Recognize his pair of shoes

When we get ready for "ghoomi ghoomi" (Outing - Aryan understands better when you say ghoomi ghoomi), Aryan really gets excited. He runs toward the door, at times bangs the door, even makes his best effort to open the door.Poor kid - he is small to reach the knob. At times he even gets impatient why daddy or mom is taking so much time to dress themselves.

One day I thought of a trick - Let's find out whether Aryan understands which shoes he needs to wear before going out. So while I was dressing myself, I told him to bring his shoes (kept near the entrance) and socks and we can't go out if you don't wear it. He looked for a while then I repeated 2-3 times to bring his shoes and I was delighted when he went to the place where all shoes, sleepers were kept, he searched and came back with his left shoes. I helped him to wear socks and left shoe and then again repeated 2-3 times that you need to wear another shoe before going out.

I was at the seventh cloud when Aryan found out his another pair of shoe, came smilingly as if saying now what's stopping us to go outside? He has started recognizing what's his and what's not his? He did a splendid job and there was no reason why I should had delayed further. I quickly dressed Aryan and went for a nice stroll at Charles river.

Handshake

Often when I stroll with Aryan, I come across people or small kids who says "Hi" and wish to handshake with him. So I wondered, How do I teach and when do I teach Aryan to do a traditional handshake and next gen "hi fi"? He was 15 months old when I showed him how to do a handshake? Initially, he was bit reluctant to come forward but now I can see a big smile on his face and eager to bring his hand forward if someone stretches their hand as well.

I didn't taught him to do "hi fi" as I myself never did in my life but it seems he learned by himself seeing small kids in the park.

In between "handshake" and "hi fi", our more traditional "Namaste" got lost. Though I have been showing him how to do it for quiet some time but unfortunately no one says "Namaste" these days so I believe this will be tough lesson for him to learn.

RIT 94 meet at NJ

Few months back, I met one of my friend who graduated from a top B-school in US and I asked him what's the greatest value add you have got after studying there. Prompt came the reply, it's brand, contacts and strong alumni association and I thought my school has alumni meet every year then why can't our college have an alumni meet. Arranging college meet would have been mammoth task so thought to start small with just our 94 batch meet.

Had a word with few of my friends and shooted a mail for the meet. Thought to see the enthuse of the people and then plan to take it forward. 94 batch in US was distributed across the states but major concentration was in NE corridor and bay area. I knew it may not be practically feasible for everyone to fly but I knew people within driving distance would be more enthused to join the meet. One of the challenge was to find out people located in NE corridor. Network builds network. I invited someone and the other person invited someone else and the chain started. I never thought in my wildest dream that we may have around 10-15 people in this area. Got few names whom I haven't met in last 9 years so there was excitement to see the change in their appearance, meet their spouses and kids, find out what has the person doing all these days?

Do you know why all government projects gets delayed? Because there are too many decision makers. When I asked for the location of the meet, I was getting suggestions right from beach, to night out at resort to some decent park in deleware. It was getting increasingly difficult to reach a common consenus then I thought location is important but having a quality time under tree shadow during the summer is more important. Got nice suggestion from Abhay who is a regular visitor and lives in the neighbourhood and locked "Mercer County park" in Trenton area. This park had all facilities required for a decent picnic and best part was that it was approachable for everyone.


After venue, it was time for menu. Again we had suggestions of potluck to food from Indian restaurant to Pizzas and as people were travelling from far off places so there was concurrence in the group to have pizzas, snacks from home and barbeque at the picnic spot.

As the count down started, mails started flooding and the group got charged. Finally D-day arrived and I got up early in the morning to gear up for the picnic. Called up Abhay to find out whether he had reserved the picnic table and barbeque grill. I really appreciate his effort of going to the park early in the morning, placing the table cloth and keeping few water bottles and leaving a chit "Reserved".

I started slightly late from home but congestion at 95-S further delayed the arrival time. The park was huge, ambience was lively with people in groups playing cricket, softball, rowing boats and gearing up for picnic on warm summer day. When I reached the park at 12, I saw all the items intact which Abhay had left on the table.

While I was having a look of nearby picnickers having fun, I got a call from Amit that he has arrived. I met Amit after seven years and he still looks the same and got introduced to his wife Astha with whom I met for the first time. We went to the past and discussed the time we had spent together while our stay in Lokhandwala (Mumbai). While we were cherishing old golden moments, I saw two guy waving their hand and walking towards us.

After closer look, I found out it's Manas Pradhan - He has grown bulky and if he had crossed my path, I couldn't had recognized him. With him there was Binoy Singh - minus his moustache -The face did changed a lot but his voice and tone remained the same. Got introduced to his wife Babita and we all got together for a nice chit chat.

As we were discussing who is next? There it was Anurag - minus his moustache - The face looked very similar to what it was in the college, a bit more matured. Met his wife Swathi and they were bubbling newly married couple. Behind them was Dharamvir (aka DK), I have seen him couple of times so hard to find out differences but he was grown plump. His wife soni quickly joined the group and ladies got introduced among themselves and there it started ha ha ho ho :-)

After long travel, there was cat and rat race going on in the stomach and we couldn't resist all the snacks that was arranged on the table. There were potato chips to munch, delicious vinegar chicken along with beer and atlast mouth watering Gazar ka halwa. Along with delicious dishes, there were "chutpat" talks about college, right from "daddu hut" to "girls hostel" to "ragging" to "life during the 1st year" to "RIT keera (insect)" and I feel everyone had fond memories of the tough times we sailed during our 1st year. It was a great experience and I remember every moments of the 1st year - the day I landed in the hostel, ragging, sine die, kicked out of hostel by dada elements at midnight just before the first exam, freshers party, sitting on top of college bus and moving around city, deadly down hostel and terrific stories of all bosses in last 5-10 years.

The stories of boss elements may even dwarf fights in Baghdad. "Chak De" movie 1st part is a true reflection as what happens when people from diverse background comes under one roof. Unfortunately, there was no Shahrukh Khan who could have united the team.

We were lost in gossips when Abhay Saxena made the entry along with his wife seema and lovely daughter Anisha. He had big tray of marinated chicken, corn and a bag of charcoal. Abhay made arrangements of much awaited barbeque and fired charcoal. Everyone got enthused and we grilled chicken, corn and baked potato. It was yummy yummy and we gorged till beer got over.

People had enough of cooking, eating and drinking and it was time for entertainment and sports. Manas had cricket bat and ball and everyone tried their hand in batting, bowling and fielding. Irony is that few of us were never seen on the college field :-). Anisha was busy in children playground and Aryan was "Hutch ka network" (followed wherever his dad went). After physical game it was time for mental game and Nimisha briefed everyone how to play "Know your spouse". People were quiet excited and the environment charged when Nimisha started correcting sheets. Fight started between couples "How can you forget my mother-in-law birthday?", "How can you forget where we met for the first time?", " Ghosh - you don't even know what's my favourite food, colour and even actors/actress". With this game atleast we came to know that Bipasha and Mallika was hot favourite for most of the guys.

Few ladies gave ultimatum that I won't navigate and let's see how you are going to reach home and other had more serious ultimatum that no cooking till you remember all important moments and dates. At times we are so busy in watching TV and mundane activities that we tend to forget to talk about ourself and spend time together. This game taught a lesson that keep few minutes everyday where we don't have TV serials to interrupt, no computers to disturb and it's just you and me and talk talk and talk.

After shedding few calories it was time for vocal chords to work. The team divided into two all gents at one side and ladies at other end and then it started tough Antakshri. Ladies did a good job in singing with all "sur" and "antara" but guys were not behind and they did an excellent team effort with one line sung by one person and the other line sung by another person :-)

When you sing 100's of songs in full spirit, you look for something chilled to satisfy your thirst. Fortunately there was icecream on the wheel and we cherished fruit and choclate flavour. People were re-energized and then everyone planned to take a stroll near a lake. There was photo session for all budding models and child artists. There were so many cameras and number of flashes that it would had given celebrity impression to the people passing by.

The sun was setting and we thought to wrap up. Then Abhay who lives in the neighbourhood invited everyone for a cup of tea. Finally, all car turned towards Abhay's doorstep. Binoy and Anurag made mouth watering tea which really helped to refresh ourself. The talks continued and continued but then people had to travel back so we planned to say bid adieu but with a promise that we will meet again on New Year with a larger group.

While I was driving back home, I cherished all college memories. It was day well spent and I look forward to meet everyone again.