Kalpak's Diary

आज दीप्ती च्या काय भावना आहेत आणि तिची काय मनास्तिथी आहे हे मला माहित नाही. इंग्लिश मध्ये एक म्हण आहे " You can choose your friends but you cannot choose your relatives " म्हणजे तुम्ही तुमचे मित्र निवडू शकतात पण तुम्ही तुमचे नातेवाईक निवडू शकत नाही. तर का ? कारण नातेवाईक रक्ताचा गाठींनी जोडलेले असतात तर मित्र तुम्ही ठरवू शकतात की मला या व्यक्तीचा स्वभाव आवडतो. पण मी स्वतःला भाग्यवान समजेल की मला इतके चांगले नातेवाईक मिळाले की ते माझे मित्रच आहेत.
मी आत्ता ऐकलं की आज नवीन नात्याची सुरवात झाली कारण आज हे नातं जोडल्या गेलं आहे, किंवा हे बंधन बांधल्या गेलं आहे. पण मी ह्याला बंधन म्हणणार नाही किंवा जोड म्हणणार नाही कारण बंधन म्हणजे साखळ दंडाने बांधल्या सारखं होतं, नाहीतर जोड म्हणजे कितीही चांगलं ग्लू वापरलं तरी ती जोडलेली भेग ही दिसतेच. म्हणून मी या नात्याला जोड म्हणणार नाही किंवा बंधन हि म्हणणार नाही, तर मी म्हणेल की हे नातं विणल्या गेलं आहे जिथे दोन धागे स्वेछेने सोबत येउन एक वस्त्र तयार करण्यासाठी प्रयन्त करतात.
मी सगळ्यांचा अभिनंदन करतो की आज आपल्या सगळ्यांच्या नाट्य मध्ये दीप्तीचा नातं पण विणल्या गेलं आहे. सगळ्यांचा अजून अभिनंदन करतो की त्यांनी जी आत्मीयता दाखवली हूर हूर दाखवली हे सगळ्या कार्य पार पाडण्यांत - ते खूप सुंदर होतं. सगळे आपल्या सोबत होते माझं आजोळ , माझ्या वडलांच आजोळ सगळ्यांचं अभिनंदन
दीप्ती तुझा खूप खूप स्वागत .... :)
- कल्पक पिंगळे


बाबांनी दीप्तीच केलेलं स्वागत -
नौकरी लागली लग्न झाले. शिल्पा सारखी गृहकृत्य दक्ष पत्नी मिळाली. शीतल - कल्पक ने संसाराची चौकट पूर्ण केली. कल्पक संगे तुझी (दीप्ती) आणी शीतल संगे अमोघ च्या आगमनाने कृतार्थता लाभली. सिद्धार्थ आणी साराने आनंदाचा कळस चढवला. सर्व आप्तांच्या प्रेमाने जीव भारावून गेला. आई वडील सासू सासरे यांचं खूप प्रेम मिळालं. त्यांच्याच आशीर्वादानं समोर आलेलं प्रत्येक आव्हान स्वीकारलं.
आता एकच विनवणी ईश्वर चरणी - सुख, समाधान, आरोग्य सर्वांना लाभावे, महाराजांच्या चरणी सदैव नतमस्तक राहावे .
- श्याम पिंगळे


आईनी दीप्तीच केलेलं स्वागत -
चि. सौ. दीप्ती,
मंगल दिन मंगल प्रभात
सूर्याची पसरली लाली
अशा या मंगल क्षणी
दीप्तीच्या रूपाने लक्ष्मी घर आली

प्रिय सौ. दीप्ती -
मागील कित्येक दिवस ज्या आतुरतेने आम्ही तुझ्या आगमनाची वाट बघत होतो तो हा आनंदाचा क्षण.हा क्षण तुझ्यासाठी एका डोळ्यात आसू आणी एका डोळ्यात हसू आणणारा . माहेरचे पाश सोडून येताना तू थोडी बावरलीस याची कल्पना आहे पण आपल्या ह्या नवीन घरातली नातीही अत्यंत आनंदाने तुझी वाट बघतात आहेत. तेव्हा दीप्ती तुझ्या समोर आलेलं हे नवीन आयुष्य, नवीन संसार
१) ही एक पूजा समाज आणी ती भक्तिभावाने कर.
२) संसार हा एका चित्रकाराचा पट आहे, ह्यातील प्रत्येक रंग जाणून घे आणी त्यांच्याशी एकरूप हो.
३) हा एक रंगमंच आहे. यावर येणाऱ्या प्रत्येक पात्राची तू ओळख करून घे.
४) संसाराच्या ह्या संगीतात विसंवादी सूर लागू देऊ नकोस, तर तुझ्या सुमधुर स्वरांनी तो सुरेल होऊ दे.

ह्या सगळ्यात तू कुठे चुकलीस, घाबरलीस तर तुला सावरायला मी आहे. सासू असले तरी आईच्या मायेची उब देईन . बाबांमध्ये तुला तुझे बाबाच दिसतील. तर शीतलच्या सहवासात तुला तुझ्या मोठ्या बहिणीचं प्रेम मिळेल-
आणी हो मुख्य माणूस तर राहिलंच.
कल्पक ला उत्तम शिक्षण आणी संस्काराचं लेणं दिलं. आता इथून पुढे त्याला यशस्वी होण्यासाठी तुझ्या साथीची गरज आहे. प्रत्येक यशस्वी पुरुषामागे एक स्त्री असते हे तू जाणतेस. तेव्हा तुझ्या वैवाहिक जीवनासाठी तुला शुभेछा देते आणी या सगळ्यातून "सौ. दीप्ती पिंगळे" हे तुझं स्वतंत्र, सुंदर व्यक्तिमत्व आकाराला येऊ दे असा आशीर्वाद देते.
- सौ शिल्पा पिंगळे

Idioms, Sayings, proverbs add spice to language. They convey whole lot of things in just few words. These words are teachers or they even act as philosophy of life for an individual. Sayings always excite and often a question pops "Wonder how did these came and marked their place in the dictionary ?" One of the very popular one is "When in Rome do as the Romans do."

This saying possibly comes out of 2 different schools of thought.
First can be more literal than anything: In different geographical circumstances you might not always find home comfort,yet you can't avoid these situations. In this case you need some amendments in your style of living to keep in pace with the society.
Another might be: As the "Vasudeva Kutumbakam" fever is gripping the globe we have to hold hands with everyone, respect their culture history and style of living to get the same in return. Experts say this is only way we can move forward.

But Roses do come with thorns. There has always been one big disadvantage in following this ideology or making this saying as our principle .In the process of living this philosophy we might forget what our original stand is and end up copying others, and justifying our actions to the remaining who are offended in the process of winning the prior ones resulting in rifts in relationships. As the whole base of living this saying is to win hearts we might loose more.

Maintaining a balance of Do as Romans philosophy and yet being original will be a winning combination.

- Kalps

"It is better you stop seeing Kanchan henceforth. She wont be accepted in the family. Warning you for one last time kid, Wake up Come out of your dreams! There is no such thing called as Love and vows like live for you and die for you." said Sree imitating Ketan's dad. He went to Ketan's place to get insight of what was about to come. After normal Hi Hello he wittily directed the discussion to inter caste marriage and this was Ketan's Dad's reaction.

This surely was not regular evening dinner for Ketan with Kanchan his love and with his best buddies Sree and Swati.

Kanchan was his college mate where he fell in love with her. It was not love at first sight but neither was hate you type. Kanchan was very pretty with big eyes, intelligent and a lovely smile. As time flew in college he started knowing this girl more and noticed there is difference between girls whom you want to be your girl friend and whom you take to your mom and say you want to marry her. She was of the second type.

Ketan himself was a stud in college too, A good dancer, mimic, stage artist, charged up in extra curricular activities, fairly well in studies but guy with big dreams. Dreams to rule world once with his ideas and to become role model for others. He was attracted towards kanchan starting second year of his engineering. Often vocal and cheerful guy Ketan was dumbstruck when he first conveyed his love to her. She as expected rejected and avoided him for next 2 months till few close friends acting as catalyst helped them out, and they were committed to each other.

Kanchan sitting across the table was crying. She could not think about anyone else other than Ketan as her life partner.

"Listen, If they want to get married who cares what their family thinks ? Just pack yur bags and run, we will help both of you get married. Anyways you both are adults, both are well paid, educated and smart, why worry about others ? you believe your love is true, just go ahead and tie up a knot. God will bless you." Swati spoke with full emotions and consoling Kanchan.

"Excuse me", said sree. "Running away and marrying is not an option at all. Love doesn't help when it comes to real lfe problems. When you are in trouble you need your family to be your backbone. Family always matters. One thing will go wrong and these two will start blaming each other about everything. All small things which made them laugh in yester years will irritate them then. Love is a bond which takes very long to mature. This is he age they need guidance from their seniors. Love stories look good in films but there is nothing like They lived happily ever after. Films end there but life doesn't."

"Cmon Sree", replied Swati. "This is all true when you think you are in love, but these guys know each other for a while, they have been through tough times before too. we know these two love each other and marrying each other is their mutual decision. How can they blame for any fights or broken relations ? That is making things up. Lets not live in fiction world. We know they are mature and they are committed they can make it through this."

Kanchan was still sobbing and Ketan hadn't spoken a word.

He moved his hand towards Kanchan and said,"I want you to know I Love you and I will do forever and be there for your forever."

"Do you trust me ?"
"Yes", she said sobbing softly.

"We have to talk to our parents about our situation. Running and getting married is not an option. I know hurdles are tough but we will come through it.
Our parents have sacrificed so many things for us for so many years. We cannot leave them alone at this point of their life when they need us the most. We are life for each other but for them we are life. Let us give it a try talking to them."

"To tie a bond of a life we cannot break a bond which is life for someone."

"I knew you would think this way, I will not want our kids to run away from us. I have already arranged dinner for our parents tomorrow night. Let us do it then." said Kanchan.

He never liked the Rainy season very much. Always used to be upset of wet clothes, mud on the street which sprinkles when bicycle or a vehicle running ahead of you runs all over you. Often his important plans were screwed up because on untimely rains. Still all his primary school days teachers used to force him to write "Rainy season" as the topic for essay writing.

Living in Central India summers were always agonizing and to heal all pain came rain followed by the lovely winter. He loved winters the most. It was unlike all other kids. Although he was above average in studies his grades used to change drastically in all tests during and after winter. He used to do excellent in second half of the educational year. It used to start with biggest festival for Indians "Diwali" then came X-Mas followed by new year. Everything taught to be optimistic and be hopeful and so was he in his life. At least he use to tell himself always to be hopeful and good will follow.

That day the sun started its walk from the east it was yet another lovely day for him. He was all excited about his elder sister's marriage. He had lot of things on his agenda to do. He had to find a good marriage hall, pick up all invitation cards and in the end pick up new mattress for guests coming for the marriage. They had already started arriving and with each arrival there was jubilation. Everyone was hugging each other and dancing with joy.
All the relatives used to ask--

"Where is your son ?
How old is he?
Is he like his father ?
Self made man? "

It is always difficult to reach the top but to stay there is more difficult. Similarly to be a star is difficult but be a star son is more difficult. He was affected by the same syndrome. His parents were very kind and supportive who allowed him to be himself but anything he used to do would be taken as his parents must have told him hence he did that. Oh! his elder sister is matured and she must have suggested him. Let us see how he fares in the long run, will he remember the sacrifices his parents did for him ? Will he give them a good and healthy life when they grow old ? on and on and on .. he was grown all the way till now listening and facing these questions.

With all these questions at back of his mind he started his day looking for marriage hall. He narrowed down to couple of them and was going to discuss with his parents to select one of them. It was almost dusk time when he marched towards old part of the city with narrow lanes and bazaar area to pick all printed invitation cards. He scrutinized each and every card and diligently counted both numbers of Marathi and English cards. He came back home with them and everyone got busy writing address and posting them as soon as possible.

"Do carry your jacket, its pretty cold outside" shouted his mom as he was marching to complete his final task of the day. He unwillingly took his jacket, kick started his scooter and drove towards the mattress store. It was dark and winter was gearing up to play yet another innings. It was pretty cold and he was feeling its severity. It was difficult to breathe while driving when wind was directly hitting your face. He took 3 stops in a journey of hardly 5 kms to gasp up some deep breaths. There was hardly anyone on the road that day. He picked up the mattress and started looking for a tempo for a delivery. No luck ! even after waiting for 30 mins there was no sign of any conveyance.

Just then he saw a overly old aged man may be in his late 50's on his cycle rickshaw trying to cover his entire body with a simple scarf,through which you could see the entire sky. No way the intensity of this winter was going to be countered with that scarf but still he was holding onto it yet shivering. Momentarily a thought popped his mind bout asking that man to rent his rickshaw but then he walked without disturbing him. A voice came from behind.



"beta, rickshaw chahiye ?" (Do you want me to drop you ?) "Yes", he said.

He loaded the mattress in the cart and asked the old man to follow him while he will be driving at a slow pace parallel to him. All different thoughts came to his mind about that poor rickshaw puller.

"How hard is he trying to earn his living and support his family.
He must be having a family at-least, yes he must be !
He must be doing for his kids so they get food and good education, else who would work in this killing weather."

He saw the rickshaw puller pedaling his way through, taking breaks for a moment at times and continuing to complete the task he had undertaken.
They reached his home, where he quickly unloaded the mattress and his uncle came to help. He was thinking twice how could he help the poor old rickshaw puller and say thanks for dedication and devotion to his work.

"Bhaiya, yeh rahe appke paise... " he paid the rickshaw puller the decided fare.
"betaji, Rs. 10 jyade ho gaye, wapis le lo" He was amazed, he had hardly seen this honesty from anyone in recent past. He had purposefully give him more money to compensate all extra he had to go through in this bad weather.

He was watching old rickshaw puller walk back with his cart, when he shouted, "Bhaiya !!"

"yeh jacket rakh lo, bahut thand hai.." (keep this jacket, it pretty cold out). He sensed denial from the old man and before that guy said anything he said,
"aapke bete ke liye.. " (for your son)

That old guy immediately looked up and tears rolled down from his eyes....
Rolling his hand over his forehead said, "jiyo betaji, bahut bada naam kamana" ( long live son, earn fame for yourself).

His uncle was watching him from the courtyard and quickly went inside before letting him know he saw it.

As he entered, he heard his uncle telling his parents his uncle said,"Your teachings will pay you one day, you are lucky to have a good kid". It was smiles all across.

He pretended as if he did not hear that came back whistling a good old melody.

"What happened ?" asked his mom.

"I just lived moment of my life" he replied..

-- Cheers
Kalps

Evening walk was favorite pass time for my grandpa. His style of living and personality was nothing less than a class act. It was perfection personified.
Nice and clean white dhoti with no wrinkles, shining white plain kurta accompanied by Maharashtrian cap, nice carved tilak on his forehead, wonderful smile on his face with a walking stick in his hand and way he use to go for an evening walk everyday without fail.

His path never changed starting from our house it was the temple then the garden and back home again. He used to take me with him I became a bit old to skip walk and go for more exciting stuff like playing in the sand with other kids and race with each other to decide who can quickly climb a tree. We walked alongside the road with these huge trees sometimes healthy and rich and sometimes weak and poor. We used to reach the temple where he met his friends, and they use to have fun talking about all boring things like pensions, government policies, weather and trying to look for bride and groom for people who are of age to get married. I used to be like how can a person talk about same things for so many days ?

It was yet another day when I came back from school and off with my uniform plus school shoes ran into grandpa's room and told him this very nice story I heard.

"It was summer and everybody were happy, dancing and playing and so was the grasshopper. While playing his favorite tune on the violin he came down near a group of ants where he saw them working, gathering food, wood for fire and some wool for warm clothes. He laughed at them saying this is waste. Then came winter and grasshopper was nearly dying, when ants gave him food which they saved during summer. Moral of the story "it is always wise to plan ahead".



He was listening to me carefully probably was amazed by my expressions and twinkle in the eyes of small children because they don't have to try hard to be innocent. We went for a walk that day and looking at the trees I said to him, "Are they alive ?", "Yes" he said. "Why don't they save leaves from the time when they have plenty ? Are they grasshoppers ? Can' they plan for future ?".


His answer was the best one can ever imagine or think of saying, " No, they are not grasshoppers they are smarter than anyone. They are proving a point."

"What point ?" I asked.

He said, "One day everyone asked the trees what do you like doing the most ?" and trees replied, "We like to grow flowers and fruits for all animals and birds. Everyone said they could not do it forever and will never succeed in their task. Some went ahead challenged them saying they are no good and what they are doing is not correct, suggesting to get cut off and at-least be a log in the fireplace where they can be more effective. Some weak trees fell down to these constant biting but the one who were strong stood their ground and trusted their instincts and continued to believe in what they like. Then came spring and these trees had flowers, leaves and fruits. They reached their goal. Every year they are proving a point to themselves all those people who are biting them. In the end strong ones always succeed."

I was always attracted by the temple, river flowing alongside it and then the garden while I use to walk with my grandpa. But that walk taught me something special which I overheard in that age.
Probably I am getting exact meaning of his words now..

I should wait for my spring to come ....... :)



Cheers
- Kalps.

Parties are fun when we have good gathering of people and they enjoy each others company. This party was once again of same kind. Away from family and your home town we have our office and friends who all meet each other outside office to have fun.

This party started all together on a different note. Topics were not like other gatherings. It was someone's birthday approaching soon and we all were discussing about each others age and what dreams does everyone have. Surprisingly everyone said their dreams changed as they grew up and now they are restricted to good house, food and education for their children. Almost everyone lost track of promises they made to themselves in college like to conquer the world, to be an icon or a star in some or the other way. When asked question about the same JB came up with an interesting point. He read it somewhere on internet.

"You have birthday every year, Does it mean that you grow by an year on that day ? One day I am 17 and suddenly next day I become 18, is this transition that smooth ? No, it is not like that. Your mental age leaps while numbers follow sequential order. I may be 25 today but be thinking still like 23. after few years I jump to 27 and thinking also leaps onto 27 where it stays for a while whereas numbers keep on moving."

Interesting one ! I kinda agree too. People often say, 'Yesterday was past, Tomorrow is mystery and today is a gift hence called as present' Enjoy our gift and all...... but we can do so only if we are living in present.Above age theory does not allow us to do that, it either makes you live in past or in future.
Is it the reason for most people to loose focus from their dreams and end up not fulfilling them ? Will we all be sailing in the same boat? What is our actual age ? Are we running out of time ?

I was deep sunk into these thought when I realized everyone has left and I was in front of my computer where screensaver was flashing "Together, free your energies".
I smiled.



- Kalps

On that Sunday morning we all were having fun and I volunteered to cook for all of us. I was the head chef and mom was assisting me overall.
Amazingly food was great ! We all liked it, my mom got a break from her daily routine and I enjoyed the opportunity to explore my cooking skills.
Few days later I had to travel and landed in a situation where I had no choice other than cooking myself daily. No hotels nearby to get vegetarian food. Food was good for first few days and later I started messing up when I was multitasking (Cooking and working at the same time).
I wondered, "was that Sunday just a fluke ?" might be.. but after giving more thought I realized one off day you might be excellent but to be consistent you must be an expert.

I can sing "Raat kali ek khawab mai aayi" wonderfully on a day but not everyday. It is Kishore Kumar who will be always heard without any doubt.
Expert's job has to be done by expert and an individual must identify his area of expertise.

How often we see people saying they are not happy with their job. The reason is simple they are not up to their area of interests. They are at wrong place at wrong time.

Hats off to the one who made this add.