Sentimental fools!

I have always thought and disliked the fact that Indians are such sentimental fools at times. But then I realized that I am no different than such people.

I was just returning from a movie on my bike and suddenly I was so attracted to my bike. Having rode it for almost 7 years now, I sometime tend to ignore its condition, but today I realized that it has stood beside me for all these years whenever I needed it. And I did not give my 100% to it.

There were times when I needed to reach a place within no time and during the wee hours. There were times, when I was late for my engineering exams, there were times it was a medical urgency, there were times it was a friendly request, and it was only my bike that helped me to achieve my goals. Racing with friends in Mumbai, wheelies on the straight and quiet roads of Pune, skidding and dribbing during midnights on the lonely weekends, trips to Marine Drive and Sinhgad during the early skies, long drives on the Satara road with just 3/4^th and sneakers, night drives to Siddhivinayak temple, I had it a lot. And while writing this blog, I understand we Indians are really sentimental, possessive about our things; may be it our cell phones, cars, bikes, bicycles, our office desks, our laptops, our iPods. And nothing is wrong about it.

I was possessive about my working place too when I was in Infy. I sat on the same chair, in the same cubicle for more than 2 years. At times, I was more than bored. I always thought that it is more than 2 year I climbed the same stairs, came in the same cubicle and sat on the same machine. People around me changed, their projects changed. But I remained stuck to my place, only to realize when I was about to quit Infy, that my place was my face, meri pehchaan. During a small speech on my last day in Infosys, I was more than proud not to forget to mention that, people came, people went, their places changed almost once in 2 months, but I sat at the same place for 2 years. I felt I have achieved a herculean goal. I was a man of pride at that time.

We sometimes tend to be so simple and stupid in life, but then too it feels good. It is like, nothing is wrong in it. And then I smile to myself, Indians are real sentimental fools, and I love to be one J

Au Revoir Rahul !

Why always me, and then I get my answer. This is life and life goes on. And believe me I more than hate these 3 words.

Rahul is off for New Zealand. And you must be thinking why am I sad. It is not that I am sad about it, but parting ways is a theory which I have never understood in my life and hence never been able to digest it so easily. The very fact that I won’t be seeing him atleast for a year, makes me sick. But it is like, dil ki sunoge to kahi ke nahi rahoge. That is why I am not going to say anything more.

I love you brotha, keep rocking in New Zealand, which I am sure you will. And I am going to miss you like hell.

Pata nahi fir kab milenge :-(

Au Revoir!

Reverse - ageing?

We go to school only to find out at a later stage that life is not only about completing homework and getting thrashed up by teachers and mom. Then we go to college to enjoy the so called freedom of life. Its more than bemuses everyone that its upto each one how to choose the path of freedom. No one is going to force you to attend lectures. Sometimes, even the terms are not mandatory. That period is only to make you realize that life is not so much freedom everytime and everywhere.

Sometimes, I wonder, why do we first attend kindergarten, then schools, then colleges, then work, and then retire. Why can’t we retire at the very beginning, then after we are bored of the retirement, work a bit. Now when we have a bit of money we have ourselves admitted to the colleges. And having learnt wisdom, we can then attend schools to have all the fun and relaxation and then die peacefully without any tensions and burdens. Life would be so hilarious then!

The whole concept of life, or for that matter, any individual thing in aspect, is based on advancement. We call it as revolution or may be invention. First we make the wheel, and then we make rolling carts and then finally a car and then a better car. And this is the sole reason, why we go to school first and not retire. So that we know how to talk, walk, dress up. And then to college, so that we know how to use the freedom, how to judge the world outside. And then to work so that we can try to materialize everything we have learnt for all these years. And then finally retire after having the satisfaction of knowing and doing all the things we were supposed to do in a lifetime.

Yet I guarantee you that almost 99% of the people including me, will realize only at the end that it is not done yet. We would still be pining for more time, more money, and more of life. But life is on its way to the heaven. I have read it many a times that the “life is now” but have seldom been able to feel it, imbibe it and reveal it. It is so, so difficult. To read, it’s the simplest of thing and when it comes to practice what has been preached, it’s the most complex thing in the universe.

Life is a gift from God. Its upto us how we live it. Be a kid in the kindergarten or be an oldie in the old age home, wisdom seeks it all. The smallest (kid) and the oldest (oldie) are the people who donate nothing to the nation as such but are still the wisest of all.

If only I could seek retirement at this age (infact in the very childhood), I would have known why it is not so as I think.

If Cricket is Religion, Sachin is God !!!

What a wonderful day it was for all the cricket lovers and Sachin fans.

While in the office, I was surfing the Tendulkar Opus (http://tendulkaropus.com/static.php?page=index2) and reading some comments on Sachin Tendulkar, watching his statistics, viewing his records up-to-date and let me tell you, they are just marvelous. Sachin is a kind of personality, its more than a treat reading his stories, interviews and looking at his profile. When he flashes the news or newspapers, every Indian has a reason to smile no matter what life hails for them.

While I was reading, 43 ODI centuries and 42 Test centuries were already in his basket. Some of the hair-raising comments on him by maestros like Sir Don Bradman, Steve Waugh, Shane Warne, Brian Lara, etc were more than making my reading exciting. I also came along many (and by this I literally mean innumerable) websites/blogs/pages dedicated to the God of cricket, created by his diehard fans all throughout the world.

And when I went home, yet another tonne was knocked by the little master (little exemplifies only his height, he is bigger than the biggest when it comes to glory). I was so happy from within. I just forgot how my day went at the office and was enjoying the game. And it was a match and a series winning knock of hundred by the God himself.

It is so easy for him to beat the runs under any given circumstances, on any field, in any country, against any team with sheer determination and with the zeal to succeed even himself everytime. Otherwise, how would you justify a man (he is more than just a man, he is GOD) knocking yet another century when being in his 20^th year in the game, when almost 4^rd generations of cricket has been mortalized in front of him. Back when he was just 17, he hit his first century and down the line, even after 20 years he delivers world class cricket by hitting his 44^th ODI century.

His records are remarkable in the field of sports. His dedication, involvement and gift to the entire nation in particular and to the entire world in general is tremendous. He is someone, the entire India is proud of. No matter of caste, color or creed, no matter of whether you are a student or worker, no matter if you even don’t watch the game, every individual is fond of this man. Such is his aura. People respect him and there can be riots when anything goes against him.

Had it not been for him, probably the love for cricket wouldn’t grow to such an extent for all of us. Its more than a privilege to belong to a generation when GOD himself played for India.

To sum it all, I'll just say one statement about Sachin what Einstein had said about Gandhi: "Generations to come will scarcely believe that such a one as This, ever in flesh and blood, walked the Earth".

Hail Sachin :-)

Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay !

I would like to share with you a very romantic Chinese article about leaf, tree & wind. The article is in Cantonese. And for all the readers a direct broken English translation is present to the rescue. It's a very long read. I really love the verse "Leaf departure is because of Wind pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay". If you fall for somebody don't pretend that it didn't matter. Love is something that t you can’t afford to have mind games. Quickly tell your love, you love him/her so much.

Tree

People call me "Tree".

I had dated 5 girls when I was in Pre-U. There is one girl who I love a lot but never dared to go after. She didn't have a pretty face, good figure or an outstanding charm. She was just a very ordinary girl. I liked her. I really liked her. I liked her innocence, her frankness, her intelligence and her fragility. Reason for not going after her was that I felt somebody so ordinary like her was not a good match for me. I was also afraid that after we were together all the feelings would vanish. I was also afraid other's gossip would hurt her.

I felt that if she were my girl, she'd be mine ultimately & I didn't have to give up everything just for her. The last reason, made her accompanying me for 3 years. She watched me chase other girls, and I have made her heart cry for 3 years. She was a good actor, and me a demanding director. When I kissed my second girlfriend, she bumped into us. She was embarrassed but smiled & said, "Go on!" before running off.

The next day, her eyes were swollen like a walnut. I did not want to know what caused her to cry. Later that day, I returned from soccer training to get something & watched her cry in the classroom for an hour or so. My fourth girlfriend did not like her.

There was once when both of them quarreled. I know that based on her character she is not the type that will start the quarrel. However, I still sided my girlfriend. I shouted at her & ignored her feelings and walked off with my girlfriend. The next day, she was laughing & joking with me like nothing happened. I know she was hurt but she did not know deep down inside I was hurt too.

When I broke up with my fifth girlfriend, I asked her out. Later that day, I told her I had something to tell her. I told her about my break up.

Coincidentally, she has something to tell me too, about her getting together. I knew who the person was. His pursuit for her had been the talk of the School. I did not show her my heartache, just smiles & best wishes. Once I reached home, I could not breathe. Tears rolled & I broke down. How many times have I seen her cry for the man who did not acknowledge her presence?

During graduation, I read a SMS in my hp. It said, "Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay"

Leaf

People call me “Leaf”.

During the 3 years of Pre-U, I was on very close terms with a guy as buddy kind. However, when he had his first girlfriend, I learnt a feeling I never should have learnt - Jealousy. Sourness to the extreme limit. They were only together for 2 months. When they broke up, I hid my happiness. But after a month, he got together with another girl.

I liked him & I know he liked me. But why won't he pursue me? Since he loves me why didn't he make the first move? Whenever he had a new girlfriend, my heart would hurt. After some time, I began to suspect that this was one-sided love. If he didn't like me, why did he treat me so well? It's beyond what you will normally do for a friend. I know his likes, his habits. But his feelings towards me I can never figure out. You can't expect me a girl, to ask him. Despite that, I still wanted to be by his side. Care for him, accompany him, and love him. Hoping that one day, he will come to love me. Because of this, I waited for him. Sometimes, I wondered if I should continue waiting. The pain, the dilemma accompanied me for 3 years.

At the end of my 3rd year, a junior pursued me. He pursued me every day. He's like the cool & gentle wind, trying to blow off a leaf from a tree.

In the end, I realized that I wanted to give this wind a small footing in my heart. I know the wind will bring the leaf to a better land. Finally, leaf left the tree, but the tree only smiled & didn't ask me to stay.

Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or cause Tree didn't ask her to stay.

Wind

Because I like a girl called leaf. Because she's so dependent on tree, so I have to be a gust wind. A wind that will blow her away. When I first met her, it was 1 month after I was transferred to this new school. I saw a petite person looking at my seniors & me playing soccer. During ECA time, she always sat there. Be it alone or with her friends, looking at him. When he talked with girls, there was jealousy in her eyes. When he looked at her, there was a smile in her eyes. Looking at her became my habit.

One day, she didn't appear. I felt something missing. I can't explain the feeling except it's a kind of uneasiness. The senior was also not there as well. I went to their classroom, hid outside and saw my senior scolding her. Tears were in her eyes while he left. The next day, I saw her at her usual place, looking at him. I walked over and smiled to her. Took out a note & gave to her. She was surprised. She looked at me, smiled & accepted the note.

The next day, she appeared & passed me a note and left. It read, "Leaf's heart is too heavy and wind couldn't blow her away."

"It's not that leaf’s heart is too heavy. It’s because leaf never wanted to leave the tree." I replied her note with this statement and slowly she started to talk to me & accepted my presents & phone calls. I knew that the person she loved was not me. But I had this perseverance that one day I will make her like me. Within 4 months, I had declared my love for her no less than 20 times. Every time, she would divert away from the topic. But I never gave up. Although I knew, she would try to divert but I still bore a small ray of hope. Hoping that she will agree to be my girlfriend. I didn't hear any reply from her over the phone. I asked, "What are you doing? How come you didn't want to reply?" She said, "I'm nodding my head". "Ah?" I couldn't believe my ears. "I'm nodding my head" She replied loudly. I hung up the phone, quickly changed and took a taxi and rushed to her place & pressed her doorbell. As soon as she opened the door, I hugged her tightly.

Leaf’s departure is because of Wind’s pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay...

PS: This story was forwarded as an email and its actual source is unknown.

"Quarter Life Crisis"

It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are many things about yourself that you didn't know and may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met, and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you don't recognize is that they are realizing that too, and aren't really cold, catty, mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.

You look at your job... and it is not even close to what you thought you would be doing, or maybe you are looking for a job and realizing that you are going to have to start from the bottom and that scares the hell out of you.

Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and are constantly adding things to your list of what is acceptable and what isn't. One minute, you are secure and then at the next moment, insecure.

You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life, but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away, and there is nothing to do but stay where you are and move forward.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such a damage to you. You lie in your bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough that you want to get to know better. Or maybe you love someone but love someone else too and cannot figure out why you're doing this because you know that you aren't a bad person. You want to settle down for good because now all of a sudden that becomes top priority. Getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic. You begin to think a companion for life is better than a hundred in the shack and for once you would not mind standing tall for that special someone which otherwise you had never thought of until now.

You go through the same emotions and questions over and over, and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision. You worry about loans, money, the future and making a life for yourself... and while winning the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!

 

We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.

 

We call it the "Quarter-life Crisis."