A memorable journey to Sanjay Gandhi National Park

It was an early summer morning of May 20, 2018 when we three friends were executing the plan of exploring Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Kanheri Caves with the bicycle as our savior. As the clock touched 5.15 AM, my mobile did not let me sleep with its loud alarm. And yes, I am the one who needs more than dozen of alarms and I wake up just before alarm gives up. But today was different; a single alarm was enough to kick me out of my bed. I got ready within half an hour, packed my bag and rushed to station to catch the local train to Borivali. However, I got down at Andheri, so that I can catch the train along with my friend. We reached around 7.05 at the gate of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali only to realize that I could have slept half an hour more on this Sunday morning. The gate opening time was 7.30 AM. As the gate opened sharp at 7.30 AM, it was like the flood gate of the dam was opened. Public flooded towards the ticket counter. Thankfully my friends were ahead of many to save us on time. Once we have our entry tickets in hand, time for another mission started to get bicycles on rent. This time we were late, still managed to get cycles before 8.15 AM. Thanks to our efficient guide cum friend.

It was super fun to ride cycle after a long time. For the first few minutes, cycles were not in our control. However, we managed to control it and started moving to our destination Kanheri Caves. It is around 6.5 km distance from the main gate. Although, we could not find any animals except deer, still we were happy to be away from the chaos of the city, to be away from the concrete jungle of Mumbai and to enjoy the serene beauty of the nature on the way. It felt like we are far out of Mumbai. We were surrounded by greeneries, trees and fresh air. We enjoyed the cycle riding more than anything else. With few breaks in between and after a struggle to cycle so long, we reached the foot of our final destination. The final patch of the journey was tough with high elevation and with zero energy level. So we decided to re-energize ourselves with watermelon from the road side vendor and few sips of water. Still our legs were not ready to pedal the bicycle through that elevation. The aunt, who was selling the fruits, was kind enough to allow us to park our cycles near the shed and climb the last patch.

So the last one kilometer of our journey started with our tired feet against the elevation. After 20 mins of walking, we reached the Buddhist cave of Kanheri. More than the beauty of the carvings on the huge stones, we were appreciating the sculptures who could build such big monuments, caves without using any complicated machines or modern age equipment. At most of the places, we could find the stone carvings of Lord Buddha and their disciples in meditating pose. The cave is wide spread and you can definitely appreciate the beauty of the place from the top of the cave. As we were near the end of one side of the journey, we thought to re-hydrate ourselves and start the downward movement. We walked down till the foot of the hill where we had parked our cycle.

Now the return journey started with full energy. Once the cycles were in our hand, there was no look back as we caught speed. The scorching heat was pinching through our skin which motivated us to sped our cycle. However, the smooth journey was incomplete without a small accident in between. One of the friends skidded from cycle and fell down just to hurt herself. Although it was minor, it took the fun out of us for some time. However, that did not demotivate us as we again picked speed in no time to reach the end of our journey. We submitted the cycles and started our journey back to our respective homes with beautiful memories in mind and with appreciation for ourselves to sweat in an early Sunday morning of hot summer.

Small yet Valuable

                                                                   

It was like a regular day when I was discussing with my Dad on random topics. Suddenly the topic of savings and investment popped up. Being from middle class family, it is in our blood to be calculative on each step we take. My dad suggested putting money in PPF, so that we will get it back after 15^th year. Hold on, I will not bore you with investment tips here, so you can keep on studying ahead. I confronted my dad telling, how the amount will be of much value after 15 years. My finance brain was trying to calculate the Time value of money. Then Dad gave me the perfect example.

It was his young days when he was trying to study ITI. Please note it’s not IIT. Although, the fee was mere Rs. 15/- for the whole year, he was struggling to arrange that. Days passed as he was trying his best and could manage to arrange Rs. 13/- only. Finally one generous person helped him with balance Rs. 2/-. With the fees in hand, he rushed to the ITI the next day only to find that the date is already over. After countless requests, he was not entertained by the Administrative Department. He returned empty handed just to realize the harsh truth that he lost one year due to mere two rupees. The situation taught the value of two rupees. It’s not the amount which matters; it’s the situation which decides the value of things. So never underestimate anything in life.

A small example he quoted me on that day. You are going to buy a pen which costs Rs. 10/-. Now you have the money, still we negotiate to find a better price because we don’t see value of Rs. 10/- in that pen. However, just imagine it’s the day of your examination and you have forgotten the pen. You are going to the same place and the same person quoted the price of Rs. 50/- for that pen. You are not in a position to negotiate; rather you see much more value in that pen.

A great lesson taught with a small example by my Dad. Value each small thing, each person in life. You never know the importance till the time and fate puts us in the situation to realize the value. Nothing is small and valueless. Embrace everything with open mind and open heart.

My Internship Story

It was April 4, 2014. We were all excited of having our last examination of 3rd term. It meant no regular classes, no more assignments for next two months. But the bigger challenge was still waiting ahead of us. The uncertainty of working in a start-up, not so known company was prevailing over my head. I headed to Bangalore on the same day. When most of my friends were enjoying the weekend after the end term, our first meeting was being scheduled with the CEO of the company on the very Sunday of 6^th April. To my utter surprise we met in a CCD instead of any office. It was both a surprise and a latent happiness. Because we were meeting for the first time which is not in any office setting, secondly it meant more informal situation and better interaction. We were briefed about the project we were going to work. In my project, we were meeting the CEO directly once or twice in a week and rest of the time we were working from home. We were always connected with the CEO, who was our mentor, via e-mails, calls or any other way of online communication. The first lesson I learnt by working in a start-up is you can directly interact with the higher management and can understand the basics of business and the core of it. It’s like listening directly from the horse’s mouth.

The project was going smoothly with rough patches here and there. The project idea was ready in the brain but the feasibility and the acceptability of the idea was still a big question mark. I tried to verify the feasibility of idea, which well tested my technical knowledge. Having worked in technical field for three years came to my rescue. I somehow managed to recall my technical stuff and able to find out that project is feasible after testing it.  The second learning I got here is that I was given enough freedom by my mentor to try different stuffs, make mistakes and learn. This is the best thing to be worked in a new company.

Still there was a big question was pondering us. Whether the idea will be acceptable in the market or not, if it is implemented? So we need to do a pilot testing of a rough prototype of the product. When all the shortcuts to create a faster and dirty prototype were closed, we chose the path to develop it ourselves and then take it for market testing. Development started with the help of a third party developer. After clearly understanding the project and how it should be implemented, I was able to clearly coordinate with the developer to develop the prototype with all the basic functionality of the product. I got a chance to develop the web page template and the database model. The third learning I got here is that, we can work in different roles being in a start-up company. I really tasted the work of business analyst, market analyst, client etc. along with how to promote a product and collect prospects.

Things were not as smooth as I described above. We were running behind schedules. My internship was almost going to be over but the product was still not open for market tasting. So I agreed to continue the work after joining back to college. It was because; I was also as excited about the product as my mentor and was hoping for its success. We started the product and wanted to feel its path of success or failure also. So after joining the college I continued the work till one more month and the product was launched. The product was market-tested for two weeks after which my excited journey came to an end. The last but not the least lesson I got here is when the work is exciting you, the excitement and the anxiety prevails over the pressure and the hurdles. The taste of working in a start-up with direct mentoring from the top of the company and working from end-to-end in a project is really worthy.

Mother's Day Special "ବାପା ଓ ମା "

ଗୁରୁ ବୋଲି କିଛି ଜାଣିବା ଆଗରୁ ଗୁରୁ ଟିଏ ପାଇଥିଲି
ସିଏ ଥିଲା ମୋର ସ୍ନେହମୟୀ ମା ପ୍ରଥମରୁ ଚିନ୍ହିଥିଲି |

ମା ସତେ ତୁ ଗଢିଥିଲୁ ମୋତେ ଅଳି ଅଝଟକୁ ସହି
ଦୁଖ ଯନ୍ତ୍ରଣାକୁ କେତେ ଯେ ସହିଛୁ ପାରିବିନି ମୁ କହି |

ଗୁରୁନ୍କ ତାଡନା ଜାଣିବା ଆଗରୁ ତାଡନା ମୁ ପାଇଥିଲି
ସେ ତାଡନା ଥିଲା ବାପାନ୍କର ମୋର ସବୁ କିଛି ଭୁଲିଗଲି

ତାଡନା ନଥିଲା ଥିଲା ସେ ଶାସନ କରିବାକୁ ଶ୍ରୁନ୍ଖଳିତ
ନୁହେ କେବଳ ଯେ ଉକ୍ତି ଏହା ମୋର ସମସ୍ତଂକ ଅଭିମତ |

ପାଇଥିଲି ସ୍ନେହ ଗାଳି ବୋଲି ଆଜି ସଫଳ ମୋର ଜୀବନ
ତାଂକ ପାଦ ତଳେ କରୁଛି ଆଜି ମୁ ଶତ ଶତ ନମ ନମ |

ଭୁଲିବିନି କେବେ କରୁଛି ପ୍ରତିଞା ଠାକୁରଂକୁ ସାକ୍ଷୀ ରଖି
କରି ତାଂକ ପୁଜା ଉଡାଇବି ଧ୍ବଜା ସଫଳ ଆଣିବି ଡାକି |

ପିତା ମାତା କଥା ମାନିଥିବ ଯିଏ ନିସ୍ଚୟ ବଡ ହୋଇବ
ହାରିବନି କେବେ ଘୁନ୍ଚିବନୀ ପଛେ ଜୀବନେ ସୁଖ ପାଇବ |

A Day in Every Tapmian's Life

Its 7:30 in the morning and I was trying to concentrate hard but there’s this distance noise disturbed me. Soon enough I realized it’s nothing other than my alarm clock. Having slept for only a couple of hours my mind was directing me to sleep, but as everyday my clock won. I cleaned myself up and rushed to the mess for breakfast. Its 8:25 am and I still have 3 minutes before the class starts. Lesson one nailed – Time Management. TAPMI doesn’t run by IST, it has its own – TST (TAPMI Standard Time). Simply put it just means that you’ll miss an important lecture if you’re late even by a second. Never being able to beat the professors on punctuality, who always arrive 5 minutes before, I rushed into the class and the watch ticked 8:29 a.m. The class started with some discussions followed by the case study and an all-time killer surprise quiz. Amidst the seriousness of class few students were catching their sleep. Everyone was checking the digital clock hanging on the wall repeatedly to get the class over. Finally the class got over and its 12:45 p.m. which can only mean steaming hot lunch. After the lunch people are slowly trickling back into the class – most taking power naps, some updating their current affairs reading newspapers, few indulging in occasional gossip and the remaining brushing up for the upcoming quiz. Now it was the second half of the day. Heavy lunch started putting its effect on eyes of everyone during the classes. All were trying hard to keep their eyes open. A group activity during class made everyone awake suddenly. The classes continued till 4:00 p.m. and we had the quiz at 4:30 p.m. It’s 5 in the evening and we are finally done with the classes and the quizzes, when a WhatsApp message sends us hustling around. A group assignment needs to be submitted by midnight. It’s time to catch up with my group members and crack our head over the new assignment. Finally after a lot of brain storming we reached at a common conclusion. We drafted the assignment before time and submitted since we were sure that there would be no extension of deadline. Now it’s time for dinner with friends. During dinner we discussed about all the happenings in the college and all the happenings in the respective sections, latest gossips in the college, latest pairs and the list is endless. After dinner it was time for relaxation at TAPMI’s own lawn named as Tapmi Greens. After a long day I returned to my room at 10pm. But suddenly received a reminder mail mentioning there was a batch address by Placement Committee at 11pm. Within 1hr I read for the next quiz. Then at 10.50pm the whole batch rushed to the seminar hall for the meeting. The meeting got over at 11.45pm. How can we miss the birthday celebration of our friend? At 12am we celebrated the birthday together with birthday bashes and cake cutting and many more fun in the well (Tapmi’s own place for all sorts of celebrations). Finally around 12:30 a.m., I returned to my hostel room. For us 12 a.m. is just the beginning of a long night. Still I had 3 to 4 hours to go before sleep. I started my pre-reads for next class and individual assignments. Now it’s 3.30am. Eyes are no more giving permission to continue. Sleep prevailed over my tired body and I slept with the great hope of a awesome day ahead.

Apart from regular days, where we can see academic rigors (including guest lecturers, seminars committee events), there are many fun filled days as well. We celebrate all the festivals together irrespective of the states from which we belong. Apart from studying, we get enough platforms to show our talents in innumerable of events. To name a few events like Episode during the month of October (whole college including senior and junior is divided in to different groups which compete with each other to show their talents in various fields starting from academic to cultural), Brandscan (Tapmi’s own market research fair), Speed (Annual sports fest), Atharva (intercollege events where students from various top level colleges participate and a unique quizzing event is organized at Kaup beach), Waves(Intra Tapmi cultural events). Apart from various events, we celebrate various festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Onam, Pongal, and Dussehera. We spent here many sleepless nights but each moment is worth of living. We live each moment, we enjoy each moment, and we dream every moment for our future. I could not realize when one year passed like this. I am looking forward a great year ahead.

Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay......

Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay...... 

Tree 

People call me "Tree". 

I had dated 5 girls when I was in Pre-U. There is one girl who I love a lot but never dared to go after. She didn't have a pretty face, good figure or an outstanding charm. She was just a very ordinary girl. I liked her. I really liked her. I liked her innocence, her frankness, her intelligence and her fragility. Reason for not going after her was that I felt somebody so ordinary like her was not a good match for me. I was also afraid that after we were together all the feelings would vanish. I was also afraid other's gossip would hurt her.

I felt that if she were my girl, she'd be mine ultimately & I didn't have to give up anything just for her. The last reason, made her accompany me for 3 years. She watched me chase other girls, and I have made her heart cry for 3 years.

She was a good actor, and me a demanding director. When I kissed my second girlfriend, she bumped into us. She was embarrassed but smiled & said, "Go on!" before running off. The next day, her eyes were swollen like a walnut. I did not want to know what caused her to cry. Later that day, I returned from soccer training to get something & watched her cry in the classroom for an hour or so. My fourth girlfriend did not like her. There was once when both of them quarreled. I know that based on her character she is not the type that will start the quarrel. However, I still sided my girlfriend. I shouted at her & ignored her feelings and walked off with my girlfriend. The next day, she was laughing & joking with me like nothing happened. I know she was hurt but she did not know deep down inside I was hurt too.

When I broke up with my fifth girlfriend, I asked her out. Later that day, I told her I had something to tell her. I told her about my break up. Coincidentally, she has something to tell me too, about her getting together. I knew who the person was. His pursuit for her had been the talk of the School. I did not show her my heartache, just smiled & gave my best wishes. Once I reached home, I could not breathe. Tears rolled & I broke down. How many times have I seen her cry for the man who did not acknowledge her presence?

During graduation, I read a SMS in my hp. It said, "Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay" 

Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay...... 

Leaf 

People call me Leaf.

During the 3 years of Pre-U, I was on very close terms with a guy as buddy kind. However, when he had his first girlfriend, I learnt a feeling I never should have learnt - Jealousy. Sourness to the extreme limit. They were only together for 2 months. When they broke up, I hid my happiness. But after a month, he got together with another girl.

I liked him & I know he liked me. But why wouldn't he pursue me? Since he loves me why didn't he make the first move? Whenever he had a new girlfriend,my heart would hurt. After some time, I began to suspect that this was one-sided love. If he didn't like me, why did he treat me so well? It's beyond what you will normally do for a friend. I know his likes, hishabits. But his feelings towards me I can never figure out. You can't expectme a girl, to ask him. Despite that, I still wanted to be by his side. Care for him, accompany him, and love him. Hoping that one day, he will come to love me. Because of this, I waited for him. Sometimes, I wondered if I should continue waiting. The pain, the dilemma accompanied me for 3 years.

At the end of my 3rd year, a junior pursued me. Everyday he pursued me. He's like the cool & gentle wind, trying to blow off a leaf from a tree. In the end, I realized that I wanted to give this wind a small footing in my heart. I know the wind will bring the leaf to a better land. Finally, the leaf left the tree, but the tree only smiled & didn't ask me to stay.

Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or cause Tree didn't ask her to stay. 

Wind 

Because I like a girl called leaf. Because she's so dependent on tree, so I have to be a gust of wind. A wind that will blow her away. When I first met her, it was 1 month after I was transferred to this new school. I saw a petite person looking at my seniors & me playing soccer. During ECA time, she will always be sitting there. Be it alone or with her friends, looking at him. When he talks with girls, there's jealousy in her eyes. When he looked at her, there's a smile in her eyes. Looking at her became my habit. Just like, she likes to look at him. 

One day, she didn't appear. I felt something missing. I can't explain the feeling except it's a kind of uneasiness. The senior was also not there as well. I went to their classroom, hid outside and saw my senior scolding ​her. Tears were there in her eyes as he left. The next day, I saw her at her usual place, looking at him. I walked over and smiled to her. Took out a note & gave it to her. She was surprised. She looked at me, smiled & accepted the note. The next day, she appeared & passed me a note and left.

It read, "Leaf's heart is too heavy and wind couldn't blow her away."

"It's not that the leaf's heart is too heavy. Its because leaf never wants to leave tree." I replied to her note with this statement and slowly she started to talk to me & accept my presents & phone calls. I know that the person she loves is not me. But I have this perseverance that one day I will make her like me. Within 4 months, I have declared my love for her no less than 20 times.Every time, she will divert away from the topic. But I never give up. If I decide I want her to be mine, I will definitely use all means to win her over. I can't remember how many times I have declared my love to her. Although I know, she will try to divert but I still bear a small ray of hope.

One day,hoping that she will agree to be my girlfriend,I gave her a call. I didn't hear any reply from her over the phone. I asked, "What are you doing? How come you didn't want to reply?" She said, "I'm nodding my head". "Ah?" I could n't believe my ears. "I'm nodding my head" She replied loudly. I hang up the phone, quickly changed and took a taxi and rushed to her place & pressed her doorbell. During the moment when she opened the door, I hugged her tightly.

Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay... 

Moral

In love, we win very rarely, but when love is true, even if you lose, you still win just for having the tingle of loving someone more than you love yourself.

There comes a time when we stop loving someone, not because that person has stopped loving us but because we have found out that, they'd be happier if we let go....

Why do we close our eyes when we sleep? When we cry? When we imagine? When we kiss?

This is because THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN THE WORLD ARE UNSEEN.

A great love? It's when you shed tears and still you care for them, it's when they ignore you and still you long for them. It's when they begin to love another and yet you smile and say, "I'm happy for you." If love fails, set yourself free, let your heart spread its wings and fly again. 

 

Remember you may find love and lose it, but when love dies, you never have to die with it.

The strongest people are not those who always win but those who stand back up when they fall. Somehow, along the course of life, you learn about yourself and realize that there should never be regrets, only a lifelong appreciation of the choices you've made

It's best to wait for the one you want than settle for one that's available. It's best to wait for the right one because life is too short to waste on just someone. 

--

Source : Unknown

Credit goes to the original writer.

A Love Story : Part 2

Part 2 :

The day in the college went smoothly.  In the evening I sent a message to her and got an instance reply. Was it an impulse or coincidence or she was just waiting for my message? But mind could not get an answer to that silly question. The night arrived with some new expectation. I could not restrict my hand from calling that unknown number.  A free call service was immense help to me at that time. Thanks to my network provider.  I do not understand what we were talking. However it continued till 3am in the morning. I had never talked with anyone so long before. Anyways that was such a lovely time which past with blink of an eye. Next day I had class in the morning. But I missed it since I could not wake up.. I felt very bad about that. I thought I will not talk so long any more. But again mind was not read to obey my orders. On that night again I called her.  Our talks continued till late night. This time I managed to get up and attend classes.  I talked to my friends regarding this. My friends started teasing me. In the hostel everybody told me that she would ask about my girlfriend tonight. That day I thought let me not call that day. As I was calling for last 2 days. But sharp at our previous timing, my phone ringed. And our conversation started. To my surprise same thing happened that night which had been told by my friends.  She inquired whether I had a girl friend or not. As expected I said no. I back fired the same question at the same moment.  But the answer I got in positive. I got surprised. But later she tried to explain that one guy had proposed her due to some bait between friends. "It was long time back. There is nothing between us now and that was only for one month". She said that it was just a friendly proposal and for fun he had proposed me. From these talks I could realize something is there in her heart for me sure. Otherwise why will she talk with me so long and why she will ask questions which are well expected before hand by my friends.

On the very next day I thought I was not ready for any new relation now. So I decided that I will ask her directly about her feeling. I remained in a confused mind for the whole day. The night came and tension was mounting up for me to ask such a silly question. How stupid I was. And that day while talking to her casually I asked what you feel about me; as just a new friend, just a senior, or a senior brother. She just got confused and told friend and then told senior and then remained silent. I could infer many things from that silent. So next question from my side was, do you have any feelings for me? And the answer was a straight “Yes” without any confusion. I was ready for such an obvious answer but I was not ready about how to reach. I was not ready to get into a relationship in such a little time and with so little interaction. So I tried to explain her that we are just friends. Do not keep any feelings in heart. Because I do not want to give false hope to you. Tried to console her but tears came down her eyes which I could easily realize at the other side of the phone. The effect of my explanation was coming down to nil. Pain of heart cannot be healed with mere words of mouth. But I thought that pain was not so deep since it was just 3 days we started talking.  But her tear was something which was trying to prove me wrong. I could not take her pain so I consoled that we will remain friend always. So do not worry. We will be good friend and will always be in touch and will talk. Though the words were coming from my inside but I was not sure at that very moment how much I am able to alleviate her pain.

The next day was “Ganesh Chaturthi”. So I had to wake up early. So to know whether my effort had proved any result or not I asked her to wake me up next morning.  Though I slept late still I felt like it was one of the longest night of my life. Time was not passing by. Same thoughts are circling round my brains. I could hear the cry of the girl without talking to her.  I was not sure how life would be changed from the next day. With those thoughts in mind I could not realize when sleep prevailed over me .

                                                                             (To be Continued...)