Chand Nazar (Na) Aaya

Dear Mishi

I am sitting at a coffee shop staring at the sky to locate the moon. And a lot of things are at stake. It is today that I understand the importance of this celestial marvel.

So this is the scene. 

You know that I work at Whirlpool Appliances in the sales function. Now, the prices of the products are increasing from tomorrow and because of this rise, one of my biggest dealer has given me a huge order that needs to be billed at the old price. But, the dealer celebrates Eid and his warehouse will be closed on the day of Eid. And Eid is determined based on the visibility of the moon. If I bill the products today, then it has to be delivered tomorrow as the company policy doesn’t allow me to bill, but not deliver. If I bill it tomorrow, then it will be at a higher price and I will lose the order. And I need to confirm it to my CFA, whether to bill the product or not. The wait is on. The ideal situation is that Eid falls day after tomorrow and I get to know about it soon, so that I can bill it today and deliver it tomorrow. It all depends on the moon now. 

In our day to day lives, we have taken these small things for granted. And it takes an incident like this for us to understand its importance. As we have grown old, we have forgotten these elements that once were an important aspect of our lives. 

Moral of the story, don’t grow up and keep finding the choti choti baton me badi badi kushiyan!

Eid Mubarak (hopefully,in advance)

Regards

Mamu Jaan

Sachavjo Amdavad...Aavjo Amdavad

Dear Mishi

Bangalore is a fancy city with a lot of Mallus and an amazing weather. Ahmedabad, on the other hand, has many lassan pyaaz eating Jains and cruel summers. 

Bangalore has multiple options for freshly brewed beer. Ahmedabad offers you Fruit Beer with Chat Masala for 10 bucks. 

When you tell someone that you are from Ahmedabad, the first thing that they’ll tell you that your dal is sweet. Yes, the dal is sweet, but so are the people. And trust your mama and amma on this. 

So, today as your appapan ammama leave that city after spending 35 long years, here are 7 reasons why and how Ahmedabad is an experience that has moulded many souls around you.

St. Xaviers Loyola

With Fr. Charlie during the Annual Day at the then New
 auditorium which has now become the Old Auditorium

Loyola wasn’t just a school. And I am sure many Xavierites would agree to this. We learnt to sell during the Bal Din mela, we learnt to synchronize music with lights during Odyssey, we learnt to fall on the football ground, we learnt to get up on the football ground, we learnt to talk to pretty girls in the corridors of 11D, we learnt improvisation at the Hat speech competitions during leadership camps. And now when I see parents spending on personality development classes and other fancy stuff, I just have a smile on my face. The same smile that a Gujju bujinessman has, when he saves loads of money in his dhandha. And there have been many people who have made this journey so memorable; but it would be unfair not to talk about Fr. Charlie. He might not be sitting on his chair with his box of Eclairs, but the legacy remains in each and every corner of Loyola. Loyola Ooh, Loyola Aah, Loyola OohLaLa!

Radio Mirchi

The only picture I have with him and don't miss
 the MS Paint editing skills

People in Bangalore listen to Radio because most of the time they are struck in traffic. People in Ahmedabad listen to Radio because of Dhvanit. And I had the opportunity to work with him and the wonderful team at Mirchi Ahmedabad...Nirali, Nehal, Mitai, Anshuman, Darshan, Pota, Chirag bhai, Parth. Obviously, it did give me a flavour of how the chapter named “Job” is going to unfold; but more importantly, I got to learn about Ahmedabad (especially during the Hello Amdavad to Hi Amdavad transition) and the little things that make it what it is...The Bachchan Soda guy in Shahibaug, the toilet cafe, the D Gang and talking in Gujarati on air, preparing the question bank for Mango ya Thengo, Pani no Parab and the Haaaash at the end of the spot, my secret admirer aunty and the ever blinking phone in the telos room. Mirchi will always be an experience close to my heart. 

RJ Tibrewal

One of the very few pictures that were taken inside the college

I have to admit that I have spent more time in the parking lot of the college than in the classroom. And I don’t regret it a bit. I have had some amazing memories at Ravi Jagdishbhai Tibrewal Commerce College; the magazine committee, the corporate training with Surabhi ma’am, the movie review, the mamra-poha-cheese cube breakfast and the n number of vada pavs at Shri Ji Krupa. But most importantly, for giving me Harshit uncle as a friend. You are yet to meet him, because he says he is “studying” in Australia. Though, I highly doubt it and I am sure he still asks stupid questions! :P Also, we have a college magazine named AKS and Jacob bhaiya has been the editor of the same since the beginning of time!

Endeavor

The Standard H05 picture

My second college life in Ahmedabad. This is where I did my CAT coaching. CAT is an entrance exam to get into a “decent” college to do an MBA. This degree helps you to flaunt your CTCs. It also helps you to realize that sab moh maaya hai and in hand sabka mota mota same hai. (Will elaborate on this once you join college.)

For now, remember that this place is legendary and the people from this place are warriors. They complete reading Atlas Shrugged and Fountainhead in record number of days, they love standing up on the bench and singing Dhoom Pichak Dhum and toothpicks have more to do with mental calculation rather than dental complications. (Desperate attempt at rhyming)

Jesus Youth

Yes! Aaj lassi milega! #Fasting days

A Family that was there with us irrespective of the city we were in; Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Delhi, Jodhpur, Kerala. And with the number of JY events that you have already attended, you are equipped enough to take 1-2 sessions on Gods' Love. It would be impossible to take the names of everyone, but DTP 2012, The Teens and the Campus ministry, TTP Faithquest, the music ministry and the Tuesday night practices, the prayers and support during difficult times, will always remain close to our hearts.

Food

Random Pic from the internet

Mirzapur me Famous ke Samose Kabab – Shriji Krupa ka Butter Vada Pav – Manek Chowk ka Ice Cream Cheese sandwich and Gwalior Dosa – Honest ki Bhaji Pav – Swati ka Thin crust pizza – Havmor ka club sandwich – Jail ke bhajiya – Gandhi Soda shop ka masala soda – Nagar ka Cholafali – Dabeli – Pathra – Uttarayan ka Undhiyu Jalebi – Simran ka Tandoori – Lucky ka chai – Roothraj ka maska bun – Pani Puri – Gola – Fafda ane papaya ni cheen – Shambus Cold Cocoa and Monacco Toppings – CEPT wali gali ki maggi – Rajwadu ki thali – Poori aamras – Mulakka ki biriyani – Bhatiyar Gali – LD ki canteen – Shiv Shakti ki Daal Baati - Khaman - Dhokla - Khandvi - Sukhdi - Mohanthal

Do I need to say more?

PS. Woh thoda ‘’ka’’ and ‘’ki’’ me locha hai. Maafi

Home

120 Sarvodaynagar - 3, Ghatlodia, Ahmedabad 380061

20 years of my life I have stayed in this house. I don’t care if the water logs in front of the house, I don’t care if it had an Indian styled closet, I don’t care if our refrigerator, washing Machine and TV are much older than me; It’s still our house. And today, as appapan ammama leave that house, I have realized that what made that house complete was not those commodities, but the people in that house. I might sound arrogant or too filmy, but I am super proud of the family that I am a part of. Hundreds of people have walked into that house and I can assure you that none of them have gone empty stomach and without a smile. I remember how much efforts your ammama would make to prepare lunch/dinner when some guests are to come. Appapan would clean the meat and prepare his special salad with the rose made out of tomato peel. Your amma would be in charge of cleaning the room and making sure that I don’t make it dirty again. And I would be the procurement guy, getting things from the shop at the last minute. And when I look back it, it is the preparations that actually make the time spent with the guests more worthwhile. Even in the last 2 weeks, the amount of houses that your appapan ammama have managed to visit and the people who have come to visit them is incredible. It just shows that even if appapan says that Kerala is better and Khaman is a stupid thing, deep down, he knows that Ahmedabad ki baat hi kuch aur hai.

I can keep on giving you reasons; Loyola evening school, YMCA Carol Singing competition and Friends in Christ, Midnight masses at Loyola, Sessions at AMA, Onam celebrations at Panicker auntys' house, Ahmedabad Kerala Samajam, MACAF, Snehadeepam. But, all that I want to say is that this city has shaped us. And we are happy about the way it has shaped us. It has given us tons of memories and calories. And even if you wish to or not, a bit of Gujju-ness has already entered your system. The next time we go to Ahmedabad, we might not have a house there, but we sure do have a home.

Regards

Your Gujju Mama

PS. If people say Bangalore has shawarma, don't argue with them. They might be right.

My Mother, Your Mother

Dear Mishi

People say that mothers are incomparable and you shouldn't compare them with anyone. Your friends’ mother might prepare pasta in fancy creamy white sauce while your mother uses gravy from the leftover chicken curry and give it a desi tadka. Some other aunty might be super active on Instagram and slaying it with her posts while your mom might not even have an account on Instagram. (Trust me, you should be happy that she isn’t :P) And today of all days, where everyone is expressing how their moms are superwomen and the amazing role models they have been to them, I do not wish talk about my mother; I want to talk about yours. Because your mother deserves all the love in the world. And I can’t start to describe how proud I am of her.

When I come to visit you in Bangalore, I remember the nights where she gives me the “task” to put you to sleep. And you being the super active kid you are, you would be up till late. So I would keep playing with you and clicking pictures on my phone for social media acceptance. And at that one point when you seem tired, I try to put you to sleep. I would sing songs and tap your back. And at that very moment when the feeling of successfully putting you to sleep tip toes in my mind, you’ll start to cry and your mom would get up from her “sleep” and take you away from me while giving me the Tumse na ho payega look. And the next morning when I get up, she would have already prepared breakfast (Mallus have a heavy breakfast!), packed her lunchbox for office and packed your tiffin for school. She would be at work, but will still keep a tab on what you did during the therapy sessions, what all did you eat and when all did you poop. In between all this as a mother, she also plays the role of a daughter and makes the customary calls to Appapan-Ammama every day. Not to forget managing the household with her income, doing the everyday chores, completing the paperwork and other formalities after Appa’s demise, maintaining a connect with all our relatives and friends, planning for Appapans retirement and 60th birthday and managing your nakhras day in and day out.

And some might say that this is something that every mother does, and they are not wrong. But what makes your mother so special is she is doing it single handedly. Even if I want to be there with her, I am unable to. A part of me is so helpless, but another part of me is so proud of the woman she is. And this is a feeling shared by Appapan-Ammama too. And deep down, there is this faith that the courage and commitment that your mother possesses, will just keep growing. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have her lows. Amma cries, Amma gets angry, Amma shouts, Amma gets tired. But Amma gets up every morning with a bag on her shoulder, you by her side and a fire in her soul to fight one day at a time. So today, as the world celebrates motherhood, be glad that you have such an amazing person playing this role in your life.

Also, eat your food on time, sleep on time, do not pee on the bed, wear your aid regularly and keep smiling! And dont forget to stay cool like your mama 

;)

Loads of Love
Jenson Mama

PS. Mummy, I love you too! :)

The First One

Dear Mishi

Cherish this first passport size photograph of yours; because as you grow older, you'll look all the more champu in these photographs.

Regards
Your Forever Champu Mama