#SunnyKiVani

A few years ago, I shared The arranged love story of mine with a promise that my love story will start soon. Few may argue that you took several years to find "meri wali" but I'm more than happy that I took the time I wanted and found the best person I could have. 

Ladies & gentleman - let me introduce the love of my life - Vanchha 

The real story

Once upon a time, there was a boy named Sunny who like every other boy used to get scared of the word - marriage. This was the trigger point of anxiety for numerous reason (no space for sad stories). Well, after a well thought discussion with a close friend, he finally got mentally prepared for finding the missing part of his life. 

After scanning all possible scenarios, I finally created an account on JS (yes the typical way yet different). And within a week I just sent one request and it got accepted. I was never prepared for a yes. Since, my account was unpaid one, it showed just a unique id. I confirmed the name by a friend and the real effort started. Well, I was so confident that I uninstalled the app right away. 

You only need to find yourself, everything else can be googled. 

It all started with googling the unique name and skimming the LinkedIn and instagram (private account). I also looked for the meaning of the name Vanchha which means desire. The instagram follow request was accepted since she saw my profile visits on different platform. All I needed was an icebreaker to know her. At first conversation I mentioned about her name, how I found her by googling, my anxiety about marriage and the rudest part how I'm bluffing my mind from marriage to an office-like project (the most important project of my life). 

I never realised that being so truthful is going to be so embarrassing. She pointed each and every effort by me (never ever try my footsteps unless you're a great communicator like me) and laughed a lot. Out of all embarrassment, my achievement was that we got too involved in the conversation over time and we never run out of topic till date. 

To me, it was a mental match. She respected my ask to not to talk about marriage. We were so easy with each other in all topics and felt like a childhood friends. 

We met after few conversations and virtual movie dates. We went out on numerous unforgettable dates with her several hours spent on deciding a dress as prerequisite. We watched movie together and I got to know how emotional she can get. She never said no for an early morning chai. We both being a foodie explored several restaurants and dhabas. She still complains about me not preparing enough dishes for her. We met each other's friends, did some never-to-forget adventures (can't be disclosed publicly considering all kinds of target audience reading this, keep imagining folks). Well, one of the adventure also involves proposing her to be my girlfriend. That was a very beautiful and precious moment when we both were high on feelings. And she said - YES! 

Over a period of time, we were very sure about each other and that was one of the best decision when we both agreed to move one step ahead in relationship. We involved both out families and was Rokafied. 

We are eagerly waiting for our engagement ceremony and marriage and also getting ready to explore life full of adventures, travel and togetherness. 

Though I am vocal about my feelings in general. I don't know how to express my feelings for her in words. All I want to say is - Vani, I love you! 

S̶t̶r̶a̶n̶g̶e̶r̶ - G̶i̶r̶l̶f̶r̶i̶e̶n̶d̶ - R̶o̶k̶a̶f̶i̶e̶d̶ - Fiancée - Wife

बातें

ये बातें ही तो है मेरे पास

ये दिल को छू देने वाली बातें,

ये बिन कुछ कहे सब कहने वाली बातें,

ये तेरे चेहरे पर थोड़ी सी मुस्कान लाने वाली बातें,

ये गुस्से को शांत करने वाली बातें,

ये नफरत को प्यार में बदलने वाली बातें,

ये तुम्हारे रूठ जाने के बाद मनाने वाली बातें,

ये हैरान-परेशान से समझाने-बुझाने वाली बातें,

ये तुम्हारे न होने पर तुम्हारे हुनर की बातें।

अब तुम तो हो नही मेरे साथ,

कुछ कागज़, कलम और

ये बातें ही तो है मेरे पास।

30 years young!

3 decades

What's the fuzz all about?

There are certain phases in life for which one waits and when it passes, I tend to think what's the fuzz all about? Major timelines around life had been school, teenage, college, job, turning 25 and then 30. It has been a wonderful transition and I've personally loved it all. So, till death halts my experiences, I am looking forward to more phases of life and see what's the whole fuzz all about. 

What's my best phase of life? 

I still clearly remember when I joined KG with all drama of not willing to go to school. Being an average student, I can proudly say I had one of the best time in school. From lifetime friends to awesome teacher to all initial life's learning to spending adolescence age to first crush to enjoying studies to knowing the pain of leaving friends after 10th, I've enjoyed it all. I owe a big time to a few of my teachers who have shaped me in the way I'm today. Being a teacher myself for underprivileged kids for a short time during college days I realised how a teacher can influence a kid's life. I still try to visit the school whenever I'm in my hometown just to have chai-samosa and cherish the moments of the past.

Kota and VIT University - a turning point.

If someone asks me where did you learn to be mature and hit life's reality away from all comfort possible. I can very easily answer - Kota during coaching days. Spending major time in studying with all kinds of challenges of food, staying alone and depressing marks has taught me all. The passion to get into IIT and fear of failure has given more experiences than anything.

IIT is not the end of life - a great statement by one of my teacher has helped me a lot in my failure of not getting selected but the at the same time getting selected in one of the best University in India. My first impression during counselling was fantastic and thought was - This is where I want to spend my next 4 years. It was probably my best decision in life. I've enjoyed all moments over there except a few 'rules' of college. Studies were the easy cake over there (9 pointer which is of no use now). The college has given me some wonderful lifelong friends and experiences, multiple crushes, little fights, trip planning with no execution and some tough situations. Well, out of everything a great career to start with selection in multiple companies. I'll be forever grateful for the opportunities and experiences of being rejected in more than 50 companies. Being one of the first engineers in the family, it always felt special.

Friends - the support system

I've written many articles about friends and still believe it is tough to express the importance of friends in life. Many friends came in life and left too, few stayed. Having a good memory, I cherish each and every moment with whoever was and is my good friend. Can I live without my friends? Maybe, I can live with basic needs as per Maslows' hierarchy of need but living is not worth it.

Family - the major pillar 

A lot of maturity and smartness (which I love to believe so) came from my Amma and Papa. They have given so many life's learning which still guides me in all decisions of life. Few unsaid words also taught me several things. They always prepared me to be independent and live fully by myself. Not having them now in life hurts the most each and every day but I know life has to go on with two major pillars broken. They taught me well and I am confident to love my life as they viewed for me. 

Major learnings

Out of 30 years, I learnt a few things which I think is important 

• Spend as much time as you can with your loved one's. 
• Appreciate all good things in life. 
• Learn from downfall and remember time heals everything. 
• Make all effort to keep the one's in life about whom you think at least once a day in the life. 
• Learn to invest, gain financial education, sex education, focus on a career but not at the cost of love ones. 
• If you're capable, help whoever is in need. 
• Travel as much as possible. I personally love solo travelling. One of the best teacher. I've even seen movies in theatres alone
• Many times I see people in depression. Since I was medically diagnosed in depression, my experience says you should communicate and get medical help. 
• No love advice as this is my weakest subject (waqt aur haalat) but I love to be loved
• Don't make your girlfriend/boyfriend your only priority and break the relationship with everyone else

50 facts about me

Connect with me

As always, I'm always available (except when I'm sleeping) for a conversation, chai, no drinks (maybe some delicious food). I would be more than happy to connect, reconnect or meet in person if possible till the END. 

                                                                                                Lots of Love - 🌞ny

The unfiltered you with Friends

पापान् निवारयति योजयते हिताय |

गुह्यानि गूहति गुणान् प्रकटीकरोति |

आपद्गतम् च न जहाति ददाति काले |

सन्मित्रलक्षणमिदम् प्रवदन्ति सन्तः |

They will help you overcome bad qualities and inspire you to take the right path; they will keep your secrets but advertise your good qualities; they will not desert you when you’re in trouble and give of themselves in your time of need – such is the nature of good friends say the wise.

While introspecting n years of my life on friendship, I realised there was quiet a few entries and exit of people (sometimes referred as friends). I've strong feeling everyone can relate to it that we've lost our friends whom we thought will stay till our last breath and we've gained few friends who didn't click at first but were great to be with over time. I'm so lucky to have a few who don't fall in either of these categories and has been my true friends since forever.

"I will miss you" "Please stay in touch" "What will I do without you" "I love you so much" "Don't forget to invite me in your marriage" "We will meet sometime in future" "I wish we could stay in the same city"......

Few promises were not kept but the intensions were pure when words were said. 

वक़्त और हालात ने ऐसा किया सितम।

Life's moving fast for everyone. Responsibilities and priorities keeps on changing which might be the reason to stay not so connected with friends. We tend to have stronger bond, whom we meet and talk regularly, but it is strongest with whom we meet or talk once in a decade (not literally) and still resume from where we left. It feels so comfortable to be the unfiltered version of the real 'you'. Even a minute of talk with them recharges you with energy. If you have even one such person in life, you're so lucky. 

I've lost some of my best friends and I miss them. I feel blessed to have a few pages to life with them and shared a great time together. And to the one's who's always been there for me at all times (especially my bad times), I love you and I'm sure we'll keep up till heaven, if we're going there ever. 

I'm always there for you. I'm just a hi or chai away from you! So, never miss out any chance to reconnect with such a wonderful person like me 😌

फिर वो शाम

फिर वो शाम बीत गई,
फिर वो अंधेरी रात आ गई,
फिर वो तुम्हारे यादों के पन्ने खुल गए,
फिर मेरे होंठ खामोशी से सिल गए,
ज़िन्दगी के उन लम्हो को दोहराना,
काफी कुछ कहना है फिर भी चुप रहना,
नम आंखे और तकिये का भिगोना,
तेरी काल्पनिक बाहों में लिपटकर सुकून से सो जाना।

आखिर कब तक ये दोहरवू मैं,
एक बार तो तू मिलने आ,
दुनिया की हर खुशी से मिलवाऊ मैं,
सच्चाई से वाक्विफ हू, तू ख्वाबों में ही आजा,
फिर से गले लगकर, खुशी के आँसू बहाकर, थोड़ा हाल जानकर,थोड़ा हँसकर,थोड़ा साथ होने का एहसास दिलाकर,तू चली जाना।

इस अधूरी ख्वाहिश को तू पूरा न कर पाएगी,
सालो बीत जाएंगे पर तू न आएगी,
जबतक ज़िंदा हू, तब तक ये न हो सकेगा,
मर कर फिर से ये बंदा, तेरी कोख़ से ही तो जन्मेगा,
इस पार तो तूने मेरा साथ है छोड़ा,
उस पार न जाने क्या होगा,
जो होगा अच्छा होगा,
ये ही सोचते हुए,
फिर वो शाम बीत गई,
फिर वो अंधेरी रात आ गई,
फिर वो तुम्हारे यादों के पन्ने खुल गए,
फिर मेरे होंठ खामोशी से सिल गए।

इश्क़ वाला दर्द

क्यों ये इश्क़ वाला दर्द हो रहा है मुझे,

क्यों तेरी एक मुस्कान का दीवाना हुआ हूं मैं,

क्यों  तेरी मुसकुराहट में किराये का मकान ढूंढ रहा हू मैं,

क्यों तेरी अनगिनत बातो को सुन रहा हु मैं,

क्यों तेरे साथ चाय पीने का नशा  सा है,

क्यों तेरे साथ जीने का मज़ा सा है,

क्यों अनजाने में जानबूझकर इश्क़ कर लिया है तुझसे मैंने,

क्यों ये इश्क़ वाला दर्द हो रहा है मुझे।

क्यों तेरी हर एक बात को मान लेता हूं मैं,

क्यों बिन कहे सब कुछ समझ लेता हूं मैं,

क्यों तेरी हर नादानिया प्यारा से लगता है,

क्यों तुझे खो देने का डर सा लगता है,

क्या तूझे भी मेरे लिए ये सब एहसास होता है,

या सिर्फ मुझे ही...

इश्क़ वाला दर्द हो रहा है।

The next ride

12:37 am, I just had a sudden urge to meet my second love, i.e., Chai. Her dark complexion and my sunny thought makes the perfect pair at this hour of night. I feel the perfect taste of it on my tongue activating all my brain cells.

The surrounding is extremely quiet and peaceful. I can clearly hear the sound of my wall clock "tick-tick". Another thing that's audible is street dogs barking at distance. I'm not sure what makes them super active at night (Ohh, I've some really bad experience with them).

The second most active living being are our wonderful cab drivers providing service around the clock, mostly to/from the airport. Speaking of airports, it is one of my favorite places to visit during nights. You might wonder - Do I travel outside the city so frequently? - The answer is NO.

It's for sure a great place to visit at night. The journey to the airport at NIGHT (during daytime, traffic will be a nightmare quiet literally) is pretty awesome. Airport gives such a good vibes that it has tendency to not let you go back home until the next morning.

If you've observed people around the airport, you would have surely encountered one of these:

• A mother giving tight hug to her son/daughter leaving abroad. 
• A father giving last piece of advice and marking the checklist of items. 
• Family and friends saying goodbyes until next time. 
• Several people expressing I love you and I am going to miss you even without uttering a word.
• Selfie-takers showing their best skills to capture memories. 
• People catching up their last overpriced meal or even dinner date before their flight.
• A quite few latecomers running to catch their flight. 
• Drivers waiting with a board at arrival for their passenger to join.
• The happiness at one's face after getting the first glimpse of the person he/she was waiting for. 
• Many of them struggling to board a bus/cab with their heavy luggage. 

The list is never ending. I know, this might sound crazy but if you've never visited airport for no reason, please try out the mini-adventure. If you need a reason, you can have great tea/coffee with a little happiness mixed into it. 

It is all about doing some small, stupid adventure and observing people around you. If you observe well, you will definitely get a feel-good vibe. An extra brownie point if you've a good company with you. If not, you can enjoy your own company and get connected with others over there without wifi/bluetooth.

Do say "hi" if you see me there at some corner. 

Disclaimer :

• Don't drink and drive. Wear helmet if you're going by bike. Be extra cautious while travelling to airport. 
• If going with wife/girlfriend, go with your OWN wife/girlfriend.
• I mentioned observing people, please do not stare at anyone.
• Airport = Bangalore airport