photo-on-2010-07-30-at-0008-2 मेरे प्रिय व बहुत ही निकट परिवार के सम्बन्धी , कभी कभी मन करता है की आप सब से अपनी राष्ट्र भाषा में बात किया करूं, सो आज लिख रहा हूँ , और क्षमा चाहता हूँ उन सभी एक्स्टेंदेद फॅमिली के सदस्यों से की वह हमे मौका दें की हम अपने कुछ हिंदी प्रेमी भाई बेहेनों से इस प्रकार संपर्क कर सकें . इटली का दौरा समाप्त हुआ . सुखद रहा . समस्त परिवार के साथ बहुत कम ऐसा समय बिताने को मिलता है , और हम सब ने इसका आनंद उठाया . अब सब अलग अलग हो गए हैं . अभिषेक और ऐश्वर्या वापस मुंबई पहुँच गए हैं , और मै यहाँ लन्दन आ गया हूँ - कुछ काम ख़तम करने के लिए . नया शहर , नए लोग, नया संसार …. अचानक सब कुछ चाँद घंटों में बदल जाता है . यातायात के साधन भी अब कितने बदल गए हैं . जल्दी से एक देश से दुसरे देश पहुँच जाते हैं . देश बदल जाता है , भावनाएं नहीं बदलतीं , प्यार नहीं बदलता , संबंध नहीं बदलते , परिवार नहीं बदलते - ख़ास तौर से हमारा यह छोटा सा परिवार !! आप सब का स्नेह इसी तरह बना रहे , बस यही आशा है आप सब से . In a short time span boundaries cultures, destinations people and attitudes all change ! From an Italian warm temperament of the skies to the somewhat cooler Britain. A change in climate in more ways than one. What used to take an eternity to traverse now accomplished in just the twinkle of an eye , well almost. I have often wondered how the people that built these edifices, monuments, architectural wonders, traversed the length and breath of the earth without any means, yet constructed the most lasting and unimaginable monoliths that we still admire in awe ! Transportation must have been moving at 500 frames per sec ! That in film jargon is being able to see a bullet out of a gun in slow motion. Really slow !! Their patience and persistence and dedication needs to be admired beyond all else. Travel today has become a press of a button. Your ticket is an e-ticket. Gone are the days of that counter foil like booklet that you so diligently guarded. Gone are the days when at the booking counter each leaf that was torn away depicted a journey about to be taken or just taken. Almost like tearing away your destination and identity. There were no security checks, no frisking, no complicated machines that see through your very bones, nothing. Going on a ship or the airplane was an adventure, an occasion. You dressed up for it. You saw the most design oriented carrier bags and baggage being trollied along elegantly dressed ladies and gentleman. When I went on my very first travel abroad, I had a suit stitched for the journey. Ok, so I had just got married and was in the movies and so on, but I remember even in the 50’s when my Father was traveling to England for the first time, he had to go through similar routine, even though he could ill afford it. But look at us now ! Track pants, sneakers, at the most a pair of jeans and a bag made of durable chemical cloth material slung on the shoulder, a larger version of which slung by the luggage container belt on wheels and you are out of here !! Once out, there are endless facilities in waiting that can take you by train, cab, bus to wherever you wished to go. People and agencies around to help and assist the bewildered passenger. Not a care. Unless of course, you are on a bum ride in bohemia ! Now thats a different continent altogether !! I see the millions of young in the various cities around the world, without a care without a baggage without a tomorrow and I wonder where was the time in my time when I could have done that. Walking aimlessly about, sipping my coke, slurping the coned ice cream, on the base of a piazza or fountain, or by a pavement, picking up little bands of curio memento’s, making acquaintances with other young from other parts, sitting idle on crowded steps along with other alike, listening to that street performer, or just screaming with laughter into an otherwise quiet and silent neighborhood. Where was I then at the time of these times. I want to be there now ! Will I ever get to do that ! Ever ??!! Move time back ! I want to get off this wheel right now !! Stop ! Stop ! Stop ! NO ! It never does and never will. Look ahead and welcome the sun as it rises to another day ! Love you for your patience and tolerance .. to listen and read all my belligerence !! Amitabh Bachchan