Plain And Simple

The Tall and Short of It

2011-11-16T20:46:00.006+05:30

The Europeans are tall people. Well, not all of them. But the majority of them are. And those who know me know that I am a little bit vertically challenged (This was the title given to me in my IIMA Section A POTY Awards! I was indignant but that is a story for another time.)
Coming back to the topic on hand, I had dreams to meet some good French students (ooh laa laa!) and make them my BFFs. So, when the institute told us that they have some kind of Tandem program for us in order to facilitate our meeting the firangs, I was all ecstatic and immediately signed up for it.
I was assigned a French girl and immediately I had visions of roaming around the streets of Paris, soaking in the French culture and being all Parisian (don't get wrong ideas). Keeping this mind, I sent a mail introducing myself and asking her to do the same. She told me she had only recently come to Paris. My Parisian dreams were shattered, but then she said she was from Bourdeaux. I envisioned myself lazing in the vineyards of Bourdeaux, being ohh so graceful and elegant, and my plans were back on track.
Then she told me that she was a first year student, which according to my calculations made her about 19 or 20 years old. I am in the wrong side of 20 and had just overcome my quarter life crisis. But what the heck, what has age to do with friendship?
Keeping all this aside, I decided to meet her. I mailed her and asked her how would I recognise her in the school courtyard. She replied back " I am blonde, fair, Tall, actually the tallest measuring over 180 cm and I wear heels, so you can't miss me. What about you?" ON reading this, my heart skipped a beat. I would like like, actually I would not be visible next to her. But still, I replied "I am short, actually very short, dark and don't wear heels. I will find you".
I was already two strikes down. I wasn't entirely sure if I could find a way out of the third one. I went out and saw her. She came up to my shoulder as she was sitting. A sweet girl. But I am not entirely sure if she is up to be my BFF. Call me a racist, but she was too tall for it:)

Eurotrip chronicles

2011-11-14T21:51:00.003+05:30

My other blog failed to take off. Partly because I am too lazy. And also because this gentleman laughed at my idea. And since I thought that he did have much more sense in the blogging department, I did not write. It is fun to shift the blame on others!! No offense.
I am done with my euro trip. Actually I was almost done with it the first week of November itself. I have realised I don't like to travel (future consultant, really?) on a shoestring budget (there is hope!). I have been to 11 countries, and towards the end everything appeared the same to me. Being a vegetarian (non-ova) doesn't help in this a lot as well.
The education system here reminds me of my class X CBSE days. I am cramming stuff like definitions and 15 points of social marketing. Who would have thought that MBA requires cramming? I just envisioned it to be exams full of writing globe. But, it happens!
Friends made, not many. Lessons learnt, too many. Will elaborate many of those in subsequent posts.
But I am proud of myself for living in a foreign country, with people speaking a foreign language and navigating through simple day to day activities like shopping in French supermarkets, booking train tickets and opening a bank account. I am a big girl now:)

I don't know what to say

2011-07-23T22:39:00.002+05:30

Each time I take a long break, I promise myself that I will write more often and then I am back to my old ways. I don't even have any excuses anymore apart from the fact that I am plain lazy.
IInd year in IIMA is exactly the opposite of the I year. I have nothing to do (which is technically wrong; I do nothing). I have been watching movies and series ( Gossip Girl is awesome!) and generally chilling out. What plans I had- I will reach the stars and change the world. I will read books and learn French. I joined yoga and left it (in my defence the teacher was not very encouraging). Billions of Bilious Blue BlisteringBarnacles! Nothing I did. But not all is lost. I have been busy getting my French Visa. As you all I am going to Paris (yay!). It has always been my dream to go abroad. My dad had told me that he was taking me to California when I was in the 6th standard. I was so excited, I read about American culture, their accent, saw their movies and listened to their songs. But alas, the plan did not materialize. Since then I have been waiting for the day when I go abroad.
Now that I am actually going, it has dawned on me that getting a visa is a very difficult process. Also it is pretty expensive. I needed to search everywhere to get the required information.
So the good samaritan that I am, I came up with the idea of posting it all on a blog. It will give students all the info which they require. Apart from that it will also allow me to document my first international journey. I hope that I am able to work on this project (keeping my fingers crossed).
Let the journey begin:)

Breaking News

2010-01-16T21:12:00.000+05:30

I distinctly remember my class X english teacher emphasizing the importance of a caption. She repeatedly drilled it into our heads that a caption should be short and eye-catching. I must say she would be proud if she saw the title of my post today-short and eye catching obviously (why else would the news channels use it??), even though it is not connected to this post, but then, who cares?
But I have news. I am now, the proud owner of...wait for it...( I need to get over these barneyisms), a brand new, ladies BICYCLE. Yes, I know my previous post was all about the tough times I spend on the cycle. And my gracious employers have given me a Ms. India bicycle, which is a shocking pink in colour. Now I am not a pink person, but then give me a ladies cycles any day over those big, crossbar-ed atlas thingys. I have made peace with the colour, but some of my colleagues have not. They vehemently opposed the colour, ridiculed it and came up with innovative jokes. But then, they are the ones now borrowing these cycles, cause who would walk when you could pedal your way with a basket in front.:)
Gujarat celebrated Uttarayan or sankranti (for the less informed) with a great deal of zeal. Kites were flown all over the city and cries of "Kai poche"-the kite has been cut, (again for the less informed), resounded the streets. The Gujarat government took steps to ban the sale of chinese manja (the thread for flying kites), which is very dangerous. This manja, is apparently much sharper than the indian one and is also cheaper. One victim of this manja was my internet cable connection and I was rudely pulled away from my blogs and facebook, but now I am back. (Yipee)
For the interested, I am also upto a number of new things. I have just started reading the adventures of Asterix and Obelix and I am already a die hard fan. Best comics ever. And I am finally watching Boston Legal. Who doesn't like Alan Shore?? I just wonder how do the women manage to look so impeccable even with such packed schedules. And the most important thing, I have started cooking. :) Yes, you all can applaud. Made paneer paranthas, aloo gobhi, aloo matar and pongal among many other things.
So as all the catching up from my side has been done, what's new on your side??
Tchao for now.:)

I am old

2009-09-13T23:32:00.000+05:30

Times have changed. At one time, my father used to tell his colleagues about how well I had performed in the exams. Nowadays I get to know how well my colleagues children have performed in theirs.
I met my senior colleague today when I was out grocery shopping(yes...times have changed). I met his wife and child. The child was not in a mood to say hello. My boss said to him, " Beta, Aunty ko hi bolo". I looked around to see as to who he was referring to and then it dawned on to me that I was the aunty.
I felt my whole life flashing before my eyes. Just yesterday, I was in school and today I am an aunty. Life, is indeed, too short.
P.S. I find it difficult to come up with titles for each and every post. I have never been good at it.

Bicycle Diaries

2009-08-23T19:55:00.000+05:30

Lets start at the very beginning. I never liked riding a cycle because of an incident which involved a fence, front brakes of the bike and the bicycle on top of me. My mom coaxed me, cajoled me, threatened to throw me out of the house, all to make me learn to ride it but to no avail. Then one day, my big bro came along and told me that it is compulsory to ride a cycle in IIT. Naive and gullible that I was, I fell for it, as IIT was where I wanted to be. Soon I got a brand new bicycle and had got the hang of it. The wind blowing through my hair, I felt reckless and independent.
Anyhoo,I know I have not yet written anything suggested by the blog title, but I am coming to it. So back to my story. My bicycle learnings were not much useful in IIT as I preferred walking to cycling. But as Steve Jobs says, nothing you learn ever goes to waste. So is the same with the bicycle.
My bicycle expertise is now proving to be very useful. My job involves field inspections and I have to travel a lot in 1100 acres of land. Motor vehicles are not allowed, because there should not be any kind of spark in a petrochemical plant. So a bicycle is the only mode of transportation. Fair enough.
Alas, there is always a glitch. The cycles which are available are Hero Men's cycles, complete with a bar and everything. And for a short person it appears to be even bigger. Trying to mount the cycle requires a lot of ingenuity. This is how I do it-
1. Take the cycle to a secluded spot.
2. Tilt the cycle to 60 degrees to the vertical.
3. Now swing the leg across the bar.
4. Make sure noone sees you doing this.
5. Start riding the cycle and pray that nothing comes in front of your cycle suddenly.
6. While dismounting, follow the steps 1 to 3 again.
I have dropped the cycle a few times, but no damage done. I am making use of atleast some of my learnings.
And now I can proudly say, " Give me any bicycle and I will show you how to ride it" :)

I am back!!!

2008-09-18T00:17:00.000+05:30

Just like promised...agreed it took a bit longer than expected. It all started with my intern...no internet connection, so my loyalty to the blogosphere diminished. Then on my return, I suffered from what is known as the "Writer's Block"( I like to give myself airs). But I have been faithfully following my favourite blogs...be it sun or rain, nothing can deter me from doing so.
So today when I was reading one of the aforementioned blogs, I came across a post telling about the different songs the writer was listening to. So I thought even I should put up my playlist(not that anyone is interested) but still.
1. Way Back Into Love(Title track-Music and Lyrics)- Hugh Grant simply seduces you with his charming voice and the cherry on the cake is that he is way too cute. And if Triple H is reading this, Hugh Grant rocks!
2. Carnival of Rust- Poets of the Fall- I have never heard such a sensuous baritone. The song doesn't make sense, but still it sounds good.
3. Colourblind-Darius- Ya I know it is an old song, but the lyrics are really nice. The way he compares each colour to an emotion is innovative.
4.I wish I was a punk rocker(Sandy Thomas)- If you haven't heard this, do listen to it.It is different.
5. Falguni Pathak- In my defense, the TS were going on. And Maine Payal Hai Chankaayi is a good song. I liked the guy Vivan Bhatena, long before he became a star.
So tell me about your playlists as well.
P.S.- I am back on popular demand, so if this post sucks, then it is not my fault. I had nothing to write about.
P.P.S.- Disclaimer- All P.Ss and P.P.Ss are written on my own accord, without inspiration from any person living or dead.

The Mistress of Procrastination

2008-04-10T20:55:00.000+05:30

It’s been a long time. And after all the promises that I had made to myself to be regular in my blog, I fell back to my old ways. I have had a lot to write about, and I did write a lot many posts in my head (if that counts). I had tests, then went home, my bro came to see my college, I went on a class trip, then went home again, then came back and participated in the college fest and finally again had tests. Phew!!! That was a lot but not even one post.
But in my defense, I would like to tell you that I was busy. I have had a lot on my hands lately. This is what should have been the reason. But in reality, I have had ample time on my hands. I was talking to my friend at the dinner table. She told me that she was attending guitar classes, learning vocals and playing tennis. This is in addition to our regular classes. In comparison to this, I am doing nothing. Daily I hang out with my friends. If FRIENDS has CENTRAL PERK, HIMYM has McLARREN’S, the we have our very own nesci and alpahaar. I am reading a lot (novels, if you must know), watching a lot many movies and listening to music. I religiously follow blogs(Becca ,Sarcastica, Angelique)and I have come to know that people write brilliantly. And other mere mortals like me, look upto these great BLOGGERS. I daily wait for them to update. And I have come to know that the comments on a single post can run into thousands and mine barely, if ever, manage to reach double digits.
I plan to lift this blanket of laziness soon and start living life with a new unfound zest. But that I will do as soon as I find it ☺. But looking at the positive side of things, when I finish college, I will have a huge database of movies and tv shows. ☺

I ask myself....

2008-02-21T22:59:00.000+05:30

Have you ever wished for something, worked for something and really know that you deserved it and then not get it? Have you ever seen less competent people surpassing you? Have you ever let your expectations rise so high, that you yourself know it is impossible to fulfill them? Have you ever felt so bad, that you lost all feeling itself? Have you ever felt so let down, that you lose your faith itself? Have you seen your loved ones ever walk past you, without even giving you as much as a glance? Have you looked on unable to explain your feelings and wishing the other person would simply understand them? Have you wished to do something and then just held back?.....

Midnight Ponderings

2008-02-21T00:32:00.000+05:30

It is midnight and I am at home.:) Yes, I know it is a nice thing, especially for hostellers like me. Anyway it is time for our annual family get-together, so am home.
First things first. The previous 2 weeks were over in a flash. My economics presentation was very good and beautifully made(it is my blog after all). But as it was mine, there was bound to be some minor glitch in it. I misspelt my name. Shakespeare may say as to "What's in a name?", but still it is my name. The prof didn't notice and now I have a new name. Apart from that, the presentation was simply fantabulous.
Then the test series came and also Valentine's day, which were both disappointments, and the less said about them the better it is.
So the best part is that I have taken a week long hiatus from college and come home. I am catching up on all the bickerings and fightings with my brother. And my mom has forbidden us both from sitting in the same room without her supervision.:) (Imagine, my bro and I are old enough to vote, drive a car and even get married!) And time has travelled back and I have again become a crybaby(have complained about my bro, atleast a zillion times in the past 4 days). But my bro is no angel either.
So am having fun. And I have just found out, that my apple does have a touchpad. I know I must be ashamed of myself. For the past one year, I went about telling everyone otherwise. But then, "To err is human".
Bon Nuit!

Brrrrrrr.............

2008-02-05T22:17:00.000+05:30

It is cold...real cold today. I managed to get up from my hot cosy bed and go to class. I captured a picture of my hostel at 9 in the morn.I know it is foggy.

I was trying to take some more beautiful pics due to which I even became late for class. I sat through a whole hour of powder metallurgy, only to learn in the end, that I will not be given attendance.:(
Any way it snowed nearby, so obviously it is going to get colder. Brrrrr........

Who to blame?

2008-02-02T15:25:00.000+05:30

Its the new year, a new trip but the circumstances remain the same. For the interested, let me elaborate. It is the time for the annual magazine trip, and for the past two years, the equations has remained the same. The girls, first of all, wish to go an overnight trip. Everyone agrees but all's well does not always end well. In the end, the girls back out, leaving the guys to enjoy their freedom.
Analysing the reasons as to why girls don't go, is a difficult task. Parents generally don't agree. They have their own reasons. Some of them do agree, but ultimately seeing the minuscule number of girls, forbid their daughters from going. I don't even wish to go into the details of why they do so. I don't wish to blame them, as they would have be having valid reasons.
Next, coming to the guys in the group. Not their mistake, after all we let them down. But I do wish they would understand that we don't do so on purpose. The memory about our not going on the previous trip is still fresh in our minds, and we have a new situation to add to it. I don't blame them, but it would be better if they were a bit more sympathetic about it. We do try our best to coax our parents.
So, who should we blame? Should we blame ourselves for wanting to go on a trip? This is a question which will yield no answer.

Ramblings

2008-01-29T17:49:00.000+05:30

I am now feeling that I am falling into a deep abyss of nothingness. The days are stretching long before me and I have a lot to do. The tut sheets pile up in front of me and I don't have the will to pick them up and solve them. "Someone will do it", that is the thought that comes to my mind.
I sit and stare idly at the ceiling. I need to make an economics presentation but I still don't have a topic.
In short, I have lots to do but nothing is getting done.

The Grind

2008-01-26T16:05:00.000+05:30

People ask me as to what we do in metallurgy. And so today I am going to squash all rumours about how less we work. First of all, we daily have classes from 9 to 5. Ya, I know it is too long, but then aren't we the brightest minds in the country. Next, our department firmly believes that practise makes a man perfect. For the past 2 years we have been doing the same practical. We are required to grind samples, polish them with 4 grades of emery paper and then polish it on the wheel. And finally view the microstructure. Simple, you would say and would be wondering what am I making a fuss about. But I will let you into a secret. Barring 2 or 3 illustrious people in my class, none of us can still get all the planes alligned in one direction nor can we remove all scratches. Everytime I polish the sample, instead of becoming more fine and flat, more and more scratches are generated. And if any one of us to is fortunate enough to get a glimpse of the structure, then we break into a victory dance. And I tell you, the achievement is as big as landing on the moon.
This time I managed to get some photographs. This is a photograph of our beloved grinder which has seen various other competent students like us, unable to get a perfect surface.

I also managed to photograph my friend hard at work. This is how we polish a sample on the emery paper.

I will try to give you more insights into the lives of metallurgists from time to time. But right now, I am going to draw those microstructures. And I really hope, that one day I will achieve the perfect surface and see the always elusive microstructure, all by myself.

I wish..

2008-01-15T00:25:00.000+05:30

Sometimes I really wish I was a boy. I know I should not be thinking such things, but still. I know our life is much easier then theirs. A boy is expected to provide, while a girl is expected to maintain the provisions. If she provides as well, then well and good, but it is not her primary aim in life. I do believe that we have the easier way out.
But even then I sometimes do wish that I was a boy. They have a different kind of freedom which we don't have. We can't go out at night alone, because there may be bad people lurking about. Always go out with some members of the "stronger" sex, we were advised, and as if that helps. The recent cases in Mumbai and Kochi prove otherwise.
I do wish that there will come a time, when girls will have the same freedom as guys, but I don't see it anywhere in the near future. And until then, all I can do is wish to be a guy.

Fear of the Dark

2008-01-12T13:07:00.000+05:30

Iron Maiden sang this song expressing their fear of the dark and the unknown. We all suffer from some or the other fear...there are some things which scare us out of our wits. These fears may cause ordinary persons to put up their best resistances in order to avoid them.
I suffer from one such fear. The thing that I am afraid to do, is generally enjoyed by all. I have a phobia of writing on the blackboard. Coax me, cajole me, but my hand will not touch a chalk piece. I have no idea where this fear stems from, but it is deeply ingrained in my system.
While in school, I abhorred teachers who asked us to write on the board. Students became monitors, specifically because they could legally write names on the board. When I became the monitor, I never wrote names on the blackboard and so was generally liked by the students. You may say I have proper etiquettes and did not like to show my back to the audience. The very few times I was actually face to face with the monstrous black board, I felt a hundred pair of eyes boring into my back. I could feel the pressure and the tension in the air. It is laudable that I even managed to write an alphabet. So I came up with a thousand and one reasons of not writing including "I suffer from chalk dust allergy" and the less used "My hands will become rough".
You will be wondering why I suddenly thought about enlightening you about my syndrome. It so happened that today in my GD class I suggested a brilliant topic. The prof asked me to write the same on the board and there I developed cold feet. I looked to my side and asked the next person to come to my rescue, which he very unsympathetically refused to do so. The tension was mounting, my classmates were looking at me and waiting for me to get up and complete this "simple" task, but I sat glued to my chair. I again asked my neighbor, and he looked at me blankly without understanding my anguish. The prof then said to him-"write it down, she is short and will not be able to reach that height." I let that rebuke pass, but I would like to tell him that I am as tall as an average Indian woman. The guy got up and wrote and I heaved a sigh of relief. I wonder what I would have done if I had been pressurised even once more-probably I would have left the class(yes, I am paranoid) or may have feigned a cough.
After reading this you may be rolling on the floor with laughter, but it sure is a big thing for me.

Till Now...

2008-01-04T18:08:00.000+05:30

Ok...I have put off writing a post for long but now I am finally filled with an ardent desire to write something. So I will first of all update you on the past month's happenings. I watched more movies and then I came back home. I spent my birthday transversing the length of the country but it was a new experience. I have never spent my birthday outside my home...not even in school nor in college. I received birthday wishes from all my friends and spent more than Rs.100 on roaming on that day, but every rupee was worth it. I found that the age of 22 also brought, signs of maturity and wisdom on my face. I was asked by two people, while travelling, if i was working!
I surfed through a lot of blogs in the holidays. For starters, check out Lemonade's blog. Her designs are brilliant and the girl is obviously very talented. Then, I came across many blogs written by girls and it was a new and refreshing change(I can be forgiven. I study in a boys college and have really forgotten the various talents of the fairer sex). The blogs talked about all things under the sun ranging from mundane daily issues to politics to sex. There were many topics which I have many times thought of writing about, but then have changed my plans, for fears of being branded a feminist.
I spent new year in Roorkee, with some midnight wishing and bakar. College began on the 1st (we were supposed to only register, but still...it is 1st). We are supposed to fill up these 6 forms containing all our relevant information(I don't know what they do with the last year forms) but ultimately it is a tedious process.
Classes started the very next day with the professors, each coming and giving us an introduction of their subject. I have taken "Advanced Foundry" as my departmental elective, and soon found that we have "Foundry" as a core course itself. This has resulted in listening to the same thing about moulds and patterns in consecutive lectures. God save me!
The other day, a prof while explaining something about hardness, told us about the material of shaving blades. Then he went on to state how most of us use it regularly, while(looking at the 3 girls in class) others do not. I could hardly stiffle my laughter and carefully avoided looking at my friend. I just wished to explain him that some also use razors, but then thought otherwise.
Anyway, I plan to update more frequently this year(this is what I write in each post), but still "I need to have a will, to have a way". And I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year.:)
And Do Not Drink and Drive

Kollywood Calling

2007-12-21T18:25:00.000+05:30

Finally, a post. I know it has been a long time and I have no excuses. Anyway, it’s December and I am down south. It is my first December sans woolens and it is a new experience(but I still like my sweaters).
Coming to my title, no I have not got any acting offers but I have been watching a lot of the madduland movies. It’s been a long time but I have slowly got used to the slangs. I have observed some things- these people like their heroes to be dark while their heroines should be fair and stout. No wonder, they have nicknames like “Thundering Thighs”. Even after all these years, Vijay still remains the best among the lot. Trisha is the best among the fairer sex( you can see the pictures).

And now my experience. My tamil, which till now, I believed was quite good, has left me in a few lurches. I tried to get a recharge for my mobile, which resulted in me doing a song dance routine in front of the shopkeeper. But I still managed to get the recharge. I analysed the cause of my delay in comprehending the language (with some help from the Incredible Bulk) and found out that my thought processing takes place in English or Hindi and it takes time to translate tamil. So I am not at fault.
I have right now run out of things to write about. But don’t worry, I will be back.
And “Yenna Rascala, mind it”(just wanted to fit it somehow, it is funny)

Chak De!

2007-09-24T21:35:00.000+05:30

It seemed that a curfew had been imposed on Village R. The roads wore a deserted look and the one or two brave people who had managed to venture out, quickly hobbled on. The students had managed to get the class dispersed in record time and were seen sprinting towards their hostels. As I walked past Alpahaar, I saw the barren landscape and my heart skipped a beat. What was the world coming to, I thought. And then it struck me. It was the final match of the Twenty20 world cup and that too India Vs Pakistan.
I reached my hostel and was greeted with the sound of rejoicing from a mile away. I believed someone had scored. As I wearily pushed my way past the crowd, I realised that a batsman had just been dismissed. I somehow managed to mingle with the crowd, lest some superstitious soul pointed her finger at me and had me thrown out of the TV room.
I managed to find a small corner for myself and settled to watch the proceedings. It seemed that all the girls of R had turned up to watch the encounter. Every ball which made it past the boundary was applauded while every dismissal led to shrieks. I was pretty sure that my ear drums would burst.
The match managed to reach the half level mark(my ear drums were still intact) and my first thoughts were to scourge for a good seat. But even the others were no fools. Nobody even moved an inch, lest their seats were taken.
Anyway the match proceeded with Pakistan making an impressive start. And then a wicket fell. Along with that, our mess secy came with the good news that the mess timings had been extended on account of the match. Loud cheers followed.
The match proceeded and along with that the oohs and aahs increased. And then Shahrukh Khan appeared on the screen. The poor soul had come to see the match but one has to pay the price of being a celebrity. He waved and the intensity of the shouts increased. He went and the girls sighed. Coming back to the match, each wicket was greeted with dancing which could have put even the cheerleaders to shame.
The finale of the match was the last over. Even atheists were seen fervently praying to God. As the last wicket fell, the whole room erupted with screams. People jumped on to the tables and strangers hugged each other. It seemed as if each and every one had been there on the field. The happiness in everyones eyes was unmistakeable. Messages were being sent at a fast pace and calls were being made to spread the good news.
I managed to escape the happy riots by a fraction of a whisker. I am still in one piece(given the fact that I did appreciate the Pakistanis time and again, and in doing so, managed to irk quite a many people.)
I have just been informed that a dance party is being organised to celebrate the victory. Well, I plan to go and have a ball. Chak de India!!

Ye Haath Mujhe De De....

2007-09-07T13:11:00.001+05:30

As I sat down to write my exam, I happened to glance across my desk. And there deeply engraved on the bench was the four letter "F" word and its equivalent hindi translation. Not that I was shocked. Two years in college have greatly improved my vocabulary. I have learnt anatomy in MD classes. But the best thing, are the various signs which are made to vent out frustrations.
Nowdays fingers are used for many other things apart from counting. It was earlier taught that pointing fingers is rude. Now I know that pointing middle finger in worse. I once happened to see a presentation in which the speaker kept pointing at the transparencies with his middle finger, oblivious to his mistake. Recently my friend returned from abroad. She brought with her the learning that pointing thumbs also means the same thing. The index and little fingers when pointed upwards together, also refer to the same thing in some Scandinavian country. And Ross had already taught us the use of our fists. I now feel that it is safest to walk with my hands in my pockets. But that is also a sign of insolence. I really feel that at least Sholay's Thakur was happy in one way. He didn't have to worry which way his fingers were pointing. :)

Jinxed

2007-08-28T20:38:00.000+05:30

This Tag game is jinxed. Since the day I have been tagged, I have been unable to post anything. So I am breaking the sequence. I don't want to jinx eight more fellow bloggers.

Which school are you in?

2007-07-31T12:38:00.000+05:30

This is the question which everyone frequently asks me( for general information, I am half an engineer now). My petite structure and innocent face(hem,hem...) fool many. There have been countless instances, when people have asked me if I am in the 8th standard.
The most recent of them occurred today morning. As I hurried to class, a group of second year guys were waiting in front of the department, searching for a scapegoat to rag. As I walked past them, I was ordered to come in proper dress code. I just stopped myself from laughing on their faces, as I saw the professor enter the class. I wish that I meet those guys again, so that I can teach them a thing or two about ragging.
But it is not always that the situations are hilarious. Once while travelling in a train with my mother, the TC refused to accept that I am 20 years old. He was very obstinate and I almost had a fight with him. It is basic common sense that if a girl is lying about her age, she would never show herself as being older.
But now I have come to accept that people think that I am a kid. I had a awkward experience in the library, when the issue clerk asked everyone to move aside so that "Gudiya" could come and get the book issued.
But looking at the brighter side, I will look younger even when I am very old. I may even be able to promote 'Santoor' soap, the advertisements of which show a young looking mom. But my friends say that if I do that advertisement, I will get the role of the daughter! All I would like to say to my detractors is that, "Meri twacha se meri umar ka pata hi nahi chalta"!

Think before you speak

2007-07-21T18:06:00.000+05:30

An adage recently caught my eye- "Arrows once shot and words once out of the mouth, can never be taken back." This is perfectly true. History is full of illustrations, where people have said certain things, leading to wars.
Even we say certain things, which we do not mean to say. But once said, nothing can be done. This specially happens when we are in a group. Spurred on by others, we may say things, which we might find funny, but others may not.
I have been caught in sticky situations where in the flow of the moment, I said many things, resulting in fights and once even costing a friendship. But still, I feel I have a lot of scope of improvement. Hope I can do it.

Left, Right, Left!!!

2007-07-05T15:51:00.001+05:30

While reading Lefty's blog a few days back, I realised that we both shared something: our interest in sports. Just quiz me on any sport, be it the Rolland Garros(Long live the French), else even obscure sports like Shin Wrestling(played in the English countryside) or Elephant Polo(played in Thailand), and pat, you will have an answer. But while selecting a team, I am the last person one should place their bet on. In school, I abhorred the physical education examinations. I couldn't even outrun a snail( if a snail agreed to compete against me). When I reached college, I was informed that we had the best sporting facilities in the country. Like this was the golden chance for which I was waiting. I still can't understand why people torture themselves, in order to sweat it out. Even entering the UGES gives me the creeps, seeing people play so many games. And believe me, Foosball looks good, only when Joey and Chandler play it.
But this does not mean that I have not had my moment of sporting glory. When I was elected the captain of my house, in school, the one thing which really worried me, was the Sports Day. Normally, I would have abstained from taking part in such mundane activities. But "With Great Power, comes Great Responsibility". I had to lead my squadron in the march past competition. I thought, all I needed to do was to walk and shout orders. I could do both, so it should be a piece of cake. Albeit a few minor hiccups, my long hours of shouting, did pay off. I was highly complimented on my skills and our squadron did win some prizes.
After that, I hung up my boots and did not further exploit my sporting prowess. One may wonder, why? But it is my belief that one should gracefully retire at one's peak time. Else he is capable of being mocked at. Till the day, when I again get the right platform to showcase my talents, May My Boots Rest in Peace!

Thank You God!

2007-06-18T23:36:00.000+05:30

Another Sunday, a day to laze and do nothing (as if I do a lot). As I lay in bed, deciding how to spend time, my dad came and told me that there was an exam that day and a visually handicapped person was appearing in it. So they needed a scribe. He asked me if I was willing to take up the job. I thought for a while, and since there was no good movie to watch, I said yes.
I reached the exam centre and roamed around. When I told the people there as to why I had come, they all smiled. I was informed that no visually handicapped person had ever appeared for the exam and so I could just sit back and relax.
I sat down in the control room with a book. Suddenly the chief examiner told me that the candidate had arrived. So I marched into the room and sat down beside him. The man was in his late 20s and he was a teacher. He had a very high power in his eyes and he could just see the outlines of objects. He told me that his subject was mathematics and he had read everything through audio medium.
The first paper was objective. As I read out the questions, I could see him concentrating hard. I felt helpless as I saw him solve mathematics questions in his mind. It was a tedious procedure. I had to read out each question a number of times for him.
And then I realized that he had actually given his whole future in my hands. I had just come here, as I was a free. But he had come all the way from another city to write this exam, which would ascertain his whole career. If I did not put in effort to read the problems in the proper way, then he would be unable to solve them. With this thought, I resumed my work with increased effort.
The second paper was subjective which was even more difficult. I noticed that he solved only those questions where you were required to prove something. I understood that the questions, in which some value was supposed to be found, were obviously difficult for him.
At the end of the paper, he thanked me for being a good scribe. On hearing this, I felt happy. I thanked God for giving me the opportunity to help that person. The person’s determination inspired me. It was a learning experience for me.

I was reminded of these lines:

I complained that I had no shoes, until I saw a man who had no feet.

Right To Equality!

2007-06-04T16:47:00.000+05:30

I have always believed in the equality of men and women. What a man can do, so can a woman and vice versa. And finally, the world is also realising this(especially the vice versa part).
Yesterday, as I sat and watched the idiot box(not again, you may say), my attention was caught by an advertisement. The product being endorsed was a men's sunscreen lotion. The model was shown riding a motorcycle and then applying the lotion, while a voice in the background informed us about the 5 superb effects of the lotion, and so on and so forth.
I almost did a somersault on seeing this. Men have, at last, come of age and are acceptng that they also wish (and need) to groom themselves. Countless other products have also hit the market shelves like fairness creams and shampoos which are exclusively for men. Women, it is time to be cautious. Men have also entered the arena and are enjoying it!
But I must say, that even I ( a campaigner for equality) had a heart attack, when in my first year, i saw with my very own eyes,the numerous beauty products which guys used( Shehnaz herbal creams, L'Oreal shampoos and the odd ones even owned lip gloss!) Gradually, news started trickling in about their grooming expenses which left us bewildered. And the last nail in the coffin was driven, when one of my classmates shared his acne troubles with me and suggested remedies to cure mine( and they worked!)
So, I have accepted that boys are no longer boys. They have treaded into the so-called female do main and are loving it. Right now, the trend has gained only limited acceptance, but will soon be the In-Thing. I don't like the term metrosexual, so all I would say is, Welcome, To the New Age Man.

15 Seconds Of Fame

2007-05-27T22:22:00.000+05:30

Picture this scene- A couple take part in a reality show in which they have to stay separately for a week with other singles. When they meet after a week, the husband tells of his undying love for his wife. The wife, on the other hand, has second thoughts and tells her perplexed husband that she has found someone else. And she leaves.
Not to worry, this is just the starting scene of “The Stepford Wives”. But still with the advent of reality shows, I think that such days are not far away.
I am nowadays sitting at home, and with nothing better to do, my constant companion is the idiot box. I have come across some unusual concept shows, which force me to think about their consequences. Some of them are:
• Wife Swap: Two wives swap their dysfunctional families for two weeks and try to bring about certain changes (for better or for worse) in their new residences. I wonder as to what would happen if the wife returns and the family feel that the new wife was better or vice versa.
• Monster House: A family hands over its cherished house to the crew, which tears it apart and presents it back in a new refurnished format. What would happen if one does not like this renovation? Would they get back their cherished abode?
• What not to wear? : This is my personal favourite. Women hand over their wardrobes to two stylists, who show no mercy as they restyle everything. The end product is something, which everyone may not appreciate.
These and many other shows, force me to question their very basis. Just a single thought comes to my mind- Is the 15 seconds (minutes) of fame worth all this effort?

Leaving On A Jet Plane

2007-05-19T11:02:00.000+05:30

If there is one word to describe life, then it is Bizarre. Life throws unexpected challenges at us and then waits to see who has the last laugh. But then, this is what makes it worth living.

I got up yesterday morning, full of enthusiasm and happiness. The reason: I was going home. After a tedious semester, I was returning back to my soil. Like Antaeus, the greek hero, I too derive strength from the soil. I had plans to rejuvenate myself and come back fresh.

I and my friend made our way to the station with some discomfort due to our luggages, and reached a bit late. Our train which has the reputation of never arriving on time, shocked us by its puctuality. We somehow managed to heave our luggages into the compartment, and sat down with a sigh of relief. We were finally, on the way home.

We arrived in Delhi right on time(another first). We had three whole hours to while away, before boarding the connecting train. After dumping our luggage in the cloak room, as we made our way towards the exit, I glanced at the train timings. Horror of horrors, our train had been rescheduled and was now leaving at midnight.

Now, what were two young and beautiful(ahem...) girls supposed to do till midnight in a big and unknown city? After a frenzy of frantic calls, we found that there was no train available before midnight. We were in a state of panic, when a brainwave hit us: Try flying. Now after this idea, all that was left was its execution.
A good samaritan (my friend's friend) helped us. He offered to get the tickets booked for us. All we were supposed to do, was to go to a cyber cafe and get a print out of the tickets. Sounds easy, but there was no internet cafe nearby. A helpful man directed us to one, about a kilometre away (Later we saw, that there was one right in front of the cloak room). We trudged to the cafe, and after waiting for an hour, we finally got tickets on a Jet airways flight(It did burn a hole in my dad's pockets, but still....).
The best part was that the flight was at 4:30, the security check began at 3:30, we were at the station and it was already 2:45. We still needed to take our luggages from the cloak room. And to top it all, we had to go the airport and we had no idea about any route in Delhi.
Somehow, we managed to reach the airport on time, without any further mishaps. I asked the security personnel for directions and managed to board the flight.
I reached home and got a sound scolding from my mother, and an elaborate lecture on the virtue of patience. But still, my holidays started with an adventure.
Some good points also stemmed out of this incident: I reached home early, I got to fly, I got a new incident to post on my blog, A new story to tell to my friends and the best part: My favorite song "Leaving on a jet plane" the OST of Armageddon suited my situation.
Life is good.:)

Requiem of Dreams

2007-05-16T22:38:00.000+05:30

I started this semester with great plans. Enough is enough, I told myself. I decided that now it was time to take matters in my hands and show the world that I existed. I made a short term plan, which consisted of among other things, increasing my grades atleast to a respectable 8.5, learning french, updating my blog regularly and using presumptuous words so that people would have difficulty comprehending my posts.
I started working with great determination towards my goals. I attended all classes, made notes and did tutorials myself. I was very particular about my french and was a star student. I also kept the world abreast with my thought proceedings through my blog.
But how long could it last? I soon fell back to my old ways. I had other preoccupations and soon my goals went on the back burner.
Now the semester has ended and I realize that I am not a penny wiser. I am still to get my grades but I don't want to expect anything. My blog is still in a condition not worth mentioning. I have not written any brilliant posts. But the worst part of it, was when I got a participation certificate in french instead of an Excellent. Oui, Moi( Yes, me). It was the second worst day of my life. (The worst being when Rahul Dravid got married. More about it in another blog.)
My dreams have all been shattered and I am still where I started. I console myself by saying that there is always another day. And now my bags beckon me and I need to complete my packing. I will be back next semester with newer dreams.
Au revoir. Abientot.

To Mom

2007-05-13T14:36:00.000+05:30

Amma, mamma, mummy....the names are many, but they all refer to the one special person in my life. (Dad, even you are special, but since today is Mother's Day, so this post is specially dedicated to mom.)
Each child says, " My mom is great" and I am no exception. I have seen my mom running about the house completing all the chores, getting her two angels(or may I say devils) ready for school and never even once complaining about it. Obviously, she has lost her temper many a times but still that is acceptable. As a teacher, she gives personal attention to all her students and is a counselor par excellence.
I respect her most for her gritty determination. When she came to North India, she did not know a word of hindi. But still she managed, and now I must compliment her that her hindi is quite good.
I know mom that I have not shown my appreciation as much as I would have wanted to. I have thrown innumerable tantrums and have been punished for them as well. You have helped me to become what I am (whether or not it is a compliment, I can't say).
Mom, You are The Greatest. Happy Mother's Day.

Never Say Never

2007-04-13T09:56:00.000+05:30

Once a girl X visited her school excitedly, after clearing IIT JEE. She was being congratulated by everyone. Suddenly a cheeky junior Y walked up to her and remarked, "So, you are going to Roorkee? Didn't you get any other IIT?" X was stunned and fumed on hearing this.
3 years down the line, one fine day X received a phone call. A tame voice spoke from the other end, " Hi, this is Y. Remember me?"
X: "Oh Hi! So whassup?"
Y: " Nothing. I wanted to tell you that I am also coming to Roorkee"
X(smiling):"Welcome dear"
Y is none other than the great me and X is my lovely friend Proxy.
Experience has taught me that never to say that a thing can never happen to me. Whenever I am pretty sure that a thing will not occur, it does occur. When I first entered college, I was convinced that I could not be one of the group, which was always apprehensive about the way they looked. Vanity, I called it. But slowly I have come to accept them.
There are loads of instances which take place, that reinforce the fact that anything can happen. All of us were sure,that India would not loose to Bangladesh. But lo and behold, it did happen.
Call me a pessimist or whatever, but according to me, we must be prepared for anything.
Always hope for the best. But if something unexpected happens, don't be surprised. After all, anything can happen. That is why I say, Never say never.

Bhawan Day Time

2007-04-07T19:56:00.000+05:30

Pre script-Please don't read this. I have just blabbered about something.

I know that have not updated my blog since a long time. I was not doing so purposefully, but I have got valid reasons for my behavior. After returning back from the hols, I was involved in many activities- cognizance, ts and of course bhawan day.
It all started from the first week of January( no need to roll your eyes). Girls had started working on their wardrobe since then. Then came the task of the bhawan mag. I was a part of the editorial team and our long hours of toil finally paid off. We received a good response from he crowd and people liked it. I must really thank all my team members for the work they all put into it. I am really grateful to my friend who patiently heard about my fears and always encouraged me.
After all this sentimental stuff, I must now come to the practical part. Our bhawan day attracts a large crowd, and passes are in great demand. All methods, including bribery, are tried to get hands on those coveted passes. I had this idea that being a volunteer, I would be able to get some passes, but it was not to be so. So I also went on a hunt for the pass and was brutally shooed off everywhere. I told my friends that they would be unable to attend the gala event. But finally I managed to lay my hands on those golden tickets and so the gates were thrown open for the guests.
The invitees were left bedazzled by the splendour seen on that day. Girls were seen flocking about looking exquisite. Little do the guests know about the night long preparations required, to achieve these effects and the amount of moolah which beauty parlors rake in during the celebrations.
But this time no one was allowed to enter the rooms due to some unpleasant incidents in the guys hostels. So the small lawn was crowded by a huge mass of people. People thronging about, wandering aimlessly. When the food was served, the queue that was seen, robbed most of our appetites. But we somehow managed to get inside the mess, and have a meal.
Despite all this, I can say that the bhawan day was quite enjoyable. One of the good things was that i did not have to clean up my room both before and afterwards. I don't know if others enjoyed it as well(lefty did not, he managed to scoot off early).
Anyway, there is always a next time. Cya then.

The Firsts

2007-03-09T15:33:00.000+05:30

There is always a beginning...and which i believe is the most hyped. The first time I won a prize, the first time I cycled, the first time I wrote a blog...et cetra are all memorable moments. I remember the first time I came back from hostel, the atmosphere at my house was electric with excitement. My parents were very proud. Neighbours came over to talk to me and my long lost friends called me up to know about my well being. But this excitement has gradually ceased. Now my dad mostly comes and picks me up from the station. My friends call me up sometimes , but lately they have gone up to the extent to say that i come very frequently.
I agree that the first time is mostly the best time, as everything is new. But I don't think we should undermine the event just because it has occured previously. Let me illustrate with an example the afore said differences.
I got my ear pierced for the first time at the age of one in a proper hindu ritual. My parents took me to a temple on the auspicious day. After invoking God's blessings, my father held me in his lap, while the goldsmith pierced my ears. And all this was done without my consent. After that all my relatives congratulated my glowing parents while i wailed in the background.
Now the same scenario repeats after 20 years, albiet a few minor changes. This time I want to get my ears pierced and my parents are not willing. Finally after a lot of coaxing they agreed. I was taken to the local jeweller. He brought out a gun and unceremoniously fires a shot into my ear. And lo and behold, my ears were pierced. All this was done in a matter of seconds, without any fanfare. After this I was quickly whisked away by my parents for some other work.
Now wait a minute. Wasn't this supposed to be a momentous occasion? There were no congratulations, no offerings. Instead I got a blast from my brother, who is a doctor, that i had successfully mutilaged my cartilage tissue.
Well ,as I said it is the first time which counts. There is no fun in the second time. All I can do now is to wait for a new first. Till then, cya.

An "I" for an "Eye"

2007-02-16T18:12:00.000+05:30

The day dawned bright and beautiful. I had enjoyed a lot on the previous day. The Fest was a new experience. Seeing how the campus looks like after 10 PM was an eye opener. I was at peace with the world.
That day I decided that I should grace some of the competitions with my august presence. I looked at the schedule and there it was-" DEBATE" ,the event that would cause me embarassment for a long time. But i was blissfully unaware of this fact and marched happily to the gallows.
A few bored looking people had turned up for the event with equally bored looking judges. Participants were given topics 2 mins before going on the dias. I got an absurd topic " What if I had been a judge?" and quickly floored the judges with my wit. Obviously I easily went on to the next round along with some other heavyweights.
The second round was turncoat. I was to give my views on the age old saying "An eye for an eye- is the way to go". But I am one of those who use their grey cells a lot. I interpreted the topic as " An I for an I- is the way to go"(Typical IITian- using brains for silly purposes). The best part was that I spoke eloquently, giving my views both for and against the topic( don't know what I spoke). This time as well the judges were floored albeit in the opposite sense. The few people who were watching the event, were rolling on their seats with laughter. And the best part was I realized my mistake only after completely speaking for the stipulated time.
I was embarassed and I only wished that I could disappear. The judges eyed me with displeasure and pity as if I had let them down. And once outside I realised the significance of telecommunication. The news had travelled far and wide. I could feel people smirking at me as I walked past them.
More than a year has passed since this accident occured. But still my friends remind me about it before any debate or GD. And whenever an extempore is held, the organisers make it a point to give me the topic in writing. But I must pay for what "I" have done.

All Alone

2007-01-28T19:24:00.000+05:30

It is the rule of nature: Survival of the Fittest. Finally it does become each man for himself. All the relatives and friends whom we have succeeded in accumulating throughout this mortal life, finally leave us alone. After all what are we, but specks in the universe. In this vast cosmos, we are nothing.
It is for us to understand that one day all our beloved people will leave us. It is not only them, but we will also do the same to someone else. All the talk about relations, friendship, love et cetra about which epics have been written, will be reduced to nothingness. The sooner one understands, it is better for him.

The Female Psyche

2007-01-26T13:26:00.000+05:30

I recently read a book "Roots and Shadows" by Shashi Deshpande. I liked the book because it was able to bring across the trials of the protaganist, Indu, very realistically.
This book was also instrumental in bringing a thought to my memory. In it, a relative of Indu, Naren gave a very thought provoking reply, when it was asked as to why he smoked? He replied that women are generally reformists at heart. He smoked because it gave the women a chance to reform him and feel elated.
A true feminist to the core, I should have felt angry on reading this. But I agree with him. On dwelling into the female psyche, I have realized that women are attracted to bad boys. There is something about them which makes us feel that they are actually very vulnerble. And then the sensitive and caring attitude of the fairer sex surfaces. We wish to save them from this big bad world and strive to bring them on the right track. It gives a sense of power which is not felt in any other situation.
If you don't agree with me then ask Ash what she saw in Salman. Else think about why women love Shoaib Akhtar.
Just think about this.

It's Birthday Time!!

2006-12-27T12:28:00.000+05:30

It is the last week of the year and is also the best time. I say so not because it is time for Christmas or the new year, but because it is time for my birthday. This post is for my self analysis and to find out as to in what ways has my d-day changed over the years.
I am a person who tends to get muddled in numbers. I forget phone numbers and birthdays. So to help other people remember my bday I start rallying about it from at least a month before the scheduled date. I have properly etched my birth date in the minds of my relatives, so that they can forget anything but not my birthday.
I used to love to distribute sweets among my friends at school. But the trouble was that my school used to be always closed on my birthday on account of the winter vacations. But as it is rightly said, “Where there is a will, there is a way”. So I would celebrate my birthday 10 days in advance in school. I liked showing off my frilly frocks with matching sweater and bands and bellies to my friends. And on your birthday, obviously one is the star of the show. But I always had to share the limelight as some of my other fellow capricornians would also think in the same manner, and would also celebrate their birthday in advance. This fad lasted only till junior high and after that there were no such celebrations.
I would also throw the mandatory party at my house. I would start preparing from at least a week before. The guest list had to be made, the music had to be decided and new games had to be thought about. I used to make my mother (and still continue the tradition) to take a day off from work. My father would come home early with (hold your breathe) the birthday cake. I have had many shapes of birthday cakes( one cannot play with the flavour-it has to be blackforest).
Once there had been a house shaped one. Otherwise when you want to underplay it, then the normal round one would do.
Now coming to the menu, there were no options. My friends would decide that they wanted to eat only south indian cuisine and that’s it. My mom would make soft idlis, vadas, sambhar and all other titbits. Even now when my friends turn up they want to eat only south Indian food. (So much for experimentation.)
But this has also changed now. I take my friends out for a treat to some restaurant or some pizza parlour and we would hang out together and have fun.
The best part of the birthday is the gifts. As a child I would tell my parents what I wanted (most probably a Barbie or its accessories. I had about 7 of them but still they were not enough.) I used to love the gifts that my friends would give me, be it a pencil box or a sketch pen set. As one grows older, the variety of gifts that one receives greatly reduces. My friends have started gifting me some small showpieces or other stuff, which I don’t know where to put. I don’t blame them but I am better off without such gifts that have no use. Even if the hapless souls ask me now as to what I want, I can’t tell them, as I myself don’t know.
Anyways it is birthday time again! Its time to leave behind the nostalgia and to decide this year’s game plan. It’s time to get busy.
Happy Birthday To Me.

Stress Busters

2006-12-08T15:57:00.000+05:30

The week before the dreaded exams is generally like this- Got up in the morning, tried to study but failed, then slept again, then got up and again tried to study...and the vicious cycle continues. So how to beat the stress as the D-day comes closer. Here are a few techniques to beat the heat which are regularly put to use in the girls hostel.

Unlimited Bakar- It has been seen that the rate of bakar increases exponentialy as the exams approach closer. The topics range from global warming, the sensex to would be's and M-I-Ls. The optimum time for this is from 11 PM to 3 AM.
Phone- The telecommunications department would be pleased by the rocketing phone bills. During the stress periods, everyone ranging from parents to cousins, whom you have never met are called. Else turn to the text messages which are a bit cheaper but still burn a hole in the pocket.
Mess and Canteen- These are the favourite hangouts during the PLs. Girls you never know existed, turn up in the mess at 7:3o PM sharp. The bairaajis have to put in double effort in order to ward off the onslaught of girls. And if you are hungry at unearthly hours,then not to worry. For there is the friendly canteen waala bhaiyya to the rescue. The tasty paranthe and chai can put even the best hotels to shame.
Dressing up- As the exams approach, all sorts of acessories are taken out and paraded about in- The latest Earrings to bracelets. Another good timepass is changing the nail paint colour. Wacky shades are tried( My personal favourite being Blue) and then rejected.
Movies and songs- The 60,000 rupees lappy is now put to the best use. Movies are seen and songs are listened to, with a fervour never seen before.
Orkut- Now is the best time to change your profile name on orkut. Names like-"AArgh...exams are here" and "I am screwed" reflect the various thought processings.

And finally, there do exist some black sheep, who study despite all this, and turn the advantages of the relative grading system into disadvantages.

When will I learn? Maybe next sem(one should always be optimistic). Till then it is time for me to enjoy and find out new and innovative ways to beat the STRESS.

Confessions Of A Bad Shopper

2006-10-23T21:14:00.000+05:30

Finally, It is time to let the cat out of the bag-I can't shop for my life. Even if I am given the money and a free hand to pick whatever I want, still I can't do it. The latest instance to validate my point is what happened today. I went to Sarojini Nagar,New Delhi which is surely a shopper's paradise and returned almost empty handed! My friends who had earlier claimed that they were as bad as me went on a rampage and I stood there watching them like a lost puppy.
This trait of mine stems from the fact that I am who you may call a miser. IT really hurts me to take out money from my own wallet and pay. The other factor which helps(or stops me as you may call it) is my practicality. Everything that I see leads me too think whether I need it or not. Unless and until I am in dire need of a thing, my brain does not allow my hand to reachmy pocket.
I am still waiting for the day when I come home and proudly display the things which i myself have bought. Till then I can say" Mujhse shopping karwana mushkil hi nahi,namumkin hai."

Far From The Madding Crowd

2006-09-15T10:20:00.000+05:30

Two months have passed since I came back to college. I am back to the monotony of life-Get up, go to class, come back, move around the campus for nonsensical things, eat and sleep. This is now what is left to do here. Does life always become so platitudinous after some time?
Well, the new thing now is that all students are thinking as to how to get summer projects? But according to me this is just a new fad. Everyone is doing this just because someone else is also doing the same. This is just a mad rat race in which no one knows the final destination. The amount of secrecy that is maintained and the hype that is created can even put Manoj N Shyamalan to shame. His movies don't even have half the suspence of it. Friends turn into foes and enemies become the bestest of friends just for the sake of a project.
The best part is that guys never wish to include girls in their projects. And it is obvious too. I have been told time and again by some of my friends, that my presence limits their freedom of expression. To prove my point let me tell you how two guys talk when they meet.
1st guy- Hey u A******, where have yoou been?
2nd guy-You F*****, I have been going around that professor for a project. You piece of s***, what about you?
1st guy-$#$#$***(so on and so forth)
Now if these same guys meet in front of a girl they would have to mind their tongues, which i must say is very difficult.
The other best option right now is to start looking as to how to get an internship( which is done after the third year). My department sends about 4 students every year to Sweden. And students have started thinking about it from now itself!! I don't say it is wrong or I don't think about it, but man give me a break. There is still time left for all this.
I beleive that the most dreadful part will arrive when we will reach the 4th year. Everyone will be preparing for CAT, GRE etc. and I would also have to do the same. I really feel sorry for a friend of mine who is right now in the fourth year. His GRE score did not come as well as expected( he has got a good score but no one seems to be satisfied by a score less than 1500).
Everyone comes and asks him as to why has he got such a low score and everyone consoles him that nothing happens if he does not get a call from a good university. I am a person who does not like to tell people my marks even in my test series. I don't know how I will survive the onslaught then.
Sometimes I wish to run away from all this hustle and bustle, somewhere far,where no one cares about these materialistic things. Somewhere where I can just Be Me, with no one judging my every move. Somewhere far away from this maddening crowd.
But this is life and I have got to live it. So better move along with a smile and again plunge into this race for survival.

Just for the heck of writing!

2006-08-15T18:27:00.000+05:30

I am writing this just for the simple reason that i wish to write something today. My thoughts right now are in a haphazard manner. This may partly be due to the fact that I have been ill for the past two days and have done nothing except stare at the ceiling. It is fun to watch people's reactions when you become ill. Either it will be one of extreme concern or others may just scorn at you.
Well, i am back in college and have now adjusted back to this life. But this time around I am unable to adjust to the vagaries of weather. And I feel sick most of the time due to the great quality of the mess food.
I dont know what else to write. So see you some other time
P.S. My tone may be a bit low as right now I am reading English,August.

Jean Therapy

2006-07-12T15:44:00.000+05:30

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?

Food For Thought

2006-07-11T14:40:00.000+05:30

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."

Meet The Relatives

2006-07-06T12:16:00.000+05:30

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".

Driving Lessons

2006-07-04T16:38:00.000+05:30

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.

Why A Blog??

2006-05-30T17:25:00.000+05:30

After a sabbatical (quite a long one), I have decided to update my blog a tad bit more regularly. Now the question is why did i start blogging ? For its answer we need to travel a long time back, not very long but just a year back.
A year back, when i was a simple and naive girl (which i still am, but a little less), I shifted from my home to study in one of the most prestigious institutions of our country. I left my home teary eyed but filled with the nervous excitement of one stepping out into the unknown.
My parents left me in the hostel along with 30 other girls. Never in my life have I felt so out of place. The daily fights for the bathroom, rushing for the class, sleeping during lectures all became a daily routine.
I have made very good friends and I have come I contact with different kinds of people. My brother had started blogging a year back. But now here I found that having a blog was the in-thing. I also jumped on to the bandwagon but haven’t been loyal to it.
I like to read other people’s blogs. It opens up a whole new world. The class buffoon may actually be a very serious thinker. Or the happy-go-lucky guy sitting in front of you, may actually be very frustrated.
I hope that I continue writing my blog. May God help me.