A Little-Known Heaven

Just as 2019 was about to end, my significant other and I thought it would be a great idea to visit a hill station to challenge our already frigid bearings here at Panipat at the peak of winter with the mercury dipping to a shivery 2 degC, and ended up discovering a little-known heaven, Morni Hills! I dedicate an entire article to this gem of a place not due to its enormity or popularity, both of which it isn’t, but due to the feelings associated with it.

From the dense fog hanging in between the mountain tops blocking out any view of the valley we had just traversed, to the breath-taking Tikkar Taal, surrounded by lush green slopes peeping out of the haze, as we serenely relaxed on a boat in the middle of the lake, the entire image of the place seems to have formed a wallpaper on my retina, that randomly floats around my head every time I close my eyes.

These are the times when I get philosophical about life, planning a peaceful retirement with my loved ones at a secluded locality surrounded by nature, neither too close nor too far from the rest of humanity... Hehe... And while future planning is good and definitely needed, I realized something important that day, as my wifey, waiting for our lunch gazing dreamily into the great yonder, casually mentioned that: “We spend so much time thinking about what’s ahead, but there’ll soon come a time when we’ll be pondering on our past looking upon our glory days as we age...”

When we’re at the beginning of our life’s number line, most times we just look forward, and as we near its end, we usually look backward, but what is missing in this equation is our present, which is our constant companion. I've seen professionals brooding over an elusive elevation, couples panicking to conceive, elderly Samaritans at wits end over their health, and a lot else. But the fact remains that when one has done everything there is to be done in his faculty, mulling over the outcome is utterly ineffectual. As the popular saying goes: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery but today is a gift”... So enjoy it! 

With our new found enlightenment at Morni Hills, we have started to pay more attention to our current bearings, treasuring the smallest moments of togetherness even more, and fully living even the simplest activities like driving down the freeway hand-in-hand into the setting sun or making a home fountain together with some bottles, plaster, paint and a pump, as the only component bought off the market. Gotta say my belle is quite the craftsman in spite of her busy schedule, designing complex 3D birthday cards, fancy newspaper holders and what not with nothing but scraps.

Oh well!... Enough said! It is the last 'teen-year' day of the 21st century...

WISHING A HAPPY & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR & WELCOMING YOU ALL TO THE TWENTIES!

2019: At Full Tilt

Ever experienced the thrill of skiing down an avalanche? Although I haven't had the opportunity yet, but that's exactly what 2019 felt like! From the commissioning of my first BS-VI unit, to my wifey's successful enrollment in the Bar Council of Punjab & Haryana, to my father's superannuation at long last, after nearly thirty six years of devoted service, and finally to the commencement of our family's apparel line, this year has been speeding down the freeway, affording us very little time only for a few short respites.

On the official front, after nearly three months of doggedness and endless perseverance, working thirteen to fourteen hours each day, every day, having rightfully earned a free pass to countless lectures on 'work-life balance' from my better half, I must still admit that the feeling you get after having played such an integral role in the completion and startup of the BS-VI unit for petrol upgradation at Indian Oil's flagship Panipat Refinery, falls short of words. Presently, engaged in the diesel upgradation unit's commissioning, there really are very few avenues where you can contribute directly, albeit in a very humble way in the larger scheme of things, to the betterment of your country and mankind at large.

On the other hand, the day my soul mate went from being Mrs. Priya to Advocate Priya, was a real proud moment for me. I must say there's a certain gravity attached with the newly acquired moniker that is unlike most other professions. That black suit with the white neck-band has an unparalleled appeal, and with an 'advocate' logo on our car, the traffic police too seem to be more reluctant to stop us unnecessarily. Wearing so many hats and juggling between the roles of a lawyer, a homemaker and the primary initiator behind Devs Boutique, with such apparent ease, I wish I could lend more than a hand to my unbelievable wifey, but alas I'm stuck with twelve hour shifts at work more often than not.

On the personal front, with our plates more than full, we somehow managed a few weekend getaways including a revisit of Amritsar, and a trip to the former Colonial hill station, Kasauli, which I would definitely recommend if not for anything else, then at least for an overnight stay in the multitude of resorts that dot its slopes, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the entire valley and the clear blue sky, seamlessly merging in the horizon. Never mind the friendly monkeys who might enter your field of vision though... Who would've thought there would be such an angelic place lurking amidst the polluted plains of North India?!

Then, following our customary hometown visit during the festive season of Durga Puja and taking a diversion to another gem of a place, Lavasa near Pune, with its Venice-like design, it was the hour to get serious about my forthcoming GMAT. Although I hadn't had much time to practice, the biggest shock I received a couple of days prior to the test, was the compulsory requirement of passport as the only acceptable identification for GMAT takers in India. After already having spent a whopping 250$ simply to register for the exam, I had to spend another 150$ on an overnight round trip by air to Panipat, just to obtain my passport, which my wife and I had coincidently obtained very recently for our nearing Europe trip. Although the Premium Plaza Lounge at the Delhi Airport, did manage to take out some of my fatigue, the fate of my already under-prepared attempt at cracking GMAT was sealed. Oh well, all in all I scored a 680, which I'd say wasn't too shabby for the circumstances I was presented. So, GMAT aspirers... Please beware!

After all the joie de vivre, it was finally time to get back to business. But birthdays and anniversaries aside, 2019 wasn't done revealing its bagful of gifts yet. My father, after a long and storied career with Steel Authority of India Ltd., spanning more than three and a half decades, finally bid adieu to his workplace on the 30th of November this year. Having left his mark on countless departments from Marketing to Vigilance to Commercial and lastly retiring as General Manager, Internal Audit, the SAIL stockyard in Mumbai won back to back awards of 'Best Managed Warehouse' in the country, under my father's leadership. Relentless in his personal and professional contributions, my father has always held true to his values even in today's day and age! Wishing my parents for their most golden inning that has just begun, I hope the stylus of the HP Pavilion x360 is serving a better purpose than writing my name over and over for handwriting practice... LOL!

Now, batting in the death overs of the year, it feels strange to think that this will probably be the last 'teen' year many of us will be witnessing in this life. Wrapping up 2019 with some work and definitely some fun, it was good to finally get to know some of the blood-stained history of the place that I've so casually been residing in, since the past four years, finding the leisure to visit the Panipat Museum and Kala Amb, and getting to corelate the same with the movie Panipat just a few days later. Oh! On a side note, the Chokhi Dhani at Panipat is very similar to the one in Jaipur. Having visited both, locals interested to get a unique taste of Rajasthani culture, are highly recommended at least a one-time visit here.

Well... Adios 2019... And welcome 2020...!