Thursday, December 31, 2009
Happy New Year 2010.....but 2009 u will be missed
JANUARY
This was the month, I took up the rostrum the very first time for a day long event. I convened the Human Capitalism Conclave at MDI. And I think I did a decent job.
FEBRUARY
This was perhaps the dullest month of the year. I had flu for the first time in my life. Nothing else to write home.
MARCH
The major road accident I met left me bed ridden for a fortnight and plastered for 2 months. It was a nightmare dictating Corporate Finance paper to my brother who readily agreed to write my exams. However, I still managed to get almost similar grades as before...moral of the story...studying in a B-School hardly helps :)
I also was a part of the team that stood second in Nestle Case Study (that was before the accident)
APRIL
My Chennai experience began. As if the climate was not enough, I carried my plaster and my injured leg, stayed in a hostel with no AC and life after 10 pm, commuted in local trains for around an hour, etc...the list is endless
MAY
Though it was my birthday month, I got involved in a pity fight with one of my best friends. Also, I was freed of my plaster in the hand.
JUNE
Returning to Delhi was never so delightful. Also, the crazy 7 day a week term started.
JULY
A month full of working hard and partying harder. Had endless parties with Danish and to add to it Divya, Paras, Vinni and Girish had their b'days. I still cherish that party to Manre.
AUGUST
I begin my dream trip to Europe. Landed in Rotterdam and had one of the craziest parties... the film Hangover appeared very believable now. More than anything, I made around 50 good friends in Rotterdam thanks to the Integration Trip
SEPTEMBER
Travelling around Europe began on a special day "09/09/09". It was an experience of a lifetime. So many beautiful places one after the other......Rather the only countries left to be travelled in Europe are Spain, Portugal and Greece.
OCTOBER
The Oktoberfest was an amazing experience; something that cant be replicated anywhere. Also, the fest help me re-connect to the friend I lost in May :).
NOVEMBER
A month for parties , parties and more parties.....afterall the Eurail pass ended and also my laptop broke down.
DECEMBER
I and my roomie in Rotterdam, Ishan both got their Pre-Placement Offers in the same week. It was a complete party month. Saw heavy snow, an amazing farewell party, parted with the amazing exchange friends (next article could be on you guys), India homecoming, MDI, .....
It has been like a dream this year.....so many events in such a small duration.....keep it coming Lord....I am loving it this way.
Life has so much to offer
Happy New Year 2010 to all
Friday, May 15, 2009
TheTamil language, Autos and more: Anna Bachae
Only the other day was I thinking that I have faced so many problems with the Autowalas in Chennai and the language problem around but Friday's event has actually forced me to write on the commonest topic people write about when in Chennai.
Rushed for another auto and needless to say were late to office
Lesson 2: Rajnikant is GOD and we must preach his godliness
After getting a room at LIBA, i and Subhojit, a friend from IIFT needed to shift our luggage from the hotel to LIBA. We tried looking for an Auto....we wanted a round trip and it was impossible to make them understand. Surprisingly, another autowala who could also speak Hindi came and started negotiating. Bingo!!!!... the sooner we sat in his auto, he started negotiating on the fixed fare....this was new to me. After hearing his bakwaas for some time, I agreed to pay him more than what was decided...as always...so that he remains quite and drives fast.....And I had to bite my tongue then on....The chap started driving at an extra-ordinary high speed even on jammed roads..........we tried telling him to slow down...but to no avail....he even collided and broke the rear-mirror of a car....and dodged the car driver by racing through the galli and nukaads.....we both just stared at each other.....finally we reached our destination. I asked him "Bhaiya, aaap hamesha itna tez chalaate ho?" to which he replied "Sir, I am a slow- driver, my friends drive it much faster"... Thank God we did not pick any of his friends....U need not guess Rajnikanth is the GOD here :)
Lesson 3: How dare you bargain with the Autowalas
Chicking is Chennai's reply to KFC....not as good ...but almost there. It became a regular dinner joint for both of us (Subhojit included). It is at a walkable distance from Loyola gate; around 2 km. Many a times, we have strolled to the restaurant in the evening. That fateful day, we were returning from office and were tired to walk. And then, we decided to dare - take an auto to ChicKing. Autowalas here always speak in multiples of 40 rupees...and it was no different for ChicKing.
I felt it was unreasonable and started to bargain (here I crossed the forbidden line :)). To my surprise, the Autowala agreed for Rs.20. I sat in the auto with my head held high and the collar of my shirt......finally I negotiated and was able to take a ride at a reasonable rate. Even felt that I could even teach (forget being taught) Negotiations Skills in 6th sem.....
So far so good...but had this been the end of story...it would not have been here in my list of miseries....there is more to it.
The Autowala drove on the road parallel to ChicKing and stopped at a red light which was nowhere near to ChicKing (btw...it was 1.5 km from ChicKing; we later realized). He told us that we get down and walk to the restaurant. The collar of my shirt returned to its initial position, the myths about my negotiating skills were dispelled in thin air. We were annoyed and helplessly tried to explain "ChicKing!!!! ChicKing!!" The chap said "One-way road, Rs.40". we argued that he agreed on half the money...only to hear him say something in Tamil...so simple...as if this helped...and he would not start the auto....this ordeal was getting too far.........I finally screamed " Ok! ChicKing , Rs. 40, Take".....and finally we reached ChicKing.....while eating the food, I reaffirmed that it was my mistake; afterall, I had crossed the Forbidden Line.....
U never negotiate with autowalas in Chennai.....don't even think about it
In the evenings, pleasant breeze blows and it remains pleasant. On Friday, I decided to roam around the marketplace in Nungambakkam; try exploring a few shops and restaurants. I still have pain in my right leg but still I walk so that it eases out.
I was walking on the left side of the road; ensuring basic pedestrian traffic sense. However, this led to my right leg nearer to the vehicles on road; compared to the left leg. I was standing still, checking out the juice shop in the picture.
Suddenly, I felt enormous pain in my right foot. To my horror, an autowaala came from behind and cut the rickshaw sharply only to let its back wheel crush my leg. I shouted at the full of my voice.....Thank God, the rick was not speeding away.....else the plaster would have transferrred to my leg.
The autowaala came out and told something in Tamil ....I responded angrily in English....only to see him walk back. I was amazed and thought what could I do even to let go my anger........I did not have an answer but to return to my hostel. It is not always Happys Endings
Anna Bachae Chennai ke autowaalon se!!!!!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
The candyman in the Beach Local
The evening of 5th May(just yesterday) was no different; just that I was returning alone. I was lost in my own world, listening to songs; so much that I noticed a candy salesman only after he was gone past me. He was shouting something in Tamil which in all probability meant the price of the candies. What was special about the salesman was his ability to fight his disability. He appeared completely blind from the look of his eyes. I was too moved to see this spirited middle aged man (probably on the wrong side of 40s) and I decided to do my bit by buying a candy bar from him.
The man had moved all over the big bogey and getting no responses was waiting for the train to stop and standing near an exit door. I approached him and offere him a 10 rupee note. He felt the note with his fingers and asked something in Tamil which probably meant how many I needed. I feel so helpless with the language that I did not reply. I just wished that the train stops and he gets down. But he moved his hands and grabbed my hands and then I responded “How much? One?” ..I guess to people who don’t speak English broken words make some sense (taking a cue from the Autowalas here)…..To my surprise, he responded, “Sir, Rs. 5 for one piece”. I told to give one candy(it did not appear very edible). He put his hand in his pocket to return the money and I whispered in his ear (earnestly) “Please keep the change”.
“Sir, Please take the balance. I wish to earn every bread I eat.” And I was left ashamed but full of respect for the salesman. I immediately responded “Give me another one as well.” He passed another candy and left as the train stopped. I stood there for a couple of minutes, delighted by the level of belief the Candyman had on himself, and the never say die spirit that oozed from him.
The two bars that I bought are there in the pic..one smaller than the other (I tried tasting it as well). Infact, I find it so motivating, would always keep them on the study table here.....we are blessed with so much and still we complain
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Jaane kyaa dhoondta hai
This very number from Lucky Ali...rings in my mind time and again in Chennai...and the reason being the ample time I get to spend with myself.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
DCE....the best days of my life..How about reliving them?
Times have changed with my friends not around,
Friends closer to them can never be found.
Still, whenever I have time; I dont waste in vain,
Infact, i prefer to walk down my memory lane.
It is very human to walk down the memory lane. Infact, I am sure most of us prefer remembering their salad days; especially the college days. The best part of those awesome four years of life is the psyche....neither are we too childish nor are we mature heads, helping us gel a lot more.
I am very pained (infact envious) thinking about College. Those night outs, bunking lectures, jam sessions in the hostel, all night gossips (GC), indoor cricket, PC movie screening at 2 in the night, maggi and chai from Baba's shop, solitary walk on the lonely roads, missed call-missed call game all night, blind copying the assignments, eating the lunch of the dayscholars, dances in the rain, DP on the hostel roof-tops, darest and the silliest Dares (Karan, Singh and Gupta remember the BMH roof), turning lectures into a comedy shows (remember 'Raja' Sir), well the list never ends. Everything has been so much fun.
Everything was easy, most of the things went the way we wanted them to be. Still, everyone would agree having some heated arguments with others. But I think, that has led to some sweet rememberances to all. Try recalling an argument with anybody; I am sure most of us will smile thinking on the cause/reactions/outcomes of such alterations.
But now things have changed. Most of us have started believing that the college life was just a phase, which has passed. There are other things in life including office, responsibilities, PG, and what not. Definitely, these responsibilities have changed our outlook to life. But shouldn't we try celebrating just a day in 6-months (or one year) together. That will keep us bonded together, somewhat closer to the relationship we shared in college; and more importantly we will feel good.
The friends made in the college are never to be found again. Most of the friends later in life would be too mature to befriend the real me. In the rarest thoughts, we all should admit to caring for each other.
Meeting each other can be real fun especially after 4-6 months. But we are deterred by the distances one has to cover to meet at Priya(fine...no more meets here) or CP. And also, "I had a problem with him" or " Disturbing attitude oozes through him" or" She is not my types" thoughts cross our minds unempteen times. But are these thoughts worth crossing our minds?
Why don't we all gather up to celebrate the birthday of any of our classmates? why don't we just gather for no cause? Why don't we just party dutching the expenses? A new phase of our life awaits us with new offerings, we should not let that pass as just a phase with "After college, before marriage" tag; with nothing much to cherish about.
We can make this phase of our lives equally interesting, provided we shun the basic Shell deterring our souls from meeting each other without any cause.