Kamlayan Da Tabbar

In Punjabi Kamlayan Da Tabbar means a family of mad people!
Kamla: mad
Tabbar: khaandaan/kinship/family
It's a joke in the family.In fact our whole family is called that. The story goes back to my great granny (mother of my paternal grandmother). She died at the ripe age of 96 and was a permanent fixture at our home.
Being born in pre-independence Pakistan and having come to Delhi after living her life in the village she was quite a handful. She was widowed at a nascent age and so she lived her life with her only child: a daughter-my granny.
Watching the customs of Modern Delhi in the eighties/nineties she was shocked: or maybe that would be an understatement- She used to say to us(in colloquial Punjabi of course) "You all are mad. Put a placard out side your house with Kamlayan Da Tabbar printed on it."
I guess we took the curse as a blessing.

Dadynamics Relationship: Father

Hi Everyone,
I am Evann(Mum tells me it means: God is Gracious). I am using my father's blog as I am only a few days' old. I am told though, that kids have their own web page nowadays! I was very comfortable in the last nine months but this world seems funny: For one that I am not the only one here and for the other that everyone who comes to see me bends over to make funny faces and odd noises. For those of you who thrive on statistics, I weigh 3.58kg and am 59cm long. Evann

Weekend Getaways form Delhi in the summertime (not Shaggy)

Whether the weather in Delhi now should warrant you go to the hills is your call. But for me vacations are only towards the sight of mountains. This cuts off Rajasthan and MP/UP etc. So here are some options my dear:


1. Kasauli: is a well known hill station and fiercely well maintained by the Cantonment. I hear they are are proud of their little haven. Higher than Shimla: Drive down in 4 hours(i.e. if you have a fast car and cover the "up to Chandigarh" stretch b4 the traffic snarls up). Btw, you can reach there in time for brunch if you start early. The Paltan Bazaar is something you would have had fathomed to see in a set of a bollywood movie. Quaint in its own right and yet very handy and economical. It does give the place an international feeling while rubbing shoulders with our roots at the same time. But to be in Kasauli and not walk(Paint) the town Red would be insulting to the town and self. The winding roads and views are self explanatory. In short, it is near to Delhi, the climate is amas(z)ing and its clean.

2. Shimla: is still beautiful provided its not the peak season: Some people say she is like a nubile damsel raped over the years. I feel such a lady would still be charming.
It is the capital of the state, is steeped in history and has character and above all. Finding a stay there though, can be both a pain and a delight. The accommodation by the government is self deprecating and good private properties may burn your pocket(not just a hole!). This is the one place during all my travels where I saw people clinging to the outside of your taxi pleading to come with them to see a hotel room !!! That's Shimla for the uninitiated.
A fine balance of facility, proximity, convenience and snob value is possible if you have first hand experience. Otherwise, the mall, the viceregal lodge, the parks and the temples are a treat.

Tip: Shimla has a couple of places close to it, which are as good if not better if you have transport.


3. Morni Hills: The only hill station the Jat land boasts of. Just off Panchkula, across the Ghaggar which is supposed to be the Saraswati River of the yesterages (Remember? Ganga, Jamuna, Sarawati...). But that is if you are looking for solace and don't want to get disturbed and enjoy another honeymoon.
The first thing that hits you as you reach there is the silence- I mean not even a whisper and you can wear the tranquility in your ears even after your comeback to the Delhi madhouse.
There are a couple of lakes nearby and long walks to keep you company. I'd love to make it again with friends for a memorabilia.

4. Barog: is a small town halfway on the Kalka-Shimla highway:Quaint and non-descript. Good hotels have now come up making it an ideal base to cover the entire region. The views are excellent and a small town feel will not let you down.
There is an old story about an engineer losing his marbles over a tunnel that would have been the longest in the world (had it come through): The suicide and naming of the town after him. But that apart there is little history to the land. Highly recommended is the train journey winding all the way up to Shimla at its own leisurely pace. It will make you forget everything on agenda and give you reason to return.
Nota Bene: Don't miss the Barog Station on the way- Its the most colourful of the entire journey.

gr8 feeling

Ah........

The sweet smell of success. I remember not very far off the whole nation was thriving only on Feel Good: God bless Narasimha Rao

Any way for me now: I want to better than him atleast.

There is a complete wishlist and even though I thought I had achieved something the accomplishment sees dwarfed now by the sense of so much oppurtunity

People are soaring and actually the sky is the limit: Not Anymore

Lets see how things work out.

Spell Check: The Scavangers

Hi

Thanks a tonne(we follow the metric system here)for your en devour the other day.

My peace of mind is still pivoted on a few factors as below:

1. The stuff in the Pooja Room that Dad has packed: I would feel much better if it is properly stuffed in the new house.

2. Blast the watches if he can find them... I will tell him to deliver to you

3. The other stuff in the new house: 2VT's dry cleaned Sarees which were rudely wrapped in old bedsheets, Our bedding etc., my Suits(O Gaud!) which might get crumpled etc. and all other unpacked objects(Burp!)

If these could be stacked away properly and not be eaten by moths and other objects of biological (entomological actually) interests, it would do wonders to my insomnia.

OK Ree lax would ya! I don't need you to do the above... Just remind Dad of the above with as much detailing if not more.

I hope I am not being too demanding, but my heart bleeds for material possesions, you know.

Love

I Have Arrived !

Hiiiii!!!!!

Its finally hit me- and I am pretty excited. I guess for a sucker like me its quite something.

Anyway I went for my compulsory medical test and read a lot of policies specific to the Gulf after interacting with my Pa(c)kistani Man(a)ger. Its a small office and the the staff is very friendly and accommodating(Fart!). I'm kinda liking it but its too early to say...or swoon.

Come to think of it, Lasagna and Meat Balls for lunch provided by the company is not such a bad deal after all.

Now the serious stuff:

1. There is a packed attache' case about 8 kg with Dad. you have to Fedex it-Now

2. Dad will also give you two small boxes which contain our watches which we forgot. Remember... "The Man Who Hated Time" from Section 9C? Accommodate them within the above: I know that you are pretty good at accomodating your time.

3. The most difficult part: In the Puja room we threw off most of the excess baggage (maybe about 5 kg).

Can you tell me how I can make Dad :

a)collect it from the floor

b)pack the same into the two bags lying nearby

c)and stack it in the new house???

Life is beautiful I feel if you start letting go...Yeah its difficult but possible.

भगवन जब देता है तो छप्पर फाड़ के देता है

Amazing isn't it?

Life is taking a turnaround and everything is falling into place. God Almighty has been so gracious that I have been able to achieve much. The thing that I must not forget now are:

1. Not to forget to thank Him for what all he has done and keep all promises unto Him and his men.

2. Never to be arrogant about anything bestowed upon me as it is not my merit but His Eternal Grace.

I hope life will eventually change for the better.

I was speaking to 2VT(My Best Half) the other day and we agreed how life changes immediately after just a news !!!!

Any way I regard myself as fortunate or lucky to end up so well.

Please God, let this last!

May it not be a dream