The moral of the story is……

Its year 2200 and the world is completely different today. Anything, anybody that was human, was attacked and experimented upon. We are handful of few such left out pure humans (that’s what we call ourselves) staying isolated and scared here in North Pole fearing we could be caught anytime. Everything is machinated and the so called today’s humans that roam around are nothing but either, virtual images of humans controlled by machines or a hybrid of human and machines. The world is different now and as I write this, the population of us pure humans is reducing every minute. I am sure a thought is crossing your mind as to how all this could have happened. It sounds to you as a narration of a sci-fi film, unfortunately it’s not. It’s very true and if nothing is acted upon, it will remain to be the future of earth.

Time travel is still not yet invented; however, we pure humans have found a way to transport material back in time. If you are reading this letter, that means we have succeeded. You are requested to escalate it to the highest possible authority on earth of your time which we believe should be 2013 as that is the year we have been targeting.

There is not much I can write as I have several inhibitions that at your time, you would be able to understand everything. Though, I will do explain what caused all this and what could be done to prevent this horrible future. There were certain UFO sightings on India China border in early 2013, a sign that we you’ll chose to ignore. Governments fought, everyone cleared the air saying that those objects did not belong to any of the countries. Discussions happened but no conclusion was derived and the files remain closed as to where did these objects come from. A similar occurrence happened in the beginning of June 2013 where another fleet of unidentified objects were seen above Germany. Officials statements confirmed that it did not belong to Germany, but was not investigated upon further, one MORE sign you’ll chose to ignore. When these objects were spotted, no one realized that they were here to collect the geospatial and biological information about us. Third incident occurred in September 2013 and fourth on November 2013, which was the last time.  Post 2013, no activity was observed over a year and when in 2015 a fleet of UFOs were spotted across globe. Humans were captivated but were unaware of the future they would have. Humans were captured, experimented upon and a hybrid species of humans were born thus slowly wiping out pure human population.

I have said enough but it’s time for you to act upon the signs you had in 2013. Do not ignore the signs, act upon them. Investigate the objects, find them, and destroy them. Nature has given you a wonderful world. Treasure it, love it and bring down the unidentified objects since they are first spotted as they are the ones that would lead to this terrible future.

The moral of the story is ignoring signs, can lead to a butterfly effect and change the world for you!! Do not ignore signs, be it as humungous as an UFO sighting or as petty as a bloody gums!!

Kolkata Visit – An experience!

After a long time, I have found something worth writing. Thanks to a friend’s marriage and his superlative arrangements, I could visit Kolkata for the first time in my life. Journey began with a routine.. like leaving early from office, going to the closest station, reaching CST and boarding a train. Having a thought of being in a train for next 25 hours was as such killing. But the zeal of attending marriage and that too of a childhood friend had not left a chance for the killing feeling to win. With all hasi-mazaak at station, we were finally in the train. Journey seemed immensely comforting and 25 hours seemed to just skip by, thanks to Merle Robbins (creator of the card game ‘Uno’)

Next evening, we were in Kolkata and the way we were welcomed, made it more memorable. Several things caught attention. Having been born and brought up in Mumbai, anything non-Mumbai is so eye catching. Even a small thing like not having Padminis/Santros/Altos/Eecos as cabs was eye catching. Every cab was a Hindustan Motors’ Ambassador. I don’t even recollect when the last time I had seen an Ambassador car in Mumbai was! Although I couldn’t sit in one as we had private pre-arranged bus to board. Don’t know why, but considering you are used to Mumbai, you feel everywhere else you travel, the speed of vehicles would be 50% faster. And we were soon proved wrong. The traffic there was deadly and I could hardly spot a non-damaged vehicle on road. The buses running on road seriously need change.. not the exteriors or interiors but the buses as a whole!!!

Considering it was night, we had dinner and left for the hotel immediately. What caught attention was man pulled rickshaws which still operate in Kolkata. Knowing about a man pulled rickshaw and seeing and experiencing one is a totally different thing. Next morning, while coming to the event place, we had an option of car/autos, but we chose to experience the man pulled rickshaws though with a bit of inhibitions. Is it right on our part to opt for a man pulled rickshaw considering the amount of labor and effort it requires. Or should we just take an auto and reach faster. With a debate in mind, we finally chose to experience a hand pulled rickshaw. As expected and acceptable, the man pulled rickshaws are costlier as compared to auto rickshaws. But having sat in one, I wouldn’t mind paying more, sheer for the effort it requires. It’s the real hard-work.

First time I sat in one, more than enjoying the ride, I was wondering, how these guys manage it? Is it not inhuman to have such a mode of transport still operational? Are we just encouraging this mode of transport by choosing it over auto rickshaws? By the time these thoughts were on, we had reached destination. Some ceremonies were taking place when we had reached the event. Attending those, we decided to come back to hotel in the afternoon and again a decision was to be made about choosing the mode of transport. We again chose man pulled rickshaws and this time, as with everyone, the voice that talks in our head said, may be this is how they earn. If I don’t choose it, someone else will anyways. If I don’t choose it, I would not be letting him a chance to earn for his hard-work. And this is how it works here and my 4 day stay in Kolkata is not going to change anything. People there are probably used to it and no one thinks about it anymore. But I still do not have an answer whether it is right or wrong and whether such a means of transport should be encouraged. What harm would it do if instead of a man, a cycle pulls it??? Or as a human tendency, is everybody resistant to change and want things to be the way they are.. UNCHANGED?

-Rakesh Phanse

Yaaron.. Dosti.. badi hi haseen hai..

Rather than classifying it as a poem, would say.. these are just feelings..

Zindagi ki raahon me kai dost bane,

Kuch yaad rahe, kuch nahi….

Kabhi school me tiffin share karne wale dost,
Toh kabhi langdi khelne wale dost
Kabhi cycling wale dost,
Toh kabhi swimming wale dost,
Kabhi school bus friends,
Toh kabhi school ki bench pe seat pakadne wale dost,
Kabhi terrace pe saath padhne wale dost,
Toh kabhi IMP dene wale dost

Saare doston me ek baat common thi,
Us waqt wohi yaar- dost the..

Zindagi ki raahen aage badhi,
Aur ek ek dost peeche chutte gaye..
Kabhi na chaahkar, kabhi chaahkar,
Kabhi jaankar, kabhi anjaane

Aaj bhi saare dost yaad hai,
Kuch saath hai, kuch yaadon me hai
Kuch dil ko chu gaye, kuch dil ko todkar
Kuch sab gile shikwe bhool gaye,
Toh kuch dil me rakhkar chale gaye

Zindagi ki raahon me kai dost bane,
Kuch yaad rahe, kuch…….. nahi..  yaad toh sabhi rahe..

For all the friends, who are in touch, and you have touched…

- Rakesh Phanse

Zindagi achanak alag lagne lagti hai..!

Baithe baithe kuch khayal aane lagte hai,
Jo hui thi kabhi ojhal woh baatein yaad aane lagti hai
Kyu hui thi ojhal, woh sawaal puchne lagti hai
Kyunki kisi ek din.. Zindagi achanak alag lagne lagti hai

Kuch haasil karneki chaah dubara jaagne lagti hai
Is baar haasil kar hi lunga, ye khayal dene lagti hai
Mann hi mann ek positive feeling de jaati hai
Kyunki kisi ek din.. Zindagi achanak alag lagne lagti hai

Paisa achanak sirf kagaz lagne lagta hai,
Usse kharidi hui cheezen bandhan lagne lagti hai
Paisa vs khushi ke beech jung chidne lagti hai
Kyunki kisi ek din.. Zindagi achanak alag lagne lagti hai

Dil chaahe waise jeene ki ichcha karne lagti hai
Kisi ki fikr na karu ye feeling kandhon ko halke karne lagti hai
Jo hai life ki priority, woh bewajah lagne lagti hai
Kyunki kisi ek din.. Zindagi achanak alag lagne lagti hai

-Rakesh Phanse

Experience of Karma..

No! As the title seems to be, the content is not so serious.. So anyone who is planning to skip it owing to title, please have a bit more patience and bear with me to read the actual content..

As my profile says, am Ek aam aadmi and a Mumbaikar, my life is adventurous every day. No matter that those adventures are related to how to reach office everday! Being Tuesday, my friend dropped me till Goregaon flyover and no, this time my other friend wasn’t here to pick me up from there. He no longer works close to my office L (any person who’s feeling left out here, would have to refer my other blog on Autorickshaws!!) Anyways, this time it wasn’t the lady catching the rick, it was I in her shoes and bearing the brunt of those rickshaw drivers. Plus, the entire Goregaon flyover was jam packed and I wasn’t even sure whether I would be able to get any rick.

I realized, being an observer, it was so simple to comment the other day about the lady catching the rick. I, this time, was actually in the female’s shoes and hoping even if any auto leaves me at a distance away from the office, still would be ok. But finding an empty rick is a task in itself. I was silently thinking about the times when I had offered my friends a ride whenever I saw them at bus stop and for an instance; the thought came to my mind, how good would be if some friend sees me and offers me a ride/drive. My mind instantly scanned all the friends who would probably be working close to my office and after few seconds, there was ‘0 results found’ command by my brain. Coming out of this dreamland and thoughts, I started to look at some of the BEST buses passing by and trying to search quickly on my cellphone, if any of the bus goes close to office. I made myself clear, that even if it drops me at a place where I would additionally need to walk for 10-15 minutes, it would absolutely fine. But I need something to reach office. Thankfully, I am blessed with such an office, where a reasonable amount of flexibility is provided to its employees and I just couldn’t imagine the plight of people who have to strictly follow a ‘in-time’ process in their office.

Finally, a heard a voice ‘Rakesh… Rakesh…’ which I don’t know why I chose to ignore. Probably I trusted my brain results too much. The voice ‘Raaakesh’ went a bit louder and I turned to see. It was a friend on his Activa waving at me. My brain had missed him in scanning the friends. I have dropped this friend of mine more than a couple of times while on my way to office and I felt, this is one of the reason he must have had the feeling of paying back by dropping me. On the way, I even got to know that he usually takes the Aarey road, but chose the other road so that he could drop me..!!

That little voice in our head, which usually guides us in life, said, ‘Dekha, kabhi madad ki thi toh aaj mili bhi hai, continue doing it’. It brought a smile on my face and a thought that its truly Karma that, what you give, you get it back. Be it good or bad.

At times, we feel what do I get by doing anything good, but such instances, if taken positively, do remind you of your karma.

- Rakesh Phanse

Short Journey…

Attending a marriage is always a wonderful experience, no matter even if there is no one who knows you.. especially when you are attending a marriage of a friend’s sister.. After this joyous experience, a struggle started to reach home from Parle East to Malad West. An easiest option was to take a rick (being non-peak hour) and sit lazily till the rick reaches home. Cost seemed too much to take a rick, particularly when at an hour a lot of other options are available. Although, taking a car was the best option to do, but couldn’t coz I realized that I have only bought a car, not the parking space for it wherever I take. So the most convenient option was ruled out. Another friend who had attended marriage with me was on her way to Parle station while returning and gave me the option of dropping me till there after repeatedly calling me ‘Chindi’. Ignoring her calling me this, I still chose this to be the best option and decided to take a train, which I did after many many years. By the way, it requires a special mention that although after calling me ‘Chindi’ my friend confidently took out a 100 Rupee note (before I could pay)  for a minimum fare. I could sense a sarcastic expression on rickshaw wala’s face and was about to give him change, but before my reflexes could act, I was asked, ‘Arre change dena yaar’ by my non-Chindi friend and this Chindi obliged. Anyways, last time I must have travelled from Parle to Malad in train must be when I was in college (around 6 years back).

Suddenly, everything seemed to be running in flash back and made me realize that it was more fun to have less money, more fun to have less convenience and more fun to have someone to travel with you in the overcrowded train. I don’t recollect a single day in my train journey, when I had travelled alone. If my memory serves me right, we used to catch a 6.26/6.32 train in the morning from Malad to reach Parle and from there a shatpavli till college. Today, an obvious choice for such a distance is a rick, but the fun of walking on those roads has lost. The company of friends has lost. On our way back, hogging on to Dabeli, the famous Mithibai vadapav, everything has lost. We used to have food and junk without worrying about anything, as if it was the last day on earth. Today, all the stalls and everything remains intact, exactly the way it used to be.. What has changed is me being around those corners. College has changed to Office. We used to pay to college and have fun, today we get paid from office and life’s no more fun. Some SMSs do convey the actual meaning of life. One such crosses my mind at the moment:

College Life:     Lot of time, lot of energy, no money

Office Life:        Lot of money, lot of energy, no time

Retired Life:      Lot of money, lot of time, no energy

Often, a feeling keeps me pondering.. that everything should be sacrificed.. Money.. Job.. Responsibilities.. Everything and doing something you really want to.. Carelessly.. As such what are we doing all these for?? Most of us don’t even know what we really want in life or how much we really need to earn to have contented life. The calculations of earning are mostly based on what our friends are earning even after being exactly of our age compared to what we earn. The calculations are hardly based on what my expenses are and what I really need to earn. Many of the expenses are just coz we want to spend and not coz we HAVE to spend. Only a few blessed really have the guts to struggle and achieve what they really what to do in life. I am certainly not amongst the blessed one but for sure, I have not closed all the doors for something I want to achieve one day and money is definitely does not top the priority list.. and the day I get the guts to sacrifice luxuries of my life, I would lead a satisfied life if not a luxurious one.

Such a day would come and I believe, soon..

- Rakesh Phanse

For my Close Friends, who mean a lot to me :)

Friend.. Friend.. my dear friend,
How uniquely in my life you blend

You hold a special place in my heart,
In happiness and sorrows, you’ve always been a part

At times knowingly and unknowingly,
You’ve been with me unbelievably

I don’t regularly open up to you,
But did you really feel the need for me to?

You always guess the state of my mind,
N no matter how terrible it is, you’ve always been kind

Physical distances do increase between us,
But you’ve always known when to take the right bus

You’ve been with me through thick and thin,
And helped me overcome my fears within

You’ve been there to make me a good man,
For which, you never had a plan

Being with me, you have taught me many things,
For succeeding, those have been my wings

Just a request, be with me ALWAYS,
Coz your presence makes me allays

- Rakesh Phanse