- One of the nicest things about telling the truth is that you don't have to remember what you said.
- If you have happiness you have everything, and if you don't have happiness, you have nothing.
- When you think of yesterday without regret and tomorrow without fear, you are near contentment.
- A bitter tongue makes life bitter; a sweet tongue makes life better.
- Be nice to people on the way up, because you will meet them on your way down.
- The happiness you give makes you happier than the happiness you receive.
- Instead of being afraid in a delicate situation, learn a lesson from it and make yourself strong.
- Talking comes by nature, silence by wisdom.
25 October, 2008
FOOD FOR THE MIND!
06 October, 2008
Singur Moods- Politics beats Industry!
Yesterday, the last attempt to reach an affable solution between the CPM and the Tatas' failed. Why? The opposition parties.
It saddens me to think that in a country of immense talent and resources, politics holds redoubtable power to an extent that it hinders economic growth. That too more pronounced in states like West Bengal and Kerala.
I am a Bengali who has never really stayed in Kolkata. I had never been a part of the real Kolkata like its bandhs or Durga puja to even comment on it. Hence, I’ve never felt for my motherland. Coming to think of it, I do feel uncomfortable. But there is nothing i can do about it.
But today I’m surprised to discover an emotion that I’ve been completely unfamiliar with. This Singur episode with its final blow of the Tatas waving good bye to WB and resolving to move away to a more prosperous location has somehow distressed me. I somehow, out of the blue, feel bonded to Kolkata. I somehow feel at a huge loss by the turn of events. It must not really affect ME, a person who lives far far away to even feel its aftermath. And more so because i always thought that i don’t really fit in the picture of this state. I am obviously happy about the fact that the innovative project of the Nano car isn’t abandoned. I’m glad about the fact that it will be implemented in my very own country but in a more peaceful and cooperative location. What pains me is that it is NOT West Bengal anymore.
I don’t really understand what the opposition achieves by doing this... is it a show of power or is it really aimed at relieving the farmers? Whatever this game of politics is aimed at, what really matters is that in the end of the day only common man is affected.
The development of Singur comes tumbling down, dreams of myriads of educated unemployed get shattered, the dream of moving an agricultural economy towards industrialisation remains incomplete and the worst of all, this one episode serves as an indication of stagnation of economy due to repulsion of investors from entering the state. And needless to say, political unrest will see new heights now!
Ratan Tata said, Bengal will see many such Nano projects taking shape in Bengal. But with such a display of turbulence and disorder will anyone even spare a look at Bengal?
It saddens me to think that in a country of immense talent and resources, politics holds redoubtable power to an extent that it hinders economic growth. That too more pronounced in states like West Bengal and Kerala.
I am a Bengali who has never really stayed in Kolkata. I had never been a part of the real Kolkata like its bandhs or Durga puja to even comment on it. Hence, I’ve never felt for my motherland. Coming to think of it, I do feel uncomfortable. But there is nothing i can do about it.
But today I’m surprised to discover an emotion that I’ve been completely unfamiliar with. This Singur episode with its final blow of the Tatas waving good bye to WB and resolving to move away to a more prosperous location has somehow distressed me. I somehow, out of the blue, feel bonded to Kolkata. I somehow feel at a huge loss by the turn of events. It must not really affect ME, a person who lives far far away to even feel its aftermath. And more so because i always thought that i don’t really fit in the picture of this state. I am obviously happy about the fact that the innovative project of the Nano car isn’t abandoned. I’m glad about the fact that it will be implemented in my very own country but in a more peaceful and cooperative location. What pains me is that it is NOT West Bengal anymore.
I don’t really understand what the opposition achieves by doing this... is it a show of power or is it really aimed at relieving the farmers? Whatever this game of politics is aimed at, what really matters is that in the end of the day only common man is affected.
The development of Singur comes tumbling down, dreams of myriads of educated unemployed get shattered, the dream of moving an agricultural economy towards industrialisation remains incomplete and the worst of all, this one episode serves as an indication of stagnation of economy due to repulsion of investors from entering the state. And needless to say, political unrest will see new heights now!
Ratan Tata said, Bengal will see many such Nano projects taking shape in Bengal. But with such a display of turbulence and disorder will anyone even spare a look at Bengal?
13 July, 2008
Sudoku Blues
It has always been a routine affair. Everyday morning, after breakfast, i would sit down with the Times Of India and solve the everyday Sudoku before reading the paper. Honestly speaking, I’m not really good at Sudoku but yes I am addicted to it. Hence I never fail to devote 10 long minutes breaking my head on the medium level Sudoku puzzle published in the City Times.
But yesterday, my ever notorious sister smacked my custom. Anyway, I knew such a blow was coming soon. Everyday, she would wake up late and open the paper to see the Sudoku already solved. And the expression on her face! Oh, I guess that made me feel more jubilant than solving the puzzle without mistakes. However triumphant I was, her looks insinuated that a crafty plan was fabricating under her skin. And poor me, I was left anticipating the day of revenge.
I knew it wasn’t far but i also didn’t know that it would be YESTERDAY. I miscalculated. Anyway, it was my usual morning but she woke up with me astonishingly. And at the breakfast table, she nearly gobbled her food. I was wondering what’s wrong. Stupid I, so much of a clue failed to alert me. And my unscrupulous sister, judging the right moment hopped out, washed and grabbed my precious precious paper. Seeing this, I too jumped out and without even washing my hands tried to snatch away the paper from her. Well, my sister is a very violent one. Sweet words and compromise is not in her dictionary. Hence, abandoning any alternative of a peaceful solution, I decided to fight. Well, it was a very aggressive fight. In the end, the paper was in two halves and smashed like a toilet roll, I couldn’t move my left hand and my sister was crying. My mother, still sitting at the table, totally bowled over, was too overtaken for words. But, the most disheartening thing was that my sister got the precious half. I lost. I decided not to speak to the little devil.
I sat right there like a snob while my sister sat down with the paper and a pen. And in less than 5 minutes, she left. Finally, summarizing that my sister probably gave up on the puzzle, I decided to take it. And there, the puzzle was neatly solved! Now I was shocked. That little devil that could only think evil and do evil, could solve a medium level puzzle in such less time! 8 minutes is the average time for a medium puzzle recorded my Web Sudoku. And I have always struggled to reach that mark. Overtaken by admiration, I patched up with her. Well, I’ll never forget the expression on her face. It was a mixture of awe, pain and thrill.
Today, it was different. We both sat down together with the Sudoku. My mom was surprised. Little devil has changed. The everyday custom has changed. But most of all I have changed. And I like it better now.
But yesterday, my ever notorious sister smacked my custom. Anyway, I knew such a blow was coming soon. Everyday, she would wake up late and open the paper to see the Sudoku already solved. And the expression on her face! Oh, I guess that made me feel more jubilant than solving the puzzle without mistakes. However triumphant I was, her looks insinuated that a crafty plan was fabricating under her skin. And poor me, I was left anticipating the day of revenge.
I knew it wasn’t far but i also didn’t know that it would be YESTERDAY. I miscalculated. Anyway, it was my usual morning but she woke up with me astonishingly. And at the breakfast table, she nearly gobbled her food. I was wondering what’s wrong. Stupid I, so much of a clue failed to alert me. And my unscrupulous sister, judging the right moment hopped out, washed and grabbed my precious precious paper. Seeing this, I too jumped out and without even washing my hands tried to snatch away the paper from her. Well, my sister is a very violent one. Sweet words and compromise is not in her dictionary. Hence, abandoning any alternative of a peaceful solution, I decided to fight. Well, it was a very aggressive fight. In the end, the paper was in two halves and smashed like a toilet roll, I couldn’t move my left hand and my sister was crying. My mother, still sitting at the table, totally bowled over, was too overtaken for words. But, the most disheartening thing was that my sister got the precious half. I lost. I decided not to speak to the little devil.
I sat right there like a snob while my sister sat down with the paper and a pen. And in less than 5 minutes, she left. Finally, summarizing that my sister probably gave up on the puzzle, I decided to take it. And there, the puzzle was neatly solved! Now I was shocked. That little devil that could only think evil and do evil, could solve a medium level puzzle in such less time! 8 minutes is the average time for a medium puzzle recorded my Web Sudoku. And I have always struggled to reach that mark. Overtaken by admiration, I patched up with her. Well, I’ll never forget the expression on her face. It was a mixture of awe, pain and thrill.
Today, it was different. We both sat down together with the Sudoku. My mom was surprised. Little devil has changed. The everyday custom has changed. But most of all I have changed. And I like it better now.
25 June, 2008
I coloured?
The following is a poem by an African. It was nominated as the best poem of year 2005.
When I born, I black
When I grow up, I black
When I go in sun, I black
When I scared, I black
When I cold, I black
When I sick, I black
When I ill, I black
When I die, I still black
And you white fellow
When you born, you pink
When you grow, you white
When you go in sun, you red
When you scared, you yellow
When you cold, you blue
When you sick, you green
And when you die, you grey.
When you grow, you white
When you go in sun, you red
When you scared, you yellow
When you cold, you blue
When you sick, you green
And when you die, you grey.
And you call me coloured? Who is it Now?
What is so striking in this poem? Surely, neither grammar nor language. Then WHAT makes it so hard-hitting is a question i ask...
17 June, 2008
Cant think of a heading
Well... i really really cant think of a heading!!
So if you are expecting a quality post or anything close to it...i suggest, close this window. Because this post is going to be messy. Im just typing whatever's on my mind and thats a relieving act for me and a very dangerous one for the reader.
Well having cautioned you... even if you have started reading this entry then im sure after reading the pointlessness of the first para, you could have made a decision to go ahead reading or not.
Okay! so back to my pointless point, my mind is swarming with stuff to pen on and its all a big mess in my head, hence this post :D Im just not able to arrange all my thoughts to make perfect sense, so i decided to give up thinking and start typing... and that really feels a hell lot easier !
I went for a long evening walk today, after ages with a close friend whom i've met after ages and i feel ecstatic! Maybe its because we could get to talk after so long, about old friends, school, teachers, writing, college... or maybe its because i finally got to go out of home today and explore our little Awali! Well, we have gone for long walks before also and each time we explore the same Awali, there's something new about it... the roads, the park are all the same but time always does its little magic!
This time I had in my mind to read th Fountainhead and was pretty disappointed when i didnt find that book in the library. Then i went in search of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari and that too was unavailable! i was majorly disappointed. And as usual i filled up a request form to get The Fountainhead as soon as possible. Nevertheless, the librarian told me that it will take atleast 2 months as it has to be booked oversees. I sighed! Went back to the shelves, and as i was browsing through the books, I found In Custody by Anita Desai. Well, i remember i had filled a form for In Custody last summer. And there it was... quite many had issued it. I felt elated! Brought it home and started reading and what a bore... I never feel tired of books but i dont know what happened with that particular book... i tried reading it 3 times but couldnt proceed. It was so slow! And i cant believe that i had placed an order for that book last year! But now im happy cause im happily settled with We, The Living by Ayn Rand. I've just started reading it and it is unputdownable! Hoping to write a review soon.
Talking of something really provoking...Orkut! You will laugh im sure. Recently, i ran into a few of my long lost friends' profiles. From there profiles i couldnt make out that they used to be my friends someday! I was thoroughly awed! I sometimes wonder what time does to us... A lapse of maybe 6 or 7years changes us so completely. Recently, when one of my long lost friends told me that she got commited 3 years ago...i could only stare! Her vivid memories flashed in my mind... she was just not the type! She used to be so nonchalant each time the mere topic of "Going out" used to come up. This got me thinking whether i have changed...whether my friends would say the same thing seeing my profile... But everyone feels that only he/she hasnt changed with time... maybe even i satisfy myself with the same explanation.
And my most recent adventure...COOKING... naaahh i think it deserves an entire post!!!
Maybe this entry was really messy and pointless but i console myself saying its fine to be pointless sometimes!
Maybe i should put a fullstop now!
signing off
Beautiful Mind
So if you are expecting a quality post or anything close to it...i suggest, close this window. Because this post is going to be messy. Im just typing whatever's on my mind and thats a relieving act for me and a very dangerous one for the reader.
Well having cautioned you... even if you have started reading this entry then im sure after reading the pointlessness of the first para, you could have made a decision to go ahead reading or not.
Okay! so back to my pointless point, my mind is swarming with stuff to pen on and its all a big mess in my head, hence this post :D Im just not able to arrange all my thoughts to make perfect sense, so i decided to give up thinking and start typing... and that really feels a hell lot easier !
I went for a long evening walk today, after ages with a close friend whom i've met after ages and i feel ecstatic! Maybe its because we could get to talk after so long, about old friends, school, teachers, writing, college... or maybe its because i finally got to go out of home today and explore our little Awali! Well, we have gone for long walks before also and each time we explore the same Awali, there's something new about it... the roads, the park are all the same but time always does its little magic!
This time I had in my mind to read th Fountainhead and was pretty disappointed when i didnt find that book in the library. Then i went in search of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari and that too was unavailable! i was majorly disappointed. And as usual i filled up a request form to get The Fountainhead as soon as possible. Nevertheless, the librarian told me that it will take atleast 2 months as it has to be booked oversees. I sighed! Went back to the shelves, and as i was browsing through the books, I found In Custody by Anita Desai. Well, i remember i had filled a form for In Custody last summer. And there it was... quite many had issued it. I felt elated! Brought it home and started reading and what a bore... I never feel tired of books but i dont know what happened with that particular book... i tried reading it 3 times but couldnt proceed. It was so slow! And i cant believe that i had placed an order for that book last year! But now im happy cause im happily settled with We, The Living by Ayn Rand. I've just started reading it and it is unputdownable! Hoping to write a review soon.
Talking of something really provoking...Orkut! You will laugh im sure. Recently, i ran into a few of my long lost friends' profiles. From there profiles i couldnt make out that they used to be my friends someday! I was thoroughly awed! I sometimes wonder what time does to us... A lapse of maybe 6 or 7years changes us so completely. Recently, when one of my long lost friends told me that she got commited 3 years ago...i could only stare! Her vivid memories flashed in my mind... she was just not the type! She used to be so nonchalant each time the mere topic of "Going out" used to come up. This got me thinking whether i have changed...whether my friends would say the same thing seeing my profile... But everyone feels that only he/she hasnt changed with time... maybe even i satisfy myself with the same explanation.
And my most recent adventure...COOKING... naaahh i think it deserves an entire post!!!
Maybe this entry was really messy and pointless but i console myself saying its fine to be pointless sometimes!
Maybe i should put a fullstop now!
signing off
Beautiful Mind
13 June, 2008
Lackadaisical Me !
music, crosswords, In Custody, Orkut, photographs, blogging, comments, photoshop, timeless sleep, food, meditation, sister, news, day-dream...
wanderer, whimsical, eccentric, jobless, irritation, silent, pensive, preoccupied, sober, reflective, matter-of-fact, prosaic, mundane, wistful...
but not always :)
wanderer, whimsical, eccentric, jobless, irritation, silent, pensive, preoccupied, sober, reflective, matter-of-fact, prosaic, mundane, wistful...
but not always :)
10 June, 2008
It all started with Youth Curry!
Three months back in college, for my department's symposium, we had the popular JAM editor, Rashmi Bansal coming over as a guest speaker for infotainment. Amidst technical gyan, paper presentations, tech-quizes, robotics workshops and all other techy techy stuff, an hour on blogging by rashmi bansal sounded like a heavenly pleasure! For one, i was happy to treat my ears with something totally "non-tech" and two, i am a blog addict!
Well, i thought i was a blog addict and had the bloggers disease generally known as "blogmania" until this particular day. It was pretty disheartening by all means. After her interesting discourse, she wanted to see a few of our blogs. Many showed, she commented, questioned and was answered. I didnt intend to show mine... but thanks to the audience! Shouted Poori so loudly that i didnt have a choice but to walk up the dice and show her my fateful blog. My last post that time was, A thousand splendid suns.
"Book review is it", she asked
"Not a review, just a personal write-up.", i answered.
she scrolled a bit... i dont think she liked my blog.
Anyway, she went on, "3rd jan, 2008, your last update? you dont blog regularly?"
"I dont get time in college actually. I generally blog during holidays."
"Then what are you so busy with?", she asked with a teasing smile which almost conveyed, boyfriend, is it?
I almost wanted to blare out that it wasnt what she was thinking but one look at my HOD and i kept quite.
"College life, pretty hectic." thats all i could say.
"You know what, you dont have to blog, if you dont want to. Its totally your choice. But if you choose to blog, then you must update regularly."
I wanted to shout, "I love blogging... its just the time that i dont have and also internet!!!" But how could I with HOD sitting in the first row. So i silently walked down, but my mind was still revolting.
Till now, those words ring in my head and i feel as if someone is trying to push a dagger through my thought hub each time i recall THAT DAY. I feel helpless and hopeless! Such a thing happened today also. But today is different from other days. I had time today. So, i quitely sat down and looked through, Youth Curry (Rashmi's blog). Read articles, comments, and then the blogroll... went on and on... It was like an eye opener. I saw a variety of blogs by writers, analysts, economists, professionals and ametuers, students and elders... and a spectrum of topics so beautifully and effectively portrayed!
And finally i learnt my lesson, one thing that each of the bloggers had in common was that they updated pretty regularly. And then i realised how dumb i was to veil my discrepancies with a the most easy excuse called TIME. If all such bigshots with a high yielding career and a family life can find time to blog, then where do i stand? Oh my god!!! i dont even want to think about it.
Here are a few links to a few nice ones i visited today...
Youth Curry, http://youthcurry.blogspot.com/
The renegade of junk, http://curiousgawker.blogspot.com/
Domain Maximus, http://sidin.blogspot.com/
A time to reflect, http://www.indsight.org/blog/
and ofcourse... you can link and link and unravel a lot many purposeful insightful blogs.
Well, i thought i was a blog addict and had the bloggers disease generally known as "blogmania" until this particular day. It was pretty disheartening by all means. After her interesting discourse, she wanted to see a few of our blogs. Many showed, she commented, questioned and was answered. I didnt intend to show mine... but thanks to the audience! Shouted Poori so loudly that i didnt have a choice but to walk up the dice and show her my fateful blog. My last post that time was, A thousand splendid suns.
"Book review is it", she asked
"Not a review, just a personal write-up.", i answered.
she scrolled a bit... i dont think she liked my blog.
Anyway, she went on, "3rd jan, 2008, your last update? you dont blog regularly?"
"I dont get time in college actually. I generally blog during holidays."
"Then what are you so busy with?", she asked with a teasing smile which almost conveyed, boyfriend, is it?
I almost wanted to blare out that it wasnt what she was thinking but one look at my HOD and i kept quite.
"College life, pretty hectic." thats all i could say.
"You know what, you dont have to blog, if you dont want to. Its totally your choice. But if you choose to blog, then you must update regularly."
I wanted to shout, "I love blogging... its just the time that i dont have and also internet!!!" But how could I with HOD sitting in the first row. So i silently walked down, but my mind was still revolting.
Till now, those words ring in my head and i feel as if someone is trying to push a dagger through my thought hub each time i recall THAT DAY. I feel helpless and hopeless! Such a thing happened today also. But today is different from other days. I had time today. So, i quitely sat down and looked through, Youth Curry (Rashmi's blog). Read articles, comments, and then the blogroll... went on and on... It was like an eye opener. I saw a variety of blogs by writers, analysts, economists, professionals and ametuers, students and elders... and a spectrum of topics so beautifully and effectively portrayed!
And finally i learnt my lesson, one thing that each of the bloggers had in common was that they updated pretty regularly. And then i realised how dumb i was to veil my discrepancies with a the most easy excuse called TIME. If all such bigshots with a high yielding career and a family life can find time to blog, then where do i stand? Oh my god!!! i dont even want to think about it.
Here are a few links to a few nice ones i visited today...
Youth Curry, http://youthcurry.blogspot.com/
The renegade of junk, http://curiousgawker.blogspot.com/
Domain Maximus, http://sidin.blogspot.com/
A time to reflect, http://www.indsight.org/blog/
and ofcourse... you can link and link and unravel a lot many purposeful insightful blogs.
09 June, 2008
Laws Of Success
The greatest mistake - Giving up
The greatest crippler - Fear
The greatest handicap - Ego
The most potent force - Positive
The greatest thought - God
The greatest victory - Victory over the self
07 June, 2008
DELAYED!
UL 201 Doha via Bahrain delay until 11:30 pm flashed on the screens. For a moment, my mind went blank. i looked at my watch, 3:30 pm... 8 hrs more, what will i do in this alien airport. I took time to recover from what i just saw... meanwhile there was a big commotion around, some enquiring, some regretting and some hopelessly appalled like me. A plethora of thoughts filled my mind and a paucity of advice made me feel so vulnerable. Finally, after i had quite recovered from the shock, i went to the information desk and found out that the delay was because of an operational problem and that Sri Lankan air would be providing dinner for all the passengers. I went to a booth and called my parents. They were shaken. I could feel how my parents tried not to sound worried before me. Its not like i hadnt traveled alone before... I had since a very small age but never did i face such problems. Moverover, there's unrest in Sri Lanka, there was a blast some time back... that multipied my parents anxiety and also mine though i tried not to think about it.
The lady at the counter asked, "What currency would you like to pay in ma'am?"
I asked whether they accepted rupees to which she said no. I finally agreed to pay in dollars.
"$4 ma'am", she said.
Another stare. My mind was rapidly calculating... just 4 mins, $4? 4*40= Rs 160! WHAT THE HELL !
"If im not mistaken, i just spoke for 4 mins, are you sure its 4 dollars?", i said.
She gave an understanding smile, "Yes ma'am, rates in airport are high."
That even i knew but i didnt know that the prices were quadrupled! anyway, i didnt argue.
I collected my token for food, roamed around a bit in the duty free and then finally settled down in a place where i saw a few co-passengers. I opened the Sunday's issue of The Hindu to solve the Sunday crosswords. I had just started doing crosswords in the daily Hindu papers and had found it tremendously interesting. But i had never tried the one on Sunday's issue so i thought carrying it for the flight would be a good idea. But it was not for i didnt have the dictionary nor the patience nor the mood and nor Jovie, who used to sit with me everyday in the mess table and help me with crosswords! What a waste! Still i tried for an hour... got just 2 answers... and finally getting bored, I gave up.
I think i felt hungry. It was just 5:30pm and dinner would be open only at 8:00 pm. Trying to find occupation, i got up, walked around until i spotted a food store. I picked up my favourite choco chip Hide and Seek biscuit and asked for the price.
"$2 ma'am", he said.
Another stare.
"WHAT?"
"I say, $2 ma'am."
Now i was pissed. I wasn't ready to take this anymore. I shouted at the poor fellow. I showed him the price tag which had the price in INR, converted it in dollars and then asked how was he justified to ask for 2 dollars! That guy was taken aback... he meekly said, "Ma'am its different in airports."
I gave him one rude stare and left... went back to my seat which i had abandoned some time back. But what to do... i was hungry... severely hungry... and was foolish enough not to keep any food in my hand lugguage. So finally defeated, i went back to that cold store and asked the guy whether there was anything for one dollar. He was very polite, showed me what all was available. I felt very bad. I shouldnt have lost my temper like that. After all its not his fault that the prices are unreasonably high. I picked up ginger biscuits, paid a dollar and went back.
After i had spent a generous amount of time having biscuits, walking around, discerning the environment around, people, their style and pondered enough, i was still left with 5 odd hrs!!! God!!! I never knew time ran so slow. I reluctantly opened my laptop, after 2 failed attempts to connect to the net, I gave up. I started reading an e-book. That was one thing i enjoyed doing in that alien airport where everything was so unreasonable! Didnt realise how time passed by until i saw the low battery warning. Damn. Now what! I reduced the brightness of the screen but soon it was time to close. For a moment i actually wished that there was wireless power to charge up laptops... but the idea seemed stupid. I quitely shut it down.
Now what to do? I was stupid enough to pack up The Midnight's Children in my main lugguage. Me the over prudent fool was scared of being in trouble if someone saw me reading the controversial Rushdie in the airport. SIGH!
PS:Those hours seemed to be the longest hours of my life.But as all unpleasant things come to an end... they upgraded me and a few others to Bussines class... i still couldnt find a suitable explanation for this altruistic act! I think i was just too shocked! I had too much for a day!
Finally being back home... all the discomfort, anxieties and the pleasures of bussines class were soon forgotten. All i felt was an eternal bliss to be back home :D
Adios
beautiful mind
The lady at the counter asked, "What currency would you like to pay in ma'am?"
I asked whether they accepted rupees to which she said no. I finally agreed to pay in dollars.
"$4 ma'am", she said.
Another stare. My mind was rapidly calculating... just 4 mins, $4? 4*40= Rs 160! WHAT THE HELL !
"If im not mistaken, i just spoke for 4 mins, are you sure its 4 dollars?", i said.
She gave an understanding smile, "Yes ma'am, rates in airport are high."
That even i knew but i didnt know that the prices were quadrupled! anyway, i didnt argue.
I collected my token for food, roamed around a bit in the duty free and then finally settled down in a place where i saw a few co-passengers. I opened the Sunday's issue of The Hindu to solve the Sunday crosswords. I had just started doing crosswords in the daily Hindu papers and had found it tremendously interesting. But i had never tried the one on Sunday's issue so i thought carrying it for the flight would be a good idea. But it was not for i didnt have the dictionary nor the patience nor the mood and nor Jovie, who used to sit with me everyday in the mess table and help me with crosswords! What a waste! Still i tried for an hour... got just 2 answers... and finally getting bored, I gave up.
I think i felt hungry. It was just 5:30pm and dinner would be open only at 8:00 pm. Trying to find occupation, i got up, walked around until i spotted a food store. I picked up my favourite choco chip Hide and Seek biscuit and asked for the price.
"$2 ma'am", he said.
Another stare.
"WHAT?"
"I say, $2 ma'am."
Now i was pissed. I wasn't ready to take this anymore. I shouted at the poor fellow. I showed him the price tag which had the price in INR, converted it in dollars and then asked how was he justified to ask for 2 dollars! That guy was taken aback... he meekly said, "Ma'am its different in airports."
I gave him one rude stare and left... went back to my seat which i had abandoned some time back. But what to do... i was hungry... severely hungry... and was foolish enough not to keep any food in my hand lugguage. So finally defeated, i went back to that cold store and asked the guy whether there was anything for one dollar. He was very polite, showed me what all was available. I felt very bad. I shouldnt have lost my temper like that. After all its not his fault that the prices are unreasonably high. I picked up ginger biscuits, paid a dollar and went back.
After i had spent a generous amount of time having biscuits, walking around, discerning the environment around, people, their style and pondered enough, i was still left with 5 odd hrs!!! God!!! I never knew time ran so slow. I reluctantly opened my laptop, after 2 failed attempts to connect to the net, I gave up. I started reading an e-book. That was one thing i enjoyed doing in that alien airport where everything was so unreasonable! Didnt realise how time passed by until i saw the low battery warning. Damn. Now what! I reduced the brightness of the screen but soon it was time to close. For a moment i actually wished that there was wireless power to charge up laptops... but the idea seemed stupid. I quitely shut it down.
Now what to do? I was stupid enough to pack up The Midnight's Children in my main lugguage. Me the over prudent fool was scared of being in trouble if someone saw me reading the controversial Rushdie in the airport. SIGH!
PS:Those hours seemed to be the longest hours of my life.But as all unpleasant things come to an end... they upgraded me and a few others to Bussines class... i still couldnt find a suitable explanation for this altruistic act! I think i was just too shocked! I had too much for a day!
Finally being back home... all the discomfort, anxieties and the pleasures of bussines class were soon forgotten. All i felt was an eternal bliss to be back home :D
Adios
beautiful mind
13 May, 2008
THE FINAL ANALYSIS
People are often unreasonable, self-centred: Forgive them anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you, but be honest anyway.
What you spend years to build, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow. Do Good anyway.
You see, in the final analysis it is between you and God;
it never was between you and them anyway.
PS: Picked this up from my mom's letter today :)
If you are honest, people may cheat you, but be honest anyway.
What you spend years to build, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow. Do Good anyway.
You see, in the final analysis it is between you and God;
it never was between you and them anyway.
PS: Picked this up from my mom's letter today :)
06 January, 2008
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Holidays over. One month and 7 days to be accurate. Quite a lavish holiday i should say... and now im back in college, peacefully typing out my thoughts.
Holidays passed by so swiftly, i can hardly believe they’re over. This was the first time i didnt feel like returning to college, to experience the adventures ahead leaving back a blissful home...
I didnt do anything much though i did only things i love to... ravenous eating, shameless sleeping, reckless rambling, mindless blogging, photoshoping, endless pondering and how can i miss reading. But this time there was a difference. I didnot tear upon the library reading every book in hand, instead i just read a few classics and they were impactful. You can already guess that from the title! Lolz I experienced a state of something , im sorry i really dont have words to express it, for the second time while reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, first time was when i read To Kill A Mocking Bird. And that something just made my day!!!
Im keen in photoshop also. I remember,i learnt it through the tutorial pages just a year back, whenever i would feel bored i would go to the lan and try out stuff in it. Devoted a nice amount of time to designing, so much that every advertisement board i would pass by on the streets, the hotel menucards, sale brochures, magazine covers, all somehow arrested my attention to look through the design dimension. I was surprised to realise myself staring at the design of a menucard and not really noticing the menu itself!!!
And in the midst of everything, all the tidbits of my ‘holiday life’ where blogging occupied the maximum time, i did an ipt. Thankfully, it was a bit different from what seniors had portrayed for i actually did something. And coming back to blogging, dont ask!!! I read through a hundred blogs, arbitly left comments where ever i felt like, people might already be thinking im a lunatic. One guy had written a very short and powerful ‘about me’ in his blog- Life is too short, and im on a Ferrari. I had agreed with it that time, but now something makes me feel, that ‘time’ is on a Ferrari, and that too a Ferrari whose engine never fails!
Every day at home had been a new day, a special day, a gifted day. However, my mind was divided into two... one part of me, though a small part, wanted to return and experience the thrill and adventures of college life and the other part didnt wish to leave the esctatic state of homely pleasures. Alas! Time passes, and now im in college already! Bound to the non stop, ever lively campus life, i wonder when shall i post again!!!
Adios
Beautiful Mind
Holidays passed by so swiftly, i can hardly believe they’re over. This was the first time i didnt feel like returning to college, to experience the adventures ahead leaving back a blissful home...
I didnt do anything much though i did only things i love to... ravenous eating, shameless sleeping, reckless rambling, mindless blogging, photoshoping, endless pondering and how can i miss reading. But this time there was a difference. I didnot tear upon the library reading every book in hand, instead i just read a few classics and they were impactful. You can already guess that from the title! Lolz I experienced a state of something , im sorry i really dont have words to express it, for the second time while reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, first time was when i read To Kill A Mocking Bird. And that something just made my day!!!
Im keen in photoshop also. I remember,i learnt it through the tutorial pages just a year back, whenever i would feel bored i would go to the lan and try out stuff in it. Devoted a nice amount of time to designing, so much that every advertisement board i would pass by on the streets, the hotel menucards, sale brochures, magazine covers, all somehow arrested my attention to look through the design dimension. I was surprised to realise myself staring at the design of a menucard and not really noticing the menu itself!!!
And in the midst of everything, all the tidbits of my ‘holiday life’ where blogging occupied the maximum time, i did an ipt. Thankfully, it was a bit different from what seniors had portrayed for i actually did something. And coming back to blogging, dont ask!!! I read through a hundred blogs, arbitly left comments where ever i felt like, people might already be thinking im a lunatic. One guy had written a very short and powerful ‘about me’ in his blog- Life is too short, and im on a Ferrari. I had agreed with it that time, but now something makes me feel, that ‘time’ is on a Ferrari, and that too a Ferrari whose engine never fails!
Every day at home had been a new day, a special day, a gifted day. However, my mind was divided into two... one part of me, though a small part, wanted to return and experience the thrill and adventures of college life and the other part didnt wish to leave the esctatic state of homely pleasures. Alas! Time passes, and now im in college already! Bound to the non stop, ever lively campus life, i wonder when shall i post again!!!
Adios
Beautiful Mind
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