for ma..!

i have always been blessed

your prayers to almighty

your flying kisses

your fingers touching your lips 

they clinch

they open

and you throw

a mouthful of love

love is in your eyes too

they shine like diamonds

when you are with me

and i am with you

-----x-----x--------x------x----

Finding Happiness!

Amongst several goals of human life or rather at the bottom of all of them, we all strive to find happiness. I tried imagining moments which bring smiles on people's faces, those which make them forget everything and they in real terms live those moments. It is for those few seconds and that sense of achievement later - that eternal satisfaction, that we direct our energies wishfully towards our objective. 

Perhaps my description of happiness is different from what people perceive, it might not be the end result of toiling for long and then some sudden profound achievement, it might not also be a journey to success. Some people do not always achieve what they wish for. 

A one year old child playing with his toys is also happy. He is too young to think of any goal, a journey or some toiling. He derives his amusement from his life-less toys and his relentless imagination. He is happy because he is absorbed.

People in space station derive their happiness from several sources. They make calls back to their home, imagine their family's life on earth, share their experiences, perform their tasks, they move out to space walk and they also try to sleep amongst all this. Is it happiness or is it happiness out of duty? Imagine expressions of same astronauts when they light a candle in their space station. It is necessity when we are in dark on earth but its a fun there. There is no gravity, no convectional movement of air around the flame - which are responsible for the way we see flame on earth. It is a tiny blue spherical ball around the wick which goes off by itself in a few seconds. They enjoy the unexpected, though explainable phenomenon. Their happiness is sensory.

A maulvi's happiness lies in admiration of his folks when they kneel down to Allah in submission. He believes that his people will be the best of all someday when they will be true to themselves and to God.

A small girl is happy when she holds her father's finger and walks with him. A young boy is happy when his girl first responds to him. An old man sitting alone on a park bench is happy when he finds a company. Security, warmth and companionship is happiness for them.

It is not always the view from mountain top, nor the arduous journey one needs to reach there. It probably lies in sitting at milestones, adoring the beauty around, experimenting, taking care of people around, being warm, filling voids and reaching out. Happiness is in moments we look into.

21 Jan 2014

No Rocket Science!

http://theviewspaper.net/no-rocket-science/

How many times in a day do we come across this phrase 'No Rocket Science!' blowing out of proportions the simplicity of a process, the way things are done. From teachers to politicians the usage of phrase is phenomenal. The moment I hear someone saying this I try to imagine what made that person say it. Is he really aware of Rocket Science? Can he actually weigh the simplicity/complexity of a situation vis-a-vis Rocket Science? Does the person in question has in any way some scientific aspect of looking at things?

A blunt remark by a news-maker these days has made me think even more. Solution to water woes, power woes is no Rocket Science. Solution to good governance is no Rocket Science. May God prove you right, but I sincerely wonder if these things were so easy the way you are making people believe, delivering promise after promise of your manifesto, costing exchequer, it might actually turn out to be a Rocket Science for you few months later, when summers will start and water and power demand will shoot high.  Dear sir, you are roaming around in a coal mine with a fire baton - careful that your clothes don't get dirty and you come out clean, there is equal possibility of finding diamonds or hitting a gas damp.

Coming back to Rocket Science,  my sudden interest in it is because of recent space activities by ISRO and news articles covering it. Last month I read about Mangalyaan, our Mars Orbit-er Mission (MOM),  which was launched on 5th of November and how ISRO conducted several orbit raising manoeuvres before it could leave earth's orbit. I got more interested in understanding how these manoeuvres are performed. Basically when a spacecraft is launched and is once placed in an orbit revolving around the earth, to make it shift to a distant orbit two impulses are required - one to off track it from its current orbit and other to place it back in  its new orbit. A little understanding of vectors can make one visualize it well. It is scientifically termed as Hohmann Transfer Orbit. Several such manoeuvres were undertaken before MOM moved to Mars Transfer Orbit, a trajectory that will help it in its arrival on Mars. Signal transmission time is increasing day by day and we should keep our fingers crossed that we become 4th Space Agency to reach Mars by 2014 end.

India is progressing. Politics and Science - hand in hand.

Currently two countdowns are going on. One for GSLV D-5 launch carrying a massive 2 tonne satellite payload, other is for Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) government to deliver on its promises in Delhi. We don't want any of them to fail but both are vulnerable.

What makes GSLV D-5 launch interesting is that we are using indigenous cryogenic engine to power upper stage of launch. Cryogenic engine uses fuel (Liquid Hydrogen) and oxidizer(Liquid Oxygen) stored at extremely low temperatures. Having suffered two failures in past and a last minute mission abort ISRO has tried hard this time to make it a success.

AAP has never suffered a failure, it is too new for that. They are the safest players in the game. Only time will write their testimony. Mango people are the best weapon of their arsenal. They have chosen Lal Bahadur Shastri to learn politics from, clearly stepping aside of Gandhian-Nehru parlance. Sardar Patel was already chosen by Bhartiya Janta Party(BJP).

Everyone wants prime time coverage. Lalu, Ramdev, Kiran Reddy, Yogendra Yadav all are trying hard. Suddenly entire political stage has come alive with equal lightening on all entities. All appear same.

Writing at 2 a.m. in the night I wonder Is it too difficult to take stand? Is it too difficult to accept truth, reward and innovate? Is it too difficult to develop a model, progress and sell? When ISRO can target deep space market for worldwide missions.. Can't our politicians also deliver?

(No Rocket Science, huh!!)

05 Jan 2014

Blue Magic

Almost always there is an urge to push the caricature forward. I think I don't carry any but I want to push. What is lagging needs to be in contempt-ion.  I am talking of our motherland and the form of forces its kids deal with. The kinds of sufferings we all grow with, we ourselves unknowingly get trapped in the vicious circle whose ends are met by power, name, money and compromise. Everyone carries a boiling pot over his head which has grown up with a belief of 'self' above everything. Middle age or later we all (can) identify this.

We are in 'race' from start of our lives, still we don't win medals at Olympics. Government in 2009 guaranteed RTE - Right to Education to every child. It actually went wrong in clarifying to them that it is actually 'Race to Education'. It should have said that they don't have resources, so they will keep on checking at  their check-posts, the Darwin theory - fittest will survive, others will perish; though they will never say they are exercising Darwin's theory in the name of inclusive growth.

Every time we see suffering around us, our heart burns but that is all in the way we are affected. Lakhs of kids work as laborers at tea-shops, restaurants, factories - Aren't they being deprived the right to live a meaningful life?

One thing is that we lack resources and other is mis-utilization. Right from primary education to PG level our system is flawed. Perhaps its the intermittent political advices/ encouragements that have ruined the system.
We do understand that we should have 'sports' quota for education of sportsmen whose attention gets diverted, but we forget and we don't heed to efforts of an 'open' category student, who has fought against things, proved his mettle - as the seat will go to someone who is not so fortunate(or otherwise?) to be born as his brother. Whether the debate for this means as an instrument for equalizing society will end/ or not, the system is here to stay and can't be changed over time for something or other as risks are tremendous.

For a while take a look at the credentials of saviors of our democracy, it proves everything. Either you will find foreign educated people, highly educated who entered politics in their college times or those who could hardly pass secondary examinations and are there because they exercised power in wrong doings and hence rose.

The political will to go for change lacks and it is because of the stakes at risk. Everywhere system is like that the one who has reached some position will try to save it -- no matter what the absolute expectations are. In a way you can't blame someone who is playing in his comfort zone. The entrepreneurial wave so much talked about in administrative circle seldom shows here.


The one who fights for change keeps on fighting and one day he relents, though the cause is just but he is taking policy-makers job to himself and why would latter part with his 'responsibilities'? Policy makers do have some rights - Right to accumulate wealth, Right to awe in the power they exercise and Right to remain fit. Remember.. Darwinism?

(to be continued)

Rise Up - Time Is Now

Time changes, thinking changes, perception changes. What not changes is the voice at the back of head. The ticks and pricks of needle into the cerebrum, the thick gloat of an unassuming unrelenting perpetual thought , not one but same in characteristics circumvent the evolving outrage.

The outrage is frightening in the manner that you escape the stage to stay in your preferred spot, easygoing one which fulfills your body, consumes your mind - yet can't entirely blot the incoming leaks. You wish to stay protected behind the wall and you wish more to erode it.

Unlikelihood of success degenerates the crude momentum which is extinguished before its spring. The wind is to be nurtured, ship sails by directing it.

Consider a sapling and how it grows. What was there was just a seed, a potential. How it grows up using air, water, nutrients is interesting. A part of it grows up, a part of it grows down. What is needed at top comes from bottom - fighting deterrents, fighting gravity - the motive is growth and every part of it contributes.

Unless you take the challenge you never will. And its not about beating your head in the wall. Learn from experience. Forget past but not the learning. Its an asset acquired, not that the path was wrong - but that was how it was meant to be. That is how you discover and experience Him.

Remember your cry after failure, didn't they get you closer to Him. Didn't you feel stronger after that. Time is now. Rise up.

13-03-2011, A Sunday

There are days when you wish you have full control over every action of yours, no body interrupting, engaging or disengaging. Yesterday night only I planned that tomorrow's day will be mine. I didn't know how exactly it will go but still I told her that I'll be unavailable throughout, right from six in the morning. I got up at seven, left room at eight.

Left for Vile-Parle. ISKCON. For few days this streak was developing in me to see Krishna, and to reinvent the lost spirituality.

Nokia Maps is a big no. After 1 MB download it failed to show my location. I downloaded Google maps instead and decided to take it by foot, 2.5km from the station, closely following the map guideline. In between I stopped at a kiosk for water and asked the man there about location as my previous experiences following online maps have always led me nowhere. The man gave me directions and asked me to take left from 'Amitabh's home'. Something hit me.. Is it? Is it really what he said? I asked again, confirmed and then left. Following my map after about a km of walk I took a left and asked 2 guards sitting there about the temple's directions. They confirmed amongst themselves and finally told me what they affirmed was correct. I agreed.. Just when I was about to turn I asked him - 'Amitabh's home is nearby too?' They look amazed and one of them pointed his finger downwards confirming my worst fear. I was outside 'Pratiksha' and interacting with 'Amitabh Bachhan's' security guards. I recollected myself, as if voice was looking for words to come through. I asked again and he said, this is Pratiksha, Jalsa is nearby. I stood there for few seconds and before it could have turned into more of embarrassment, moved. Few steps.., then sat for a minute on the foot-path nearby and then left for the temple.

Apart from small turnoffs stay at temple was fulfilling. One of them being: 25k for Life-membership. I don't know why I asked for it at the first place. Interacted there with some people, sat near Krishna.. it was good.

Way back it was again Pratiksha, guard was smiling.. I didn't respond and took right.

Now the question was where the hell I should head in scorching Mumbai heat of March. I thought of Colaba, had some purpose at Hazarimal Somani road. That’s all I knew of the place I had to go.

Vile Parle to CST is a big journey, only slow local stops. Could have changed a train at Dadar to reach soon, I decided to wait for CST train. Waiting there I lost myself in some obtuse thoughts. Either that station didn't fit that place or I didn't fit there. That locality was appearing strange and people looked stranger. I pulled out laptop, inserted the CD I took at temple. Tried murmuring along, felt strange(-ly) strange and shut it next.

You can never imagine an empty train on Mumbai railroads, mine was, half. Opposite me was a 30 something hunk with his-quarter-sized wife. I thought of concentrating on man's gadgets. A cellphone embedded watch, an iPad size mobile and a Bluetooth headset. When I realized that my continuous observation could easily have been mistaken, I tried observing other things around.
Women.

In a semi filled coach you see men all around with few women dispersed amongst them. India's gender ratio certainly takes a dive in such observations.
All men were sleeping, other than those who hung by coach's entrance.
Each of the women was like looking nowhere, lost into something. 

Anyhow I made it there, and started looking for what I had to. I was able to locate the locality but couldn't find the place. There after I killed time, roamed in Fort area.

Twilight is good at Gateway. Spent evening writing at a distance.

05/03 - 06/03

Real long I enjoyed company of opposite sex.. Well, that was before yesterday. A colleague/friend trusted my know-it-all attitude and we decided to go for best laptop hunt for her. I wanted to meet her so I wrought the plan and we left at 830 for InOrbit. An hour down we were done with laptop enquiries and as planned (Last week's plan that didn't come up then) we were in at CCD. Confident enough I chose my drink, leeche ice Tea. She settled for Frappe.

You can't blame an Aus-NZ match bad enough to put your eyes off a pretty girl. It happened and kind of irritated her too but then Cricket is Cricket and I think I made it up for that to her. Leeche had started tasting awful by the time we left.

Conversation gripped up and it was like we both were looking for some deaf ears to puke out all that was in. Would have loved tossing in a Beer and then blaming it up for that but that was not the case to be. Effect was. I felt.

I don't know why most of us who are now in their mid 20s always had dream of making it into armed forces. She narrated a few incidences related to army; her SSB experience and how army-men can charm any of the ladies with their short neat hair-cut and chivalry. I don't lack into any of them. My father always insists on one having a smart short haircut and I have always been the one who according to him needs a haircut just after one. I agree now short is cool and smart.
And I was reminded of my conference-outs in SSB.

One more thing is in for people of our age group these days. Marriage. Either one wants to/or one wants to attend one of his/ her friend. Girls of our group who are ageing in at 24 are experiencing the in-house commentary of being a 'paraya-dhan'. Its a matter for family which should be done away with as soon as possible. Boys can relax for now.. 2-3 years later for them. My elder brother too will get married in a couple of months. Ehmm.. World is changing, in fact Our World is changing. She told me a kissa wherein, on her family’s insistence she went out to see a boy. I could visualize and this makes for a bollywood scene, Boy coming out of kitchen holding a plate of Poories! ( No offence buddy if you get to read this, chances are slim though. Others.. There were just three of them at home he and his parents :P ) God's grace or what, Merchant Navy guys earn a lot (and suffer a lot!). They agreed in their one-to-one that marriage was not on either's cards for 2-3 yrs and commitment was not in foresight.

Not very hungry we moved in at a Paratha corner, and for the first time in my life I settled after one.
A group of office girls spotted us and I was reminded what girls do best. I counted,7. Ah..ohk.
Next 2 hrs we were together in Society Park.

05/02

Birthdays can pine you to write. Perhaps it’s the bliss I derive of it that pushes me to. Legally it’s the fifth month I am into job, almost same time I made last entry. In between has been involving/engaging - tussling/adjusting. One lesson learnt is you can't sail into two boats; for that you got to be experienced/or a woman /or for a take have backup in case you have a fall.
Almost 3 years my MBA nerve hasn't let me peacefully wilt. I am in job after a long fight - You club the dream, club the gift, club the girl -Where does a job fit in ?

Not that I do not like it. Coming to Mumbai and perhaps being in office has changed things around. When I am giving 9 hours a day to something I believe I can excel in that(and get well paid.)

On my way to Mumbai after training there was this gentleman named Bill, a Canadian - a 55-60 aged man you can distinguish from crowd. Something made us strike conversation and I won’t shy away from saying that perhaps because I am a good communicator, I can strike it well with most of the individuals, same was with him. 15 minutes into the conversation and he was sharing his personal album on my personal laptop - his son/his family trips/work/private parties. Conversation loosened and I shared what I always have on my mind and I am glad I did. His answer was logical, perhaps one which any man with healthy brain activity can arrive on - but at times you want someone else's gut/instinct to think upon and to close down. Now when the girl is out of picture he asked me to give the gift time, to sustain and evolve, not 6 months but an year or two; and then 2 years down the line you can make a final decision which can help you stand up financially also. A job can become the job and eventually the gift can also sublime that. Next two years are going to be the best experiment of my life. I got to contain two things, my tummy and...

Good life..

Good life is the ultimate aim for many of us. A good life, with hundred percent of things we admire. Our projection and perception of good life can be and is indeed different from many of others. Sometimes they are limited by things beyond our control and sometimes we ourselves are the inhibitors. What lurks behind latter is that we are not aware of that inhibition. When we do become, aware, it starts evaporating – again, most of the times.

To experience, 'temptation' is a dangerous dictionary word. The older we grow the graver meaning it attains. 'Expectation' follows later, at times in line. We might earn dollars, be social, love kids or women.. we could still feel a need. To counter it at first place can make one do mistakes, but the solution is lone. The wound may heal but the temptation to scratch and reinvent creates problems. This is one side, problem can be solution too.

We are at several times ruled by a sense – to overpower. What escapes the rule is ‘thought’. It becomes vicious. What could be an overpowering thought on (a) thought is in itself a ‘thought’. We are limited, to judge the rationale. We rely on conventions, the wisdom acquired. When things fail or appear to fail, we need Him. He serves all purpose. Its only our belief that works wonder. Every counter-rationale is subdued – and ‘overpower’ rules.

Most of all, good life is lasting; we all aim for, work for – but, when do we live it? Sensory titillation is all we get or perhaps that is what that makes life look good. Bread is important, perhaps love, and perhaps both.

Young Indian asks

It was nice to see our India averages 25.9, the youngest in the world. A country full of youth.., aiming to achieve sky high goals. Well some of these goals should coincide with those of our nation, the direction we ourselves want it to go in. Most of us will love to be a part of it, the success story, and in fact many of us are. We feel the pain that surrounds us, the obstacles we need to step out.

A conscious mind like mine can put forward some questions, these can be disguised as byproducts of an energy driven approach, wanting to do something, most likely unaware of the way India goes. Yes, we are, not unaware. The difference is, we believe the popular sentiment of Chalta hai can be ruled out, and should be, so as to get a change visible enough.

70,000 crores, the largest figure that has come across the Games mess, read CWG related work. Why is media hyping the issue? Do they really have any base or all of this is just to provide some verbal stimulus to those who will work out their vocal glands before a deaf government?

Is Delhi going to be peril of vanity show, disguised by policy makers as one of great Indian resurgence, an upcoming might. Isn’t it already? (I mean peril) But yes we don’t care about our own people, do we? They get killed of electrocution, they get killed of dug up roads, we actually don’t.

Why aren’t our own people our top most priority? Those at the top are always in some kind of appeasement display. Be it much debated nuclear liability bill, be it GM Brinjal issue. Why are there allegations that government is pro-US or pro-profit makers?

Is the role of opposition always to oppose any move the government makes? And then suddenly one day things become alright. One day one Mulayam and one Amar support, the ever opposed Atomic deal. One day one BJP moots its liability Bill clause and provides full fledged support.

Average aged 26 nation demands transparency, if at least it is expected to involve.

Why it is that the government is not answerable to its people, one who gave it full majority. Why should one trust the ideals of constitution, when those who are bestowed turn betrayers? Shouldn’t there be a voice clearing airs..?

Well we expect

Engineer again!

Long I wrote something.. 30th April it says was the last entry. Got offer from Gallagher that day. Exact 40 days, left home. In between -
- appeared at Collabera, Cognizant, Oracle, TCS(referral)
- stood outside Steria, Pune with 500 odd people, hopeful of getting interviewd,
- made 29 hr journey to Mumbai for Accenture, and got nothing
- saw Bangalore, Mumbai and of course Pune
- been with Prashant at IIT-B, considered taking up that Embedded course at ThinkLABS
- enjoyed Beer at Mondegar
- twice enjoyed air-ride
- played Antakshri with Jagga & Co. (Jagga, Soni, Siddhu) at Versova beach, 1st time Sea. (also cursed Jaggi for showing Sea in night!)
- kept phone on roaming, chatted with every possible prospect of getting me a JOB, persons ranging from L&T to Deloitte. Nothing worked.

Returned home with KPO offer,7th May. 18th May joining.
10 days home and no respite.
-Got call from Amdocs. Result got scrapped.
-Shopped extensively with sis. Sunscream in kitty too.

17th I left. Again a flight, via Mumbai.
KPO was cool. Lasted 2 weeks.
Felt like ..belittled, working with some dumb-heads. I call 'some'.

US culture started setting in. Loved it.
- Vishnu, my Lead, kept US flag on his desk. Not b'coz he loved country that much, but 'coz it was 'Made In US'. You dont get to see a US flag, generally 'Made in US'.
-Amazing Anisha, my trainer for a week. Loved her for getting chocolates. ;)

In between got call from TCS, checked a day before (otherwise it'd have also gone). Topped Pune region, all applicants. Had interview a week late. Didn't scrub it, and got it.

Well, it doesn't happen each time, but the day I resigned, I was watching Rajneeti with same guys the next day. -Reason to love Gallagher- And I met Mansi too.

Gyaan:
- Things require patience. I ended up with same company that got my 1st reject.
- Life comes full circle, one day or other.


P.S. - Journey ended with some bliss. Of course, other than the job!

My English - Love Story

One day, class 5 or 6, can't exactly remember, my Maths teacher asked me to write 50 times Why I was absent a day before and Why I had not done my home work. I had reason so I wrote:
"I will went to Delhi"
"I will went to Delhi"
.
.

Two tight slaps and some scolding followed. 'Can't write in English? Should have asked..!'

I wanted to tell her - 'Ma'am.. 'will' goes best with 'I', and I had really been to Delhi'. On the other hand, 'Keeping quiet' was better option. It was, saved me two more.
That was the day my 1st embarrassment came with English.

English classes I used to be quiet. Used to tear off pages from notebook whenever I got less marks in tests.

Class 7 and 8 were good. Savita Ma'am. Used to study because I feared her a lot. Never once she slapped though. Everyone used to say she was partial with a few, I never felt.
1st time at length when I spoke in English was in her class, was summarizing a story, and did that quite well. Lately I developed a feeling that even I was one of her favorites, she surely was mine.

Class 9 and 10 was another influential teacher, Daas Ma'am. Feared her too, but lately that fear diluted when I got to know that apart from keeping 3 different registers for English nothing else mattered.

I used to get books with some kind of patronage associated, used by elder brother, elder sister and then myself. Every word had its meaning well written, so when no one spoke of some reference of some unknown word, I used to raise hand, chin high. It felt good.
2nd embarrassment was in line.

The day after summer vacation, Ma'am asked Class something - Everyone had to speak one new word learnt, with meaning. I was in middle of class, and countdown began.
I used to get shivers whenever such thing happened, teacher going from student to student asking something. Also you have to sit still, focused; Make a move and Who knows you are the next in queue.
I took a smarter way out, Oxford Dictionary came to help. Opened a random page, picked a random word.
'Abet'.
My turn came.. and the moment I spoke, class fell silent.
- What exactly is that Lalit?
- Ma'am its..
Its actually..
Its like
- Like.. What you actually need?
Support.
- Yes ma'am. Some kind of encouragement.

Turn passed. But I was embarrassed. Lalit.. one word? Could not speak a word, on own. This is it? Dictionary? Shivers? One word?

I was never her favorite. No praise, ever. Winning quizzes, radio show, debates, extempore.. nothing mattered.
I loved her and her daughter's articulation, mannerisms.

Senior school, English hardly mattered. Used to be another P.E. period. You aim chalks, you giggle.. and you relax. You don't get books and you get slaps, you see others laughing, you respond and you get slaps again.

Engineering, English got a new name - Essentials of Communication. EOC.
Thought of studying English in college kept me smiling throughout. Teacher was equally funny. (correction : fun-loving) If nothing, my smile used to be a reason for argument. Could never keep a straight face there. Thought of keeping one made me smile harder.
Add to it, Arun - always having a spare ear plug for me,
Kunal and Punu - always there cracking jokes.
Ma'am won't notice them, but won't leave any chance to aim me. One day there was a discussion going on in class Whether students should bring cell phones in class or not. Usual, my smiling face caught her attention and I was asked to present my views. I started, her phone rang and she took 3-4 minutes. My views got directed.
'Ma'am not only students, even teachers should not bring cell phones, or atleast they can talk later.' She fumed, took me over and Had I not spoke sorry I'd have been sentenced!
I didn't see her for rest of semester.

My CAT prep in final year came at Delhi, CL - Kailash Colony. Sole aim - English.
Apart from parajumbles, para completion, RCs.. Judith Smith taught several other things. Love for English started.
I learnt to smile at Che Guevera T-shirts, cool guys wear. Started appreciating Vinita Nangia articles in Times Life (had other reasons too!). Started reading Krugman. Got to know, the difference among satire, sarcasm & sardonic. RD & Frontline became favorites. Got to know Who was Orwell.
Familiarity with World and Self increased.

1st time Mumbai

Failed in 2D array initialization at Oracle interview and also at plotting RLC series-parallel circuit responses, I knew I won't be able to make it. Answering logic puzzles in milliseconds doesn't make much sense when you have guys with appropriate skills & apt logic sense.
I was rejected.
New shirt and no selection.

Set out for room again, biking for 1st time in Bangalore. Reached. Told Lalit entire story.
Tried being composed. I wasn't.
Logged in. Checked mailbox. Had response from Accenture off-campus. Had call.
Prepared. Packed. Set out.
1st meal of day came in form of Veg Biryani at a Madrasi restaurant. Boarded bus at 9.
20 straight hrs. Pune.
Last time it was train. Was kinda excited. Kunal and V and Cognizant.
Nothing this time. Wasn't thinking anything. Was trying not to think of anything.
Take things as they come and let go of them.
Tried relaxing. Couldn't. Called Kits. Told story. Slept.

Woke up at Belgaum: 630. Saw a big temple, thought of locating it on google map some time late.
Pune wasn't quite like a home coming.
Also Google map can deceive you at times. Showed the New Panvel campus near Dadar.
Believed.
Set out for Mumbai - 9 p.m. Volvo.

Woke up when bus was crossing Vashi around 1230. I had always wanted to visit Mumbai. This way, was never expected.
Conductor came in again and again.
Mankhurd... Sion, this, that, Dadar, Bandra, Andheri. Mumbai was appearing smaller than I had thought. Jogeshwari came at 1 10, I had set alarm for 1 11.
Just because I was so sleepy at the time of setting alarm, didn't care about moving finger over some other digit on keypad.

Reached Jagdish's room around 130. Had discussion.
'New Panvel is Panvel only, i.e. Navi Mumbai'
(Could have been two hr journey from Pune itself in morning)
Cursed Google.
Imagined tryst in Locals, next morning.
Slept.
Woke up at 645.
Jogeshwari to Dadar, to Wadala Road, to Panvel. Reached Campus at 10.

A2 batch had to wait outside, only to hear an hr late that campus for them was taken off.
I was in A2.

Pune

Two weeks before I had no idea Where I would be a week later. Collabera interview made me head to Bangalore. Days there I didn't know I'd land up in Pune a week late. Day before yesterday I did. Cognizant this time.
Not much surprise, no converts.
Two cities in a week. Ferry 1 took 2 hrs and 2000 kms, while ferry 2 took 20 hrs and 1000 kms. Bangalore I had no expectations. Expectation in the sense What the city would be like. I went, gave interview, stayed at Lalit's room for 5 days and then left. Left for Pune. Pune I was excited, Kunal and V.

V can recollect we met in 'Tennis' room more than 4 yrs back. She had id name she thought no one could make out, person being male or female. I did, for I thought such name only 'female'.
She left her no. offline only when it was sure I'll visit Pune. Deal done.. "We meet."
Lots of messages and a few calls we decided I reach Corporation first and she'll join. I reached and was directed - Ask people for FC road and see for Vaishali restaurant. It took me almost 30 minutes and 10-12 people i asked. Only when I could see 'Fergusson College - Junior Wing' written on a board, I got sure, 4 yrs of talking and it'll be real soon.

I always knew she is taller (5'9" to be precise ..and I like to say am 5'7"), only that couldn't see myself believing that. Why not? Only non realistic fascination, Deepika Padukone can be 5 9. I can't remember when was the last time I came face to face with a taller girl.
5 minutes later I reached. She was there and I can say "Girls make you look up -(quite literally also)".
Greetings. Handshake. I wanted to hug. Didn't happen. We moved into Vaishali. Hell crowded. She moved out, I followed.
What next? Wasn't I hungry. 3 sandwiches in day and not for South-indian.
Its a little difficult to move around with pretty girls. A little more if they are taller. You can always spot scores of eye balls glued on. I accepted.
Ok. CCD next.

Am fond of Tea and Coffee both, Cold and Hot both, and I never order. I can't. At times its been Kits, Bhai or Sis or someone else. And she expected me too. She settled for Lemon Ice Tea and .. I followed.
CCD was well occupied and still very ok. Ice tea made us talk longer. Longer or shorter, don't know. Minutes become semi-minutes..
We came out.
A famous bakery nearby. She decided. I followed. (Sweet chariot it was, and not that famous, just that one can't find any in my city. Bangalore, Pune: Quite common!)

Few minutes walk down FC, a strawberry cheese cake waited on platter. My choice. Pink Triangle turned out a little more sweeter. Pink color can actually make you do weird things. We decided to scoop that off. One spoon pressed triangle from one side while other did the scooping job. Later spoons reversed roles. Her was better. Still.. Had the shop owner seen what we did, the 45 Rs. Triangle was set to be orphaned. Anyways I got some increase in my GK, next time you see any strawberry, 90% chance, its from Mahabaleshwar.

So cake done. We were out, again walking along FC. In between Bhai called, In between met one of my classmate, his 1st ques. - Kaun hai? Sahi hai!
I shrugged.
Back, Vaishali again. Crowded again. We moved out again.
We moved ahead, another good restaurent nearby. But Booking.. had to wait.

- You have girlfriend?
- No. none.
- You had, no?
- Ah.. no. Leave that.
- You have.. Boyfriend?
- Yess..
3 yrs. He is in SIBM, doing MBA.
- Ah.. great.

I at times make some idiotic responses. Trying to find words. Questions. One involuntarily was in line.

- He knows, you are here..?
- Yup.. obviously. 3 years yar. He knows, Just a friend, what big deal.

So called idiotic response can trigger hormonal reaction. Ahmm.. just a friend. What big deal!
Much of the later part.. I was quiet. Silenced.

We moved in. A table in open.. which wasn't quite aptly set in open.
12 male eyes on the adjacent table were soon replaced by equal no of female ones.
Time to order. Not very fond of dosa, myself. She ordered and it was ok. Sweet sambhar and teekha dosa.
Chit chat went on and we finished it soon.
.
.
.
.
.
This was it. Apart from noticing soil color change from place to place, brown to red to black... 1 accomplishment. Met V. Always wanted to.

Atleast glad of something...

I was talking to an old friend after a real long time.. while conversing she recalled something, 'Your nose still turn red when you get angry?', I told her that I don't lose temper that often, the way I used to.. moreover, told her that my ears turn red at times. Quick she was, as always, gave me the related metabolic reason: "I can attribute it to increased dilation of blood vessels resulting in increased blood flow into your sinuses, may be you have a lot of sinuses or free spaces into which blood rushes in, it's a physiological response triggered by the hormone epinephrine.....it's ok, not a big deal."

.

.

.

Am very glad,quit biology long back.

:)

Happening week..

Past week has been a little happening.. I mean happening enough to make me write an entry aft so long..

1st it was CapitalIQ at a pool campus.. it left me gasping how they expected Electronic(s) guys to build test cases over their testing platform screen-shots, there was an apti which i guess any one could clear with or w/o any vodka shot oozing in his stomach. Any how punu aur pappu ki bak-bak sunte sunte time pass ho gya.

2nd it was evalueserve.. they had an opening in IP division, Electronics n i have a friend there. So internal referral provided me opportunity to appear before a panel to gauge my technical holdings.

Looking really forward to it.. I was back to books.. Analog, Digital, DSP...n all.
Day came n i was there (15 mins before time) :P

1st apti.. then an RC, had to answer some flowchart questions.. Not a big fight.. I battled through. then there was the tech round.. panel asked my strong-holds.. n i was there..

"Sir, BASIC Analog, BASIC Circuit theory. and GENERAL Microprocessors."

Anyways the interview spanned: Maxwell Equations, KVL,KCL, BJT, 8085, 8086, Poles-zeroes.. frequency plots.. Routh Criteria..Nyquist(n also some 12th class funde.. potential, energy, conventions)

To everythng else i was quiet ;)
.
.
.
An hr later:
I was delighted.. knew sm electronics, after all.
The panel too recommended me for manager level round.
Kunal ne kaha tha beta haste haste maarte hai ye.. aur shyd aisa hi hua.
I'll just mention 2 ques they asked -
1. If a/b is even and a+b too.. then which of these
is cerainly odd
a. a/2
b. b/2
c. (a+2)/2
d. (b+2)/2
e. (a+b)/2

2. The no of pages I had in my file.. including photostats [I took time. recalled. n replied]
Secondly..What fraction of a normal tree were they??
.
.
.

Either way it was good on their part.. they told me then n there.. that i didn't fit their requirements.

Utterly disappointed, i left for home.
[And yes.. if given a chance, I would pop an egg each to those 2 managers and then ask them.. how many food-chains have this organic matter been through? ]

Back home.. i opened my (g)mailbox n had a surprise.. Interview call from Webchutney, (thx to naukri.com). They are initiating a new venture in digital governance.. preparing a base level team.. he mentioned abt an evalueserve manager, sm IITian guy, they had roped in already.. He himself was IIM-b graduate, and here they were looking for smone to go for secondary research, consulting, client interaction.. i.e. role of "biz-analyst"

I had an intuition.. boss degree ka kuch kaam nhi hai.. so i mentioned abt my blog.. and a summary i prepared last year.

IT was a decent 30 min interaction ..am awaiting their final response and really looking frwd..
(will add more aft gettn result)
.
.
.
.
A week later:
I called the HR today.. and she said, The offer has been rolled back.

100 truths

1. Last drink: Mother dairy’s lassi
2. Last phone call : called chhavi and received karan’s
3. Last text message: msgd kunal, marks in mock
4. Last song you listened to: Rehna hai tere dil mae..
5. Last time you cried: It was recent, about a fortnight back

Have you ever?...

6. Dated someone twice: no
7.Been cheated on?: I don’t think so
8. Kissed someone & regretted it?: no
9. Lost someone special?: lost some.. but am glad a few of whom I lost, I got back
10. Been depressed?: yup
11. Been drunk and threw up?: naah.. capacity k hisaab se! :O

Four Favourite Colors...

12. Dark blue

13.Navy blue
14. Black

15. Red
..

Firsts....

16. Made new friends: I love to
17. Fallen out of love: I did.
18.Laughed until you cried: rarely
19. Met someone who changed you: yup.

20. Found out who your true friends were: yes. n also found who were not.
21. Found out someone was talking about you: yup. It feels great :P

Have You...

22. Kissed anyone on your friend's list: no
23. How many people on your friends list do you know in real life: all of them
24. How many kids do you want to have: as many. Would love majority of them to b girls. :) 25. Do you have any pets: no
26. Do you want to change your name: I don’t. Papa wants it to be LALIT NARAYAN SARASWAT
27. What did you do for your last birthday: I have a blog entry for that day. Nothing much.
28.What time did you wake up today: 0545
29. What were you doing at midnight last night: Trying to sleep, under sky, ossum weather yesterday
30. Name something you CANNOT wait for: I don’t know. Really.
31. Last time you saw your father: 4 hrs back. When he left for office.
32. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life: Why am I so carefree.. n why do I realize importance later. 33. Most visited web page: google.com

What's Your...

34. Name: lalit
35. Nicknames: gabdu, chooja(only mummy calls me by this name.ok.), laali, laali sir, lalle, gb
36. Zodiac sign: aquarius
37. Male or female or transgender: male obv.!
38. Elementary: B.N. School (B.N. is for Badri Nath. right!)
39. School: DAV, Sec.-49.miss it a lot. Jyotsna mam, aparna mam.. TR Sharma sir
40. Colleges: YMCA
41.Hair color: Black
42. Long or short: short
43. Height: 5’7”
44. Do you have a crush on someone? Not now, exactly
45. Ever been in love?: yup
46. Piercings?: will get ears pierced one day! 47. Tattoos?: nopes
48. Righty or lefty: righty
49. First surgery: left toe, had an ingrowing nail
50. First piercing: yet to get
51. First best friend: Preeti ;)
52. First sport you loved: Cricket
53. First pet: was a female pup.. ‘mini’, she died soon.. I got another one.. named her ‘bhoori’, I was 4 or 5 then, had to abandon her soon, too.(Papa ko pasand nahi)
54. First vacation: Haridwar
55. First concert: JAL.. in Gargi
56. First crush: My 1^st best frnd. It ws in UKG.. I used to talk endlessly about her.. everwhere. I also remember both of us sitting in class.. discussing story of a movie which had song.. “kabootar ja ja ja….” (hehehhe). Met her after 13 yrs.. n we both recognized each other. Quite easily.


Right Now...

57. Eating: Will have lunch, once I get through this.
58. Drinking: nothing
59. I'm about to: change song. Its oxygen, repeating 10^th time… perhaps.
60. Listening to: Changed to Walk on by.. Bryan Adams again.
61. Waiting for: nothing

Your Future...

62. Want kids?: yess
63. Want to get married?: asap :P [Mummy meri shaadi karwa do… jaldi]
64. Careers in mind?: Big firm. Decent job. Investment banking.

Which is better with the opposite sex...??

65. Lips or eyes: both
66. Hugs or kisses: kisses, with a few; rest hugs
67. Shorter or taller: taller
68. Older or Younger: older :P
69. Romantic or spontaneous: spontaneous at specific places.. and romantic at specific times
70. Nice stomach or nice arms: arms
71. Sensitive or loud: sensitive
72. Hook-up or relationship: r’shp
73. Trouble maker or hesitant: hesitant


Have you ever...??

73. Kissed a stranger: naah
74. Lost glasses/contacts: I alwz get them back
75. Sex on first Date: ~~ naah ~~~~~
76. Broken someone's heart: I feel I did.
77. Had your own heart broken: Don’t wish to reply
78. Been arrested: Abhi tak to ye ek tamanna hai
79. Turned someone down: yup. I did.
80. Cried when someone died: yes
81. Liked a friend that is a girl?: haan yar.. that’s obv

DO YOU BELIEVE IN...

82. Yourself: yup
83. Miracles: yup
84. God: I don’t know. I really don’t… I love everything like worshipping.. the entire concept of it. But believing… am not in a position to ans tht.
85. Love at first sight: is possible
86. Heaven: everything lies here only. Earth.
87. Santa Claus: naah..
88. Kiss on the first date?: depends
89. Angels: IF a mortal turns into one.. like they do. There are.

90. Devils: (ans as above)



ANSWER TRUTHFULLY...

91. Is there one person you want to be with right now?: right now.no.
92. Had more than one boyfriend/girlfriend at one time?: no
93. Wanted to kill someone ever?: never.
94. Among you blog mates, whom would you like to kiss?: none
95. Committed a blunder and regretted later?: yup.. and regrets cost more.
96. Wanted to steal your friend's boyfriend / girlfriend? Nahi yar.. :P



ASSOCIATE WITH SOMETHING YOU WEAR...

97. White: shirt
98. Black: anything. Head to toe.
99. Red: t-shirt.
100. Pink: x

~~~~~~~yippie.. done!!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~