Venture Funding of a different kind

It was a late summer night. It could be as humid as it could be.

I was traveling from Bombay to Delhi via Rajdhani on a personal trip to India for a week. It was an uneasy feeling when you wake up on the moving train, in the middle of the night, all thirsty, with an AC running on full blast.

The station was Ratlam and the train took a 10-minute pit stop. I stepped out and looked for the vendor for the water bottle. I found one and walked towards it. As I was walking, it suddenly occurred to me that this is the same station where the scene for "Jab We Met" happened.

I got excited and suddenly all the scenes of the movie started playing in my mind, in the fast forward motion.

I reached the vendor and asked for a bottle - Rail Neer, that's what was offered to me and as I paid for it and waiting for my change, a the girl half scared and half excited, panting came running and before I could finish my transaction, asked- bhaiya jaldi se ek coca-cola dena!

I realized she was wearing the same clothes as was Geet aka Kareena in the movie. But the way her hair was falling on her eyes and the way she was sweeping them up, looked like she didn't care about them and was more worried about the train.

I suddenly asked the vendor how many more minutes for the train before it starts again? The vendor, trying to multitask, said 5 minutes looking at the digital clock in front of the coaches. She decided to slow down and sat at the bench close by and then glanced at me as if asking me to sit near her. As I sat near her I was thinking in my mind, am I really getting into this, I don't want to leave my train, I don't want to go to Bhatinda or where ever she is going, but the time seems to have frozen.

She started telling her story. She was returning from Bombay where her husband killed himself for another boy. She was living with her husband's family in Delhi. Husband had a boyfriend in Bombay before marriage which he did not tell to anybody. She wanted to complete her MTech from IIT and hence was forced to stay in Delhi while her husband was having all the fun, Her dead husband. He was not able to muster enough courage and has now ruined two lives. I quietly asked her, although none of my business, what's her plan in life and she said, move on. She wants to complete her Master's and start her own business of redefining the print industry.

Suddenly I jolted from my sleep. I asked the co-passenger where are we and he replied New Delhi. Once again all the scenes from last night came running in my mind. I quickly gathered my stuff and ran out of the train in the hope to get the last glimpse of the acquaintance I made last night.

Happy Anniversary

It was a late winter night, an announcement from the PA system woke me up from my daydream – “time is now 8:55 pm, the library will be closing in 5 minutes”. I lazily grabbed my laptop, cleared out the desk by stuffing everything in my bag and walked towards the gate, but wait, why there is nobody at the reception, I just heard the announcement. I was half sleepy, I kept walking towards the car and drove towards home.

Though the distance to home was only a few miles but it felt forever. It was dull and boring. The thought that she has gone, for a vacation to see her mom had almost brought me to tears.

This is not the first time that she has gone but this time it's different. We fought like anything, for small things that don't even matter to me, but I was upset that she is going when the Anniversary is coming closer. I was mad at myself and when she asked me to book a ticket, I booked it too.

To avoid getting these thoughts calling a friend is a good idea. So, I did the same, I called AA and he was out for a movie with his wife, they managed a babysitter for a few hours. After there baby, this was the first outing and with the young baby and busy and hectic work schedule with the availability of the babysitter, it was difficult to stay on the plan. Anyway, I tried one more time and called AG and he didn't pick up the phone either. What do you expect from the newlyweds? They are generally busy in setting up their house and whenever they get time, they get busy in extracurricular activities for obvious reasons.

The drive to home felt longer and forever. 

I reached home with lights and heater out, the cold house was giving me cold shoulder too. I opened the freezer and took out one of the many marked boxes, which she does every time she goes to India leaving me behind – “shahi paneer” – why not, after all, it’s the Anniversary Eve and it's already a day in India.

I warmed up the food, gobbled it down the throat with the few sips of sparkling water and went off to sleep.

It looked like only a few minutes when a football hit me in the head, I woke up hard and found out that its bright light everywhere and I hear a voice in the background, “Manu beta, Saurabhji aur tere liye shaam ki party ke kapde decide karne hain”.

airport lounge

It was a late winter night in January. I was heading to Boston for work from home after a 10 day break in India. It was a much needed break after a grueling year.

I reached Delhi from Jaipur at around 8p. With lots of time in hand, I decided to finish my audio book, which I downloaded when I was in Boston. John Grisham has become my latest favorite author. I was reading or listening to The Firm, a very gripping Attorney Client relationship Fiction.

The airport was bustling with high energy vendors outside the main gate, inside, it was jam packed due to all international flights flying in the wee hours to reach at a decent time to their respective destination. 

As soon as I reached the airport, after clearing the custom formalities I went straight to the American Express Lounge, in partnership with Delta Airlines, you get a hot cooked meal and free WiFi. I took off my blue casual jacket, rolled up the sleeves of my checked shirt and started eating mom's packed dinner, two roles of Chapati with potato vegetable stuffed in and wrapped with a napkin. No extra napkins to waste. No water, as she knew have to throw away at customs. 

As I sat on the plush modern black leather sofa, I noticed this girl who noticed me in the corner of her eyes. She wore a white long cotton Kurta with a stone washed jeans and a pink stole to go with it. Her hair falling on the shoulders and pretending to read the latest American Girl magazine. Her sharp jawline and a fair complexion, was making her more wanting.

We exchanged glances, I tried to give her a tight lipped American smile, she ignored. I got the message, she is not interested.

I frowned to myself and kicked off my green puma shoes, seated cross leg I took out my cherished Sennheiser Urbanite from my backpack. Started the Audible app from Amazon to listen to the audio book.

The story was so engrossing, how the next 2 hours went by unnoticed, nobody knows. I looked across in search of the girl, she was still sitting, her hair tied up in a pony tail and she was now wearing a Black colored Juicy Couture Activewear with the golden colored zip of the jacket, which is perfectly covering every curve of her petite body. She was holding the boarding pass. My passing eyes on her boarding pass read Boston. Yessss.

I don't remember when did I pray so hard, I was praying to get a seat next to her.

I was lost in my prayers, a sudden midair announcement broke my concentration. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Boston Logan International Airport. The local time is 7:30am and the temperature is 4 degrees Fahrenheit.

On behalf of Emirates Airlines Flight #239, nonstop service from Dubai to Boston and the entire crew, I’d like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again in the near future. Have a nice day!”

she wanted to say

It was 4 am. I nudged Ankur. Hey, wake up, I don’t feel like sleeping.

Ankur, a sound sleeper, was sleeping from last 6 hours and if time permits, he could sleep for 6 more. He was tired after full day of work at his new office.
I spent the whole night tossing and twirling, but I just couldn't stop smiling and thinking about what happened today in the break room at work with me. She was taking a break after exhaustive three hour meeting with the senior managers to come up with a new architecture of the new store they were planning to open up in the downtown.
I know Naira from grad school. Always the topper and a go-getter. Never settles for less. For almost 3 years, we are best buddies. But I just couldn't take it to the next level, I was afraid, that I might put a ding to our relationship. So, it was usual to spend some time in the break room or after office.

Today was nothing unusual. She stepped out of the conference room, walked towards my office, knocked the door thrice of my office, without even looking at the door, I stood up and started walking towards the break room. The three knocks were like a code language.

We picked up the company logo marked cup from the shelf and poured the coffee from the big mug from the brewing machine. The aroma of the coffee suggested that it was not brewed long ago. We adjusted the chair of the farthest table from entrance and sat.

Her face was all serious, as if she was about to tell me something really important. She held my hand, looked directly into my eyes, my eyes met hers and I stopped speaking about the new presentation I was working on. She opened her mouth to say something and I sensed what she wanted to say, suddenly Raghu shouted from the door and called her saying they all liked her idea and wants to go ahead with that.

when I saw you

I was walking towards the bank, when I saw you. You looked same and I was thinking in my mind that you haven't changed a bit. You look the same, as you used to 10 years ago. I was thinking what you would think about me. 
Hey, you are the same guy, who was in my class, and used to sit in the last bench, always looking at me. 
I thought, wow, you remember all that and I was scraping the sand underneath my shoes hearing that and smiling mildly thinking, you still remember all those things. 
I immediately replied, you also didn't change that much. The love of pink color, hasn't lost yet. You looked at the cover of your mobile phone and smiled.
We found a corner coffee house and sat there for hours, chatting and talking about each others lives. Catching up on the lost time.
Right then my phone started ringing, trin trin. It was alarm on my phone. Alarm was set at 6am. I thought how come the 6am alarm set off at 6pm. I looked hard at the railway station style wall clock in the cafe and realized, its time to hit the gym.

क्या पुनर्जन्म है?

क्या पुनर्जन्म है। .? अभी मै  किसी लेखक का यह लेख पढ़ रहा था की यदि पुनर्जन्म का वैज्ञानिक आधार मिल जाये तो ईश्वर होने का विश्वास हो जाये।

उस लेखक के अनुसार पुनर्जन्म का कोई वैज्ञानिक आधार नहीं है।

यह सच है की विज्ञानं पुनर्जन्म को नहीं मानता। लेकिन इसका यह मतलब यह नहीं है पुअनर्जन्म है ही नहीं। यदि ऐसा होता तो हमारे वेद और पुराण उसका ज़िक्र क्यों करते , और भगवन श्री कृष्ण गीता में क्यों आत्मा की अमरता का वर्णन करते।

हमारे धर्मग्रन्थ कोई कारोबार नहीं करते है उनका तो हमपे अहसान है की वोह हमें जीने का रास्ता दिखाते है। हमारे धर्मग्रन्थ ना हो तो इस कलयुग में हमारा जीना ही मुश्किल हो जाए।

जीवन का क्या प्रयोजन है यह हम अपने फलसफे से नहीं जान सकते, इसके लिए हमें थोड़ा परिश्रम करना होगा और अपने धर्मग्रंथो का अध्ययन' और उनपर विश्वास करना होगा।

मनुष्य इतना कमजोर क्यों हो जाता है की जरा सा हवा का झोंका आया तो वोह ईश्वर धर्म और पुनर्जन्म पर ही सवाल उठा देता है। .? अरे ज़रा बगल वाले का दुःख और उसके बावजूद उसके ईश्वर और ईश्वर के नियमो पर विश्वास तो देखो।   जीवन में दुःख सुख मृत्यु और जन्मइन सबका एक कारण है और इसका जवाब हमारे धर्मग्रंथो में है।

मनुष्य और जानवर में निद्रा भय मैथुन आहार समान  है फर्क है कि मनुष्य में सोचने की शक्ति है और जानवर में नहीं। क्योकि हम इंसान है इसलिए हमें सोचना होगा और ईश्वर के दिखाए गए नियमो पर चलना और विश्वास करना होगा।

कई मनुष्यो को सुख का आभास दुसरो के सुख से मिलता है और जीने की चाह किसी अच्छे मकसद के लिए जीने के लिए होती है। अपने चारो तरफ देखिये आपको हज़ारो ऐसे मनुष्य मिलेंगे।  अरे अपने लिए जिया तो क्या जिया। मनुष्य हर काम व्यवसाय के लिए नहीं करता है , हरकाम साबुन या टूथपेस्ट बेचने के लिए नहीं करता है। और हर सुख सेक्स और पैसे से संचालित नहीं होता। और ईश्वर पर विश्वास भय से संचालित नहीं होता बल्कि जो बुद्धि हमें ईश्वर ने दी है उससे संचालित होता है। है ना .?

end of an era

It was mid of the day, I had my class 7th results in my hand and I was crying - bauji, I am sorry, I will not do it again, I will study harder, as I escape the beating from his walking stick, which I gave it to him.

Bauji to the world, for me a godfather. He is my paternal grandfather. A father of my family, my mom, and my sisters. Soon after my dad was gone, he came over to our house, took a decision and we moved from an independent house to a multi-family house with bauji. When everybody left our hands, he held them tighter.

Mom was super irritated with the fact that now we are in the smaller house, but she was not understanding the fact that we are not paying the rent anymore, he is already started saving us on monthly basis.

I was 10 years old and haven't even tasted the full benefits of having a father. He was standing there as a pillar.

All he wanted for all four of us was to study hard and get settled and stand on our feet, independently.

His first preference was always mom and will be mom - always always always.

As he fondly calls us engineer aka maharana sanga, chief architect, doc sahib, and teacherji, respectively. Those were the dream roles he already had in his mind.

He got my mom into a teacher's training school. Arranged the scholarship for the tuition fees for our respective professional schools. Managed loans where scholarship was too low or unavailable.

He is not a godfather, he is God send. He is much more than that. I have lived with him more than anybody of my cousins.

He slowly got the assets to build up for my mom, like a smart financial planner setting up a plan for life, not just for a few years but for the rest of her life. He is a genius.

All of us are indebted to him for life. If it was not him, then we would have been somewhere on the streets of Ajmer, begging, fighting for 2 meals a day. He is the angel in our lives.

The most hard-working man I would ever see.

The best recycling man knew how to use the envelope almost three times, before discarding it. His use of Leyi (old native gum).

He taught all of us including mom to go to the bank and do the basics of banking. He taught us to fight. He taught us how to manage the least of the resources. Great Manager.

Those totaling of marks in the answer books in short summer nights. Those long walks to nearby Sabji Mandi on a cycle with him, negotiating with the vendors for 2 counts of green chili and a bunch of cilantro. Negotiator.

His evening walk to Hanuman temple at Madar gate on Tuesdays, and his carrying of fruits from there. Regular exercise.

He ran around to various shops for a copy of bio-data just to save a few paise and get a cleaner copy, consistently. Perfectionist.

End of the day, all he needs is a green chutney and half a piece of lemon in his food. With various vegetables spread on his steel thali with sections. ending with rasgulla.

I remember how he use to carry those small bottles of water with him all the time, as the doctor has asked him to limit the intake of water. His strict routine. Come whatsoever, his daily schedule will not change.

Those meetings for everything, as small as buying stocks in the stock market to as big as marriage decisions.

Bauji, you are un-replaceable. You will leave a big void in our lives.

We will never remember you because we will never be able to forget you.

Boy o' Boy!!!

Openings Via Email

FYI.

The Pool is growing everyday.

Guys, I have made this blog for jobs which we get in the email.

Following is the link to the blog and following that is the email id
to which you can forward the job email. That's it, nothing extra.

I created this keeping in mind, making it a job pool. If anybody needs
to search for real "insider" jobs, this is THE place.



http://openingsviaemail.blogspot.com/?m=1

saush11.jobs@blogger.com

Any questions, let me know?



Saurabh Moondhra

Your Chance to Buy Google Glass

Hi there The Glass Explorer Program brings together bold, creative individuals who want to help shape the future of Glass. When you asked us how to get Glass on this site, we told you there would be more chances to join the Explorer Program. Well, here's your chance. Click on the purchase code below to begin your adventures with Glass. For future reference, your code is: ZTYL-PPMZ-NZYJ-YCMN This offer is available for a limited time. Purchase codes expire in 7 days. Just a reminder that all Glass Explorers must: be US residents be 18 years or older purchase Glass provide a US shipping address OR pick up their Glass at one of our locations in New York, San Francisco or Los Angeles Not interested? We would love to know why. The Glass Team For help purchasing or questions about Glass, please call 1-800-GLASS-XE and enter your unique code 8200600252519940. If you do not want to receive emails about Glass, please email us at glass-help@google.com. We will remove you from the mailing list within ten (10) days of receiving your notice. Privacy & Terms

Re-iteration

M always wanted another baby, and I was overwhelmed with just one. She was always in the favor of two kids, as they take care if each other and don't need another person for a friend.

I was in the opinion that we could concentrate on one child better then two. The amount if "tan", "man" and "dhan" we can spend on one child, it would have to be split. :). My theory.

But who has won with wives in an argument. Me neither.

So that's how the planning of another child started.  The plan was laid out and had the start date of January 2013. But due to unavoidable circumstances it was delayed by 6 months.

So one fine Sunday morning Manu woke me up and broke the news "I am pregnant" !

I was half asleep and half awake almost gave no reaction and went to sleep, suddenly I realized there was one set of eyes, waiting for my reaction. I went again on the statement. "I am pregnant"!!!

What, really, seriously, are you sure?

I was unable to decide on my feelings. I was happy because we are having a baby again? Or I was happy because I would not be bogged down ever again about the baby talks? But what i was more concerned was that M had to go all over it again. 

First time was new for us, it was an experience. Both of us did not knew how to react and what precautions to follow. It was didi, who helped us at every step. What to do now, how to handle this, what to expect now? 

This time, its different, we(she) knew what to eat and what not. How to handle the situation. How to walk and how to sit, and how to standup.

Still there were challenges this time for us- 
1. How to handle Kaavya.

It is more of a practice. How would we handle Kaavya? How she would handle baby? Right now she gets the undivided attention of two people. Pretty soon it will be gone. So in preparation to that we have been already setting her mind accordingly. She already wanted a baby. And if asked what she wants a baby brother or a baby sister, she wants baby sister. Any time you ask, it would be the same answer. We asked her why is that and there was no certain answer. Somewhere I also want a baby girl, because Kaavya is ready to play with her and she has her mind pre set.

So here we are at the same stage in life as we were 4.5 years ago. The good thing about this time is we have bought many baby stuff color neutral. So we don't have to worry about those things. Other things which we might want can be obtained hands down from friends.

One relief though, now I don't have to worry about any more children as we are a "compete family".

A DAD’S SPEECH AT HIS DAUGHTER’S WEDDING

I thought I would start my speech by addressing you as the "new" family of my daughter. But I think it would be inappropriate because now that she is married, you are "the family" for her. Believe me; I don't have a problem with that. I, in fact, want my daughter to have "you" as her priority now. Its time for us to take a backseat in her life. We would happily accept it but would surely request one thing- please keep her happy!

I am more than sure that you will keep her very happy. She will perhaps be happier than what she used to be here. But like all fathers, I obsess over my daughter's happiness which is making me say this over and over again- please keep her happy!

She never was and will never be a burden for me. She is in fact the reason why I breathe and smile. I am getting her married because this is what the law of nature demands. I am helpless in the face of our culture and therefore sending her to your home. She was the happiness of my home and will now light up your home. I am giving my world to you. Please make sure it remains beautiful. I am giving away my princess to you. Please make sure she stays as a queen. I have raised her with my sweat and blood and now she is wonderfully perfect. For all the care, love, beauty and warmth my daughter will bring into your lives, I just want her happiness in return—please keep her happy!

If at times you think that my daughter has said or done something wrong, feel free to scold her. But handle her with love. She is very fragile. If at times she feels low, be with her. She just needs a little bit of your attention. If at times she feels sick, show her some care. It's the medicine that works best for her. If at times she fails to fulfill a responsibility, feel free to chastise her. But empathize with her. She is still learning. Do understand her—please keep her happy!

I don't mind if I don't get to see her for months. I don't mind if I am not able to talk to her on a daily basis. I would be more than happy if she doesn't remember me much. But, my only motive in life has been my daughter's happiness which is now in your hands. I beg you, please keep her happy.

Dear son-in-law, these words may not mean much to you now but if you are lucky enough to father a daughter someday, you will appreciate them better when you will find every beat of your heart shouting – "please keep her happy"!

Courtesy - shared from Facebook.

Brown bear

Uttarakhand devastated: how you can help

Read all about it

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/uttarakhand-devastated-how-you-can-help-381640

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Saurabh Moondhra
Sent from my Windows Phone

Rules for dating my daughter-

1. Get a job.
   
2. Understand I don't like you.
   
3. I'm everywhere.
   
4. You hurt her, I hurt you.
   
5. Be home 30 minutes early.
   
6. Get a lawyer.
   
7. If you lie to me, I will find out.
   
8. She's my princess, not your conquest.
   
9. I don't mind going back to jail.
   
10. Whatever you do to her, I will do to you.
    

Ab bas

🎩Hats off to the Guy who wrote this...::

🔹 Waha ki DHUP bhi achi lagti thi
Yaha ki AC me bhi aaram nahi hai

🔹 Waha GHAAS pe baithna bhi acha lagta tha
Yaha CHAIRS pe bhi chain nahi hai

🔹 Waha ke SAMOSHE bhi swadisht the
Yaha ke BURGER me bhi swad nahi hai

🔻 Waha ki CHAI bhi meethi lagti thi
Yaha ki CAPACHINO me bhi mithas nahi hai

🔸 Wo BLUE UNIFORM aur JEANS me ek confidence tha
Aaj FORMAL me bhi comfort nahi hai

🔹 Wo BLACK SHOES me jo baat tha
Woh aaj ADIDDAS aur NIKE me nahi hai

🔸 COLLEGE BUS ki aakhri seat pe baith ke Gaaye hue Gaano ki jaise ab Dhun bhi yaad nahi hai
Ab bas saamne ek Computer Screen hai aur hasne layak koi mazak nahi hai

🔺 Faculty se ladte waqt ye pata bhi nahi tha ki Manager ke samne kuch bol bhi nahi paenge
Ab to ye bhi nahi pata hota ki hum wapas Ghar kab jaenge

▫ Ek Jhuthi Muskurahat liye hum jaise jee rahe hai
Zindagi ka koi bhi Ghum ho Office ke kaam ke saath pee rahe hai

▪ Subah ka ek Message: "Aaj nahi chalte yaar"
Ab: "Its 9.30 where are u??" me badal gaya hai

♦ Pehle jiss hasti ko lagbhag pura College janta tha
Aaj wo ek CUBICAL me simat ke reh gaya hai

💠 Pehle ek dusre ki party me jaise bill badhane jate the
Aaj ki Partiyo me thodi si Khusiya paane jate hai

🔘 Pehle Best Friend B'day pe cake na laye to gussa ho jate the
Aaj to Best Friend se B'day pe mil bhi nahi pate hai

🔷 Woh College group ki ladaiya jo agle din hi bhul jaate the
Aaj Manager aur Subordinate ki jung me tabdeel ho gayi hai

🔶 Exam hall ki "ek line bata de yaar"
Wo ek line ab Google pe bhi nahi mil rahi hai

🔴 Pehle jinhe ghanto baith ke hasate the
Aaj unse jee bhar ke baat karne ka bhi time nahi hai

⚫ Pehle jinse mile bina din nhi kat.ta tha
Aj unke bina zindagi kat rahi hai

⚪ Wo Mid-Sem me ek shabd bhi na likhne ki azadi
Aaj jaise badi badi Excel sheet update karne ki majburi me tabdeel ho gayi hai

🔵 "Tune kitna padha plz mujhe bhi padha de yaar" yaha koi nahi sunta
"I have done my work please review it" hi hamari favorite line ban gayi hai

☑ Dil kehta saari bandishe tod ke wapas chala jaau….
Ek baar fir apne school / college me wapas laut jaau..!!🎭
Saurabh Moondhra
Sent from my Windows Phone

Happy Diwali

Day 8

Sent from my Windows Phone

Day 6

Day 4