Halla Bol

03.07.09 Friday

This article is about a day in my life, spent with friends in my office, doing stuff which will make us all to remember it forever. One of those days in my life among few others, which I know, I am going to remember, till I am alive. A day, which was fully lived, so complete and enlightening; my heart beating so fast that the person sitting next to me could almost hear it, a day of talks, plans, fun, accomplishments and laughter all around. One of those kinds, when it does not matter what you do, but it is going just right. Every dart hits the bull’s eye. A day for friends, a day of love, a day in rains.

It was dark cloudy sky outside, right since the morning. It was drizzling, like typical rains in Pune. We expected heavy rains today, but it just continued to drizzle for the entire day. We were already feeling to be on cloud 9 and to add, it was drizzling and to top it all off, it was Friday, the typical T.G.I.F (Thank God It’s Friday, for those not good at acronyms). ‘We’ refers to the group of friends who were a part of “Halla Bol” team including myself. The drizzle and the Friday effect roused our feelings. As if the time had stopped for a while. I asked myself if I could live these moments forever. Something was coming out of me, like a sudden burst of energy from nowhere, from some Supernatural source.

Let me start on how it all started before it gets too late. It all started yesterday night, when I composed an article. The article was about a short-lived, but complete and effective encounter of two people. I have been trying to write for quite some time now, but it’s that I still feel that something is missing. Or it may be just that you know your progress better, coz you are the one actually climbing the stairs. Well, the article was penned and my non-artist bro helped my type it. He showed his interest in helping me edit the same and finish it, though he is not interested in these kinds of things otherwise. The article was good and I think it will be published by the time you are reading this. Then I was off for a good night’s sleep and then it was “Halla Bol”.

The day started with a cool drizzle when I left for the office. I opened my computer, when a good friend and colleague pinged me to go outside. We went out, sat there in the shiny monsoon, talking about arts and writing, partially discussing the article I wrote the night before. This casual conversation turned out to be one of the most exciting meetings, which illuminated my mind and cleared the dusky clouds shadowing one of the major ideas I had for a long time. It helped me organize a story, which had existed in bits and pieces in my mind. I had been thinking about writing this story for quite some time and then get it published as my first novel. But you know, you cannot just expect to write a novel, get up the next day and do it while brushing your teeth. It is not easy. It is like facing Roadies auditions, or may be to learn Scuba Diving. All I mean to say is that writing a novel is a big deal. Coming back to the conversation with my friend, our discussion was slowly moving towards this story of mine. My friend showed lots on interest in hearing the theme line of the story. I started talking, and kept conversing for quite some time and he sat there, listening to my words, watching my expressions, trying to feel my thoughts and visualizing the story. The story was about a namesake relationship which transformed into a timeless bond. When I finished, he gave an expression, which I could compare with the looks I had when I watched “Titanic” for the first time, or may be “A beautiful mind”. I will always remember that expression. He was amazed. He really felt happy about the story. He has a great interest for arts, and in his pastimes; he is sometimes, a poet, or a writer, or a painter or if nothing goes well, for sure he is a guitarist. Music is his regular passion. You now know that I chose the right audience for my storyJ  Well, we kept discussing the story for a few more minutes. This was also the time, when my friend started pouring in his suggestions and feedbacks which could make the story look good. We also discussed what I wanted to be the essence of the story or to say, the meanings behind the lines. He then suggested some really great ideas, to which I affirmed to implement. I felt the scattered pieces of the story were moving towards each other, and slowly a marvelous picture appeared like it does in a jigsaw puzzle once you put every piece in the right place. I felt the importance of my story. I accepted that it is a lifework to be completed. It mattered much more to me now. It had to do lots with the mankind. It could become one of those immortal stories, you remember forever.

Well, the conversation ended when my manager called me for a meeting. Cocky managers are made to spoil moments like these, moments of creation and composition. The entire industry is revolving around a bunch of useless processes, fundamentally killing the creative thought of mankind and turning it into rat shit.  I was off for the meeting and as soon as the meeting was over, it was time for lunch. Maybe it was the cheesy effect of the dominoes cheese burst special that ignited this brilliant idea in me to make friends with a friend of a “desired friend”, which intimately served a purpose of feelings. This was not the first idea for this purpose, but one of the series of events that took place during the day, the day we ended up calling “Halla Bol”. Halla Bol”, resembling Ajay Devgan’s style, in the movie “Halla Bol”, a native Indian Hindi phrase which means “let’s shout” or “let’s attack”. I was walking with the attitude of a fully charged Gangsta joined by another teammate along the way and then another, striding in unanimity, as though we were about to rob a bank with guns on our shoulders. People scrambling out of the way giving us respect that we did not deserve otherwise, but just for the sake of “Halla Bol”. When we finally reached the point of attack, we were five.

Wow!!! I’m talking about attack as though as I knew what it meant. Well I do know now at least. It is that moment when you charge forward when you have nothing to lose but yourself, knowing that every step you take determines your fate. It’s the moment you know, will be the eventful time of life, even though other memories less significant will prevail. I don’t know if it’s the rush of blood in my head that made me do it or the instinct from my soul. The attack was fairly simple; I just had to “Talk to her”. Easy as it seems, it made my heart skip a beat. I convulsed when I saw her, maybe that is to blame the convulsion, which made me arise and say her name. Now I knew there was no way back, sweat began to flow. Fear creeping in my words, I then began to speak.”

It started out as a small chat which evolved into an enjoyable conversation and then into a long dialogue. I thought of these as small steps I had to take. I felt those tiny drops of sweat on my forehead, may be my body’s natural way of telling me to calm down. The stimulating conversation we had , had nothing to do with “Halla Bol”, only the importance of having it at the right time with the right person made it an exuberant and thrilling experience .This conversation contributes a lot to “Halla Bol” coz it gave us the energy , it gave us soul . The bottom-line was that it was over sooner than I thought, not in terms of time as I said before, but in terms of the thrill it gave me. This one hour of sunlight in the middle of this rainy day was to determine my fate for months to come or at least to affect it in a big way. I was glad that the attack was over, but even more glad of the temporary outcome. Was she nice? Maybe too nice .Well, I don’t know for sure .But time should tell. I will talk more about that in future. I am sincerely hope that time does tell me something.”

Then we all continued with the regular office work for the day and united in the office canteen at dawn, to share the celebration of my accomplishment. Everybody expressed their thoughts; their faces seemed red and vibrant with happiness. The red signified, for me, the red robe, held by a torero (the person responsible to get the bull by its balls). Was I playing the torero? I thought better to be the torero than the injured bull. I could imagine myself as the torero wearing an elongated hat in a huge arena (the office) with Spanish music playing in the background, the audience (my friends) cheering me to stand in front of the raging bull with sharp horns (implied friend of desired friend) who was angered by the poking of swords into her back. The fact of the matter is that the audience doesn’t care who dies, all that matters is just that they are entertained. They just want some balls on the ground, dead or alive, hardly matters. Maybe it was the bullfight which made me unstoppable. I had this millions pounds of energy flowing out of me, which was not going to halt at any cost. Friends tried to calm me down, but I wasn’t ready to or rather wasn’t able to or just maybe I didn’t want to. They were amazed to see me pass this kind of an exam with flying colors which necessarily contradicts with my perceived persona otherwise.

As the fight got over, the music started blaring. The sound of “Halla Bol” pulsing through my mind .This was a symphony of harmonious composition of love, friendship but with a very thin string of feelings dividing those two. This tells me that my heart still beats in tune with elements, other than myself. This made me feel more humane and implied that I can still fall in love. *So whenever u find yourself drowning in those dizzy dull thoughts, remember, it’s time for “Halla Bol”.*

~ to friends (Chote Dada, BabaJi, Neeraj, SLU and She)

She rings too loud

It has been like a week and I can’t stop thinking about her. Yes, she is the one I am talking about, she is so cool and serene. I stare at her whenever I get a chance. Only to see, to admire her beauty, her charm, so lovely to be a spectator. To watch her working is such a delight.

She is so busy all the time. Engrossed in her work, completely, as if she does not know what is happening in the world outside. As if you could mute all the noise that is going around and inside your mind and concentrate on the needle point. She is so calm. I could never see a line of agony or negativity on her face. So controlled, so blessed and happy.

I felt this feeling in me. It is just like when you admire the nature or when you feel so blessed standing on a mountain when a stroke of cold breeze hits your face. Like when you watch fishes swimming in the water, so icy, such a symphony. This is it. This is love.

She rings too loud in my mind. I cannot stop her. It is like an orchestra, not like Linkin Park, I would say. That is killing. It is like Bob Marley, the redemption song. But this time I want to die. Is this real? Why does this happen. A music starts in your mind suddenly and everything else seems dull. Every routine day seems so long. These are the days, when I feel the best of me. It gets better every day.

She is the symbol. The symbol of purity. A sensation, a thundering. A ray of light during a rainy and cloudy dark night!

Words from my heart

• Music is love. It is the sound of love. Sound is the only way to express, to pour your heart, your love, out. I mean, it is the root, the very source of universe.
• Quality is the key. It makes you happy. It moves you an inch further to that divine energy. Hence it sells better. It has to.
• Emotion is life. Emotion is expression. It is our true nature. Be yourself, express yourself.
• I am still in control. I need more of it. I want to lose myself. This is life. This is it, the only moment, and I guess this is the only way out.
• I represent myself. I am my only salesman. I am the one who sells me best.
• Should I do it? Do I give myself to you as I would, when I feel what’s around me?
• Every moment is the bliss. Live here, die here. Take a shower and go back to work. This is it. This is the world, the only home.
• This is better than the last time. This is real good coz I am learning. This is Evolution. Yes, I am talking about Darwin’s natural selection.
• Pain is true. Pain is love. They are the same.
• Can’t I be this good all the time? Bless thyself. Let me be it. I am loving it. These are the moments, I will say.
• Music is energy. The very nature of music is therapy. It’s like going back home. It purpose is to make you feel better, that’s it. You got it.
• I cannot define sense. Is it being Sensuous or for that matter, Sensitive. Alive.
• I am living these moments. Let me have them. They add up in the end, to make my life. That’s also my age. Literally too, age means summation of the years, you were alive, yes, living.
• May be I am nearing to the best of me; my senses, my treasures, my gifts.
• Gratitude is yet to come, I think. I have stopped worrying these days. I am less scared now, relatively though, yes, that’s what I have achieved so far.
• Let me do it. Do not stop me from being me. Lets go back home. I am here to take you home. Lets go home, its time.
• She was there; I was so sure, so much that I was confident, not scared of her being there. But I guess, it’s a fair deal.
• I believe I will survive. I am a better person now, more in control, or that’s what it seems at least, and rather that is what it is supposed to be.
• They are waiting there like idiots and wanting something better to come. What an illusion! What more could come? This is the best shot. The day’s best panoramic capture by a photographer. Live now.
• If you feel alive in its presence, then it is something worth talking about. That might actually be it. Everything else is business.
• Her color is fair as clouds. Her walk is like ice, the breeze itself. Her arms are gray, slender and her clothes are gold. She moves me. There she is. She is the one.
• The best friend. She is the chilling wind of fall. I am at sea. Yeah, at sea.
• Judge anything by love. That’s it. It should move you. Love moves. It is its nature.
• Could you take me with you?

Paint my soul

M. F. Husain once said, “Hold the sky in your hands when I paint, coz I do not know the limits of my canvas.” Painting is a love affair. If you do it, you do it whole heartedly. Painting is one of the forms of expression of soul amongst many others. Art, as I see it, is the expression of my soul. If I can express it correctly, I am a good artist. Expression could take any platform; dance, music, words or anything else. It is important that you express, as an artist.

I recently took up painting and graffiti again. I used to do it some time ago and then I got busy with other stuff. I started it again. To help me experiment with it and to help me improve my skills in the area I compiled a list of different styles of painting and sketching. This helps me practice, to experiment, to be able to know my stuff. Eventually, you do not need any styles. You develop one of your own. This will take time and effort and most importantly heart. Artists are not heartless persons, remember. They are sensitive to nature.

1. Paint a non living subject.
2. Paint a living subject (portrait/landscape).
3. Free style painting (Picasso).
4. Throwing paint on the canvas directly, without using brush (Pollock).
5. Paint with hands. Once you learn to paint with hands and fingers, trust me, brushes won’t be necessary.
6. Sketch from memory. Paint it.
7. Paint directly from memory.
8. Paint from a picture.
9. Sketch from a photograph, paint it.
10. Explore different materials. Some of them could be: pastels, charcoal, color pencils, water soluble colors pencils, fountain pen, poster colors, water colors, oil colors, leaves, flowers, fruits, vegetables, aerosol sprays etc.
11. Sketch a moving object. Paint it. Remember, animation is concentration.
12. Paint hands and feet. Hands and feet are one of the most difficult subjects to paint.
13. Paint robes. Robes have enough curves, folds for you to practice.
14. Paint with only one color. Use the background as the second color.
15. Paint on glass.
16. Sketch cartoons/caricature.
17. Paint on wall (Graffiti).
18. Depict a story/poem in the painting.
19. Paint self portrait using a mirror.
20. Paint self portrait using a photograph.
21. Paint self portrait at different ages. Grid or accordion style could be used.
22. Paint portraits of loved ones.
23. Spray painting. Aerosol spray paints could be used.
24. Paint your room with your stuff in it. (One of the famous Van Gogh painting).
25. Experiment with light and shadow principle.
26. Observe deeply. Photograph often. Learn by doing. Remember, painting is to paint and not some thing to read about.
27. Body painting.
28. Paint nudes. Try to get the curvatures and veins structure right.
29. Paint greeting cards, book covers etc.

A list of To-Dos when you don’t know What to do!

Ups and downs are a part of life. Highs are not permanent, neither are lows. Life is always fluctuating between two extremes. This very nature of life is visible in all the smaller attributes of life. Extremes could be really good if used properly. Extreme moments are great possibilities. Considering these positive aspects and considering the amount of time I waste everyday wondering what to do and where to start, I have compiled a list. Feel free to customize this list for yourself and as per your moods. Remember, this is just a start. There could be many more creative things to do.

1. Go on a vacation to relax your mind.
2. Join a course. For e.g. music class, salsa, or sky diving.
3. Complete your studies, if you had missed any or had planned to do it later.
4. Take certifications related to your career profile.
5. Adopt a pet.
6. Start a sport.
7. Invent something.
8. Start a blog.
9. Create a business profile website.
10. Start painting. Painting is one of the best ways of expressing your thoughts freely on canvas using colours.
11. Make new friends. Famous social platforms could be a great start. Face book, Orkut, Hi5 etc.
12. Create a yearly planner. List down the tasks you would want to complete this year. Break them into months and weeks.
13. Maintain a Birthday list. List down the birthdays of friends and relatives, especially the ones you forget often.
14. Get involved in a relation. It could be serious or non-serious, or just friends.
15. Start reading. Read what you like, not necessarily bestsellers.
16. Watch movies. Keep up with all the blockbusters you have missed. I find this a great pastime as well as a great source of inspiration.
17. Arrange your wardrobe in an innovative manner. For e.g. based on seasons, or based on colours or based on the type of people you have to meet everyday.
18. Write a Composition / Poetry. Pick up a pen and a blank sheet of paper, and express yourself freely.
19. Attend a guest lecture.
20. Donate old stuff that you don’t use anymore.
21. Visit art galleries. They could be a good source of inspiration.
22. College reunion. Time to catch up with old friends. You never know what could become a possible opportunity.
23. Pay a visit to Old age homes or an Orphanage. They do not have many visitors.
24. Listen to music. Listen to your favourite music albums that are catching dust in drawers. Music is a therapy as well as meditation.
25. Speak up. Record your voice. Talk freely about any topic you like. Listen to it, find your mistakes and record again. There are many websites where you can submit your pod casts which people can listen – paid or free.
26. Fix your old electronic stuff.
27. Join a health club. They say, “Health is wealth.” nothing is changed so far.
28. Learn cooking. Cooking is a great art, and trust me, not everybody can do it.
29. Practice Yoga / Meditation. This relaxes your mind and body. Try different experiments. I enjoy doing this everyday. This could be a great way to understand yourself more and unlock hidden talents and skills.
30. Fix your computer.
31. Collect your favourite books from new or second hand stores.
32. Collect your favourite music from new or second hand stores.
33. Flash back experiment. Spare few hours and visualize your life backwards or forwards, as you are comfortable. Close your eyes and imagine your entire life is playing in front of you like a movie. Remember every detail as possible. Make a list of the mistakes, you feel, you did. Good moments will make you happy and bad ones will add in your experience list. Nothing to lose.
34. Learn photography. Firstly, World is very beautiful. It has to be recorded somewhere and secondly; there are many websites, where you can make some bucks by submitting original photographs.
35. Improve your aptitude skills. Time to solve some quizzes, puzzles and mysteries.
36. Draw some Cartoons / Caricatures. Remember, animation is concentration. The world would have been a very dull place, if there was no humour.
37. Write original jokes.
38. Mend broken hearts. Buy and present a gift to someone you care for.
39. Invite friends for dinner and spend a good time.
40. Help someone. What can I do for you? This question is worth asking. Try to ask this question with the right attitude to someone, and you will be surprised to find you could of great help.
41. Decorate your house / room. Try new ideas. Rethink about old posters and arrangements of furniture.
42. Gardening. Plants have a life. Plants are also sensitive to love, anger, hatred, music and other emotions. Try yourself.
43. Feed birds and animals. Feed oats and water to hungry birds and animals. This is a great satisfaction always.
44. Spend a good time with your parents. They have always been there for you. It’s your turn.
45. Set mini goals. Reward yourself if you complete on time.
46. Adopt a good habit. Like keeping silent for 4 hours or helping a needy one on some day. This could be fun as well as satisfaction.
47. Check out old photographs. This is a great nostalgic tool and a natural way to mend old relations or to relive beautiful moments of life.
48. Adopt a child. There are plenty who need a parent.
49. Go green. This means to try greener ways of doing things. This also means doing things, which would save environment.
50. Plan your investments. Consult a financial planner if you need.
51. Create something from used stuff.
52. Spend time with yourself. This could be a great way to identify your mistakes and find solutions to problems which seem impossible otherwise. This could also help you to grow spiritually.
53. Go and watch a live music concert.
54. Write your autobiography.
55. Write testimonials for your friends. Testimonials need not always be about things you like in the person. Honest feedback and appreciations always turn out a reward in the long run.
56. Change your profession for a day. Try and sell some shampoos or dog food for a day.
57. Take a dark bath. Take a bath with lights turned off. Check if you can manage.
58. Visit a library. Browse through your favourite books or encyclopaedias. Find out what is the capital of Mongolia, or most selling food in Brazil.
59. Try to use a different writing instrument. For e.g. use a charcoal or graphite pencil, permanent marker, colour pencil, sketch pen, glossy pen, etc. instead of a normal pen. It is fun.
60. Maintain a NOT-TO-DO list and DO-ONLY-WHEN-NEEDED lists.
61. Create a vision and mission of your life. Write a punch line for it.
62. Write a bucket list. A bucket list is of the tasks to do before you die.
63. Play videogames. PS2 or Portable PS are fantastic devices.
64. Watch online videos. Type a random keyword in search and check out the videos. You tube could be a great start.
65. Visit a museum. Museum is a good place to learn history.
66. Spare a few hours to check your bills. Mobile bills, electricity bills, Food bills, Pub bills, Credit card bills, Shopping bills etc. Check if you can cut down somewhere and save some bucks.
67. Vacuum clean your store room.
68. Take a walk. Fresh air is very relaxing and rejuvenating.
69. Experiment with coffee or tea. You can try adding one or more of these: Cream, Lemon, Cinnamon, Clove, Pepper, Aloe Vera, Bread, Orange juice, Fruits, Vegetables etc.
70. Go to a beach and enjoy sea waves.
71. Make a list of your girlfriends/boyfriends. Then categorize the list into serious/non serious ones. List could be further detailed adding the following things: date/time when met, time spent together, best moments together, worst moments together, things you learned from the person, things you liked/disliked about the person. This could be a great challenge and rejuvenation. This might help us to see our relations though an entirely different perspective. Only one thing to remember BE HONEST.
72. Change your hair style. Visit a stylist and demand that you want to look like Elvis Presley.
73. Eat fruits only for an entire day. Visit a grocery store and ask for all kinds of fruits they have. You will be surprised to see few which you dint even know.
74. Clean your mailbox. There are great chances of hitting across an important mail you had missed to see.
75. Update your contacts list. This could apply to your contacts in a mobile, PDA, outlook etc.
76. Call up an old girlfriend/boyfriend and request for a date for old times sake. Beware; this could turn out to be a life changing event
77. Change hands. Try to do things with your left hand against usual right hand or right hand for left handed people. Try to do this for an hour, and could be for an entire day, if you can manage without much problems.
78. Try to remember every face you know with a punch line. For e.g. Johnny, the liar or Suzanne, the pink skinny girl or anything else. Try to use punch lines which define the central quality of the person. This would help you remember more faces and deal with them appropriately.
79. Donate Blood. Thousands of road accidents happen everyday.
80. Go for a routine health check-up to your doctor. Pay the bill even if you are healthy.
81. Find and read about Native American tribes.
82. Count the number of traffic violators on the way while driving to the office.
83. Write a letter to Mr. President, asking when is the economy condition of the country supposed to improve and how can you be of help?
84. Remember and Write the dream, you had last night.
85. Read a story. Think and suggest a better title.
86. Go for a test drive of your favourite car.
87. Go for window shopping in the most expensive street of the city.
88. Steal something. If succeeded, return the same to the owner, with due respect.
89. Laugh aloud. Remember a funny moment and laugh freely. This will change your mood.
90. Go on a blind date. Internet is a revolution. Many websites can help you fix a blind date.
91. Sell your old pair of trousers at half.com
92. Take a shower.
93. Take a day off and visit a local place you had always wanted to.
94. Go for a swim.
95. Day dreaming. What happens if you become the president or what happens if Julia Roberts calls you for a date kinda stuff.
96. Cut your old pair of jeans to make knickers.
97. Carry an Idea Book with you, to note down important ideas and thoughts wherever you go.
98. Make a silent confession. Go to the place where you feel calm, close your eyes, and confess everything you want to say.
99. Google for your name.
100. Find out why Baby Sitting is a better profession than Dentistry.