Monday, August 22, 2011

Is my new Salary jinxed?

I took this new job two months ago. I had been working with previous group for over 3 years.. It was fun when I started but later it was a different story, just put it that way I was so ready for the change.
Have been going to school and I thought it would be another few months before I should look into something.
Things changed in my group and one day I just thought I had enough of it, and to my surprised there were job postings in the company. After that it was an easy sail. It felt so quick, my screening and job interview and offer.
The offer part for the most lucrative thing. The job was something different and I felt it was a good beginning for my entry in technology world.
On top of that it was the change I was longing for. The ride was little longer but shorter working hour made it up. I love the office and building and the cafe.. Did I say I was in love ;) Its one of the biggest office and I call it happening place. That’s what I wanted..
And another big love part was the pay hike it came with.
I would be lying if I say money is not important. I think I was happy with everything but was in love with the money part which came with the job.
I didn’t exactly plan How will I spend that Extra money but me being a traveler in heart, I could picture taking boys to Europe soon.
Anyway, that’s not the point. I would have been happy with not doing anything with it for a while. But here comes the jinx part.
I heard so many colleagues saying I was lucky, I heard that many times in my life so I am used to saying thank you and move on. But the way things are going on I don’t feel that "Lucky" anymore.
The second week at work and I banged someone's car while taking my car out. Broke the headlight. Went to security because I felt that is the right way.
They found the owner and he was a nice man. In a week's time those $ 350 Moved out of my account.
My mom used to say that small incidents are to avoid big accidents.
(Bala tal gayi, koi bada kissa hone se rah gaya) So that afternoon I drove home with that feeling, ok I should be fine.
After few weeks we went to Salisbury beach and inside the state park I thought of giving Ashish a break from driving and within 10 minutes I was caught speeding. Damn did I ever mention I hate his car? You just give a little gas and next thing you know you are flying. I was driving at 40 the cop said in the area of 25. :( That $125 was just gone like anything. We drove 80 miles for that state park and after this ticket and sad driving we reached to a point where we had to drive on gravel for few miles and the cop said we may not even get the parking (and the way he said enjoy the park and have a great day I had enough of state park) So we turned back without even going to that state park.. Finally Ashish took me to Salisbury beach and that was a sight. I loved the place and I had fun time. I just say we paid 125 for the parking that day, how does that sound to you?

Now here comes the bigger shock. My car needed the new break pad and I took it to shop Monro in Franklin. I get a call saying the rooters in my car won’t come off and they have to use few things. At that point I didn’t have any choice but the thought came to my mind, oh well here goes my second month’s plus money. And yes the car repair costed me extra $550. I was ok with 400 plus it would have costed me for breaks. That $1000 check was one of the hardest I had to sign.
See I have worked for new job for almost 2 months and I practically have spent extra money I would get with my new job.
One of my best friend was saying to me after my accidents in April that I should changed the car, the same friend told me to take care and take life easy after my accident in office parking lot.
After this break saga she was like Jaya, go back to your previous job.
It’s so funny how things turn out for you sometimes.
I cannot ask for husband's shoulder, he is the man beyond all these apprehension. For him its just part of life. I was happy beyond imagination and now I feel my money is jinxed.. Should I just keep that in some hidden account for unseen Incidents Any suggestion welcome :)

This draft sat on my computer for couple of days and another incident happened. A young driver didn’t see Ajey Crossing the Street and hit him.
 Thank goodness they both were slow, my son is safe and sound. but his couple of months old bike is broken. Now another expense is waiting for the weekend. We all are very happy and relieved that he didn’t get hurt. The driver girl was terrified so Ajey didn’t feel like asking the phone no or anything. My gentleman son…anyway, Hopefully things will go better now on.. I can use all the good wishes from my well-wishers so please keep us in your prayer and thoughts J

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

An evening with Ghulam Ali

Last night was the perfect end to my long weekend.
I went to Ghulam Ali concert with Ashish, Thanks to Neha Sahni and Mirza .
I bought the tickets a week ago and felt oh my.. I should use this money some where else, but I the wish to see Ghulam Ali live won and I couldn’t wait for Sunday.
I had been to few of Jagjit Singh's but never to Ghulam Ali, so didn’t know what to expect.
We were there by 5.25 PM the show was supposed to start at 5.30. The venue was little confusing and lot of people were calling to get the right place. We waited and waited but Ghulam Ali sahib was no where in sight. Finally we got to know that his driver also got lost. I couldn’t stop comparing to the latest Jagjit Singh show I had been to. It was in Boston and was very well organized.
Finally the show started around 7 PM and Ghulam Ali stared singing –
Lakho ke bol sahe sitamgar tere liye. And we all just forgot that we waited and were restless. That was one fabulous ghazals to start the show.
Then he just took over every emotion, feeling and made us feel the way he wanted us to.
He made us feel the sadness of an aashiq with Karoon na yaad magar kis tarah bhulaoon use.
Then he sang Faasle eeasi bhi honge ye khabhi socha na tha. I was just speechless and couldn’t think of anything else in the world.
Then he sang Dil me ek lahar si uyhi hai abhi.. And played/sang the lahar in variety of styles. People went crazy over that variation.
Then came the crown jewel – The Chupke chupke and he just made us feel helpless and deeply in love. The way he sang I felt I was back in my years when love was the most important aspect of life. I was surprised to see that he had the same effect on Ashish too. He sang his first sher and Asish said to me that the concert was worth everything just with one ghazal.
He added few more sher to popular movie version. I am adding those here for you..
Berukhi ke saath sunna darde dil ki daastan-
Woh kalai main tera kangan ghumana yaad hai
Waqte ruksat alvida ka lafz kehne ke liye-
Woh tere sookhe labon ka thar tharana yaad hai
aagaya kal wasl kee shab bhee kahi zikr-e-firaaq-
Woh tera ro ro ke bhi mujhko rulana yaad hai
ba hazaran istirabo sad hazaraan ishteyaque - 2
tujhse vo pehle pehel dil ka lagana yaad hai
It was a long ghazal and he sang it beyond words. He knew very well how to woo the audience. Once he finished I had tears in my eyes and smile on Ashish’s face.
 And then he sang Chamkte chand ko toota hua tara bana dala.. It was a very sad song,
Then he asked the audience and someone shouted tere shahar me aaye hain, he smiled and said han, man aapke shahar me aaya hoon and he sang Ab tere shahar me aaye hain musafir ki tarah another Ghulam Ali gem.
Later he sang 3 punjabi songs, I couldn’t understand much of it but audience had good time with rhythm.
Then came a very light and fun ghazal Mehfil mein baar baar kisi par nazar gai..words for lover of any age..this ghazal had a very nice jugalbandi with Indrojeet on Sitar.
Then he sang Apni tasveeer ko aankho se lagata kya hai another easy to ears ghazals.
Then he sang 2 Punjabi songs and here came my all time favorite
Humko kis ke gum ne mara ye kahani fir sahi.. it brought back memory of my high  shool when I heard this ghazal for the first time.
And then it was time to end the mahfil –e-Ghazal and what could he sing more than Hungama J First he explained and sang the aalap and then came the hungama. The whole auditorium was in different mood by then. It was time to go back in real world and yes none of us were ready for that. We all could just sit and listen to him more and more.
During the show he had many jugalbandi with Tabla (sabir Hussain) sitar and benjo. It was very obvious the repo he had with benjo player Mohmd Basheer khan.
Overall i had one memorable evening and cannot wait for next one :)