When the fuse blew at our house

Courtsey: www.overunityresearch.com

During high school, my passion for science was unbound. I was more inclined towards the practical side of it. I used to love the science lab times, and I ran several experiments running at my house too. I made a very powerful binoculars (that I used to spot chicks sometimes), and one time made one for Ajay also when we were trying to get a closer look at Mussorie snow topped hills. I was already playing around with electronic components and soldering iron and the circuits. I even had a small chemistry lab. However not all experiments ran succesfully. Some were mere blunders, and one of them was on my quest for electromagnetism. The book said that if you wrapped wire around a bolt and connect the ends to positive and negative terminals, the nail would become magnetic. Excitedly, I put the model together and plugged the ends into the wall socket. As soon as I turned the switch on , the whole house went dark!!! I didn't realize that the intensity of the current had to be controlled. Well, I guess I was still maturing; Edison didn't invent light bulb in one take, did he?

I continued to ponder over this experiment for 30 years until today. When kids decided to participate in the Science fair, old memories nudged me and I immediately decided to give my experiment a second take. These days are different though. There it too much information available online already, and for something simple like this a you tube video sufficed. We took a nail, wrapped some copper wire around it and connected the ends to a battery (ah!). Eureka, it worked, and it was pretty strong, too.

Cutting Chai

Purani jeans aur guitar
Mahulle ki wo chat aur mere yaar
wo canteen mein ja ke, guppe ladate,
wo cutting pina yaaron ke saath

Courtsey: http://www.doornumber3.in/images/gd_en_eymum_chai.jpg

Well may be not in the college canteen, when I was in Bombay, I used to drink cutting every day. One of the cutting places I remember is on the side of Bombay hospital in Marine lines. After days worth of hard work, it was quite relaxing to just sit in this small restaurant, over crowded with other workers, and sip on the kadak and masaledaar cutting. Whether that was more relaxing or a patiala peg of RC at this bar down the road remains a puzzle to me.


Also, here is a link that explains how to make cutting chai, in case you want to try it out at your home in Indian, Dubai, US, or on a ship -

http://www.mumbaigluttons.com/2012/03/how-to-get-create-that-roadside-cutting.html

However, for complete flavor, you got to try it out somewhere in Mumbai. I amsure they have a stall near Marine club, as well. They have great beer, though, live music and ladies to dance with. Although, that can be covered in another story, hopefully, through Mayank's lens on the past.

Phir wohi raat hai - Ghar 1978

This song has been on my mind for several weeks now. Wonderful wonderful memories from the 70s, 80s.

White kurta pyzama clad Vinod mehra with his sleeves typically tucked up above the elbow..so typical of that era with wide bottomed pyjamas. Long hair with long sideburns and ears half covered and most of the neck covered with them.
Graceful Rekha with her face blossoming like the most beautiful Rose..large bindi on her forehead and red think sindoor in her neatly parted hair and her curly hair falling over her shoulders.

While the nice summer breeze is waving the white curtains through the iron grills of their bedroom, Rekha is restless on the bed with stark clean white sheets, Kishore kumar is at his best singing Gulzar lyrics on the tunes of R. D. Burman. It couldn't get any better. I am sure life wasn't as simple in those days either but for me those were the good days.

Vinod and KK passed away long time ago. Gulzar is harldly active these days and Rekha is only seen on award shows, but their legacy lives on.