First off … thank you all for individually wishing Aishwarya for her birthday !! All your wishes were passed on to her and she is grateful for them. And so am I.

Finishing so late last night had its repercussions - I decided to sleep it out without any care or responsibility for work and it was good to be waking up at an hour when most are wanting to get back to sleep again ! For one that is not accustomed to this sort of habit, it does become a bit disorienting. But soon as the day hits you with all its numerous uncertainties you wake up real fast. And … get operational !

Some chores piling up for the few days I was away need immediate attention and so must I attend on them. The room does begin to look like an unattended store, with every possible corner and space littered with books, paper work and several odds that really have no business in this living room. Many believe though that a disorganized room is a sure indicator of the presence of  genius, mine is really really well organized and therefore so devoid of any brilliance ! Its just that its a strange feel to all the mess. You keep it in disorder because its around. Around you and within easy reach and access. Except, other than you, there really is no one and I mean no one, that would know exactly where what lay. And that in a sense is what most men wish there room should be, or would be had the wife not walked in … ha  ha ah !!

It was wonderful to have Shweta around - it always is ! And most enlightening to learn from her, a great library of information, the meaning and substance of so many aspects of our epics and religion and of course our two great epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayan. She is a voracious reader and does have a general deep interest in mythology, the mystics and just … books !

There are now preparations on for Diwali. The lights for the house are being put up. The simple single toned white-yellow lights all over the boundary and ceiling of the house. The gates dressed up with flowers first, for Aishwarya’s birthday - a routine for each celebration that takes place at the home. And once up shall be switched on at that historic moment when we shall finish our Diwali pooja and light the first lamp with the lamp from the prayer !!

My Father’s marked verse on the Ramayan shall be read, a gentle prayer shall go up for all from all, sweets and bonuses on staff shall be disbursed to staff by members of the family, fire crackers that do not make any sound shall be burnt and friends that feel like dropping by shall be most welcome to an open house. In keeping with tradition, cards shall be played as a ’shagun’ and winnings and loss at them shall be taken as an indicator how well, or not so well the year shall be financially. I lose most of the time, so my funds and financing are always on trial through out the day and year. Its a thought and a way of life and we respect it. Though many do not !!

I am happy that you liked the photographs of the event and for some, the image of Shweta seemed quite pleasing. They wrote about it too. Thank you. I shall transport all of this to the lady and I am more than certain that it shall receive due attention and response.

I do have exhaustion written all over my face and body and I must pay it due respect. They are our fortune and bread, and we must look after it in the best possible manner. Right now what seems to me to be the best solution is an early morning night and a delayed start tomorrow. And in order to achieve that … it means ..

Good morning !!

Amitabh Bachchan