Gifts Galore: My Birthday 2013

I am going to be grateful to have come across awesome people in life not because they bring you gifts (lol). But it is their concern, love and support since day one that leaves me spell bound.
Couple of days back, i celebrated my xth (don't find x) birthday with a few of my pals. I was moved by the presents and more than that by the heart that they all had put into them.
Here they are in pictures:

  

The sparkling keyring with my name's initials by Chetan.

 

The baniya stuff Mohit pokes me with on the envelope cover.  Huh!

Well, that isn't like me man, monetarily! :p

The awesome poster by Prateek. Encompassed everything i've been upto lately. :D

A beautiful verse by Prateek (back of the card)

And a brilliant sketch of ours by Prateek. Loved this !

 

Thank you again guys ! :D

Means a lot.

The Two Unputdownables

Hi folks,

Somewhere on this blog, i might have mentioned about myself that I have lately been an avid reader; avid thriller fiction reader to be specific. Over the past three months, it has been a sort of an overdose of death mysteries, plots revolving around revenge and what not.
Anyway, this prompted me to choose two of the countless works in the genre that appeal to me the most. The ones which i found hard to part with even for a moment. Yes, the unputdownable two.

1. The Other Side Of Midnight (Sidney Sheldon)

I read this book almost an year back having tasted a lot of Dan Brown in those days. This beautiful story is based in the French capital of Paris, Washington City and partly in Greece. It revolves around an American girl who ends up bewildered and horror-engulfed, a mere toy amidst the flames of revenge. The character is Catherine Douglas; entangled amidst four lives. Her spouse who was seeing a movie celebrity and a legendary Greek rich lady, further webs up the plot well. This makes them all do things which had not been foreseen at all. Read on to find out !

PS: It is one of the only four Sidney Sheldon books which i've read. So, maybe there are better names which could replace it from the two i am mentioning here.

2. The Godfather (Mario Puzo)

About three decades back, one literal classic was introduced to the world. A great piece that dwells in the Mafia underworld, The Godfather. It brought to light, though fictional, but the most talked of crime family, The Corleones, entirely drenched in sins. The story deals with a legacy in family, the one of blood-trade in revenge rather shedding in vengeance or pride; all passed as a lineage from a father to his son.

It has a strong theme imbibed where lust to the throne and being reputed amongst the community folks, the consequences when greed takes over you and family allegiances were noted; it surely is a bestseller, it had to be.
A brilliant movie captures the book as well. In case you aren't much into reading, you may live the essence on the screen as well.

These two books are impossible to put down until you've read the last page. But, again i'd add here that i am yet to read a LOT of other great literary works out there. This list is subject to additions, forever ! :D

Peace.  

Do suggest me any other classics that you've read. It would be great to hear from you !

Was He really there ?

This morning, while turning the pages of the newspaper, i came across a huge govt. advertisement a.k.a announcement that spanned across the entire page; so much for an announcement, you see. The headlines said, "Let us all pray to the almighty for his blessings on our efforts to rebuild Uttarakhand". I can't say about the masses but i found this jocular. 'Let's pray to almighty', okay, so about three months back what were thousands of pilgrims doing at the shrine. I guess not adventure sports.

The advertisement came to me with something very much expected and something astonishing (to me at least).

I'd speak of the astounding one first. The unshakable faith in God had been shaken the day i heard of this calamity. Thousands had been engulfed by the sea of surplus water tormenting courtesy human intervention with the weakened Himalayas. My entire family has been mourning the loss of an elder cousin of mine who owned a small family motel halfway the shrine.

Well, this solely isn't the reason of my anger and shaken faith in Him. It is about the devotees and their endless ocean of blind faith in Him.

The clipping i found moving. I delibeartely cropped the politicians' faces out of the pic, you know why !

 

Maybe Science was right. Maybe the Illuminatis were always speaking of what practically is to be absorbed, facts. Because the otherwise which has happened doesn't get justified.It has been aptly put that one actually evaluates and then tries to seek means to vent the blame; this time on God. But why only the most beloved ones then?

Ever since then, with a bit shallow heart, the prayers do resound inside me but with questions in abundance. Does He really exists? Nobody has ever correctly answered this. Let me do this today. Yes, he does but ONLY in you. The more human you are, the more altruism you follow, the better person you end up being. In other words, the closer you get to Him. Now, 'Him' here sounds like a motive to propel charity work and humanity. Well, it is ! Do good; life is all about it.

The second aspect which i expected in the news was the usual shameless smiling 3x4 inches dimensions bearing pictures of politicians in power. (seeking votes). Sympathy has been expressed and financial aid has been assured (mind it even after 90 days all that families have is assurance). 

I feel disgusted to see such people in command of the nation. Come 2014 and we would bring a change, a change for the better.

Amen !