Tags:
Journalism of Courage
A Home with a View
If you have ever lived on top of a hill, it beats being on top of the heap, just for the view. But you have to have arrived on top of the heap, to have a home on top of the hill, and a room with a view. The trials and travails of just living guarantees an angst for the mould which life cast you in, it pushes one to afford yourself a lifestyle thereon. How hard that way up is and the pain and hardship that goes into the keeping of that position is a test that life in all it8217;s quirky glory puts one to constantly. To question is a luxury that only the good life affords. To break with tradition is a lonely path one carves for oneself, the road is uphill and jinxed, the going tough 8212; few of us are put through this grist of life itself unless you were meant to succeed and land on top of the heap 8212; somehow 8212; from then on it is at the painful plateau of life itself 8212; that one merely exists 8212; let alone survives and from then it is a painful burst upward or a sad downward spiral.
The party itself was held on the spacious terrace. To reach the terrace one had to climb a winding wrought iron staircase which led up to a large bar-cum-dance floor and then out on to the terrace. Gauri has done a marvellous job putting together a home that is modern hi-tech, yet warm. The Pepsi fridge dispenser was a cute reminder of Shah Rukh8217;s active ad campaign for the company.
Everyone I met that evening was relaxed and having fun and almost everyone knew everyone else, so there was great bonhomie. Gauri looked ravishing in a bronzed gold sari. She was all over the place ensuring that everyone was well taken care of. Avanti looked radiant in a green salwar kameez, pregnant? Sure, but svelte to boot! There8217;s a thoroughly modern mother for you! Another about-to-pop any day mamma was Maheep Kapoor. I managed a quick hello, to learn she was in her ninth month. I wish them both all the very bestthrough to term. I was resting on a chair at the bar with Shilpa when Adi Godrej came to say Hello!8217; I couldn8217;t help but comment that his companies seemed to be doing a millennium spring clean, to become lean, mean money machines. He laughed and concurred. Parmesh, I met soon after. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this power couple look as good as they did a decade ago. Parmesh, in a white Herve Leger, could give any twentysomething a run for her money or man! We giggled like school girls when she said quot;They will have to take me to my grave the way I am 8212; having fun.quot; To me that epitomises her exuberance, taking life on your terms, determined to squeeze every ounce of positive out of it. A lot of people out there who moan and whinge about life should take a leaf out of Parmesh8217;s book. Karan Johar, Manish, Shilpa, Shamita, Krish and I had quot;cooledquot; off in baby Aryaman8217;s room before hitting the party. Manish and Karan have been on a rigorous diet and exercise programme and look all the better forit. It8217;s my turn now and though I keep postponing D-Day I8217;m going to have to go on a crash diet for the next few weeks just in time for Pradeep8217;s Time8217;s party which he promises is going to be the best yet. As we left the party, Shah Rukh was at the gate. I shared some honesty with him, his response was so humble, yet honest. Hey! You know what he may be numero uno in the film industry and live in a house on the hill but he shoots straight from the heart and that8217;s why he will stay number one not just on the countdown but in the popularity stakes as well.
