“I’m participating in the #LiveLodgycal contest with Renault in association with BlogAdda to get a chance to be a part of the #LiveLodgycal Drive in Goa.”
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| Taken from peacockpressprint.com |
“Life in Boxes”- I read as I logged into my Facebook page and saw the topmost status update. It belonged to my aunt. They were moving places, moving to a new house, to a new home. Somehow, I had never realized until that day how those big things that make up our lives can get accommodated in things so small (or otherwise not ‘so’ small). This made me think what actually makes up my ‘world’ as we call it? Can I really beguile myself into believing that I can fit my life in 5 things that may fit into a definite space? Well, depends on the SPACE.
In the movie ‘The Time Machine’ (not the crappy Guy Pearce rehash but the Rod Taylor one), the protagonist takes three books into the future to rebuild civilization. It is however never revealed which specific books does he take but rather the viewers are left with the ambiguity of it, “Which three books would you have taken?” On somewhat similar lines, I am not going to pinpoint those 5 things that I would take with me on the new Renault Lodgy. Although, as the theme goes, I will speak of those things as I go on to describe how I plan to make the most of this glamorous talisman of a car. Just like the film, you are supposed to find out which 5 things really make up my life. Ready for the challenge? Here it goes-
As a boy who doesn’t like to drive too much and also being a boy who doesn’t like to go places ( Yes, I know I deserve to die), it gets somewhat anti-dalliantic to take a road trip as long as the road from my Grandpa’s house to mine. First things first, no journey is good enough without family and the fun starts only when the grandparents join in. So leaving out the going part and keeping the homecoming as the cynosure of the journey would be the first and foremost thing. Also, HOMECOMING. No word better than that. So picture this- Our Renault Lodgy is parked outside my grandpa’s house in our muhalla, resplendent, shining in all its glory. The urchins are literally drooling over its chiseled front end (Chiseled like Charlon Heston’s jaw) and can’t help getting their hands over it. I think of shouting at them, maybe so as to give a haughty impression to them. But being the good boy I am, I don’t. Rather I take a deep breath and try to bask in the radiance of it. Ohh the craving has just begun.
Somehow, the front and back mirrors have got dirty in the earlier part of the journey and I am in no mood to get cleaning now. Guess what? No worries. This talisman, this car, comes with a back wiper too. So no last second manual spray-wash on my part, YEEAHH. Life’s little pleasures!
If you haven’t really taken such a ride, my dear reader, then chances are that you would underestimate the luggage you have to carry. It really is foodstock and lodgings along with wardrobe and daily utilities that are to go with you. Thankfully the dynamic trunk storage of 207 litres and the roof rails allow space and strength enough to carry your ‘world’ with you.
Now as has always been the case with our present car, Grandpa has to sit at the front captain seat alongside Dad so as to have that ample space to move about. No matter how much we wish not to separate a couple who has spent 63 years (Touchwood) together, we can’t help. But with the new Lodgy, things seems so convenient. With the luxurious, easy to access and amply spaced pilot seats in the 2nd row, we can have that picture perfect moment of our favourite couple sitting beside each other. To get things closer together, we can even get rid of the armrests. Also, Mom can finally sit beside Dad on such an outing which gets rid of his usual complain how he becomes a driver not sitting with his spouse. Hahaha..the things that be.
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The three rows for three generations |
So the two couples in the front two rows and the third row for us two brother and sister. It can get messy at times as the devil's workshop in my mischievous mind can play tricks to tease her. When that happens, I have to take the driving wheel. There is some respite to that too. With the 50:50 split seats in the 3rd row, she can get rid of me when ‘it’ happens and I can still enjoy my lone time. Another Aha feature right?
Again, In spite of all the peace and harmony, it isn’t good if it isn’t spicy. To quote some nonchalant Bollywood dialogue, “ज़िन्दगी का असली मज़ा तो खट्टे में है”. And what better recipe to spice things up for 5 music lovers (Grandpa isn’t a fan but he doesn’t mind) than a media player with old Bollywood melodies playing at just the appropriate volume on it . The MediaNAV console comes to the rescue here with its stylish and easy to operate menu-driven features. To just think of a breezy dusk and the song “सुहाना सफर और ये मौसम हसीं ” gives me goosebumps.
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| The oh-so-awesome MediaNAV console |
Now, time to get selfish. For this true-blue perfervid cinema fan and of late a movie blogger, his laptop is indispensable. Also, that comfort of laying back and blogging as your fingers roam on the keyboard and your legs tap to the tunes of a loved song is the cherry on the cake. With Lodgy, my legs can have the descent to tap and my laptop the space to rest without my sister complaining. Also, the always ready-to-run-out batteries of our phones can have their moment in the sun with a charging socket at each row courtesy of which Facebook shalt live.
Also, no journey is complete for a foodie if he doesn’t make at least two halts to get refreshments. And Lord knows how tough it is to park outside those encroached food shops. The MediaNAV panel again saves the day with its rear-view camera letting me know exactly when I will hit his shop (or will not J ). Huff…What I would not do for those samosas, the bakey tea and softdrinks. Now if there is too much of traffic at the shop and we have to leave in a hurry, we need not worry too. The cup & bottle holders and the flight tray will do more than enough to hold our food for the little time it takes us to finish them up.
At last, when you reach home in a ride so dashing and after a journey so memorable, you come to believe that things that make up your life aren’t really things.
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| Taken from 123rf.com |
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