New Year, New Beginning, New Story
So, 2006 slipped into posterity and the New Year greets us with the same characteristic cheer and good-will as each new year does – till the time it settles into its own routine, beyond the flurry of congratulatory SMS’s, emails, phone-calls and messages.
Taking stock of the past year, I can safely conclude it was very average – nothing spectacular, but not humdrum either. From Kathmandu to Delhi to Agra, for me the year was neatly divided into three equal and distinct phases. For the world in general, it held sorrows and happiness, catastrophes and cheer in equal measure. In the larger context of time, it was just another year, and it is over and done with – and time to move ahead.
My new year’s eve was pleasant and enjoyable, spent in the comfortable confines of parental love and care.
On Saturday, I had decided not to go home, since I had gone there only a week back – and the drive, though only 200 kms seemed an arduously difficult task. That evening I had a couple of drinks, surfed mindlessly at the local internet café, drove around a bit, saw a few happy sights – and yet, the time didn’t seem to move at all. I was feeling extremely lonely and bored. The thought of my parents being alone as well, huddled in the increasing chill, without any excitement or cheer pricked my conscience hard. On Sunday morning, when I woke a voice within me was urging me to go home. Immediately, I dressed up hurriedly, packed a jeans and a couple of shirts and started off for Delhi.
It was a very wise decision. The look of sheer joy on my parents’ faces was a delight. In the evening, we went to Connaught Place for dinner, and thereafter took a walk in the newly renovated central park. The place is very well done up, with land-scaped gardens, an amphi-theater and full-on lighting. Needless to say, it was crowded. Delhi administration had made the entire inner circle a vehicle-free zone that evening, which made walking there a joy. We rounded the evening off with a softy from McDonald’s. I couldn’t recall a much better new year eve spent – even though on paper it sounds dull, I can guarantee it was much better than the biggest party I have ever attended. I guess, there comes a time in life when booze and brashness loses its value.
As such, there isn’t any expectation from the new year. I am not looking forward to anything exciting. Hence, there are no new resolutions, no plans and no dreams. Yet, paradoxically, it is a new beginning – so there is some hope.
An additional jubilation in this trip was meeting Ashish Dange – after a long long time. It was fun catching up with him – on life, career, music and movies! Since our meetings in the past have been a series of coffee outlet promotions, it was befitting that we met again at Café Coffee Day! There, I had my first ‘blogger-meet’ on the first day of the year (even though he is no longer blogging these days). He sends his hello to all his erstwhile readers (and we do have a lot of them in common), though there is no immediate plan of returning to the webspace. But then, as he averred, you never know!
The sun looked as if it was readying for the party on the other end of the globe, and hence chose to stay away from this side. While the sun was away, the fog had a field day scaring off the flights and Delhiites.
For Random Expressions readers, I have a brand-new story ready. Many months have passed since I wrote any fresh fiction. (The last story was Tapish, in Hindi, on my older blog, but that too was a re-hash of one of my own old stories).
So what’s it about? I can’t even remotely claim it is ‘different’. All I can say is that it is an emotional tale of love, losing and longing; it is typical DJ-ish (which means, it is pretty ‘filmi’); it has the heroine in a peach chiffon sari cavorting in the rains; and yes, I promise it is fairly entertaining. The only difference is that it is a very short story and will be over in a single episode.
The story is called Ambadeep, and it completes my trilogy after Suryakiran and Indraprakash (all three named after three high-rise buildings in Connaught Place; all linked in some-way to my previous organization).
Excited enough to read it? If yes, then be here on Thursday 4th January 2007, at 1700 Hrs IST to catch a glimpse of one day in the lives of Pooja and Vishwas.
Wednesday, 3. January 2007 10:15
I am first. befitting na? looking forward to the release.
Wednesday, 3. January 2007 10:39
‘there comes a time in life when booze and brashness loses its value.’….trueeeee..being with parents….what luck man..
Will be here on 4th Jan…1700 hrs IST.
Btw, kaafi time se maine poocha nahin…BB dheek rahe hai aap ke nahin??
Wednesday, 3. January 2007 14:26
I’m really happy for you that this year, you have the best New Year celebration then ever
A new post with new hopes. Good.
Finally you have completed AD
. You remember na I was after you to complete it when you mentioned it last year at the time of the story you posted.
Chalo New year ka shuruaat story se ho raha hai that’s too a long awaited one
.
OMG Tapish – reminded me something….. it still due ….You remember na Bhul gai
I also have a story “Shadow of the Silence” ready and will post soon as it’s due to post since long. I’m not a storyteller like you but phir bhi likhti hoon bus yunhi
. Haan bore hone ke liye taiyar rahena 
Wednesday, 3. January 2007 17:26
It always feel good to be with family – no booze, no disco can do that. Looing forward to the story!
Wednesday, 3. January 2007 17:55
ah… when i’d heard of the trilogy, i had wondered whether you’ll actually post them, considering you were saving them for your book…
lol@ heroine in the peach saree… looking forward to it, really
as for your last comment on where the film and song crazy anksy has gone – i’d say into hibernation. she just might wake up any time!!!
and the payal rohatgi club – i can actually find out…. coz i know her bro…. (not joking here, he is a colleague!!!)
Wednesday, 3. January 2007 21:01
Eagerly waiting for the story
Thursday, 4. January 2007 9:26
Priyangini – Bilkul ji! As regards the story, u r first in many more ways as well
Mehak – See u here today evening
No, i lost track of BB. It was becoming impossible for me to jhelo Ravi Kishan anylonger, and on top of that Baba Sehgal. Na baba na. Itni patience aur himmat nahi hai mujhmein.
Juneli – This Ambadeep is vastly different from what i had started off some years back. In that sense as well, it is an ekdum fresh and new story. Dont hv too much expectations though
Manish – Ekdum sahi kaha! See u here in the evening.
Anks - Hope u wake up from ur hibernation fast
Payal Rohatgi has a bro too? And u know him! Wah wah…’celebrity’ association LOL … I hv always tried to imagine what the brothers of item girls go thru when the entire world is salivating over their sisters! Where the trilogy is concerned, i m not publishing the first one
(Suryakiran) ever on the blog. Woh toh pakka book ke liye bacha ke rakhi hai !
Navjot – Thanks… See u here in the evening!
Thursday, 4. January 2007 10:21
well, we’ve never really sat and discussed his sister with him…. but that imagination of yours is sure the meat for a story…. how about trying a hand at that nwext time????
aur kya kya bacha kar rakha hai book ke liye???
Thursday, 4. January 2007 10:45
Hummmm toh purani bottle mein nai sharab pesh kiya jaa raha hai…
Yeh to sarasar thagi ka maamla hai… FRI darz karwana padega
Thursday, 4. January 2007 10:56
arrey yeh kya baat…aap voh b,c grade movies dheekh sakte hai…BB nahin…just kidding…Rakhi is going grtt btw, I want her to WIN !!!
Thursday, 4. January 2007 11:29
Anks – Well for that i wud need some first hand info too na? So how abt asking Mr. Rohatgi about it?
Nothing more kept hidden for the book except for Suryakiran, which in any case is quite verbose to be on the blog. In anycase, the book seems even more a distant dream now!
Juneli - It’s better than old wine in new bottle!
Mehak – LOL yeah, i think i shud restart… waise, i m sure she will be a deserving winner, esp for this show!
Thursday, 4. January 2007 13:55
woh toh hamesha hi hota hai. I hope I continue to get the first look and the first comment at all of them.
Thursday, 4. January 2007 15:19
Hi DJ,
Happy New Year…… Good u went home and spent time with ur parents….. they’d be missing u terribly otherwise
Well, an hr left for the story to come up here…….
Thursday, 4. January 2007 15:51
Hello..where did the story go?I read it just now,and when I tried to comment,it had disappeared.This is even spookier than the story!Not fair..I thought I was the first
!
Thursday, 4. January 2007 15:54
Hey DJ what is this?
The story was there I commented and now there is not story.
Thursday, 4. January 2007 16:17
Priyangini – Yes, i hope so too. U cant begin to understand my relief now likho aur tumpe dump kar do
But on serious note – Thanks a million!
Sum – Happy New Year to you as well. The story will be up now soon
Ragz and Juneli - Really sorry for the goof up. I was testing some blogging software. And the story suddenly came up, when it shudnt hv. Plus, the formatting that was visible was awful. The story will be up any moment now. Stay on, please!
Thursday, 4. January 2007 17:20
deserving winner for this show…aap bhi mazaak acha kar lete hai
Saturday, 6. January 2007 14:53
Mehak – I saw BB after ages y’day. And Amit’s crying was too much for me. And what is Roopali’s problem, usse har kisi cheez pe rona hota hai. That way, i prefer Rakhi too, ekdum bindaas rahti hai. Thank goodness, Baba is out!
Saturday, 6. January 2007 23:46
haanji Sir…RAKHI is the BEST…I WANT HER TO WIN….Baba was actually a lil bearable…Ravi toh pakka politician hai…friday ko end mein sunna tha, Arshad said that Amit is having some counselling sessions with a psychiatrist. I missed the Masala epi today
Sunday, 7. January 2007 20:47
HEY DJ..I have been caught up with so many new things, that only today could i sit down peacefully and read my mails and check out my regular blogs !
Well, I am joining a new company, have shifted homes, and have a new phone number. All the beginning of new year !!!
Wishing you the best for 2007
Monday, 8. January 2007 9:54
Mehak – Cant stand Ravi! Yeah, i heard about the psychiatrist thing.
Prakash – Many many wishes for the New Year. And congrats on the new job, house and number. Phew! That’s quite a bit of newness for the New Year
Hope you get time enough to read the story. Will await ur views.
Tuesday, 9. January 2007 0:18
What? peach chiffon and no heaving bosom? Tsk!
Tuesday, 9. January 2007 9:30
RS – LOL!