Kai Po Che- Basant Panchami Celebrations

04/02/2014- A day to remember forever for its uniqueness and its colorness. I never celebrated this festival before. And i wonder why? It is such a beautiful and joyful festival spreading happiness all over. This time i got a chance to this festival first time in my life time. And what a day it was!! Full of colorful kites, threads and delicious food etc. These days i have made another friend named Pankaj. I met him through Vimal (one of the contractors). We both get along really well being singles. We hardly know each other for a month but it seems like we are kind of good friends. We hang around together, shares wass app messages etc. He told me about his craziness for the festival two days before and we planned to celebrate it together. Being a studious guy in my childhood, i never got a opportunity to showcase my skills in kite flying. Or rather i was never interested in kite flying as it used to depress me as i always failed to make a kite fly up in the sky. It required a special kind of skill which i lacked in.

Having set the background let's delve into realm of fun that i had. On 3rd night of feb 2014, we both went shopping for the kites, heart shaped parashutes, threads, tapes etc. He took me to the streets of kill area which are famous for its craziness for the festival. We bargained around 50 kites along with 6000 meters of strings to fly them. We had dinner then and went to respective homes. Next day it was a govt holiday. Since he is a contractor, it was working day for me but he took off. He called me up in the morning and made the program. He went to his old house in mehna chowk to celebrate the basant with his old friends. then he came to pick me up to his under construction house just a street far from my PG.

We were joined by vimal also being a common friend. We three went upstairs and started preparing ourselves for the celebrations. it was 12 o clock already and people were already celebrating on their roofs with DJ and music systems. Since the house was under construction, we had no music but we managed it with surrounding music. We started flying off with our first kite i held the "charkhri". Pankaj and vimal were so excited as they knew how to fly the kite and then further how to cut the competitor's one. I was enjoying in helping them out, cheering them up. Then they gave the command of a kite which was already flying high. I must say i managed to keep it high until and unless some other kite came my way to cut it off. I was happy that i made a cross connection with some other kite whatever the results were.

From that time onwards i started feeling joy from inside. I gave it a try to some other kites and learned how to fly the same. It was not so hard to actually learning the skill. It was already 3 o clock. In the mean while, vimal got a call from his home. We all decided to go to his home to continue our celebrations. While getting down from the temporary staircase pankaj slipped and got hurt. His ankle got twisted but his spirit not to give up kept us going. We went to vimal's house and straight away went onto the top of roof. There we ordered Pizza, sandwichs, pepsi etc to feed our stomachs. I got to meet his family which were very nice to me. Then we flied some more kites, also caught some.

It was 4 o clock and Vimal got a call from his site and needed his help immediately. We went to site to clear the issue. I asked them to leave me at my room as i was really tired by then and wanted to have some break. I told them to meet up after 2 hours or so. I came back and had a nap. Around 6 o clock, both came in to my apartment and we again started the mission kite. Sun was Setting slowly so we thought to wind up with the kites. We had some parashutes which were then lightened up and left in the sky. What a sight to watch!! As already described, people in bathinda has a special space for basant in their hearts. So there were hundreds of other parashutes in the sky. Whole sky got lightened up as they were looking like twinkling stars. Other guys from PG also joined us. We all sang, danced together and winded up.

As it was a tuesday hence we three went to Bala Ji Mandir for paying our prayers at Goniana like every tuesday. Since it was a festival day , so we were lucky to have a langar at the temple only. The day ended with a fun time ice cream in Dhobi Bajaar. I would always remember this day and will certainly celebrate basant panchami next time also and for the many years to come.

Regards

Parul Goyal

Zira- A Tasteles Journey

As the title suggests, i am going to throw light on my journey in Zira (though it is not ended yet). I got transferred to Zira 23.8.2013, it's been 5 months besides a 20 day stint back in bathinda. Opposite to the meaning to its name, my journey has been dull and tasteless so far. This period has been the worst period of my life. Every day i start my day praying to God to transfer me back to Bathinda.

Though i have got full support from my seniors and juniors at Zira but still my heart is in bathinda. I have tried my level best to get over bathinda but i failed miserably. I have been trying to keep my cool by staying at bathinda only and managing 100km of up down daily in these winters. I had decided to shift my base to Zira but then i just could not help myself. The only person who kept me going is lovely who supported me in every way he could.

Whenever i travel some temple or some religious place, only thing i pray for transfer. Still deep in my heart i feel that i would definitely get transferred back to bathinda. I want this journey to end as soon as possible because these days i am losing it and finding it difficult to compromise. My professional and personal life have suffered a lot already. personally , i spend most of my day time in travelling which is useless. Professionally, I cannot give my hundred percent in the work.

I have tried may ways to get transferred i.e. approaching politicians, department's head but in vain. I feel helpless as i cannot work where i want to. They are not letting me to perform. But probably that's the another aspect of a government job. I will have to live with the fact that i m in government job in which everything depends on their decisions not mine. Sooner or later, i will have to shift to Zira provided my prayers remains unheard.

Regards

Parul Goyal

Happy New Year!!!

This time new year celebrations were to remember forever as i got a chance to pay my prayers to Mata Chintpurni. What a spiritual start to an year!! Hopefully whole year will turn out to be lucky for me vide her blessings. I made a lame excuse to my boss asking for two day leave despite the hectic official schedule. He allowed me without much ado. I was surprised to receive his sanction with a big smile on his face. That was the first time in the period of last two years when i genuinely thanked him.

Last time i visited chintpurni in 2005 along with my college friends but i did not remember anything about it. Vimal (a contractor cum friend) visits the holy shrine every month. I was planning to go along with him for last few months. But Mata favored me on the very auspicious day: New Year. We reached there on 31st evening. After spending night at a hotel, we geared up ourselves to fit into a long queue. it took us 6 hours to finally meet the goddess personally that too for a very short while. But i felt pure and tension free after paying my prayers. The purpose of visit solved. I reached back home in Bathinda at around 7pm on 1st January 2014.

First Sunday of 2014, 5th of january : Time 10.58am ]

As MP elections are nearing, Sanagt Darshans of Badal family is on spree. Our department is the first one to receive all the nuances from them as we are considered as one of the useless and non performing department. So whole of the department is busy with the preparations to get a shield somehow. When chief of the department is residing in Bathinda to take care of the arrangements how can we, as much juniors, think of getting a day off. But i managed to bunk as it was a first sunday of 2014 and i did not want to waste on a family for whom i am least bothered. So here i am, writing my first blog of year 2014.

A Review at Past

Last year i.e. 2013 was like a gas balloon. Before i could hold it firmly, it flew away. I could not realize the importance of personal life as work pressure and professional life kept me busy like hell. Still following are the instances which i would like to store forever:

• I could not take care of my health which resulted in an increase in waist line from 30" to 34". I did not think that i would ever touch that mark. I am disappointed health wise.

• I started looking for a perfect match for myself but could not succeed. I was approached from about half a dozen families but things did not turn out. I am disappointed on a personal front.

• I did not even touch a book, neither i studied something which could enhance my knowledge or at least benefit in my future. I am disappointed on study front.

• Our family bought our own house and I could help my brother to open his own shop making my whole family happy. I was not disappointed on family front which is the only good thing to cherish about 2013.

• Most of my friends got married which lead me to enjoy a soup all alone in vikas marriage in November as all other were enjoying with their better halves. Now we usually don't talk the way we used to. I found another guy called lovely to spare me from loneliness but i am not sure of the duration of this friendship. I am happy for them as they settled down.

• I visited Amarnath last year, I visited Mata Chintpurni. I started visiting Bala Ji temple In Goniana every tuesday. I am content on spiritual front.

• I competed two years in government job, my probation period will soon be cleared. i got transferred to Zira twice within Two months. I took a pledge to remain calm and hard working last year. I am happy that exhibit congruity to the same.

Pledge on New Year Eve 2014

Overall 2013 had been year full of disappointments on personnel front but full of happiness on family front. I take a pledge to remain calm and hardworking. I would like to give more time to myself definitely in this year. Hopefully i will be able to stick to it.

In the end, i would like to wish all my readers a very happy New Year. May God Bless You all with all the happiness in the life you desire of and as they say:

" Rabb Sareya Da Bhalla Kari..par Shuru Mere to Kari ;) "

Regards

Parul Goyal

Sixth Sense

Since my transfer back to Bathinda, i have been partying hard. But deep down my heart, i always feared of something bad happening in near future. I had intuition that my happiness would not live longer. i discussed it with some of my friends also but they consoled like any other friend. my sixth sense was not allowing me to digest it. sooner or later, something bad will be going to happen; i feared.

On 20.11.2013, i got a call from my accountant that i had been transferred back to Zira once again with immediate effect. i could not believe him so i enquired about the news from office. they also confirmed the orders. my world of happiness shattered in the same way i predicted. i was shocked at the decision which came after a request letter from the fellow sdo who wanted to come to bathinda. he pursued the case from a political leader to which my department could not retaliate and shifted me to Zira.

From 30.10.13 to 19.11.13, a short span of about 20 days, i lived my life like never before. i was very happy and enjoying every bit of it. But as they say, somebody's ill wishes worked against me and i could not sustain my position as an sdo in Bathinda. my service book is again sent back to zira in papers which was not yet received in Bathinda in compliance to my earlier orders.

Lovely is another name who requires special mention in middle of all this. he was the only one person with whom i could share my personnel , professional problems. these 20 days would not have been the same without his support. though i have not said him on his face, but i really thank him from bottom of my heart for being there in my tough times. i know him for last two years as a contractor, but now i know him as a close friend. I don't know if i would be able to maintain our equation after the transfer to Zira in future, but i would definitely cherish all those moments spent with him.

it's been 5.5 years since i graduated from college and entered into this professional world but there are only three persons apart from my college friends with whom i shared special bonding viz. Piyush Ranka in Flour Daniel during my Gurgaon tenure, Kiran Tamwada in Reliance during my noida tenure and Lovely Bansal during my Bathinda tenure. The earlier two viz. Piyush and Kiran slowly faded away from my life as all of us moved ahead in respective lives. They are still in touch but, not like, they used to be. Similar should happen with lovely case. But i feel, he is going to be there for lifetime. This is what my sixth sense is all about. C...ya...

Regards

Parul Goyal

"I want to become an SDO"

It's been two months since we had a talk. in the last post, i told you all about my transfer to Zira. i have quite busy lately due to the hectic schedule i was following. But the amusement lies in the news which i am going to disclose in the next line. I have been transferred back to Bathinda on dated 29.10.2013. for about two months from 23.08.2013 to 29.10.2013, i was appointed as SDE Zira and was doing up down from Bathinda only. I was hopeful that i will get back to my favorite station so i did not opt for renting a room in Zira and that's the reason i was busy in handling work, catching up with buses, returning to Bathinda late evenings.

How those two months were, i do not want to mention even. though it was my first transfer, i may come across many more in my entire service, but still i was not ready for transfer at this moment, may be in future. If i would be given an option, i would like to erase those two months from my life. I know that's difficult, because that period has already been entered in my service book. Still in my blogs, which will be solely narration for my life in my later years, i do not want to mention about it. the only thing i would like to mention is a name of a person who stood by me throughout this period," Lovely".

on 30.10.2013, my office name plate changed to SDE-6, Bathinda. i have been given responsibility of three towns viz. Goniana, Rampura, Bhucho along with my old station Bathinda. the transfer became more special because of festival season around. Diwali happened on 4.11.2013. i enjoyed diwali at home with family they were all excited about my transfer. Bathinda has become more or less like a home town for our family over the past few years due to frequent visits of Papa.

It's been 15 days since transfer, every day me and lovely are having party. sometimes we were joined with other people also. one day he came along with his nephew called Ritik. he studies in 8th standard and is ready adorable. while we were talking, i just asked him what he would like to become when he will grow up. He promptly answered, " main bda hokar SDO bnna chahta hoon." i did not know that he knew about me and my post. Lovely must have briefed him about me. I was jaw struck at his answer. he continued the conversation asking me that how did i become SDO at this age. Although it was not a big deal as there are many other youngsters like me out there who have achieved much more in life as compared to me. But coming this appraisal from a child, was really heart touching. Suddenly i felt so proud of myself.

Through this platform, i would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who have contributed in some way or other in my life and have helped me out in tough situations, have given me courage to fight odd ones.

Regards

Parul Goyal

SDE Bathinda to SDE Zira

It's been 20 months since I have joined this government job, longest period in a job for me looking at my previous statistics. at the time of joining, I thought I would not be changing jobs anymore. I never got an increment letter after clearing probation period and I was expecting the same this time before any other letter come my way. this time it was transfer letter which spoiled the whole idea,

Till now I have been struggling in getting to know the streets of Bathinda to solve of water woes. after putting in so much efforts, what I got was a transfer letter. it was 23.08.2013 evening when i was informed by accountant that some mail have been received from head office depicting my transfer orders along with my Xen. i was jaw struck to heard the news. he did not deliberate on the topic and hung up.

i rushed towards computer to see the orders. the network connection was not working (after all it is a govt. office, one can't expect everything to be streamlined) . All others were equally excited to see the orders. so one of the contractors managed to get the letter from adjacent division office. it stated that Sh Parul Goyal has been shifted to Pb w/s & sew Sub div Zira With immediate effect.

other officers names were also there. i was dying to know the reason for this step. i called up my Xen who was in Chandigarh that day asking him about the transfers. He was really happy as he was trying for his transfer for last few months. as far as my name is concerned, he is the one who suggested my name to MD because he did not want to leave a subordinate like me. it was a moment of disappointment. though i was not satisfied with the way of working here but still i did not want to leave bathinda. From next day onwards only, everyone was trying to get my orders cancelled. Contractors because they were losing on a good SDO. Colleagues, because they were going to lose a hard working fellow. Anti, because she will not get a decent tenant like me. Subordinates because they will not get an officer who is patient and a great helping hand. i am not praising myself, these are the things which were told to me by all of them on a farewell party they offered me.

Though it's been ten days since the orders are out, yet i am bit hopeful that i will get back to Bathinda as no one has substituted me there till now and the post is lying vacant. let us see what happens..fingers crossed....

Regards

Parul Goyal

Amarnath Yatra...A Heavenly Experience (Part-3)

Next morning without wasting a single minute, we left for Baaltal. After covering a distance of around 40 km in mountanins, we reached there at around 9 am. The journey was awesome, full of mind blowing sceneries of landscapes, rivers etc. We parted our ways from NH leading to Leh to reach Baaltal checkpost. We parked our car in parking and asked driver to stay in Baaltal only till we return from the holy cave. we three left for the pilgrimage. we had already decided that we would hire a helicopter so we headed towards heli booking center. as they have their own criteria of weight limits in a helicopter in during one round, so we had to adjust in three different flights to reach Panchtarni. though we retaliated but in vain. till now we have been together throughout the journey but to save time , we agreed to board three different helipcopters as all three of them were devoid of only one passenger.

Among my group, i had the least weight (a bit surprising) , so i got an opportunity to be the co-pilot. we were strictly instructed not to talk inside the helicopter. it was my first experience to fly in the sky. though i got my passport ready 5 years ago when i joined a MNC company in wake of getting a chance to be on a plane. but 5 years passed, i never got a chance to be on a plane, neither international nor domestic even. The experience was out of the world. the moment it took off, i could feel my hearing senses getting blocked. for a moment, i did got frightened when the pilot took a sharp turn to enter in middle of two adjacent hills. Total duration of the ride was 7-8 minutes but the memories related to it are numerous.

From panchtarni, the holy cave was 5 km away. the track was sloppy, undulant and not easy to walk upon. we reached the holy cave around 2pm and took bath in chilled Ganga. after a small photo session, we took Parsad and went on to stairs leading to cave. We had heard that due to heat, this time the ShivLing had already disappeared but the information could not stop us to go there. There was no ShivLing but the Parvati mata was present in her true colors. we also got to see the two pigeons who are believed to have supernatural powers. The Mahant who was present, enlightened us with the history of the cave. after paying prayers and seeking blessings, we collected Ganga water in cans and left the holy cave.

i could not believe myself that i had successfully accomplished the Yatra. i was thinking of coming here for many years, 2013 proved to be the lucky one for me. we chose to get down the hill to reach our base at baaltal by walk. Total track distance was 18 km and was not at all easy. Through many halts, chit chat and sheer determination, we reached our base camp at 9 pm. we took refuge in a camp organized by Jaipur administration. Next morning we left for Srinagar. We visited Mughal gardens, Nishat Gardens, Chashm-e-Shahi, Botanical Garden, Dal Lake, old Shiv Mandir in Srinagar. Then we left for Gulmarg where already we had booked the room in army guest house. We did sightseeing in Gulmarg, visited Gondola trolley and stayed in army guest house for night. During our stay we met an old army officer and had a nice conversation with him and discussed over various issues starting from security forces of India to the future plans.

Next morning, we headed back to our origin, Punjab. It was Eid, that day. All markets were closed to shop. Still we bought some bats and dry fruits, specialty of J&K. The stretch was too long and our car was not upto the mark. So we got it serviced from a authorized service station in Srinagar before we could resume our journey. As it was getting dark and we had heard some news of violence in J&K, we decided to stay at patnitop in the night. Next morning we captured the beauty and had a horse ride around the hill station, the coolest place in the vicinity of Punjab. As soon as we planned to get back to our way, the road was blocked by some extremists who were not allowing anyone to escape. After waiting for few hours in queue, we took another route through some village to Jammu. Even Jammu-Pathankot Highways were also blocked. We had to wait for many hours before they let us go. In between, we took some wrong turns which lead us to reach Amritsar by 10pm. We had our dinner in Amritsar. It was 3'o clock in the 11th morning of the 8th month of the year two thousand and thirteen i came back to my room at Bathinda. Rest is history as they say....

Regards

Parul Goyal