Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Jean Therapy

Children are the epitome of innocence. It is their smile that makes our heart glow. But according to me it it their logic that really makes them so special. I have an interesting anecdote to relate which tells us what is going on in a child's mind.
This happened when I was in the 9th standard. That day in school we had been taught about genes,DNA etc in biology. And i was illuminating my whole family at the dinner table,about what had I learnt. My young cousin was sitting and looking at me uninterestedly. My father wanting her to enjoy the conversation, asked her as to whose genes had she inherited-her father's or her mother's. My cousin thought for a while and replied," I have my own pair of jeans, as my father and mother don't wear jeans."
Quite a googly,isn't it?

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Food For Thought

It is a dream of every child,to get into the most prestigious institute of the country-The Indian Institute of Technology. So was mine. After I got good marks in the 10th standard,I started preparing for what is the toughest exam in the country. It was generally considered that I would surely clear the exam. But that was not meant to be.
But a goal is a goal and so I again strived to join the elite institution. This time round my hard work payed off. I packed my bags and was ready to join some of the brightest minds in the country.
Now,I must tell you something about myself. I have been quite a good student through my school years. I have participated in various co-curricular activities. In general, I had quite a good opinion about myself.
But when I reached the institute, then i realised that everybody was just like me. Most of the people who came there were toppers in their school,city and even state. Everybody had come with the same opinion of themselves, as I had of myself. So it was a constant fight to prove myself.
I was quite a good quizzer in school. But here there were better people. Wherever i went, there was always someone who was better than me, be it sports,music or even playing pranks. Even in class, I no longer figure among the top students. I am just an Average Jill.
I would just like to tell all the future aspirants that "Getting into an IIT is tough, but being an IITian is tougher."

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Meet The Relatives

Its Summer Time...that means time for me to go and meet my relatives who live in the land of temples and Rajnikanth, I mean Tamil Nadu. Now let me tell you that I have a very big family.
Well, quoting statistics, my grandmother has 8 children,35 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren. I am the youngest among all the grandchildren. My eldest sister has the distinction of getting married even before my parents.
Let me give you a rundown of what happens usually. Various permutations and combinations are made,in order to meet the maximum number of relatives in the least possible time. The journey begins with a 24 hr train journey to chennai and then another 8 hrs to madurai or trichy according to the plan of that year. The arrival of chennai is announced by the smell of sewage while passing Basin Bridge. Down the years, the means of transportation have also changed. Earlier we used to travel by buses and now by cars.
The testing time comes when at last we reach our relatives homes. The first statement that everyone exclaims is "Oh my god,look how thin you have become". My parents just give an apologetic shrug of their shoulders. And then my mom gives a huge explanation about how I don't eat much and so on. Now the point is that i have never been a fat kid. So why does everybody suddenly expect me to become a balloon.
The other adjustment that I have to make is to start eating idlis. I agree with the fact that south indian idlis are just out of the world.But If I have to eat them daily,then sorry to say but soon i will become out of the world.
But this does not mean that i do not enjoy my vacations. I relish eating food on a banana leaf.
How else would i be able to watch movies of my favourite movie star Vijay. It is always good to go to your grandparents house as it is fun to see your parents turn into kids. I think it is fun to see your parents to have fights with their siblings. This gives you a chance to pull their leg when at home they try to behave like Mahatma Gandhi and preach that fighting with your siblings is bad.
Well,after a quick tour that really drains you out,it is time for the best part of the whole trip-time to return home. The feeling on seeing mandideep is something that no words can describe. As I always say "There is no place like home".

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Driving Lessons

After sitting at home,doing nothing for a month,my mom decided it was high time that i learn something. From the various options put in front of me,i chose to take up driving. I looked up the newspaper and phoned the driving school. A voice at the other end said "classes will begin tomorrow morning at 7".
Now i must tell you that i enjoy my sleep. But since i had enrolled for a driving lesson, I had to get up at 6 which i haven't done for quite a long time. I got ready and waited sleepily for my instructor to come and pick me up.
She reached at sharp 7 and then i was made to seat in the back seat as another girl of my age was driving. My turn came at last and she gave me a basic run through of all the mechanisms involved.
I have tried my hand(and feet) at driving before. The main problem which i encounter is leaving the clutch and pressing the accelerator at the same time.Once while driving, i left the clutch so suddenly that the car started doing a break dance and a poor onlooker almost fell down. That put an end to my passion for driving.
I must confess that i have a poor hand eye coordination. It took me years of effort and a lot of scolding on my brother's part to learn to ride a bicycle. So how could this lady expect me to start driving on the main road at that very instant. I remembered all the Gods present in Hindu Mythology and asked them to help me.
But it did not go as bad as i expected. This was mainly because my instructor was partially driving the car(she was managing the clutch and accelerator,I was just steering around).
Half an hour later,she dropped me back. I felt proud of my acheivement.
Six days have passed since i started driving and i must inform you all that i have surpassed even my own expectations. I can now drive a bit(at least my dad complimented me).
Hope this good feat continues.