I was told many years ago by friends, soothsayers who i would visit wt my friend that i would make property. "You will buy a house." I never remembered it. Always thought it can NEVER be so, bcoz there was just NO way for me to make profits, save & make a house of my own. I however had an itch a few years ago.
Reasons are plenty. I wanted a place of my own. People may say that my father's property is mine, but i ALWAYS say & believe it is NOT. It is his, its his priority whom to give it to or leave it in the name of anyone.
It also happened that a few years ago my famous hot cook Radha told me how she is buying a house in Virar. Even if it is a chawl i still think its awesome that this poor illiterate lady was married forcibly by her parents to an abso skunk who left this hottie for some worker on his work site & dumped her wt 2 children. However at that time i really felt pathetic for myself.
People say Maharashtrians born in Mumbai, basically the natives like me are 'susegath' unambitious, lazy. Now i don't think everyone can be generalised. However, i do admit i am lazy by nature, i'd love if a remote could do a lot of my work, or for that matter machines. I often ask myself why do i have to work so much, that too sooo hard. I'd rather retire. Yeah i often dream of a green lawn, garden & do gardening...laze around, ofcorz all that paid for by some other means than my hard work.
Really speaking i am like a busy bee. I can never sit in one place for long, i love to be on the move, but important point is AT MY PACE. i don't like to be pushed around. SO suddenly i rose from my slumber, when Radha told me she had bought a place. I felt immense admiration for her, but felt angry at myself. I felt, what's the use of all this hard work, if i am unable to buy myself a house?
In the mean time my name was cleared for the Press Club, the excitement was short lived b’coz the then CM Vilasrao refused to sign Pr Club’s proposal for this hsg scheme. For nearly three years this scheme was pushed under the carpet. I went & saw 2 houses -Quite depressing. Had started thinking of zeroing in Panvel, Sanpada types (vvv far it is) by then my sister came & went. People began advising me how the new airport will come up at Panvel & I shld buy a place there…there was also a lot of mystery surrounding the future of my parents’ home in Girgaum.
My sister left for back home (US) in July & one night my friend called to tell me, “Neeta check your email.” Mid-July 2009 onwards till March first week 2010 it has been one whirlwind breezy time. Collecting papers, collating them, Xeroxing 1000s of copies, evaded one corrupt officer by complaining to the higher authorities. Initial delay took place & with it was some sense of disappointment & feeling of bitterness. I eventually sent an SMS to MHADA chief & dear old friend Gautam Chatterjee. I did NOT seek his help but simply informed him.
Then had to wait patiently for MHADA to sanction my file, meanwhile the PRO Vaishali too put in a good word to process my file faster. However I did not bypass the Pr club that had taken the onus to be the coordinating agency. Yes, they still owe us Rs 5000, as they had promised to return that amount once we took possession of our houses.
Then began another process began though it wasn’t tedious or more so emotionally taxing –HOME LOAN. It definitely wasn’t as they show in ads, but the sr asst mgr at the SBI HQ was amazing. She put in overtime so that I could get hold of my cheques personally at 7.00pm sharp. I ran to see a film after that. Since then Prateeksha nagar & me have this love-hate relationship.
I still can’t believe its my house. Every month I see money being deducted from my account, a huge lumpsum…less said the better. I love to crib & have bunch of friends who tell me “Your pay will never be the same, it will always increase, at least you have a house of your own.”
Sure, salary NEVER remains the same, but hope people know I’ve been incurring pay cut since over a yr. More over I went on a scholarship last year for 4 months, the newspaper I work has NOT bothered to consider a study leave, 4 months special leave by giving me at basic salary. They were forcing me to take Paid Leave. I had to muscle my way with the HR head that it was NO bloody leave, I would begin my day everyday by 6.30am attend 8.15am class & finish by 5-5.30pm then research, do home work & project work. It was by NO means a HOLIDAY. Sure it was a nice break & just when the world economy went in recession.
So here I have a new house, NO money to put things in it. My salary gets deducted every month with an EMI for a hsg loan & NO other means of salary or increment. I have a house….at least something that shows my own name….!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Festering environments today
What does one say when top officials of companies subtly play games, harass, make sexual advances in a paternalistic manner & puts the female staff & juniors under immense pressure? There is a top official of a media company who never knew how to sell newspapers or has anything to do with media. He in fact disassociates himself from the newspaper he is the top boss of.
This top official doesn't mind getting tipsy at official parties, directly coming on editorial floor & bullying female reporters. Sadly, he has not been put in his place...all fear for their jobs. The official is known to take frequent smoke breaks, talk loudly & actually tell juniors who speak or laugh aloud to maintain silence. He sneaks upto journalists' computers and question if someone tries to play solitaire, chat or do something legal, for a small break.
A few days ago this official sneaked upto a senior journalist & told her "wow you have time to play cards." So she asked "Why have i broken any rules?" No no he shouted aloud and came to her desk, "I only wish i had so much of time." SHe mustered courage & said that she had filed the story & then said v casually & lightly, "Well sir you take frequent smoke breaks while i'm playing this only after i've finished my work." Now he laughed it off but we knew he would not take this lightly.
Within a few days that journalist wrote an article of her foreign assignment. She received SMSz from even colleagues from rival newspapers. She got good feedback fm within the paper too. She was pleased people read gossip about people & events pertaining to another language. Suddenly her happiness was brought to a rude halt by the official. Now in between the top 2 editors of the paper had informed the whole team & team heads that NO ONE will directly speak to that Top official, it has to be through those 2 editors.
So when last week the top official called upon the female journalist, she spoke to the bureau head abt it, he told her its ok go & check. This man took off on a tirade against her. He pulled out the paper put spit on his fingers to turn over the pages (eeks) & questioned her about that article. She was brave enough to say what's wrong. "Ita tongue-in-cheek, I've not maligned anyone, what's the problem?" He smirked & snapped at her saying, "What tongue in cheek ha...you go out on this event, get entertained, have fun & write all this..." so she was baffled..he continued, "We sent you on this mission, there were few others too from marketing, what is this you write." "Who do you report to? Who are your bosses? how did they sanction this?"
So she said "yes pl speak to my bosses. You said there were others, Who were the others? there were only us 2 women." Moreso, she pointed out to him that the organisers infact that put up even women journos in shady red-light kind of area & in fact he shld be concerned abt his females staff. She even asked him to go on his PC & read blogs of internatinal women on that hotel. She then questioned him, "The office didn't send us 2 women. ALso there weren't any other person besides the 2 of us," she said.
The official continued lambasting. He had NOT even read the copy correctly. It was a literary event, while he was at bay completely. He called out to his secretary who then told him the sales staff had gone on a business trip. The female reporter snapped at him & said, "see I was telling you. I hadn't gone on this trip, pl read the article."
This narration can give anyone sensible an idea of the affairs going on at that work place. The daily problems of finding good, exclusive news apart, the staff-especially women journos - have to deal with abso lunatic officials. Who do NOT read their own papers, do NOT bother to cross check before lambasting their juniors. Imagine the environment & pressure the staff must be working under.
The lady stuck her neck out. She promptly went & told the 2 editors. They told her its ok, don't worry. They said not to take that official seriously & they will tackle it.
This top official doesn't mind getting tipsy at official parties, directly coming on editorial floor & bullying female reporters. Sadly, he has not been put in his place...all fear for their jobs. The official is known to take frequent smoke breaks, talk loudly & actually tell juniors who speak or laugh aloud to maintain silence. He sneaks upto journalists' computers and question if someone tries to play solitaire, chat or do something legal, for a small break.
A few days ago this official sneaked upto a senior journalist & told her "wow you have time to play cards." So she asked "Why have i broken any rules?" No no he shouted aloud and came to her desk, "I only wish i had so much of time." SHe mustered courage & said that she had filed the story & then said v casually & lightly, "Well sir you take frequent smoke breaks while i'm playing this only after i've finished my work." Now he laughed it off but we knew he would not take this lightly.
Within a few days that journalist wrote an article of her foreign assignment. She received SMSz from even colleagues from rival newspapers. She got good feedback fm within the paper too. She was pleased people read gossip about people & events pertaining to another language. Suddenly her happiness was brought to a rude halt by the official. Now in between the top 2 editors of the paper had informed the whole team & team heads that NO ONE will directly speak to that Top official, it has to be through those 2 editors.
So when last week the top official called upon the female journalist, she spoke to the bureau head abt it, he told her its ok go & check. This man took off on a tirade against her. He pulled out the paper put spit on his fingers to turn over the pages (eeks) & questioned her about that article. She was brave enough to say what's wrong. "Ita tongue-in-cheek, I've not maligned anyone, what's the problem?" He smirked & snapped at her saying, "What tongue in cheek ha...you go out on this event, get entertained, have fun & write all this..." so she was baffled..he continued, "We sent you on this mission, there were few others too from marketing, what is this you write." "Who do you report to? Who are your bosses? how did they sanction this?"
So she said "yes pl speak to my bosses. You said there were others, Who were the others? there were only us 2 women." Moreso, she pointed out to him that the organisers infact that put up even women journos in shady red-light kind of area & in fact he shld be concerned abt his females staff. She even asked him to go on his PC & read blogs of internatinal women on that hotel. She then questioned him, "The office didn't send us 2 women. ALso there weren't any other person besides the 2 of us," she said.
The official continued lambasting. He had NOT even read the copy correctly. It was a literary event, while he was at bay completely. He called out to his secretary who then told him the sales staff had gone on a business trip. The female reporter snapped at him & said, "see I was telling you. I hadn't gone on this trip, pl read the article."
This narration can give anyone sensible an idea of the affairs going on at that work place. The daily problems of finding good, exclusive news apart, the staff-especially women journos - have to deal with abso lunatic officials. Who do NOT read their own papers, do NOT bother to cross check before lambasting their juniors. Imagine the environment & pressure the staff must be working under.
The lady stuck her neck out. She promptly went & told the 2 editors. They told her its ok, don't worry. They said not to take that official seriously & they will tackle it.
My quick Dubai trip
To attend Marathi Literary Meets are hilarious to say the least. Read on more for the quick trip to Dubai, 2nd Marathi sahitya sammelan...
Literature, poetry and ego clashes in Dubai
Marathi Sahitya Sammelans in Maharashtra have always been spicy meets, with ego clashes galore. And, the event in Dubai this March was no different.
For starters, the chief sponsor, Dhananjay Datar, director, Al Adil Trading Group of companies, and the Maharashtra Mandal were at loggerheads. This bitterness meant their tour agents were different. The stay, naturally, was contrasting. While the main organisers put up their guests in swanky hotels, journalists were put in a hotel that beggared belief.
While the hotel's disco music gave us vibrating massages we didn't ask for, its lights flickered till the wee hours outside our windows leaving us bleary eyed the next morning. Of course, our entry to Dubai was another story. Within an hour of landing, we were whisked away for a quickie tour, probably to save expenses later. Our pleas of reaching the venue in time fell on deaf ears.
With all this going on, we wanted to know just why Datar was sponsoring the event. Local Maharashtrians were more than happy to fill us in on the gossip. Apparently, Datar, who comes from a wealthy family, had been denied access to the family resources during his father's lifetime. The father thought his ostentatious son would dry up the family coffers with his spending — Datar had celebrated his son's thread ceremony on a plane.
After his father's death, Datar started hobnobbing with the who's who of Maharashtra politics, and loved organising various international events. The literary meet was one of them. Incidentally, his Rolls Royce became a vehicle for peace at the Dubai event. A huge fight had ensued between Kautikrao Thale-Patil, chairman of Sahitya Mandal, Sanjivani Patil chairperson Maharashtra Mandal and Datar. After the fight, Datar chauffeured Thale-Patil in his Rolls Royce. He said, "I fulfilled Thale-Patil's wish to sit in a Rolls Royce."
Literature, poetry and ego clashes in Dubai
Marathi Sahitya Sammelans in Maharashtra have always been spicy meets, with ego clashes galore. And, the event in Dubai this March was no different.
For starters, the chief sponsor, Dhananjay Datar, director, Al Adil Trading Group of companies, and the Maharashtra Mandal were at loggerheads. This bitterness meant their tour agents were different. The stay, naturally, was contrasting. While the main organisers put up their guests in swanky hotels, journalists were put in a hotel that beggared belief.
While the hotel's disco music gave us vibrating massages we didn't ask for, its lights flickered till the wee hours outside our windows leaving us bleary eyed the next morning. Of course, our entry to Dubai was another story. Within an hour of landing, we were whisked away for a quickie tour, probably to save expenses later. Our pleas of reaching the venue in time fell on deaf ears.
With all this going on, we wanted to know just why Datar was sponsoring the event. Local Maharashtrians were more than happy to fill us in on the gossip. Apparently, Datar, who comes from a wealthy family, had been denied access to the family resources during his father's lifetime. The father thought his ostentatious son would dry up the family coffers with his spending — Datar had celebrated his son's thread ceremony on a plane.
After his father's death, Datar started hobnobbing with the who's who of Maharashtra politics, and loved organising various international events. The literary meet was one of them. Incidentally, his Rolls Royce became a vehicle for peace at the Dubai event. A huge fight had ensued between Kautikrao Thale-Patil, chairman of Sahitya Mandal, Sanjivani Patil chairperson Maharashtra Mandal and Datar. After the fight, Datar chauffeured Thale-Patil in his Rolls Royce. He said, "I fulfilled Thale-Patil's wish to sit in a Rolls Royce."
Monday, April 05, 2010
SHANIA Episode & latest film
Now i am NOT much of a follower today especially of Pakistani or Indian cricket teams & more so tennis players. The couple Sania Mirza & Shoaib Mulik are in the news. Since the announcement of their engagement they are dominating our newspapers & tv.
This Ayesha urf, alias Maha -pardon me but she really looks Maha (BIG, Mega) & what with that smirk in her eyes! There is something definitely wrong at both the ends. This Shoaib comes across as the male chudail. He's goofed ( should we say fucked) majorly. This Ayesha whatever was born in Saudi, lived there & Dubai for most of her college life, when she met Shoaib. Now this Pakistani lad wasn't much of a name till his whole marraige, divorce episode came to light. These 2 knew each other in college, would meet frequently, got friendly & must've definitely had some sex. When things got too close, like Shoaib got Ayesha whatever preggies, the girl suddenly realised her Muslim roots & do's don'ts of religion.
This is from some Muslims of Dubai, that i heard. Till then Shoaib was 20 & not yet popular crick player. SO the Ayesha whatever began getting pushy, get married was her mantra. Began putting family pressure. Meanwhile Shoaib convinced her the time wasn't rt for marriage & more so baby production, because he wanted to make a name for himself. By then the Ayesha whatever must've got depresed. In order to keep her parents' anxiety at bay she forced nikkah...Shoaib's advisors told him he can have telephone nikkah...then for 6-7 yrs he hushed the matter. Tried to push under the carpet. He forgot he had even if a namesake nikkah, it still was wt some Ayesha whatever.
Now Ayesha whatever isn't a simple village belle. She & her family look to be publicity mongers, may be social climbers. To their dismay the girl's all problems made her big, while Shoaib's name became really big. Then came a Sania in his life. Now how was he to deal with this all? So he came up wt this theory of some Ayesha whatever being someone pretty, who got married, while another imposter, fake Ayesha or real Maha (We'll NEVER know who is real or what the truth is), is actually fake. The whole tele nikkah is true, but if he says talaq & it won't even cost him more than Rs 5000 mehr, he can't expose this part of his life & the remaining truth that he till now hidden fm his lady love Sania.
So this Shoaib male Item number has kept two young birds in his fists, trying to hit them at one time. Right now the love, sex or passion are running high so Sania & Shoaib will be happy. Trouble may begin later. More so this pathological liar won't be able to change his spots - real side- Sania will be left wt his child alone to fend for both. But right now this episode has done miracles that NO soap opera in India could. All Hindi News channels have toppled the TRP ratings of tv entertainment channels. FOr next few days this on-off nikkah is giving full entertainment to a sex-starved nation. Meanwhile the politicians on both the sides of borders seem to have much in common -putting their feet in their mouths & saying utter nonsense. Meanwhile the passionate youth seem happy they have a new love story as inspiration. Now Ram Gopal Verma - since he hails from the hyderabad will delcare he will make a film. Meanwhile being Indo-Pak issue, it is up ONLY mahesh Bhatt's sleeve.
So his daughter will go to Pak find a look alike of Shoaib, get Ateef Ali to sing some throaty numbers, find Sonam Kapoor look alike (NOT Sania look alike), then begin shooting in Pak while all drama unfolds here, the taped DVDs, CDs of the controversy & famed nikkah will be delivered to Pooja's film set & within a month we'll get fresh jism filled Vishesh film production. The title will be 'Salakhey'...tag line fm Star news will be 'sehra ya salakhey.' People will go & watch the film & critics will rate this docutainment as a satire on the Shaina controversy. However Shaina NC film designer will threaten to file defamation suit for the couple being called as Shaina!
This Ayesha urf, alias Maha -pardon me but she really looks Maha (BIG, Mega) & what with that smirk in her eyes! There is something definitely wrong at both the ends. This Shoaib comes across as the male chudail. He's goofed ( should we say fucked) majorly. This Ayesha whatever was born in Saudi, lived there & Dubai for most of her college life, when she met Shoaib. Now this Pakistani lad wasn't much of a name till his whole marraige, divorce episode came to light. These 2 knew each other in college, would meet frequently, got friendly & must've definitely had some sex. When things got too close, like Shoaib got Ayesha whatever preggies, the girl suddenly realised her Muslim roots & do's don'ts of religion.
This is from some Muslims of Dubai, that i heard. Till then Shoaib was 20 & not yet popular crick player. SO the Ayesha whatever began getting pushy, get married was her mantra. Began putting family pressure. Meanwhile Shoaib convinced her the time wasn't rt for marriage & more so baby production, because he wanted to make a name for himself. By then the Ayesha whatever must've got depresed. In order to keep her parents' anxiety at bay she forced nikkah...Shoaib's advisors told him he can have telephone nikkah...then for 6-7 yrs he hushed the matter. Tried to push under the carpet. He forgot he had even if a namesake nikkah, it still was wt some Ayesha whatever.
Now Ayesha whatever isn't a simple village belle. She & her family look to be publicity mongers, may be social climbers. To their dismay the girl's all problems made her big, while Shoaib's name became really big. Then came a Sania in his life. Now how was he to deal with this all? So he came up wt this theory of some Ayesha whatever being someone pretty, who got married, while another imposter, fake Ayesha or real Maha (We'll NEVER know who is real or what the truth is), is actually fake. The whole tele nikkah is true, but if he says talaq & it won't even cost him more than Rs 5000 mehr, he can't expose this part of his life & the remaining truth that he till now hidden fm his lady love Sania.
So this Shoaib male Item number has kept two young birds in his fists, trying to hit them at one time. Right now the love, sex or passion are running high so Sania & Shoaib will be happy. Trouble may begin later. More so this pathological liar won't be able to change his spots - real side- Sania will be left wt his child alone to fend for both. But right now this episode has done miracles that NO soap opera in India could. All Hindi News channels have toppled the TRP ratings of tv entertainment channels. FOr next few days this on-off nikkah is giving full entertainment to a sex-starved nation. Meanwhile the politicians on both the sides of borders seem to have much in common -putting their feet in their mouths & saying utter nonsense. Meanwhile the passionate youth seem happy they have a new love story as inspiration. Now Ram Gopal Verma - since he hails from the hyderabad will delcare he will make a film. Meanwhile being Indo-Pak issue, it is up ONLY mahesh Bhatt's sleeve.
So his daughter will go to Pak find a look alike of Shoaib, get Ateef Ali to sing some throaty numbers, find Sonam Kapoor look alike (NOT Sania look alike), then begin shooting in Pak while all drama unfolds here, the taped DVDs, CDs of the controversy & famed nikkah will be delivered to Pooja's film set & within a month we'll get fresh jism filled Vishesh film production. The title will be 'Salakhey'...tag line fm Star news will be 'sehra ya salakhey.' People will go & watch the film & critics will rate this docutainment as a satire on the Shaina controversy. However Shaina NC film designer will threaten to file defamation suit for the couple being called as Shaina!
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