Friday, March 30, 2007

Had a 100 goddamn things in mind to write about. Missed posts in the last two days. Feel like deleting the entire blog at the moment.

My new toe-rings which were keeping me so happy
But are giving me no pleasure now
Well, they do look cute, don't they?

Thursday, March 29, 2007

What the fuck is wrong with the world..

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Food, Air and Water

There are many possible ways to begin this post. In fact, some of them brilliantly crafted. But I shall avoid all that jazz, and come straight to the point. Today I talk about Andhra food (which I have no clue about), my bhai (about whom I assume I know a lot about) and humour (about which it is rumoured that I have no clue).

I mention in one of my earlier posts that my bhai happens to be a foodie, and a real enthusiatic one at that. After a really long convincing session, he finally manages to take us to Andhra Bhawan, the state office (Building, canteen, site, premises??) of Andhra Pradesh. Am sure this will utterly disappoint him, but I am not going to critique the food/ambience/settings/price at the place. What interested me more was the wide array of observations that I could make. Well, I might just end up remarking something about the food/ambience/settings/price, depending upon my thoughts.

In spite of the intimidating Andhra influence that one senses upon entering, the place is actually pretty enjoyable. Surprisingly, there was no South Indian family sitting in close proximity. To my right was a gujarati family, to my back was a punjabi family and in front of me was a jat family. Now during a sumptuous dinner, I hear snatches of baddi mirchan haegiyan ne (thats punjabi for: there is a lot of chilli) and ke baat hai (thats a jat asking if there's a problem).

Well, in short the food was nice. The price was reasonable. And the fare was unlimited.

The true blue punjabi that I am, after being well watered and fell fed, I need to sleep. And sleep away to glory. But after the dinner, I could not indulge in such a luxury, as I had a 30 minute drive back home to look forward to. I avoid switching on the AC in my car, so I chose to roll down the window. Now one thing that I really miss these days is a fantastic bike ride. Both me and my brother are avid bike lovers (well, I just love the ride along). A car certainly is comfortable, but, it does not have the same charm as a bike. So, sleep induced that I was, I felt the first waves of the brilliantly lukewarm and tasty air sweep across my face.

I have never reached home faster, because I was oblivious to what was around me. With my eyes closed, I saw flashes of colour. Of nothing really. I lost all thoughts and observations. And now I have nothing to continue with. So, I end here.

Actually I do. My mum is a serious person. But when she cracks a joke, she gives it her best shot. This is how the curtain falls today:

Mum: How much is the balance in your salary account?
Me: Why?
Mum: Just like that. Dont I tell you everything?
Me: Yea, but I dont really ask you the balance in your salary account!
Mum: Ok, dont tell. But I do so many savings and investments in your name. Why dont you also start doing some in mine. Wink, Wink.

Ma. I enjoy your sense of humour.

Monday, March 26, 2007

One fine moment......

Weird is the word. Or perhaps momentary. Well, I have never been good at describing moments perfectly. But this happened in a split second. And for years, I have been strangely aware of this thing happening, yet I have no reason. In fact, I remember reading something extremely similar, but I have no recollection of the same at the moment. I guess it was Wordsworth or Keats, who remarks in one of his poems that it is actually immediately aftre a really serene and happy moment, that we feel the loneliest and the saddest.

It happened today. I was happy and suddenly I felt everything tumble down. I have been fiercely debating with myself over the reason. But I still dont know. Maybe it is because I am exteremely impulsive, or excessively careless or completely oblivious.

I hurt a friend today. And I know I did. Unnecessarily. In a fit of stupidty. And it is horrid. I apologised. He said it was nothing. Maybe this was the reason. Or perhaps, I realised that I am nowhere near what I had dreamt myself to be. Or the expectations that I had. Maybe because I suddenly felt inadequate.

Maybe I am just sleep deprived. OR maybe its the natural correction of hormonal imbalance ( I tend to go overboard with all categories of emotions)...

Thinking too much is stupid. But, it is my natural occupation.



Drew without any reason

With charcoal

and red sketch pen

In a fit.

of i dont know what

These make me smile...

A Nun asked her class to write notes to God. Here are some they handed in:

Dear God : I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made onTuesday. That was cool.

Dear God: Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones, why don't you keep the ones You already have?

Dear God: Maybe Cain and Abel would not have killed each other if they had their own rooms. That's what my Mom did for me and my brother.

Dear God: If You watch me in church on Sunday, I'll show You my new shoes.

Dear God: I bet it is very hard to love everyone in the whole world. There are only 4people in our family and I'm having a hard time loving all of them.

Dear God: In school they told us what You do. Who does it when You are on vacation?

Dear God : Are You really invisible or is it just a trick?

Dear God: Is it true my father won't get into heaven if he uses his bowling words inthe house?

Dear God: Did You mean for the giraffe to look like that or was it an accident?

Dear God: Who draws the lines around the countries?

Dear God : I went to this wedding and they kissed right in the church. Is that OK?

Dear God: Did You really mean "do unto others as they do unto you"? Because if You did, then I'm going to get my brother good.

Dear God: Thank You for the baby brother, but I think you got confused because what Iprayed for was a puppy.

Dear God: Please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up.

Dear God: I want to be just like my Daddy when I get big, but not with so much hairall over.

Dear God: You don't have to worry about me; I always look both ways.

Dear God: I think about You sometimes, even when I'm not praying.

Dear God: Of all the people who worked for You, I like Noah and David the best.

Dear God : My brother told me about being born but it doesn't sound right. They're justkidding, aren't they?

Dear God:I would like to live 900 years just like the guy in the Bible.

Dear God : We read Thomas Edison made light. But in Sunday school they said You did it.So, I bet he stole Youridea

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Daily lessons

I learnt that one minute of genuine smile can really heighten the glow on one's face. At least it does on mine. I start glowing like a 440 watt bulb.

Another lesson: you have to run household errands, irrespective of just how tired you are.

Lesson (alert alarm actually) three: If one does not study before exams, then flunking is a destination not that far away.

There is nothing more to read. It is time to study economics.


This is an actual event that happened at the Law Centre

Delhi University

Saw the poster minutes after a monkey had 'pee'd on one of my friends

It reads: Mooter's Society

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Contrasts: here and now

Contrast is a strange word. It is extremely helpful as a literary device when comparing two different quantities. It is amazingly useful when I have to adjust the colours on my TV. Though wikipedia states eight different subjects where contrast becomes a homonym, in my case the meaning is the easiest. Contrast is a measurement of the dissimilarity between things.

My morning started on a weird note. My editor calls me on my landline. This is how the conversation goes:

Me: Hello (who the hell is it)
Her: Hello
Me: Yes
Her: Its Nalini
Me: Oh..Good morning mam
Her: Good morning darling. Why are you sleeping away to glory at 9.30 in the morning ?
Me: uh huh
Her: Listen, L.N. Mittal is in Delhi today and I want you to do that assignment. Will you do it please?
Me: Ofcourse (who would miss that)
Her: ok..the car will....(blah blah blah)

So, I was thrilled. And the day seemed exciting. After five hours of waiting, Mr. Arcelor Mittal addresses a press conference for 3 minutes and wraps it up after three questions. Me being one of the lucky ones that he answered (wink, wink). But, thats besides the point.

Now, here come the long list of contrasts which I could not help but notice after that:

I was 'excited' to meet him in the morning, but 'pissed' after doing so
Had a 'great time' with my family in the morning, but had a 'tiff' in the night
Lakshmi Niwas Mittal was finding it hard to smile while giving away medals to students, but passed me a smile twice during the press meet
Kamal Nath seems like a half wit, but is actually a man very well versed in his communication skills
The Steel giant barely has five mins for the media, whereas the CPRO (thats the Chief Public Relations Officer) takes 15 minutes to walk me to the gate, two kilometres away.

Contrasts are strange phenomena. They leave you pondering much more than you bargained for.


Five o'clock in the morning

Tip of Kanyakumari

March, 2006

Sunrays peeping out to meet me

Contrast: March, 2007. And I am in Delhi

Friday, March 23, 2007



Look what I found...


This is just a snippet. Am currently a victim of retail happiness and the post is testimony to the same.

Though I had decided to refrain from all further expenditures till the end of April, I reached Oxford Bookstore by a wonderous stroke of fate. Guess what I found there? Do not assume Satanic Verses or some intellectual thingy, cause I found Peterpan. Yes, the good old Peterpan book, and surprisingly I found it in the Fiction section meant for Adults!

But tadaa! I may enjoy Shakespeare and Tagore, but Peterpan has its own charm. Coupled with the fact that I brought two books for 74 bucks ( Peterpan and one on Shakespeare), I think that the ban on expenditure can be loosened a bit.
:-) :-) :-) :-)


Politics, Economics, Lies and Freakonomics
This is a picture of Delhi School of Economics, or what we call D-School in our college lingo. Aesthetic and with a 'certain intellectual ambience' that it may seem, d-School is a place through which I have undertaken several journeys, both literal and symbolic. I have some excessively beautiful and some ruthlessly painful memories from this place.

D-school is known for the 'variety' of crowd that it attracts. Apart from the students from the Delhi School of Economics and the Faculty of Management Studies, this shared campus is home to hundreds of migrant birds from colleges all across the North Campus everyday. It is here that me and my best friend (from college) started coming at the end of our first year, because some friends of hers (from other colleges) would come here. A lot of people who sat here were and still are pretentious. And no, am not judging. People, who would smoke to look cool and drag others to do the same. People who would not comb their hair to look carefree and hep. People who would come with a guitar instead of college books and gulp down cheap vodka shots infront of MH chicks.

It is here that I learnt to keep my mouth shut infront of people, who pretend to be friends. I understood, that not everyone is worthy enough to know what is happening in your life. Not everyone actually has the ability to understand what you are explaining. It is here that I lost my best friend to the D-school camaraderie. It is here that I made other friends. Who still call and bug me for details about my personal life. It is here that I had first howled when I realised that Nishant was cheating on me. And it is the last place that I had shrieked when Tanya had lied to me about her smoking.

But life has certainly moved on for me. I still see hundreds walking that same old D-school path that I hate so much. The existent routes never change. I have however changed directions.

Btw, the post is inspired from a lot of news coverage that FMS has been generating over some excellent placements. Also, had been remembering a lot of old stuff. Its a strange chain of thought.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Celebrations and laughs

Turned 70 bylines old in the industry today. So, thought what would make a better post than the article itself. The write-up might not interest all, but it certainly marks my turning into a septuagenarian.

Nobility comes knocking

A Nobel Laureate in Physics, Georg Bednorz spoke to GARIMA SHARMA about the power of dreaming

We all live in an era, where time is the new cash. Wasting it on dreaming may well be considered a sin. But when someone with a Nobel Prize tucked under his belt advices you to dream as the ultimate way to success, it sure deserves consideration.

George Bednorz is a man with a purpose. He carries a twinkle in his eyes, a smile on his face and an attitude in his gait. He was recently in town through an initiative by IBM, to felicitate the winners of the ACM-ICPC contest. At the event, Bednorz held forth on some succinct and assured tips for success to the country’s technical reservoir. Bednorz aggressively advocated dreaming, quoting examples from history where scientists dreamed and achieved. He explained, “People constantly look for inspiration everywhere, but, you need inspiration only when you see a barrier. If you start dreaming, you prepare your mind to make an accident and then a discovery.”

Besides dreaming, Bednorz also has theories of equal simplicity worked out for deeper issues. We questioned him on the frustration of bound research and pat came the reply, “It is about getting inspired by the limits of technology and then one can find things relevant for tomorrow. This is the philosophy that leads to path breaking research.”

In 1987, Bednorz along with K. Alex Müller received the Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of high-Tc superconductivity in a new class of compounds. Post that, he accepts that his belief in dedication has increased manifold. He asserts that it is dedication that distinguishes the Indian youth and it is the responsibility of scientists like him to inspire them. For these youngsters refuse to accept pre-established norms. They go out and question the impossible- the ultimate attitude for conquering success.

Nobel thoughts, by a Nobel Laureate. It was time to sum up our petite rendezvous. And we did so by remembering George Bernard Shaw. He said, “People see things and ask why. I see things that are not and ask why not.”

***************************************

On this happy note, I thought I will close. But, there is something that I cannot resist sharing. I got a mail today, that talked about ways in which kids innovatively handled math problems. Forwarded with the mail was a message: Seems like this is how you too would respond.

Sharing weaknesses, especially mathematical, with your friends is the stupidest mistake to commit. I told a friend about the mail. He asked me to add 23 to 49. I fell silent. He laughed. I laughed. I know its 72.

However, on a cheery note, math can really be a torture. But kids sure know how to make it fun!!





Tuesday, March 20, 2007

I see it this way

The Delhi Metro is not all about ha-ha episodes. Lesson learnt today: Most men, irrespective of caste, creed, race, colour or for that matter age, stare. And shamelessly at that.

Returning back to the good things in life.

I quite like The Little Magazine. Their content is different, they promote a lot of new and promising South-Asian writing, and they seem genuinely passionate about writing per se. This was once on their introductory page.."A blank page for us is a carte blanche to rip...". With this kind of a cummulative mindset working for the publication, every copy of the magazine, in my opinion, carries selected but tasteful stuff.

Decided to make a must-see movie list. To begin with...

Dreamgirls
Hannibal Rising
The Messengers
Pan's Labyrinth
The Graduate
Roman Holiday
The White Countess
The Seven Year Itch
Breakfast at Tiffany's
A Holiday Romance
La Vie est Belle...................................and i doze off

I knew that God is in the details. But, I realised that the Devil is in the finer ones. And people, especially those that you call friends, notice the details of the second kind. My profile these days in gtalk gives a statutory warning: Disturb at your own risk (followed with the status icon for busy). A friend decided to reason it out.

Friend: If you are busy and cannot talk, then why are you online. If you are online and can talk, then why are you threatening people with dire consequences.

Me: Elementary, my dear Watson. My boss is calling, shall talk to you later?



I see the world through these...






Thought for the day: Beauty is in the eye of the Beer holder

Monday, March 19, 2007

One amongst many...

I thought I will sneak in a quick post, before the historical match (India, surprisingly has scored the highest world cup total) resumes.

Nothing much to share today. Learnt the origin of the word janitor. Realised that ancient Greek literature is sex and sleaze for many. And had someone explain to me how my mood graph is an abnormal sawtooth curve instead of the sinusoidal curve generated by normal people.

Origin @ Janitor: The modern day word janitor (used for the doorman), comes suprisingly from the Roman God Janus. In Roman mythology, Janus was the God of gates, doors, doorways, beginnings, and endings.

Ordinary day except that I realised that 'extraordinariness' is a noun used to describe quality. And it is difficult to find that quality in one's life everyday.





Sunlight dancing on the stairs.
In College.
Outside 26.
The Literature den.












Thought for every day: A train station is where a train stops. On my desk I have a workstation

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Of words and happenings

But words are words; I never did yet hear
That the bruised heart was pierced through the ear

Shakespeare in Othello 1.3.216

Shakespeare according to me was a crafty writer. In spite of my professors explaining 'x', I end up seeing a lot of 'y' in what he wrote. That is why I think he is crafty; his words seek their identity from the reader, instead of Shakespeare spelling them explicitly. However, I vehemently disagree with this particular thought of Shakespeare.

It so happens...that in my excitement about my last copy (the last story that I gave to my editor) being cent per cent clean I share it with my colleague. In a fit of elderly guidance, she sets me a little test. When I finish my answer, she, (with words that are particularly sugar coated and piercing) explains the 5ws and 1H that I may not know about, since I have never been to journalism school.

Act2, Scene 2

Her: You have to conform to the rules that have been set. Journalistic pieces are written in a certain way. You cannot use your own ideas, even though they may seem logical
Me: But, should reason not follow acceptance
Her: Yes, but it is your inexperience speaking at the moment. You cannot make noises against the established systems
Me: But, the universe also started with a bang. Maybe my style will also become the norm.

Climax, Polite exchanges, Tea time, back to work.

Exeunt

Well, I was not looking to redefine definitions. Neither was I trying to rebel. I was just curious; about judgements and reviews. About how mentalities can create an impasse. About how a single question can change one's life forever.

P.S@ KBC: Nothing changed man!

Thought for the day:

Life's a bitch. So, be a dog.

Friday, March 16, 2007

Endless Entries


It is actually true. I have loads of things to share. So, there will be loads of entries.


Statutory warning: Individual reflections. May not find flavour with everyone.


1) My astrologer said that I will start writing satire soon. I think he is a funny man.

2) I think the Delhi Metro is a wonderful thing to happen. Since, I take it every day, I have a bagful of experiences and observations to share. But, this in particular still tickles me. I was walking from the Barakhamba platform towards the stairs that go down to the Vishwidyalay platform. Suddenly, this surdie comes running out of nowhere and announcing, "..Hat jao-2..I have a metro to catch..rasta chodo..nahi toh accident ho jayega..."

P.S: E. Sreedharan has publically asked Delhites to behave in the Metro. Please pay heed.

3) Met a friend in the metro. At a point in time, we were very close. Then things went sour. And I assumed and maintained that things could never go back to the same level of comfort. We remained in touch but barely so. When I met him in the metro, things were different. I enjoyed being friends with him just like I had been in the days before. I enjoyed giggling on the silliest of things. Guess, not many people become special. If some do, trivial issues should not split them.

4) Co-incidences happen. And they make you smile. After I changed my metro at Kashmere Gate, I msged my friend how it had been nice to meet him. he had already sent me the same thing! And by this time, Max was already messaging me, on a different topic, that I could write a book called Con-incidence when i grow old.

5) You do not have to read about Greek tragedies only through Homer. Days on your own life can resemble one. Whereas I went home smiling due to the 'surdie-uncle-in-the-metro', my day had started on a cheery note, gone on to a hurt one, culminated ultimately in the sourest of ones in office and finally ended on a cheery one!

6) Close friends need 'personal space'. A concept still lost on me, after hours of deliberating with them amongst much yelling, fist using, punches and expletives.

7) In spite of all this, I still enjoy the moments spent with them. when the monkey peed on Max, when jigyz, pragya, max and mervs would not let me capture the beautiful leaf in Law Fac.

Leafing alone thrugh life....

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Jokes apart

Days should begin on a cheerful note. Mine did.

Read this on a friend's orkut profile.

Name: Mervyn Samuel George
State: Solid

:-)
Me, Mervs and max

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

The coy and the dangerous. And I hate them...

In life, well in office life at least, you will find three basic types of people. The first type are the ones who help you and might eventually become your friends (mind you, this species may very well go up the extinct list). The second are those that are trying to screw you. And the third ones are those that screw your happiness.

Today, a colleague of mine, suddenly made the transition from the first to the third category. In a few seconds, in a spate of words. And obviously, in a rush of sour vibes and hurt feelings. Not hers, but mine.

People think or at least assume that if you are good to them, they can walk all over you. Why do people need to push a peer down to escalate themselves? It is quite surprising actually how colleagues peep, prod and inquire into every little sound and scene that happens in my life.

We might share the same cubicle honey, but that is where it stops.

My boss is raisng her pitch. She is still in the first category. Lets wait for the transition.

Off for another few hours of 'word'ly wars...
Closed lashes hide a world
Of turmoil, of images and flashing memories
Of joyous celebrations and of hidden dreams.
In a moment, when the lid is snapped shut
colours and visuals vanish in a cave of darkness
Only to be replaced by swirls of color,
Of turmoil, of images and flashing memories
Of joyous celebrations and hidden dreams.
Interesting thought: Order is for idiots, geniuses can handle chaos.