me:

1. Every one is scared of the Man Behind the Counter: The man behind the counter is the most dangerous thing one can ever see. Every creature calls him "sir" and he never listens or answers to anyone. Railways, Airways, Post Office, Roadways, BSNL the counter man can be found anywhere and believe me he is the most "on-the-spot" respected person on earth. There used to be a teacher in my college and he used to scare every single child in his class. Even he was saying "sir" to him and counter-man did not reply to him. Counter-man scolded him and I was laughing at his face. :D
The counter man asked me,"tujhe kya chahiye= what do you want?"
I replied,"Entertainment". That made me board the other state's bus because after the answer I gave there was no chance of me getting a ticket from him.

2. When we were about to reach Chandigarh, the bus conductor and driver shouted at the top of their voices that Chandigarh people get down as soon as possible. I and six other poor souls boarded down, half asleep half disturbed, and we found that he had thrown us in the middle of nowhere and that place was at least 10 k.m away from Chandigarh :D Luckily I found one auto at 1 A.M. He charged me 100 INR, the bus fare from Hamirpur to Chandigarh was 140 INR :(, poor me. The auto was running just behind that bus and auto driver kept telling me," This is your bus. This is your bus!" :P Life is an unbalanced equation :)

3. In P.G.I, for the first time in my Life, I saw a doctor behaving like a doctor. Endoscopy is a very painful experience and doctors are really doing a good job. I heard people crying, shouting when the wire was inserted into their mouth and being a doctor requires highest level of patience.

4. On women oriented festivals like Karwachauth, Rakhi and other related festivals, ladies do not have to pay any fare while travelling through Himachal Roadways buses. This is injustice and partiality. How can they say that,"Ladka-ladki ek samaan", when they reserve seats and provide free travelling passes for women? But let them travel for free, government is busy collecting votes for the next election, why do they care? :-|

5. I would be writing for a Hindi news paper :)

The Shoe Stoppers

The Sikkim trip refreshed all my childhood memories. In train when I was struggling against the talented people of U.P. and Bihar, The Upper Berth reminded me of my misdeeds. What goes around that comes around, someone said, I guess that is correct.
Here it goes......
Once upon a time me and my twin brother were going to Chandigarh for our NDA test, the buses on the Manali-Delhi route were as usual over crowded, so both of us boarded a Volvo Bus, and if you ever had the fun/chance to ride the Volvo, you better know that all you can do is close your eyes and you will get up only at your destination. As a matter of fact, that was our very first chance to get inside The Volvo, so we were excited and in that excitement my brother removed his slippers, which actually belonged to my father and he had borrowed them after forcing dad to remove them [what a way of borrowing!!]. He kept his legs on the back of the next seat and slept as if bus belonged to our dad. Later on when we both got up, we realized that we were about to reach Chandigarh, so then he started looking for his slippers. I repeatedly kept warning him that you will loose them and he lost them finally :)
They were, no doubt, in the bus only but we were too shy to go beneath each and every seat and request the sleeping Elite Class Passengers to help us. So then the Thieves popped out of no where and told us,"Why don't steal the shoes of the passenger in the next seat? It is easy, simple and moreover he can afford another pair easily :)" [Of course, we could have also got a new pair but at 12 midnight it was out of question, so we decided his sacrifice for us :)]

I extended my feet and in a flash his shoes were on our side. Luckily, it was exactly the same size, so the moment bus entered the bus stand, we covered his [my brothers] feet and almost jumped out of the running bus. Later on my brother said that it was unfair, so he decided to walk barefoot and sacrifice back the shoes but the bus was almost out of the stand and we equally shared the "paap"[sin]

Now comes the best part. The hardest part was to convince Dad, so while writing the test I cooked up one story, no doubt I couldn't clear the test, as I was sleeping and laughing throughout it :). We told dad that the test center had some poor electricity machinery [blah, blah, blah] and halfway through the test the building was on fire and we ran away with those shoes because our slippers were already stolen by someone :D Dad knew that there is something else but he never asked and we never told.
While traveling through U.P and Bihar I was wondering whether my shoes are still there or not all the time :) No body stole my shoes, luckily.

Moral of the Story: What goes around that comes around.

Energy Conservation, Imran Khan and Me

As I have already said in my previous post, working in/with Kollace is turning out to be a wonderful experience. Now something very strange/unreal happened to me. It was almost instigation, not an incidence actually. In Kollace-Sikkim, we wanted some new people to take charge of Oxygen and PDP, so we got one fellow named Mr. Imran Khan (although the way he was behaving does not entitles him to be a Mister). He is 33 years old. He had served as a Principal in some schools in North-Sikkim, which is comparatively a remote part of the state. He is personally known to Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and he was known to Shahrukh Khan personally. [I know Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, personally: D] Now, the conversation which took place between me and him is as typed below:

FIRST DAY---Thursday

Me: Hi, I was busy with the sessions, sorry to keep you waiting.
IK: No problem. I enjoyed your session. Actually I learnt a lot of things.
Me: Thanks.
IK: Is your blood group O+?
Me: No????!!!!!!!
IK: Actually, I have studied psychology so I can tell the blood group by just looking at the faces.
Me: That's impressive. (I said to myself,” Do I look like an asshole or am I that dumb???")
IK: Let me check your nerve. [He held my hand for a while, for a moment I thought he was a GAY :)] Is your blood group B+?
Me: No, It is A+. So, I guess Bhupen has told you about the organization and your role?
IK: Yes, he has. But let me ask you one question, how old are you?
Me: 23
IK: Oho! So are you married?
Me: I guess my appearance (2.5 month long beard) is confusing you. Let me help you. [I told him about myself.] Later on, I told him what was expected from him and how was he supposed to work. I told him that new ideas are what we looking for; we are not following the orthodox ways and trends, so please try to come up with new things.
IK: I am always creative. We will meet tomorrow and discuss something very new.

Bhupen is the person taking care of things in Kollace-Sikkim.

Me to Bhupen: Where do you find this kind of people? He wasted a lot of my energy. Then we both laughed our hearts out and waited for his brilliant ideas.

Second Day:

Me: Hey Mr. Khan. How are you doing?
Ik: I am fine, sir.
Me: Let’s not say Sir/Madam. Let us use first name, that way we will be able to communicate properly.
IK: Yes, that is absolutely right. I will do whatever you say. I have considered you as "guru"(master).
Me: I don't want to be your master or whatsoever it is. Let us come to the point. What are the ideas you have?
IK: We should start IELTS coaching. I know a lot of people here in Sikkim who are willing to learn English and we can have a good laugh if we jump into it at the right time.
ME (thinking): Now I am going to give him the real stuff. This motherfucker is wasting my time giving me IELTS and all that crap.
Me: OK, go ahead and make sure you talk in terms of morals, conclusions, numbers and percentages. No loose talk here. Let’s talk straight and clear.
IK: I know a lot of people in Sikkim, actually I know a lot of people in INDIA, and so I will talk to them.
Me: IK, we should focus on Sikkim as of now. When time comes we will move to other parts of India as well. Please talk in terms of numbers, that will give us a clear picture.
IK: Ok, I know a lot of people in Sikkim who want to learn English so we can talk to them.
Me: Who will talk?
IK: I will talk.
Me (I went to the white-board): So here it goes. You will go and talk to people here in Sikkim. BY Monday-Tuesday, you will come up with something concrete on the said day and then we will talk.
IK: I know a lot of people here in Sikkim and I can talk to them.
Me: IK, I am not able to understand how you are relating IELTS and Kollace. DO you have even a little bit of idea of what are you talking about?
IK: Yes, I do have the idea. I am 33 years old and I am not a "chutiya". I have lost all my hair and I think I know the things I say.
Me: Let’s maintain the decorum and make sure that we behave in a professional way. I give you 30 minutes, you present your idea because I am finding it good enough to float (I hated it from the bottom of my heart +soul + body), so after 30 minutes I will come and see what you have to say.
IK: OK

After sulking for 15 minutes he said," Let us abolish this idea. It has no significance in Sikkim."
Me: We at Kollace never give up and as you are a part of it now, I want you to present it on Monday, so make sure you are prepared well.

IK: OK, although I know a lot of people in India................ @#@##$@$$%@$%@$##
Me: Mr. IK, Let me make one thing clear. I firmly believe in the Law of Conservation of Energy and as of I feel that you have eaten up a large extent of my energy, so you come back on Monday and then we will talk.

Then he left for the day and I was relieved.

After 15 minutes, he came back again and I was so disturbed to see him that I wanted to kick him in the face but I am weak in this area where I have to tell people that they are eating my head, so I had to bear him again and insha~allah, for the last time :)

IK: I wanted to ask you one question if that is not too much to ask for.
ME: Go ahead..........
IK: What is the difference between "nature" and "character”?
Me: I don't know and I would not like to know if it has no relevance with the current situation/condition or whatever? So make sure you don't end up wasting my energy again.

The very moment, Bhupen who was also standing there and who is a native of Sikkim i.e. Local Person, went inside. IK saw him leaving and then his tone changed mysteriously. He started whispering....to me……..

Ik: I am not from this place, although I have lived here for so many years but still I am an outsider. You have been here only for very few days, so you should be cautious while dealing with local people. They will make you work very hard and by the end of the day they will kick you in the face. I am a Pathan and you are a Hindu so we should not trust these people. And always remember that, "hamari aur inki kaum alag hai."(Ours and theirs race/creed/breed is different.) I felt like playing the role of a victim in a Hindi Movie.

I felt pity for him and me as well because of my inability to kill him right there. Before this, the incidence was an incidence but when he added religion/region to this, it was shameful, it was a pain in the ass/mind and body and it was inhuman. I wonder, if ever, he was a principal in a school of even 5 students, what was he teaching them?

I asked some questions to me after all this happened:
Why such people are allowed to live?
Even if they live, how do they manage to live till 33 years?
Why don't they understand that this kind of acts might defame the whole race.
If I would have behaved like him, we might have killed Bhupen :) just because he did not belong to my race [I don' know what is my race, although.]

Moral of The Story: There is nothing like race or creed and even if it is there let it not suppress the basic cause of Life, which is Love.

Life is Beautiful, njoy :)

Its not just Life but India,as well, is Beautiful :)

Here I am with the latest after elections :)I was not working with any party although, but to your surprise and mine as well, I am in Sikkim, having amazing time, working with KOLLACE. I thought of visiting Rajasthan, Gujarat but unexpectedly I am in Sikkim, so you never know what this beautiful Life has in store for you :)

This post is totally dedicated and sponsored(by me) for praising Sikkim, its beauty, its freshness, its law and order and a lot more things. But as we know, No Pains-No Gains, so before reaching Sikkim, I had the most horrible experience of my life and that was me going to Sikkim in a bloody, creepy sleeper class via U.P, Bihar[although it was the devil inside me that prompted me to have have this experience, the adventurous me] of Indian Railways :( All the stories that people used to tell, came true. In a single train, at least 10-12 thousand people were traveling, no exaggeration here.

As soon as the train started, I saw 10-20 TTE's entering the train and "making/selling" tickets as if they were selling tea/coffee/samosa. So many people had their tickets made on the spot, and the train was no less than a running hell. And to make things more beautiful, people just don't buy tickets, they just don't buy tickets at all Dammit, as if the ticket is their fraternal/maternal property. Aligarh, Allahbad, Kanpur,Buxar, Patna and after that my will power gave up and I was like a dead meet. On the lower berth 14 people were sitting at a single instance of time[2 Lower Berths] and when we reached Patna, I lost count of them. All of this reminded me of distorted version of Autology. But what came after made me forgot all the pains I had to take while reaching Sikkim.

Sikkim is a small state situated in the North-East part of India. Here in a car meant for four people only 4 people sit. Here while driving people wear helmets for their own security, not because a cop might fine them. Here people don't follow any law and order because there is no law and order. All we have here is Harmony, Understanding and Patience. The roads look like the perfect example of a "road",that even without traffic lights. The number of taxi-cabs operating here is almost equal to the number of people, "thoda sa" exaggerated, but believe me the cheap luxury you get in Sikkim will drive you crazy. Nobody passes strange looks if a girl and a boy are walking together, if they are holding their hands, if they are enjoying their Life. Everyone has got his own business to do, and Hail The Blessed Lord, ladies do sell the liquor over here, and nobody minds. It was very hard for me to digest that I am in India and not in some alienated place. Very soon I will be coming up with few more updates :)

Moral of the story:

Don't travel via "sleeper class", if your train is travelling through Bihar, U.P, Jharkhand, even if touches the remotest of the villages, don't take chance, get at least a 3-AC.

Sikkim is a very beautiful place and is an integral part of India.

Minor change: Its not just Life but India, as well, is Beautiful :)

Fun~Truggle

I finally found time for myself :)
I lied to parents that I am still in Pune [not so nice of me :)], lied that I have taken NTPC Test, lied that I did well, so many lies..............
But rather than making them understand its better to lie and save my precious time. I am busy planning/working for my venture(s), acquired some assets(a printer and a net connection) planning to buy a bike which comes under 10k and gives a mileage above 100 kmpl, yeah I might have to invent one of this super-kind and then again TATA uncle would have to rethink about his NANO because such kind of bike will definitely break his "all~india~inside~car" dream for sure :D
Its all fun working for/with myself for/with my dream. We are having troubles but we were not that much happy in jobs as well,moreover here we can give creative shapes to our ideas like asking for a printer that comes under 1000 :D
So many things have happened in between, Advani got a "chappal" from one of his own fellows, I got a new site where I found some more "new"songs of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Satyam got a new owner and three more people dared to opt out of their jobs following my example and their heart's voice :)

Undertaker defeated Shawn Michael in Wrestlemania-25 and now his un~defeated streak goes to 17-0, Hail Dead Man!!! :) [I know that wrestling is fixed but still I love it and I read hindi Comics as well, yeah that Nagraj, Dhruv stuff]

My dear friend is on his way to reach on the top, he is doing great with three offices across India and all of them making profits, KOLLACE is doing great and he is just 23.
Karma is still ashamed because of his job, but he is helpless :D.

Its all fun to be in this state with small quanta's of struggle in between so it is Fun~Truggle. Let us all Rest In Peace.
Enough for the day.

P.S: There are so many hyperlinks in this post. Feel free to click on them, I won't mind.
Life is Beautiful, njoy.