The Story of 6 Screws !!!

Feb 22nd 2008, Night 11:30 I am going back home with my friends Himanshu & Tarun after attending the DRAMANON (a theatre organization) meeting. On the way back we decided to stop over and have something as all of us were really hungry. Sub-way was luckily open at that time and we had our Sub's. It was almost 11:45 when I called up Siddharth who was somewhere near Banjara Hills. I told him to come pick me up so that heman can drive down to his home straight w/o stopping over at my place. So, while waiting for Sid I started playing with the dog which was wandering nearby. After sometime I saw Siddharth's car approaching and I started walking towards him. He too switched off his car lights and got down and waited. The Road had a downward slope and I was walking down - with no street light whatsoever. That was the time my leg got twisted in an unusual manner and broke!!!

The pain was excruciating. It was like every muscle every part of your body is shouting in pain - which slowly starts to climb up and spread in your entire body. Well, the moment it snapped I told Sid - " yaar pukka fracture hai -jaldi hospital le chal" He was like "haat saale, Itne me kaise fracture hota. Chal lite le . Thoda suja hoga ". I told him " dekh kasam se bol raha hu solid fracture hai- ab jaldi le chal". How did I know? First thing is the pain and the second was - after the fracture when I tried to put my leg back on the ground I could feel the bones rubbing ageist each other. Even now when I remember all this I still get Goosebumps. We were off to the nearby Hospital immediately. Siddharth made sure we reached the hospital ASAP. The journey to the hospital lasted less than 5 mins. Sid kept on talking to me in the car - but I could feel slowing the pain becoming so severe that I was kinda gonna faint (I think this is the body's self defense mechanism) - Everything around seem to blur slowly and I was damn-Knucking scared. I kept on thinking what next? What all has happened to me? It was like hell a lot of Q's were coming into my mind. All this were to be answered in the next three days.

We reached the hospital and I got down the car - Sid immediately came on my left side to hold me. I took the first Hop - But could not manage it properly and fell again on my same fractured leg. Now the pain increased several folds and I passed out in front of the Hospital entrance. Sid however, immediately lifted me with some super human strength - which I could sense somewhere far behind my head. I somehow again became conscious of the surrounding and I saw a stretcher come towards me. I quickly put my one hand and managed to lie on the stretcher. I was now inside and the doctors started off with my complete X-rays. Tarun was also informed about my suspected fracture who immediately came in as a moral support. Well infact he even assisted the doctors when they took my X-rays. One of the most difficult parts of a fracture is the X-ray (when taken) and 1st Plaster (when put). This is because they have to pull your leg and position in a proper manner before taking the X-rays - they pain used to get so severe - your body feels cold - you start shivering and the pain keeps on adding -so much-that I started laughing.

In the mean time my mom also reached the hospital and like any son I could understand how much pain my mom would be feeling watching me in this state... Well aie (mom) was really strong which helped me relax to some extent. Well the results were out - The Twisted led and my body wt put together resulted in a massive fracture. My Tibia (wt bearing bone) and Fibula (Supporting bone) had three and two fractures each. I was advised not to even move of bed. My Kaka (a doctor) also came in to check my X-rays and advised the other doctors to send me home with a temporary cast on my leg. The journey from the hospital to home in the Ambulance was a tough ride. With every small pot hole that the ambulance was going into - I could feel the pain. Well we reached home in half an hour and I was taken to my room to sleep (which had disappeared) or rather relax (I don’t know how)....

The operation was done 7 days after my fracture around 29th Feb, 2008. It lasted for over 3 hrs and I had got 6 SCREWS in and around 50 stitches. Today it’s been almost 7 months since my fracture and I am still on recovering stage. I have stopped using my walker (just yesterday) and now am on just a walking stick. Another 15 days time and I’ll be back to walking normally without any support. Apart from my parents, my sister and grandfather who were an immense support to me - the people who really helped me in my tough times are my few close friends. It is because of them my tough times passed by even before I could feel it... That was just a part of but an important chapter from the Book –“ The AWESOME 6 Screws” which are embedded in me now !!!

Ganesh ji - Direct Dil se !!

Loud music... loads of crackers.. drums..floodlight and all the decoration in the world are usually seen during the Ganesh Visarjan !! right ?? Now how genuine is all this ?? Are people trying the please lord ganesha with showing off the power of wealth ??? or are they trying to show off their status ?? In todays worlds however, I think it become a more of a status symbol even when it comes to Lord Ganesha. I really dont know if ganesh ji is really impressed by all this or is he simple laughing at how the humans have become..

It just happened that I was having my Red-Bull as usual at Sattu's when I happen to see around 10 kids carry their Ganesh ji in an AWEOSME way. OK how awesome was it ?? They were carrying their ganesh ji in a small tricycle (the one kids use). And to add to all this they had a small ganeshji made of mud (eco-friedly as well) put safely and securely on the tricycle. they even had one guy with drums. They were dancing - shouting and taking the ganesh ji to Tank Bund for visarjan...Now, tell me is this not "being truly awesome"...

I sight really touched my heart- cause this is what i call - DIRECT DIL SE - I think it is perhaps the grandessssst visarjan our Lord Ganesh ji could ever get. Although it did not have fance decoration, lights or even loud music but, it did have a lot of zeal, enthu and most importantly the feeling behind it. So I guess People should look at this as and example and understand that its not the money you spend but the REAL FEELING of bhakti that you have. And i'm more than sure that up above in the heaven Lord ganeshji saw it and made it a point to come down all the way to bless all those children. who worshipped lord ganesha - Direct Dil se....

Pic uploaded !!!

Dahi -Handi

Night 0100 hrs, I receive an sms “Guys, Dahi Handi(DH) Practice at 5:30 after class- Please be there” Next day in the class again – “Dahi Handi Practice at 7:00 am tomorrow sharp”. DAHI HANDI – Dahi Handi – Dahi Handi every day ….. Yes this if what I have been hearing for the last Two month - over and over again. Reason ?? My college wanted to teach Perspective Management lessons through DH. According to them it taught us about Team work and all those Cliché’s of Management education. Apparently, last year our seniors were really AWESOME at Paanch-Pakhadi (Thane) - Where the biggest DH competition is held every year (in Mumbai). Now having won numerous prizes & appreciation from our Director-our seniors were all charged up –they used to say “We reached 7 layers last time – this time we want to break our record and reach 8 layers”. YA RIGHT !!! 8 layers ?? Is that even possible ?? atleast by us – that too in a month’s time ?? hmm…

Initially students were apprehensive about going for DH practice but things started to change when they saw their own friends crashing on the floor below and only a few to hold them – That was the time we realized the importance of Team Work - More and more students kept on adding to the support system of the pyramid. The base became stronger and stronger with each student that added on. Now the aim was to start off by making a 7 layers pyramid initially – people in and on the top of the pyramid were in fact even more confident now – just because we had a massive support system in place. YES, we did manage a 7 layer pyramid and worked to reach the 8 layers.

The D day finally came our team/s went to Thane, Dadar, Matunga and many other places breaking the Dahi Handi – we won close to 33K cash prize and also a few mementos. The credit goes to guys and girls both. Yes, even the girls had their own team up for the challenge and they were equally good. End of the day all the participants and our Director were really happy. At Dahi Handi our team showed commitment (in attending the practice sessions regularly), Team Work (Trusting each other and the base below) and also kept on trying to achieve a goal (in spite of falling so many times – hurting themselves-eventually we did break a few Dahi Handi).

I think DH is a very good example and a means to teach us all- ‘the basic lessons of Life’ in its own special way. Like here I feel Dahi Handi reflects upon our goal in life. What is our aim ? and how difficult is it to achieve it ? You may fall again and again and even hurt yourself in the process , at some point it may seems an impossible task. So what will you do ? Leave it ? or do you have it in you to start all over again and break your own DAHI HANDI of life ? Btw, I couldn’t be a part of DH this year. I had be a passive observer rather than an active participant (because of obvious reason). But, the atmosphere, the people, and the attempts made an impact on me. And the coming year when I’m all well I’ll make sure I’m in and a part of the human Pyramid.