Okay, so its been another month that has passed me by and come to think of it i can for a change do tell you a few things i remember about this time. The biggest news of all was my finally having laid hands on my long lost dream of getting into an IIM. So i have finally done what i had worked so hard for the last 4 years or so and right now sitting in my room in IIM I i can say that i am feeling excited but scared, happy yet sad and god knows what. I'm like a mixed bag of emotions. Couldn't have asked for more. Yes i'm concerned about a few people left alone back in Delhi and yes i miss a whole hell lot of people but still i'm learning to cope with it. The last 4 years flash before my eyes again and again whenever i'm alone doing nothing right from the time when i joined my company and screwed up on the first big test to the time when i was praised and appreciated, when i left the company, for all that i had done and accomplished in the last 4 years. It sure feels very good thinking about all this and all the experiences i have had during this time.
To be honest there were times when i really didn't want to work in my office but yes the last year has been very good and i do miss my office days. I knew it would be hard but still it does pinch moving away from a settled routine. But on the positive side i have found a new routine which is as much exciting. So it was hard to leave Delhi not knowing when i will be back for a long time again. I mean yes there will be breaks between semesters but 3-4 days max. First time i have stepped out of Delhi for what seems to be a really long time. Leaving my parents who have been always there with me. Leaving my friends and colleagues behind has been hard too. I miss the breakfast, Sanju's call for lunch at 12:30, then trying to find Gullu at 1 and holding the lift for him. I miss the trips to the cafeteria for coffee with JP and Vipinji. The long drive back home via my favorite spot in Delhi - CP. Man writing this is making me so misty eyed.
So what i'm trading for all these moments and memories? I am trading a life of excitement, hardships, fun, sadness, happiness, disappointment. But i guess it was time to move on from my earlier life as i had promised myself that no matter what i would leave Delhi before this year ended. Not that i had gotten bored, but because i knew i needed to shake up my life and get certain things and people out of my system. So i delivered on my promise and here i am living with strangers and still a bit at home. Now as you might or might not know, the life at a b-school is tough. Cut throat competition for everything from marks to placements to GIRLS!!! So am i bothered? Hell yeah what do you take me for? Okay, a bad joke but yes i'm a little bit nervous but i know this is where i have to be for the next 2 years and i will manage somehow. In fact i would have to manage as it's not an option for me.
So lugging 5 heavy weight books and the weight of a lot of expectations, i begin my sojourn from this place right in the middle of the country. To make the path sweeter, i just got news that one of my good friends will soon be coming to Indore and yeah weekends will be special and a little better. In all this i forgot about the other big news, Spain in football world cup finals. How awesome is that? I supported Spain from day 1 although none of my friends agreed with me. I told everyone how this time its Spain time but no one agreed. Brazil, Argentina, Germany...even England, god knows what names were thrown up. This is not to belittle these teams but i had my faith in the team i support and i knew they will make it. So i guess now i can be bashful and go on to say that people who watch football once in 4 years have no right to predict the winners. Sorry if it hurt someone's feelings but i can't help it, I'm so happy. Desperately waiting for tomorrow night's final between two really good teams. Watching with so many people together will only add to the excitement.
So here i am, writing my first article from this city of great cuisines and telling everyone that i am fine and that i miss them a lot. Keep in touch is all i can add. Guys don't forget me and do keep calling on a regular basis on my new no. I'm a student now, so don't expect me to call damnit :P :P. This is me signing off. Tc and NJOI!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Movie Time
Ok maybe not an apt title for this article but i felt i needed to write something about RAAJNEETI. There was a lot said and written about the movie even before it was released, with the only national party in the country slapping a one week ban and what not. But i was sure i would enjoy the movie simply because it was made by one of my favorite directors - Prakash Jha. Prakash has the uncanny knack of delivering high octane movies with gripping performances by his leading stars. Apharan and Gangajal standout as the master pieces based on the hindi heartland politics of the country and needless to say i love them. So the movie was released to much fan fare and people were disappointed to some extent on what had been portrayed. Maybe they expected something else or maybe the plot was all to predictable for them and yes their opinions were heard and carried forward to many others.
People saw the similarity between the movie and the epic Mahabharata and labeled the movie as a spin-off, opinions though harsh but yet accepted. There was appreciation for the performances and meatier roles for Ajay and Nana was what everyone called for. But i stayed away from commenting and following all this news as i was sure that i would love the movie. And god damn i did. It was a stupendous movie with great effort put in by everyone. Yes there were some similarities, yes it might have been too predictable at times. Yes it went overboard in the end but people lets not forget it was not that this wasn't told to us earlier. Much like when RGV said he made Sarkar as an ode to the Godfather, Prakash Jha also came out and said how he had adapted the Mahabharata to the modern political scene.
So it was all there before us. And i have to admit, it was a great movie. Prakash once again delivers a great movie with edge of the seat action. Agreed having known Mahabharata it felt like being cheated but one must understand that it is a totally different ball game to make the actors follow the directors' lead. To bring out the kind of performances especially from Arjun Rampal would have taken a lot. Lets face it Arjun has never been good at acting but he shines through in the movie. Goes to show what skills Prakash Jha has. I loved the movie and am happy that i didn't listen to the naysayers and maintained my belief. This i believe is something i should do more often, believing in what i feel is right.
When Vishal Bhardwaj made Kaminey, many critics slammed the movie stating it wasn't that good. But having received a similar criticism for Omkara and then knowing how good a movie it really was, I was sure Kaminey too would be good and i was not let down. Vishal did justice to the script and the actors supported him. He did give us a good film with good music. What more can you ask for? So one thing i would follow from now on is go and watch a movie without thinking too much about what others are saying. I know that there are some movies you can definitely miss based on opinions just because they are too bad to begin with. But the movies that are good always make the right noises before they are released and they have the right stars in them. Thats what one should really look for and i'm sure you will never feel let down.
The biggest plus point with Raajneeti though is that even though the story might seem clichéd to few, it still doesn't ask you to fore go logic to move through the movie. This is one point that helps you ease through as the movie progresses. Hence, all in all a wonderful movie and a great time spent and a really happy critic!!!!!!!!!!
People saw the similarity between the movie and the epic Mahabharata and labeled the movie as a spin-off, opinions though harsh but yet accepted. There was appreciation for the performances and meatier roles for Ajay and Nana was what everyone called for. But i stayed away from commenting and following all this news as i was sure that i would love the movie. And god damn i did. It was a stupendous movie with great effort put in by everyone. Yes there were some similarities, yes it might have been too predictable at times. Yes it went overboard in the end but people lets not forget it was not that this wasn't told to us earlier. Much like when RGV said he made Sarkar as an ode to the Godfather, Prakash Jha also came out and said how he had adapted the Mahabharata to the modern political scene.
So it was all there before us. And i have to admit, it was a great movie. Prakash once again delivers a great movie with edge of the seat action. Agreed having known Mahabharata it felt like being cheated but one must understand that it is a totally different ball game to make the actors follow the directors' lead. To bring out the kind of performances especially from Arjun Rampal would have taken a lot. Lets face it Arjun has never been good at acting but he shines through in the movie. Goes to show what skills Prakash Jha has. I loved the movie and am happy that i didn't listen to the naysayers and maintained my belief. This i believe is something i should do more often, believing in what i feel is right.
When Vishal Bhardwaj made Kaminey, many critics slammed the movie stating it wasn't that good. But having received a similar criticism for Omkara and then knowing how good a movie it really was, I was sure Kaminey too would be good and i was not let down. Vishal did justice to the script and the actors supported him. He did give us a good film with good music. What more can you ask for? So one thing i would follow from now on is go and watch a movie without thinking too much about what others are saying. I know that there are some movies you can definitely miss based on opinions just because they are too bad to begin with. But the movies that are good always make the right noises before they are released and they have the right stars in them. Thats what one should really look for and i'm sure you will never feel let down.
The biggest plus point with Raajneeti though is that even though the story might seem clichéd to few, it still doesn't ask you to fore go logic to move through the movie. This is one point that helps you ease through as the movie progresses. Hence, all in all a wonderful movie and a great time spent and a really happy critic!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Sweet Little Annoying things!!!
This is not a happy effort. This is more of a complaint. Not of mine alone but of the millions other who face these problems everyday in their life. The small stuff in our lives that we don't know what to do about yet makes us irritated all the time. This article is dedicated to highlighting the frustrations that we face everyday and are helpless bystanders, no matter what the revolutionaries claim is the righteous thing to do in such circumstances. I'll start of with the most common problem plaguing the country.
1. Corruption: A bribe here, a bribe there. All in getting your work done easily, quickly, without hassles. Tata Tea has run the campaign for quite some time.."khilana band, pilana shuru". A touching campaign, yet not very successful. The deplorable state of the country's administration and the law and order situation in different parts of the country leaves a sore heart every passing minute. Be it the lack of getting the paperwork done or seeing your soldiers dying a dog's death at the hands of psychopaths, it hurts like hell. Why can't the people running the country understand that their is something called patriotism beyond their greed for green paper? The one thing our forefathers had in them when they fought the british for the country. Vote bank politics has long denied the country the growth and justice it deserves. The public demands for a clean administration with proper implementation of law have always fallen on deaf ears.
2. Power and Water: Or rather the lack of it. Every day you face the same issue. Water will come at odd hours and not for long time at that. So you have to get up at 3 am to fill that bucket of drinking water which will help you survive the next day. In spite of all this, the govt's apathy towards ensuring that each citizen gets drinking water everyday is simply inexorable. Coupled with the hassles public faces with electricity and the inflated bills just cripples the backbone of the common man. How are you expected to live a normal life when you don't have basic civic amenities at your disposal. It hurts to see the state of people in the rural areas living their lives and then resorting to violence to make their voices heard. Are we not dividing our nation based on petty differences. Education is not a compulsory right as it should be. Lack of knowledge breeds ignorance and a disregard for rules and authority, specially in the urban areas.
Law & Order: Traffic problems, road rage, robbery, rape, molestation, dacoity and what not. These are just some of the news that you read everyday in the papers. You see something on the news - dramatized, sensationalized yet forgotten from living memory in a couple of weeks as the channels look for some other news to exploit. The very fact that the police is not there to protect the people and looks for its own benefits makes you cringe and twist like a snake struggling to free itself off its captor. Daylight robberies and the pathetic condition of the police force coupled with their ignorance and greed only makes your anti system sentiments grow.
People say that if you hate the system so much then why not fight to change it? Yes it is true, but how many of us are capable of such deeds? How can we even enter political scenario without slashing someone's throat or cutting someone's pocket? Am i too coward to stand up? Is my patriotism some hollow joke? I don't know, maybe i need a leader whom i could follow to do all that is required of me for my country but as of now, I stand alone. Maybe the belief that if you do try to change the system, you will be crushed like an ant makes me stop short of taking any drastic step. But yes the resentment is there. I'm not ignorant of the country's problems and i find my solace in these words, which makes my life easier. But is that enough? An easy life for me (as i don't normally have to deal with these problems), while the rest of the country is hurting......
1. Corruption: A bribe here, a bribe there. All in getting your work done easily, quickly, without hassles. Tata Tea has run the campaign for quite some time.."khilana band, pilana shuru". A touching campaign, yet not very successful. The deplorable state of the country's administration and the law and order situation in different parts of the country leaves a sore heart every passing minute. Be it the lack of getting the paperwork done or seeing your soldiers dying a dog's death at the hands of psychopaths, it hurts like hell. Why can't the people running the country understand that their is something called patriotism beyond their greed for green paper? The one thing our forefathers had in them when they fought the british for the country. Vote bank politics has long denied the country the growth and justice it deserves. The public demands for a clean administration with proper implementation of law have always fallen on deaf ears.
2. Power and Water: Or rather the lack of it. Every day you face the same issue. Water will come at odd hours and not for long time at that. So you have to get up at 3 am to fill that bucket of drinking water which will help you survive the next day. In spite of all this, the govt's apathy towards ensuring that each citizen gets drinking water everyday is simply inexorable. Coupled with the hassles public faces with electricity and the inflated bills just cripples the backbone of the common man. How are you expected to live a normal life when you don't have basic civic amenities at your disposal. It hurts to see the state of people in the rural areas living their lives and then resorting to violence to make their voices heard. Are we not dividing our nation based on petty differences. Education is not a compulsory right as it should be. Lack of knowledge breeds ignorance and a disregard for rules and authority, specially in the urban areas.
Law & Order: Traffic problems, road rage, robbery, rape, molestation, dacoity and what not. These are just some of the news that you read everyday in the papers. You see something on the news - dramatized, sensationalized yet forgotten from living memory in a couple of weeks as the channels look for some other news to exploit. The very fact that the police is not there to protect the people and looks for its own benefits makes you cringe and twist like a snake struggling to free itself off its captor. Daylight robberies and the pathetic condition of the police force coupled with their ignorance and greed only makes your anti system sentiments grow.
People say that if you hate the system so much then why not fight to change it? Yes it is true, but how many of us are capable of such deeds? How can we even enter political scenario without slashing someone's throat or cutting someone's pocket? Am i too coward to stand up? Is my patriotism some hollow joke? I don't know, maybe i need a leader whom i could follow to do all that is required of me for my country but as of now, I stand alone. Maybe the belief that if you do try to change the system, you will be crushed like an ant makes me stop short of taking any drastic step. But yes the resentment is there. I'm not ignorant of the country's problems and i find my solace in these words, which makes my life easier. But is that enough? An easy life for me (as i don't normally have to deal with these problems), while the rest of the country is hurting......
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Most Wonderful Experience
Almost two months since i last wrote on this blog and my world has definitely turned upside down. My sordid love saga with its own twists and turns maybe bigger than a Abbas-Mustan movie has come to curtains finally. My office shifted premises to NOIDA making travelling a bitch and that too all alone. Still no idea where i am headed in my career. So all in a all not a very happy last two months to look at from my side. Can't say the same for the others though as few might just have something exciting and interesting to look forward to especially after European skies have opened up. There is the general dismay among 'friends' as to why the bloody hell am i single (ain't u got no guts?). Then there is my own explanation of it (ain't got no luck). Not something good to write home about here it seems.
Wait a minute, there just might be i guess. Does crashing down on waves in a rubber raft and jumping from 30 ft high cliff into the river below and then standing under a gushing waterfall and feeling the water hitting you with bricks and stones and yet enjoying the experience, count as exciting? It sure as hell does, baby. Well this trip was the brainchild of our very own Bhatia (saab) and slowly all the players fell in through persuasion (if not bribe) save one. Hours of discussion to finalize the details and the itinerary went into the short trip and it would be right to say that every one was excited. So where do i even begin with this journey. The torturous train ride where we were forced to play cards in the dark and yet being yelled at in the middle of the night for having some fun or the fact that the train took almost 5 hours more to reach its destination. It's still fresh in the mind how each moment unfolded and although there were no untoward experiences, the trip was still quite Adve-ntur-ous.
Surely a ride in an ambassador through the fields with 8 people jammed in somehow was an experience of its own but the best part of the trip i believe was the water.
I mean the freshness of water was simply awesome. The cold temperature adding to the flavor. So what began as an adventure was soon turned into an experience of a life time. Whatever i had craved for to do all my life came together in a single trip. Bonfire at night with light music in the background, good food, great company for my part at least and of course the cards. So tired from the long journey, we still managed to play some shots for the benefit of Lalit Modi before heading for a dip in the river near the camp. The night passed by with lots of fun under the light of a lantern and warm cups of tea in our hands.
Saturday morning, 17/04/10 9:50 hrs: This is when we began what we all termed as THE BEST EXPERIENCE of our lives so far. Getting into a rubber raft and terrified of the water, still i desperately wanted to have this experience. Up it went (raft) as our guide yelled,"Forward team forward, fast, fast, ok relax." Up and down the 8 rapids we went from Roller Coaster to the Golf Course. All the time water splashing in our faces as our raft fought the waves and we rowed on as if our lives depended on it. No wonder we felt like the crew of a sunken ship in a small boat, trying to reach the coast, while mother nature is hell bent on destroying all our hopes. Water surfing at the end seemed like a walk in the park after the rapids though it did require some amount of cajoling from my inner self. To cap off the wonderful experience was the cliff jumping where i, afraid of even entering a pool, jumped from a 30 ft high cliff into the river and trying desperately to float with water in my nose and mouth managed to reach the land with pride and happiness scrawled all over my face.
No matter what adjectives i use, they won't be able to justify what i and in fact all of us felt after that 2 hour journey down the river. Surely it was an experience of a life time and no wonder i want to do everything all over again. One thing i did learn in all this is that there is a gambler in all of us and yes everyone is capable of witty or poisonous remarks. Its how we bring these qualities out makes us who we are. Compatibility and adaptability is an over sold concept i believe in all management schools as everyone can do all that to live. Having said that we had a great group to ourselves with current and future managers in the mix. So it was a big surprise to see no ego clashes among the dominating members of the group. Well it doesn't befit me to take pot shots at others while sitting in the confines of my comfy living room but i have learned not to let go of an opportunity as after all, "waat usse lagti hai jo rasta hum chorte hain."
So next stage of the journey began with a trip to Mussorie although this time the ride was much more comfortable in a scorpio. Trip down the mall road was quite an experience too with loads and loads of beautiful things to see. Sadly none of them were single and ready to mingle. So ogling at those beauties was all that we could manage through the night. Of course we did try out a few new styles.
So off we went after a not so healthy breakfast of paranthas with butter and heavy glass of lassi to the Kempty falls. So there we were 7 guys half naked standing in waste high cold water and lots of dirt. Felt like being beaten by brick-bats by the falling water but still it felt great to stand under the numbing water. Kempty falls did make me realise how unfit my body really is and that how much fat i had accumulated on my once slim body :( But not trying to dwell too much on this insignificant part of the trip (weight watching i.e.) we began our long and tiresome trip to Delhi only to be delayed by a massive traffic jam. Tired and weary we reached CP at 2 in the night and i must admit saadi dilli looked awesome in the night lights.
Wait a minute, there just might be i guess. Does crashing down on waves in a rubber raft and jumping from 30 ft high cliff into the river below and then standing under a gushing waterfall and feeling the water hitting you with bricks and stones and yet enjoying the experience, count as exciting? It sure as hell does, baby. Well this trip was the brainchild of our very own Bhatia (saab) and slowly all the players fell in through persuasion (if not bribe) save one. Hours of discussion to finalize the details and the itinerary went into the short trip and it would be right to say that every one was excited. So where do i even begin with this journey. The torturous train ride where we were forced to play cards in the dark and yet being yelled at in the middle of the night for having some fun or the fact that the train took almost 5 hours more to reach its destination. It's still fresh in the mind how each moment unfolded and although there were no untoward experiences, the trip was still quite Adve-ntur-ous.
Surely a ride in an ambassador through the fields with 8 people jammed in somehow was an experience of its own but the best part of the trip i believe was the water.
I mean the freshness of water was simply awesome. The cold temperature adding to the flavor. So what began as an adventure was soon turned into an experience of a life time. Whatever i had craved for to do all my life came together in a single trip. Bonfire at night with light music in the background, good food, great company for my part at least and of course the cards. So tired from the long journey, we still managed to play some shots for the benefit of Lalit Modi before heading for a dip in the river near the camp. The night passed by with lots of fun under the light of a lantern and warm cups of tea in our hands.
Saturday morning, 17/04/10 9:50 hrs: This is when we began what we all termed as THE BEST EXPERIENCE of our lives so far. Getting into a rubber raft and terrified of the water, still i desperately wanted to have this experience. Up it went (raft) as our guide yelled,"Forward team forward, fast, fast, ok relax." Up and down the 8 rapids we went from Roller Coaster to the Golf Course. All the time water splashing in our faces as our raft fought the waves and we rowed on as if our lives depended on it. No wonder we felt like the crew of a sunken ship in a small boat, trying to reach the coast, while mother nature is hell bent on destroying all our hopes. Water surfing at the end seemed like a walk in the park after the rapids though it did require some amount of cajoling from my inner self. To cap off the wonderful experience was the cliff jumping where i, afraid of even entering a pool, jumped from a 30 ft high cliff into the river and trying desperately to float with water in my nose and mouth managed to reach the land with pride and happiness scrawled all over my face.
No matter what adjectives i use, they won't be able to justify what i and in fact all of us felt after that 2 hour journey down the river. Surely it was an experience of a life time and no wonder i want to do everything all over again. One thing i did learn in all this is that there is a gambler in all of us and yes everyone is capable of witty or poisonous remarks. Its how we bring these qualities out makes us who we are. Compatibility and adaptability is an over sold concept i believe in all management schools as everyone can do all that to live. Having said that we had a great group to ourselves with current and future managers in the mix. So it was a big surprise to see no ego clashes among the dominating members of the group. Well it doesn't befit me to take pot shots at others while sitting in the confines of my comfy living room but i have learned not to let go of an opportunity as after all, "waat usse lagti hai jo rasta hum chorte hain."
So next stage of the journey began with a trip to Mussorie although this time the ride was much more comfortable in a scorpio. Trip down the mall road was quite an experience too with loads and loads of beautiful things to see. Sadly none of them were single and ready to mingle. So ogling at those beauties was all that we could manage through the night. Of course we did try out a few new styles.
Needless to say Colgate could use new brand ambassadors. Shyness is a word of the old millennium so it would seem. Self Obsessed would be an understatement :)
The night was wasted away at another round of cards and allowed me to silence my critics once and for all regarding the skill. Sunday morning wanted me to stay put in bed but sadly the lure of water fall and the biggest attraction of Mussorie was much too big to miss out on and yeah in order to keep the spirit of the trip, "Itna toh banta hai." (courtesy: Raju Srivastava)
So off we went after a not so healthy breakfast of paranthas with butter and heavy glass of lassi to the Kempty falls. So there we were 7 guys half naked standing in waste high cold water and lots of dirt. Felt like being beaten by brick-bats by the falling water but still it felt great to stand under the numbing water. Kempty falls did make me realise how unfit my body really is and that how much fat i had accumulated on my once slim body :( But not trying to dwell too much on this insignificant part of the trip (weight watching i.e.) we began our long and tiresome trip to Delhi only to be delayed by a massive traffic jam. Tired and weary we reached CP at 2 in the night and i must admit saadi dilli looked awesome in the night lights.
This brought curtains to our almost 4 day long journey along the banks of river Ganges and in the hills of the Queen of Mountains and surely left me longing for more..............
Saturday, February 20, 2010
The Most Wonderful Things in Life
So another Valentine has gone by and i am still all alone after 25 years of existence. Some might say that it's all downhill from here, but i say that it's the heart that should stay young and the body will keep up somehow. So hoping for a better future i'm gonna stop thinking about this and reflect on what really makes us happy in this world today. Of all the melodrama and tension in our lives, we do have our moments of happiness. Point is whether we recognize them and give them their due or do we ignore/neglect them altogether. So in this exercise today, i'm going to chronicle what makes me happy (yes i'm not grumpy all the time) and please feel free to add things that i might have missed.
#1: God: I may not be a religious guy but i do think i'm spiritual. I know my faith is strong and i know that god is there for me and the others. All you have to do is stand up and ask for him. My belief is what probably keeps me sane at times. I don't believe in demarcation along religious lines as i feel that there is only one god and rest all that we humans worship are just incarnations of the supreme lord. So spiritual yes... religious no.
#2: Family: Yes i feel happy being around my mom and dad. Though i don't spend a lot of time with them but still they remind me of what i used to be and how much i have changed over the years while they have labored on year after year with the same set of feelings towards me. That in itself feels so good to have with me but still makes me sad that i have let them down by placing other things as more imp in my life than them.
#3: Football: Maybe i'm still not at that level where each Liverpool victory calls for a treat and each defeat calls for mourning but i still love it when they win and it just makes the day a bit sweeter. Plus giving kaif a piece of my mind on the rivalry just adds that spice to the recipe.
#4: Music: It brings together souls or so i have heard. But i do believe that music is an awesome stress buster. There was a time when the first thing i did after logging on to my system was open a music player. But these days i have lost track of it somehow. I don't have it with me when i travel and at times i don't listen to it on my comp even. Maybe my list has just gone old and there aren't a lot of good and new songs out there. But still i would say that music helps me vent out my frustrations in a big way. So again its something that brings a smile to my lips.
#5: Friends: Last but the most important thing in my life. I have valued friendship far more than any of the 4 above mentioned points. I have sacrificed my rest time, my responsibilities, my job almost everything for friendship. I have suffered the scorn of many for my devotion and been hurt too at times by my friends. Nevertheless, i now who i can count on to be there with me in any form possible when i need them and thankfully god has blessed me with the right kind of people to be there for me. When all my chips are down and i don't have anything going for me, i know there will be a voice of support and encouragement which would try its best to cheer me up without even saying so. That's why i continue to support my other friends in their troubles. I have few who are there for me so i want to be one of the few who is there always.
Yes my list comprises of very obvious points and nothing spectacular but that's what my life is - good but nothing spectacular. So bear with me and don't chastise me for being emotional/critical (at times). Hope you enjoyed this another rendition of self discovery. Till next time....HAVE A NICE DAY
P.S. - Please feel free to add what you think makes you happy in life apart from what's already here.
#1: God: I may not be a religious guy but i do think i'm spiritual. I know my faith is strong and i know that god is there for me and the others. All you have to do is stand up and ask for him. My belief is what probably keeps me sane at times. I don't believe in demarcation along religious lines as i feel that there is only one god and rest all that we humans worship are just incarnations of the supreme lord. So spiritual yes... religious no.
#2: Family: Yes i feel happy being around my mom and dad. Though i don't spend a lot of time with them but still they remind me of what i used to be and how much i have changed over the years while they have labored on year after year with the same set of feelings towards me. That in itself feels so good to have with me but still makes me sad that i have let them down by placing other things as more imp in my life than them.
#3: Football: Maybe i'm still not at that level where each Liverpool victory calls for a treat and each defeat calls for mourning but i still love it when they win and it just makes the day a bit sweeter. Plus giving kaif a piece of my mind on the rivalry just adds that spice to the recipe.
#4: Music: It brings together souls or so i have heard. But i do believe that music is an awesome stress buster. There was a time when the first thing i did after logging on to my system was open a music player. But these days i have lost track of it somehow. I don't have it with me when i travel and at times i don't listen to it on my comp even. Maybe my list has just gone old and there aren't a lot of good and new songs out there. But still i would say that music helps me vent out my frustrations in a big way. So again its something that brings a smile to my lips.
#5: Friends: Last but the most important thing in my life. I have valued friendship far more than any of the 4 above mentioned points. I have sacrificed my rest time, my responsibilities, my job almost everything for friendship. I have suffered the scorn of many for my devotion and been hurt too at times by my friends. Nevertheless, i now who i can count on to be there with me in any form possible when i need them and thankfully god has blessed me with the right kind of people to be there for me. When all my chips are down and i don't have anything going for me, i know there will be a voice of support and encouragement which would try its best to cheer me up without even saying so. That's why i continue to support my other friends in their troubles. I have few who are there for me so i want to be one of the few who is there always.
Yes my list comprises of very obvious points and nothing spectacular but that's what my life is - good but nothing spectacular. So bear with me and don't chastise me for being emotional/critical (at times). Hope you enjoyed this another rendition of self discovery. Till next time....HAVE A NICE DAY
P.S. - Please feel free to add what you think makes you happy in life apart from what's already here.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Love is in the Air
The warmth and the heavenly feeling called Love. Yes i am back with another article on a topic that many would say i have really killed out here. But i would beg to differ with them. I have only tried to explain what has been going on with my life in all my past articles. But rest assured this article is not on me. This is about love. A song from the movie Saudagar went like, "ILU..ILU..ye ILU ILU kya hai ye ILU ILU." For the uninitiated, that of course means "I Love You." Well the second week of Feb has always been associated with love and all the emotional and senti feelings that go along with it. It is that time of the year that makes the roses and gifts costly and provides a timely boost to the economy in terms of the gifts being purchased.
Many people look forward to this week all through the year. Either to express their love or to let the person know that how much they care or at times just to say that they are there for them. Of course the tip is towards love. Now i'm not going to venture into why people fall in love and why they do all this as this is something no body can control. What i want to talk about is whether it's all worth it. I mean people go through the ritual/arduous task of selecting gifts and then doing something special for their loved ones for what. Does this week really carry that much importance? If yes, then why? Why is this week so special? Does love demand a special day for you to express it? Does love ask a special method for it to be expressed?
I don't think so. Agreed, you may term me a lazy pig not wanting to do anything for a change. But i still stand by my point that you shouldn't need a specific day to express your love. Every day with your loved one should be special for you and if it is not then you are just not that into the relationship. Love is not about big gifts and big expressions (well it is but not entirely). Love primarily is about the small stuff. The warm snug, the holding of hands while crossing the road, the shoulder to rest the head, the caring for a pin prick etc. These are the small things that make a relationship strong and you don't need a special week to do all this stuff. Yes gifts are important but you don't have to wait for a week to give them.
And this is not just about Valentine's day, it goes for all the special days that are celebrated. Be it Mother's day, Father's day, Friendship day etc. I don't need some card company to tell me the day to express my love to my loved ones. For me every minute spent with them is special. I think that's what everyone should realize too. Try and make these moments count and you don't have to wait for a special day to say that you care. In fact if I may say so, the card and gift industry might be missing out on a bigger piece of pie here. After all if you declare every day of the year as special then there might just be an increase in the sales owing to the feeling of love being ubiquitous. Yes it might seem strange but best ideas initially seem strange :). So you ask then how do i express my love everyday...three letters...ILU................
Many people look forward to this week all through the year. Either to express their love or to let the person know that how much they care or at times just to say that they are there for them. Of course the tip is towards love. Now i'm not going to venture into why people fall in love and why they do all this as this is something no body can control. What i want to talk about is whether it's all worth it. I mean people go through the ritual/arduous task of selecting gifts and then doing something special for their loved ones for what. Does this week really carry that much importance? If yes, then why? Why is this week so special? Does love demand a special day for you to express it? Does love ask a special method for it to be expressed?
I don't think so. Agreed, you may term me a lazy pig not wanting to do anything for a change. But i still stand by my point that you shouldn't need a specific day to express your love. Every day with your loved one should be special for you and if it is not then you are just not that into the relationship. Love is not about big gifts and big expressions (well it is but not entirely). Love primarily is about the small stuff. The warm snug, the holding of hands while crossing the road, the shoulder to rest the head, the caring for a pin prick etc. These are the small things that make a relationship strong and you don't need a special week to do all this stuff. Yes gifts are important but you don't have to wait for a week to give them.
And this is not just about Valentine's day, it goes for all the special days that are celebrated. Be it Mother's day, Father's day, Friendship day etc. I don't need some card company to tell me the day to express my love to my loved ones. For me every minute spent with them is special. I think that's what everyone should realize too. Try and make these moments count and you don't have to wait for a special day to say that you care. In fact if I may say so, the card and gift industry might be missing out on a bigger piece of pie here. After all if you declare every day of the year as special then there might just be an increase in the sales owing to the feeling of love being ubiquitous. Yes it might seem strange but best ideas initially seem strange :). So you ask then how do i express my love everyday...three letters...ILU................
Sunday, January 24, 2010
3 Mistakes of My Life!!
An article that has been long in the making. Tried so hard to write something but couldn't actually find three noticeable decisions that i really regret in my life. So it was a surprise when suddenly, out of the blue they fell into place. 3 Decisions that i regret to have taken in this short span of 25 years, though most of the decisions were taken by my parents till i reached 15th. So here it goes:
Mistake #1: Choosing Non-Medical in XIth
It would be somewhat wrong to say that i am happy having done engineering. I don't say it is my worst decision but in hindsight it is not one of the best either. My sis told me."You should take commerce." But having seen my bro and sis take Science, i felt it wouldn't suit me to go do something else. So there in all my ignorance of what might lie ahead, i took the plunge. I always wanted to be popular and i lost out on that because of being too uninformed. To state that i was consigned to the unnoticeable bench would be an understatement. I lost out on all chances of popularity. So what did that translate into? Limited contact with good looking girls. Limited chances of lot of people knowing you and of course, minimal chances of getting a girlfriend. Engineering led me away from the happening crowd of Delhi. Thus giving way to becoming honorary member of FOSLA - Frustrated One Sided Lover's Association.
Mistake #2: Letting go of the Golden Opportunity
There she was. Standing 10 feet away on the very first day of college on the bus stand. Her arms clung to her chest. Looking radiant in that bright yellow top. Looking a bit lost and a bit scared with all the attention, comments and looks. To know she lived en route my home and traveled in the same bus should have given me enough confidence to go and talk to her. But surrounded by people who scared the living daylights out of me with their comments, i decided to stay mum. I saw her everyday. I felt i should go talk to her as she looked like somebody who needed a friend. Alas, the low self confidence routine overtook me or rather i should say, overpowered me into submission and i let things pass, trying to build up the courage to go and talk to her. Then one day in pouring rain, i saw her and her friend , who by the way was also hot with another friend of mine. Tragically, my friend used to live near my place. So there she was with him and i being the dumb a*****e lost out on, first getting a girl. Second, becoming popular. Third, having a life. What more could i do to myself to make my life suck even more.
Mistake #3: Company
TCS after giving some nervous moments, recruited me on the very first day of placement results. Along came a company at the fag end of the year. Surely, it was an interesting job, good pay, good take home salary. Possibility of meeting girls in corporate culture, it was quite alluring. Yet it took all of 4 months in the job to remove the screensaver and see the ground reality. From July to Dec, i wanted to switch. But i hung on. My mind told me to see things in future and how this spell would translate into the future. So i decided to stay. I told myself that if MBA clicks then fine, if not then i'll move. I have still to move after 4 long years. Part of the crew, part of the ship...Pirates of the Caribbean. Guess i'm just becoming the same here. Scary vision i must say. Coupled with lack of proper vision. Nice recipe for disaster and thats just what i feel my life has become. An utter failure on all fronts. People thought i won't amount to anything and i used to laugh at them. Guess i have proved them right.
So my first decision led me to college where my second decision consigned me to unnoticeable group which wasn't all that pleasant. Lastly, my decision on the company has clearly shown what an utter disaster my life has turned out to be. No girlfriend, no money, no career. Shot myself in the foot not once, not twice but three times in the past decade. How's that for accuracy? Never miss a chance to make my life hell...............
P.S. - All stories are fictional and bear no resemblance to any person or thing living or dead.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Break Up Saurabh!!!!!
Shankar Mahadevan sang - Wake Up Sid. I would like to hum a different tune though, its Break Up Saurabh. Well I know it doesn't rhyme but who cares. After a long long time I'm happy and I mean I'm truly happy. I feel light as if the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders. I know I have said this before and yet with in couple of weeks i am back to my usual sulking self and i know that many of you reading this article would not believe me when i say that this time there won't be a relapse. But I would like to assure all my well wishers that this time it's for real. I'm ecstatic right now. I feel the same way as i felt after giving IIFT interview. Totally free with not an iota of care in the world. I feel like i have taken a rebirth. There is a lot of positive energy flowing through me right now. And it's all got to do with one person. I won't name her but you guys know who I'm talking about. She finally said no, never ever.
Now you must be thinking that poor chap is going crazy because of grief. In fact many would go crazy. But i am happy because i had allowed myself to be something i wasn't. I was becoming just too much of a grump. Snapping at people for no particular reason. Always feeling down and dejected. Criticizing myself and blaming her for my being in this state and what not. I had become so awful that i had started to hate myself for being such a sadist. Worse part is i was driving her away from my life because of my complaints and negative attitude. This was definitely something i didn't want. We are good friends and i will try my best to be that. But I'm not forecasting anything yet. Although it would be fair to add that my decision also stemmed from the fact that she was developing feelings for someone else. So a combination of a lot of factors has resulted that i am a free bird now or as SAK said in LAK - "Khula Saand".
It would be wrong to say that i didn't see this coming. I had been told to do this by a couple of friends this past week or so but i was apprehensive. I didn't want to give up. I didn't want to admit that i lost. My male ego was dominating me to not accept defeat in any form. There were other signs too. My daily horoscope would once in a week tell me to let go of that relationship. But i never cared. I always fought to try and make this work. I believed that by doing all this i might move her around to saying yes. But there was definitely a part of my that said that if through all these efforts, she did say yes then won't she be making a compromise and settling for something she might not actually want? Where will that leave me then? In a relationship where she is not happy to be with me and i am still unhappy being with her. I didn't want that in my life. Who would? So i knew something or the other must give way. Either she would accept me whole heartedly or reject me sumptuously. And that's what she did.
So here i am standing on the road to nowhere right now. I know it would be tough and that this euphoria might not last long but i also know that with a couple of friends who really care with me by my side i would survive this phase. Hell i have been through worse things before and yet i am still standing, ain't i? I know if she reads this then i might lose what ever relationship i still have. But this is specially for you dear that try and be happy for me knowing that i am moving on from you as you have always wanted and that i am not letting our friendship go. It will remain as strong as ever. You definitely have to believe me on this as there is no other way i can assure you of this. That being said don't think for a moment that i am harboring any ill feelings as i simply can't. So this is me signing off on the first article of 2010 saying goodnight and goodbye to all the readers. Saurabh has left the building...........
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