Musings of a mermaid

A weekend trip to Mysore

2011-06-27T16:57:00.000+05:30

I had recently been to Mysore and would like to share my itinerary.
Our round trip was train journey. Hired a cab and kick started with Chamundi Hills, Church, Srirangapatnam
( Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Tipu's palace, Sangam ), Nimishamba Temple. Spent some time in Rangantittu bird sanctuary, followed by Balmuri and ended the day with Brindavan Gardens.

Day 2 started with breakfast at Nalpauk and a visit to Vantikoppal temple followed by sight seeing in Mysore Palace.

Had a nice trip :)

Death Wish

2011-05-27T21:47:00.004+05:30

Please hold your thoughts before you come to some conclusion. This post is no way suicidal. Just got bogged down today after missing my train by whiskers to attend one my bestie Mahathi's wedding. This is an aftermath :)

Kalpana's blog post inspired me to mull over the subject of death. I try to emulate her and subscribe to her opinions. Copied her post title blatantly for lack of my creative thinking.

If I knew I would die in some days/weeks, I wish to lavishly spend all my savings travelling extensively. Idyllic Switzerland is one of my favourite destinations, thanks to Sound of Music climax which made me fall in love with Europe (I can see you wondering if I don't want to leave anything for my children/grand children). If I am all dandy I wish to trek during the course or relax in God's own country Kerala.

Having lost Priya to Leukemia and Bala Attimber to Kidney failure (miss you guys) I wish any iota of money left (aka Insurance) to be given to organizations which accommodate people with such ailments or research institutes which work on these subjects. Whatever parts can be utilized in me be given to needy. I have already registered for eye donation with Narayan Netralaya and likewise wish other parts be donated as well.

I don't have a great fashion sense. My cousins, friends or sister can pick the ones they like or best give all the clothing, footware to any orphanage.

Gadgets that are good enough to hand over be given to Make a wish foundation. The plethora of novels that I have be given to my friends Sathish Chandran, Sathish Ganeshan, Kavya and Bhaswati. Hope you guys circulate it amongst your friends.Swaminathan gets to keep the Malgudi days collection. Naveen Chander and Karthik gets to keep all technical books (even if you don't want to). I wish Swati to have my unbrittled imitation jewelery. Shiv to get my car ( If I get to own one)

Mom gets to keep my gold jewelry for I know how much she struggled to get them for me. Dad, I don't know what to leave behind for you but I know of nothing materialistic to be given to you. Sister, you get all my crockery sets.

I wish my greeting cards be preserved by Karthik. I cherish each of them gifted by friends and family. Please don't discard them even if you don't believe in them.

Dad, don't make every one go through the elaborate rituals and performing monthly or annual ceremony. May be you can give that amount to any temple you wish to.

For all my folks who love me I would say 'Life goes on, no matter what'. Don't spend too much of your energy crying or thinking about me. Think of all the joyful moments we have had and share your stories. Take care of my pets if I get to tame a few. Please don't have a portrait (mugshot?) of me hung in your room and make yourself miserable.

Dig for all the snaps we have been in. Make collage of them with some graffiti's and recollect the incidents whenever you look at them.

Adios amigos!

Stressed out, Really?

2011-02-27T20:03:00.007+05:30

Certain things bring about calmness in my mind. Just penning them here.

A long walk along the beach, sea breeze brushing my face, stroking my hair gently. Sitting there in solitude and gazing at the waves, its gushing sound reminding me that I am not alone

Watching sunrise or sunset and observing the canvas Mother Nature created in the sky. The hues, the pattern, the calmness...Ah!total bliss.

Watching movement of a school of fish or petting a dog

Standing for a long time in the balcony, overlooking the bustling streets, devotional songs from an adjacent temple being played in the background, the fragrance of camphor, the chirping of birds...

Watching Tom and Jerry, laughing out on the pranks played by Jerry. An assurance that no matter how much destruction one does to another or how smudgy the characters become, they bounce back to normalcy.

Whipping a recipe of which I have got no clue, concocting with available veggies and spices

Writing about something I have no idea of, like I am doing right now

Playing with my neighbour's kid and being a part of all the pranks

Waking up early the morning and taking a walk along the park

Practise writing with my left hand

Waking up at 4 AM and meditating. Thinking of nothing in particular

Standing near a bouquet shop and looking at the colorful flowers delicately packed awaiting to be spruced up in someone's home

Drenching in the rain intentionally, turn the umberlla topsy turvy making paper boat and letting them afloat merrily

Come home after a long day at work and make myself a mug full of masala chai

Walking or sprinting as much as possible, that too aimless and without any direction, figuring out new routes, new vistas. I usually get down 2-3 kms before I reach my destination when I feel like
and explore new lanes.*
Learning a new language and trying to get better at it by talking

Which one does calm you. Share it across. I am all ears :)

Feel serene. Adieu.

*Work in progress

My love!

2011-02-14T18:50:00.003+05:30

My dear valentine!
You came into my life like a whiff of fresh breeze!You have been my strength for 6 years now. A little naughty, that baby like smile, those chubby cheeks, those sweet nothings, that inquisitiveness to tickle me all the time, feeding me food like a baby, being my pillar when I need the most, a soft cushion to lie on, your patience in teaching me anything and everything, those drives with you, holding my hand when I am nervous, those hearty laughs....

This post is to tell you how much I love you, how much I miss you. Our love turned into a strong commitment and a healthy relationship. You are one of the best things that happened in my life. Happy valentine's day sweetheart! Wish you a great career and rocking life ahead. A big bear hug to you.

Lost in a crowded place

2010-12-14T19:17:00.001+05:30

Why do I feel so lost?

When I talk to a person only to realize their concentration is on music on the FM radio

When I chat with a person only to realize they are busy sprucing up their farm or city or fish tank

When we have dinner together only to find they are engrossed in watching a movie than asking how was your day

Why have I rejected something that I have always wanted though it came in a different flavour, color and texture? For good or worse?

Why do I expect everyone to acknowledge things the way I want it ?

Why am I smiling superficially when my heart cries internally?

It feels like everyone is around, but no one to give a patient hearing, no one to pat my back, no one to reveal my emotions with.

You find yourself in a market place with people of different ages around, the kids chirping, elders busy shopping yet I long for spotting someone very familiar to me, who would come running towards me with a ear to ear smile and ask me my whereabouts.

*This post is partly fabricated

Rock, Paper, Scissors

2009-09-18T14:57:00.004+05:30

Paper wraps rock
Rock crushes scissors
Scissors cut paper

If I may ask which of them is strongest what would you answer?

Rock? but paper covers rock
Paper? but Scissors cut paper
Scissors? but Rock crushes scissors

All of them are unique and strong in their own ways. Its just the perspective.

Just because you don't qualify in some top notch company's interviews does not mean you are not strong. You are unique and will definitely fit in some place.
Don't give up. Good luck.

Post verbatim Karthik. Thank you for cheering me and having confidence in me.

The joy of seeing a photo album

2009-06-26T17:10:00.007+05:30

Every time I go home the first thing that catches my attention is our family photo frame perched above the T.V stand. The feeling of holding it brings me the memory of all the things that happened when that picture was taken. I touch it gently and think of how different or similar people in the family pic look and can’t help smiling. Quiet a few pictures neatly arranged in an album carefully preserved in a suitcase; every photo counts. I remember telling my dad to ask the photographer to take another snap when the print came out for my 10^th standard application, that it looks like a mug shot and I am not going for it especially for my board exams but no retakes! Every time I skim through the album I spot something new and the joy it brings cannot be expressed. Trying to give the best smile, wearing the best dress, awaiting the photo print is all I can think of.

Now that I own a digital camera I click a picture for no reason. I sometimes overdo it, dump it somewhere in the computer or forget to take back up. The footprint occupied is so huge that I sometimes try to delete it or hardly bother to organize it. Few I share it online, few I would have lost when my machine conked off and few I forget where I have copied it to.

My takeaway

2009-04-08T17:36:00.001+05:30

I commute to office by public transport. Once in a while I see a Grandmother 80 something traveling by bus. I always wanted to talk to her. Amused by the fact that she takes daily pass I wondered if she travels all day. She sat next to me and I wanted to start a conversation. Started with kannada but couldn't continue much as I am not that fluent. Tried to ask if she understands tamil and I was happy to get a positive response.
I asked her what makes her travel all day and pat came the reply. I get daily pass and the moment my task is done by afternoon I hand it over to some person in the bus stop who cannot afford buying one so that they can use it till 12 AM. I was very touched by her gesture and thought next time I will do the same.

BTW, she laughed all through the conversation though she revealed how sometimes she gets treated at home.

Little things that teach us

2008-09-05T17:27:00.005+05:30

Ever noticed a shoe polish can? Try opening it; You can't open how much ever you try except for a side-mounted opening mechanism wherein you press and bingo it opens. You have to hit the nail on the spot where the event gets triggered. This is called concentration. Do smart work and not hard work. Act smart, wise and no wild goose chase.

Is scissors better than a needle? If you are going price wise then may be. But I beg to differ. The innocuous needle ties things together maintaining the unity, except for an occasional prick but scissors tears things apart. Love is priceless but is responsible for hearts to sync. Anger, greed, hatred,envy comes with a price. :)

2008-05-02T15:22:00.005+05:30

Me: Knock knock
X: Come in

Me: I need your portable HD to copy one file
X : Actually my hard disk got "hangover". So am not able to open it.

Me: ummm(in my mind)!!!!..probably it got drunk!
Y: V please stop nitpicking!

################################################

Me: Hey does your sister works for Infy? how lucky you can meet her daily.
Z: Actually she is on a maternity leave
Me: (In an absent minded manner) : Oh when is she getting married?
Z: eh?

Weekend updates

2008-04-13T20:42:00.010+05:30

The last two weekends were great. Having an extended weekend and being a sitting duck at college was something I wasn’t ready for. After a hurried set off to bank while returning me and B were discussing what to do all the day/rest of the days. In a jiffy I asked "Can we go to Chennai"? With no further delay yes came the response. She just loved to. After some brainstorming on it I assured the stay would be fine as my folks there are very welcoming. Unfortunately S couldn't join us. We started our sojourn at 2:00 PM. With no clue of the tension prevailing at the Hosur road we reached the bus stop. After being disappointed not to find any direct bus to Hosur we reached the border. We decided to reach there and then contemplate on to go back in case the situation was terrible as we already got the tickets :D. Two of my friends Chandru and Sreeja just then warned and pleaded me to go back to my college as situation is getting worse. Buses being burnt, broken, police convoy and the worst part commuting was hit. We were literally stranded. With this holiday mood in our mind we decided to go further especially B who was in full enthu was prepared come what may. We walked, hitch hiked, travelled by auto to reach the bus stop. When asked we were informed there were no buses plying to Chennai. After a heave we still decided to go ahead. Trust me when I say this, we changed 4 buses to reach Chennai and it was 11:45 PM by then. At the receiving end from my parents all through the journey I finally reached Guindy. Thanks to this guy who was also getting down at the same destination we felt relieved. He took care of us all through the journey and made sure we reached my mama’s house safely. Thank you M :). Hunger beckoning on one side, panickness on another we reached home. It was like the blind is leading the blind and both have fallen in the pit.
Agenda for the next day was to go to Nanganallur. We visited all the temples there and it was amazing. The architecture was great and it gave me a sense of peace. Not to forget the delectable Prasadam. Alighted a while and then to Spenser’s Plaza. Wow! What a place. All the malls in B’lore would definitely look inferior compared to this mammoth mall. Very spacious and not very crowded with so many brands and outlets. Strolled for a while, then some shopping and then the yummy Arun icecream. We tried to kill time so that we might reach Besantnagar beach evenfall. After the grub at Idli shop near then beach we met Karthik Narayan(KN). I was so glad we could meet . An evening in the beach with gentle breeze wafting and best friends by the side, I cant ask more. I did not leave this opportunity to annoy him and advice him like a granny. A little more than an hour at the beach we parted. I made an adventure while returning home aswell.
Knowing Guindy was very close to my place we got down and thanks to a guy misguiding us we landed up going to the other end. Then I thought, when in doubt go to Saidapet bus stop. With no bus for half an hour we took the mini taxi. I was almost there when I realized that the driver had taken a different route and had not stopped at my destination thinking there wasn’t any one to get down. I was so confident in recognizing the stop that after sometime when asked I was told that its been 15 mins since we crossed the stop. I was panicked. It was already 10 PM. My phone stopped functioning that evening and I cursed Motorola a hundred times for the trouble caused. Phone getting hanged, phonebook not getting loaded, calls being charged without even ringing I can’t ask more. I lost all the balance. We finally reached Madipakkam to find there were no auto’s in the stop. Even after 3 years I can’t figure out how to reach home from the bus stop. The route is a jantar mantar in itself. With gnawing hunger pangs and my folks waiting to have supper with me I just felt miserable. My uncle was so agitated at me not calling home that I was so sorry. Thanks to my cousin who made 2 round trips we finally reached home.We din't want to take risk the next day so started in the morning. Journey was okay but the bus frequency was less. Coming to B’lore from Hosur was terrible as we were literally squeezed in the bus. That ends my trip with nagging back pain but the experience was worth an adventure. My only crib was not having a digi cam to capture the beautiful places I visited.
This Friday we started off to Tirupathi. Grabbing a quick dinner at the Kamat’s we boarded the bus at 8:30 PM. We had Loads of fun in the Volvo as we were 16 girls all together. Reached Tirupathi at 1:00 AM. and just then we snoozed. We din't want to get up so early at all :(. After a shower we landed up in the queue for sudarshan tickets. We were there for 2.5 hrs. Early in the morning(at 3:00 AM) just standing for tickets made us tired. Then we went to Kalahasti, a quick breakfast and then to Tirumala. We were able to have Lord’s darshan in 2.5 hours. It was so great. Unfortunately one of my friends lost all the 16 tickets she was holding. Even buying laddu was impossible without tickets. 3 of us barefoot in the scorching 12 O’ clock heat were running pillar to post to get some supervisor’s signature. After an hour of running we managed to buy some laddus. Since we were running out of time we could not visit Padmavathi temple. We started our journey back and reached college next day at 11:30 PM. Nevertheless a journey to remember. I am still limping due to the burning feet.
P.S: Pictures of the Tirupathi trip to be uploaded soon. We couldnt take pics anywhere except when we were in the bus.

A Trival post

2008-04-09T08:57:00.003+05:30

During the project meeting

Team Lead: Ok P, so what does that alert pop up do?
P: That pop up will "pop up"
Me: ROFL

You matter so much to me

2007-09-07T10:25:00.000+05:30

Aug 25th 5:00 PM. Yet another evening. Boring doing mundane stuff. Almost an hour passed. Heard the schoking news of the terrible blasts in the city. Was wincing in pain. I just prayed and felt bad for the fact that for no reason innocent people lost their lives for all they wanted was some entertainment on a weekend.

Meanwhile, something else happens. I was ignorant. Next day 10:30 AM, dad unusually calling me again though I spoke to him that morning for a long time. I had this feeling of something bad happening to my loved ones.

Appa said Priya nambakuda ippo kadayadu. I got him. I reconfirmed. I said am coming to Hyd. He briefed me everything. It happened last evening about 5:30 and he came to know couple of minutes back next morning. I was shattered. I cringed and cried for hours, for days. I tried my best to reach Airport. But I was very late. I just confined myself indoors.

A true gem she was, my confidante, someone who mattered more than any of my other friends.

I was thinking..the time when I first met more than 5 years back. Fortunate enough to travel in the same bus, stay together and connected, almost a "paper rocket throw's away", have this 3 seater exclusively reserved where me, Priya and Swathi spent countless hours talking, reading, singing and having fun. We were like the friends in Dil Chahtha Hei(I proudly claimed that to be having a real DCH track). Someone whom I troubled the maximum with my irking kiddish behaviour, with my jokes and my approach towards problems and academics.

She looked geeky for outsiders and kind of a serious person. But no, she is absolutely the other way. Extending an helping hand when needed, someone who can laugh for hours for all the stupid jokes I cracked, someone who knew all about me and Mr. K and the banter we shared. I "haunted" her so much so that she said she used to dream about me while sleeping!

I have never seen her crying. Not even in the worst case. I had this sadistic pleasure of asking her to cry for me someday. But even now it happens the other day{How ironic}. My eyes get moist when I think of her. Someone who taught me a lot, who showed me light, a person firm on her decisions, highly sane and bubbly girl.

How I remember the last day of our graduation where again me, Swathi and Priya sat in our usual 4th row three seater in the Volvo, I as always in between, out of my weird excitement said "I would want to hug you priya". I remember how awkward she felt and kind of tried searching for a vacant seat for escaping my hug. I remember me and Priya escaping from Swathi's clutches when she almost pleaded us to teach tamil. Priya and I never taught her. Our not so fruitful orkut meet arrangement, idea incepted by her and propelled by me....

The time when we ragged juniors to them max, shooting so many questions, asking weird questions like their crush, making them sing... right under the nose of our Math and C prof, the time when we got the compliment from juniors for best seniors in the bus.

When inspite of just a 5 minute drive from my place, spent the weekend for hours on phone. As our parents say "If Priya's and Vaishnavi's phone lines are engaged for sure these girls are yapping big time". We laughed and chuckled and I enjoyed when she stumbled in NTR gardens and I rather than giving a helping hand started laughing. She game me so much courage when I was broken learning about my mom's illhealth.

Remember the time when she persuaded me to come to theater, something which I loathed for the fact that I prefer spending time with family/friends to watching a movie. Alas, we never went together. I remember you holding my hand like a mom does to her child and help me in crossing road for, I was totally hopeless at that.

I threatened her to Blog, to join Orkut, to use a Gmail account, learn to drive vehicle but she feared driving so much and I insisted on starting our chat conversation with a >:D<, for she owed me my graduation "hug". She made so much fun of me when she saw me and K online and told me "poor fella he is tolerating all your cribbings." I almost spend 6 hours a day with her. She often asked for an adjective that goes well with her. Pat came my reply. "Pagal Priya". Ofcourse, on a serious note I said "Simply Serene." I still find my name in her last post. She often said no one understood her as much as me, Poornima or Swathi did. She loved Rajesh Khanna's song so much especially "Zindagi ke safar mein guzar jateein hei...", or watching DDLJ umpteen times. She was so happy when she got placed in TCS and WIPRO,when she made her admit in IIT Karaghpur, Kanpur and Delhi. She was the first person to whom I confided about K and asked her opinion. We were the happiest bunch when we learnt she would be joining IIT D. She rocked there. She often admired my handwriting and my hyper energy levels, my enthusiam in everything be it talking or making others happy or while studying. :)

I met her the last time this May in KIMS. I was speechless. I wondered how could God be so unfair. Her condition was worsening but her parents told me she was getting better. I called her so many times to tell her that I will be coming soon to meet her, to give a hug, a nice bouquet, hold her hand and spend a day but much to my disappointment I was told she cannot talk much. It pained me when her body was pricked with needles for her body refused to take blood. She suffered from Leukemia. I wasn't even allowed to go near her for she was catching infection. I mildly opened the door and she just waved at me. I prayed and prayed. She was recovering, so much so that she even scrapped me saying she is getting better, this is her last cycle of chemotherapy and wished me for the conference presentation. Masked all her pain by projecting a smile. Her last moments were palpable. I experienced spasm of pain. Her effort to cope up with chemotherapy, developing sudden fever, breathlessness..God! How could this happen? I complained about my smallest health complications but she never wanted me to know about the phase she was going through. How brave and sweet of her!

I wish she emerged like a Phoenix bird, she was as busy as a bee and very hard working too. She was a person with great acumen and a firm decision marker. I admired her for everything. Our wavelength matched. We both hated when we see our friends smoke get choked. She was never angry at me. I never believed in acquaintances. If I had a friend it means a very close friend. She often asked how I could be so energetic and enthusiastic and be very much the same way to everyone for, she felt people thought she is very composed and observed my beahviour so much. She said the only difference between you and me is "Both have intelligence, have the same skills,you dont apply it, be like a playmate but I do". How very true.

The days when I had luncheon in her residence for she felt I need a change from the routine of me eating the food I cooked at home. She loved my cooking, my rasam especially. We always studied together. I had this pleasure of saying I was better in Math than her. I tell her this adage "vadiyar ponnu muttal", both her parents were bankers. They were the happiest family I ever saw. Man, she loved her dad so much. Everything is so vivid in my mind.

She is just next to God, happy,finally relieved from the suffering, seeing us all, mentally always in our hearts, her memories etched for ever in my mind, my heart full of her. She would be spreading light to all of us and motivating us althrough. How happy she made me! Forgive me Priya for not having seen you in a long time, for being unfortunate to see you the last time and extend my prayers and for not having to see you at all in the future.

I owe all my achievements and success to you dear.

Goodbye my sweet friend, my true inspirer and a shining diamond. You are just physically absent that's all. I wish you peace!

Whenever I crane my neck towards the sky, I see the brightest star, I see you there. Priya ma this picture reminds me of the fun we had last december when you and Swathi gave a surprise visit to my residence. I miss you dear.

"Some people come, some people go, but true friends leave their foot print in our heart".

Amen! May your soul rest in peace.

I ask my readers to extend their prayers and sorry readers for making you weep by putting here. I just wanted to let it out. One message I would like to pass on," beyond money, hardwork, deadlines, obtaining degrees and coding all that matters is good health, spending time with lovely people and a peaceful sleep at the end of the day and please donot neglect your health."

Hail Idli

2007-08-08T09:33:00.000+05:30

Iam a complete foodie but folks say am a poor eater. I make no fuss about food. Trying to write about khana on an empty stomach might make no sense to readers but as I have always felt “It is after all my blog.”

I love Idli. Mom occasionally makes it as Dad and sis never liked eating it. So on day2 the batter morphs into Dosa. So here is my quest for something I love the most. It hardly needs any description.

Food according to me should be simple, “no-frills”, delectable, easy to prepare and digestible. Idli requires minimum adjuncts. To top it all it’s so pristine white(topping the list is thair sadam of course). Whiter than the veshthi or the strip in tide detergent Ad or what your fairness cream promises. Barely requiring any effort to eat it, the texture is easily amenable for any one to eat be it a toddler or a pallu illadhai thatha. Gives you immense gratification after eating.

Idli is like a simple vanilla person. I love eating it either with rasam, especially if it’s kutti idli or with yummy molagai podi with my idli tossed completely ensuring the powder is sufficiently spread across the idli, a complete killer you may say or with fresh coconut chutney. If there is nothing there is always sugar. How about kutti idli’s sautéed like bread crumbs and served with chutney?

idli sapiduvein dinamdoorum

adu tarum nalla aroogyam

It’s my front-runner. Very goodly, healthy, so tender, tummy filling, versatile and you can lose count on the number as well. What’s more, if there are left over idli’s, it takes the form of Idli upma garnished with finely chopped onions and minimum spieces. If it’s stale there is always uttapam to rescue. Given a chance I wish it could be declared as a national food.

Ideally Idli.

The weird tag

2007-07-14T08:47:00.001+05:30

Harini tagged me to write about eight weird/arbit things and tag eight people to do the same. Not pretty good at writing one.
Here goes my list :
8. I want to write a mobile virus which spreads via MMS/bluetooth or through a game via trojan and install a key logger and track other's activities .

7. I make somersault in slumber. There were several instances when I knocked myself against the wall slipped from the cot and rolled under the bed. I used to use my sister's hand as pillow and put my legs on her. Poor her :P.

8. I like reading children story books. I still love reading Roald Dahl’s collections, Alice in Wonderland, Heidi and Daddy Long Legs. I love watching Tom and Jerry too.Makes me feel nice :).

6. I make weird faces when am not comfortable talking to some people so much so that at times I just give them a stare and embarrass them especially when they have this put on accent.

5. I love spoonerisms so whenever I goof up I attribute to spoonerism.{ It is kisstomary to cuss the bride;) } Pun intended.

4. I like playing with kids and when I see one I place them on my lap and talk in teeny weeny language.

3. I have this habit of gathering chocolate wrappers, gift wrappers, flower petals, book labels(Ah!), stickers and stuffing in my cupboard only to be discovered by my sister later on and trash it.

2. When I doze off in the classroom my neighbour never wakes me up in spite of pleading him to do so and my dear friend changes the mode of my mobile from silent to normal purposely to give a call and make me bear the brunt.

1. I love taking bath. Trust me I spend 2 hrs and sometimes start thinking there without knowledge of time. You call this eureka moment?

Harini you made me spill the beans. :D

I now tag Harish, Karthik Narayan, Sandeep, Shashi, Nambirajan, Preetha, Ganga, Kesavan(Bricktop), Asha, Sindhuja and other bloggers who would want to write one.

Karthik's, Srinivas',Swathis's,Manjunath' s and Subramanian's

2007-07-01T11:30:00.000+05:30

I was always in conundrum with my identity. Atleast I thought so. Born in Mumbai, brought up in Hyderabad, for almost an year now in Bangalore and a tamilian by heart and soul, the thair sadam girl in our clan I had difficulty with respect to my domicile. Au contraire I was fortunate to know people from various cities, their style of living, food culture and their stance on people from other communities.{Read the tamilians on Telugus and vice versa, The Kannadigas on Chennaities, The Iyer’s on Iyengar’s, The Reddy’s on the Brahmins so on so forth ….}
Stand in T-Nagar {Tyagaraja Nagar, a popular street(?) in Chennai famous for shopping(?)) holler out “Karthik” and trust me atleast couple of guys would turn. Any permutation, combination of the ubiquitous Karthik say Karthik Narayan,Karthik Kannan, Karthik Kumar,Karthikeyan,Karthik Giri...suffix with it or prefix with it you name it you have it. They are mushroomed as much as the malls in Bangalore. I wonder parents’ affinity for naming their child Karthik which sounds so clichéd to me now. From my kindergarten till now I have encountered umpteen people by the aforementioned name. Next in line stands ofcourse “Sriram”.

Having educated in Hyd I have many friends whose name is Srinivas{Govinda Govinda!} be it Srinivas Reddy or Srinivas Rao. Being a person very bad at remembering surnames and strangely forgetting first names aswell unless I very am acquainted{eyewitness Swathi,Priya,Venkatesh and Vinayak} I have had my share of bizarre instances with these names. I am person who believes never to address someone by their personality especially if they are very stout or dark skinned for the very thought of offending them . I have had time of my life talking to people for days and still not knowing their names correctly. I say this Prof is calling Srinivas and pat comes the question. The dark one or the one who doesn’t speak to girls or the lanky one. I innocuously say “Srinivas Roll No 562” irking the person at other end.

Not to forget “Swathi's”. Trust me when I say I have had 7 Swathi’s in my batch!! They are as common as the Krishna sweets in Chennai. This short and sweet name has often landed me in trouble for I goofed names many a time inspite of knowing them for a year and not guessing the correct full name. Imagine people betting on me to identify the person and their full name. {Heights I say}

Next comes the Manjunath's in Bangalore. Am not much knowledgable about Kannadigas but have known some people by that name for sure. Synonymous with Lord Shiva.(?)

The last in my poll is the “Subramania(m/n)’s”. Be it Venkata Subramanian, Bala Subramanian, Giri Subramanian or just Subramaniam or Subramani…. They are equally common{can’t remember anologies here.lol}.
You love it or you loathe it name surely does ring a bell reminding you of your irritating neighbour or your crush.
Any common names being missed out? Pour your suggestions .
What’s in a name you ask?

Hasta la vista folks :)

Music to your blog

2007-06-20T10:43:00.000+05:30

Here is how you include an audio file in blog. :)

Bday Song

Click on the image or link to see the song in action.

Just host your song and provide its link{I hosted in googlepages} and just a simple anchor tag. Voila!:)

The file extensions can either be wav, .aud,.mid or any other sound files. As long as the user has the helper application or plugin installed and their browser is configured to use these, the user will begin to download the file once the link or image is clicked.

Microsoft surface,Flickr and Blackle

2007-06-12T23:28:00.000+05:30

Some of the interesting links I would like to share.

http://www.microsoft.com/surface/

Amazing technology. Don't miss it guys.

black google would save 3000 megawatts.html

follow this interesting link. You could visit www.blackle.com to see our very own google in action but in a dark background.(old wine in new bottle ;) )

Flickr related tag browser.
http://www.airtightinteractive.com/projects/related_tag_browser/app/

For awesome pictures give seasons/flowers as keywords and see the page in action. Tweak it and trust me you will enjoy lot more.

I use this service called dropsend to send huge attachments.It supports attachment worth 1GB. Next time you want to send some movie or huge data, you can always use this simple yet powerful service. dropsend(www.dropsend.com)

enjoy!

Typical Tam Bram hymeneals

2007-05-08T14:32:00.000+05:30

Attended my first cousin Swathi's wedding. Managed to get pictures from my sister only now.
The first word that strikes me when I envisage a Tam Bram wedding is a "Marathon". A three day fun and frolic filled event for all of us involving a lot of leg pulling activity courtesy scores of cousins, sumptuous lunch for us, the non-stop rituals, changing sarees often, those heavy jewellery, managing the nine yard saree and repeating those hymns.No wonder one gets to learn to be patient by then.Indeed attending other's wedding is really enthralling.

Right from Janvasam to Reception to Unjal to Kalyanam ,Valayadal to Kattusadham(bidding adieu to hordes of folks accompanied by gargantuan lunch) ..the endless list proceeded by a tear jerker moment for the bride's side. I could empathize with my Aunt and Uncle.Finally we all folks landed up getting exhausted making umpteen rounds here and there volunteering, managing my niece nephew and not-so li'l sis..

I took a break from my Academics to attend this wedding. Well some of the well wishers were interested in finding prospective groom for me :D, involving in some match making process (grr) and reading out their CV's to me and my parents. I gave a oh-am-not-so-interested look. Me and my sister shared a galvanized look and some mild choking. I gave a downright tongue-in-cheek reply to my parents not to give any commitment about this issue right now,the only botheration for me being getting a good CGPA ,sigh,as they say "Everything in time and there is time for everything"..hehe.

Well those apart I attach some of the pics taken during that occassion.Shocks are expected ;)

This is the Unjal(Swing) cermony.The bride and groom are given milk and bananas (That's me pondering ,next to bride in pink dress :D )

Some random pose :D

My niece Apoorva and Prathithi

Nephew Pranav and Sairam

We all first cousins together after eons with Arun bhai,me on the extreme right,managed to fit the entire platoon :D

At the reception,again at extreme right

Swathi flanked by Mami,Mama,Dad and Me(extreme right again)

Me and Aarthi

The ultimate moment.Bride on her Father's lap during the nuptial cermony at the auspicious hour

I wish you both a great and happy life ahead Swathi and Sriram.
All the best for your life and career.

Happy Birthday Papa

2007-05-01T10:19:00.000+05:30

Here is me wishing you Happy Birthday Dad.You have reached another milestone in your life,though you stay young mentally.Wishing you good health,peace and tons of love from me,deedhi and mom.

I owe you so much...

Thanks for the support you gave me
for all things I love thee
words often fail me
for the inability to express these
I have come a long way you see.

how I remember when I often stumble
and tried my best to mumble,
most of the times when i grumble
you did try to handle
with all mirth
right from my birth
when I was in worst predicaments and cynical
your touch was magical

now I am here away from you and far
how I wish there was no geographical bar
waiting for a lending ear
for I fear telling here

I miss your care
Is it fine and fair

Am waiting to come home
all these days was only hearing on phone
the cubbie in her den
literally waiting to have some fun

so here I am scribing
with a euphoric feeling
and a li'l cribbing
after weeks of dilly dallying
some crooning and some drooling

those pillion rides,those high fives
and those high velocity drives
the dumb hitchhiking
those search for shells and diving..
the tide does not seem to ebb
Its time for my siesta and grub.

Appears bizarre I know :|

A Small Letter,Big Change

2007-04-15T20:31:00.000+05:30

Okhil Chandra Sen wrote this letter to the Sahibganj divisional railway office in 1909. It is on display at the Railway Museum in New Delhi. It was also reproduced under the caption "Travelers' Tales" in the Far Eastern Economic Review

Okhil Babu's letter to the Railway Department :

"I am arrive by passenger train Ahmedpur station and my belly is too much swelling with jackfruit. I am therefore went to privy. Just I doing the nuisance that guard making whistle blow for train to go off and I am running with 'lotah' in one hand and 'dhoti' in the next when I am fall over and expose all my shocking to man and female women on plateform. I am got leaved at Ahmedpur station.

This too much bad, if passenger go to make dung that dam guard not wait train five minutes for him. I am therefore pray your honour to make big fine on that guard for public sake. Otherwise I am making big report to papers."

Any guesses why this letter was of historic value?
It apparently led to the introduction of toilets on trains.

Source:Cool Deepz Blog

INNOFEST '07 IIITB

2007-03-25T18:01:00.000+05:30

This weekend marked the celebration of Techical fest "Innofest", organized by IIIT-B kicked off on friday the 23rd.

There were fun filled events such as Teach your professor,Abhivyakthi,DC,Informals(Themes:Inquizzitive,Harry Potter,Lord of the Rings),Mad Ads,LAN Games,Bug Samurai,Code Butter(a continous 12hr coding competition) and a game developed by the students here and brain child of Dr.Prasanna "IChess ".

The one which started with scepticism made people go green with envy as it turned out in a great way.The USP of the fest was the prizes,all gadgets.
From Playstation to XBox , iPOD ,Vista licenses ,headphones,USB Drives,Webcams, definitely this is really awesome.

Some gifts displayed

Great responses to all the events and students took part sportively.

For people who would miss to catch the World Cup match between India and Sri Lanka,it was screened in 70mm projector,sitting blissfully in the landscapes with cool breeze wafting we all guys watched keeping fingers crossed,hollering at the top of our voice,drumming,a typical Indian fan.Day2 ended meeting our Alumni, their perspective about life here and some memorable moments they shared with us.

yay!(Day2)

me with Prof's and 3 of the winners

A weird pose,of course tired

Many sleepless nights but worth the effort.
kudos to all IIIT Bians!

For more info check the website www.iiitb.ac.in/innofest

Circle of life?

2007-03-21T09:18:00.000+05:30

Life is very strange I say.
You see people around you and one day you no more see them.Losing friends who have been around ,you who were your seniors guiding you,thinking of enjoying themselves for a couple of days taking a break and losing their lives for fate is unimaginable.

Thinking of their parents moves me to tears.
Shubham and Sumeet(my seniors) and kapil Jamkar(a close friend of my friend) may your soul rest in peace.Amen!

I don't feel like writing any more.

Tryst with Photoshop

2007-03-17T15:01:00.000+05:30

I have tried something with Photoshop.Agreed it's aweful,but hoping to evolve better.Collaged 3 pictures and edited shapes using Office 07

Here is Bholu.

Yahoo Mail Beta and Liam

2007-03-14T16:58:00.000+05:30

I have been fida over the new "Yahoo! Mail Beta" .Excellent Web 2.0 and RI Application.
Giving an Outlook feel ,tabbed browsing,shortcuts keys shooing my touch pad for a while ...I definitely like it(with a Switch Back feature to revert in case it is not "likable").

Well for people who have slow net speed, must have seen an animated Gif's while loading the mail service,just an intelligent way of ensuring that users are not put off by the time taken to load the page,here you see this pretty cool guy called "Liam".Preety cool right?

I present some of the images collected by me over time and snatched from the Internet.Weird me? :|

Liam -Fat Belt(Recent one)

Liam being chased by Ostrich

Liam blowing heart bubbles(Occasion:Valentine's Day)

Liam on Rein Deer and galloping away

Liam on a Train(on wheels)

Liam Electric(fied?)

Liam - Shadow boxing(kewl)

Liam with a Bouncing Ball

Liam a Sumo Wrestler(looks like The Simpsons)

Liam -Break Dance(somersaulting)

Liam - Snow Ball

Liam - FIFA

Recent one

Some of them I got it here

Will update with more Gif's when I find new ones or I can be alerted here as well. :)

Enjoy!

Not Fair yet Lovely

2007-03-13T01:48:00.000+05:30

I mulled over certain things at this odd hour of the day(2:30 AM). Call it an eerie feeling of Déjà Vu or conglomeration of wacky thoughts ,some issues keep bowling over me.

For instance,when I see lights switched on in rooms even when there is no one or lights on in washrooms even after being used and not giving a hoot to screw the faucets properly I get irked. Well,I am a conservationist per se agreed but definitely not a person to give up things easily.I loathed leaky faucets,over flowing buckets,those pitter patter of drops on the floor and water/electricity getting wasted. At times when I wake up at 9 AM I see the corridor lights unattended in the hostel,I make a point to switch it off every time and tell the security to do the task early from next time but all to deaf ears. I don’t mind doing each day but why when wait for such a long time. The feeling goes like ,”this is not my house so why should I bother”. Are we not contributing to the electricity bill this way or adding woes to water scarcity? As goes the adage “Charity begins at home” these things should also be instilled in everyone’s mind.I got frustrated today because every time I keep reminding the house keeping/security staff the afore mentioned issues,I in return get a weird/staring look as to “why is this girl bothered so much”,eh?

Another amusing thing that strikes me now is a conversation that my neighbour had with my mom.I want my would be daughter-in-law to be fair,slim(like a stick?)….(and all other angel like qualities)”.Come on,I at times find the whole issue of “being fair implying being lovely” rather quixotic. It is not always the case that if you are fair means you are beautiful.I find dusky people more charming,beautiful and energetic.Does skin color make such a big difference?If every MIL demands for a “Oh-very-fair-hence-very-beautiful” DIL,cosmetics industry should come up with an instant face pack rather a paint which can give desired results in a jiffy.The whole point Iam trying to drive is “Can’t natural beauty be accepted?”.Just in case every matrimonial column tags wanted fair brides others will have to take a backseat or get sidelined(waiting for mera number kab aayega type thing).Why get carried away by Ad’s when most of the times it just burns a hole in out pocket or give 1-10% of expected results only?We are the way we are and should be accepted that way,is it the internal beauty that matters.

Who will bell the cat anyways?

Just felt like pouring my heart out in this post after all it is my ramblings.

Arbit Musings

2007-03-09T23:32:00.000+05:30

Now,the little birdie{Miss KK:KrystalKlear} signs up a blog sitting next to me,when the KSM happens in full swing at 11:45 PM,trying to drive the difference between interfaces,abstract class and what not.I have also "abstractly" understood.Being a fine critic I can't stop telling her do this and that.
This post is basically to get on her nerves and irk her to the zenith.We have swapped blog url,just waiting to drop my brickbats.

All the best dear :).

Blogosphere welcomes you.

Look forward to Damsel's dream II from my end,thanks to the sequel hits of '06.

P.S.:Name of KK withheld on request.
With loads of smirks and smiles bidding adieu.

DropCap and Yahoo Emoticons

2007-02-27T22:06:00.000+05:30

Have two exams tomorrow and by chance stumbled upon Deepa's blog.A great one indeed.
Testing my yahoo emoticons :| and DropCap feature.
Hope this works \:D/

Thanks to Deepa and Hans:)

Minority report becomes a reality

2007-02-20T19:23:00.000+05:30

Favicon in Blogger

2007-02-05T21:25:00.000+05:30

I finally succeeded in creating a favicon for my blog which i have been thinking of doing for years ;)

Take a look at the Browser's address bar.A Pisces image could be found.

To create a favicon :

» choose the desired image and convert it into a .ico(icon) file here

» Host that .ico image (Photobucket doesn't support .ico extension) in googlepages or elsewhere .This will do as it only needs Gmail ID.

» In the Template tab in Blogger,edit the html link
add the following lines in the head section immediately after the start of head tag

» For nice custom made favicons Click here

I will sometime create a better one.This is just a test.

» If still the favicon doesn't appear in IE,delete the link from Favourites in IE,clear the cache and restart the browser and link it up.

Enjoy!

P.S: Blogger did not allow me to paste the html code as is hence the image.Apologies for the blur and low clarity.

The Most Expensive Ad

2007-02-03T14:29:00.000+05:30

This Ad from Honda is very meticulously done.
Take a look.One of the engineering marvels :)

Update-1

2007-02-02T12:02:00.000+05:30

Updated my Quiz Blog.

check it out in Quiz blog

No frills Mobile Computer System

2007-01-24T20:51:00.000+05:30

Having taken a sabbatical I dust the cobwebs off here.

I happened to attend a seminar on Simputer(Mobilis),a hand held computer by Mr.Vinay,Encore Information Systems in college today.The presentation started with some hilarious comic strip of "Blondie" throwing some pointers on how at times understanding certain features become difficult,bulky software,how softwares become easily obsolete and with the question of how many people fail to use or explore all the utilities of a given software say Microsoft Office where an ordinary user requires only 30% of the features provided one is not a power user.Their motto is to make PC's cost effective,easily understandable to non-English speakers,support multi-lingual features so that it can be procured by one and all.It was one of the best seminars I attended.

Mobilis, could be used as a desktop and a laptop.,more for users than developers.The one I was shown was in AltaVista Linux(I don't remember exactly,correct me if am wrong) with 32 bit RISC.It comes with an innovative carry-case that opens up as a desktop stand and a keyboard that could be rolled up and kept in a pouch of the carry-case when the user is on the move and a touch pad.Below is the snapshot

According to Vinay L. Deshpande, chairman and chief executive officer of Encore Software,the system would have the essential features of a conventional personal computer: everyday applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, personal information manager, e-mail and web-browser. It will play music and movies, have text-to-speech conversion facility and built-in local-language support. For now, Kannada, Hindi, and Marathi; work is in progress on Tamil and Telugu. It will weigh 500 gm and be compact. It can be synchronised with a regular PC, "considering that it [a PC] cannot be wished away.''

The power source will be a rechargeable battery with a life of more than six hours per charge as of now. The system is meant to be used in all conditions. It will have built-in ethernet and analogue modem, and optional built-in fingertip sensor for use as a kiosk terminal.

It will have no hard disk but will have built-in memory and facility to plug in memory cards for any storage over and above that provided for in the built-in memory. It will not have games. High-speed computing is ruled out. The reasoning is that "while adding to the cost, these are of no use to many users.''

It supposedly weighs only 800 grams and is pretty sleek.It is developed using C and all softwares used are Open Source as they reduce the cost.I personally held the Mobilis and it is pretty robust.Its no planned obsolescence-a stable system,Keybooards of Phonetic,Inscript and Typewriter types,GPS/GPRS Wi-Fi enabled.

Answering to the Question will it be a replacement for Desktop he was impromptu.
There is SofComp a Desktop PC for cramped spaces developed.Below is its snapshot.The CPU itself looks like one UPS ;) what say?

The challenges ahead is that the software should comsume low disk space,optimized and develop many more applications to make it comparable with Desktop PC's,to increase battery life to 12 hours and use Solar source during day time so that it can help areas with power deficit.

Personal Observation:Well,there isn't a CD-R slot so CD's are given a toss and yes for Gaming it might be difficult as games need high resolution.May be a Portable HD or a USB can come handy.
Many features have to be incorporated still.

For Rs.19,000 current price (might slash to 10k) this wonderful innovation can sure make it available to all masses be it rural or urban and its definitely worth a buy,to fiddle with it.

Read more..

More News:
Involved in solving online quizzes by IIT Kgp{might finish in some time :)}and IITM.
Enigma IIT KGP

Looking forward to using Snap plug in Blogspot{looks like its for Wordpress 1.5 and above}

Carpe Diem!

What's in a street's name?

2007-01-20T17:20:00.000+05:30

Today I felt like Blogging.I am not blogging because its 'almost' impoverished but because I do not feel like doing anything per se.

I had classes from 8:30 in the morning(on weekends too :( ). I have loads of assignments to do,some stuff to study but did not feel like doing anything.Was just tired.I just sat by the side of window.
I was thinking about the conversation me,my Chittappa,his friends and Appa had about the city where we spent our formative years.
I got involved in their talk.

What's in a street name you might ask.There is lot if street names in Secunderabad are anything to go by.
Read on..

The Raj that shaped much of what is today's Secunderabad,giving it its cosmopolitan touch and distinctive feeling,still lives on.If not in the ethos ,atleast in street names like McIntyre Road,James Street,Ronald Ross Road,King's Way and so on..
True political whims more than cultural or patriotic reasons have buried most of the names under tar.But those that survive manage to retain much of Secunderabad's old charm.
Park lane for instance,was named after Park Lane of London in the 19th century,at that time a fashionable shopping area.This place retains its British name and is a busy shopping spot too.This along with nearby streets like Prenderghast Road and James Street was in fact set up to look like England and Paradise and Patny to add in the list.

Renaming brigade

James Street(presently Mahathma Gandhi Road),King's Way(Rashtrapathi Road),Alexander Road(Sardar Patel Road) and Oxford Street(Sarojini Devi Road) have all underwent the renaming brigade's surgeries while some still in the Cantonment like Sapper's Lines,Lancer's Lines,Allenby Lines,Plassey Lines among others survive.

My Grandma,my uncles still refers to the aforementioned places by their former names giving a nostalgic feeling to them.For this is the city there were born and brought up .Those names certainly bring a sense of familiarity to them.
Ronald Ross Road still remains in a limbo.It was renamed Minister Road and when Chandrababu Naidu was CM it was given its original name.However all the official boards still call it Minister Road.
I was told that Ranigunj was named after Queen Victoria and its no wonder that Chandana's,Chermas,Anutex and the like have been substituted for some of the places.

For most of them those names still linger in their mind as a testimony to the British rule.

XBox 360-Desi Version

2007-01-10T09:49:00.000+05:30

I happened to watch this Ad very recently,as I dont get to watch television.

This Desi version is cool.

Video: XBox360 India Ad - extremely funny

A Bachelor's story

2006-12-03T18:35:00.000+05:30

After taking a sabbatical,here is a short story.

He stood still looking helpless, totally stymied by what had happened. It was so unexpected…so sudden…life sure can throw unpleasant surprises at you, he thought miserably. What can he do now? Nandita wanted to move out….ASAP. He had never thought this day would come. He had been happy as a bachelor and had assumed Nandi was too. After all, he was approaching 40 and Nandi was just three years younger. Their lives were half over. He had assumed the arrangement would go on forever. He had been totally comfortable living with her. There had been no awkwardness, no discomfort. And marriage was one thing that both had sworn to stay away from. They both had felt very strongly against it. Naveen had been a witness to his parents’ constant bickering; he had made up his mind long ago that the fringe benefits of matrimony weren’t worth it. Nandi had seemed to be of the same mind in this, hence their arrangement had worked out fine. He had insisted they find another place to live; his parents’ old flat reeked of disharmony and hopelessness.

They had found a nice two bedroom apartment in a good locality, close to the travel agency where Nandi worked. And the hospital wasn’t too far away either. It helped because of the erratic hours his job demanded. Being a surgeon was no cakewalk. But he enjoyed it - it was what he had wanted to do all his life; it gave him an ecstatic feeling when he picked up his scalpel and made the incision. The thrill was there even now after all these years. The only part of his job he didn’t like was dealing with the patients’ relatives - the explanations, dealing with their tears and fears. He couldn’t handle emotion; that’s why Nandi had been the perfect companion for him. She was as placid and cool as he was; she didn’t bother him if he decided to spend the night out with his friends and didn’t ask questions as to where he had been if he stayed out late. And she took away the monotony of living alone.

The reassurance that there was someone home waiting for him gave him an incentive to come home from the hospital. Nandi would smile at him as he came in and lay his dinner out - not talking unless he wanted to, so completely understanding him and his needs. He often thought they could communicate without talking. She seemed to read his mind so completely. And he liked her company. They had a lot in common - their love for classical music, old movies. They would spend lazy Sunday afternoons watching their favorite films, lounging on the couch, munching some home made snacks. That was another thing he was going to miss - Nandi’s cooking! She was a dynamite cook - boy, the kheer she made was something to die for….and her cakes could give Tarla Dalal a run for her money!

He had disregarded the snide remarks people made and the sly, covert glances that met them often as they went out together. He had thought Nandi had too. But now he wasn’t too sure. What if all the gossip had affected her? He had never talked to her about this; he had just assumed that everything was hunky dory.Perhaps Nandi cared more than she let on. Why hadn’t she talked to him? What did she see in Jaydeep? He was after all a divorcee, and had a daughter. He had thought she had been totally content…but this guy had whisked her off her feet and now she wanted to marry him…Good lord! Was she turning senile? He thought…at her age?? What was the guy after? She wasn’t very good looking, her hair had begun to turn grey, she would touch it up with hair-dye every week. The only thing glamorous about her was her job…where she met all these rich, flamboyant people ready to throw away their money on a stupid cruise or a vacation to some far away place.

She had often asked him to plan a trip with her, but he had never felt the need to take a break. She didn’t seem to mind, but now thinking back at all the times he had seen her wistfully gazing at the colourful holiday brochures, he wasn’t so sure. Is that what Jaydeep had offered her? An overseas vacation? No, of course not.. she said she loved him…! She wanted to marry him, spend her life with him. He was going to take her away to Pune, where he lived…Naveen would be all alone…he had never imagined he would have to be one day! He had taken for granted that Nandi would always be with him….but he had been so wrong! Jaydeep had offered her something magical…Love…How would you imagine practical, logical, level-headed Nandi would succumb to its charms one day!They had lived together 10 years now, and he had grown so accustomed to it. Now he would have to get used to life without her…"What’s the matter, Naveen"? Nandi’s voice shook him out of his reverie. "What are you brooding about so intensely?""Oh, nothing" he mumbled. "So when are Jaydeep’s parents coming"?"On the 19th. I wish it didn’t have to be this way, Naveen," said Nandi, ruefully…"What will you do? How will you manage?""Oh, I’ll get by. Don’t worry about me. Jaydeep is sure a lucky guy. Hope he appreciates what he’s getting," said Naveen, smiling and going towards Nandi. He looked at her and felt suddenly as if all the affection he had for her had come bursting to the surface. He awkwardly put his arms around her. "You deserve the best, Nandi. Forget about me.. I’m just an old, boring guy anyway. And I have Cleopatra for company." Cleopatra was their cat. Nandi’s eyes suddenly brimmed with unshed tears, exhibiting a rare emotion so unlike her. "I’m going to miss you so much. And Cleo. I wish it didn’t have to be this way," she said."Of course it has to be this way," said Naveen, smiling and giving Nandita a hug. "And I’m going to see to it that you have the grandest wedding you could imagine. It’s the least a brother can do for his sister."

P.S:This is a short story written by Suproya Sudarshan in a column in MSN

The two point someone

2006-09-30T23:36:00.000+05:30

Iam a bad raconteur but this is just a scoop of my life presently presenting an anthology of snippets :).

Treat this as an amphigory

Have fun!

Our college is not a johnny-come-lately.After that hurling of caps event in june by super seniors and being welcomed by a musical water fountain am here to scribe a few things.

It’s a Prof-centric college they say.But it’s a TA centric I have to say.All powers lie with them. How much I hated that bias.Cramming over endless (end-the-list) sessions,those high funda KSM{for people who don’t know it’s Knowledge Sharing Mode},those cribbing and hollering at the top of voice after surprise test and other tests are worth mentioning.

Venting my woes:

I have already become 2-point-someone{CGPA for 4 you see }.Already formed a DCH/2-point someone track here with Seema and Sreeja as the other protoganists.

Some introduction:

Seema,the over enthued,ever smiling,heart-throb of many is the SAC member(Student-Activity-Committee).She was the one primarily responsible for organizing Fresher’s night,foundation day and likewise.She is an ex-employee of Crompton greeves;).Very Happy go lucky,caring and ready to help people in any circumstance.She is more like a small kid at times and I had to persuade her for hours to ask her to study and not get complacent with understanding of a few concepts. Cribs in kannada all time.

She has formed some attachment with my room that she stays in my room all time,we trying to sleep in the same bed when trying to study or perennially checking our college mails. I miss her so much that the moment we are back to hostel we try SMSing each other and voila!we are in one room.

Purposefully,trying to chat online though we are sitting next to each other,mailing each other for fun ,using Blue Tooth to the max makes me laugh uncontrollably.We share a comfort level when it comes to copying from either one of us than from anyone else.

Sreeja the sleeping queen,who is ready to lose her lunch/dinner/classes for her sleep is another character to describe here.A Spic-Macay member(a committee which organizes cultural events) had played a major role in organizing Sitar concert fortnight ago.Another caring girl who is seen when the whole world sleeps making endless rounds around the college.She is a good listener and I have vented much to her.A Gadget freak having a fetish for the latest ones and ever ready to capture the weirdest things I and Seemado in her camera and make us laugh.She had taken good care of us when both myself and Seema were not well before the mid-terms.Another girl cribbing in Malayalam all time.

I have been a member of food-committee(earned enough brick bats),magazine/media and placement committee here.My room is adjacent to the T.V room.Alas!there is endless Saas-Bahu saga on and girls throng to watch it!Iam almost following the episodes thanks to the common wall between the two.A valid excuse for a two-point someone ;)

I have nothing to list out except that we three have spent countless amount of time cribbing,musing ,studying,,suffering hunger pangs all time cracking silly jokes,those 2.A.M morning visits to canteen to grab something to eat.We study in between our eating process you see.

Baswati a visiting member in our group is a nice sweet girl,an ex-IBM employee, ready to change parties when each of us derive fun pulling other’s leg enough to chop us off.Caught some Bengali phrases thanks to her.

It all started with our first assignment of programming where we extremely tired to write ourselves thought sharing is the best way to finish work soon and roam around.

Unlucky that we were three of us had to submit to the same TA and the software that detects assignments being copied screwed us literally.We were exclusively given another assignment which took us 7 hours to code,never did we crib so badly.All our exams have been a big disaster as of now.Imagine we chatting till 4 in the morning on the day of mid terms is a testimony to that.All my quizzes,mid terms have been disastrous and am upto disaster management strategies :)

Our friendship has grown strong.Both of them left for Dushera vacations.Somehow somewhere I was missing them and this post is to tell you friends that am glad that we all friends sharing some bond among us.

Sleeping is an eliminated option as Seema,the argus-eyed(sitting just in front of me) is ready to shake me up the moment my eyes droop,enough to make others stare at me!{I hate you for that :D }.How I wish I slept in KVD's and ALgo class blissfully :(

Thanks Seema,Sreeja and Baswati for being such a nice friend of mine >:D<.

Hues and Shades!

2006-09-21T11:15:00.000+05:30

Basking in the lap of Nature

A Rustic View..................

Nature's Marvel

An Interesting Game!

2006-09-09T03:14:00.000+05:30

After a tiresome night cupping in an exam I opened my Inbox to find an e-mail with subject named "An interesting game" sent by Mayank Raj which has been circulating in blogosphere.In a quest to refresh myself and Arvind started off with it(took 2 hours :( ).Voila I could see the granny dancing \o/ whose pic reminded me of the grandmother of Peter in Heidi.
Try playing this:
http://www.freestuffhotdeals.com/hacker/1.html
Its awesome.
The first few flips might make you feel boring but the pages post 12 took me on a ride.
Every page carries a sufficient hint to the subsequent page.
Navigating through the first page is pretty simple.Type 2.html
Since the word two was punched there,it carries hint for third page.Type three.html.
Page 3 has roman numeral hint.So understandingly the next page has to be iv.html.
Lucid explanations stop here.Page 4 is written as ruof enough to carry hint.Type evif.html
Page 5 says:ffiivvee,nevertheless the next link ought to be ssiixx.html.
Page 6 has 6 6's to hint that page 7 would have 7 7's.Type 7777777.html
Page 7 has uranus as its hint .Its the 7th planet in the Solar System.Hence page 8 would be Neptune.html
Page 8 has the hint:acht.Its by googling that I found acht in german means 8.Hence page 9 would be neun.html
Page 9 has hint:sept which is sufficient to say the next page is oct.html
Page 10 has a 10 spade meaning the next key is jack.html
Page 11 has the key eLeVeN that means next page is tWeLvE.html
Page 12 has the number 144(12*12) meaning page 13 has 169(13*13).That is 169.html
Most of the above are self-explanatory.
Page 13 kinda took time as I started thinking of all possibilities of the link with word night/black and went to the extent of typing #000000(hexa code for black) giving me the message:Directory snooping is strictly prohibited!Be gone,hacker!! :P .Took heck of time for me to think of placing the mouse pointer in the middle of screen to get number13 that means next page is number14.html. (was li'l tricky indeed)

Page 14 has the word catorce(GOK!!).Its number 14 in Spanish so the answer would be quince.html
Page 15 has buchanan in it.James Buchanan was the 15th President of The USA.Obviously the hint is Abraham Lincon who was the 16th president.Meaning the next page is lincoln.html.

Sedicim is 16 in Latin,so it would be septemdecim.html for page 17
Page 17 has 10001,implies the binary eqvivalent of 17.So its 10010.html for page 18
Argon is the 18th element in the periodic table,so the probable one would be potassium(k) which is 19th element.

Now the real trap.There was the keyword ojofuffo whose search results generated a philisophical link and I decided to give up after finite amount of thinking as it sounded meaningless for me.
The result looked something like this:

The concept of "infinity" is not like "ojofuffo". You know the meaning of infinity but you cannot comprehend it. But, you neither know the meaning of ...
Mind, body and God. This is a Bermuda Triangle which philosophers have been struggling with for centuries. They have demonstrated positions ranging on all possible combinations and permutations: All three exist... Only mind exists... Mind and body exist, while God is created by our mind... Body is the essence and mind is a function of the body... Only universal spirit, that is God exists... Mind is the first... No, body is the first... Neither, God is the first... So on so forth. Here we will demonstrate, compare and contrast the opinions of Descartes and Berkeley on the interaction and relation between the two corners of the triangle: Mind and God.

Wheww!it did have a meaning and pretty much makes sense.How on Earth can it be related to 20 or any other thing..my search results for languages failed too.grr!Finally I found a post with the answer.
It's like:a becomes b,b=c,......
so nineteen is ojofuffo hence twenty is uxfouz.Alas!bringing me some respite.

On a quick note icosagon is a 20 sided polygon hence the result is icosihnagon which means a 21 sided polygon.
The next hint is Fibonacci series(Remember DaVinci Code??!).1,1,2,3,5,8...........10496.I made a guess that it must be the 21st fibonacci number.So the next number would be 17711.

The next navigation produces words such as Aoozy,Booyy,Cooxy......Vooey sufficiently hinting the final word os Woody.The end of the game! :)
Voila !the Grandma is all excited and the page yield a congratulatory note.The pic looks like the one above.

http://www.iimi-iris.com/iris/irising/klueLESS/

Its by IIM.:).check it out.
Feedbacks about the posts are welcomed!:)

Vini Vidi Vici

2006-08-28T00:26:00.000+05:30

The valiant voice of a valetudinarian finally rises vehemently in vapid speech pondering beyond the veil killng off vestige of potential passion woken from delirium by the vociferous clan, his visage contorted in anguish.Having no viable verdict in an attempt to vivify all in experience that engage his heart and intellects and after many vicissitudes of fortune sunk into abject and hopeless problems in veritable terms.

Finding no answer and having changed position to the veranda still having not got any viable response wrung hands and erased the eerie trying to vividly remember about the voluptuary virtuoso who had been so virtuous was bit by a virulent creature wincing in pain for sometime before venialling the creature. Trying to veer my thoughts I thought about him,a vegan by nature vermilion smeared on his forehead ,highly voluble and veracious who loved velvetten ,a vexillology hobbist,a humble vaudevillian veteran vowing to vanquish vice,never vacillates and hardly vacuous,versatile genius in modest terms , as a vox populi who despised vendetta politics was given a valedictory status as a person at his chivalrous best on whom all had deep veneration for he provided new vista's but has many a time been vulnerable to vicissitudes of fate.The degree of verisimilitude in the work was consistent and worth appreciating.Often seated in his verdant lawns, a voracious reader being victrious in life vouched for truth and never vented his woes.The cubicle now in the office lies vacant vanishing the thoughts of a person vis-à-vis me who loved vichyssoise and Vichy water.The verbiage veering verbosity who was on the verge of losing life never a visitation of vexation does not lie vetti on his couch at his villa but caught up with a vede mecum to provide explanation for some strange turn of thoughts.Voila,the very thought of him getting better makes me happy who called me verve vaishnavi.

P.S.:Just made an attempt to write this complicated stuff.Nosegays and brickbats are welcomed.vhevvvvvv!!!

Life @ IIIT-B

2006-08-11T15:48:00.000+05:30

Finally here am after loitering in my new college campus after weeks of dillydalling taking off time to post about it.

The first days of my stay in B'lore was scary.I lost my bag and stuff.That makes another story altogether.Brings me to shudders.Visited Iskcon temple was awesome.Gave me immense solace when I visited. Talking about the college now:
Though the college campus is small,situated in Electronics city,Hosur road the verdant lawns,maintanence and infrastructure deserve a big mention.Cool breeze wafting around, the first time I drenched in the rain here,those sprawling lawns,the dew settled in the plants and grass are worth a talk.Thankfully I don't wake up from delirium by the sound of screeching brakes now.
The weather is quite chill when compared with Hyd.Eveything is fine except for the cost of living which is exorbitant to say the least.
Seniors here are very affable and hospitable and the very thought that we have to take up a project in first sem makes me cold.

Prof.Prasanna Sir's and Sadagoppan(the founder of college) Sir's talks are highly motivating,hilarious and inspirational.Makes me ponder over many aspects.
Our classroom is supposedly a mere 140 seats seminar hall with a camera always vigilant.Seating arrangements are according to roll number wise.How I wish I could sit anywhere I like with people Iam comfortable with.Alas,I shall lose my attendence that way.Thanks to my name I sit in the last row directly facing the Prof's.Even dozzing off or reading a book is difficult as iam under the trepidiation thinking when the camera will catch me red handed.This reminds me of the character Gogol in The Namesake where he intends to change his name for different reason altogether though.

Looking forward for elections in e-cell,SAC,Birthday party committee,Food committee and other paraphernalia.I have no enthu to campaign assuch.Hope I stand in magazine section..no idea as of now.

Thanks to the delay in getting our laptop's we'r procrastinating in our assignments and have a nice reason to give to Prof's since am suffering from memory decay as its been eons since I studied.Hey,we are going to receive it very soon,so have to buckle up having errands to run.Mess food is palatable but it irkes me to stand in long lines for eons and then have lunch/supper experiencing hunger pangs quite often.Post supper walks are confined to making rounds around the college building supposedly 10 min per round getting exhausted in 2nd round itself :P. Being bilingual I have become interpreter for some friends here to translate from hindi to telugu/tamil for communicating with security men etc.Caught up with some kannada phrases too.solpa solpa

Not being used to hostel life in the first 2 weeks itself I decided to go home to see mom and dad.Thanks to Independence day and Janmaasthami which occur consecutively.Looking forward to sunday and to taste some home food.

Happy Blogging.

Enjoy maadi.
P.S.:Want to deface this blog?
click this
Screenshot

Whistling is real fun

2006-07-23T14:36:00.000+05:30

Yesterday while skimming through the channels I happened to watch this show called
"The Big Ticket" in Headlines Today.Assuch I love the way they whistle the songs in movies.There was this interview where a "Nagesh Sarva", person associated with bollywood for 30 years now has been interviewed.The whistling sequence in "Main Hoon Na","Barsaat",the forthcoming "Dhoom2" were all contributions.What started as a prank whistling girls now is his passion.
I love whistling very much and wish i'll start humming a tune someday.
Whistling started in the days of R.D.Burman with khamoshi being a hit.Later in "chori chori jab nazareein mili.." from kareeb and many more to site are ambrosia to ears.

I wonder how we fail to give credit to them and I tell you it's a bit difficult to whistle than to sing and get the tune according to lyrics.
Has whistling been overshadowed by singers?

Kute Kolams!

2006-07-09T19:02:00.000+05:30

As the time is ripe for me to headstart to Hosur I had this neck deep work of cleaning home(read house keeping operations).Just when I was dusting my mom’s cupboard an old notebook caught my attention.Awed I opened.The papers were a pale yellow ocher but the designs were mesmerizing with simple dots and serpentine curves done with a pen which unfurled many memories.
That was kolam or Rangoli or Muggulu,a skill interwoven with traditional family life in TamilNadu.
I remember how my granny an early riser herself started her day by first watering the trees then spread the dung all over the frontyard evenly allowing it to set for a few minutes and drew kolam making it look beautiful with her skills with minimal erases.Dots would turn into wonderful designs in a matter of seconds and Voila! the kolam would be bordered beautifully.
Come Friday or any auspicious day there would be something called “padi kolam” with all horizontal,vertical and diagonal lines neatly drawn and bordered with something called “chemman”, a brickcolored stone like substance which when immersed in water turns soft and dipped with a small cloth spreading across the entire padi kolam appearing as a white-brick red colored combination.

More funda by my friend here:chemman means: semmaiyana man in thamizh. semmai means two things: sezhippu (bounty) and red man = soil semman = red soil

Rice flour is preferred for kolam not just for ornamental designs but also as a gesture for ants and birds as breakfast .Now its been replaced by other means wherein the white powder has some chemicals too.Colors were a strict no-no as it's considered harmful.The rice was pounded at home itself.Eco friendliness is not a new concept and has been prevalent since eons.
Drawing it requires skill and perception and whole lot of patience.
Come the month of Margazhi the frontage of houses would be welcoming with a design portrayed “Sun God”,Pongal panai and karambu(sugarcane).Even with the arrival of new child the cradle kolams ornamented our entrance.
With seasons changing kolams do change.The Pavakkai design(bitter gourd),pambu kolam(snake kolam),Mayil Kolam(peacock) and ther kolam(chariot car) decorated the frontage in a cyclic rhythm.
Granny is now old and her hands stiffened.She has lost the magic but her children have greatly inherited that art.In the world of hustle bustle these things have died down and taken a Sabbatical.Time has replaced with ready made kolam designs,impressions of them in metal with just a spread of the powder design taking forms.Even living rooms of our ancestral house were painted beautifully and that would welcome the momemt one steps in admiringly.

I have failed to learn the magic and just that I have ziltch patience I manage a decent jiffy ones in our frontyard with a nonchalant attitude of what makes the difference to draw it or not..I still remember my over enthusiastic classmates having a penchant to know new designs would exchange and even maintain notes,some elephant design to some floral designs and whatnot.All I do is watch silently.Kolams indeed have taken a step forward by its incarnation in the form of softwares but still hand drawn one is irreplacable. It's true that the coming generations would have to study that in History lessons.
“I wish kolams had a patent.”

Damsel's Dream

2006-07-02T22:35:00.000+05:30

The azure sky glimmered in the first streaks of dawn.I trudged into the forest humming a mild tune.The Sun splashed its first rays on the ground.
At the fork I took left;"This path is less taken I thought",with the dense overgrowth covering the entire path.There was sepulchral silence.Basking in the lap of nature I was cock-a-hoop about its glory.I headed further.A Magpie chattered somewhere,a blue Jay snazzingly cooed in its rustic mood ;the hot Sun was bearing upon me.Then I heard a soft gurgling sound making me stop at my tracks,curiosity gripping in I turned towards the sound.A small waterfall emerged out of the blue in my view.The sight made me awestruck for moments.I felt as though i would rock in a swing and sleep blissfully amidst nature's marvel.Following it a cold breeze blew which ruffled and caressed my hair.The scene resembled as if it’s been scooped out of a movie.My eyes swept across the ground and from a distant view a small lake emerged into my view..After walking a few yards a wild thought struck me.Gingerly lowereing my feet in the pristine water I began waving my legs and splashing water.The water was wonderful to feel and hear.Round pebbles finely settled in various hues and sizes gave a different ambience and I then waded to the deepest part where water reached neck deep.Here there were tiny fishes too.Standing still they started nibbling my toes and had a ticking sensation.I splashed and played,then I lay on rock with my feet ankle deep in water.A vivacious butterfly lapped on my shoulder fluttering its wings beautifilly,there I lay not to disturb it.After sometime it whirred away quietly.Indeed it is a memorabilia I thought.

Suddenly the door screaked,the curtains unfurled ,eyes drooped slashing and people hollered at the top of their voice.Plod came the knock.My reverie was broken in whiskers..I squirmed yawning whew!just a dream.Again the normal routine I snickered mustering all my strength and thought “I began my day with a nice dream”.The whiff of timelessness wafts ever. This was my dream-o-cruise.Atleast I was away from the hustle-bustle for a while.

Happy cruising!!

"These moments change my solitude to bliss"

10 Simple Pleasures

2006-06-18T00:01:00.000+05:30

I was tagged by Rajeev{after assuring that I’ll blog consistently and won’t disappoint him this time}.It is called some simple pleasures in life.Sounds good.Atleast makes my grey cells active and thankfully something apart from the ubiquitous siesta and fiesta to some resilience.This is the buzzword in blogosphere from quite sometime.Here are the 10 from my end.

1.Snuggle in a cozy bed with a good novel to skim through, by the side of window with nice breeze wafting in, mellifluous song being played(quaint songs double pleasant) and in parallel have something to munch and no one to disturb me.

2.Relish mango pachadi and poran poli that my Mami makes and all the yummy dishes Jeeju prepares{Slurp!!absolute delight}.Paratha’s ,icecreams and chocolates anytime ready to grab and if nothing comes my way the ubiquitous curd rice with lemon pickle{so divine} will do.

3.Enjoy the Monsoon with its myriad of moods and connotations.Drenching in the rain and then a cup of nice ginger tea,some pakodas or pani puri and just watch the incessant rain pitter patter of rain slam terra firma{*touch wood*,it’s indeed raining now} ,relish its effervescent smell,watch the dainty dew on the verdant leaves and then finally gaze the ravishing rainbow by craning my neck{being a natureholic can’t stop in few lines} Read more here.

4.Plough the Internet trying for some techie stuff,sneak peek into other’s blog and then catching up with close friends online for some vetti latch and pulling other's legs in conference chat{in one of the umpteen different messenger’s available;).Men are from Google and Women from yahoo :P }

5.Calling up Priya,Mahathi,Deedhi,Kiran and Karthik even if it’s meant for sometime{wait a second.Did I say for sometime?It’s for hours trust me..masked into minutes :P}

6.Try whistling :-" when no one is around and improve my handwriting{writing in left hand of course which I have lost touch looks like thanks to the jinx attached to it and hey am an ambidexterous in the making ;) }

7.Watching photo album and pestering Mom asking when this was taken and when that ..why can’t I remember anything vividly :(,visiting my ancestral home in Mumbai.Recollecting my salad days.

8.Gazing at the Crescent at night,watching the serene stars twinkle and then wake up early the morning to hear the chirping of birds when the Sun starts its retrograde motion.

9.Go on a long drive on a nice blustery day especially in the Necklace Road vicinity with those stunning lights and around the turquoise Hussainsagar lake or visit a greeting card gallery spending hours to pick a few cards and gifts.

10.Go to temple,reciting those hymns, trying to meditate and spending sometime in introspection or a long walk with my close pals and end my day writing in my diary.

Other one is hanging out with sis and jeeju dining in a good restaurant,shopping and having fun blowing holes in their pockets that is{spare a thought}..:P

Only ten so the endless list end’s here{really?}.It's been a nice reminiscence. I now tag Shashi,Priya,Sandeep,CNA,Pavan and Karthik.
Iam wondering if there exists words that start with ‘Q’ and is not followed by ‘u’{Abdul Rassaq? :P,proper noun,eh? }.Any takers?
Watch this space frequently .On this note Happy Blogging!!Check the amazing link below.

Amazing CV

My Musings!

2006-05-22T13:15:00.000+05:30

"Vini Vidi Vici"
It's been a long time since I updated my impoversihed blog.Hence this post.
First news :Finally I'm a 100% Engineer.Yeppie!!!\:D/ .
Hey I had my results out recently,I din't flunk u see ;)
Presto,we had fun in our farewell party ,ofcourse it was a tearjerker.*sob*.
All good things should come to an end as they say.I miss my Engg. life for sure.
This is a post to contribute my success to so many people who made a difference in my life somewhere at crucial stages.This is the best way I thought I can honour them.

My job..hmm..it was a Marathon in itself.Always at the receiving side of not holding one :P..life was tough thanks to my great cousins holding plush jobs ,plum sals elsewhere.Well,there came a moment where I painted the town red saying I hold one too.LOL
About my D-day
I made into WIPRO.Feel elated and at peace.Thanks to my Brother-in-Law.We had to combat somany thinks in between and that was the day I landed up in Hyd attending another "not qualified" interview in Annanagar,Chennai.Feeling dejected I headed for my written in Wipro.We reached there two hrs post stipulated time.Since there was a seminar I thankfully din't miss the written test.*smile*.Being a wayworm myself somewhere I felt I ought to leave home early and not get selected.
When the list was out students were barging into crowd literally and I could feel the trepidation in them.Whew!!I had my name(checked it more tan thrice as I myself was awestruck).I cleared my Techie and HR round and I had confidence in my performance.*smug*.That's the happy end.
This I owe to my sweet sister and my brother-in-law who drove more than 40Kms to reach the college asking me not to give up.

Then began a pursuit for my Master's,that being my long term goal.Again with "just a 91+ percentile " I knew I lost IIT .Felt haggard,withered and experienced nightmares.Early the morning on a nice blustery day someday this Jan there came a call from my bestest friend Priya saying she had applied for IIIT-B.I wasn't that serious being sure of my performance in GATE.Just with two days in hand I had to get the DD(Priya's Mom waited for me in bank till 5P.M that day) get the application fill and again post.Thanks to Blue dart it wasn't that tough.I cracked the written(I never knew i was not that bad at CAT-GMAT based papers)and then the interview this 4th..again I made it.Was a moment to cherish.
Being at sixes and sevens I have finally decided to reject my job and head for my PG.The Hobson's choice for me.
This I owe to my friend Priya♥
Not to forget the boost I received from Mahathi("Magna cum Laude") and Meenakshi who had been very supportive from the scratch.My special friends Kiran,Vinayak and Karthik who never let me down, I gained hopes and was affirmative all through.Iam to write HCU written this june..looking forward to it.I din't loaf around this summer*smug*..attended some training in Jntu and currently totally engaged and immersed here.I'm enjoying it.*smirk*
I will headstart to Hosur this July,my hearty wishes to Priya(perfection personified) who had made into couple of IIT's(*touch wood*),Mahathi(would have been her colleague in WIPRO ;) Applying thoughts day by day) and other pals.

In everyone's life there are certain moments which one would cherish and certain people without whom one wouldn't have been what one ought to in life.
This post stands as a testimony to the timelessness of that.Hakuna Matata!!

Until then Carpe Diem!Happy Blogging!!

Birthday Blues!!!

2006-03-14T22:11:00.000+05:30

Apropos to the day,I often wondered what is such a big deal about "Birthdays" except for the fact that the person is born on this day.There is no reason to go gaga and it's all about the hype,totally being pampered by everyone thereby creating fissures in my ever resilient mind,may be.With a Oh-It's not so great day for me attitude that remains etched in memory and apparently the celebrant has no reasons to celebrate,except perhaps his or her survival.

Well,to be very precise I would Thank my Mom for all the Marathon toil
she put this day 20 years ago,enduring great pain,My dad and sister for all their affection and good culture they have inculcated in me.Yet,Iam still unaware of a society
which gives gifts to Mother,a congratulatory reminder of her accomplishments.
Instead the offspring has all fun.Birthday presents are reminders of how palpably unfair life is:The person who puts in the least effort reaps the greatest rewards(well stated by Shashi Tharoor).

Yes,it is a remainder of the fact that I have reached another milstone in my life,I no more carry the age that i was carrying last year,with the bitter truth of not accomplishing anything still at all.May be!!year by year time passes by yet the resolutions and determinations taken by me become a mere "Political Oath" mitigating and coming to a standstill in the very first few seconds.Very honestly personally I havent achieved anything in my life and just hoping accomplishments are imminent.I cannot be plausibly defined as a great person perhaps(An adjective that has dogged me all my life). I have had one wish,To be a good person in life and one dream,that everyone should be happy.Still culminating towards it,ofcourse trying to take up the gauntlet.Iam not nagging anything either.

I still vividly remember as a child how I eagerly waited for D-day, to go primp and preen and trying decent enough to look nice trying to catch everyone's attention ;),going to temple,those prostrations... memorabilia.Gone are those days anyhow unshering greater responsibilities and realizations in me.

"Its a special day for us because you are a special friend of us veers some close buddies of mine and its no exaggeration",with a smug.
I would have to confess here that my friends,siblings and cousins(parents internally ensured) have made a big difference for me in all walks of my life giving me emotional and moral support when iam down and showed me the path towards greater success.Mentioning a few names would be a mere understatement here(Love you all pals :) ),as everyone have left a huge impact on me at different phases.This year has been great for me for many reasons though :)

What ever the reasons may be it still remains a special day for everyone in their life,laden with myriad gifts,umpteen wishes and loads of care and affection and crooning bells ready to be put to pasture.Let some bitter Bygones be Bygones.I don't know how fair/unfair it is to scribe this post but yes,i agree people have different predicaments.This is just an embellishment of my feelings and nothing to being cynical about.

Before i forget Thanku all for your warm wishes and wish you an unrecognisable,fun-filled and colorful Holi.

"A Rose given in Life is better than orchids in grave"

P.S:Bday was on 15th.I posted much earlier ;)

2006-03-12T20:27:00.000+05:30

One of my personal favourite posts being posted to retain consistency to my impoverished Blog:) Celebrating the Monsoon!!

Shall come up with a new fine post very soon on a special occasion ;).
Read More..

Happy Blogging till then.Greetz and cheers!!
Do keep commenting buddies.

Linguistic immortality

2006-01-22T00:16:00.000+05:30

Language has always been a vital tool for communication.We are indeed lucky to have so many words at our disposal-To explain,define an object or idea or to communicate.
Having come across many words originated from Greek and Latin as in root words or likewise,certain people were responsible for the origin of some words .

We have boycotted many people,objects and events out of disgust and exasperation
From our lives.The word ‘Boycott’ owes its origin to Charles C Boycott,an English land agent,who had a thoroughly difficult task of collecting high rent from Irish farmers.In
protest the farmers ostracized him,not even allowing him to make purchases in town
or hire workers to harvest his crops and the word boycott entered into usage to denote ostracism.
The word ‘silhouette’ came into popular usage just before the French revolution.The then Minister of Finance Minister of France,Etienne de Silhouette,advocated a simple life so that excess money could go into the treasury.from then silhouette meant the simplest form of portraiture.
Everyone hate to be referred to as 'Sadists',meaning one who enjoys inflicting torture
on other people.This term was derived from Marquis De Sade an 18th century French man who found great delight in torturing friends and foes.He shocked everyone by alarming frankness with which he described hisd Morbid and bloodthirsty cruelty.Hence
Inflicting torture on others came to be called as 'sadistic pleasure'.

In 1868,R.J Lechmere Guppy,President of the scientific association of Trinidad
Sent some specimen of a tiny tropical fish to the British Museum.Ever since,fish of this species are called Guppies.
Jean Martinet was the inspector General of Infantry during the reign of King Louis
XIV-and a stricter,more fanactic drillmaster France had never seen.it was from his time
That the French Army’s reputation for discipline dated and it is from this the name
Martinet meaning a strict discliplinarian has been derived.
Nicolas Chauvin,soldier of the French Empire,so vociferously and unceasingly aired his veneration of Nepolean Bonaparte that he became the laughing stock of all Europe.
Thereafter an exaggerated and blatant patriot was and still known as Chauvinist.
Chauvinism,by natural extension applies to blatant veneration or boastfulness about any other affliliation desides one’s country.
Thanks to Google to help me and an article I happened to read which inspired me.I welcome further words to be penned down by Bloggers!!!
Another previous post Slip Of tongue is one to cite.

Blogged!!!

2006-01-15T10:31:00.000+05:30

Your Monster Profile

Ultima Vagabond
You Feast On: Pickles
You Lurk Around In: Sewers
You Especially Like to Torment: British People

What's" Your Monster Name?

Your Blog Should Be Blue

Your blog is a peaceful, calming force in the blogosphere.

You tend to avoid conflict - you're more likely to share than rant.

From your social causes to cute pet photos, your life is a (mostly) open book.

What Color Should Your Blog or Journal Be?

In a Past Life...

You Were: A Gentle Executor of Sacrifices.

Where You Lived: Chile.

How You Died: Natural causes.

Who Were You In a Past Life?

The Essence of Happiness

2006-01-08T23:37:00.000+05:30

Where is Happiness?I have always pondered over it.Does it exist in external objects,things,money , people....hmm the list is endless.Nope.In true sense it lies within oneself because if one is dependent on external things the moment it ceases to exist happiness disappears along with it.
A poor man can be happy aswell.It is all about the state of mind that matters.It can be realised in small things around oneself.
Gorging on Mom made recipes,piping hot rice with pickles or being with chirpy friends,A baby's smile gives eternal bliss.If one is naturholic then watching the “elusive” rainbow, its vivid colors, drenching in the rain with arms akimbo,splashing water,jumping in puddles or making paper boats turning umbrella upside down and watching it move swiftly, having a hot cup of coffee ,staring at the azure blue sky on a sunny day,cuddling with a favourite book or just experiencing the lovely weather could gives immense happiness.These can be forever be etched in memory.What say?
It is all about loving oneself and making the environment lively with an infectious effervescent smile spreading the aura everywhere..Do not forget to smile at a person when he is down instead of trying to show sympathy."Share and care” is the golden mantra.Try to allot time for yourself and spend in introspection.It makes one evolve into a better person.If some thoughts of the past keeps haunting try learning from it and never repeat.
Hey folks,if you think iam being philosophical then try pondering once.let the New year bring good thoughts and not just be confined to a new calendar.
until then Hakuna Matata-No worries for rest of the days. Treasure every moment with your loved ones and lighten the atmosphere with humour. Afterall the effervescent smile is the curve that sets every thing straight.

Life life in full enjoyment,Live it to the fullest."Donot cry if the sun sets at the end of the day.It will not let you enjoy the beauty of stars":).

One paragraph that explains Life

2005-12-19T00:03:00.000+05:30

Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player was dying of AIDS .
From world over, he received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed:
"Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease"?
To this Arthur Ashe replied: The world over -- 5 crore children start playing tennis, 50 lakh learn to playtennis, 5 lakh learn professional tennis, 50,000 cometo the circuit, 5000 reach the grand slam, 50 reachWimbeldon, 4 to semi final, 2 to the finals, When Iwas holding a cup I never asked GOD "Why me?". And today in pain I should not be asking GOD "Why me?" Happiness keeps u Sweet, Trials keep u Strong, Sorrow keeps u Human, Failure Keeps u Humble, Success keeps u Glowing, But only God Keeps u Going.....

Tabla-The Food beat

2005-12-18T15:46:00.000+05:30

venue:Kukatpally
restuarant:Tabla,Multi Cuisine.Veg cum Non-Veg

Can you imagine a silver blue brook without a sound of ripple?
Have you thought of monsoon with no punctuation of rumble of thunder?
Can u imagine passing of minutes without the tick of clock go by?

Welcome to Tabla,the 13th century percussion instrument of Indian classical music from traditional,contemporary to post modern.Precursory to fusion of world music featuring awesome array of drums.symbals,gorgs,bells and customised sound effects.
This is Tabla,the food beat for you.A Crescendo.Nice Ambience with soft music ringing in ears.
From subtle to overdue,it has everything.

We went there on a cold evening.Wow!!There is a tiny kid's space.oops,Iam not a kid.
starters like french fry,Cheese tomato soup was yummy!Slurp;),Stuffed kulcha with kolapoori ,Malai kofta tasted good too. Must try that:)
Overall a warm welcome and kind gesture.It is indeed a food beat for you.Tried eating pot kulfi,tooti frooti icecream,some hot icecream err dont remember exactly {a bit roasted type}.Flipped the menu card for knowing few Non-Vegetarian dishes names too :).Lol.Not ate them though.
A place to indulge the inner epicurean for sure.A good place for gourmands.

Moi Banner

2005-12-18T15:07:00.000+05:30

Stumped?!!!Lol.You can get one too
Banner Click here

Slam the book!

2005-12-04T23:15:00.000+05:30

End of grade 10,12,UG,PG...mmm farewell party reminds you of something??...all folks out here have one exercise which is to be done to make fellow folks happy.That's filling the enteries In the Sham err Slam Book.With my UG coming to an end in sometime this exercise is to be done by me aswell.Wheww!Iam not against this coz may be even i have to get one for myself too.
Whenever i fill in enteries in my friend's slam books,which I do due to great perseverance on their part,I really break my head over questions that i can never find answers to.I know the whole thing is basically supposed to be a fun exercise,but I always end up mulling over the questions and trying desperately to put my pen on paper wondering why this torture is inflicted upon close and loved ones.I attimes goof up things trying to be "creative" or rather landing up filling weird answers. huh?.With great difficulty i chuck out of my mind with beautiful and intelligent answers like "keep your nose out","cut your smile","mind your business"{right under their nose verbally!!:P} and many more of the kind for the fear of sounding rude and stop myself from filling in blanks that ask for address with "home" so as not to sound cliched and silly!giving a "tongue-in-cheek" reply.

No end to it
And don't ask me what unholy thoughts pass through my mind when
i am asked to fill in favourite food/dress/drink/actor/actress/shoes/plant/tree/
fruit/vegetables/perfumes/restuarant/date details and what have you...! Brain scratching for me :D
At once a flash of kindergarten learning comes to mind recollecting of
vegetables and fruits :P
Talk about favouritism!the end is listlenessness.Oops!I mean the list is endless!Get my point?Hey don't think iam being snobbish.Look at it realistically,aren't slam books actually meant for keeping track of friends,getting to know how they feel about you and in what aspects do they like to see you as an improved person?
Don't you think it will be more fun to have your friend writing about you and qualities which they like/dislike in you,which they admire or detest?Not only will you enjoy reading it,your friends will also find it great fun! At the end of it all,you'll know what you will have to do to make yourself a a better person and a great friend.After all,friendship standness for frankness,fun and frolic.Doesn't it?If iam asked the question whether i would get one for myself,:-/..pssst may be i will be knowing their "whereabouts"/contact or E-mail ID's.Otherwise nothing else.Personally I would ask them to tell me the quality which they admire or abhor in me.
After a hiatus abck to Blogging!.This post just struck me with farewell party gonna be hosted by our juniors in a month or two.Shall try coming up with a good idea once iam bombarded with filling in many slam books.Oops iam not a celebrity you see ;)
Slam that book!It's a sham.
P.S.:The weirdest stuff i ever posted.Sounds wacky.Tried my hand at a non-serious stuff for the first time an urge for an inclination towards wit and comedy,turned out to be very bad rather than hilarious.Hope the Emoticons doesnt irk anyone :). Please do comment...hahah waiting!!!!!

Inspiring story :)

2005-12-04T19:31:00.000+05:30

One day I decided to quit...I quit my job, my relationship, my Spirituality... I wanted to quit my life.I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. "God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?" His answer surprised me..."Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied."When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo." He said."In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit." He said."Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.

"It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive". I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle." He said to me."Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots?""I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.""Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful.""Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high""How high should I rise?" I asked."How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return."As high as it can?" I questioned"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."I left the forest and bring back this story. I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.He will never give up on you!

"Failures are more finely etched in our minds than triumphs and success is an elusive,
if not mythic goal in our society" .
Remember there are some defeats that are more triumphant than victories and the ultimate measure of a man not where he stands in moments of comfort and convinience,but where he stands at times of challenges and controveries.If one is falling off a cliff they have nothing to lose,but have atleast reached it. Success does come after umpteen hurdles and the pinnacle of failure implies arrival of success Think of yourself as an incadescent power illuminated and perhaps talked to by God and his messengers .

Howz this !!:)

2005-11-27T18:18:00.000+05:30

A man arrived home from work to find his dog with his neighbour's pet rabbit in his mouth.The man man grabbed the rabbit from the dog but the pet was clearly dead.Terrified by what the neighbour would think,he took the bedraggled corpse indoors,gave it a bath,blow-dried its fur and put it back into the cage in his neighbour's garden.That way,he hoped that his neighbour would think the rabbit had simply died ofnatural causes.

A few days later,the neighbour leaned over the garden fence and said:
"Did you know that Fluffy had died?"
"Oh,no,"said the man,playing ignorant.
"It was really strange,"continued the neighbour."We fond him dead in his cage,the day after we buried him in the garden,someone dug him up.They gave him a bath and put him back in his cage.How sick can people get!

Longest laugh ever had after reading it!!hahaha :D .But poor Fluffy :(

Non Violence

2005-11-27T17:32:00.000+05:30

Dr.Arun Gandhi,grandson of M.K.Gandhi and founder of M.K Gandhi Institute of Non-Violence,in his June 9 lecture at the University of Puerto Rico,shared the following story of "Non-violence in parenting" :I was 16 years old and living with my parents at the institute my grandfather had founded 18 miles outside of Durban,South Africa,in the middle of the sugar plantations.We were deep in the country and had no neighbours,so my two sisters and I would look forward to town to visit friends or go to the movies.
One day,my father asked me to drive him to town for an all-day conference,and I jumped at the chance.Since I was going to town my Mother gave me a list of groceries she needed,and since I had all day in town,my father asked me to take care of several pending chores,such as getting car serviced.When I dropped my father off that morning,he said,'I will meet you here at 5:00 p.m..and we will go home together.'After hurriedly completing my chores,I went straight to the nearest movie theatre.I got engrossed in a John Wayne double-feature that i forgot the time.It was 5:30 p.m., before I remembered.By the time I ran to the garage and got the car and hurried to where my father was waiting for me,it was 6:00.He anxiously asked me,"Why were you late?' I was so ashamed of telling him that i was watching a John Wayne western movie that I said "The car wasn't ready,soI had to wait",not realising that he has already called the garage.When he caught me with the lie,he said:"There's something wrong in the way I brought you up that didn't give you the confidence to tell me the truth.In order to figure out where I went wrong with you,I'm going to walk home 18 miles and think about it.'

So,dressed in his suit and dress shoes,he began to walk home in the dark on mostly uppaved,unlit roads.I couldn't leave him,so for five-and-a-half hours I drove behind him watching my father go through this agony for a stupid lie I uttered.I decided then and there that I was not going to lie again.I often think about that episode and wonder if he had punished me the way we punish our children,whether I would have learnt a lesson at all.I don't think so.I would have suffered the punishment and gone on doing the same thing.But this single Non-violence action was so powerful that it is still as if it happened yesterday.That is the power of Non-Violence."
This is one of the stories very close to me and moved me a lot.

God exist!!!

2005-11-27T15:42:00.000+05:30

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut. As the barber began to work, they began to have conversation.They talked about so many things and various subjects.When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists.""Why do you say that?" asked the customer."Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain.I can't imagine a loving a God who would allow all of these things.

"The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt.The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist.""How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!""No" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be nobody with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.""Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens, is, people do not come to me. ""Exactly" - affirmed the customer. "That's the point God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him.That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world.

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING

2005-10-09T17:26:00.000+05:30

Red Heering

2005-09-21T23:58:00.000+05:30

Red Herring
Description of Red Herring:A Red Herring is a fallacy in which an irrelevant topic is presented in order to divert attention from the original issue. The basic idea is to "win" an argument by leading attention away from the argument and to another topic.
Finance:A preliminary prospectus,subject to amendment for an issue of security:from the notice printed on the front in ink.

This sort of "reasoning" has the following form:
1. Topic A is under discussion.
2. Topic B is introduced under the guise of being relevant to topic A (when topic B is actually not relevant to topic A).
3. Topic A is abandoned. This sort of "reasoning" is fallacious because merely changing the topic of discussion hardly counts as an argument against a claim.

Examples of Red Herring# "We admit that this measure is popular. But we also urge you to note that there are so many bond issues on this ballot that the whole thing is getting ridiculous.
# "Argument" for a tax cut:"You know, I've begun to think that there is some merit in the Republican's tax cut plan. I suggest that you come up with something like it, because If we Democrats are going to survive as a party, we have got to show that we are as tough-minded as the Republicans, since that is what the public wants.
# "Argument" for making grad school requirements stricter:
"I think there is great merit in making the requirements stricter for the graduate students. I recommend that you support it, too. After all, we are in a budget crisis and we do not want our salaries affected."

Very smart one indeed!!!

2005-09-21T23:43:00.000+05:30

An Indian walks into a New York City bank and asks to see the loan
officer.

He says he is going to Europe on business for two weeks and Needs to borrow $5,000. The bank officer says the bank will need some kind of security for such a loan, so the man hands over the keys of a new Rolls Royce parked on the street in front of the bank. Everything is
checked out, and the bank agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan. An employee drives the Rolls into the bank's underground garage and parks it there.

Two weeks later, the man returns, repays the $5,000 and the interest, which comes to $15.41. The loan officer says, "We are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you
out and found that u are a multimillionaire. What puzzles us is why would you bother to borrow just $5,000?"

The Indian replied," Where else in New York can I park my car for two weeks for 15 bucks?"

"Indians don't do different things but they do things differently".
Very sharp one indeed.Liked this mail which i got through my clique.

The Loss of a loved one:(

2005-09-21T23:29:00.000+05:30

There was this faint crying sound which I vividly remember.Had a peep through the window.It was a small puppy,brownish in color,standing near the gate sniffing the ground.Where did it come from?May be it got lost or the Mother had gone away leaving it to look after itself or someone who did not want it got it here and left. So small,good-looking,bright .Just not like any other dog who roamed the streets in the neighbourhood..A stray dog-unloved,un-cared for,hungry,cold,lonely and chased by everyone.
My heart melted at once for the thought of this puppy growing into a stray dog.I went back home,brought some milk and through the grill of the gate offered it by placing a small bowl.The puppy moved back,trembling in fear,its stringy tail struck behind its twiggy hind legs.The eyes rolled,showing whites-indicating fears.I moved back.Now it stopped moving and eyed suspiciously.Small encouraging sounds were made by clicking the tongue.Now the tail came out and it wagged it once or twice hesitantly.Its nose twitched up at the smell of the milk and the small brown eyes brightened up.Now I held my hand forward,holding a small piece of bread this time ,so as not to frighten it again,held it up.The puppy moved forward and took the bread,moving its head back chewed it hurriedly and swallowed it,its throat working up and down convulsively.Then another piece,then another until two full slices were over.It stopped eating and looked with what resembled like a grin,the tail wagging fast!It was Mongrel and we named it Tommy.
I was elated at once and patted the puppy’s head.The puppy jumped,licked the hand and now we w ere friends.Whatever I spoke,it kept wagging its tail asthough it has understood everything.
Someone slowly made it stay at a corner at home because my Dad was very apprehensive to keep it with us.Luckily could move him and was convinced a bit.It was so innocent and unaware of everything.I again went near the puppy with a bowl of milk. ”Puppy is after me”,I thought ,as it lapped hurriedly.As it drank the bowl scrapped on the floor,moving further and further with every lick,with the puppy pursuing it relentlessly.Finally the bowl was cleaned as though it was washed.
It barked happily basking in joy engulfying my inner nerves.It was a state of ecstasy.The puppy followed almost till the road end,tripping joyfully along, as though I were the owner while I was going to school.I was asked if it was my puppy,I proudly said Yes.Slowly got very attached to it and my day never ended without spending sometime talking to it and playing.My best pal at home.Had greatest and finest moments with it.It had been 6 years now.Fully grown yet shy and so fearful by nature it was,but projected as though it was really majestic to all new people who came home.Curd rice was staple food for it and always ensured that I leave a bowl of rice for giving it.
The very thought that its health was deteriorating went without my notice as I was involved in my cousin’s marriage.It died in my absence when I was away makes me feel bad.So lovely,caring doggie it was.Won the hearts of everyone in 6 long years.For 2 long days I was missing and longed to see.But the moment I went home I was told it died somewhere on the road.”Miss U Doggie” .My Mom,Dad and me love you so much.I wish I had seen you for the last time.I don’t know if I can shower the same amount of love on any other dog,may be I cannot for the fear of losing.It had left an indelible impression in me and luckily have its snap taken sometime back.It’s mild barking sound still reverberates in my ears and its innocent looks still clear in my mind.My eyes have almost been moist now and this post is to render my thanks for, it took care of my Mom and home when noone was there at home.Everytime when I look at the bowl it reminds me of it.
It’s indeed difficult to sense the pain of someone whom whom u love very much.

Friends For Ever!!!

2005-09-20T17:06:00.000+05:30

“Fate chooses our relatives, we choose our friends”,quipped Jacques Delili.As we grow up and form preferences,we develop definite idea on what should determine our friendship.
One can be good friends with one’s own parents,bros and sis.Cousins generally make up suitable friends as they belong to the family but we are not too closely related and so have objectivity and detachment.
Intelligence and good judgement is what makes a valuable friend and he is one who has interests at heart.Though rivalry and healthy competition are desirable among friends,jealousy has no place in this wonderful friendship.It does not help to have a friend who is not interested in studies or has bad habits for we are judged by the company we keep and bad habits are more contagious than deadly diseases.
Since friendship is such a cherished concept great writers have waxed eloquent about it.When friends have been timed and tested,”….grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel”,said Shakesphere.His play,Timon of Athens is a powerful story about the danger of being exploited by fair-weather friends or those who desert u in times of need.In the Merchant of Venice,Antonio not only pledges his wealth but even a pound of his flesh to help Bassanio.
Our epics and puranas too abound with stories of the true Friendship and the trap false friends can get into.

Some friendships are for a lifetime-they weather life’s strom and keep pace with moving wheels of Time.You might have heard your Father say,”When Vasu uncle and I were at college…..” now grey and balding,about the pranks played in the class or twit him about his then favourite film star.lasting friends are formed at school,continue through college and through the adult years.Sometimes they are even passed on to the next generation.

As in other spheres of life,friendship too has its golden rules.
Follow them sincerely and rewards will be great.
Choose a friend with care.
Remember the limits of sharing.
Too much sharing of material possessions can lead to friction.
Live within your means-whether it is your pocket money or later the money u can earn.Try not to borrow from friends-far more friendships have been lost that way than by any other.
Show care.Remember your friend’s birthday and send him a gift or a small card or wholehearted wishes.Better if you can make the card yourself.No gesture can touch the heart more as the time and labour spent by another in wishing u well.
Don’t hold back from a friend.The basis of friendship is openness and secretiveness is its bane.Also if your closefriend regards you quite trustworthy never spill the beans,that would be embarrassing for your friend.
Be steady in your friendship.Quality and not the number of friends you have matters.Flitting from one friend to another is not only unfulfilling but also shows you in poor light.Be wholehearted in your acceptance when your friend reaches out to you, and learn to keep an open mind.
We all have plus and minus points and just because your friend does not agree with you about something or does not live upto your expectations,it does not mean you should not give her a second or third chance in life.Remember your friend may have been disappointed with you,too because attimes there are vicissitudes in life.
We may lack material wealth and comforts,but in the company of good friends ,we can travel through life accompanied by laughter and sunshine,love and warmth.

Slip of the tongue?

2005-09-18T23:35:00.000+05:30

The two characters,a lady and a doctor,whose names had the suffix of “Ism” in the English language were Mrs.Malaprop and Dr.Spooner.
Mrs.Malaprop was actually a character in Sheridan’s play entitled “The rivals” wherein she spoke a sentence:”She is as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of Nile”.The word "allegory" was used instead of the word “alligator”.Another one Dance a Flamingo,instead of "Flamenco".When using a difficult word and getting it wrong,and ridiculously misusing or pronouncing it,it is termed “Malapropism.”

In the case of Dr.Spooner he has the habit of having the intitial letters of words mixed up.The time-old example was:”An under-gratuate had hissed all the mistery lectures.” He wanted to say “missed all history lectures.”
Other examples of Spoonerism could be”
“It is a tip of the slung(slip of the tongue) and “Will you please take me?”(make tea).”
Mr.X took the town drain to Bangalore”(down train)

Life is a Game~~~Play it!!!

2005-09-18T22:52:00.000+05:30

Life is a always like a game of chess,we play it with nature.Our mind and heart are the pawns and the prize is happiness.We have the first move and nature plays the counter-move.Our moves are choices and the counters are consequences.Interestingly,nature always wants us to win.But it’s we,who either reject it or postpone it.
Life is indeed a game.Play caustiously and be prudent in assigning priorities in life.Then life is simple.
“A rose given in life is always better than orchids in grave”.

The Intangible & Amazing friendship

2005-08-14T23:50:00.000+05:30

"Good friends are hard to find difficult to leave and impossible to forget".
Friends mean a loot in everyone's life and play a vital role too.They are the elixer of our lives that makes us go around,brightning our lives & bringing sparkle to our eyes.Have a good friend in life and life is like "Bed of roses".But a strain somewhere will make matters worse.It is a very fragile relation.When u have them u feel heaven but when u don't :(( .
Not only do friends awaken the best within us,they also arouse our sense of friendliness-A friend's friend is a friend(An enemy's enemy is friend too;) jk)
It is an absolutely unique relationship,strengthening with passage of time and withstanding all tests of time.Celebrated all over the world on First Sunday of August,the origin is unclear.The U.S Congress sanctioned National Friendship day in 1935 as a special day to honour and celebrate friendships.In 1997,the U.N named Winnie The Pooh as the world's Friendship Ambassador.

Deep down in every human heart is the need to serve the greater good.An intangible need to find a cause even as life renders its fulfilment difficult and impossible.
Bands with a cause:The belief that in some small way one could make a difference before some edge of reality intervenes.It is this insight that has provided the trigger for Bands-with-a-cause.Currently a hot rage,charity bands are like tribe marks of old.Members are united through the bands they have sported.An unspoken connection of oneness and solidarity was established and tribe recognised its own codes of communication. Symbols and signs united secret socities like the Free Masons and readers of The Davinci code aswell as the author Conan Doyle.
Every band supports a charity or a cause.The original cause band was sponsered by Nike and spotsman Lance Armstrong(ultimate!!) to support cancer.Each band sports a color that tells the cause and it has guiding principle etched on it.Yellow stands for fight against Cancer and its supporting guidance principle is Live Strong.The Live free,Smoke free band is orange in color and helps proclaim Anti-Smoking stance or personal fight against smoking.The Courage band is red and supports AIDS research.The black-and-white band helps to take a stand against Racism and for racial and cultural equality as the world slides back into intolerance.The tsunami relief band is aqua blue and has the words "One world,One cause" and there are many more.It is important to see whether the bands worn are real or not.But once worn,commitment is to be choosen.Wear it with a pride.It communicates non-verbally to any one who recognise it,that you care(Read this article).
Friendships are Stress buster.True friendships are not need based,they continue to thrive even when there is no need.Time spent with them uplifts mood,banishes the blues by pepping up our lives.It is a lifelong process. Have a true friend and there makes a difference.:)
This year was too good.Orkut invitation made me gain good friends.karthik,Sandeep,Rajeev{The trio very chirpy and lively friends},Kiran(a very understanding and modest person),Gangadhar(thanks for being such a gr88 friend){all of them my best orkut pals,lucky to know u ppl},Pavan kumar,Kesavan(another modest genius),Prasanna Hegde(my super senior,whom i could get in touch through orkut:)),Nirmal(a wonderful person),Arvind(a very nice dear friend),Vikram(u r great),Somprakash{all my close pals,who made a difference},Reena my sweet coll junior,Viji and Vidya my sweet orkut sisters ,Pattie the elixer(love u and ur care for friends:)) and many more ..thanku friends.U made me feel special and brought the best of me and above all have been so good to me.{"You people think iam a good egg even though iam slightly cracked"}.I owe a lot to u people and hope i shall remain in touch as long as possible.Thanks for all the testimonials i am given.Iam honoured really.Special thanks to Mashek(:(()&Sandeep(childhood friends whom i can never forget my 15 yrs of association),my school friends Revathi,Shweta(Gonna become Dr.Shweta,the only girl who opted medicine in my network),my Inter collegemate Meenkshi(a wonderful and caring girl with whom i spent loveliest years of my life).Engg mates Swathi,Priya(i have no words to say about u the ultimate!!),Poornima,Madhavi,Mahathi(who has been a good listener and an excellent friend one can bank upon in tuff times) ,Vinayak,Raghuttham(spl. thanks it is thru u i got the invitation :)),Venkatesh,Vauhini deedhi(more a friend than my sister)and all others.Just incase i forgot to mention ur names iam sorry,might be out of my mind while blogging.I owe to all my friends by whose grace iam to this extent.I wish u people all the very best in ur future endeavours and great grand success in life and career.
All u friends are jigsaw puzzle in my life,each one having a special role and i cannot lose any of u.All you people mean a loot and make a difference.Thanks a ton.Merci beaucoup :)
Dear friends "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched.They must be felt with the heart".Truth and tears clear the way to Deep and everlasting friendship.It is never serene.
Love u all :)

nicest ones ever seen!!!

2005-08-14T14:54:00.000+05:30

tension free
Smileys

Happy Independence day!!!

2005-08-14T13:33:00.000+05:30

Happy Independence Day!!!
I salute all the great people who sacrificed their lives for our country :)
Iam proud to be an Indian!!!!

Rainbow~The harbinger of happiness!!!:)

2005-08-12T01:20:00.000+05:30

Once upon a time,The colors of the world Started to quarrel.All claimed they were the best,The most important,The most useful,the favourite.
"GREEN" said, "Clearly Iam the most important..... Iam the sign of life and of hope; I was chosen for graves,trees and leaves, Without me,all animals would die; Look over the countrysideAnd you will see that Iam in the majority."
"BLUE" interrupted, "You only think about Earth, But consider the sky and the sea... It is the water that is the basis of life And it is drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea; The sky gives space and peace and serenity, Without my peace,you would be nothing."
"YELLOW" chuckled, "you are all serious... I bring laughter,gaiety,and warmth into the world,The sun,the moon and the stars are all yellow; Every time you look at a sunflower, The whole world starts to smile, Without me there would be no fun."
"ORANGE" started next to blow her trumpet...."Iam the color of health and strength,I may be scarce,but I am preciousFor serve the needs of human life,I carry the most important vitamins;Think of carrots,pumpkins,oranges and mangoes,I Don't hang around al the time,But when I do,I do fill the sky at sunrise or sunset,My beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you."
"RED" could stand it no longer and he shouted out... "Iam the ruler of all of you! Iam the blood...life's blood;Without me,the earth would be as empty as the moon, Iam the color of passion and of love,The red rose,the poinsettia and poppy."
"PURPLE" rose up to his full height,He was very tall and spoke with a great pomp... "Iam the color of royalty and pomp,Kings,chiefs,and bishops have always chosen me,for iam the sign of authority and wisdom,People do not question me!They listen and obey."
Finally "INDIGO" spoke,Much more quietly than all others,But with just as much determination.."Think of me.Iam the color of silence.You hardly notice me, But without ,e you all become superficial;I represent thought and reflection,twilight and deep water,You need me for balance and contrast,for prayer and inner peace."
And so the colors went on boasting,Each convinced of his or her own superiority.Their quarreling became louder and louder.Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightning! Thunder rolled and boomed!Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crounched down in fear,Drawing close to one another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamor,"RAIN" began to speak...."You foolish colors,fighting amongst yourselves,Each trying to dominate the rest;Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose,unique and different?Join hands with one another and come to me."
Doing as they were told,the colors united and joined hands. The rain continued,"from now on,when it rains,Each of you will stretch across the sky In a great blow of color as a reminder That you can all live in peace."The rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."
And so,whenever a good rain washes the world,and a Rainbow appears in the sky,let us remember to appreciate one another.There is something very SPECIAL in each and every one of us.We have all been gifted with the ability to make a DIFFERENCE
If we can become AWARE of that GIFT,we gain through the STRENGTH of our VISION,that is the POWER to SHAPE THE FUTURE.

Rainbow indeed is the harbinger of happiness filling life with its splendid colors and charm :).Just a look at it will give all solace believe me.It definitely rev up the spirits and boosts confidence and quadraples happiness.Hope this post makes a good reading.It is one of the niceseseseset thing i ever got to get.Don't miss to have a glimpse of Rainbow the next time.I have been an admirer of the rain and the rainbow and here is an instance of it:)
Catch u Friends here very soon
Happy reading and blogging
Cheers...!!!

Celebrating the Monsoon

2005-08-08T00:28:00.000+05:30

Monsoon in India comes laden with a myriad moods and connotations,poetry,floods,fertility art and affection woven in the colors of Rainbow.It is a time when the sky is heavily overcast and rolls of thunder growl threateningly and its grippling aura suggests a sombre depth.
When it rains there is sheer of joy.The pall of gloom that has enveloped disappears totally rejuvenating spirits.It welcomes festivals after the somnolent summers with a sense of elation engulfying inner nerves and perking up my senses.
Raining cats and dogs??not the whacky movie where cats & dogs slug it out with eachother remainding of the war of worlds in a way.
Iam not talking about the torrential rains that brought shudders to Mumbaikars leaving melancholic and damp neither the sapping humidity.This is all about rain that has been falling from skies now that South West monsoon has firmly ensconced itself .

If you are peeking at the incessant pitter patter from a window struck high you really are not doing anything to celebrate.Get off that high rise and get your feet all squelchy in the mud.
If there are hundred other things that have taken the joy away from singing in the rain,there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the bliss.It brings Halcyon moments to me.
For starters,there's the great weather.it's a gorgeous day with pleasant,sharp showers late in the afternoon.Flooded roads are a strict no-no.
Finding a clean puddle in the middle of a green-as-ever park and wade through or shaking a tree and njoying the dew..Given roadside icecreams,kulfi on one end or panipuri,peanuts roasted over hot open fire coupled with nothing else tasting like Irani masala chai or home made one with chirpy old friends striding lanquidly when it is pitterpattering outside you need nothing more.keep chills at bay trying rain-walk .

Here's how-umbrella rolled up,arms akimbo,making paperboats perhaps watching it move slowly in the tiny waves.after the rain stops watch the dusk,The Sun set in hiding with dark clouds around dominating and waiting eagerly to watch if there arrives rainbow to fill the sky with colors intimating the stop of rain.Early morning drizzle with sonorous voice of birds that herald spring sound's great as well.After all this cuddle up by the window read a favourite book slouching on the rocking chair with a nice music tuned,with pet doggy beside you or watching TV flicking the remote and surfing the channel or a blissful sleep.I would rather love spending time alone gazing the sky or enjoying the mild music by Wind Chimes when there is a mild breeze.

Be safe,have fun.
There is more to life than being huddled in the rain-coat.welcome it with a cheerful smile and when it is drizzling try drenching :)
Rain is indeed a wonderful blessing.Experience it yourself and you will know better.Its my time to say now "Rain,Rain come again not so little me want to play"

Corn Club~~~my unusual Saturday

2005-08-07T01:46:00.000+05:30

This Saturday was quite awesome and eventful for me!!!i thought i lost consistency in updating my blog but was wrong. iam again here to add charm to moi blog:)
njoyed having chat with couple of my close friends having funtime in the afternoon and then with another close friend of mine.all said and done after making some self cooked recipe was allset to leave to my sis dearest Vauhini's place.was Amazing!!!
meeting her n BIL after a real looong time n afterall "home is where the heart is".it is real heaven in my terms.such a peaceful place,giving me umpteen solace with all greenery and fine breeze and ofcourse hospitable people what more do i need.on the way while going it was drizzling and me njoying lil bit of drenching...it revs up my spirit.
finally after a 1 1/2 hr of journey to Nizampet & endless traffic jam in the peak time reached there.
i had many things in my mind to do after i reach there.My sis is like my best friend more than a sister,precisely Hutch Dog:).was discussing abt Friendship day n stuff..i still remember me n my BIL had a tiny argument loong ago on whether is it really necessary to have all these Mother's,Father's day and all..he opined this is all for the sale of cards spread by galleries and there is no point in specifically showing how much we care for friends and relations on a particular day.well i thought for a while then i said "u cannot give or show care for ppl who care for u daily".it is the day where u express ur feeling thru some means..hence the celebration.it really makes them feel special and how they matter to us. token of gratitude it is:)....digressed
gave flying visit to the Lord Balaji temple in the Bhavya's Anandam apts(the apts where they reside),very peaceful and nice temple and not forgetting to take the prasadam "pulihora" (yummy my favo Andhra tamarind rice rocks..uncomparable)from them n quick visit to another rels. was hinting papa to be out quick my mind being somehwere.
again came back to sis place in I block from rels place in F block
watttta surprise "Aloo paratha's" ,samolina payasam were to be made...me kinda helped her..literally gorged it :),more commenting and glib talking with min help max eating business startegy obvi..i was cautious enuf to eat a lil thou wanted to devour them literally.
had been pestering her that we all shud make it up to "Corn Club" in the vicinity..we did go.me,papa in one Activa and sis BIL in another. vrooooom kinda pillion riding:))!!!

wheewww!!amazing ambience set there.all shades of corn color..mild yellow green with nice music.gave us a hearty welcome.thou a small place was nice indeed.was shocked to see the menu card.SLURP!!!all corn based only(as the restaurant name itself suggests).even the oil used is corn oil.Corn meals,corn samosa,corn Hotdog,corn ragada,corn soup{err no corn flakes,popcorns n corn payasam rescued :P!!!},corn save puri,corn fried rice to name a few!!i was flabbergasted @once.still wid my sis help ordered Baby Corn fingers,corn samosa,corn sandwich and corn franky.even the sauce was of corn:)).she is a regular customer afterall;),there was a discussion on how these were made but i was least bothered..eating was my prime criteria and if it tasted good nothing else matters to me.glutton out there.
was quite relishing,enticing and superb..i was kinda scolding(pyaar se) my sis for making me eat so many parathas which made me eat very lil of all these...somehow being a real gourmand managed to eat.how do i forget not to have icecreams which is a "quintesential" for me everywhere(taken for granted,an integral part of moi life).my sis was have a nice time asking me to eat everything inspite of knowing that my saturation reached...LOL,was pulling my leg obvo!!still ordered Kesar Pista and Pista Badam icecream with dollop of nuts(more to irk her and shell money and less of eating).Afterall "icecream is so divine".anytime anywhere iam ready and if it is raining then double maaza for me
it was almost 10 bythen.we had plan of going to the Titan showroom but in vain.it wud have been closed(since i have to buy one for me else least matters if it is closed or open)..too late actually.still i wanted my papa gave a stare.so half hearted set,returned home..was kinda excited to get a watch but guess have to wait and watch for THE WATCH sometime :((

never mind i had a nice time with my people and thanku deedhi and attim for such a pretty,
fa(u)ntastic treat..was really a kind gesture from u ppl and wud luv to pay visits to cornclub often heheh..purse shud never go on diet afterall:)) shud be Obese:P always
u matter a lot to me dear. very spl one to me who had understood the "real me"
i shall signout as a caterpillar and be back as a butterfly flapping wings on the lazy weekend but would not throw the cocoon out
today is Friendship day so makkal "Happy Friendship day" to all..stay happy and make other's happy and "Live In Full Enjoyment and live it to the fullest" :)
expect a couple of posts soon.
till then happy blogging!!!! and have a fun filled,prodigious,jubilant sunday!!!!
albidaa friends

Powered by intellect driven by values!!!Infy rocks

2005-08-06T23:24:00.000+05:30

He was short. He was sharp. He was the brightest boy in his class. His seniors would ask him to solve their difficulties in Science. He could have go unnoticed in the crowd, but once you asked him a question relatedto Physics or Maths, there was a spark in his eyes. Hecould Grasp theories of Science faster than the speedof light. He came from a poor but educated family. Hisfather was a high-school teacher and an avid reader ofenglish literature. He, like all the boys int he classwas trying to get admission into some engineeringcollege. The brighter ones wanted to study in heIndian Institutes of Technology, or the IIT's. Therewas an entrance test for IIT.T his boy, along with hisfriends applied to appear for the test. They did nothave any special books or coaching. All these IITaspirants would sit below the shade of a stone mantapclose to chamundi hills in the sleepy town of Mysore.He was a guide for others. While the others struggled to solve problems in the question paper,he would smileshyly and solve them in no time. He sat below a treeand dreamt of studying at IIt.He ! was then onlysixteen years old. D-Day came.He came to Bangalore, stayed withsome relatives and appeared for the entrance test. Hedid very well but would only say "OK" when asked. Itwas the opposite when it came to food...."OK" impliedbad, "good" implied ok, and "very good" implied good!!His principle was never to hurt anyone.... The IIt entrance resutls came. He had passedwith flying colors and the hightest rank. He wasthrilled! He went to his father who was reading anewspaper. "ANNA,I have passed the exam" "WEll done, My Boy". "I want to join IIT". His father stopped reading the paper. He lifted hishead, Looked at the boy and said with a heavy voice"You know our financial position, and i cannot afford your expenses at IIT. You can stay in Mysore and learnas much as you want. "His father was sad that he hadto tell the bitter truth, but it could not be helped. The teenager was dissappointed. He was so nearto fulfilling his fondest dream ,yet so far.His heartsank in sorrow. He did not reply. He never shared his unhappineswith anyone. He was an introvert by nature. His heartwas bleeding but he did not get angry with anyone. The day came, his classmates were leaving formadras(today called chennai).They were leaving fromMysore to chennai. They had shared good years atschool and he went to wish them good luck for theirfuture. At the station his friends were already there.They were excited and discussing their new hostels,newcourses etc. So he stood there silently. One of hisfriends noticed and said "You should have made it" He did not reply .He just wished them. He stoodthere even after he could no longer see the train orthe waving hands. It was June 1962 in the mysore city.Yet he stood there motionless. He said to himslef ,without anger or jealously,"All students from the IIT's study well and do bigthings in life. But it is not the institution,ultimately it is you and you alone who can changeyour life by hard work". This son of a school teacher became a pioneer ofIndia's software industry.He is none other thanInfosys founder and present Chairman ,NarayanaMurthy.His motto being ,"Powered by intellect ,Drivenby Values".

This extract was quite impressive and i felt must be read by u people.let me know if u like this kinda stuff so that i can send u some moreRead on....Sudha Murthy, author and wife of Infosys Chairman Narayana Murthy, tellsthestory of how Infosys was born and how her life has changed... yetremainedvery much the same.I was in Pune that I met Narayana Murthy through my friend Prasanna, who isnow the Wipro chief, who was also training in Telco. Murthy was shy,bespectacled and an introvert. When he invited us for dinner, I was abit taken aback... I refused since I was the only girl in the group. ButMurthy was relentless and we all decided to meet for dinner the next day at7.30 pm at Green Fields Hotel on Pune's Main Road. The next day, I went there atseven since I had to go to the tailor near the hotel. And what do I see?Mr. Murthy waiting in front of the hotel and it was only seven. Till today, Murthy maintains that I had mentioned (consciously!) that I would begoingto the tailor at seven, so that I could meet him... And I maintain thatIdid not say any such thing, consciously or subconsciously, because I didnot think of Murthy as anything other than a friend at that stage. We haveagreed to disagree on this matter.Soon, we became friends. Our conversations were filled with Murthy'sexperiences abroad and the books that he had read. My friends insistedthat Murthy was trying to impress me because he was interested in me. I kept denying it till one day, after dinner, Murthy said, I want to tell yousomething. I knew this was it. It was coming. He said, I am 5'4" tall. Icome from a lower middleclass family. I can never become rich. You arebeautiful, bright, and intelligent and you can get anyone you want. Butwill you marry me? I asked him to give me some time.When I went to Hubli, I told my parents about Murthy and his proposal.My mother was positive since Murthy was also from Karnataka, seemedintelligent and came from a good family. But my father asked, "What's his job, his salary, his qualifications, etc?" Murthy was working as a researchassistantand earning less than me. He was willing to go Dutch with me on ouroutings.My parents agreed to meet him in Pune on a particular day at 10 amsharp. Murthy did not turn up. How can I trust a man to take care of mydaughter ifhe cannot keep an appointment, asked my father. At 12 noon, Murthy turned upin a bright red shirt! He had gone on work to Bombay, got stuck in a trafficjam in the ghats, so he hired a taxi (though it was very expensive for him)to meet his would-be father-in-law. Father was unimpressed.He asked Murthy what he wanted to become in life. Murthy said he wantedto become a politician in the Communist Party and wanted to open anorphanage.My father gave his verdict. No. I don't want my daughter to marrysomebodywho wants to become a communist and then open an orphanage when he himselfdoesn't have money to support his family.By this time, I realized I had developed a liking towards Murthy, whichcould only be termed as love. I wanted to marry him because he was anhonestman. I promised my father that I would not marry Murthy without hisblessings, though at the same time, I would not marry anybody else. Myfather said he would agree if Murthy promised to take up a steady job.But Murthy refused, saying he would not do things in life because somebodywanted him to. I was caught between the two most important people in mylife. The stalemate continued for three years, during which our courtship took us to every restaurant and cinema hall in Pune.Murthy was always broke. (Ironically, today, he manages InfosysTechnologiesLtd, one of the world's most reputed companies.) He always owed memoney. Weused to go for dinner and he would say, I don t have money with me, you paymy share, will return it to you later. For three years, I maintained a bookof Murthy's debts to me. No, he never returned the money and I finally toreit up after our wedding. The amount was a little over Rs.4,000. During this period, Murthy quit his job as a research assistant and started his ownsoftware business.Towards the late'70s computers were entering India in a big way. At thefagend of 1977, Murthy decided to take up a job as General Manager at PatniComputers in Bombay. But before he joined the company, he wanted tomarry mesince he was to go on training to the US after, joining. My father gaveinas he was happy Murthy had a decent job, now. We were married inMurthy'shouse in Bangalore on February 10, 1978, with only our two familiespresent.I got my first silk sari. The wedding expenses came to only Rs 800, withMurthy and I pooling in Rs 400 each.I went to the US with Murthy after marriage. He encouraged me to seeAmericaon my own, because I loved traveling. I toured America for three monthswitha backpack. In 1981,Murthy wanted to start Infosys. Initially, I wasveryapprehensive about him getting into business. We were living acomfortablelife in Bombay with a regular paycheck and I didn't want to rock theboat.But Murthy was passionate about creating good quality software. Idecided tosupport him. Typically for Murthy, he had a dream and no money. So Igavehim Rs 10,000 which I had saved for a rainy day without his knowledgeandtold him, this is all I have. Take it. I will take care of the financialneeds of our house. You go and chase your dreams. But you have onlythreeyears!Murthy and his six colleagues started Infosys in 1981. In 1982, I leftTelcoand moved to Pune with Murthy. We bought a small house on loan, whichalsobecame the Infosys office. I was a clerk-cum-cook-cum-programmer. I alsotook up a job as Senior Systems Analyst with the Walchand group ofIndustries to support the house.In'83, Infosys got their first client, MICO, in Bangalore. Murthy movedtoBangalore and stayed with his mother, while I went to Hubli to delivermysecond child, Rohan. Ten days after my son was born, Murthy left for theUSon project work. I saw him only after a year - my son had infantileeczema.It was only after Rohan received all his vaccinations that I came toBangalore where we rented a small house in Jayanagar and rented anotherhouse as Infosys headquarters. Nandan Nilekani and his wife Rohinistayedwith us. While Rohini babysat my son, I wrote programmes for Infosys. There was no car, no phone, just two kids and a bunch of us workinghard,juggling our lives and having fun while Infosys was taking shape. Thewivesof other partners too, gave their unstinting support. We all knew thatourmen were trying to build something good.Murthy made it very clear that it would either be me or him working atInfosys. Never the two of us together. He did not want a husband andwifeteam at Infosys. I was shocked since I had the relevant experience andtechnical qualifications. He said, "Sudha if you want to work withInfosys,I will withdraw happily". I was pained to know that I would not beinvolvedin the company my husband was building and that I would have to give upajob that I was qualified to do and loved doing.Then, I realized that to make Infosys a success, one had to give 100 percent. One had to be focused on it alone, with no other distractions. Ifthetwo of us had to give 100 percent to Infosys, what would happen to ourhomeand our children? I opted to be a homemaker; after all, Infosys wasMurthy'sdream. It was a big sacrifice, but it was one that had to be made. Eventoday, Murthy says, "Sudha, I stepped on your career to make mine. Youareresponsible for my success."I might have given up my career for my husband's sake, but that does notmake me a doormat. Isn't freedom about living your life the way you wantit?What is right for one person might be wrong for another. It is up to theindividual to make a choice that is effective in her life. I believethatwhen a woman gives up her right to choose for herself, that is when shecrosses over from being an individual to a doormat. Murthy's dreams encompassed not only himself, but also a generation ofpeople. It was about creating something worthy, exemplary and honorable.Itwas about creation and distribution of wealth. His dreams were granderthanmy career plans, in all aspects. So, when I had to choose betweenMurthy'scareer and mine, I opted for what I thought was the right choice. We hadahome and two little children. Somebody had to take care of it all.Somebodyhad to stay behind to create a home base that would be fertile forhealthygrowth, happiness, and more dreams to dream. I became that somebodywillingly.I can confidently say that if I had had a dream like Infosys, Murthywouldhave given me his unstinted support. The roles would have been reversed.Weare not bound by the archaic rules of marriage. He does not intrude into mytime, especially when I am writing my novels. He does not interfere inmywork at the Infosys Foundation and I don't nterfere with the running ofInfosys. I teach computer science to MBA and MCA students at ChristCollegefor a few hours every week and I earn around Rs 50,000 a year. I valuethisfinancial independence greatly, though there is no need for me to pursueacareer. Murthy respects that. I travel the world without him, because hehates traveling. We trust each other implicitly. We have anotherunderstanding too. While he earns the money, I spend it mostly throughcharity.The Infosys Foundation was born in 1997 with the sole objective ofupliftingthe less-privileged sections of society. In the past three years, wehavebuilt hospitals, orphanages, rehabilitation centers, school buildings,science centres and more than 3,500 libraries. Our work is mainly in therural areas amongst women and children. I am one of the trustees of theFoundation, and our activities span six states. I travel to around 800villages constantly. Every year, we donate around Rs 5-6 crores. We runInfosys Foundation the way Murthy runs Infosys - in a professional andscientific way. Philanthropy is a profession and an art. It can be used or misused.Everyyear, we receive more than 10,000 applications for donations. Every day,Ireceive more than 120 calls. Amongst these, there are those whogenuinelyneed help and there are hoodwinkers too. Over the years, I have learnttodifferentiate the wheat from the chaff, though I still give all thecases apatient hearing. Sometimes, I feel I have lost the ability to trustpeople.I have become shrewder to avoid being conned. I think that is the pricethatI have to pay for the position I am in now.The greatest difficulty in having money is to teach your children itsvalue.Bringing up children in a moneyed atmosphere is a difficult task. Eventoday, I think twice if I have to spend Rs 10 on an auto when I can walktomy house. I cannot expect my children to do the same. They have seenmoneyfrom the time they were born. But we can lead by example.
When they seeMurthy wash his own plate after eating and clean the two toilets in thehouse every day they realize that no work is demeaning, irrespective ofhowrich you are. This doesn't mean we expect our children to live anausterelife.My children buy what they want, go where they want, but they have tofollowcertain rules. They have to show me bills for whatever they buy: Mydaughtercan buy five new outfits, but she has to giveaway five old ones. My soncango out with his friends for lunch or dinner, but we discourage him fromgoing to a five star hotel. Or we accompany him. My children haven'tgivenme any heartbreak. My daughter is studying abroad, my son in Bangalore.Theydon't use their father's name in vain. They only say that his name isMurthyand that he works for Infosys. They don't want to be recognized andappreciated because of their father or me, but for themselves.I don't feel guilty about having money, for we have worked hard for it.ButI don't feel comfortable flaunting it. It is a conscious decision on ourpart to live a simple, so-called middle class life. We live in the sametwo-bedroom, sparsely furnished house we lived in before Infosys becameasuccess. Our only extravagance is buying books and CDs. My house has nolockers for I have no jewels. I wear a pair of stone earrings, which Ibought in Bombay for Rs 100. I don't even wear my `mangalsutra` unless Ineed to attend some family functions or when I am with my mother-in-law.Five years ago, I went to Kashi, where tradition demands that you givesomething up. I gave up shopping. Since then, I haven't t bought myselfasari or gone shopping. I don't carry a purse and neither does Murthy,mostof the time. I borrow money from my secretary or my driver if I needcash.They know my habit, so they always carry extra cash with them. But Isettlethe accounts every evening. Murthy and I are very comfortable with ourlifestyle and we don't see the need to change it now that we have money.Murthy and I are two opposites that complement each other. Murthy issensitive and romantic in his own way. He always gifts e books addressed'From Me to You. Or' To the person I most admire' etc. We both lovebooks. Iam an extrovert and he is an introvert. I love watching movies andlisteningto classical music. Murthy loves listening to English classical music. Igoout for movies with my students and secretary every other week. I amtillyoung at heart. I really enjoyed watching 'Kaho Na Pyaar Hai'; I am aHithikRoshan fan. It has been more than 20 years since Murthy and I went for amovie. My daughter once gave us a surprise by booking ticketsfor'Titanic'.Since I had a prior engagement that day, Murthy went for the movie withhissecretary Pandu. I love traveling, whereas Murthy loves spending time athome.Friends come and go with the share prices. Even in my dreams, I did notexpect Infosys to grow the way it has. After Infosys went public in1993, webecame what people would call rich, moneyed people. Suddenly, you seeandhear about so much money: People talk about you. It was all-new to me. Have I lost my identity as a woman, in Murthy's shadow? No, I might beMrs.Narayana Murthy. I might be Akshata and Rohan's mother. I might bethetrustee of Infosys Foundation. But I am still Sudha. Like all women, Iplaydifferent roles. That doesn't mean we don't have our own identity. Womenhave that extra quality of adaptability and learn to fit into differentshoes. But we are our own selves still. And we have to exact our freedombymaking the right choices in our lives, dictated by us and not by theworld.

This mail i got it from my clique and was personally acknowledged by Narayan Murthy sir

Morning Raga

2005-07-15T22:54:00.001+05:30

I was just surfing the channels to check the news at 9(it has been one yr since the kumbakonam incident happened.My heart aches when i remember that incident.one negligence somewhere costed those tiny tots lives).well some music somewhere made me put my remote aside and was elated to see that it's a movie.it was Morning Raga.casting ShabhanaAzmi,the female protoganist,Nasser,Thalaivasal vijay(Shabana's encouraging husband) and other's.... .Arka mediaworks production.the whole movie was well picturised whole movie revolves around village and the city.fantabulous classical music as the title itself suggests .excellent lip synchronization by artists!!!!
the story is quite simple .English-telugu one.it starts with a wonderful melodious song very pleasing to hear wherein Shabhana(swarna) forces her friend to accompany her to the concert in the city.
they all start their journey in bus with their kids Madhav and Abhinay respectively and fate has something else to tell.the bus hits a car,falls across a bridge and Shabana's son and her friend die.story moves post 20 yrs.
The story moves from West Godavari village to hyd(Charminar can be viewed well) .This movie made me see the beauty of Godavari.the greenery,pleasant atmosphere resembling kerala in many ways especially the backwaters
Abhinay desires to start a music group and her friend the female lead priyanka(name in the movie) helps him.they start their group wid two others one playing guitar and another drums. with Nasser,Abhi's father being skeptical about him opting for music rather than looking after the work in village.their group is named "Pratibimb".many a time they fail in their attempts but they never give up.he receives a Violin as a parcel from Shabhana(which she has been preserving as a token of her friend's love) and he realises how great a musician his mother was.He goes back to his native place and finds how great a singer her mother's friend is.he insists Shabhana to sing for his group because it was her long desire to sing for the concert(incident happening while she was going to the concert) but shabhana never wanted to go out from the city.it constantly remainded her of the tragic accident met and blames herself for her friend's death.
inspite of many insisting she doesn't turn up to the city to sing for the group.on the way the bridge reminded her the incident and starts screaming.But she always had the desire to help them.The only possibility was to call them to their place.they all turn up and priyanka learns music from her.she excels in learning.the incident binds all the three in the movie.it is priyanka's father who dies when the bus hits the car and he was drunk while driving
they make her realise it was not her fault atall.
They all get prepared to sing for the group and Shabhana too joins atlast and sings there for the sake of Abhinay.Pratibimb becomes a hit.it is a fusion of classical songs and western too.
the story has hilarious stuff aswell and worthwatching once.for music the movie receives 5/5.classical tunes are marvellous

the movie showed the innocence of villagers and their attitude towards city people.their Down to Earth and friendly nature.well portrayed cast and most of the credit goes to the playback singers and musicians
after a long time this was one movie i enjoyed watching after DCH,Hungama and Jhankar Beats.wonderful melody and nice rhythm

Morning raga Rocks!!!

My Best Friend's Bday

2005-07-12T23:09:00.000+05:30

Title sounds like my best friend's wedding hahaha.
Today my day started with maximum enthu.was very elated
My Best friend Swathi's BDay.so was all excited to surprise her with gift.i was not keeping well but still pushed myself to college to make my friend's day special.
whew!!!real irony.she din't turn up to college.woke up late and missed the bus:(
Swathi very bad..missed u lotz.felt very desolated .

somehow dragged myself till evening.left from college.me and priya were waiting in Ameerpet for Swathi to turn up since a long time.my headache aggravated with an equal amount of cold and we were totally collapsed.thought we will leave.our resisitance power was subsiding.was raining heavily then.The overcast sky and incessant pitterpatter of rain.we were severely drenched.
i just love rains.just love drenching with a nice cuppa tea in hand and soft music around,making small paperboats and set it in the puddles.... but at the end of the day landup with cold and migraine and at the receiving end from my parents :(
later my another best buddy priya told me
"Vaishnavi ,Swathi said she is gonna give a treat in Dadu's".Something which i was not aware of :/ we called her up and we were told she left looong back.so opted to wait.we three are very close friends.in my terms My real DCH track!!!just proud of our friendship...was in nostalgia for sometime!!!
after 45 min of our waiting Swathi turned up
we forget everything and just rushed to her wishing her HAPPY BIRTHDAY with septillions of smiles,zillions of wishes on the way:).she was very happy.on cloud 9!!!this is her last Bday in college and we for a change thought of hanging out
soon hitched and got into bus.tried to contact another dear friend of our's but in vain.was too busy to catch him(vinayak iam to fire u in the college for not turning up ;).GONNA GET NICE BLACK AND BLUE FROM UR SIS ) somehow reached Dadu's.was a nice and pleasant placegave her gifts and made her feel special(i still remember on our way to college we pass through some bouquet shops and Archie's gallery and just think one day all these flowers,soft toys wud be our's.was in a pensive mood.after a lot of discussion and breaking our head with what to order and what to have we finally gave order for some chocochips and butterscotch pasteries,ras malai,paratha's,pav bhaji....yeppie!!!whew lip smacking
were enjoying ourselves truly.were cracking weird jokes,thinking of some of the funniest,stupidest things we did in college,the canteen banters,me a loggerhead for the window seat in the bus,the window shopping we did and above all Ragging juniors..lol.The pranks played and comments passed on lecturers (predominantly me the notorious one there) doing things hatke' .could not resist laughing .Didn't even bother who were around at all.heheh :D
nice songs were being played.from one of my favourite film Aashique.so amazing.had a weird thought of asking them to play happyBirthday song lol
after an hour we left ,me in this season wanted to eat kulfi icecream there.somehow din't have it ;) .dropped the idea.icecreams literally devour them.so divine
well swathi thank u for such a lovely day dear.had a fun time really
u always had been one person close to my heart.ur support throughout 3yrs of my college life.i remember all ur advices which u gave me in my 2nd yr(remember my tragedies..tragedy queen).iam bravo now!!! i owe u a lot.remember ur anagram which i phrased :D :-$ .i shall make it public one day :))
i wish u all success and wishes in career and life
HAPPY BIRTHDAY dear once again

Struggle for Conveyance

2005-07-09T22:51:00.000+05:30

Day:Monday the 4th.there was a long term proposal by the RTC officials to go on Indefinite Strike .finally it was known that it was from Monday.they were intelligent enough to make it from Monday.
Reason:apart from school students getting effected college goers were badly effected too.many engneering colleges reopened that day.Even auto’s were supposedly to go on strike as that was the right time for their demands to be satisfied soon.but thank God they didn’t go.rescued!!!Complete chaos everywhere.There was palpable tension in everyone’s face.tourist buses plying as ordinary buses,school buses served the purpose.tickets were sold at exorbitant rate.public had no other go but to shell extra bucks to reach their destination.even though public raised the voice it turned into deaf ear’s .This contributed to increase in traffic ,pollution as many opted to take their own mode of commutation.men and women quickly scurrying to grab vacant seats.sprightly ones managed to squeeze the way out of the million population,less agile ones flinging handkerchiefs and what not.situation was quite pathetic.couple of them geting engrossed with their nespapers,periodicals and familiar faces into chat.children unaware of all the happenings around them.Added to that rains,puddles everywhere.Office goers were the worst hit..they had to travel very far distances shelling extra money.cannot compromise.life was torrid.juggling between home and office.To our relief it was called off in couple of days(CM out of India :( ) but hold on it is just temporary.negotiations are still going on with the officials and might go on strike in another three weeks.it is ultimately the common man who is affected.it is high time they realize the inconvinience caused to the common man and think about it seriously
overall it was one heck

Small things make a difference

2005-07-09T18:40:00.000+05:30

Small things teach us a lot.ever wondered that the cherry blossom could tell something.however hard one tries ,apart from the portion where we will have to press however hard it is pressed it’s difficult to open.it shows one has to do right thing at the right time.rather aim at the correct place then things would be easy.aiming aimlessly will not fetch anything.it is not the power or strength one has to have but the ablility to think logically and wisely.everything has a time and there is time for everything.doing right things with right efforts save a lot of timeanything done with dedication and concentration will always be triumphant.A thousand mile journey starts with a single step
"Tiny drops make mighty ocean"
is it not inquisitive thinking:)

humour for a change!!!

2005-07-09T18:16:00.000+05:30

On a tyre store:"Invite us to ur next blow out".

At a small hotel:"We're as cheap as u r"
God is real unless declared int

On the door of the postoffice in Newyork
PULL
if that doesn't work PUSH
if that Doesn't work,we're closed.
Come Again.
God is real unless declared integer

My leisure time

2005-07-09T15:57:00.000+05:30

Back to college from Monday.eager to see all friends,canteen banters,getting to know new faculty what not,Bus gossips trying to know what each of my friends have done this one and a half month..me and my anxiety whewww !!
somehow tend to think what have i been doing all these Hols.lazing around just doing nothing.huh??nothing productive assuch.Efficiency 0%.would be deserved being called vetti vaish:)) .Afternoons Siesta time obviously
there came orkut inviation to my rescue from my friend.so was enjoying myself.was new then so was excited to add people,scribbling in friend's scrap and posting messages in communities. orkutting,chatting what not!!!completely into it.so many gossips.indeed was good to add new people and friends and know each other.the only time it pisses me is when there is a page saying Bad bad server.No donut for u.apart from that cocooning ofcourse.each day try to postpone the Do's that were assigned in my priority list.i mean doing something useful ofcourse.Tweaking my pc most of the time.Have my PC had eyes it would have cried literally.hahaha.it's just another gadget afterall u see.only when there is a power cut my comp gets rest.pity that :( blogging offlate.atleast making moi grey cells active;)
thank's to the strike this week i din't attend college.lol.reading a couple of books.U can win By Shiv khera and Wings of fire.worth reading.simply good :)
so back to college and the time is ripe to open Books again and think of studies seriously. hahah
Time is the wisest counseller after all

What's life???

2005-07-09T14:07:00.000+05:30

what is life???life is not a race but a journey to be savoured each step of the way.It is an echo-we get back what we give.it is a jigsaw puzzle with most of the pieces missing.it is not measured by the number of breaths we take,but by the moments that take our breadth away....well The purpose of life us to live a life of purpose.

these are some of the the quotes about life which was told by experienced and learn scholars and iam trying to be incredibly plagiaristic in jotting them down :).for me it is still enigmatic..somewhere a mystery.so live every moment as i cannot anticipate what happens next.life ends when i stop dreaming.live every moment as every second is precious.learn every moment and learn from experience.it is not the number of years we live that counts but the good deeds that we have done adds value to life.it's purpose is then served.think of yourself as an incandescent power illuminated and perhaps talked to by god and his messengers.is it a wonderful voyage??might not be for everyone.

'I asked for all things,that i might enjoy life.
i was given life,that i might enjoy all things
i got nothing i asked for-but everything i hoped forAlmost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered,i,among all,am mostly blessed!!just live every moment of life as we can never get back precious moments.once gone are gone forever.we get what we deserve not what we desireLive in full enjoyment.live it to the fullest.
"A rose given in life is better than orchids in a grave".love and respect people and it gets reciprocated.be contented and happy always as We make a living by what we getwe make a life by what we give"

Time to ponder!!!

2005-07-09T13:33:00.000+05:30

I always appreciated the spontaneity of the newsanchors when they deliever the news.The ease with which they deliver,the perfection and enthusiasm in them,hyperactiveness,the way they present and project things,the consistency and effectiveness in their speech,their gesture, and intrepidity is worth mentioning.I thought they were great with some special traits in them but then they just deliver and interact with the celebrities but the whole process of what they have to do is told by someone else before hand but we donot spare a thought to the editors,the technicians,cameramen who have played a vital role in the coverage of the news item running from pillar to post,the hurdles faced then.Ofcourse there are people who multihandle everything but my view is more generalized.their contribution goes unnoticed and it is the anchors we appreciate a lot.the entire credit must be attributed to the crew aswell as their role is worth mentioning .their names just pop up the screen below when the show is winded up. how pathetic?similar is the case with respect to movies.when a movie becomes a hit it is the actor/actoresses who come under limelight.we at times fail to recognise the directors,cheoreographers,lyriscist or the musicians who have contributed their part in the movie unless and until they are a celebrity,have worked in a big banner,watch them in any interview ,read about them or the movie in which they worked becomes a hit .that must be the reason singers have albums wherein their talent and identity is noted."Actors front the screen,directors behind the screen".it is their talent which shapes up the actor's career.kudos to them!!!we have fanclubs for actor/actresses,they always make news,felicitated wherever they go kinda worshipped.things happen for them very easily.Ever had a fan club for a director ??Actor's aren't the ultimate.is it more because of their beauty?it is the entire unit to whom they own their success because they are the ones who shape up them.the other side of it when a rumour or a bad thing spreads about them their career is ruined.takes time to rebuild their lost confidence because public go fanactic at times tend to be on the extremes and media is too fast in letting things in an instant.gone are the days when acting was one major criteria to get into films,getting a role was very difficult as they will have speak themselves,perform stunts by own and carry that charisma with them.now a days it is the glamour that matters more.sometimes have dubbed voices for them.then what for are they being paid i wonder!!!.this topic cannot be concluded but whatever it is everyone should be credit because the whole unit is responsible for the success.Time to ponder!!!This is my first post and i would wholeheartedly thank karthik,priya and gangadhar for their motivation,support who pushed me to write a blog.septillion thanks to them.