Buddy for life!!

Have you ever wondered how pet owners feel about their friends for life... I always used to wonder and longed for that feeling...

After waiting for more than 20 years for that time, I eventually got the perfect occasion... my dad's retirement... for which I had planned for more than couple of years as mentioned in my earlier post... well this was one amongst that....

This friend of mine was born on 31st March 2009... irony is that one year back I had quit my previous company for a better life and this year I have better company!! if you understand what I mean... Well "Simba", my Golden retriever came to our home on a saturday afternoon... I fell in love with this ball of fur the moment I saw him and my pal Vivek helped me get him home...

I have waited so long to post regarding him because I had to get my thoughts together... but apparently I dont have time to pen down any thoughts because of him!! He constantly demands time and attention!

There are many things I got to know about my own family... like how complimentary my parents are... for example when I got the pup, I had expected dad to blow the roof but he was calm and accepted it but mom blew the roof which was never the expected and guess who came to the rescue! Dad... he had the experience of raising a dog when he was a kid which was no surprise in the way he is handling simba now... And after a week, when dad turns a little impatient guess who calms him down... mom... who used to have her hands at her ears and scream her lungs out when simba used to wander near her is the one who feeds him everyday in the morning and night and is also the one who calms my dad when simba is too playful (which is actually all the time!!)

I must say that I under-estimated my family's commitment to my buddy... actually they are doing amazing!! He keeps my dad occupied pretty much entire day he is around home and my aunt is totally fond of him... My sister who was so afraid of dogs... now pets him and he listens to her command!! (well... not always!!) The time I was giving to my family has increased ever since my buddy has come home and he demands everybody to talk to him and play with him!! He responds to the sound of my bike and expect to cuddle him everytime I am around him... He even understands that he should not go near my mother because she is afraid of him... but and my mother somehow forget that part during his breakfast and dinner!! Ani... who used to run a mile from dogs... now feeds him with her hand... has gone to such an extent of loving him that she prepared cake when he barked for the first time!! lolz... amazing!!

It has enlightened me in many ways that having pet is a good thing but accepting its responsibility is so huge a task... Its not that simple... you have to be more patient and develop that 6th sense which makes you understand a being that doesn't understand your language!

Overall amazing feeling and I better not forget to thank Dr Manjunath Shinde, Vivek, Sriram(G5) , Kitty and my family for their support...

Read... Remember... Recollect...

I always remember one say from my lecturer... Read, Remember and Recollect!! well it always worked when I was in college but I didnt know that it applies in real life this way!!

When I first saw this dude and talked to him... I thought he was just a geek but there was always that air of confidence in his speech and mannerism which made me think that I shud get to know this person better and that he is the person who will be called a "friend for life"... if it was meant to be... and friend for life he is to me... Sharad Awasthi...

In the course of time... say 6 months of his stay in our company, I got to know that we share the same passions... music, photography... u name it... but the fact is that he is still better than me in all of those passions I have (except singing!!) and has the taste to make his passions richer!!

He is GOD in selecting great music... especially in trance and lounge... He was the person who introduced me to that kind of music which I might have heard but didnt know what its called!!

He also introduced me to Photography... I had the right equipments but was not sure of myself to take pictures of that quality!! I owe him that...

We spent some quality time together and what time we had... we went to Nandi hills where we took tons of pictures and then I took him to Ranganthiptu where we took the boat ride... I am sure he will never forget them.. I can't!!

After packing up the night before, I got to his place at 7:30AM next morning, as promised on sunday... Little did we know that his plane had already left 7 hrs before!! He had missed his flight to singapore... but had to wait another 14 to get on to another flight... (That made his day worse because he almost took the brunt from his wife!!) lolz...

I always wanted him to visit my place one last time before he leaves and wat a way to get ur wish!! It was amazing as Neelu even read my thought and blurted the same words on my face!!

I was really content of helping my friend and his wife to the airport the same night after we had an amazing time at my place!!

Now settled in singapore, we exchange mails and calls more often than not... but yes, the worst part is whenever I see a bajaj eliminator and a back pack... a dude of similar build, invariably the thought goes back to the best days in office for me... I read in to that situation... I go back rememberin the good old days... recollect the wonderful times we have had...