By the river Piedra, I sat down and wept

Last week, I read this fabulous book Paulo Chelho.

It is a story of a lady, who is completing her studies in some small town. She suddenly gets a letter from her childhood friend, inviting her to attend a lecture to be held by him. The lady recollects the joys of her childhood and the goes to meet the guy.

The guy is now a student of a seminary. He's preaching about the feminie side of the God. He's travelled a lot and learnt a lot. He's invited the lady as he is and he has been in love with her from the childhood.

The story is about the stay of the girl with the guy for a week, over his lecture series and how she progresses from the cynic that she is to a child. A child, which can believe in magic and hope. Then, she progresses to an adult, who can accept that Love is possible in this world. And that Love need not be a hinderance to the goal of life, but, it can be a very potent support on the path to the destiny.

I am in the process of still collating the best quotes... Until then, have a look at some of the best!

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You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracles of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen. - Him I could have.What does this phrase mean? At any given moment in our lives, there are certain things that could have heppened but, didn't. The magic moments go unrecognized, and then suddenly, the hand of destiny changes everything. If we are not reborn - if we cannot learn to look at life with the innocence and enthusiasm of childhood - it makes no sense to go on living. - Him In real life, love has to be possible. Even if it is not returned right away, love can only survive when the hope exists that you will be able to win over the person you desire. But love is much like a dam; if you allow a tiny crack to form through which only a trickle of water can pass, that trickle will quickly bring down the whole structure and soon no one will be able to control the force of the current. For when those walls come down, then, love takes over, and it no longer matters what is possible and impossible; it doesn't even matter whether we can keep the loved one at our side. To love is to lose control. Love is like a trap. When it appears, we see only light, not its shadows. "But, I am going to fight for love," he continued. "There are some things in life that are worth fighting for to the end." I was speechless. "You are worth it," he said. I was tired of playng the child and acting the way many of my friends did - the ones who were afraid that love is impossible without even knowing what love is. If I stayed like that I would miss out on everything good that these few days with him might offer. The universe always helps us fight for our dreams no matter how foolish they may be. Our dreams are our own, and only we know the effort required to keep them alive. -Him This was silence that spoke for itself. A silence that said we no longer needed to explain things to each other. I saw the well in lamp-light, with the bottle of wine and two glasses on its walls. A couple of sweethearts must have been here, I think. Silent, allowing their hearts to speak to each other. And after their hearts had said all they had to say, they began to share the great mysteries. ..When we were quiet with each other, I was able to see how close I felt to him. Neither of us had said anything. Love doesn't need to be discussed; it had its own voice and speaks for itself. That night, by the well, the silence had allowed our hearts to approach each other and get to know each other better. My heart had listened closely to what his had said, and now it was content. But love is always new. Regardless of whether we love once, twice or a dozen times in our life, we always face a brand-new situation. Love can consign us to hell or to paradise, but it always takes us somewhere. We simply have to accept it, because it is what nourishes our existence. If we reject it, we die of hunger, because we lack courage to stretch out a hand and pluck the fruit from the branches of the tree of life. We have to take love where we find it, even if it means hours, days, weeks of disappointments and sadness. Love never comes just a little at a time, I thought, as I watched him, absorbed in contemplation of the Virgin. The previous day, the world had made sense, even without love's presence. But now we needed each other in order to see the true brilliance of things. "You shouldn't have asked," I said. "Love doesn't ask many questions, because if we stop to think we become fearful. It's an inexplicable fear; it's difficult even to describe it. Maybe it's the fear of being scorned, of not being accepted, or of breaking the spell. It's ridiculous, but that's the way it is. That's wy you don't ask-you act. As you've said many times, you have to take risks." Wait. This was the first lesson I learned about love. The day drags along, you make thousands of plans, you imagine every possible conversation, you promise to change your behaviour in certain ways - and you feel more and more anxious until your loved one arrives. But by then, you don't know what to say. The hours of waiting have been transformed into tension, the tension has become fear, and the fear makes you embrassed about showing affection. But he wasn't listening. He had stood, siezed my hair in his hands and was kissing me. I clutched at his hair, too, and squeezed him with all my strength, biting his lips and feeling his tongue move in my mouth. This was the kiss I had waited for so long - a kiss born by the river of our childhood, when we didn't yet know what love meant. A kiss that had been suspended in the air as we grew, that had traveled in the world in the sovenier of a medal, and that had remained hidden behind piles of books. A kiss that had been lost and now was found. In the moment of that kiss were years of searching, disillusionment and impossible dreams. I kissed him hard. The few people in the bar must have been thinking that all they were seeing was just a kiss. They didn't know that this kiss stood for my whole life - and his life, as well. The life of anyone who has waited, dreamed and searched for thier true path. The moment of that kiss contained every happy moment I had ever lived. "I always look at the well there in the plaza. And I thil to myself that before, no one knew where there was water. Then Sait Savin decided to dig and found it. If he hadn't done that, this village would be down here by the river." "But what does that have to do with love?" I asked "That well bought many people here, with thir hopes and dreams and conflicts. Someone dared to look for water, water was found, and people gathered whre it flowed. I think that when we look for love courageously, it reveals itself, and we wind up attracting even more love. If one person really wants us, everyone does. But, if we're alone, we become even more alone. Life is strange." "Have you ever heard of the book called the I Ching?" I asked her. "No, I haven't." "It says that a city can be moved but not a well. It's around the well that lovers find each other, satisfy their thirst, build homes, and raise their children. But if one of them decides to leave, the well cannot go with them. Love remains there, abandoned - even though it is filled with the same pure water as before."

The Alchemist - Some Nice Quotes

I read the Alchemist over the weekend. Felt the book was amazing.....

Got down with a pencil and marked a lot of nice lines and then, came over to the office and typed it out....

Here are some of the best ones, I collected:

Buy the book: India Only

• It is the possiblity of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.
• Is is the simple things in life that are most extraordinary; only wise men are able to understand them.
• World's greatest lie: At a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us and our lives become controlled by fate.
• Whoever you are, or whatever you do, when you really want something, it is because that desire originated in the soul of the universe, its your mission on earth.
• Everything in life has a prize.
• But the sheep had taught him something even more important: that there was a language in the world that everyone understood, a language the boy had used throughout the time he was trying to improve things at the shop. It was the language of enthusiasm, of things accomplished with life and purpose, of a search for something believed in and desired.
• Yet the boy felt that there was another way to look at his situation: he was actually two hours closer to his treasure... the fact that the two hours had stretched into an entire year did not matter.- On his decision to seek his destiny, after working at the Crystal Vendor for a year.
• When someone makes a decision, he is diving into a strong current that will carry him places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision.
• The closer one gets to realizing his destiny, the more the destiny becomes his true reason for being, thought the boy...
• Because, I don't live in either my past or my future. I'm interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you'll be a happy man. You'll see that there is life in the desert, that there are stars in the heavens and that tribesmen fight because they are part of human race. Life will be a party for you, a grand festivel, because life is the moment, we're living right now. Caravan camel driver to tbe boy
• The secret here is the present. If you pay attention to the present, you can improve upon it. And, if you improve on the present, what comes later will also be better. Forget about the future and live each day according to the teachings, confident that God loves his children. Each day in itself brings an eternity. Seer to caraven camel driver
• God only rarely reveals the future. When he does so, it is for only one reason: it's a future that was written so as to be altered. seer to the caravan camel driver.
• When a person really desires something, all the Universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream.
• It's not what enters man's mouth that is evil, it's what comes out of thier mouth that is. Alchemist to the boy, while drinking wine.
• You must understand that love never keeps a man from persuing his destiny. If he abandons that persuit, it's because, it wasn't true love.. the love that speaks the Language of the World. Alchemist
• They were looking only for gold. They were seeking the treasure of their destiny, without wanting actually to live out the destiny. Alchemist, explaining why many people's attempts to convert lead to gold had been foiled.
• Even though I complain sometimes, it's because I'm the heart of a person, and people's hearts are that way. People are afraid to persue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don't deserve them, or that they'll be unable to achieve them. We, their hearts become fearful just thinking of loved ones, who go away forever, or of moments that could have been good, but weren't, or of treasures that might have been found but were forever hidden in sands. Because, when these things happen, we suffer terribly. Heart to the boy
• ..the fear of suffering is worse than suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity.Alchemist
• Every search begins with beginner's luck. And every search ends with the victor being severey tested. Alchemist
• When you possess treasures within you and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed. Alchemist, when questioned by Boy about why he told the truth to the Arabs in the desert.He would have revealed that he has the philosopher's stone.
• Your eyes show the strenght of your soul.
• When you are loved you can do anything in creation. When you are loved, there's no need at all to understand what's happening, because everything happens within you, and even men can turn themselves into wind. The Boy

Lost childhood joy in shopping

Yesterday, I had gone to buy some shoes for myself. I had to buy new ones, since the old ones, obviously had worn out. The old ones had been the last pair of shoes that I’d bought before joining my first job.

This started me to get into a retrospective mode. The last pair of shoes had bought me so much of joy! Somehow, when parents get you some stuff, it feels so nice. It feels like they really care for you and they want to get the very best for you. The formal shoes had cost more than a thousand rupees and I was always in awe of my Dad for having got me such expensive shoes.

This time, I bought a pair of formal and sports shoes. Each pair cost me more than a thousand rupees. Still, there was no thrill in the shopping. I just did not feel like I had got something new. I just felt that I was need of something. The old ones had worn out and needed to be replaced. Somehow, the harsh rationality had replaced the child like enthusiasm that I used to have for anything new.

When I was a kid, even opening a new toothpaste from the packing and using it first was a great achievement. Now, even if I get a thousand rupees shirt and wear it for the first time, there is no ebullience in it!

Maybe the thrill was all because of the fact that I did not know the value of money. More importantly, anything new meant the parents were concerned for you and were taking care of you. Buying something for yourself means, you have grown up and can take care of yourself. Somehow in this transition, the sheer joy of newness is lost! Hope someday, I can regain it.

Campus Visit to Guntur

The Journery

As part of the recruitment drive, we’d been to the RVR & JC College at Guntur. This is this story of our journey and the actual selection process.

The campus visit was scheduled for 14^th May, a Saturday. We were to leave for Guntur on Friday the 13^th, after Abhinay. Since the event was getting over at 7:30 pm, we had planned to travel by a bus.

At 9:30 pm, we assembled at the Phase 2 building. We had been told that the bus would be a Mazda. It would have AC and the comfort of a Volvo. So, all of us stared expectantly at the lone Mazda waiting outside the campus. When it came and stopped before us, we were amused. The bus had AC. The seating arrangement though was congested at its very best. I really can’t imagine how Bala managed to even fit inside!

Anyway, the bus journey started at around 10. We picked up Jayant and Pani on the way. By Tank Bund Road, all of us were hungry. So, we stopped for a quick ice-cream break. The options were few. So, most of us selected matka Kulfi (in a plastic Matka) and others chose Vanilla or Chocolate. After that, the bus halted again at Big Bazaar where Rahul had to withdraw some cash for the trip. This was the last stop before we actually left Hyderabad.

By now, we had realized the comfort level of the Volvo like Mazda. The driver had put on some songs. Unfortunately, his Hindi songs music collection ended at the time Rahul and Bala passed put from College. The latest song he had was from Saajan! And to top it all, during the whole night he repeated the songs more than 4 times! We were totally bugged by the “Tu Shaayar hai” and “Dekha hia pahli bar”. Still we had no option. We could either listen the songs repeatedly or have the driver doze off while driving. We thought the latter was too much of a risk. So, we gave Saajan a few more chance.

All of us tried to get some sleep, curling and twisting in all sorts of contorted positions. I am sure any Yoga teacher would have been proud of our flexibility. After all, you don’t see experienced(meaning corpulent, euphemistically called Healthy) IT professionals managing to curl up and fit into a tiny two seat of a Mazda!

The bus was moving at a pace that would have made lorry look like a F2 car! By 3 am, we were all worried if we’d make it on time. So, we asked the driver to switch off the AC. Only then did the Mazda get enough power to overtake and move ahead on the road. Pani though was very frustrated at this. He vehemently opposed the idea of AC being switched off. Sulking over the heat, he finally went of to sleep.

Finally, we reached the hotel the next day morning at around 6:30 am. Bala and I shared a room. We got ready immediately and by 7:30 we had all assembled at the restaurant for breakfast. The placement officer of the college joined us by then. He had got three cars for us. After performing a lot of permutation and combination, it was decided that Rahul, Sandeep and Bala would go in the first car. Supreeta and I went with the HOD of Mech department. In the third car, Jayant and Pani were supposed to follow us. On the way, we observed the huge cold storages for the famed Guntur Chilli. It seems, Guntur is famous for Tobacco too. The HOD told showed us the tobacco processing plants along the way to the college.

After traveling for about 15 km on a fabulous road, we reached the gates of the college. It looked magnificent. The backdrop was breath taking. The whole campus is lush green. The place is flanked by hills on sides. The main building literally seems to have been built at the lap of these hills. Guess it must be a really beautiful scenic place in the rainy season.

Pre Placement And Aptitude Test

We entered the seminar hall where the students had already assembled. At 8:50 am, we started the first campus pitch. It went off quite smoothly. Somehow, Sandeep managed to pull the melodrama of “Emotional Bond” into the presentation.

I thought the tests would begin soon. Only then, I realized this was half the crowd. There was still one more roomful of students waiting for a second campus. This time, Rahul introduced the Cognizant team a little more elaborately. He introduced me saying I was a fresher just like them, when I’d joined barely two years back. He said, the students could ask me questions regarding the change from the college life to professional life to me.

During the QA session, one girl got up. She said, “This question if for Mr Akshay”. Somewhere at the back of mind, the word, “Akshay” registered. The “Mr” sounded funny! Nobody had addressed me like that before. She wanted to know if I felt that I’d made the right decision in joining Cognizant. I said yes. She then wanted to know specific examples of the times when I felt good. I gave the example of HiFliers. By now, I was really getting worried about her motives! Was she interested in Cognizant or was she interested in me?? She finally asked, ”Can you give me the assurance that if I join Cognizant, I too will be given such a chance?” What chance will I give her? She’d not even cleared the aptitude test! Anyway, I told her, she’d definitely get a chance, only if she too could prove the company that she could deliver. Finally, she sat down. God, that was strange QA! When I sat down, Bala, Fayaz and Jayant had a field day. They were like: “Boss, she’s has a major crush on you. Why don’t you take her number down?” Bala said, “Your final answer was a bouncer!”

Anyway, the QA ended and the written tests started. It was then that we realized how hot Guntur really was! If you were not standing under a fan, you would feel like standing in a hot pan! Heaven only knows how the poor students attend classes in this place.

From 12:10 pm to 1:30 pm, we were trying to beat all odds in completing the correction. Luckily, we were made to sit in the Computer labs that had AC. Or else, I believe most of us would have landed in hospital with sever dehydration. The college was taking very good care of us. Every now and then, they would get tea, coffee, cold drinks and biscuits. The aptitude scores though was rather depressing. Anyway, we declared the short-lists by 1:40 pm.

We were then invited for lunch with the Principal, Placement Officer and others. The food served was heavy! I mean there was Roti, two types of Sabzi, Fried Rice, Sweets, Rasam, Sambar, Curds, cut Mango and Ice Cream. After this all of us were half asleep. After all, we still had to catch up on the sleep! Dragging ourselves, we started the interview process at around 2:30, a full one hour delay.

Interviews

Initially, Supreeta asked me to help her with the allocation of students. Then she said, I could sit with some panel. I initially sat with Sandeep. Then, having seen that Bala was selecting all the girls, I decided to sit with him in the panel.

Once we started the interview, we were shocked! The sheer infrastructure of the campus had given us a feeling that the college was good. But, the students’ level was shocking to say the least. People in third year engineering were telling us that they had forgotten subjects from second year or third year. Some were even claiming that they had not prepared for a technical interview. Well, we were there to recruit for CTS, not for Channel V or something!

Anyway, we were getting steadily appalled. After 11 interviews, we had selected just one candidate and she too was a benefit of doubt! Then, came a real refreshing candidate. After the interview, we asked her, if she had any doubts. She said, “Last week TCS was here to evaluate the campus. One of the guys told us that IT is a very tension filled profession. People at the age of 32 years suffer from heart attacks!” At that moment the look on Bala’s face was a real Kodak Moment! In life, there are situations when the mind just goes totally blank. This was one such moment. After a pause, Bala replied, “I am 32 years old and I’ve not yet suffered a heart attack!”

Well, the interviews went on and finally got over at 9:30 pm. We went to announce the results. When we told the Placement Officer that 32 candidates had been selected, he started to sulk like a kid! I mean, he literally started throwing tantrums.

Even when we announced the results, we were surprised. The selected candidates were so quiet! I mean, they were accepting the offer letters like some participation certificate! Anyway, our job for the day was done and we came back to hotel. The Campus Officer raced like crazy at speeds over 125 km to show his frustration!

After having dinner, all of us left for Hyderabad. Suffering from the same Yogic gestures, we slept along the way and reached the office at 7:15 am bringing the campus trip to Guntur to an end.

16-May-2005

A Strange Dream

Yesterday night, I woke up with a start after having the strangest dream ever. And when I woke up, I was intrigued by the clarity of the dream and the details that I could remember... it had never occurred before in my life. So, here is what I saw.

I have gone to visit some place. Which city, I have no idea of. But, all of a sudden, I remember, I am in a temple. It's a very beautiful temple with lots of trees and lush lawns.

I go into the main temple. There is a very beautiful deity. But, I can't remember the deity of which God was placed in the temple. I kneel down to pray, when all of a sudden the Pujari(priest) comes running.

He asks me, "Take this Prasad".

I take it into my hands. Immediately, he says, "Pay Rs 50 for the Prasad!". I say, "Excuse me.." He says, "Pay Rs 50 for the Prasad."

I am totally angry now. I had never asked for the Prasad, and this guy come running, thrusts it into my hands, without giving me an option and demands so much money. So, I just say, "Sorry." And place the Prasad back into the plate.

The pujari is shocked by my actions. He pleads saying, "You can't reject Prasad like that! Surely, the wrath of God shall befall you!" I just shrug and say, "So be it." And walk away!

At this point, I even meet my father. How he came there and from where, I have no idea. He just says, "Well done son." And walks away.

What hit me the most was the details and dialogues that I could so clearly recollect. I remember the intense anger that I felt when the Pujari demanded the money. After all, he came like a silly street hawker. When I was about to kneel down, he came like a hawk and offered the "Prasad", without giving me an option of rejecting or without telling me, that it even cost some amount.

I also remember the sense of satisfaction that I had on rejecting the offer. I can't remember when I have taken such a harsh decision in life. Being very considerate of others, and God-fearing, I'd most probably have paid up. But, in the dream, I took the right stand. After all, the blessings of God should not be earned by such bribes. And money should be paid, only as a donation, not like some fees.

At the end, I did feel happy about the way I'd behaved. Maybe, in a few days, I'll understand what the dream was all about.

Honeymoon - What I feel it means?

Marriages, they say, are made in heaven. I guess, you discover this bliss of the Paradise, even if for only a few days at those incredible days, spent as The Honeymoon

Until marriage, a boy and a girl may be in a serious relationship with total commitment to each other. Yet, there is a small amount of insecurity as the relationship is still not formal or legalized until it gets the stamp of the age-old institution of marriage. It is only when the couple get the blessings of all, make their relationship formal and take the pledge of staying "with each other until death" does them apart does the couple get into a higher plane where courtship ends and the life for each other really begins.

To get a couple used to each other to each other, tradition has it that they shall embark on a sacred journey of mutual discovery, a temporary Nirvana called Honeymoon.

It is a time when the couple have made the final plunge and the games of courtship has ended and a quest for the discovery of each other begins.

For a few days, the newly weds escape from the normal life, from work, from parents and friends. It is a time only for the two of them. As far as they are concerned, there are only two people on earth and nobody or nothing else matters.

The place selected for the honeymoon is generally a part of the earth pregnant with enchanting beauty. A place so exquisite and so filled with marvels of nature that you feel that you have finally reached the ultimate destination that so many religions speak of: Heaven, Swarga or Jannat.

At the feet of such lavish beauty, the couple when left alone can connect with the whispers of the wind, the freshness of the dew, the vista of the sunrise or the enchanting beauty of the moonlit sky.

I guess, a couple, when in such a close contact with nature can become like the children of Creation and loose all the cunningness that gets built over the years. Devoid of all the false facades, the two interact with each other like adults, yet, discover each other with the unquenching curiosity of a wide-eyed child.

At nights, when they can be with each other, without any guilt or worry is the real highlight. At a cold place, in the lap of Paradise, all that the two people can share is each other's warmth. I feel, when they fall into each other's arms, they do so after stripping off their masks that they put on for the world, of cloaks that they wear to ward off the arrows of pain that the world keeps hurling at them. What remains, is a pure human being, with only his values, principles and warmth. Nothing else. All other things are stripped away. It is at such a point in time that the man and woman open up completely. It is a time, when sex is an act of tender, yet enchanting journey of discovery. It is not the mindless, animalistic carnal thirst. The pure pleasure, the enchanting ecstasy and the consummating climax, all are moments when a human can experience heaven, right here on earth. In fact this quote from the movie Bicentennial Man sums up the meaning of sex so very well:

That you can lose yourself. Everything. All boundaries. All time. That two bodies can become so mixed up, that you don't know who's who or what's what. And just when the sweet confusion is so intense you think you're gonna die... you kind of do. Leaving you alone in your separate body, but the one you love is still there. That's a miracle. You can go to heaven and come back alive. You can go back anytime you want with the one you love.

This is also a time, when you allow yourself to be overwhelmed by your partner; a point, where you stop understanding where one person ends, and the other beings: it is a supreme point of oneness. A time, when you feel life has a lot of meaning and that, it is meaningless without your partner. Your partner and you. Nothing else.

Of course, the honeymoon does not last forever. As they say, to be in heaven, you gotta be dead first. So, the couple returns back to the daily life, a life filled with its own challenges, pains ,sufferings, tensions, worries, separations, meetings laced with lots of happiness and sadness.

With the passage of time, the enchantment of marriage vanishes. You are sucked into the daily grind of life. At times, situation seems so bad that the very partner with whom you had experienced a glimpse of the Paradise, feels like the greatest Satan

Yet, what services are the tender memories. Of times you spent holding hands and watching the sunset; of seeing a sky filled with millions of stars. Of times, when you had whispered the three magic words, "I love you" and had actually meant it. Of times when you just sat with each other and understood the vast meaning of silence. And of times, then you had promised, "No matter what, I'll be with you." Because, these are the moments that act as a balm against any tribulations of life and these are the promises that brings very heaven to the earth!

Iconism or Iconoclasm

Yesterday, while coming back from Pune, I had to sit through a grueling torure… I had to watch a total no-brainer movie called, “Mujhs Kuch Kehna Hai”. While watching the movie, I could not help, but start thinking about the strange amount of Iconisms that we Indians believe in!

Everything for us is represented as some sort of an Icon. We as Indians have started to revere and respect these icons, but have totally forgotten the very meaning of them all.

For example, we respect the Idols of our Gods and Goddesses. Yet, we never give a second thought to the meaning of the God’s image, the compassion, the knowledge and a lot other symbolic meaning that was to be portrayed by the idol.

We have so many leaders and their statues dotting at every corner on the cities roads. The ones that command the most respect / demand are that of Gandhi and Ambedkar. People like Mayawati have been playing on the psyche of the greatness of the people, by installing hundreds of statues of Ambedkar, a champion of the oppressed. Yet, the people today, only care about the number of statues and the place to install new statues. Never do they even give a thought of the teachings or the guidance given by Ambedkar or for that matter, any leader. Reading and understanding takes time and intelligence. Installing an icon, is very easy and needs no brain, but earns votes!

Similarly, the Kakhi dress that our netas adorn themselves with! Khaki was supposed to be symbol of the self-reliance of the Indians. Today, it has come to represent the ubiquitous dress of the disgusting, demeaning, morality challenged and principally corrupt politicians! Still, the rational beings of the nation are overshadowed by the people who have given up the difficult process of thinking. They just shrug the sholders on seeing another neta violating the sacred symbol.

Coming back to the movie, the heroine was a symbol of the Indian Culture. It is always depicted as such a colorful, so very cheerful and sacred in every movie that I can think of. The heroine has to be a beautiful girl, disciplined and totally selfless. This selflessness is often at the cost of losing out her self-respect. She’s almost always shown as a girl, who is always weak and dependant on the hero. The heroine’s only motive in life is to become the lady love of the hero. This is her career. Her end. What happens to this ravishing, fun and frolicking person is never shown. Why is it that we are so hypocritical? Why do we not show, that after marriage, the heroine literally has no existence of her own? The so-called ominous and omni-potent hero dictates her choice, her lifestyle, her wishes, her passions and her very reason to live. We talk of equality of gender. Yet, shamelessly we watch such trash of movies. We cheer it and set the heroines as examples to the girls. Then, when the human resource index is released, we sit and wonder what went wrong!

The movie had one more pedestrian symbol of Love. Forgettting that we are the nation that gave the world the Taj Mahal, here in the movie, we see a real mockery of this wonderful emotion. The guy sees a girl and falls in love. Her sister probes him, asking him, if he is in love or is it just infatuation. He says, he can’t live without her. He can’t concentrate on studies (he’s already been a failure for the past two years). He can’t do anything… But, he was not living as a human even before he fell in love. He was a failure in studies before too. He was not doing anything worthwhile before he fell in love. So, what’s the difference between his previous life and the new love filled life? I really wonder.

The heroine on the other hand is shown as an intelligent girl, involved in a Phd research on Indian Culture. Strangely, her thesis is restricted to the saccharine sweet traditions, like the Diwali and all. Never does she probe into the violence in the name of the marriage in the form of Dowry, or the repressive culture that brands a widow as a witch. Her whole character seems to be so very hollow, that you can literally see through her. On top it, she is shown as falling in love with a guy, who has no ambitions, who has no goal in life, who does not know the meaning of his existence. His knowledge of girls is restricted to them as being made only to be object of some else’s love, passion and most importantly compassion.

God, all this was so sickening that I was feeling like just getting out and walking out of the bus! Yet, I could not do that coz, I was sure that I’d then be on another bus. There too the driver would play some such movie. The problem is not with the movie itself, I guess. It is the culture that has stagnated and has stopped using its collective intelligence. Maybe, people are too consumed by the sloth that the inertia of non-thinking has brought about. It is after all a very painful process to think rationally and act on it.

VIT BE Comp 2003 Reunion

On the 14^th of November 2004, the ex-students of VIT, Pune met at the Vaishali Hotel, FC Road. It was supposed to be a re-union of the 2003 batch pass-outs. With Diwali festivities around, many people had gone home. So, very few people managed to turn-up. The attendance was not compulsory. VITians being accustomed to the habit of doing everything under compulsion, failed to comply, when there was no Compulsory tag attached to the meeting!

The meeting started off on a very nice note. Afroze, Ketan, Dheeraj, Damle, Deepak, Swapnil and Vignesh arrived at Vaishali, at scheduled time of 4 pm. Suyog and I were yet to reach. All the guys were talking with each other, but the eyes, I’m sure was hovering around. All of a sudden, there was a miss in their heart-beats! A slightly old man got of a rickshaw in-front of the Hotel. He had a look at the guys. The guys felt the same old thudding of heart, which was a common syndrome of Prabhuophobia! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the old man in front was Vaishali was none other than our HOD, Prabhu sir. It seems, he gave them all a smirk and told, “So, this is how you people pass time, looking at the people coming at Vaishali”. Before anyone could answer, he walked away.

Coming to Suyog. He told me, that the meeting was at 4 and he’d be coming to my place and then, we’d leave together for the FC Road. At 4:10, he called saying, he’d be coming in 10 minutes. I got ready, packed my bags and sat waiting for him. My bus to Hyderabad was at 9 pm. So, I’d decided to get all my stuff to the Hotel itself and leave from there. So, I was all dressed and ready to go. But, Suyog’s middle name is Punctuality! At 4:45, he called to say, that he’d mysteriously locked himself out of his house. He’d had to perform some death defying stunts. With God’ grace, he was saved and the door had opened. Now, he told me that he was really coming in 10 minutes. So, in exactly 10 minutes, at 5:15 pm, Suyog turned up at my place. Catching a bus, we finally reached the venue at 5:35 pm, local time. That is exactly same as 4 pm, IST. By then, frustrated at our display of time-consciousness, Afroze had left.

After the initial talk, we all started to comment on our figures! The conclusions were, Dheeraj has grown thin, compared to the past few months. But, overall, he’s grown fat. Incredible, though, people concluded that Ketan has grown a little plump. I do not agree to this! All others, it was decided are more or less of the same shape and size. Suyog of course, is getting into shape, after all, round is a shape. (I too am in the same category!)

The initial bantering completed, we all entered Vaishali, expecting some good sights and eye-pleasing moments. Alas! We were hopelessly disappointed. FC College was shut down for Diwali. So, there was no sparklers or sizzles at the Hotel! So, we all consoled each other and managed to get on with the business of the day.

The menu was taken, a cursory look given and seven SPDP’s (Shev Puri, Dahi Puri) and one Burger was ordered. With the stomach getting fuel, the mouths started to work. All of us updated each other about the projects, the lack net access at Infy, Security at Disha, Device Drives in Linux, pirated games at Microsoft and Annual Day at Cogni. Of course, all the talk was laced with a few harmless, pure vegetarian jokes, which only the mature audience amongst us can enjoy. Since, there are many who probably do not consider themselves mature enough, I shall refrain from recounting those refined moments.

The bill came and people had to find a Bakra. That turned out to be me! I had to pay the bill for all the guys, as it was a treat for my Award. It was only at this point that I was really happy at the low turn out. Or else, I would have been looted.

Then, we all went and continued the discussions, right at the entrance to the Hotel, until the security guard shooed us away. At this point, all of us were pondering over the work habits of PSPL guys. I mean, how can someone be so interested in work, that people go to office on Sunday evenings, during Diwali day and even on Diwali day, that falls on a Sunday. Vignesh was supposed to go to the office after the meeting. Jury’s decision: Daal mein kuch kaala/kaali hai! The probe is still on. Keep in touch for the updates. The sensational news will be out soon!

While continuing these discussions, we all went to an Ice Cream parlor and got double scoops of almost all flavors. This time, Ketan had to bear the brunt of the bill!

After a few more mature jokes and updates, we left, agreeing to meet again, as soon as possible. So, guys and gals, who missed this once in a lifetime opportunity, please do not miss the next chance!

Ornithology - The Art of Bird Wathching

Ornithology is the scientific study of Birds. It is one of the most commonly held habits among the boys and men. The reasons are aplenty and the sheer excitement, fun and the surprise element of this hobby entices a lot more enthusiastic followers to take up this hobby, year after year.

Of course, there are many types of birds. The primary classification is that of birds with feathers and birds that have none. The featherless birds are flightless. (Yet, they have the ability to take you on such flights of dreams that when you wake up, you’ll be asking for more!) This is the category that interests ornithologists more. As they are flightless, the probability of finding them at a given place is higher. For example, if you want to see the rare species of birds that migrate over thousands of kilometers, you need to awake early in the morning and be at the sanctuary before sunrise. Also, most of the birds go in for roosting early in the evening, just before sunset.

In the modern world, waking up before sunrise is difficult. And getting out of office before sunset is unheard of. So, the ornithologists have identified a species of birds that come out of the nests in the evening and return to roost late at night. The category of birds belongs to the female species of Homo Sapiens. These birds are found in large flocks, around shopping malls, movie multiplexes and such place where there shops that generally sells things that you either don’t need or, don’t have any known use.

The tools needed in bird watching are very simple. A keen eye and a right position is all that is required. You see, the birds have a very strange habit. Before leaving the nest, the birds spend hours preening in front of the mirror admiring the dress and adjusting the hair. When others on the road try to get a glimpse of such exquisite creative prowess of God, the birds feel their privacy is being invaded. Of course, modern technology has done its bit to reduce the privacy. But, the general habit of looking admiringly at well dressed and well made up birds is harmless habit. It is also quite helpful for the brain as it keeps it sharp and eyesight keen. Before actually indulging in the habit, enthusiasts must get some overview of the behavior of the birds, in order to get a pleasant experience.

The birds that most interest ornithologists fall in the category of featherless birds. They come in lots of colors and lots of types of outer covering. Some range from the traditional sarees to the modern low-cut-low-neckline-strapless dresses. Of course, the covering changes by the day and the occasion. Some times in can be traditional, sometimes; it can be eye-popping modern dress. Ornithologists are perpetually excited in trying to pre-empt the covering that the bird they are watching will have on the next day.

The next feature is the behavior of this strange species. Ornithologists have suffered the most on this aspect. It is also one of the things that even the modern marvels in science have failed to unlock. The birds have a very unpredictable behavior when interacting with their male counterparts. For example, these birds have an unforgettable memory and astounding ability to remember important dates, like friends’ Mom’s birthday to the first anniversary of things for example, first date, first day in office, first time on a night show at a movie, first time buying a mobile phone, etc. To top it all, these birds remember the anniversaries like the day somebody was married and the corresponding anniversaries. The male counterparts are lot more simple. They remember their own birthday, as they need to fill it in various forms. Apart from that remembering other dates is purely a coincidence. The problem starts when the females expect the males to remember the dates and to get some gift to commemorate the day. This taxes the male brain a lot and results in many a frustrating evenings, spent locked outside the house or sleeping on the couch.

The birds too have a very finely developed sense of punishing the male counterparts. Normal birds just peck the offender and that’s that. But, in the species of homo sapiens, it is lot more severe. Punishments ranges from total withdrawal from any conversations, constant frowning, answering in questions, fretting and frowning, sighing and crying, sobbing, temper tantrums and a lot more. The poor male counterparts have to bear the brunt. Being lowly developed in this area, they just do not know the response. Also, the birds with the charmingly disarming looks promote a false sense of vulnerability to the male counterparts. The males just melt in the hands of such fine manipulation.

Still, the passion of getting to know a new attractive bird is an incentive enough. The ornithologists are happy enough to find some bird, whose looks can kill. This is the ultimate prize. Getting know such a bird will be a dream come true. Of course, what happens later on is strictly out of scope of this dissertation. Hope this small article has helped you in providing a basic overview of the daunting subject of Ornithology.

Lonely Tunes

Yesterday, I'd called home. I was telling them about the girls finding a house in B'lore. It was at that time, it hit me! My own room-mates were moving out of the house. And they were never going to come back to the same house! When the time comes for them to return from onsite, it will be the time of their marriage. And then, they will no longer be bachelors and so, there will be no need for the bachelor's abode. Their bachelorhood would be over. With a chilling feeling, I realized that I was the only one without any such plans for the next year!

From the time of the call, this theme has been going on and on in my mind. In fact, from today morning, I am feeling very lonely. There seems to be a sort of forlorness in everything that I'm doing. When I woke up, I pained to hold someone close to me, just to feel the heart-beat. The pain to be with someone and hold someone is getting overpowering from the dawn. Sadly, there is no such person in my life!

This has started make me wonder.. Why is it that I suddenly feel so lonely and so very alone? After all, I've been alone from the past 24 years in my life. Then, what has changed in the past few days to make me feel this way?

I have no clue for the reasons. Maybe, one of the reason is the realization that people in my age group are all getting their soul-mates and moving on in life. It is this sheer fear that I'll be left alone which could be the cause. Or, the selfish fact that, friends who used to spend so much time with me, now hardly have any time to even talk to me. Or, it could be the peer pressure over the fact that I am alone.

Generally, all the friends are concerned about the fact that all of them are settled and I am the only one who has no such special person in the life. Whenver we go out or talk, somehow it meanders to this topic. Everytime and at every place, I keep getting remainded of the fact that I am alone. I understand that the motive is good on everyone's part. But, I sometimes feel hurt over the fact that these people keep remainding about the same topic, again and again. Why for heaven's sake can't the friends pick on some other topic?

Such talk used to never make any difference initially. Over a period of time, with so many repititions, I really have started to feel lonely. I was happy to be the way life was going on. The friends seem to have taken up the cause of helping me out. Or at least, trying to remind me. This has got me thinking over topics which I have always felt too complex for me to imagine immediately. After all, I am barely 24 years old. There is no rush to get hitched and settle in life. Yet, if all the people you know are getting settled, the mind starts to cook up thoughts like, "Is there something wrong with me?" Or "Why is it that I am the only one without a special friend? Is it some fault of mine?" And the most fearsome of all, "Am I going to be lonesome for the rest of life?"

Sure, the adage of idle mind being Devil's workshop is true. But, with nobody to help you spend time, the brain does get devious. And in throes of total loneliness, creep up such crazy thoughts. I know, many of them are plainly wrong. Yet, there is a fear lurking somewhere deep within and that sometimes gets terrifying.

I don't know why, but, even when all the people around are out hunting girl-friends and such, I feel that even thinking about these things is blasphemous. Is it really so bad a thing to do? It is definitely not. Then, why do I feel so guilty and try to abstain from even such thought? I don't know. Maybe, it is the fear. The fear that once I cross this rubicon of thought, the action will follow soon. And I am really terrified as to what can happend next. I feel that there are so many unpredictables in selecting a partner. With a mind driven by fear of loneliness, I feel, I may not find that right person.

To top it all, everytime, I go home, Mom keeps piling up stories of broken marriages, ruthless partners, malacious in-laws and more. If I were to remember everything of it, it would seem like, the marriage market is inundated by Satans! Still, there is a conflicting view. The friends who are going to settle seem to be so happy. They seem to be perpetually in the Seventh Heaven. I am torn between the two extremes. I just can't understan which of the two is the reality. Maybe a blend of the two would be the realistic picture. Yet, it is difficult to reconcile the fact the the angel and Satan can co-exist!

I really can't understand what to do or wheather I even need to do anything at all. I just felt like putting it all somewhere. So, wrote this thing!

A Momentous Journey

Last weekend, we had been to Chennai as a Cheer Squad for our Cricket team at the Cricnizent. The whole time was filled with wonderful memories.

The train journey

It all started with us leaving from Cognizant office to Chennai. The train was at 4 from Nampally. Vehicle had been booked for our sake. Ananth at the right moment had gone off on a team lunch! The time was already 2:40 pm and Ananth was nowhere in sight.

By the time he turned up, the weather was playing spoilsport. It started to drizzle and we were unable to find our taxi. Just started when it started to rain hard, we found our guys and left for the station. We reached the station well in time. Unfortunately, we had not got a complete cabin for ourselves. Two of the lower births had been allocated to an old couple. We thought, God help the couple!

The train journey began with a very pleasant event.. It had started to rain and the oppressive heat had given way to moist cool breeze. We had bought a stock of soft-drinks and bananas. We started to attack it almost immediately. We sent the old couple to another place. They were to return only for sleeping at night. They definitely wanted the lower births and we could not manage to get those for them.

We started with a game of cards. All together we played three different games, with at least 3 rounds of each game. All of us got bored of it soon. Everyone could easily look at others' cards! So, there was no fun in the game.

So, we started to play the game of "Yes/No/Maybe". Within 8 questions and three guesses, the others had to guess the personality. This was good fun. We played this for over 2 hours. Personalities ranged from Shankar Srinivasan, Osama bin Laden to Barkha Dutt.

By now, the old couple had returned. The time was 8:40 pm. They said, they wanted to sleep at 9 pm. So, we vacated the place and the births were put in place. The couple went off to sleep. All of us just stood there and started having our conversations.

At around 9:30 pm, all of us had given up hopes of food. Mani had said, food would be available at Guntur. We were worried that we had missed the place while we were playing. Luckily, this wasn't the case. We reached Guntur at around 9:40 pm. We got a lot of egg-oblates and dosas. Ate it while standing on the platform itself, as there was no place to sit and eat.

Then, started the real conspiracy. Ganesh and I were feeling sleepy. We pulled the birth and thought of sleeping at around 10:45. The rest of the gang had other ideas. They would not allow us to sleep. Every two minutes, Mani would tickle my feet and say, "Just in case you felt left out…. I have some updates: We are reaching Chennai in another 7 hours." Then, the update would be changed to 6 hours, 58 minutes and so on! Finally, I just gave up the idea of sleeping and sat up and chatted with the gang. At around 12 I could no longer sit and went off to sleep. The others were awake for some more time , it seems.

Next day morning, we reached Chennai. Mani's parents had sent the car to the station. Mani warned us all that we were in Chennai now. That meant, no more Chennai bashing. Talivar (Rajiini) was a Super-star here. Amma rules. Mani rocks. Any opinion against this was just not welcome; he said, it would result in dire results. We just accepted this. We had no options!

First day

The hotel booked for the Pune and Hyderabad team was the New Woodlands. The rooms were fabulous. It had a huge sitting room and an even bigger bedroom. I had to share the room with Niloy. The AC in the room and fan in the bathroom was really a boon. Otherwise surviving in oppressively hot city Chennai would have been an impossible task.

We went to the ground for our first match. It was Hyderabad versus Pune. We caught a place on the stands. Got some empty mineral water bottles, few whistles and posters and went on with out job. This was cheering our team like crazy. Obviously, our team won the match.

We then went back to the room, had a nap, got back to the stadium and cheered Pune which was now playing against Chennai A team. Unfortunately, Pune lost the match.

The Beach

Mani, Ananth, Shivani, Sai, Niloy, Supreeta and I decided to go for some outing in Chennai. We kidnapped our captain, Sriram from the ground. The plan was to go to the Eliott's beach. Mani, Sai, Shivani, Rowdur went off for the beach by the car. Ananth and Supreeta, Sriram and I were to go by an auto.

As luck would have it, our driver was a Tamil fanatic. On top of it, he was drunk. To top it all, he had an affinity to mobile phones! So, from the time we left, he'd drive sometime, and then ask me to call Ananth. Then, he'd take the phone from my hands, ask Ananth to hand to phone to the driver and they would speak. This happened some three times. Talk about technology and its misuse! By the time we got out of the auto, I'd lost some 50 bucks on the calls made by our driver.

While driving, he gave us a sermon on the great language that Tamil is. He asked us where we were from. We replied that we were from Hyderabad. Then he asked, what languages were spoken in Hyderabad. We told, Telugu, Hindi and English. He asked why people in Hyderabad did not speak Tamil. We did not answer. He then said, that Tamil is the oldest, the sweetest and the most beautiful language that is there. Sriram was seething beside me and I was getting ready to get my hands on this driver's neck. Finally, Sriram and I got bored of the loquacious driver and asked him to dump us at some point where we saw the beach! Luckily, it turned out to be the correct spot.

One by one, all the gang started to trickle in. We were all very hungry and a nice bajji stall was inviting us with the tantalizing chillis. So, we decided to have them. We ate Mirchi bajji, Banana bajji, Potato bajji, Onion bajji and Gobi bajji. The chutney tasted heavenly. Then, Ananth said that masala channa is too good. So, we got that and ate that too.

The sea was inviting. So, we decided to just get our feet into the water. The moment I hit water, I could not contain myself. I just wanted to get totally wet! The waves were strong and the tide was good. All of us had a good fun.

Then, a hawker came selling a sweet that is Indianized version of Cotton Candy. We had that too. By then, Niloy realized that his mobile was missing. All of got into a massive hunt for the mobile. We coaxed a hawker to help us in the search with his petromax lamp. Despite this, we never recovered the phone. It seems, this was Niloy's third phone. He'd lost two of them before! It was then that Mani told us that he too was almost going to loose his mobile in the train.

In the morning, while brushing his teeth, Mani had put the mobile on the wash-basin sill. He had forgot to take it back. He'd realized it only on reaching Chennai. That too, when he wanted to call for the driver and could not find the mobile. With a sinking heart, he went to the exit door. Amazingly, his mobile was still sitting pretty on the sill. How nobody noticed it is a real mystery.

Coming back to the beach. Niloy's phone was lost. We could do nothing about it. There was still one thing that we'd not done: eating the totapuri mango. So, we fulfilled this need/greed too. We were gobbling it so fast that the hawker had a great difficulty in matching upto to our speed in cutting the mangos!

We then came back to hotel, had a bath and had dinner. The thali was delicious. Then, we all crashed. The first day in Chennai had come to an end.

Day Two

Sunday morning seemed to be pleasant. Either the weather had cooled down or we had got adjusted to Chennai.

Anyway, we all got ready with a great sense of time. Hyderabad was supposed to play Chennai A at 9 am. People in the hotel managed to get ready by 9:30. Then, we had a heavy breakfast. After this, we left for the stadium. The time was 10. We thought at least one innings would have completed.

Only on reaching the ground, we realized that it had rained the previous night. The pitch had to dry. So, the match was postponed to 10:45 am. We weren't late after all!

We went back to our place to watch the match. This time, Chennai had a lot more supporters. So, we ensured not to bait the crowd. No point in it. They tried to bait us a lot. But, being the genteel group that we are, we took it all in stride and never fought back. We never needed it. Our team won the match in great style. We won by 5 wickets and 3 overs to spare!

We went back to the hotel. Ananth and gang went to some shop and got a dirty colored yellow T-Shirt. We were to make the team shirts. We started our artistic job at 4:30 while the match was supposed to start at 5! Rushing through it, we managed to print "Team Hyd" on the front and "Rocks" on the back of all the 11 shirts. The best thing was, no two team T-Shirts looked alike!

Wearing it, we all rushed to the road to find our team aboard the bus, about to leave for the stadium! Again, we were right on time! It seems a last minute match for the managers had been decided and was going on. The finals were to start only at 7.

Superstition

This time, the team was extremely careful. They did not want to upset any of the Gods! They had been visiting a temple before every match. This time too, they did it. The conditions were many though. Every action performed or not performed in the morning had to be repeated exactly. People who had left their shoes in the bus had to leave the shoes in the bus. People who had gone in to the temple late, had to go in late. We were not present in the morning at the temple. So, we were not allowed to go. {We were actually not in the bus in the morning. Why did the team allow us to accompany them? This is a big mystery still!} People were wearing the same T-Shirt, same trousers and same socks (at this point Swaroop stopped the team to list the similarities.)

We too were not behind the team in our beliefs. On every match before, we had gone to first floor only after the game commenced. After the opponent's batting, we had gone to meet the team. We had come up only when the game had begun, missing the first over in transit. We repeated all of it for the finals too!

The match

The match was about to begin. The ground looked bathed in light. The sheer brightness was unbelievable! From the ground floor, the view of the stadium would deceive anyone about the time. It looked like the time was something like 6 in the evening. It felt like the evening was about the being and the twilight was fast approaching. Yet, if you looked around it would be dark! The only give away was the shadow. Instead of one, there were now 4!

We went up to cheer for our team, wearing the T-Shirts. We were getting looks from one and all. There were various types of looks: surprise, fascination, disgust, curiosity, ridicule and a lot more. Braving all this, we majestically went and occupied our seats.

The previous evening, when Pune was playing Chennai A, we'd supported them. Also, when Bangalore was playing Chennai B, we had supported them. So, these guys all decided to support us! All the telugu gang from Chennai offices came to our support. On the finals, the strength of Hyderabad supporters was no less than that of the Chennai gang. We could match them in sheer noise and loudness. And we actually out did them!

Nishant played a magnificent innings in the finals. Despite being the wicket-keeper, he showed no fatigue while running between the wickets. The Chennai team played badly scoring just 106 runs in 20 overs for 9 wickets. This was a big achievement for them. Their score was something like, 1 wicket at end of over 1 to 4 wickets at end of 4 overs! Our guys had the trade-mark four catch miss. Once, we dropped the Chennai captain's catch. Someone said, we just dropped the cup. Himani retorted saying, this was the first catch. We had three more to go! This was because, in all the matches, we had dropped exactly four catches! And in the finals too, we repeated the performance!

Playing solidly, we were easily poised to win the match. We were 96 for 3 in 17 overs. By then, the guys on the field shouted and asked us all to be present on the boundary line. We were reluctant. Superstition mandated us to be at our seats until we completed the innings. But, we decided to go ahead anyway. This was a major turning point. In this over, we lost three wickets for just 2 runs!

All of us were sitting with the hearts in the mouth when the Chennai team started to field badly and gave away three runs by just overthrows. Ritanshu finally scored the winning shot. He had also done some amazing fielding, which got a special mention from our Chief Guest, Mr. Gundappa Vishwanath.

The after match ceremony was sheer ecstasy! We all could barely stand on the boundary line! Shankar had urged us not to cross this at any time! And we were managing to stick on to our promise. Finally, while our team was receiving the trophy, Sriram said, "We are a team of 25 and not of 11." That was the ultimate tribute we got.

First Flight

That night, we had dinner at Savera and slept only till 4 am. We had to reach the airport by 5 am. Somehow all of us managed to drag ourselves! There we had a great time looking at some good looking females. In fact, Mani fooled us all by saying there was Sania Mirza at the checking counter. There was a female with the glasses that looked like hers' but, she was a totally different person! Still all of us sat gawking at her!

The flight, my first ever one was not all that glamorous. I'd thought the plane would be huge and airhostesses would be incredibly beautiful. The Airbus A 320 is the bigger of the planes, but on the inside, it looked like a railway coach. In the extreme fatigue, the airhostesses did not look appealing. Still they were beautiful! I managed to get the very last window seat. This was a real experience!

As taxied, I thought, it was really boring. But, the take was fabulous. From a mere 16 km per hour, it seems the plane accelerated to over 100 km per hour in under 15 seconds! The thrill was amazing. The plane stopped on the runway. The propeller noise rose steadily. The brakes were released. Like a wild beast on a chase, the plane just leapt off and before even I could realize, the wheels were off the ground.

All the while I was busily watching the wings. The flaps being opened, closed, adjusted and controlled. This was a real humbling moment. One wrong move on the flaps and we could all plunge down to earth!

After taking off, the plane took a turn. It felt like a Tora-tora ride! The way the plane bends while turning really gives a thrill! All of a sudden the wings seem to bank. The horizon gets tilted and the massive plane will be making a change in direction.

Once it reached the cruising altitude, everything was quiet. Since there were clouds, initially looking out of window felt very exciting. We initially flew through the smoky plumes and before we knew it, we were flying above them.

There were various types of clouds: the little abandoned small ones, hovering aimlessly, the small group ones, which looked like small balls of cotton floating over each other and the big bad group which looked like a churning mass of white stuck together and stretched miles and miles across the sky.

By then, one hour was up and it was time to land. I tried to figure out Tank Bund. But, never managed to locate it. The landing too was a great experience. All of a sudden the plane slowed down. The flaps were moved down and suddenly the giant mass seemed to just halt in mid-air. I was getting tense that it would stall and fall down! Yet, it did not. The braking mechanism is truly frightening! When the plane did land, the flaps were completely opened like a flower blossoming out. Only, the internals of the wings are not as beautiful.

After deplaning, we all took our autos home and thus ended the great Chennai trip!

A Strange Dream

Yesterday night, I woke up with a start after having the strangest dream ever. And when I woke up, I was intrigued by the clarity of the dream and the details that I could remember... it had never occurred before in my life. So, here is what I saw.

I have gone to visit some place. Which city, I have no idea of. But, all of a sudden, I remember, I am in a temple. It's a very beautiful temple with lots of trees and lush lawns.

I go into the main temple. There is a very beautiful deity. But, I can't remember the deity of which God was placed in the temple. I kneel down to pray, when all of a sudden the Pujari(priest) comes running.

He asks me, "Take this Prasad".

I take it into my hands. Immediately, he says, "Pay Rs 50 for the Prasad!". I say, "Excuse me.." He says, "Pay Rs 50 for the Prasad."

I am totally angry now. I had never asked for the Prasad, and this guy come running, thrusts it into my hands, without giving me an option and demands so much money. So, I just say, "Sorry." And place the Prasad back into the plate.

The pujari is shocked by my actions. He pleads saying, "You can't reject Prasad like that! Surely, the wrath of God shall befall you!" I just shrug and say, "So be it." And walk away!

At this point, I even meet my father. How he came there and from where, I have no idea. He just says, "Well done son." And walks away.

What hit me the most was the details and dialogues that I could so clearly recollect. I remember the intense anger that I felt when the Pujari demanded the money. After all, he came like a silly street hawker. When I was about to kneel down, he came like a hawk and offered the "Prasad", without giving me an option of rejecting or without telling me, that it even cost some amount.

I also remember the sense of satisfaction that I had on rejecting the offer. I can't remember when I have taken such a harsh decision in life. Being very considerate of others, and God-fearing, I'd most probably have paid up. But, in the dream, I took the right stand. After all, the blessings of God should not be earned by such bribes. And money should be paid, only as a donation, not like some fees.

At the end, I did feel happy about the way I'd behaved. Maybe, in a few days, I'll understand what the dream was all about.

Maturity - Why I hate it?

This week, the last of my original room-mates is flying to US. This will bring to an end the great saga of our house. Yet, I'll be the only relic left in the house!

When this thought hit me, I was totally shocked. For a few hours, my mind just went blank. I mean, every nook and cranny of the house was filled with so many pleasant memories. Now, the last of the people who was involved in those memories too was leaving. This marked an end to our bachelor life's first episode.

I told my Mom that I hated this partings. I complained to God. I asked him, "Why? Why is it that it is only our group that is getting split so badly?" Every time I managed to get adjusted to the shock of one person getting out, there was another one who would move on. Dad said, "This is the fact of life. This is what maturity is."

Hell! If maturity means parting from your best friends, if maturity means, giving up some of the best times of your life and maturity means getting more nostalgic, then I'd rather not be mature!

Why is it that best times in the life seems to pass so quickly? I feel it was just yesterday that I landed in Hyderabad to join Cognizant. And before I knew it, I had a gang of 6 members in our house and 3 girls in our inner circle of friends. Within the blink of the eye, two guys left the house, the girls quit one-by-one and the guys are now flying away to the US. And I am stuck here alone.

The house feels oppressive now! I feel like I am an outcast in the house now. The people in it seem all strangers. We stay together because we need to share the rent. Before, we used to share our lives.

I feel like I am the curator of a museum. Every time I look around, the mind starts recounting the good-old days. It starts saying, "Here is the bed where we used to trouble Prashant" or, "Here is the room where we all used to sit and crack jokes on weekends until dawn." Even the whole city seems to have become like a historical tour to me! "This is the theater we all used to come together". "Here is the hotel we've had so many great dinners."

Each of these memories seem so painful. Every one of it seems to mock at me. The time seems to say to me, "Look what's happened to you? You were a loner from birth and that is what you will be!" The very thought sends chill down my spine.

Yes, I was a loner from birth. But, I'd experienced what togetherness means after coming here. I'd understood what friends are and what do you mean by a Best Friend. Now, all of them are away. I am worried. I am worried that I may lapse into my old self. The loner. Hopefully it won't happen... Let's see what the future holds and how much *mature* I'll have to get to cope up with the harsh and heartless time!