The drudgeries of life
Monday, May 03, 2021
Lost for words
TW: Death
In these terrible times of sickness and death, I count myself quite lucky and extremely privileged to be experiencing a loss for just words. Not of a loved one. Not of a family member. Not of a dear friend. Not of a job or a source of income. Not of a roof over my head or of food in my belly. Only words. Yet...
Yet the unprecedented loss of lives and livelihoods, even if of complete strangers, around the world is palpable and heart-wrenching. It's hard to make sense of anything and everything that has been happening since the early months of 2020, and there's a constant feeling of helplessness and hopelessness, and a persistent sense of impending doom. Added to all of this is the costant dissonance, presently between the return to the "business as usual" atmosphere here in the States and the tsunami of sickness and death in my home country, India.
What makes matters worse and adds to the anger and frustration is the utter incompetence and indifference on display by the so called "leaders" and celebrated "stars" of the country, and the callousness and utter disregard for science and humanity being exhibited by some apparently educated and privileged folks. Given the concerted attack (a series of surgical strikes, rather) by the virus and its aforementioned collaborators, plus the lack or absence of support from governments and institutions whose job is to serve and protect them, people in India are finding themselves getting blindsided, stupefied and decimated by the severity and enormity of the disease.
And being halfway across the world from loved ones in these crazy times just adds to the desolation, stress and anxiety, fearing the worst of updates at every single buzz of the phone. For the past few days, my good friend and colleague in the US has been helplessly keeping track of his mother's fortnight-long battle with the COVID-19 virus in India, and he has been trying to support in any which way possible despite being so far away. After miraculously being able to arrange for a nearly impossible to get medicine that her doctor had prescribed yesterday, there was a glimmer of hope that her condition would improve. But today morning, I woke up to this heartwrenching three-word text from him that hit as if it was the end of the world:
"mom passed away.."
Words don't suffice when consoling someone who has lost a loved one, more so to an untimely death and under the current circumstances. It's impossible to comprehend if, how and when one can come to terms with such a devastating and irreplaceable loss, and cope with the accompanying overwhelming grief. When the last time you met and embraced your loved ones is more than two or three years ago, how can you seek closure if they are cruelly snatched away from you without as much as a final goodbye?
Please pray for my friend and his family, and for the countless others who are going through such hell in India and across the world. Many of us might be tongue-tied and at a loss for words, but the least that we can do is say a silent prayer for all those whose lives have been ravaged by this terrible pandemic. Please take care, be safe and remember that
“There is no grief like the grief that does not speak.”
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Hope we all let our collective grief do the talking - to allow ourselves to heal, and to hold those culprits responsible who allowed and are still allowing this massacre to continue unchecked and ubabated, while helping each other in trudging through this quagmire...
Friday, February 12, 2016
And I realized that...
... two of the main vices in life are Fixation and Comparison.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Do you read me?
"I don't envy myself", said the open book. "Instead of being read, understood and enjoyed, my pages are being torn out over and over again. I'm afraid I'm losing my identity".
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Fatigue
It's not over till it's over...
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Myopia
Some people just refuse to look beyond what they see, and don't even think twice before blocking the view for others.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Random recommendation
Ages ago, someone on FB had shared a gentleman's post about how him and his wife had taken a rather bold (not to mention unusually unorthodox!) step and ensured that there was no religion column on their son's birth certificate - they wanted their kid to choose a religion for himself when he grew older! Till that time, I'm not sure many folks (if any at all) would've thought of exercising such an option. Aalif and Aditi, on the other hand, made news by doing things differently.
Irrespective of the pros, cons, myriad repercussions and challenges of this decision (and they're bound to be many, surely!), it was an impressive one and I became a fan of this couple. I've been following Aalif's blog for quite some time now, and his posts are quite delightful and often touching, one such being the one he published yesterday: http://superaalifragilistic.wordpress.com/2014/04/14/healing-dad/
JLT. Happy reading.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Topsy-turvy
It was a damp, cold Friday night in the month of September - the time of the year that witnesses the rapid transition from Summer to Winter in England.
The rains finding themselves lost in transition, as always, showered their wrath onto the city in intermittent outbursts. Coupled with the cold winds, they performed as a debilitating force.
London was preparing for the onslaught of what was going to be a brutally cold season up ahead.
As the hour drew closer to midnight, the skies cleared a bit and the showers temporarily subsided. Even the breeze came to a standstill in tandem. And all was silent - even the pitter-patter of raindrops falling from the leaves and rooftops to the earth had ceased. Momentarily, deathly silence was all that prevailed.
Like the storm after the calm, it was then that the last northbound overground train from Central London noisily rolled in to platform number two of Weltham railway station. The brakes resentfully screeched, almost as if protesting any impediment to their owner's forward march, but nonetheless the coaches came to a halt reluctantly.
The clock struck twelve at the exact moment when Justin's feet landed in a puddle on the platform whilst he disembarked from the bogie he was occupying.
As his boots and socks got drenched, he cursed out loud - this was the latest in the series of mishaps in his already messed up day. So for the nth time in the evening, he cursed the excess work, the numerous issues, and his unrelenting manager courtesy of whom he had to stretch so late into the night on a Friday of all days; he then spat out abuses at himself for being such a lonely soul and for that very reason ending up in this God-forsaken suburban town at this ungodly hour to be with his friend and to experience some semblance of company; finally he concluded by grumbling about the crazy weather and how he hated the rain and the cold.
As he exited the station and walked out onto the High Street, he cheered up a bit. After all, his day at work had ended and he wouldn't get to see all those files nor his superior's ugly face for the next two days. Also, the suburb felt better than being amidst the din prevalent in the city. Finally the rain and breeze had also stopped. The weekend had, in fact, started off on a wonderful note, or so he comforted himself.
By the time he reached the turning for Baron Road, towards the other end of which was his friend's residence, he was back to feeling his cheerful, optimistic self. If the road he was now walking along was very dark and poorly lit up as compared to the bright street he had just left behind, Justin didn't pay any heed to it. It seemed like a curfew was in progress - not a living soul out on the streets, not a sound to be heard - but it didn't bother him. He was done cribbing for now, and would resume on Monday when he was back at work.
As his eyes got accustomed to the low lighting, he could distinctly make out the figure of a person shuffling further down the road, a few blocks away, in the direction away from him.
In high spirits, all that Justin could think of was playing a prank on the unsuspecting person. Good-natured though he was, Justin was notorious for the pranks that he played on his poor family, friends and even at times, on total strangers!
Plan in mind and without thinking twice, Justin stealthily but speedily moved up to within a bock behind the solitary night walker. Then he put his plan into action. All of a sudden. he started walking with heavy footsteps, purposefully, almost like a stalker or a sociopath out to get his victim!
The person ahead seemed to get startled momentarily, an apparent shiver went down the person's body, and the pace of the shuffling increased a bit. Justin knew his trick had worked, but he was surprised the person didn't even glance back to see who was behind.
So again, deliberately, he stalked the "victim" as if homing in. Again, the person ahead shuffled ahead even faster, all the while without as much as looking back.
When there was hardly any gap between Justin and the person, the latter came to an abrupt halt, almost as if frozen to the spot. Justin, who was almost on a collision course with his "victim", swerved and just managed to brush past the person.
Still the person neither turned around to look at the "stalker" nor were any comments made in protest at the apparent joke, but Justin snickered loud enough just to erase any remaining doubts in the person's mind as to what had just happened...
Feeling smug about himself, Justin could feel the jump in his stride as he moved on. Oh yes! His weekend had started alright. Even his pal's house was close by.
Whistling to himself as he walked, initially Justin didn't hear the heavy footsteps approaching from behind. Moments later he became aware of the situation as the sounds grew louder in the still night, and the footsteps drew closer.
He smiled to himself, thinking, "Two can play at this staged game of cat and mouse, eh?". Very well then, he too could play the cool customer - so he continued walking on at his original pace, without turning to look back even once.
But for some reason, the role reversal made the hair on the back of his neck stand up!
Just like Justin had done earlier, the other person continued walking up purposefully, on a collision course, but the energy that his "stalker" exuded gave him the shivers. Or maybe his mind was playing games with him. Worse still, he knew how he hated being at the receiving end of pranks, and was a scardey-cat in reality!
When the heavy footsteps were not far behind, Justin had had enough. It was time to put an end to this joke once and for all. If it came to it, he'd apologize for the confusion that he had "unwittingly" created.
By the time Justin turned around to confront his "adversary", the person was just a couple of meters away. What Justin saw horrified him to the core! He tried to scream out, but the voice died within him...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Headlines in the next day's paper: "The Serial Killer of Borough of Brant has claimed a 7th victim within a space of 3 weeks! The nature of the wounds inflicted on the deceased, the murder weapon used, and the timing of the crime are all reported to be the same as in the previous cases. The only, and very significant aberration in the crime pattern is that all the previous victims were females - the latest victim, though, is a male - 26 years-old Justin Fraisier of Victory Park, Central London.
With this latest incident, investigators who were earlier on the verge of a breakthrough in terms of building a psychological profile of the killer are totally flummoxed. The deviation in the murder pattern has forced them to get back at the drawing board and to start their quest for the elusive psychopath all over again - and to think of it, they believed they were so close to solving the case.
Could the latest murder be a ruse by the criminal to throw the cops off his tracks, or is the killer actually an unpredictable maniac as is being thought? Only time will tell..."
Monday, March 05, 2012
A walk to remember...
I always thought that I loved long walks. Until today that is - the well planned and superbly organized 45K Ultra walkathon by Hyderabad Runners was a reality check of sorts!
The first time I read about the novel idea on the group, I thought it wouldn't be a big deal. Well, if running 42K in Auroville last month seemed manageable, walking a few kilometres more would be far easier, right? Wrong!
True to the numerous responses to Sunita garu's mail inviting participation in the event, the turnout today morning outside KBR Park at 3:45 AM was huge. Amazing part, as Praveen garu mentioned, was that hardly a handful in the gathering were regular runners with HR, all others being friends and relatives of theirs. It was funny how partygoers who were in the last leg of their Saturday night revelry slowed down their speeding cars to gawk at our gathering!
The first leg of the journey, the 21K walk from KBR to Gandipet via Outer Ring Road, started off in the darkness and then as we trudged along, dawn took over. It was a beautiful morning and the weather was very pleasant. Rajesh garu accompanying me all the way till CBIT was a big plus and he tirelessly set the pace for us to complete the half walkathon in a little less than 3.5 hours! The ageless Hariharan garu, Dr. Praveen and Krishna had already reached before us, and all of us devoured the yummy idlis arranged for breakfast by the team. The break lasted for about 30 minutes, and by the time we were ready to set off, it was 7:50 AM. So far so good.
I guess the best thing we did was to resume the walk early. Remarkable was Ravi garu’s walking with a 16 kgs heavy backpack to prepare for HMI base camp one month later. The first 4K after breakfast seemed pretty long, and once we hit the Pepsi sign landmark, the trails began. We had to walk 8K one way and then retrace our steps. I somehow always feel that each kilometre is longer in a trail route as compared to that on a tarmac, and the feeling persisted today too. The first 8K on the trail was never ending, but luckily the sun hadn’t started to punish us that severely yet. The worst was yet to come.
The return walk on the trails was taxing to the core, the sun relentlessly beating down on us, and it started to dawn on me why marathons are easier than walkathons – in the former, you can run and get over with the trauma faster than in the latter. No wonder Sunita garu has specifically mentioned the “No running, compulsorily walking” condition for the walkathon. It was mind over body from then on, if finishing was on the agenda.
The best part of the ending 12K of the walk, and for that matter the whole ultra walkathon, was Hariharan (or HH Ran) garu accompanying me, motivating me and narrating some fantastic anecdotes from his past. All of 63, he’s a bundle of energy, an inspiration for one and all, and much more in addition to being the youngest member of HR! We had some wonderful conversations which shifted our focus from the scorching hot sun, the endless trails and the speedily evaporating supply of water. Crossing many of the other walkers on our way back got us concerned about how they’ll cope in the crazy heat – with each passing hour, the test got more gruelling.
I cannot explain the joy when finally HH Ran garu and I spotted the Pepsi sign, which signaled the end of the trails. Phewwwwww. Just 4K more to finish the Ultra Walkathon!! While Krishna garu, Rajesh garu and Dr. Praveen had vanished off way ahead, Krishna’s never-say-die spirit was commendable as he fought against an upset tummy too to race ahead of us. Ravi garu with his huge backpack too continued walking tirelessly a few paces behind HH Ran garu and myself. The last couple of kilometres seemed to stretch forever, and it require lots of willpower to hold myself back from running then. Also, we kept hallucinating about the finishing point being a few strides away when in fact it materialized after ages!
Finally at 12:17 PM, I followed Hariharan garu in touching base. Yippee!! What a feeling of genuine happiness and relief! It was time for cheering each other before heading home to rest – no one was keen on waiting any longer.
And rest I did. Slept for the remainder of the day as if I were drugged, and shook of the grogginess a short while ago. The body, as always, is protesting the ill-treatment that it was subject to. Family and friends are protesting the craziness that they feel I’ve been exhibiting since last year, though I furnish examples of people far more accomplished in this regard :) Sighs.
All in all, this was one long walk that I’m not going to forget. Truly, a walk to remember :)
Labels: Hyderabad Runners, Ultra walkathon, Walking
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Of lazy weekends
If I had thought that the weekend was not off to a lazy start for once, the remainder of the four rather relaxed days put all my earlier doubts to rest!
Nothing like relaxing under the warm sun like the good old days on the lawns in the nearby botanical garden, catching up with some reading, indulging in some photography, walking around a bit (not to mention, doing some tight-rope walking too in the name of adventure sports!), attending a friend's marriage (sighs! One more eligible bachelor bites the dust! :p), sleeping like logs, devouring some yummy delicacies (be it at The Spice Village, Paradise, Cream Stone, or Punjabi Rasoi, you name it and we were there!), watching an awesome Australian Open Men's Singles Final (a tad bit disappointed that Rafa lost by a whisker :( ), and last but not the least, but surely at the last moment, trying to make the most of the mega sale that ended tonight! How's that for action?!
Oh well! It did start off with a bang early on Thursday in beautiful Gandipet! The run up, literally, to the Auroville Full Marathon sure seems to be on track with a sub-hour 10 kms run at the wonderfully organized Hyderabad Runners Club Run 2012... need to stick it out on the 42 kms long forest trail for over 5 hours at least when I revisit beautiful Pondicherry err Puducherry next month! Mind over body, as always it's going to be...
In other news, I'm not down with the writers' block... just don't feel like writing much with so much to do. Plus my loved ones seem to be doing a wonderful job in the penning down department. Keep up the flow of beautiful words and fantastic posts, D, M, S and A :)
Hence, that's it for now!
An eventful and busy week is about to begin!
Till next time, ciao...
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Lost for words...
... High on life :)
Labels: Life
Saturday, December 31, 2011
The fantastic year that was :)
When surviving (forget living) 2010, I had wished for something exactly the opposite of the dreaded time I was experiencing - I had sincerely wished for the year to end in a jiffy and for a brand new one to start!
Guess Someone up there heard my plea and answered my wish :)
2011 for me, right from Day 1 was a fresh start.
Quite a lot happened this year: right from the call which I had been waiting for since ages; the conversion of the offer; the bike trips to Neemrana, Shimla, and Nainital early in the year; the brilliance in taking leave from somewhere I didn't belong on a nice note; switched over to a place where I belong to; attending numerous marriages and engagements of friends; the relentless travel all round the year (by jove, I covered 16 states and UTs in all); met someone who is here to stay in my life for aeons to come and with whom I've lived lifetimes in such a short span of time; visited home so many times and spent quality time with my parents and sister each time <3, the last trip during Christmas being extra special with a new member joining the family :)
Anything and everything that happened in 2011 made the 365 days endearing to me.
And right now I'm going to miss it badly... only the assurance of 2012 turning out to be even better than its predecessor gives me confidence to let go of 2011 on a happy note!
What better way to bid goodbye to the year and welcome the new one than with family and close friends (thought I'd miss the former this time round, the time spent with them is still fresh in my memory :))
Hope everyone has a fantastic ending to 2011 and gets to welcome 2012 with arms wide open.
Happy 2012, people!
Farewell 2011!
Cheers!!
Labels: Beginnings, Closure, Family, Friends, Happiness, Happy Endings
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Homecoming!
For as long back as I can remember, Christmas time and the holiday season have been all about family time.
Save for the one-off occurrence a couple of years ago, I have always spent this time of the year with my parents and sister. This time is no different! :)
Earlier all four of us used to pack our bags and rush off to Calcutta for a quiet, peaceful and beautiful getaway during Christmas time. But for the past few years, it has been an all home affair - something I like much more than the sojourn at Cal. In those trips to West Bengal's capital city, all we did was go shopping, devour delicacies, attend mass, roam around and relax, all of that in a city which for me always had the tag "It's a neat place to visit but you wouldn't wanna live there." At home, we get to do all of that plus, best of all, feel at home. Sighs :)
Home for me is Fantasia - a name which my dear parents gave to the nest they built on a foundation of love and dreams - yep, as strong as ever! True to the name, our home is a free composition structured according the composers' (my parents, in this case) fancy. Over the years, despite the winds of change and the sands of time, proper planning and relentless efforts have ensured that the foundation of the place has just grown stronger in parallel to the structure expanding like a big heart, where, needless to say, love has thrived and memories have been cemented.
Myself and my kid sister grew up in Fantasia, and no matter where life takes us or what we become, our home will form an integral part of us and whenever we go back there to visit our beloved Dada and Mumma, we'll be back to being kids and will relive the pleasant nostalgia of our childhood days - for us, it will always be Square One.
To reiterate, home for me is Fantasia - it is Dada's warm embrace, proud eyes, easy laugh, and wonderful talks; it is Mumma's cozy lap, beautiful smile, caring hands, excited chatter, and her relentless pampering; it is Sweety's big hugs, reminiscent ponderings, sibling wars, and cute dramebaazis!
Aahhhh! Just 2 more days, and I'll be there to experience it all. Just that, this time round it will be a tad bit extra special for all of us. I've never been so sure of anything else till date.
Life's more or less perfect when you're touching wood almost always :)
I remember an age old wall hanging on the walls of Fantasia which had the caption, "Home is where the heart is." I'm retracing my steps back to my heart pretty soon!! This time round, I'm taking another heart along... :)
Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas, well in advance!!
Saturday, December 03, 2011
No comebacks
You know that feeling when you're traveling at full speed on a straight empty road, crossing familiar landmarks, and after a while you suddenly realize you've covered a stretch of the street without even realizing when that had happened? It's not that you had fallen asleep in between, but you hardly took in any element of the surroundings that passed by despite being wide awake and having navigated the twists, turns et al (albeit subconsciously). Yet you've covered the distance safely and are still going strong.
Life is somewhat like that - it happens when you're busy enjoying it, being lost in moments and hardly keeping track of time.
Once you realize that you've covered a stretch of the road without actually any casualty occurring, you don't dwell on the what-ifs for long. Maybe if you remembered that the street was fraught with danger in the form of potholes and speed breakers, you'd look back for a moment and wonder how exactly you managed to navigate to safety without being in your right senses then. But then you'd probably dismiss the inquisition immediately without much fuss. What matters now is that you're safe. A pat on the back for the wonderful maneuvering of the vehicle too...
Akin to when people close to you help you in tiding over crises in life, keep you distracted, shower you with joy and happiness, and before you know it, voila! You're the same person in a whole new beautiful world, devoid of darkness, sadness and negativity, devoid of lies, sham and all that had clouded life a while back. In retrospect, you can't believe you came this far unscathed, but then you believe. Life leaves you with no other option but to be grateful and to pat yourself on the back for pulling yourself up, even if with others' help, and to trudge on.
I love running in marathons. I run long distances whenever I get the chance. In addition to being one of the best forms of catharsis, running is also a wonderful way of coming to terms with living life.
Firstly, marathons are not meant to be won - they're supposed to be finished. Just like life is meant to be lived, not to be outrun.
Blimey, living life to the fullest, each and every moment, and finishing each marathon run give a high like no other!
Secondly, you run a marathon for yourself - you've got no hidden agendas, you don't intend to impress anyone with your feat - the only thing on your mind is seeing yourself cross the finish line and feeling like a person who has been reborn, cleansed of all the maladies of the previous life.
Similarly, you need to cherish life for what it is to you - don't run after success like a mad dog runs after vehicles (even if the former catches up with the latter, it still continues to chase other vehicles... it's a never-ending story), live for yourself, live with others and not for others (at least not until you segregate the uncut diamonds from the stones, the latter being the ones you'd bend this rule for :) ) - life has ample highs to give away to all who care to welcome it with open arms!
Also, when progressing towards the finish line in a marathon, what occupies your field of vision is not the finish line but the surroundings, the beautiful landscapes that you keep crossing every once in a while.
Life these days has become too fast for our own good. We miss to observe so much while running the relentless rat race that has taken over our lives. Whilst it's practically unfeasible to put an end to the rat race or to exit it prematurely, we can surely slow down our pace and live life in parallel. Like a wise chap has said, "Even if you win the rat race, you'll still be a rat." So why not try to win something else instead of the race, life's treasures and irreplaceable moments for instance.
Those, and lots of subtle comparisons.
Maybe all of this sounds impractical, too ideal, philosophical even. But jump into your shoes and start running. You'll get the drift, literally and figuratively speaking.
Anyway, that's all for this edition.
The year 2011 was a breeze. Exactly one year ago, I couldn't wait for it to start and put an end to dreaded 2010. Today, less than 30 days before it bids farewell, I don't want the year to end at all...
Oh well! End it will, though I hope and pray the magic and happiness that got injected into life in 2011 continues for years to come.
Somethings rightfully meet a premature end and are buried off in a jiffy, but some ageless things that end up in a coma, no thanks to a series of unfortunate events, can certainly be revived. All it takes is constant support and faith - this blog could never die, no matter how severe the coma it goes into. Thanks to D, M, S and A for helping me resuscitate it and to revive the eternal masquerade of emotions! Love you folks! :)
On an ending note, I could only quote the following lines by Pink Floyd: I knew the moment had arrived, for killing the past and coming back to life...
Thursday, September 22, 2011
One score, many years! - A Letter to my Little Angel
Hi kiddo,
Time flies.
It seems like it was just yesterday that I had received the good news that you'd be joining the family... I was happy, but I remember having no clue as to what the whole brouhaha was all about.
Back to square one.
I’ll reiterate. Time does fly.
Today is the 22nd of September in 2011.
And just like that, you’ve completed 20 whole revolutions around the sun! By jove!!
Things have changed, but certain aspects remain constant.
You were an infant then and are a mature adult now, but you’ll always remain my baby sister <3
You were a little girl a few years ago who has blossomed into a beautiful, charming, intelligent, compassionate, independent woman. But come what may, I’ll be the same overprotective, loving, mischievous, lecture-giving, pain-in-the-ass big brother that I always was :D
Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, Sweetu!
Shine on, you crazy diamond of mine!
Truckloads of love, hugs and kisses,
Appu
Time flies.
It seems like it was just yesterday that I had received the good news that you'd be joining the family... I was happy, but I remember having no clue as to what the whole brouhaha was all about.
Enlightenment took its own sweet time to dawn.
Soon enough I had realized that even long before your arrival, you had unwittingly started stealing my limelight, everyone's attention of which, until then, I was the sole recipient!
Worst still, a while before your arrival, the woman I loved the most had to be taken away from me and was imprisoned (or so I thought!), and I was allowed to meet her only once a day as per visit schedules.
And I had started fretting over the thought that if the harbingers of your imminent arrival were this unwelcome, how unpleasant your arrival could turn out to be for me!!
And then you arrived.
One glance at you and all the childish negativity had evaporated.
Right at that moment, all I cared about was the fact that I now had two beautiful women in my life :)
The new entrant was you, the little angel who I couldn’t help keep gawping at!
Before I knew it, I was a big brother. Period.
That day was the 22nd of September in 1991. A Sabbath as holy as every!
The last couple of lines in the rhyme “Monday’s Child” fitted you ditto, and they still do:
But the child who is born on the Sabbath Day
Is bonny and blithe and good and gay
Soon enough you became the apple of everyone’s eyes. You won so many hearts.
More importantly, in a jiffy you became the centre of my universe. Needless to say, you still are.
True that pangs of jealousy and vindictiveness played spoilsport initially, but they paved the way for a stronger bond.
I remember the evenings in crèche when, at the tender age of 8, I used to be faced with the decision to choose between a cricket match with friends, and being with my hardly-a-year-old sister. I used to surprise myself by forgoing the dumb game, though I do confess now to having looked out longingly towards the field at those times...
I vividly recollect the bone-chilling experience of our first long walk, you were all of 2 years then, to the colony pond with the kid next door – the stroll during which, out of the blue, a pack of mad stray dogs charged towards us helpless kids. Though the other kid ran for his life, I, despite being scared to death but realizing that it was impossible for us both to take flight, held you protectively and stood my ground. I had wondered where a scaredy cat like myself had garnered this much courage from.
I can still recall those hundreds of games which I taught you to play over the years, most importantly cricket. I had made you believe that bowling is the best thing ever, and while a half-a-decade old you used to tirelessly keep pitching the ball, I, the selfish batsman, enjoyed while also exposing you to the joy of fielding :p
I reminisce about the smart and brilliant kiddo that you always were, excellent in academics, fantastic in extracurrics, teachers’ pet, our parents’ gem, and my little role model!Then came our fights. I was pretty sure that our ‘cat and dog fights’, as mom labelled them, would lead to our being sent away to different boarding schools. Thankfully that never happened, despite our squabbling being a never-ending story :D
My memories of your teens is somewhat hazy, my staying away from home to be blamed for that, but I clearly remember the somewhat awkward adolescent who had her own set of strengths, but was struggling to find a foothold in life. Then, it had seemed like an energetic electron losing its energy and spiralling downwards into the nucleus. But all nerds know that that doesn’t happen! As did I.
Your temporary relapse was akin to a solar eclipse – you fear that the brilliance of the sun is going to get lost in the oblivion of darkness, yet at the point where getting enveloped by gloom seems inevitable, an unexpected and outright brilliant corona in the middle of the nothingness serves as a positive harbinger of change, reinstates your faith, and lights up your world!
Sure enough, the way you pulled yourself up from the rubble, and emerged as a much stronger person is praiseworthy. And you’ve never looked back since. The way you’re surging ahead in life now, there’s no way that the sky is the limit for you *touchwood*
I hate comparisons to the core, but I feel pretty smug about getting to see traces of myself in you. That said, I effortlessly gloat about the fact that you’ve outdone me and all my tacit expectations of you, but best of all, you’re constantly outshining yourself! Keep it up!!
Simply saying that I’m proud of you would be the understatement of the millennium. Words fail me
Soon enough I had realized that even long before your arrival, you had unwittingly started stealing my limelight, everyone's attention of which, until then, I was the sole recipient!
Worst still, a while before your arrival, the woman I loved the most had to be taken away from me and was imprisoned (or so I thought!), and I was allowed to meet her only once a day as per visit schedules.
And I had started fretting over the thought that if the harbingers of your imminent arrival were this unwelcome, how unpleasant your arrival could turn out to be for me!!
And then you arrived.
One glance at you and all the childish negativity had evaporated.
Right at that moment, all I cared about was the fact that I now had two beautiful women in my life :)
The new entrant was you, the little angel who I couldn’t help keep gawping at!
Before I knew it, I was a big brother. Period.
That day was the 22nd of September in 1991. A Sabbath as holy as every!
The last couple of lines in the rhyme “Monday’s Child” fitted you ditto, and they still do:
But the child who is born on the Sabbath Day
Is bonny and blithe and good and gay
Soon enough you became the apple of everyone’s eyes. You won so many hearts.
More importantly, in a jiffy you became the centre of my universe. Needless to say, you still are.
True that pangs of jealousy and vindictiveness played spoilsport initially, but they paved the way for a stronger bond.
I remember the evenings in crèche when, at the tender age of 8, I used to be faced with the decision to choose between a cricket match with friends, and being with my hardly-a-year-old sister. I used to surprise myself by forgoing the dumb game, though I do confess now to having looked out longingly towards the field at those times...
I vividly recollect the bone-chilling experience of our first long walk, you were all of 2 years then, to the colony pond with the kid next door – the stroll during which, out of the blue, a pack of mad stray dogs charged towards us helpless kids. Though the other kid ran for his life, I, despite being scared to death but realizing that it was impossible for us both to take flight, held you protectively and stood my ground. I had wondered where a scaredy cat like myself had garnered this much courage from.
I can still recall those hundreds of games which I taught you to play over the years, most importantly cricket. I had made you believe that bowling is the best thing ever, and while a half-a-decade old you used to tirelessly keep pitching the ball, I, the selfish batsman, enjoyed while also exposing you to the joy of fielding :p
I reminisce about the smart and brilliant kiddo that you always were, excellent in academics, fantastic in extracurrics, teachers’ pet, our parents’ gem, and my little role model!Then came our fights. I was pretty sure that our ‘cat and dog fights’, as mom labelled them, would lead to our being sent away to different boarding schools. Thankfully that never happened, despite our squabbling being a never-ending story :D
My memories of your teens is somewhat hazy, my staying away from home to be blamed for that, but I clearly remember the somewhat awkward adolescent who had her own set of strengths, but was struggling to find a foothold in life. Then, it had seemed like an energetic electron losing its energy and spiralling downwards into the nucleus. But all nerds know that that doesn’t happen! As did I.
Your temporary relapse was akin to a solar eclipse – you fear that the brilliance of the sun is going to get lost in the oblivion of darkness, yet at the point where getting enveloped by gloom seems inevitable, an unexpected and outright brilliant corona in the middle of the nothingness serves as a positive harbinger of change, reinstates your faith, and lights up your world!
Sure enough, the way you pulled yourself up from the rubble, and emerged as a much stronger person is praiseworthy. And you’ve never looked back since. The way you’re surging ahead in life now, there’s no way that the sky is the limit for you *touchwood*
I hate comparisons to the core, but I feel pretty smug about getting to see traces of myself in you. That said, I effortlessly gloat about the fact that you’ve outdone me and all my tacit expectations of you, but best of all, you’re constantly outshining yourself! Keep it up!!
Simply saying that I’m proud of you would be the understatement of the millennium. Words fail me
Back to square one.
I’ll reiterate. Time does fly.
Today is the 22nd of September in 2011.
And just like that, you’ve completed 20 whole revolutions around the sun! By jove!!
Things have changed, but certain aspects remain constant.
You were an infant then and are a mature adult now, but you’ll always remain my baby sister <3
You were a little girl a few years ago who has blossomed into a beautiful, charming, intelligent, compassionate, independent woman. But come what may, I’ll be the same overprotective, loving, mischievous, lecture-giving, pain-in-the-ass big brother that I always was :D
Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, Sweetu!
Shine on, you crazy diamond of mine!
Truckloads of love, hugs and kisses,
Appu
Labels: Birthday, Family, Memories, Nostalgia, Sister, Sweety
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Current mood :)
"I’ve shut the door on yesterday
And thrown the key away-
Tomorrow holds no fear for me
Since I have found today."
- Vivian Y Laramore
Monday, August 01, 2011
There was greenery all over the place – be it in the form of shrubs, trees, leaves strewn around here and there. We had been trekking, rock climbing and had remained in constant motion for the past 3 hours at least, and all this while, I felt as if I was engulfed by silence in the wilderness. There was not another living soul save for us in the vicinity. It was time to halt. The steep slope of the hill ensured that standing with both feet at one level was not possible. After merely 60 seconds had elapsed, I realized the irony that though the silence was missing thanks to constant music, there was a strange mesmerizing tranquility and placidness to be found there - there, in the middle of nowhere…
Ah! The music! It was drizzling. The gushing waterfalls nearby, the rain drops falling on the trees' leaves, the drops from leaves hitting the ground, the restless insects, the inquisitive frogs, the slightly soggy leaves and branches rustling in the rain-laced breeze – all resembled different musical exponents competing against each other to showcase their best performance, the combined end result being a musical composition as soothing as any I have ever heard. Mother Nature, needless to say, was the perfect conductor of a symphony orchestra made up of her varied elements.
The last thought on my mind at that heavenly moment was that we were lost!!
I could brag and boast about my amazing weekend trip with 4 friends (sans any guide or a huge group) to a little known place called Rajmachi Fort somewhere amidst the lush green forests of Maharashtra, but none of it would do justice to Mother Nature in her entirety!
From the late night journey on Friday from Hyderabad to Karjat; the yummy Vada Pav’s at Sattu’s; the daunting 8-odd kms long trek and treacherous climb commencing from Kondivade; the hypnotic sceneries, the hundreds of waterfalls seeping through the rocky hills; getting lost after hitting a dead-end but luckily finding the helping hand of tribals to put us back on the right track; the undying spirit of my gang which trudged on despite rain, slush, bushes, thorns and pain; the fantastic night stay at a hut in Rajmachi village; the early morning climb in the rains to Manaranjan fort up in the hills, the 14-odd kms long trek back to Lonavala encountering muddy roads and streams (both usually ankle deep), wading through a knee-deep river, to finally ending it all on a successful note when boarding the Hyderabad Express at Lonavala - it was an experience of a lifetime!
Best part was taking the risk and clicking hundreds of photographs in harsh, camera-unfriendly conditions! Memories galore…
There’s something special about traveling to distant places, especially those which are yet to be ravaged by commercialization and pollution. I only wish people learn the art of not dirtying up places they visit, and help preserve the virginity and dignity of such untouched lands. Anyway, taking no chances, I’m all set to explore such unchartered territories whenever an opportunity presents itself, lest I get to experience the beauty in preserved form later on only in some bloody history museum *shivers*
Thanks to the constant state of being drenched in the rains over the weekend, and walking all over the show like that, I’m down with a leaking tap of a nose *snort snort* It’s another matter that the source of mesmerization has changed hands, and the slight fever and phlegm have taken a back seat J
Fingers crossed for my Hydventura nomination for the Silent Valley Trek later this month getting accepted! Visiting and exploring Kerala has been a childhood dream! Also, need to start preparing for the Hyderabad Marathon if I plan to run the 21 kms in under 2 hours. Sighs!
Time to head home and recover!
Plan some neat travel trips, you all… :)
Cheers!
Labels: Friends, Photography, Rajmachi, Traveling, Trek, Weekends
Friday, July 29, 2011
Pottermnia
Yesterday was a Thursday like no other!
After procrastinating it for a long time, I finally ended up watching HP7… yeah yeah! I know that I was probably amongst the last few Potter buffs to have watched it
I was somewhat apprehensive about seeing it because this was the last of the lot. A fullstop of sorts. I felt like the kid who despite knowing that it’s going to end sooner or later, keeps licking his icecream cone slowly so as to make it last forever…
What’s funny is that this abstinence would’ve continued if not for a bunch of really cool folks who on the spur of the moment agreed to watch the movie bang in the middle of the week, some shirking lunch, others forgoing either work or parties (blimey! two of them watching it for the 2nd time!)
What ensued was a faction of Dumbledore’s Army (DA) assembling for the first time at Prasad’s… four strangers, but all awkwardness, if any, seemed to vanish in a jiffy courtesy a Evansco spell!
And thereafter what a magical evening it turned out to be!
The movie did little justice to the books and the director took some creative liberty (I wonder how JKR gave it a go-ahead sign, and sang praises for it at the premiere), but still it wasn’t as bad as raving mad Potter fans had been swearing!
For starters, the movie’s pace seemed to be superfast – as if the director had to get done with it in a jiffy and catch the Hogwarts Express! You’d be like, “Wow! The War of Hogwarts has already started?!?”
Secondly, and most importantly, the movie lacked flow – akin to watching disjoint subjects on different slides of a power point presentation! One scene on one slide, then next. And voila! The last “thank you” slide arrives prematurely. This movie should’ve been longer
One more point – important instances from the book are neglected and instead of them, you find some made up plots which find no mention in the book. Like one of the DA mentioned, one character who we grew up with, who along with his twin brother was one of the most loved in Potter’s fold - Fred Weasley – a tremendous injustice was done when even his death in the last battle wasn’t shown! Sob sob.
Many more points as such, but no use cribbing. Like in JK Rowling’s own words, “The stories we love best do live in us forever.”
Worst part is that it’s over. The end of the line.
The loose ends in the movie sure gave a feeling that we can look forward to more. Go go go JKR! Get to work :p
Blasphemy though it might be considered, the bunch I hung out with surely ensured that the rest of the evening was much better than the movie! Thankfully no hangovers after the grand finale…
Needless to say, long live Pottermania.
And long live Potter-maniacs ;)
I’m off to explore the wilderness in Maharashtra for the next 2 days *rubbing hands in glee*
Happy weekend folks! Make the most of it :)
Labels: Beginnings, Friends, Harry Potter, Movies
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Happy Birthday Mumma!
Nothing like paying a surprise visit home!
That too for Mumma's birthday... loved shocking all 3 of them like I did a few years ago :D
Mumma's accident injuries yet to heal! Hope they heal soon...
One awesome weekend it was!
Happy vappy birthay, Mumma! Muaahhh
Monday, July 18, 2011
Pune trip!
Final destination. Pune station. Baner, Balewadi. PMC. Rush of memories J
Reunions. Nostalgia. Rejuvenated at once. Bakar mania.
Hinjewadi. Infy. Awe-inspiring campus. Same old rumpus.
Surprise rendezvous. FC3. Blogworld’s who’s who! Fun spree. Icecream treat too :p
Tipsy. ECC. Gym. Back to square one!
Drizzle. Bike rides. Sans the daily tussle. Bloodshot eyes.
Birthday boy. Party, ahoy! CopaCabana. Going bananas!
Cocktail fest. Awesome music. Sanity put to test. Timer-mode pics.
Dead of the night. Friend’s flight. Sky Garage. Hookah smoke barrage.
Laughing. Conversations. Sighing. Repetitions.
Ungodly hours. Sleepy spars. Nightout. Totally kaput! :s
Early morn. Passenger train. Didn’t take long! Mumbaiii again.
Door-side seat. Munchies to eat. Click click click. A few with my clique!
CST. Vada pav in dhabha. BEST. Colaba.
Leopold. Fantastic aura, as I was told! Lots of chow. Pitchers in tow.
Birthday girl. Gang’s surprises. Storm after the lull. Need for more action arises!
Heavy rains. Unchartered terrains. Colorful umbrellas. Happy-go-lucky fellas. :D
Marine drive. Romantic sight! Camera comes alive. Absolut delight.
Photography. Choerography. Long walks, along those weird shaped rocks.
Natural ice cream treat. Churchgate. Via Jai Hind street. Slow local at 15:48.
Dadar. Despite the bombings, all in order! Shivneri. End of the Mumbai reverie…
40 winks. Tired & haggard. “Enough for the day”, everyone thinks. Off at Wakad.
A burst of energy! Auto to Hinjewadi. St. Laurn’s. Another awesome evening dawns!
Plans & vacillations. Concrete decisions. Food & pints unlimited. Nightout reloaded.
Break of dawn Getting up with a whine. Yawn after yawn. Bah! Rise & shine.
Time to depart. Slow start. Raining cats & dogs. Everywhere slush & bogs. K
Superb pace. Songs in full volume. Sceneries that amaze! End of our sleepy gloom.
Empty tummy demands repast! Yummy breakfast. Piping hot tea. Off to Panchgani.
To Mother Nature, obeisance! Rejuvenated. Return to innocence. Masti unlimited!
Last stop: Mahabaleshwar. Another “been there, done that” chapter!
Crazy showers. Horse ride & treks. Wading through mud & rivers. Rain-defying clicks!
Heading home. Comments, retorts & pranks some. Déjà vu. “Sad it’s over, are you?”
Dusk. Another ending yet hanging on. Tsk tsk. Back to square one.
Quite the perfect weekend \m/
Labels: Friends, Hinjewadi, Infosys, Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Pune, Reunions
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Things taking shape...
Realization: Life is like that shapeless lump of clay on a potter's wheel... it needs to be shaped constantly by the very person to whom it belongs. A little lag here or some slack there, and voila! It mutates back to its original lifeless form.
When I look back at the past year, I get the feeling that I had slowly by slowly allowed my life to slip out of my hands. Some potter I was :|
A quick reflection, a speedy then-and-now analysis, and I can pat myself on the back for gaining a foothold on life before it slipped into an abyss of shapelessness, an unfortunate eventuality had I continued the way I was going...
Things are back on track now, and gaining momentum. A few more things need to fall into place, and then everything'll be better than where I left it a couple of years ago :)
Also, a paranoia about suffering from a permanent case of writers block had been hounding me of late. Resuming blogging courtesy InfyBlogs dispelled that notion. Phew.
2 more days before another new start. New house, hopefully new project et al.
Will miss the little angel who has come to become the center of my life in the last week - my roommate Anshul's neice, Parii. Love that kid!
That's it for now. Time to hit the sack (and hit the gym early in the morning... ahem!)
More later...
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Summer's almost gone!
One of the speediest and most fun-filled summers ever!
Didn't have to beat the heat this time round... no need. There was never a cool-er summer!
Lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer of 2011 :)
Seems like the pre-monsoons have arrived here... a few more days and it'll be pouring.
The bike couldn't be reaching me at a better time! Miles to go...
That whirlwind trip to Indore was awesome... had to be there. Just had to.
Sad about having to skip the Udaipur trip, but can't have my way always. Sorry Jassu :(
Someone's arrival has ensured some much needed stability in life, not to mention eager anticipation for what's up next. After all, it's about 2 strangers exploring a strange new city! Bring it on.
Back to square one in all aspects of life. Blimey it's legend... wait for it... dary ;)
Back on the grid too, after a long hiatus. Feeling ham-fisted while operating the lappie and accessing the net. Ouch.
There's a thin line separating weekdays and weekends, and that's just what the doctor ordered.
Last week was all about POTC4, Pyaar ka punchnama... (warning: the latter is a guys only movie... do not take a gal along, trust me... enjoy it with the gang :p).
This week's agenda is Kung Fu Panda and, probably Ragini MMS... the said horror flick might actually turn out to be creepy, spine-chilling though. You never know. Ahem.
Lots to look forward to.
In the meanwhile, getting SAPped to the core!!
Adios
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Grievance Letter to Ministry of Environment & Forests
To
Mr. Jairam Ramesh
Minister of State (Independent Charge)
Ministry of Environment and Forests
Dear sir,
This grievance is with respect to the untimely and tragic death of my dear friend, the late Mr. Naresh Kodithala on the 24th of April, 2011, at Lion's Point, Lonavala (for your reference: http://tinyurl.com/3u7j8cb).
I'm sure, sir, that this particular case might have been brought to your kind attention earlier, but kindly bear with me. I would not delve into how close I was to Naresh, one of my best friends, but I'd focus on the subtle negligence on the authorities' part that has led to the loss of not just one, but many young lives. And probably many more to come...
When I first heard this sad news of Naresh's demise on the morning of April 24th (Easter Sunday), I was taken aback and I convinced myself that it was a late April Fool joke. Naresh isn't an adventurous sort of person at all, not the type who'd walk over to the cliff's edge just to show off or to get clicked in a cool pose. Googling a bit, I felt temporarily relieved when the related news I got to read were of persons falling off Lion's Point much earlier (f.y.i. an example: http://tinyurl.com/3metgmc).
My relief was short-lived indeed. Within the hour, it was confirmed that Lion's Peak had claimed yet another victim. And sad though it is, only when the victim is someone close to you does the gravity of the situation hit you. Murderous rage coupled with helplessness and despair take over when you think of how young the victim was and what a promising life lay ahead of him, which he involuntarily gave up for no fault of his. You think of his family and what they'd be going through, no consolation for losing a young son, a wonderful brother. Your heart reaches out to the innocent bystanders who witnessed his fall first-hand, and have involuntarily become lifelong slaves to this horrifying nightmare of a memory. The list of stakeholders is huge, sir.
A person doesn't simply die - one death leaves behind lots of dead bodies.
Conversations with friends at the incident spot, and later on reading his sister's blog post (please read: http://sangeethakodithala.blogspot.com/2011/05/conservation-at-what-cost.html) revealed a shocking fact - the absence of railings at such a dangerous point, despite the toll it has taken till date and the huge footfall.
I might tend to be biased at this juncture, sir, but with all due respect I would tag this death (and many more of its kind) as Murder, and I'd justifiably label the Forest Department as Murderers. What kind of tradeoff is it between installing a measly fencing and the loss of umpteen number of lives?!
Even the most hardered murder convicts worldwide would be shocked at the little value we seem to bestow upon life. It's appalling. The worst part is that no one seems to be doing anything about it. Right as I type this out, another disaster in the waiting... it's just a matter of who's next.
I implore you, Mr. Jairam Ramesh, and your ministry to take this matter and many more of its kind into consideration, and to take measures to ensure that no more innocent people fall prey to such freak incidents and to inconsistencies in the system.
Thanks and best regards,
Steve Nipps
Labels: Death, Environment and Forests, Grievance, Jairam Ramesh, Letters, Life, Ministry, Naresh Kodithala
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Know Naresh...
I should've posted this earlier but circumstances made sure that I had no access to the net...
On Easter Sunday morning last weekend, of all days, I received the most shocking news ever. And since then, numbness has prevailed.
Naresh Kodithala aka Kinggg aka Top Phodu aka Bakar Baaz was no more...
Freak accidents are heard of, but I could not believe what Naresss might've gone through in his last moments...
And till the moment I saw him at Kukatpally, I was convincing myself that it was a bad bad joke.
Looking down at his mute bruised face from his own rooftop, I prayed and cried that he'd stir a bit, move a muscle, open his eyes and smile up at us idiots who he had fooled... but that was not to happen. Not everything that happens in April is a April Fool's Joke.
A mass reunion was planned in this South Indian city, but not this way... even met Shikha, our unofficial DAIICT buddy. And when I had included Naresh in the reunion lists for Mumbai and this city, and he had been so happy, never ever had I imagined that this would be the nature of our meetup... the last... :'(
This post is for a friend, one of my closest buddies, a partner in crime since ages, a confidant, a fellow bakarbaaz, a lover of pathetic !dea and Katrina Kaif; a mentor of sorts to me who showed the way to follow, be it in college, before and in MBA, and in life; one of the best people I've ever known, a special someone whose sudden departure has ensured a crazy void in life... a person whose absence shall be felt for a long long time...
Naresh Kodithala, I shall miss you always! Hope you're resting in peace, my man... Miss you!
Labels: Friends
Monday, April 18, 2011
Wanderlust!
One fine day some 20 years ago, when in Nepal, I realized how much I loved traveling. Even if alone.
A couple of decades later, I'm just beginning to realize how intense this passion for wandering around is!
Ditto the lines in the awesome movie Tangled: “Standing here, it’s oh so clear, I’m where I’m meant to be...”
Ditto the lines in the awesome movie Tangled: “Standing here, it’s oh so clear, I’m where I’m meant to be...”
The subcontinent almost done, save for 2 sets of places. Next up, whenever next is!
Hope to go globe trotting soon *fingers crossed*
Like that song goes: I'm free, free fallin'... yeah I'm free, free fallin'
Friday, February 18, 2011
Done masquerading :)
Ok folks! This is it...
For 6 long years, on and off, I've been typing out shit at this particular location.
And boy, when I look back, I've typed out lots of crazy posts out here... ranging from utterly childish, totally boyish, funnily desperate, amusingly naive, absurdly abusive, ecstatically happy, depressingly sad, completely smitten, manically romantic, absolutely philosophical, mind-numbingly nonsensical, to outrightly mature (or so I think!).
Talk about a masquerade of emotions :)
For a Friday that started with a flat tyre and ended with a very dear friend's marriage which I couldn't attend, today turned out to be a day that made me understand why someone coined the acronym TGIF (Thank God It's Friday, for the uninitiated)
Towards the end of the day, tugging along a bag of mixed emotions (or a mixed bag of emotions, if it sounds heavier!).
Since 2002 when I actually stepped out of home, I've been on the move all over the country.
But it was only in the last 3 years that I got to witness and experience big city life and big city people up close.
And 1100 days later, I still haven't figured out either of the two... these people and their lifestyles baffle me, forever a small town person by heart.
Once, maybe, I thought I came close to establishing a connection, but then there's so much congestion these days that the link simply failed :)
Oh well. "Nice try, but not for you... never", consoled an inner voice.
Time to move on to a much smaller place...
Moving on is funny, really.
It's like crossing a stream by stepping onto stones strewn about here and there in the water: while one foot, unsure of itself lands on the next stone, the other foot still remains fixated on the preceding stone, doubtful of whether to let go or not.
Anyway despite all of it, you somehow manage to rid yourself of all fears and the lagging foot shoots ahead!
Voila! Life as I know it...
Enough of the gobbledygook.
The crux of the matter: No more shall there be a masquerade of emotions. That's passe (starting this moment).
Thanks for the readership, comments, etc. :)
I now officialy declare this blog a dlog (dead blog, if you may... it'll exist for nostalgia's sake, but there'll never be another post added to it)
Cheers!
Labels: The End
Monday, February 07, 2011
Wonder days!
People have weird superstitions.
I have my own set of those. One of them is the notion that Mondays are meant to be horrible.
I'm sure not many people are going to pooh pooh this one :)
For the past month and a half though, I hardly got a chance to dread the onset of the first working day of the week... reason being I didn't even realize when the hell it showed up! Talk about being stuck in a time warp.
Today, though, was the kind of day, a few Mondays like which would put an end to the Garfield effect for me!
For starters, the atmosphere at work was as relaxed as it could ever be... unrestrained smiles and jaunty strides all around!
Like the quote goes: "When the cat's away, the mice will play" :p
When I walked out of office at 6 PM, after a lifetime I was leaving from work while it was still bright outside!
I had forgotten what it was like reaching home before 7 PM! Too bad I no longer work out at the gym... had a sudden craving for the same :|
Was on the phone with a friend when I heard a distant rumble which soon turned into a vicious thunder! Stepping out onto the balcony, I was infatuated with the sight in front of me... a thunderstorm that had wrapped itself around the whole of South City 2.
And for the nth time, I patted myself on the back for choosing to live in this place... 11 storeys above the world, looking over the expanse!
The unforeseen showers made the weather extremely pleasant.
Had the usual dinner with the usual companions, but as always it was nice!
Then the telephonic conversations... it's so much fun to talk and talk in the absence of work-related duress.
Only low point of the day was feeling bad about not making it to either of Kikad or LKP's marriages.
Anyway nothing so depressing that I'd need something to lull me to sleep... another first after a long time.
It's at normal times like this that I realize strumming the guitar is one of the best forms of catharsis, no matter how bad you're at it!
Poor people those from whose lives music is missing.
That's that.
Saturday night and Sunday were fun to the core. Monday turned out to be a gem of a day.
Lots of planning to do for the remaining days of the week!
Most of all, finding excuses escape the Valentine week brouhaha. No seriously, wasn't the V-Day more than enough that an entire week of farce had to be invented?!
Anyway, this is the week to look forward to.
Get this weird feeling I'm growing up.
Like Kevin Arnold says of this process in a favorite soap from the namesake period of my life, The Wonder Years:
“Growing up is never easy. You hold on to things that were. You wonder what's to come. But that night, I think we knew it was time to let go of what had been, and look ahead to what would be. Other days. New days. Days to come. The thing is, we didn't have to hate each other for getting older. We just had to forgive ourselves... for growing up.”
And another process that's on the cards:
“Change is never easy. You fight to hold on. You fight to let go.”
I know for sure that many years down the line, I'd be echoing Kevin's following line for these wonder days:
"And the thing is, after all these years, I still look back...with wonder."
Good night!
And what the heck! Happy Rose Day @>-;'-
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Quote for the day!
One of my school friends, Neha, started a trend ages ago: She'd handpick a quotation everyday, and early in the morning she'd mail it out to a bunch of friends.
Initially it seemed strange, and I'd just have a glance at the mail before moving on to other stuff.
Sometimes her "Thought for the day! :)" mails used to remain unread in my inbox for days at an end.
But then gradually, don't know when and how, these mails became a part of the daily routine... it fitted in beautifully!
Everyday morning, it is a pleasure to read unheard of sayings that made lots of sense, and strange enough, they fitted in with the happenings in life.
The fascinating thing about Neha is that despite her busy life (earlier a doctor, now an MBA student), she keeps the mails coming! And the days when she isn't able to send, we'll receive an apology mail the next day along with another gem :)
I wonder how many people reply to her mail. It's probably a thankless job (I know it's not a job, but still it's thankless)
I too seldom send her a reply, but sometimes when I really like her thought for the day, I send her a 'thank you, and keep it up' mail.
Seriously, mate! Thanks! And keep these gems coming :)
A collage of my favorite Thoughts of the Day from the lot:
"Without adversity, without change, life is boring. The paradox of comfort is that we stop trying." - John Amatt
The end does not justify the means. No one's rights can be secured by the violation of the rights of others. - Ayn Rand
Even after all this time the sun never says to the earth, "You owe Me". Look what happens with a love like that; it lights up the whole sky! - Hafiz
A smile is a powerful weapon; you can even break ice with it.:) - Anonymous
I don’t believe in failure. It is not failure if you enjoyed the process. Failure is defined by our reaction to it. - Oprah
Love is the ability & willingness to allow those that you care for to be what they choose for themselves, without any insistence that they satisfy you. - Dr Wayne Dyer
Beauty doesn't exist in things; beauty is a projection. Beauty is not objective; it is subjective. So one day somebody looks beautiful, another day the same person becomes ugly. It is you who projects, it is you who withdraws; the other works just as a screen. - Osho
There is one sad truth in life I've found while journeying east and west - the only folks we really wound are those we love the best. - Ella Wheeler Wilcox
A lot of people have gone farther than they thought they could because someone else thought they could. - Zig Ziglar
The one thing that doesn't abide by the majority rule is a person's conscience. - Harper Lee
If I were a medical man, I should prescribe a holiday to any patient who considered his work important. - Bertrand Russell
In order to keep a true perspective of one's own importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship and a cat that will ignore him. - Dereke Bruce
In every marriage more than a week old, there are grounds for divorce. The trick is to find, and continue to find, grounds for marriage. - Robert Anderson
Did you ever notice how difficult it is to argue with someone who is not obsessed with being right? - Dr Wayne Dyer
Every time you state what you want to believe, you’re the first to hear it. It’s a message to both you & others about what you think is possible. Don’t put a ceiling on yourself. - Oprah
That which you resist, stays. - David Hawkins
I am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I have led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me & my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with all my heart & soul, and to me, this has always been enough. - Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook
The main thing is keeping the main thing the main thing. - German Proverb
Blessed is the person who is too busy to worry in the daytime and too sleepy to worry at night.- Anonymous
To love someone is to understand each other, to laugh together, to smile with your heart & to trust one another. One important thing is to let each other go if you can't do this. - Unknown
I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much. - Mother Teresa
We experience moments absolutely free from worry. These brief respites are called panic. - Cullen Hightower
To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds & secrets, family griefs & joys. We live outside the touch of time. - Clara Ortega
While we believe our problems are the greatest & our misfortunes the worst, there is always someone out there who has suffered more. And just as they survived & triumphed over their suffering, we must too. - Ramayana
Love don't exist. There is only an endocrine response. - 'The Bachelor', the movie
Never bear more than one kind of trouble at a time. Some people bear three- all they've had, all they have now & all they expect to have. - Edward Everett Hale
There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it. - Chinese proverb
"An ounce of mother is worth a ton of priest." - Spanish proverb
