Musings

2008-09-30T12:02:00.001-07:00

Moved to here. Happy Blogging.

2008-04-30T10:07:00.000-07:00

Should I be held responsible for something i did not do? Life Sucks!

2007-03-02T11:19:00.000-08:00

My brother died yesterday…

A part of me died with him.

He was shot in the head three times. One bullet after the other; in the exact same spot with pin point perfection. They said he was guilty.

But he was not guilty.

They said he tried to run.

But he had tried to break free.

They said that he was trying to step into someone else’s shoes. And that is such an awful thing to do.

He was always the one I had wanted to be in my life. But strangely I was never jealous of him. Peer pressure was never an issue. I used to admire him secretly. Like the things he did. The popularity he enjoyed in college. The value system that he had, it was so different from all others.

But like all others before him, like Abraham Lincoln, JFK and the ilk, there were people who hated him. Could not stand him, (they were) live examples of envy. He never was concerned by all this. Completely oblivious of the conspiracies that were being hatched around him. Just carrying on the work that he so believed in.

Yesterday was like any other day. He was off to meet the professors for some routine work, when he was stopped on the way and pushed to a dark corner. It was made to look like a robbery scene. That he resisted and was shot in the ensuing scuffle. And the witness was ready too. (I) wonder what morals do these people have? Willing to lie someone’s death for money. And the most surprising part is that she does not remember how many (so called) robbers were there. Maybe she is the girl friend of one of them. But what she does not know is what is in store for her.

I might be shot for speaking the truth too. But it does not matter now. Because, now I am not afraid. When you lose your acolyte, you lose everything along with him.

Come on muggers; come take a shot at me. Let’s see how much blood you got in your veins. I know that’s the only way my brother could get justice.

I don’t believe in the Indian system. It has far too many loopholes for people to get caught. And it is time for people like you and me to take action. Smoke them out and burn them. Wherever you can find them.

And I know my first victim. She might be innocent but she will become the symbol of vengeance tomorrow.

Wish the world could see it from my eyes.

2007-02-26T03:48:00.000-08:00

Welcome Back..
The vagaries of life do not allow me to write as proficiently as i want to. But anyhow, i wanted to make a new beginning. And what other way to start off then with a song that i have been listening to on repeat mode form qutie some time now.
Move over rock and hip-hop, golden oldies Rock!!!

Aap ki nazron ne samjha pyaar ke kaabil mujhe
Dil ki ae dhadkan thaher jaa, mil gayi manzil mujhe
Aap ki nazron ne samjha

Ji hamein manzoor hai aap ka yeh faisla
Keh rahi hai har nazar banda parvar shukriya
Hanske apni zindagi mein kar liya shaamil mujhe

Dil ki ae dhadkan thaher jaa, mil gayi manzil mujhe
Aap ki nazron ne samjha
Aap ki manzil hoon main, meri manzil aap hai
Kyoon main toofaan se darroon, mera saahil aap hai

Koi toofaanon se keh de, mil gaya saahil mujhe
Dil ki ae dhadkan thaher jaa, mil gayi manzil mujhe
Aap ki nazron ne samjha
Pad gayi dil par mere aap ki parchhaaiyaan
Har taraf bajne lagi saenkdon shehnaaiyaan

Do jahaan ki aaj khushiyaan ho gayi haasil mujhe
Aap ki nazron ne samjha pyaar ke kaabil mujhe
Dil ki ae dhadkan thaher jaa, mil gayi manzil mujhe
Aap ki nazron ne samjha


Promise more later..
Adios.

2006-10-09T00:42:00.000-07:00

After a hectic month, I was back home for a wonderful week. I was going through my old school books and happened to see my school-time slam book. Old memories visited me. As I was going through the candid entries of my school time friends, I came across the ‘what do you think about me’ part. Some of the entries were “A loving, honest and caring guy” “The best friend one can ever have” “Friendly, confident and happy-go-lucky” “…like your honesty. Can never forget the only time you made me cry” I hope you get the point. But who was the person they were talking about. At that instant I felt so distant, so different from this persona. Was it me they were talking about? Right now, these are not the words that can describe me. To hell with honesty. Not that I am dishonest but you can not call me honest either. Countless number of times. The times I have hurt people. Friendly. Only if you redefine the term. I may come across the most unfriendly, arrogant persona ever. Don’t know how many people I can still call even friends. Am not used to loving anyone except myself. Not anymore (if I did love someone at first place) Three years… that’s the time it has taken me to change this much. Can’t say why. Why have I made myself so inaccessible to people? My feelings, thoughts, emotions. I do not think that anyone can say they know the real me? Everything is deep inside me. Hidden underneath layers and layers. Waiting to be exposed. Maybe… As Eminem says “Will the real slim shady please stand up?” Why? There are no words or answers I can think of. There is still one thing. About the one person who might know me. Sometime I get the feeling even she is drifting away. Because of me. Do you know the greatest fear I have: It is me, myself.

2006-08-07T22:36:00.000-07:00

We always try to take a peek into the lives of others... the way we think they should behave or putting in another perspective, how we want them to behave... sometimes the lines beteweeen reality and fiction... we all are curious of other people minds.. what they think about us... and sometimes do get affected by what those people say... willl continue this with another post...

2006-08-05T10:20:00.000-07:00

Upset I am upset. I don’t know why. As such, there is no reason for me to feel this way. But here I am writing down this blog entry with my second mind wandering somewhere else. I tried to control it but to no avail. If you have read the book “Valkyries” by Paolo Coelho, perhaps you would know why. From the time the college has opened I am carrying this feeling. Life is not the same anymore. Somewhere in the transition from 2nd year to the 3rd year, something got lost. I am still trying to figure out what it is and where it is. It is like being in a state of trance with a fierce thought holding on to you. This feeling is so strong that I am completely overwhelmed with it. I don’t know what to do. And it is growing stronger by the day. I am completely at loss of words to explain it. I tried talking out of it but to no use. I tried conversing on the phone with my best friend but that did not help either. Maybe it is something that I have to handle myself, alone. What is it? I tried making a guess and here are some of the things I noted down. It might be any of these or a combination of more than one. Worse still it might be none of these. · My hidden feelings · Some skeleton in my closet. · Fear of admitting a mistake. · Insecurities. · Some wrong decision. · MBA preparation going haywire. · Not getting the kind of attention I want. · Humbling sense of insignificance. Help me to find out what is actually is.

2006-08-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

Seven Course Being a Ten Pointer has its advantages too. (apart from the obvious disadvantages). Apart from the academics, one of the other benefits one gets to enjoy is the treat business. It is not very often that i get treated to a seven course dinner that too in a posh Five-star Hotel. The place was Manali and Dad had this surprise ready. It was really a sumptuous banquet. Every course was elaborately laid out. The first course was Gorgonzola Polentalemon-basil & sun-dried tomato butter sauce. And in the Second Course was Wild Mushroom Souprosemary with cream followed by Northwest Wild Greensgreen apples, goat cheese and raspberry vinaigrette. The Fourth Course was Lemon Sorbet with fresh mint. By the time the main course arrived i was wondering whether i will last through this or not. But the very sight of Chicken almond crusted with blueberries, peaches, & Grand Marinier laid to rest any doubts. The Sixth Course was Salmon de Provencehorseradish crust, with orange beurre blanc. And in desserts (i.e. the last course) there was chocolate ice-cream. By the time i had finished i really had no energy left even to go back to my place. Wish i had taken my camera....

2006-07-27T11:24:00.000-07:00

.............. well, first of all sorry for not posting too often.... actually had gone for a trip.. will write about the experiences shortly... till that time i do have an interesting piece which was posted to me by an online friend... just have a look... ONE If you're ugly, stop acting like you don't know it. The captions under you picture that says "top model pose" "sexy bitch" "arnt i hot" doesn't convince anyone. TWO To the people who have like 25,000 friends, are you serious? Nobody in this universe can keep up with that many friends. You're stupid. Go play in traffic. THREE Don't ever post pictures and say "OMG, I'm so ugly" "OMG,I'm so fat" because if you were, you wouldn't post them. FOUR Nobody cares about threats over the internet. Don't try to act hardcore with the keyboard. Fighting online is like racing in the special olympics; even if you win, you're still retarded. FIVE Making 20 bulletins a day about how you hate other people b/c yoUR not on their top 8. who really cares, i mean get over it! SIX Who really gives a crap if I don't accept you as a friend? MOVE ON!!! Don't send me another request or message asking "what's up with you not adding me?" I don't want you as a friend; that's what's up!

2006-07-16T10:55:00.000-07:00

The day i learnt a lesson...

Memory is a tricky thing. It does not allow you to easily forget unsavory incidents. Sometimes I feel that memory should be selective where you can scan your entire hard disk (in case of humans it is located in the brain and made of grey cells), and delete the unpleasant ones. But alas! That can’t be done. No matter how hard we try it is hard to erase events which manage to leave an indelible mark.

April 8 was one such day (I decided to write this now intentionally). This was a day of incredible highs and lows. Where I had started from seventh heaven and ended up in basement, literally though.

My normal routine generally starts with a jog. The fresh air with the serene surroundings is too appealing to be given a miss. I will devote an entire post to this but later.

It was a perfectly normal day with light clouds and gentle breeze. As had been decided, I was to meet the chief-editor on the basketball court. Some logistics had to be discussed. But somehow he did not turn up. So that meant I was all alone and had absolute power. I was a little nervous though, because the presentation that I had worked on would now be before the esteemed audience without any kind of preview. And having the director of the institute did not help matters.

The occasion was the unveiling ceremony of the college magazine “Srijan”. Now this magazine is something very close to me.

The appointed hour arrived and I was there all jittery but trying not to show my nervousness. Everything worked out fine. There was appreciation and there was some criticism especially from the “Known-Unknown”. All I did was say a quote “you are not known by 99% good things that you do but by the 1% of the bad things.”

That was the good part. Just after this, there was another I was really looking forward to. The Big Quiz. It is a big event and being the quiz master all the onus for the success of the event lie on me. It is not everyday anyone gets such a big opportunity.

The quiz, in short was a disaster. I did many things wrong which I with the kind help of some people list below:

I was trying to be super-cool. And that pissed some people of.
I was not behaving as my normal self.
I was engaged in a stupid conversation with an inebriated fellow.
I broke into arguments with contestants.
I was indecisive at crucial moments.

In short, everything that could have gone wrong did. Nothing worked in my favor. And the parting short was a comment from one of the contestants - “The big quiz was not that good this time. And the quiz master needs to show more humility.”

I was disappointed as I had really prepared for this quiz.

Later in a private conversation with a friend, I summed up following points:

I need to show more boldness and authority.
The best way to hold a crowd is not to engage in private conversation with them. There should be a difference between the stature of quiz master and the crowd i.e. there needs to be an aura around the anchor and by talking to crowds this is diminished.
Everybody is a learner, it takes time. And this should be a stepping stone for me.
Life is ruthless. You can’t commit mistakes at the highest level.
The questions were fine and that I had tried my best to generate interest.

Why am I blogging this? So that someone might benefit from my mistakes. (someone might in a million years)

In the end I would like to quote:

“Perfection is a deception; you lose it the moment you try to achieve it.”

2006-07-15T13:37:00.000-07:00

Tackling an interview…

There are very few T.V. series that I really liked and the classic “Yes Prime Minister” that used to come on BBC long back… I recently got the DVD collection… The series is just brilliant, contrary to the spoofs we get to see today. And Derek Fowlds who as Bernard Wooley played the part of Principal Private Secretary of the Prime Minister was just brilliant… Few days back I came across the book version of the serial which has been edited by Jonathan Lynn and Anthony Jay. Quite naturally I read it. The book is just as brilliant. A marvel in itself… It did open up a lot the way the bureaucracy works. The classic fights between stupid politicians and egotist over the top kind bureaucrats were simply hilarious. And in this regard we do have inherited the legacy of British. I found the following excerpt interesting and informative of how to fend off an aggressive interview:

Attack the question. “Frequently? What do you mean frequently?
Attack the questioner. “How many years have you spent in the government?”
Compliment the question. “That’s a very good question. I’d like to thank you for asking it. Let me reply by asking you this one.”
Unload the question. Most questions are loaded. They are full of assumptions such as ‘a lot of people have said that you consider yourself above the law.’ You can reply like “name ten or out of a country of billion people you can find a few people who can say irrelevant, misguided stuff”
Use the time factor. Many interviewers are short of time so say things like “that’s an interesting question and there are nine points I would like to make to answer it. Or it’s far too important a question to answer superficially, and not answering it properly will trivialize it.”
Invoke secrecy. If nothing else works, invoke the clause of secrecy. “This relates to the security of country, so I can’t answer it.” Simple.
Use a long pointless narrative. If you are one of those who can keep on rambling for long enough, then by that time no one will remember the question and therefore no one can tell whether you answered it or not.
This is a must read for any budding politician.

2006-07-15T12:53:00.000-07:00

Friend...

In a man’s life, some relationships are made at birth; but there are relations that he makes in his life. The one’s we call friends. There are different categories that they fall into – best friends, boy-friend(s), girl-friend(s), online friends, ‘just’ friends, phone friends… the list goes on. But there are a few friends which don’t fall into any category. I don’t know how many of you have such friends, but I have one. Someone with whom I can carry a decent conversation without any prejudice, away from all cacophony… someone whom I want to talk to in spite of having other friends… someone who knows me very well, even more than myself… someone who understands me… believes in me… someone who is willing to talk to me even at 2 in the morning… someone who even though belonging to opposite sex does not even try to bind me in an engaging relationship… someone to whom I have no responsibility and for whom every action of mine is a step towards success… someone who does not desire physical proximity and yes someone who is happy with the way I am… I am lucky to have you my friend… you should know that this is written for you… thanks for being such a great friend…

Well do you have such a friend???

2006-07-12T10:28:00.000-07:00

Is this the death of Creative Football???

Call me a pessimist, but the events of the last few days have left me pondering over this question. I am referring to this edition of the world cup. Don’t agree. Well you can leave this right now.

Still with me?

Alright! Well I was never a Champion for defensive Football. Having 8 men inside the D. Well, not for me, please…

What appeals the most about football to me is the passion with which “some” people play it. As if they are doing magic with the ball. Those 90 minutes are pure fun. Away from the mess that life is. You forget everything and just go on and cheer good football.

But alas, like everything else in the life even Football has become one game in which the only thing that matters is – “Winning”. Either by hook or by crook. This kind of mentality I feel is driving people away from the game. Or at least me. The magic of Pele, the showmanship of Maradona is long gone. What is left is just corporate clubs only interested in profit and players who want to make as much money as they can.

Coming to this world cup. Well Brazil lost in the quarter-finals. They deserved to lose. There was a lot of complacence in their game. And I was not hoping that they will reach even this far. A poster headline after their round of 16 game against Ghana said it all – “3 offside goals and you call yourself world champions!”

Defensive Football sure won the Italians the World Cup. But did the crowds enjoy it. But any Italian supporter worth his salt (Chetu sir, this reference is for you) would contest this statement. Technically and strategically, they were brilliant. The only thing missing was the “edge-of-your-seat-type” drama that is associated with attacking Football.

World cup is dying a slow death. Sounds Bizarre? Well, there are some facts. Revenues generated during the world cup peaked during the 2002 world cup (Asia factor, maybe) and after that it is all downhill. The number of strategic sponsors of the game is also down to 12 from 18 during the last world cup. The TV audience is also falling and I am not talking about the participating countries but countries like India, China. And as expected people have started turning to national leagues and other sports. World cup Football, I fear, does not enjoy the monopoly it once had. And it never quite captured the largest market in the world – USA.

Talking about the final match – I had no particular favorites but I fancied the French since they had Zizou – the gift of god to this soccer generation. The results were otherwise. There were controversies, the Materazzi head butt. We will never know what happened or what he said. But if it was something racist (as suggested by Zidane’s manager), then something ought to be done. Not that this is the first time this kind of thing has happened, but world cup finals!

Whatever the reason was I do not blame Zizou. Even sometimes the best of role models seem to have feet of clay. But we acolytes need not worry. Maybe the pressure or the enormity of the occasion got to him. Can’t blame him. Let the ghosts rest in peace.

Till then I pray for some good Club Football!!!! Amen…

Note : Chetu and Vivek, never had any hard feelings. Whatever happened was when i was emotionally high... forgive me...

2006-07-07T12:23:00.000-07:00

Two years!!!

The restaurant was unusually empty considering the fact that it was a hot summer evening. What made it all the more surprising was the fact that it was a Saturday evening. “6 P.M. sharp!!” was what she said. I looked at the watch and it showed ten minutes past six. She was never the one to be on time, I thought. I was getting slightly uneasy. After a couple of minutes, I saw her outside the Restaurant gate. How much she had changed in these two years. The innocence had all but vanished. The charm had faded away. Time takes its toll on everyone. What was now in front of me was a completely different person. “Hi!!!” she said rather eloquently. “How is life?” “Just treading ahead.” The long curls that I used to adore so much had been replaced by a shorter ‘professional’ crop. The hue was gone, too. And so was the smile that used to lighten me up every time. I had a feeling that I was meeting a different persona. “Won’t you ask me to sit?” “Oh yes! Have a seat”, I said breaking my reverie. “Long time” “Yeah” “This place has not changed at all. Looks like we met here just the other day.” Time sure flies by. And the amazing fact is that for some people nothing seems to change but for someone else everything is changed. Torn rather or shattered to be precise. Wonder how people see the same happenings in an altogether different light. “Hello, where are you?” she said, pushing me “I think I am talking to you.” “Sorry” “What’s the matter Aadi?” How much I longed to hear that name. From who was so close to me but now… “Hellooooo” “Oops! What would you like to have?” “As if you don’t know” “Thought preferences change with time.” I signaled for the waiter and ordered two black chocolate Sundaes. “Life is so much fun in Harvard,” she said changing the topic, “We do a lot of stuff that I could not even dream here. And there is no pressure of parents as well. The whole atmosphere is so intellectually stimulating.” “So you don’t miss Jammu at all.” By now I was seriously wondering whether this was the same M that used to love this place so much. “Actually not. The only thing that I miss is the food.” “Not even me?” “No, I didn’t mean it that way.” I stared outside the window. The bikes and the cars were rushing along signifying the hi-speed life that we are living. Only my life seemed to be at a standstill, for the past two years that is. I put my mind in rewind mode. To the time when I first saw those captivating eyes (that was a long friend). The time when I first held her hand. The time when we became good friends. All those moments spent together. All the fun we had. And that special moment four years back, when I proposed her (heart in mouth!!!) and the way she accepted it. “Hey Mister, you seem to have become a sort of dreamer. Pehle to aise nahi the.” “Naah, just reminiscing the old days.” I hated her for the ‘uber-cool’ way she was taking it. “Learn to live in present. Why to remember something that’s long gone?” I wished to tell her how difficult it was for me but something stopped me from doing it. If only this was easy. “Aur batao, How is your college?” “Ok. Good actually. But I miss the school days. The friends. And you”, I said. “Got any girlfriend?” “What do you think?” “Koi maani hi nahi hogi, even if you’d have tried. You are like that.” “But you did” The conversation was turning to something that she deemed unpleasant or that’s what I figured from her reactions. And just like an angel, the waiter popped up with the Sundaes. This was getting way too much for me and I came straight to the point. Dipping my straw into the ice I said “M*, you know this is not easy for me. Just tell me, what had I done wrong? Was not I good enough? Or was it that you found some one else?” For some she looked at me with that cold look. And then she said, “Aadi, our relationship was a mistake. We were not mature enough. And I realized after going there and spending some time away from you.” “Are you sure, that is true? I don’t feel it that way. When that mail arrived on that fateful November morning, I could not believe it. I thought that my life had been sucked away. It was like…” “It was not easy for me either” she said interrupting me, “I thought about it for a lot of time and decided that this was best for both of us.” “But why? We were doing perfectly fine even with so much distance between us. And that decision came as a bolt from blue for me.” And the conversation was lost after that. She was trying to give vague explanations, which I was not willing to agree to. Then all of a sudden, tears streaming down her wet eyes, she said “Aadi, that was a mistake. I realized it later. The fact is, (I) can’t live without you. That time I got a bit carried away with my success,…” I don’t remember what she said after that. Nor did I want to. Even perfect people make mistakes. I chose silence. “Aadi, can’t we start it all over again? Can’t we be one again?” “Well, look. The fact is you left me in lurch at that time. I thought hard about it. Frankly speaking I don’t feel the same way for you anymore. Even if I want I won’t be able to do justice to you.” “Please…” “You were the meaning of life for me. And that position was yours to lose and you did it. I can’t mend a broken relationship. Glass once broken can never be repaired, even if you want to.” There was silence. A few minutes later, I stood up and said “I came here to know what had I done wrong? This thought was killing me. Thanks to you for telling me,” “That I had done nothing” Walking out of that door, I have never felt as satisfied in my life.

Note: The name M has been withheld, for the sake of privacy. this is a true life account of the author.

2006-07-03T03:06:00.000-07:00

It's easy to be pleasant When life flows like a song, But the person worthwhile Is the one who will smile, When everything goes dead wrong.

For the test of the heart is trouble And it always comes with years. And the smile that is worth The praises of the earth Is the smile that shines through tears.

2006-06-28T05:23:00.000-07:00

In continuation to the previous blog entry, another explsive mail arrived this morning and for once i am not going to continue this shitty business, even though i am offended...

2006-06-27T14:16:00.000-07:00

Why is it so difficult to keep friends? I do not know whether other people have faced this difficulty or not but this is definitely an issue with me. I just can't keep my friends happy. No matter whatever i try i still manage to hurt them, though not intentionally. People learn from experience but i do not know if that holds true for me as well... its coz i keep on doing the same stupid mistakes... this again happened the other day, this time toa gal (whose name i will not take) who is kind of a very close friend of mine... a stupid mail which was to be seen in a different pretext ( i.e. from my side) was seen in an entirely different perspective (i.e. her side, which i was stupid enough not to realise at the time of writing down the mail)... What happened next is anybody's guess.. differences of opinions..each one of us not to willing to concede our fault (a case of inflated egos, especially when it involves the opposite sex).. explosive smses.. that continued as late as 4 A.M... some more mails... and finally the wreath was laid to this friendship by morning.... Looking back i think what i had done wrong.. well i still don't know... ifonly she was more understanding.. if only i was not stupid enough.. if only ... But in life there is no place for if's and but's...

2006-06-24T03:22:00.000-07:00

Searching for significance

Searching for significance,

One finds the bloody trail

Leading to a sea of bones

Along the eastern shore.

In the end there's no defense

For something that must fail,

As politicians work the phones

To dredge up one vote more.

All great ideas eventually,

Besieged, must turn to those

Who make a livelihood of death

And cherish what is real.

For greatness, large or small, must be

A burden that bestows

Upon these loose-limbed lords of breath

A wound time cannot heal.

2006-06-24T01:05:00.000-07:00

Shayari Manzile bhi uski thi, Rasta bhi uska tha. Ek main akela tha, Kafila bi uska tha.. Sath-Sath chalne ki soch bi uski thi, Fir raasta badalne ka faisla bhi uska tha... Aaj kyo akela hoon, Dil sawal karta hai, Log to uske the, Kya KHUDA bhi uska tha....? (This piece of shayari is dedicated to my ex-love...)

2006-06-23T01:26:00.000-07:00

Chain Mail... No matter how much I hate it, but there are still people who keep bugging. Following is an interesting piece i read somewhere. I hope the chain mailers read it... To all my thoughtful friends, My heartfelt appreciation goes out to all of you who have taken the time and trouble to send me "forwards" over the past twelve months. Thank you for making me feel safe, secure, blessed, and wealthy. Extra thanks to whoever sent me the one about the rat crap in the glue on envelopes cause now I have to go get a wet towel every time I need to seal an envelope. Also, I scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason. Because of your concern, I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains. I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr Pepper since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put "Under God" on their cans. I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer. I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS. I no longer use cancer-causing deoderants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day. I no longer go to shopping malls because someone might drug me with a perfume sample and rob me. I no longer recieve packages from nor send packages by UPS or FedEx since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise. I no longer answer the telephone because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica, Uganda, Singapore, and Uzbekistan. I no longer eat KFC because their "chickens" are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers. I no longer have any sneakers -- but that will change when I get my free replacement pair from Nike. I no longer have to buy expensive cookies from Neiman Marcus since I now have their recipe. I no longer have to worry about my soul because at last count I have 363214 angels looking out for me. Thanks to you, I have learned that God only answers my prayers if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish in five minutes. I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl that is about to die in the hospital (for the 1387258th time). I no longer have any money at all - but that will change once I recieve the $15000 that Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program. Yes, I want to thank you so much for looking out for me that I will now return the favour! If you don't send this e-mail to 144000 people in the next seven minutes, a large pigeon with a wicked case of diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 PM (CST) this afternoon. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second-husband's cousin's beautician.

2006-06-21T11:28:00.000-07:00

Unfolded Eyes

Tears shed past her ignorant eyes

But expressions triumphed over feeling of deprived

Distant were colors for those woeful eyes

However a feeling so vivid was there to suffice

Stars lit up in the mysterious sky

But such excitement immersed in her eyes

As if search only was desired by her sight

Such a feeling sustained vision of joy

Where darkness plunge into melting sky

Where glaciers melt into streams which never dry

A journey where birds fly through wide ranges

Is where she breaths air of freshness

Fallacies and deceit are alien for her

Instead blessings around her are like devotion for her

When night falls we ponder over dreams inside

Ignorant of rain which reveals outside

But ecstasy and joy is only prevalent in her eyes

She dares in the rain like maiden in full flight

It seems that her delight is beyond our conventions

In a moment of such delight she has visualized essence of heaven

But still we assume that she is ignorant and deprived

Though she flows like water which is purified

Like a twinkle in an eye..

2006-06-21T11:18:00.000-07:00

The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Poem by Robert Frost, Published in 1920 in Volume ‘Mountain Interval’ (This is one poem i really like…)

2006-06-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

The Forces of You

When she weeps, the curtains rebel,

incensed, they foment, they crease,

they flutter without a breeze, even the damn blinds split open, each lip trembling crackling and popping, like leaves at unease;

and when she turns away in sorrow, her face to the wall, the celibate AC, celebrates the moment, in excitement, in vigor, it revves up, becomes enticed, beleagured it lets tumble shooting forth from the wall, all its spiced electric juices, chilled but chaste, they rush to the sighs, she has sung into the dawn;

when she wails, the pale white paint, chips crackles and rips breaking like branches off the tree of ceiling: the dampness to which they peel, is from the humidity of her tears; even though I like to believe that water-stains brought their demise, secretely I’ve known their pain. The paint is skinned and flayed, because it reacts to her exclaims;

when her silence hangs heavy, the dreary house fears infinity, cold invisible wraiths rumble, and silent electric snakes whisper, slithering uninvited; and death falls like dew, and breath becomes a recluse, and fear reigns in the stillness, and all this leaving the TV no choice but to scream out loud intense extreme, until volume loses it voice, and its throat goes hoarse, it becomes white noise, and black and white splotches of snow, pleading for her to bring back life, for her to once again please, speak

Please

Reservation in Educational Institutes: Is that what we need??

2006-06-20T13:07:00.000-07:00

I was very livid when i first heard about this issue. But what i really fail to understand is that how can someone llike Dr. Manmohan Singh agree to it. Age and Power i guess does this to the most learned of all men. Or is it again our shadow prime minister having her way. (again!) I have never been impressed by her and never will be becuase to me she looks like a shrewd tactician who knows how to win elections very well and can go to any lengths for this. The impending elections are a case in point. Why is the goverment looking to spoil the next set of entrepreneurs by giving seats on a platter to people who hardly deserve a seat, whilst thousands of intelligent wannabe managers slug it out in the battle where even a 0.01 percentile is going to make a huge difference. This decesion may affect the branding of the IIM’s and even IIT’s hugely …as top notch corporates would never want to recruit dumb asses who just made it because their district collector gave them a certificate that they belong to a section of society that’s the so called Minority. These Minority based reservations seem ok in a goverment job, where not much of intelligence is used or in places where basic job and shelter is provided, not certainly in high profile business schools like the IIM’s and the IIT’s. So dont be shocked if some one who does not even know the CAT from the dog goes on to IIM-A and the real people end up somewhere else. Tell me whom will it hurt more… the IIM’s or the aspiring wannabes. It will be the former as the corporates would never want to recruit those dipshits even if they graduate from the premier colleges, unless the government has its way and manages to coax the private sector into reservation too. and that is the perfect recipe for disaster. can we allow this to happen? can we seiously let the hard work of past 15 years go down the drain? and what can be the mother of all ironies we are getting this from a guy who himself was responsible for india shining… what i seriously feel is that as a developing country we can ill afford to have the luxury of reservations. and as far as backward classes are concerned, we need a pragmatic approach. sole reservation is not the solution. we need to go bottoms up. we need to provide them basic educational infrastructure, as not many such people benefit from the existing structure. and then let them come up and compete with others. after all OBC or no OBC it is a free market after all. but sadly this will not interest our politicians as it would not serve their purpose. I see the motives of the governments of India to be what they are: the blatantly odious manipulation of the population by pandering to the basest desires of people to gain advantage over others. Vote bank politics taken to absurd extents that destroy the cohesion so necessary for not just economic growth but social development as well Is Dr Manmohan Singh so powerless as to agree to such morally depraved and socially dangerous policies?