Broadway, here we come

Heard that Disney's Lion King is in town and did not want to miss the opportunity to catch musical extravaganza. I had heard a lot about it, but did not get a chance to catch the movie in my teens.


Such is the repute of the play that within a week of opening of the booking, almost all the shows were sold out. And there were at least 6-7 shows per week - for 5 weeks. But still, most the shows were sold out and only few of them (weekdays only btw) had some open seats. These seats were either in silos or in some deep corners. So, I had virtually given all hope of catching this show.


But as luck would have had it, things just fell in place. I came in from Boston 1 day ahead of the scheduled arrival date, someone cancelled fabulous seats on the next day and I just called 10 minutes after the cancellation call. Luckily, both S and I had no plans for the evening. And within 6 hours, we were at the DPAC arena watching a show that we had given up any hope of seeing this year.


The 3 hour show was amazing - the synchronization of 100+ artists was superb. Everyone was energetic, yet rhythmic. The concept was familiar, yet novel. The experience was memorable. A must do for anyone and everyone.


It was a surprise for S which delighted her. She flashed her 1000 watt smile again. And I managed to complete one more item of the bucket list - watching a Broadway show.

DEJA VU...

Some things never change... Like these... 


Some do... The only thing that has changed since is that we are now allowed denims every day... 


Happy New Year!!!

Kya kare kya na kare

Last day of the year... Driving to have breakfast at one of my favorite delis... Not a very cold day  - at least not enough to start the heater in the car, yet cold enough to have the AC knob turned fully towards warm... Sunny day yet the snow from the previous snow shower had not fully melted from the freeway... Probably, nature's way of showing us how balance is achieved... 


I was driving my wife's car and just hit the CD player button... It took a couple of seconds for the CD player to choose the song to play and it chose "Kya kare kya na kare" from Rangeela... And as soon as I heard the opening tune, my mind took a super-quick flashback to 1995... 


In the junior college, we were a group of 5 good friends, amongst whom are S and V... V is the quintessential lively, beautiful and spirited gal who has been depicted in umpteen Bollywood flicks... S is the typical boy, present in each of those bollywood flick, who has likes V but still chooses to admire her from a distance... S chooses to keep his emotions close to himself and does not dare to say it... A typical teenage romance... 


It has been a little more than 2 years and now both S and V are looking for admission to medical schools. S has done very well and is on his way to one of the best schools of Mumbai whereas V might have to look outside Mumbai for a medical school or has to choose a para-medical school (ayurvedic or homeopathy etc)... S is worried that V might meet other "friends" and some talker might just swoop in and sweep her off her feet, away from him, forever... 


When chided by his friends, yours truly included, S played the same song on the car stereo... He played the antara of this song - atleast 10 times for us - 
koi baDi baat nahi hamein kahana tha jo bhi
voh to ham yun bhi kahate magar
phir bhi kahaan nahi vajah us ki hai yehi
bas inkaar se ham ko tha Dar
ab kahe ya tab kahe
kahaa kahe kab kahe
soch soch main hi voh gayi nikal

Today, when I heard the same lines, it was such a sweet memory... What better ending to this story that today S and V are both doctors, happily married with a doll of a daughter named Aria... We are still very good friends and every time I hear the song, the trip down the memory lane is so enjoyable... 


Thanks S and V for such a good time...