Reasons Aplenty

A student died. Reason – Senseless ragging in college.

Another one attempted suicide. Reason – Depression due to the overloaded syllabus.

Girls beaten up in a pub. Reason – moral policing…whatever that means.

A girl gang raped. Reason – a group of spoilt brats decided to celebrate their victory in a game of cricket.

A man shot another after some quarrel. Reason – The deceased had parked his vehicle in front of this man’s house.

A tourist abducted, killed. Reason – greed for money and more.

Many kids kidnapped, killed, eaten by 2 men…gosh! Reason – some strange neurological disorder, disturbed childhood etc. etc. etc.

Some girl child killed in the womb. Reason – A son is the desire.

Girls sold off to wealthy men double their age. Reason – Need for money, poverty.

A man locks his family inside their house for 5 years - Reason - He does not trust the society.

Thousands of innocent people killed in Mumbai. Reason – a bunch of mavericks believe it’s their duty to kill people and please HIM.

A dog crushed to death by a speeding vehicle. Reason – well what reason can one give for the death of an animal, when there isn’t any explanation for the many human deaths everyday!

It's so Confusing...

Its been a long journey from where i was a tiny tot till now.. and suddenly i find that i no longer go along with the crowd and start realizing that there are and were many things about myself that i didn't know and may not like and some that i tried to hide. and at this stage i started feeling insecure and wondering where I'll will be in a year or two, but then get scared because i just realised that i barely know where i am now. I start realizing that people are mean, selfish, arrogant, and that, maybe, those friends that i thought were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people i have ever met and i think those who i thought would be no good could have turned out to be better people, and the people i have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. But i guess most people of my age will be going through the same phase. They and aren't really cold, catty, mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as I am. As look at my present job and it is not even close to what i thought i would be doing, or maybe I'm looking forward for another job and realizing that I'm going to have to start at the bottom and that scares me. Maybe i was just hoping against hope that the sky's open up and they let me fall into my dream job. My opinions have gotten stronger and wiser, but i have also been known to throw regular tantrums which i didn't do so regularly earlier. I see what others are doing and find myself judging and being opinionated more than usual because suddenly i realize that i have certain boundaries in life and I'm constantly adding things to the list of what is acceptable and what isn't, and what is downright nonsense. One minute, I'm insecure and then the next, secure as if i on a wave. I laugh and cry with the greatest enthusiasm. I Sometimes feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy and i try and cling on to the past with dear life, but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away, and there is nothing to do but stay where i was are or move forward onto untraveled paths. i get heart broken and all emotional and wonder how someone i loved could do such damage to me. I lie on my bed and wonder why i can't meet anyone decent enough that i want to get to know better. Or maybe i love someone but love someone else too and cannot figure out why I'm doing this because i realise that i aren't such a bad person. I want to settle down for good because now all of a sudden that becomes top priority as slowly and steadily i realise that i was over depending. Getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic. I go through the same emotions and questions over and over, and talk with my friends about the same topics because i cannot seem to make a decision. Now the time is such that the major worries are about money, the future, settling down and making a life for myself... and its a rat race. While winning the race would be great, right now i just like to be a contender! I dont know how many of you out there can relate to this. I just know that I'm enjoying the best, even though confusing, of times and worst,even with lot of ups, of times, trying as hard as i can to figure this whole thing out.

Well i guess i have just entered the limbo that people call the "Quarter-life Crisis" :)

A Change in the Blog

This change took a long time coming. I was tired of the previous "Photoshop" template(it looked good at first, but seeing the samething over and over again made my eyes sore :P) and wanted a change. Tried many but still many of them left me dissapointed and wanting to revert back to the old one Then i found this- Chocolate brownish with a touch of chrome put up for good measure. And after a lot of tweaking and aranging i have made it to look as it looks now. Its still a work in progress but its all well as long sit looks good.Keeping widget to a minimum and making putting in a bit more easy links on the side bar.

Pls leave comments on how you like my new template.. :)

India For Indians.. or not?

To,
Mr. Bal Thackeray
Shiv Sena supremo

Sir,

You have taken your hostility over giving the right of "Maharastian Manoos" to them a bit too far this time. You reaction towards Sachin Tendulkar's line of "Mumbai is for all Indians" was totally unwarrented and uncalled for. What is wrong is a national icon saying that? In a country which is a secular democratic and where everyone has the right to excise his religion, his language and his opinion you have no right to say that he cant do so. A person of your stature must restrain from making such comments on an International icon, a person who is loved and respected in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India and the world and has brought glory for India as well as Maharashtrians

You say that "By making these remarks, you have got run-out on the pitch of Marathi psyche. You were not even born when the 'Marathi Manoos' got Mumbai and 105 Marathi people sacrificed their lives to get Mumbai,". But we ask you what about the sacrifice of millions of people to get the Independence of India? Whats wrong is calling one self a Indian before a "my state name" man? Does India Come first or the state? Will the state be there is the county was no there? its like calling yourself a old man even before u were a child.. Andd guess what, saying what you have said you are putting yourself and your party in dispute with the greatest Maharashtrian icon alive today.

I might admire you for your frankness always. The way you have always put forward your opinions(good or not) may it be regarding Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Hitler, LTTE etc. But there is a limit to which people can tolerate this( and i mean the general public and not your own people). And you don't say bad about a figure of Sachin's stature, a Gentleman, a international figure, a person the whole country loves(and as his comments state he does too), and just get away without drawing opposition. But if these comments are a way of drawing attention to yourselves and also your party then that would be a disgrace.

The worst part is that your comments came at a time when the Sena and your estranged nephew Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) are engaged in a game of one-upmanship to woo Maharashtrians. While the criticism of Tendulkar seemed to be aimed at cornering the MNS, it has certainly backfired on you,and now as you see your are drawing flak from all sides and even your closest alies(read BJP) have not supported you on your comments.

One last question for you. Please do answer this. For your comments Mumbai for Maharashtrians and similarly as for similar sentiments elsewhere like Kashmir for Kashmiri's, Tamilnadu for tamilains and Kerala for Malayali's can you show us an India for INDIANS? Can someone show us that?

Thanking You,

Scathingly Yours
A Young Indian

PS: there are honetly my opinions on the issue which i feel as an Indian and dont reflect anything political or against any party.

A Miracle

A miracle just happened yesterday night..

Friday evening after i got back home i was greeted by my sister with the news that the computer was not working. I just thought that it wont be a big problem and I'll be able to set it right('m so over confident sometimes). But.. It just wont start.. I tried everything i knew(even had the CPU updise down :P) but it just wont budge from its dormancy. I thought it might be the SMPS(for the not-so-nerdy: the SMPS is a small box at the back of your computer that turns AC(current) into DC) that was the trouble. Due to my very good(sarcasm) experiences with computer hardwares i left it at that thinking that it might be good for me to cut out my "Computer Addiction". for some days.. and cue 2 boring week end days.. infront of the TV(most of the time).. I think i have never spent so much time in front of theTV since my 10th standard days.. it was fun watching all that movies on Children's day including scooby doo, HP, Nim's island, home alone and all that(long list).. Yesterday night i thoght i might as well repair the system and just put on the swich and the somputer started running on its own. as if nothing had happened. i was like "W00T".. It was crazy.. it was as if the computer thought " i need a break from the torture of that ungreatful owner.. I'm going on a strike.. I won't start.. I need the rest" .. and the craziest thing is that i think it deserved the rest too :)

I watched Tum Mile yesterday and i suggst pls dont watch it in the theater.. Even if its intended as a serious movie it gives u moments of utter madness from the director which will leave u in splits for more than half of the movie(as long as u have friends with you who comment on each and every scene).. The concept was good and the acting was OK.. but the movie was not worth watching in a theater.. Reasons- Badly done graphics, could have made better use of the concept, many things could have been avoided and some scenes which could have been avoided, some were not even needed. There is one scene where the girl suggests that the boy might be cheating on her, the boy shouts at her, the girl leaves in a huff.. the next scene the girl is in a lift with a "girl"friend of her.. the other girl makes sure that the lift empties, then presses the stop button and they both HUG..(as the lift door closes) eh what?? :O .I failed to understand the whole idea of that lift scene.. Make your own inferences on what the scene meant :P

Finally a FB prediction came true - FB Magic Cookie said that 'll be meeting a special friend of mine(on my travels).. Jyothi(one of my good ol friends/sister) landed from Mumbai from a Moot Parliment in the city.. She had come home and it was good to recollect all those good days.. Thank you sis.. :)

My Time Draws Near...

Three of my friends are gonna join Infosys this weekend(mera number kab aayega!!).. I wish i could meet them before they go. I did call them too but sadly it seems that i have kept it too late and they are all busy with the end rush ie packing, shopping, meeting relatives, making sure all necessary documents are there etc etc..

I guess some day i will also be walking into the gates of Infosys. But before i go i know have a huge group of frinds to satisfy. 3 months doesnt seems to be far away so i guess i'll have to get into the act soon(and also pray that infosys does call me). Lot of debts to clear, lot of things to set in order, lot of people to see, and probably take a small trip with some of my closest friends.. and if possible make a trip to Mumbai if possible so that i can get in touch with my friends there..

Some of them(my close pals) have been asking me if i would miss Toc H Institute of Science and Technology(my contract here nears expiry). We'll of course i would, isnt that obvious..But if it were a film then Toc H forms a backdrop for all that, i would miss the characters of the movie more, the plots and the sub plots of the movie, the action, the drama.. The backdrop could have changed but i'm doubtful if i'll get the same characters elsewhere..

Hopefully i could do every little thing i want to do in the coming 3 months.. If any of u have plans pls let me know.. :)

Exam Day

This is something i had penned up a long time ago while i was working for the college magazine(sigh!!).. The EXAM DAY.. its something most of us hate.. the worst ting in college(for some). The endless hours in front of books without taking in anything, the tension of the day, the nervousness, the laziness of waking up early(or staying up late), the expectation of people around you.. I know most of us have experienced it and sometimes in a better way and sometimes in a bad way.. This is something that came from me just out of instinct and ihave just put in a few things that came to my mind.. Enjoy Reading..

Morning 5.30

Tring tring tring

Bloody alarm.. wont let me sleep in peace.. shut up u useless gizmo

Oh god . I have an exam today…

Hurries off from bed.. to the table and opens the books

Where do I start.. where do I start.. why cant i get a day more

Let me start with the last module.. I haven’t done much from it

Dozes off on the table itself after half an hour of struggle wit the photostats

6.30

“wake up you idiot.. don’t u have exam today” says mom. “sit and study”

Oh ya ya

Lazily opens the book again and continues the struggle..

7.00

oh its 7 already… ‘m late.. Have to start getting ready

Should I take a bath or not?? ‘ll have a short one..

Where is my uniform.. oh damn its not pressed yet

7.30

‘m late… have to rush..

Takes a Photostat in hand he rushes out

On the road..

ahhrrggg.. there is my neighbor coming… hope he does not see me.. or else will have to answer a thousand useless questions

Damn.. he has seen me

after a small conversation on useless stuff and during which the neighbour asks "are u having exam today"(replies "YES") our champ rushes off.

Mannn.. Now‘ll have to find ways to avoid him today evening

Reaches bus stop

There is no one here.. have I missed the bus.. shit had to happen today

Oh wait.. there are some ppl standing there… lucky me didn’t miss the bus.. atleast not today

In the bus:

Everyone is studying.. everyone is studying hard

Suddenly “ Bro did you study the question about design issues.. Thats is always asked in university exams”

Ah what.. what question.. “Dude.. on which page is that”

Now I have to study this question and there are many more that I have to look into

God.. Cant we have a flash strike today? why doesn’t the paper leak

9.00 A.M

Ah everyone seems so confident…

Sms’s every known person who is not writing the exam to pray for him

Time to get ready.. or else the invigilator wont let me inside

Oh no no no no.. dont let it be.. pls pls.. not today pls no… had to happen.. feel like kicking myself. i had to Forget my hall ticket

After a rush to the exam cell to get a temprory hall ticket.. .some how manages to enter the hall on time…

Out of Breth.. Phew!! Made it..

Ah ha.. the invigilator does not look tough…

Invigilaor : “ where is ur hall ticket and id card”

“here Mam” why is she asking.. cant she just let me in.. bloody formalities

Invigilator: “ok.. are u clean?? kept no bit and chits for exam?”

“no. mam”

“Ok go and take ur seat”

“Thank you mam” As if I wouldn’t have taken it unless u said so.

Small prayer.. god pls let the exam be easy

9.30

Bell rings. Out come the paper

Oh not another colored paper.. pls.. yeah its colored and that too a horrible dark blue.. yuck

Gets the paper… goes through it..

Hmmm seems ok.. guess I can manage to pass.. I don’t know the question in 4^th module.. no problems.. I’ll just write something to fill in 2 pages

Starts writing

First module is ok.. I know it byheart

Question 1 has 10 points… hey what was the 3^rd point… hmmm hmmm .. man I’m not getting it.. ya that’s it.. or is it?.. guess it has to be.. (makes up a hypothetical point and goes on with the question)

10.30

3 pages, a module and half later..

God my hands have started paining… should I ask the invigilator to massage it for me?

A knock on the door and a whole group of teachers come into the room

Head of the group “pls co-operate with us.. we are the invigilation team and we are just doing our duty.. all of u are requested to give us your full support”

Oh good… luckily I didn’t think of keeping a chit today.. hmmm

hey that sir is keeping an eye out for me.. am I looking so notorious?.. i did take a bath today..

One teacher : “ ok its your turn now.. turn out your pockets”

Eh.. Ok sir..

“eh wht is this”

“ my kerchief sir”

“unfold it and flap it”

Done

“why have u in-shirted”

“uh uh, sir??”

“put it out.. write the exam in a casual way.. put it out”

“ok sir”

“ ok you are clean.. Continue writing.. no wait… u have a baniyan inside?”

“yes sir”

“pull it out too”

“eh what sir.. pull that out too”

“yes… didn’t u hear what I said”

“uh” done

“ok carry on”

Damn.. why such bloody formalities.. if I wanted to keep a “chit” I can find better places than that.. and for heavens sake they didn’t check my sock or my boot.. if I had one their.. all their check was going to be a waste.. next time I know where to keep a chit and get off with it..

Bloody hell.. wasted my time

11.00

Struck in the middle of a question

Oh wht to write next.. I don’t know the other question from the options.. somehow have to write this

5 mins later…

Leave it.. ‘ll come back later. .hope I get some idea about it.

Oh there is Rahul.. he has already taken his first sheet.. looks like he is gonna top the exam where as I’ll be on the opposite end of the spectrum.

11.30

Another question half left

God.. only a hour more and all I have done is 3 questions.. this is going from bad to worse

Oh god pls help pls help

Guess I’ll have to ask some body

“(silently)dude .. dude .. dude”

Finally he looks..

Ah saved

Take the question paper and point out the question.. the guy does not understand.. signals the question number with fingers

He looks as if he is ready to help.. guess 'll be saved.. Atleast this question

Then with a indication wit the fist he says he doesn’t know

Man… ‘ll kill u as soon as I get out of this hall.. thats a definite

12.00

I should not have wasted all those time playing those stupid computer games during study holidays.. next time ‘ll keep that in mind… this paper is almost out of my hands now..

Rahul has taken his 4^th extra sheet… seems like he knows every damn thing there is in the text book

That’s it.. ‘m out of here.. no point in sitting

With that our champ takes the thread and ties the paper… and after a final look at the questions walks out in a really sullen mood.

Outside the hall some body asks “hey dude.. How was the paper?”

!@#$&^%!#$^&(*&^%# (for the person who set the paper, for the person who was invigilating, for the person who enquired, for everyone..)

12.30

Everyone will be out now

There is Rahul.. looks like he is gonna get cent percent

Are my eyes playing tricks on me… who are those ppl surrounding him?

Girls.. oh good.. i could have been in his shoes had i studied and not wasted my time on those games, movies, hangouts, night outs (as u know the list is long)..

Looks like its his day today.. Mera number aayega..

(for Rahul)Mere haat aayega na baachu dikha dunga tuje.. Tabhi yeh ladkiyan nahi hogi..

Eh why worry.. there is always a second chance.. and that time ‘m gonna make sure that I put in extra effort..

And there goes another paper..

Setting My Things in Order

Well now that 'm free and nothing to kep me too occupied i've been stting my things in order.. thing which i let take a back stage while i was too pre occupied with other things..

One of the things 'm setting in order is my reading habit.. earlier i used to george up books and then it turned up to be a measly 2-3 books per month.. now 'm setting it back on track and guess soon 'll be back to my old form.. ie 3 books per week :P

blogging.. well it has started picking up and i hope the trend does continue cos i usually have a lot of things to share about but mostly 'm eith lazy, pre occupied, or.. just plain and simple.. cant find words.. Now 'm back and guess have put up some good posts in the last week or so.. that mostly attributed to the fact that i have to stay back in college till 7 P.M(the college closes at 4.. but i've been assigned to take care of a lab so that students can use it till 7) on 2 days per week.. have been using the time to get my creative self out..

My research project .. well the less i talk about that the betterit will be cos even i dont know where 'm.. all i know is that if i get a confirmation from my "Boss"(Dean) then i can finish it off in a week.. but till i get that i'm keeping my fingers crossed and in between that wrestling with the college computer network..

Passport.. This is something i have been postponing for a long time.. finally a week ago i registed online for the application and was given a date.. 2 days ago i went to the apssport office.. completed the formalities.. i hope they come for inspection soon.. i need my passport pronto as its one of the main things that i should carry when i join Infosys.. and if i get the passport i guess i fulfill all my id proofs.. i currently have a Driving liscence, Voter's ID, all my necessary marklists.. have i missed something out??

Talking of Infosys.. for anyone who has forgotten i'm joining on 8th of Feb.. thats a good 3 months(almost) from today.. Need to brush up the concepts and hope i'm in good shape before that :)

Some more things are pending like the NSR registration(another thing i need to do before i join Infosys), Cleaning up and decorating the interiors of my car, Cleaning up my computer and my table.. its lying cluttered for so long now, Get back to working out('m putting on weight, need to cut out the fat), Showing up at my Denstist's place( have a long postponed appointment) and maybe take a vacation with friends.. ;)

Its better no one asks me about my CAT preparation.. i've been doing bits and pieces.. but nothing concrete.. i hope i can put in some serious works.. As of now mom says " You have wasted that money".. ;).. The exam is on 28th November :D

The Great Indian Dream

A dream is an aspiration. And we all have that wistful look when we think about our dreams.

We hope for THAT dream to come true. We really, really long for that achievement to be ours.A dream is not a domain of a select few… everybody has a wild fancy for something or the other. You…me…him…her…them...we… all aspire.

Our dreams change with our age, and when a dream is achieved, we move on to the higher plane of a new dream.

Sharing few dreams, we Indians dream of…

Common Man : Roti, Kapada aur Makan	A Farmer : His name in the Green Revolution.
Our Bollywood Actors : Oscar awards for their films.	Cricket Lovers : India wins every match and Sachin scores a century every time!
A Bachelorette : A tall, fair, handsome, well-educated, well-settled, only son, affluent family/NRI as groom.	An Eligible Bachelor : A beautiful, fair, slim, convent educated, professionally qualified bride.
A Student : Get admission in a premier institute a la IIT or an IIM!	Parents of Teens : Kids become either doctors or engineers.
Our Netas : Be the Prime Minister of India, one day!	A Businessman : Be the Dhiru Bhai Ambani of his field.
An Investor : Stock market to remain bullish, always.	A Corporate Executive : Work for the world’s best company and to be at the top of the corporate ladder!
A Housewife : Meri sari uski sari se safed ho!	A Couple : A happy, peaceful, blissful, prosperous married life.
A Delhiite : A bigger car, more diamonds and gold jewelry than my neighbor.	A Mumbaikar : Catch the 7:57 Fast Virar local with a window seat.
Children : Have powers like Ben 10 to transform into aliens and crush all the enemies.	A Blogger : Followers increase by a dozen every day, comments hit a double century for every post, get the every award in the blogosphere and churn out amazing posts every day!
EVERY INDIAN : A peaceful, prosperous, terror-free, poverty-free, crime-free, clean and green, united India.

Whatever our dreams…May they come true.

Because, nothing happens unless first a dream. And to accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. As a man's dreams are an index to his greatness. So, no one should negotiate their dreams. Dreams must be free to flee and fly high.

So go on and Dream India…DREAM!!

http://shilpaagarg.blogspot.com/2009/10/indian-dream.html

Something's Missing...

I'm not busy.. I am not confused..
I dont have a 1001 things running in my mind.. not anymore...
I haven't been this free and happy in ages...

Yet I feel like there is something missing somewhere...
Like I had to do something.. But I cant remember what..
I feel like I have swayed from my actual purpose...
the funny part being I have no clue what my actual purpose was..
Nothing stops the constant buzzing in my head..
And the buzzers keep blowing off like an alarm at the end of each day screaming
that I've wasted another day doing something that I don't really believe in..

Ane people around me tell me that i'm gonna be a big shot,
expecting to change the world...
And what angers me most is that even though i want to counter and say i'm not,
I have no arguments to defend my stand!!!

Our time is NOW!!!

Its time for celebration
For Sweets and hugs
For Kudos and pats on the backs
For we have achieved what we set out for
and dispelling all apprehensions

What we have yearned for
We achieved our goals
We transcended expectations
The peak was conquered
The depth overcome

Our time is now and there is more to be done
But for now, lets relax
and bask in the glory of our achievement.
But dont sleep off,
For there lie more unconquered peaks and
more depths to overcome