Papers Shred ... Not Memories ...

Assalamu Alaikum, Almighty God's peace & blessings be upon you all ...

Tear and Shred, Tear and Shred was all I was doing from last 2 evenings. I was shredding all the old documents, several lease agreements, car service documents, bundle of oil change papers, speeding tickets awarded several years ago (First one was on 10/10/2000), sunset projects documents, immigration documents, receipts paid to lawyers and the list goes on.

Papers shred NOT MEMORIES...

Do you think that one can shred away good memories just like that. NEVER, unless you leave this planet with people thinking about all the good times you spent with them, or one looses his top, God forbid.

Thoughts lingered in Vista Capri North apartments, San Deigo year 1998 with my first room mate Mohammad Aliyar. Good cook, started sharing the apartment after he got involved into a multiple 3 car accident (New Driver Eh!). Even though bad memories lingered in him, but soon he over came. Time well spent with him.

Most of the memories lingered on the N. Mathilda Road, Sunnyvale, CA. Lived with several room mates. Did lots of trips to Los Angeles, San Deigo, Sqaw valley, Lake Tahoe, SFO and where not. Drove to Klamath Falls. Still have a rock picked around Lava mountain from Oregon.

Madison Park apartment in MO had its own flair. Best voted room mates Farrukh & Zafar were living with me. Best Cooks, friends on whom on can lean on always for good advise. Suhail Wadera, a Kashmiri born, staunch tamilian (He lived in Bangalore and spoke tamil with funny accent)  room mate lived with us for a while. God bless them and their families and other room mates as well. This is when I received a news sending million of shock wave across my body. My best friend, my Mom passed away.

Zafar tagged along with me in Lakes at Lions Gate apartment (3 bedroom luxury apartment) in Overland Park. Never even for a single day we were without fun there. We had several guests living with us there some time or other. Shakeel Khan, Kaleemullah, Iqbal Khan, Basheer Sabi, Zakir Syed, Suhail Ansari. Everyone I hope still relish Prawn Dopiaza prepared by Zafar.

Then, I started living alone for a while. And was joined by my another best room mate Thameem Ansari. His black pepper rasam and baked Salmon fish haunts me a lot. Of course, Imran Khan IBM (there were too many Imrans, hence added IBM) started sharing with us. Sajid Bhai's Chai was fantastic. After every dinner, in chorus we all will sing. Zabardast Chai, Sajid Bhai

and smilingly, Sajid will prepare tea for us.

Other room mates who lived with me were Werner Goveya (a gentleman from Goa), Nona Dinamoni (a smart keralite),

Rajan Babu (good Thambi), Shaik Hafeez ( Mechanical engineer from Hyderabad), Alim Fadra (Bhai from Mumbhai), Nawaz Bhai (from Chennai), Sheikh Labeeb (From Kay town, Kayalpattinam), Rajiv Singh ( a good singer) and the list goes on...

Also, I came across a letter which was full of earnest plea written to the US immigration officer in Chennai consulate, drawing a picture of how our family was suffering due to the delay being caused in the processing of the family GC. After a month of sending that letter, my family received their GC, and landed here with me.

Life turned 180 degrees. Became more responsible.. No more flights to SC, WA, CA. Taught my wife and kids driving , and several other things. Still continuing to guide them. Kids are all in college, about to finish their bachelors, slogging their way in the society.

Whew! As mentioned earlier, even though I have shredded all the old documents, your thoughts will linger in me and my system till my last breathe. I learned a lot from you all. All of you gave me respect and valued my sentiments.

Thanks again for being with me, accommodating, respecting, also having fun.

Some of the dailogues: (In Tamil) Correcting my first CBBatch program: Seriyana Kirukku Poochi Nee Bhai.

In Hyderabadi Accent: Pinda Tumhe Keema Ka Saalan Pakaao Naa. Kitna Mushkil hai maaloom hota.

In Kashmiri Accent: Kitna Khaa leta hoon main.

In Bangalori Accent: Jey Mamu! Kaise Hain

In Karachi Accent: Degh Se Pehle Chamche Garam

After losing his first job, a room mate wrote on his mirror: "If God wills, I will get a new job tomorrow".

Waking up at 2 AM a good brother asks: Chalte Kya Golden Gate Bridge? And we ended up driving to Golden Gate bridge.

Douzing one room mate's anger, a respectful room mate graciously says: "Arey Mere Pyare Bhai?"

A Mumbaitte brother: Cartoon Hai Thoo Poorey Ka poora Cartoon.

A Guntur Co-worker: Man! You are a gone case.

A young soon to be married after watching Aishwarya Rai's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam: Dada Bhai, Aise Dil ko hila dene wale picturaan nakko dikhaao naaji"

My current room mates dailogues:

My daughter: Aboo! I am done with my classes, can you please pick me up from the college.
My 1st son: Daddy! Do you want me to do the groceries today.
My excited 2nd son working in Fry's Electronics: Dad! A humongous discount is being offered on such and such electronic item, What do you say? He already knows my answer. 
My better half/ My home minister: Jee! Don't forget to purchase Pothina, Kothimir, Kadipatha. No Sambar / Rasam without it.

Keep in touch .....