The Magic of Bombay

Alright, as an out and out Delhi lover, this may seem like a difficult read for you as well, but everytime I go to Bombay, amazing things happen.

The first time I went when I was a kid, and I saw/met a few movie stars when family was doing a project there… for a kid under 10, that is pretty cool

Next time I went, was for a Joe Satriani concert, I traveled by train, I lived there by myself, I touched base with my fathers side of the family after ages, and got to see of the greatest guitarists of all time (which was the said purpose)

The third time was for a wedding in the family… lived with my cousins, realized how much I love my fathers side of the family and how much I feel I was missing out on, however, its never too late to bond.

However the amazing part was at 2 AM, Monday, 18^th April 2011

We were woken up to a stopped train to see our compartment hazy with smoke and the smell of burning rubber, I assumed it was some electrical short circuit and would soon be sorted out, 5 minutes later there was a shout

“Get out! Fire”

I expected those words to freak every one out, but people went about normally putting on their shoes and getting off the train, we (Brother and I) left the luggage behind cause we were right next to the kitchen so first instinct was to get out before a gas cylinder was to set off.

We got off the train, helped the too young and too old to cross the tracks into an empty wheat field where we put the blankets out on em and kind of sat around watching the 3 compartments of the train burn to a tender crisp. The rescue team came separated the train put it together with the non burnt part and within 6 hours we were on our way home again

It was amazing, Never have I seen so many people feeling so good after an accident, and they all had each other to thank, everyone helped everyone, people even found most of our luggage and found us to give it back to us. Everyone shared, the staff was amazing and, people even applauded once the train was moving again

I argued with a friend a while back, that if a crisis hits us, we will not have the decency to help each other, only our selves, and I used Japan as an example of people coming together. I was proved horribly wrong, and I hate it when that happens, but this time… to stand corrected was the best thing in the world

Hero worship is Under-rated #1

For those who know me well enough, know that I’m prone to hero worship, so I present to you my latest hero; Sylvester Stallone.

Before some of you jump to conclusions thinking that maybe I want to pick up boxing or workout a mean body then here is your answer, No. But here is why his life story is so inspiring.

To begin with, the man has a paralysed face, due to complications with his mother during his birth. Imagine the determination the man had, to make it as an actor despite not being able to talk properly. His first starring role was a soft porn movie, and although I can’t say for certain, but Sylvester claims he was paid $200 to do 2 days work.

A few movies later, the old porn movie star who could barely speak wrote “Rocky”, and refused to sell the script for the reason being he wanted to play the lead part. With a Million Dollar budget (which is peanuts for a movie of that magnitude, in the long run) Rocky today has made over 255 Million Dollars, followed by:-

5 more Rocky movies, 4 Rambo’s, and the birth, of one of the Greatest Action Heroes you will ever see, and he isn’t quite finished yet.

Ambition

I do not mean day-dreamers, I'm referring to those people who actually make the effort to go and get what they dream about. Ambition to me does not mean that one has to strive to own a house and a car and should dream of having a swimming pool and other luxuries, but it is simply striving to be the best you can be. One of my favorite examples is a gentleman named Devendar Sehgal, who is one of the best flair bar-tenders this country has to offer. He works in the city of Delhi, where the mentality equates bar-tenders to emotionless servicemen, and other bar-tenders make it hard for the likes of Dev because they truly don't give a crap about what they do, till date he has managed to maintain his drive, and that truly inspires me.

If are ever in town (New Delhi) and happen to go to this bar called Ricks (Taj Hotel) ask for Devender Sehgal, and ask him to make an original called "Oh Senorita". Have a chat with him, and find out what a true gentleman this man really is.