For Auld Lang Syne

A new journey...

2011-09-27T06:49:00.003+05:30

It has been roughly 1.5 months since i left home, to embark on a new journey, an adventure extraordinaire, forcing myself out of the comfort of 'home'. Wasn't an easy decision by any means. The risk and expense involved was HUGE. A concern always at the back of my mind, about whether someday i will succeed. However, it certainly was a risk worth taking. For, knowledge can only be beneficial. There is nothing about it that can go wrong!

2 years is a long time and I don't know what i will become. But I can guarantee that i will work hard and strive to be the best I can be... It is hard not to worry about the outcome. However, I can only hope for the best....

"The future is scary but you can't just run back to the past because it's familiar, yes it's tempting, but it's a mistake"
~HIMYM

Wonder what happened...

2011-02-23T23:19:00.002+05:30

I can't believe how long it has been since I rambled here... Wonder what went wrong. What happened to my love for writing all of a sudden. I suppose, IT frustration & Drama addiction took over...

The quandaries of a newbie in the corporate world….

2010-02-24T20:38:00.001+05:30

It was 14^th December 2009, and the day we join Barclays had finally dawned. Extremely excited and eager to learn, we attended the induction attentively and arrived at the Pune-2 office in Hinjewadi, which would now be our workplace. Initially, the atmosphere was intimidating. The challenge to ramp up our skills to the level of the people around us was exhilarating and unnerving at the same time. However, the former emotion was far more overpowering, and together with a will to perform in a way that would corroborate our selection to be a part of this mighty organisation, we resolved to garner the skills, essential to make our team proud.

Our learning process here wasn’t just technology oriented. Certain practices were obsolete in the world of corporate. As we had just stepped out of college, we were accustomed to addressing our seniors as ‘Sir’ or ‘Ma’am’. However, now, that was so passé! In our attempt to learn this practice, we bungled up several times. XYZ became Sir, XYZ aand we appeared to have conferred Knighthood on most of our colleagues. It is after a lot of practice and conscious effort that we now address everyone by their names.

We all know that every profession and every company has an associated jargon. Since our first day, we were at the receiving end of a fusillade of abbreviations which made no sense to us whatsoever. This parlance can confuse those, unaware of its existence. An abbreviation that was particularly irksome was K.T. Now, the reason for that was, when were in college (a few months ago) K.T. was short for A.T.K.T, which stood for ‘Allowed To Keep Term’. This was something all us budding engineers feared over the past four years of the course. One is A.T.K.T when one has failed between 1 and 3 subjects in the course. (More than that and you lose a year!!). However, here at Barclays, K.T. stands for Knowledge Transition or Knowledge Transfer. When everyone around us kept talking about giving us a K.T. we were baffled and terrified! It was when our line-manager came to the rescue and explained to us what it really meant, that we heaved a sigh of relief!

As we spend more time here, we realise, the professional world and the academic world are rather diverse. When we stepped here the first day, we remember being petrified at the sight of so many ‘black screens’ (that was a term in college for the output screen- C, CPP et al.) and people all around engrossed in work. It was strongly reminiscent of the horrors of our practical exams, vivas and all that jazz. However, now that we’ve settled here and have started using the ‘black screens’ ourselves, we realise that it is not something to be afraid of. As college students, we used to be in awe of this world, but now, it feels great to be a part of it. I hope, 40 years from now, when I look back at these days, I too can say, in true Bryan Adams’ style, “Those were the best days of my life…”

The GRE Odyssey...

2009-11-19T23:15:00.003+05:30

What a journey this has been... It has taught me so much while, at the same time, it has reiterated life's past lessons.. Lessons i failed to learn before. Its true, if you do not learn from your mistakes, you make yourself susceptible to the same pain and hurt once more. And this time, you deserve it. I seem to lie in the category of people who never learn, no matter what.

It all began in the month of July, when post an insightful invective from my family, for "not doing anything constructive about my future", I considered their proposal for further studies and thus, the GRE. Most of my friends were either taking it or were already done with it. So there I was, on the 5th of July 2009, at the office of the premier institute for training in GRE in India, Dilip Oak's Academy. It was within the first week of classes itself that i realised, that I was going to love attending these classes and that it was going to be a highly enriching experience. The professors were the best I had ever had. Experts in their field. If there was a GRE training institute equivalent to the IITs & IIMs in India, they would be the first people to be hired. Suddenly i found myself poring over books, the thirst for knowledge rejuvenated. The more I heard/read the more i wanted to know. It had been a long time since I felt that way and I loved the feeling. I had not been so passionate about studying in such a long time. The blend of the wish to do well and the will to strive almost had an intoxicating effect. It made me forget all those horrible years of engineering, where every exam was written with a 40 in mind. I was enamored with studying again.

The subjects especially responsible for this effect were GRE Verbal and Analytical writing(AWA). I have always taken Math for granted. Its (thankfully) come very easily to me for the most part and so I am guilty of almost having a callous attitude towards it. (Dont mean to brag). It was the English sections-Verbal & AWA that particularly fascinated me. They made me fall in love with studying. Moreover, they helped accomplish what I thought was impossible for me, a love for reading. It was the GRE english that changed my life over the past few months. I would like to believe that it changed me, at least slightly. It reinstated my lost confidence. It made me feel that I wasn't all that bad as a student. My Verbal ability, that gradually improved (with a LOT of help of course) made me feel that I probably had the capability to, not only pursue a masters degree, but also to perform fairly well. The writing section gave me an opportunity to pour my heart out on paper. I had almost forgotten how much I loved to write. I know I am no Chetan Bhagat or Shobha De in the making. However, I would like to believe that I can express myself well through the written media. Thanks to the GRE I have had the opportunity to try my hand at these subjects once more.

Today as I measure what I have lost and gained as I took this exam, I realise that I have gained so much. What I have lost in the bargain, or rather failed to achieve; a good score despite striving, is inconsequential as compared to what I have gained. Knowledge is never wasted and a score card can hardly be a just measurement of the knowledge acquired. I think by refusing to pursue higher studies, I am being unfair to myself. Im simply trampling upon another dream as one couldn't be fulfilled. Just because one thing didn't take shape does not mean the others wont too. Why not try? What I can do is, this time i can remember the lesson I have failed to learn in so long. Try not to have any expectations or demands from myself and certainly not overrate my abilities. Try not to think of the outcome and just do the needful. Let the future unravel at its own pace and reveal its mysteries for you.
I hope I finally learn this time.

Its a long post?!? Well, it has been a long and eventful journey.....

The bengali AULD LANG SYNE

2009-10-07T09:38:00.006+05:30

My humble attempt at translating my favourite bengali song by Gurudeb Rabindranath Tagore.

Romanization: Jyotika Banerjee

Translation credit: Aditya Vasudeva

Please let me know if you spot any mistakes.....

(Purano shei diner kotha, bhulbi ki re, haai o shei,

The memories of the good old days, can you ever forget them?

Chokher dakha, Praner kotha, Shei ki bhola jaaye)------ x 2

They were witnessed by our eyes, were the voice of our life, Can they ever be forgotten?

Aay aar ek ti baar aay re shokha, praner maajhe aay mora,

Come back once more, my friend, come and be a part of my life

Shukher dukher kotha kobo, praan judabe taai

We will talk of smiles and tears (of happy & sad experiences), And will feel very good about it

(Purano shei diner kotha, bhulbi ki re, haai o shei,
The memories of the good old days, can you ever forget them?
Chokher dakha, Praner kotha, Shei ki bhola jaaye)------ x 2
They were witnessed by our eyes, were the voice of our life, Can they ever be forgotten?

(Mora bhorer bala phul tulechi, dulechi dolaye,

Together we have plucked flowers at dawn, Together we have spent hours on the swing

Baajiye baanshi gaan geyechi, gokuler tolaye.)------ x 2

Together we have played the flute, Sang the songs under the shade

Haay maajhe holo chaada chaadi, gelen ke kothaye

We parted in between, never knew where we went

Abar dakha judi holo shokha, praner maajhe aaye

If we happen to meet again someday, Come and be a part of my life.

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-07-29T15:29:00.006+05:30

What a totttttaaaallly crazy pair of months its been!!! So much happened (or maybe it just seems that way coz i was always doing something.. Lol)!!

Well anyhow, to all my friends and seniors who have moved on to the next important phase is life

ALL THE BEST! May god shower you guys with loads of love and happinness!

Right from the Sangeet and Mehndi, the farmhouse party to the many pujas until finally the wedding, I had a blast!

Met wonderful people and made great friends for life..

Here are the pics I have of one happy couple

Presenting Mr & Mrs. Mahajan

THE GROUP FROM THE KIRTANE-MAHAJAN WEDDING

Had an amazing time guys.. Will miss the fun we had together for a long time...

A FABULOUS MONTH OF SURPRISES AND PARTIES!

2009-04-21T17:49:00.004+05:30

It all started on 17th March 2008 when my friends planned a huge b'day surprise for my sister n me and ended recently with the b'day of my best friends which happens to be on the same day, 14th April....

First it was my brother who took us out for dinner on 16th and got us a beautiful (and delicious ;) ) cake

at midnight and then my friends who threw us a surprise b'day party. Though id fig

ured something was cooking when id heard my freinds whispering excitedly in my (they thought) my absence and stopping abruptly when they spotted me, i had no idea of the extent they had planned it to!

It was only when i walked up to my terrace that evening that i realised what the huge surprise was =)

All my friends, both from school and college had come together (though they hardly knew each other) to plan a wonderful evening for us. It was the most perfect b'day and one of the most memorable ones iv ever had and has (i think) broken the jinx of "boring b'days" that we've have had so far....

This ofcourse was followed by a series of birthdays Jui, Shweta, Aparna, Poorva to name a few...

Bottomline, it was a wonderful one month...

I just hope, after all this excitement and fun we can get back to our books seriously..
Afterall, exam season is approaching again!!! =(

......But silence is golden

2009-03-13T22:22:00.003+05:30

Swiss Inscription: Sprecfien ist silbern, Schweigen ist golden (Speech is silver, Silence is golden)

Meaning: Speech is of Time, Silence is of Eternity.

Time and again iv experienced one thing... Keeping quiet solves more problems than speaking about them...

Especially when your angry, you end up saying whatever comes to your mind without actually meaning any of it. By the time you calm down, you only regret saying what you did and feel bad for the person you argued with no matter what you had to hear in the bargain too... So instead, the best thing in situations where your feeling so angry you could scream, is to keep quiet.. Use every ounce of your energy to keep your mouth shut! From what im seeing, the silent treatment seems to be the best solution to all arguments and problems... When something bothers you, just keep quiet... I hate confrontations and name calling and so this seems to work for me.

-----Afterall, as someone has said-----

~~SILENCE IS ONE OF THE HARDEST ARGUMENTS TO REFUTE~~

The Slumdog mania

2009-03-12T22:51:00.002+05:30

Its been so long since i last posted... Iv really missed my blog... But i hope i can post more frequenty from now on, no matter how busy i am...

Nothing i say is enough to describe what Slumdog Millionaire has done for Indian technicians.. However, my only appeal to everyone around the worl would be to look at this movie as a LOVE STORY and not as a picture of India... That is not what epitomises India.. Theres a lot more to this country than just poverty, illetracy and a population problems.. Every country has a good and a bad side and this is ours... And we are trying to deal with it...

Ofcourse i have a lot more to say about this, and i will...

But for now, i want to post the lyrics of my favourite song from the Slumdog OST..

Dreams on fire...

Dreams on Fire
OST- Slumdog Millionaire

You are my waking dream

You're all that's real to me

You are the magic in the world I see

You are the prayer I sing

You brought me to my knees

You are the faith that made me believe

Dreams on fire

Higher n higher

Passions burning

Right on the pyre

Once far, forever yours

In me All your heart

Dreams on fire

Higher n higher

You are my ocean waves

You are my thought each day

You are the laughter from childhood games

You are the spark of dawn

You are where I belong

You are the ache I feel in every song

Dreams on fire

Higher n higher

Passions burning

Right on the pyre

Once far, forever yours

In me All your heart

Dreams on fire Higher n higher

Zai Jian 2008!

2008-12-31T15:46:00.003+05:30

(Goodbye 2008!)
Just a few hours more and soon we'll be stepping into the new year!! Year 2009!!!
This year brought old friends closer, wonderful new friends, good marks *winks* , more shows among many other things... A peaceful/uneventful year on the whole...
After the bitter and turbulent end of 2007, personally, the year 2008 has been one of healing and growth.. Friendships and addictions proved to be therapeutic and helped me rise from probably one of the most difficult phases of my life. So, i must take this opprotunity to thank all those friends who stood by me and at times lost their temper and confronted me (thankfully).. Had you guys not been there, I dont know how i would have come out of it... Also, im grateful to all my new friends who were unaware of anything but helped me immensely to come back to 'normal'. Finding 'The Villa' and being a part of it was certainly one of the key highs of this year. Last yet not the least, my family, who probably suffered the most, especially in the first half of the year, when they saw me in a way they had never seen me before. Im extremely sorry to have put them and everyone else through this, but im sure they understand.
This year has taught me to love and cherish what i have right now, in the present! It has taught me that life moves on and we have to as well.. I only hope that I can.
I pray, that neither I, nor anyone else has to face a sudden unexpected loss of their loved ones and also hope that peace prevails in the world and no dastardly attacks on innocent people anywhere occur. Lets have a Peaceful, Happy and Properous 2009!!

HOLIDAYS!!!!

2008-12-22T18:57:00.005+05:30

Enjoying the first REAL holidays since the first year of engineering!!! Yay!! Finally feels like the end of a semester!!!
PARTY TIME!!!

Ek lau... A beautiful song...

2008-12-04T09:28:00.012+05:30

Iv finally found the translation of the song that tells exactly how every Indian feels at the moment.... (Yes, it is the song that NDTV uses in its tribute to the martyrs)..
(Song is written by Amit Trivedi, from the soundtrack of Aamir, performed by Shilpa Rao and Amitabh)

You can hear it here...

Ek Lau - Shilpa Rao, Amitabh

TRANSLATION::::> (Translation credit: DOCMITASHA@ wordpress)

Ek Lau Is Tarah Kyun Bhuji Mere Maula…

(Why was a flare extinguished like this, my Lord…)

Gardishon Mein Rehti, Behti Guzarthi,

Zindagi Aahein Kitni…

(Struggling through dark clouds, flowing, passing by,

There are so many lives [being lived]…)

In Mein Se Ek Hai, Teri Meri Agni,

Koi Ek Jaisi Apni…

(Your life and my life is just one flame amongst all of these)

Par Khuda Khair Kar, Aisa Anjaam Kisi Rooh Ko,

Na De Kabhi Yahaan…

Guncha Muskuratha Ek Waqt Se Pehle,

Kyun Chodd Chala Tera Yeh Jahaan…

(But God please, may no soul here receive, this kind of ending…

Before the arrival of a flower-like*, smiling [peaceful] time,

why did this life leave your world…)

{*writer refers to the gradual, sweet smelling natural death of a flower}

Ek Lau Is Tarah Kyun Bhuji Mere Maula,

Ek Lau Zindagi Ki Maula.

(Why was a flare extinguished like this, my Lord,

A flare of Life, my Lord)

Dhoop Ke Ujaale Se, Aus Ke Pyaale Se,

Khushiyan Mile Humko…

Zyada Manga Hai Kahaan, Sarhadein Na Ho Jahaan,

Duniya Mile Humko…

(The light of the sunshine, the beauty of the morning dew,

We recieve joy from all of this…

Is it too much that we ask for a world with no borders*)

{*As in, borders/divisions between people, ethnicities, religions…symbolizing all artificially created conflict amongst humanity}

Par Khuda Khair Kar, Uske Armaan Mein Kyun

Bewaja Ho Koi Qurbaan,

Guncha Muskuratha Ek Waqt Se Pehle,

Kyun Chodd Chala Tera Yeh Jahaan…

(But God please, why should anyone be sacrificed to fulfill this desire*…

Before the arrival of a flower-like, smiling [peaceful] time,

why did this life leave your world…)

{*Why should there be sacrifice for the sake of creating this division-less, conflict-free society? }

Ek Lau Is Tarah Kyun Bhuji Mere Maula,

Ek Lau Zindagi Ki Maula. (2)

(Why was a flare extinguished like this, my Lord,

A flare of Life, my Lord)

A tribute to all the martyrs who laid down their lives protecting innocent people from this dastardly attack...
Also, to the victims... May your souls rest in peace and may god give your families the strength to deal with this irreparable loss...

TERRORIZING an entire nation....

2008-12-01T18:57:00.011+05:30

It was absolutely HORRIFYING to watch the 59 hours of non-stop coverage of what happened on the 26th of November 2008.. Though India and especially Mumbai has had its share of Bomb blasts and terrorist attacks since several years now, this was like something NONE of us had EVER witnessed before... Innocent people were being murdered BRUTALLY without even realising that death had come upon them.. It was unfair and inhuman.... Simply watching it on TV was shocking and intimidating beyond measure. The magnanimity of this attack and those headless terrorists, boys aged between 18-30 who have no idea what they are doing, and thoroughly misguided, cannot be undermined... If we re not cautious this may be the beginning of a horrendous nightmare... Beginning???? Did i just say beginning??? Hasn't it been 14 years since India had its first bomb blasts??? And the suspects/culprits are still alive and living freely (Dont we all know where)....

I have never been to the Taj Mahal Palace hotel or The Oberoi Trident but inspite of that, seeing those buildings in flames and echoing with bullet sounds and grenade blasts was so painful.. I cant even imagine how the Mumbaikars must be feeling.. It makes us wonder are we really safe in our own land?? Will we always be so prone to danger??

Terrorists entered the two top hotels in the financial capital and it took 59 hours to get them!! Probably among the most memorable 59 hours of every Indians life!.... But what one really appreciates and salutes is the exemplary courage of the Indian Armed Forces- Army, Navy and Air Force. I think EVERYONE would have died had they not jumped in to save lives.. Also the Mumbai police... Inspite of the poor facilities they are provided- a useless helmet and a sleeveless bullet-proof jacket to mention a few, their courage is commendable... And lastly, the elite defence forces- National Security Guards (NSG) or the black cats as they are called... I think their courage, sense or duty and humility is something we all should emulate.

Whats really tragic and frustrating is the death of so many innocent people... Commuters at the railway station, people out to enjoy a great dinner, patients in the hospital, religious heads (Rabbi and his wife who were killed at Nariman House) or simply people walking on the road, NOBODY WAS SPARED. What does one do now? Get the politicians to resign? After long last tighten the security of our cities? Provide the policemen better facilities? Is that it? Do we realise that most of us who dont vote are equally responsible for this? Im a citizen of this country eligible to vote. But do i even HAVE a voting card? Doesnt it seems like us eductaed fools are responsible in a way for putting our politicians where they are! Its not just their callousness and irresponsibility that has caused this tragedy. We need to do things too. We need to do our national duties and then talk about our national rights...

TRIBUTE

Well, anything said in this matter is not enough.. It is one of Indias most tragic days.. It has changed a lot about how we think.. We have finally said "enough is enough" and demanded the answers to our many questions from our politicians.. Lets only hope that we go somewhere from here and are not just stuck in a vicious circle of blamegame...
Lets all rise above petty discriminations and fight terrorism as a UNITED NATION... I think we can do it...
Lastly, i would only like to salute all the martyrs who lost their lives battling this tragic event... May you and all the victims of this dastardly attack rest in peace... We can only pray for you... Im sure the grief your families are facing is immeasurable... The whole nation is with you..

Dear naani,

2008-11-22T09:26:00.002+05:30

R.I.P

Hope you are in a better and happier place now....

I hope i can move on...

GONG XI NI YI CHEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-11-02T20:55:00.004+05:30

Ohhhhhh it was SUCH a happy moment for all us It started with a kiss/They kiss again fans when Yi Chen won the BEST ACTRESS AWARD for her character Xiang Qin which she potrayed to perfection!! That moment definitely goes down as one of the most memorable moments of my life!!!!!! N Joe being there to support her at every stage was just soooo adorable... The more u see this couple the more u want them to be together!! It was just toooooooo exciting!

That time of year again....

2008-10-29T08:39:00.003+05:30

The increase in the frequency of my posts can help anybody deduce that its that time of year again... The time when im supposed to "STUDY" at home for my upcoming exams.. Yes, Iam talking about my Preparation Leave (P.L.)... Ironically though, this is the time of the year when i catch up comfortably with all my friends at the TKA Villa and otherwise... N also, they are burdened with the reponsibility to MAKE ME STUDY!! *winks*
So guys!!!!! Please get to work!!!!!!!! Coz im always open to motivation from u'll...!!!!

Note: This post is short coz my mom is yelling at me in the background to get back to my books!! LOL

Happy Diwali!!!!

2008-10-27T11:09:00.003+05:30

दीपावली की हार्दिक शुभेचा!!

The 3 mistakes of my life...

2008-10-26T11:46:00.002+05:30

Intriguing title isn't it? Thats the name of the most recent book by one of my favourite authors, Chetan Bhagat...
Though iv always known that, what you have to face or deal with in life is a direct outcome of ur own actions, after reading this book i realised the gravity to which our decisions can affect our lives... It set me thinking... It made me wonder. What do i consider to be the worst decisions of my life... What are the biggest mistakes of my life???
After a lot of pondering i finally could select 2...
1)My choice of career
2)Lack of presence of mind, which cost a life...
Since the day i stepped into the AISSMS's Institute of Information Technology, my life has taken an ugly detour.... It has taxed me immensely both academically and emotionally... As i may have mentioned about 1000000000 times before, it turned me from a topper to a flopper!!
Secondly, the thought that will haunt me for the rest of my life... "If only i had done things differently, would the outcome have been different?? Would a life have been saved??"
Anyhow, these are pretty much the two thoughts that occur to me EVERYDAY without fail... Infact iv thought this so much now, that i want to stop thinking about it! Im exhausted with this "If only" feeling... Im really fed up!! But then again, we cant always control our thoughts or our emotions right~~

Happy Birthday dad...

2008-10-13T18:18:00.002+05:30

Hi dad!!
Wish u a very very Happy Birthday!
I hope u r happy no matter where u r...
Its been 13 years we still miss u a lot....
Love u loads.... Mily

Laziness and procrastination....

2008-09-06T22:03:00.003+05:30

Well, that pretty much describes my state right now.... Iv been avoiding everything thats important and doing everything that can and SHOULD be postponed... It took me ages to return to my blog!! Bunking college, literally fleeing from there every oppotunity i get! Not that its one of the best places to be at anyway! Anyhow, before i start my college bashing as always, (somehow im never lazy when it comes to that! *winks* )
Bottomline, i need to get back on track... Complete the pending assignments and start getting my files for the exams ready, before its too late and i end up getting all flustered and nervous and start the waterworks when i realise that the semesters almost over and im kinda screwed...
But somehow, inspite of all this idling away, im the one in my group with maximum things completed! Strange! But thats not what matters... The point here is to start getting the work done already!! Looks like i cant start watching any new dramas anytime soon (say a few days *winks*).... Jia Yo to my group and me!!!! Go for it everybody! Lets kill the last few months of engineering the best we can!

Celebrating 61 years of independence...

2008-08-15T22:04:00.002+05:30

On this auspicious occassion today, when, as Jawaharlal Nehru has said, " India awoke to life and freedom" 61 years ago, I want to express the immense pride and honour that i feel to be born as a citizen of this country....

Through this post I want to say how fortunate i feel to be an Indian....

Freedom didn't come to us out of nothing... It came out of the sacrifices made by our forefathers, our freedom fighters, and i realise that, we all should....

So, Happy Independence day! Jai Hind... Jai Bharat!!

Some interesting statistics::::>

SKYPE!

2008-08-13T21:04:00.002+05:30

For those who dont know---> Skype is a software that allows users to make calls over the internet.....

Though iv had a skype account for a long time iv never really had the chance to use it coz the only one i voice chat online is my brother and he simply refuses to use anything other than gmail or yahoo...

But yesterday sis Edith suddenly suggested using that to communicate (Coz come on! International calls are s*** expensive!!!!! Talk once n then ur credits are over!) And before we knew it sissies Edith, anni and I were conferencing!!!! It was sooooo much fun! I mean the wonders of technology are really commendable!!! We can talk to people miles and miles away from and its ALMOST free!!!!!!!! Simply amazing!

N then there was no stopping me! ;)

Today morning i ended up speaking to my best friend in the US for 90 minutes!!!! It was crazy! It was almost like she was back home in Pune again!!

Now, theres always yahoo or google! WHy do i HAVE to use SKYPE??? Well, the reason is, I think Skype gives u maximum clarity as far as sound reception is concerned! And besides thats something my sissies and i experimented with together and strated using together! So i guess its skype for me!

**Cant believe im actually making a post out of this!!!!!**

Sudden realizations.....

2008-08-04T22:13:00.002+05:30

U know, there are several occassions when theres something bothering u.... U hate that feeling and u want it to go away but it just doesn't until u finally sit down and think it over and the reason for ur discomfort hits you hard... You suddenly feel so disappointed/upset/frustrated!

I mean its a phase.. Its not like you go into depression or anything...

Well something like this happened to me recently... Sunday 3rd August 2008 was FRIENDSHIPS DAY (Technically, the first sunday in August is celebrated as Friendships Day). N like everyone else i too had big plans for this day! Wanted to pay a visit to all my friends n surprise them! But little did i know what was going to happen..

Well i'd given a pre-employment exam/campus exam for a company called Krawler Networks on wednesday that week.... The exam was so tough (Not just for me, for everybody) that i didnt think i would get through... But i knew one thing for sure, that i wasn't the worst...

N totally contrary to my expectations i was informed on saturday that i was selected for the second round and had to go to the company at 11:30am on Sunday.. (Friendships Day!!) But i was thrilled! It was my first attempt ever at any such exam and i was among the 12 people out of 120 who gave the exam! That sure was a confidence booster! But we didn't know whether the second round would be a written round or an interview...

However, in our attempt to be on time we all reached there 45mins prior to the required time!

Anyhow, it was my first ever experience of the "Professional" world... Its so different and so much more refined tha the current "Academic" world we are in.. So really impressed with the "look" of the company, we finally started our "exam", yes, contrary to what we thought, it was yet another technical exam and not an interview round!
Well, they could have warned us this is what it would be but they didnt!

Anyhow, the first question itself took us an hour or 2 to complete! Which i tried to the best of my abilities.... We thought that would be it! But no!!! The next thing the examiner/software professional asks us to do is---> Solve the questions that appeared in your first round again!!!!!!!!!!!!
N guess what! He wasn't gonna give us question papers again to see wt the question exactly was!!! So basically we were supposed to REMEMBER 3 long programming problem statements at that moment and acutually code them!!!!!!! I mean is this a memory test???? And anyhow, whats the point of repeating the same questions??? Weren't we selected for this round coz we did SOMETHING right in that round?? ATLEAST TELL US WHATS GOING ON?!?!? At that moment my only thought was "Im doomed!!!" But surprisingly, i could remember what id done and i could code what i remembered...

However in the midst of all this irritation, anxiety and frustration, it suddenly hit me! What exactly is bothering me?? Is it the fact that we've been sitting there for 4 hours now w/o even a glass of water? Or is it the poor lighting in that office? Or the fact that my friendships day is ruined? Or the problem of not being able to completely solve what im doing?? No, it wasnt any of this...

It was the fact that i was just NOT enjoying what i was doing! I had practically not uttered a word in those 4 hours.. I was sitting all by myself and doing something I DONT REALLY ENJOY!!! Something my hearts not into ATALL!!!!!!! Thats the problem!!!
And believe me, this sudden revelation made me feel like i was pushed off a cliff!
I had that same sinking feeling which u have when u feel u'v lost someone....

But now what iv learnt from that is that i must, in my profession look for other avenues that may be open to me... I admit im NOT a hardcore programming person... But im sure that there is something out there belonging to MY FIELD that will most definitely interest me... I just have to find it... N im sure i will....

2 of my many best friends...

2008-07-29T09:56:00.004+05:30

Anybody who knows me well would know the number of best friends i have... In life, u r lucky if u have met a few good people.. But i guess im really blessed to have so many good, happy n caring people who have stood by me in my every hour of need...
Anyway, this post isn't about me, its about them...
2 of my many best friends who have embarked upon a new journey in life...
Sonali.... who has left for the US for further studies (MBA)... A big step in any students life...
(I still cant believe i wasn't there to see u off girl! IF only id not met with that stupid accident!!! arrrgh! But i guess u can change whats meant to happen...)
Rucha... who has found he Mr. Right n got engaged last night... A big step in any girl's life...
(All thanks to could make it to this occassion though... I was really close to missing this one too!!!! Im glad i didn't, it was one hella party!!)

Anyway all i wanna say to these two friends of mine is that i wish u all the very best... I hope u succeed in what you do and be happy always! God bless..
Cheers to our friendship!

Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na

2008-07-11T07:59:00.004+05:30

SOURCE: Wikipedia
Jaane Tu ... Ya Jaane Na (Hindi: जाने तू ... या जाने ना, translation: Whether you know... or not) is a 2008 Hindi-language film..
Plot:
The movie tells the story of Jai and Aditi, who are two amongst a group of college friends. They are especially close, leading everyone to believe they are a couple. When they graduate from college, Aditi's parents invite Jai home to discuss future plans and marriage. Jai and Aditi are shocked and insist that they really don't see each other "that way".

Aditi, quick-tempered and prone to extremities in life, would prefer a strong man, an archetypal 'stud', who'd get into fights to protect her. Jai, on the other hand, is a pacifist, and would rather have a more sweet-tempered girl than Aditi as his better half.

He finds someone just that way during a night out at a club, where he ends up saving the girl (Meghna) from hooligans by fooling them rather than fighting them. Jai and Meghna start dating, much to the chagrin of Aditi, who finds herself increasingly missing the company of her best friend without realising why. Eventually, she starts seeing Sushant, a family friend, who fits the notion of her ideal man, only to later realise the travails of dating someone hot-tempered and prone to getting into fights.

Jai breaks off his relationship with Meghna, who has by now realised his affections for Aditi. Sushant reacts violently when he learns of Aditi's true affections. They break up, and she decides to go to the US to pursue a film-making course.

Jai gets back at Sushant for hitting Aditi. This only lands him in jail, but owing to a typically crazy turn of events involving his royal cousins from Rajasthan and a horse, he makes it to the airport where, in a nod to Bollywood tradition, he stops Aditi from leaving and confesses his feelings. At the end of the film, the couple, happily married and back from their honeymoon, are received at the airport by their friends and a new admirer of their love story.

Well it was a boring tuesday morning n i had started feeling ashamed about the way i was bunking college carelessly... Thats when my sister called me up asking if i wanted to go watch this film "Jaane tu... Ya jaane na" with her.(Which i didnt really wanna watch initially, my only intention was go go out with my friends and have a good time.. As in, any other film would do too.. It wasn't ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY that we go watch just this film). Initially i rejected the offer saying id promised my friends i wud watch it with them. But the minute i hung up i started thinking.. WTH am i doing?????? Im giving up a chance to bunk college?!??!?.. So after a loooooot of convincing my friends FINALLY agreed to go... (They still behave like school kids and to think about it, it was they who introduced me to "bunking" !!)

So riding our bikes at the maximum possible speed within the choc-a-bloc traffic we finally made it on time to the theatre which was on the other side of the city n bought tickets for a good 120 bucks, still wondering if the movie was worth it at all!!

Well im glad to admit that the movie was TOTALLY worth it and more!!! Complete entertainer very lovable and complete with all the typical hindi film masala (The climax---> so predictable yet soooo funny!) We couldnt stop ourselves from LOLing at the end and kept singing the title song and other songs we know from the film all day next day until everyone around us was HEAVILY BORED!! Well i guess i wrote about it bcoz i had SUCH a good time with my friends that day!! And also coz the characters of RATS & MEOW (the nicknames of the two lead characters) touched our hearts... Not to forget the heavenly chocolate drink CADBY we had after the film!!!

One step at a time...

2008-07-03T21:40:00.009+05:30

A huge thank u to Editha unni for introducing me to this inspiring song... I think it is apt for my current situation.. Xie xie ni!!!
"One step at a time" by Jordin Sparks...

Song Lyrics

One Step at a Time - Jordin Sparks

Good people...

2008-06-30T18:52:00.003+05:30

It is said that good people are very rare in the world today... But i have to say that i beg to differ. I think it depends on how you see the world and how much you appreciate what others do.. As some say- "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you take it"..
In this context i think im a very luck person (touch wood)... Coz i have met really good people in life.. We know that friendships are relationships we CHOOSE and are not born with and i have to admit that iv been blessed with really good people right since childhood...
Im grateful to all my friends who care so much and are always there for me in my every hour of need... They are my backbone.. Dont know what i wud do without them!
So this is just a toast to ALL MY FRIENDS from EVERYWHERE who are with me through thick and thin...
LOVE U GUYS and really really appreciate everything u guys do!

Taking tuitions...

2008-06-21T15:47:00.003+05:30

Ever since i started engineering in 2005, ive felt like a complete idiot... Iv gone from topper to flopper... Though i knew that engineering is not something i would find interest in, i still selected it thinking i would manage it somehow, afterall the pay packets are high and there is job security!! Wrong decision! Or should i say, decision for all the wrong reasons! But it didn't take me much time to realise what a big fool id been... Clearly, when you dont like something, u r gonna try to avoid it! Thats exaclty what i did for the first year... It took me that much time to realise that i was only ruining my career this way and that engineering is what i have to do whether i like it or lump it!! So slowly iam working hard at improving though my dilly-dallying has caused sufficient harm... Obviously my dislike had showed up on my marks as well though not causing any irreparable damage. So bottomline. since i came to engineering, Ive felt like the biggest fool on earth!!!
My rescue from this feeling came in the form of taking tuitions for maths.. Taking these tuitions reinstated my faith in my belief that i wasn't a very bad student. I had a brain n wasn't a dimwit as id started thinking i was. I started feeling productive again and it gave me a sense of fulfillment.. Its true, that when god closes one door, he opens ten others for us... N i have to say, that my faith in god and these tuitions have played a major role in not letting me give up on myself because of engineering.....

EXAMS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-06-19T16:22:00.003+05:30

I have to admit that though there is nothing as irritating and annoying and scary as exams, the feeling at the end of your exams is of an achievement (Almost a feeling of the victory of good over evil).. Hehe i know im making it sound like a war but afterall, writing exams is like going for a war right? A WAR TO PASS!! Anyway after my last paper i couldnt stop shouting... Infact my friends had to start pleading with me to stop...
I guess i have to conclude that the joy after the end of exams makes writing exams worth it ;)

EXAMS!!!

2008-06-08T17:08:00.001+05:30

I dont know whose smart idea it was to introduce something like exams, but the truth is that we have to face it whether we like it or not...
And as im in the middle of exams now i better stop blogging for a while...
I now swear that i will not blog until the end of my last exam of 17th June!! :)

My wonderful (new) family members!!

2008-06-08T16:44:00.003+05:30

Well, as i mentioned, a year or so back i was bitten by the drama bug too.. Since then iv visited a hundred sites looking for videos of the dramas i wanna watch n in the process got to know a lot of new people...
One of my favourite shows ever is the Taiwanese drama "It started with a kiss"... It was quite clear at the end of this drama that there would be a sequel. Anyway, so the sequel started airing at the beginning of this year. It aired every sunday, and all thanks to some die hard fans who understand mandarin, people like me who dont understand mandarin got to see the subbed versions of the drama by wednesday... However, anybody who has tried their hand at subbing before would know that its not an easy task... It requires a lot of patience and time. So naturally, the speed of subbing became slower by time (which is natural considering how much time it takes.. And come on, the subbers have a life!! They need to take care of themselves first! Coz so many of them fell sick in the process..!! So, love u subbers.. Take ur time!) But just to make sure that we, the loyal fans get to watch the drama we love so much, the subbers all came together and formed the TKA VILLA.
This villa has been my second home for the past few months now... I wud go there every week to watch this drama. But then so as to communicate with the people they were working so hard for, the subbers put up a chatbox on the site. The chatbox has helped me find sooooo many new people!!! We all belong to different parts of the world but our love for dramas binds us together... When we started chatting and getting to know each other, we realised that love for dramas just one of the many things common between us. We are so so similar, yet so different. I guess thats what "Unity in diversity" is all about...
Thanks to the villa iv met really great people.. We have formed relationships that i know and hope will last long.. As the subbers have rightly said, the end of the drama did not mean that we stopped going to the blog(villa). We still go there and chat for hours....
Iv always loved meeting new people, knowing about different countries, thei cultures, travelling.. Most importantly, making new friends.. And thanks to this marvellous invention, The Internet and the drama obsession and the subbers, have been able to do what i like...
All i wanna say to my new family members is that- "Love u guys! Im glad i met u and i hope we can always be friends!!" Oh also, i hope i can meet u'll someday :)

Drama Obsession!!

2008-05-30T17:07:00.004+05:30

It was 2 years ago that my friend from Mizoram, who lives in the college hostel, got dvds of Full House... The famous South Korean drama starring RAIN and Song hye gyo... At first when i went over to the hostel and heard them talk excitedly about these dramas they were watching, i laughed it off... Moreover, I didnt leave any chance i got to tease them about it.. Little did i know, that very soon i would be at the other end, being teased endlessly by anybody and everybody i know, about this latest addiction of mine...
It turns out that it took me only ONE SCENE to fall in love with these dramas...
I started with korean, n then went on to watch mandarin dramas n now i even watch japanese dramas!!!!
Well, i dont know what it is about these dramas.... They give u those happy moments and then make you cry... I guess, its because the stories are woven finely and characters sketched impeccably. You take an instant liking to the characters who are so relatable and the stories which, at times, may be dramatized but are mostly enrapturing.. It successfully keeps you hooked... Besides, unlike most shows on TV, these shows have an END.
The stories are about happiness, hope and true love (the ones I watch, if I might add)... At the same time, they are well researched and impart knowledge to you about a wide variety of things, professions and people such as Pasta, Musicians, Patissieres etc, whatever the drama may revolve around. Moreover, it opens up avenues to learn about an all new culture. I mean, the media of any country is probably one of the best ways to explore its culture after all!

These dramas can truly take all your worries away and take you to a world where nothing is real but you want it to be...
Honestly speaking, im glad i found this obsession.. It is one thing that has helped to keep me going even when the going got tough.. Though all the incessant ridiculing embarrassed me earlier, now I have no qualms in admitting-
I LOVE DRAMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My brothers back home!

2008-05-26T17:22:00.003+05:30

Well since this blog is all about good times (mainly ;) ), i'll talk about another time that all of us at home await...

Since the past 8 months or so my brother's been living out coz he works for Maersk international now... N the times he returns home are probably the best we have together.... Though he is my cousin, we share a relationship as close as real siblings...

If only i didnt have these stupid exams now i would be able to enjoy too... But i guess nothing can be done ablout that!!

Well heres a picture of the three of us... My twin, my brother n i!!

Fights!

2008-05-25T12:14:00.004+05:30

Why do people fight??
Nothing good ever comes out of it right?
It just spoils the atmosphere and upsets everyone...
The whole feeling of being happy and together simply vanishes in a second...
Iv had my share of fights.... N when things have been sorted out, iv only wondered what good came out of it??
It was just a collossal waste of valuable time that could otherwise have been used to create wonderful memories!!

Why auld lang syne?

2008-05-22T19:36:00.010+05:30

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, (Should old acquaintances be forgotten)

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And days o’ lang syne! (And days of long ago!)

Chorus: For auld lang syne, my dear (For times gone by, my dear )

For auld lang syne,

We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet (We will take a cup of kindness yet )

For auld lang syne!

Such a meaningful song!!

I always remembered the tune of this song but could never remember what it was about until i recently heard it on youtube... What this song says is something i truly believe in... Ofcourse this is just the first verse n chorus...

I think through this blog i want to cherish all the things that make me happy... Be it my recent obsession for particular songs or my love for south-east asian dramas (korea, taiwan, japan et al). All the things that are precious to me.. My friends.. EVERYTHING!! Well in a year im going to start working (Hopefully!! If i get a job that is!).. So basically my "student life" will end or atleast be on hold till i pursue my post grad... It will be like an end to a phase.. So I hope i never forget all the fun i had & all the great people i met... I hope i never forget any of those good old times! And i promise to add loads of good times in this upcoming final year of college as well!!

For Auld Lang syne!!