The man in the mirror

"What is wrong with you? Why don't you sleep?" I asked the man in the mirror. His eyes were bloodshot and face was pale. He was certainly sick.

"Don't you know? The reason is you" The reply was stern.

''Me? What did I do?" I asked amazed.

"You promised me once that we will fly" was the reply.

"Fly! Huh?"

"Yes fly. Fly to a distant land. You always wanted to take the road less travelled by. Remember, you were a dreamer, but now you are settled in your little world."

"May be yes, but isn't it safe, warm and cozy here?" I asked the man almost pleading.

He laughed for a while and then said me almost mocking."Lately aren't you stuck in the web of mediocre and monotonous life? Your sense of safety are your fears and apprehensions in disguise. In last two years when was the last time you actually fought for something. You stood up for something, or challenged yourself for just one thing. You never come out of your comfort zone."

"That is not true. I am grateful for what I have got, and I am happy for that." I replied

"You should be grateful for what you have got.. always.but haven't you been lucky all this while? All I want you to do is open your arms again. For once, feel the sunshine and fresh air. Break the chains of mediocrity. Give yourself up completely for something without consequences, instead of giving up. You are not living unless and until you are ready to die for something or someone.For once, I want you to die for something. For once, I want you to live.

The man in the mirror was right. He had been my best admirer and worst critic. I had been lucky, and yes, I never stretched myself to the full potential in last two years. I never ran an extra mile. I always played safe, and never took the risk. I had been trying to survive,did pretty well, but I forgot to live. For once now, I want to rise against all the odds & do something, which I always assumed unachievable. I don't care How I fare, I will be glad I tried. Years later, I would like to have a memory which I will always be proud of.

The sun had risen. It has been a long time since I had seen a rising sun. The first rays of sun illuminated the outer world & my inner world too. I felt enlightened and blessed after a long time.

And the man in the mirror, He was smiling for the first time in weeks.

A walk to remember

(I know title is too cliche, but I couldn't think of any apt title than this. Suggestions and feedback are most welcome.)

'Bang bang bang' on his room door on a lazy Sunday morning..

He could hear his mother yelling something, knocking his door furiously. Opening his one eye half, he looked at the old walk clock in his room, it chimed ten, five minutes before. What could be a possible reason of waking him up at 10 AM on a Sunday morning? His mother yelled louder, all he could grab out of it was 'girl on telephone'.

These words rang in his mind for a while, may be looking for a sense. Soon, sense prevailed. A girl had called up for him on the newly installed telephone at home. He rushed to drawing room and picked up the receiver, overwhelming with curiosity, he said: 'Hello?'

and a sweet voice replied: 'Hi! its me, did I wake you up?'

its her!!!, She.. She has called up. This sentence reverberated in his mind for a while.. Oh! Damn! it.. SHE has called up. She is the most beautiful girl in the whole BMC quarters of Bombay who lives in B-40. Her father got transferred here 3 months ago and now she is one of the privileged entry to his most happening gang of whole colony, entry to which is close to impossible.

He replied:'Oh! Hi.. No not at all. I woke up an hour ago', trying to abate his excitement cum elation. All attempts were futile though.

She: 'You busy?'

(Busy! Not even my new Wega video game can keep me busy now.)

He: 'Nah! nothing busy as such', tried to sound casual. Failed again.

She: 'Care to go for a little walk?'

(Little! I am ready to walk with you forever.)

He: 'Sure, where?'

She: 'Does that matter?, I will be waiting for you at the community center gate in 5 mins'

He: 'Sure, catch you there'.

They disconnected the call and he walked back to his room still half believing, listening faintly to his mother gossiping to neighbor- 'Look at the kids today, I don't even know how to use this duck machine. It is just 3 weeks old and my son receives calls from his girl friends, My father was so strict that....'

He quickly brushed his teeth, washed his face, gelled his hair with oil, sprayed his best perfume, & donned his best polka dot shirt and bell bottom pants. This took him 3 minutes and 20 seconds. He still has 1 minute and 40 seconds to reach to gate which is in front of his house.

She was already waiting for him at the gate, wearing a light brown color salwar kameez, which somehow matched with color of her eyes. Her wet hair carefully clutched with a butterfly clutch, leaving a few strands to touch her cheeks. As always, her eyes sparkled with cheerfulness and mischief, and smile radiant enough to subdue the February morning sun.

Spellbound with her beauty (Damn! She is gorgeous) all he could utter was: 'Hey'

She: 'Hey! thanks for coming. I was looking for some company to walk to grocery store, and first person I could think of was you. I know it sounds stupid, as it is just two blocks away.'

He: 'My pleasure' (First person you could think of is me?, It is certainly my pleasure.)

'Well it still is stupid, let us take the walk-way of community garden, it is longer way' she said winking at him with mischievous smile.

He struggled to start conversation, his logical mind rejected every single thought which popped up in head. Dude! think of something better.. Soon, he lost the battle with his logic and his mind got blank. All he prayed now was that let her come up with something.

After an awkward silence, she said: 'Hmm.. I liked your last evening performance in the drama. It was really great. you are certainly a good actor'

'Thanks!' he replied, but his voice couldn't hide his amazement,confusion and happiness, disproving his acting skills.
'So are you a Beatles fan?' He asked, surprising himself, as the question came out without any premeditation, but he was glad he asked her.
'A big one!, but how do you know?' She asked, more with her eyes. Damn! her eyes.
'The Beatles fever hand band in your hand. I have the one in my hand as well.' showing her his yellow band proudly.
'Oh! great, so which song is your favorite?' She asked, this time in a teasing manner like asking a trick question.
It was a trick question, indeed. He pondered for a while, which one would be her favourite.
Which one which one which one.. is it 'Let it be','Hey Jude' or 'A day in the life'
' Hmm... can't choose one, I like Let it be, hey jude and A day in the life, but even yesterday and strawberry fields are aweosome.' He replied.

'Yeah! same with me.' She said with a smile, may be applauding his intelligence for the answer

They had reached the grocery store. She bought the stuff you need to make the cake, and he bought two dairy milks. He offered one to her.

As they were walking back, eating chocolate, he looked at her with corner of his eyes, and to his amazement she was looking at him too. He looked again, but this time straight in her eyes, all he could find was innocence and sense of purity. He pinched himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. He tried to sink in the moment, tried to fathom that mystic feeling he is having right now. He never felt so alive in last 18 years.

He remembered he had read somewhere - 'Five senses we have, five senses we use, five senses we lose, when we fall in love.'

He checked his senses one by one:

Sense of sight: He had walked this walkway thousands of time since his childhood, but he never found the roses on sideways and butterfly on them so beautiful. He looked around, colors enthralled him today, the blue sky with white clouds, the green park and yellow buildings the sunshine, everything captivated him. He always saw the children playing in the park, but he never noticed that smile on their faces. His sense of sight has changed the way it used to be. Check positive

Sense of smell: He took a deep breath. He could smell her wet hair, and he remembers no fragrance as pleasant as this. Check postive

Sense of hearing: He could hear the chirping of birds, the distant traffic, the morning cacophony of community market. All was music to his ears today. Check positive

Sense of touch: He closed his eyes and felt the cool breeze like never before. The steep walkway had made them touch each others hand many times in last few minutes, and all he could feel was bliss. Check positive

Sense of taste: Dairy milk never tasted that good. He is sure, it never tasted that good. Check positive

All five checks positive..I am in love, He said to himself. He said it again.. Damn it! I am in love with this girl. Yes, She is the one.

He realized they had reached her home. A sense of regret dawned on him. She must be thinking I am too boring and dumb. I should have at least talked to her more, if not amuse her or make her laugh. May be next time, she will ask some one else for the walk.

'I am sorry' He said, again without thinking. He expected a long 'why?', along with same puzzling but beautiful eyes. But she amazed him more this time.

'Shoo.. nooo! Don't spoil it. This is the way I wanted this walk to be. I didn't speak either. Does it make you feel better that silence and confusions were mutual?'

'It certainly does!..' He said, with a sigh of relief. is she an angel or magician, she charms people and read their mind too. They stood there looking in each others eye for a while, or may be for eternity, and this time silence was comforting and pleasing.

'I should leave now, I have to make the cake, it is my brother's birthday today. There is a party at home at 5PM, and I will be inviting everyone of our gang.' She said breaking the spell.
'Sure... I wish I could explain..' He almost mumbled.
'You don't have to.. I feel the same' She smiled and left. He stood there watching her till she dissapeared behind the door. Then He left for home, flying or floating in elation.
'I will be waiting for you', He heared her voice again. He looked back and she was standing in her home balcony waving at him.

After 25 Years (Today)
He hasn't forgotten a single moment of that walk even after 25 years today. The image of her waiting at the gate or waving at him from the balcony window, is still fresh in his memory, as if it was yesterday. After that walk, they took many walks together, married each other and decided to walk together for life.

' Why are you up so early and where are you lost?' She startled him out of his daydream.
Here she is! Even after 25 years, she is still the same, gorgeous and beautiful in pink saree. Her black wet hair shining, her smile radiant enough to subdue the February morning sun and eyes with same michief and innocence he had noticed 25 years ago.

'Happy 25th anniversary, dear!' He said.

She stared at him in disbelief with same puzzled but beautiful look in her eyes and then she bursted out laughing. 'My dear lovely husband, age has certainly taken over you, and your mind has grown feeble. Our anniversary is in November, and we will be celebrating 23rd this year not the 25th and by the way today is 21st February 2011' she said in a mocking manner.

'Exactly, today is 21st February 2o11, and 25 years ago we took our first walk together. The walk which I will never forget. I fell in love with you on that day.' He said with a content smile.'

'oh my... Yes.. the silent walk to the grocery store, through the community garden walkway. How could I forget it. It has been 25 years since that day. Hard to believe. We have come a long a long way. Happy 25th anniversary to you too.' She said coming closer to him.

'Yes..! We certainly have, and I would love to walk with you for the rest of the life, and more lives. Thank you for everything.' He said, kissing her on the forehead.

Tears trickled through her eyes, and she said smiling-'Noo.. don't spoil it by saying thank you. I always wanted it to be that way.'

(Work of imagination with ingrediants of reality)

Cheerio :)
Ravi

Its simple yet complicated, and complicated yet simple

Few moments and memories of life are indelible. I vaguely remember my time in Kota, but can't forget some of the memories of those days. In 2004. Being an IIT coaching institute student, we had to take admission in a dummy school to get our school education without attending it. Later part of that year, rules got stringent and school was made compulsory for that session. There were more than 2500 'dummy' dumb students (Some prospective IITians), in the std 12th, divided in 45 sections. My section had 9 Ravi, and the whole class of 60 students had the name starting with 'R'.

Going to school was just ceremonial, and so was the teaching. Those were fun & clamorous lectures in days of serious brainstorming preparation of fierce battle of IIT. Attendance was never an issue, as girl-boy ratio was whopping 3:4, in comparison to 1:10 in coaching classes. Poor 'hormone tortured-female deprived' boys HAD to attend those lectures, and in light of class 10th science textbook, I can vouch, girls had the similar reasons.

I always used to take a middle bench, as last bench activities were too conspicuous and monitored by some 'dummy' teacher, and front benches were reserved for people more geeky than me, who used to finish the coaching assignments there. Since, I had nothing to do, I often used to read some interesting detective novels of Agatha Christie or Sidney Sheldon. (I had fallen in love with those books at that time) Often, a couple, a girl and boy used to sit on a seat before me, and at times we used to exchange stationary, notes and smiles. They were inseparable, and always fighting.
"Kutte, That is my pen you are writing with" or "Chudel, Pani ki bottle dena".

One day, after looking at the book I was reading, Boy said "Death of the Nile by Christie, This one is my favorite". Then, we three had long discussion of our favourite books, and this is how we became friends. There are some people, you just meet and then there is some immediate and inexplicable bonding, like you were destined to meet. Following that day, and for the next two months, we often used to sit together, work in labs together or roam in the school campus togther. I often felt that I am being "Kabab ki Haddi" and they used to reply- "kabab toh tu hai, Haddi toh hum hai". They were one strange unique couple. They used to fight each other, for each other. There was always a hidden care, behind every attack. like

Ladki, Where is your sweater? I hate you coughing, and sneezing and then walking with me with your full of ego, running nose.
or
Mote Khale, Dont skip your meal, your body is too fat to get more fat.

Soon, We took our exams, some we failed, some we cleared, got admissions in engineering colleges, and ultimately I lost contact with them. They both luckily got college in same city.

In Diwali 2006, I got a call on my home phone. It was from both of them. We coincidentally met in 2008 in Bhopal, and then stayed in touch over the years.

A year and two months later, 18th Feb 2012 will be a very special date. Both of them will be getting married to each other. They were neighbors, went to school together, lived in same city for graduation, been best friends for years, and now decided to get married. Over the years, their relationship has been a roller coaster ride. Their relationship had many statûs over the time...

• Childhood friends.
• I am going to marry her/him someday.
• School Friends.
• Best Friends.
• We are just Friends.
• I love you.
• Oh! just beep off
• Who are you? Do I even know you?
• Best Friends (Again)
• We are Just Friends. (Again)
• I love him, but you know what, I hate him more.
• Its complicated.
• Its complicated yet simple and simple yet complicated.
• Don't you think we are going too fast?

On their engagement day, I asked them, How was the journey from Kutte!! that's my pen! to will you marry me? and the reply was 'It wasn't will you marry me, it was, will you marry me Bastard!! you know what best explains our relationship is, we were best friends, we are best friends, and we will be best friends forever! Its very simple yet complicated and complicated yet simple.'

Yes! actually nothing has changed, they are still the same when I met them the very first time. They grew up together, and they are going to get old together.We all wish for that one best friend, with whom you can share your passions passionately, fears fearlessly, and regrets without any regrets. With whom, you can be just youself.

If you have that one best friend, you are very lucky, and if you don't have, hope you get lucky!!

Cheerio
Ravi

Princess of Casablanca and love

We often meet some people in life, with whom, no matter what, you never agree. There is some inexplicable reason, or some ideologies clash, which create some enigmatic repulsion for that person. There was one such girl ( Princess of Casablanca, there is a long story behind the name) in my class during school. Her predilection to appear 'different' was so strong that in trail of that, she never made good friends. She was the type who is called 'spoilsport'.Marring other people's pleasure gave her immense pleasure. She never made her decisions in the context of right or wrong, good or bad, instead she made her decisions which made her look different. Like any other normal school kid, and unlike her, I had some really good friends in school, and I remember her being the cynosure of our group discussions, of course in negative mode. Few days back she found me on Facebook (Yeah! Hail Facebook). After exchange of few 'hi's, and our current lives, for few days, this is what she sent me on chat one day:

"You are also in Delhi na? lets meet up, it will be fun! what do u say?"

After staring on my mobile screen for a while, and trying to fathom what could be the possible motives of Princess of Casablanca seeing me. Before my logic would try and fail, another line popped up on screen:

"Arrey I want to meet you with my 'some one special' and want him to meet one of my good friends in school"

Wait! Wait.. Am I really talking to the girl whom I am assuming I am talking to? There must be something wrong with this Facebook app. Since when did Princess had some GOOD friends in school, apart from her some toady friends? And bigger question is why is she counting me as one of her GOOD friend? and the biggest question is She has a 'some one special' too? Oh! God.. This world is definitely going to end in 2012.

Before I could answer another line popped up:

"C'on reply me... "

In the spur of the moment, blended with the factor of curiosity I replied with an "OK".

A place and time was decided for the rendezvous.

After the conversation, I thought may be I am judging her, and I shouldn't.There were few incidents in school, which made every one of us believe she doesn't have heart. May be she has changed over the years. May be we were just kids back then, and now she has grown up to a mature and understanding lady. May be she has actually found her some one special, and love has done the miracle.. May be..

On one fine Saturday afternoon, we met for lunch. In just five minutes of our conversation, all my 'may be' s were broken like a shattering glass. She hasn't change, not even a tinge. The same air of arrogance and the same ardent urge to look different. In fifteen minutes, she was half-done with her saga of success. No wait 15 min - 50 seconds, 25 seconds she took to introduce me to her boyfriend and rest 25 secs for vice versa.

So, the world has not changed for the Princess of Casablanca, there were just a few changes in her story. She has actually become the queen now. She has turned out to be successful content writer, and she writes as a freelancer, which according to me and her, suits her character well. She has fallen in love (Not sure) with a common guy 'B1'.

B1 had been on a silent mode for all this while. He was surprisingly a guy every girl would like to be with. Handsome guy with winsome smile. Even though he was dating princess, that guy had brains because he kept trying to change the topics, so that its not the princess show all the time.He spoke little, but whatever he spoke was intelligent and smart.

The conversation moved from school,college to career and future goals, from childhood fantasies to the hobbies and interests. Soon we all had run out of topics, and then landed up in the 'Please Somebody Speak' zone. My curiosity had been urging me long, so I started:

Me: "So How long have you been together"?

Princess: "This September we completed 2 years".

Wow!! 2 years.. Damn it! there is definitely something wrong with the world. Am I seeing the wrong side of the coin? There is definitely something... Something I am missing.

Me: 2 years!! thats awesome..! what is the secret?

Princess: We two are made for each other. Can't you see it?

I wanted an answer from B1. I smiled to princess.

Me: What do you think B1?

B1: May be she was the only option I had! (B1 said smiling)

Princess: See.. I love his sense of humor.. Women like good sense of humor.

Did his answer had sense? According to you Man should have good sense of humor, but no sense at all.

Me:C'on.. Dude a serious answer. I am sure there had been many options for you.

Princess: Oye.. he loves me for many many reasons. Tell him B1.

Before he could answer

Waiter: Dessert Chocolate or butterscotch?

Me: Chocolate.

Princess: Even B1 loves chocolate. 3 chocolates. Thank you. Who loves butterscotch.

Don't get ideas, but at this moment my eyes met with B1's eyes, and there was hidden conversation.

My eyes to his: I guess you don't like chocolate!

His eyes to me: I love butterscotch, but she likes chocolate.

My eyes to his: Then order a butterscotch.

His eyes to me: Its okay

My eyes to his: dude.. I am supposed to talk to a girl this way!! cut it off!!

Princess: Where were we? hmm.. B1 was answering something.

Woman never miss or forget the chance where they can be praised. Trust me.

B1: Hmm.. there are many reasons. I can't explain. May be her mettle, the way she has handled her situations in the past, and came out as a winner.

Princess: We aren't getting into that.

And at that moment, Princess had to take a call. She excused herself. I had to confirm whether my eyes worked fine.

Me: So you don't like chocolate?

Replied with reluctance, B1: No, both are okay. May be I prefer butterscotch. But I can eat chocolate for her, Doesn't matter.

This dialog seems to be inspired by a crappy Bollywood movie.

Me: Don't tell me you never told her. Then there must be many things you like and never told her. She won't hate you for liking butterscotch or color black for instance.

B1: You don't know her. She has had a tough past. I know she can be overbearing and boasting at times, but there are reasons. She has changed over the years. She likes to be pampered. She has not had her share of life. She deserves it all.

At that moment, Don't know why those shattered pieces of glasses of 'may be' started to get glued again and my paradigm of princess started to change. Yes.. I never knew the whole story of

Princess of Casablanca. May be there were reasons why she was 'she' during school. So I was judging her, and B1 isn't the some common guy, he is the prince here, and madly in love with our fun killing villain of school.

Me: Dude.. You are getting me wrong, I just meant You are eluding her of the truth. She may deserve many things, but above all she deserves truth from you.

At this moment The princess returned.

Princess : Hmm What are you guys talking about?

B1: Nothing, eise hi

Princess: Enough about us, what about you? Have a girlfriend or still single?

Me: Just a single word suffice-'single'. I don't qualify for the many criteria.

B1:oh!

Bull S**t! There are no criteria. That was a self-deprecating statement.

Princess: Oh! no there are.. many.. like sense of humor,He should be charming, understanding

handsome.. and the list goes on.But then when love takes over and all these criteria makes no sense. So wishing you all the best.

B1: Same here, wishing you luck.

Princess: I don't know why I invited you for the lunch. You see, we were not that good friends in school and even later. I just followed my heart.

Me: Ah! and I followed mine.

B1: There is always a reason.

Soon we bade each other good bye.

I have been a keen observer of the world around me. I might have missed love by inches, but it has always been around me. I have seen people talking in their smiles, speaking their heart with their eyes. I have seen jealousy and faith hand in hand. I have seen someone worrying whole night, for something stupid. I have seen a commerce student, studying the concepts of engineering to teach 'some one special' a day before exam. I have seen that 2AM urge to meet some one just because the other one is woken by a bad dream. I have seen the cherubic smiles on faces after separation of months. I have seen someone taking a 2 days journey just to meet other for just 4 hours. I have seen someone sparing even a single buck to buy gifts for other. I have seen the meaning in the cheerful bantering and annoying teasing comments.

Princess of Casablanca has actually found her true 'some one special', her prince. Prince just doesn't know that Love is more about acceptance than adjustments and sacrifices. And I am sure he will realize someday. And My part, Princess wasn't the villain of the story, It was my paradigm of her. And May be she is right, some day a girl would give up all her criterion for me.

and trust me .. I had that Eye conversation..!!

Cheerio :)

Ravi

Years Later!

As we grow up, we meet lots and lots of people.. and as life moves on, roles of various people in our life flips, renewed, or totally removed (Course there are exceptions like family). Most of us lost touch with our best friends in school or with our childhood friends in our neighborhood.Hands of destiny plays the devious games like parents transfers, school changes etc. At one point of life they were most important to you and then they are just registered in your untouched part of brain, occupying tiny fragments of memory. Its obvious destiny plays the second trick, when our lives meet again at some cross roads. Out of no where, randomly.. the long lost friend who is not in your orkut and facebook account appears in front of you at unexpected places. Our already over occupied brain system suddenly fetches the untouched fragments and then hazy black and white images of our glorious past are retrieved with blend of nostalgia. Everything comes at standstill and you start reminiscing the old days. While shopping with a friend(F) at a mall, I saw a face of a girl just passed by.. and my brain system started working..

A query fired to my usually untouched part of brain- who is she?

and then scanning all the records, logs etc.. system returned..

"Sorry! NO RECORDS FOUND"

I said to myself- "No way I certainly know the face from some where."

F: Bhaiya.. kya baat hai? the girl just passed by.. and you certainly had a larger period of eye lock than usual. Waise She is really good!

Me: Yaar. I certainly know her from somewhere.. I just cant figure out!

F: Damn it! I feel the same for every beautiful girl I come across.

Me: nahin yaar.. I know I know her..

F: look! here is her father.. does he ring any bell?

Now the brain again start working.. again a query fired..

and records scanned. system replied

"One slightly matching record found"

yeah okay... He is certainly a lot overweight than I saw him last.. face has got a bit rotund shape..but yes that's him! yeah it is HIM

Me: Bro.. he isn't her father.. he is her brother.. and my best friend in 4th and 5th standard. He name is "F1" and the girl is "G1"

F: No way... Look at the girl, damn gorgeous and look at the guy.. it seems if he moved a bit, I will certainly experience the floor shaking. I bet not even a single outlet sells jeans of that waist.

Me: I am sure they are F1 and G1.

F: Yeah I guess you are right, they are too looking at you with hint of familiarity. You should go and talk to them, I am leaving I have to go to pick my friend up, I will come soon, just text me when you get free.. and Bhaiya Do talk to her too..!

Me: Yeah right.

And then here is the Kodak moment.. Friends meeting after like 11 years!

F1: Hey Ravi.. I was looking at you and realized I know this guy.. and then it struck me.. Its Ravi. My best mate in school.

Me: Same here yaar!

F1: Do you remember my sister.. G1

Me: Yeah vaguely.. (Of Course I do..)

F1: Remember him G1, He used to come to pick me up on his bicycle for Updhayay sir's tuition?

G1: yeah! how are you? (replied with a smile)

Me: I am good. How are you guys doing? Where have you been all these years?

F1:. If you are not busy.. Lets just grab a cup of coffee together.

Me: Yeah sure.

So we went to the top floor food court, and ordered coffee.

F1: Dude.. you haven't changed a lot, I remember you in school, a thin flimsy guy with Gandhi style rounded spectacles. Now of course they are rectangular and you have gained some weight. But you are still the same geek I know from school

Me: Well, you have changed a lot, except your face features. You too have certainly gained a little weight and height.

G1: "Well did you just use the term 'little' ?" She asked me, winking her eyes with mischief.

(Certainly she has changed a lot too, I still remember her as an annoying, pestering stubborn sister, who was main reason for all the parental scoldings F1 got(I think which she still is). But now, After 11 years, She has turned out be a beautiful and elegant girl as well.)

F1: "Will you please stop it? " (Some things never change.) He turned to me and said.. "So how life has treated you so far? "

Me: Well leaving a few big bumps it has been a fair and great ride. BE Information technology last sem, I am trying for MS from a good US univ, have a job offer from Infosys. Let see how things turns out. What is your story?

F1: Hmm cool man.. Infy! Great! Good going. My story... After dad got transferred to Nagpur and later to Pune, We both finished our schooling there and ended up in same college for B COM. Now I am doing my MBA from Symbi and she just finished some designing course, and next week she is moving to Kolkata to assist my uncle there. We are here to see some relatives.

G1: Aren't you overexcited about it. I don't want to go there.. and I still don't know what am I going to do there?

F1: She is just a bit unhappy about this Kolkata thing.

Me: I understand..(I bet even Half of Pune must be disappointed too.)

G1: "So you are living your dream huh??" She said to me.

My brain took a half a min or so to comprehend that question was directed to me.

Yes dimwit she is actually talking to you.

Me: Sorry?

G1: I remember a conversation about 'years later' , we had over dinner table once. You remember?

Again a query fired and system returned Sorry no record found! How come no record. Damn you don't forget the conversations with such beautiful girls.

Dude! As if you knew She would turn out to be so beautiful. Now will you change the look on your face please.

G1: It seems you don't. Well once at dinner you told me How things would be years later? You said you would become a computer science engineer, and would work on cutting edge technology.

F1: Yes You always wanted that.

Me: Its not how it looks? I wanted be an engineer but not from SVITS but from one of the IITs, and I believe Grass is always greener on other side.

G1: Oh! shoot! I don't care how many 'I' your college name has. But you have become what you wanted to be.

Me: Arre! It's not a big deal. Look around, In this hall only.. 40% people are taking an engineering degree.. there are 50 engineering colleges in this city. and typing code is not a cutting edge technology.

G1: yaar! you are not getting the point. I agree with you, but how many of them really wanted to be an engineer? They took up engineering because there were no options for them, or their parents wanted to be. Its same for every vocation. Of course its a serendipity that few of them discover later that this is what they actually wanted. But only few, rest of them are entangled unhappily.

You talk about green grass, but what if there is no grass. I wanted to take up astronomy, and my brother wanted to be a lawyer, or so many other things. But you, you were always clear what you wanted from life. You have plans to go for MS. I still have to figure it out, and so many other people too.

They are confused about the degree they should take. What will earn them more money? Sab bas kaat rahe hai yaar..

Although her dazzling beauty masks the hint of other emotions, but there was certainly a tinge of anger and desperation in her tone.

Me: yeah May be you are right! I never gave a thought to this.

G1: Well you should, You don't realize how lucky you are. You at least know the path

F1: Not again.. your alchemist shit! We never get everything we want. We have to make compromises, and we all were kids back then. Its real world, and confusions are so natural.

G1: I wasn't talking to you. You will never be agree with me. I was talking to him.

Me: Well, I believe both of you are partly right.

G1: You haven't changed huh? Still very diplomatic. But I know you agree with me. She said smiling.

And then for next hour or so.. we kept on discussing things about our old happy days and about future, about school and college, about movies, hobbies etc. We bade each other good bye and promised that we will soon have a get together of old friends.

Later in the evening I pondered what G1 said, and yes she was right. I always wanted things (of course not the way I got them) . And yes, Destiny's hands do some inexplicable things, but I met G1 and F1 for a reason. I realized to be grateful for things, which I never cared enough. Yes there is reason for everything, there is certainly some supernal powers which do things which are beyond human intelligence. We are guided by them. Sometimes its better to look beyond the obvious.

Let the angels guide your way!

Cheerio :-)

The Chinese Tag!

This is my very first tag and a post after ages..(Actually my every post appears after ages.) Thanks to Vandana (Passionate Stubborn), an awesome blogger for tagging me. and here it goes..!!

8 TV shows/News Channels I like to watch:

1. FRIENDS (can watch all the 10 seasons in a row!)
2. How I met your Mother (Love Barney)
3. Heroes
4. Prison Break
5. Bones
6. Brothers and Sisters
7. Debates and other shows on NDTV, Times Now.
8. CID

8 Places to eat and dine

1. Indore Saraffa.
2. CCD
3. Bakewell
4. Pizza Hut
5. Dominos
6. Rajadhani
7. CKD
8. And Dhaba behind my place, When I don't have enough bucks :-(

8 Things I Look Forward To

1. Hanging out.
2. Rain.
3. New Movies and Music.
4. Book I have not read (Of course not the syllabus books )
5. Holidays (So that I can go back to my heaven)
6. Family reunion.
7. Blogging
8. Meditation once a day!

8 Things That Happened Yesterday

1. Went to a marriage and ate like freak!
2. Met my cute cousins.
3. Finished "The lost Symbol" by Dan Brown.
4. Used Google Buzz for the first time.
5. Finally got a break through for my 'recommendations'.
6. 3-Hr train journey.
7. A strange dream, still couldn't figure out its essence
8. And finally started my major project.

8 Things I love about winter

1. Gajar ka Halwa
2. Oh! it feels as if I have put on some weight, when I wear winter clothes, and for a change I look better. :-)
3. Nothing beats the feeling of sleeping for hours on a holiday wrapped up in blanket.
4. Masaledar Tea.
5. Eating Ice-Creams (It feels great)
6. Spicy Garadu!
7. You can blame it for your laziness!
8. A hope that it might snow !!

8 Things on my Wish-list

(not in any specific order)
1. To create something totally new, worthy, innovative, creative (something world even hasn't imagined yet! ,unfortunately I too haven't imagined it yet).
2. To study MS in computer science, from one of the best universities in the world.
3. To live in a secluded place for 21 days, with no sense of any other life except me.
4. To look at the world, from the top floor of the tallest building in the world.
5. To be father of a girl.
6. To have a brawny physique.
7. To learn to cook for my maa, some great exquisite dishes! (Yeah I can make coffee right now, and 1 out 3 times, its like drinkable. )
8. To travel back in time, back to school, and repair everything.

ahh!! many more left....but most important to be loved and make a difference.

8 Things I am Passionate about

1. Programming ( Passion for it appears in fits, but I do love it.)
2. Books (They either keep me too close to reality or too far from it.)
3. Movies (Same as above)
4. Music (Can't leave without)
5. Tweeting (140 chars are enough to let the world now what you think!)
6. Blogging
7. Traveling (Actually it should be 'Dream of traveling'! but time will come soon!)
8. People may doubt but I am foodie!!

8 Words/Phrases I often use

1. Cheerio
2. "Mat kha (Dimag) yaar pllz"
3. "Arre tere liye koi baat hai pagle/pagli"
4. Oh! Fish Man!
5. This is not done yaar..or this is not fair yaar..
6. yup
7. WTF
8. Yippie!

8 Things I learned from the past

1. The best thing about it is its GONE!!! and you can always start afresh. (Took me years to actually understand and implement it!)
2. This will pass too. (Works in both ways either you are happy or sad)
3. Sometimes 'To let go or give up ' is not the coward decision but the most brave decision you can make.
4. Never conceal YOUR truth, even for good cause, or even when loved one ask you to, otherwise you can be blamed for something you never did, or something which is non-existent.
5. Expectations (By you or from you) suck out all the joy or happiness you have !
6. Sometimes some events and things, not in your control but decide the course of your life, its better to make peace with them and forget.
7.When nothing works, laugh it out and don't care a damn about it (Tough but works)
8. Past is a bloody haunting teacher that teaches you in a very tough way, and the best you can do is learn from it , score and forget the teacher, but never its teachings!

8 Places I would like to go /Visit

1. USA (Want to study there)
2. Goa
3.Sydney Opera House.
4. The Taj Mahal
5. Paris
6. Venice
7.Whenever it snows.. (Not the storm kind)
8. Actually, I want to visit so many places.. I just dream of the places, but unfortunately never been anywhere, so let the time decide.

8 Things I currently need/want

1. A big tight hug.
2. 10 hrs of sleep.
3 .An Ipod.
4. Some new T-shirts.
5. Few good letters of recommendation
6. A hilarious movie
7. A shave (Feeling too lazy to walk to saloon!)
8. A big big chocolate!

8 Blogging Buddies I want to Tag

(Most of you might have already been tagged by someone else for this tag, if you have plz do post the link in the comment!)

1. Surbhit
2. Pulkit
3. Ayu
4. Chocolate Lover
5. Titaxy
6. Rishi
7.Kedar
8. Kitty

Wow! Tangy Tuesday Picks

Sometimes,Life treats you in very unexpected and unpredictable ways! It kicks you , and cuddles you at very unexpected moments. One such moment came last Tuesday when my previous post A guy's Night out has been selected as "Tangy Tuesday Picks". I had been following tangy Tuesday picks and loved the picks. Thank you so much Blogadda guys.
Okay I had been traveling last week and right now at home enjoying break, family's love, Mom's cuddling, Awesome food (I had been eating mess food for ages I guess). I had been away from blogosphere for really long. Really missing all the blogs I have been reading for so long, and exploring new blogs, but no internet connection :(, and I am too lazy to move my butt to a cyber cafe, but will be back to life on Sunday. Hope you guys having fun!!! :-)
Cheerio
Ravi

A Guys Nightout

(Sorry guys , its too big post to read it in one time, read it it parts, can't help it, I don't know what to curtail, so I didn't)

There could be many reasons for a guys night out like EPL matches, Movies, 12 AM B'day celebrations, night roaming, for no reasons. But for one purpose, they never turn out for what they were intended to, and that is studies! People gather up for a descent group study, and they end up doing everything possible but studies. I had one such funny experience few months back. I was just done with my mid-semesters and that very evening I got a call from a good friend from other college

Time - 7:30 PM

A call from "F1"

Me: Hey! kal tumhara Network management? kitna ho gya?

F1: Dude! need an overview of unit 3 and 4, Help me out yaar!

Me: Okay! come over at my place.

F1: How much time will it take?

Me: Unit 3 and 4... hmm around 3 hours.

F1: Dude even two of my classmates need help, One of my friend is insisting for night stay at his place, if you don't have any problem.

Me: No problem.

F1: Okay I will pick you up in 45 mins, Lets have dinner at some place and then we will study.

Me: Okay!

Time : 8:45 PM

Dinner

F1 arrived at my place, at 8:45 PM,

F1: Dude chale?

Me: Yeah sure.

F1: Ravi, meet my friends Mr. Detail and Mr. Hot (They had very descent names but I would rather call them Mr Detail and Mr Hot.)

And This is how engineering students(Boys) meet first time!

Mr. Details: Oh! ABC college, Nice chicks man! esp. Girls from xyz branch..awesome!
Me: Not really.. I have heard a lot about your college gals..
Mr. Hot: Our college sucks big time, not even junior girls are worth a glance.
(1 myth in engineering: Girls in all other engg. colleges are always better than my college!)
F1: Lets go to Chaudhary ka dhaba for dinner!
Everybody: yeah fine

For next 1.5 hours, my stomach was getting stuffed by a heavy sumptuous meal comprising Chinese, and Punjabi food, and my mind was being stuffed by college bashing,professor tormenting thoughts of fellow eaters. Mr details was giving details about how he was treated by one of his professor.When we were done with both, and about to head for the Mr. Detail's place

Mr. Hot: Yaar I over ate, can we have a cup of coffee, other wise I won't be able to stay up for the night. It will hardly take ten mins more.

I too felt the same and agreed with him, so we headed for CCD.

Time: 10:30
Coffee @ CCD
There is one thing about discussions, with such a sundry of topics, they are never ending, its like a maze, at every junction you get another array of topics to discuss, and it goes on and on. Now we were discussing something better to complain for, corruption,wrecking government system, economy.I just love being at this place, great ambience, aroma of coffee , and happy and smiling people!The other 3 were busy discussing cars.(yeah Govt. system, poor roads, and that led to cars). Mr details was giving details about Audi R8, its engine, doors, speed etc (God this guy loves talking!!) and Mr. Hot was tagging all the cars as "Hot", "Super Hot".10 mins soon converted to 1 hour 10 min, one of the staff came to us requesting if we are about to order anything because its their about closing time. We left and headed for Mr. Detail's place.

Time 12:00 AM

Mr. Detail's Place

Mr. Details place was a typical place where an engineering student lives, although very spacious and lavish.The real harmony lies in the utter chaos. Books, clothes, papers and shoes were ubiquitous. The Laptop lay open in bed visible enough that no body sit on it, its on and definitely downloading something. See typical engineering guy room.
Mr. detail: Guys make yourselves comfortable! (He meant make a space for yourself to sit, by piling up all the clothes & books aside. oh! its all Puma, Adidas, Nike, Levis. Who is he? Prince of Rajkot?? )
Mr. hot: What are you downloading?
Mr. details: Nightwish's old albums. I loved Oceanborn.
Mr. hot: I love Evanescence more!
And then needless to say, for next 28 mins , the whole anatomy of music was argued and discussed.(Thoroughly enjoyed by me, and took a great part in it)

Country to rock, progressive rock, Gothic rock!
ABBA to System of a down
Led Zeppelin to A-ha
Beatles to Blues
Jude Abbot to Avril Lavigne & Taylor Swift
Shaan, KK to Kishore Kumar, Mukesh
Raziya Begaum to Shreya and Sunidhi
Laxmikant Pyarelal to AR Rehman
Dewaana to Bewafa Bhag Do by Agam kumar Nigam
and it went on and on.....

Even the gods of music would have adored, blessed , loved and eventually would have been jealous of them because of their wisdom. This was to continue for eternity until Mr. Detail's phone beeped with a SMS, and by looking at his face distortions I was pretty sure it was from a girl containing three words written in capital letters, not I love you, for sure but CALL ME NOW!. Mr detail asked us to excuse him for a moment. and went to next room. I don't know why we all suddenly got silent. We could here some pleading from the next room

listen toh..Jaanu, Beta I was about to call you.. no I do car.. arrey.. but I know you must have been waiting for 15 minutes. No..I didn't forget you baby..I was with friends,Doll please understand yaar..

It was tough to figure out whether he was talking to his daughter or girl friend.
F1: I better call my girl too, excuse me!

So here we are, divided, guys with Gfs in one room and "Female deprived Happy singles always trying to be unhappy" guys in other room.

Me: I should check up my mails, orkut, twitter & blog while they are gone.
Mr. Hot: haha!! I believe you are used to the situation, they are surely gone for long!

Time 1:15 AM Mr. Detail's Place
Mr. Details and F1 joined us back.
Mr. Details: Sorry guys, she was a bit cranky as I did not call her up for long, she was waiting.
F1: Yeah same here, you know all women are same.
(Oh god Did somebody just say WOMAN?)
and this is what continued for next 34 mins, I couldn't avoid this one too..!
my girlfriend, his girlfriend,simply friends, relatives,female classmates, senior girls, Nursery class teachers, Girls at a party,Girls at a mall, Girls in traffic, Girls on TV, Women Politician (Even Mayawati wasn't spared!),Girl's character, Girl's hobbies, Bollywood Actresses, Hollywood Actresses, polygamy, paramour relationships, why women are more interested in married men?, Krishna, Osho, Geeta Sar, Spirituality, Deepak Kapoor, Meditation, Past, Present, Future!

Mr. Details: Will all this matter tomorrow? You do not owe anything to anyone, you are not here for ever, You brought nothing, you will go with nothing but your Karma !
Me: Yeah Right! care to exchange your room and stuff with mine? Guys what are we doing? Network Management?
F1: Yeah Its 2:00 AM yaar! Let us study now, just put on the radio on a little volume, so that we don't feel sleepy, and guys no discussions over music choice.

Finally books were opened and we started studying.
Mr. Hot: Ravi, just give us a quick overview of unit 3 and 4.
Mr. Details: No guys, we still have time, you just teach us topic by topic.
Me: Bhiyo.. Content doesn't matter, no body bothers to read. If you make all labeled diagrams ,write key terms and write anything then , it will be all.
Mr Details: Fine! (this was said very reluctantly)

When you stay up for a whole night, there comes a phase of 15-17 mins, when there is an intense urge to sleep, if you overcome that phase, you can stay up for as many hours as you like. Mine had arrived, just after 10 mins of study. Song in the background was playing "Saanso ko saanso mein ghulne do zara from the movie Hum-tum"

Me: Guys can we put off the radio?
F1: You don't like the song?
Me: I do, its just not the right occasion, I am feeling too sleepy!
Mr. Hot: Me too.
Mr. Detail: Yaar Let walk for a while in the garden, breathe fresh air, that will charge us up for studying.
All agreed!

Time: 2:15 AM
Garden near Mr. Detail's place
Garden was well lit and maintained and breeze was filled with jasmine's fragrance. It was soothing and calm.
Mr Hot: Tell me one actress hotter than Rani Mukherji in the movie Hum-Tum?
Me: You mean Isha Koppikar? she was in a cameo role.
Mr Hot: Nope yaar! Kiran Kher! man she looks super hot!
Rest of us busted out laughing, okay she might be cute and adorable with her dimples, but Hot?

Mr. Detail: Do you know Hum-Tum was totally copied from Harry Met Sally?

I prayed, that F1 and Mr Hot too has seen the movie, other wise this guy will give every detail of the movie, that they can even narrate the story to their grand children without ever watching it!
But alas! he had not! Mr detail even remembers what Meg Ryan was wearing in the restaurant scene and what She and Harry Burns ate!

And here we go, we started chattering, on any random occurring topic. Movies was sheer winner followed by women and music, then cricket, Tennis, football, EPL, F1,NBA, politics, System, Spirituality and so and so. I don't know where to put women tennis. I always fail to understand why women tennis is so popular, is it because it is WOMAN tennis or it is woman TENNIS.
F1: yeah even Hillary duff came to Madurai with her mother to take blessings Babaji.
Mr. Hot: oh! man she is super hot!
Nobody dared to ask Hillary or her mom!

and it went on..

Time: 3:15 AM
Garden near Mr. Detail's place
May be I am addicted..I am out of control.. Someone's cell phone rang, breaking our spell of chattering.

Mr. Hot: Hey its striker calling!

F1: At this hour? Poochh kitna pad liya?

Mr. Hot finished the conversation, and came back to us.

Mr. Hot: He too is nil bate sannata in Network management, he was asking if we want to play counter strike at his place, they are playing it on the LAN with 3 systems tonight.

Mr. Detail: No way we can't go, we need to clear this one, class teacher's subject, all sessional depend on this.

F1: Ravi, can you give us the brief summary in 1 hour then?

Me: yeah, I guess I can, let us start then.

Mr. Hot: Not now buddy, after game, let go and kill!

Time: 3:40 AM
Mr. Striker's place

Mr. Striker's place was like a party place, Mettalica playing loudly, and people eating,drinking & playing counter strike. After introductions like previous one, all settled to play. No body knows where next one hour gone.Suddenly game stopped working, some low connectivity problem.

Mr. Detail: We need to learn Network Management to fix that up.

Time: 5:30 AM
On the way back to Mr. Detail's place.

Its almost time before sunrise, People had started taking their matutinal stroll.

F1: We have wasted whole night, fat rhi hai yaar ab.. Ravi start telling us all the important points.

Me: okay Let us continue from where we had left.

and I continued my summary.

Time: 6:30 AM
Mr. Detail's place.

Me: Okay next is RIP, RIP stands for Routing Internet Protocol.

Mr Detail: Fcuk details... You explain the diagram and its properties in short.

I gawked at him and rest of them laughed almost for a min.

Mr Detail: I will have to get pass, otherwise my GF is gonna kill me.

Aww.. doll kills too.. .We studied for next 30 more mins.

Time: 7:15 AM

Jain Poha Centre, 56 Shops.

How can an Indori night out end without Pohe-Jalebi.

One week later

A call from "F1"

Me: Hey man, wassup?

F1: You did great job that night.

Me: Aww.. It sounds so creepy. You cleared the subject?

F1: Yeah, 11/20 You were so right, no body reads the content but unless conspicuous.

Me: why?

F1: Mr details got 3/20, He wrote RIP stands for REST IN PEACE!

oh! man we couldn't stop laughing for next 2 min.

Life, Chaos and New year!

It seems like an age since last I logged in my blogger account. I had been busy, busy for nothing. Few words define my life in the past one month- Internal exams, External exams, GRE, Semester exams, Projects, Applications, Sleepless nights,Crazy days, and Missed (marriages, birthdays and movies). To sum it up life had been a real chaos.
I always failed to understand the concept of choices. Some people say its choices which makes us what we are. Are we really empowered to choose? I never faced choices in life. An answer will always be there waiting for me, free from all vagueness, crystal clear. I never weighed the other option as if a supernatural force guiding me and making my decisions. Whether its career or life, small decision or a big one, choices never confused me. Although consequences of those decisions were always hazy, they confuse as well as amaze, they hurt as well as please me, and sometimes bring a feeling of remorse and sometimes elation. I discovered something about my decisions, I always chose things "Which would benefit me " over things "I love to do". I always made my decisions in the anticipation of good future, sacrificing my present and reminiscing my good or bad past.
Now It's time I break the shackles of past, and get rid of encumbrance of future. Its time to liberate, its time to breathe, time to live. New year new life new hope. Time to choose "Things I love to do" over "Things that MAY benefit me!"
New year wishes to all of u!!
Love luck and care.
Cheerio :)
Nice words: If you are depressed you are living in past, if you are anxious you worry too much about future, if you are at peace, you are in present!