Trick the Dumb!!!

“An auditor is someone who arrives after the battle and bayonets all the wounded” – Unknown!

Yes – I have been and continue to be part of the weird genus - Auditors!!!

As part of my “esteemed profession”, I get to meet quite a lot of people. People of different kinds…so different, that it amuses me at times :-O

To give some random samples of what happens in a typical everyday client facing experience of an auditor –

• When asked if they have a Disaster Recovery Procedure in place for the business, this guy (my client contact) replies “we pray” !!!!
• There was this one gentleman who addressed me as “madam” till the office hours and post that it was “beta” – so much for professionalism!!
• In yet another instance, while we were in endless discussions on the issues identified and this guy hopelessly trying to convince me to write stuff his way and frustrated with the stubborn ground I put in, said “you are a tough nut to crack” – making it just more verbal of how he deals with "the nuts” every now and then!
• Deal with a person for about a fortnight, make his life a living hell, untiringly shoot questions at him one after another and just about when you start building an acquaintance, end up with a long list of issues and tell the same fellow that he is not doing his work well enough (EHAHAHA) that’s not it –its mostttttttt embarrassing/ arduous/ uncomfortable, when I tell it to a person three times my age – he probably would have started his career when I started to walk!
• I tell a client "four out of ten things I checked was not in line with the process" and he tells me “its only 40% na, maaf kardo”!!!!
• Another client, irritated that I did not heed to his requests of changing the details to suit his convenience, calls me twice to inform, he is calling my manager – what he expects me to say is way beyond my understanding – Should I be saying (according to him) “no-no please don’t call my manager (sounding terrorized)!!!!! Du-huh!! (btw – he never called my manager!)
• This one person, after discussing a potential issue, came up with a common association we might have (ex: my mom taught in the same school as his son studied) – the more the issues, the quest to find more common associations increased!!
• One of the chaps, called his subordinate and said “these youngsters have something to say”– Ahem!
• At the end of allllllll this - almost all of them say "you can be assured to come back with the same issues in the next year" - so much for audit!!!

Sometimes in the process, we lose our individual identity I suppose. Right from the security guard, to the receptionist, to the heads of departments – we introduce ourselves as “Auditors” and we are also introduced amogst themselves as "auditors". Then, if need be comes the name!!

At times, we are the means of getting work done by the staff for the middle management and at other times, the staff would use the “auditors’ ” reference to get access to office information/gossip from the managers!

It’s funny, how we go about our work, even after knowing every person coordinating with us there loathes us with all his heart, for every smile given there is almost always an inner dialogue of hatred – yet, we flout all such feelings of despise and brazenly get going with work!

But stil we robotically go back to these people year after year after year and in between this struggle to handle all the sweet talks, the threats, the reluctance, the disgust – we end up training ourselves to handle almost all varieties human species!!!

Thus, the day ends with a smirk on either’s face and a mutual feeling – they feel they’ve tricked the dumb and vice-versa ;-) !!!

Summer Holidays!!

On my way to work yesterday, I had seen some school children rushing in, to make it on time for the school prayer and some very merrily playing around least bothered about the time, some whining kids who did not want to go in but were dragged and pushed by their parents.

I very clearly make my place in the last category mentioned there! I HATED going to school, because my school bus came to pick me up as early as 7:15AM untiringly morning after morning!

The process of waking me up started at 6:00AM. I always wanted 15 more minutes of sleep, after which I invariably had a “stomach ache” and would declare myself sick. My mom would let another 15 minutes pass and would ask again if I my “head ache” was ok and I would always say it’s still there and is terrible.

She would then, immediately drag me down the bed and into the washroom for a shower (it was obvious how “terribly sick” I was with the “shifting” pain) and there were these constant banging on the doors to make sure I haven’t slept in there!

My mom worked on packing my food, dad getting me to eat and my brother packed the bag of books. I lazillyyy walked out of the house five minutes before the bus arrival with a hope that I would miss the bus and could get back to bed. Sadly for me, the bus driver knew the kid count so well and by face that he stopped for me. Just in case I ever managed to miss the bus, there were these group of uncles from my colony (whose kids also went to the same school as me) who actually cared to put me on their scooter and chase the bus dramatically and made sure I boarded it. Back then, it looked to me as if everyone’s motive in life was just to make sure I went to school, by hook or by crook!

The best part I loved about school were the holidays – the summer holidays! They were amazzzinnngggg fun!! We were a bunch of cousins, who spent our holidays together!! Countless games played, loads of masti, surrounded by the family, delicious food, incessant pampering by our grandparents and total attention to our tantrums! Those were the days of childhood when it felt, life is always gonna continue like this – with pains of going to school rewarded by exciting, joyful and fun filled holidays! Even with all this, I possibly still thought it wasn’t fun enough – growing up was more apt an idea of fun!

Then - I grew up and all those years later, I guess I still haven’t come to terms with the fact that, Summer Holidays cease to exist and that they are transitory!!! I have no issues personally with growing up/growing old except that, sometimes it means geographically scattered relations and extinct summer holidays!

Like someone said "If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older" :D

So, I have a brilliant plan - I will become a primary school teacher, relive my childhood through theirs, teach 9 out of 12months and most importantly reclaim my summer holidays - EHAHAHAHA!

Kid(ding)???

Over the weekend I happened to volunteer for a workshop (a pilot) of Experiential Learning. It had kids between ages 5 – 13years. It was fun to see a class full of kids, buzzing with energy, competing to answer the questions.

When you have sooo many kids, you are bound to have funny & embarrassing incidents. So, here are the tales!

So, during one of the sessions, the facilitator showed this (below) picture to the kids and asked who they think it was?

I obviously, didn't know the answer, but was expecting the kids to come up with something like Krish/Hrithik Roshan or the kinds and one of the 4year old raised his hand and answered "it is a man" :)....The other, a 13year old actually actually answered "Icarus was the son of Daedalus. Its a story from Greek Mythology" :O I was probably at 13 watching Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan and was struggling to understand (a smalllll) part of Indian and probably didn't even know Greece existed (and even if I did, I for sure knew nothing of "Greek Mythology")!!!!!!!

In another instance, there was this lady who conducted a session on First Aid who had a volunteer from the kids and was demonstrating the procedure for basic first aid and told them they could try/practice it on their parents or siblings, saying which she had 100% attention of the class! So, this one little chutku explains (with no doubt whatsoever) that “we should go home, make a cut to parents/siblings hand and then try the First Aid :)”….now, howz that?????

In the same session, the kids were shown some photographs and asked to identify what they are! In one such session they were shown this (below) picture:

Kids, each one of them (right from Class I to Class VIII) answered in unison: “Red Blood Cells”

I answered: “Chocos” (the cereals)

After the first incidence, this was like fuel to the fire.....How embarrassed was I! Even if I couldn’t I wanted to try as hell, fit myself in the window adjacent and jump from where I was :|

P.S: These are the times when I feel no remorse for not being in the "today's generation" and don't really mind being ancient!!!

Experience - the name everbody gives their mistakes!!!

I was chatting with one of my friends at work and as usual, I ended up hopping from one topic to the other then other and it finally ended up in I narrating 'experiences' at my first job. The poor girl didn’t have a choice but to listen to all of it. But, after I finished going on a ‘its-so much-fun-recollecting-those-days’ spree, I thought I should post about it, before the memories get muddled!

After my college, I considered various professions that I would be interested in, which ranged from secretarial course, hotel management, hospital management, MBA to being a Chartered Accountant – today, interestingly I hold none of those qualifications – but, back then I had decided to pursue Chartered Accountancy.

I had to do a three year training for it and so went about applying at various firms. The first place I ever went to drop my resume was Ferguson (trust me it took me a day to pronounce it right), I actually kept an auto rickshaw waiting and went in to drop my resume. There was this guy (I don’t know what his position was in the firm, must be a manager or likes) who said, he is going to conduct an interview for which I blurted out "I have an auto waiting and I am getting late for lunch” and I guess it threw him off his balance. I also backed it up by saying I wasn’t prepared. He convinced me it wouldn’t take much time and that it would be easy. He asked me “sales entry”, which is THE basic thing u learn in commerce/finance, needless to say I was too nervous to give him a right answer.

Out of kindness, to make it easy for me ended up asking the tough-est question ever, "what's your favourite subject?" Ironically, I never had a 'favourite subject'!!! After a lot of deliberation, I declared statistics as my favourite subject (the only subject, where I had scored 99%). He asked me questions from stats and my expression was priceless - I stared into his face with a totallly blank expression!! No prizes for guessing the outcome – I never got through!

Undeterred that I was, I went on with giving my resumes around. So, this one firm – Ernst & Young (where I eventually ended up joining) I went to meet the HR. She looked at my graduation scores which were a mix of highs and lows but never outwardly higher and a little below the firm’s cut-off for intake candidates. She said “you will have to work really hard if you are in”, I nodded my head in reply. Then she asked “how do you think you can work hard, when you never did that till date?”(I wonder how did she know that????) The smarty that I was, I replied “there is always a first time for everything” – EHAHAHAHAHA!

After a few days, I had a next round of interview with a manager there. There were about 30 (approx) candidates and most of them looked scholarly. I assumed I stand no chance, but hanged on there. So, when the manager called me in, he asked me if I read news papers, while all I read in them were the cartoons, I managed to sound like a regular at reading them but never specified for once 'what' I read in them (EHAHAHAHAHA again). He went on and asked me “do you know why financial statements are made in an excel sheet and not in word?” I thought, considered his question and after a minute or two answered “because excel has lines and boxes and word is like a plain paper”!!

Again after a couple of weeks I had an other interview with the next level in their hierarchy (Yes, I was shortlisted, even after all those tasteful responses). I met this very nice, somber (and good looking) gentleman, who was my interviewer. In between the interview, he had to attend a call so, I was sitting there waiting for the next question, when I saw the first ever split AC of my life. It was on ‘swing’ mode. I was mesmerized looking at it ‘swing’ so gracefully (before you ask – I still don’t know what was so mesmerizing about it). When he finished his call, I was still swinging my head in sync with ‘the swing’!!!

So, finalllyyyy came the joining day (YES!!! Irrespective of my total gavar, angutha chap behavior I did get selected). Everyone (my co-joinees) was very excited and anxious to meet the partner – except me, who was pretty calmed down about it. I had always read about partners in my books in graduation. For every problem we were given, there was always a ‘X is partner of Y firm’, so for me any partner was as normal and random as a ‘X’. It took a couple of days for it to sink into my head, what it was being a partner in Ernst & Young – one of the five (it is four now) largest international accountancy and professional services firm in the world!!!! I was so unreasonably naive!!!!

The initial days, when I was not allotted any work, I observed all my seniors. They always had prints of some or the other balance sheets of clients which they were working on. There were a lot of annual reports which were given to us, so we can read through. I browsed through a few now and then and was awestruck by the fact that every balance sheet there, each one of them, had tallied – for me, (whose only knowledge was limited to college) cumulatively in all those five years (2 years of +1 +2 & 3 years of graduation) when I studied commerce, I would have tallied some five balance sheets (“cumulatively”)!! I was floored!! I marveled at the fact that the firm was filled with geniuses who could tally any and all balance sheets!!! It took me my first assignment to understand that it was not a rare skill. Firstly, it was always done by client personnel. Secondly, almost everything was system generated.

Now, as I think of it, it sounds hilarious. Back then, it was pure excitement. I got back home every day describing how amazing that place was. How beautiful the decor was, how smart the people were. It took couple of late nights, extremely crazy work hours and irrational bossism to sedate the excitement!!!

After 6+ years in this industry and working for three such firms, I am now not excited anymore, but fascinated definitely I am, at their amazing knowledge base (in people and in paper), never ending work hours, extremely dependable manpower, aggressive leadership and how things are always needed on a yesterday basis and yet things to get done ON TIME!!

It’s a different world out here….to say the least!

Living it!

It’s that time of the year when the calendar is filled with festivals – Eid, Navaratri, Diwali… Everyone…(well..almost everyone) is excited for some reason or the other…some for the thrill of festivities, the foodies of course have a feast all through, some lazy types like me thrive on the holidays and in the place I come from, they are more than elated about the 10 day term break they earned after four full terms of stress and distress!!

We have a Dandiya-Nite today in the campus. It promises to be great fun and energies are obviously running high!! I have one and precisely ONLY ONE memory of Dandiya and oh man what a fun it was!! This was about three years back – when few of us were planning for dandiya. After days of emotionally traumatizing my mom of how I would be missing on so much fun, and trading off by doing something which I dreaded and something she despartely needed me to do (which was getting a photo of mine clicked for 'ladke waale'), after assurance I would be in safe hands etc etc I finnaallly got the nod.

So, around eight of us went on an evening, all excited and thrilled. We ended up going to one of the expensive dandiya locations and that realization dawned upon us when we shelled out money for the entry ticket. Boyy….what a place it was - filled with laughter, colors, nonchalant chatter and music. There were people who matched the beat and the rhythm so well…..sooo very well…I was fascinated by the grace in their movements, rhythmic flow of steps, synch between absolute strangers (who for sure haven’t ‘rehearsed’ together)….it was amazinnggg….I was having fun watching them, when we thought it’s high time we try a step or two….so we all went in to dance or 'try' rather. For the novices that we were, we chose to form our own little circle. In total contrast to the veterans, we were totally out of rhythm, ridiculously clumsy and I wouldn’t even want to mention our co-ordination!!! But, it was absolute fun!!!!

Tired after a while, we decided to munch on something. We went around the stalls in search of food. We probably bought a plate or two of the super expensive chat and decided would share it. It very very obviously did not suffice the group of eight or six that we were. We decided it’s too expensive in there to have food and considering we had enough ‘hands-on’ of dandiya and more importantly, the perpetual 'kangals' that we were, we decided to move out and have food elsewhere. We left on our bikes, totally high from the excitement. Cool breeze, lovely night, empty roads – wait, did I say empty roads? I should rephrase it to 'totally deserted roads' – it was 2:00 AM and evidently, there was not a single food joint open. We checked out places where they served midnight buffet only to see that they were scraping out pieces of leftovers, if any!! It was already about 3:00AM then. We wandered randomly, in search of food and then decided to go home finally. This sensible thought struck us only around 3:30AM or about that time. With me was Nandu, whom I would rather call family than a friend, he lived right across the street from my house. I have known him ever since he was a kid (and he still remains so). This dude, me and his khatara kinetic – we definitely had some of the best times together. If I had a younger brother, he would be someone like him and I am convinced about that. (Getting back to the topic) Nandu and me bid goodbye to the other folks in the group. We were giggling, chatting away, driving in the cold morning and were still searching for food. We then found this blessing in disguise of a sandwich stall...realized it was the month of Ramadan and hence there was food available at that hour of the day. We hogged on the yummmmmyyyy sandwiches (well….if you are hungry at 4:30AM any food would taste delicious) happy and pleased with ourselves went back home around 5:30AM!!!

It was a day filled with fun, excitement, thrill, tad bit of craziness of driving at extreme speeds at that hour of the night (or day as you would choose to call 2:00AM and beyond - looking back it feels scary now!). I am sure I cannot relive the moment but I am more than glad I lived it!!!

P.S: Did I mention that in an attempt to play Dandiya, I managed to miff few fingers of the brave-hearted who tried to teach me a step or two!

Reason? Season? Occasion? Or...

You would be introduced to a person, share a joke, help each other and bid your goodbyes when it’s time to leave. When you meet subsequently, this person conveniently ignores you, you find it funny and rude, but care a damn! For instance, there was this one girl I met at a face painting competition, I helped her when she had her face painted, we joked on how she looked, we were sweet to each other and also said our goodbyes with a note of meeting again. Then, couple of days later, I meet her at the next event and she just walks past me...for sure she didn't manage to upset my emotions of anger or disappointment by doing that! People like these; they are there for an occasion, not a thing more or less – just that – an occasion!!

Some, you meet during a phase in your life, they help you get through it or get over it and then they vanish. Like, last year when I was preparing for my certification, I knew these people, a guy who was giving the exam with me and another, a faculty who taught us – who were very helpful and supportive all through my study. I thanked them after I cleared my exam; spoke to them relatively little after, exchange an occasional hello-hi e-mails and haven't met them again till date. At the cost of sounding self centred opportunist, I would say, we meet such kinds for a reason!!

There are others, whom you would strike a conversation with in a jiffy, continue keeping in touch after you part your ways, you share moments of laughter, which would nurture from acquaintance into an interesting friendship. Sometimes they are there forever and at times they just are not there. In cases of absence, your questions of ‘where were you?’ would be delicately put not to give away the concern and the demanding tone!! For all you know, these are friends for a season – not the fair weather, just a random season!!

Then there are people whom you meet pretty often, but neither would acknowledge the presence of the other. The kind whose very aura puts you off, to whom you would not mind being rude for no reason and you do not, at any point in time, intend or make an attempt to know them. (I have toooo many of them – so chose not to quote either here). People like these are just there – no reason, season or occasion – just there!

Again, there are friends, you hardly remember how you met them, the first introductions, how your friendship grew stronger by the day. It just feels these strong bonds have been there since the day one!! Over a period, you may not meet them day after day but moments spent with them are memories – memories of the crazy, silly, fun, low moments spent together which you reminisce every time you get together. You would know these are people not for a reason, season or an occasion, they are for a lifetime!

P.S: No reference to any instance in the season or the lifetime is a deliberate attempt, in a hope that the crazy people I met through the ‘season’ would be there through the lifetime and for the ones already victimized for the lifetime just don’t need a reference!

Path of Joy!

Pic Courtesy - Ashish!

I am on a week's leave, (NOT a vacation) in a struggle to start working towards a committed "project"!! So, after spending the day trying to get my concentration on a book (academic of course) and considering that the letters in there were dancing in front of my eyes the whole day, I was left with 6 hours of study ending up in "effective" completion of 5 full pages!!

Ashish comes home and I look doomed! We decided to go for a walk!! This walk - as Ashish puts it, was the one I "earned" after a day's solitary confinement - EHAHAHA!

So, while we were walking, I discovered the most simplest, serene and joyful moment!!!

All you have to do to self-discover this is - after a full day's attempt at studies, go for a walk through a drizzling evening....gentle breeze just to refresh your thoughts....a path surrounded by beautiful trees, with beautiful flowers - half of them strewn all over, making the path more picturesque than ever......seeing the rain drops gleam in the light from the lamp post....enjoying the silence, the unspoken words...in the company of a "special someone".....

The pleasure, the delight of walking this path of joy cannot be shattered by anything, BUT the brutal truth of next day's study plan!!!!!!!!

Training In and Out!

In yet another city for yet another training!!

My roomie this time was a very young sweet girl from Delhi. She is a fresher and a new joinee, which explains her high expectations from the accommodation! I mentioned to her I was bored and she suggested some cartoons and dumps of shows she had, I had no clue of. I realized I was in a danger of being outdated and archaic!!!

So, after analyzing the potential of the danger, I had a peaceful night’s sleep and get up to see a lovely, absolutely chilly morning! Fighting the Monday blues, I get out of the bed in anticipation of a hot water bath and switch on the geyser. After a while I realize there is no power and I go to the caretaker to ask for a candle, in response to which he says “Madam geyser bandh kar dijiye meter trip ho raha hai aur isiliye power nahi hai”. So, that marked the start of the long day ahead - early morning bath with ice cold water in a chilly weather!

The training starts off with a bang and on time (the corporate populace would concur, it’s a rare sight)!! The trainer shows the PPT slide which describes the ‘goals’ of the training, which reads – not in exact words - 1) “learn ABC concepts”, 2) “to also have FUN” (??????) and he read this with just a smalllll hint of a smirk…..Fun when on a PPT in words, becomes just another item on the agenda! So proved the training!!

The one thing, which our table group was collectively working on, was the bowl of candies!!! We had a decent lunch, except that amount of effort it took to tear (yes TEAR) apart the roti drained us off all energy, so the lunch ultimately had a knock-off effect!!

The subject which we were being trained in is almost Greek and Arabic to me and every now and then the instructor asks “Is it clear?” I had an urge to wave to him and say “Oh yeah ofcourse, in fact, there is soooooo much clarity that I can't take anymore of it!!”

Most of the training team went out for dinner one night….standing and walking in the most happening of locations in the city which had at the least four restaurants in every lane and two in every by-lane, it took us one hour and a half to decide on a place to eat…it was sheer insult to the city!!

Given the “little” time we took to single out the eat out join, it turned out to be a tacky place. We see funny notices, posters and quotes all over – examples:

• “Fighting In Prohibited” (right outside the restaurant kitchen!)
• “Khali baithna mana hai”
• “First time in India, Daler Mehendi in Amritsar”

Any outstation training trip cannot end without a crazy adventure....We all at times have unreasonable craving to eat something yummy....some of them reading this now would agree, there are few species who have such cravings more often than others ;-) So, my roomie had a killing urge for an ice cream...now talking about the unreasonableness - it was at 12:30 midnight!!!!

So, four of us set out by walk to search for an outlet which served icecream - at that hour!!! Far ahead we saw some ray of hope, which turned out to be Barista!! It was obviously closed! The only mistake that guy committed yesterday was, to keep the lights on while he cleaned the place. We barged in and literally pleaded him to give us two scoops of icecream each (now that it was icecream, urge for that had already spread from one to atleast two of us!) We had solutions for any number of reasons he stated for not being able to "entertain" our requests...so...he finally gave up and we bought two scoops of icecream with chocolate sauce!!!

It was am amazing experience to have a mix og vanilla and chocolate icecream with chocolate sauce and walking down the empty road on a chilly night!! AMAZING!!!!

So, that’s a "quick" review of an interesting time had at this training!!!

P.S: Btw, did I mention there were more pillars in the training room, than the tables and each of the pillars had MIRRORS on either side!!!

Hard Pressed For Time!

I was trying to kill time waiting for someone and was browsing through the message "templates" in my Nokia phone.

They were a host of messages like "I am busy in a meeting...", "I will be late by....", "I will call you in...." which one assumes are sent over and over again to same person or group of persons. I thought so too, until....

I saw this one mind boggling message in the "templates" and that was.... "I love you too!"

Truly, people do seem to be hard pressed for time and living life in the fastest of lanes!!

F.R.I.E.N.D.S!

After a very long time, I could catch up with some of my friends from college and some cousins. Its funny how with time things change drastically and yet some things stay just the way they have always been!!

So, this friend of mine, who was perceived to be the most bindaas of us all in college, we weren’t even sure he’ll manage to stick to one thing ever in life, is now doing very well (touch wood) in a field he wasn’t even technically trained for (he operates squint and other eye dysfunctions in infants). He has proved to be the most stable and most responsible of us all.

An other friend of mine, who we were sure is a very sorted out person, has still not managed to sort things out for herself.

Yet another friend/cousin of mine, who has an amazing passion for her line of profession, who we thought would always be in the corporate world, climbing up the sought after ladder, is now taking care of an entire household (which is an overtime job) and has a very cute sweet lovely amazing little baby girl (which is wayyy difficult than working anywhere and any number of hours).

I, who always wanted a laid back life, never wanting to do a full time job and was never serious about building a career in the corporates, now find myself in the bestest of them and feel extremely restless when I don’t go out a day and see the busy-crazy human rush!

Today, each one of us is busy in our own ways, yet we find some time to catch up with the other. These are the people who I know will be there for me when I need them, with no relevance to the number of days that have passed without a call!!

Its funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back everything is different!!!!

Silent Moments!

Pic Courtesy - Ashish!

I need a vacation!!!

Last couple of months have been very busy, stressful and tiring. Travelled a bit for training, gearing up for more!! I always assumed, I like all ways of travelling, now I am not sure anymore! I still like travel, but now I know which part of it and whats it that I like about them!!!

I need a vacation!!! A silent, unwinding, relaxing and a lazy one!

By the sea shore, on a full moon night, soft breeze, sitting by the rock, waves splashing (the gushing sound of that is amazing) and when only the fondest of memories are reminisced. Its one of those rarest of rare moments when we realise what really matters!

No phones, no traffic, no mails, no laptops, no meetings, no clients, no rush hours!!!!!

In anticipation of living these fantasies....

I will spoil this post if I write further, so END!

In Case of Emergency!

I was travelling last week for yet another training in Kolkatta….(this time around it was a heavy dose technical training, so nothing exciting enough to write about)…coming back to Kolkatta….I had this tired, hectic day and so decided will hit the bed early…..finished my dinner early, vouched not to logon to internet and said my goodnights…..I finally land in the bed and realize, the mind and body alike refuse to fall asleep that early, as early as 9:30PM!!!!

So, I laze around letting my mind wander hither-wither….out of the random thoughts, I had a weird thought – what if there is an emergency at that very moment and the building (guest house) had to evacuated? Something like a fire, an earth quake? Given the fact that all thoughts have to be deliberated (irrespective of how radical or weird) – I did so!

The first thing I could think of to take along if I had to run, was my mobile (I think most of us would) but the next thought that struck me, was what appalled me – I ACTUALLY thought of my work, if I had replicated my work and would there be a copy if my laptop was left behind!!!! Can you beat that??

I know few of my very good friends may see the ditcher in me, those friends to whom I have been a reliable companion when it comes to planning different ways of staying away from work, various ideas which would pop out to replace the tedious work schedule with exciting outings etc., [mention about "plan" was intentional, since sadly, no attempt was ever made to execute them :-( ] Trust me guys, this was not a deliberate attempt of betrayal, my mind seems to be corrupted by some life threatening virus!!

Why I thought about this is still a puzzle – maybe I am too loyal to my work [;-)] OR maybe my reflexes are set to a default rework denial!!

You all know answer to this one!! [:D]

The Journey of Hopelessness!

So, anyone who knows me better would know the legendary tales of my cell phones!! Yes, the plural is intended! For all those who have feeble remembrance and for those who are new additions to my friends list here is the account!

My very first cell phone, was the big blue toughy – Nokia 3310!!! It was bought by my bro…I was stuck to it all day long, played snake – the only mobile game I ever learnt! I was very fond of it and flaunted it at every chance I had….until one day…..when I was in the front room (which was open to public view) of my office. I was waiting for a call…I did receive the call but on the office landline, so I ran to take it and after a chat of 15-20mins I hang up and start working on some files when I realize an essential part of my routine of checking for sms is missing – I rush to the front room to find my macho cell, only to realize it had found its new owner unknown to me!! I cried rivers over the loss of it!!

My brother again buys me a Nokia cell, with a promise from me to take very good care of it! After a lot of introspection I realized I lost the cell because I didn’t have a twine to it…so…this time I work on my mistake and buy a twine and always hanged it around my neck…..I felt this was safe….but not to forget, I don’t repeat my mistakes I just make new ones every other time….so, this time, I attended this one wedding when I thought it was drastically against the dress code to hang the cell around my neck and so put it in my bag, a bag which didn’t close properly (the fact which I ignored then)….and that was the last I saw of it….the phone was very conveniently pulled out – the twine made whosoever’s work easier!

Not very surprisingly, I was denied a mobile at home!

Months passed by and I had to go work in an other city for few months…..since, it was the first time I ever left home (to work outside of my city) it was vital that I stay in touch….so….I was “forced” to buy a new mobile…. I was bored of using (read it as ‘losing’) Nokia, so I bought a Sony Ericsson – which was THE most frail mobile I used till date, it had a flimsy keypad and was indeed very fragile! Now this is the best part – I don’t even remember why I discarded this one – I would have battered it to death or would have lost it!!

Then I took my brother's Samsung and another Sony – all very fancy, my first “color” phones, BUT again sadly I don’t remember how or why I parted with them! For all those people who have noticed the common trend in all these using-losing cell phones, YES, it was always my brother who bought all the lost ones for me… after a while he stopped doing it, to induce a sense of responsibility, he tried making me spend my money – it didn’t make much of a difference, I still lost plenty of them!!

In yet another instance, I had this Nokia 3230 – a very nice fundu phone (back then)….I dropped it down!! I don’t know how, it just fell and the screen had a fracture…the LCD had a major damage and I was suggested I call a Nokia care 24/7 customer service…I managed to get the number and called them….in the anxiety that the most expensive of my mobiles is on its journey to disaster, I started explaining the customer service executive what exactly I was seeing of the mobile – I told him “there are colorful juices flowing in the display screen, but I can't touch then, they are inside” – the executive on the other line was mum – I can bet anything, he put the phone on mute and laughed his heart out at the unembellished description I gave! I don’t remember a thing about that cell phone after this incident!

This one time, I put the mobile aside to pay the auto wala his fare and happy with the fact that I finally reached office, I stepped out of the auto and my cell still continued its ride into the city with him….I realized it when I was in the lobby of the office and I screamed (literally) in realization of my loss – the security and me both ran to the main road to try my luck and see if I could recognize the auto – all I had for description of the auto to explain to the security was “bhaiyya it had a green seat”!! “Green seat” an identification to single out an auto in zillions that were there???

Oh yeah and this one, you should know – most hilarious (until the next happened) – I was in the US of A, my then fiancée and now husband had given me a phone to keep in touch during the visit…one day we were both to go out to meet someone and as usual I was the one who was the potential cause for delay and living upto it, I was late! To add to it, I was just not finding my hand phone…in hurry and an effort not to annoy him, I decided there wasn’t a burning need for me to spend half hour searching for the mobile in an already delayed schedule. So, I went out without that….happy to meet someone new and in all the excitement we got back home. What I see when I get back? his aunt had my cell phone in her hand….she smiled and held it up to me, the reason for the smile was – this one was found in the tracks I wore last night…..the reason isn’t complete yet – these tracks were put for wash and then in a 100% dryer – the phone got washed and dried! No ray of hope whatsoever!

Very recently, as recent as yesterday – it was that time of the year when I lose my mobile, but this time you will be surprised I still didn’t lose it, this one just went for water diving and choked itself to death….there were slight hopes still to recover, which I eradicated! I dropped the cell accidentally in the washroom and the rest is history…in obvious reflex and an effort to "cealn" it, I put it under running water!! When I realized what my reflexes did, I tried drying up all the parts, but it just wouldn’t recuperate – my mobile now refuses to work!!

Every time I lost a mobile, I cried…first it was like flooded rivers, then the intensity of the floods came down….and as the number of occurrences increased, the less I bothered to shed a tear, so much so that, I fail to remember the last mobile I cried for!! Thus, consistently and progressively I stay hopeless!!

I am yet to buy a new mobile and have gone three full days without one….it’s funny how it feels to not have it.....I feel so disconnected and empty….Staying connected without a cell phone is a long forgotten memory now! We hardly remember how we communicated way back when there were no cell phones….how did we wish friends on birthdays? How did you tell your boss you were taking an off? How did you communicate at home if you were late? How did you converse with your friends to vent out?

But, on second thoughts, do we really stay “connected” having cell phones with us? The advent of cell phones to most extent does not change the fact of keeping in touch or otherwise!! Then and now – it’s the “intent” which makes the difference – I deem!

P.S: My mom tries my mobile on Day 1 and thinks I am studying or I am sick with a head ache and hence it was sw/off. She re-tries on Day 2 and when it continues to hold the same status, she knew I couldn't study that long and so she calls my husband and the first thing she asked me was "did you put the mobile in washing machine or mixer?"

Coffee Pot!!

What do you do when you want to...

• SEE people
• DRAW flipcharts
• FEEL important
• IMPRESS Colleagues

and....want an alternative to work???

You do "TRAINING"!!! a national one is recommended!

That's exactly what I was assigned to for a week long!!

So...another co-worker and me get onto a flight to Kolkatta!! Then starts the story!!

One look at the directions from airport to the Guest House (GH) and I was sure, its gonna take quite some time to get there....need an illustration of the precise instructions? here you go...

• White building with green glass on your left side….
• Green building with green glass windows in "front" to your "right"...
• Take the "wrong" lane....
• Pink and Maroon building (apparently our GH) on your right....

Lemme see...err....in an area full of modern time structures, with fancy architecture....are these combinations "one of their kind"??? Saying, there isn't a remotest possibility of we reaching the place (on basis of these instructions) would be an understatement - unless a MIRACLE happens!!

and..... IT happened!

We met two others (potential lost souls) from the other region at airport - talk about advantages of a national training!!

We all set out to hunt for the place, while the three of us were trying to figure out the colors of buildings around us, one guy did the running around to get clues for our hunt – 15minutes go by, we asked atleast about half a dozen people and no one has a clue – where the hell was this freaking Pink & Maroon building???

Then came a ray of hope and we figured out which building it was! Thus ended the adventurous GH hunt!

Day 1:

With a lot of excitement, we enter the training room and a warm gush of strong odor of suffocation welcomes us…. then the historical AC was switched on, it made a thundering effect and we were all waiting with wishful yearning eyes to feel the cold air blowing by….we waited….waited and waited more….but nothing happened!! The AC was not functioning…..Welcome aboard to all new joiners!!!

We go sit on the chairs and realize, the infrastructure was well planned….the chairs didn’t have an arm rest, a deliberate attempt to induce wee bit of discomfort in an already uncomfortable environment..….to ensure the participants are forced to stay awake (I can’t think of any other reason, why the arm rests were missing)!!

We try to lean on the desks/tables and realize, the more we lean on them, the farther they go…I mean, which table has WHEELS??? Especially tables in training rooms, where you are expected to write!!! Wheels???? To tables???? Yet can’t fathom it!

We actually "had" to be alert - why?? all over the floor were extension boxes (live electricity)….plugs, wires, LAN cables etc etc etc., We literally were on our toes all during the session!

Undeterred by the circumstances, we were all trying hard to concentrate on what’s being taught – then comes one of the admin staff and announces that there is a “slight” tornado forecasted – I know we should not panic during emergencies, but what’s “slight” about a “tornado”???

This training was so important we couldn’t let things that are more important interfere with it….So, petrified with our fortitude; the forecasted “slight” tornado shifted its course!!!

Day 2:

I was very very sleepy and it was just not in me to stay awake…I was conscious of being caught by the co-instructor who was much more alert than the one who was putting us to sleep…..during my struggle to pin my eyes open, I realize the co-instructor yawning and trying not to look bored but giving away his feelings!! The instructor, was consistent – irrespective of an attendee or speaker, he put us all to sleep!!

We all talk funnily at times, using drastically contradictory words. For instance, I once introduced my neighbour to a cousin of mine, saying "she is the only neighbour I know, apart from two others"....that's the way we are made, a little imperfect and instructors are no exceptions…so this one says “Sometimes the more less you talk, the better” at the least five times in a day!

The training starts at 9:30 AM and ends around 7:30 PM, we were put up at a god forsaken place, from where it took atleast an hour to reach any civilization, to add on, we were in a city that sleeps early and the trainer (the one who earlier in the day, put us to sleep) actually ACTUALLY asks us (after the session ends at 7:30+) “what’s your plan for the day?” If I may ask you - where’s your logic man?? Or do you think training doesn’t really require using that cell of your brain??

Day 3:

We discuss stuff amongst our group and I realize, not everyone is good at everything, but everyone is good at something!!

Day 4:

All through the days and nights that went by, we played games – simple, silly, interesting and funny games!! We formed opinions, we shared jokes and we had fun!!! Big Time fun!! The college types – free of corporate insincerity!!

Day 5:

We go out, hog on delicious food and we get back to GH……something obtuse strikes us and we decide to stay awake all night and go with the rest of the gang to visit few places next morning and get back before the training starts!!

Day 6:

Our insanity wins! We stay awake all night followed by early morning sight-seeing! We get back to training – rather we sleep walk back to the training!! Not a word of what’s being taught gets in, not a concept sinks in and at the end of the day – we win the group quiz (while 40% of the team is sluggish)!! In that state of trance, we bid good-bye to the dearest friends made in the shortest span of time and set out to leave for home and make it just in time for the flight!!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For all the guys from the group – I am truly “coffee-potting” all the fun we had!

After all the varied experiences and diverse emotions - the frustration, the fun, the excitement, the boredom – I now know, we treated ourselves to memories, of a lifetime!!

End of monologue!

P.S: “Coffee-Pot” is a verb guessing game. A group (barring one, who is sent out) chooses a simple verb (remember, eat, dance etc.,) the one who was sent out has to find out which is the “mystery” verb by asking questions, the “verb” coffee-pot is provided to substitute the verb. (Example: “Do you coffeepot every day?")

Perceive, Pursue & Protect!

For someone who’s biggest academic achievement is a long lost memory, I have never ventured much into the academic arena. It didn’t take much out of me to keep it that way. I always managed keeping my work life not-so-happening, personal life a balanced wave and academic life dormant!!

Then out of the blue, with no notice whatsoever, crept in few crazy little ideas of future!! I started perceiving things from a different perspective; I started having scary thoughts of pursuing further academics :-O ….. The fact is I suspect I have very few grey cells in my head, I suppose the number is around three….for the first time all the three were put to task at once and the result was destructive…well ALMOST – I enrolled onto a professional course, which I deemed was a great value add!

I was an IDIOT!

I know you would agree with the statement and for all those who would want to say “I know you are, but why this time?” I’ll tell you why!! In the past, I quit my job (the one prior to the current) to get done with a course, which was half tough as this!! I actually QUIT my job, when all I had to do was work and study! There were only two aspects!!Now – not only is this course twice as hard as the earlier one, but I chose to do it while working, cooking, driving (it’s a task, a hideous one)!! WOW!! No WOW - CRAP - I have an emergency - the three grey cells have been assigned to perform one task each and now I have NO GREY CELLS left to retain what I study (when I study)!!

Perception behind the crazy decision – I have never had a professional qualification, but have always worked with people who have one or loads of them…. I have always, in the interviews (two of them for now) been told I can’t be given the position I deserve, since I am not a “QUALIFIED”….it didn’t matter to me much then and neither now…BUT when the three crazy grey things were put to work, MAYBE this side was ruptured and in that academically passionate moment, I decided to try being a professional (yet again)!!!

Current day situation – Five months after enrollment, post 14 classroom sessions – I haven’t touched my books. I do see them around in the house though!!

Current day frustration – I like assuming, I have too little time…too little energy….too little stamina….too much to handle and too much to study!! I like telling everyone I am BUSY, WANT to and YET can’t study. The actual FACTUAL thing is – I, am NOT trying! I am NOT putting in any effort whatsoever to pursue what I perceived! I denied accepting this, until…..

Yesterday, while I was watching the movie ‘In Pursuit of Happyness’ (it’s a awesomely touching movie), there was a particular dialogue, which just took me instantly, when Will Smith (“slurp-slurp-drooollll”) says “You got a dream, you gotta protect it” – how true!! How very true!!!

In my case, I gotta protect mine from myself, from the bad me in me!! If it takes pulling of a grey cell from one of the tasks (above) arbitrarily, I SHALL!!!

The Lost Guardian Angel!

After a very long time, I had taken an auto ride back home – WOW what an experience it was!!! Its like experiencing a roller coaster ride (an appalling one at that) in the heart of your city!

For all those people out there, who lead a dull life, being chauffer driven or self-drive very carefully, carving your way through traffic – lemme enlighten you….you unquestionably are missing something, something so very exhilarating!!!

On a weekday, preferably a Monday (for some unknown reason, I have observed that Mondays are jam packed) you just gotta hire an auto rickshaw from point A to Point B at around 6:30 PM or anytime after that….the auto vrooms, zooms, squeezes in through the smallest of gaps….Traffic rules do not matter…its all in the auto-wala's head, if he feels right to stop at red, he might….else….the vehicle is dragged mercilessly through the traffic!!!

The most exciting or in other words awe-inspiring experience would be when you spot a cab, and not ANY cab, it HAS to be ONLY Indica!! After a whole lot of honking, braking, you wish either the auto or the indica slows down – BUT, (you guessed it) neither do…..both fly….sometimes I wonder if they forget its an abused four wheeler or a rattled three wheeler which they are driving and unfortunately not a wiry bicycle!! Like someone rightly said, its like you are playing a video game, just that, the direction control is with an electrified unknown human in rush to get YOU to reach YOUR home!!!

I guess their indicators would be in a jam someday due to minimal or absolutely no usage!!! It’s the sign of heads and eyes (not even hands) that does the work! “Lemme overtake you” is sooo beautifully conveyed in their fierce one second glance to the co-electrified drivers!

They say, each one of us has a guardian angel….in these cases I guess, a whole set of guardian angels are out in their flying gear all set to guard us and in no time will they all be busy searching for the soul who was to be guarded!!!!!

It’s a perfect reflection of the busiest of worlds that we live in….flawless manifestation of the gung ho atmosphere that we so tirelessly fabricate around us, day after day after day!!

With all due respect to the world of electrified drivers – Please, never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly :-)

Living life in the fast lane!!!

Its funny how we get so damn busy....there was a time when I used to stop and recollect the fond memories of college, childhood - days when I was practically jobless and ofcourse careless.....I realised just this morning, that it has been ages since I even gave my jobless/careless days a thought!!! :-O
I never discerned the symptoms and the dreadful pattern of activities....everything was just fine and suddenly one day, I was struck with a busy life and I should say, it took me by mixed emotions of shock and surprise.

For all those naive, excited and over zealous souls, keep your eyes, ears and mind open to notice any of the below symptoms....for you may either want to put your foot down & opt to stop/slow OR you may already be running around so much that you will hardly find time to put that foot down - don't bother about the former, its just an eye-wash, the latter is the most happeneing - EHAHAHAHA!!!

1. Your weekend is always yesterday!


2. Your breakfast is skipped, lunch is gulped and dinner is bought!


3. One fine day, you see yourself and notice "I am in shape" (just that its round)


4. You love rain - its just that you say "@#%@&%# how do I get home?"


5. Almost every other day you wonder, where you are getting to!!!

Mr. John Jensen once said "The trouble with life in the fast lane is that you get to the other end in an awful hurry" - Smart chap, I should say!!!!
As for me - When I first heard this phrase, I loveeeddd the way it sounded - I was naive :-|

"Corporate" Wisdom??

After the glorious college days, I had a glamorous beginning to my career when I entered into the world of corporates!!!! First I was awestruck by their knowledge, their contacts, their meticulous planning....then there was this extreme emotion of shock when I learnt about the 'preach to never practise' and many such one-way applicable attitudes....After approximately 5.5years into this structurally unstructured world I can say, I am on my path to wisdom!!

The unknown "they" say, there are equations to life - true, very true - following are my take on equations to 'corporate' life:

• You bill your client in DOG hours and pay your staff in MAN hours - sure enough indicates, you are expected to work like a dog.


• Pay 3 persons salary to 1 person and make him feel blessed & important and then he HAS AN OPTION to take up 1/2 dozen persons load or 1/2 dozen +Team Lead's load or 1/2 dozen +Team Lead's load+ Manager's load - OFCOURSE, THE RIGHT to opt, lies very high up!


• You know how to click all the buttons in word & excel - knowledge of when to click what is an insult to the entire corporate world.


• You make optimum utilisation of English as a written & spoken language - your work is always "perfect", "great", "awesome", most likely than all, its "fair enough" - although in absolute reality the concept of fairness is extinct!!


• You insist that your staff work all days of the week including saturday and give them the "flexibility" of working from home on a Sunday - in case you are not insisting (yet), trust me, you are a total disgrace to the whole corporate boss world!!!


• You diligently conduct a GLOBAL survey every year and 'discuss' the concerns on work-life balance consistently year after year - I doubt if the survey results really need to be analysed (assuming they are) - where's the logic?? You are a DOG, you ONLY work....'work-life balance' is just another phrase!!!

I read a small story the other day, allow me to narrate it and your options are limited to reading on:

A crow was sitting on a tree, doing nothing all day.

A rabbit asked him, “Can I also sit like you and do nothing all day long?”
The crow answered: “Sure, why not.”
So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the crow, and rested.

A fox jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Moral of the story: To surive sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very high up!!!!!

The Over Burdened Rich!!!

There is this one very posh, hip-hop-hep - in short - a super expensive gym, right in front of our office building. Everyday I pass by that road, I can't help but notice the long line of lambi chowdi, chamakti gadis. I wonder, every time, who has got the kind of money and more importantly the time to go to a gym at around 6:00 PM??? I was sure, they all must be super committed folks - committed to work out in spite of their busy schedules (I assumed they must be "busy" since they were "rich")!!! The rich, smart, busy species!! I kind of started having high regard for them, until......

One day on way back from work, I noticed a reallll longg and handsomeee black car, it zoomed by and stopped right near the steps to the gym. A guy in a white uniform came running and opened the front passenger door, there was this chauffeur driven not-so-good looking guy, who got down the car (while on his mobile - of course he "had" to be busy)...this guy didn't budge an inch to advance towards the door. I presumed, he waited to take his bag...but NO!!! This guy in the uniform rushed, opened the back door and carried the rich guy's "gym kit" for him and also held the door open for this not-so-good looking rich guy to walk in!!! I was glad, the guy in the uniform didn't "carry" the rich guy in and hope against the hopes the not-so-good looking rich guy was not disappointed by this lack of gesture!!!

I understand, this guy is rich...probably busy (though I am not sure anymore)...the kind who "think" they are independent - though when left alone, can't spot their toothpaste!!! The kind who need maids/valets etc....BUT, he is at the GYM!!!!!! Probably....logic evades him

He rather drive down and carry his bag inside - ofcourse apart from the terrible burden of carrying himself!!

Hereby I conclude, that rich needn't be busy and definetly not smart - they just need to be "RICH"!!!! :D :D

P.S: For all those out there, who after reading the post, are wondering about my fitness level - I am NOT overweight, I am just 10 inches too short!

P.P.S: Let me clarify - I am NOT against rich - I am just trying to analyse what it takes to get there and as long as its not being 'smart', I have no problem, whatsoever ;-)!!

Traffic Behavioural Syndrome!

I finally am trying to drive "alone" (emphasis intended) to and from work!! After couple of drives accompanied/directed/guided by AP [name changed for anonimity ;-)]....it still felt arduous to drive alone at "the peak hour" through "the peak route"....Nevertheless, I had to - so I did!!

After being an active member of the "adopt an auto a day" community for quite a few years now, I can not help but draw references to the 'drive-by-auto' and 'drive-ur-way' scenarios....there are soooo many things which driving makes you realise - apart from the lack of civic sense!!

For instance, never before did I notice there are so many by-lanes on the route I take....the traffic popping in-n-out hapahzardly informs you on the layout...if rats evacuate their holes, probably you would see a Pulsar vroooming through them!! Such is our capacity to wring a vehicle through the smallest available space!!!

You literally have to "memorise" the route you take to avoid the self evolved potholes and protruding manholes.....if not anything, driving plays a key role in improving your concetration and observation!!!

I don't claim to have a world of knowledge, but I do know for sure a thing - no one wants to live on the road and in the traffic....everyone wants to and has to go home, so why the rush??? I fail to understand perspective of those who 'honk' when there is super traffic jam!

Most intriguing are the two inseparable friends/couples driving.....they probably have a mutual 'die-hard' feeling for each other(literally)......they yap-yap while driving - two different people, two different vehicles, drive parllel in sync (in peak traffic) and yap????? What's it that they 'catch up' with eludes me!!

Mosttttt typical of traffic behavioural syndrome if you have ever noticed is, that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac :D :D

Lessons to a life skill !!!

I never drove ever before till I tried venturing into learning to dirve a car.....first day at the driving school my instructor introduced me to the very important clutch-break-accelerator.
After which he asked me to start the car and zoomm-vrooomm went the accelerator and my instructor, Mr. A, gasped - I made a robust start ;-)...

In yet another driving class....out of the blue I asked Mr. A "agar brake, brake karta hai tho clutch kya karta hai"....he gave a "huh - what are you rambling" look but just said "what?" I repeated my question and it took him sometime to understand what I meant!!

In the early classes, when Mr. A asked me to shift the gear, I would ask him "in which gear am I currently" - before this class, he had asked me not to look at the gear stick when I had to change the gear :D

I was amazed at the technology - when you turn on the indicator lights and take a right/left....after you complete the turn, the lights are turned off automatically!!!!!! How cool is that!!!

Very interestingly....I picked up reverse classes faster than the forward driving classes.....Mr. A was himself amazed at how smooth my driving was when I drove reverse :D :D

For the one or two months that I learnt to drive.....every drive I had been to, I only had questions for the person driving me....(including an auto driver - I wanted to know if autos also had a reverse gear)....every turn I would predict which gear to be used and question if it went against my prediction....heart-of-hearts I am sure people who drove me wanted to drop me off the road :D

Thus were my driving lessons.....scary for Mr. A with a mis-adventurous student that I am.....torturous for the skilled drivers who endured me (my questions more precisely) all through the months....questions-questions and more of them every day, every class....!!

First day@College!!!

Time flies.....perspectives change.....its amazing to see how things/traditions transform right in front of your eyes!!
I remember my first day at college - it was a mixture of emotions - a little nervous, a little awkward....a lot excited!! Each of it doubly/triply amplified as I (a lonely soul) get closer to my new classroom....Excitement more particularly - excitement about meeting new people....people who came from different walks of life...people I had never met before. The atmosphere was so very different....everyone was a stranger and the feeling was mutual across the whole group!!

The first introductions - first impressions - first groups....alone you experience all of these.....all alone....finding comfort in even the least approachable/considerate members you meet...

This first day at college - is a lasting memory and an unbeatable experience (which I thought was rather customary)!!

But like its said "change is the only thing constant" (Against my belief that this custom would remain unchanged..)

Change, How??

Now - you know ur to-be classmates/batchmates much before you step into the campus....much before you know your classroom.....much much before you see them. Mails are exchanged....so are calls....likes/dislikes known...expectations shared.....groups made....picnics planned....dinners arranged. Most of the times you have "buddies" before you start your course. The fear of being a "loner" on the first day at the college would probably persuade almost everyone to participate in either or all of such "pre-college intro" events!!

This first day at college - when you already have "your" groups....people you already know....groups formed by region....would still be a lasting memory and experience I guess.....BUT with a difference!!!

And Yes, I am biased ;-)!!!

Ups & Downs!!

Ever wondered why moments of low and high in life are called Ups and Downs? - I did!!

What?? The inner me demanded logic, so I ‘had’ to ;-) !!

I always thought it was associated with the general Up/Down curves we see with the hills/roads/waves….until I went for a brisk walk yesterday did I find an explanation to the simile!!

On the way up – we require a lot of energy, it takes a lot of perseverance/focus and we sweat crazy. We always know it’s gonna be tough, but we choose to do per our own rationale. We crave to have someone push and support from the behind, but we know its gonna be a single-self-effort. Maximum we would have is a company, a person who would walk along, tries to put in the same effort and energy!

Once we reach the top, we are very relaxed, take in all the fresh air possible, pant a lot and cherish all the effort put in. It isn’t that we can stay there for long, to reach where we want to, we will have to take the immediate down and the next up and the next down and so on and so forth till we reach where we intend to!!

While we go down hill, we do feel it’s manageable at the first instance, BUT its here where we need utmost self-balance, grip on our feet. What if we don’t?? We trip over and hurt ourselves reallll bad!!!

As we reach a leveled surface, we are grateful to self that we were balanced!!! In allll this, what matters is the company, try walking alone…hmmm….naaaah the very idea is sad and boring!!

Now, does the simile make sense???? It does to me!!!!!

I do enjoy my walks all the way, the Ups/Downs/Twists/Turns/Trees/Breeze/Sweat/People I meet etc etc and finally getting home and of course not to miss the few calories burnt in the process!!!

Life is exactlyyy like this – isn’t it???

Just a single minute!!

In the process of being busy wiling away time and one of the "I am not gonna work" days, I just had this random thought - what are the instances when we truly..actually...realise the value of the much abused and most widely used word - "one minute"??
One of the two grey cells my brain holds, was put to task and "pop" came the answers...

When you...

• are on the 'manual' treadmill (yes they still do exist and this is the bestest way to teach value of time :D)
• are hungry and waiting for the much needed lunch break, at the infamously famous n boring corporate training sessions
• are anxiously waiting for a call from the (special) someone
• are having a boring day at work, and yearning to go home
• have just missed your flight/train/bus!!

and...

• on your wedding - the preparation may take few months/years but its that precise minute that you are pronounced a couple :-)
• while having a verbal..emotional..high voltage...fight - the silence after though lasts for a minute might seem longer than that!!

(for keen observers - the sequence of marriage and fight was not intetional :P)

Finally...

• A minute - 13breathes (on an average)
• A minute - its priceless when its the last, one has got!!! :-)

New Year Resolutions!!!

Someone rightly said - A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other!!
Though this year round, I "plan" (yet again) to meet all of them...making a note of the un-ending list of them, so it helps me keep track [a polite way to say - there are all chances I might "forget" my "serious" resolutions ;-)]

• Cultivate the early riser genes
• Study well and a lot!! (phew - this seems by-far the toughest I ever made)
• Take good care of my health/wealth/skin/hair (this by n large are the most ignored aspects of life - atleast mine!)
• Exercise a lot!! (double phew for this!!)
• Eat healthy (best unspoken!!)
• Variety is the spice of life - learn to cook to tick the taste buds [tick it in what sense is a deliberate omission ;-)]
• Play as much as one can (time and neighbouring kids taught me this is one of the best ways to de-stress!!)
• Have 'phone/mail friends' day to keep in touch
• Philanthrophy needn't always be at a large scale, so start with as much as you can afford to!!
• To err is human, to repeat the same is human too, though with a pinch of recklessness - so do not repeat mistakes!

Hufff - those were more than I thought there were....now that there are too many of them - the priority of resolutions (new arrival) is "slow and steady wins the race" ;-)