PYAAR KE PAL...

I went back to school a few days back... took a silent walk down all the roads, I still remember every small corner of the place... and all along the stay there I was humming...



To someone I said this song would say it all... And that's all I say... :D

I'm sitting some 22 hrs. behind a NEW start and I'm so relaxed and feel so good about the fact that, no matter how bad we screw up each time, every time, we get to start all over again... the 5's... the 10's... the NEW's...

HERE I COME 2009 (still running... :P) TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS AND I'LL BE SPINNING AROUND WITH YOU... 60 times a minute... 360 times an hour... do the rest of the math yourself... :|

TAKE POSITIONS... PULL UP YOUR SOCKS... SET ONE FOOT BEHIND... tik...tok...tik...tok...

Of course guys... See you on the other end of the symphony... :D

IF YOU'RE DYING TO READ... HERE I GO... MY FIRST TAG...

Zindagi ne zindagi bhar gham diye... jitne bhi mausam diye sab nam diye... :P
I never thought I'd be doing this but, hey, such is the scheme of things... the unexpected happens only when you're not REALLY expecting them to... guess that's what the word means, right??!!

1. If your lover betrayed you, what would you do?

move on man!! and if you call being with some other man 'betrayal' I've always said this and I'm saying it again... AS LONG AS SHE'S "WITH ME" WHILE SHE'S WITH ME, I wouldn't really care!! And once that happens (being WITH ME) I'll take care of the rest. So give your brains some thought on that, you'll figure out the design!!

2. If you could have one dream come true which one it would be?

quite honestly, to make it BIG with my swimming!! I wouldn't really want all my talent to go waste!! :|

3. Whose butt would you like to kick?

NONE!! Yipee!! I kick myself once in a while and that's it. No butt whipping for me, that's not my specialization either!!

4. What would you like to do with a billion dollars?

I'm a practical man. Give me the money and I'd have thought about it just then!! Smart eh??

5. Will you fall in love with your best friend?

what if the person I love also happened to be my Best FRIEND?? Big deal!! But otherwise, my best friend turning into my lover, well I've never been there yet. So, I'm a practical man and choose not to answer the question straight until I'm there. :D

6. Which is more blessed: loving someone or being loved by someone?
any other options?

Being loved by someone you love!!

7. How long would you wait for someone you love?

I'd ask her right away. If yes, live HAPPILY EVER AFTER, if NO, move on man...

8. If the person you like is secretly attached, what would you do?

Its a secret!! Let it lie. Don't even bother telling/asking me!!

9. If you could root for one social cause, what would it be?

EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN BORN FROM THIS MOMENT. Good education is the beginning of THE END of all the problems in 'whole wide world'. I believe.

10. What takes you down the fastest?

An exhausting 6km swimming workout in one session

11. I loathe most in people?

The PASSION to be/impress SOMEONE else!!

12. What's your fear?

Can there be a fear of fearlessness??

13. What kind of person do you think is the person who tagged you?

There are two (that I know at least!!)
1.divinediu : Smart girl!! :D I guess!! Someone who believes in having a personal space, a sacred place. I mean no mixed up priorities. Right??
2.Sydney : Someone who's planned out a complete year that's to come (which takes a large piece of the mind to even think about!! appreciate it!! :D) and is having FULL THROTTLE fun with the whole idea of finding a mate for herself!! :P Let me reassure you, you ARE looking for someone from this planet and the lists are being run through... the code will find a match and the lights will go green...
3.Dolphin : speaking heart!! :D another guy who believes in "STOP WONDERING. START WORKING" What say??

14. Would you rather be single and rich or married and poor?

I say, is it too mach to ask for being married and rich??

15. What is the first thing you do when you wake up?

I suck water out of my sipper, make my bed and FIRST brush my teeth (EARLY IN THE MORNING...)

16. If you fall in love with two people simultaneously, who would you pick?

What are they?? Cherries to pick?? I'll never fall in love with two people simultaneously. NEVER. Its upto me and my senses, and I say, NEVER. Its MIND OVER MATTER :|

17. Would you give all in a relationship?

ALL but not my personal space. I don't mean keeping secrets or anything but just time for me to sit back in my rocker and listen to Floyd under some blue light... and stuff like that. Its okay if she joins me with her own passion for them, not sharing mine.

18. What's eating you right now?

No issues what-so-ever. I was born to be HAPPY...AND COMPLETELY FREE OF ALL TENSIONS IN LIFE :D Its just the way you look at things... just chill!!

19. Do you prefer being single or in a relationship?

Its like saying would want to be a BABY or grow up to be a MAN. No matter what, if I'm hangin' in there long enough, then I'd be both right??

20. Tag six people.

I HATE THIS PART!!! CAN I SKIP THIS?? OR CAN I TAG 6 OF MY ALTERS?? CAN I VIOLATE RULE #2?? Oh c'mon!! Exceptions can be made!! I know. You're all such "sweet" people!! :D But if you INSIST, I'll think about it...

Until later, see you when I see you... :)

S.O.S

My seat belt was fastened and the stewardess got a BIG PACKET of TAMARIND CANDY (the small round balls, wrapped two in a transparent wrapper!! great jaw breakers!!) SPECIALLY FOR ME because she thought I was sweet!! But I correct her saying, "I'm SMART, not SWEET!!" :|:D I took a few tam. balls and then the Old Lady diagonally behind me takes all the remaining candy while I'm talking to my brother (who's sitting behind me) and when I look at her she had a tortoise look on her face!! And we started racing across the runway, despite the fact that three of my other cousins didn't board the flight yet and some old man in the plane was yelling at the Pilot to take-off already!! And my plane just skid off the runway because an idiot came across the plane, on an ACTIVA (I couldn't see who was driving!! :P), at the take-off point and also an old man was crossing the runway from ahead of the plane!!

So, my Pilot loses track and goes out of the way and circles all the small lanes in Bangalore, in a circular path, to get back on track!! And I, along with my brother, get off the plane near my house(the plane's still trying to get back on track!!), which happens to be on the radial path of the plane(??!!), to pick my other cousins up!! They're baffled to see me outside, and tell me their actual plan was to miss the flight!! We had a good laugh, while the rest of my family, who're also in the plane, were all worried if we'd make it on time!! And just when we were leaving home, with the plan that we'll have Ice Cream at Corner House and then see if we can STILL board the plane...

Mr.HC messages saying, "...Go through DATA MINING TECHNIQUES!!!" WTF?? You broke my dream!! But that's alright!! Wonder what more I'd have seen if I dreamt on!!

RISE AND SHINE, PK

Okay guys, I'm going on a break here (don't show signs of relief yet!! :|), I'll be back soon. :) Very soon... :D

So, until later, see you when I see you... :D
And Merry Christmas or whatever it is you'd be doing that day, have fun!!

Day 27 : What NEXT?? (PART - 3)

Well, I got into one of the Kendriya Vidyalayas, Picket, the best here (for education(what am I doing there??!!) ) and it did take a while for me to settle into this whole new culture. People from all places and all that.

But guess what (like What next?? :P)
At a point in life which could shape a major part of your career, I still stuck to doing what I do best. :D
I'm still swimming. In fact harder than ever before. I can say, the this was the BEST patch in my entire swimming career. I was SOOO HAPPY with my performance, I ended up with BIG plans to make a career out of it!! But yeah, REALITY...THE b.i.t.c.h... It's never REAL yet its the biggest thing ruling your life!!

Now, like I said, I'm Captain of The Ship and am in full charge. So, again I fall asleep in classes, I walk out of school whenever I please, and all I remember doing in my Biotech Lab was staring at a BIG FISH which never moved an inch. I mean it was alive for the two years I was there, it was BIIIGG, but I NEVER saw it move. Yeah it changed places, but it NEVER moved. It was one of my cousins who saved my ship from sinking during my Biotech exams, who has a Doctorate in some field in Zoology and I was there for him to handle amidst all his busy schedules. Man!! Am I a ROYAL pain or what?? :P THANKS DOC!! This could probably be the FIRST TIME I'M ACTUALLY THANKING SOMEONE!! MAN!!! I LOVE THIS PLACE!!

Now, here's where I faced the toughest question in life... PEOPLE ALWAYS ASKED ME "WHAT NEXT??" WELL, I DIDN'T QUITE KNOW THE ANSWER MYSELF, SO I ASKED PEOPLE "WHAT NEXT??" SO, THIS WAS GOING ON FOR A WHILE AND SOON ENOUGH THE WHOLE WORLD WAS ASKING EACH OTHER, "WHAT NEXT??"

Then I told myself, I was responsible for the DEADLOCK and so answered the question myself.

One last time, I asked myself, "What next??"
I said, "YES. I'll go on and do SOMEthing in life!!"
Now, if this is the kind of answer a guy gave to the BIGGEST Question in his life, I'd say, "SURE!! This guy's going SOMEwhere in life!!

And here I am, at the place I currently am. Vasavi College of Engineering. Again one of THE BEST and I HAD to be there. (Get used it and move on...!! :|:P)

Now THIS is where, the TRUE colors of me showed up or in fact ARE showing up. I'm STRONGER (both in body and mind), I'm rediscovering myself at each new juncture. I definitely couldn't say (some three years back), I'd be the guy who's sleeping in class during an Assignment (not the surprising part) and wake up all of a sudden to just stand and thrash my lecturer on his views, on life and more!! My folks no longer ask me, "What next??" They know I'll end up doing SOMEthing, though I strongly feel they don't know the MAGNITUDE of SOME here, not yet, but they'll find out soon... :)

And whoa!! Its not over. Not yet. I'm still swimming. :D The intervals are a little longer this time (the LONGEST being some 7 months or so), but I'm still there, doing that. And I hope something good comes off a good mans best talent. And oh please, don't pour in wishes for this now. Its just a possibility, I'm talking of here. Relax. Deep breath. Frown a little. Smile a lot.

And like always, see you when I see you... :)

AFTER THOUGHT 1 : Is 3 an unlucky number?? Now I know why Ocean's 13 wasn't as good as 11 and 12!! Whatever, LIFE still GOES ON... :)
AFTER THOUGHT 2 : And I would be a complete JACKASS, if I didn't THANK my folks for the best thing that I am. Of course its because of ME, but still, Thanks folks!! Whoooph!! I can't believe I just wrote that!! And I'm not sure I'll get my folks to read this, but its at least written. LIFE STILL GOES ON... :):):)
AFTER THOUGHT 3 : WTF is this?? Thanks giving day?? Is it 27th of Nov. ANYwhere on the planet?? :|

P.S. I look back at the ME that was 5 minutes from now, 1 hour back, a month ago, an year, a lifetime.... at what I AM, all that comes to mind, "I am Jack's complete lack of surprise!!", Fight Club. Good going PK. You'll definitely go SOMEwhere good in life!! :D:D:D

This is the longest I'm taking to hit the PUBLISH button, I sat back for 15 minutes. And... CLICK

Day 26 : What NEXT?? (PART - 2)

So, the races kept coming and I kept swimming... I swam better, I went higher up the ladder... Oh yeah, schooling (primary and secondary) happened between swimming... At school, the day began with tasteless plain milk with sugar and scum particulate all in it!! GROSS... I drained my milk in the sink and asked the guys, "What next??"
They said, "The FUN part...:|"
I replied, all excited, "Oh really!!"
They said, dryly, "Completely"
I only understood a little while later what they meant!! Life got more complicated...
Social Studies, English, Hindi, Sciences, and how could my darlings leave me alone?? MATHS AND HISTORY. History was all grand and fine, but Math, I must say, I really screwed it up!!

After classes, I asked, "What next??"
And the Big Lady told me "We're going to the Dining Hall for Lunch"
And we kept walking and walking in a crooked fashion, but still they called it a "line"!! After walking for an hour or so, we finally reached the Dining Hall. Grand place, huge tables, we had lunch. I hogged so much, it took me longer than what it took me to get to the Dining Hall back to the class!!

On my way back, I wandered here and there, Into The WILDness of the "forest" within school!! I also came across my elder brother in the play field, he was an year elder. And I thought I could shoo off any bullies by telling the bullies his name. (Yeah, I heard of Tom Brown's school Days by then!!) It was only later that I learnt, if anything, I had to keep myself away from HIS friends!! Bloody rogues!! :X

Between races, they asked me at school, "What next??"
I replied, "Another race soon..."
I asked Dad, "What next??"
He said, another tournament, another tour, and off I went to almost all the states in India except J&K and a few on the East. I've only been to Assam and Bengal.
So, if you just forgot, I'm STILL SWIMMING...

And between all this ACTION were my classes...
Classes in general were fun. For some strange reason they always got me to sit in the first bench and I ALWAYS managed to fall asleep sitting there. :D They wouldn't even wake me up!! They thought, "AWWW!! Poor fellow!! Must be really tired after that hectic swimming schedule of his!! AWWW... Let's carry on class..." And I love my teachers for this ONE THING!! All I remember asking my friends was, "What's next??"
They tell me what period it is... I put the old books in, take out the new ones and zzzzzzz......

ART CLASS: I never slept much in ART Classes. All I remember drawing till my 10th standard was either trying to emulate what my brother drew or THE STANDARD - TWO MOUNTAINS, RISING SUN BETWEEN THEM, FLOWING RIVER, BIRDS TO THE RIGHT, A TREE TO THE LEFT, AND A HUT ALONG THE RIVER... There's at least 10 of these drawings each year in EVERY ART BOOK!! And I drew it each time with the same PASSION I had for it when it was first drawn... AND ALL STUDENTS OF HPS ARE PROUD OF IT!! :D


And finally I was out of school. I asked Dad "What next??"
He said, "College..."
And from this point onwards, I took command. If its my ship, I might as-well be in COMMAND.
I said, firmly, "NO. MORE SCHOOL" Now really hoping the skies wouldn't come down on me!!
He said, easily, "Fine. Go ahead..." (Aye aye captain!!)
So, I'm completely baffled but happy that i have two more years of Higher Secondary, in school.
STILL SWIMMING... :D


Now, here's where the FUN part begins!! So, I'll tell you the remaining tomorrow...

Until later, see you when I see you... :)

Day 25 : What NEXT?? (PART - 1)

One very fine day, I was born. And that made the day very auspicious... let's start by saying, for me at least...

Mom spoke to Dad, "What next??"
Dad replied, "Let's give it our best shot!!"

They agreed. I learnt how to walk and talk... I even talked while walking and I was talking so fast, I realized, I was even running!!

The first thing I asked Mom, still running, "What next??"
Mom replied, "I dunno. Go to school. Learn to read and write. Play a few games..."
I replied , "Great!! When does the fun part begin??"
Mom thought, Dream on kiddo!!

So, I ran to school (pre-primary) (of course!! My folks take 1 step and that was equal to 3 for me!!), the first day was all sweet talk. A new dress, a BIG bar of chocolate, new pencils, my own stuff. I felt like I ruled the world!! And then, The MATH LADY entered my life... :( She gave me work... I slogged hard... and finally finished it and looked up... it was afternoon!! But I thought, well, its all over now!! And then the Math lady commands, "What next??",
I said to myself, "What more COULD it be??"
She said, "Open your diaries and note down your homework"
I started crying... "AAAHHHH....MOMMMY TAKE ME HOME....AAAAHHHHHH"
She walked to me, showed me her cane and said, "I hear ONE more sound from your mouth and I'm going to whip your butt with this. :| I'm your MOMMY and DADDY in school"
And so, the suppression began...

After school, Dad came to pick me from pre-primary and I ran like an Ostrich and I was all excited. So I asked, "What next, Dad??"
Dad replied, "How about a sport to keep you fit??"
I replied, "Sure. Sounds great!! Which one??"
Dad replied, "Swimming!! :D"
Even before I could say anything... SPLOOSH... "...brrr... Pull me out.... slrrr... please!!... I want to live....uhhuhhu... more!! I'll drown to... brrjjhf... death here!!!"

After a while, I got used to this. I learned to add and subtract, multiply and divide numbers (the toughest thing yet, in my whole life!!) I learned how to swim. It was all going good. One day, I swam my best and asked Dad, "What next??"
He said, "You've come this far anyway... how about competing??"
Before I came to my senses, the Lady was instructing me on the starting block..."You have to swim two lengths of the pool... go touch and come back... you start on my GO..." and shouted... "TAKE YOUR MARK...GO"
And the race began, everyone was going, so I went too... I swam and I swam and swam... BANG... APPLAUSE...
They tell me I finished third!! Hmmm... not a bad start PK!!

To be continued...

Until later, see you when I see you... :)

I would really suggest you go and read this post by Divinediu, if you haven't already read it... Just read it. And Diu, thanks for sharing this one!! :)

P.S. Classics for All Seasons - Spring. MP3-128kbps-torrent

Day 24 : Classics for all seasons - Spring

I've been asked this Q many times. My answer varied from Floyd to Pearl Jam to Metallica to Frank Sinatra to Guns N Roses. Its not that I love one more or the other less, it just hard to choose which ONE GOD from this religion!! But if there's one complete Album far away from all this, it would certainly be - Classics for all seasons - Spring. If you already heard any of these then you know what it feels like. Else, you can TRUST ME on this one. No matter what genre you otherwise belong to. This is a global class!!

Holborne: Almand from Elizabethian Dance Suite

Prokofiev: Allegro con brio from Symphony No. 1 in D major

Haydn: Finale: Allegro from Concerto in E-flat major

Vivaldi: allegro from Spring

Boccherini: Menuet

Mozart: Andante from Symphony in F major

Pachelbel: Canon in d major

Schubert: Scherzo: Presto from Piano Quintent in A major Trout

Haydn: Allegro from Symphony No. 31 in D major, Hornsignal

Sanz: Rujero y Paradetas from Suite Espangnole

Beethoven: Presto from Piano Sonata No. 6, Op. 10l, No. 2

Orff: Carmina Burana, Dance from On the Lawn

Vivaldi: Allegro from Mandolin Concerto in A major

Handel: Allegro from Water Music, Suite in F major

Mozart: Finale: Presto from Serenade No. 9 in D major, Posthorn

See you when I see you... :)

P.S. Do me a favor and listen to the ones in red. The after effects will be evident right here. I'm sure most of you would be running downloads once in a while. So, just add this torrent to that list. I'll seed it at max. speed for you!! Here's the MP3-128kbps-torrent- its 48.8MB.

P.P.S. The videos in the links are not quite the same as the mp3 itself!! :(

Day 23 : TWO NIGHTS AND THREE CUPS COFFEE

The week that just went by was by-far, one of the best times I had in a loong time... Thanks to my creative-self and all my cousins who were there....

First, we started off by going on a cooking spree (of course the eating had to come along!! :P). Varieties of paratha, just name anything and we were ready to make parathas out of it!! Great curries that'd go along... too many cooks and yet a decent job!! Well, to begin with, Saturday Night, we started with Pav Bhaji, and had hot coffee at B'lore Cant Station. We savored the Pav Bhaji on the terrace. Now, you should know, the kind of cold B'lore throws at you this season (~13-14 I guess). And apparently that was the day the moon was closest to the earth in a long time, I came to learn this just the day before yesterday!! So, coming back to the night, after Pav Bhaji, we just lied down on the mattresses on the terrace... and wow!! Now finding a clear sky in Bangalore is such a rare thing and finding it when you really didn't ask for it or expect it is even more fun!! And I got to see 5 shooting stars of the 6 all of us saw. PK's score was the highest over there (5/6). Was that a sign or a mere coincidence or was it just me??!! I'll take it as a sign you call it whatever!! :P

The warm summer afternoons
The cold winter nights
The new life of spring
The bright eyes of night...

I wonder though, what it is, that life wants
I wonder though, how to scale those new heights
I wonder though, what's for dinner tonight
And I wonder no more, for it is the little things in life...
That are a Heartful Delight

I set out after the night's old
Grooving to the biting early morning cold
My muscles really tight
The acids ripe and might

As I lay on my back
The sun long gone, and night-bright
My face frozen in the moonlight
Wondering if there could be a better sight...
Oh Life!! You're such a Heartful Delight!!

And then the following day was again a whole new episode!! A great breakfast (pesarattu a.k.a green gram dosa), only to be followed by a great spread at lunch and finally, the best part... dinner. It was Harry's call, to set up a bonfire for dinner, and PK is always running all-over to execute the plans (specially his!!) So, off we went, collecting a few dry sticks from trees along the street, with people coming out of their houses and staring at two people, well-dressed and speaking good English, picking sticks and wondering what they'd make of them!! We even flicked two dry coconut branches that were thrown outside some house!! :P And then, dinner over the bonfire!! I mean how hard is it to set something on fire!! :P The smell of burning ghee over the sticks was mesmerizing!! And I always, as a child, loved taming fire, I used to run away onto the terrace with match boxes and start lighting one stick after the other and finally just burn all of them with one stick... whoosh... amazing feeling!!!

And that's not all, the best part yet is... do you remember the Hindi movie where Johnny Lever celebrates all the festivals at weird times of the year?? This was something like that!! We celebrated Diwali after dinner!! Or whatever you call lighting crackers on a non-Diwali day!! Why not?? It was a full moon day, good mood, everyone together, and I was like, sure, lets light up the sky a little more!!! And after the blast, again a drive to the Railway Station in an old Classic Premier 118-NE, my primary objective being, to sip fresh Hot Coffee!! :P

And to add to all this, Harry got me to hear this...


And so, the days moved on and before I actually woke up, it was already yesterday and then I realize none of this was a dream and so I'm still sleepy today!!

Just, see you when I see you guys... :)

P.S. Most of the poem's what I wrote during my exams, part of my prep!!, and how good it shows what was on my mind then and what I experienced now... :| And I, like God, do not play with dice and I don't believe in coincidences... V

Day 22 (or 25!!) : 212°

AT 211 DEGREES,
WATER IS HOT.

AT 212 DEGREES, IT BOILS.

AND WITH BOILING WATER,
COMES STEAM.

AND STEAM CAN POWER
A LOCOMOTIVE.

These were the first lines of a book I read, 212 Degrees, and from here everything just went ONE STEP upwards... It was about what one more step than what is required, could do to you... Should say, I jogged for 5 more mins. at full speed after reading this!!! :|

Until later, see you when I see you... :)

P.S. I found this more important than the activities of the last 3 days that kept me busy!! I'll tell you if you insist!! :P

Day 21 : Think... (out of the box!!)

PK : "I always wondered... Why don't these guys employ a 100 people for 5 days instead of 10 people for 50 days to finish all these projects?? (referring to the ongoing Metro project and some pending flyovers at B'lore and all the places in general)"

Until this point in life, I always thought I was so right with this idea and why people can't see this??!! And then...

Harry : "Dude, its like saying you can have a baby in one month with 9 mothers!!"

PK : (Completely baffled)"Gee!! Why couldn't I look at it that way!! So true!! You're too good dude!! :):):)"

Harry : "And there's a lots of other things too. Its basically the funds, they keep coming in small packages and so the work goes on in small packages."

PK : (still in a state of shock about himself and staring at Harry with a feeling of awe)

Harry : "But yes, a little more work-force may speed up the process but not compress it to the extent you think it would."

PK : (now, that's some consolation at least!! Think PK, think, think a little like you've never thought before!!)

See you when I see you...

Day 20 : UNITED AGAINST TERROR...

Its all happening right here. On my land. And no its not hard to believe. I've been prepared to see this day since long. Very long.

Finally a session goes off without any blame being thrown at each other in the INDIAN PARLIAMENT. Mark these words, for this could be the beginning of something very big and very different. Or maybe not!! But, let's hope it indeed IS. Like Barkha said, "We are very proud our Parliament today" and I'll add, even the Politicians. I just hope this isn't a one day thing and goes on in the days to come. I know it sounds a little too much, but hey, who thought today would be like it was??

For a change, I liked the way Mr. Advani spoke, the same good old PM, apologized to the people of his Nation (he at least did that!!), the Home Minister accepted responsibility and identified that it is indecisions that are affecting our system, the Defense Minister asking Pak from a firm question, and finally, Rahul Gandhi saying, the LAAL BATTI should not be such a focus anymore if the life of each Indian really mattered. I'm sure non of them will ever hear a word of this. But, as people, we share the joy in seeing you be civilized, "I" appreciate it.

If we stay UNITED against this one issue, at least, we would have one problem lesser to worry about. Then we'll pick another issue to UNITE and slowly, who knows, we might be THE UNITED STATES OF INDIA. Sounds great right?? The hope lives on...

See you when I see you...

Day 19 : My affairs with Railway Stations

This goes way back to my pre-primary schooling days. I wake up as usual that morning and my folks (my dad getting my socks on my feet and tying up my shoes!! Man!! what a memory PK HAS!! :P) tell me we're going out of station in the evening, by train. Aur yahiin se choote meri gaadi!! I was in school when all of a sudden my mom shows up with my lunch. I remember she was spoon feeding me and answering some random question I kept asking about the trip. It was a family visit to Tirupati.

And then my train of thoughts left the station, only never to return!! I was all excited about going by train!! I didn't know it then, but I know it know. Its all the chaos, the drama, the excitement, the complete ACTION package that excites me about Railway Stations. I have traveled a lot on trains to go various places for my swimming. Should say, I've been to almost all places except J&K!! And that too, I will go soon, no matter what!! Back to the action at stations... I just like watching all this action and am not a part of it. I don't like running around on Railway Station premises, its a peaceful experience for me. I haven't a major incident of this order that I can think of. Nor would I be running in the future. Yes, when the need arises, like maybe my girl's forgotten to take my goodbye kiss while going out of town, I'll run up to her and throw her the kiss, but otherwise, naah, I'd never run. But here's the GODDESS reason... I love having HOT COFFEE at Railway Stations. Preferably one from Fresh 'N' Ground, if not, one from a Coffee Day bar. I just LOVE the cappuccino from Fresh 'N' Ground, sugarless... I could ask for this coffee as my last wish on my death bed and I wouldn't give a damn where I'd reach in my afterlife, for I, already have found my Stairway to Heaven, my cup of steaming hot, cappuccino!!!

Coffee being the primary reason, I also like the wait for the person who's coming. No no, don't jump to conclusions. Its not because I already miss them a lot. Its because I'd have picked up some random scene on road while driving to the station or some incident last night that gave birth to a new theory of my own and then, I'm dying to find someone to tell about it!! I really don't care if the person who is being talked to listens to or not, understands or not, I'd just go on and on and on anyway!! :D I guess I'm the only guy who appreciates delays in schedules at Railway Stations (not while I'm on train, while I'm waiting at the station) because I just walk along the platform with my hands in my pockets, stare at the old monumental structures, listen to fellow passengers call the people who're to come by that train and crib about how the delay is annoying them... I love watching people creating a panic situation out of NOTHING, while I, on the other side am standing with a large exclamatory mark on my head, like "huh, really!!"

Somehow going by air to any place doesn't involve this kind of fun. I only remember being excited for the first two or three times. And then I started reading books. Its all calm, with just the huge traffic jams on the way to the airport and hence the whole idea of leaving a couple of hours earlier to the airport and then wait... those guys do not even make grammatical errors in announcements at airports!! Its boring. The only time your heart may be pounding is when you know its a bad weather out there and you touch down safely. That's it!! :|

P.S. I'll put up something soon, something I've written a night before I was to go to a station to pick someone up. Its not something I wrote on my own, I copied it, but I wrote it on paper.

Day 18 : Wet Slippers!!

I like to keep my things clean. Very clean.

I like to keep my stuff organized. Very organized.

I like my stuff, and only I like to use it and with care. Very careful.

I like to keep track of what I'm doing and I don't like leaving behind trails for whatever reasons. Very discrete.

Now, its not really my problem if someone calls this OCD (Obsessive-compulsive disorder). It would be a disorder if it affected my way of life, more for me and maybe a few others. It would be a disorder if it lead to degeneration of my mental abilities to perceive. It would be a disorder if I would be chasing something that can never be achieved!!

But, all this, is just cleanliness. A lit bit of the higher order, but that doesn't change a thing about the person, or say something's wrong with him.

They tell me, as a child (till I guess I was 7-8), I used to carry my slippers on my head wherever I came across wet land. Big deal!! I can still remember they were some light-brown colored slippers. I do not like the idea of mixing dry land and wet land. No. No no no. Why would I want to leave behind my footprints anywhere and everywhere?? If I did so, that would be bugging me all day long!! But then I don't really care about all this while I am in and around a swimming pool. That place is meant to be wet. But I have a greater issue over there!! The idiots don't lay large enough tiles to suit peoples walking styles. So I have to jump from one complete block to another without stepping onto two blocks at a time. I know I wouldn't shrink into the ground if I did that. But then, that's just me!! Its just being stable. I make sure my footgear is absolutely clean whenever I'm wearing it, both inside and outside and downside!! But its just that I choose not to set my foot down wherever its wet but sometimes it just happens!! I'm still being clean... I love rains. I love either to watch the rain, or get wet in it. Not stick my fingers out of the balcony and say "WOW!!". That's incomplete. That's unfair to the rain. If I'm driving and starts raining, I generally get completely wet, than run and hide. (What say Hit??) That's fair. I'm still being clean...

Another episode is one that I encounter in kitchens. Everytime I'm cooking I keep cleaning up the platform, knives knowing that I'll have use them again. But see, the cleaner the place is the better you feel and the better you cook. Harry (my cuz) keeps the place clean, he's a great chef too. Its obvious!! I generally see that places where men cook (not professionals mind you), the cooking is all very vague. Largely diced vegetables, oodles of oil, completely messy surroundings and a few other such things. Why should it be that way?? I do it neat and clean. So the gustatory sensation you have when you eat my food, is obvious!! :P You would be left craving for more!! Double :P

Everytime I swim I make sure my initial workout is just what its meant to be (a min. of 1KM). I never come out before that. Every morning after I wake up, I make my bed and then leave.* Everytime I sip water out of my sipper, I make sure only I finish all the water in it. I like to have a count you see. So guys, the next time you ask me for water (I'm always carrying a large bottle) just make sure no one else around us is carrying any, else you can borrow theirs. :|

All of these things that I do are with a clear picture in mind. It sure may seem to be like an impossible task to others but, it works great for me.

So, the bottom line is, there is no OCD in cases like mine. Its OCO (Obsessive Compulsive Orderliness). What's wrong with being Obsessed?? We're all obsessed with life, aren't we?? So, chill guys!! If you're the kind who's left wondering after reading this, then you're just not so clean. If you're not, then you're in the OCO Club guys and we're all very proud of it!! :):):)

See you when I see you... :)

*PK's THEORY : If you're not the kind who doesn't make his/her bed after you wake up, then you have other thoughts on mind => you have thoughts on your mind => you didn't have a good sleep (as a sleep is meant to be a thoughtless state, that's what you're supposed to make it) => you have thoughts on your mind that are beyond your conscious control => you are messed up!!

P.S. If you jumped here directly without reading the whole post, then I redirect you back to where you left it. Its long, but you started reading it, so you better finish it!! :|

Day 17 : WHAT IT TAKES TO BE NUMBER ONE

Just read this book a two days back. And I'll not say anything beyond just pasting the exact same speech of Vince Lombardi... READ IT AND YOU'LL KNOW WHAT IT CAN DO...

Winning is not a sometime thing; it´s an all the time thing. You don´t win once in a while; you don´t do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.

There is no room for second place. There is only one place in my game, and that´s first place. I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay, and I don´t ever want to finish second again. There is a second place bowl game, but it is a game for losers played by losers. It is and always has been an American zeal to be first in anything we do, and to win, and to win, and to win.

Every time a football player goes to play his trade he´s got to play from the ground up-from the soles of his feet right up to his head. Every inch of him has to play. Some guys play with their heads. That´s O.K. You´ve got to be smart to be number one in any business. But more importantly, you´ve got to play with your heart, with every fiber of your body. If you´re lucky enough to find a guy with a lot of head and a lot of heart, he´s never going to come off the field second.

Running a football team is no different than running any other kind of organization-an army, a political party or a business. The principles are the same. The object is to win-to beat the other guy. Maybe that sounds hard or cruel. I don´t think it is.

It is a reality of life that men are competitive and the most competitive games draw the most competitive men. That´s why they are there-to compete. To know the rules and objectives when they get in the game. The object is to win fairly, squarely, by the rules-but to win.

And in truth, I´ve never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn´t appreciate the grind, the discipline. There is something in good men that really yearns for discipline and the harsh reality of head to head combat.

I don´t say these things because I believe in the "brute" nature of man or that men must be brutalized to be combative. I believe in God, and I believe in human decency. But I firmly believe that any man´s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.

P.S. I know a PS is not appropriate but I'll just say, this speech is over 40 years old and it still aligns you (me for sure!!) with the track-to-be from the track-we're-on!! I'll leave you with this... See you when I see you... :)

"...I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT ANY MAN'S FINEST HOUR - HIS GREATEST FULFILLMENT OF ALL THAT HE HOLDS DEAR - IS THAT MOMENT WHEN HE HAS WORKED HIS HEART OUT IN GOOD CAUSE AND LIES EXHAUSTED IN THE FIELD OF BATTLE - VICTORIOUS." - VINCE LOMBARDI

Day 16 : GRANDMA!! Lite Teesuko!!

For all the guys who didn't get the title, "LITE TEESUKO!!" translates to "LITE LE YAAR" also, "TAKE IT EASY!!"

Lite Teesuko : This is something I've been hearing from my first year of Engineering. My lecturers too use it!! WOW!! Their context is a little different though. You go to them in a crisis and ask them to help you out, they say its too late and so..."lite teesuko"!! Now its the mantra I chant the most. All of us doing our engineering or who have already done it down here, chant it. Its the BEST lesson in LIFE my Engineering course could offer to me, for sure (I was always that kind though, I just found the right words here, THE MANTRA)!! And I'm sure there thousands more who would love to agree with me. What say folks??

Back to Granny tales... Think about this... Can you, at once, recollect a situation in life when you've been completely "helpless"?? I can, very quickly!! All the nasty encounters with my Grandfolks!! I mean its hard to get a few things across the table to my folks and these people are their folks!! Its IMPOSSIBLE!! There are these times when they are completely not okay with a few things we do. Like food habits, the times we choose to go to bed, the times we go out... and blah blah blah... And then there are times when they totally disapprove a few things we do... and then take-off time!! If my folks yelled at me, I can give it back to them, right back, and even convince them on the complete opposite of their initial assumptions!! Its the easiest things I can do now-a-days!! :P

But when its the Grander ones we are encountered by... naah, its not so easy!! I'm only referring to Grandmoms here. Grandpas are completely cool!! They don't give a damn as long as you don't come in their way. See!! They're MEN too!! :P But when Grandmas are throwing hot shots at you, there's not much at least "I" can do!! :( I've completely grown past the stage where it would offend me... I really don't bother myself with these warmer times now. Coming from Hyderabad, Hyderabad main hum aisich hai yaaron...sab kucch hum full lite lete yaaron... koi karein agar G mein dum toh...Dil pe mat lo... :P

On the contrary, of late, I've taught my Grandma a new mantra recently... THE "LITE TEESUKO" way of life!! My folks already know it pretty well and are doing great with it so far!! So, everytime there are signs of the steam building up... sploosh... "LITE TEESUKO!!" comes to my rescue. They still do get past it once in a while. But that's unavoidable I guess. So, all of you, teach the Gen-W the "LITE TEESUKO" way of life. It works great for me (only for short periods of time though!! but still, comes in very handy at times..:) )

And if anyone chooses to disagree on anything I've said, then again, "LITE TEESUKO"!!! :P No no... just go on... I'm always listening... I'm dying to hear!! :P

See you when I see you...

P.S. Listener discretion is advised for listening to the song. Its something from Hyderabad Blues, a Kukunoor movie. Loads of gaalis in there!! Also, I caught my first lizard today, a baby lizard (it was some 3/4th inch long). And also, Harry and I played with a centipede first thing after I woke up this morning!! It had 40 legs, stupid thing was slipping along the ceramic floor and thinking it was going somewhere!!

Day 15 : "ROADRAGE"

The short dark guy with a pot belly, standing in front of me, his ass facing the crowd that's building up on my side... waving frantically to the guys with their "left indicators on" to GO LEFT and the guys with "right indicators on" to go right!! WTF?? Is that not what we would do otherwise?? And the crazy fucks go and turn-off the signals which were doing at least better and start performing their fucked-up YOGA styles in the "MIDDLE OF THE ROAD"!!!

I am talking specifically about Bangalore here. And I guess any other major city would have the same issues. Guys, all those of you who drive back home from work/college through these shit roads and traffic and still keep your cool towards the end of the day - HATS OFF to you all!! I was driving through a few roads yesterday and GOD!! Pile-ups everywhere!! I once saw Bangalore (some 5-6 years back) and thought even we at Hyd should start having one-ways to regulate traffic better. Thank God the guys at Hyd thought otherwise!! One-ways mean SHIT as of today!! What's the point?? There's a good amount of confusion all over the place and also good traffic!!

Adding to all this are the stupid fucks who HONK the ass out of the guy ahead of them knowing the fact that the signal is RED and that RED means STOP!! Stupid MFrs, didn't they tell you that when they gave you a license?? The only two people who bothered stopping on a red where there was no free left-turn were me and some Infy employee (I saw his ID hangin'). And on top of this the stupid fucks come and honk on you and sometimes even yell or make faces (fucked-up faces).

And whatever it is, the algorithms they use at signals, they're just not good!! One side is ALWAYS piling up and the other is a clean as a golf course (just the grass carpet missing!!). And my cuz drove me through an underpass that was exactly wide enough to fit ONE car and it was one-way. Did they ever hear, "If something can go wrong, it will. All at once"??!! I said, "this is nothing even for now, forget 5 years later!!" and he quickly says, "Hell!! This would've been nothing even 50 years ago!! Forget now!!" True. I really wonder what those shit bags are PLANNING cities back there but, I know for sure they're fucking it all up beyond repair!! Fuck you all cops, the ones waving to us where to go despite our indicators making it clear, the ones with the pink slips going around just to create panic (I say this because they INSIST we strike a deal that's beyond the scope of the slips they carry around!!)

P.S. "Roderage" I wish I could use this cheat on roads to blow the fucking cops off the roads (only the fucked up ones)!!

Ah yes!! I left my language filters at one of the fucking signals back there!!

Day 14 : And who says its easy to be a MAN in THIS world??

I've seen. I've been seeing for years. I heard. I've been hearing for years (a lot). I said (very little over the years). You have NO idea how a woman feels!! And I always used to wonder, yeah right!! unless one of us is from Krypton!!

Just leave all your prepossessions behind, and read what I write. A man, also found in various forms (a.k.a. metamorphosis) as, a son, a grandson, a great-grandson, a lover, a soldier, a husband, a father, a grandfather and a great-grandfather. Now don't say even woman have this grand stuff. No!! Here, its completely different.

My son is going to carry on my legacy (free, bonded labor!!) (chiraags, we're called!! blow us hard and we're gone!! into the wind!!).

"Oh, its okay!! My husband will drop you home, won't you honey??" (Now, the poor guy is so overwhelmed with "honey" that it is not until he drops his wife's girlfriend off, he realizes, okaaayyy. something just happened to me a little while ago, though I'm not able to comprehend the structure of what it was!! (You were bound by the blinding shackles of the sweetness of honey, you jack-ass!! :P).

Baby cries, "don't cry baby!! Papa's gonna take us out tonight. :)" (And the poor guy is at work thinking how he's going to laze around after he gets back home!!).

Even worse, "Grandpa's going to take you to the park in the evening. No!! Not grandma, she can't run so much!!" (At least she can carry Grandpa back home!!)

And there's a lot more of this stuff!! Poor guy is trying real hard to convince his mom he still cares and his wife that he's listening to all she says. I can bet there has been more than one Prime Minister in India (the rest of the world too) who must have bit his tongue real hard while at office when he realized he just missed one of, his wife's tea parties!! She's like the steam coming out of the milk kettle, steaming, for her husband, who also happens to be the PM of a nation (like she cares!!) missed another one of her tea parties!! Though I can bet Madam Indira Gandhi never must have found herself in such a situation. I wasn't even born when she died, but still, I just know. Forget any such incident she wouldn't even have made such a commitment!! Feroz must have said, "Indira how about a movie tonight??" and she would be like, "Feroooozz!! Are you out of your minds!!". Poor guy would've been thinking real hard if what he asked her out was for a "movie" or a "booze party"!!

On a more serious not, not so serious, but still, expectations everywhere man!! From Manmohan to common man, its a man whose expected to do it all!! Not that he does anyway!! Girls, honestly, (don't even bother answering, but still) do you make more calls to your guy or do you receive more calls from him?? Fine he's desperate, but not all the time!!

And this heart thing really gets my thought process running, flying, zipping... Pinch me and see if don't "ouch!!". "all you guys, you don't have feelings... mcchhh. no. no, you don't... ummhmmm...". I say, "Chal hut!!". You stand good in your place and me in mine. No swapping. No weighing. Just the way we are.

Having said all what I said above, I now say, "No. Its not a lot more easier to be a man!! And no, its not as easy as you say!!". I definitely don't dare say its easy being a woman!! You are the one who can create and very well destroy!! Now these are the two hardest things to do in this world, the second could be a lot easier at times. So, I love you all for that!! All men love all women for that (this love is called respect/chivalry, etc). And you guys really need someone to throw your pillows at. So we're even. You give a little something, and you hold onto a little something. Fair. Fairly square. What we all need to agree is, each one has our own set of problems individually and a lot more joy together(!!). You do your work, I'll do mine. In the process we'll end up doing a WE and that's the way itsmeant to be!! You are you. I am me. And you and I are just meant to be!! :):) (WOW PK!!)

See you when I see you folks!! :)

Day 13 : A CLASSIC - CLASSICAL NIGHT... Live in concert - Jethro Tull & Anoushka Shankar

Bangalore : I could hear the faint sounds of the sitar as I was walking into the Palace Grounds for the concert by Jethro Tull and Anoushka Shankar. I thought it was just a record of hers being played (from a record!!)... but I was a little shocked to realize it was actually she, who had already started performing!! Here, I say a 'little shocked' because that shock was overcome by a bigger one... the was she tampered her sitar, if I may call it so... WOW!! She played it faster than flapping wings of the slowest Humming Bird!! And the best part is it was all pure music to the ears. She gave her music a perfect closing note. Breath-taking is how I refer to it.

And now, the members of Jethro Tull started playing in the dark and slowly came to light, led by Ian Anderson. I need to make something clear here. I never even heard of this band until two days before the concert. So, obviously I'm not familiar with their music. However, I just heard a few of their bests in the morning. Decent. Despite the fact that I knew not much of the band, there were parts of the show which were completely amazing!! The way Ian handled the lead vocals, the acoustic guitar and the best part, his flute. He was just a cuckoo at work with his flute. Amazing!! They played all of their bests starting way back from the 60's. They did ROCK. And remember, he's 61 years old. The guy was the most active guy on stage. The way he grooved to his music... Rock Style.

So, after Jethro Tull's classic rock and little bit of jazz, the best part of the show. Jethro Tull and Anoushka Shankar. Now this was really amazing!! The fusion was just perfect. The way Ian and Anoushka performed the same music (Aqualung - listen to know!!)on the flute and the sitar, together... divine. It was at time that I saw Anoushka really slither her fingers across the strings of the sitar... I felt like I'll go hug her once before I leave or atleast hold her fingers tight!! :P Only to express my appreciation (which wouldn't really matter to her) or to get a feel of the fingers that created enormous waves of joy within me (this I knew, would not happen)!! :(

Finally , they announced they would take off, we were walking back and my cuz (Harry, the one who bought me my ticket!! :) ) said "See they're going to come back and give one last piece...all bands do that!!" and *string* I hear the sitar. Anoushka jumped into her place and started the best performance of the night!! She was like a Goddess for a few minutes!! In all, it was a great classical experience for me. One of my best. Try listening to this one... amazing!!

P.S. Thanks for the ticket Harry!! :)

And IE sucks to the core!! Why am I even using it!! Anyways, see you when I see you... :)

Day 12 : Is baar nahin...

Is baar jab woh choti si bachchi mere paas apni kharonch le kar aayegi
Main usey phoo phoo kar nahin behlaoonga
Panapney doonga uski tees ko
Is baar nahin

Is baar jab main chehron par dard likha dekhoonga
Nahin gaoonga geet peeda bhula dene wale
Dard ko risney doonga,utarney doonga andar gehrey
Is baar nahin

Is baar main na marham lagaoonga
Na hi uthaoonga rui ke phahey
Aur na hi kahoonga ki tum aankein band karlo,gardan udhar kar lo main dawa lagata hoon
Dekhney doonga sabko hum sabko khuley nangey ghaav
Is baar nahin

Is baar jab uljhaney dekhoonga,chatpatahat dekhoonga
Nahin daudoonga uljhee door lapetney
Uljhaney doonga jab tak ulajh sake
Is baar nahin

Is baar karm ka hawala de kar nahin uthaoonga auzaar
Nahin karoonga phir se ek nayee shuruaat
Nahin banoonga misaal ek karmyogi ki
Nahin aaney doonga zindagi ko aasani se patri par
Utarney doonga usey keechad main,tedhey medhey raston pe
Nahin sookhney doonga deewaron par laga khoon
Halka nahin padney doonga uska rang
Is baar nahin banney doonga usey itna laachaar
Ki paan ki peek aur khoon ka fark hi khatm ho jaye
Is baar nahin

Is baar ghawon ko dekhna hai
Gaur se Thoda lambe wakt tak
Kuch faisley Aur uskey baad hausley
Kahin toh shuruat karni hi hogi
Is baar yahi tay kiya hai

By Prasoon Joshi

This poem reflects the feelings of many Indians after the Mumbai attacks. Lets hope, ki is baar nahi...

Video : www.ndtv.com

P.S. Realized there's some problem with the streaming... go watch it. Watch the last 10 minutes of the show. Simi just screwed it all in the end!!

Day 11 : JAI HIND!!

I've been observing this for the last few days. I don't hear much of this on news or even in people's conversations. I saw a National News Channel yesterday where there was a discussion about the attacks, first-hand experiences and tributes (Stop guessing folks!! It is what you think it is!!). I was just hoping she'd close with a "JAI HIND". It did't come!!:( Maybe it was very obvious and the feeling was there all over the place but still, saying it would have kicked in more of the feeling in everyone. No complaints though!! They are doing their job and doing it right.I know each one out there loves their nation as much as anyone else. But, just getting ourselves to say these two words gives a sense of completeness, confidence, or call it whatever.

Now, if you say, "nothing's going to come off it just because we say it all the time!!", then try this, choose one of your closest friends, tell him/her that you'll be calling them a dog/bitch/rhino/hippo anything more creative that you can come up with, for sometime to come. And do this in front of their parents, friends, strangers. There would be a certain point when they'll say, "That's it dude. No more". Now, if you believe these words which weren't meant to mean anything and still annoyed you at some point, then the fact is, words always are meant to mean something. Something.

After all, why leave out the cause while we talk about the effects?? I think, people should stop greeting each other with God's names or whatever it is, if they choose to greet anyone and instead just say a "Jai Hind". Or maybe they can add the God's names after the Jai Hind!!

Jai Hind and see you when I see you...