sick weak/week/year end

It had to be after I read A's post on "take care of yourself."
Don't remember the last time I was lying on a bed the whole damn day with only meal breaks in between. With nothing to do, the ceiling stretched itself like a canvas stretched across to flip images of 07 like in coverflow, though not in a very pleasant way, with my nose working overtime and tears that were neither from a state of extreme joy or sadness.

Of paths chosen, of decisions taken that deserve bravery awards, of actions that make me pat myself on the back, of thoughtless and stupid actions that bring a smile to my face, of action less weekends including this one, of super cool outings, of a healthy year, a thousand e-mails, a handful of interviews, and memorable conversations. There is a lot more, but not worth putting down at this point.

The coming year has 366 days. Wonder will that one extra special day, really make all the difference :)

blogger vs wordpress

It is always good when you are presented with an alternate. Else you would never know that things can really get better. I think I will soon make a choice.

Up next

Ok Christmas over
Next please

Better

One of the better "service" call (via SMS)
redbus.in is being covered by ETV Kannada at 8pm today.
We hope that you will watch the show. Thank you for your patronage.
Sorry to disturb you on a Sunday.

Makes stuff so simple and non irritating, rather than the usual, Sir we would like to offer you....blah blah blah

You and I

So different yet so similar
We were pretty much the same
You were blue, I was gold

You used oil, I used water
You rode an Atlas me a Hercules

Our letters slanted the same way
Our inks matched, after once you said Violet is here to stay
Our pencils matched too
So did our pens, from Flair to Hero

Grade 8 put me in D and you in C
Coz I chose something and you opted NCC
I do remember we three in 11th C
After that we never did see

Our churches were across the road
And the road has stretched between our offices too
Today when I saw you, you weren't a lot different
We started so similar yet ended so different

For Gauropop....

Feliz Navidad

I'll be home for Christmas
I'll be home just in time
I can't wait 'till I see you
Feel your heart next to mine
........

I'll be home for Christmas
I'll be home Christmas time
When you wait Christmas morning
I'll be there by your side......

perfectly fits into my current situation :)
because of an unfortunate event though...
Excerpts from "Christmas with Boney M" " I'll be home for Christmas"

users say, "

1. Life is only as good as you want it to be
2. I speak, I listen, I imagine, I dream. These define who I am, define all the irregularities and imperfections that are ME.

a sunset

Amidst two extreme realities, one with an iphone and one with a "hare ram" on his lips.
At a dizzying height, I took a flight. A mate once said, "Why don't you just book a flight?"
And I had muttered to myself,"Your father pays for yours right?"

DELAYED read the display. I smiled to myself and said, "I know that". But if not for the wait, I would have missed the sunset and the windows' little dance and sway. People were grumbling and mumbling and I was fumbling. The prayer man offered his help while the phone man showed a little dissent. Each of them flaunted in their own way. Both made conversations. One with the supernatural and one with the pseudo-natural. Along came a sadhu baba and asked the phone man "What is life without a mobile?" Next when I saw him pile up his luggage at the conveyor belt, felt like asking him "What is life because of people like you?" The prayer man was a little generous and sensed my need to connect with the view, which looked so much like one of the satellite maps. His generosity ended there. He would occasionally move back allowing me to have a look and then when he thought I had had enough, would give me a look that said, "Huh, bloody fresher". It pays to act with confidence even with half the knowledge. I acted on impulse and had decided I won't care what others think. And it paid off quite well. I didn't go too wrong. On another journey, bored of being asked if I was a student, just to see the reaction, I said "No". All conversation ended there. Nice idea if you aren't really interested to talk to an aunty, who thinks because you are a student, you wouldn't mind giving her your window seat. What goes around doesn't always come around, well, maybe it will. Anyway I wasn't going to ask prayer man for the window.
He probably would have killed me.

Towards the end, phone man was quite adamant that the plane be parked, only then would he move out of his seat. While prayer man was hell bent on finding his way past me and phone man. Then followed a small verbal duel which I quite enjoyed. Phone man said, "Where do you think you are going?" Prayer man said "Why, do you intend to go somewhere else?".....and blah blah blah. It was just like a flying bus. In between, lunch was served with a lot of politeness and care, which one of the passengers didn't think was great. He decided to call the host with a click of his fingers which the host obviously didn't particularly enjoy. I don't understand what is more embarrassing. To serve or to be served. Another host dropped a half finished meal in the aisle, which the hostess cleaned with almost home like dedication. Everyone has a job to do. It's the way you do it that matters.

Finally at the exit phone man was asked how did he find the service. He had to act himself. He said, "Generally bad". My turn. I could only manage a smile. Maybe next time I said to myself. Climbing down the stairs I knew a little about what "Baking your cake, and eating it too" meant.

Quite liked this one

You have two ears and one mouth.
Remember to use them more or less in that proportion.

Christened !!

inspired by "movingfingers"
Sand took me back to one of my first nicknames.....wonder how it was related
But are nicknames supposed to be related anyway? Most of mine start with the soft and curvy S, an alphabet I hardly like. I like 'A' and for some strange reason, I used to carry a key chain with an A in my graduation days. Well, my friend gave me a nick with a Z.....not very far from A, is it? Oh yeah, I did have one with A, but it doesn't really qualify for a nick....it was "Ahmednagar"

sannya (coz sunny was same 'ol same 'ol)
sannadya (sunny grotesque)
sandy (no clue where that came from)
sunday (hahaha)
nelson (it was actually major anthony nelson...the whole thing)
zunil (one of my favourites)
nilsu (by the above author)
su-nile
linus (like linus leumas....i used to consider naming my studio that)

sam bhai (by Y bhai)
sam (if i don't say that on phone some of them act strange)
samdya (when in need :)
sam boy (usually when something nice came up)
samda (used rarely)
fr. samuel (father)
sunya, sai-mu-al (written in devnagari...marathi influence)
sammy, swamy (samuel was just too difficult)
santulay > santulam > santul (no relevance whatsoever....it's special)
sam-ya

semuel (my login...g style)
sun sunio
sunio (PG graphics)
saam veil (chennai version)
sameo (probably didn't know the name)
subi (for a secondnamesake)
pinchu (for one mistake)
samu (could have been more creative)
mighty mouse, F9 (the A-305s)
man (courtesy other men)
sunilsamuel (always said together...quickly...with a lisp)
well, back to square one....almost

I like odd ^

in reverse chronological order

3A-53A
7th
CA/2005/35453
6202053
5202052
3202053
9822446549 (53)
1202057
MH-16-W-1115
52
35
3
1

Footprints in sand...

Swirls and twirls and lines and dashes,
Made me run in mud and in the ashes,
All these made up the walks in new shoes
To the school and back, I loved my new shoes

I kept looking back for my footprints in sand...
Kept comparing them to my sister's at hand
I looked for them on my way back
But layers of sand had covered them back

My new shoes are made up of three straight lines,
But sadly they hardly leave a twirl or a line
I walked to the office, the day went fine
I forgot looking back for my footprints in time...

From "Today's big hits"

I think I need a sunrise
I'm tired of sunsets

Weekends gone by

These are straight, but

this is just too wound up......

Jobs again

"I do, what I can't say"

This day

Writing the "trails" post took me back to the trails of another escapade......
This day that year......."push" your mind a little....
Dedicated to A,A,M,T :)

Fall..if you have to

Sri today said,
"If it seems that you have done everything right in your life,
then probably you haven't done anything new"

I re-quote Steve Jobs,
"We are here to make a dent in the Universe, otherwise, why even be here"

Trails

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten, yeah


Sorry, can't get over the song.
But it sure was an inspiration to make that trip into the hills where people go in huge groups to seek solitude and get some so called fresh air in their lungs. I don't really believe it happens that way. The most unplanned trip for me atleast. Was left with nothing to wear but the branded Y! t-shirt which was already worn "two times" before (that's for you A), a sweater (thankfully) and the other basics which I don't think anyone would be interested in reading. Stayed over at "the" place which A calls Hotel California, and then got up atleast twice in a confused state to check time and ensure that I didn't miss the bus. Happens with me, only when the prospects are exciting enough. Up at 6, I reached the pick up point on time, only to realise I was far from being picked, allowing me enough time for an early morning "tea" on the roadside. My cellphone was dying, so I kept memorizing P's number just in case it gave up on me which it eventually did. I realized I'm bad at that too. The idea of being left out in the cold on a weekend morning was bad, more so since I had already woken up early.

Once on the bus, it was catch up time with breakfast providing an ideal time for exchange of status reports and for some to comment on a few local dialects and traditions. Destination 1 was reached with ease with a pit stop for lunch. Rain announced itself and off we hopped into the bus, with plans of the summit looking grim. Reached base camp amidst rain and clouds. Finally the brave few decided to just go out and make the climb and eventually everyone joined in. Not that it was an uncharted trail but it seemed desolate. But worth it was. Somewhere briefly I drifted away from everyone else and thought my mind was audible to me and even a whisper seemed like a shout. I could hear myself breathe. The "ting ting" of cowbells coming from the cloud laden hilltop took me a few years back in time, but I was back in a second when I heard familiar voices which seemed quite recent. We decided to spoil the silence a bit by doing the 1..2...3....oooooo to hear the valley echo back in its full glory. Done with almost 2/3 of the climb...the thought of getting back to the waiting bus made us change our minds and retreat back. Couldn't actually savour the moment, and it was like just there and back. Of course, then it was picture time...how can that not be? But as a few of the unenthusiastic, unintersted discussed other things that eyes could see, the trigger happy carried on.

Coffee at the base camp and a might-fall-off-the-cliff-anytime journey took us to what looked like a perfect setting for a typical movie where friends go out for a trip and in the night one by one all of them go missing. Well, we had our hero-heroine with us who would eventually crack the mystery ;) No power made the otherwise decent cottage look haunted and did we have a choice? Dinner was a quickie in the restaurant on the upper level of the rugged terrain. Settled into the 2 rooms quite snugly we prepared ourselves for the night ahead, not before gathering in the central room. Talks were brief and mostly bordered around issues, situations and people who were not present.

Morning was unusually early and surprisingly everyone was up to the call. Restaurant said no breakfast till 830, but not to be deterred by that we decided to walk across to the non-existent Z-point. What seemed like an enormous walk, got only better with the clouds playing hide and seek along the road which treacherously reduced in width as it went on. I enjoyed watching everyone follow the trail from a higher level. As we scaled greater heights and finally reached the top, a serene sea of clouds seemed to form right below our eyes making each one almost wish they could board the clouds for a joyride. A few of the adventurous ones went that extra mile to the cliff which involved a little climbing off the rocks. I wouldn't call it showing off, but it was good fun to be there. The walk back was, or seemed quite quick and we were back at the bus. Whatever happened after that isn't quite worth the record. And yes the climb to and from Z point also brought with it a lot of leech adventures. I felt "smart" deep inside for having opted for shoes, until one of them decided to drive back with me to Bangalore in my shoe. I was the last victim. One for the road.

Uncle Sam

Feel like 26 today
Was called an uncle yesterday
The kids don't bother
They are at play
For them it's just another day

B2B

Close to a month in B and a bagful of stuff already. Well, literally too
After having lived on the edge for the past few months, few things have suddenly started having more meaning to them than I can think of. Like getting up at 630 in the morning, feeling the not-yet-winter cold breeze here, trying to help cook, the need for a place to stay, thinking of how to spend the weekend fruitfully by doing something or rather anything other than mall walking. Drives to and from the office, though not really drives serve as a pleasant reminder to appreciate what you get, especially the cool breeze unlike A.

After having made the decision of moving to B rather than B, though the period is only 6 months, I wasn't too sure of what I was doing. Not that I am even now. But I've already met a few amazing people, had the best of homemade food and a wonderful time, though I hardly understand what these 8 crazy guys keep talking . All I do is smile and respond when each one of them says "Hi Sam" after I return home everyday. Strange it may be, but somethings are just meant to happen to you. I came to B thinking I would brush up on my mother tongue skills, but have already started learning something else altogether. "Yenaku konjum konjum Taamil teriyu. Though it is romba kashtam as of now. Tamil nalla eriuku". It is similar even on the work front. My first love is a little distant and I might have to two time her for HTML, CSS, indexing and a few other not so PYTs. Meanwhile the "unwritten" song is some sort of an addiction in addition to "boost" and chips at the cafeteria and sambhar at home.

Y! may be far behind G in terms of its innovative powers and simplicity. But when the co-founder of one of the top 5 IT companies to work for, comes for an internal event and is as enthusiastic as the participants, meets them, sees their work and congratulates each and every team member, then it definitely shows a human side of the corporate world. Ok ok I'm not playing an advocate of Y! here, just giving a first hand account.

And now I hear that I might have to shift to another Y! office on the 9th floor of a new building. It is the newest sibling of the Y! family at B. One thing, the view from there is awesome. If it was one thing that could motivate me this has to be it.

Oh btw, I'm leaving home today :(
Thanks for all the laughs, the food and a lovely time
Dedicated to : Anna, Arun, Aaya, Pmk, Ram, Kamti, Savan, Adham, Prabhu.....adaa paavi....2 times!!

Today is where your book begins

Current favourite ;)
Unwritten : Natasha Bedingfield
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH0ZgJXzlkk
http://youtube.com/watch?v=H8N7ihdqvSE
both are equally good

Used to be on my bookmark at Sunday School

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can
And wisdom to know the difference

from orkut

Today's fortune: Your winsome smile will be your sure protection

26th

1st kedgaon, pune
4th bhingar, ahmednagar
6th ahmednagar
19th pune
21st kolhapur
23rd pune
25th ahmedabad
26th bangalore

TH3

The last three months have taught me:
- Life is hell, when you are not doing what you enjoy doing the most
- Sometimes, the last thing you want comes in first, sometimes the first thing you want never comes, sometimes waiting is all you can do
- Somethings are "meant" to happen
- That your inner voice doesn't lie
- That I don't remember the last time I went out in the rain and got wet
- That dishwashing is not that boring
- That "sleepless nights" is not a myth
- That one can easily live without a cellphone, having one doesn't necessarily make things happen
- That to wash meat before cooking requires a lot of willpower
- That if you follow your heart, the best things just happen
- That there is atleast one person in this world who blindly believes in you
- That thinking big is good
- That I am 25 years old and closing in on 26
- That you not are doing what you want to do, but you are part of a plan
- That TV has only a limited number of channels
- That Shah Rukh Khan looks old now
- That cricket watching is the best way to forget everything that I am thinking about
- That shopping is not a stress buster for me
- That caramel custard has made me re-discover genuine love
- That apple services and spares don't come cheap
- You really cannot eat food after seeing a man's head split open on the road
- That you can have dessert before the main course at a wedding
- That I still have to start exercising
- That things happen only when others pray for you
- That expecting to be unspoken yet heard is a myth
- That one should not expect but give
- That distances don't really matter
- Words do

W-O-A

0-1. Ahmednagar, Paulo, India 150-1, Sawantwadi, India win, Mapusa, Porvorim, Landslide,
Mandovi bridge, GPO, Panaji residency, 407, Kala Academy, Kyoorius, short films, GA-03-C-0997, 18th June, Fidalgo, Ritz, Altinho, Dona Paula, waves and lights, Books books, 407
2. Kyoorius, Kala academy, jetty, r a i n, vegetable roll, Neville Brody, sleep, Panjim fish market Rs.4/-, Guava cheese, Cafe central, jetty, GA-08-U-1433, Highland, Baga, Brittos, r a i n, 60kmph, Police, Rs.300/-, 407
3. Kyle Cooper, Ritz, India 60-4, bye, Ceolco Agnelo, England 4-3, 407
4. Bye, 91.9 Indigo, Art park, Miramar, Reliance web world..... :)

*ist

Know the difference between an optimist and a pessimist
A pessimist thinks things couldn't get worse
An optimist thinks they can

*-*

For only when it is dark enough,
you can see stars

WILL

If you have the will, the means will follow
12th August TOI ....Gandhi

Play along

Another cloudy day
It's much better this way
I hear the music with headphones on
The song says "What I've done"

Assuring and gentle, the breeze feels a little cold
The song just changed to "Fields of gold"
Children play, trees sway,
It is a s-a-t-u-r-d-a-y
The weather plays along too
And my screen shows a droplet or two

Time to head indoors
Back to "nothing" chores
It's a beautiful day
And the song says "Shadow of the day"

TIME

What time is it?
What day is it?
Matter it used to
All year through

Then came "may"
When I made hay
June made me sing a wonderful tune
Dreamt of making a good fortune

July flew by
And I asked why?
Movies and pdfs I've had enough
Time for some work, action and stuff
August I hope doesn't go bust
Don't wanna say "In God we trust"

Holiday it is of an extended kind
The second thing that's making me lose my mind

1st anniversary

mac-mac m-a-c m-a-c...mac-mac,
mac-mac m-a-c m-a-c....m-a-a-c m-a-a-c
mac-mac m-a-c mac, mac-mac mac mac
mac-mac mac-mac...maac maac

Read and re-read

Sometimes we don't do things we want to do
so that others don't know that we want to do them

-The Village

Wake me up when September ends

Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
wake me up when september ends

like my fathers come to pass
seven years has gone so fast
wake me up when september ends

here comes the rain again
falling from the stars
drenched in my pain again
becoming who we are

as my memory rests
but never forgets what I lost
wake me up when september ends

Lyrics: Green day

2 down

from the list seeking divine intervention
Now the 3rd and 4rth please.......

Fwd: No subject

And I don't understand why I sleep all day
And I start to complain that there's no rain....

T and C

The fastest runner does not always win the race,
the wisest does not always have food to eat,
time and chance happen to everyone

1 down

Ok, as I type this, one from the list below has found divine favour.
It's raining in Ahmedabad. Very few places would offer a better sight of
the different forms and aspects of rain than NID.
Intensities vary form courtyard to courtyard and zone to zone.

Captivating......
It has left a few branches broken and lots of leaves scattered all around.
Anticipate another job posting on NID job board......

<

Seeking divine intervention for.....
1. Diploma
2. Rain in Ahmedabad
3. For a shooting star wish to come true
4. A few nice things to happen

Transit

Sometimes a few things that happen out of the blue, leave behind or instantly bring back memories in a flash. Like walking down the road to the institute this morning...well late morning, along comes an old uncle, silver hair with a a smart cap, on a good old blue bajaj scooter and offers me a ride to wherever I wanted to go . Wish I knew where I wanted to go. My destination wasn't far so I refused him with a smile and a kind "Thank you". He smiled back and zoomed off to wherever he was headed in style. Quite a man at his age....like some people say "Boys just don't grow up"

Before I could reach the middle gate, despite the scorching Ahmedabad sun, my mind instantly flew back to my school days. I used to walk down to school, since it wasn't too far, but while returning back it used to seem like an endless walk with a bagful of books and a head full of thoughts of what to do next once I'd get home.I used to wish everyday "God please make someone offer me a ride back on their bicycle". It indeed used to happen off and on, but not everyday. The pleasure of being dropped at the gate of the campus where I stayed was enormous. It also created interesting relationships. A few guys who used to drop me strangely never knew my name, nor did I know theirs. Then came my turn to ride a bicycle but suddenly it seemed that there was no one whom I could drop home or give them a ride for a distance. Everyone seemed to have bicycles and most of them would live beyond my house.

This happened during my college days too. Of course, distances were greater, and in fact I had a "lift" friend as well, whom I never talked to in class. She admired my handwriting and came to me for special titles like for portfolios and stuff. That's about it. But most of them used to be ever ready to do a good deed. It's kind of difficult to say, but you are sent the exact sign or thing you need at a moment which may not seem right to you....but someone thinks it is.
I believe in angels!! So probably the silver hair man was one :D

" stars "

Thick dark clouds cover the sky,
The stars that I saw once , seem to have gone by
Heart says they are there, eyes say I don't see...where??
Mind says believe they are there,
Sky says, clouds they are and nothing else
The twinkles will be back what else...

@

This @ designed as part of my typeface family, is dedicated to Mr.@@

someday a sunday

Didn't feel like looking back but I did,
An edifice that stood there so splendid
Witness to a hundred wishes,
Shelter to a hundred prayers

Will I ever come back?
Walk along and sit at the back
Doze off a little in between the wise words,
And say my little prayers with a few more words

good morning!!

It is not very often that I wake up with a smile on my
face early in the morning.
Well today is a bit different...... :)
Now why do I want to believe in dreams .......?

**shooting star**

Saw a shooting star last night
Closed my eyes for a moment and thought
What now should I ask?
Thought I had everything I want
"But then again", I thought

Didn't know what to ask
I'd already played my part
Did exactly what I had thought

Shooting stars they might be
Stars and charms are not for me
Earlier it was about destiny
But now is it serendipity??

Now treetops...

Azadirakhta Indica, Delonix regia, Babul, and even Plumeria alba (better known as neem, gulmohur, babool and "chafa"). Some of the trees which I could differentiate as a kid. A few friends of mine in the otherwise lonely neighbourhood.They were vital to my leisure as well as work activities. Apart from their usual usage as a medium to reach something like roofs etc., a few served as ideal getaways from the ground for those special reading sessions and wandering thoughts.I knew exactly how to climb each one of them, the smoothness or coarseness of the bark, the natural resting points for feet and the vital gripping areas. But I got to know all this not before a small fall or bruised feet/legs from each one of them.

A few of them, especially the neem was a personal favourite, beacuse of the ease of ascent. It made me explore and reach dizzying heights and perform some gravity defying stunts, challenging squirrels and chameleons and chance meetings with other creepy crawlies. Looking at the trees around here makes me wonder, when was the last time i actually climbed a tree and had a fall, without any care or fear? They seem like unconquered and uncharted territories.

But fortunately, there is still that need of a quest, a pursuit, a journey.........that keeps one going on and on

QWERTY

qwertyuiop
asdfghjkl
zxcvbnm,.
:) :( ;)
thank you....you're welcome....
That's all I did today

Speak

Exactly how much does one need to speak?
Exactly what does one need to speak?
Exactly whom does one need to speak to?
Exactly why does one need to speak?

"should"

Everyone seems to have a perfectly clear idea about how the other person should lead his life

Come undone.....

May 2005 - May 2007

B-217 to A-217
In moving from point B to A.....what has transpired is hard to put into words.....

Been there done that ;)

viewports

"We're here to make a dent in the universe....otherwise why even be here"
Steve Jobs CEO Apple Inc.

"Not everyone is meant to make a difference. But for me, the choice to lead an ordinary life is no longer an option"
spiderman

Rooftops

Yeah rooftops have been a major "playzone" in my growing up years......and the ones I'm referring to here, are not the flat concrete rooftops , but the sloping mangalore tiled roofs and the ones with curved tiles (i forget the name).

There were different purposes for which I had set my feet on them. Well the first "official" time I did so was to hang up the Christmas star over our house rooftop, where the two slopes met. It was almost like I was presented with the forbidden fruit. Then on, I went on to my own exploits and conquests. Okay it's really hard to describe it here, but the roof of our house was connected to a hostel block and to the Director's bungalow. So it was like a substantial area to cover, with tree branches falling over it and lots of levels to tackle. And to reach the roof of our house I had to take the longer route via the director's bungalow to obviously avoid my parents seeing their son climbing up and walking on a roof to do silly things like plucking berries from the tree (this was on the rear side of the hostel), kite conquests, retrieving plastic balls that would get stuck up in the branches of huge neem trees that covered the roof and a few other "missions".
Sometimes I would climb up on the roof and sit hidden in the shade and camouflage of a tree and look at my school building which was visible in the vicinity, or admire the church tower within the school campus and while away the afternoon.

At other times, it almost used to be like a military mission without any navigator or comrade to help me. I knew the directions and the ways of evading people on the ground to the T. It demanded superb concentration skills and reflexes; keeping an eye on the watchman, so that he wouldn't spot me on the roof, bending down and moving across areas that were in direct cone of vision of our house, keeping out of the vision of the people in the director's bungalow area (of course even his rooftop wasn't left unexplored) All this whilst moving on the slope of the roof which was at a considerable angle, with the treacherous and slippery mangalore tiles. Whoever said "practice makes a man perfect" couldn't have been more apt.

I remember this one moment...sometime in May. It had rained the last night I think, and the next day evening I was on the roof to get a kite stuck in one of the trees that was approachable from the roof. All calculations and projections were made from the ground survey prior to the actual execution of the operation. I was walking very cautiously because once the tiles are wet, they become extremely slippery and there is also a danger of them just cracking up. Had learnt all this from previous experiences and disasters, when suddenly during the monsoons the otherwise secure corner of the house would start leaking and Dad would say, "Oh it must be the crows that keep fiddling with the tiles." And all I used to do was smile to myself.

Yeah, that evening as I neared the edge of the roof of one of the section, I suddenly looked up overhead. The sky had gone pitch dark and it seemed like a storm was approaching. And then I looked towards my school and I saw the most beautiful sight ever. A bright, sparkling rainbow spread across the sky. It was one of the most joyous and treasured moment of my childhood. Inexplicable yet almost divine. I just stood there over the ridge, one leg on each slope of the roof, watching the rainbow against a dark, threatening sky, the trees swaying wildly and the breeze in my hair. I didn't care if anyone saw me, didn't worry about the tiles cracking under my feet or me slipping off and falling. Wonder where all the fear had gone from within the 12 year old boy's heart. The view from the rooftop was quite a sight, because I could only see trees in the immediate surroundings and a few buildings a little distance away springing up one by one in the direction of the city. For a moment I forgot about why I had climbed up.
I didn't get the kite. There was a little fear of the approaching rain as well as a different joy within me as I hurriedly "ran" on the roof to get back to the ground and tell my sisters about the rainbow. They didn't believe me initially coz there were too many trees around our house to see the sky so clearly. And when I showed it to them from within the branches of the neem trees.....they were like "Wow.....how did you know?"

It rained heavily that evening as we sat watching the rain from our "jaali" door waiting for it it to stop and our games to begin.......

**stars**

Tiny stars in the dark sky,
Remind me of another sky
When on the horizon they do descend,
It brings to mind another sky
Of city lights, and shadowy nights,
The "wants in life" and sensless fights

Smooth sailing??

Well my orkut fortune today read :
A cheerful message or news is on the way!!
(not that I read it or follow it everyday)
but someone wished me the following lines just as the day was about to end....

"Well, life is about sailing smooth n i wish u fair winds......wot the hell are you waiting for.....put up the sails and hit the sea....."

Journey

The sky's the same,
The stars too,

The place a little known,
So are you.....

This journey has a destination,
The other one too

There's another one though,
with I don't know who.....

915pm 25th March 07
@ a hotel, somewhere around nasik

WE ,THE MEN.....

Sometime back, A said, "Men are like chewing gum, can't swallow them nor spit them out"
To which I had replied...."I agree, but like chewing gum, atleast they are sweet to begin with......"

strange and beautiful

Have heard this song like 20 times today,
A few lines of the song go....

Sometimes......the last thing you want comes in first,
Sometimes......the first thing you want never comes,
I know....waiting is all you can do............so-m-times
strange and beautiful (I'll put a spell on you)- Aqualung

The butterfly effect!!

Butterflies and summers are two things that have had a close association in tandem with me.
Flitting around in the garden outside our house, they were one of the few things that enchanted me and kept me occupied for hours.

I had classified them in my own way. A few based on where I'd seen them for the first time and a few based on their characteristics. One was called "Buddha" as in "the Buddha" not "boodha".......I dont know why. Another one was called "fairy"...coz she was this elusive thing who was rarely seen and had beautiful wings with bright orange and yellow spots and of the three of us whoever saw it, would be considered "blessed" for that particular day. The orange coloured one was called "sur sur" because that was the sound it had made in the bushes when we first discovered it. We never meant any harm to them, but it was a delight to hold them in your fingers and make them move their legs (limbs) on our throats. They would be then let free to fly and leave the rest of the thrills for another day.
It involved a great deal of skill and patience in first finding the right candidate of interest and then pursuing it with undivided attention until it was yours.
If in case any of these poor creatures met an untimely death for unknown reasons....they would be cremated with full state honours, complete with a gravestone (in this case, a leaf or a flower)

Looking at butterflies flitting around now, makes me want to go behind them on a quest with the same child like enthusiasm, but yes, dreams do change and so do we.
No more "any" butterflies now ............but the elusive "fairy"

WAIT...

Waiting for the waves to reach the shore,
I look out through a half open door

Twilight is nigh, says the moon in the sky,
It indeed is, I say with a sigh

Days come and go by,
and I still wait for my turn to fly

" "

Each of us has a philosophy in life.....
Just that nobody quotes us....

imsuresh

spellcheck

Came across this line in one of the presentations happening in our class
There were a few lines before and after this one....
They were supposed to be guidelines for a brand name

2....
3.Not to literal
4.Avoid spelling errors
5.....

FLEW

I once did fly,
Thought I'd give it a try,

Up I soared into the sky,
Whatever would happen I wouldn't cry

Then one morning I saw a bird fly by,
Life is calling my friend, don't let it pass by

TWEETY

Its been long since I've been woken up by the chirping of a bird in the woods.......and it was today that there seemed to be a message hidden in that chirping that said "It's time to wake up". Probably even the divine being up there seems to have given up on me on waking up early and sent this messenger to get the message across.

Sitting there on a tender shoot, you called out to me,
How I was happy, that you were sent for me.
Lazily I look up through the half open window frame,
Only to realize it is time to get on the train

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Is my head at the service of my heart?
Am I thinking too much about what I am thinking ?

If you don’t stand for something, you won’t fall for anything


April Greiman, Halim Choueiry @icograda, mumbai

SERIAL KILLING

Set around February 2007 this story begins with the speculation of whether I have an upset stomach or not. This is on the night of the journey to Mumbai for an International conference. I wish I had accepted the advice of a dear friend of mine, to have some lime juice to be on the safer side. Ok, it wasn’t as bad as you are thinking, but I was left with that growling feeling till the early hours of the next morning lying helplessly on the SL (side lower) berth. I looked at my 10-minutes-ahead watch expecting to be somewhere close to Bandra but was horrified that we hadn’t even entered Mumbai. Ever so slowly, the so called Express train chugged on and we finally reached Bandra around 10:00. Four hours late.

By the way, the conference was supposed to commence from 9:30 am, which it did; I was told later. After a sumptuous breakfast and a shower at a friend’s place a look at the watch told me “You are 2 hours late”
Anyway I thought now that we have the friend’s car, we’ll be there shortly. But no.....the car had to break down when we were almost there at IIT. Sincere attempts by “Driver bhai” (that’s what my friend calls him) didn’t impress the Indica V2, and finally we had to take an auto for the remaining journey.

On reaching the conference, I realised it was lunch time.......like it was very difficult to guess. Anyway, I went to collect my conference kit......”Oh we are so sorry, we’ll let you know by evening” “For now we can only give you the ID card”......late late late very late

The remaining session was done and it was time to head to another friend’s house for an evening snacks thing. The mode of conveyance.....auto....and guess what on our way back this auto breaks down at the exact same location where the car had broken down earlier in the day. I knew it was coming when I recognized the steep incline despite the darkness as THE SPOT. But fortunately after a hundred attempts by the poor rickshaw guy, the engine started whirring and took us to our destination. I was happy thinking finally the day has ended, without the slightest idea of what was in store. Like the 20 minute walk to the residential block like a donkey laden with goods wasn’t enough, our room was on the third floor. I made a promise to myself to travel light forever and ever. even if it means wearing the same clothes on the second day. And on reaching there with a “Phew”, we see the door is locked. My friend tells me “Whoever leaves last, has exclusive ownership of the room” Thankfully the building had a terrace (any terrace just enchants me....probably because none of the houses that I’ve lived in ever had one) So after gazing at the stars and the adjoining super luxurious Hiranandani apartments, the mosquitoes announced that it was time to get indoors.

Into the room, but no place to sleep. I had just had enough. Rushed to the neighbouring room, picked up an abandoned mattress. Up it went on my shoulders and into the other room. I attempted to write a few lines in my book, but the dim lit room and mosquitoes, and the thought of being late again made me shut my eyes.....and off I went into a deep slumber.

CONNECT

I guess, it is like that feeling of knowing that “This is the person with whom I want to spend the rest of my life” The only difference here being, it keeps happening to me again and again, and as much as I wish that it would be for a girl; sadly it isn’t. In my case it’s Bombay. But the way certain people are fond of it and describe it is certainly not how I like it. That’s one of the reasons why I don’t publicly support the “I love Mumbai” bandwagon. I like it differently. The silent admirer. So here I am today, confessing my love.

There is something about this city that makes me fall for it, every single time I make a visit here, and believe me, every visit to this awesome place on earth has opened a new door for me out of nowhere. That is why I call this post “connect”

Though I’ve never lived in Mumbai, I just admire it in my own idiotic way which is probably why I never agree with the die-hard fans and people who have grown up here. A few significant things decisions and events in my life have had a strange connection with this place. Like the first toy I remember having played with, was from Mumbai. The first time I saw the sea....the first time I saw an aeroplane....my first journey alone in a train......the first time I got lost in a street.....the fist time I saw a couple kissing off-screen...... :)....and it's probably the first time I've felt something missing within me.....

Other things like......it is here in Mumbai, after a casual visit to JJ College Of Architecture, I decided I wanted to do it (I had no idea what it was called) and here. But it wasn’t to be, wasn’t to be in Mumbai I mean. Training during architecture “HAD” to be in Mumbai. It was all set, but again....it wasn’t to be.
After a year of working in Pune I said enough and was all set “filmi” style to pack my bags and head towards Mumbai to find my destiny there. I did that....but only managed to give the entrance exams for IDC and NID. I was keen on IDC. And in fact I made a small prayer on the Sardar bridge over Sabarmati river the day my interview was done “Please don’t get me into NID”. But again...........

And now I’m here sitting in this dingy IIT faculty quraters, dimly lit with a 60W yellow bulb, tons of winged creatures and a guy from Lebanon staring at me from across the beds laid out in the living room, thinking what I am scribbling. Can’t think of making a conversation with him; looks scary, more so coz he’s built like an ox. They are three actually, and my friend calls them “The three avtaars of Jesus Christ” coz they all look the same, with long hair beard and the tall well built look.

Coming back to Mumbai......if there’s one thing I envy is the pulse. I can just feel it everytime I’m here. It’s like being suddenly thrown into a faster water current after paddling for hours in still river water (sabarmati....hehe)
The pulse and the feel is so strong that it puts me into the “GO-OUT-THERE-AND-DO-SOMETHING” mode instantly. Though Mumbai and almost every aspect of it is Bollywood driven (including the people here) it gives a chance to every other person that steps into the city.....(that line itself is so Bollywood....hahaha)
Ok looks like it’s rubbed on to me as well......well then.....the opening lines of “Satya” say.........."Mumbai.....ek aisa shehar jise neend nahi aati.....jo jaagte hue bhi sapne dekhta hai”
I guess this line sums it up and makes me get back to it again and again and again.

9th February 1:00 A.M IIT Powai

Burrow friend

Here's another story from the life and times of a little boy with a restless mind. This is from the phase where I had found an awesome friend in a red rubber cricket ball.
It costed Rs.4/- and was usually bought after a lot of pestering and promises that this time I wouldn't lose it. I loved the design on the ball which had markings that vaguely reminded me of the seam on a real cricket ball. It was enough to make me imitate seam positions with my little fingers and sometimes even rub it on my pants just to feel "even I'm in the league"

With not many kids in the neighbourhood and my two sisters hardly bothered about cricket, I used to have a tough time motivating myself to get to play cricket or any other ball game. So it usually used to be one department a day...say bowling, batting (hang ball) or catching (rebounds from the uneven, stone compound wall) It would begin with religiously watering a stretch of the ground that I had demarcated as a pitch. Then rolling it, yeah rolling it by riding my bicycle on it several times. No half measures here. For the pitch to be ready at the right time of the day, I had to start early in the afternoon, and that meant completing home work as soon as I finished lunch. So home work was just another thing on the way. Ok the pitch is ready. Now the stumps go in place, the ones cut and sawn from trees around the neighbourhood.
Six of them.... I had to be professional!!!
Then the unending process of marking the run up and bowling innumerable deliveries to an invisible batsman at the other end would begin. Thank God there was a compound wall at the other end which helped in stopping the ball. The thrill was in getting that perfect line and yet not hitting the stumps.
Then there would be comments to oneself on how the batsman should be made to play and quotes from the commentators on TV. Towards the end of the day at twilight, I would give up and then go for the kill. Would love the sight of the stumps going cart wheeling. Bails used to be very interesting. A thread wound around a small bamboo piece to get just the right extrusion.

Something made me realize that I wasn't alone in all this.
Like there were times when I would hit the ball around in the space outside our house. There used to be these burrows dug by rodents that I had only heard about from my parents. The ball would find it hard to avoid these holes......there were too many. Once it was in there, I would speculate and see if no one is around. Then ever so carefully, slide my hand deep into the burrow, as far as I could go and try to feel the ball with a hope of retrieving it back. It was sometimes possible only when I would take off as soon as the ball reached the hole and instantly put my hand in.Then there was once this horror moment when I felt something in the hole that was moving. Horrified, I thought I wouldn't attempt it again but every time the thought of spending the day without playing would
depress me so much that I would eventually end up taking the risk.
There was something very interesting and weird about these burrows. They were interconnected. I realised it very late. It so happened once that I was playing and the ball headed to its usual destination. The only difference being this time my parents were around. I rushed towards the zone....and as was my practice, bent down at the hole. My parents warned me to stay away. Disappointed I gave up and resigned myself to not play for a few days now. Spent the whole night thinking about my friend and what would I do the next day.

Morning came, and I was ready to leave for school. Around 7:30, when I went outside in the garden, I was overjoyed. Almost magically the ball had appeared at the entrance of the burrow. Wondering how it all had happened I was off to school. On returning back I couldn't resist asking my mom about it. She said, "Maybe it was the rodent inside that pushed the ball outside, so that you could play" I was convinced. Then one night I saw this huge thing moving about in the garden along the wall. Called my dad and showed it to him. It's the same burrowing creature that has created all those holes, he said. I looked at it closely and thought it was "cute"and smiled....coz at the back of my mind, I knew, the next time my cricket ball would be inside the burrow, it is he, who would give it back to me. Another friend to the list.

UP @ 8

It was today that I was up at 8,
Though it's not that I like getting up late
Breakfast is something that I hardly hate,
But it's only been 5 times this semester that I ate

Off I rushed to meet Tarun and he made me wait
Sat outside his cabin thinking about my state.
The day grew longer and evening felt great,
I realized the world was so different beyond the main gate.

Enough of this rhyme it's just not happening mate
Poetry is something that's not on my plate

The List

Another first to the list.
Had made a list before leaving home for this semester.
Though this one didn't figure in it, I would nevertheless add it now.
A moonrise over a river........at 11:00 yesterday night from the hostel terrace.The wish list isn't extravagant and a long term one coz I don't think one should plan too much. Hope I keep adding to the list...

Is it that difficult?

What is it that is so difficult to understand.....??
I don't understand why people need to be told that they are being a nuisance to their fellow men.Yeah like a simple thing of shutting up one's mouth when in a public library which is meant for silence and some serious work. Had wanted to write about this since quite some time now but it had to be today. I was peacefully reading (well even if I wasn't) until the so called "sensitive designers" came in and what transpired then on was sheer disregard and inconsiderate behaviour.

My humble requests for maintaining silence kind of fell on deaf ears with loud mouths. Well a whisper there or a few odd words here and there are certainly okay but sometimes it becomes disrespect to the person sitting across you or in the room. I did not want to get up and change my place for the simple reason that I had come first and was peacefully reading and just about starting to settle in. Why should I, inspite of being on the right side act like an escapist?

There are specific places one goes to, anticipating silence and the possiblity of concentrating, not to hear what is wrong with the other person's dress or which faculty should be treated how.

There are specific places for discussing that too....the world is not inconsiderate towards the inconsiderate

There are a number of things....(though they may appear disconnected)....like:

1. Moving away from the person sitting or standing next to you when you receive a call on your cellphone. Why on earth would I want to hear how annoyed are you with your boyfriend, or what is the latest piece of clothing that you want him to buy for you.
2. Why should a person remind someone about the money he had lent?
3. How much does it take to move your butt and throw your plastic glass in the dustbin. In a mess party everyone is ready to shake theirs....huh!!
4. Acknowledging the fact that every city is different and has its own plusses and drawbacks and that's what makes it unique.
5. That every faculty member doesn't have to spoon feed you. You are 23 years old.
6. That recognition doesn't essentially mean good work.
7. That asking a person to change is disrespect to him/her.
8. That it if the person isn't responding to your remarks, means he's enjoying it.
9. Abusive language is the only valid form of showing anger.
10. That it is okay if you are alone for sometime.

.........and a lot of other things
Strange how people forget things taught during their upbringing so coveniently and remember everything when it is time to teach the same things to their kids.
Is it really that difficult?