Happy New 2013

I was so confident about the Mayan calendar especially after watching Apocalypto just before 21st.  Adding to that, Nostradamus also let me down.  Check out the video below.  

Nostradamus prediction on Gangnam dance

I was clicking continuously on the PSY video in YouTube to add up to 1 billion views.  I was more disappointed because on 22^nd I did not know what to do and much more than that, had to continue to hear the cruel story from Delhi.

As the year comes to an end, I start wishing for a healthy, wealthy and peaceful year for everybody.  Pity me, my peace was at stake.  My workplace declared Jan 1^st as working day!  Thankfully, the HR policies are like the loop holes in the Indian judicial system.  The more you know law; it would be more advantageous for you.  I am not going to office. 

This time period of the year has been the toughest for me always, particularly the last couple of years.  2012 is not different anyhow.  Nothing could make peace in me.  All my activities during this period are restrained to the bare minimum of a human being.  I have been trying very hard to overcome these times but I end up getting nasty.  This year I decided not to react on anything and I am engulfed.  But, taking some time out for self and looking back, I realize that 2012 although disappointed on the 21^{st ;)}, has given me lot of wonderful moments.  My FB and Twitter timelines tell that very happily.  I am immensely happy while I write this.  I am immensely happy that all the “kuthu” songs that I have liked for some time now are playing inside my head in a looped playlist.  Reason is that a very dear friend has told me to look back at some happy moments whenever life gives lemon in hands.  That will help us to make lemonades.  So, I go back to look few of them.  I recommend the same to everyone who wants lemonades out of the lemons that life gives.  No matter what ever happens, every phase in life is a passé. 

I was scared of few things while the year started but then somehow I decided to face them. One of them is below.  This unknown friend of mine Dnyaneshwar Ajabe and Ravishankar made this memorable.

Looking back there are some more moments and of course they are with my friends around.  Many Many thanks to all those who have been part of my journey!  You all rock..!

Its not just about the bike

It all started while Johnny and I were waiting for bus, back to home in Tambaram bus stand.  We were in 6^th standard then.  My first memory of seeing a Royal Enfield bullet was then.  With the deafening thump, my first impression of it was that, it’s a heavy duty bike.  Those were the days while Yezdi and Rajdoot were also on roads.  But I happen to spot the bullet alone often and the thump grew in me.  Apart from the thump the Royal Enfield logo engraving was the next which drew my attention.  Slowly I happened to hear more and more about the vehicle.  The most common words were ‘robust’, ‘reliable’, ‘tough’.  It should have got ingested in my mind about the vehicle then!

2-3 years later there was a girl who rode the bike royally in my neighborhood!  She was Jeeva’s cousin.  Its Jeeva’s dad bike, the whopping 350kg vehicle with the gear-shifts at the right side and the kick lever doubling as the gear lever!  She rode it with ease!  I started telling around that I want to ride a bullet.  But then, I never knew to bicycle too.  I was the target for amusement.

4-5 years passed. Meanwhile, I came to know that the machine is made in Chennai.  Nothing else was required for me to admire it more.  My passion grew for the bullet.  To beat the amusement, I wanted to own one.  I decided.  To add to the glory, I though it deserves a royal treatment while owning and my way of doing it was to buy it with full cash and no loan.  There started the journey of waiting along with the desire to ride one. 

I started doing more research on Royal Enfield and it was the brand I chose, while Nisha mam gave us the first assignment on the very first day I joined college.  Then I discovered that Narayanan was riding a bullet.  Thunderbird was it, with the 350cc engine.    A new vehicle, he had flicked it from his brother and brought it to college.  I managed to grab the keys from him saying I can ride it! Touched 80kmph!  It was really like kite flying.  But the moment I halted the bike, I had no strength in my muscles to park it in its centre stand.  It was fun for Narayanan!

Then after few years, it was Abu, driving a bullet.  A really well maintained old one it was.  The vehicle reflected his love towards it.  All these people made an impact with their bullets.  Indirect Inspirations!

Almost no one believed me that I can ride a bullet and they all joked on my physical appearance that I cannot ride a bullet and I should first learn to park it with its centre stand.  With all this going around me, Bhargav owned a bullet too.  I used to bug him asking for a ride.  One fine day, a small injury in his leg after a cricket match prompted him to hand over his bullet to me.  It was a good 25km distance for me to ride.  There were opponents to Bhargav’s decision to hand it over to me.  He began to become indecisive.  To add to it, it was about to rain as well.  While others were opposing me, I went through and said him strongly, that I can handle.  That’s it…! After some time I was thumping in the road.  It was a heavy rain but I never stopped.  The thump kept me going in the Grand Trunk Southern road.  I drove it straight inside home literally dashing the gates.  And that was the day all the jokes stopped.

Now…

I own a 500cc bullet from Royal Enfield.  It storms! Worth the wait all these years!  It continues to draw admiration and respect from all.  Rural, urban, A class, B, C, D and whatever classifications may exist.  It just rocks and mostly, the next generation is also admiring it.  And now, Rahul gets inspired from me.  The legend passes on.  

December 11, 1882 - September 11, 1921

Today is the birth anniversary of this fearless fiery and the iconoclastic reformer. A great visionary and poet, well versed in 6 Indian and 2 foriegn languages, this soul gives great courage to my soul to look forward and dare the future with hope.

தேடி சோறு நிதம் தின்று – பல

சின்னஞ்சிறு கதைகள் பேசி – மனம்

வாடி துன்பம் மிக உழன்று –பிறர்

வாட பலசெயல்கள் செய்து –நரை

கூடி கிழபருவமெய்தி –கொடுங்

கூற்றுக் கிரையென்ன பின்மாயும் – பல

வேடிக்கை மனிதரைப் போல் -நான்

வீழ்வெ னென்று நினைத்தாயோ….

Will Mr. Coelho answer me??

I get Mr. Paulo Coelho's messages everyday in my mobile...! Yeah its the author of the famous book The Alchemist. I am not kidding here.

Today, his message was "Work cures everything..."

My question to him is "What if there is no work to do?"

I am not against his words, but really want to find out how does it work.

Will Mr. Coelho answer me??

Stupid

It’s a Saturday and I am up early in the morning. Early means early! It is 6 AM now. 6 AM is not early on a weekday. It is normal. But considering a weekend, a Saturday; a fact that I don’t live with my parents and also taking in the fact that I have slept just 4 hours back, makes this 6 AM early.

I woke up not to blog at this time. I was forced to wake up within from my sleep. Something flashed in my mind and suddenly I woke up seeing the main door of my home being open slightly. Got up to close it and couldn’t find the key anywhere. And that was the time I realized something is wrong! Searching for the key I found my mobile missing. Holy cows! I just got it recently and this is the first time I went on to buy an expensive one and I loved it. It did everything for me. Best was its touch screen, songs and camera! Somebody has flicked it from inside my home. Still searching for the key, I found it to be near the window outside the house. First thing I did was getting in and lock the door as I had a rush for morning duty. Refreshing myself, another flash in my mind rushed me to room where I had kept my wallet. That’s a brand new wallet too and I liked it very much. The last couple of currency notes for the month summing to around 500-600 rupees was there. Weekends are the times money is more required for me.

Alas! I could see the wallet in its place. Nothing to wonder! I always keep it in a shelf which is one room in. I sleep in the hall. So, whoever comes in to flick, has to pass me to locate this shelf where my wallet has been kept. I wanted to have a feel of the wallet now. Suddenly I felt attached to it. It appeared and I felt it thin like a person affected with dengue or malaria – and I am a stupid! The wallet is there but the entire money inside is looted.

Opening the door to get in, I had forgotten to remove the key from outside lock and had missed to lock the previous night. It was just closed but not locked. I have a bad memory and absence of mind, both together! For any thief, it would be tempting to open a house which has the key right in front of his eyes, making way for him to open, take stock and flick things. And I have been sleeping deep. Thankfully all other items are safe. This is my home and when I say it’s a home, it’s a home. Not a house or a room. I have been so stupid to lose things I love. The laptop is there intact and my heart still pumps!

It’s a weekend, Saturday morning and the earlier night I thought I will sleep till whatever time I can. I love my home, mobile and of course the hard earned money also. I had left them all vulnerable!

I have been a stupid.

Resuscitate…

The day fades out, its dark around, the atmosphere is quiet, eyes are closed and yet there is no sleep. Suddenly the eyes wide open and stare at the darkness. After some time, it gets tired and the body drifts to sleep. But the mind doesn’t sleep. It is always awake. The dreams bring what is wished and longed for, but they burst like bubbles. Intermittent sleeps, low days, darkness around and so on bring weakness both mentally and physically. Low energy and dull days are occupying in months. Stress and its relatives mount upon life. Alcohol makes hate self though it is a powerful weapon and it couldn't be possessed all the time. The "nil" reason and meaning, to do things has life’s chest under its strong feet and even if it is overcome to do something, a “why” pops up. The world around is invisible. The “self” crumbles, fighting every minute within. There are many more years to go. Resuscitate...

Skandagiri

There are lots of blogs and descriptions about this place with guidance and direction which is well known for trekking and it’s specially known for moon light trekking on full moon day. This is my encounter with nature in that place.

We (me and my 2 cousins) had a different, risky and adventurous trek on the last full moon day. The regular route to the hill top was closed as the path was under fire. It was forest fire. We were able to look the fire while on the way itself. Getting closer we tried to take an alternate route which doesn’t exist. We started off and at a point we noticed that the fire was spreading fast along the route we intended to go. Within a minute we spoke about that, a tree which was about half a km in altitude from us caught up with fire. Strong wind was blowing and the fire engulfed the tree in a minute. Fire particles were flying up in the sky.

We got s*** scared! With nothing to think and in a jiffy, we started sliding down the hill which was more of bushes and rocks and few thorns as well. Could never forget the way the tree caught fire and it was the first time I saw a forest fire and its might up so close live. Suddenly there was orange light coming out of the flames around us. Coming down, we did want to go to the top and managed to hire a guide who took us to the top in an alternate route. Climbing up the hill in the moonlight was to get a glimpse of the sunrise from top next day and it was a wonderful spectacle to see the Sun rising early morning in red, pink, orange and finally the bright white showing its might.

200 - இரு நூறு - दो सौ - two hundred

Oh good....! Coorg post was my 200th post! :)

5th year of blogging. Its good to look back which has both joys and sorrows. Life teaches a lesson and lets us gain from every pain. Lots of changes in the blog, my writing.

I see Susi, Asha, Venki, Raja, Deepa, Krish and more who havent commented wishing me on my 100th post and from there there are lots of changes in my blog including the template and my thoughts as well. Thanks to one and all for reading and commenting all these time.

One change which I had made from there and which I would recommend you all to follow is on the blog title - "live life day by day". No explanations required, however it is try and put in your best to follow it. We miss it at times (I did too...), but still remember it and reclaim it for the life is yours.

Thanks for staying on and keep reading.

Coorg - December 2009

Basic human psychology and philosophy says when we have bad times and stressful thoughts engulf us we got to think on the good times to overcome them. They not only relieve us out of stress but they also give us confidence about future. And also our human mind always tends to think of the tough situations alone. We have to look back the good times. One such is the Coorg trip which happened in December 2009. Almost everyone in the picture has their own issues, problems and stress to relate with. Though it was perfectly planned, everything was miserable as we went there but still it was enjoyable and will stay in our memory.

Bottoms Up:- Narayanan, Lordsun, Selva Kumar, Vijay Sekar, Prakash, Ramesh, Vijay Ramani, Kalyan, Senthil J, Siva Kumar, Senthil M and me.

I am glad and good that I along with Narayanan organized this trip but it was never easy to manage this bunch especially with the distinct characters of each. I call it 12 monkeys with myself one of them as well.

Drive Safe and Responsibly

Two wheeler is the best option to travel in Chennai. Reason is the vehicle is compact and you can just give some cuts here and there and make your way. The other day I was travelling on these routes: Perungalathur-Taramani-Thiruvanmayur-Aminjikarai-Thiruvanmayur-Taramani-Perungalathur. It’s a distance of around 100 kms altogether. I would have not travelled this much if I was using a car or public transport and mostly time was a major factor.

I travel to office by a two wheeler which is 60 kms approx daily. It takes me 45 mins-1 hr to reach office as I travel in the bypass road partially. If I take a public transport it is 1.5 hr – 2 hrs. Although time is saved, the other side of this is travelling long in bike that too in a city is stressful. It is both physical and mental stress. The traffic chaos, people howling and shouting at each other are to be faced daily. All these early in the morning when we got to have a peaceful mind burst a good day. More worst are the accidents on road.

Today there was an accident on road. A couple was knocked down by a call taxi on the bypass road. I have to cross two rail level crossings on the way to office of which one of them is most stressful and dangerous. It is Chromepet Vaishnava college crossing. Almost daily there are accidents on the rail tracks. I encountered two accidents in the past just in minutes they occurred where one lost life and another, the limbs. It’s horrific when I think of it now. I couldn’t help much for the second one other than calling the ambulance and the hospital people were lethargic in answering the call. They were sounding as it was very usual. Part and parcel of their job! I tell myself to have a peaceful day everyday.

There is definitely no driving sense in this city and for that matter in any other city in India. Being in Chennai for the past few months, I’m a victim of this stress and two minor accidents of which my skin is yet to get back normal from the last one. Whenever I see it I remind myself to drive responsibly and safely and its for you as well.

While in school there is so much of homework which involves writing as it helps in memorizing something faster. I have followed the same here now. I want to re-emphasize myself to live life day by day and that’s why the header in my blog is changed. Yeah, off late I had missed it, but unintentionally.

New Year Day

New Year wishes to one and all. Blogging about the first day of the year is a good thing to do. And doing it on the first hour, first day on work of the New Year; it’s too good. LOL! A survey recently from ASSOCHAM announces browsing social media sites during work increases productivity. I’m doing that only! Actually ASSOCHAM is late in announcing this. I knew this idea long back and that’s why I blog only from workplace.

Well, this 2010 January 1 was a different one for me. I did not even realize it was a New Year day and created ruckus with a dear soul of mine. I went in search of some peace. The place was serene, full of nature and actually a spiritual place. It was Auroville near Pondicherry, South India. Auroville is a place where spirituality is practiced and they say that place is for people who renounce on all kind of religions and believes in the fact and truth of Oneness. Well, then I was kind of in a right place. The entire place is cut off from the external world; there is no traffic chaos on the road - for that matter, there are no proper roads first. It was only dusty pathways which had got formed by itself due to vehicular movement. I went there a day prior to the New Year day. From the moment I started, I was on a different mindset altogether. And after reaching there, it was like I was cut off from the outside world. It’s a dense forest where there are few guest houses here and there and very few people and they were foreigners. I couldn’t go out once it’s dark.

Although it’s said as a spiritual place, there are all kinds of exploitations around. The main feature of Auroville was the Matrimandir which is built for meditation which leads the way to spirituality. I was there around for three days and there were 2 things which pulled me. The first one was a painting exhibition in a place called Savitri Bhavan there. Each and every painting had an explanation which was purely spiritual. The paintings in my eyes looked abstract. But then there were instructions in the beginning itself not to look them abstract and see them along with the explanations.

The second one was a discourse on spirituality. This was the one which made sense and my thinking started. I was able to deeply understand what was being said. Actually I should say I kept getting deep in it by listening to it. Suddenly something stroke in my mind and I came out of the building and was sitting on a staircase. The very next minute I thought why was I inside for that discourse. Is it the right thing for me or is it what I want and my thoughts were;

Life is to live and living is to feel and face whatever comes on the way everyday. It’s all about living with love, hate, joy, sorrow, happiness, sadness, affection, dejection and so on. There are both ups and downs of life. Most of us don’t want to get hurt, get closed ourselves or go seek spiritual! But still we get hurt. When we get hurt most of us lose our confidence in our self or on which hurt us. It’s not the fact! What we lose are the qualities to forget and forgive, changing ourselves for better, embrace people around, and in little we forget to live for better. When everyone learns not to repeat their mistakes, forget, forgive and embrace each other working out with their lows and highs I think life will be beautiful.

I remembered Bharathi suddenly and decided to exit from that spiritual place and went on search of the home where Bharathi lived in Pondy. Unfortunately, that place was undergoing some renovation and I couldn’t check in. Altogether, although I did not choose spirituality, the place was full of nature and yes peaceful. I will recommend that place, but you got to check in with like minded people alone. The rates are pretty nominal to be spent once in a year.

Mistakes in my life

Robin Sharma’s blog posts get updated to me automatically as and when he writes. (Pls don’t ask me how. It’s a top secret!). His latest post was on mistakes. Reading that I started remembering all those I had done in my life so far and remembered the one from which I had learned which any teacher or book could teach. It happened in my work place and it’s something which the industry would have never seen so far. I wonder how I missed to share it here. I have to!

I was working in a private FM station. For those FM channels the only source of revenue was through the ads they get everyday. It means the revenue generated from ads is used for other expenses like salary, maintenance, marketing etc etc. There was an advertiser who was very difficult to crack and the sales executive won an exclusive campaign which was only for 5 days from them after some 1.5 yrs of follow up. My job was to schedule those ads according to the agreement signed and create a playlist for the entire day and send it to transmission. Ours was an 11 station network spreading upto 45 stations nationally. All 11 stations would be booking a schedule for every station.

As weekends are holidays, on Friday the schedule for next 3 days would be uploaded to for transmission altogether. One Friday as I was tired I decided to come on a Saturday and upload the schedule for Sunday and Monday. I came, did all the work, finalized the playlist but somewhere out of my mind, I missed to upload the playlist to transmission.

No advertisements were scheduled for transmission for 2 days and the day passed as well. The schedule included the most sought after campaign of that respectable advertiser as well. The whole day, the channel was getting aired without any advertisements on air. I realized it on Monday early morning and rushed to office and somehow managed for that day but the previous day was gone. I had already missed one particular schedule like this but this was for one full day which had advertisements from across the country and this exclusive campaign with us.

I got shocked in my spine and my boss was almost devastated hearing it. It was one day salary for all the employees took a toll because of my silly mistake. I got a severe bash from boss.

I was out of the world. My confidence in myself was negative. I decided to quit but did not have the guts because that job came to me after a struggle of some 1.5 yrs for money. Yet, I did not want to continue as I had no confidence. I was a hopeless guy and felt I was fit for nothing. I went to my head and the conversation started. I was almost choked of losing a job myself.

Me: Sir
Boss: Come In
Me: Sir, Im sorry for my mistake
Head: Your sorry won’t reverse what had happened
Me: I understand it Sir. I have lost my confidence in myself and I have decided to quit. But I need a job, so pls let me know if I can work in some other department at least as an intern.
Head: Take the seat. Sit down
(He offered me a glass of water)
Head: How old are you?
Me: 23 Sir
(After a short pause)
Head: “You are just 23! At this age you are bound to make 100 mistakes. You have just done 2 now. There are still 98 to get done. My advice to you is to not repeat the same mistake again and again. Quitting is not a make up; it’s escaping from the responsibility. You are honest that you admitted your mistake and it’s the good thing about you. Now, go on and carry on with your work. I will manage with what went wrong.”

Speechless, there were no words coming out of my mouth, not even a thank you. I went to my seat and the whole atmosphere had changed top down. I don’t know whether it was a fresh lease of confidence in me or something or anything else. But, the burden in me was away. I decided to continue in the same job. I quit the company after 2 years; I was handling revenues for 3 different business units. People who wanted me to quit were made shut and continue their work.

What happened here was that, this gentleman taught me a lesson for life. I still and will follow it. I do mistakes but don’t repeat them. However I’m have professionally grown now, it’s because of this gentleman Mr. Subbu, at present working as Marketing Head, Marg Constructions, Chennai. Sir, whether you read this or not, I thank you and I feel good now for taking that advice and I shall follow it for sure.

Most of our lives are full of mistakes. We are not taught what to do right at every situation and cannot be taught also because every situation changes. Life is not programmed and it’s not smooth. But, there are few qualities when we abide by it, makes our life smooth. Forget, forgive, share, care, love, support and stand by. This gentleman displayed all these qualities on me. I follow the same. I don’t remember what people have done on me. I don’t want to keep them in mind too. You guys try it out too.

“Mistakes when taken on a right way by forgetting and forgiving give us an opportunity to build more awareness and understanding and gain precious experience. Experience that will help us do, feel and be even better.” says Robin Sharma.

It was a beautiful morning today. I saw a young father who would just be a school pass out, teaching his first standard son his lessons. The way he was teaching was impressive. The father read out loud the sentence from the book, translated and explained the son about what it meant. The little boy was listening so carefully to his father.

Coming away from that sight, the clouds began to pour. The sky was grey, roads were black. There was this chillness in the breeze and a slight drizzle. Absolutely romantic weather! I never minded getting drenched and started to drive. Driving in that climate was itself romantic. 25 kms, non stop rain, chill breeze, rain drops hitting my hand sharp were bliss. I enjoyed the drive although I got drenched. I don’t mind if I get any disease or even death for that matter. That particular moment was great. And, its not that I don’t care about tomorrow. I do have a wish, a dream…

ஒரே கனா என் வாழ்விலே... அதை நெஞ்சினில் வைத்திருக்கேன்

கனா மெய்யாகும் நாள் வரை உயிர் கையில் வைத்திருப்பேன்

வானே என் மேலே சாய்ந்தாலுமே நான் மீண்டு தாங்குவேன்

நீ என்னை கொஞ்சம் கொஞ்சினால் நிலாவை வாங்குவேன்

it means

I have a dream of my life which I hold in my heart

I shall hold on my breathe till the dream comes true

I shall withhold even when the sky breaks on me

And a little love from you will make me scale the sky...

Sorry if the transaltion is not exactly correct. These lines are from the movie Guru and they mean a lot.

Feast of love

I watched this movie for the second time. The story is intricate and how people are when love spells on them. It’s about 3 different couples. One who are seniors having lost their son, a young couple in their 20’s starting their life and another in their 30’s.

As it’s titled the story is about how love intervenes in their lives. Bradley’s partner breaks away and goes on to have a relationship with another woman. Oscar meets Chloe in the coffee shop he works eye to eye. Harry is a good friend to both Bradley and Oscar. The story moves on as seen from the eyes of Harry.

Bradley in desperate need for love goes for the next relationship immediately and falls wrongly for Diana who had got just separated from her ex. Unlucky again, the relationship breaks and Diana goes on to lives with her ex. Bradley is a hopeless, dejected guy. After a chat with Harry, he goes on to his kitchen, takes a knife and cuts his thumb and calls the doctor to admit himself and tells her that he required that physical pain equal to how it pains him emotionally.

And he is lucky, Margaret, the doctor and Bradley get together. It’s the marriage ceremony of the young couple Oscar and Chloe, Bradley and Margaret see each other eye to eye and Margaret tells him looking out of the window “an unusual man, an innocent man, an open-hearted man. Someone who has given tremendous love, but never had it returned, not in the way he deserves”. He had found his true love.

Oscar and Chloe get married and Chloe gets pregnant. Bradley, Diana, Harry all become friends living in the same locality. Love made them all united and there is a peaceful living. They play rugby an evening. Suddenly, Oscar crashes down and loses his life. Believe me, that was a sad part of the movie. A young guy with a loving wife who is about to deliver loses his life. While everyone was happy for their life and of Oscar and Chloe, this sweetheart is left devastated. It was a heartbreak which you would have never imagined. In life, yes, there are many who would have never imagined how it is.

The movie doesn’t end there. There is a conversation between Harry and Bradley which tells what real love is. Bradley tells, “Chloe knew everything what was going to happen for Oscar. And she didn't run away. She didn't crawl into a hole. She found them a house, she threw away her birth control, and she married him”. That’s a braveness that Chloe had. She loved Oscar more than anything and lived with him for the time knowing he is going to die.

Bradley’s and Chloe’s character are to be noted. It made me think. Not only has this movie made me think about the painful and blissful feeling of love. It definitely transforms people. Talking down practically out from the movies, I have seen people who have broke their lives and people who have stood up and lived their lives.

One of my friends wrote beautifully “It is not that you never want to love whole-heartedly, it’s just that it takes a particular someone who loves you deep enough to break down this wall around the heart and pull you out…”(yeah she is a expressive writer). This is what required for anyone who has broken or got broke. My pondering is why not it should be the same person with whom you broke with?? How can it not happen when it can be worked out and started afresh leaving behind the past?? Afterall, life is once, who will not wish to live with the loved one thick and thin changing themselves for better!

5/11

அடாது மழை விடாது பெய்தாலும்

அடாது புறப்பட்ட என்னை - படாது

படுத்தி விட்டது இம்மழை! - படாது

படுத்தி விட்டது இம்மழை!

--புலம்பல் சித்தர் இராசாராம்

I work in Mumbai. Mumbai receives rains between June - September every year. Those months would be pathetic to travel between places. I recount my experience earlier (28/7 blog is good for nostalgia). Mumbaikars are still haunted by 26/7. To escape from the 2009 rains, I made a plan to shift myself to Chennai temporarily during that period. Once that period was over I would get back to Mumbai where the rains would be over and also an escape from Chennai rains. (I make good plans…Ya! only plans…)

The initial plan got executed and I got back to Mumbai escaping from the rains, but there was something added to it. Im back in Chennai and the rains have started. Yesterday, the first official day of monsoon 2009, I woke up late in the morning and it was pouring heavily. I had nothing to cover and fearing of the long distance ride in the bike I opted to stay in home. In the evening, rushed to nearby shops and got rain covers for myself. It was full proof. Back in mind I was planning of all ways of covering myself completely so that not a drop of water will go in and was eagerly waiting to rain the next morning with the new coats on. Put in my shoes in my shoulder bag and carried it along with a plan to change it in office (This is the first time Im using shoulder bags for office. Felt something awkward in the back..Uh!)

As planned it started drizzling. That was the perfect time. I was covered completely from head to toe. Only the face was open that too closed with the helmet. I started out of home. There were fellow people on the road going empty handed in that drizzle. I appeared like an alien to them. I never minded as I had to travel long and had a faith on the rain pouring down. (Boss! I was prepared to face it...and wanna face it… oh rain, c’mon man…lets see if it is you are me…)

The drizzle increased and was constant… I was moving on the road and alas…! They stopped and the sun was shining... Holy cows…! With full protection, I was expecting to pour heavily and there were no clouds. Couldn’t react or think much on it as I kept driving. The covers started giving sweats inside. But, as I wanted it to be, there were black clouds soon and it started pouring. People driving along took cover on the road side. I, with the new rain coats on, did not stop or slow my speed. Guess I was the only one on the road. It started pouring heavy and I was in a singing mood as I won’t get wet.

Reached office in the rains with a planning executed well. There was something which was bothering inside the covers while I was driving. Eagerly, when I took out the covers to look out what they were, I was crying shocked. I was completely wet! I would have come in the rain only for around 20 mins! Huh!!! All these covers...! Coudln't do anything except a sigh....

All the way from June, from Mumbai these rains have spoilt my purpose. They never spare me every year. Today I'm planning to buy another anti rain accessory. Let’s see how that works.

Down the lane

Had a mail from Yahoo in my Inbox today

Dear Yahoo! Briefcase user,

We will officially close Yahoo! Briefcase on March 30, 2009. Until then, we are offering you the opportunity to download your files back to your computer. You need to take action before we close, after which any files remaining on Yahoo! Briefcase will be deleted and no longer accessible.

I wondered what were there in my briefcase and as a precautionary step logged in to check out and there was the surprise and memories.

All the project documents during my management studies were stored. We had to do projects and internships as part of the curriculum. Few mates joined for internships which had a pay attached to it, few paid for projects and so on. I was recommended by a Professor to an Government organization. It did not bother me seriously when I heard about it as it was a Government organization. I was put to an interview with an IAS officer. It was told that there will be no pay during the internship. I agreed. I was briefed about the work and while coming out I was charged. I was so proud that I got that opportunity and did not want to miss boasting myself (why should i miss... the work done is my product) and did boast while presenting the project back in college with the below lines:

“We were designated as Management Trainees, but were treated as Management Consultants”
“We as Interns in this project do not give suggestions for improvements. This is an action plan for execution”

The college management and mates were watching with a “this guy is flying above in the cloud and is going to crash!” look.

I did not crash and rather I was taken much higher. I got involved in a real time big project which had the big names of the industry coming together.

Now, I recollect those memories. I had spoken in length and depth about this to most of my friends and the response I get from them is “Shut Up! You have told this umpteen times and don’t speak as if only you had done it in this world.” I would shut up for a while but again start it. I cannot put this into rest. LOL! These are not sweet memories to keep within., these are a great memories which charges me to go forward.

Yahoo had kindled these memories and writing this post. I am now transferring those files to Google Docs.

And the boasting will continue B-)

People

We sometimes encounter people, perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once, before a word has been spoken.
--Fydor Dostoevsky

This post is about the people who have made me amaze, puzzle in the past few days. They are from different walks of life and different age groups.

First is this boy in his 10 or 12 yrs. This boy is a chai vendor near my client’s office in Mahalaxmi. I go everyday to have a cup of special chai from this guy and watch him closely. This boy shows a sense of maturity in handling the business (yeah...chai vending is also a business and this boy is also an entrepreneur). He is in his early stages of life and I wonder what at this stage of life made him not to go school and pursue his business*. I have seen a bunch of kids on work but so far none have puzzled me like this. This guy has a style in his work, has a never tiring face and greets everyone with the same energy level. Haan Sir…Boliye This guy gives me energy to look out life in a positive way. Kudos to this young chap! He is one of my inspirations.

The next is a granny. I saw this granny in Andheri railway station once. Her skin was so loose, spine bent and she was wearing a gown like a kid girl. For sure she would be in her second half of 80’s. There was no one along with her to accompany. The moment I saw her, my eyes were looking at who had accompanied her! Andheri railway station at the morning hours is jam-packed and people push each other to move forward. Granny was sitting in the platform. A train arrived and I was all gasps on she is going to get pushed. Amazingly, she managed herself and went along in the crowd. She is very old that people at her age couldn’t even mange to stand for some time. This granny had a clear vision too** without specs and at her 80’s with no one accompanying her; she was energetic and had managed on her own to commute. I wonder how she would have led her life such that she has the courage at this age to manage on her own. Granny…You rock, you are a rock star!!!

Next is a man in his 50’s. With gentleman dressing, looking very tired, walking like a patient and coughing at regular intervals, I have seen him a couple of times sitting across me in the train***. He has the marks of an ex-serviceman. He carries around 5-6 newspapers and untied assorted flowers in hand. I have only seen those type flowers tied as garland. Once he is seated, he starts with the TOI and falls asleep soon. He appears as a tired person and I start thinking that he has worked very hard through his life for his loved ones and failed to be understood. Or may be those flowers are for a missed loved one or may be to be offered to some deity. All these are my thoughts when I see this gentleman. My thoughts never go out of these and immediately it takes me to my memories. This gentleman makes me think about life in the mornings I see him.

I once saw this person while on my way to Andheri station. He had nothing below his body beyond his thighs. What he had was only his upper part of the body! He crawls on the floor with support from hands and his half cut thigh is dragged along in the floor. Life can’t be cruel like this to a human being. Whatever evil he has done, this is a cruel punishment in his life. I would prefer to die rather than living than this. Yet, this person was doing an honorable job. He was cleaning the floor with paper dusts left by the commuters in the ticket counter and receives money if somebody gives him. He doesn’t sit idle and beg for money. He cleans the place which we use and receives money for living. He is not only a good citizen but also makes me believe that life can be lived however it may be to you.

There are so many like these people whom I meet in my daily lives who encourage and instill the confidence of life. It’s the other side of the world which has a mix of positive and also negative things. Life is all about how we live along with it!

*On the other hand, it’s not a must to study to run a business and not all who are educated are intelligent too. Most of them are cracks and I too fall in that category.
**Health is obviously wealth especially when you are old. I wish to be independent like this granny with good health not bothering anyone during my last years.
***There are regular passengers who rush in the empty train to sit in their regular seats. I have my regular seat tooB-)

It couldn’t be better

Friendship day again and messages were pouring in. Although I don’t like the formality of sending messages marking the occasion, I was replying to all who had greeted me. The whole bunch of 10 days went on an enjoying spree with friends pouring in from all over India.

Working till 9 PM, roaming in the streets and dinner around 12 in the night, sleeping at 2 or 3 AM, again waking up again at 8:30 the same day and starting to work was the schedule for the past 10 days. Yeah it was tiring and hectic but with friends around I guess it did justice to a perfect friendship day and week long celebration. It was not a friendship day, I would call this as friendship festival which comes very rare in lifetime

28/7

அடாது மழை விடாது பெய்தாலும்
விடாது தன் கடமையை செய்ய
அடாது புறப்பட்ட என்னை படாது
படுத்தி விட்டது இம்மழை! படாது
படுத்தி விட்டது இம்மழை!

--புலம்பல் சித்தர் இராசாராம்

I had seen in news that people in this city are scared of 26/7 as that was the date; the city became paralytic due to heavy rains two years back. (It has become a fashion now – 26/7, 9/11 and so on…)

So obviously, with something to chew on, media reported that people were haunted by 26/7. What a story to chew on! On 26/7, there was a message from Met Dept. saying “Intermittent rain or thundershowers with possibility of heavy to very heavy rains in parts of city and suburbs”. The cloud was dark at 12 noon before I read this message. After reading the message I looked at the cloud elevating my head at 90 degrees. Alas! The cloud got cleared and there was sunshine. Met dept could be the best astrologers. But, they have studied science. That night it started to rain and did not stop for 2 days. It was a very good rain.

28/7 – the rains did not stop. I had no interest to stay home too. Half drenched, reached office and was working curiously. There was a mail permitting for early pack up due to the rains getting heavy and water logging in the roads.

I was feeling good about the rains pouring and got scared about reaching home too. Man holes were brimming with water. Few out of those were throwing out water as like a fountain throws. Water was splashing from both the sides in the auto rickshaw. If I had drenched half by rain, the remaining got drenched by the splashes. At one point the auto rickshaw stopped and had to take another one. Althrough the way, its 2 stroke engine was screaming dorrr tak tak... dorr tak tak…tak tak dorrrr... Driver was cribbing “eh kya baarish hai yaar…itna pani road pe…” I couldn’t help him to continue the conversation. All I wanted that time was hot bhajji, pakoda and chai. Hmmmm...

Finally, reached home after a long time and then was this another surprise. The cloud got cleared again and it stopped raining. Huh!!

அடாது மழை விடாது பெய்தாலும்

விடாது தன் கடமையை செய்ய

அடாது புறப்பட்ட என்னை படாது

படுத்தி விட்டது இம்மழை! படாது

படுத்தி விட்டது இம்மழை!

I see the clouds outside now. It’s getting dark and drizzling...