Buddy Who Never Forgets

This is a poem written for Ghumakkad's buddy on his 67th Birthday!
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Buddy Who Never Forgets

Today is the birthday

of a buddy who never forgets

others’ birthdays, anniversaries and life stories.

‘Others’ are not only his family, buddies from school, college or 

work life

but also their parents, children and grandchildren!

He is a living encyclopedia

of names, dates, old film songs, lyrics, singers and even the performing actors.

Events which may go back 50 years

are narrated in graphic detail by him even today.

Even though living far away

he never lets the distance come in between.

In fact, his warmth, love and affection

have got multiplied with the distance.

Whom are we talking about? 

No prizes for guessing!

Yes, he is none other than Annu bhai

our dear buddy Anand Jain!

‘Jigri dost’ as he prefers to call us!

May God keep his power supply always ‘on’ and his hard disk always connected!

Happy Birthday Annu and lots of love

- All of us in Hyderabad/Mumbai/Bangalore/Delhi/ Canada/ Germany/USA

30th October 2018

Postscript: Vinod Agarwal from USA added the following lines in Hindi:
अन्नू भाई तुम्हारी तारीफ जितनी की जाय कम है। 
हम सबकी जिंदगी में तुम्हारी  दुआओं का दम है।  

क्या क्या तुमने नहीं किया हम सब के लिए ही हमेशा। 
बिना बोले बिना जताय हमारी मदद करते रहे हमेशा। 

चाहे जन्म दिन हो या बर्ष गांठ या हारी-बीमारी घर में। 
सबसे पहिले ही तुम्हारा फ़ोन बजता है हर हर पल में। 

और बेगम फरीदा की बात क्या करे हम माशा अल्लाह। 
उनहोंने चार चाँद लगा रखें हैं सब दोस्तों की जिंदगी में। 

तुम्हारी खूब लम्बी उम्र होऔर दुनिया की हर ख़ुशी मिले। 

हमारे और तुम्हारे दिलों की नजदीकी एक मिशाल बने। 

Superb VK, thanks.

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#anandjain #buddyforever #buddywhoneverforgets #67thbirthday #love #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh

Guru Poornima Gratitude to Teachers and Students Alike

Today is Guru Poornima.
Time to thank our teachers who made us what we are today.
Ghumakkad is ever grateful to all his teachers- both in the classroom and outside! Few lines for each one of them.

As teachers ourselves, we learn a lot from our students as well as fellow teachers. 
Thank you dear students, fellow teachers and former students too!

   -Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 9th July 2017 edited 13th July 2022 and 3rd July 2023

#gurupoornima #gratitudetoteachers #learningfromstudents #teachersareforlife #studentsasteachers #guru #ghumakkadharsh #ghumakkadhb #gratitude #teachers #learners #students 

Spouse's Birthday is special

Spouse’s birthday is special

When you are married for

forty years

your spouse’s birthday

becomes special.

Special because

you become dependent

upon each other

for everything in life.

Be it eating at home, or

taking your medicines, or

dining out, or

planning the next vacation, or

renovating the kitchen, or

visiting the doctor for creaking knees!

Of course

you may not both agree initially

on a course of action.

But that is the fun of

being married for 40 years.

Disagree to agree

and vice versa!

Today

on my spouse’s birthday

I wish to thank God

for bringing her into my life.

Called by many names

Pinna- by her late father

Arrey Neeta- by her Mom

Bahu Rani/Neeta Beti- by my Dad
Bhabhi/Jiji- by my brother/sister and her cousins

Mom- by Ashi, Ankur, Ankush and Prabjoth

Dadi/Nani- by her grandchildren

Bhua/Mausi/Taiji/Chachi/Mami- by numerous nieces/nephews

Neeta- by her friends and by my late Mom

Madam- by her battery of maids

and lastly

Beigs- by me!

She goes about balancing

all the roles and responsibilities

very ably

despite me!

Yes, despite me!

As they say
"You are never too old for chocolates"
but in Neeta's case
it becomes
"You are never too old for Zumba".
Yes, she relishes her Zumba workouts.

Today's tech-savvy generation
outsmarts their parents
while using smartphones and other gadgets.
Wait till you meet 
Neeta-the-granny
surfing the net, or
using WhatsApp
or updating her status on FB
even while in a Shikara शिकारा in a lake!

Today

on this special day

we pray to God

to grant her continued good health

because that’s the only wealth

which you need

to enjoy life!

Join us in wishing Neeta many happy returns and God bless

-          Harsh-the hubby with entire Bhargava parivar भार्गव  परिवार  in Jaipur/Secunderabad/Chennai/Pleasanton

27^th May 2017/ Secunderabad
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This is what we wrote on her 61st Birthday! Not published earlier.

The Untiring Granny

As she completes sixty one

She remains number one

For all of us in Secunderabad, Jaipur, California as well as Chennai

A daughter, bahu, mom, dadi, nani or as in Marathi- simply our ‘aai’

She does get tired of doing yoga or the treadmill

But not of shopping even if she has to climb uphill

Fond of eating out

She knows all about

The major eating joints in the twin cities and beyond

Through her kitty friends who have forged a strong bond

After thirty nine glorious years

Full of cheers as well as tears

Her first love is no longer me-- her grumpy hubby

But all the grand children who like her to remain chubby

Thanks to Facetime, she relishes being on-line with each one for long

And switch between making faces, telling stories, poems or even a song

Here is saying cheers to the evergreen granny

And wishing her happy returns—many, many!

With love from all of us,

-          Amar Nath, Raj and Sarita@Jaipur

-          Ankur, Ashi, Nikhil and Naman@California

-          Prabjoth, Ankush, Ansh, Anuva and Kruger@Chennai

-          Usha, Harsh and Elfo@Secunderabad

Secunderabad/ 27^th May 2015