Priceless moment!

I am having a perfect lazy weekend and all I want to do is flip between different Hindi music channels. A song on tele reminded me of Jagjit Singh Ji . I remember saying to my father once that the day Jagjit Singh dies the nation will cry and so we all did. But the reality is that he will always live in our hearts.

The moment that I would like to share in this post is actually about meeting the legend in person in 2003 in Delhi Public School, Mathura Road. It was a Jagjit Singh night and being an Alumni I had to be there. It always helps to be an alumni who had bunked sufficiently to know the ins and outs of the school that spreads on acres of land. The night began with his classics in the first half and then he took a break. I obviously was desperate to meet him amidst tight security around his room. This was my known territory and knowing all entry and exits helped me find my way to the man. He was very approachable and I had my little conversation with him which will remain with me for the rest of my life.

Members of school staff were taking his autographs when I requested him to sing ' Chitthi na koi sandesh jane wo kaunsa des jahan tum chale gaye'. I could not stay for the whole concert as I had to leave for work, so I asked him to please sing this song before 10pm. He asked his assistant to make a note to remind him at 9.45 about it.

I sat through all the songs and eagerly waited for my song but was also curious to see if he will actually remember or was he only being nice to me. So as one can imagine I was ready to be disappointed as well. At five minutes past 10pm I stood up to leave and heard my song. I went back to my seat, accompanied by my sister, in excitement ignoring what people around us were thinking of the two of us and tears started to roll down my eyes not only because I loved this song but to actually see the legend singing the song himself.

Wherever you are today I want to thank you for singing that song for me, it really meant a lot. I cried when I heard it for the first time in the film and I cried when I saw you singing it and I still get emotional when I hear the song, even when I don't want to. Such is the magic of your voice! :)

Happy New Year 2012

It's mid February 2012 already and I am thinking there are so many people I could not wish New Year this time. After the new year celebrations comes my slowest, darkest coldest and gloomiest month of the year i.e. January. Although I have some best and worst memories of the month, it really drags maybe because there are 12 long months ahead of it. But come February, its nice and bright, the days start getting longer and there is freshness in the air, air that brings spring :)

This is when I start looking forward to the summer as its time to work hard in the backyard to see some great results in the sunny days. Last year a dear friend gave me two tiny tomato saplings, I was a bit skeptical about taking them initially but with care they grew into tall tomato vine. It really was a wonderful experience to see it growing and one fine day I saw tiny flowers and eventually tomatoes. The tomatoes took a long time to ripen afterwards but it still was fruitfull mission.

Another such experience was getting a small cactus plant with tiny pink flowers. I wondered for a long time whether it will survive indoors or not, little water but how much exactly is little water for a small plant. The good thing however is that it survived and I saw quite a few flower buds on the plant last week.

These instances were encouraging enough for me to try out new plants this year.

Happy planting in 2012 to all!