"One Life to Live"

Superfluous Freedom

2011-05-17T06:50:00.000-07:00

College got over two weeks ago. For past three years we were waiting for this moment.

I had a very busy schedule just three weeks ago. Leave home at 6.30 am and come back at 11.00 pm. Yes, first go to office after travelling for 2 hours then at 6.30 pm go to college from office after travelling back just half the way in 1.5 hours and travel home from college another 1.5 hour. By the end of first year my neighbors thought I had shifted. When they would see me occasionally, they would stop to ask, “Where do you stay now?” It was just a synonym to “Did you get married?” My Mom had terrible time explaining the truth and people found it hard to believe that a 45 kg soul can follow such a hectic schedule. By the end of one and half year in college I was anemic, my hemoglobin was just 7. Doctor told me to give up one of the two activities either job or college as he thought I was risking my life. Hmmm…….you must be wondering what I chose between the two? I changed the doctor…….easy.

Now I had got use to it. If I was at home on Sunday I would feel bored. I think now I had become the typical “Mumbaichi mulgi”. I am use to traveling by bus; auto and train, sometimes even used all of them in the same day to commute. I was not forced to go to college as I already told but I wanted to. Now it is over. Neighbors’ atleast see me coming home. I am happy too but something is missing. This freedom has smashed the pleasure of my college life. Being with friends, tests, presentations, arguments, lectures and all the most the beautiful campus.

Thinking of doing something and even started thinking of some ideas. After all life goes on!

My Friends

2011-05-10T08:31:00.000-07:00

I have the wackiest friends. My office group is mad and I am the craziest. We are nothing like we look. We make fun of everything and that includes colleagues, bosses, and strangers. We keep giggling all the time when we are together. By nature we shouldn’t be together. If we would have not meet in office we would never be so fond of each other. I think the credit goes to our cold-blooded bosses. I don’t even want to discuss them on blog it will spoil my efforts in writing this blog.

Let my tell you about them:

H – H is quit close to me. If I am west she is east. We don’t meet at any point. But we somehow share the same issues so there is a close bonding between us. I feel like calling her “LOST”. She is madly in love and can go to any limits to achieve it. I really admire her quality

P – P has gone through a tremendous change in last 3 years. From being a shy little beautiful girl, she is now a rebel. Thank to our company. The most important thing is now she back answers to bosses………OMG. This was the most happening change.

S – S is just simple like a girl next door. She can be the total “Sanskari Bhau” types. She is different in her own way. She has started enjoying joke now. She is trying to adapt as much as she can to us. Most important she has stopped wearing green dresses. Yes……for last 2 years I have seen her everyday in a shade of green. She seriously likes GREEN color. But now she is changing thank to us again.

A – A is combo of H and S at a higher level. She gets angry at everything and likes very few jokes. She is introvert. We all suspect that she is in love but we are not sure. But now she is changing. I know she likes us.

Together we form a squad against our bosses and have been a subject of discussion although the office. People wonder why we are together. Bosses have changed our department, our locations but till we all meet at lunch and those 45 mins are enough to keep us genuinely bonded with each other.

This was office. At college I have two personas who are my friends all through my MFM college life.

S – S is the best friend a person can have and I think I am not the only one. She is a motherly figure more than a friend. She is more worried about me then me. Her best introduction would be that I call her “GOOGLE”. Yes, just ask her anything and get a reply. It may not be 100% correct but it is definitely not wrong. She has been supportive all throughout the college years. I wonder what college life would be without her.

S – Yes second S. She is just in a mad rush always. I like her enthusiasm but her attendance has just been close to 20% in college I believe. So it’s difficult to judge her. But somehow she is different and I like her.

Other then these few special once I know everyone at office and college. I think I can make lots of friends!

The Journey till now….

2011-05-09T08:37:00.000-07:00

Yes it was my last year of MFM at SIMSR.

It is very funny how it started. I was working at Oracle then. It the back of my mind I was thinking of doing a MBA and have appeared for CET too. Marks were good some 90+ % but I know it couldn’t get me to top 10 colleges in Maharashtra. I don’t remember exactly what or how told me about part time MBA but with my experience I thought of giving it a chance. I was late and JB had already finished with its entrance test. I thought of enquiring with Somaiya (SIMSR) being my college. Fortunately it had not finished with the entrance test; it was maybe the second last day or something. I was in a dilemma but thought of giving it a chance. I hurried to bank next day, made my DD and submitted the form. I appeared for the online entrance test and scored so well to hit the first list…..auspiciously.

I had opted for finance but was with Software Company. I was seriously worried. The college started and also the sprint. It was nothing like I thought. It deserves to be one of the best. Luckily I got to study finance with Guju’s………the most desirable combo. The day would start and end and again start and end and again start. It was approximately one month after the start of college that I got the offer from HDFC Bank. It was not my dream job but necessarily at that time; after all I was doing MFM.

First month at college was mad run. Attendance was less still some wonderful people managed to have a get together. Slowly we started forming a group and like always I think I got the best. My friends are a different story altogether I can write a book on them. I think we are the craziest people in the world. That was the first month and then this was the last and life in-between flees. I found 24 hours in a day insufficient. Presentations, exams, projects, gossips, fights and much more. I think we had some of the best professors. I learnt in my college that it is not easy to be good to 60 people in one class with 60 different personalities and believe me each was unique. God must be real busy person!

College life was fun as office awful with workload. Whatever is your position at office within the college premises you are student. Our college had one thing very special………Guju community! I don’t think I would have learnt business management anywhere better. I know I have a lot to write but next time……..picture abhi baaki hai mere dost!!!

Long Time ago….

2011-02-04T05:03:00.000-08:00

It has been one year…….a year since I have stopped writing blog. Let me make it clear that it is not because I am not willing to but because I genuinely don’t get time for it. I know some people believe in ‘everyone has 24 hrs in a day and it depends on how u use them efficiently’. I agree. In my case this is true because I do get 2 hrs a day for eating food and watching TV but love to enjoy it peacefully.
Life is as usual – home, office, college and specially travelling. Office does not provide internet due to security reasons and travelling leaves no stamina for surfing. Planning to change the situation soon.
Keep watching the space for more!

Tigers

2010-02-10T05:01:00.000-08:00

Yes that reminds me I had started a group on facebook few months ago to let people know the danger to our national animal. Today I would like to tell why I love tigers?

Even if I am not a big animal activist and I don’t love animals at home (not even Tigers) but I am not the one who would not even like to have them in jungles, I would like the future generation to know that there is a very beautiful species in animal called ….Tiger!

Yes, I love Tigers despite the fact that it’s the logo of ‘Shiv sena’ who cares more about the statements of Shah Rukh then its own party logo. Sometimes I wonder if they would have protested the tiger hunters in India in the same fashion.

I love everything about the Tiger. I love the color of its fur and the black strips that cover his body, the furious look, the roaring and the most beautiful eyes. It’s hard to believe people can hunt such a beautiful creation of god.

I have stopped using leather since last two years. I didn’t do it as a favor to environment but as a responsibility as a world citizen. Not to forget I have planted two very beautiful flower plants in my garden (lack of space, I can only accommodate two of them)

I would like to request all those who use any parts of animal body to stop it from today itself. I would love to touch a tiger who is alive than wear a dead one.

No Time…….

2010-02-10T04:33:00.000-08:00

It seems I am going through the busiest phase of life. I hardly get time to watch TV; I don’t know which are the new releases…… The only local news I get to know is the one on which ‘Shiv sena’ agitates. I thought of helping tigers but now I know I too need help very badly.
I hope this gets over for sometime at least after March. I have been going to office at 6.30 in the morning just to return at 10.30 in the night or if in a “rare case” lecture is cancelled to come home to finish my assignments and projects.
I feel jealous to see people going for movies and blogging and playing games on facebook.
I am doing this only with the hope that ,Yes one day people might be jealous to me too……;-)

A Milestone

2009-09-07T05:31:00.000-07:00

Yes, now I am Assistant Manager at HDFC Bank. It was more than excitement and pleasure if you ask me. I have waited for this moment since long.

But the trip was not easy....not atleast who I thought it would be. It started with a call one year ago. The economy was in recession and so was the co. I was then working with. There was downsizing everywhere. I was thinking of the arriving trouble and suddenly my phone rang........"Hi, this is XYZ from HDFC Bank. You are selected for an HR interview....” I was more than happy.

It was told at the beginning that we will become AM after one year, but as I can put it 'There is always a stormy day before a sunny day'. Half the year was still bearable. But the trouble started hitting from March when I was transferred to another process. What could be worse than a badly managed department, inefficient seniors, no rules and guidelines to any process and handling customer money. I know it would be wrong to say, 'I was a perfectionist'. But what can you expect from a person how has know banking processes which we followed just when they were told to me. The beginning was bad; I got a subordinate who was as "good" as I. The month was a mess. When she left, I decided to streamline the things and to my surprise I did..........Hurry!!! This is when I came to know since the process is online somebody else will handle it. I took it positively as I wanted to learn rather than settle at this stage. I handed over the work and shifted to my new profile. Quit good.....till one of my seniors suddenly changed the process without informing the branches. I know I was going to be dragged in this but there was hardly any option.

Suddenly in the huge workload I realized that we were going to have a yearly appraisal for conformation in the organization. I came to be a very bad surprise with none of my good works considered. But then thankfully my big boss interfered...and brought it to this stage. I will definitely be thankful to him.

My bosses C, S1 and S2: C has been in dept for a long time. Good as a person but very bad at management. I sometimes feel like giving my management book to C for learning the new way for handling staff

S1: Good for nothing, a great company to C and together they create hazards

S2: Just joined. My first impression about S2 was good but now it is as bad as the first two.

Life continues......

2009-08-28T05:41:00.000-07:00

I took admission for PG last year. I had complete my masters before but it did not give that much exposure to corporate world.

I had heard of three good colleges in Mumbai..... JBIMS, Welingkar and SIMSR. The dates of form submission had already gone for the first two by the time I got to know about it. I decided to try my luck on the only choice left, SIMSR. The test was good but somehow I forgot the date of selection list. One day in the evening I returned home from work and my mom caught hold of me at the doorstep and said "Agga tu pass zalies! I stood wondering which exam I attempted last. I got message from my colleague about the same on the next day as she couldn't make it. I was not very sure if I realy wanted to do it but I took the admission the day after.

After I joined the college there was no looking back, as if my old college days have returned. It seems so weird how much I miss my college in vacation. Yes it is true, it has been one year and some months that I have joined my PG. But it’s a whole new learning experience………a new beginning…

The Rejuvenation

2009-08-26T06:25:00.001-07:00

It began as……..

My first corporate job experience was with Coooolget (not to reveal the name). I still cherish those days.

It was the first day at my job and I reached on time……..but everybody seem to be arriving at ISD. I waited for my boss in one corner. The other day when I had come to office, it was just introduction day……….workspace, cafeteria, fresh room, library, canteen, gym……..the list can continue. The second day when my boss arrived I came to know I was hired for a profile which was yet to be designed………… (Corporate!!!) I spend the week reading the booklets of company products and getting introduced to MT (Management Trainees). It is hard to believe that by the time I left the organization I had managed to have 14 files and a huge database of sales files in my PC. I learned SAP a bit. The food was good. But here is the twist……………..one day a MT came to office. The guy was in his early twenties, charming looks, will build structure…………….I can go on! But he seems to be Mr. Charming to me. That day I decided I won’t be a simple graduate but as good as him. The journey began……….

First the looks changed to more sophisticated (that's subjective….. after all beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder), than my attitude (I myself wonder today howmuch!), books and then my degrees!

Mr. Charming got married to his princess during the year. It is true when somebody said 'The most desirable things in life are either expensive or Married to someone else!" But I will always be grateful to him for what he has given me unknowingly. Today I can say I have improved by atleast say 30% from the start date and the process is still going on………………

Books I've Read

2009-08-21T04:06:00.000-07:00

1. The Princess Diaries
2. The Alchemist
3. Nothing Lasts Forever
4. Bloodline
5. The Da Vinci Code
6. Rich Dad Poor Dad
7. Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus: Starting Over
8. The Other Side Of Midnight
9. Are You Afraid of The Dark
10. White Tiger
11. Chincken Soup for the soul
12. Five Point Someone What Not To Do At IIT
13. One Night @The Call Center
14. The 3 Mistakes of My Life

It has been exact one year since I have jointed my new library. And it was a great experience. So I decided to start writing for my new year with this blog, dedicated to my librarywala.
The last eight months that passed where the fastest moving months of my life. It has been long since I got time to write………..so I resolve today to write atleast three blogs in a week. Somebody told me that if u tell people about your resolution for the year they keep reminding you to stick to it.
Now why blog for my librarywala…………but he deserves it!
I like reading but I was never so passionate about it like I am after my rejuvenation( that’s another story I will talk about it in my later blog).
My librarywala is a website………….yes, it is! I just have to go and select books which I want to read and they are delivered at my residence. Same process has to be reversed when they have to be returned. When I joined it, I was a bit skeptical about it, not that I had not heard of it but it is a new and innovative concept. I had heard it in news when it was told that a young MBA from a reputed college decided to go with his own business instead of a generous paid job. Business of leasing……………..BOOKS!!! I heard the story and liked the concept as it was to supply books to senior citizens (who are fond of reading but cannot pay several visits to the library) to their doorsteps. When it opened for public I was more than happy to join it, because I was facing the same problem of ‘time to visit library’. But now it has been a yearlong camaraderie and great too!

26/11 in Mumbai!!!

2008-12-02T05:40:00.000-08:00

Due to the TV actors strike there was no new episode for my mummy to watch on TV, so I got the control of the TV remote by chance. I started surfing.........as usual my favorite news channels. Suddenly my mom wanted to watch news in Marathi and I was searching for a channel. A hindi news channel suddenly started some news on firing a CST station and bomb blast. There were no visuals and the news was not confirmed. A person new CST station was reporting of such firing. I changed the channel, when u stay in the city where sneezing of Shah Rukh Khan can make a news.........such things are hard to believe. After 10 mins the news started flashing on every channel. At first it seemed to be some gang war. Then the news came to terrorist attach, then the death of 100's of people and 3 chief police officers.

That was the time to panic. I thought it would get over by morning. I got up and started the TV to take a sign of relief............but it was not over! Schools and colleges were told to be closed (I wonder who does it not apply to employees). I went to the office. The whole day we kept getting rumors about blasts here and there. I rushed back home to know the truth.........the attack was still on. The rest is no secret to the world. Those 60 hrs were the most terrifying for Mumbai.

There were messages that the 'sprite of Mumbai is high and they will soon recover' ..............but this time I wish they didn't!!! We have to show the world that Mumbaikars are not only full of sprite but also filled with anger and frustration. The fastest growing financial capital of the country and the most heterogeneous city can not protect itself from 12 terrorists? Where is the system? Where are the latest weapons to defend the tycoons of Indian Industry?

I protest against terrorism and I hope every mumbaikar does..............Jai Hind!!!

Too Busy!

2008-09-12T03:53:00.000-07:00

This month till date was the most tiring month ever. It was full of all excitement and new comings.
Krishnasthami:
This year we were awake till 12.00 AM. We normally do this but this time was different. Now we have our new DG Cam so ever moment can be captured. I took the pictures of every ritual. Starting from exposing the Lil’ Krishna to the night light after he was hiding below the tulsi leaves the whole day. Then the ablution with the five “Panchamrut” ingredients. To dressing him in those little gorgeous red costumes and ornaments. And then putting him in the swing ‘Palna’ and singing the songs of child birth. I love it all! And I have tried to capture every bit of it.
The next day was Dhai Handi but unfortunately I couldn’t see any of them live! So sorry no pictures.

Satyanarayan Pooja
“Satyanarayan Pooja is one of the best & easiest ways to seek blessings from Lord Vishnu, who is the God responsible for maintenance of this Universe. “ We had it on the last Saturday of Shravan month according to Hindu calander.

Ganesh Chaturthi:
My personal favorite. I love this festival. We have ‘Hartalika’ fast on the previous day (we can’t have cooked food and water this day!) Unfortunately it become a fast for other members of the family too as Mom doesn’t cook. They have to manage with some fruits and daal bhat (Rice and yellow Daal). The fast ends with the arrival of Ganesha the next day.
Fortunately this year was the 75th Anniversary of the Famous ‘Lalbaag Ka Raja’. We had our lunch early on the 5th (5th September was Ganesh Chaturthi, the 1st day) and started for the darshan of the Raja. The most honorable Ganpati in Mumbai. The queue started from the main gate and then took and long turn about the Kalaghoda or some such place. By the time we came back to the same location we had started from outside the pandal when we were inside, we had already spent 6 hours in the queue. The frustration and leg pain and made it look for worst. We asked somebody for guidance who told it will take another 2 hours for the darshan. We decided to wait. There were maze of queues inside the pandal. If you really want to know it would have been nearly 7-8 kms of walking. Not to forget the breaking of queues and the trace parcels and the VIPs coming and halting the queue for hours. There was terrible lack of co-ordination and volunteers. Finally after 12 hours of long wait we got to see the Raja from 10 feet away for 30 sec. The volunteers here were pro active in pushing the queue towards the exit.
I personally feel this could have been avoided with a little good management by the volunteers and staff members. The police forces were as helpful as absent. I really wanted to see the idol atleast for 3 mins after the toil of 12 hours waiting.

Second Book!

2008-08-22T23:44:00.001-07:00

You might think I write too much about books. Gr8! Our thinking is quite same then.

Jokes apart. I finished reading second Chetan Bhagat book, “One night @The call centre”. The book was a good read ……………….if you ignore the italic stuff. It was motivational and the character ‘Shyam’ can be related by many to their lives.

I have just read two of his books but I feel that the story runs fast towards the last few chapters, as if in a hurry to end. Maybe I am too use to Sidney Sheldon’s suspense starting from the first page itself.

Every cloud has a silver lining!

2008-08-04T04:53:00.001-07:00

I knew this proverb from childhood but got to experience it last week. I am a diehard fan of Sidney Sheldon and why not? His writing is magnificent. I was mad at completing his series of novels.
For a break I asked for an Indian writer’s work last week and somebody suggested Chetan Bhagat. I had seen the book at Big Bazaar but didn’t want to buy it (same Sidney Sheldon ghost over me). I brought the book from my library and started reading it halfheartedly. By the end of the suicide letter the book started becoming interesting. I completed reading it on Saturday. It was a good read. At the end of the book I was wondering if the characters were real and still stayed in Ahmadabad. I would definitely like to meet them, especially Ali………………miracle batsman! I am not a cricket fan but I would definitely want India to win ever match.
I definitely feel sorry for underestimating the other authors but my experience when I first tried to switch author was terrible. I had read ‘Pet Symmetry ‘and I did not sleep for two nights! Maybe I was the wrong-reader. Three-fourth of the book was a slow read and the rest went like a hurricane. Anyways there are fans to this author too.
But no harm in trying new things. After all only “Change is permanent”

28th July, 2008 in Mumbai!

2008-08-04T04:51:00.000-07:00

It was a perfect rainy day. It has been raining for the past 4 days since last Friday. 26th July was a Saturday so most of the offices have a weekend off (There was no panic due to the hysterically rain). The rain continued even on Sunday. And then came Monday (Office sucks on Monday more than on any other day). It was raining through the entire morning, but the panic started building in the afternoon after lunch when the rain decided to work the whole day without even a lunch break. We could see the traffic jam on the eastern express highway and water logging reports were coming from all our well-wishers. By 3.00 PM the panic had turned into fear of 26th July. People started leaving office to reach home safety (*sign*). By 3.30 PM there was a e-mail from admin stating ‘Due to heavy rains people are permitted to leave early today’ ;-)
That was all which was needed and all started discussing plans for reaching home. I decided to take a BEST bus instead of train (so that I would walk if there is a traffic jam). I announced this to my bus-going friends that today they will get a chance to enjoy my company in bus (*signs*). By the time I packed my bags and reached the ground floor, my friends were waiting for me by a taxi. So it was decided to go by taxi then, there was no other option because firstly I had asked them to accompany me and secondly they are my “Friends”.
We had to decide between two routes. One via Ghodbandar Road (GR) and the other via Powai. We decided to go with the first. We started towards our destination and it was going fine as from outside the rain did not look that terrifying. There was no much traffic too; in fact it looked better than normal Mondays. We reached the start of GR and found a huge queue of vehicles waiting to enter. After a 5 mins wait the traffic seemed unmovable. So we decided to take a ‘U’ turn and go back via Powai (offfffffff!). If I was alone I could have preferred to take a ST bus to Thane from Boravli. But…………………….
We started back on the same route. Another half an hour ride and then taking a “shortcut” via Array colony and then via a “shortcut” through Powai Hiranandani and then……………………………so on. We reached Mulund at 7.30 PM (Finally……….at our normal office timings). While our friends who took the normal bus at 4.30 PM reached home at 6.00 PM (funny, contradicting………but true!). The worst news came when I reached home after a “Joy ride” of three and half hour. My mom broke the news that the trains were all working fine and take to better than the usual days as my brother had reached home from his college at Worli after leaving at 5.00 PM. That too with less effort and suffering then me.
I have to tell you this truth that I reached home in 45 mins on the actual raining 26th July even after leaving the office in dilemma at 4.00 PM in a colleague’s car (fortunate…….if u want to say). I felt that the day before yesterday rains was not even half the intensity of 26th July. But the reasons for the devastating Monday were according to me:
· Rumors from our well-wishers (Thanks anyways we got a half day…as nobody worked post lunch)
· Superfluous Panic
· My foolishness of not taking a Public transport (Taxi expenses were Rs. 533 plus Toll Rs. 65 plus a tip to the taxiwala for a rollercoaster ride Rs. 25…….it looks like it was a joy ride for him not us!)
· The most important………………..’A lazy Monday’ (weekends are never enough! ;-))
This reminds me of the nursery rhyme:
Rain rain go away,
Come again another day.
Little Johnny wants to play;
Rain, rain, go to Spain,
Never show your face again!

Reduced efforts……..with more satisfaction!

2008-07-25T04:39:00.000-07:00

I finished reading Sidney Sheldon’s ‘Windmills of the God’. A wonderful read as usual. Angel was a surprise element…..don’t worry I am not disclosing the suspense. You read for yourself and find out. (As if Sidney gives me royalty for promoting these books!) By I have realized that I have become a fan of his (AC if u want to call)
I haven’t been getting much time out of my classes to read books. For the past two months it has been worst. As I don’t get time to go and change the books and the books keep laying on my desk for weeks. So I decided to come up with a new solution. And as if “God” likes me reading books, he sent his angles to my office in the name of ‘Librarywala.com’.
I got registered and paid the advance. I had to just go to the site and select books. They have a lot of variety (including Sidney Sheldon). But this time I thought of changing my author. *signs* I had heard about Chetan Bhagat. So now I am reading my new book ‘The 3 mistakes of my life’ (finally!)
I have decided to improve my reading speed too. So nowadays I religiously follow a system of atleast-1- chapter-a- day. To my surprise, it works! And the other reason is I found the author interesting. This everyday slogging make you feel sick. Go to office, attend classes, meet friends on the weekends, etc etc etc…….. So I got registered with ‘Teach India’ The Times group initiative as my friend suggested. But seems many people are going through the same phase. So currently they are not looking for any volunteers at weekends and I am not willing to devote myself completely to my so called ‘phase’. I know a friend who can help……….so let’s keep the fingers crossed.

It makes me really mad!

2008-07-20T06:18:00.000-07:00

Today is the 9th of July2008

Today it took me complete Three and a half hours to reach office (Unbelievable!). But if you are a frequent traveler via Powai IIT you will know it is true. It’s common to take one and a half hours while coming to office and two and a half hours to reach home.
I remember NDTV Profit covering the one hour tour to the Bangalore new Airport. Pot rating it to be a very long and hectic route. I wonder if they have ever visited Powai during office hours. If you are thinking it’s due to the Mumbai rains and I am exaggerating the situation, it’s not true! It has been the same since a long time. I think the reason it is not in news because now people have got used to it. They start from their homes two hours in advance and returning is not a problem anyways (because otherwise also the time of leaving from office is never fixed). ;-)

FACT OF LIFE

2008-06-29T08:18:00.000-07:00

· Expecting the world to treat u fairly coz u r a good person is like expecting the lion not to attack u coz u r a vegetarian. Think about it.

· Don't walk as if you rule the world, walk as if you don't care who rules the world! That's called Attitude

· Every lady hopes that her daughter will marry a better man than she did and is convinced that her son will never find a wife as good as his father did!!! : )

· All desirable things in life are illegal, banned, and expensive or married to someone else! ( So true!....snif snif)

I did it again!

2008-06-26T03:52:00.000-07:00

I went to my library to return my Sidney Sheldon novel. The librarian wanted me to try something different (For those who don’t know I read Sidney Sheldon a lot………..in fact, I read only Sidney Sheldon). I went through the racks to look for another author. I surfed and surfed and surfed……………and after 10 mins I came to a book that I thought of reading. ‘Morning, noon and night’…………………… by Sidney Sheldon………….I know! The librarian had the same look (hehehe). The book was resting on my desk for a few days then at this weekend I got the time to read it. I could hardly stop reading. It was actually a wonderful read! It started with a wealthy Harry Stanford and ended with a decline to his empire. I could have narrated to you the entire story but that will spoil your suspense.
This book will always be special for me. I always thought of how me partner will be or rather should be. I got the same description in this book…….no not Harry……………..Steve! He is wonderful. I grade this book as A+ and Steve A++++++++++.

Surfing !

2008-06-22T02:12:00.000-07:00

I love surfing. I wasn’t able to do much surfing earlier as we did not have internet at home. The lobbying efforts were successful at the beginning of this year and we got a internet connection at home (As usually my younger brother got the pro without bitter relation with my parents, like always……believe me being elder is truly a disadvantage. I fought for getting everything and my brother got it comparatively with very less efforts…….to be very true, ‘No Efforts’) Coming back to the topic. I surf a lot on weekends, mainly through orkut. I like to visit all my friend profiles and there friend profiles (Only the one I find too kewl) and I happen to tell this to my friends. The reaction was: WHAT????????? (it’s bad!) I don’t find any harm in going through profiles, if you don’t hurt. (Different people different philosophies…..I respect all) Whatever people might say but if you ask my opinion it is not bad to know about people; Don’t you see at guys/ girls on the street. I don’t mean eve teasing! I mean like: What a girl? Or What a personality yaar? Or something like that. For me it is natural appreciation. In my opinion ‘IT-IS-NOT-BAD’). I like to know people and make friends. Some might find it flirtatious. People liked ‘Jab we meet’, people liked Karina. Was it not her attitude that made the difference in her character………I loved it! My mom through it was stupid of her to miss the train and I thought it was her luck to meet Shahid ;-)

Today

2008-06-11T04:44:00.000-07:00

I am not getting
- time to read my new Sidney Sheldon novel
- time to study
- to enjoy the heavy rains outside

God it is so frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The first rain in Mumbai!

2008-06-08T07:42:00.000-07:00

The first rain hit us yesterday. Woooooh! I love the spell of mud in the first rain. Everyone was out on the streets enjoying the rains. One reason I love rains is also because I bear a resemblance with its Sanskrit name (Meghana means ‘clouds’ and also MEGHANA is the name of an ancient Egyptian princess……..I love this!). Anyway I went out in the rains in my balcony but I did not soak myself completely because next day was working. I had kept my umbrella ready today. The temperature has suddenly dropped to 24 degree celsius. Gr8 isn't it!

Live forever in our memories!!!

2008-05-31T05:29:00.000-07:00

Remembering my classmates after few years
My eyes were filled with tears
Everyone now is busy a lot
No one escaped destiny's plot

Saw the girl, whom once i thought my best friend.
Oops!Today she is someone else's girl friend.
After months, remembered about her for a little while.
Heard she is happy, that made me smile.

Project reviews to campus interviews.
Nicknames to last bench games.
Cultural rehearsals to love proposals.
Short term crushes to classroom blushes.

Everything is fresh in our mind.
Wish life could just rewind.
Let's laugh, play and rejoice.
Once again become college guys.

Chatting and laughing, we all were in elation.
Till the painful moment of separation.
When it was time to part.
We returned with a heavy heart.

Today life is full of commitments.
And too many worries.
But those cherished moments.
Will live forever in our memories!!

Childline 1098

2008-05-28T05:10:00.000-07:00

“Tell me your dreams” another master piece from Sidney Sheldon. It has suspense, thrill and passion like all his other books. But in this book I felt something different. I couldn’t sleep the night I finished reading the book. I had decided not to blog about it but then I am back here writing about it. This time not about the book but its contents. Overall the book is about MPD (Multi Personality Disorder) but I couldn’t focus on it. It was the cause that was hurting. There must be so many children who loss there childhood like Ashley.

The next day I thought, ‘It is just a book yaar…….forget it!’ But I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I started searching on website. That is what I came across CHILDLINE 1098. CHILDLINE India Foundation is the organization engaged in helping children with all there problems. Now all you have to do is (and I mean you ‘have-to-do’) call 1098 and the help will come to anyone you want to help. Please take the initiative! A call can save a life

For more information: http://www.childlineindia.org.in/index.htm

How did I start blogging?

2008-05-27T02:28:00.000-07:00

Many of my friends wonder why only I do such things (blog). But it was not a miracle. I had heard many of my colleagues talking about blog sites. Once while searching for an information on Google I came across some blogs (As usual I started searching for the source). Then I came to know how people blog and it was so much fun reading blogs. They had information, entertainment, fun and the most important awareness. Now with top stars like Amir and Big-B blogging you might know its severity. I like knowing people and with the locking system on Orkut the site has lost all the fun. I hate people locking and hiding the scraps and photos. I think it is decaying the main propose of the portal.

Since we have entered the topic let me tell you why I like Blogger more than Orkut. I use to like Orkut till it was helping in meeting and knowing old friend. But one day I was searching for one of my old friends. I typed her name in search and started searching. There were 105 results with the same or alike name. I started opening the profiles which I thought matched with her state and description. But profiles were half filled and scarps and photos were locked. How do you expect your friends to search you like this? If you ask me there is nothing confidential about our life that we scrap on orkut and even if somebody scraps a redundant remark, I delete it (simple). I think either the people are giving more importance to the site or bearing in mind themselves very insecure.

Blogging is fun. Even without meeting a person or commenting on his blog you get to know only what a person is interesting in telling you. Some people blog about there life (I really like to read this); some about politics and you can discuss just anything on earth. In my opinion there are two types of people. First those who write well and second those who can speak well. Most of them are good at the first one (I feel)

Conclusion: I like blogging more than orkuting

Cartoons!

2008-05-26T02:58:00.000-07:00

While surfing TV as odd timings I always find myself stopping at POGO or Cartoon Network. My mom will then comment, “You are watching cartoons at this age. Are you a kid?” Till last week I found it to be partially true because my friends keep telling me to grow up a little. But from now onwards I completely disagree with my mom. It happened today in my office when few of my colleagues were talking casually. Suddenly one said something about ‘Daffy duck’ in Looney Toon show. And then everyone started talking about there favorite Cartoon show on TV (I wish mom was here and listening…….I am far better mom! I can’t dare even to ask them there ages; Kids might get offense after all cartoon it there patent)

Well than I have proved my point mom; I am not alone!

{Just to let you know I like Alladin, Mr. Beans, Heracles, Tom and Jerry, The little Mermaid , The Looney Toons, Robot boy and many many more…….the list is long guys)

Attitude

2008-05-22T02:21:00.000-07:00

Negative Attitude:- Positive Attitude:-

My Trip to Mauritius!

2008-05-22T02:16:00.000-07:00

My trip to Mauritius!

When the announcement came in the earlier month about the trip I was thrilled. No yaar…..no by the idea of going to Mauritius but by the thought that I will be in an aeroplane for the first time! My mom was horrified. Six days devoid of seeing me was an indigestible thought for her (Don’t be under a misconception that she was going to miss me…..I am otherwise in office the whole day. I mean if you calculate the time of working plus travelling. She was afraid that I will be alone in some ‘pardes’). I was shopping for a week before the tour like a mad woman as if the stuff would get exhausted or wouldn’t exist after I return. My poor mom was with me running all the time (as I was in office during day time my mom bought the stuff for me which did not required my preference). She use to tell me, “I will relax the day you go” (‘angrily’) I knew that it was not true but out of frustration. I started packing my luggage on the morning of the flight and finished it one hour before leaving for airport. I was so exited to see an aeroplane! Since childhood we had a habit of viewing airplanes in the sky till they would vanish at the horizon. And now I was going to sit and fly in one!

At the airport the check-in was simple and swift. There were good looking guys in florescent green jackets for assistance if required. I blame my education, I couldn’t ask for any but they had some oldies for using there services. No……I am not a flirt but what can you do if you have to wait for three hours, spared after going through the ‘duty free’ shop on the airport (Chocolates were magnificently packed). Finally our flight arrived, we were walking towards it and suddenly I was in! The crew was wonderful and welcoming. I was in the plane for the first time and to my surprise I was among the very few in my team who had got the window seat (I know it sounds childish but I wanted to see the plane taking off from the ground). The flight was on time and started for take-off. I was not even interested in keeping my bag in the luggage compartment overhead; I was too busy taking picture of airplanes that could be seen from my window. Finally the plane started running and in just few minutes it left the ground far far behind. I was busy looking out of the window when a noise disturbed. It was the airhostess asking if she could help me in keeping my bag in the compartment overhead; at that time I saw a good looking flight purser standing besides her but not helping her (first impression is always the last impression) I couldn’t digest this so I decided to make him work, so I let the airhostess go ahead. I saw him coming back from the other end and stopped him to ask him to keep my bag in the compartment (I know it is not good manners to ask people to do work for you and if the airhostess would not have asked I was myself going to do it …. promise; but I don’t know what took over me and I decided to make him do it) The entertainment channels had started on the TV and it was showing ‘Bhool Bhulaiya’ (cut short to 2 hours). Then the lights were turned off and we slept for 2 hours (I had no intention of doing it and I had decided to stay awake for all 6 hours but the 3 hrs waiting at airport failed my plans). I woke up with some light coming through my half shut window; I quickly woke up and opened the cover. It was breathtaking view outside! We were flying over the clouds; I grabbed my DG camera and started clicking pictures. Time slipped like sand and it was time to land. The plane was slowly falling altitudes and then I could see my destination. There was an announcement that the plane will be landing in next 3 mins. I took a deep breath and down it went till it kissed the ground; I was willing to go through it again and again but it had already landed. Maybe I was the only one not interested in getting out; I came out last and was still watching the plane behind me (I took a photo of it to remember my flight).

First day was resting and having some fun in the evening. The hotel was wonderful and the rooms were well decorated (I forgot to call my mom as she had warned me to call as soon as I land in Mauritius). In the evening I got my mom’s call but she was not angry but more worried about me. We went to sleep early that day.

Day 2:

We visited the Ship Model museum where different kinds of ship models are kept from all over the world. You can effort to buy one for your good memories if you belong to the first world. Doesn’t matter seeing is also joy! From there we went to the glass factory where hand prints of famous personalities are kept for viewing. They had a factory outlet for there glass products but same here (first world). Then we went to Port Louis for shopping but I did not find anything that we couldn’t get in India (Mauritius imports most of its necessities like cloths from other countries like India). I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw my friends purchasing T-shirts from Mauritius (Truly ‘imported’ from India). People were speaking in tutala phutala Hindi what they knew from there ancestors (As they believe……. Many of the residents are immigrants from India. But without surname in Mauritians name it’s difficult to know the truth). I was looking for something different and so I bought a ‘Rain stick’ (as they call it) which is suppose to make noise of rain and further superstitiously bring rains! (I had heard the monsoon would be late this year but now when I take back the rain stick don’t be surprised if it rains in the last week of May…….. it’s me! and if it doesn’t, you can believe in the weather forecast). We had lunch in a hotel which promised to provide ‘Indian food’ (non sense…….no spices at all and they call is ‘Indian’. We all reciprocally decided to have burgers from the next day).

Day 3:

We saw the volcanic crater, Chamarel waterfalls and Chamarel (Seven colour earth formed by lava). I liked the Tortoise approximately 700 year’s old! Then we went to the beach and the rest of the day was spent in the sea waters.

Day 4:

We went to The Grand Bassin were the 108 ft. Shiva idol is erected (I looked like a Lilliput in front of the statue). We went to the Casela Bird Park and did Lion safari. My hotel was in Quatre Bornes which is quit equidistance from all places including the capital, Port Louis. The rest of the day was spent at the Grand Bay beach and the Blue Bay. We also visited the Gandhi Institute where the history of Mauritius is kept since 1957.

That’s all I wanted to write (so little… I can go on and on and on which will make this look like biography of Mauritius). Thanks for your patience

The Best Laid Plans

2008-05-01T22:56:00.000-07:00

Peter Tager was the murderer?............... I couldn’t believe it. You got me right! I just finished reading ‘The Best Laid Plans’ by non other then Sidney Sheldon. It was incredible. It seems that at every few pages he was telling me and giving clues that this is the murderer and I couldn’t get them. Let me explain in brief. A young talented girl and a intelligent man get together for winning him a President campaign. They fall in love (naturally). Then there is a twist in the story. The man suddenly marries his ex-girlfriend and dumps our girl. She feels jilted and decides to take revenge. But now we have another smart, beautiful girl in the story, who is a reporter and likes to revel truth. Our first girl gets married to a rich old man who dies after some years. She takes over the business and gets back to her task. She expands the press her husband owns and makes it more profitable. Now there are some murders going on in between (young girl). Our intelligent man becomes the President to US. Now the story began. Our talented girl tries to expose him and suddenly she finds out that there is a link between the murders and Mr. President. What comes next is beyond imagination. Read it if you want to know and you will know how right I was. I took 3 days to read 1/4th of the book and 1 day to read the next 3/4th. Believe me it is worth reading! Let me know how you found it. You will definitely get answers to what happened to the reporter girl; did our talented girl complete her revenge and what happened to Mr. President?

Oh, He’s my favorite!

2008-04-18T04:35:00.000-07:00

He’s my favorite novelist! Yes, I am talking about Sidney Sheldon. I remember reading his first book, when I was in my teens. I was not very fond of reading at that time, well who is! It was our library period and while searching the shelf’s I came across a book “The sky is falling“. I though it would be fantasy. It was indeed! Then when I joined my library I was so sure what to read. The first book I picked was ‘Master of the game’. It had the same passion. It had the same elements - Thrill, drama and romance. ‘The naked face’ was the next. Basic element plus some extra suspense. The story when fast and believe me it is superb. Then I came across ‘The Other side of me’; by the time I finished reading it I was truly infatuated with the writer. The next book was ‘Master of the game’. Needless to say, it is a memorable book. I just couldn’t stop turning pages. I though he couldn’t be better! But I was wrong when I next read ‘Rage of Angels’. It was amorous! Jennifer’s love is so gracious. Maybe that’s what true love is, sacrifice!

Yesterday I finished reading ‘The Sands of time’. I did not find the title very interesting but I can’t say the same thing about the story. It was a cluster of so many characters and there life's, tied to a single journey. It was like watching a Broadway. Every character has its importance and a role. And now I can’t wait to read his next book!

My Routine

2008-04-14T02:26:00.000-07:00

Life seems to have come on track after a long time. So now I can do what I want. Friends have suddenly started showing which looks like my past. My routine is started again. Some people are bored of routine life, but for me life is best when it follows routine. Now I get time to read Sidney Sheldon. You might not be interested in knowing but he is my favorite. In fact if you skip out magazines from my life, he is the only one I read. I like the speed of his narration, the flow of the story and most important his passion! If you want to know about him in less time, just read 'The naked face'. My librarian got irritated and asked me "Thank god he has written only few books during his life time. After you finish his collection are you planning to continue with the library?" By now you must be thinking I must be a vigorous reader who read holding book in bus, train and places. But the truth is that I am not that luck! I read during weekends, only if I get time from loitering, hanging out with friends, watching TV and attending classes. That's because during the weekdays there is no time to do these things. I like to watch or rather I get time to watch only NDTV Profit at night during weekdays. I like watching it because my mom doesn’t have any of her melodramas at that time nor does my brother fights with me over the remote for watching his stupid F1 races at that time. It is the most peaceful time to watch TV. I still don't understand why people watch these racing cars, I know men are passionate about there cars but it seems weird that they are also passionate about men's driving cars faster then them, No offences please! But I have more interesting things to do as I live in the most happening place in India. Yes, you got it right...........'Mumbai!' I object on people calling it India's Financial Capital; that's not its true identity. It is the dreamland, an opportunity centre and a paradise for entertainment lovers! People might tell you that Life is fast in Mumbai, but if you ask young mumbaikars they have a dissimilar outlook.
I have specially written this for my friends with whom I am not able to keep in touch after several endeavors. Hope you read this, so they we can at least stay in touch