The year that was.....

Well, another year of our life comes to and end. And it is the time of the year when we tend to reflect on what has changed in the past 365 days of our lives.
365 days – measured in passing weekends – passed like a wind. Now when I sit to recount the experiences, I am finding it difficult to recount all of it. May be the time had passed too quickly for me to stop and take notice of what was happening.
It was a year of new friends, a new life at Mysore, good fun, some adventure,long tiring journeys, some hard work, some wonderful moments, and some disappointments. My mind says give it a rating out of 5. hmm…. And I have to apply the same mind a lot. Well, I would give it 2.5. Why? I don’t know why.. may be because I cannot see some distinctive way in which I developed. May be unconsciously without my knowing I grew, I learnt many things. But at this point of time I can’t think of any. At this moment, what I find is that it was a confusing year which resulted in me landing nowhere. Due to the confusion I never could really focus on one target completely. At some point of time it was planning to take a transfer to Chandigarh, then it was whether to go for MBA. The decisions, I feel were not taken by me but more by circumstances and thoughts of other people floating around me. On the work front, not much to learn – again I must say consciously. The months during Porsche was the only time I got to learn something – it basically gave me my confidence back - the confidence that I can code. Though I may be still not a good coder, but now I don’t fear coding. I can face it. Though a bit tough, but I enjoyed that phase. And may be those 2 months contributed a lot to those 2.5 marks I gave to this year. Rest of those can be attributed to some good friends I made here in Mysore. New roommates and friends at work place with whom the bonding increased manifold during each passing day. I had thought that college was the last place where one could have made ‘real’ friends. But it was not entirely true. And as the year ends, like last college days, everyone looks for a different path – for the better of course. And I can only wish and hope that the bonds last forever.
On a personal note, I have now decided that I won’t let myself confused anymore. It will be 1 thing at a time. Whether it is right or wrong, only the future can tell. But a decision once taken has to be followed. Fickle mindedness won’t get you anywhere- it is like a whirlpool which can only suck you in.
I won’t term it as a New Year resolution, because these resolutions have a way not to be followed. But what I plan is my decisions have to be my own – well thought out and not temporary. I have to stick to it – and hope that it takes me on the right path. !!!!

Being Philosphical!!!

As I lift off the ground, I can see everything go smaller and smaller. I am above them, much above them. The moving cars seem to be reeling under me. I am not the crowd any more. I am over and above it. I try not to look inside the plane – it is more crowded there. Then I see a car and try to follow it. Who is the person sitting in that car? What is his life like? What is he thinking right now? Where is he going? Is he watching my aero plane rise above the ground into the vast unending spread of sky? And if he is, then what is he thinking of it? Is he envy of me because I am here and he is there or he is happy the way he is? There is a swarm of people who I can see but cannot really see down below. Are they all happy the way they are or are they all rushing around trying to achieve something which they cannot get?
I can see the sun set at a distance. It looks so beautiful – the sky is black up to a threshold, then the blue takes over. Somewhere orange mixes with it and as you move towards the sun, it becomes red. I am face to face with it and totally lost in the magnificent spectacle in front of me. Quickly the black threshold increases and suddenly the sun is nowhere but far somewhere a light orange hue still lingers on, refusing to die. No matter how much the darkness tries to push it into oblivion, it refuses to budge. This is the essence of life, I think.
I am over my destination now. It’s one huge bright spot amidst all the darkness around. We all have some bright spots even if it seems dark all around. Identifying and relishing the bright spot is important. I look down. Again I see small cars moving around in the brightly lit roads.
Soon I will be among the crowd, with a unknown identity - moving towards some unknown destination.

Puraani Jeans - My Version

Puraani jeans aur meri car

/*Mohalle ki vo chat aur mere yaar*/
garage wala vo room aur mere yaar

/*Vo raaton ko jaagna */
Vo cricket khelna

/*Subah ghar jaana , kood ke deewar*/
Ball lene jaana, kood ke deewar

/*Vo ciggrt peena gali mein ja ke*/
Vo choopa khaaana, verka pe jaake

/*Vo karna daanton ko ghadi ghadi saaf*/
Vo karna Gadi/scooter kabhi Na saaaf ( specially lolly )


/*Pahuchna college hamesha late*/
Pahuchna college hamesha late

/*Vo kehna sir ka - get out from the class*/
Vo canteen jana, instead of class

/*Vo bahar ja ke hamesha kehna.. yahan ka system hi hai kharab*/
Vahan ja ke hamesha kehna, lets have a full day cut yaaar..

/*Vo ja ke canteen mein ,.. table baja ke*/
Vo ja ke lake mein, pathron pe let ke

/*Vo gaane gaana yaaron ke saath*/
Vo gappe maarna yaaron ke saaath


Bas yaaadien yaadien , yaadien reh jaati hain
Kuch Choti choti batien reh jaati hain…

/*Vo papa ka daantna, vo kehna mummy ka chodiye ji aap */
Vo semesters ka aana, aur bina padhe nikal jaana..

/*Tumhe to bas nazar aata hai, jahan mein beta mera hi kharab*/
Vo results ke time, honi halat kharab…

/*Vo dil mein sochna, kar ke kuch dikha dena*/
Next sem se pehle sochna, kar ke kuch dikahana

Vo karna planning, roz nayi yaar

/*Vo khidki se jhaakna.*/
Vo free ke phone ghumaaana.

/*Vo likhna letter unhe baaar baar*/
Vo maarna voice mail baar baar

/*Vo dena tohfe mein sone ki baaliyan*/
Vo dena pyaar se gaaaliyan

/*Vo lena doston se paise udhaar*/
Vo lena doston se Hard disk udhar.(not exactly udhaar but I guess matlab samjh gaye hoge)

Bas yaaadien yaadien , yaadien reh jaati hain
Kuch Choti choti batien reh jaati hain…

Aisa yaadon ka mausam chala ,
Bhoolta hi nahi Dil mera
Kahan meri jeans aur car
Garage wala vo room aur mere yaar..

The CAT xperience

The much awaited and prepared for exam – CAT – 2005. Everyone I know had been working hard at it for the period of last 6 months to one year.
I don’t know about others but here I give account of what happened with me during those crucial 2 hours.
As I sat in the Hall, I thought what should I think at this time. I have heard many times that you should be open minded before the exam so I closed my eyes and thought I am in a big open ground with greenery all around. They say free body results in a free mind. Still there was anxiety and one could sense it all around in the hall. Someone continuously drinking water, some playing furiously with pencils while others sharpening their pencils again and again.
Soon the answer sheets and then the question booklet were distributed. The booklet was closed neatly with tapes all around. There were 90 questions with both 1 mark and 2 mark questions.
And this time around they had clearly mentioned that 1/3 marks will be cut for wrong answers so no rumors about progressive negative marking etc.
I turned the booklet around and noticed that the last few questions were translucently visible. By concentrating hard I found that they were some questions on Venn diagram.
I stopped my watch at 11.00 AM. After around 5 minutes the lady on the speaker who had been giving us instructions announced – “you can open your booklet and start answering now”. This was the moment. The tapes were torn off, the time started and I went straight to my favorite English Section. I saw the 1st page – it was a RC.i thought - “Oh! Then the RC’s and few verbal ques are of 1 mark and some verbal of 2 marks. I can handle it.”. As I turned the page I noticed there was only 1 RC. I was shocked. Then I realized that only 10 questions were of 1 mark and 20 Of 2 marks!! I should have interpreted this data before hand. So I did what I had not done in 18 – 20 Mock CATs – starting the paper with a RC. It was a wrong move. Initially the concentration was not there. And the passage was tough. Some how in 7-8 minutes I managed to answer the questions. I was already 2- 3 minutes late. I had allotted 20 min for 1st part of English. But there were only 10 questions in 1st part and that too I was not able to solve. The Jumbled para was really tough and I left first two. My alter ego said:” u were planning to attempt all questions of English and here u are - unable to solve the most basic – para jumbles. U have to do at least one of them”. so I did one.( later I came to know I had done it wrong).
Soon I was on 2 mark questions. Found some relatively easy ones in the end. And was confident that at least something will be correct.” The first 20 minutes were coming to an end.
I quickly counted – 14 questions in 20 minutes. “Not Bad – IF they are correct”
I immediately shifted to maths as the clock struck 11:20. As I went upon touching the questions, I realized that none could be solved in 1 – 2 minutes.
My confidence was dropping fast. “C’mon man. Hold it. It is difficult for everyone else also.”
I could say that about English but maths – my weak link – I was not sure that it was equally difficult for everyone else. The 20 minutes got over sooner that I had expected and I could count the questions attempted in maths in 1 glance – 4.
“4 questions in 20 minutes. Hopeless. You have messed it up. Its all over”

It was DI next. As I turned the pages, I couldn’t see any DS questions. “What!! No DS. What is CAT upto this year?” Next, I tried to search some familiar line graphs or pie charts. None!!
All I could see was big tables and case studies occupying half pages followed by 4 – 5 questions.
“what are you thinking?Atleast start somewhere”
So it was the 1 mark questions which I thought would be easier. They were manageable and I was able to attempt 7 out of 10. But the 2 marks one went right over my head. I tried the last one which I had tried to read before start of paper. It was a huge case let. Somehow I read it. Could get the feel of it but all the feelings went away as I saw the questions. “You DUMb!! U have already spent 5 minutes on the set. DO atleast one”
I saw a relatively smaller one and eliminated two options. With a probability of 0.5 favoring me, I made a ‘intelligent’ guess( as it turned out later, the guess was not so intelligent and the probability had, as always, eluded me)
At the end of another 20 Questions, my DI attempt was 7.
So it was back to English for the next 15 minutes. In this I ‘tried’ to attempt the 2 marks passages. I used to think I was good at English. Now I didn’t. They were one of the toughest passages ever read.. Somehow I managed to get a hold of what the philosophical writer was trying to say. But the choices to the questions looked all very similar or all very different (with no relation to the concerned passage). I threw all the logic I had in my mind at the table (though not much was left after the grueling one hour). Another 7 questions in next 15 minutes. It was O.K. but I was entirely unsure about the accuracy.
By this time, drained and a bit tired, I was started feeling very hungry. I neither had a proper dinner nor a breakfast before the exam.
Amidst this, it was back to maths again. Some how the hunger invigorated me – a kind of second wind. I decided I was solving all Maths problems, no matter how much time they take. So started the assiduous conventional problem solving. I managed to solve around 7 questions in the next 20- 23 minutes. “Total of 11 questions. Not enough but it may help you to clear cutoff – IF u get them right”
DI again. The same approach here. I studied 2 case lets and tried solving them. Luckily I picked up the relatively easier ones and managed another 7 questions.
Time over! And CAT over. And probably everything over!
With some hope deep under my heart I came out of the center. “If you manage to get a good accuracy, there is some chance that you score good.”
I gave my alter ego a slight smile for the first time in 2 hours

Epilogue
I checked the marks. Started with Maths. Correct. Correct.correct. First 7 questions( 1 mark ones)- all correct. “you going great boy!!”
2 mark questions. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong….” All wrong except one!!!
“Everything is over.”
English: “don’t worry you will score good in this”
Right. Wrong. Right. Wrong. Wrong… English gone… more wrong than right.
“is there any need to check DI… O.K check it for the heck of it”
Right. Right. Wrong.wrong…. This also gone…

CAT

There are Cats all around.
Each one with different power.
Some are good at Numbers
Others with terrific Word Power

There are Cats all around.
Some have nurtured their dreams
And some just Caterwaul
Because they see others scream

There are Cats all around
Where do I stand, T.I.M.E will tell
Currently I can only see
The Numbers Swell

There are Cats all around
All will sit for a grand Test
Whoever emerges successful
Will be undoubtedly the Best!!!

BUngeee JUmping!!!

It is dusshera time in Mysore. It is the host to the most splendid Dusshera celebrations in India and I was lucky to be here at this moment. Lucky, plainly because this time adventure sports were introduced as part of the celebrations and it helped me fulfil one of my long time wish – Bungee Jumping. They say it is one of the most extreme adventure sport where a rope is tied to your legs and you jump from hundreds of feet above the ground under the effect of gravity. I love adventure. But apart from a few treks and a climb to 3rd highest peak of Karnataka, I have not had a chance for a real adventure – like river rafting, bungee jumping, paragliding, canoeing etc.
But the celebration of Good over evil this year offered me a chance to experience something different, something thrilling.
It was a bright sunny morning today. Amit had some work in the city, we had a bike to our disposal and it was decided that after his work we will go and have some fun. I had been imagining for last some days that how would I feel once I am there on top and ready to jump. What would I be thinking and what would I say to myself if the element called fear came in the way. After all it’s not a child’s play to jump from 120 Feet. Yes that was the height from where I was to perform the stunt.
I didn’t have concrete thoughts. May be I would repeat the dialogue “Mausijiiiii” - dharamnedra style from Sholay. May be that would help me calm my nerves.
Nevertheless we reached the Dusshera grounds at around 12.00. The sun was shining brightly and it was a bit hot. There was a tall trolley kind of thing there with a cabin kept on the ground. I understood that this would be hoisted at the top and I would be jumping from there. I enquired about the jump and was informed that I had to undergo some mandatory medical check up before it. My weight, blood pressure and pulse were checked and I was asked about any medical history, allergies etc. And I am thankful that I am a healthy person. My Pulse was a bit high. May be it was anxiety. The doctor told me to calm down and not be tense. But I was not tense. I just wanted to climb up there and Jump. I don’t know if it happens with any one else. But whenever I lay on a doctors table for some check up or something. I tend to get anxious. It is the surroundings, the atmosphere.

Any ways, after the test I had to sign on some documents stating I held the responsibility for the jump and they would have no responsibility and all that crap. I signed them.
Two big spongy flaps were then tied on my legs then. On top of it a strong belt was wrapped around. Many turns were given to it and my legs were tightly packed. I had to hop to the ‘cage’ the cabin from where I had to jump. One ‘master’ – who was not a old chap but a very young fellow with experience of quite many jumps who went along with me. Before that I was tied to the cabin and the big fat rope – the rope which would stop my fall in between and prevent me kissing the earth. There was a checklist and the person in charge checked for all things which were found in place. As soon as the ticks were marked on the sheet, the cabin was ordered to go up. I was standing in the edge and asked the ‘master’ if I could come inside the cage, expecting atleast some relief brfore falling. “No”, He replied. “Keep standing there”. The heart beats increased as the cabin climbed up in air with help of a complex mechanical gearing mechanism. Pleasantly the weather had changed and clouds had covered the sky (You can see the background in the photo). Master kept on talking. He guided me about how I would have to make the jump. I had to turn around, take a deep breath and just jump. I was busy gathering in the surroundings. It was excellent. I could see Mysore from a height. I was above the trees and could see the huge city on one side and the lovely green Chamundi Hills on the other. I was asked to take deep breaths and see around and absorb the surroundings and ask if I had any doubts about the procedure to jump. I had none. Then I turned. And an amzing sight met my eyes. I was standing face to face the Majestic Mysore palace. I was at a height nearly equal to its height. And my eye level was the same as the peak of the towers at the palace. After all I was at 120 feet. If u take the height of a floor of a building as around 10 feet, then it would amount to 12 floors!!!!
Then I looked down. Ohh man!! Then I realized the gravity of the situation. Everything was so small from such a height that I had difficulty spotting even Amit !! 2 – 3 layers of weak old mattresses kept there which was looking like some bigger than normal bricks kept. What would they do if by any chance I fall down. The master then asked me to look at the palace and take deep breaths. I did. Then I was asked to put my hands in diving position and jump. I could not help looking down. I had decided that at any cost I was not going to close my eyes and miss the wonderful spectacle of earth approaching under the effect of gravity.
I took a step forward. My mind went blank – absolutely blank. I was on the edge of a lose cabin which was hanging loosely in air at 120 feet. Somewhere the mind said, "bloody shit – what am I doing". But it was very deep inside the mind and it had no time to come up. I took a final deep breath and Plunged. I shrieked loudly. But honestly it was not out of fear. It was out of sheer thrill. I saw the ground approaching faster. I could see a square piece of some cement thing kept directly under me. It was of blue color and in no time I could se it big. Then there was a sudden jerk and I was pulled up suddenly. The rope had survived the jump and as a result I had too. I swung wildly in air for some time which may be was a few seconds only!!! This was a wonderful experience. I saw everything around swinging inverted and with thrill and the chill still there in my bones. Gradually the cabin was brought down and the experience ended. I saw the video which amit had made. Sadly he missed the actual jump and shot only after I had jumped. There were some handshakes with the master and some other people. I thanked them and it was the end of a wonderful experience which cost me 500 bucks but were worth it. I am planning to go again in the evening or may be tomorrow.

Update:
Oct 9.. day 2... i was there again in the evening... it was a different spectacle.. the city was lit with lights.. and as I climbed to do the jump second time...the mysore palace shining in yellow was awesome...there were zero nerves this time.... even the doctor recognized me and didnt do the checkup ;)...but the experience was somewhat different considering the 100 odd bypassers looking at how I performed... and 2 mobile - cameras recording my jump!!! the videos have come out excellent!!!!

Special Mechies!!!

They say the time spent in college is the best one in your whole life. For me, they indeed were. Being a part of mechanical gang was an added advantage. Your best friends for life are made in college. I was no different. If I divulge deeper I am able to differentiate these friends into 3 groups, though the line dividing these groups is hazy. It is somewhat like a rainbow where you can differentiate the colors but the point where these colours change is difficult to identify. The groups I have made are mainly according to the nature and history of our friendships. How these were formed and in what ways these blossomed.
The first group is the friends forever group – without whom my existence would be worthless. I would have to start a separate blog if I want to write about them.
The second one would be one comprising Kunnu, Chunnu, Thakur and Singal. I would be soon be writing about them.
The 3rd group is also a mechie one, which came close at the time of placements. Here I would like to introduce this group of friends. Most of us came really close during the last year of the college.
One year can be so long and so short. Long in terms that we got to know so much about each other during this period and short because this time was so less to have fun, more dinners at Sher-e- Punjab or play cricket or to catch a movie at FR or to have night outs or just sit at Lake and listen to the PJ’s of the two members of the group.

Now Meet the gang:-

1. Vinod Trehan ( a.k.a TRAINNN)
I start with this guy whom I am really fond of. There will never be a dull moment when he is around. The most extrovert person I have ever seen, he is ready to help others, take responsibilities( like taking printouts/Photostats for t eh whole class) and is very confident. A true friend indeed. His outgoing nature can be really infectious. An ardent fan of both soccer and cricket, he himself is an active participant in both games. In fact he was our own “PEC Express”. Having shattered many stumps, seeing Trainn charging down his long run up sent chills down many a spines.( But Train, I cannot forget a six I hit you – I must say it was a great challenge to play you). His PPJ’s( poorest of poor Jokes) must be still reverberating in Mechanical deptt. Honestly, whenever I hear a PJ, two faces come to my mind – One is ofcourse Trainn’s and the second of the person described below – Mr. Gosain.

2. Avnish Gosain ( a.k.a Goss/Paanchu)
Another Master of PJ’s, this guy has a smile on his face- always. Unfortunately for him, sometimes his serious talk is also considered a joke only. But wait! Serious?? – Gosss… when was that ??? Anyone kindly fire my memory.!!! I have realized why he is so thin – there is no blood in his veins. It is all humour. He can make you laugh no matter what the situation is. His style of telling incidents is tremendous – specially the one where MLG tells why Infosys took in bulk from PEC and didn’t go to Thapar. An early sleeper, I don’t think he has survived any Night outs. Was still perfecting speaking Punjabi even before going to Japan!!

3. Tanuj Gupta (a.k.a Tanny Boy)
The rocker, The headbanger, the cool dude of Mechanical. I got inspired for writing this because of him only. I’ll tell you how. I was listening to Nirvana when I wondered when did I start listening to rock. Tanny Boy came to my mind immediately and that is when I decided to pen this write up. It was the first time in his car that we came face to face with Nirvana, Megadeth etc. and gradually I had added one more genre of music to my playlist. Many CD’s were written on his Comp and I owe his scanner most of the soft copy collection of my photographs. A very simple person with an innocent face but with a violently ROCKing Heart, he has some cool collection of T shirts- ofcourse with rock all over it. 1 thing I really envy – His wonderful camera which weighs a ton and whose full functionalities even he is unaware of!!

4. Gaurav Sharma (a.k.a Makhan)
The first word that comes to your mind when you think of this guy is “Jugad”. He will have a answer for everything you put to him, A workaround for every situation. An avid palm reader, he always studies the fortune lines only on Mondays – For us Boys that is. For Girls it is 24 x 7. . Being the Placement Secy, he had a hand in getting jobs for many of us. Handsome, Smart and popular among the opposite sex, most part of the first three years in college passed in company of Electrical gals. But we all had quite some fun in all the numerous parties and Night outs during the final year. Cheerful and vibrant, we formed quite a team while doing a course for Oracle. I would never forget those days. There were 2 more members to that team - Tanny and Mr. Tarundeep Singh

5. Tarundeep Singh (a.k.a Sardar)
Well, first we were together in M4 practicals (sub grp of mechanical), then we got placed in same company, then we became flat mates in Hyderabad and then room mates in Mysore..So it has been a long journey for us with the intensity and depth of friendship ever increasing. We shared quite many similar interests and one thing that will come to anyone’s mind who has stayed with him is his long turban. He used to be the first to get up in the morning and last to be ready to go to office. A jolly young fellow with a smile on his face always during the college days, he became a mind of tense thoughts later. I really hope that after earning 40K’s p.m he has his smile back on his face now.

All in all mechanical was a big united Gang but these people had a special effect on my life!!!!!

One Expression that will always Bind Us: AINNNNNNNNNNN.................................

Home Away from Home

1. Let’s start with a normal day. Unwantingly and lazily u need to get up in the morning, no matter u stay at home or away from home. One difference here can be that at home ur mother forcefully removes ur bed sheet, pulls the curtains away which leaves no option but to get up. Ur roommates will rarely do that. They make attempts to awaken you but if u don’t, they will let u enjoy the sleep – after all that is what they also want to do. The result of this Can be u reaching office at Lunch time.

2. Now suppose you get up on time and reach the office. Here u wont be served Aloo paranthas with a kilo of white butter on top and a glass of lassi to go with it. You need to stand in a queue and often juggle between 2 -3 caterers to get a glass of juice and a stale looking bread omelet with a bread slice measuring an inch square.. O.k. not literally but I guess u got the meaning.

3. Now in lunch too there are no hot chapattis with green vegetables, curd etc for u on a platter. Again u have to stand in a much longer queue and hope that the food doesn’t get over by the time ur turn comes. No need to compare the food, I guess. All you find is 3 – 4 colours in ur plate. The question “What did you eat in lunch” can be asked in Kaun banega crorepati and let me tell you, the lifeline “Phone a Friend” won’t be useful there.

4. In the evening again u need to struggle to go up to the supermarket to get a packet of milk. Just tear open the packet and drink it. Who will wash the utensils!!!!

5. Now normal dinner story would have gone the lunch way but lets suppose you have a Project party. Now there won’t be any calls every half an hour asking “when u will reach home?” You can easily have 2 rounds of bowling, then a lavish dinner party. When u reach back home theer would be no anxious faces pacing down the drawing room. Just go, change ur clothes/ remove ur clothes / be in ur same office clothes and lie down and sleep peacefully.

6. Sleep peacefully bcoz in the morning there wud be no questioning that why are the clothes lying somewhere on the floor or why the almirah is not set and all things are just bundled up there. Do whatever u like – live the way u want!! Ya, there can be some sporadic comments from ur roomies about being messy but u may also be the cleanest person among them despite being the untidiest at home!!

7. Washing clothes is a major headache but it is somewhat reduced if u have a maid. But it leads to another problem. Identifying ur clothes from among all the washed ones. At Home everything was sorted and neatly set into ur almirah. But here u need to carefully find ur belongings (Remembering whether ur underwear is Jockey Poco or Jockey Rio is an important part of it!). The minutest of differences in Socks are to be carefully analyzed before the partition takes place.

8. If after a month of eating junk, u fall ill then instead of tender motherly love u experience not so tender but still caring brotherly love from ur roomies. Its not the full of care “Beta, have this medicine but don’t take it empty stomach. Have some bananas first.” Instead it is something like, “Abey Idiot! Are you mad? Why the hell are you having the medicine empty stomach? Just eat at least a banana man!!”

9. God save you if u have a broken button or a torn cloth. U need to keep it separate for the week end. And on the week end, u get up fresh and the first thing u do is go an buy a needle and thread. Then next hour or so is spent in thread finding the hole in the needle ( ok I am exaggerating here!) If u succeed, the rest of the afternoon goes in somehow making a joint so that it holds at least till a week. If not, that garment may well be disposed instead of spending another day on it.

10. At home having maggi was a big occasion. There was an excitement because u used to get to make it on ur own. Now u drag urself to kitchen when u r hungry – find something – fin only magi. Make it and eat uit. A regular work. No excitement at all. And Not to mention the Big Fight over who is going to wash the utensils. Its better to cut out the tasks before hand.

All in all it’s a nice independent experience to have a home away from home. From the entirely dependent life to doing everything on ur own ( with support from roomies), U learn a lot and become more mature.

The Mechie Classic!!!!

According to me, This one photograph is an all time classic which you rarely get to see. If observed carefully there are a variety of emotions that can be observed. Till date this is the best still shot I have been in.
Ok. Now the reason behind such excitement and joy which you can undoubtedly see.
This was clicked just after we, the Mechanical, 2004 batch of Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, had come out after giving the LAST exam of our college life ( ya most of us were pretty sure that we wont get Reappears)
The last year was a bliss for everyone of us!! No classes, full day cuts, sitting in canteen and chatting full day long.. this is how our final year passed. After coming to college in the morning it was the canteen where all had to give their attendance rather than the class. Everybody had landed up with jobs and with futures secured, it was time to live Life to the fullest.
People often feel sorry for the Mechies, reason being no girls in the class. But let me clarify here that of all the deptts, it is the mechies who are the leaders in having fun. Why? Because it is fun of a different kind in an all Boys class. They bond more strongly in absence of ‘distractions’. These ‘distractions’ are inversely proportional to the Number of Bunks.
Ya the theorem is far fetched but it is true. Now if there are girls in the class and one damsel refuses for a cut, then there would be 10 guys who would also sit, just in order to impress her or be with her or just to look at her. Now if each of these 10 guys pursue even 1 of their friends to stay, that makes the number to 20.. sorry 21..( the damsel is also there). And it is observed widely that beautiful girls hunt in pairs. That means the probability of a beauty being a friend of another beauty is more than 0.9.
And if by chance, the other one also attracts an equal number of more “hunters”, the number goes up to 32 and the mass cut can take a back seat then. So Can all the pioneers of the Mass Cut Movement.
I guess, I am diverting from the main topic.
So coming back – the main purpose I am writing this – the photograph. So what do u see in it.

The first thing that one notices is the true happiness. If you carefully look at the faces of each person u will see that the smile is true. It is coming from directly ‘Dil Se’. The photographer in this case didn’t had to say the customary “Cheese”. In fact we had to say “ Jaldi Kheench”. Reason being, everybody was climbing on top of each other to be captured. Proof: See how cruely maini is pushing Train just to get in the pic. And I tell you facing that type of force is no mean feat and some one like Chunnu would have crumbled under the pressure. (pple i have mentioned are in the photo.. their identification is given at the end)

Ok now you can’t see the bond between all of us but can’t you feel it. No!!! then just look at the pic again and think yourself right there between the ‘winged’ hands and screaming together in 1 voice. Ya now u feel it!!!

Some how it also captures our freedom. Freedom from the blood sucking exams, which were like a burden for 4 years but which in some way brought us all together. Asking doubts from each other, Copying notes, coming to library together and after a hard study session going for the paranthas at PEC market or Rajma Chawal at Canteen. I remember laughing uncontrollably along with Train and Makhan before the automotive exam making fun of the old indicator mechanisms which were not in use any more. Exams were not so bad after all.

The freedom also signifies the independence we were set to gain soon. New jobs, new lives, no dependence on parents for cash. We were finally entering the big bad world and it made us confident bunch of guys. This confidence, u again cannot see but feel.

Whenever I feel down in my life., I take a look at this photo. Instantly, I feel invigiorated, fresh and a smile automatically comes to my face. The zeal and enthusiasm oozing out of this extra ordinary photo is really infective. It infects me whenever I see it. Hope it does to u as well, no matter you are there or not!!!

Vital Stats
Location: PEC Campus (Outside Electronics Deptt)
Date: Don’t remember exactly but around 1st week of May, 2004 (will update soon)
Camera used: Tanny’s Big Camera – one with the focus shocus and all
Man behind the camera : the owner, Tanny
Men in front of the camera:
(sitting, from L to R): Chunnu, Chugh

(Standing from L to R): Aniket, Thakur(one who is barely visible), Makhan, Me!!!, Sardar, Popat(behind Sardar), Vikash, Vimal (behind vikash), Bhediya, Trainn (its because of his grand pose that this photo is classy), Maini (pushing Trainn)

(In Air from L to R): Lamboo( soon to be married) , Nikhlesh

There are some more arms, hands, helmets.. sorry for not recognizing u guys!!!

1 Choti si Love Story

I got up dreamily in the morning and looked at the figure, wrapped up in a Silky velvety light quilt, sleeping besides me. I could not help but go back through memory lanes, nostalgically remembering our relationship. How it had started and how the love that had grown all these years and which had led to we being here sleeping together.
It had all started when we were in school. We met and instantly liked each other. Gradually we realized that we were made for each other and there were so many things we had in common – our likes and dislikes matched like anything. Those were the formative years of our life but I knew that our relationship was that of ‘forever’ types. We came close to each other, sharing everything from studies to our deep secrets, dreaming together for the years to come and often contemplating what future had in store for us.
Destiny was not to play any villain between us. We got admission in same college. And in the independence of college life, away from the constraints of school life, our love blossomed. We started spending a huge chunk of the time together – hanging out in different parts of the city, going for long walks on lake – practically doing everything together except sleeping of course.
The time flew by and we were living a dream. We got more mature and started knowing each other more thoroughly.
Soon the mobile technology hit the Indian market. And it was a boom for us as well. After getting mobiles, we got some discounted connections where in we got our calls to each other free. It was the end of rest everything in life. Now either we were together physically or else through satellite.
Luck had something more in store for us. We got placed together in the same company. Oh! It was the happiest moment of my life. Overjoyed, we hugged each other and made merry that evening!
Soon we were to be away from the constraint of living separately. Now we were together and we could even live together. All excited, we left for our jobs and found a house, where we could spend our lives under 1 roof.
And now here we were - schoolmates, college mates, job mates and now bed mates!!!
The figure moved and the sleepy face, with eyes half open stared at me and said, “ kya dekh raha hai saaale!! chal ja ke naha.. nahi to late ho jayenge”. And I thought, “What great friends rompy and I have been over the years!!!!”

What Were You Thinking???????

Following Dreams??

Someone asked me – “Are U living your dream?” “Why, Yes”, I answered. "I work in one of the best companies, plush office, earning a modest salary if not much."
“Is this what u dreamt of?”, he asks. “Are You happy with the way u live, with the work u do. Do u go home a satisfied person. Do you want to do this for rest of your life. Does your work creates interest in you. Does your heart approve of you coming everyday and doing it?” he further explores.
These invoking statements make me travel deep under – somewhere to the depths of my heart and force my mind to churn and think about my life.
Traveling through these depths I realize that I am nowhere near to the dreams I had during my childhood or as a teenager. And may be the failure to realize my dreams at those stages lead me not to dream during adulthood. I just followed the herd, like many of us, doing what others do, in an attempt to reduce the force acting on me due to the pressure called peer pressure.
And what am I doing now – desperately trying hard to fight off the same force being exerted on me. I guess its high time some dreams are formed and a path, on which these dreams can be realized, starts taking shape. After All as the Alchemist says: “Its all about following your dreams!!”

Trip to Hemgiri Waterfalls (15 Aug'05)

It was a cloudy day and we had just attended our ex-PL’s marriage party. Some of my ex-Project mates had come from different cities to which they have now been transferred. Before their departure back into the routines of the daily grind, we were having lunch together and reliving the old days. In came Bharath, our senior in the project but who had become more of a friend rather than a boss! He was to go with his friends to some waterfalls around 80 km from Mysore but his friends left without him. The first thought that came to my mind “How mean friends. How could have they not taken him along”. What he told after that, forced my perceptions to take a 180 degree turn. It was his mistake. What do u do with a friend who sleeps lazily till 10.30, despite being reminded many times. Nevertheless, he was interested in going there. He asked if any one else was interested. I thought, “It was three day holiday – A rare one u get in a private company. I was to go to Goa (it got cancelled due to rains) and we have been rotting away sitting at home for past two and a half days. It was time to have some fun”
I agreed. He was also happy for getting some company. We left immediately.
The Hemgiri waterfalls were around 80 km and we had a bike. The sky was thick with clouds, lovely breeze was blowing and here I was sitting on a bike after many months – it felt great!!!

Soon after we had got out of mysore. It started raining. Bharath asked, “Is it fine to move on in rain.” Fine??? It was out of the world. I was reminded of my college days. It is not everyday that the weather is so pleasant in chandigarh and during the good old days, whenever clouds covered the sky and there was a possibility of a rain – it was time for a gedi around the city,specially lake, behind Lolly’s LML, Rompy’s CBZ or in my car!!!
And here I was - under the rain, on a bike, feeling free like a bird.
Soon the road got rough as we entered some rural parts of Karnataka. Following the muddy, bumpy roads we carried on. The sugarcane fields sidelined the road and it was reminiscent of our own Punjab’s “Ganne de khet” . And I could smell the sweet fragrance of Jaggery which as Bharath later told were made at many places along that highway only. We decided to stop and taste them on our way back.
The scenery had now changed. Far away from the rushes of the city (though mysore is not that crowded city), under the open sky and greenery all around. We stopped at one place to have some tea. I was given the responsibility of driving after that. I was a bit apprehensive initially as I was on the drivers seat of a bike after nearly a year - But soon got accustomed.
We reached Hemgiri falls after around 1. 5 hours of ‘biking’. And the view I saw there left me spell bound. It was not a natural waterfall but the water was falling from the top of a man made wall. This wall traveled for a long stretch making the whole scene a treat to watch. Bharath’s friends were already there and were having a great time.
We crossed the river and reached the rocks near the waterfalls. The water falling looked more beautiful from here. After changing into bare essentials we jumped into the cold waters. Everyone was playing around and having fun out there.
Soon the swimmers of the group decided to go down to deeper waters and cross over to near the top of the fall. I tried to test the waters but they were too deep for me. Instead, we went near the water fall and infact into it.
Standing below the water falling from such a height was an experience in itself. At that moment, I realized how much force water can exert on you. The force was so much that Bharath advised, not to bring my head in contact with the water. But gradually as my confidence of facing the wrath of the water increased, I put my head against its fury. I must say it was one of the most overwhelming experiences I had in my Life.
Soon, tired of the tussle, we headed back.
While going to such an excursion, one tends to be full of zeal, enthusiasm and bubbling with energy. And while returning, much of that initial energy is spent and what is left is a weak, tired but a satisfactory smile. Satisfaction of having experienced something new, something different, something which will be there with us for the rest of our lives. It was the same feeling that I experienced.