Surpise

I have liked being surprised, more so the pleasant ones. I have tried at times, but being able to Surpise is an art .. like is the art of Gifting!

We had been trying to find a decent Music system for his brand new car for last 3 months. This noon, he suddenly tells me 'lets go' I ask where and the answer is 'tu chal'. Now in his car we are finding shops who sell Music systems during office hours, I have some urgent tasks on hand, so does he, but he is sure that it is today that he has to get it fixed.

His bro is in the US and his Mom had come back after a 2 month trip to Bhai & Bhabhi the previous night. Aunty had brought along the latest Sony Car Audio system that his bro had gifted to him, but the speakers had to be bought and it had to be fitted in. His wife, who also works in our office does not know of the gift and he has planned it to be the Surprise of the day!

It takes a good 2 hours to get the thing fitted in and he is in no mood to let the guys rip open every plastic part of the car in his absence to wire it up, so we are there observing and trying to use our engineering skills to also guide this guy who probably does this over 30 times a day.

Now he is explaining me how he has planned this over the last 15 days, the special packing done from US, the clandestine operation of hiding it in the morning to bring the system to office, the songs that he has been religiously collecting and writing in the CD which he will play tonight. And most importantly - why does one need to SURPRISE? According to him, surprises are the perfect recipe to keep the love alive, to show you care, to see the emotions which are otherwise lost after a long day at work. The presentation matters, atleast one surprise a week is the frequency that has to be maintained and the efforts that go into it have to be substantial. He is giving me lessons as I will also have to do this when its my time and he wishes me luck for then.

That evening back in office, he pretends to be really pissed off and under too much work, tells her to fetch an auto and go home and that he will be late. They have a late dinner at home and he suddenly springs the idea of going out for an Ice-Cream... and the curtains are off, he plays a few nice romantic numbers, some Punju ones and of-course “where’s the party tonight”. Next morning I ask her, about the last evening and I could not have imagined the joy and happiness, the excitement when she was telling me the turn of events and how she could not have guessed it.

Re-Birth

Yes, ID is back!
Why is ID back? Till when is ID going to be around? What is ID going to write about? Who are ID's new friends? A few questions answers to which can keep this blog alive.

Update: I left Pune exactly 9 months back, with a determination not to go back again. Presently in Gulf, Middle East.

Quite a few interesting incidents to share in these 2.5 years since my last post, enough fodder for thought. Some pointers to my upcoming entries: Miami, San Francisco, Chicago, NYC, London, Mumbai, more Goa, Middle East, Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait, Jordan, Sudan, More Africa, Delhi, B'lore, Bhangel, Crush, Uno, Esteem, Jaguar, Plastic, Packing, Baraat, Indore, 12-3, Stocks, Hurricane, Swastik Hotel, Sindhi, Sardar, Shahrukh...... too many.... and life goes on!

Zinda hoon Main!

Yes, I am alive n kicking and Kicking hard.

All that corporate slavery borne some fruit and i was gifted with a trip to Miami Beach, Florida by the company (of course on a business trip but with some free time also)

Planning to catch up all the lost time soon, read all your blogs and write more of mine.

The tags had put me off, every time i had thought of penning down something, the tag came first to mind and both got swept away, but now i am first going to do - what i want to do and then - what others want me to do.

SO keep waiting taggers.

Slave

Completely drowned in the corporate slavery, 8 in morning to 12 in night - 7 days. Seems it will continue till end of this month.
But am a bit excited as my first major project comes to an end and faces the world, hoping things go smooth. May be I can then also move on.. where, even I dont know, but have to move, its been 9 long months.

M Back but 1 year older

Back from the vacation which am sure will be counted in one of the best days of my life. 3 days of laughing, fun, masti, boozing and snoozing.
Goa as usual was amazing spent a whole day just lying in a shack, paragliding in the evening.
This is one place which is always in holiday mood, rather made for just holidays. Nowhere else would an auto driver tell you "Pyaas lagi hai - Pepsi pila do" and even get it from his customers. Or would people on beach introduce themselves as "Hi, I am pappu - do you want tattu" If no - "I have all that you want and at good prices" never dared to check what all did i want.
Back to Campus, which tends to be more green and beautiful every time i am there. Was there just 2 months back and it was even better this time. Just wanted to relive in those 2 days the 2 years spent in those 2 mighty hills.
This time around the return flight was again a low cost international flight with hops, but surprisingly clean and with cleaner people. Again had a flight which I am sure I can never again have i my life not because it was 'kid infested' but - 15 friends, half of them half drunk other half either full drunk or not drunk. The other people around got so conscious of us that the rows near us got emptied as they shifted to safer bases. The long busts of loud laughter of 5-10 people is something I am sure no one would have experienced in a flight. It seemed like a neighborhood park where the uncles and aunties go for their laughter therapies at 6 in morning. Kudos to the peppy and smart 'Rinku Tiwari' who kept her cool while throwing all her attitude with the pastry boxes from 'Sharmaji ke pote ke munde ke Ladoo box' for displaying exemplary patience in handling us. She never gave a dirty snare even at the loudest of laughter rather at times was carrying a sweet smile if it was a worth while joke. Never imagined Air Hostesses could be this good and not snooty high nosed liked the ones in now 'India's largest airline'.
Came back to reality with 146 emails with 37 of them marked urgent and before i could clear them next day came in some 30 odd others with the subject "Happy Birthday" or "Many Many Happy Returns of the Day". People were so Happy that i had turned 25, I dint know that. Big bosses in office had cake for me, for a day I was 'the boy' the B'day boy. Best surprise was the phone call from Commodore Sir who said that he always saw the Birthday list but never found any use of it as he never had wished anyone in office, for the first time he saw someone in the list he felt like he should pick up the phone and call. Thankyou Bakshi 'SaaB'. Mom had after 2 years got back to her ever so tasty surprise b'day cakes, Love you Mummyji. Happy called me before 12 and continued till 12:20 till when i had some 6-7 missed calls. 'Kit Kat Kha Happy ho ja'. Thanks every else who called or wrote in - it really felt great.
There were a bit of surprises from people who FORGOT. I know you really felt bad but I cant help it, the other option was that I never would have reminded you. But thanks for the lovely Horsy Card.

Off to Goa

Its Alumni Day at Campus this weekend, would be going back on top of those mighty hills for another 2 days. First visit for this year, second one again on cards in Feb.

Have decided to stop in Goa Midway for Republic Day celebration in the Sand. This would be my 5th visit since 2004. Just love the place.. the wonderful people, lovely beaches, tasty cuisine, wonderful babes and the not so costly wine.

Goa always reminds me of my first trysts with Feni - the local cashewnut arrack. It looks so feeble in its colourless avatar, even the strong smells aren't a true reflection of its potent powers.
It was the extended vacation of Diwali'04 when 10 of us landed in Goa, where I first had it.. more out of curiousity.

The following 6-8 hours were really fun with me turn into a Hotel salesman for 2hrs, a motorcycle autowalla for another 2 hrs, a travel guide for a firang couple for an hour or so until they finally got a hint that something was wrong, while spending 3 hrs locked in a room (locked by my friends). The day ended with me having a severe Headache, stomach cramps and a broken pair of spectacles.

Though never dared for Feni again, but looking forward to tasting Toddy this time. Toddy is the local drink in Kerala - arack made from cocunut. Kerala - here I come.

A COLD Shower

Everyone who has ever taken a shower has had an idea. It's the person who gets out of the shower, dries off, and does something about it that makes a difference.
- Nolan Bushnell

Had a cold shower finally after many days. Had decided it when felt too warm in the blanket in the morning. I got this idea to have a cold bath in bed not in the shower.

TO feel good in a job you otherwise are not excited about:
Working is like homework. It has to be done. It doesn't pay to keep going over the same lesson. One must learn and move on to the next, hopefully gaining more working knowledge of writing and handling the business of said career.

You must want it enough. Enough to take all the rejections, enough to pay the price of disappointment and discouragement while you are learning. Like any other artist you must learn your craft -- then you can add all the genius you like.
- Phyllis Whitney

Treat it as a job--not a mystical calling. Then you'll get up every morning and go "to work" instead of waiting for the muse to attend you.
- Jean BrodyAck

Kid Infested ....

4 months back we had a group outing to Lonavala / Khandala from office. The monsoons were at there best and it was a perfect setting. The boss’ secretary had made all the arrangements to so I did not bother much reached office quiet early in the day. We were a group of around 7 in Pune and another 10 had to join from Mumbai. So we decided to take 2 cars from Pune. One car got full with a gang of close friends me and another guy ( a trainee) left out. Now the boss (a not so old lady with two kids less than 6yrs old, returned from US after 15 yrs) had got her SUV and would travel in it, but she is now not so keen of letting us in her car. On a little inquiring she said it wasn’t in a good shape and we would not feel comfy in it as it was a ‘KID INFESTED VEHICLE’. According to her, she was used to it but it wasn’t a perfect outing vehicle for us.

Ultimately we got into it as it did not make much sense to take another car. Though I did find some weight in the statement ‘Kid Infested’ but thought it was more of a tantrum thrown in by the rich and famous. The car had a characteristic chocolaty smell with some small / stuffed toys on the last seat, there were also some sketch pen marks on the seat covers, but else it was ok. Could understand her apprehensions for not letting us in because her image was hi-fi and the state of the car did not fit into her perfect definition.

Had a nice laugh for a few days with group members and friends on something being ‘Kid Infested’. Though I am not the kinds of koochi poochi for small babies but ok they look nice can spend sometime playing with a kid (unless it decides that its shower time for you). Forwards with kids photos are ok .. nothing beyond. Had heard of kid infested by something (lice) But the idea of something being kid infested was not so good to hear the first time.

Now last month I am on this flight coming back from my alma mater where I go on an official visit on a recruitment campaign. The flight takes off at 7 in the morning from there, stops at Goa mid way and reaches Bombay at 10. Incidentally it’s a hopping Air India Express flight coming from Bahrain which started the previous night from there. As we (me along with a senior guy from office) enter the plane, I smell something fishy and suddenly I remember the Lonavala trip. Once in we find the plane full with kids mommas and families all over. There is these toddler sitting on my seat (window facing) while momma is shouting for him.

We haven’t slept the night before as were busy with the placement process till 4 am and had to leave campus for airport by 5 and have decided to have rest on the flight and work the next day. Once the door is closed and flight takes off - the shrieks and shouts become more audible and frequent and what starts now is another very unbearable sound… of kids throwing out all the goodies they had all this time. Slowly the stench becomes unbearable, there is no 5 minute interval there isn’t a new sound of some kid somewhere erupting like the most vociferous volcanoes on earth, while the air hostesses (no one younger than Sonia Gandhi) rushing around with those puke-bags.
Meanwhile the crew starts serving breakfast and the mommas start feeding their kids again, with request for extra milk and extra eggs coming in. I just handed over my packet back, as could not imagine eating something in those inhumane conditions.

Once the flight stops in Goa (thankfully) some kid parties get down. While the ground staff is again called to clean up and spray some room fresheners. After a good 45 minute halt the flight takes off. This time the scene is much better as the staff has decided not serve food to kids.

At Bombay airport when coming out, this senior colleague of mine says “It was hell, so many kids and all in the best of their spirits. They will have to use disinfectants to clear up all the mess”…. It just reminded me of Kid Infested things.

Munna Bhai MBBS-1

Hari Prasad Sharma turns Murli Prasad Sharma into Munna Bhai in the search of the ever elusive word MBBS. As Munna Bhai says that he had to run away from home because his father wanted him to be a doctor which he could never become. As I see advertisements of ‘Aakash Institute’ and ‘Sachdeva PT College’ I wonder how many more Munnas and Munnis are in the making. Even I could have been one but thanks to my destiny my parents were not so pushing.

In the late 1960s, my Nanaji (mom’s dad) was a big business man in a small town having got all the glory in trade circles and wanted to do some philanthropy but with little glory so he decided that he will open a charitable clinic for the poor in the name of his father (my great grand father) where his daughter (my mother) would be the doctor. Now being a small town he did not know how to get his daughter to be a Doctor. And the daughter herself did not know how to do so. There were no Aaakash institutes then nor were the Dhami or Khetarpal reference books around. You had to have access to a good library to get good books and ya there was no Google either. They both tried, tried hard .. also tried the money way. There were no donation, capitation fee colleges in Karnataka then or they did not have the info.. maybe it was also the luck factor but they failed. Mom completed her graduation became a teacher.

Never saw Dadaji (dad’s dad) nor do I know much about him but have heard he was very similar to Nanaji. Also that my Dad wanted to be a doctor but ended up being an engineer.

Now 20 years later I enter the picture, having completed my class 10 and raring to leave studies and do some ‘Dhanda’, but after some counseling am cajoled into atleast completing school (12). I was sure that I would be studying sciences as I always liked it over social studies and had decent marks also, but was not sure about Biology as a subject, somehow both Mom and Dad were keen that I do study biology as a subject even if I have to take it as an extra subject. And it was then first time I came to know the stories and hidden emotions of my parents that they also wanted to be the proud parents of a doctor.

Though I was never too good at Maths, I never liked the idea of studying biology either. I had heard experiences of my cousins who went into medicine, about studying late nights and slogging for atleast 6 years. After some talking mom had given up the hope but dad still thought there was light at the end of the tunnel. I enrolled into a coaching class who claimed to be an expert in both Medical as well as Engineering entrance exams but attended only engg classes. My dad enthusiastically brought all the medical entrance exam forms while I had to go hunting for the engg ones. Finally I prevailed and flunked badly in all medical entrances and got through some of the engineering ones. Got into an engineering school. My dad had yet not given up – he tried to explain me the benefits f being a doctor, he threatened he would not pay the fees and also kept searching for affordable back door entries into private colleges in Karnataka but it was quiet late by that time. Fate had that I would be an engineer.

3 years later.. it was my younger sister who had seen and observed my case, is obedient and well mannered, Dad loves her (he loves me too), she has all the interest in Biology wants to be doctor is getting ready for her entrance medical exams. Meanwhile I have convinced her to study maths also as a subject (its either of the two or both: biology and maths). Dad has got the medical forms, I have got some engineering ones. She flunks badly in engineering ones, unfortunately doesn’t do very well in the medical ones also. But wonders in an exam which tested both Bio and Maths along with Physics and Chem and that was for an engineering course in BioTechnology. Now she is excited, I am excited. Mom is ok, Dad is ok. She completed her B.Tech last year.

Part 2 later.. have to rush home today for Lohri celebrations

This show is presented BAI

Nice tag line by MTV.

A Bai who works in a house full of only Bachelors. This one must be 40-50 yrs old. She reaches early in the morning. The guys are asleep. She doesn’t know what kind of job they do. She has never seen them awake except for the person who opens the door and that too half-asleep. She might have seen some awake during the starting days when it was at 7.30-8 AM. And also the day they give the salary. Later when she shifted the time to 6.30 AM, no one is awake and no one even asked why she comes early.

She rings the bell 4-5 times to get into the house. Worse are those days when there is no current. She will need to knock the big grill a number of times. At times she has left without doing the work and asks next day that why did we not open the door and we say ‘Khola to tha’. And the funny thing is what ever the case is most of the times only the same person (X) comes to open.
Once in Mr. X goes back to his bed and covering himself up in a bed sheet. If the quantity of the clothes immersed in the soap water is too much she won’t wash them properly. She won’t scrub the collars. At times when there is no Soap she calls out to Mr. X.
“Oh Bhayya, Saboon Hai?” The shrill voice wakes him up.
“Kya?” He will ask, as he is still half-asleep.
“Saboon, Kapade Dhone Ke Liye Saaboon Nahi He”. She replies.
“Bai, Kal Leke Aata Hoon. Aaj Zara Adjust Karle”.

Then she gives a good rinse. And please note all these times the water tap will be on - water flowing onto the clothes in the bucket. She believes it will clean the clothes properly. At times she must wonder whether these people know anything other than sleep. In that wonder she removes all the dried clothes from the strings in the balcony and puts it on the top of a bag in the bedroom, as there is no other place to keep the dried clothes. No One knows what is in that bag, probably the old tenant left it there, but due to her regular dumping of clothes on it the bag has gone into a U shape.
Then its the utensils. The kitchen is a mess. There will be leftover food on the sides of gas stove. Onions, Potatoes, Eggs, Green Chilies.. all thrown out while cooking their favorite dishes. The remains of the cut vegetables, the onion and potato peel, shells and yolk remains of the eggs eaten by Mr. G, banana peels, the cutting board… everything will be spread on that 1.5* 0.5 square meter of area. At times she yells “Oh God!! How much food these people waste”

Next is the real enjoyment chore. By this time she nears her timeslot for the next house. So she plays hockey. This is what Mr. S says about the “Jhadoo”. He is right, she considers the broomstick to be a hockey stick only and dribbles through the pseudo-turf (aka floor). Seems like she used to represent my school in the state games in her good old years. Hmmm those were the days!! Now she plays hockey with a broomstick to make the two ends meet.
Cleaning the floor is the most dreaded job there. she has to face many challenges. The unarranged chairs, newspapers flying around, the fan, the beer and other daroo bottles people keep after their illustrious parties. At times even chicken bones collected in the corner of the room.
Amidst all these she continues to play her game. She has to, since if she doesn’t she won’t be able to finish off here by 6.50 AM and reach that wicked old lady’s house (as described by her) by 7.00. Once Mr. X’s mother came to live with them and she tried to modify the hockey into slow motion. But since it was for 2-3 days it happened , but then she did compromise on washing clothes.
She does clean the floor with water two times a week, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the floor is getting dirtier due to this. The reason is the cloth used for ‘Pocha’. It’s is as old as the bai and has all the dirt in the whole world on it. She tried rinsing and drying it with all kind of detergents. No use. Her request to grant a new cloth has gone in vain. Off late Mr. G had granted her a part of his Rose Turkish Towel, which she abandoned after it attained thrice the age of its retirement. That lasted two washes as the rough treatment brought out all the fibers of it only to go back to the old cloth.
(Thanks Dhanush for your sharing your experiences)
Thankfully the Bai is clean, otherwise the one before this was a bio-alarm with her pungent smell that reminded me of the chemistry lab in school, while there have been others who come as a bundle of 2 or 3 (mostly younger ones probably it’s the safety factor) who are the catch me if you can types, they are ‘gone in 60 seconds’. Their strategy is like the commandos in movies, enter at once disperse in all rooms fully armed – Kill and Go.

7 OR 8 OR 9 .. please tell me

A decade is a snap of fingers in the seemingly never-ending history of time. But it is quite an epoch in the chronicles of a nation. And definitely a noticeable period in the life of a human being. It may for once fail in turning green leaves brown, but one definitely notices transformations in one's immediate proximities.
I remember the innumerable power cuts the summer used to bring along with it. But what it also brought with it was perceptible warmth that people shared amongst themselves. Inverters were not very popular in those days and generators were a luxury not many could afford. Whenever power cuts happened, families used to gather in a room to save the cost of an extra candle. Men and women used to comfort themselves with a pankhi, a hand fan. And those in the family who couldn't have one, had to settle with the day's newspaper. People used to sit away from the lone candle lest the pankhi should extinguish it.
These were the times to take up long pending family issues. These were the times to plan for the schoolgoer's future. All in all, these were the times to sit together and talk. And to bridge the abysses brought in by the monsters called busy days and devils called busy nights. These were the times for the kids to get up from the study tables and play with the next door buddies. These were the times to be spent with family and in case one wasn't too interested, a chat about the upcoming elections with the neighbourhood bhaisahab was always welcome. These were times to sit on boundary walls of houses and play antakshari. Even the transmission towers used to have power cuts – with the ever lasting “Rukawat ke liye khed hai” coming on TV in case your locality still had power.
Times have changed. India has matured as an economy and in case the power situation has not improved in your areas, Inverters are to be seen in every home. Generators are affordable. And power cuts are suddenly more comfortable. One can continue watching his/her favorite soap without fear of a cut. And kids can do their homework on time.
It’s just that one doesn't know the name of the person next door, who seldom utters a word, just like oneself, and who often has his eyes dug up on one's house, thanks to the outwardly intimidating balcony of his. Also missing are those surprise family gatherings around lone candles, long pending family issues, and discussions.
(The above is adapted from an intranet article by Sameer Sharda)

Now my problem again in the hot cold fight is that there is a regular 2 hour cut in the morning at my place. Now that is not the problem as you must have guessed from the above that how nice these cuts are rather it’s the surprise time it decides to go. It just goes off at any time 7, 8 or 9 AM and if it were not the mobile kept on charging making the sound one doesn’t even know whether its still live or dead. If it happens at 7 then either I wake up before 7 to switch on the geyser or I wait till 9 to have a bath. If it is 8-10 I have to remember to switch on the geyser first thing in the morning or bath with cold water. If it is 9-11 its great as I would have left for office by that time.

And invariably if I do wake up at 6:30 to switch on the geyser it will not go till 9 and if I don’t it will go at 8. Ok at times I do catch it before it leaves at 8 but then that’s an achievement. Can’t explain the orgasmic heavenly elation to bath at 8:30 with Hot water in case the light went off at 8 and the yucky feeling to have bath at 8:30 with the water hot since 6:30.
Delhi is Cool .. Pune is HOT.

Delhi is Cold, Pune is HOT...

I am missing the COLD .. its been 3 years i have not experienced what real chill is .. only seen and heard on TV and newspapers.

I remember December of 2002 (Delhi) - going to CAT coaching classes at 7:30 pm or rather coming back home at 10. Mom ready with soup, halwa or something else but steaming. The heater, the hot water, the moongfali, the sun bathing, the monkey caps, the skipping of bath(s), the leather jacket, the rajai, the cold hands, the red gloves.
December 2003 (Kozhikode) was - hot and humid, that part of the country heats up in December and continues to heat till March till it starts raining again which goes on till November. December 2004 (Kerala + Goa) - pleasant, Cant remember much about the weather in Goa except that it was neither hot nor cold.
December 2005 (Pune) - Slight Cold and this is something which I am not enjoying. I cant sleep in a single bedsheet as it is not enough and the blanket gets too hot to handle. Cant go out in the Balcony early morning without a pullover and i havent pulled out any from the suitcase. I can see people with monkey caps on the roads but feel uneasy even in full sleeves. Am confused everyday to switch on the geyser or take a chance with cold water. Tried skipping a bath but ultimately had to have a hot shower at 8pm.

Is it really cold in Delhi? (Please wait for 3-4 months till the headlines say - Heatwave On)

Me COLD not HOT

Why? do i need a BLOG

When I have been reading (your) Blogs for over 3 years now and had all the fun, why did i need to write one of my own?

Its for you.. ya I know you will also want to have fun and reading your own blog cant be fun, so enjoy. Have fun.

At times it may not be fun - it could be serious issues, it could turn out into one of those Diary blogs or could even stop someday. This blog may be inspired by some of the ones i have been regularly visiting -B School blogs (where i was last 2 years), travel blogs (i hope mine also turns into one), My Friends' blogs, Popular blogs. So if it is your's, dont feel offended be proud you are in one of the above category.