U never forget...

When I got married over 2 years ago, my wife and I always talked about dogs way before even thinking about kids. Not that we don't like kids but that's just not on our mind and dogs are as you know dogs. You cant but love’em and we couldn't wait to have one. In the month of October I think, I got in touch with a friend of mine with the prospect of bringing a dog home. Had already talked to mum about it and she wanted to see where it would go. On finding a candidate, we got a call to come see a lab pup. We jumped at the chance and drove all the way to Dhaid to go see this motu (ie fat) little guy that just blew us away from the moment he was put in his to be new mothers lap.

Names had already started flying around and Swati said that he had to have a Bollywood villain name…hence Mogambo, Bheem Singh & Gabbar were the final 3 choices, obviously Gabbar won.

Being too young to come home, we anxiously waited for Gabbar to get to 8 weeks and finally got to pick him and drive him home. I don't think I have ever heard a pup cry so much. Swats couldn't take but we managed and got him home safe and sound. Both of us still remember him trying to figure out where he was and who were these this husband and wife who could do nothing else but stare at him in amazement. I could never forget that night. Both Swati and I sleeping downstairs on the sofas and regularly waking up in the middle of the night to play with this duffer until he got tired and dozed off. This was definitely Gabbar’s passion…sleeping. The amount of photos Swati got of him sleeping everywhere around the house in the most awkward positions is just baffling but hey…it’s all good.

There are just so many moments with this stupid boy that spring to mind every time I think of him. His first bath, which was one crazy job as he just wouldn't stay still and of course being a pup, he just hated the water.

I never forget taking out in to the garden to play and he would just never listen to me. Its like he new what to do to tick me and then he’d just run as if he was laughing at my face….lulloo!

Everyone fell in love with this chubby lab…even my mom. Chilling on his beanbag in the kitchen he would either be playing with his toys, tussling with me playing tug of war or chewing on ice. Swati used to love to photo him and I think there being only a couple of photos of him with Swati (one regret I have till this day).

Gabbar was special to my family and me but I don't think I can put in words what he meant to my wife. Losing him 3 months in to 2011 was probably the hardest thing we went through as a couple and to this day, he lingers in our mind and our thoughts. I’m not writing this post for me; it’s for Swati to read and fondly remember the closest thing we had to a son.

I always tell her that no matter what, one day Gabbar will re-enter our lives in one way or another and I stand by that. I miss you Gabbar, but Swati misses you like you won’t believe.

Filmy ... very filmy!!!

I love hindi films and if you love hindi films, you have got to love hindi songs. Every song has its own special effect on me. You have your dhinka chicka songs that you just love to dance to at parties and nights out. Whether is be the 80s, 90s or the last 12 years, the slower more romantic songs are ones you can listen to over and over again.

Growing up, I had always had this thought that I would meet this girl one day and “background mein ghaana bhajjega”. Sounds stupid but that's me.

Have Indian films inspired me? Do I watch Indian films and realize that this reminds me of moments of my life gone wrong? Do I watch Indian films and miss my Dad, who’s not been with me for over 10 years? If this is not filmy, then I don't know what is. I might not have a favourite song but I could think of at least 15 songs I love:

1. Hazur is kadar – Masoom

2. Afreen Afreen – Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

3. Rim Jim Gire Saawan – Manzil

4. Meri Mehbooba – Pardes

5. O re piya – Atif Aslam

6. Kaash – Faakhir

7. Chehra hai chand – Saagar

8. Tu meri aashiqui – Aashiqui

9. Jidar Dekhoon Teri tasveer – Mahaan

10. Tera saath hai kitna pyara – Jaanbaaz

11. Bholi si surat – Dil toh pagal hai

12. Teri deewani – Kailash Kher

13. Phir mohobhat – Murder 2

14. Dil ka qaraar – Sangharsh

15. Ho Gayi hai mohobhat – Aslam & Shibani

This list can probably go on and on but a short-list as a starter and if anyone wants me to go on then I will, no questions asked.

There are also a number of different or hatke songs that I’ve been introduced to and they’re just so different and so fresh that one can not help but want to listen to while walking into University (like I currently do) with a coffee in one hand:

1. No man will ever love you like I do – Raghu Dixit

2. Kaho ek din – Ahmed Jahanzeb

3. Laila – Faridkot

4. Charka – Wadali brothers

5. Ambar – Ragu Dixit

6. Khidki – Raghu Dixit

7. Dooba – Ade Farooq

8. Bahara (Chill version) – Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

9. O Nadaan Parinde – Rockstar

10. Kya yehi pyar hai – Kamaal Khan

Should I go on?

Do I know where I’m going with this but felt like sharing and so I did.

Enjoy.

A Step Backward?

2^nd April 2011, India were on top of the world. One of the top 3 test teams as per the ICC rankings and World Cup winners after a 28 year wait. Anyone would have thought that the only way from year would have been but HELL NO! It has been a pretty disappointing run by Dhoni’s men, especially away from home. 9 tests played (3 in the West Indies, 4 in the UK & 2 so far down under) and so far 1 win and 6 losses. When it comes to the tour of England, I truly believe India were due a bad series and with all the injuries that took place, the series was a gonner before it even started.

So far in Australia, negatives have definitely out-weighed the positives. India has had their chances in both test and they have come out on the losing end both times. Is Australia that good? I do not think so. India have failed with the bat throughout the series and one has to really think, if certain individuals such as Sehwag, Gambhir and Laxman have what ti takes to hold their own in the line up. In the sub-continent, these 3 rarely fail but India need a side that competes home and away. Is Ganguly right? Have India forgotten to win abroad? I disagree for many reasons. I mean look at the bench strength of our fast bowling options. Umesh Yadav is great find as is Varun Aaron and Irfan Pathan is back in the fray as well. I do not want to see India lose 4-0 this series so all I can do is hope Rohit Sharma gets a look in for the next test match.

Where is Wasim Jaffer? He still scores bucket loads of runs and to be fair, Sehwag is failing way more than giving us the start we hope for. As a One Day player, there is no way I would even consider not having Viru in my batting line-up, but selectors have to grow a pair start axing where needed or India’s dream of being a test power house will fall apart and cease to exist. I thought the selectors needed, actually deserved a pat on the back for dropping Bhajji and I cant see how he’ll make it back in the side especialy with Ojha and Jadeja in the picture right now.

The next few weeks will give the cricket loving country of India a better idea of what is to happen to the Men in Blue dresses in white.

Don't let us down boys…try your best & you will succeed..no doubt…

IMTIHAAN

What is an imtihaan? It literally means a test….and that's life. Life is a test, one way or another. What is life without tests? Meaningless perhaps?

I’ve gone through such tests over and over again in my short-ish life so far. I wasn't ever as intelligent as my sisters and hence sparks were always flying as to whether this boy will make it or not in the future. I haven’t made it yet but I’m way better off than I was when I was kid at school. Fi you thought that was the end of it you’re wrong. Got to A levels and where my sisters had pulled off AAA and AAB respectively I racked up BCCD. Not the best thing when you’re trying to get into a Med School. So as usual, if at first you don't succeed, try again and I did. Was sent to Birmingham to do the exams and managed ABBB and got into Med School at Manchester.

Once there, I really tried my heart out. I wanted to be like my dad, my mom and my two sisters. Then I lost my father. What a test for boy at 20 eh? I did al the needful that had to be and then returned to University only to let things slip and I just couldn't get back. I quit Med School and took time to think. 4 months later, I got a second chance and got into the School of Accounting & Finance. Since then life’s been good, I got made redundant but am happily married and now I’m at B school with the Mrs.

Have the tests stopped? No way. They’re still on going and just make one think, where am I going wrong and what do I have to do to make things right. I love my family and would do anything for them. Am I a good person? I always think to myself and probably wake up crying mornings wondering what would I do if my mother weren’t in my life. Have I been a good son? Have I been a good brother, brother in law and mamu? All I know for sure is that my heart is pure and that one day I will have to answer to myself and a higher power up there. All I can do from here is be the way I am and even though expectations can be over-whelming, I’ll just have to my best and that’s what I have been doing. Change is not what is needed as people should accept me for who I am and not for what they want me to be….

So many questions....no answers....

When the Men in Blue won the World Cup a few months ago, I honestly thought and believed this was where Team India would move forward and possibly follow in the Aussie footsteps of old.


So far, I am having a lot of doubts. Fine...the performance in the West Indies was okay to say the least but the Tour of England has been shambolic and utterly disappointing. I agree, we have had injuries (Zak on the 1st day of the test series, Bhajji & Yuvi after the 2nd test) but India have barely put up a fight. They had their chances in the 1st and 2nd test and let their advantage slip through their fingers. I do not even want to talk about the 3rd test as it was all over before it even started and there went our no.1 ranking.


Everyone keeps talking about how England are just so amazing and then they have annihilated the touring Indians and when you look at the scorecards, I would have agreed but my opinion is very simple. Team India have been doing superbly well over the last few years in both the ODI and test formats but it's high time that they hit a bad patch and this is it. To be fair, England have bowled like champs and the England batters are all in form.


All this talk just raises more and more questions about Team India....Is the batting line up ageing? Where are all the quality spinners gone? In a population of 1.22 billion, we do not have a handful of bowlers who clock around 90mph? Why are the youngsters not being given a shot? Why do India warm up with football?


I know MS Dhoni is trying to be calm and not worry about what has been happening in the series but so far, the Indians do not seem like they can get 20 wickets and I haven't seen that in a while. Bowlers do not come across as fierce, imposing or threatening. Praveen Kumar is consistent but has no pace. Ishant is just not consistent. Sreesanth is a head case. When it comes to the slow bowlers both Amit Mishra and Bhajji have not been looking like they're going to get wickets at all and to be honest it seems like an embarrassment when Swann turns the ball more than the kings of spin.


Of the batsmen, only Dravid seems to be in some sort of form with Dhoni showing glimpses and VVS never using his starts. Why India persist with Suresh Raina escapes me. India's weakness against the short ball came out during the 2009 T20 World Cup and they seem to have inkling to try and get past it. I would rather India give chances to the younger players and lose that way then to have their SO CALLED best team out on field and showing ZERO signs of fight.


I have brought this up over and over again....but why don't India produce any out and out fast bowlers??? This question is still waiting to be answered so any opinions would be welcomed. When I go out to play cricket, I stretch, do some sprints, catching practice, some batting and bowling practice. I am not an international cricketer and therefore my methods of warming up before games is probably low key but please explain to me where football is a better method. All i remember is that players get injured just like Yuvraj Singh did just before the 2007 World Cup and his knee is still not perfect.


I could keep going on and on but I feel I am getting carried away but can't help it as all I want to see is Team India performing to the best of their ability and currently that is definitely not the case.

1st impressions & thoughts....

Well it's hard to believe but I've been back in the UK for a week now and yet life hasn't really kicked in. To be fair I have been busy playing cricket, cooking, washing the dishes and clothes but still. I'm sure when uni starts, things will definitely be a lot different.



So what's happened so far. Staying at my sister's place, which is great but it is temporary and moving into my place will be a experience in itself as it's the first time my wife and I get to live alone and be a couple, no matter how cliched that sounds...but it is true...no lies.


Got to watch Day 2 of the 3rd test between India and England and was utterly disappointed to see a majority of the day tilt in favour of the Brits. It was boundaries galore, 2 dropped catches, a couple of wickets and Cook getting his hundred (eventually out for 290 odd).


At least after that, my day/evening got better, with my first net session with Harborne Cricket Club. I eventually got selected for both the Saturday & Sunday games scoring a 33 & 28 respectively. Not a bad start with 3weeks left till the end of the season to make a decent impression.




I have to admit though, that the standard of cricket here is just WOW. There is this kid from Oz, who is here on vacation and has been playing for the club's 1st team as well Warwickshire 2nds and has so far got nine 100's and one 50. Saw him bat the 1st day at nets and he just kept on casually hitting sixes, not with brute strength but pure timing. The kid's going to basically at some point have a chance to represent either Australia or England and HE'S ONLY 16!!!!! WTF




Anyways, I think that's more than enough chat about cricket. What else what else what else???I think this has been the first time that I have been in the UK for Indian Independence Day. Usually I have always been back home in Dubai but then spending it with my patriotic wife makes it a treat in itself so...YAY! Swati & I have started cooking dinner together, which has been loads of fun, especially while we watch the continuous episodes of CSI Vegas, NY, Miami and NCIS. We might not always know what the hell we're making but the end product tastes good and we're not in the bathroom the next day so...so far so good.




DO I miss home? Of course I do. I miss my mum, my family, my friends but then I think to myself and know that this is all for a year, so make the most of it AND ENJOY IT GOD DAM IT!




Tomorrow is a new day...so let's what it has in store for me and the Mrs...

What is good enough?

It's days like today, when many questions ring in my ears as if in the movies, when the main lead recalls important words said to him during his or her life. All these goings on make me question myself: What is good enough? Am I good enough?

Being good enough refers a box-full of topics. Am I a good brother? Am I a good son? Am I a good husband? Am I a good person?

I know that I can't be the judge of this as a bias exists but such days make me realise that I have to be honest to myself hence ruling out the possibility of such bias occurring. Let's assess these shall we?

Am I a good brother? Well, I love my sisters, I am extremely protective of them and I love spending time with them. Do I spend enough time with them? Possibly not but this has'nt pulled us apart as I believe that once one ages and matures, then there exists an understanding that develops, where you realize that can't always spend time with them but when you do, make the most of it and make it count.

Am I a good son? Both my parents have tried their utmost best to raise a strong. responsible son. Mum has done it alone for the last 11 years after losing Dad and I do admit that I do take her granted. I do get irritated with her and I do go very quiet sometimes. But when I'm on my own and start thinking about her, i just can't fathom what i would do if she wasn't around.

Am I a good husband? This is new territory for me even though it's 2 years to the day, that I got married. My other half is not perfect yet she is amazing. I'm lucky to have her. Her presence in my life has made me stronger and more independent. I wonder what my presence in her life has done for her? She loves me from the bottom of her her heart and hence shows that on her sleeve and so do I but I show it from a distance so to speak. She is so creative in love whereas I come across as the chilled out one. I am not a do-er at all. I don't always talk and am probably the most mono-syllabic person in my family. I am supportive and I am always wanting to help her in any way possible but I can do better. I want to do better.

I think all the above helps summarize what sort of person I am today. I can't be the judge. I think everyone who knows me needs to read this and judge for themselves.

It also happened to be Father's Day and I honestly would love to know what dad thinks of his son as a final end product of being a brother, son and husband. Have I done good? Do I make him proud? His guidance right now would be worth its weight in gold.

So the questions still remain unanswered. Am I good enough? What is good enough? What to try and answer it? Be my guest....