Tagged!

Here I am back to pitch-in after a real long time. Thanks to Kanchan for tagging me and giving me something to write about!

Here Goes The Rules:
1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules on your blog.
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

I, still, am not in a state to fulfill the Rule 4 and 5. Excuse me for that; I have spent enough time searching for someone whom I can tag but no success! Probably, it will take more time, till then, let me get back to telling you about my quirks..

1. I strive for solitude. Every day, I need some time when I am alone because perhaps, that's the only time when I am truly myself. But I am also a gossip-freak and can't stand loneliness for very long.

2. I used to dream of spending my vacations in some village. That life excites me a lot and that's a dream not fulfilled yet.

3. I love sports/ music/dance/ writing/ drawing/ painting a lot. Though, I am not very good at any of them but that has been my choice for my life and I believe I have enough years to get my hands on all of them.

4. I have no favors or priorities about anything except few. So, I would mostly oppose people to get the data to determine my inclination. :)

5. Whatever I have achieved is what life has offered me with lack of tough competition. Interestingly, most of the people don't know about my failures and if I tell, they assume I am trying to be modest! :/

6. My knowledge about my surroundings have always been poor. I don't know enough about my state or even my town. I have been too lazy to roam around and have travelled very less.

Well, I have tried to keep all of them as unspectatcular as I could.

Cya-
Madhusudan.

Awaarapan Banjaarapan

Was searching for some soft music; happened to listen this one and went on listening it for long.
Few of its lines describe my state of mind so nicely..

1) Awaarapaan Banjaraapan
Ek Hala Hai Seene Mein
Har Dam Har Pal Bechaini Hai
Kaun Bhala Hai Seene Mein

2) Jaane Yeh Kaisi Aag Lagi Hai
Is Mein Dhua Na Chingari
Ho Na Ho Us Par Kahin Koi
Khwaab Jala Hai Seene Mein

3) Kahan Kise Ke Liye Hai Mumkin
Sab Ke Liye Ek Sa Hona
Thoda Sa Dil Mera Bura Hai
Thoda Bhala Hai Seene Mein

4) Khanjar se haathon pe lakeerein
Koi bhala kya likh paaya
Humne magar ek paagalpan mein
Khud ko chhala hai seene mein

Now whether it is current state of mind or it always remains like that, is a really tough question but I anyway don't strive for its answer. I enjoy it, both this state of mind and this song.

Decisions??

(Content taken from a mail "An Interesting Insight into Decision Making")

A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use while the other unused. Only one child played on the disused track, the rest on the operational track.
The train is coming, and you are just beside the track interchange. You can make the train change its course to the unused track and save most of the kids. However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused track would be sacrificed. Or would you rather let the train go its way?

Let's take a pause to think what kind of decision we could make................
Most people might choose to divert the course of the train, and sacrifice only one child. You might think the same way, I guess. Exactly, I thought the same way initially because to save most of the children at the expense of only one child was rational decision most people would make, morally and emotionally.

But, have you ever thought that the child choosing to play onthe disused track had in fact made the right decision to play at a safe place?
Nevertheless, he had to be sacrificed because of his ignorant friends who chose to play where the danger was. This kind of dilemma happens around us everyday. In the office, community, in politics and especially in a democratic society, the minority is often sacrificed for the interest ofthe majority, no matter how foolish or ignorant the majority are, and how far-sighted and knowledgeable the minority are. The child who chose not toplay with the rest on the operational track was sidelined. And in the case he was sacrificed, no one would shed a tear for him.

The great critic Leo Velski Julian who told the story said he would not try to change the course of the train because he believed that the kids playing on the operational track should have known very well that track was still in use, and that they should have run away if they heard the train's sirens. If the train was diverted, that lone child would definitely die because he never thought the train could come over to that track! Moreover,that track was not in use probably because it was not safe. If the train was diverted to the track, we could put the lives of all passengers on board at stake! And in your attempt to save a few kids by sacrificing one child, you might end up sacrificing hundreds of people to save these few kids.
While we are all aware that life is full of tough decisions that need to be made, we may not realize that hasty decisions may not always be the right one.
"Remember that what's right isn't always popular... and what's popular isn't always right."

Everybody makes mistakes; that's why they put erasers on pencils.

Going Back Home!

Well! I am going home and won't be active on blog from 12th to 21st of April, for sure!

Till then,
Kuch toota-phoota:

It has been too long..
My eyes are crying,
To get some Rest.
And mind saying,
I've already given my Best.
So, I'm going back,
To my sweet home,
Same in the way,
A bird returns to Nest!

See you all after coming back!!

Don't cheat yourself!

Last night, I was sitting in the stairs, staring at the starry sky and enjoying the cool wind. Everything was usual until this thought struck to my mind. All of a sudden, so many such instances popped up in my mind and I was blank. Instances related to myself or anyone whom I have known!

Why do we prefer to be dishonest to ourselves while making few decisions?
Why do we create the useless debate between heart and mind in the discussions where heart should always be given priority?
Whom do we want to prove that we are correct with our decision?
Why can't we just go out and pursue our interests?
Why is it so tough? Why do we cheat ourselves???

Our heart is always clear enough about our interests but somehow, if it looks tough to pursue them, we will go with what our mind says "To pursue the easier/well-tried options and attempting to convert them into our new interests." For the moment, it looks such a great decision but later in our life, we will realize how wrong it was and how much adverse impact it had caused to our lives!

We will find ourselves at a point from where we just don't want to move ahead because the journey becomes so tiring; there won't be a sense of satisfaction/motivation. Moreover, the path which we want to take from there would have been left far behind and we will be left with no option other than regretting as we will be a failure to ourselves. Then, it just doesn't matter whether people treat you as a success or not, you know the reality better than anyone else!

The key is to make the right choices at the various junctures of life. Don't think of bypassing the challenges and don't take a path just because it is more challenging too. Don't think about people around as in what they will think about your decision. It's your life and you better know how to live it. People's thoughts keep on changing but you may not have an option to change your decision later. Be honest to yourself.

Remember, these are the decisions which may make you a success, a satisfied person, a winner, a legend!
The sooner you realize it, the better it is.

For the Fool's Day.

I was the fool; I am a fool. But I don't have any problem letting it be that way.

We are Friends!

It was a long due. I, of course, don't pay much attention every time I receive an email/SMS related to friendship but the times I do, I realize that I don't stand good on few of the benchmarks to be a friend to anyone and neither do any of my friends do. Well, even I would forward the same email/SMS to others but that is different part of story. :)

So, to summarize the various requirements of friendship I have come across:-
A) Friends are supposed to share their secrets.
B) Friends are supposed to be available for each other in their good and bad times.
and a lot more such requirements..

In today's world, you can't really trust a person for your secrets howsoever close you may be. I don't feel like sharing few of my secrets with anyone. And I don't see any point in that being a need for friendship.
And as far as being available for each other is concerned, it depends on the priorities at the moment. I will rather expect my friend to understand that. Of course, even I won't be expecting that from all of my friends.

To me, a friend is a person, with whom you can talk about various things of your life frankly. You should feel good in talking with him. There has to be a sense of respect in friendship; respect for the emotions and thoughts of each other. Differences are bound to be there among the human-beings but the better part is that you always have something to learn from every other person. Friendship should aim in development of everyone, it should be a learning experience. And the very important part is there should not be any lies in friendship whatever the circumstances be. One has to rely on the belief-factor of friendship. No need to mention, there is always enough room for the fun with friends.

Well, now, I do feel that I have few friends and yeah, I am always looking for more. Wanna be my friend??

Samvedana

Guys,
With the last post, I received few good and inspiring feedbacks which motivated me to provide you the next improved attempt. This one is a serious one (you are not allowed to laugh this time). I have put a lot of work in this though it may not seem at the outset. It is the first time, I am realizing how the simple words can express so deep and intense feelings.
A couple had got married 6 months back. The poem is meant to express the feelings of the widow after the recent demise of her husband.
What to look for :-
1. The intensity of the emotions increasing with each para.
2. Use of simple words to generate the emotions.

बीती यादें, मीठी यादें,
अधरों पे हँसी, लाती यादें|
कच्चे वादे, कोरे वादे,
कभी ना होंगे, पूरे वादे||

तनहा रातें, सूनी रातें,
सन्नाटे से, करती बातें|
भीगी आंखें, गीली आंखें,
नमी से धुंधली, तकती आंखें||

बिन तुम जैसे, निष्प्राण हूँ मैं,
जिंदा लेकिन, बेजान हूँ मैं|
आना चाहती हूँ, पास वहाँ,
जाने फिर क्यों, चलती साँसे||
जाने फिर क्यों, चलती साँसे||

-मधुसूदन

Poetry...

Well, It was the friday night and the lights had gone. Now, Me and my flatmate Mayank deviced this method to enjoy ourselves. We started with some really wierd poems and then finalised on this. Now, this is the other fact that both of us were laughing our life out when we read it back. :)
Read on..

विगत स्मृतियाँ मस्तिष्क पटल पर कई प्रश्न छोड़ जाती हैं,
कोई कहता है स्वार्थ जिसे, कुछ कहते हैं आजादी है.

कहते थे वे हैं सखा घने, सुख-दुःख के भी वे साथी हैं,
अंहकार के साए में, अब नज़रें भी नहीं मिल पाती हैं.

मिलना-जुलना सब बंद हुआ, रिश्तों में घुटन ही बाकी है,
चंद लम्हों में सब बिखर गया, यह स्वार्थ बड़ा ही पापी है.

-"मधुसूदन एवं मयंक"

Set your priorities right!

Recently, I received this mail which, in a way, helped to get me back to my life.
Hope, you will love it..

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed."Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else---the small stuff."

"If you put the sand or pebbles into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your parents.Visit with grandparents. Spend time with your friends. Take time to get medical checkups. Take someone out to dinner. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked."
The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.

Now, I know what I have to do! :-)

Energy Management!

Please, I am neither writing about some environmental issue nor trying to unleash some of the scientific concepts of energy (I anyway don't have! :) )

It was a saturday (This is mostly the best day of any week for me; until someone else makes some other day special :D). I was talking to Ting (my good old friend) and he enquired about some of the plans, both of us thought about in our college (He does that in every meeting of ours). And like every time, I just cursed this professional life saying that it doesn't leave any time to think about anything else. He unconvincingly dropped the issue; though I understood his plight.

Well, the conversation went on for hours and I enjoyed it as always. But somehow, this time I was thinking seriously about Ting's question. Do I really not have any time to think about anything else? Hey, that can't be; that has never been the case. I can compromise in my sleep-hours to gain time. But then, why am I not thinking about those plans?

Then I realised that, it's not the time. It is energy to think which drops down to zero by the time, I return from office. I never wanted that to happen. I can't afford such a loss for my personal life. I was shocked. I had to find the ways to get around the problem.

I know if I get into some bug (that's how they call it in the industry), it is always difficult to stop myself from giving all I can (Don't take that as an attempt of self-praise. Believe me, you should not be like that in all situations). I think, I will need to change this to maintain the work-life balance! :)
Moreover, I can always think of the ways of regaining the energy after office hours. Guys, any ideas how to do that? Help!!!

Where am I ??

Guys! (If etal anybody is reading it)

I promised to be regular in my last post but see, I took almost 2 months to be back :-(

I was just thinking, why couldn't I be regular?? Reasons:-

1) Hey, the gap between my last two posts was 4 months. Now, it has been reduced by whooping 50%. :-) Great improvement! Isn't it??
[Not Convincing etal.]

2) Ok. My last post was actually on 1st Jan. My promise went off just like any another New-Year Resolution. So, the problem was in the date. Does that convince?
[No way! Rather funny. Anything else?]

3) Phew!!! It was not like, I never ever felt like posting anything.
I write something; keep it unfinished; save as a draft; and by the time I come back to finish it, it has been too late to post that. :-(
I write something; am about to post it but then, wait... why should I tell all this stuff to people around. The kind of introvert I am, I will rather not post it.

In that case, should I scrap this blog? No! I won't.

I know, I have something to share. Next post to come soon.. Okay.. This time, I define "Soon" as maximum 2 days! :-

Cya-

But The Memory Remains! (Contd..)

Ronit: While doing one of the course in our second semester , I was pretty confident about making good grade in that course right from the starting, the reason being that I found that course interesting. I was quite quick in grasping the concepts there and it looked like a cakewalk..

Me: Wait.. Wait.. Wait... So, you couldn't make it and started crying. That is pathetic, man! These things don't matter a lot.

Ronit: Hey! Hold on. I know the extent till which these thing matter and neither am I that stupid to cry for any trivial matter which you seem to be assuming.

Me: Oh sorry! Carry on.

Ronit: I never realised when I became so over-confident about that course. In the first test, I didnt get good marks. My score was 28/60. I gave the answer sheet for recheck and with the amount of over-confidence I had, I was surely expecting a good increase in my marks. Moreover, the test average was also very low to keep my confidence intact.

Then came the second test. I knew that i haven't done anything great even in that but was expecting nice score just for the right approach in all the questions.

Next day, I got the rechecked sheets of first test and there was no substantial increase in my marks. I felt bad for some time but just ignored it and waited for second test's paper. This was the time, my illusion started weakening.

Then after a week, I got the marks. I did terribly bad. This time, I got only 16/60. I performed below the average. I was totally shattered with what I had done with that course. I kept my calm, again asked for rechecks. I talked to my instructor, he just refused to increase the marks. By then, I could feel some wetness in my eyes. It was embarrassing and i didnt feel like persuading him any more. I asked him to talk about my paper with the instructor incharge. He accepted the recheck request and asked my instructo to re-evaluate the paper.

But now I was out of the illusion. I was not expecting any good increase now. I walked to my room, and then my tears bursted out. I wanted to be slapped. I was sitting in my room with the door closed for more than an hour doing nothing. That was the time of self-realization. As per my expectations, my marks got incremented only by 3, making my sum as 19/60. People around me were asking me to chill out and consoling me saying that the course has not been handled properly. I just smiled unwillingly.

I was preparing well then onwards. Third test was easy. I got good marks but then everybody got. My relative performance was not getting improved. I was not in a mood to compromise, for me it was the challenge of a lifetime. I knew that i will still not get 'A' grade but i was concerned only about performing well in that particular exam to prove a point to myself.

The final exam (compre) paper was good. I felt that everything i learnt, was getting utilized in some way or the other. The answer sheets were distributed after three days. It was going to be my encounter with my same old instructor. He didnt remember my name; he had no reason to. He called the name, i went to collect the paper. He shockingly asked me if that was my name. I affirmed and he gave me the answer-sheet. I had got the maximum marks in the compre. I took the paper, left the classroom without speaking a single word and rushed to my room. That was the only place where i could probably have exclaimed my feelings. I was on my knees thanking GOD, dancing in the air and finally lay down on the bed looking at the roof with tearful eyes. I, then, browsed through my answer sheet; few tear drops fell on that and I still have that with me. That time, I just didn't bother about my grade or anything else in the world. I had achieved what I wanted.

Me: Holy shit! Tera 'A' grade banaa ya nahin??

Ronit: It doesn't matter much. The number of things which I got to learn from this one incident was more than enough learning for one engineering semester. Those are the values which I will keep following throughout my life. Waise 'A' grade bhi ban gayaa tha. GOD helps those who help themselves!

Me: I can understand why you couldnt tell me it that time itself but after knowing this now, I really feel proud to have such a friend.

Ronit: Oye, Tujhe Coke se bhi chadh jaati hai kyaa? Chal ab thodaa so le yahin pe, subah nikalna hai.

Me: Ab neend kahan aani hai.. Chal yaar campus mein ghoomte hain..

(And both of us left!)

Sorry Guys for taking so long time to be back on my blog. But this is not just me but BSNL also which need to be blamed for this. Anyways, I will try to be frequent now onwards. Cheers!

But The Memory Remains!

Disclaimer: The inspiration of this story comes from a true event during my BITS stay, I have changed the names and other finer details. So, please refrain yourself from making any guesses about the person and other related stuff and just take it in a positive sense! :)

College Life, you say it and the first thing which comes in the mind is its unpublished synonym "Fun Life"! Well, the person about whom I am writing here also had his share of fun in his college life but then the word 'FUN' means different to different people.

Ronit Sharma - One among the toppers of UP Board! A feeble body, glowing face, friendly attitude and reluctant to talk to girls! I met him first in the Mathematics-I class and then, we became good friends and still are. He wasn't good at sports; played a subtle part in the defeat of his team in a cricket-cup semifinals, used to get some sprain in his fingers whenever tried to play Volleyball, though somehow he used to manage playing Tennis, TT and badminton. He wasnt a guy highly involved in some Club/Department's work and his acads were quite good but not so exceptional!

The story comes from the discussion we had in the night before leaving the campus after 3rd year exams. We both had to catch our buses early in the morning and after depositing beddings and other belongings, we had no other option than to sit in the hostel lawns. In that silent night, sitting with few packets of 'Lays' and bottles of 'Coke', we were having some casual discussion.

Me: Ronit, Tu ghar jaakar kya karne waala hai?

Ronit: Kuch socha to hai nahin. Doston se milungaa aur next sem placements ke liye bhi prepare honaa hai.

Me: Ohh yes!

(Then again the dark silence prevailed which was getting broken by the sounds of sipping the coke in and eating the chips..)

Me: (just to have some fun) yaar tu ek baat bataa, you always look so cheerful, how do you manage to be even after all these tensions?

Ronit: (smiling) To kya tu mujhe rote huye dekhna chahta hai?

Me: Aisa to kabhi ho hi nahin sakta naa.. tu kabhi roya bhi hai kya BITS mein?

Ronit: First time, when my parents were leaving this campus after our orientation. Thennn.. ya, once in those ragging sessions too. Anddd.. haan, ek baar aur, but usko lite le..

Me: arey bataa naa wo bhi..

Ronit: No yaar.

Me: Please....

(Finally he told it and then i realized what a person he is! It made me his fan and taught me few lessons for my life.)

To be Contd.. (On Reader's demand!)

Tickling your funny bone!

"TING, TONG and ME!"

Disclaimer: These few conversations are totally real and do have resemblance with some living characters. They are meant to make you laugh. If you don't, i pity you! Your senses are not at their places and you are a miserable soul on this earth!!! :D
----------------------------------------->>>
Conv1:
(Roaming around in the Mountain View downtown with TING and TONG)
TONG: Hey Ting! Its your job to click our snaps today. So, just do it.. okay?
TING: What?? Have you gone nuts? I will click you? You were telling yes'day that you are a great photographer. So, you do it!
TONG: Yes, I am! But I am not free to click your damn face. I love to take some snaps of nature and sceneries. You can click me, my face is scenic. :D
TING: (Controlling himself) Ya.. your face is scenic. Bloody.. Black Mountain!! What a scenery!!
(ME and TING laughing out loud..)
TONG: *#$**#$**%^&*&^
---------------------------------------------->>>
Conv2:
(Roaming around in the Mountain View downtown with TING and TONG)
TONG: Hey Ting! Why are you turning right? Thats a damn gully! Just be on the main road.
(TING doesn't listen and keeps walking and TONG follows)
After sometime..
TING: Hey! I think, we are on some wrong path. Let's go back to the main road!
TONG: (Angry this time) When I was saying the same thing, you just dont give an ear! Now you are repeating the same shit!
ME: (To TONG) Gotcha! Finally you agreed that you speak nothing but some piece of shit!
(TONG gives some angry looks)
TING: (To Me) Give me a clap man!
(Both of us laughing!)
---------------------------------------------->>>
Conv3:
(Finished Lunch in an Indian restaurant and coming out..)
Receptionist: Are you guys working in the nearby office of google?
TONG: NO!
(After coming out)
TONG: Did you guys notice that?
ME: What?
TONG: I looked like a google employee to that lady! :)
TING: Hey! She just asked if you were working in google. I guess, your face resembles some sweeper in that nearby office! But you still have a reason to be happy. Even that is an honour for you! :D
(TING and ME laughing..)
----------------------------------------------->>>
Conv4:
(For Dinner in a chinese Restaurant...)
Chinese: (To TONG) Welcome! aap yahan se teesri table pe jaake baith sakte hain. hum thodi der mein aapse order lene aayenge.
TONG: (To us) Hey guys! I didn't understand a damn. What is he saying? I think, he is talking in Hindi. I dont know Hindi.
(After Listening that, Chinese spoke the same thing in Tamil too, and then..)
TONG: Hey, I understood now. Did you guys see the tamilian strength in USA?
(TING and ME looking at each other's faces!)
ME: Embarassing!!!
------------------------------------------------>>>
Conv5:
(At lunch Table in nth street cafe, Nvidia, SC)
ME: Hey Ting! Did you get a haircut done today?
TING: Yes! I did.
ME: Thats it. You know, The nvidia's share prices are proportional to the length of your hair. It got decreased today because of your haircut.
TING: Ohh! is it so? Dude! you might have told it to me before.
TONG: No use! It is actually inversely proportional to the length of my hair. And as now, I am totally bald, there is no hope for Nvidia! Ha ha haaa...
TING: Ohh.. If it is so, then I can still see some hair on your hands! Madhu, we have a hope.
(TING and Me laughing and TONG just looking around..)
-------------------------------------------------->>>

Independence Day!

They say, it is our 60th independence day! And then they celebrate it! and HOW??

Change your orkut profile photos to india-flag (After all we want to show our unity!) Very nice way, isn't it??

Then they start the polls in various communities. Are you proud to be an INDIAN?? Everyone says 'YES'. Wow! Great people of great country!

C"mon Guys, Get Some Life. Every person in this entire world is proud of their own country! So what great are we doing being proud of our country. Everybody has reasons to justify the glory of their country, so do we. But just think, Are we really united?? Are we really doing something to make the mark of our country in the world?

Let me just tell you a short incident happened with me on our this 60th independence day..

(Having a communication with an INDIAN in my office at SC, USA. I am not telling the name of the person for the obvious reasons. Let me call him 'TING')

ME: Hi TING, How r u?

TING: Gud! tell me.

ME: I understood that where the things are going wrong in the implementation done but still, it doesn't justify the way the system is behaving! Do you have any ideas?

TING: I do have some hazy thoughts that few guys at bangalore were trying to understand the same thing earlier but they couldn't, probably they were having some other priorities that time. you can ask them. Have a con call tonight with them.

ME: ohh! but tonight it won't be possible.

TING: WHY??

ME: It is our independence day and in india, we have a holiday for that.

TING: Ohh.. It is 15th august!! Okkk

(ME just wondering and looking at his face)

ME: Ok! i will have the con call the next day. Happy Independence day! It is already 15th in INDIA.

TING: (Just smiles, no response!)

So, this is just one incident. Guys! people are leaving our country.. and then they just dont remember it! Even the one who are in INDIA, never get a time to do something for the country and we are happily proud of our country.

Lets take an oath to do something to make our country great such that not only INDIANS but other nationalites also admire our country!!

Jai Hind!

So Here I go..

Hello World!
So, this is the day (rather night) when I finally start this thing called blogging!!
Mind you, It is not that I am highly interested in doing this blogging stuff but i dont find anyone around me with whom i can share my thoughts..
So, now i use this place to spit out all sort of stuff happening in my mind (dirty mind)! Please bless my blog with some useful comments from time to time! :D :D

C ya!