TALEGAON, MY SECOND HOME.

• It was a Saturday evening of June month, with the first rains after a dry spell,
• the smell of fresh powerfully evocative mud, 
• the rain droplets turning into an endless music of droplets,  
• we were enjoying the rains sipping some steaming tea,
• 
• an idea of having a SECOND HOME amidst the nature's lap, flashed through our minds to enjoy the rains many times more. 
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• The Search for the property then became our favourite weekend pastime. Till one Sunday morning, we chanced upon an advertisement on "Second Home" page of a newspaper.  
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• The property was decided at TALEGAON DABHADE, a historic place, 120 kms from Mumbai and 35 kms from Pune, situated on a highest altitude between the two metros.
• We fell in love with the place instantly and the next one year we were caught up in buying it and  interiordesigning it. Talegaon has a very pleasant climate, surrounded by mountains and  it's vast green areas  with awesome rains. 
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• It also has many lakes and hence it is called Talegaon (Laketown).
  
• Every vacation sometimes weekend also we hit the BOMBAY PUNE road with the kids and stayed at least for two days. 
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• Slowly our favourite books, 
• kitchenwares,
• family games, 
• our cycles, 
• full set of clothes 
• was up at the home, we only needed to drive to another home
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• The Expresshighway was under construction then but we really didn't mind the four hours drive.
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• After the construction of Mumbai-Pune Expressway, which is India's first six lanes concrete high speed express road, we could reach in less than two hours.
  
• On the other side, our home was taking a good shape. We had done it with cane furniture, 
• with the blow-up pictures of my kids on the walls,
• with our favourite cane swing in the balcony where we could sit for hours enjoying the beautiful landscapes. 
  
• with the entire family enjoying the cycle rides.
  
• with ofcourse the RAINS!!!!
• We had never missed our visit in the first week of June, the onset of Monsoon, with my kids jumping in the poodles,
• 
  snugging into the swing looking at rains and listening to its music, terrific but beautiful lightening and deafening thunders.
• 
  We had a blast of our lives in my second home for nearly twenty long years for every vacation well spent!! 
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• For us, our home at Talegaon always remained as a family space, 
• For my relatives and my closknit friends, this house was the best option, in fact, I can bet that each one of them has lasting memories of their stay. 
• We always looked forward to get our dear ones with us and the place really gathered more beauty with their company.
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• Memories of a famous Garden restaurant  "THANDA MAMLA" at the entrance of Talegaon, located on the top of a hill with THANDA THANDA COOL COOL breeze and delicious food will never fade away. 
  
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• Due to Expressway's best and fast connectivity, slowly and steadily Talegaon and it's nearby places gained momentum. 
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• Places like Chakan, Hinjewadi, Wakad became new IT HUBS.
• Economic growth created new job opportunities leading to urbanisation.
  
  Agriculture was an important factor of these places, but the town's industrial development and  emergence of software companies led and is leading to its quick urbanization. 
• For many, now Talegaon is their first home.
• With so many multistorey apartments coming up in and around the town, the place is loosing it's quietness, though it is still the land of beauty, serenity and divinity being on an altitude of  2200ft above sealevel.
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• Inspite of its quick urbanisation, Being a Eco city, it is still attracting real estate developers to promote the area for property investment and it is still the SECOND HOME for many giving the joy of being close to the nature with the bestest amenities and facilities of a cityhome.
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• Eventually though, our regular visits  started reducing, owing to our kids  getting engrossed in their higher studies,
• rising urbanization, 
• we getting use to the new pace of life. 
• 
  
• Gradually our visits stopped completely. We did return a couple of times, But;
• Somewhere deep down we knew that....
• the coming up of  many  highrise  apartments opposite our place blocking the entire landscapes, giving a feel of more of a citylife,
• the changing tastes of our growing kids contributed in small ways towards our dwindling interest. 
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• We have now sold off  the property, 
• but,..
• 
  
• On some odd Saturday evening, there is that slightly tug at the heart when we miss the vacation times well spent with the loved ones,
• those moments of simple family bonding and carefree times, TALEGAON will always remain a part of us.
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• Whenever we  take the Expresshighway, we take a deliberate halt at The Cool Cool Thanda Thanda... "THANDA MAMLA" and relive the moments.
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• So on that note I would say 
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• TALEGAON  WILL  ALWAYS  BE  ONE  OF  THE  BEST  THINGS  IN  MY  LIFE, 
• WITH  THE  EVERLASTING  MEMORIES MADE  WITH  MY  LOVED  ONES  ALONG THE  WAY!!! 

ME MARATHI!

If I were to draw a direct connect to my love for Marathi Literature, it goes back to when I was as young as in class VII. My Dad was always very keen that we take up reading to broaden our horizons.

We having been in a school with its medium as English, one thing on which he had complete conviction was reading Marathi Literature. I remember him mentioning that learn as many as languages but never forget our roots. I also remember our bookshelf had a special place for Marathi books. I started on SHRIMAN YOGI  at an early age of 10. Reading these books gradually established me as an avid reader of Marathi Literature.

SHRIMAN YOGI, by Ranjit Desai, a biographical novel on Shivaji Maharaj, a historical novel which has created history in the world of literature and books. As we go on reading we get involved in it so much that we live each moment.

SWAMI  yet another book by Ranjit Desai which depicts a very sensitive and touching portrayal of Madhavrao Peshwa's life. He received many awards for this book also

SHYAMCHI AAI an autobiography of famous author and social activist Sane Guruji. It is about his mother and the kind of enormous influence she had on his life and upbringing. Simply flamboyant and involves readers in it.

VYAKTI AANI VALLI  by popularly known as 'Pu La' a famous Marathi writer and humorist. This book is a collection of character sketches that are as varied as people can be and funny to the core. 

BATATYACHI CHAAL yet another book by P.L.DESPANDE one of his masterpieces. It's story focuses on the inhabitants of a tenement in Girgaon, Mumbai. His observations, his timings of jokes and the way he creates it is amazing.

Madhavi Desai, a renowned Marathi writer and freedom fighter. Among her several books, many of them award winning, I loved her book GOMANT SAUDAMINI  in which she narrated the work of 100 women from Goa who had contributed to various fields.

There are many many  more. THIS BLOG POST OF MINE THAT DEPICTS A FEW, 'ALL TIME BEST MARATHI BOOKS' IS LIKE A DROP IN THE OCEAN.

I reminisce those years when my sister and me took turns to read those books. Thanks to the Digital world! It has helped me to  follow my love for reading till date.

There are many websites where in one can browse, download and also buy the books. 

RASIK.COM with its Digital library is the greatest online store for Marathi books.

It has been serving Marathi Rasiks all over the world. Then there is also MARATHINOVEL.NET

With many new authors with their books, Marathinovel app on Android is the latest trend.
Recently I read a spiritual suspense thriller MRUGJAL by Sunil Doiphode.  A must read!

MARATHI  LITERATURE  IS  DISTINCTLY   VAST,  VIVID   AND  VERSATILE!!

My Dad's conviction on 'MUST READ MARATHI LITERATURE' is one thing I value all the more now!!!

Proud to  say,' ME MARATHI !! '

THE UNSUNG HEROES OF OUR HOMES

• It was a pleasant evening of November 18,2017, when the 67th edition of Miss World pageant was held with 118 contestants from all over the world competing for the title.
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• The brilliant reply given by India's Manushi Chiller that earned her MISS WORLD 2017 crown to a question, 'Which profession deserves the highest salary and why? has set the ball rolling indeed. 
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• She rightly said that the job of a mother  deserves the highest salary,  it's not just money but the LOVE AND RESPECT  that she deserves. 
  
• A thought provoking answer indeed. 
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• No sooner did Manushi and her reply took the media by storm than various organisations released their findings, pointing out the rate at which the work that a mother does should be paid.
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• The question of unpaid labour of motherhood started doing rounds. 
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• It also gave a food for my thought. 
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• IS  MOTHERHOOD  REALLY  A PROFESSION? 
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• I always consider it as a  ROLE that we play in our life, rather in our family, be it of mother, daughter or a wife.
• A family works meticulously together, all members playing  their roles and contributing a bit to keep the bond strong among themselves.
• Being a Mom who took a hiatus from job and voluntarily decided to be hands-on-mom and fortunate enough for having a family who valued my contribution, I sincerely feel that.. 
• MOTHERS DO NOT WORK FOR SURVIVAL, THEY DO NOT WORK TO GET A REMUNERATION. 
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• They are homemakers, binding each member of the family emotionally and financially too. If they take a part of the well managed finance as  their remuneration the beauty of motherhood rather the relationship is lost.
• No amount of reward can match the love with which she prepares and serves food. 
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• WHAT TO COOK FOR MEALS EVERYDAY to satisfy the  tastebuds of each  one seems to be the most challenging part.
  
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• ALL MOTHERS THERE!!! 
• Are you listening? 

• I am sure all will unanimously agree with me that a mother is the happiest soul when all the members likes the food she prepares and no one sleeps with an empty stomach. 
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• There are STAY-AT-HOME MOMS AND THOSE JUGGLING BETWEEN CAREER AND HOME. 
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• Moms, whether stay-at-home or career oriented both deserves SALUTE for their price less contribution towards their families.
  
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• THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT  I WANT TO SAY IT LOUDLY.. 
• There are many cases where in mother's role is taken for granted with ungrateful families in such cases there is a dire need for healthy recognisation from not only all the members of the house but also from  the society as well. 
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• MOTHERS ARE THE BEST EXAMPLE OF INSPIRATION TO A CORPORATE PERSON.  The speed and the accuracy with which she manages the entire errands of a home sets an example of multitasking. 
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• Managing a home includes..
• Planning, Decision making, directing, implementing the plans monitoring discipline, reviewing the financial budget making necessary adjustments for sudden crisis, to be precise multitasking with doing all the household chores perfectly.. 
  
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• Following Manushi's reply, I have come across with many writeups about the cash remuneration  to be paid to all mothers. Who will pay her? Her own family members? 
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• Moreover, the glorification of motherhood absolves the ROLE OF FATHERS  who are sharing the responsibilities of running the house as well as raising the child too.
  
• Mother and Father together make a  family and both do not owe each other any remuneration, each one playing one's role of keeping the family happy. 
• At times, the role of a father is reversed with the man of the house being hands on parent to enable the lady of the house to pursue her career. Do we think of paying him?
  
  
  
• Manushi Chiller rightly said, it is not just money but the love and respect that a mother deserves, But with due respect to her reply I would say,  the love and respect a homemaker be a mother or a father deserves. 
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• Kudos to her for her excellent reply on a global stage that gave motherhood the recognition it deserves. 
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• No amount of remuneration can match the hardships, efforts with which a family is raised by a homemaker be a father or a mother.
• It is said that mothers make homes, I would say IT IS NOT JUST MOTHERS BUT FATHERS TOO MAKE HOMES.
• That too with a smile and enduring love 
  
• 
  
• I will be repeating myself if I say once again that...
• Love and respect that a homemaker deserves, is the highest salary indeed. 
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ON BEATING MONDAY BLUES ...

 I think on a Monday Morning, 
Five things to beat the Manic Monday!!

• If  Mondays are blue, then think Fridays are pink. Yup, think of the coming weekend.
• Wear your favourite outfit.
• Give yourself a healthy and favourite meal.
• Play your favourite playlist.
• Do what you love the most and you'll never have a problem. 
  

     

             Can you think of  Five things you would do  to beat Monday blues?

FRIENDS, THE ALL TIME FAVOURITE SITCOM

• Overwhelmed the other day to know that 'F.R.I.E.N.D.S.' has been voted as the greatest sitcom of all time.
  
• Lost count of the number of times I have watched every episode of the show. 
• When I first started watching  Friends with my nephew, I thought it would be a normal sitcom, but soon I realised that one can never watch it one time. I have ended up watching random episodes over and over again. 
• 
  
• It is about six friends who love each other like a family. It depicts love, career, relationship, friendship and a time in one's life when friends are a family. 
• Though it has a simple plot, it is the actors and characters they play are irreplaceable. 
• Rachel, spoiled but warm 
• Monica's quirkiness, 
• Chandler's sarcasm. 
• Phoebe's insane songs, her funky dressing, 
• Joey's love for food, 
• Ross's clumsiness 
• Each one of them is funny  in their own unique way with the crackling chemistry shared by them.
  
• Every episode makes you laugh nonstop,  A true masterpiece. 
  
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• Ten seasons with 236 episodes! 
• There are so many iconic moments over these seasons  that it is very difficult to choose the best one over others.
• Repeats of the series continue to air worldwide. 
• I have  complete series downloaded courtesy, my children!!!!
• Whenever they are at home on holidays,  we watch them back to back
  
  . 
• Though the show ran for a decade from 1994-2004, the humour and the magic it has is timeless.
• No sooner did it  voted as the greatest sitcom of all time, than People are coming up with many continuity errors in this show, like the changing view from Monica's window, the constant age of Ross for three years, changing apartment numbers and few more.
• TV writers are writing how it fails the test of being the best situation comedy.
• It apparently reminds me of a tagline used by Onida TV , years back, "Neighbour's envy, Owner's Pride."
• Nevertheless these errors, it has still emerged as the best of all time. Friend's superfan will never pay attention to any of these.
• Absolutely hilarious, at any time of the day, at any time of your life if you want a good hearty laugh, watch FRIENDS. 
  
• 
  
• In any case, GOOD WINE NEEDS NO BUSH!!!
• Last but not the least,  the theme song which is one of the most popular television theme songs of all time one can't resist humming.... 
•                  "I 'LL BE THERE FOR YOU..

HAPPY STREETS

• 
  
• Returning from a long holiday whilst indulging in delicious meals and endless desserts, before the holidays blues could affect, on a Sunday morning, I decide to go for my regular jog with a difference. 
• 
  
• My better half comes up with a suggestion to join a laughter club. God help me!!!
• I wouldn't be caught dead laughing in a laughter club HA!HA!HA!.
  
• I would rather watch a Charlie Chaplin movie or a all time classic movie PADOSAN to keep me in spilts.
• My better half yet not giving up, voices another suggestion to explore the HAPPY STREETS in my vicinity. 
• Giving him a thumbs up, we hit the the desired Street. 
  
• 
  
• HAPPY STREETS,
  
   
• It is an initiative by Times of India, with the support of various District authorities which encourages people to use non motorised transport and to come out onto the streets to socialise every SUNDAY MORNING through a wide array of activities.
  
• The road selected for Happy Street is blocked for 3 to 4 hours in the morning on Sundays to turn into a free space where any one can walk, jog, cycle or just stroll rediscovering the simple pleasures of playing any game or doing any activity irrespective of age that ultimately makes you HAPPY! 
  
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• Children, teenagers the youth, the entire families and even the senior citizens turn up to cycling, running do yoga or a Zumba
  
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• Rent free cycles  seems  to be a big hit. Skaters, footballers, you name the sport and it is
  
• . 
• It is a sheer delight to see thousands of people flocking this vehicle free Happy Streets, Not to miss the oldies letting their hair down to     .                                          ZUMBA MOVES. 
• 
  With  many first timers at Zumba, after a round of cycling, I decide to try my hands at Zumba dance.
• Refreshing myself was never so exciting when I sweat it out with Zumba with the experts on the main stage teaching the participants.
  
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• GIVING ROUTINE LIFE A MISS,
• AWAY FROM THE HUSTLE BUSTLE OF VEHICLES, HONKY TOXIC FUMES,
• HAPPY STREETS PRESSES THE NEED FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES, 
• A LITTLE STEP TOWARDS PUSHING FOR MORE OPEN SPACES, 
• TURNING THE BUSY STREETS FOR A WHILE INTO FITNESSFUN ZONES, 
• MUCH NEEDED CHANGE MAKING OUR PEOPLE HAPPIER!!
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• COME SUNDAYS WE EAGERLY LOOK FORWARD TO HIT THE HAPPY STREETS AND BE A PART OF IT.
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•   SMART SUGGESTION!!!!' MY BETTERHALF!

HEY THERE! I AM USING WHAT'S APP

• Standing in the balcony, sipping some tea, I see a dozen of beautiful parrots perching and swinging on a cable wire, I whip out my phone to take a sublime photo of this moment, only to know that my memory is full as I have just received 30 what's app images from a member of one of my What's app groups. 
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• MY WHAT'S APP GROUPS AND  THEIR NON STOP FORWARDS.!!!!
  
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• A thought for the day! 
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• When my phone smartly hangs itself when it is overweighed with centuries long what's app forwards, I seriously feel like muting my own groups. Invariably I do that when group chat notifications get noisy and I have to focus on a task at hand.
  
• But, do we really read those messages and forwards? 
• Yes, we do.
• WHAT'S APP... 
  
• It has taken over the world and is one of the most preferred way of communication. Not only it is fast, but also it is instant and has given way to a whole new way of talking to each other.
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• GROUP CHAT....Almost every family have their own exclusive group chats the oldies, the besties, the cousins. There are groups of Pet Parents besides, school kids parents; there are early bird joggers group, then there are office groups.Yes there are apartment complex groups.
  
• Yup, any information to be relayed in the housing complex..a common maid not turning up is flashed across the group. 
• Forwards... mostly long, sometimes funny, sometimes informative, at times updating about the latest news and a boon to those  in distress with  forwards informing about a lost child or a puppy. 
• I believe that What's app is one of the most popular free apps all over the world with the GROUP CHAT enabling us to keep in touch not only with our relatives, but also with our school, college and office friends, not without their  non stop forwards.😝
• 
  
• As for me,
• I have just done with cleaning my phone, and there it is.....
• It pings again!!!!
• I see that an enthusiastic group member has sent a forward, "20 CURES TO PROTECT A PHONE FROM HANGING"
• Oh My GOD!  NOT AGAIN!! 
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• I have  now formulated my own What's app forward message which I am going to send to all my Groups and it goes like this:
• 
  
• 'Inspite of  being a silent person in the Group Chats and contributing very little to it, I do read all the FORWARDS before cleaning my memory of the phone.'😂
  
  
  

EXTRACT FROM MY DIARY

• It was a December night of my teen years, pleasantly cold, we had done with our mid term exams, a spontaneous plan was made to escape from the hustle bustle of citylife to a nearby place. 
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• The weekend getaway was decided. One of my father's dear friend had a second home at Awas village near Alibaug beach. Though he was not accompanying us, he made sure that we would have great time at his well furnished cottage, with his cook and caretaker. 
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• Next day, early morning with the picnic mood on, skipping our breakfast, we took a ferry boat from Gateway of India to Revdanda. 
  
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• As it was a quick plan, also the cottage equipped with a cook, we did not pack any snacks or titbits. 
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• After we reached Revdanda, we had to walk a distance of 2 kms to reach the Awas village. 
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• On a winter morning, with a temperature hovering around 10 degrees, we were walking through the narrow muddy road amidst dense trees, heading towards the cottage, desperately wanting to stop for a while and grab a bite. 
  
• There it was....!!! 
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• One CHAI TAPRIWALA came to our rescue. With a warm smile he whipped out glasses, poured steaming adarakwali chai and served it  with bread and some butter on it. 
  
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• Resting on a bench, we silently and hungrily munch our way through  UNDOUBTEDLY ONE OF THE BEST CHAI PREPARATIONS THAT I HAVE EVER HAD!  
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• During our conversation with him my little Bro complained about the taste of the butter, 
• Pat came the reply with a witty smile and a twinkle in eyes from the tapriwala 
• "SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN AJIBAT NOTHING "
• I would mention here that" ajibat "is a Marathi word that means "Absolutely" 

• These words coming from him hit me and still keeps me grounded. 
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• That was some 35 years back. 
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• Come December on a winter night of this year, planning to spend a weekend at a nearby place, down the memory lane my visit to AWAS was revived. 
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• After a span of nearly three decades the place has come up as one of the most loved weekend getaway with the clean beach, well maintained roads and lovely resorts equipped with all sorts of amenities and Mouthwatering eateries. 
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• But...
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     THAT TAPRIWALA, THAT CHAI, THOSE WORDS,  
•   I will remember for many years after I have forgotten the hungry walk from  Revdanda to the cottage at Aawas!!! 
•