Pace of Life

Always knew that life has a fast pace, have known that since my school teachers said “You guys will miss these days of your life, no one cares for students like SCHOOL teachers do”, while hitting us on our palms with a wooden ruler. With blood red palms the school days just zipped by.

Then came college life, which too went by in no time. But during that our chemistry madam always told us “Don’t spend your life sitting in the canteen, you never know when life will leave you behind and if you don’t attend my classes I will kick your ass” (She actually said that, and in eleventh standard, it’s a big deal if your teacher says ASS and doesn’t mean a donkey.)

After college, dad decided to take over the reigns of reiterating the mantra of life. Every morning he would yell, “Do something in life, look at Jayesh, at your age he's already got an M-tech degree, you at least get a life!”

Having had enough, I decided to tame this wild horse called life and made a oh-so-wise (proven wrong over time) move of getting a girl and a little bit of work if time permitted, and for the first time, the wild horse wasn’t running away. No one was yelling about the hectic pace of life, I thought I had finally mastered the art of keeping up with times.

But all bubbles burst, so did my so-called “In-control-of-life” bubble. A few days back, a ring on my left hand (courtesy my “fiancée”) showed that life was on the move again. And this time life is having gala of a time at my expense. Here’s how

My brother, who I considered OLD since the day he got married, is awaiting me to come on his side of the fence.

My 30-year-old-married friend has a stupid smirk on her face ever since I got engaged.

My building chic who is only 2 years younger than I am is calling me an UNCLE.

People expect me to grow up

Random chics start a conversation in the lift

Fiancée has this look on her face that she is going to tame me

Mom & Dad keeps saying “Now we’ll see whether you are a lion or a timid cat”

My recently married friend (my only solace) seems like he is trying to tell me “Run, Vijay Run” but somehow can’t muster the courage because his wife is around.

A marathi movie called “Zak marli bayko keli” (Shaadi karke fas gaya yaar kinds) gets released on the day of my engagement

So my message to all you guys is, life is fast so keep up with it, for if you think you are in control of it, it turns you into a 25 year old Engaged uncle staring down the barrel of the deadliest weapon called marriage.

Disclaimer:- If my in-laws or fiancée happens to read this, please don’t change your minds. This post should not encourage people to start addressing me as an uncle and finally to my guy gang, you can run you can hide, but will meet the same fate as I did.

3007, Hilton Towers :Part II

"Hello viewers, today I have really special guests in our studio, the father son-pair who have taken business operated in India to a whole new level. The have literally put India on the world map by buying controlling stakes in so many foreign incorporations. Their stocks have doubled in the last year after breaking all records in the previous year. I guess by now all of you know who I am talking about. Indeed I am talking about The Kukreja’s. Welcome to ‘Cutting Edge’."

"It’s an honor to be here", replied the calm looking father who was dressed simply in a sparkling white shirt and trousers.

"At the risk of sounding pompous I would like to correct you that the stocks grew at 2.7 times this year", said the young and dynamic Chetan Kukreja, the heir to the Kukreja Industries.
"So sorry sir, but the kind of numbers your organization keeps churning its getting a little difficult to track, just how do you manage it."

"Well we have the right people for the right job at the right time." The Kukreja’s almost said in chorus.

20 minutes later in the interview.

"Sir, can you tell us after all these acquisitions and mergers which company remains to be your prized possession?"

"I would have to say BluePont Inc. was a nice feather for our teams cap", said Sr. Kukreja.

"My choice regarding this is different. I think my favorite moment was when we took over Krystal Komunications", said a visibly excited Chetan.

Chetan said before anyone else could speak, "Before you guys look all perplexed as to why I care about a relatively very small part of our venture I will answer your question."
"Many years back my father used to work in that company, its as if the start of his career was from there. So it’s like coming a full circle" Chetan continued.

"Well that’s kind of a fairy tale ride for you guys, to purchase the company that Kukreja sir worked in. One final question, they say behind every successful person there is a woman’s hand. In your case it would be?" asked the host.

"I am sure my son will agree with me about this one, its his late mother Kaushalya."

"There you have it folks, a company with an guardian angel in the form of Late Mrs. Kaushalya, with a guiding hand of Mr. Kukreja and a dynamic leader in form of Mr. Chetan Kukreja there is only one way their company’s profit charts are going, thru the roof."

After the interview the father-son duo left the studio and headed home. "Chetan I did not know that Krystal Kommunications was so special to you. In a way, Krystal has indeed given us a lot in life."

"No dad, Krystal Kommunications is close to my heart because of what it has taken from us."
The millionaire did not know how to respond to his son, he knew that the fight for the post of C.E.O in Krystal Kommunications 15 years back had cost him heavily, a relieving letter and a bullet through his wife’s head. Plus the possible allegations of him being involved with the underworld.

Its not as if he did not understand Chetan’s point of view, but he knew his son always had a temper problem and he was a danger to everyone around him when he was angry.
"Chetan, had it not been for me leaving that organization, we would have never seen this day. We would have not been businessmen; I would have earned a paltry sum of 40-50 lac per anum."

"Dad are you telling me, that all this is more than mom?"

"I am not, she was my wife too you know. All I am saying is that there is nothing that can be done now."

"There was something that can be done. And I did it."

"Driver, stop the car. Chetan will drive, you take the other car." said the angry and disturbed father. As soon as the driver stepped out and Chetan got into the drivers seat his father asked him, "What did you do Chetan? Were you involved with the recent incidents at Hilton Towers?"

The car sped up as Chetan spoke in a fit of rage "They put a bullet through mom to make you let-go of the thing you loved, the post of the CEO and I made them shoot another bullet so that they could hold onto something they love."

"We don’t know if Rajan Talreja did all of that just so that he can be a C.E.O of Krystal Kommunications. We don’t know if the rumors about Rajan hiring that henchman to get rid of Kaushalya were true. The police never found anything concrete. Police record says that henchman was in prison when Kaushalya died."

"All I have to say is that now we know, Rajan and the henchman shot each others wife. Police never found anything concrete and their records will show that we were in Germany for a conference when of all this happened."

The car just sped thru the western express highway. Mr. Kukreja looked outside not knowing what to say; he saw Hilton Towers and all he could think was, "Kaushalya I hope you are at peace now."