My Best Friends Wedding...

Yesss.. you read it right. It was my best friend Katis wedding on 22th of March.Yupiee!!! Yeah!!! A day to remember for her and for us(we friends). Don’t ask me how was the marriage.. Coz it was just wonderful!!! Awesome!! Fun!! She looked like a goddess.. beeeeaaaauuutttiiifullll…… vinay(her husband) had no option other than starring at her when she walked down to the ‘mantap’.We were really stunned to look at her everytime.. She looked just beautiful.. just like a goddess.. every sari she wore was getting a look because of her, Every stone in the jewelry got the spark because of the glow she had in her eyes ..God!!! If I m allowed, I ll keep on praising her, without even caring if you are really interested or if you are getting bored.. anyways.. let me come to the actual part of this story..

We, I mean me,paggu,sweetoo,shradha and juhi had been planning for this big day from around 2-3 months. We were excited for her, and to meet each other too.. it had been almost 6 months I met sweetoo,shradha and almost a year I met paggu.. I was really excited to meet them all. Paggu and me had planned to go together from Bangalore to Belgaum, there all my other friends would join and then from there it was all unclear. What meant more important is meeting all friends

Paggu traveled the half of the day to reach Blore.I attended my office and left early.. but.. This Bangalore traffic..ufff!! I almost lost hopes of reaching on time to board the train.. Thank god!! I was 5 min early to the departure time.. anyways.. what matters is.. Finally I met Paggu. God!! I cant tell you how happy I was.When I met her.. we wer literally hugging each other for some 3-4 times.. We had missed each other (well..even though we spoke almost 3-4 times a week for around an hour each time).People around us were starring at us.. we were too happy to notice it then..we hardly slept that night on train.. we chatted, chatted and chatted till we reached belgaum.. And ya.. When we reached belgaum.. We both were silent for a long time.. it took us back to the old good days of our own, the 3rd gate, 1st gate, ambika, military mahadev, RPD, Goavaes.. every road in belgaum had some memories with it.. and the best part was we both were remembering them together, silently in our minds.. both knew wat was going on the other persons mind.. but none of us spoke a word..God.. I m going back to those days.. Ok ok.. Where was I??? I reached belgaum.. yup!! Then Uncle and aunty were waiting for us.. we both were too hungry to resist.. upon that when paggus mother cooks.. I cant resist.. so immediately we were on dining table having yummy dosas.. ummm.. Paggu.. convey my thanks to aunty.. she deserves it.

It was almost 11:00 am.. we got a call from kati.. “where you people?? We have arranged for a Bus near my home.. come soon.. they are all waiting.” . Paggu was ready but I was not.. I was still sleeping.. I somehow got ready and then in 15 min we were at katis place. Wow!! That’s the time I met sweetoo and shradha..and when I met them, I never felt I was away,they were my same old friends.. too lazy to change(he he he)..we were together like our college group again..I felt sooooooooooo ggggggggggggoooooooooooodddddddddddd!!!!!!!!!!

Our journey to pune was total fun!!!!! Not me nor paggu were interested in telling our work related stuff.I seriously don’t remember wat we spoke.. all I remember is teasing shradha, telling each other abt the office tales, singing or should I say screaming??well we laughed, laughed and laughed.. I must have lost few kgs as I spoke a lot.

It was almost 7 when we reached karyalay in Pune. Sneha had arranged a room for us.We met juhi there.. We attended katis ‘Haldi’ function.. before that, katis ‘bhaiyas’ and ‘bhaabiis’, deedis and jeejus’ presented a dance for her.. umm.. it was great.. ya... they forgot steps, they forgot the sequences BUT they all loved her.. and was clearly visible in their act..everybody loved her..and then kati was on stage.. She enjoyed every single bit of the moment. She was just enjoying completely. Vinay was with her.They 2 ofcourse completed each other.

Then that night when we all were supposed to sleep kati came to our room. She was not a bride then.. she was just the same old kati. The same kiddo, teaser.. She was not scared for her big day, she was not tensed, not worried, not afraid of loosing anything, not even a bit insecured.. She was Just our own Kati. We all loved her so much. We all spoke almost the whole night.. she had to get up early in the morning.. but even then we all chatted, we all were back to college days.. just a day before her wedding..

Then the next day we woke up late and the ‘muhurt’ was in half an hour.. you wont believe.. we 5 girls got ready in just half n hour, that’s coz we didn’t want to miss a moment of the wedding.. we wanted to be with her every single moment. And we were there, we were there when he put the ‘mangal sutra’, we were there when they took ‘sapta padi’(saath phere), when there was kanya daan.. None of us had seen a wedding so closely.. we all were excited. Kati as usual went through all these with an ease, with a cool mind.. she was happy.

Then the rest of the ceremony was like some fairy tale. Kati was a princess, Vinay was Prince charming. He came for her.. to find his love for life.. Wow!!! Doesn’t that sound so beautiful???

Hmmm.. there was her reception in the evening.. I could not attend it as I had to leave to Bangalore. I had only 1 day leave(ssssaaadddddd).I had my train at 10. I never wanted to say a bye to my friends.. I didnt want to leave, I wanted the time to freeze.. I would miss them a lot everytime I felt like being stupid, everytime I wanted to eat pani puri, everytime I felt “What am I doing???”, everytime I got confused which dress to buy, which bag will match with it.. , everytime I felt like going for a walk, everytime I saw a handsome guy.. today when I sit here writing all this.. I feel.. gone are those days when I could call Kati and say “Kati I m bored.. Chal lets go out for a movie” or I would message paggu “wanna come for a walk” and next 10 min she would be there.. and just ask sweetoo “hungry?? Canteen??”.. Just those days when we would keep messaging “how many chapters done??” or “arey yaar.. This topic is so sadu.. I m skipping it.. you??”.. then after those internals or exams.. we would go for Ramdev PavBhaji, ambika Pani Puri..well that guy at ambika probably would miss us if we didn’t show up atleast once in a week.. Ah!!!! Good old days.. But these days are also good.. I like them too.. New life, new excitements.. all new.. after all change is another name of life.. isn’t it??

To Kati,
Happy Married life Kati.. now that your lastname is changed.. we your friends solemnly declare that, we will continue to call you by your old name i.e kati.. and you will remain as our old and forever friend ‘KATI’.
Happy married life once again..
Take care.

ಸತ್ಯಾನ್ವೇಷಣೆ

ಕಂದ ನಿದ್ದೆಹೋಗಿದ್ದ,
ಮನೆಕಟ್ಟಿದ್ದ ಕನಸ ಹೊದ್ದುಮಲಗಿದ್ದ,
ಮನಸು ಮೈಮರೆತಿತ್ತು.
ಅವನೆದ್ದು ಹೋಗಿದ್ದ ಎಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ಮಲಗಿದಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಬಿಟ್ಟು.
ತೆರೆದಿತ್ತು ಮುಚ್ಚಿದ ಬಾಗಿಲೊಂದೇ ......?

ನಿದ್ದೆ ತಿಳಿದೆದ್ದ ಕಣ್ಣು ರಚ್ಚೆ ಹಿಡಿದು ಕುಳಿತಿತ್ತು.
ನೆರೆಯ ಕಣ್ಣೋಟ ಹೊರೆಯಾದ ಬದುಕು.
ಕುದ್ದು ಹೊದ ಬಾಳಿಗೆ ಕದ್ದು ಹೋದವನ ಹುಡುಕಾಟ.
ಧರೆಯ ನೆಚ್ಚಿದ ಯಶೋಧರೆಗೆ ವಸುಂಧರೆಯ ಮುಚ್ಚಿದ ಬಾಗಿಲು.
ನದಿ ತೊರೆದ ನೀರಿನದು ದಿಕ್ಕು ತೊರೆವ ನಡಿಗೆ

ಆಲಾಪವಿಲ್ಲ,ವಿಲಾಪ ನಿಲ್ಲದ ಹುಡುಕಾಟ.
ಅವರು,ಇವರು,ಹೋದವರೆಲ್ಲ ಬಂದರು.
ಆತನೊಬ್ಬ ದಿವ್ಯಜ್ಞಾನಿಯೆಂದರು.
ಬೋಧಿವೃಕ್ಷದ ಕೆಳಗೆ ಸತ್ವ ತುಂಬಿದ ಬೆಳಕು.
ಕರುಣೆಯ ನೋಟ ಶಾಂತಿ ಚೆಲ್ಲುವ ಕಾಂತಿ.

ಜೋಡಿ ಜೀವವಾಗಿ ಮಿಡಿದ ಮನ ಕಾಡಿದ್ದು ಕೆಲಕ್ಷಣ.
ದುಗುಡ ಹೊತ್ತಮನಕ್ಕೆ ಶಾಂತಿಯ ಗೂಡಿನ ತವಕ.
ಸರದಿಯ ಸಾಲು ಕಣ್ಣು ತುಂಬುವಷ್ಟು ದೂರ.
ಸರತಿಯ ದಾರಿಯ ನಡುವೆ ಗುರುತು ಸಿಗಲೆಂಬ ಪುಳಕ
ಹೆಜ್ಜೆಗೊಂದು ಯುಗಸಂದ ದಾರಿ,
ದೂರಸರಿದ ನೀರಿಗೂ ಸಾಗರದ ಬಯಕೆ.

ಕರುಣೆಯ ನೀಲಿಗೆ ಶಾಂತಿಯ ಸೊಗಸು.
ತೀರದ ಆತಂಕ,ಆತ್ಮಾನುಕಂಪಕ್ಕೂ ಅರ್ಪಣೆಯ ಭಾವ.
ಗಮ್ಯ ಸೇರಿದ ಹನಿಗೆ ಅದರದ್ದೇ ಸಾರ್ಥಕತೆ.
ತೆರೆದ ಆಕಾಶಕ್ಕೆ ಯಾವ ಬಾಗಿಲ ಹಂಗು.?

-ಅಮ್ಮ (ಶೈಲಜಾ ಗೋರನ್ಮನೆ)

"You' ve got A WISH"

“Hey.. you have a 'WISH' “I said was with my friend sitting in a CCD.

“What?? What I have??” He asked.

“Arey!! A 'WISH' “ I answered.

“What?? Whats that?” he asked again.

"Offo!! You dont know what a 'WISH' is?? Ok.. I ll explain..” I said picking up that small, feathery eyelash that was fallen just below his right eye. I felt like a small kid carrying a butterfly in her hand, all so careful and full of excitement to show it to her friends..

I continued“Look.. THIS is a WISH” that eyelash was on my forefinger tip.

“Well.. whats the point?? can you explain further??” he had a sarcastic tone, but I was too involved in explaining him what that 'WISH' was.

I continued ,“Well.. they say..”

“Wait.. who they??” he interrupted.. he wanted everything to be specific, he was a tech-guy after all..

“Hmmm.. 'They' means.. people who believe in this concept of 'WISH'” I had to explain him in a very technical way as he was someone who could not understand anything unless and until its said clearly.. 'NO AMBUGUITY PLEASE' must have been his slogan..

“Ok.. any specific instance or its jusst a abstract group of people?” he asked for more.

“Its just a group of NORMAL people, I dont know if they are abstract or not..” I said.

“Hmmm.. You continue..” he finally allowed me to explain.

“Well they say..If you have a wish in your heart that you REALLY REALLY want it to be true and you find a fallen eyelash which is called 'WISH', then you gotta close your eyes and make that wish in your mind... and blow the 'WISH' (eyelash) to the wind” I said all so excited thinking of he making a wish...

“So?? what happens if you do so??” he was still not convinced.

“Arey that wish will come true.. Now dont let your wish go waste.. make a wish, make a wish.. any wish that you want..” I literally had to force him to make the wish. But by the time he made one wish, the wind had made one..

He was laughing at me as I was little upset for he not utilizing the 'WISH', he asked.

“Niveditha, do you really believe in this concept of 'WISH'?”

“Well.. I Dont know” I said reluctantly.

“'I dont know' was not an option” he was forcing me to give an answer..

“I know its really weird.. but..” I was thinking for an answer as I really didnt know what I believed in and what I didnt, what I liked and what I didnt.. I was confused.. I continued..

“I know its weired.. Its not that I really believe that the wish will come true.. But whats wrong it trying??” I asked him in full confidence.

“Trying?? Trying what??”he was looking into my eyes.

“Trying in this 'WISH' thing.. See.. even if there is 1% probability of the wish coming true.. why not take a chance??” I said turning my eyes down. .

“1% ?? you think there is 1% probability of this thing to be true??” he stressed that '1%'.

“Ya.. why not??see anyways that 'WISH' I mean that eyelash is fallen and is of no use.. So why not use it in this way?? atleast you will be happy for sometime thinking that your wish will come true”I asked him in full confidence.

“Niveditha.. one doesnt need this fallen eyelash to make his wish come true, one needs to put all his efforts, give it to the fullest he can to make it true” he explained.

“Ya.. I know, I know.. I m not telling that I ll make a wish and sit quite.. Even I believe in what you said.. but sometimes even if you give all your 100% you have a fear of loosing it. There is little uncertainity,there are always some 'what if??' kind of questions.. and concepts like 'WISH' will help you to overcome those fears and move ahead and give your fullest,forget the uncertainty for sometime atleast. Anyways look.. that 'WISH' I mean that eyelash will also feel good that it was also a part of making somebodys wish true wat say??” I winked my eye to him.

“what?? Eyelash will fffffeeeeeellllll something??” he was disgusted.

“Yes..It will feel 'aaj mera janam sarthak hogaya' he he he” I wanted to make the moment light.. so was making some fun and was trying to drift off the topic.. but he was not willing.. he said..

“Niveditha, When your giving your 100% and calculating all the risk factors and planning accoringly then there is not fear of failing.”

“welll.. not always... If what you said was true then why till today you dont find a single zero-defect application/code?? there is always a little uncertainity associated with every wish, everything you do.. right??” I asked him back.

“I dont understand.. I mean how can you believe in such a stupid thing??”

I wanted to finish the topic.. I was angry now.. I said..

“look we both are in 2 different verticles of life and we both have two very different dimensions. So even if I sit and explain you this you ll not agree with me.. and trust me.. my intension here is NOT to convince anybody.. I follow few thing and I follow.. If you dont want to follow leave it.So lets stop this discussion here.. I m very hungry.. hmm.. I ll take a 'DevilsOwn' with chocolate sauce and one black forest” I had to take a breath.. I had spoken a long sentence..

“Well.. ok.. as you say..” he said and went to put the order..
Finally I took a sigh of relief!!!!!!!!