Variety by TRIOS

                                                              Baba with his favourite daughter, Rani.   Come Father’s Day social media is flooded with superheroes ......... Fathers are eulogised. All fathers seem to be the epitome of Fatherhood. Love and unending loyalty are extended to long the dead parent. And yet old age homes are overflowing with neglected, aged parents. I am not against old age homes or the practical necessity of arranging for a parent’s stay in an old age home. It’s the neglect and disrespect. While the social media is overflowing with perfect parents and perfect offsprings. Superhero fathers!   Wonderful loving children.  Highly commendable!  Enough to make one feel inadequate. Not having the perfect parent. Not being the perfect daughter. My Baba...

  Recently Ginil narrated another funny incidence. It seems he had gone to Mangalore. He was staying at their family home which is usually shut as no-one stays there. He had gone alone. His schedule was to rise early, exercise, bathe, have breakfast. Do whatever Govt. work he has gone for and retire early in the evening.  One evening he had just finished taking bath before going to bed and his phone rang. As per his habit, he picked it up and put it to his ear. His wife Ria (name changed) was at the other end.  " Hello, how are you? " asked Ria with great concern in her voice. " I am perfectly fine" replied Ginil " Why do you ask? We spoke this morning na?" " Then why are you sleeping so early? " Ria asked " No... I am not sleeping... Still time to go to bed " a puzzled Ginil replied " why do you think I am sleeping?" " Are then why have you put off the lights? Is there some electricity issue at the house? " asked Ri...

  Something funny… I have a friend... Let's call him Ginil. Ginil was at his office at a prestigious multinational company at Churchgate. Once, I was conducting training session at Belapur. Hence I could not make any phone calls when the train session was on. During lunch break I called up Ginil. I knew he would not be at his desk and hence called on his mobile. But the phone went unanswered. I tried calling at least half a dozen times with the same results. I was a bit annoyed. After that I had to continue with my training session. In the evening after the training for the day was over, I called up Ginil again. This time he answered immediately. "Why didn't you answer my call in the afternoon?" I asked. "Are.. I had gone for lunch and I don't take my phone while having food" Ginil replied. " Why? " I asked. "No.. no... I can't keep mobile phone near me while having food" Ginil said "you see, the phone invariably rings...

  My SIL SK 

  From Dudhwa  via Kathgodam        to Nainital  When Leena and I started on our trip to Uttar Pradesh we were given strict instructions not to talk to strangers nor tell our itinerary to anyone. UP had a reputation! We solemnly promised and forgot all about these instructions soon as we boarded the train, happily chatting away with all and sundry. Train travel used to be such an interesting experience. After travelling to various destinations on our itinerary we landed up in Dudhwa National Park. What we did there is another story for another day. But, the journey to Nainital is something to be remembered. Dudhwa being a forest, it was next to impossible to get a vehicle to ferry us to Kathgodam station. These were pre-Ola / Uber days. Though I don't know whether that would be of any help.  We were running out of time when like a blessing came the forest ranger, whom we had met the previous day, in his jeep. Espying to hapless ladies h...

My cousin, much younger to me, bought a new car last year ... fully automatic with a sun roof. He had also purchased an iPhone as proof of having "arrived". He explained, a bigger, better car is required to establish your status. I asked the purpose of the sunroof. And he said, if there's an accident, that's an escape route. He has been driving since the last 30 years. On being asked him how many accidents he has had, even minor ones, he couldn't think of any. So he said, his young daughter, would enjoy. But since in Mumbai one can't imagine keeping the sun roof open at any time of the year, except may be a couple of days during January or February....that was ruled out, too. Also after he became educated about the dangers of standing up through the sunroof in a speeding vehicle he decided against risking his daughter's life. Then he told me, in these new upscale cars, the front lights are on all the time. As a safety measure he assured me. Now, in...

 The opinion given here is my own idea without any political angle to it. This is just an attempt to get an explanation of why these things are happening, based on observation and press reports. I do not have any supporting data, reports nor have I done in-depth study of the issues. Looks like there is some force in Mumbai with a definite hidden agenda… When one looks around, one finds some forces that make things which are good, running nicely, things we are used to and like using, shops, products, institutions, etc. being methodically shut down or shifted. Conditions in Mumbai are made difficult due to which, factories, industries, businesses are shifting to neighbouring conducive environment like Gujarat, Ahmedabad, Surat, etc. Two big conglomerates are currently operating in Mumbai and one can see them getting stronger… One such case I would highlight is regarding an orphanage where I go to spend some quality time with the children. Let us call it Balakashram. Some of the ch...