BLOG NOW LIVE FOREVER!!

When asked to introduce my Blogger’s identity and my blog as well at Indiblogger’s BNLF event, I said that it is the manifestation of my random thoughts, vis-à-vis technology which did not go shoulder to shoulder with a tech job earlier. Those two minutes of introduction were enough for the others to figure out who I am and what my blog is all about. It was nothing special that I specified, but the quest of every blogger to know each other better. The Valley Of Words’ members, Indiblogger crew (as we were called 😊) and the team brought in a lot of vibrancy to the occasion. I would like to relive the memory through this post and hope it is equally evocative for other attendees.

I landed in the mystic Dehradun hills and breathed the fresh crisp air of Doon valley at about 12:35 pm on 17^th Nov’17. There was no looking back in the amazing moments that followed. Though my guest house was just a 5 minute walk from Hotel Madhuban on Rajpur road (where the event was about to start), I hardly spent time there. With all the hustle bustle in the Madhuban lawns, I resisted going back until Indiblogger team provided with safe crepuscular drive to my lodge. Though my eyes were still droopy and I longed-for sleep when I started with this post, more Indiblogger sessions is what I truly long for.

The event kicked off with QR code based registration followed by distribution of Indiblogger badges. Since this was my first Indiblogger meet, my enthusiasm was similar to reporting for my first job and being issued with an I-Card or even more than that. As an introvert, I started moving around on my own, but the zest and small talk around persuaded me to exchange a few greetings. What followed half an hour later was bloggers dining together, speaking blog, clicking pictures and reveling at Bobby Cash’s euphonious guitar performance. Supper was succeeded by an introduction of bloggers which was a superb way to know each one of us. The blogger bond of togetherness was so cohesive that we even ended discussing next day’s plan together before heading to our humble abodes with excited puffy eyes.

Though I couldn’t sleep very well that night (probably because of too much caffeine in my system!), I was up and at the venue round 07:30 AM the next day i.e.,  18^th Nov’17 for the Ruskin Bond walk scheduled with “Been there Doon that”. I am not an avid reader of Ruskin’s work, but I got a chance to visit the bylanes he’d been in yester years writing and know the life that he’d lived in Dehradun before heading to London and finally Mussoorie. It was a pleasurable walk midst greenery and aged structures. Next, followed a scrumptious breakfast at Bikanerwala consisting of chhole bhature, grilled sandwich, idli sambhar, cuppas of coffee and lassi to go with. Not to forget lots of instagrammable images which still make me reminiscent of my journey. Without spending more time speculating, we headed to Forest Research Institute, Mindrolling Monastery and the very famous Paltan Bazaar (which indeed reminded me of Delhi bazaars). For me it was a good respite from smoggy and cloggy Delhi and an opportunity to soak in the Sun, the pristine blue sky. The architecture of FRI and colours of monastery were rejuvenating too.

Next, we headed back to the venue not knowing really what’s in store for us. There were few speeches from VOW’s illustrious speakers who were very impressive and motivational at the same time. Post feast and music, the real Indiblogger magic began with my first hurr-hurr rendezvous. Keynote speakers and their experiences were very edifying and enlightening. Blogging ways and debates were also interesting. Indiblogger games and other informational talks kept the energy and tempo very high. To be true, never was I that attentive post my college days as in those sessions. Time and sleep were taking a leap on our bodies but souls refused to return to their dwellings. After multiple clicks and goodbyes and promises to meet soon, we finally bid adieu to each other.

I went all alone by myself, but met wonderful, warm and creative writers and returned with memories to be cherished for long.

Courtesy : Indiblogger

I rest my itchy fingers on this note.

Do let me know your take and comments on this.

CASUALTY ::: TIME AND LIMBS !!!!

I notice a guy from the corner of my eye every morning when I go for a jog. He always looks confident with a great gymming outfit. He looks ready to take a leap of faith, catch the airborne basketball and score for his team. I can almost feel the hunger in his eyes. 

However, with my mundane office routine that follows I completely forget about how's and what's of the visuals with which my day had begun. Day long exhaustive meetings, never-ending tasks with modifiable deadlines and other corporate lobbying or "politically correct" activities eat away a larger chunk of my time. Not only does my employer in Delhi/NCR pay me for my precious minutes in meetings in the office premises but also for the formidable minutes spent on road and in public transport in order to reach my home in cosmopolitan space from my office conveniently ensconced in remote suburbs. Though spending 4-5 hours daily on travel to be in my comfort zone, i.e., home, itches me on a regular basis but not in a way it did one day, in a bare minimum fraction of seconds.

Due to snail paced traffic and paucity of movement space in Delhi/NCR, I had decided to ride an UBER bike in order to reach Delhi metro station timely and carry forth my journey towards my abode. Riding pillion on a bike is quite an adventure in NCR. But on 10th Oct'17, it turned out to be an unfortunate mischance. Just around NH-8, a car hit the bike I was riding on as the pillion, owing to miscalculation of time (which anyhow we always fall short of), speed and distance by the respective drivers. I don't have any memories of the impact of the collision but the impact of time. My leg got stuck in between the bike's silencer and the car in front. For an instant, I was there but then my sporty instinct urged me to go for a hop on the flip side. Neither was there any traffic on B-Side nor did anyone stop to help.

Thankfully, I was able to walk up to the pavement and the image of the guy's hungry eyes from the park flashed in front of me in the blink of an eye. Hunger because he couldn't. He couldn't jump off from his wheelchair. Period!

The thought sent a chill in my heart. However, I cleared the images from my mind as I regained composure, I saw a biker passer by, advising my motorcycle driver to quell the anger as he was too vulnerable to abuse the sturdy car owner.

I rode the same motorbike to the Metro Station afterwards, safely though. But mistakenly requested a seat in Metro only to be told to demand off from someone occupying seats reserved for differently-abled. Disgraceful indeed!

Well what followed were a series of hospital visits and heavy medicine dosage. I was relieved to escape the nasty fractures but the ruptures. They do pain. Like a lot!

Courtesy : Google Images

An accident was never on my contemplative list until my own personal experience. I felt as if the culprit is not only killing/hurting the victim but also reducing or terminating (in some scenarios) those minutes which the victim might have spent simply smiling. I generally used to empathize with those who were hurt but now I have sympathies from my family and friends. Icing on the cake, my sister and co-blogger fell off the running Mumbai Local due to both time miscalculation and paucity of de-boarding space. Strange co-incidence or something waiting to happen. Who knows!

Well, everything is fine now with no more surgeons in our lives. And I would like to rest my itchy fingers on the note :

In reality, time can't be purchased or sold ,
My time can be controlled only by me or sometimes by bullish souls.

Please share your comments and experiences.