Passers by

Many a times this question hits us hard (point blank at the center of the 2 hemispheres) - "Why couldn't I maintain a beautiful relation with this man/woman?!", "Why couldn't we stay friends for a lifetime?" or simply "Why couldn't we stay connected?" I think the answer lay hidden in a chance converation I had with a preacher while travelling to my state of birth, my native land - Kerala about 2 years ago. His place arrived before my destined station and while alighting at the rail platform, I shook hands with him and asked him to stay in touch. He said he will try his best. However he added, "I will be at my best. Yaatrakar alle nammal elavarum! (In Malayalam language it means Aint we all travellers?)"

That conversation inspired to write a verse. Here it is ...

Passers by

They set the journey from horizons different
Cross paths, and call it a coincidence
Some countenance gives a positive vibe
And the other doesn’t seem the same

Few came and shook hands with me
Then they crossed the lane
Without leaving a trace.
Few others hesitated to even smile first
But later our conversations went
Long and in a seamless pace.

I am surprised at the prospect of all these
But then with passing times,
Has shrunk this inquisition.
We’re passers by, we meet and greet
No one stays back, but some
Chance to meet often.

Separable? Na!!! Just stretchable

So here's a post from the self proclaimed Ultra-Procrastinator. Much has changed from the previous year. After quitting my keyboard music classes (all of a sudden without even informing my instructor Aditya), I dont know why I did that, just happened, I have hardly been practising the instrument regularly!

I happened to subscribe the Hindustan Times newspaper for an entire year as the yearly discounted rate was almost Nil compared to other dailies. The columns I savour on are the ones by Vir Sanghvi (that man speaks on the figs he chews and the Sakis he gulps in different restaurants across the globe.. good for him) and another corner which is hovered by the well known 'sexologist on books' Khushwant Singh. I am more impressed by the way Singh puts the words. His one peculiar style in his columns on the sunday edition is that the article is usually a mix of more than 1 subject. He reminds me of GB Shaw who wrote even in his last few days atthe age of 94! (Remember Shaw's famous quote - "I write for the same reason a cow gives milk"?) And this is when I feel that being 25 I have a whole of Everest to conquer.

So here is my first instalment, impressed by Singh's style. Guru Aashirvadichaalum
(Bless me, Guru) .

Recent Addictions

Facebook: You utter the word and the conversations go abuzz. Today the whole of one's life's events is clearly found to be reflecting on his or her facebook wall. All thanks to the dedicated hours on this networking platform for updating even the most private happenings in their lives! I started immitating them for a few months. Then all of a sudden, I realized why do it? I can still live a normal life with having a circle of limited friends. Of course I do have a few online friends but I still have them in my friends list(and they have me in theirs) because there's conversations happening on subjects of common interests. I have given up on adding more of any online friends. I just thought its better late than never - not to make facebooking an addiction.

Switching jobs: Yes, I have changed 3 jobs in the last 7 months. And this due to just one reason - choosing the wrong option for undergraduate studies at the age of 17. As I always tell the younger ones to be superconscious about choosing a certain course, and if possible undergo proper counselling so that they dont land up wasting a huge sum on a subject which would finally lead to boredom in their graduation .. and finally a work life filled with dilemmas. Thanks to the dilemma which made me take these drastic steps. I hope switching jobs dont become an addiction. After all which employer would like to hire a guy who boasts of having worked with the top 10 brands in a span of just 2 years?

On the Ultimate Male Fantasy

So the viewers of MTV India are discussing more on the series MF 101. A show where four hunks are given options to fulfil their fantasies, but yes they come with a price tag as well. Some top celebrities were asked by a journo on their male fantasies. Some blurted on sailing on their private yachts to the Mediterranean. Others speak on having a Buddha's life on a Greek mountain top. A few others want to imbibe all the qualities of Amitabh Bachchan and date Elizabeth Taylor. Hmm not bad! So I happened to question myself on my fantasies. I think it would be just spending a life teaching students English and Music (in the years to come) on a calm and isolated corner in Kerala - my birth-state and my native land in South India. After having spent almost 20 years in Mumbai which has only honking vehicles' buzz and corporate hell to be offered on the plate. Male fantasies, I would say, are not separable but they are only stretchable. Once you fantasize, the fantasy just starts widening on its own. Its just a modern coinage for the term desire. But I pray let fantasies not be a root cause of all evil. ( do i see the Buddha laughing at me!). Im all smiles.

To be continued on the next instalment....

Some Pluses and Minuses – year 2009

Glasses clinking to bid adieu, the fizz symbolizing a welcome to 2010






At the end of every year we tend to ponder over the happenings from the month of Jan that goes on to complete the twelfth.

A few such moments of which I had a vague picture, I decided to put them on paper. I don’t know where the pluses and minuses fall. Here they are…

1) Post 26/11 Mumbai: Ten people came, they killed, they got killed, and finally attained posthumous fame. Media channels hogged on more than 1000 hours covering the facts and fiction on the terror trail. A year had passed and if we try scrutinizing the current security measures taken in public places, there isn’t much in addition.
The first Anniversary of the tragedy was made grand, thanks to the 24/7 news channels. A big chunk of taxes collected from people wasted on preserving the bodies of the nine gunmen, and the lone Kasab caught alive. As the year is to end, there’s a new cartoon character called David Coleman Headley (Mr.Conspirator) who’s got his name reserved for daily headlines. I would have considered the FBI to be fake as well, had I not heard of them before or watched the X Files a decade ago.

2) Of scrapping, facebooking and tweeting: Chat facilities enabled by Yahoo and MSN, years ago, gave birth to the many “net nannies” and “cyber gypsies”. Chatrooms were instantly occupied, pseudo names created.. and went along the endless pings till late night. Then in the year 2004, came a rage of social networking sites with Orkut taking lead in India. Users could blatantly add whatever photos and reveal all background information they want to the rest of the cyber world, they’d post scraps on other anonymous profiles. Following this were the competitors Facebook, My Space. Orkut did lose some loyal fellows to these. Finally came to picture this year Twitter where one could go on tweet-tweet, twitter-twitter. Some celebrities got their blogs monetized, while others who were famous became infamous with their “controversial tweets” (take Dr.Shashi Tharoor as the finest example). All of this would be short lived. How long will the social animal be stuck to confined spaces interacting with online aliens?

3) Himesh Reshammiya – A Saga: A leading newspaper while recollecting a few nightmares spoke about him, “ .. his ill-matched baseball caps were worse than his nasal twang..” so true isn’t it?
(un)fortunately I’ve had the opportunity to speak with him on phone some time back. Then I was undergoing my training program in a hotel in its In-room dining services. Himesh had a concert on the 31st (what a start to New year!) there. He rang to place his order, “Won Blank Cafe” – he meant one black coffee. He rang up twice later, I knew the third time what his order would be – Blank Cafe. One who’s single handedly assaulted the whole concept of multi-tasking in hindi cinema, which was once graced by veterans. Year 2009 was not spared again. We can only pray, “Man ka radio band kar u zaraa!”

4) Men armed with “the first real six string”: 2009 saw some new faces in the Rock circuit in Mumbai. Aura – a resto bar which is a few blocks away from our office has been giving opportunities to upcoming bands. Also post these fortnightly concerts, I’ve got to see many guys hanging a guitar on their shoulders and walking around. I place it – half of them had it because of some momentary attraction.
If you were to visit any music store here, there’s one thing that’d behold your attention. Many young eyes are inclined to guitars, a little lesser towards drums, further less to other instruments. Many have resorted to the strings thinking that its easy to strum and succeed. A Steve Vai pose can be choreographed in 2 minutes but it takes more than that to master the instrument. What say guitarists?

5) Breaking the V-day conventions: Fearing that the moral police would create unnecessary trouble in coffee shops and other regular hangouts, many decided to choose a different way in making 14th Feb special. Coincidentally the Kala Ghoda festival was in full storm in Mumbai hosting various events, concerts, exhibitions at the same time. There were many couples who turned up for the concerts this day - by the multi-instrumentalist Raghav Sachar which was followed by the master trio – Shankar Ehsaan Loy. Five hours of pure fun!! Celebrations for many of these thus resulted in havoc free, mesmerizing moments filled with absolute romance.

6) Rise of Entrepreneurship: Recession was the one word few liked, many others hated. Some used it as a perfect rescue word to save costs, while others feared it since this could be used as a weapon to cut their jobs. Two of my friends recently quit their jobs: one from a leading Spanish chain selling sculptures, other from a leading Telecom company. They have decided to start with individual ventures. The gene of entrepreneurship is getting active in tough times! May this tribe increase…

7) Too much of Reality: Realty industry was hit to some extent as a result of recession. But the reality show industry has seen itself moving just the way north in the graph.
Last year saw reality shows eating up most of the television channels’ time. The chosen few would perform, judges would sit and give occasional comments like programmed dummies, and all this would follow with the contestant asking for audience’s votes (more than half of them perhaps who didn’t even know what the task was all about!). There’s bombarding of Smses in the air. I fear if all this would result in a time when one’s worth in the family would be known by the number of Smses he or she gets from the rest!

8) “Aal izz well”: While the older Khans were crooning along with the younger Kapoors in bollywood an antithesis could be sensed in the immediate surroundings. It seems, from a rough poll I conducted last year, that there has been a plausible rise in the number of men magnetized towards females who’re a little older than them. Reason why, hmm! I don’t know. I wish I were Sigmund Freud. To be honest I would vote for Jhumpa Lahiri to find the Celebrity With The Most Sparkling Eyes, and Shobha De for Celebrity With The Most Infectious Smile than voting for some clone of an anorexic supermodel. All is well. Na! “Aal izz well!”

Some nightmares from last year would follow this year too. Here’s wishing you a year filled with blessings and strength to make your dreams come true…

A poem on a birthday

This was written last year on a quiet Friday evening. Nothing much at work, so I took it as a good passtime. Never knew I can sound the least romantic while addressing the verses to some girl. Ah! this girl who works in my office, I had a crush on her but never really took the pain to confess (her gujju boyfriend would make Theplas and Khakras out of me if I did that!). That saturday it was her Birthday, and I thought why not pen something and silently place it on her desk once she's done with her shift. She would have read it, discarded that paper on which it was written.. and forgot about it. I knew that I gues. Some feelings turn waste when inked. Still that poet in me couldnt resist, you see (winks)

The moon will be replaced by the morning star
And this weekday will diminish into a weekend
As I tend all other thoughts to a distance far
Thinking of new ways to sing "Happy B'day, my friend!"
The most beautiful day of this year to dawn
When the clock chimes a rhythmic twelve
With darkness, be all your mind's obstacles gone
Bringing a fresh bouquet of thoughts to delve
may the early sunlight not wake you for a while
let it allow you to be in a world of dreams
So when you rise up late, you have a rosy smile
And in intense happiness your face beams
A morning prayer, blessings of all dear ones
To be followed with an exquisite brunch
for a second, you might wonder why time runs
The present would seem a cookie to munch!
The lazy noon’s meant for a weekend movie
So for which one do we go ahead?
When all friends gather, mind turns groovy
Whatever’s in plate, we watch instead
The sun turns crimson, call for a pizza bite
We’d vroom to the nearest Hut
A quick gaze of menu to have something light
We’d enjoy this quick fare but
That wait is over, time to head back home
There would lie an expected surprise
A raspberry cake shaped like Colossus of Rome,
Fancy shaped candles around, what a disguise!
A clink of martinis, all dear ones around
Angels showering good health on you
Could time wait and this day go round n round?
As we sing “Happy B'day to you!!!" 

An Ex-Xmas in Lionbridge

For some people past is bitter, for others retaining a nostalgic sense is healthy. As I write this, one year has already passed since that wonderful Christmas season I had in my workplace - Lionbridge Technologies (LB). It was truly great to see so many people join to make the celebration in the office that wonderful, mesmerizing and of course a breather from routine work!
Christmas 2008 was my second in LB, but it will always be in my mind - for I was a part of perhaps the longest carol practice sessions... I cant stop having a laugh - reason being I know that even some of the professional carol singing groups wouldnt dedicate more than 2 weeks if they knew they arent paid! And what was required to call all these people (the carol group in the photo) to the venue was just 1 single mail. The response undoubtedly would be good, isnt it? Who would want to miss out on singing some of the melodious carols composed yesteryears.. still sung worldwide! Also it was, if I am not wrong, the perfect opportunity to make new "Christmas Friends". Now you may ask any one of these guys if they'd still prefer an Orkut or Facebook to network with new faces, or would opt for such good times. (unfortunately we can celebrate Christ's coming just once a year) :(
The practice sessions

I remember the first day when all were called to one of the meeting rooms. Hardly everyone could turn up. No doubt work first! and also who would have imagined the days to come will turn out to be so much fun. Forget how to orchestrate, not even the carols were decided. Day two .. more people .. Carol songs selected from various sources... Day three ... I take a printout of the selected carols, the so called "carol gang" is almost finalized. Also we happened to get some Audio CDs - just to hear how the original beats are and then beat the originals.. he he! We had Christie and Samy on Guitars, others taking into tenors, alto and bass (thats a different story that we had redefined these concepts of music by singing our own way). We were still missing the percussion factor. One of our colleagues did take the initiative to play the bongo but.. at times the strumming and the beats wouldnt go hand in hand... Hmm!! what next? O yea! Here comes the man for rescue - Tushar Gupte - we call him the master Tabla vaadak of Lionbridge. Tushar's percussion accompaniment was indeed the icing on the cake. We had all the musical merriment lasting for a few more days in the training room. After having asked to have the carol practice in some other venue, we were finally posted that it will be continued on the terrace of Spectra. What more could one ask for! An open space for venting all the innovative ideas on post carol-jamming, a perfect venue to shout out loud for no reason. With no ceiling on top and placing sky as limit, people could imagine endless ways of entertaining others. Ha! what about the acoustics? Well, despite the reason that terrace would take a slight toll on our dear guitarists they never bothered. They strummed hard. Mr.Percussionist's wrists would never tire as well. :) In this whole process, we made new friends as employees from all the Business units had joined. The more satisfying yet a little melancholic was the thought that all of this would culminate in a joyous season - never to come again in the years for people in LB. It was decided that this time we would reach out to our colleagues by singing in all possible venues in the working premises. 24th Dec was the Carol Day. Most of turned early by 9 in the morning. The first thing to do then was hunting for Santa Caps... Yeah! Believe me, more than half of the people who wanted to have one really didn't have a cap. So we hurried downstairs to the all catering store - DMart. Hmm! no ways! what's this!! No Xmas caps... cant stay... hurried to Galleria .. searched in all possible shops big and small. Finally we had found a gift centre selling away the last few stocks. Purchased at wholesome rates, donned them. We started at about 11.00 from one end of the sixth floor, singing "Deck the hall...", "joy to the world...", .."felice Navidad!.." topping them with a sweet "we wish you a merry Christmas!.." Downstairs, we entertained our friends on 5th and 1st Floors with the same zest. Photos clicked, flashes all over. We had become celebrity-entertainers-of the moment! One of the teams couldnt witness fun when we sang, due to a certain difference in their work schedules. We were requested by one of the managers to give an exclusive for them. Who'd refrain to show such a good gesture. We called this team to the terrace, took our vocal cords high, the instrumentalists at their best for that one last time in the year 2008. Ron just couldnt keep his excitement - he sang Numb - a Linkin park number. What an end to Xmas carols. We conveyed season's greetings to each other, hugs and pecks. :)

One year later

A rather dry year compared to last when it came to Carol practice. I dont want to blame the times for most of us knew year 2008 wouldnt replay. Most of the friends from the "carol gang" have quit LB finding better opportunites outside. If I were to write on a few of them , Anu (starting from the left - Lady in white top, santa cap) from the content team has quit, Raimy - she's got married!, Savy's got a better one in a BPO, Monica has vanished, Archana (to the left of lady with guitar) is now a tech writer with another firm, Nisha (bottom right to the lady with guitar) has made an exit from the city. Kunal (left to Mr. Santa) absconded for better reasons. he he! Memories from last year strike sharp. Christie was crossing my way on the 23rd evening when he pressed my hand and exclaimed, "dude you remember, last year we were cutting grass for making the crib on the 5th floor!" Yea we were also involved in doing such crazy things a year before if I forgot to mention that before. :) ... On the 24th morning, comes a surprise call, ".. This is Archana!" We wished each other, remembered the good times, exchanged prayers for the season. Its said that the best of moments are never repeated becaused they are meant to be nostalgic - bringing a smile on our faces in the decades to come! Belated Christmas wishes and also wishing each one a promising year ahead...

PS: Friends whose names I have missed in this article, will be made famous in another globally published one... he he!

2 hours before turning 24

So! My tenure of staying in the 23 year olds' brigade would be over in another two hours from now. I am here trying to reckon all the achievements in the last one year (I can hardly count).
Usually, its during the new year that people take resolutions (most of them tend to break it the very other day, so I never did take any). But I would want to take one on this occasion - that I wouldn't give up on my passions, that I wouldn't want to compromise on the choices I make for self. If there have been people thinking they can take me for a ride, beware then. I am happy for two things that i heard this week. One was a lesson, another a breaking news specially for music enthusiasts. The lesson was from a preacher Joel Osteen who came up with a beautful example whilst preaching. It goes like this. Archealogists from New York dig the ground ten feet down and come across traces copper wire. They exclaim "whoa! this proves that New yorkers had communications network about a hundred years from now!!" Another set of scientists from California dig ground twenty feet down and come across traces of copper wire. Even they exclaim " the Californians had it a hundred years before New yorkers!! " Now its the turn of a set of Texans. So they dig the ground to another ten feet making it thirty only to find nothing. They still rejoice "you know what!! The Texas guys had already gone wireless three hundred years ago". And what did I learn from this is we shouldnt despise the days of small beginnings (as mentioned in the Bible). Ah! that breaking news that I wanted to share is what I read in a newspaper three days back. Two of Mozart's compositions on piano are set to be released tomorrow - and that's on my birthday!!! A day of exclamation marks for me. What more can i ask for. All Mozartians should be happy and so am I.
...Here I stop cribbing like a twenty three year old fellow. Looking very much ahead to be in the twenty four year olds, standing with my head raised high with a fresh bouquet of hopes. Friends, pray so that i gather all courage and strength to make dreams come true - not just mine but a dream of everyone - my friends; relatives; and above all, my parents. Amen!

Horny Porny

Show me one school kid who's not heard Humpty Dumpty and I'd spend a whole fortune on you.
These verses, which are believed to be in printed form since 1810 as per some data, still doesnt fail to add slight wiggles on those innocent kindergarten faces!

ok! forget all that... Here's something I've got - Horny Porny, about 2 living beings (you could imagine them as any of the species - existing or non existing)

Horny Porny sat by the Wall,
Horny Porny had a great ball,
Porny banged Horny, it was insane,
like a pug being screwed by a Great Dane.