Back to blog!

Well, I had a fine weekend with many happenings.. Had been to Vijaywada on Saturday to attend Dutt sister's marriage. The actual venue was at Eluru, an hour's drive from Vijaywada. It was Tarr and me from here and Bhargava and Madhu joined us later in Eluru. The marriage went on well and we caught up some nice pals to hang around. Goes without saying, still, the food was great! Typical Andhra meals inclusive of ripe mangoes and hot chilli fries.. My round belly just wasn't sufficient to accommodate the square meal. The pre-lunch talk we had regarding girls, love and marriage was an enlightening one I would say! We drove back to Vjwada later, after the function was over. The plan was to first visit Kanaka Durga temple situated on the hill along the banks of river Krishna. We took a Devasthanam bus to climb up the hill (well, it wasn't as high as we thought to be.. Just a couple of kilometers from the ground along the winding road would take us to the doors of the temple.) It was an exotic sight, as we climbed up, to watch the vast stretches of the river (actually the dry river bed I must say!) and the majestic Barrage built across its course. We decided that we would recourse to walking when we climb down. We had a good darshan of the Goddess, clad in golden jewels and cast yellow with turmeric paste. It was a divine feast! The evening was pleasant when we entered the temple; while we came out it was raining heavily, so we dropped the plan of pleasure walk and took an auto. Second part of the plan, we headed straight to a movie theater. Watching a movie in a language that I don't understand is something I haven't tried yet. I know Tamil, English and Hindi, but not more than a single word in Telugu. Anyway decided to try out after Bhargav and Madhu promised to act as translators.. After hunting a few theaters, we settled for Malleswari, starring Venkatesh opposite Katrina Kaif. Katrina kept us enthralled with the her beauty and smile that we barely winked during the show. After the movie, it was time for Bhargav and Madhu to depart by Howrah Mail. (which incidentally was later changed to Sarkar Express.. Confused? Bet you are! I would very much like to dedicate a post titled 'From Appa Rao to Howrah Mail' if Bhargav gives me his Okay, anyway thats a different story!) Tarr and self had dinner at the Comesum and boarded the train at 12:30 am. Reached Chennai safe on Sunday at 7:30. Cleaned up my room. Started to prepare lunch so that I can boast about my culinary skills when my parents come..( I did receive pats on my back from mom, for the Baindi Curry I made!) Went to Aruna's marriage reception that evening and mom and dad left soon after that. Came home tired and slept. It was Vijayanand bro's marriage on Monday morning that was on schedule. On the whole this weekend I was blessed with lots of food and joyous moments! And now back to office.. that's an irony! Cheers!

As of now,

• Procrastination rules my life! So many tasks I have accumulated over this week, from washing my clothes to opening a bank account.. It'll be difficult to manage anymore with so many essential chores in pending!
• My parents are coming to Chennai this weekend. Hence I am cleaning up my room to give it convincing, if not impressive looks!
• My appetite is waning away nowadays..Wish to hog good food, but end up finishing with just half a plate!
• Will be going to Vijaywada for Raghava Dutt's sis' marriage. Leaving tomorrow night and will be back in city on Sunday.
• LOTR has taken the back seat. Book is great, but going slow due to so many other things that demand my attention now. Frodo and Sam have just tamed Smeagol.. Still a few hundred pages to finish the book!

Cheers!

Now it's Bad Sunday!

Can you guess how bad an evening can turn out to be for someone as good as me? Well read ahead..
 
I slept late till 3:30 in the evening. I had to take the bus to Chennai at 4:30pm and the packing still remained  uninitiated. Still wavering in half-slumber, stuffed up things into my bag, and left for the bus terminus at 4:10 PM. Senthil and Ganesh were waiting at the stop and Kala also joined us. 
 
Senthil and I always prefer PT&TDC bus to the more frequent RTC transport. One reason was the comfort that the seats in PT&TDC offer and the other was that it cruises the distance almost an hour earlier than other transport. No reservations with PTTDC implied that you should fight through to secure your seat as soon as the bus enters the terminus. It was a big fight yesterday and I managed to catch a double seater towards the rear. Just then the man sitting in the next seat claimed that he had already reserved it, pointing to the hankie that was lying in the corner of my seat. He was already occupying a double-seat and wanted me to vacate this one too. Told him I can't leave. He started with threats and later resorted to whining.. I couldn't help it! I held firm. He posed to be very angry and tried pull the other person who was sitting near into the issue. Go to Hell, I told him. Then Kala sat beside me. Ganesh and Senthil too were seated comfortably. 
 
I would always bid for a window seat facing the East. Watching the Bay of Bengal and the scenery that decorates its shores while traveling along East Coast Road is my favorite pastime. But this time I was sitting near the window towards the West where the sun was already burning my skin black. Badly wanted the bus to start off soon so that I could get some breeze to chill me out. The bus was scheduled to leave by 5:00 and it was already 5:15. Suddenly people in the front seats started to get down murmuring. What was wrong? I couldn't guess. Came to know that the driver hasn't turned up and the bus wouldn't leave until 8:00 PM when the next driver was supposed to come. All this fight just for getting down? Bad!
 
Well, every other bus was on reservation and we had to wait for another 30 minutes to catch a bus that plies through the GST (Grand Southern Trunk). Unlike the ECR, this road is in a very bad shape as it is now being expanded into a 4-way lane. The road is very dusty and it runs zigzag for more than half the way. But, no other go.. Kala consoled me saying it was at least a pleasant evening and it wasn't raining like the previous week when it was truly worse. I cheered up, but that wouldn't be for long. It started raining within an hour and bus was leaking along the sides. Water was dripping over my shoulders. The driver put off the lights inside and I couldn't read the magazine I bought. I was sitting with my bones shivering..

Meanwhile Ganesh was fiddling with his mobile's security setting and messed up something. His SIM was blocked. He asked for my SIM card to check if something was wrong with his handset. As you would now guess, he messed up again and ended blocking my SIM too! It was not my day! 
 
Slipped into deep sleep later. Woke up just minutes before my stop was due. Got down the bus and tried to take an auto. Ganesh went on to get his bike at the Moffusil Bus Terminus while Senthil me were going home direct. Kala too took an auto to her home. At last everything was coming to an end. Not yet! Well, the episode was completed by the autowala, who would only too gladly come to my place for just 25 bucks, would not even look upon us for anything less than 40 bucks. Agreed for Rs.40 and reached home. 
 
Did I say that was last? Hold on my friend, I have more...  Only on reaching home did we realize that neither of us had the key. Sam was supposed to be at home, but he ditched us and came over to Pondicherry without letting us know. We had to wait for Ganesh. We ate the bread (It too was too stale, must be months old!) sitting on the stairs. Ganesh, the Key-bearer, came an hour later and escorted us inside. Well, It was just not my day! 
 
At last I caught on sleep the moment I put my head on the pillow, without lending myself to anything more that was waiting to come through that night. I had a pleasant sleep! At least that..
 

Invitation Uninvited

I was seeing off Vj at the gate when an old gentleman and his wife came in. He asked me if 'dad' was at home. I said yes and took them inside. Dad was watching TV in the hall and he took over when they came in, while I went in to wake up mom. They had come to invite us for their son's marriage. As per tradition, the invitation was presented in a silver thaali along with beetle leaves, flowers and sindoor. Then they inquired about the children (that's me and my bro). They prepared to leave but my mom insisted that they should have some coffee at least. She went into the kitchen go get them some drink and dad followed her. He asked mom who they were. Mom stared back a minute and said -'I thought they were one of your connections?'. Hmmm..The drama was unfolding.

Dad came back to the hall. He introduced himself by his name and asked if they had intended to meet him. The old couple were taken aback a little. They had come to meet their son's friend (who was actually living two doors away!) and were by mistake, guided to our home instead. Smile crept into everyone's face as they understood what had happened.

We inquired and showed them the right house. They thanked for the hospitality and said that the invitation extended was still open and they would be glad to have us for the function. Very strange event it was that one wouldn't expect it on an otherwise normal day!

Rumination

   What makes Man to settle down for something less than what he is capable of? What stops him from delivering his best? What is it that makes him accept a lower standard of life, a meaner code of morality? How is it that he is aware of his power and at the same time act indolent? What justice does he meets out to himself by doing so? How many Men sincerely strive for their Happiness? Happiness - Is it renouncing one's ability, acting ignorant of one's responsibilty and surrendering oneself to the pleasure dictated by his senses of touch, taste, smell and sound? What is served to his unique sense of Mind - his thought process and intelligence? Aren't they his most powerful and defining capacities? Isn't it true that one must set in pursuit of this power and not satiate himself until the attainment?

I need answers...

Sleep Well

Am wearing a sleepy face from the morning. Voice has not yet been restored as I didn't faithfully take any of the treatments advised to me. Took a couple of tablets yesterday and the hangover still persists! Sitting in my cabin, glaring at the desktop minutes together and forgetting what work I have been doing before... That's how the day moves today! Resorted to some music to keep me awake but that didn't help much. Two cups of Coffee - No! That wasn't fruitful either. I have given up and am surrendering myself into the lap of Morpheus. Wish me sweet dreams!

Adios!

Happy B'day to You!

Known by the many aliases - Vram, Vinji, Ramji, Bhimboy and a couple of other nicknames quite indelicate to put down, Vinayakaram is the man of 'action' among the Famous Five (We ourselves proclaim so- Tarr, Siva, Vj, Vram and Myself). The title was bestowed by a lecturer himself (remember Vinayak, Advanced Communication lab, by Mr.Swaminathan in the presence of Mr.LN) though in a completely different context.

The only son of wonderful parents, he's an eloquent speaker (rated as the Best Orator of PEC), excellent mimicker (hence known as Dolby boy!), fun & food loving and an easy going personality. His Jurassic Effects and 'hip'-hops are very much famous through out the college. He used to jog regularly and compensate for the lost energy from others plates in the canteen. Keeps himself in right balance!!

He was the favorite kid in the group; we enjoyed great liberty in teasing and annoying him at our will and he too didn't mind it much! His Achilles heel was the extreme sensitivity to tickling. A gentle poke into his hip with your finger would make him jump to the heavens cursing all. A look alike of Sankar Mahadevan, as he claims to be, Vram ever tries to sport an french goatie. But alas! His mush never flows down deep enough to meet the hairy island on his chin.

We have had great time together for the last four years in college. The shared lunches, frequent feuds, chase-around in the class room, late night combined studies, Lab adventures, and everything else.. Those were sweet old days!

One day during our last semester - Mr.Sivaradje, lecturer for Computer Networks course was distributing the test papers. Cool person he was that he allowed mischief and fun to some extent in the class. We too gladly made use of it. We clapped for every person who flunked in the test. When the turn came to Sam, the class rep. to collect his papers, the last bench, Vram inclusive, went on a Mexican Wave, waving their arms in succession. So engrossed was Vram in the act with his eyes closed, that he did not notice his mates settling down on an unexpected glance from Mr. Sivaraj towards them. Poor lad's solitary display of sit-stand with arms thrown in the air drew laughter bursting from everyone in the class room.

Many such events each of us have displayed at one time or the other. We made a great gang during a very short time...
Today the marvellous buddy celebrates his 22 birthday! And this post is dedicated to him! Now put up in Gurgaon, he must be badly missing the birthday bums and we too miss his generous treat.
Vinayak, May everyday in your life be as special as this day! Wish you a memorable birthday da!

Good Sunday

It was long awaited for and at last, our (Suja, Diana, Arvind, Vijay and Myself) get-together finally materialized. Yesterday turned out to be much more fun filled and rejoicing than what I had expected it to be. The week before was marked by a fierce struggle to choose a movie of everyone's choice. We guys opted for a Tamil movie and the girls sided for a Hindi film. Arvind took up the task of settling on a compromise and booking the tickets.. We posed a stiff stand against the girls choice (their nomination was Mein Hoon Na) but, under the table, decided not to upset them! (Boys are generous, always! ;-))The plot was set to delude the girls into the theater, convincing them to watch a Tamil movie - being the choice of the majority and then surprise them with their own pick in the end.

The show was at 2:30pm, Satyam complex. I picked up Arvind from his home and came to the theatre some 15 minutes late (as Diana said - as usual!). Vijay was waiting with them. Told the ladies that tickets have been reserved for Perazhagan, a senti Tamil movie that was screened in the same complex, featuring Surya, the actor in the dual roles of a handicapped and a boxer. One must see the fury that lit in the eyes of Di and Suj! Later that waned away into complaints and grumbling! 'Begged' them not to 'upset' the joy in watching movie and bear with us..

With the loads of Popcorns and Pepsi cans we drowned into the crowd moving towards the entrance. Just then something unexpected happened. Diana caught sight of one of her colleagues..

After usual Hi's and hugs, the conversation went like this:
Di: What movie?
Col: Mein Hoon Na.. You?
Di: Ahh! Perazhagan.. (with a sigh of indifference!)
Col: Why?(a surprised look!)
Di (pointing to Tarr): This stupid booked the tickets for that idiotic movie..
(Tarr poses with his charismatic smile as if receiving a compliment!)
The colleague carried an empathetic look towards Di and said: Oh o! But why are you in THIS queue then?

We sensed the danger, and tried to push everyone inside the hall, but Suja detected our mischief and asked - "Yei, tell me what movie is this?". We maintained that it was Perazhgan. She darted straight to the ticket collector and asked -"sir enna movie ithu?" "Mein Hoon na maa"- he replied. She turned back and emptied half the cone of popcorn on Tarr's head.. With heavy heart (on wasted corn, ofkorse!), we stepped in.

Well, it would take another entry this long to describe all the 'lootis' we did all the while.. but it was great. Tarr's absorption into the movie unaware of what is going on, until I translate things to him ( poor bloke doesn't know Hindi yet :-( ), our comments and claps, the female duo's Dont-Embarrass-Us stares.. IT WAS FUN!! Then off to Tarr's treat at Gangotri - Di's choice for Chaat food.. Followed by some intellectual talk until the rain started pouring..

And this guy who came to the shelter we were hiding under, took out his mobile and started what one would call 'an empty conversation' to show off his style of speak to impress the ladies of our company.. I bet these girls weren't very impressed.. The duo's comment and mocking of that fellow's talk into our ears and their 'bechara-kaheenka' look sported towards him..ha ha! A smile breaks apart my lips even as I type this!! With heavy heart and due to heavy rain, we called it a day finally and left home.

Thanks Tarr! You gave us a memorable day!

I had to drive in the rain with no hood to cover. The roads on my way back were completely flooded. At some places water level was more than one foot above the road.. Geared my way across the rivers and seas to reach home. Parked my bike; woke up the watchman by my loud 'Hachooom'! That was the sign of impending cold that I will have to bear from the day's night!!

When I hurried down to take my bike today morning, I was stunned by the look of my majestic WIND125. So clean was it as if spawned out of the factory just the minute before. Thanks O Varuna! the Lord of Rains, for the free water wash!

Of Resolution and Memory

An year long resolve for morning walks and exercises is slowly showing up. After many start-and-abandon trials, and finally a week of 'Later da' and 'let's start tomorrow' s, Sam and I set out today. Started with a walk, a few dumbbell curls and finished with skipping. But being the sort of lazybone that I am, I really wonder if this will be kept on for a few more days, let alone months. He he!

Have I told you about Nilavanism - that I display at times, much to my own embarrassment? This was one: The other day in the library, I was looking around the shelves, unable settle on a title. The librarian suggested that I could read Code to Zero by Ken Follett. Found the novel interesting in the start, but the story line seemed to be predictable. Twenty pages on and predictability turned to a sort of de javu. It took 40 more pages before I realised that I should have already read it before. Perplexed, I turned to the issue page and found that the book has been issued for the second time to the a/c no. at the bottom (that's mine), after a gap of 4 months. Cursed my memory and continued to finish the novel anyway. I still couldn't fathom such a breach of memory!

Won't it be a good idea to jot down the books that I read, to supplement my poor memory? Well, I do it right away..

Ayn Rand:
Fountain Head (First novel I started with),We the living, Atlas Shrugged


Jeffrey Archer:
Kane and Abel, The Fourth Estate,Eleventh Commandment,
Shall We Tell the President,Matter of Honor

Isaac Asimov:
Prelude to Foundation, Forward the Foundation, Foundation,
Foundation and Empire, Second Foundation, Foundation's Edge,
I - Robot, Naked Sun

Michael Crichton:
Lost World, Jurassic Park, Disclosure, Eaters of the Dead,
Congo, Airframe, Prey, Time Line,Andromeda Strain

P.G. Wodehouse
The Inimitable Jeeves, Thank you, Jeeves
Jeeves in the offing, The Code of the Woosters

Others
Code to zero (Ken Follett)
Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)

And a few more that I have forgotten.. :-P

Life

Well its a journey n not a destination..

Pritam's blog carries this sentence on its header.. Apart from Gringoz, couple of forwards and this entry in Coffee Talk had the mention of that thought today. This seems to be a small coincidence! But still, it is one truth which many forget through the course of lifetime and realize it when all is over. It is like sacrificing your sleep for the search of a pillow. Is that a good analogy? Never mind if it is not, but that conveys the same foolishness on a lower scale. Neither Life is a destination, nor is Happiness the treasure hidden in that terminus.

I personally believe that happiness, or to that matter any emotion, is non-absolute. You will never taste felicity if you choose not to: you shall find it unbounded in everything that comes your way if the choice is otherwise. As the age old saying goes - Life is what YOU define it to be!

Nice forward it was, I thought I would blog it. Here it goes..

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,"hi"
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

Bon Voyage!

Rendered Speechless!

The chain of events that happened couple of days ago..
- Chose to drive despite cloudy weather
- Came to office fully drenched
- Tried to blot off using tissue papers
- Still wet, sat in my cabin shivering
- Started to sneeze from very next hour
- Cold, headache and drowsiness: everything followed then.

To add to all that, it's my voice.... I have been talking in scores of tones since yesterday and it's still worse now. My voice box has gone on strike and all I get out when I try to speak is just air! Should I try to raise my voice, cacophony like that of a violin screeching at the hands of a novice learner fills the ears. So I have taken to silence today and only whisper if situation demands. Should I tell you about the mystical look one of the PM carried when he saw me talking (read whispering) to my friend, glancing at him? I felt embarrassed a bit. Looked like I was telling her something evil about him. Murphy's law still holds indisputable I would say!

Waiting for return to normalcy.

Late to office

I was desperate to start off another novel, after my much prolonged read of Atlas Shrugged. I have been pleading Sam, my roomie, for his copy of Lord Of The Rings for sometime now, but in vain. Yesterday, as I turned up to the library to get my mind off the blockade after a nice lunch, I found a copy lying on the table I was heading to, just waiting for me to be picked up. Back at home, I started reading it right away canceling all my day's chores. I had left almost 150 pages behind, before I rushed to my bath today morning.. It was getting late to the office. It was very late indeed, by the standards of my normal days when I usually get on my bike at around 9:00 am. Today I dragged on till 10:15 before I pushed off.

Off the Track

I feel I am living in a rut. It’s stagnation and I don't seem to mind it! I am letting the waves drag me to the depth and I will wait till I cannot breath before I fight this back. Really, I don't mind it.. On the course, I ignore those things that lay on my path which I held, then, as precious; My favorite song fails to wake me up from my slumber; Dullness of failure seem to be more soothing than the coruscation of attainment. It was never like this before and all this looks strange!

But things must change for good.. Let me get my spirits back, and the peace I had before. Let me enjoy the drizzling days, let me laugh for the silliest jokes. I now realize - I should have smiled back at the roadside kid; I should have glanced back at the beautiful girl whom I got by on the road; I should have listened to the song on FM to the end before I hurried to the office. After all it's my dearest life that I need to spare!

Mmm....

Why should I....

Life is a great experience. Every moment of it accounts for, as it constantly adds up values and memories which accompany us in the long journey. This blog is a kind of travelogue that tracks events and people I come across, the like-s and dislike-s, the pleasure-s and pain-s, the good-s and bad-s, and everything else that adds shades and contours to the canvas of my life. It's just to remember who you were, when you chose to look back at yourself sometime ahead in future!