On the eve of Christmas and the birth of an entire belief may I wish all my Christian friends brothers and sisters, the best that can be for all in the years to come and may there be peace and wellness in our lives and indeed in the lives of all those that inhabit this unique universe called Earth … AMEN !!

The early years spent in Allahabad during one of the most awaited and loved celebrations of the entire year were always filled with fun and good will generated by our neighbors Rev Paul Das on 18 Clive Road, ours being 17 Clive Road. Their children Shunila, Naresh and Malti, our dearest friends. Naresh a few years older and my senior when I went to Sherwood from Boys’ High School, suddenly passing away a year after he left School, leaving a terrible void and depression on my mind. Shunila, the elder and the pretty one, who played the piano with such grace and elegance and Malti the youngest married and settled in USA or is it Canada ? Who never fails to meet up every time I have played in a concert in that region and who after seeking a meeting was getting pushed away by security and who when I stopped my limo to acknowledge her, burst into tears and then coming up to visit me in my room. Everything comes back in a blink of an eye. But to remember who met me yesterday at Dubai, where I have only just got back from, may seem a difficult task.

Christmas at their house was such a delight. The cake and the pastry specially made carefully over the days before. Little gifts wrapped in colorful wrappers, crackers that you pulled from either side to revel a message within, carols and hymns sung way past the night - ‘Silent Night Holy Night, all is calm all is bright ..’ and then many years beyond in Kolkata and the huge celebrations on the ‘Bada Din’, the parties among our group, the special evenings at the restaurants amidst the fog mist and cold of the city. And much much later in the realm of cinema and movies and the opportunity of travel to foreign locations and to witness the spirit of the day in some of the most vibrant cities of the world - London, New York, Paris … to join in in their celebration and to witness the beauty of their decorations. And on some years to accompany our friends to the mid night mass in the church in Kokata and to live in the pious thoughts that it generated.

All of it comes back in vivid detail.

My wish then that just as pleasant memories of the days gone by for this day remain, so may the memories of all our days before and after remain with us always to be a source of laughter and happiness and joy. A source of bringing in good will, of defying unhappiness of spending time giving to others without any in return, of holding hands and embracing, of remaining in pledge that this then shall be our endeavor and our final want.

Peace then be on Earth and on each one of us.

In the morning it was Dubai and the departure from it. The hospitality of the Hotel and the staff at The Address - warm friendly affectionate. The staff at the ‘Majlis’ the VIP region at the airport where they look after you with such friendliness and welcome. Feed you and pamper you, drive you to the aircraft and wish that you come back again soon. A comfortable Emirates flight with all effects in place for a few hours that it takes to get in. Smiling picture taking hostesses, courteous and happy. And at the airport out into the wilds of Mumbai and drive straight to the Times Now TV center for a meeting with the affable Arnab Goswami for the promotion of RANN with Ram Gopal Varma and Ritesh Deshmukh. And bang … !! Right in the middle of the electronic media. A most complex and completely beyond imagination of gadgetry and operations by a team of young generation 20 - 30 somethings. How ever do they get the concentration or the reflexes to capture edit and put up for broadcast all that goes on in the rest of the world, is something that was beyond me.

Times Now is doing an music audio release on camera for RANN and the speed with which they think and move is just amazing. But what has been a revelation has been the first hand working of this giant operation 24 hours !! Just sitting there in the monitor room or the operations room, watching and listening and seeing with what rapidity the individuals involved worked, was complex giving. They must have their wits about them 24/7. I would return a wreck if I were given this job.

Arnab shows me around the complex. It is so intriguing yet so young. Not just in the telecom business but simultaneously in other walks of life too. A lesson to be learnt and we will. A fascinating world that keeps on without any switch offs ever. And after all the mobile camera works are over, we move into the real world and cameras and setting up for the interview that we are actually there for. It is casual and quick. Arnab, the absolute professional, light hearted and quick, puts us in a few spots on the content of the film, its motive to make and what message it will leave behind. I am keen to witness a editorial meet and that which decides the philosophy of and for the nation on a particular day. It shall not happen today. For that we shall have to wait and watch, though news is that it may happen sooner than later.

Back home and off to another meet with prospective client in the realm of animation and computers. Its been drawing yawns and stretches connected with money for so many years - and it never works ! Never !

I will get back to an editorial meet someday at the Times Now office soon. Meanwhile I am honoured by Arnab keeping in mind my 40 years in the industry and asks live some pertinent questions. The discussion ends quicker than what it may have seemed, but that is the electronic for you and indeed all the groups that have come in from the far east.

Tomorrow early morning the start of the end of Bigg Boss 3. A pity it all seems to have come to an end. Fascinating how time passed, how platforms were used to an end. And how Pravesh has perhaps lit the passions of individuals and has fallen into a rather disgusting mode. The food throwing was written about by many and I think for those that may have seen it, they felt humiliated. Action has been taken and all should be well within the line tomorrow.

It is now 3 : 27 AM. A time not even for the most decent guys to wring up something. But late it is and we shall see each other by the morrow, fresh and jumpy to bring the curtain down on a most rewarding BB 3.

Will be with you again …..

My dearest dears …

Amitabh Bachchan

PS

My friend and member of my immediate family, my younger brother Shri Amar Singh ji MP from UP, on my instigation has started his blog at www.thakuramarsingh. com. Do visit and say what you feel about it..