Venkat's Random Thoughts

Short Story based on a true life incident Having got encouraging response to my first attempt at writing a short story here I go with my second attempt. This is based on a true  incident in my life around 15 years ago.  The story is written on a first person narration.  It was an incident which happened unexpectedly one day and forgotten after some days/years.  Now when I have ample time on hand and having taken up blogging/story telling as a pastime I am polishing it and narrating as an interesting(hopefully) story. It was a pleasant August morning in Mumbai. There were intermittent drizzles which kept the atmosphere cool which was typical of the Mumbai monsoon season. But as soon as the drizzle stopped one started sweating because of the atmosphere pregnant with moisture making it very humid. Me and my wife set out that Sunday morning to attend a wedding. One of my Maharashtrian friends' son was getting married. To add spice it was a love mar...

Preface This is my first attempt at writing a short story. I hope this turns out to be good and becomes the first of many more to come. There was a lull in my blogging due to the attack of "Bell's Palsy" I suffered in January after which I have been on a physiotherapy treatment since the last six months. I was asked to lay off all screens and it is only since April 1st this year I am back to my cellphone and laptop. It has been a frustrating six months as  I am being egged on by many of my blog followers to start blogging again and hence this attempt. This blog is dedicated to all doctors in general who are doing the noble job of healing the sick and one doctor in particular who is the one who asked me not to stop my blogging and continue to do  it. I am indebted to her for the selfless service provided to me. The recent attack on a junior doctor in Kolkatta inspired me to this story. This is purely fiction and is not based on a any true inciden...

Dr Jui Dave - davejui@gmail.com It was on the 10th Of January 2019 that suddenly i felt wobbly on my legs, I was unable walk steadily and felt like a drunkard walking unsteadily. I also found my left eye was not blinking and I was unable to close it. I also felt a little strange that I was hearing little less on my left ear. I reported this to my wife and daughter-in-law and we decided to visit the nearby nursing home the next day, Next day we visited "Nerul Hospital" Managed and run by Dr. Mitkari- a leading Homeopath where many specialists visit for multiple ailments of patients. I was referred to The Resident RMO who after a preliminary examination ruled out paralysis and diagnosd it as "Bells Palsy" where one side of the facial muscles are affected in my case being the left side. Dr Mitkari referred ke to to Dr Anil Kukreja at The Terna Speciality Hospital in Nerul. We rushed to the Terna hospital and and I was admitted for an MRI and further tests for a mo...

Anand's Birthday at Mumbai I am writing this post at the behest of my grandchildren Saarth and Rivika who are based in Bromley, UK. I am now here in UK to spend a few happy days with my dear son Anand , his lovely wife Mallika and the above mentioned adorable grandchildren. I will be travelling to the North of England later on in May to be with my other son Bharadwaj (Kamal) who is based in Newcastle. I was showing them off my blogs on the Tamil month names and Festivals when they asked me to write something about their recent visit (December 2017) to Nerul. This year my son Anand, was visiting Mumbai in December 2017 on a vacation along with his family. More importantly he was here during his birthday  which falls on the 30th December every year. Anand was with us (the parents) after many years during his birthday . So we decided to celebrate the birthday in a befitting manner along with my eldest son Shridhar who stays here in Navi Mumbai. The only missing son was Kamal and...

God Kairi 1 Kg Raw mangoes, 4 table spoons salt, 100 grams dhania kuria. 100 grams rai kuria, 1 spoon methi kuria , 750 grams gud, half table spoon chilli powder, 1 glass(250 ml) til oil. Cut the mangoes in to small pieces (like avakkai) Clean the cut mangoes with  wet towel and dry for one day under sunlight.   Heat the til oil in a kadai and cool it. Mix all the masala above in the oil and mix the mangoes with it. Store it for a week. The Pickle will be ready in a week.

                                          The view from Gerald's Veranda We have now come to the second leg of my holiday. Having completed the first leg to celebrate my 73rd birthday, here I was on my way to meet my ex colleague and family friend Gerald Pinto who has bought some land and settled down to do farming post his retirement from a very successful career  in the United States as a SAP consultant. His charming wife Loretta is also a personal friend. It is often said that "A Friend in need is a friend indeed". The Pintos proved that having helped me during my difficult times and for which I am forever indebted to them. Gerald unfortunately has no kids. GOD had  hand picked this couple to do much more than mundane things like raising a couple of kids like we all...

As most of you know I am born on the thirteenth of September. This year I had my 73rd birthday coming up and I decided to celebrate by having an undisturbed holiday with my life partner Bhagirathi. As luck would have it I forgot to carry my smartphone which was kept for charging while going. It was really a blessing in disguise since I was cut off from the world without Whatsapp and the web access and my prayer for an undisturbed holiday was answered. This forgetfulness also ensured that I will not lose my smartphone while travelling unlike the last time we went to Bhandardara. Being a Sterling holiday resorts member I planned well in advance and booked a three day stay at Sterling's Emerald Bay Resort in Karwar. I had booked a night train from Panvel starting at 21.00 hours and we reached the next morning at 1030 am.                           Sterlin...