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The search

“I am officially an author,” I said to my wife.

This happened on January 30, 2017. A remarkable day, to say the least.

The aftermath: Weird, but true:

After my book was out, for weeks I couldn’t write, anything. Because I was “done”. I was “done-done”.

When my wife would ask me to respond to emails, I would say something like “I don’t know how to write anymore… I’m done writing.” Even texting was difficult. Voice notes were in.

My tired fingertips(which now had an imprint of the keyboard letters) needed a break, especially after the effort that was put into writing over time. They desperately needed a new partner.

The search was on.

It didn’t take very long to find a suitable match for my tired fingers.

The TV remote!

Netflix, Hulu, VOD, Amazon Prime… and many more got the run for their money. The remote controller was now on the wanted list. My 20 month old daughter continued to use it like a phone, while my son continued with his habit of checking its batteries each day, and so it was on a timeshare.

“Binge” became my favorite word – very fast. Great, right?

Nope.

This cool relationship did not last very long.

Going from a fountain pen to a keyboard was not difficult, but going from a keyboard to a remote, even for a few days was… a real bummer.

My fingers had to get back with its old partner.

Days later I sat in my comfortable chair once again, and I wrote (Like someone learning to walk once again).

(Imagine a motivational soundtrack here). Tip : here

See you around.

The First Credit Card

1999 – 2000

Mask

Back then, I was a graduate student, new to the U.S. trying to stand up on my own feet. I did not have a scholarship yet. The situation was tight, and I was not willing to ask my dad to fund me for tuition expenses, though he would gladly do so. I was educated enough to find a prudent assignment.

After learning how the credit system works, I started to apply for credit cards. And within days I started to receive letters from the credit card companies. I would try and bend the envelops first, to see if there was a credit card inside. Nope. I learned quickly that a lighter envelops meant rejection. All the envelops I received were light. Very light. I would return from school each day, check my mailbox, read the same words of dismissal, and throw them in the bin.

Then one day, I received an envelop that didn’t bend. Excitedly, I opened it, and voila! There was a real credit card inside! I couldn’t control my excitement. I had a w-i-d-e smile on my face. I could finally rent a car now! (Yeah, a credit card was required to rent a car, even in those days). I now had my very first credit card. It felt great!

The excitement did not last very long, though. When I tried to activate the credit card, I was told that it was issued by mistake (Yup, boo-boo). I was dejected at first, but I couldn’t help but laugh about the whole situation. My roommates and I giggled about it into the night, and over the next few weeks. The card was just a piece of plastic, which I eventually threw away.

To build some credit, I secured a part time job at school. I was now the IT guy who was working as a ball boy during the inter college volleyball tournaments. That was my job. So much for a prudent assignment.

Once I was allowed to work off campus, I started working in New York City in my desired field. About two months later, when I picked up my mail, I finally found what I had been waiting for. It was a fat envelop which carried my new credit card. It was an AT&T Platinum MasterCard.

The timing couldn’t have been better. I used this brand new credit card to make the purchases for my family before leaving to India for a vacation. I maxed out my credit card before heading out.

My hard case suitcases bulged with goodies. Crystal glass vases and goblets, wristwatches, perfumes, chocolates, wine, silk ties, winter jackets, cosmetics, toys, pens, gadgets, and there were many more presents that I had stuffed in the small spaces in my bags.

I can never forget the expressions that I saw the day when I gifted presents to my family. These were invaluable expressions of joy and delight that cannot be put into words.

These happened to be the last presents that I gifted to my family.

I am glad I maxed out on my credit card.I am glad I lived in the present.

In the Picture : Mask doll that I bought for Shalin, my 2½ years old nephew.

More about what happened : Here

Making A Choice

Train Tracks

I came to the U.S. for higher studies. Having spent all my life being around the family, surrounded with relatives and friends, and having all the comforts of life, it wasn’t easy to start a new life in a new country that was on the far side of the globe. The world wasn't as connected in those days as it is now, and the grueling winter only made things worse.

After I settled down a little, and once I completed the first two semesters, I landed my first job in the most amazing city in the world, New York City. It was an incredible feeling to work just a block away from the Twin Towers, and to be a part of the fast life. The job was in my desired field, and I was now making enough money to pay my bills, and also pay my own tuition. My career had started to take shape, and I couldn't be happier.

Choosing Light - Viral Dalal - Inspirational Book — Working in Lower Manhattan

Within the next few months it was time for a winter break at school. It had also been quite some time since I had seen my family. I had been missing them, and I had this ever-growing urge to meet them.

With this new job in hand, I had to make a decision. Either I could continue to work and choose to meet my family a few months later, or simply follow my heart by quitting the job, and be one with them. NOW!

Even the simple thought of going back home and spending a few weeks with my family gave me far greater pleasure than a secure job and a much needed paycheck. It was an easy decision.

A 4 week holiday wasn't approved, and so I left my job, and I packed my bags to go back home for 5 weeks instead. The plan was to look for another job once I returned.

I spent the next 30 days with my family, exactly as we had planned. We spent time being together, and lived the same way we did before. It was truly the most amazing time of my life.

We all learn to make choices as we grow. I chose to go and see my family first, and did not worry about a maxed out credit line or a career that had just started to take off. This was the BEST decision I made in my life.

Those 30 days happened to be the last days that I spent with my family.

More about my story : Here

The Traffic Light

The other day when I was travelling to work:

The weather wasn’t great, and I was running late due to heavy traffic. To me, the traffic on I-495 beltway feels like the whole world wants to circle around Washington D.C. all day.

“Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman was playing in the background. It made me think about my days in the high school, and the Grammy’s that year.

Minutes later I took an exit towards Washington D.C. and stopped at the red light. I usually don’t look around when I stop at a traffic signal, but I did this time because this shiny, black sports car was being driven in a rather unusual manner.

The gentleman inside the car looked at the red light, banged the steering wheel a few times. Then he looked at it again and shook his head and mumbled something. Then he looked at me and shook his head, again. He then honked a few times, though the lights were still red. It was evident that he was in a hurry and was upset.

After the light turned green I made a turn, and saw that car fading away in the rear view mirror. Continuing to listen to the music, I reached my work place.

Later that day while I was with one of my colleagues during lunch, I observed that his day wasn’t going well either. He spoke about the bad weather, and then about how crummy the food was at the local joint, then about the awful traffic, and a few other things that were bothering him. He sounded very unhappy.

That morning during the rush hour I was running late, too. I had challenges at work, too. I sat in the same traffic just like others, and the weather was no different for me either. And yes, I have a toddler at home who asks me to dance and run with him as soon as I enter home.

After returning home that day, it only made me think about why people were so upset. What was everyone really so upset about?

For me the little things in life gives me a lot of pleasure. I can wake up in my comfortable bed. Get something accomplished during the day. Play a little. Learn a little. Eat a little (sometimes more). Laugh a lot (more++), and do something meaningful each day.

I often think about the time when I was inside the concrete coffin, trapped for days without food, water, light, movement, or any possibility of living another day. And then, I can’t help but think about why people are so upset…with their perfect lives. Where is the problem?

In this day and age, a traffic light that doesn’t turn green fast enough can ruin your entire day.

Some of you do know about my life experience. And for what I have been through, I could have easily chosen to gripe until eternity. But, I made the choice of seeing life from a different perspective, and I Chose to be Happy.

For me, focusing on things like the traffic light or the other “little pains” of life is a big waste of time.

More about the story : Here

My First Blog

A Warm welcome to you! I truly believe that we all possess the power to carve our own life path. I hope that you will agree.

My name is Viral. I live in Washington D.C metropolitan region, and this is my first blog.

Buried underneath tons of rubble, when I was found alive days after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit our town, all I had was hope. A hope to find my family. With an extremely strong will to survive, and with no access to light, movement, water or food, and with a limited supply of air, I was trapped inside a cement cavity that had less space than a coffin.

I lived to tell my story.

Through my blog I will try to share with you some of the things that I learned through this ordeal. This is where I will share with you, how you can recognize the strengths, the will power, and the determination that lies within you.

I will share with you my thoughts about what it takes for you to stand back up on your own feet even when you don’t have ground beneath you.

Through my blog I will share with you the experiences that had the power to alter the path of my life. Some did. Some did not.

Stay tuned.