You wake up still asleep,
With many promises to keep.
You think today might just be different,
But soon you get swept with the current.
You make it just in time for the journey,
Thinking “ Jaisi karni waisi bharni”.
Half an hour still to go
But sleeping now will be a definite no-show.
The journey ends and the day begins,
Unaware of what awaits you in the bins.
Slowly you approach your fate,
The one you have now learnt to hate.
With a pretense of freshness on your face,
You greet him with a good morning instead of a slap on the face.
With the opening of the Inbox begins the war of tug,
You stand up and shout, “Where the hell is my Coffee Mug!!!!”.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
The Credit Card was already swiped…
Rahul couldn’t believe what he had just heard. Standing in the parking of his school building, holding his std VIII report card in his hand, he wanted to shout out with joy but then he didn’t do it. It was not the first time he had not expressed what he wanted to express. Looking at his progress in the final exam of Std VIII, his father had finally agreed on fulfilling his long pending promise, that of buying his son a TV video game.
Rahul’s father had promised him the video game more than a year back, but there were many reasons which prevented him from getting the video game. However for Rahul, all these reasons were invariably related to acads, behavior and the likes.
But today the wait was over, he had secured the first rank in the class and that too by a margin of 25 marks. His teacher to the delight of his father had said that this is the first time she had seen such a huge difference in the marks of the 1st and the 2nd rank holder. The teacher’s words confirmed Rahul’s convincing victory in the exams.
The ride to the shop which was some 20 mins from the school took less time than what Rahul had imagined. However it was more than enough for Rahul to decide his future course of action with his new TV video game. First of all he will be showing it off to Ashish. It still hurt him how Ashish had not allowed him to play when he had got his Video game. He was going to invite Rohit, his best friend (who had secured the 2nd rank) to come over and play with him. He was looking forward to this and many more things in his summer vacation.
The electronics shop was run by an affable Sardarji, he was used to expecting kids at this time of the year. The moment he saw Rahul, he started taking out boxes of video games. Samurai, Nintendo, Mitashi etc. Rahul’s father should have been surprised about this, they had not uttered a word about what they were looking for, but Rahul’s father guessed that Rahul would have visited the place earlier doing some groundwork. He did not mind it either. ‘You have to be careful with were you spend your money’ was his motto.
Rahul wanted the Samurai one. But he knew there was a slim chance to get it. It was the costliest of the 3. Ashish had a Samurai but then he was ready to compromise (Rahul was aware, his choice didn’t matter. If he didn’t agree to what his father was saying he might not even get the video game ever.) The Sardarji as always had started his pitch for the Samurai. But Rahul wanted to get it over with early. He butted in and talked about liking the Nintendo. However at Rs1000, Nintendo was costly for his father. His father did not say it, but Rahul could guess this from his looks. He instantly showed interest in the Mitashi and at Rs 600 ( his father bargained for a Rs 200 discount) Rahul walked out with a smiling face (forgetting about how this was his third choice) and a TV video game.
The summer vacation were fun filled. He and Rohit had fun playing CONTRA, ALLADIN, MARIO BROS. He lent the game to Rohit for a couple of days. This gesture elevated him to that of and of messiah in the colony. Almost every kid in the colony had played on the Mitashi. Ashish was isolated. Rahul’s victory was now complete. But even then he avoided Ashish, lest he started bragging about his Samurai. The Mitashi was his most prized possession till date. He had to go through so much for it.
“What’s wrong dad. Don’t you like it”, Rahul came back to his senses. Sameer was tugging at his jacket sleeve. It was Sameer’s eighth bday today. Dad had promised him a play-station (the TV video games were no longer available). In the swanky mall, standing near the play station stall, Rahul couldn’t help but think what all he had to do to get his TV video game. That was some 20 years back.
Was Sameer being pampered? he thought. It didn’t matter anymore- the credit card was already swiped!!!!
Rahul’s father had promised him the video game more than a year back, but there were many reasons which prevented him from getting the video game. However for Rahul, all these reasons were invariably related to acads, behavior and the likes.
But today the wait was over, he had secured the first rank in the class and that too by a margin of 25 marks. His teacher to the delight of his father had said that this is the first time she had seen such a huge difference in the marks of the 1st and the 2nd rank holder. The teacher’s words confirmed Rahul’s convincing victory in the exams.
The ride to the shop which was some 20 mins from the school took less time than what Rahul had imagined. However it was more than enough for Rahul to decide his future course of action with his new TV video game. First of all he will be showing it off to Ashish. It still hurt him how Ashish had not allowed him to play when he had got his Video game. He was going to invite Rohit, his best friend (who had secured the 2nd rank) to come over and play with him. He was looking forward to this and many more things in his summer vacation.
The electronics shop was run by an affable Sardarji, he was used to expecting kids at this time of the year. The moment he saw Rahul, he started taking out boxes of video games. Samurai, Nintendo, Mitashi etc. Rahul’s father should have been surprised about this, they had not uttered a word about what they were looking for, but Rahul’s father guessed that Rahul would have visited the place earlier doing some groundwork. He did not mind it either. ‘You have to be careful with were you spend your money’ was his motto.
Rahul wanted the Samurai one. But he knew there was a slim chance to get it. It was the costliest of the 3. Ashish had a Samurai but then he was ready to compromise (Rahul was aware, his choice didn’t matter. If he didn’t agree to what his father was saying he might not even get the video game ever.) The Sardarji as always had started his pitch for the Samurai. But Rahul wanted to get it over with early. He butted in and talked about liking the Nintendo. However at Rs1000, Nintendo was costly for his father. His father did not say it, but Rahul could guess this from his looks. He instantly showed interest in the Mitashi and at Rs 600 ( his father bargained for a Rs 200 discount) Rahul walked out with a smiling face (forgetting about how this was his third choice) and a TV video game.
The summer vacation were fun filled. He and Rohit had fun playing CONTRA, ALLADIN, MARIO BROS. He lent the game to Rohit for a couple of days. This gesture elevated him to that of and of messiah in the colony. Almost every kid in the colony had played on the Mitashi. Ashish was isolated. Rahul’s victory was now complete. But even then he avoided Ashish, lest he started bragging about his Samurai. The Mitashi was his most prized possession till date. He had to go through so much for it.
“What’s wrong dad. Don’t you like it”, Rahul came back to his senses. Sameer was tugging at his jacket sleeve. It was Sameer’s eighth bday today. Dad had promised him a play-station (the TV video games were no longer available). In the swanky mall, standing near the play station stall, Rahul couldn’t help but think what all he had to do to get his TV video game. That was some 20 years back.
Was Sameer being pampered? he thought. It didn’t matter anymore- the credit card was already swiped!!!!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
DONKEYS and the proverbial IRONY of LIFE!!!
The recently concluded CYG-08 games in Pune, not only catapulted Pune into the limelight as a city which can host sports events of international repute but did loads for the improvement of the infrastructure in the city. As was predicted the area immediately in the vicinity of the games village was polished like never before and to give a biased view, the most significant change which happened in Pune was to SUS ROAD.
I know there is a grammatical error in the last sentence of the para where I have written “which happened in Pune was to SUS ROAD” and that the purists would argue that as SUS ROAD is a place the sentence should have read “which happened in PUNE was at SUS ROAD”, but then I am referring to the actual ROAD and not the place J
I have been in Pune for the last 6 years now. I did my engineering from Pune and after 4 years I was pretty confident that I at least heard the names of all the places in Pune. But when I started hunting for my living quarters after I came back from Mysore, I heard of SUS ROAD and I made a face which conveyed not only disdain but outright dejection too. When I was taken to Sus Road (by my broker of course, without him I would never gone there to get a flat) these were the things which I saw:
(Forgive my level of detail, but then I was very skeptical of the place and was eager to take in every single detail)
1) A few completed buildings with people staying in them….good sign :)
2) 2 hotels and a few road side hawkers. 1 hotel had a bar…..awesome :)
3) Many garages….whatever…(I didn’t have a BULLET then)
4) Infosys, Wipro buses parked at the side of the road…cool…less of walking
5) Shepherds…(STUMPED??????)
The 5th item really hooked me onto Sus road. Hang on, the shepherds were not herding goats or cattle but DONKEYS!!!!!
I tried to relate one thing to another and found out how the Sus Road ecology needed the DONKEYS so much. There were many construction sites which needed a constant supply of bricks and other building materials. But then the obvious question; what happened to the trucks? Well the DONKEYS carried the material as a supplement to the trucks. Also with the apparent lack of dogs on Sus Road at that time, the DONKEYS found it a less menacing place.
A bit of deep thinking on the DONKEY issue gave me immense satisfaction. Sus Road was (and even is today) thronged by software professionals, the exponents of the so called KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY of INDIA. Having hordes of DONKEYS (considered a symbol of foolishness and stupidity) alongside them (or should I say us) was LIFE’S way to humble these KNOWLEDGE WORKERS!!! The proverbial IRONY of LIFE!!!
However the ecology of SUS ROAD was disturbed some 25 days before the games began in Pune. Kalmadi’s men took over the road and changed the face of Sus Road. Let me tell you, CHANGED is a very subtle word to express the changes which happened. The roads were widened, pavement with power-blocks were made, dividers were introduced, signages and neon signs were put up, zebra crossings were painted (even if there were no traffic signals, for future expansion I feel :) ) and most importantly the road was cleared of all the hawkers who on the earlier narrow roads were contributing to traffic snarls. There was one more thing which was changed maybe for ever, the DONKEYS vanished, without a whimper, without a bray L
“Ekdum foreign main hai aisa lagta hai”, “This must be Pune’s best road, dude” were some of the comments I heard from people.
After the games, the hawkers came back to there old positions. The power block pavements serve them well. The widened road with streetlights help smoothen the traffic, the benches fitted after every 100m at the far end of the road comfort the love birds.
But there are no DONKEYS around anymore :( . The IRONY of LIFE which was staring the KNOWLEDGE WORKER in his/her face is lost :(
But then wait do I sense an ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN coming….
I know there is a grammatical error in the last sentence of the para where I have written “which happened in Pune was to SUS ROAD” and that the purists would argue that as SUS ROAD is a place the sentence should have read “which happened in PUNE was at SUS ROAD”, but then I am referring to the actual ROAD and not the place J
I have been in Pune for the last 6 years now. I did my engineering from Pune and after 4 years I was pretty confident that I at least heard the names of all the places in Pune. But when I started hunting for my living quarters after I came back from Mysore, I heard of SUS ROAD and I made a face which conveyed not only disdain but outright dejection too. When I was taken to Sus Road (by my broker of course, without him I would never gone there to get a flat) these were the things which I saw:
(Forgive my level of detail, but then I was very skeptical of the place and was eager to take in every single detail)
1) A few completed buildings with people staying in them….good sign :)
2) 2 hotels and a few road side hawkers. 1 hotel had a bar…..awesome :)
3) Many garages….whatever…(I didn’t have a BULLET then)
4) Infosys, Wipro buses parked at the side of the road…cool…less of walking
5) Shepherds…(STUMPED??????)
The 5th item really hooked me onto Sus road. Hang on, the shepherds were not herding goats or cattle but DONKEYS!!!!!
I tried to relate one thing to another and found out how the Sus Road ecology needed the DONKEYS so much. There were many construction sites which needed a constant supply of bricks and other building materials. But then the obvious question; what happened to the trucks? Well the DONKEYS carried the material as a supplement to the trucks. Also with the apparent lack of dogs on Sus Road at that time, the DONKEYS found it a less menacing place.
A bit of deep thinking on the DONKEY issue gave me immense satisfaction. Sus Road was (and even is today) thronged by software professionals, the exponents of the so called KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY of INDIA. Having hordes of DONKEYS (considered a symbol of foolishness and stupidity) alongside them (or should I say us) was LIFE’S way to humble these KNOWLEDGE WORKERS!!! The proverbial IRONY of LIFE!!!
However the ecology of SUS ROAD was disturbed some 25 days before the games began in Pune. Kalmadi’s men took over the road and changed the face of Sus Road. Let me tell you, CHANGED is a very subtle word to express the changes which happened. The roads were widened, pavement with power-blocks were made, dividers were introduced, signages and neon signs were put up, zebra crossings were painted (even if there were no traffic signals, for future expansion I feel :) ) and most importantly the road was cleared of all the hawkers who on the earlier narrow roads were contributing to traffic snarls. There was one more thing which was changed maybe for ever, the DONKEYS vanished, without a whimper, without a bray L
“Ekdum foreign main hai aisa lagta hai”, “This must be Pune’s best road, dude” were some of the comments I heard from people.
After the games, the hawkers came back to there old positions. The power block pavements serve them well. The widened road with streetlights help smoothen the traffic, the benches fitted after every 100m at the far end of the road comfort the love birds.
But there are no DONKEYS around anymore :( . The IRONY of LIFE which was staring the KNOWLEDGE WORKER in his/her face is lost :(
But then wait do I sense an ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN coming….
Saturday, October 11, 2008
The HAIR CUT and the 5 STAR
Back in the days when cable TV had not invaded our imaginations and when in std V, I had cried hoarse for a cable TV connection and on not getting one would secretly go to a friend’s place to watch the afternoon movies, Sunday mornings on DD-1 were much more than delight.
Having completed most of my homework on Friday evening and also on Saturday, I would sleep on Saturday night with only one ambition, one dream and one goal, which was watching DD1 from 7am onwards.
Sunday morning I wake up with a start. Its 6:45am, don’t worry I could read a clock from std IV (lol!!!), just so that I don’t miss the start I switch on the TV and rubbing my sleepy eyes I gaze at it. The NIRMA add, followed by LIFEBOUY, then HAMAM and then the TV switches off….its 6:55am…..no no no!!!!
Its not a power cut, its mom :( :(
I got 5 mins to wash my face, brush my teeth, drink my morning mug of milk and catch RANGOLI….can I do it…ohh no just remembered I had to shit too :( :( :( Somehow I managed to convince mom that Ill do all this but just let the TV be. I will listen to it while I am doing all my morning chores.
Finally at 7:15am I am back it front of the TV, MERE SAPNO ki RANI song is on and I start shouting (I wont say singing, kya hai unn dino meri aawaz develop nahi hui thi na :)). Two stanzas done and just when I start enjoying myself; enter dad; to interrupt my Sunday morning :( :(
Time for a hair cut he says. Why today why couldn’t we go yesterday? No answer. It was my mistake I should have not told how Gonsalves Sir (our PT teacher) cut Mahesh’s hair in the class because it was too long :( :( . Now I got to pay the price, its too heavy a price…nahiii..and I start crying cos there is no way out besides I am too young to argue with my parents(lol!!).
Finally I stop crying after being promised a 5 STAR..(5 STAR cannot compensate the loss I would go through on forgoing RANGOLI but then next Sunday there will be no hair cuts and plus I get a 5 STAR too, not a bad deal right??)
Enter Vijay Hair Dressers. I didn’t like the guy Vijay. The only reason being he used to pull my cheeks with such force that my cheeks pained :( :( and he used to do that not only when I went to his saloon but also when I used to pass by :( :( . But then that was the only saloon close by.
Me and my dad sit on a stool waiting our turn. There is quite a crowd and we are told that we would have to wait for some 45 mins before our turn. Thank God, dad is here with me today, the last time I came; Vijay made me wait an hour. My number was conveniently given to others who came after me. I was too young to ask for explanations and I found it too trivial to complain to dad about it plus that Sunday we had a power cut so I was not exactly missing on RANGOLI and all :) :)
But this Sunday I was at a loss. The wrist watch on my dad’s hand read 8:00am. When Vijay says 45 mins it is an hour or even more. That would shatter my next plan too. I had planned to get home by 9:00am so that I could catch MOWGLI but that was not going to happen and plus I was gonna get only one 5 STAR. That would compensate missing RANGOLI but how do I get compensation for MOWGLI? I had to get home in time for the show!!!
8:15am and still no plan…think boy think…and finally at 8:20pm I had a plan and I went into action right away..the following is the conversation that took place, it has been translated into English:
Me: Baba, how much more time? (with a sorry look on my face)
Baba: Another 10 mins. Hold on
(I could see that even dad was growing impatient. That’s a positive sign. Time: 8:23am)
Vijay: (Butting in between) Bass Sir, iss ke baad ek daadhi banani hai aur phir aapka number. 10 mins max.
(No reply from dad. Another good sign :) :) )
the remaining conversation in Marathi, I don’t want it to lose meaning in the translation
Time- 8:30am
Me: (in hushed tone) Baba,……Baba….shee lagli (with a constipated look… )
Baba: Kay??? Sakali nahi keli ka..
Me: Keli hoti pan tari lagli…(more constipated look)
Baba: (looking at the watch) 20 mins thamb, cutting zhalyavar ghari jaun kar…aalach number aata (consoling tone)
Me: Jorat lagli ahe :( (more more constipated look)
Baba to Vijay. Time-8:45am
Baba: Arre me ek 20 mintat yeto. Number thev
Vijay: Sir, aata kuthe jata. Aalach ki number and asa number nahi thevat me. Pudche bomba marta
Baba: Asa ka…barr
Only 15mins more. This is my last chance.
Me: Baba, me jato khup jorat lagli ahe…(more more more constipated look. I manage to roll a tear down one cheek.Yesss!!!!)
Baba: Barr chal..(dad is frustrated and angry but he cant show it in the saloon. I am praying that by the time we get home the anger would subside.)
The moment we are out of the saloon I start running towards the building. Dad doesn’t know that I got just 10 more minutes to 9:00am. He thinks the boy was right and smiles. Anger subsided.
I charge up the steps, enter the house and panting switch on the TV. 8:55am just in time. Yess.!!! Thank God mom is having a bath or I would have had to explain the whole thing to her.
9:05am: Dad walks in. Baghira is saying something.
Baba: Kay zhali ka shee (he is nearing the truth it seems)
Me: Ho..attach alo (matter of fact expression)
He doesn’t say anything. Saved. He doesn’t want to spoil his Sunday morning.
I got to see MOWGLI but a couple of things changed from that Sunday onwards. My dad never accompanied me to the hair cutting saloon again. With this freedom I started going to a different saloon (on my bicycle of course) where the barber was more interested in his work than pulling my cheeks and who took customers strictly on first come first serve basis.
But on the down side, I never got a 5 STAR again for any of my HAIR CUTS…
Having completed most of my homework on Friday evening and also on Saturday, I would sleep on Saturday night with only one ambition, one dream and one goal, which was watching DD1 from 7am onwards.
Sunday morning I wake up with a start. Its 6:45am, don’t worry I could read a clock from std IV (lol!!!), just so that I don’t miss the start I switch on the TV and rubbing my sleepy eyes I gaze at it. The NIRMA add, followed by LIFEBOUY, then HAMAM and then the TV switches off….its 6:55am…..no no no!!!!
Its not a power cut, its mom :( :(
I got 5 mins to wash my face, brush my teeth, drink my morning mug of milk and catch RANGOLI….can I do it…ohh no just remembered I had to shit too :( :( :( Somehow I managed to convince mom that Ill do all this but just let the TV be. I will listen to it while I am doing all my morning chores.
Finally at 7:15am I am back it front of the TV, MERE SAPNO ki RANI song is on and I start shouting (I wont say singing, kya hai unn dino meri aawaz develop nahi hui thi na :)). Two stanzas done and just when I start enjoying myself; enter dad; to interrupt my Sunday morning :( :(
Time for a hair cut he says. Why today why couldn’t we go yesterday? No answer. It was my mistake I should have not told how Gonsalves Sir (our PT teacher) cut Mahesh’s hair in the class because it was too long :( :( . Now I got to pay the price, its too heavy a price…nahiii..and I start crying cos there is no way out besides I am too young to argue with my parents(lol!!).
Finally I stop crying after being promised a 5 STAR..(5 STAR cannot compensate the loss I would go through on forgoing RANGOLI but then next Sunday there will be no hair cuts and plus I get a 5 STAR too, not a bad deal right??)
Enter Vijay Hair Dressers. I didn’t like the guy Vijay. The only reason being he used to pull my cheeks with such force that my cheeks pained :( :( and he used to do that not only when I went to his saloon but also when I used to pass by :( :( . But then that was the only saloon close by.
Me and my dad sit on a stool waiting our turn. There is quite a crowd and we are told that we would have to wait for some 45 mins before our turn. Thank God, dad is here with me today, the last time I came; Vijay made me wait an hour. My number was conveniently given to others who came after me. I was too young to ask for explanations and I found it too trivial to complain to dad about it plus that Sunday we had a power cut so I was not exactly missing on RANGOLI and all :) :)
But this Sunday I was at a loss. The wrist watch on my dad’s hand read 8:00am. When Vijay says 45 mins it is an hour or even more. That would shatter my next plan too. I had planned to get home by 9:00am so that I could catch MOWGLI but that was not going to happen and plus I was gonna get only one 5 STAR. That would compensate missing RANGOLI but how do I get compensation for MOWGLI? I had to get home in time for the show!!!
8:15am and still no plan…think boy think…and finally at 8:20pm I had a plan and I went into action right away..the following is the conversation that took place, it has been translated into English:
Me: Baba, how much more time? (with a sorry look on my face)
Baba: Another 10 mins. Hold on
(I could see that even dad was growing impatient. That’s a positive sign. Time: 8:23am)
Vijay: (Butting in between) Bass Sir, iss ke baad ek daadhi banani hai aur phir aapka number. 10 mins max.
(No reply from dad. Another good sign :) :) )
the remaining conversation in Marathi, I don’t want it to lose meaning in the translation
Time- 8:30am
Me: (in hushed tone) Baba,……Baba….shee lagli (with a constipated look… )
Baba: Kay??? Sakali nahi keli ka..
Me: Keli hoti pan tari lagli…(more constipated look)
Baba: (looking at the watch) 20 mins thamb, cutting zhalyavar ghari jaun kar…aalach number aata (consoling tone)
Me: Jorat lagli ahe :( (more more constipated look)
Baba to Vijay. Time-8:45am
Baba: Arre me ek 20 mintat yeto. Number thev
Vijay: Sir, aata kuthe jata. Aalach ki number and asa number nahi thevat me. Pudche bomba marta
Baba: Asa ka…barr
Only 15mins more. This is my last chance.
Me: Baba, me jato khup jorat lagli ahe…(more more more constipated look. I manage to roll a tear down one cheek.Yesss!!!!)
Baba: Barr chal..(dad is frustrated and angry but he cant show it in the saloon. I am praying that by the time we get home the anger would subside.)
The moment we are out of the saloon I start running towards the building. Dad doesn’t know that I got just 10 more minutes to 9:00am. He thinks the boy was right and smiles. Anger subsided.
I charge up the steps, enter the house and panting switch on the TV. 8:55am just in time. Yess.!!! Thank God mom is having a bath or I would have had to explain the whole thing to her.
9:05am: Dad walks in. Baghira is saying something.
Baba: Kay zhali ka shee (he is nearing the truth it seems)
Me: Ho..attach alo (matter of fact expression)
He doesn’t say anything. Saved. He doesn’t want to spoil his Sunday morning.
I got to see MOWGLI but a couple of things changed from that Sunday onwards. My dad never accompanied me to the hair cutting saloon again. With this freedom I started going to a different saloon (on my bicycle of course) where the barber was more interested in his work than pulling my cheeks and who took customers strictly on first come first serve basis.
But on the down side, I never got a 5 STAR again for any of my HAIR CUTS…
Friday, October 10, 2008
JUST FLY!!!
It is our dreams that shape our destiny,
To achieve them, many times we have to mutiny...
We have to go to unknown lands,
And may be sing along with unknown bands..
Its all a part of the game, they say;
After all to win, you have to play.
As you try to reach out for the sky,
You have to leave something behind and fly..
There are too many things, you want to say..
Too little time..
It's perfectly fine my friend,
Its not a crime!!!
Standing at the terminal, ready to fly..
Don't look back now, don't even cry..
Waiting for you is the sky,
So go ahead and JUST FLY !!!
(this one's for YAM, as a farewell gift!!!! Sorry i couldnt be there at the terminal)
To achieve them, many times we have to mutiny...
We have to go to unknown lands,
And may be sing along with unknown bands..
Its all a part of the game, they say;
After all to win, you have to play.
As you try to reach out for the sky,
You have to leave something behind and fly..
There are too many things, you want to say..
Too little time..
It's perfectly fine my friend,
Its not a crime!!!
Standing at the terminal, ready to fly..
Don't look back now, don't even cry..
Waiting for you is the sky,
So go ahead and JUST FLY !!!
(this one's for YAM, as a farewell gift!!!! Sorry i couldnt be there at the terminal)
Thursday, September 04, 2008
HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY
5th September always had a special meaning for me at least in the academic calendar. Teacher’s day celebrations were always a think I looked forward to in my school. A special feature on that day was that for half a day the students would be taking up lectures in the classes. Typically students from the 9th or 10th std were picked up for this job. Sitting in my std 5th class and trying to concentrate on what the guy in front of me was telling me I was always in awe as to this guy must have done something really great to have replaced Shailendra sir to teach me Mathematics. After all in those days for me Mathematics started from Shailendra Sir and ended with him. He was my Aryabhatta, he was my Pythagoras. I always wanted to take up a class when I grew up on Teacher’s Day.
Teachers and the principal were closeted in the staff room where they would enjoy samosas, pakodas, tea and sweets too. I didn’t mind them eating that; after all my teachers deserved all this for there hard work. Also we had been given a cream-roll each!!!. What more can a 5th std student expect and to top it up even Shaila Tr (my science teacher) had gratefully accepted the dalia which I had got for here. She was another good teacher I had in my formative years. Even in std 5th she encouraged us to try to look beyond the textbooks. She was what led me to the school library where I opened my first ‘Tell me WHY?’ volume.
Of course there were some teachers we liked ;) Pardon me if you think I am going off track here but then it happens to every boy I guess around std 8th -9th (ahem, ahem) and considering that we were a all boys school (proud to hail from such a place !!!) we did like some of our teachers a bit more. It was a coincidence that most of these were from the computer department (and may be there I decided that my future lay with computers ;) , this is a filler please ignore) and a few were teaching in the primary sections. I didn’t understand why we used to like teachers who recently joined ;) Hehehe!! It was these teacher’s who got the maximum flowers on teacher’s day. I always connected this somehow to the rose days’ I latter witnessed during my graduation days ;) .We even caught a couple of parents (wanted to use the singular but that would have been out of place J) sneaking a flower or two to these likable teachers. That made for good lunch time discussions.
Finally on the 5th Sept in Std 9th I was picked up to take a class of geography in std 7. That was a challenge. Guys in Std 7 were good. I mean they were definitely better than the primary section guys in questioning. They were going to listen to me real hard and not gonna take any shit. I mean I had done that when I was in std 7th. “Full le liya yaar Advait tune usko”, was the compliment I had received then from my bench partner ;) Now I was at the other end.
Nothing spectacular happened that day. Meri kisine nahi phadi. After all there is only one Advait; I thought and smiled. I had prepared well for that half hour lecture. It was related to the grasslands; the Pampas, the Prairies and all. I had taken loads of extra information and the guys were hooked on. It was a delight to say the least.
This Teacher’s Day I woke up late. And only now I realized that it was Sept 5th. Now-a- days the dates don’t matter much, the days are important (especially the weekends). I miss my teachers. I still feel that jus one more lecture would do no harm. I want to go and sit on my bench back in school, want to solve those Pythagoras equations. I want to pin point the coal mines on the map of India. I want to solve integrals and derivatives at lightening speed and that too at 5:45am in the morning under the nose of Gadgil sir. I want to understand again how the DC motor works.
All I need is jus one more lecture.
I salute you my teachers. Naming you here in my blog is my way of saying THANK YOU for what you have done. HAPPY TEACHER’S DAY to you all
Fr Fuez
Fr Leo
Tr Shaila
Tr Kanta
Sir Shailendra
Sir Katale
Tr Vaibhava
Tr Marilyn D’souza
Tr. Sheela
Tr Shinde
Tr Lone
Gadgil Sir
Ugale Sir
Dhale Sir
Kurode Madam
Teachers and the principal were closeted in the staff room where they would enjoy samosas, pakodas, tea and sweets too. I didn’t mind them eating that; after all my teachers deserved all this for there hard work. Also we had been given a cream-roll each!!!. What more can a 5th std student expect and to top it up even Shaila Tr (my science teacher) had gratefully accepted the dalia which I had got for here. She was another good teacher I had in my formative years. Even in std 5th she encouraged us to try to look beyond the textbooks. She was what led me to the school library where I opened my first ‘Tell me WHY?’ volume.
Of course there were some teachers we liked ;) Pardon me if you think I am going off track here but then it happens to every boy I guess around std 8th -9th (ahem, ahem) and considering that we were a all boys school (proud to hail from such a place !!!) we did like some of our teachers a bit more. It was a coincidence that most of these were from the computer department (and may be there I decided that my future lay with computers ;) , this is a filler please ignore) and a few were teaching in the primary sections. I didn’t understand why we used to like teachers who recently joined ;) Hehehe!! It was these teacher’s who got the maximum flowers on teacher’s day. I always connected this somehow to the rose days’ I latter witnessed during my graduation days ;) .We even caught a couple of parents (wanted to use the singular but that would have been out of place J) sneaking a flower or two to these likable teachers. That made for good lunch time discussions.
Finally on the 5th Sept in Std 9th I was picked up to take a class of geography in std 7. That was a challenge. Guys in Std 7 were good. I mean they were definitely better than the primary section guys in questioning. They were going to listen to me real hard and not gonna take any shit. I mean I had done that when I was in std 7th. “Full le liya yaar Advait tune usko”, was the compliment I had received then from my bench partner ;) Now I was at the other end.
Nothing spectacular happened that day. Meri kisine nahi phadi. After all there is only one Advait; I thought and smiled. I had prepared well for that half hour lecture. It was related to the grasslands; the Pampas, the Prairies and all. I had taken loads of extra information and the guys were hooked on. It was a delight to say the least.
This Teacher’s Day I woke up late. And only now I realized that it was Sept 5th. Now-a- days the dates don’t matter much, the days are important (especially the weekends). I miss my teachers. I still feel that jus one more lecture would do no harm. I want to go and sit on my bench back in school, want to solve those Pythagoras equations. I want to pin point the coal mines on the map of India. I want to solve integrals and derivatives at lightening speed and that too at 5:45am in the morning under the nose of Gadgil sir. I want to understand again how the DC motor works.
All I need is jus one more lecture.
I salute you my teachers. Naming you here in my blog is my way of saying THANK YOU for what you have done. HAPPY TEACHER’S DAY to you all
Fr Fuez
Fr Leo
Tr Shaila
Tr Kanta
Sir Shailendra
Sir Katale
Tr Vaibhava
Tr Marilyn D’souza
Tr. Sheela
Tr Shinde
Tr Lone
Gadgil Sir
Ugale Sir
Dhale Sir
Kurode Madam
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
The TICKET
He held the reservation ticket in pride as if it was certificate of his merit. Well of course it is a certificate of my merit he thought. Didn’t it take merit in planning ones trip home before hand? Didn’t it take merit in planning to go to office late so that one could go to the ticket counter in time to get the reservation and that too a window seat. Not everybody could do it and precisely that was the reason he had got the ticket. He smiled at his own thoughts and waited for 2nd Sept -11:00pm. It was precisely a day and a few hours away.
On the 2nd Sept at 10:30pm he was standing near his house waiting to catch a rickshaw to take him to the bus stand. From the last 15mins he was standing there checking his watch a bit too frequently. Finally he caught sight of a rickshaw nearing him. He flagged it and it stopped. The Rs 120 which the rickshaw driver demanded was a bit too much but then he did not have time to get into a discussion about how the rickshaw-wallahs or for that matter everybody conspires to get more money out of a software professional.
At 10:56pm he was near the ticket counter where a day back he had got his reservation or as he thought of it his certificate of merit. But now he was in a hurry. He enquired about the bus and was told the bus had already left a minute back. He was confused; he had not planned for this. Well the logical thing to do was to ask about the next bus which left at 11:30pm. The man at the counter got the drift and promptly gave him the seat in the 11:30pm bus after making the requisite entries. He hadn’t hoped that this would be smooth but then he had done it. If the reservation was a certificate of merit this turn around was definitely the WINNER’S CUP!!!!
The bus started on time. He was a bit surprised about this. In the last 6 years of his travels from Pune to Nashik this was possibly the first time any asiad had ever left on time or before time. Things changing for the better he thought to himself and increased the volume of his ipod.
He did not like or despise the Pune Nashik journey but then he had done that journey maybe a thousand times before and would have to do it a thousand times in the future. He just prayed that sleep would come to him easily. He had a hectic day tomorrow starting with getting the Ganpati idol and all the decoration which goes into it. Sleep was what he needed the most. The time his eyes closed the bus had just started off from Nashik Phata. That was the last time he would sleep on the bus.
The hooting of horns, people talking and the lights in the bus broke his sleep. He opened his eyes and instinctively checked his watch. It was 2:30AM and Linkin Park was blasting his head off. He looked out but he could not make sense where the bus had reached. It must be near the Chandanapuri ghat, a traffic jam he thought that is so common in these rains and he prepared to close his eyes. There was some commotion going on near the driver’s cabin, he looked up and saw that some people were getting into his bus. That was not usual for sure. Wasn’t the bus kinda full? And from when did the asiad guys started taking people on board without a ticket? Anyways I have my seat he thought and threw a look of disdain at the people standing.
But then a sight caught his eye and he could not close his eyes the remaining journey. He say a man holding a handkerchief to his head. Blood was dripping from the handkerchief and the man was in great pain. He looked at others and there were people with cuts, bruises, swollen foreheads all looking disoriented. What had actually happened? He enquired about what had happened and he was told that the 11:00PM asiad had met with an accident and that the driver had died on the spot while many passengers were injured.
He could not believe his ears. He went numb for a few seconds. That was supposed to be his bus; he had blamed the rickshaw wallah when he came to know that he had missed the 11PM asaid at Shivajinagar. Now he did not know what to do.
He felt regret at the initial thoughts which had come to his mind when he saw these people boarding the bus. He quickly shifted a bit and offered a part of his seat to the person who was standing near him. The person standing near accepted it gratefully. His seat was no longer cherished, if luck or whatever they say wouldn’t have been on his side he would well have been on the other side.
The person to whom he offered was saying something he thought, but it was not audible and he was not in a position to listen to anything. He was just staring out of the window into nothingness.
Images of the ticket counter when he got the reservation done, the rickshaw ride which made him miss the 11PM bus, the delight on getting the seat in the 11:30PM bus on the earlier reservation without having to haggle for it and finally regret on seeing the condition of his co-passengers started flickering in front of his eyes. They just came by randomly, no connection nothing.
He did not understand how much time passed but on seeing the Nashik Road flyover approaching he got up from his seat fumbled a feeble TAKE CARE to the person next to him and got out of the bus.
He put his hand in his shirt pocket took out the EPITOME of PLANNING (the reservation ticket of the 11:00PM bus) and tore it into countless pieces. He flung the pieces overhead.
All this was never planned was the only thought which came to his mind.
On the 2nd Sept at 10:30pm he was standing near his house waiting to catch a rickshaw to take him to the bus stand. From the last 15mins he was standing there checking his watch a bit too frequently. Finally he caught sight of a rickshaw nearing him. He flagged it and it stopped. The Rs 120 which the rickshaw driver demanded was a bit too much but then he did not have time to get into a discussion about how the rickshaw-wallahs or for that matter everybody conspires to get more money out of a software professional.
At 10:56pm he was near the ticket counter where a day back he had got his reservation or as he thought of it his certificate of merit. But now he was in a hurry. He enquired about the bus and was told the bus had already left a minute back. He was confused; he had not planned for this. Well the logical thing to do was to ask about the next bus which left at 11:30pm. The man at the counter got the drift and promptly gave him the seat in the 11:30pm bus after making the requisite entries. He hadn’t hoped that this would be smooth but then he had done it. If the reservation was a certificate of merit this turn around was definitely the WINNER’S CUP!!!!
The bus started on time. He was a bit surprised about this. In the last 6 years of his travels from Pune to Nashik this was possibly the first time any asiad had ever left on time or before time. Things changing for the better he thought to himself and increased the volume of his ipod.
He did not like or despise the Pune Nashik journey but then he had done that journey maybe a thousand times before and would have to do it a thousand times in the future. He just prayed that sleep would come to him easily. He had a hectic day tomorrow starting with getting the Ganpati idol and all the decoration which goes into it. Sleep was what he needed the most. The time his eyes closed the bus had just started off from Nashik Phata. That was the last time he would sleep on the bus.
The hooting of horns, people talking and the lights in the bus broke his sleep. He opened his eyes and instinctively checked his watch. It was 2:30AM and Linkin Park was blasting his head off. He looked out but he could not make sense where the bus had reached. It must be near the Chandanapuri ghat, a traffic jam he thought that is so common in these rains and he prepared to close his eyes. There was some commotion going on near the driver’s cabin, he looked up and saw that some people were getting into his bus. That was not usual for sure. Wasn’t the bus kinda full? And from when did the asiad guys started taking people on board without a ticket? Anyways I have my seat he thought and threw a look of disdain at the people standing.
But then a sight caught his eye and he could not close his eyes the remaining journey. He say a man holding a handkerchief to his head. Blood was dripping from the handkerchief and the man was in great pain. He looked at others and there were people with cuts, bruises, swollen foreheads all looking disoriented. What had actually happened? He enquired about what had happened and he was told that the 11:00PM asiad had met with an accident and that the driver had died on the spot while many passengers were injured.
He could not believe his ears. He went numb for a few seconds. That was supposed to be his bus; he had blamed the rickshaw wallah when he came to know that he had missed the 11PM asaid at Shivajinagar. Now he did not know what to do.
He felt regret at the initial thoughts which had come to his mind when he saw these people boarding the bus. He quickly shifted a bit and offered a part of his seat to the person who was standing near him. The person standing near accepted it gratefully. His seat was no longer cherished, if luck or whatever they say wouldn’t have been on his side he would well have been on the other side.
The person to whom he offered was saying something he thought, but it was not audible and he was not in a position to listen to anything. He was just staring out of the window into nothingness.
Images of the ticket counter when he got the reservation done, the rickshaw ride which made him miss the 11PM bus, the delight on getting the seat in the 11:30PM bus on the earlier reservation without having to haggle for it and finally regret on seeing the condition of his co-passengers started flickering in front of his eyes. They just came by randomly, no connection nothing.
He did not understand how much time passed but on seeing the Nashik Road flyover approaching he got up from his seat fumbled a feeble TAKE CARE to the person next to him and got out of the bus.
He put his hand in his shirt pocket took out the EPITOME of PLANNING (the reservation ticket of the 11:00PM bus) and tore it into countless pieces. He flung the pieces overhead.
All this was never planned was the only thought which came to his mind.
(This write up is inspired from a true story which happened with me on the night of 2nd September 2008. Some facts have been distorted for the sake of story telling.)
Sunday, August 17, 2008
CHOTTE TENSION DENEKA; LENEKA NAHI!!!
The recent episode of an IT professional commiting suicide at one of the reputed software cos in India due to WORK STRESS really had me panting. Whatever the media, blogs or all will say I think that it was an act of absoulte immaturity i.e if only work stress is in question.
I understand that like any other sector the IT sector also has the capacity of throwing stress when there is 100% dependency on you, timelines are too stringent, the requirements are changing and must I say that when the management is not capable to handle the escalations which come from the client effectively. And then there is also a very big question about you setting very high standards for yourself.
Even in all of this, i dont think anybody can ever force you to do work atleast in the IT sector. With whatever experience I have here, the IT sector is the place where you can very easily put in your papers if you feel stressed and scout for a better pay scale (even in times of economic slowdown). I myself have taken day off when I felt that I was getting too bogged down by work.
And for a person who has won 3 star performer awards and who has handles a couple of onsite assignements, ending once like due to work stress sounds outright stupid. The moment he felt he was stressed he could have reported it to his line manager, if that was not of help he could have gone higher up in the chain. Almost all software firms have a open door policy when it comes to greivance redressal. All it requires is an e-mail. Or he could have been irresponsible and take a couple of days off to get your thoughts together. You can always report in sick. Its simple. Or you can resign, there are many software cos who would have accepted a visa ready, IIT educated IT pro. This option was both simple and highly lucrative.
No but he chose to end his life. An act of cowardice. The more I ponder on it, the more baffled I am. This just does not add up :(
I am tempted to quote a dialogue from a B grade Hindi movie of which I don't remember the name. All through the movie the VILLAIN has only one dialogue for everyone:
"CHOTTE, TENSION DENEKA; LENEKA NAHI!!!!"
I understand that like any other sector the IT sector also has the capacity of throwing stress when there is 100% dependency on you, timelines are too stringent, the requirements are changing and must I say that when the management is not capable to handle the escalations which come from the client effectively. And then there is also a very big question about you setting very high standards for yourself.
Even in all of this, i dont think anybody can ever force you to do work atleast in the IT sector. With whatever experience I have here, the IT sector is the place where you can very easily put in your papers if you feel stressed and scout for a better pay scale (even in times of economic slowdown). I myself have taken day off when I felt that I was getting too bogged down by work.
And for a person who has won 3 star performer awards and who has handles a couple of onsite assignements, ending once like due to work stress sounds outright stupid. The moment he felt he was stressed he could have reported it to his line manager, if that was not of help he could have gone higher up in the chain. Almost all software firms have a open door policy when it comes to greivance redressal. All it requires is an e-mail. Or he could have been irresponsible and take a couple of days off to get your thoughts together. You can always report in sick. Its simple. Or you can resign, there are many software cos who would have accepted a visa ready, IIT educated IT pro. This option was both simple and highly lucrative.
No but he chose to end his life. An act of cowardice. The more I ponder on it, the more baffled I am. This just does not add up :(
I am tempted to quote a dialogue from a B grade Hindi movie of which I don't remember the name. All through the movie the VILLAIN has only one dialogue for everyone:
"CHOTTE, TENSION DENEKA; LENEKA NAHI!!!!"
Saturday, July 12, 2008
45 mins....kya kare kya na kare!!!!
With the monsoons setting in, I relegated my bike to my building parking and started taking the company bus. The last rainy season I did endure the rains to get to office and back but the entire episode was not exactly comfortable. Sitting wet in a Air Conditioned office for some 8 odd hours is not a joke. Well thank God I didnt catch pneumonia the one which is so often mentioned in Bollywood flicks...
So after getting the feel of the discomfort this time around I decided to take the bus to the office starting 1st of June (that officially when the monsoon begins atleast for me.)
But I was soon to find out that if the bike ride to office was ridden with traffic snarls, rains, potholes and the occasional encounter with the traffic policeman the ride in the bus was more painstaking.
On the very first bus ride i understood that to get a seat in the bus you have to be at the Infy bus stop some 10 mins early. I am fortunate that a bus starts from my place or it would really not matter if I am there 10 mins early or 10 hours early. Getting to the bus stop 10 minutes early was the easy part.
The bus takes some 45 mins to get to the office. On the first ride after securing the window seat (for the first ride too i got 10 minutes early..was actually skeptical about the timing) what struck me was that; what was I going to do for 45 mins!!!! Thats hell lot of a time..and whatever i do in these 45 mins is surely gonna impact my enire day in office. If I sleep, I will be feeling sluggish to start with in office if I try to think too much looking out of the window, i might exhaust myself too much. If I call somebody up to while away time talking the only thing I would be shouting will be "Kai, zhorat bolte ka!!!" (What , will you please speak up). So I had to have a plan to pass these crucial 45 mins of the day. And then in my first ride with nothing to do I started chalking out a plan as to how to while away those 45 mins...
Experiment 1: Newspaper
To while away time in the bus I decided to read the daily newspaper. It was not a original thought, I had seen many peeps in the bus do that. I buy a copy of the TOI and get in the bus. Now TOI comes with a complimentary copy of the Pune Mirror: a cheapo tabloid... Anyways I get in the bus, get a window seat and keeping the Pune Mirror aside start skimming the paper. The bus starts filling in and very soon I get a neighbour who it seems is trying to occupy more than his share of the seat. This usually happens because many software professionals cannot be classified as a single entity especially when they occupy seats in the public transport. After minor adjustments we kinda fit in and settle down. I am waiting for a pothole or a speed breaker to unsetle us so that I can immediatley seize more of the ground (read seat).
I am done reading the first page..now what....who and how will anyone turn to page 2. That would take an enormous effort. First Ill have to disengage my right shoulder which was stuck behind my nieghbours left shoulder and risk losing ground. Also with the wind blowing in from the window kya guarantee that I would be able to turn to pg 2 and fold the newspaper without getting it all in my face. In that eventuality it will reqire even more effort. On top of all this my neighbour was sleeping, it was not worth it at all. Newspaper scrapped.
Experiment 2: Reading a novel
With the newspaper out of the window, i switched to reading novels. I figured that novels being smaller than newpapers would not involve much page turning effort and also that way I will not have to curb my curiosity till I got back home to continue on my story. I was nearing a solution I felt.
So the next day I started with the novel. I was engrossed in it, I was happy too that i had found the solution but just then I heard the blaring of the bus speaker. It was RADIO MIRCHI. It was also there with the newspaper experiment just that it hadnt registered in my head. Now that I didnt have issues with page turning this blaring radio was getting to me. I looked around and my colleagues were enjoying it. It was foolish anyways to expect that the driver would lower the volume or switch it off because only one passenger was getting DISTURBED. I tried to concentrate more but i was an effort, also i was losing grip on the novel. I shut the novel and gave a disgruntled stare to speaker. I mocked me I think with a boring SUD (call me sudharshan) PJ.
Experiment 3: Music
I will counter the BUS SPEAKER with high definition music. My apple ipod was the answer.ha ha ha (i gave a devilish laugh..). So the next day i came all decked with the ipod (my own), cool looking headphones (borrowed from my roomie) and took the window seat. I started the ipod and couldnt hear even a bit of the radio. I was happy even though my ears were beginning to hurt thanks to the high volume i had set to counter the radio. But the happiness was short lived. I got a pat on the shoulder and my neighbour asked me to turn the volume down. The ipod was blasting and the music was ripping out of the headphones and disturbing my neighbour. I had to lower it. But then for the rest of the ride I listened to AEROSMITH+Abhijeet, IRON MAIDEN+Shankar Mahadevan.....
Experiment 4: Shut up and look out
This was the last option. Atleast in the monsoons it is green and good to look outside, so I think I should not have any troble in doing this. But many times I dont get a window seat then I have to stare at my neighbours face when he/she is looking out (because his/her face is blocking the view) or gaze into nothingness. I started to read the instuctions pasted on the inside of the bus but then they remain the same and I have memorised most of it. So if I dont get the window seat I just SHUT UP.
And then they ask me in office, "Hey Advait, why you seem so quiet when you get in?" and I whisper to myself, " SHUT UP!!!!"
So after getting the feel of the discomfort this time around I decided to take the bus to the office starting 1st of June (that officially when the monsoon begins atleast for me.)
But I was soon to find out that if the bike ride to office was ridden with traffic snarls, rains, potholes and the occasional encounter with the traffic policeman the ride in the bus was more painstaking.
On the very first bus ride i understood that to get a seat in the bus you have to be at the Infy bus stop some 10 mins early. I am fortunate that a bus starts from my place or it would really not matter if I am there 10 mins early or 10 hours early. Getting to the bus stop 10 minutes early was the easy part.
The bus takes some 45 mins to get to the office. On the first ride after securing the window seat (for the first ride too i got 10 minutes early..was actually skeptical about the timing) what struck me was that; what was I going to do for 45 mins!!!! Thats hell lot of a time..and whatever i do in these 45 mins is surely gonna impact my enire day in office. If I sleep, I will be feeling sluggish to start with in office if I try to think too much looking out of the window, i might exhaust myself too much. If I call somebody up to while away time talking the only thing I would be shouting will be "Kai, zhorat bolte ka!!!" (What , will you please speak up). So I had to have a plan to pass these crucial 45 mins of the day. And then in my first ride with nothing to do I started chalking out a plan as to how to while away those 45 mins...
Experiment 1: Newspaper
To while away time in the bus I decided to read the daily newspaper. It was not a original thought, I had seen many peeps in the bus do that. I buy a copy of the TOI and get in the bus. Now TOI comes with a complimentary copy of the Pune Mirror: a cheapo tabloid... Anyways I get in the bus, get a window seat and keeping the Pune Mirror aside start skimming the paper. The bus starts filling in and very soon I get a neighbour who it seems is trying to occupy more than his share of the seat. This usually happens because many software professionals cannot be classified as a single entity especially when they occupy seats in the public transport. After minor adjustments we kinda fit in and settle down. I am waiting for a pothole or a speed breaker to unsetle us so that I can immediatley seize more of the ground (read seat).
I am done reading the first page..now what....who and how will anyone turn to page 2. That would take an enormous effort. First Ill have to disengage my right shoulder which was stuck behind my nieghbours left shoulder and risk losing ground. Also with the wind blowing in from the window kya guarantee that I would be able to turn to pg 2 and fold the newspaper without getting it all in my face. In that eventuality it will reqire even more effort. On top of all this my neighbour was sleeping, it was not worth it at all. Newspaper scrapped.
Experiment 2: Reading a novel
With the newspaper out of the window, i switched to reading novels. I figured that novels being smaller than newpapers would not involve much page turning effort and also that way I will not have to curb my curiosity till I got back home to continue on my story. I was nearing a solution I felt.
So the next day I started with the novel. I was engrossed in it, I was happy too that i had found the solution but just then I heard the blaring of the bus speaker. It was RADIO MIRCHI. It was also there with the newspaper experiment just that it hadnt registered in my head. Now that I didnt have issues with page turning this blaring radio was getting to me. I looked around and my colleagues were enjoying it. It was foolish anyways to expect that the driver would lower the volume or switch it off because only one passenger was getting DISTURBED. I tried to concentrate more but i was an effort, also i was losing grip on the novel. I shut the novel and gave a disgruntled stare to speaker. I mocked me I think with a boring SUD (call me sudharshan) PJ.
Experiment 3: Music
I will counter the BUS SPEAKER with high definition music. My apple ipod was the answer.ha ha ha (i gave a devilish laugh..). So the next day i came all decked with the ipod (my own), cool looking headphones (borrowed from my roomie) and took the window seat. I started the ipod and couldnt hear even a bit of the radio. I was happy even though my ears were beginning to hurt thanks to the high volume i had set to counter the radio. But the happiness was short lived. I got a pat on the shoulder and my neighbour asked me to turn the volume down. The ipod was blasting and the music was ripping out of the headphones and disturbing my neighbour. I had to lower it. But then for the rest of the ride I listened to AEROSMITH+Abhijeet, IRON MAIDEN+Shankar Mahadevan.....
Experiment 4: Shut up and look out
This was the last option. Atleast in the monsoons it is green and good to look outside, so I think I should not have any troble in doing this. But many times I dont get a window seat then I have to stare at my neighbours face when he/she is looking out (because his/her face is blocking the view) or gaze into nothingness. I started to read the instuctions pasted on the inside of the bus but then they remain the same and I have memorised most of it. So if I dont get the window seat I just SHUT UP.
And then they ask me in office, "Hey Advait, why you seem so quiet when you get in?" and I whisper to myself, " SHUT UP!!!!"
Saturday, May 10, 2008
The FE Diary..
27th Jan 2017, VVIP’s, corporate moguls’ and the media were all crowding the already crowded gateway of the Taj Hotel in Mumbai. It was not a ‘Filmfare Night’ but even more important if not glamorous. Tonight one of India’s best entrepreneurs was to be chosen from a list which was not less imposing than the 2002 Brazilian Line up which won the Soccer World Cup. Inside the ‘Dhirubhai Auditorium’ the tension was mounting. I could see the tension on others faces but something in me still made me feel comfortable.
After the initial ‘speechery’ of the ‘distinguished’ guests (most of whom didn’t know anything about business); the ever cheerful hostess called upon Mr. Anil Ambani to present the ‘Best Entrepreneur Award’. The whole gathering went into frenzy and the next thing I remember was that I was flocked by all the ‘money-makers’, reporters the public waiting outside was already shouting for me. With some help from the security I made my way to my Benz and drove away to my parent’s place. In my house, the reception was no less heart-warming. I could see the fulfillment in my mother’s eyes and the happiness on my father’s face, their confidence in me was finally bearing fruit. Among all the celebrations, my mother did not forget to remind me of my formative years at (arguably) the best engg. institution in the country; no marks for guessing- The GCOEP!
Yes, the GCOEP had indeed done a lot in shaping my personality and character. The unusual ‘tension-freeness’ I experienced at the awards ceremony even when others were sweating due to the heat of the moment, was all because of the GCOEP. No, I had not forgotten anything of those four glorious years at the college. Those were undoubtedly the best days of my life.
Suddenly, I remembered that immediately after the Std. XII exam and all through the FE I had maintained a diary which had every major incident explained in detail. But was it possible to get that diary after a gap of almost 15 years? I gave it a shot! I looked through all my old books, right from the then outdated MS Office Manuals to the ever-reliable Manorama Yearbooks. Amidst the ‘dust and heat’ of bygone days I spotted a brown coloured book. You are right; it was my ‘treasure chest’. It was the key to my glorious past. It was my FE Diary.
My happiness knew no bounds. I felt the same joy and satisfaction which our Graphics lecturer must have felt while delaying my submission because it was flawless! [Caution: - Never submit a near perfect submission. Some obvious errors must be present so that the intelligent lecturer may correct them after hours of scanning and finally take your submission with the same errors but with good marks.]
The ‘CAUTION’ statement was at the fag end of the diary. I noticed it as I quickly browsed through the yellowing manuscript. I settled down immediately and opened the first page; [don’t get bored, the ‘Preface’ and ‘About the Author’ columns were not included in this abridged edition.]. The diary came straight to the point.
22nd May 2002:- ‘JUDGEMENT DAY’
“The final verdict is passed; Advait Borate scores 288 in his PCM group.”
288 did to some extent disappoint me but there was no reason feeling sorry for the train had already left the station. I desperately wanted COEP (Mech.); but the above aim was fast becoming a dream.
28th June 2002:- ‘THE ADMISSION ADRENALINE’
“The application forms for engg. admissions were up for sale. Got one for myself.”
What followed were a series of debates regarding the admission rounds. The above programs were a daily show on ‘Advait T.V’ and more often than not Advait himself was the host.
15th July 2002:- ‘ADMISSION MAGZINE: THE TRUE STORY’
“Round IA begins. I went to Pune to COEP today, saw the campus and more importantly got a seat in Electrical in the same college. My aim is partially fulfilled.”
Well, the initial disappointment about the std. XII setback was forgotten to some extent. But the seat that I secured was also due to the help of ‘Vasantdada Patil’ (Ex-CM of Maharashtra). Had he not given permission to start private engg. colleges, getting into COEP would have remained a dream. The subsequent rounds (only two to be precise) didn’t bring great news. So finally I became ‘Advait @ GCOEP (Electrical)’ [Not my e-mail ID]
5th Sept 2002:- ‘THE HOSTEL HOTCH-POTCH’
“I am in Pune; the hostel admission list was displayed 4 hours late (quite early by govt. standards). I did not get hostel had to find alternate accommodation.”
Well, it was the most disgusting day of my life. After waiting for 4 long hours I find that I am ‘hostel-less’. I bet I can never understand how they calculate the seat distribution as far as the hostel is concerned.
20th Oct 2002:- ‘THE RAGGING RAGA’
“In the hostel, I was ragged (Shh! talk silently, ragging is prohibited at least the sign boards say so!). It was the usual stuff. Hope I can do something innovative the next year.”
I must say that after this experience I am ready to face the rigours of the world. I certainly feel that ragging (not of the extreme kind) does help personality development. The ragging continued till the end of the first semester and it all culminated with a ‘Fresher’s Party’. After this, all our ‘Sirs’ were reduced to ‘Pals for Life’.
27th Nov 2002:- ‘THE SUBMISSION HEAT’
“The heat is on and even an AC can’t cool it. The lights in all the rooms are on throughout the night and the boys never look tired”.
The submission does help us to know how long the nights are. After the ordeal ends, the room is littered with a bucket, a glass, a bulb and yes many sheets (which finally end up being used for the college gathering promotion campaign). It is a nice experience and after this you understand what the song ‘Raat Baki’ really meant.
2nd Jan 2003:- ‘CROUCHING PL’s HIDDEN EXAMS’
“The joy of the New Year celebrations were diluted due to the pending first semester exams. The PL’s were really demanding”.
In the PL after slogging for 16-17 hrs. a day, in a pensive mood we do think “If only I had studied regularly”. But this never happens. Every semester result is decided in the 15 days of the PL. The actual exams went as usual but with less surveillance (to everyone’s surprise).
This diary reading experience was even more interesting than a Sherlock Holmes novel. Each and every incident was unfolding very slowly just like a newly wed bride during her nuptial night. It was all so comforting.
The next thing as far I remember was ‘Valentine’s Day’. I quickly turned the pages, but could not find the relevant entries. I checked the page nos. and found some pages missing.
I remembered the fight I had with my roomy; as he was secretly reading my diary and the missing pages were a casualty of this battle. I did not feel sorry for the casualties but now the loss seemed irreparable. I just sat there looking at the setting sun, thinking of all the fun I had at GCOEP and as the day ended, another chapter in the life of a COEPian had ended with a promise of a new day full of worthy challenges for a COEPian.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Go find!!!!
When everything crumples down there is only gloom and dust,
Why then do I harbour faith and trust?
When each passing second feels like a ton
Tell me why should I not point a gun?
Its just a deep haze around me,
Nothing but plain barrenness for miles to see.
Tell me then why should i search for an ounce of glee?
When everybody around me has decided to flee.
Is this cowardice creeping in me?
I think yes, I am trying to run from me...
But then there is only one thing I foresee
Its jus me, me and only me...
On the once busy intersection of life,
Aloofness is only rife.
Is this my doing? Was I never kind??
Well my mirror smiles at me and simply says, Go find!!!!
Why then do I harbour faith and trust?
When each passing second feels like a ton
Tell me why should I not point a gun?
Its just a deep haze around me,
Nothing but plain barrenness for miles to see.
Tell me then why should i search for an ounce of glee?
When everybody around me has decided to flee.
Is this cowardice creeping in me?
I think yes, I am trying to run from me...
But then there is only one thing I foresee
Its jus me, me and only me...
On the once busy intersection of life,
Aloofness is only rife.
Is this my doing? Was I never kind??
Well my mirror smiles at me and simply says, Go find!!!!
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
If only you would have faced it dear...
Is it really hard when somebody just says no?
Or is it that you think so?
Do two no's make a yes?
Is life like a game of chess?
You pretend to have the answers to these,
And you sit back and munch on your cheese.
But then out of the blue IT comes to the fore,
and says, hey there try making 2 and 2 four.
You are dumbfounded, and u are slow,
For you never excepted it to hit you so low.
You try hard to add up your numbers,
But all you can see is a field of cucumbers.
IT gives you chances to look around and learn
But each time you show little concern
Then IT starts robbing you one by one
Expecting that atleast now you will stand up and say that, "I am the one."
But you just sit there looking at the cucumbers,
Even smiling as you enjoy your slumbers.
IT tries to wake you up by laying a trap,
But you are too slow to even react.
It all ends one fine morning,
When IT comes all demanding.
You try hard to remember your numbers
But all you can manage are again cucumbers.
All that remains of you now is a distant memory,
That too,not amongst all who attended the last ceremony.
A few still visit you sometimes to shed a tear
and say , "If only you would have faced it dear..."
Or is it that you think so?
Do two no's make a yes?
Is life like a game of chess?
You pretend to have the answers to these,
And you sit back and munch on your cheese.
But then out of the blue IT comes to the fore,
and says, hey there try making 2 and 2 four.
You are dumbfounded, and u are slow,
For you never excepted it to hit you so low.
You try hard to add up your numbers,
But all you can see is a field of cucumbers.
IT gives you chances to look around and learn
But each time you show little concern
Then IT starts robbing you one by one
Expecting that atleast now you will stand up and say that, "I am the one."
But you just sit there looking at the cucumbers,
Even smiling as you enjoy your slumbers.
IT tries to wake you up by laying a trap,
But you are too slow to even react.
It all ends one fine morning,
When IT comes all demanding.
You try hard to remember your numbers
But all you can manage are again cucumbers.
All that remains of you now is a distant memory,
That too,not amongst all who attended the last ceremony.
A few still visit you sometimes to shed a tear
and say , "If only you would have faced it dear..."
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