Kissa Charu Ka...

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Ok, this is me (in a jazzy golden color shirt) with Charu. Isn't it hard to imagine that she was my girlfriend even though I am looking like a bachaa infront of her? I was one year younger than her and so the height difference...he he. I always used to get consious when mom will take our picture together because even they will call her my girlfriend.

They say, you never forget your first kiss and neither did I. The story (kissa kiss ka) is actually very funny. One day (like every other day), I came from school and had my lunch. After mom went to nap, I went to play with Charu in our servant's quarters as it was empty. This particular day, I told her that we will play a different twist to our everyday game, ghar-ghar. So, she asked me the name and I said, "Kiss kiss". Now, I don't know how I even learned that word coz we didn't had tv and radio used to be very innocent in those times.

Anyways, we played usual ghar-ghar and I kissed her in the end (don't ask me where coz its naughty). So, next day I was again excited and asked her to play the kiss-kiss game again but to my suprise she said, "No". I asked, "But why?". She replied, "I told my mom about it and she said, its not a good game"

I never saw Charu's mom again in Jodhpur. I would run away into my room whenever her mom would come to meet mine. I always imagined her telling my mom, how I took the innocence of her daughter away...lol

Flash-forward (2001)

Mom is shopping and she calls my cell.

"Come and pick me up from Macdonald's"
I saw her standing with some family
"Ricky, aunty ko pehchana"
...and I am thinking, this is the stupidist question our parents ask us
"No, sorry"
"Aree, charu ke mummy. Charu is in LA these days"
...and now I am thinking, shall I run away, will she complain that I ruined her daughter's life...he he

Rest of the conversation was typical hi-hellos...

Charu...

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My first girlfriend, Charu. She is the girl in pink skirt smiling like she always did. Can you see her one broken teeth? I have told some of you about her. She was one year older than me. She was in 1st grade and I was in KG. This was in Jodhpur and its my birthday party picture. Its the same day my other picture with my brother was taken.

I don't remember much about that age except every moment I spent with her. After school, we used to play for 5-6 hours daily. I was a typical MCP guy who would treat her like crap a lot of times (not always though). She was a typical nice girl who would be always there for me when I needed her. I would get very protective of her when other boys would join us for party or something.

I remember, I used to get jealous when Winky (my best friend) would visit me every weekend. I would start giving her special attention when he was around. Finally, she made 2+2 and would love the attention that I would give her, when he was around. So, she would ask me,"When is Winky coming again?" and I would give her more attention...he he.

Notice the bell bottoms and 80s fashion big collar t-shirts of guys behind. The one in polka dot shirt is her father.

When I asked my Mom to send me Charu's picture, she and my cousin again started teasing me because everyone in my family calls her my first girlfriend...LOL

I just noticed, that chotu bacha behind, is looking at my girlfriend...grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

P.S: Next picture will be me and Charu together on my Birthday, so keep watching this space.

The uninhibited laughter...

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This picture brings along so many memories. This was taken in Jodhpur (Rajasthan) on my 5th birthday. I am the one on left, trying to again act cool, my brother who was born in Jodhpur is the one on right and my mom is trying to control us (or just my brother). What I love about this picture is my brother's laugh. He is just so excited to see my toy-gun, which I remember used to make noise and emit some kinda light. Just look at him and how he is enjoying himself. Only a child can have such a laugh, which is so uninhibited. As we grow older we start getting conscious of everything including our laughs.

The horse frame above was done by my mom using that stiching things. She used to paint too but only animals or nature. I try my best to make her start painting again because she was so good but she just doesn't listen to me and gives me bahanas all the time.

The butterfly frames on the top are actual butterflies framed. My parents gave it to my uncle in US who took it there and everyone used to love them because they were so colorful and real. They were only made in Jodhpur but because of Govt. regulations have been banned but it was one-of-a-kind thing. The lamp on the left is one of the oldest lamps we have. It's made from special Hyderabadi black metal with wonderful design to go with it.

Ah!! The memories remain forever...

My strengths...

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My parents. This picture was taken in Gulmarg, Srinagar. We were visiting dad. My family from dad's side had also come and we all were playing in some stream of water when this picture was taken. I love my mom's smile in this one. She is always the live wire of the family, always smiling. The colors of the picture have faded but not their love. The signboard "SPARROW" is the name of my dad's headquarters. I don't think this picture does justice to the beauty of the place though. It was breathtaking.

Boys will be boys...

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This is another of my favourite picture because its a rare picture of me, my dad and my brother in one frame. Also the the setting of the picture is awesome. This picture was taken somewhere in Leh-Ladakh region right besides the magnificient Indus river. My dad was an Army Major then and you can tell that by looking at the one golden sign on his shoulder. I am the one in grey shirt and faded jeans (trying to look all cool). I don't know why I made that pose but its like I am trying to look at the horizon or something. The over-hyper kid infront is my kiddo brother Gagan (a.k.a Kevin). He was always the naughty one as you can tell from the picture. Leh-Ladakh holds a very special place in my heart and just seeing this picture brings so many memories to life...

My Dadajee...

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This is one of my most cherished picture. The smart young man on the extreme left is my Dadajee. He was in British Army. This picture was taken when he was leaving for Congo in Second World War. He used to tell me so many stories about his stay in Congo. It was his first trip abroad and he went by ship at that time. He used to tell me how the food on the ship was the best he ever had at that time. His stories about his hiking trips there, how his base camp was situated near the largest lake in Africa, how he once ate a mirchi that was so teekhi that he couldn't sleep for 2 days, how the tribals used to attack them with poisonous arrows...

P.S: The guy in the middle looks so funny, almost like a comedian from 50s movies...he he