Strange Ramblings

There is a tradition in our college (as all colleges have), to beat the shit out of people on their B'days. So much so that they'll start regretting the day they were born. It is supposed to be a "4 pronged attack", which I am still not clear on, but i think they went something like this: *utha ke laat maarna*, *door se bhaag ke aake laat maarna*, RAPIDFIRE and my personal favorite FLAMES. Thank goodness we were, sort of, a peaceful lot and hated violence. I am glad that i wasn't put through such ordeal for my entire term at BITS, though I did participate in some of such brutal acts rather nonchalantly. Besides the violence, we also had the usual stories, confessions and other blah blah. Sometimes we ended up making people do "stuff" that is well X-rated and certainly not suitable for blogging. One such incidence was Mimsy's b'day Nov 1, 2008, the guy can really entertain sometimes :) Of all the b'days that we ended up sharing over 4 years, ...

                                 Dilli Meri Aan Baan aur Shaan !! The picture says it all. I can't believe I have not blogged about Delhi until now. For those of you who know me the slightest bit, it should have come as a surprise :) I have no clue where this is (please let me know if you have an idea, i'd like to visit this place),  just came across it on the internet and it reminded me of my beloved place. I have always loved everything about Saddi Dilli. The people, the food, the weather, everything that you could possibly think of. People have tried time and again to waver my adulation for the city, albeit unsuccessfully. I will admit to the naked truth that I sometimes stand by anything associated with Delhi rather stubbornly, but if u may cut me some slack, there are only so many things that one 'worships' in his or her life.

Ok. This title is not inspired from Harry Potter, or perhaps it is, cuz it was suggested by a friend who is an ardent fan. We were supposed to co-author this, but for now, I'll have to do. Here goes. There is one person who might take this one a little personally, but do we really care. Its something that happened to me and some of my friends at the beginning of last year (ya, you really need to dial the clock THAT back, cuz blogging is somthin' that i started recently), when we were in need of a place to rest our asses in Bangalore at the end of all the 'ITing' every day. We landed in Bangalore, in batches. We were 7 in all, and hunting a place for 7 bachelor's is like finding a needle (that may or may not exist) in a haystack. Things like boozing, smoking, girls, loud music and all the other little tid bits that disrupt the peacuful enviornment around, automatically get associated with a group like ours. Not to suggest that people are wrong in this, but they d...

And then there was light :) I am in love with this snap. And I am sure this is one pic that would stir the feeling of nostalgia in even the most hardened of nut-cases found on this planet. Captured during the inauguration ceremony of Apogee 2010, the photographer has done brilliantly to prolong the exposure just enough to take in the colors of the fireworks and still make it look real, rather than photoshop'd (though, i could be wrong), all in the backdrop of the pinnacle of BITSian pride, the ever-rising Clock Tower.  Fantastic. Posted via email from The JiNXd !!

"The Titan of World Cricket just got a little taller " Need I say more . The only thing that I would regret after this day is that I cannot brag "I was there when.." The only people I'll envy after today are those in the Gwalior stadium. There is not much that I can say about the Little Master that hasn't been spoken off. There is not much to be read about Sachin that my generation has not already read. Comments like "I have seen God, he bats at no. 4 for India" from the people who have played against him, have been plastered all over the memory of this generation. All this and still that humbleness to die for. He truly is an IDOL. You'd think with hopes of a billion people on his shoulder, he will start to stoop a little, well congratulations, you have just been branded the biggest fool to have walked on earth. All said, it cost me a measly 49 Riyals to get Live TV on my cellphone, and a little more effort to postpone some of the work ...

28th Jan 2010 - 15th Feb 2010 19 Days The first thing that I remember distinctly is " wondering How clean Delhi is, on my trip from airport to home". For those of you who still live in that fantasy world, I was very much being sarcastic above. It still hurts knowing that such a thought even came to my mind, but it is what it is. I am extremely glad that it never recurred during rest of my stay and hopefully it stays that way for eternity. Anyways, one thought could dampen your spirit only so much. Spirit, which was higher than the highest peaks of the world, I was back in the place I love the most, amongst people I love and care about the most, saw me chatting up with all the friends and family that I could find and making get together plans with anyone whom I could get hold of. But again, that is just the thing. You can make all the plans you want, in fact I am quite decent at making them, but probability of those plans materializing is a whole another story. O'course ...

It has been 6 months since I got my 'first markings' done on my passport. And it feels especially good when the last one expired without any. It wasn't planned, but I did hope to get something on those blank pages this time. Not that the renewal process was any easy (had to jump into an ambassador, of all cars, for travelling between Pilani and Delhi, to get my police clearance done, bribing was still involved, sadly, all when the placement session was going on), still it did go through smoothly in the end, and i did end up stepping out of India. You know the thing about the human nature, it always wants things. When I was 'stuck' in India (not in the literal sense, I mean, I <3 India), for well almost whole my life, I wanted to step out of India, and as soon as I make that leap, I want to get back. Queer, human nature is, but that is what is so amazing about it. If we were to get satiated easily, we would be living as nomads for sure. So the call beckoned. Y...

Ego and Arrogance. These two traits are possibly the most annoying ones, that one can find in a person. And yet, they are probably paramount in one's character. The trick here is to achieve that 'right balance'. You might be inclined to ask me what that right balance is. But unfortunately, that eludes me too. Perhaps someone experienced in Human Psyche might be able to enlighten us, though I am not sure. However, all said, I am sure of one thing: If you go through life with your eyes open, you are bound to see SIGNS that will urge you to strive for that balance .  Signs that I have seen often and neglected a tad more than I should have. But, as I say, Sun seems brighter when you start staring at it. (O'course, your eyes have to have that potential). Anyways, My ongoing stint in Qatar bought a couple more eye-openers of that eternal fight between 'david' and 'goliath', between 'too much' and 'too little'. Considering that we live in ...

Dear all, If you have come across any bright students coming from poor financial background who have finished their 10th standard this year (April 2009) and scored more than 80%, please ask them to contact the NGO-Prerana (supported by Infosys foundation). The NGO is conducting a written test and those who clear the test will be eligible for financial help for their further studies. Please ask the students to contact the people mentioned below to get the form: #580,Shubhakar, 44th cross, 1st A main road, jayanagar 7th block, Bangalore Contact numbers- 1.       Saraswati - 9900906338 2.       Mr. Shivkumar - 9986630301 - (Hanumanthnagar office) 3.       Ms. Bindu- 9964534667 (Yeshwantpur office) Even if you don't know anyone, please pass on this info, someone might be in need of this help desperately.

Dear Blog, One thing you don't want on a 31st is for your day to start with work. And o'course I ain't that lucky. But at-least I got a 'half day' (will someone inform the management that if you reduce 2 working hours from 10, it does not become 'half day'). O'course the thumb rule in such cases says " you take what you get, and be happy  or else you will end up either very miserable or getting fired", neither of which interests me much. The Idea There is a thin line between "A Plan" and "An Idea". I had neither. I only knew this for a fact that no way I will spend this night in my camp. In came Mr. Tejaswi, with some ' amoeba like shit' in his head, to my aid. I will still refrain from calling it a plan, since you cannot be sure of things here in Qatar on days of holiday (family day and stuff like that), although no once can stop you if you are really stubborn and a little innovative. As for The Idea, it had a...

14/11/2009 The day started in the usual manner. Me getting up at 4:30 in the morning, boarding the bus at 5:10, reaching site at 5:50, breakfast, work etc. But, it was not just 'any other day'. It had somthing in it that could make me drool all over myself. Something that I have dreamt off, perhaps not every day of the past 4 years, but certainly on days of every good football match I have seen. If you think I was excited the past week, you should have seen me today. I was all over the place. Work was sloppy, the consultant even postponed some of day's agenda's on my account to the next day. Kind of him, yes. Add to that he dropped me to the stadium at 1615, ya, i did get off work a good 1 hour before time, thanks to my english boss, who just couldn't say no (although he did let in slip that if england loses, he'd kill me :)). The FAN FAIR supposedly started at 1500. Was in full flow when I joined in. I have never been to a live game before, I had huge exp...