A Dozen And Counting…

Today, Feb 13th 2018, I am celebrating 12 years of my marriage with Pallavi!

What a proud moment !!…for Pallavi because she managed to cope up with me for such a long time…For me because I was able to beg, borrow, steal and somehow managed to have her by my side all these years…for both of us, because we know we are better together!

Life has always been, and I think it will always be a roller coaster. And I think that is the fun part. Where is the fun if life is simple, predictable and plain?

In a roller coaster life there are ups and downs every day. Sometimes, she wins and argument, and sometimes you lose an argument (I know)…and that’s life! The beauty is that we are able to argue with each other on small things, big things, things that matter and things that don’t matter. Sometimes we end up making a fool of ourselves to be fighting over a matter worth nothing…and sometimes we make a big decision in a second when we should be fighting over it…Thats, unpredictable!

To put things in perspective –

Pallavi brings fun to life. I find excuses.
She brings lives to life. I change their diapers.
She brings words to life. I write blogs.
She loves me unconditionally. I wonder why?

Well, I know those who know me also know that I can be stupid at times. Those are the times that you’ve seen. Pallavi sees them every day. And If she is lucky, multiple times a day. But what can I do, its like “Jab saamne tum aa jaati ho, naa jaaniye kya ho jaata hai?…”

So, going back to the roller coaster, our ride started in 2005 when we first met. We got married in Feb 2006, and ever since we’ve been trying to find out who made the wrong (or right) decision. She is an ideal wife, a great friend and a perfect mom (Don’t ask my son Aahan – he disagrees, but what does he know?). Any ways, with the way of the world and how things turned out, we ended up being away from each other for about 4-5 months. Finally we joined each other in the US in July 2006.

I have so many memories of our life together that this blog post wont do justice to them, but I do want to tell this to you, Pallavi- I can’t live a moment in a day without thinking of you. As i wake up in the morning, i think of your smiling face next to me…before I realize you are still sleeping and then I get to wake you up. Then, I think of delicious tea that I’ll be having with you…but I have to make it first. Then the running around to get ready for school and office…and that occasional argument which sometimes you win and sometimes I lose…well, sometimes I am thinking about those for the whole day, but jokes apart. Delicious breakfast and lunch that you make for me, and if I am lucky, also get to eat that with you. The way you care for me, even though I do not…is amazing! The way you know me, even though I do not, is fascinating. The way you support, guide and motivate me, when even I am not sure what to do – Is breathtaking. YOU, are wonderful. and I am fortunate! to have you in my life.

On this anniversary, I wish you lots of love, and I hope we’ll have many more dozens of years together…on this roller coaster of love, happiness, fun and unpredictable life!

Success Steps – Belief

In this Success Steps episode, Ashish shares a story about integrity and honesty. It’s easy to do the right thing when someone is watching. But how you behave when no one is around defines your success!

Success Steps – Compassion

Posted on January 17, 2018 by admin

In this success Steps story, Ashish shares the act of compassion by a little boy who thinks about the ice cream waitress more than his taste buds.

Ek aur Ek Gyara…mere Yaara!

Posted on February 13, 2017 by admin

It may seem like a Govinda movie title, but the movie has been more of a SRK type. It has been a romantic comedy thriller. Well, I am not talking about a movie that I watched over the weekend.

I am talking about the movie of my lifetime. The life of my movie…and the one and only wife of my lifetime. Today, we complete 11 years of fun filled marriage.

A life that has been a roller coaster with Pallavi. It has been fun mostly, sad at times, thrilling on occasions and comedy almost every other day…but overall, its been what they say truly 1+1 = 11…Ek aur Ek Gyara.

One person alone can not do anything in this world, let alone make life fun and living remarkable. With my other 1, that is Pallavi, I’ve been able to do it. She is an amazing friend, an equally wonderful wife, an excellent partner in crime, a loving mom to the kids!!

Pallavi has always been there for me, whenever I needed her. Infact sometimes I wasn’t there when she needed me…and those have been the Thrilling moments, if you were wondering 🙂

Happy Anniversary!

What you need in a life partner is someone who’ll keep you honest; someone who’ll show you what you can do and can not do; Someone who’ll cheer you, help you, support you and most importantly, Love you unconditionally.

Pallavi is all that except the “unconditionally” part; I am not kidding. She does all that so very well with just one condition – I should try to do all that even better. She has been trying for last 11 years, but I am not a quick learner. I have my own share of mistakes – those are the comedy days. I hurt her sometimes, which make for the sad times of our movie…but then again, we don’t keep that part long and get right into a situational song and turn around the movie into a fun one!

I know this 1+1 partnership will continue to be one that we’ll remember as a blockbuster and celebrate at each award function. But in this movie, for this year, the award for Best Supporting Role, Best Mom, Best Wife, Best Bahu and the Best Friend goes to Pallavi!

Love you Pallavi, and wishing you all the happiness life can bring….a happy Anniversary!

P.S. > Happy Anniversary Mom….from Aahan and Aayra!

Aayra is born!

Posted on June 24, 2016 by admin

Today, on June 24th, 2016 at 3:44 CST, our second child, our blessing from the heaven, Aahan’s sister – Aayra – was born!

When a star falls from the sky, a child sees the light of day – Today is one of the most precious day of our lives…Our Star, Aayra is born…Thank You for being a part of it and sharing our joy!

Aahan with his baby sister Aayra.

Aayra means Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, according to Hindu mythology.

Pallavi has been one of my greatest gifts from the almighty lord, and now this is the second best gift that she has given us! Thanks Pallavi!

Someone once said, if man had babies, the world would’ve ended by now! That is so true.

Only a woman has the courage, patience, strength and endurance that is needed to keep a baby in womb for 9 months, and deliver it with a smile on the face!

My two Precious princesses!

Here are some pictures of AAYRA, and more to come…Love you Aayra! And welcome to this world !!

Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart!

Posted on February 12, 2016 by admin

Sweetheart, on our 10th anniversary, here are some words for you…all the way from the bottom of my heart. I miss you…love you! and Wishing you a lovely anniversary!

तन्हाइयों में बैठे जब अपने आप से सवाल किया,
तो तेरे साथ बीताये हर लम्हे को याद किया..

तेरे दामन की छाँव में , तेरी जुल्फों से खेलते अपने हाथों की उंगलिया भी याद आयीं,
आँखों में थोड़ी थोड़ी सी नमी और दिल में एक दर्द अपने साथ लायी..

हर और बस तेरा ही साया नज़र आता है,
तेरी खुश्बू से ये घर अब भी महकता है….

वक़्त का पता न चला कैसे निकल गया, पहले दिन से इन १० सालों की हर एक बात याद आई,
तेरी हंसी, तेरी मुस्कराहट, और वह जिंदादिल अदा भी अपने साथ लायी..

वह पल जो हमने साथ बिताये, और भी कई बिताना है,
इस सालगिरह पर बस इतना तुझे बताना है…

कोई कुछ भी कहे, मेरा हम साया, मेरा जहान, मेरा जूनून तो हो, तुम ही हो मेरी खुदाई…
बस जब भी चाहा मैंने तुम्हे, तुमसे वही चाहत दस गुना ज्यादा ही पायी!

The Cost of dreams

Posted on November 15, 2014 by admin

God has his own ways of playing with us. He made it so easy for everyone to dream. Its very easy to conceive a dream in your heart, in your mind – and its equally difficult to make it a reality.

Sometimes I wonder was this God’s way to humor himself as he watches us trying to do all sorts of things in order to pursue our dreams.

To add to this, there is dreams of others. Others who are part of your life. Others who are your friends and family. Everyone has their own dreams, and when we live in a world of interdependence, it becomes even harder to fulfill your own dreams and make sure that you help your friends and family realize their dreams as well.

Balance is difficult to find. Things that you do, things that you say in order to protect others can be thought of as your lack of interest in their dreams. It is such a tough decision to make sometimes when someone asks your opinion on their dreams, knowing that there is a direct conflict of interest in your dreams with their plans. What do you do in that situation? My motto has always been to be honest – Honesty is the best policy. But I’ve come to learn that not always. Sometimes, being honest can have its own negative repercussions. specially when it comes to dreams.

Dreams are personal. No one has a right to crush other people’s dream. If you can not help them realize their dreams, don’t crush them. If you can help – great. If not – shut up.

Speaking too much has got me into trouble so many times, i’ve just stopped saying things now a days. so what if you have an opinion, there is a time and place for everything.

anyways, I know there was no sense of this whole cribbing, but just wanted to let my heart out.

see you around.

Where was I for last 2 years?

Posted on August 17, 2012 by admin

Does Silent mean that you are busy?

Its a question to myself. Does being silent means that you are busy, doing something thats more important than someone expecting you to say something?

The reason I ask this question is because of this – as you may have noticed that i haven’t written a single post for long time. I’ve been silent on my blog. Does this mean that i’ve been busy? Does that mean i’ve been doing something that was more important that sharing on my blog or writing something for my visitors?

When Aahan was born, and i posted some of his pictures on the blog, one of my colleague at Brocade said that she used to take pictures and post them when their first daughter was born. After that, they didn’t get time to do the same with her other two kids…At that time, I was thinking – “really? how bad could it be. You can always take time out to post a blog post..or share a picture…”

2 years later, today, i reflect on that and think – “really? How good has this been that i forgot to write a single blog post, didn’t get time to do that, but still, i don’t see that i missed something…” reason being, the time spent with Aahan and Pallavi over last 2 year (except work and new role and challenges that came with new roles…) has been terrific! exciting! tiring ;( and at the same time fun.

Even thought i didn’t get chance to post all that Aahan has been doing lately, i tried to keep some of you updated via facebook or glimpses of his mischieves on Youtube videos.

Anyways, long story short..last 2 years have been busy seeing Aahan grow up and start walking, then talking, running, then screaming. Now his favorite past time is copying me, and sometime unknowingly irritate us. He wants to hear the same song again and again. He wants to shut the TV off when he goes to bed – even if we are watching it. He wants me to drink from my cup – i can’t drink from another cup becuase that’s not mine. He wants to be tucked in the blanket, which he will throw away in 30 seconds, then wants to be tucked again…giving me the walking exercise that i don’t want. To make matters worse, people at Clavin Klein have to put the posters of half naked models in their showroom – so Aahan’s question is “why is aunty not wearing t-shirt?” or “is uncle going to take a bath..?” – seriously?

Anyways, all complains apart, if I’ve not written a post and have been silent for long, definetely i was busy doing all the above things that you can imagine are just never ending…

Glad to be able to get back to you folks with some writing..will try to make some more time and keep posting – provided that you keep visiting 🙂 And, provided I keep getting the help from my saviour – Pallavi. I don’t think i’d have been able to cope with Aahan if it wasn’t for her…Thanks Pal!

Take care! Paryushan Parva ki shubhkaamnayen….and Happy Independence Day India (Aug 15th).