Excerpts from a book - mY LiFE

End of the wait finally, after 12 loooong years....

2007-06-03T07:49:00.000-07:00

Imagine a guy, a young chap of 23 outsourced to planet Mars, walking in the red-sand hot deserts, looking for some serious change (vacation on another planet??) and to quench his thirst, in urgent need of water (why don't you get Coke/Pepsi there I think!?!? I always see a business opportunity in adversity - signs of a bijnej tycoon..eh?!? :)) You get the picture?? (Ok now don't start looking @ all the pictures around you and in your neighbor’s houses). That is how I was feeling bcoz, holidays (some "cool Rajasthani" holidays) for me were as far as the distance between earth and mars, and were something that I desired as if to quench that deep thirst.

So when I finally flew (over the clouds literally in my flight) to Rajasthan after breaking the 12 long years of vacation-less vanvaas (exile) last year, it was some fun to say the least. And to top it up, went again this year too, after a year of PGSEM, which had made me forget that there were something called Saturdays and sundays in the calendar. Truly yes, they never exist in a PGSEMer's life, until you find a blissful break like this for 1.5 months after the completion of first year :)

Well, coming back to Rajasthan, "memories" is the word, for my association with that place. For every Marwari (that’s the native language of the place and hence is something that the Rajasthani’s are also better known as) settled outside Rajasthan, it a custom to visit the Sun-God’s own country (that is the only reason I can think of for its HOTness in summer!) at least once every year, ideally during the summer vacation of the bachcha-party (kids). So it was during my school days until the 6th standard that I got to enjoy this cherished vacation every year.

The joy of meeting - my maternal granma, uncles and aunts, all my dear elder sisters and of course the young brigade - was something special. Remember those days when we’d sleep on the terrace chatting and whiling away the time playing well past midnight, wake up in the morning as sandy-demons due to the sand-storms that would strike unusually in the early mornings, and wake-up to some pleasant aroma coming from the kitchen and watching granma do her artful task of “billaahno” (really an art I would say, a laborious process wherein she used to generate ghee and butter-milk by swirling a big wooden rod back-and-forth, in a wooden pot full of milk that she used to get from our pet cows @ home).

And on every 2 days of the week when she did billaahno, there would be people coming in from the locality to get that butter-milk, and we would stand there watching her generously pour the content in to their vessels. And as kids when we used to query her on this, she would say in her caring style that what better dharma or punya than to help people quench their thirst and use this butter-milk for their cooking needs in this sweltering heat. And she does this till date even when she is in her high 70’s, wow I really admire her strength, both physical and moral. You are so dear to me granny :)

Both my uncle are in to jewellery business (Being goldsmiths, we manufacture and sell gold ornaments), and part of the after-noon would be spent in me watching and admiring the process of that coming-to-life of those beautifully glittering rings, necklaces or bangles which would “significantly increase” the beauty of the other beauties – the ladies :)

Also flashing across the mind are those memories when in the evenings, we would wait in the big verandah – our playing area @ the entrance of our home waiting for that ice-cream wala (vendor) who would sell those milk-made kulfis for 25 paise; wow, how tasty they would be (would trade the baskin-n-robbins anytime for them), we - the bachcha party - would just sit back and relish them. Wonder what inflation can do, a little bulkier versions of the same were available this time round (after 12 years) in range of 5 and 10 rupees!

In a town spawning over a diameter of mere 10 kms, one could “walk” up and down to one end of it any day. So I would enjoy such trips walking (or sometimes cycling) across the town through those narrow lanes into the busy market lined up with shops that served the varied interests of diverse set of people – for instance the garments shops for my dearest sisters, those fruit juices shops for me and my cousin brother and not to forget those Paan shops for my younger Uncle. Oh he would relish them and could treat himself to about 10 such biggie paans per day. And his was a personalized version that was so popular across all the paan shops in town by his name such that anybody of the kids from home could be ordered to collect one from the paan wala uncle while coming back from the market.

Though these paans are available in any typical north-indian weddings out here @ Chennai too, I don’t remember treating myself to them, but have had them like crazy (which for me is even 2 per day) in my life whenever I am around with my younger uncle in Rajasthan :) And one does not need a detective’s license to find out if one has had a paan, for your lips, tongue and everything remotely connected to your mouth would be colored dark red after having a paan :)

In the evenings, along with most of my family members I would visit the famous latiyaal ma’s mandir (Latiyaal Goddess’ temple). A divine feeling it is to be there – the tale has it that the Goddess was crossing the hot deserts through this part eons of years back, thirsty and tired, when her chariot hit a trough and @ that particular point, with her divine power when she blessed the place with lots of flora and fruits, there sprouted a tree, today whose roots are believed to be spread across the entire town – thus came the name of the town “Phalodi” - full of Phal (fruits).

So this was one part of the Rajasthan trip – about the visit to my maternal native place, Phalodi. Equally fascinating is the other town, my paternal home town in Rajasthan called “Merta City” – would pen down my memories about it some other time.

On a signing-off note, though its been 12 years – a long time – the small town has grown and transformed in to a big junction, but the one thing I noticed did not change about such a town with a population of few thousands is that every other (I would say about 60%) passer-by recognizes you easily and stops by to have a small chat and so when we city-bred youngsters walk along we cannot go unnoticed out there. Resounding contrast to the hectic and fast-paced life that we experience and live ourselves out here in our so called “developed and modern” cities where people don’t have time even for their near and dear ones and where that bank-balance of love in the bank of heart is dwindling away… it hurts!

So, though a long wait, it was worth the wait, for all the love that I could garner out there in that wonderful place on the map of earth, called “Rajasthan” - Waiting to come back to you again next year! :)

The Awakening....

2006-12-03T23:50:00.000-08:00

Oooooooouuuuwwwwwwwwwhhhhaaaaa (a nice N sleepy Yaaaawn - a real big one @ that)...OMG its morning and the brighteningly glowing Sun Deity is out in his pristine avataar - as if asking me where've thou been munna??

And I scratching the back of my head, anticipating an 'award-winning-celebration' & wondering - Have I just broken the Guiness Book of World Records held by Kumbhakarna for the longest duration of sleep?? Yeah that is how I feel waking up once again, after a pretty-short hiatus by my standards, to my once and even-more-so-today beautiful world of Blogosphere!! :)

Itz been some 21,772,800.435 secs approximately - if I were to trust my Win-XP Calci and more so if I were to trust my Primary Math teacher for watever addition/subtraction/multiplication I can do in my PGSEM classes today - since I Orphaned this so-called-colorful by some, brain-child of mine and went away on a trip to la-la-la land with my best-pal till I Woke up but a fierce-competitior now (Yeah..U guessed it right - yo yo itz him Kumbhie once again).

Okie...so U ask what have I been up to all these astronomically and exponentially mind- boggling seconds away from this place...well here is the short N sweet story..read it yourself & of course @ your own risk:

At la-la-la land, everything was so unlike our planet earth - people were so gentle & genial - while we (Kumbhie & I) were the only Giants (and in the truly giant sense of the word)...coz the populace there was all those a-la-Gulliver travels-Liliput Island type dumpy-dwarfs.
Those chappies enjoyed their sports so much that it was such a fun playing those cricket matches with them...I mean when I bowled, my deliveries were like a 5678KW thunder-bolt, or in short 5000 Brett Lee's, 4500 Shoaib Akhtar's and 5500 Shane Bond's put-together for the la-la-la teams' players. But as you know, I always believe in competition-of-the-equals so
Kumbhie and I decided to split teams and played against each other... On the batting front, I just enjoyed hitting those huge and monstruos biggies...sixers U say...well I'll call them a century each..for I juz used to hit them out of their planet!! (Did somebody say 'Team India - Guru Greg listening'??) :)

Now how the hell do you think they'd managed all those cricket balls U ask if I used to hit each of them out of their planet...this is where their LIM school (Lalala Institute of Management) played a vital role in churning out global-best-of-the-breed top class managers. Actually those students (unlike freshers) were ones who had the game-playing-experience prior to joining LIM. So those chappies devised an out-of-the-box mechanism to handle this. What they did was designed and developed indoor-stadiums with those mobile-roofs, so that the demand of the cricket balls never went out of control and thus the supply always met the demand...Perfect equilibrium in the playing arena U see...clever Chappies!! As their Prof used to say...big business problems are tackled through small-smart-ideas!! :)

At la-la-la land, also came into my life was a gurl, who again though not very pretty, not very beautiful, not very tall (I must be kidding), was one who had that Charm, that dusky persona and most importantly had that 14567.453 pounds of love and affection in that heart of hers, weighing 216.45 gms! She was cho-chweet as a person, such a motivator as a friend,
her company helped me remind some very basics which had got in to some unreachable-code kind of territory in my mind. She was a person who had...that Dream-Big vision...that zeal to excel in whatever she was doing...that fervor to do all that she could for the betterment of lives of the people of la-la-la...truly an exceptional person and a dearest friend.
Sometimes just wonder what would life be without such true friends...Hope I can find such a friend in this world too ;)

Okie there were lot of other njoyable and fun-filled moments which I had @ lalala - but if I pen down all those I could go on to publish a book on that...U'll have to wait till you become a great-grand father/mother of 2 lovely kids before that happens anytime soon :)

With due respect to all my friends out here, am sorry for any Strategic-Circoma of Instestine or any serious-neuron-disorder that this might have caused you...go & get a medical check-up done @ the earliest. Please excuse me, U know I was never like this before ;)

Yeah I agree that the machine gets rusty when not in use for a long time...so please pardon me for this fiasco...hope to come back to my 'Sanely Best' pretty soon...Until then you know whom to blame for all this...yeah yeah, U guys R pretty intelligent I must admit... Kumbhie, Windows XP, My Primary Math Teacher and of course my IIMB-PGSEM classes!! ;)

Btw, where are you Guiness guys? Am waiting for thou here in anticipation!! :)

Ciao...
Cheers!!
MS signing off - Lifez Beautiful!!

Pics courtesy:

www.gaiantarot.com
www.newstarget.com

Posted @ 1:2:3 AM Lalala Standard Time

Nayi dagar....Naya safar mera

2006-03-25T08:08:00.000-08:00

March 20th 2006, 21:40 hrs
Walking back towards home after returning from office and having had my dinner.....this song comes up on the mp3 player of my mobile...

"Ratiyaan kaali kaali ratiyaan
Ratiyaan andhiyaari ratiyaan
Raat hamaari chand ki saheli hai
Kitney dinon ke baad aayi woh akeli hai
Chuppi ki birha hai, jhingur kaa baaje saath...."

It has been some very emotional and touching times through the last week or so with I completing my assignment/project for which I'd moved to Hyderabad. Am now free to get back to my home town - Chennai - if I desire, though my project team and friends here would love otherwise. It has been a wonderful experience working with such friendly and genial people out here. My Project Lead (PL) is a person I would admire for my life. The dedication and zeal which she puts in her efforts is praiseworthy and I've learnt so much from her as a professional. Just salute her for her sheer commitment. Really hold her in a high regard!!

"Andhera paagal hai, Kitnaa ghaneraa hai
Chubtaa hai, dastaa hai, phir bhi woh mera hai
Uski hi godi mein sar rakh ke sona hai...
Uski hi baahon mein chupke se rona hai...
Aankhon se kaajal ban, behtaa andheraa aaj..."

It has been really tough emotionally to take a decision as to whether to get back to Chennai or carry on here for some more time with a new project that my PL has got from the client. Would certainly miss some of these close buddies I've made here. Damodar, Hadi, PandeyJi, Biru bhai, Srini, DebaJi, SeethaJi, SirishaJi, Naseer, and many more... all have been such great colleagues @ professional level and such dear friends @ personal level that it is already making my heart and eyes heavy, and generating a sense of longing in me...Will never forget those days when the project was going through a really hectic phase, with us having to stay in office during unearthly hours and thus having to order the dinner @ office itself, those days of frequent and serious project discussions in the conference rooms and then a sudden prank/lighter moment which would help ease the pressure off us. Those days of having fun time in the cafeteria with the whole group sharing some anecdotes or the other...well and many many more of some pleasant memories....

March 20th 2006, 22:05 hrs
At my home now, which has me as its only inmate now, as my other couple of friends staying with me had moved back to Chennai some time back. Just flipping through the pics on my mobile and then abruptly freeze upon this one, which reminds me of 'her'.......the song currently playing on the mp3 player of my mobile....

"Soona....soona mann kaa aangan
Dhoondey paayal ki woh chan chan
Sooni..sooni mann ki sargam
Dhoondey geet tere humdum
Mann mein shaam ho ya sawera
Laaga teri hi yaadon ka dera
Tuney bandhan kyun yeh toda
Tuney kaahe ko munh moda
kaho naa...kaho naa...kaho naa..."

She had come in to my life like a breeze one fine day and I was just never the same. Besides a magnetic attraction, there was a simplicity, a charm, a charisma which just kept me admiring her. It was a beautiful feeling, a bliss to share a part of her life. Only the second lady in my life, apart from my Mommy, for whom I would have done anything. It sounds kiddish, but that's true, I mean when true love touches your heart you just cannot suppress your emotions. And that was my first love, yes my FIRST LOVE.

"Kaise kaaten sooni raatein..kaho naa, kaho naa
Kaise bhoolein beeti baatein..kaho naa, kaho naa
Kaise thamein phir tera daaman,
Kaise mehke mann ka yeh aangan
Kaise bhoolein preet teri saajan
Kasie baandhen toota yeh bandhan
Mann mein shaam ho ya sawera
Laaga teri hi yaadon ka dera
Tuney bandhan kyun yeh toda
Tuney kaahe ko munh moda
kaho naa...kaho naa...kaho naa..."

But then it hurt, it really hurt when she said that there was someone in her life, someone who loved her, may be loved her more than what I would. I do hope he really gives her all the happiness in this world. After all, all I want is to see her happy and joyful. Well, my true love for her would be just this. Isn't love, simply put, just this, its really not about wanting someone to love you, rather its about you loving someone. Yeah I understand its a 2-way process..but to me, well love lies simply in the happiness of that person.

Yeah I did feel a little dejected when she told me that, I only thought why didn't he (God) bring me in to her life before that guy, but then my gesture of true love to her was all this that I could possibly do for her happiness. I would never say that I've forgotten her, that I've buried all those sweet memories of hers, that she's no more in my heart; She is still right in there. U know to me, there are 3 compartments in my heart - there is one which houses my family (Mommy, Papa, and my younger Bro N Sis), then there is this second one which is a little larger one which has all my dear pals n buddies in it, and finally the third one, there is this sweet, little n lovely place which would be the home of that special person, a special person who would be my partner in this long but beautiful journey called - LifE!! 'She' was in there in the third compartment, but has now moved out via that little door in to the second one.

Yep, she's one of my very dear and good friends and would remain so forever....But how I wish she had been my partner for life and this journey would have been a bliss.

March 20th 2006, 22:40 hrs
Thinking once again about the decision to get back to my home town. Well, I had come here only for the first pahse of this project which was supposed to end by July 2005, but somehow had to continue on till the final implementation and maintenance phase. Between, was appraised as a STAR performer for my performance in the annual appraisal period 2004~2005. Well, thinking over it, I feel its just a matter of time, its just a matter of 'when'. Coz, I cannot stay here forever, after all my family is out there in Chennai. And there is this another factor, which if turns out to be success, I'll anyway need to get back home.....Between, this song comes up.....

"Yunhi chala chal raahi, yunhi chalaa chal raahi
Kitni haseen hai yeh duniyaa
Bhool saare jhamele, dekh phoolon ke mele
Badi rangeen hai yeh duniyaa..."

"Yunhi chala chal raahi, yunhi chalaa chal raahi
Jeevan gaadi hai samay pahiyaa
Aansoon ki nadiyaan bhi hai
Khushiyon ki bagiyaan bhi hai
Rastaa sab tera tackey bhaiya..."

"Har sapna such lagey, jo bemagan chale
Jo raah tu chale apne mann kii..
Har pal ki seep se, moti hi tu chuney
Jo tu sada suney apney mann ki..."

So rightly said, this life is our vehicle to cover the journey we all have been sent to travel, while the time rolls by and carries us forward on this path of life. Between, I've just made up my mind to get back to my home town, yes I really have and hopefully it turns out to be good.

"Mann apney ko kuch aise halka paaye
Jaise kandhon pe rakha bojh hat jaaye
Jaise bhola sa bachpan phir se aaye...
Jaise barson mein koi ganga nahaaye..."

"Khul sa gaya hai yeh mann
Khul sa gaya har badhan
Jeevan ab lagta hai paavan mujhko
Jeevan mein preet hai, hothon pe geet hai..
Bas yeh hi jeet hai sun le raahi...
Tu jis disha bhi jaa, tu pyaar hi luta
Tu deep hi jala, sun le raahi..."

"Yunhi chala chal raahi, yunhi chalaa chal raahi
Kitni haseen hai yeh duniyaa
Bhool saare jhamele, dekh phoolon ke mele
Badi rangeen hai yeh duniyaa..."

Am really feeling a lot better n a lot lighter now. Sometimes I wonder, what would life have been without music? Well it just soothes you, your senses, your soul. It has just done that here once again. So am ready to delve into this new chapter in the journey of my life. Ready to move to the next chapter, which hopefully turns out to be as interesting, as fun-filled, as enjoyable and as cherishable as these before it have been. It might be some time (a couple of weeks may be) before I can land up in Chennai, I'll enjoy and cherish every moment of mine that I can and that I have left in this wonderful city, the city which brought some equally wonderful and beautiful people such as my PL, my dear buddies (some on the blogosphere too) and of course my first love in to my life!!

Time would roll on, and when I'll look back, may be after being a GrandPa of 2 lovely kids with those chubby cheeks, what I would always have with me are these cherishable memories, yes these would remain etched in my mind for my life...

Thanks to this lovely city.... Bidding adieu...
'Ek nayi dagar, naya safar mera'

-------------------------------------------------
Added later:
March 31th 2006, 21:30 hrs
The one factor I was talking about has already become a partial success. I have cleared the Post Graduation in Software Enterprise Management(PGSEM) entrance test (results declared yesterday), conducted by IIM-Banaglore on March 19th 2006 (An MBA program for IT professionals with 2+ yrs of work experience). Now to complete the success, I'll have to put in some more dedicated effort to clear the interview which is scheduled @ Chennai in the second week of April. It had always been a dream and goal to pursue management (Yep that is where my heart is even today) and make it to the IIMs during the final years of my graduation. But somehow those efforts did not result in success, I juz could not make it that time and here I was in a software firm, but still harboring that goal, that dream. I Hope and pray that I make it.

Colored Memories....

2006-03-17T02:28:00.000-08:00

The festival of color was here once again - bringing along with it and coloring us all - with those myriad shades of joy, fun and happiness!!

And I just realized how time just flew by; It was exactly on the day of this colorful festival 'Holi' last year, that we (a team of about 15~20) had to involuntarily move to Hyderabad from Chennai (my Motherly-home town) for carrying out the implementation of our ongoing project, which had started in Chennai and was going on smoothly till the news came as a bolt from the blue for some of us at least.

And so here I was on the day of color, @ Hyderabad last year. And as I have my maternal aunt's family residing out here in the city, headed straight to her home after checking-in to the hotel. And as it was already late afternoon, did not expect my cousins to be adorning the Laal-Hara-Nila (Red-Green-Blue) stYiSH looks, but that was not to be, as I found myself drenched in a similarly wEt ouTFit in no time once I entered my aunt's residence!! :) And the rest is bright N colorful history!!

Well, thinking about this day, it brings back some nostalgic colored memories of the different phases of my life -

Those kiddish days :), I mean when I was a kid with those chubby cheeks and a gol-matol body, juz nebulously remember how my elder cousins and our family friends would paint me red-blue-green (yellow-pink-black also sometimes) with the 'Gulaal' as we call it in hindi. Those days when we would run around merrily on the terrace of our home, flinging those rainbowish-colors and splashing n spraying water of similar shades on each other. Oh and how can I forget those special entities which have their own gr8 significance on this day...yeah, I am talking about the bAlLooNS. We would fill them up with the colored waters and hurl them on one another and of course on the people going down the street :)

Those teenish days....I mean when I was a bright, energetic boy of about 15~18 years, remember how my school-friends-gang would come, call out, and then shout my name standing outside the house on the road. And my Mommy would say, "Yeh tel laga ke jaa, issey rang jaldi utar jaayega" (Apply this oil on your body, it would ease the color-removal process :)) And as soon as I'd open the main gate, those 'Rang-Birangey bhoots'
(Colored demons) would make me identify as one amongst them in no time. And then we would be out on the streets with look-alike-masses, our caravan going around the different addas (hubs) of our locality and spattering the shades of fun n joy around!! It was like, only if one was dressed very formally and seemed to be going to office, or if one was a student, one could barely think of being spared from the colorful extravaganza. But then remember that one day towards the end of my schooling life, when we had our board exams of +2, when unfortunately one exam was scheduled on the day of Holi, and my my....wasn't that a Rangeen (colorful) exam, many of my friends had to sport the colorful fury on their anatomy, while I somehow luckily managed to escape unscathed with only some minimal damage done...but the 'Mission-Reach-ExamHall-Uncolored' accomplished :)

These youthfully employed days....Of Oh U guys never understand :) Ok in relatively simple terms, I mean these days when I am a smart and handsome guy, and an even smarter professional, life seems to have become a bit monotonous with the Color TV which had all those beautiful shades, turning in to a black and white one nowadays :( Ok its not that bad I guess, but still miss those kiddish and teenish days of enjoying this day of color in its true and vibrant spirit!!

Wish you all a very happy and colorful holi; and a bright and glorious journey of life ahead!! :)

fUN @ wOrK

2006-03-04T03:11:00.000-08:00

Yeah U read it right! Itz real fun to take some time off your work N involve yourself in some extra-curricular acts, like the ones most of us used to take part in during our academic life :). And yes so on a fine friday (The cASuALs day) last week there was this event at the office, and we'd been informed about it and the activities involved had been communicated through the mailers from our HR department during the course of the week.

So the fUN activities arranged for us to have gr8 fun while working were....Ok let me instead share the invitation in its entirety itself with you guys, and it looked something like this.....

"Let’s make this Friday a FluOrEsCenT FridAY
Let’s see how we plan do it????????
Show YouR WACKIEST/WILDEST/COLORFUL SIDE:

1st Funway
Get spotted in FluOrEsCenT dresses (BUNTY & BUBLi ISSHTYLE) on Friday

And

2nd Funway
Get into a team…. (Project-wise/Random group- Max 5 people)
>Design a colorful poster……….. (Cartoons/Portraits/Collage)
> Display it around your funstation (read workstation)…..
> Poster Theme: “What’s your idea of FUN@@@@@@@work?”

Deadline: Posters should be displayed in/around your funstations
Please send your nominations to:
ABC Location – Manish Soni(MS)
DEF Center – Ms.XYZ

Wait for the judges……
BAGS FULL of GIFTS are READY for
· The Best Poster entry
· The Best Dressed Associate (Male & Female)

Have a fun filled week………… see you on Friday"

And yep as our dear HR sits at some other location, I was made the volunteer from our work location, to make this event a real fun-filled one for everyone of us.

And here I was as a result of it, going about addressing all the various project teams around, a day before the event, encouraging and reminding them off the events the next day, and man that itself was real fun for me. ha ha ha.... U ask how was it? Well, Its always known that the gurlz are all enthu N charged up when asked to dress up elegantly in a la bollywood actress isstyle, but imagine yourself convincing guys around to dress up in a bright yellow/orange or any of that flourescent colored tees/shirts to office - a la Mithun-The Disco Dancer- Isstyle :). That was as difficult as convincing a Salman Khan to wear a tee/shirt for the full length of the movie :D

So on the D day, it was complete fun, as people came in bright Jhink-Chack chamkeeley kinda clothes to the office, and also as we put our 'Think-Fun' cap on during the process of the designing a poster, in whatever short time we could take off from the project schedule.

It was an enjoyable xperience as we grouped into a team, for a change nothing to do related to the project, and with the thought process on, the fun ideas pouring in, we came up with a couple of posters in a short time and they looked something like these..... (Click on them to c the pics in their full enlarged view)

A poor chap developer learning all the soFTwAre funDas, the hard way, from his project lead and then going about implementing them in his own sTyLe @ his work desk :) with Great Control!!

The hard but true fact of a software professional's life depicted - funnily & comically :-)

And guess what, the writings you see on these posters have been inscribed by none other than yours truly. Woila.....I'd almost forgotten the so called art of 'Hand-Writing' - as Osama Bin Laden would have forgotten what Peace means!! - after joining this software industry a couple of years back, with all my writings..err..typings mostly only on the keyboard!!

And for the icing on the cake, our above entries to the contest won the best Poster award :D and so got a cool gift for our HARD but fUN work :)

And as the mood of fUn was on in the week, I thought Y not share some moments of fuN with the "fuN-Orginator" herself. Ok I mean our HR executive. She's one chirpy n bubbly lady, N our dear friend if you are reading this by any chance, the probability of which is less than Taiwan winning the Cricket World Cup, consider this as my humble request to put this conversation of ours, out here...... :)

Me to her:

Hi VBJi,

Please find the pics of the posters taken by us with a DigiCam, attached herewith.

Aur haan, ek reminder ki – “Sardaar hamey hamaare aur 2 gifts milney baaki hai.” :) Ab D bhi aa gaya hai N he is also asking for his gift; Khair usey toh hum sambhaal lengey, So this is a humble request to you that you please please do bring along our 2 gifts next time U grace this place.

Till then, Have a nice day n a gr8 week ahead!! :D

Her reply:

Hello there..

Ye kya kar diya mere naam ko..
Tum engineers ki yehi problem hai har cheeez ko short form technical sounding bana dete ho... my name is not VB (Visual Basic).. ok...

I was't well.. yeah was down with fever again so bunked office yest...
Be assured, will be getting more prizes for 2 of you (whoever are left) but not for D... he was't even there.. how dare he ask for one..
but will need some time for it.. I dont think I would be able to come this week to ABC location.. lets see...

My response to that:

Hi VBJi!! (Hum toh bhai jasie hain waise rahenge :), ab humein aapko aise hi bulana acchha lagta hai, kya karen!!)

Waise kasam Preity zinta ke dimples ki, aapka yeh naam humein bahut acchaa lagta hai, please humein aise hi address karne dijiye aapko, please…
Arey appraisal aur bonus ko chodkar, pehli baar kuch toh alag maang rahein hain apni HR se; kam se kam itna toh afford kar hi saktey hain aap (Yeh toh budget mein aata hai na!!...lolz…)

Oh that was bad 2 hear that U were down with fever yesterday; hope you are doing well now. Wish U a healthy recovery as speedy as a Brett Lee’s fastest delivery :)

Waise hum toh soch rahey they ki yeh HR log bade hi dIfFeRent hotey hain yaar……kabhi desk peh hotey hi nahin hain……And as if that was not enough, they also put up an out of office reminder to evade hum jaisi bechaari Junta :D

And thanks for assuring our prizes - aapko ek 25 paise waali toffee zarur doonga mein, aapke is nek dil gesture ke liye :D

Awaiting your arrival eagerly. (Woila, kaafi lamba chauda mail ho gaya, ab humein kaam karney dijiye)

Till then, take care N Bbye 4 now.

So then, that was quite a fun filled week for me and I truly enjoyed every moment of it. And as I wrote out there it was all "Juz 4 fUN, Nothing Official about it :)".

And talking about fun, well there are these 2 guyz Arz000n & Abhinav whom I've come across on the blogosphere, and whom I'll crown the stand-up Fun N Laughter Kings when it comes to making people laugh, have fun and Njoy their writings. Hats off to these guyz!!

So herez MS signing off once again, wishing U have fun filled weeks, week-ends and more importantly a fun filled Life to live in the years to come. Cheers!!

Mohe Rang Dia Basanti.......

2006-02-25T07:07:00.000-08:00

Finally, I've seen it!! And it did not disappoint me in anyway.... Here was a project which would've been the actors' dream N now wud be a part of their cherishable memories 4 ever, here was a project where the music-director struck together the melodious chords of Patriotic zeal and fervour, N more importantly here was a project where the director tried to ignite that hidden burning passion in the youth of today to do something worthy for our motherland. And I must say they've all come out with flying colors N succeeded in coloring these vibrant souls - the Youth of today - with this special color "Basanti".

Yeah, after having already read a lot of reviews about it in the media, and right here in the blogging fraternity from many of my friends, I finally, finally managed to see Rang De Basanti(RDB) this week, and it was nothing but juz a perfect film. Well, most of the people out there would have already seen the movie, may be twice, thrice or even more than that :) , and for those who are yet to see this wonderful film, do not devoid yourself of such a beautiful movie - Go N watch it!!

I'd heard some critics say that Aamir had juz become too old & was past his prime for such a role, but I'd beg to differ. In fact, being such a versatile actor that he is, Aamir has in fact still managed to lend that youthful touch to the role, and served as the pivot for the movie, inspiring n motivating all along the way!!

The lyrics of Prasoon Joshi and the music of AR Rehman, have juz mesmerised us to say the least. Well to me personally Javed Akhtar has been the best lyricist for a long time now. And here Prasoon Joshi has been able to strike the chord with the Youth. Some of these lyrics by him have juz made a home in our hearts.....and I juz cannot stop humming them....

Be it these lines from the song 'Rubaroo', where a sense of satisfaction, the spirit of freedom, friendship and love comes to the fore......

"Dhuaan chhataa khula gagan mera
nayi dagar naya safar mera
jo ban sake tu hamsafar mera
nazar mila zara....."

Or be it these lines where he has so touchingly brought out that motherly love n her sense of longing after the separation from her son....

"Luka Chuppi bahut huyi saamne aa ja naa
Kahan kahan dhoondha tujhe thak gayi hai ab teri maa
Aaja saanjh hui mujhe teri fikar
Dhundhla gayi dekh meri nazar..aa ja na...."

Or be it these lines where he describes that process of generating the true fervour and patriotic zeal of that special color........

"Thodisi dhuul meri dharti ki mere watan ki
thodisi khushbuu baurai si mast pavan ki
thodisi dhondhane waali dhak-dhak dhak-dhak dhak-dhak saansein
jinmein ho junoon junoon woh boonde laal lahuu ki
yeh sab tu mila mila le phir rang tu khila khila le
aur mohe tu rang de basanti yaara
mohe tu rang de basanti"

The team of RDB has really made an impact, a srong one for that matter of fact, on the hearts, and minds and souls of the youth. Another noteworthy initiative, which came in to light recently, of a group of IITians, drawing inspiration from Yuva and forming a political party Paritrana, is also commendable in this regard.

It has truly made me say this - "Mohe Rang Dia Basanti...." and I would like to see that - Jo Rang chadha hai aaj (The color the movie has painted on our hearts and souls today) - shows its true vibrant spirit in a Bright N Shining nation for the generations to come.....

A Special Valentine

2006-02-18T03:53:00.000-08:00

It was a special day, a special day in all of our lives, the lives of the modern civilized urban youth. Yeah we celebrate this day every year and it holds a varied significance to diverse souls around. So it was yet another 14th Feb, but this year was a little different, as it provided me a chance to be a Valentine, a special Valentine for those underprivileged kids, who were toiling under the sun while we were enjoying all the modern comforts, who had to be content with one meal per day n sometimes even without it, while we had the pleasures of all the exquisite cuisines, who had nothing but those ragged clothes to cover their bodies while we were decked up in the branded apparels n costumes, who had nothing but dust, sand and stones around them while we were exchanging roses, gifts n other goodies on the V-Day.

So it was an occasion to do something little from our end for these unfortunate children - whose little hands which are today carrying the burdens and loads of rags, when actually those tender hands should be carrying the wisdom of knowledge by virtue of books - so that these minds n souls can also script the future of a bright n prosperous nation.

On this occasion of the Valentine's day, the social arm of our organization conducted this beautiful program, an operation called "Mission Rescue Street Child" in collaboration with an NGO which is operating at major railway stations in India; their efforts directed towards the goal to rescue the runaway and lost children at railway platforms, counsel them for home placements or in shelter care and also conduct de-addiction camps.

Towards this initiative, the foundation put up stalls in our cafeteria during the V-day, to spread this message and in course provided an opportunity to all the associates(employees) to be a Special Valentine for such deprived street children. We had the option to gift roses and chocolates to these kids. Games were organized where in the gifts n chocolates won could be donated to the kitty of the foundation for these kids. And in the course of these events n games, the revenue generated would be utilized towards noble cause of betterment and upliftment of the lives of these young kids by providing them education.

And I had the opportunity to volunteer for this great cause to bring a smile on these kids' faces; it really made my day. And I am sure we all would love the internal satisfaction that we get when we feel that though we could not do everything worthy on our own, by involving in such an endeavor, we've done at least something, though trivial, from our end to help resurrect a young bud which could blossom in to a lovely n beautiful flower and grace humankind tomorrow.
All in all, another page of this book(mY LiFE), made worthy, purposeful n cherishable down the memory lane, by this opportunity to be 'A Special Valentine'.

Tera Intezaar Hai.........

2006-02-11T07:51:00.000-08:00

Long time.....had to write on this, after being tagged by Ganga (long time back though :-)), and luckily what better time to write on this topic than now, with the V-Day juz round the corner......

Well as for the rules, everyone on this Planet-O-Blog is quite aware of them by now; but wud still like to put them down 4 those who are new to our world :D .....

The rules:
1) The tagged victim has to come up with 8 different points about their perfect lover.
2) Need to mention the sex of the target.
3) Tag 8 victims to join this game and leave a comment on their comments saying they’ve been tagged.
4) If tagged the 2nd time, there’s no need to post again.

Note: The rule 3 is no more applicable :), as almost everybody on this planet would have been tagged by one or the other. Hey, but if you find any new kid on the block, U can do this favour to him/her :D or he/she can do this favour to him/her self too :P

So here I start with the recipe of my perfect lover :) and I'll sprinkle the spice of Music with the basic ingredients. Arey...jab is tarah ke topic pe baat hoti hai to dil ki dhadkanen apney geet gungunaaye bina nahin reh sakti hai na bhai!! (Afterall, when such a topic is being discussed, the heart beats sing along their strings of melodies, right!!) :D

Target: Female

1) She'll be the girl of my dreamz, the girl whom my heart describes as one who'll be - like a blossoming rose, like a Poet's dream, like a Bright morning's ray, like a beautiful deer, like a bright moon-lit night n much much more....well you hear it yourself....as my heart would sing along......
" Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga
Jaise Khilta Gulab
Jaise Shayar ka Khwab
Jaise Ujali Kiran
Jaise Bun Mein Hiran
Jaise Chandani Raat
Jaise Narmi Ki Baat
Jaise Mandir Mein Ho
Ek Jalta Diya......"
Click here to listen to this song.

2) She'll be the one who'll be cRAzY abt me & who'll secretly .... ssshhhh .... admire me (usually everyone around admires me though..lol :D) with her adaayein :) .... N my heart would sing along ......
" Mujhe tum chupke chhupke jab aise dekhti ho
Achchi lagti ho..
Kabhi zulfoN se kabhi aaNchal se jab khelti ho
Achchhi lagti ho...."
Click here to listen to this song.

3) And to reciprocate she'll be the one who'll make me go mad over her, with that Googly-Woogly face :) making a home of its own in my eyes and those sweet memories of her inhabiting my heart, mind n soul.....N my heart would sing along......
" Aankhon mein tera hi chehra,
Dhadkan mein teri hi yaadein
Karti hain deewana...."
Click here to listen to this song.

4) She'll be one who would be the Queen of my heart, the Ruler of my thoughts, the Empress of my dreamz, but this empire of my heart would vacillate N would hence need some time n courage :) to confess in front of the princess :) but my heart would sing along to itself......
" Mera dil bhi kitna pagal hai
Yeh pyaar toh tumse karta hai
Par saamne jab tum aate ho
kuch bhi kehne se darta hai..
O mere saajan, O mere saajan.."
Click here to listen to this song.

5) But then she'll be the only one who'll make me go to the limits of my Poetic n Romantic andaaz :) to propose to her...in a la King khan-SRK isstyle :) N my heart would sing along......
" Tumne naa jaana ki main deewana
Lekar aaya hoon Dil kaa nazraana
Mere dil ki hai jo daastaan..
Suna no suno na, sun lo naa..
Humsafar mujhii ko chun lo naa..
Suno na suno na sun lo na...."
Click here to listen to this song.

6) She'll be the one who'll completely understand me n my feelings, stand by me whenever I want her support n want her besides me but if there are occasions when she is upset or saddened by me, I'll b there to bring that pretty smile back...yeah on her lovely Googly-Woogly face :)....N my heart would sing along......
" Rooth Na Jana Tum Se Kahoon To
Mein in Aankhon Mein Jo Rahoon To
Tum Yeh Jano Ya Na Jano
Tum Yeh Mano Ya Na Mano
Mere Jaisa Diwana Tum Paoge Nahin
Yaad Karo Ge Mein Jo Na Hoon To
Rooth Na Jana Tum Se Kahoon To.."
Click here to listen to this song.

7) And then she'll be the one who'll walk in to my life one fine day n adorn the annals of this book of my life N become my partner in this beautiful journey of time called 'LiFE' ........N yes ofcourse you guessed it right....my heart would sing along......
" Ek Din Aap Yoon Humko Mil Jayenge
Phool Hi Phool Raahon Mein Khil Jayenge
Maine Socha Na Tha.."
Click here to listen to this song.

8) And finally she'll be the one who'll be comfortable sharing silence with me, as sometimes smiles hold more meaning than words..right? and I'll always be there to hold her hands forever and we'll walk through this path of LiFE........N from then 'Our hearts' would sing along......
" Tu bin bataye mujhe le chal kaheen..
Jahan tu muskuraye meri manzil wahin..
Tu bin bataye mujhe le chal kaheen..
Jahan tu muskuraye meri manzil wahin...."
Click here to listen to this song.

N so that was my 'Mr.Heart' singing out........ N calling out in search of his 'Ms.Sweet-Heart'. Hey, I know this was a very Shaayristic approach of describing the qualities of my perfect lover, but then this was what my heart wanted to sing out N then as we all know "Is Dil ke aage kisika zor naa chaley.." :)
And then as I said friends, when we walk the talk or think on a topic of this kind, our friend Mr.heart refuses to leave itself n itz melody beats back!! Hope you liked this post, which I've tried to compose in a fashion unique to my dear blog-pal ManishJi.

So herez MS signing off once again, this time in search of.... & waiting for my Ms.Perfect........N one final time my heart singing along..... :)
" Mujhe raat din, ab tera intezaar hai
Bataoon tujhe, kis tarah, kitna pyar hai
Tera intezaar hai, mujhe tujhse pyar hai
Mujhe tujhse pyar hai, tera intezaar hai..."
Click here to listen to this song.

Pics Courtesy: Words4ever.com

MS v23.0 Released!!

2006-01-26T22:06:00.000-08:00

Yeah so after being in beta for a year, the full fledged product (version 23.0) was launched today with great euphoria!! :)

Hey, without puzzling around any more - I am glad to share with all my new friends out here in this elite group of ours - the Blogosphere, that itz my Birthday today!! I've turned 23 today(27th January) N herez the Cake N Sweets(sorry, they are Virtual though!! :)) for U guyz.....jus thought of sharing this moment n this day with all my new but vey dear buddies out here.....

And thought this day would be perfect to tell you all, (some of you've wanted to know what does MS stand for? - A Special surprise for my very dear blog-pal ManishJi), that MS are my initials and are therefore the acronym for my name - 'Manish Soni' :) Today I've updated my pic in the profile n have also shared some of my pics collection, which U can access here.

Seems like itz going the wrong way, hey itz as if I am giving away all surprises.......ideally should be the other way round :-)........now c'mon I am expecting all the surprise gifts (yeah again virtual ones) from you buddies!! Hey, Jus kidding (I can do that today atleast, after all itz My Day!! :D). All your wishes n support is the driving force for me. I've been getting that n hope I continue to get the same in the future too!! Hey, BTW all you dear pals out here can still continue to call me MS (:-D

Off-Work & On-Fun back Home :)

2006-01-21T06:11:00.000-08:00

Hi to all of my very dear blog-pals!! Hmmm...Glad 2 know that a lot of activity has been going on in this very beautiful world of ours :) I'd been away last week - in fact had gone home to Chennai(Yup....My city!! Thatz where I was born n brought up - though am a North Indian hailing from Rajasthan) for a much needed break :)

So I'll dedicate the space in this post to my 'Mother City' - 'Chennai'.
Well talking about mother.....I was feeling so home-sick off late, that going back home n having the pleasure of eating that heavenly 'Maa ke haath kaa khaana' (Food cooked by my mother) was nothing less than a divine feeling. After having inculcated the 'choiceless-habit' of having the breakfast n lunch @ Office, that was what I was longing for from a long time....My Mother is the best cook in the world.....and yes I know many out there would share the same sentiment about their Mothers.....indeed, afterall who else than a Mother would know best, as to what her child likes most.

Chennai.....the heart n gateway of South India is the 'Home of MS'.....hey jus kidding!!!! :)
Chennai is truly a city, popular n famous for its heritage n culture. And being a metro, is also a very important business n commercial hub, now even more after being amongst the top 3 patrons of our booming IT industry. Though the most 'complained about creature' against this city, is its 'Torrid Weather'....yeah I do agree, it getz really sultry n hot out there, but still thatz the way it is N we still love it for what it is!! :)

Well...this time round, did not go around the city much except for the 'Ever-Long' stretch of Marina and the Spencer Plaza , rather took comfort staying @ home n spending time with my family n relatives. Had also been to the offices of my corporate in chennai n met my 'College buddies turned colleagues' and other friends......N in course of doing all this had loads n loads of FUN interspersed!! Well...I guess thatz enough of what I did @ my home town......now 2 all of U who've NEVER been to this wonderful city, but plan 2 do so in the near future, I'll put on the 'Cap of a Guide' :) for some time n suggest you a few important places worth visiting in the city....

First on the chart is the scenic Marina beach. A beautiful stretch where the 'Dancing waves of the sea' going up n down, talk to the 'layer of the sand-clad land'. And on a sunday, you would ideally feel as if the whole of chennai crowd has converged @ this natural beauty!!

Spencer plaza is located in the heart of the city on Anna Salai(popularly known as Mount Road). Itz one of the largest n best shopping malls of the city, which can be placed in the same grade as the 'Hyderabad Central' out here, but provides a lot more of variety while shopping :). Though I must admit, Spencers is more often than not thronged (for most part of a week) by the College crowd who come-in to hang around n have fun, more likely window-shopping, than actual shopping....agree V to used to do the same when in college :)

Kapaleeshwara Temple is a standing testimonial of the rich culture n heritage of the city and itz classical Dravidian spirit. It is perhaps the oldest temple of south India, famous for its impressive gopurams, mandapams and a tank typical of the temple structures of Tamil Nadu. The temple also displays beautifully inscribed scriptures of the past.

Satyam Cinemas is the place to be in chennai, if you are a week-end movie buff. Itz the best in class n screens movies of all genre in English, Hindi N Tamil . Again to give an idea, can be compared to be in the same grade as the 'Prasadz' group out here in Hyderabad, though not so grandeur n diverse in its offerings as Prasadz Imax. In fact Satyam cinemas, after being the first to introduce the concept of Multiplex in the city, could now well be the first to introduce the IMAX concept too!!

While the above spots are located in the heart of the city, if you wanna have a day's outing of fun during the weekend with the family n friends, away from the hustle n bustle of the city - Kishkinta is the place 4 U to be @.....And as they say, itz truly "the favourite fun destination for kids from six to sixty". Itz a culmination of various attractions, water games and rides, and thatz what makes it India's No. 1 Theme Park. The major crowd-puller though is the Kuttralam waterfall, which is surprisingly a 63 feet high, man-made wonder!!

Though there r many other places of interest, the above mentioned ones are my personal favourites :) Hmmm...so that was a little info about my 'Mother city' from her son!! :) Hope you people do visit these landmarks whenever you have the opportunity to visit the 'Gateway of South India'.......

Reminiscences N Expectances....The Cycle of Life

2006-01-06T23:32:00.000-08:00

As another year passed by, leaving its trails - those moments of Happiness N moments of Sadness, those moments of Joy N moments of Sorrow, those moments of Exultation N moments of Dejection, those moments of Rejoice N moments of Remorse - behind;
And as the Dawn of the New Year ushers in and leads us in to a new phase of our lives, I jus wanted to share my feelings which I could associate so well with this mail recently from one of my friends. Itz titled "Seasons of our Lives" and this is all it speaks out itself......

"The following pictures are of the same place but taken in different seasons...

Lessons on Life

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge
things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall.

When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.

The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise.

The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.

The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life.

He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that comes from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.

If you give up when it's winter,
you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, and the fulfillment of your fall.

Moral lessons:
Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.
Don't judge life by one difficult season.
Persevere as nothing stays the same forever."

So herez MS signing off, reiterating once again that - "The Purpose of Life is to Live a Life of Purpose. Letz Cherish, Njoy, Share, Make-worthy every moment of this beautiful gift called 'Life' given to us by God, on our this trip to the wondeful EArTH....."

"Zindagi ki yahi reet hai
Haar ke baad hi jeet hai
Thode aansu hai, thodi hasin
Aaj gum hai to kal hai khushi...."

Good Bye 2005, N Welcome 2006!!!!

2005-12-30T06:31:00.000-08:00

Herez wishing you a very happy n prosperous new year!!!!
Have a Gr8 year ahead with ‘2006 more smiles’ J n ‘2005 less tears’ L

Saluting the 'Spirit of Friendship'

2005-12-24T08:35:00.000-08:00

I cannot stop starting this post, with these lines from the song by KK:

"Yaaron dosti badi hi haseen hai,
Yeh na ho to kya phir
Bolo yeh zindgi hai..."

Truly, the lines above convey the emotions and thoughts, which I know, everyone of us would be sharing in common.

These speak about one of the most beautiful N powerful relationship that God created -
'Friendship', without which what would our lives have been - well to me, without Friendship N
such dear friends, there wouldn't have been a bigger VOID than my Life.

We’ve collected many 'flowery petals' - our friends - right from our school days, to our college years, to the corporate life, n would be collecting many more of such beautiful petals in the future too - who were and are very dear to us. I take this opportunity to remember all my best friends out there, and express my feelings as to how much they mean to me!!

Turning the papers of this book called 'mY LiFE' back......into nostalgia.....Remember those school days...when all of us would've made our first friends for life.

As kids - Those running around the pillars of the school during the lunch time, those sharing and gifting of the favourite pen/pecil/eraser to each other, those selfless feelings of experiencing pain when our friend got hurt, those sharing of fairy tale stories with each other.
As Teens - Those days of sports and fun, those moments of cheering each other in races and competitions during the annual sports meet events, those days of playing cricket on roof tops(terrace) of our homes, those days of night studies preparing for exams, those days of celebrating bithdays - going to friends' homes, playing games, enjoying cakes & special sweets made, and the partying @ home, those days of playing badminton/volleyball/basketball in the playground after school hours, and those days of walking back home in groups after school got over (What a journey it would be with fun on the run).

Then came the first phase of separation , which brought with it an excruciating pain - it was the time we'd to part ways (only physically - as we do are in touch with our best buddies even today...hai na??) with most of our friends; life bringing up different paths to tread along for everyone, on our way to our Future......some on course to become Engineers, some Doctors, some taking up Arts N sciences....

Then came the unforgettable years of college......which brought with them many more of those beautiful petals for us to collect....

Those days of getting up early in the morning by 5AM to get ready for college bus, those days of group studies n seminars, those days of 'sharing' the might of boring endless lectures, those days of semester exams when we read a complete unit [n sometimes a whole book :)] by means of peer lecture in the college bus journey, those days of representing college in
inter-collegiate events...be it Sports(cricket, badminton, volleyball etc), or be it culturals(dance, drama, music, quiz, dumb-chrades), or be it curriculars(paper presentations etc), those days of preparing for CAT, GMAT sitting in the last benches, avoiding the boring lectures....the team effort was evident and strongly radiated in all our activities and efforts :)

Then the second phase of separation arrrived.....A strong breeze again scatters many of the petals in our hands in various directions.....and we move on, along the paths scripted for us...taking those sweet n fun filled memories along with us, which we would cherish through out our lives.....however, we are lucky to have the company of some of the petals with us as we step in to a new dawn...a new phase of our lives - our professional careers.

This phase starts off on a high, as we are now self-dependent (Hum apne pairon pe jo khade hotey hain..)....once again ready to gather a set of new petals - petals which've been breezed along from various parts of the country, after sharing a similar journey as ours...and now with us sharing, -

These days of living an independent life - away from home, @ our work location, these days of projects..tasks..deadlines, these days of working day-in and day-out for 15+ hours during development phase of the project, these days of gulping down more tea and coffee than water, these days of talking more on ISD calls, than on local or STD calls - reason being project
realted calls to Onsite coordinators, these days of having fun @ work enjoying a day out for the cultural fest of our unit in the organization....

But the phase of separation does agonize us here too....Its the time of our project delivery (a project for which we've dedicated our heart, mind n soul for about 9~10 months) after which is the time for the team to split and make a foray in to new assignments...and now all those new vibrant petals (buddies) which you'd have gathered for your life are also separating from you..some might continue to work with the same organization and some may not, and the physical separation of working for different assignments from different work locations, thus instills the feeling of longing in us....

So itz the time now to say Bbye 2 many of my these dear friends, working with whom for such a long time was a gr8 pleasure n fun!!

I would only say (Bas yahi kehna chahunga).....

"Chalte Chalte mere ye geet yaad rakhna,
Kabhi alwidaa naa kehna, kabhi alwidaa naa kehna..."

To all you people out there who have collected these petals and who are the petals for the friends around you......

"Yaaron dosti badi hi haseen hai
Yeh na ho to kya phir
Bolo yeh zindgi hai
Koi to ho raajdaar
Be garaz tera ho yaar
Koi to ho raajdaar...."

MS signing off.......Saluting the 'Spirit of Friendship'....

A typical WL travel in Indian Railways:

2005-12-17T04:18:00.000-08:00

Last week I had been out to attend a cousin's marriage, n though my ongoing travel ticket was
confirmed, the return ticket was under the dreaded Waiting List(WL), and unfortunately did not
get confirmed, even though I'd booked it almost a month ahead of the travel.
Itz been a similar story now for almost about 3 times in the recent past 4 me.....You request the TTE @ the platform before boarding the train with your WL number, about the possibility of getting a berth!!!@#$??#$ N his typical response is 'Mostly not possible' or 'Very less chance' or 'Sir, there are many people who have a similar case, what can I do?'. And then when we ask if we can board any compartment as of now, he says 'yeah..yeah get into any one now, we'll see later on'.

Then its the horrible tiring part, where in you have to stand with your luggage @ the extremes of a compartment :-), mostly besides the doors of the compartment......thinking if you'd get a berth for the night?? and then there are some other people too who are your 'feeling-a-like' types...a start of a little interaction with one person n then another....n wow you've made some friends for your life (this is the most coolest part of such a journey......n by no chance a couple of those @ min would be from the software industry.....and may be from your own organization.....this typically and frequently happens in the south indian routes).

Time jus seems to fly off as we discuss anything n everything from the 'canvas of possibilities' :-) .....and then our TTE sir makes a grand entry like a Sant guru with hoardes of disciples behind him :-); these are all the people with WL tickets, humming like bees aroung nectar. N then we ask him, if there's any chance for us....n he says 'yeah you can go to S1. You might get a berth there...most of the people would get down @ xyz station which comes @ around 9:30 PM'. We take a deep breath of relief....(not knowing what's in store for us further late in the night....as if these problems till now, were not enough!!).....n ok, so our army of WL'ites moves towards the S1 coach, as if literally gesturing 'ATTACK S1'!!

Yeah people do get down @ the station and the bogie seems to be vacant now, n so we help ourselves n occupy the vacant seats :-), but then a few people do board the train from that sation as well, N we keep praying 'Please, please not on this seat' as we eagerly n desperately try to ward off all evils (all those passengers with confirmed tickets in that bogie), because we hear from fellow WL'ites that this is the major station in the night, after which the train has a halt only in the morning....so if we secure these berths for ourselves, our night would pass off without troubles!! But it would never happen, as long as these certain TTEs (who are a Nuisance sometimes) are present in the railways....

Now we are comfortably seated in our seats, waiting for the TTE to come, so that we can get our tickets confirmed with the berth we've captured [as if we've conquered a fort in our Jung :-)]....n then somebody says, 'well we would better sleep now as it is too late, rather than wait for the TTE.....whenever he comes we'll sort this issue out....n everybody feels its right, n so finally we are comfortably lying down on our berths, n doze off sometime later due to the tiring journey..........

Then suddenly we wake up @ around midnight with loud quarrels coming in from adjacent set of seats.....yeah its a couple of TTEs, but both are in a drunken state, n hence without a stable control over themselves!! I speak to myself, 'How could these guys do this when they are performing their duties??', and certainly don't find any logical answer....and when I go to that place, I find its all like a comedy of errors, and drama going on with these couple of nuisance guys.....One has climbed on to the top berth with his legs hanging down and the other guy on seeing this 'Oye! Take your legs up man....oye my order take your legs up'......and then the other guy after repeated pampering does move his legs up, and this guy down here says 'Haan!! Good boy...good boy', and I still wonder what the hell is going on here??

Then enters a TTE number 3, who seems to be fine and in control, and when we tell him that we've got berths n request him to confirm our tickets, he says 'What sir?? hmmm..what...first of all you are not supposed to travel in this bogie with WL tickets...bcoz this is a bogie with a quota, n only people from xyz station can be accomodated here'. We feel as if beating him up black and blue....afterall there are vacant berths and its his duty to acomodate WL passengers in these berths....but he's behaving as if the whole of Railways was his property!! I initially make him understand, but when he doesn't seem to be perturbed, I unleash a set of fiery dialogues [in a Nana Patekar like style :)] and finally he agrees to give us our berths.... :) but not before the time is now around 1:30 AM in the night.....We finally go back to our berths and in no time fall asleep again.

Come morning, n we've reached our destinations and itz the time to take contacts and bid goodbye to all those set of new friends, some of whom go on to become very good pen-pals of yours in the future.... :-).

Still wonder.....how this keeps happening so frequently in a WL travel in Indian Railways (the world's largest carrier of its kind!!).....N jus console myself saying that this would be the last time!!!.....May be.....May be not.....Letz see.

"Einsteins' last words!" -- Original Version :)

2005-12-09T07:37:00.000-08:00

These r Einsteins' actual last words.......unlike the ones mentioned by HeT on his blog :) ......Juz Kidding.....

This was a good one from HeT, who can be discovered & explored further @ http://hetwaghela.blogspot.com/

My encounter......(Continued)

2005-11-29T05:51:00.000-08:00

I had first seen her in the cafeteria of my Orgzatn. A lovely 5ft8"~9" tall lady in a beautiful churidar, N that's it I was never the same, juz cud not stop admiring her from that moment onwards.....This continued for many days where I used 2 see her by chance during the lunch break - when me n my frendz sat in a group n ate - fun alongwith - our mOnoToNouS lunch served by the office caterers (Rottis with a couple of sabjis, fried rice, a sweet - a rosogolla/gulabjamun/double ka meetha, veg salad n ofcourse the famous south indian curd rice.......juz donno how the south indian ppl juz love rice, rice n only rice).

It was very collegish for us to do this - but after all you are supposed to retain or boost your energy/motivation levels to do some serious-programming in a dull work environ..... :) we were completely inSync with the modern cliche' of the corporate world - Fun @ Work - right?? :)

N I do remember that saturday (a so-called official holiday) @ office, when the crowd in the cafetaria is relatively less than the normal working days - I was having my lunch alone without the company of any of my frendz :( ..............when............ it juz happened................. she was also in office that day, came for her lunch n sat exactly opposite to (..............arey yaar not me...............but.................) my table, but was completely in my Line of sight :) n gave me a first look.......wow..... As usual I pretended to b having my lunch as I let myself get lost in her dreams ****%^$#$#%$^$$%^&**** --- once again. I was looking @ her and when she got up to help herself for a second round of serving, I was lucky to get her II short gaze............n then another one................of course as usual............ hum toh bhai jaise hain...waise rahenge............I kept looking @ her.........but awww.....this time she was supposedly ending her short (although it was ~30 mins, ......what 2 do........ i felt it was juz a second past) lunch break................n who knew................with it, her stay @ our office location too :-( I never saw her in our office after that day.................. :-( ......but I juz used to console myself by the thought that may be this woud've been the reason behind her gazes @ me...........may be she wanted 2 tell me something.........hope I was right.............what do u say ppl????

.............chalo flash back khattam..................now she's right in front of me - once again sitting exactly opposite 2 me - in the cultural committes' conference meeting............N juz bfore the meeting is abt 2 start......walks around the table n occupies the empty chair next 2 me on my left............ :-) relax relax........... not 2 talk 2 me as of yet...........but to her friend who is sitting on the second chair from my left............nyways...no probs..... isi bahane hamaara bhi toh kuch bhala hua bhai :-) . In the course of the meeting, there were occasions where i took opportunity to have a go of my direct conversations with her.................ofcourse on the agenda of the meet :-).......atleast this way managed to have a one-on-one conversation with her - even this much is sufficient 4 a patient of such kind :-) However......unlike all meetings.......somewhat differently here - @ the end of the meet we had a quick intro of the committee n I came 2 know that she was a South Indian......a Tamil christian and possibly a non-veg, where as I was a pura pakka North Indian.

Well, the meeting got over....n with it the second chanced meet after a long gap(that's why I named the post as My enc... - phase II) of the hero n heroine of the story also got over.

.........................................................................

I would say that the theme/plot mentioned above by me may be purely fictional/ OR may be totally factual too.............I may've only tried to express the quality of my literary work OR may be would've truly narrated a real life incident out here..................I leave it to the sole discretion of the reader to take it in any sense he/she deems it right :-)

I now make this an open ended post............................

What would have you done if you were in my position?? Would you have persuaded yourself n your feelings N wud've gone on 2 express your unconditional love 2 her, if so how?? Or would you have just lived on with her thoughts, without expressing your feelings, for the rest of ur life?? Or would U have juz forgotten her, moved on, n thought that u'd never met such a person in your life ??

Expecting your creative comments......Bbye 4 now.........till I meet you guys with my next post.

My encounter with her – phase II

2005-11-26T18:02:00.000-08:00

I saw somebody (and felt a known fragrance) breeze past me, as I stood in the coffee zone talking to my friends(with whom I was meeting up by chance after a long time) - the occasion being a meeting of the 'Cultural committee', of which I was a part, formed to coordinate the CircleDay of our unit in the Organization. The venue was new to me as I had not been to this branch of my organization.

Only when the lady crossed my sight for a second in the next minute, and then stood with her friends a couple of meters away in my Line of sight- I stood in a sense of #$%$??#$%%??% - I juz donno what wud i call that feeling - I realized it was none other than her. Yes it was HER and in fact 150% HER. She looked even more beautiful than the last time round I saw her (after which I donno where had she disappeared from my sight!!), her pretty face with that ever glowing smile, had become even more prettier....nah prettiest(ah...only if I could express an even greater degree than Superlative, for that beauty), her dark black hairs were adorning a streaky new hairdo(felt the hair style was lucky to have been graced by her hairs!!) and her outfit (that being a Friday - the casuals day of the week) a short pink swanky shirt N a lovely white casuals trouser made me juz go mad on her - once again - after a gap of about 5 months.

I had been lost in her dreams - as if the world around around me had frozen, feeling as if there were only her and me - only to be brought back to life by a twister pinch from my dear pals around me :) - It seemed as if an Eternity had passed on!! - Even they(my frendz) had known by this time what was ON!! I just wished that I could keep looking @ her for the rest of my life - provided she stood where she was now :) - But no... she started moving away from sight and before I could realize she had vanished. My friends started the usual pampering which a group of such close friends would do to a Romeo, and I kept telling them there was nothing like that cooking. It was time for us to assemble in the conference room for the commitee's meeting, and we moved towards the venue( my body was moving, but my heart, mind and soul were still STILL and freezed in her thoughts, thinking would i meet her again??).........

I opened the door of the conference room, walked in to it and I was in for a pleasant surprise.............HEY!!! Hiyaaaaaaaaa........Yes....Yes.....(Guess you ppl would've guessed by this time why was I expressing such strong emotions) :) Yes..She was there......right in front of me........seated on a chair......she was also a part of the cultural committee from that venue- as was I from an another venue of my Org.......

To be continued...........