UnSolving Life.!!

Probably my friend was right when he said that Life is a Puzzle. Solution may vary from person to person and time-to-time however Life/puzzle remains unanswered since time immemorial. The false dichotomy of life lays here, every theory, be it traditional or modern suggests golden rules for beautiful balanced life but hardly anyone has incorporated those so-called valuable guidelines. Pundits say life is about means; take care of present, future will take its care. But how practical or easy is this for us? Watching a 3-hour movie we can definitely feel the same, however can this be our Mantra for life outside theater? Sometimes I ask myself is Life really a stage? Or is it just another stupid theory by a learned man so that people can think and believe what they want to believe. Actually it is quite easy and comfortable to dance at the tunes of complexities of your life and say that I am just performing the play directed by God. Harsh reality is we are so more drenched and involved in puzzle that we rarely seek solution. We just pass from one path to another. From school to college to relationship to family we are always answerable to some one. Where is our own existence? When are we free? What purpose we are serving?
The other day I asked myself what is the true purpose of me being here. What is reality? You reading this is a reality, but is their any bigger picture? I mean, is MAN really the end of universe or we also just think and behave in an internal frame of reference, controlled by someone. I am still Unsolving Life…..Aren’t you ???

And then it was Trekking :)

It was 00.30 hrs on 10th October 2011 when we started our journey. We board a roadways bus to Rishikesh from where the next bus was scheduled at 4 o’ clock in the morning. When roads are empty and Sky is dark Roadways journey is a different experience altogether. We reached Rishikesh by 3 and at once we decided to use 1 hour and without any second thought we board an auto to Ram Jhula. It was almost a full moon night and standing in mid of Ram Jhula it appeared for once that moon has come down and holy Ganga has embraced moon in her. It was only some time later when I realized that it was the reflection of moon in flowing Ganga.

We quickly returned from Ram Jhula and started our journey to Devariya Taal. It was the time when MBA come advantageous, as we all were still very fresh at 6 in the morning and was able to enjoy the scenic beauty outside. However after some time we all were dozing and then I realized that it was 9 in the morning, which was the usual time for our lectures.

Our destination was just 250 kms apart and we were expected to reach there by 3 in afternoon but then Nature had some other plans for us. It was 11 in the morning when we encountered first landslide, an hour passed and our bus was at same position. Somehow we managed to pass out but it was only 1 when we encountered second landslide. This time it was a huge one and for many of us it was the first live experience. It occurred just 20 kms before DevPrayag. The place where we were standing provided us a complete panoramic and picturesque view of valley, river surrounded by mountains on both sides, to say the least I was in love with Shivaliks then and there only.

After lunch we started our journey again and finally managed to reach Okhi Math, it was already 8 in the night and for once trekking appeared infeasible still we gamble on nature and decided if rain permits we will trek early morning next day. We were tiring but excited, exhausted by journey but rejuvenated by nature, hungry by stomach but greedy by heart, we all had the cup of tea in our front and at the same time we all knew it is worthless if are not able to drink that. That time we only had one thing with us HOPE, and believe me Hope can keep you alive, can act as catalyst and this was exactly what happened, our hope provided us the necessary zeal and enthusiasm and by God grace it didn’t rain next morning.
to be continued

20 Days and Beyond..!!!!

Twinkling stars in the sky,
Why I am feeling shy
Four weeks gone,
I should better know, now I am not alone.
Some days before strangers were my world,
Now friends are the buzzwords.

I landed up here with aspirations in my heart and dreams in my eyes. Initially I was alone then I got some shoulders to bank upon. These shoulders continuously realize me of my graduation life where I discovered some strong and soft shoulders, those are always present for me. When I see around I can name some ‘FRIENDS’, not only I can ‘RELY’ but also I can ‘TRUST’, still there is a touch of uneasiness in the air. This happens, may be in the transition when people perceive you and when there is a clash between your actual inner-self and the personality that is being outcast. Anyways this transition won’t last forever, as you cannot always be what you pretend to be.

Twenty days past and it is still Grey to me that what MBA is all about I hope I will get an answer by the time I would be an MBA. Someone said MBA is all about planning, what I felt is that MBA is all about discussion. I have seen faces just discussing, discussing entire night, discussing in class, discussing in Mess, even in Bathroom. Sometime even they are not sure what they are discussing about but then it happens with all INDIANS, it’s OK as they are ONLY discussing. I have also discussed, discussed in lengths. It might be due to ample opportunities and culture at IIT that people do discuss a lot of things, from Social cause (imparting education to security guards) to Political cause (who should be IIT’s new director).
My soul is somewhat settled in hostel now and everyday is a new experience for me, everyday I unlearn something and some new things are imprinted in my mind. The entire journey started with small believes and believe me BELIEVE is the word I am carrying forward with me, everyday every night and every moment.

Ye shuruati pagg hai antim padav ke aur,
kabhi milegi chaiye to kabhi badal ghanghor.
Aaya the yahan; matr ek VISHWAS ke sath,
aur ab sunhara lag rha hai hatho me dosto ka hath.
Mehtwakansha hai kuch kar dekhane ke,
Aasha hai saafal ho jane ke.
Dekha ek khyab tha, panchi ban udd jane ka,
aaj mann hua khyab ko haqiqat banane ka.
aaj mann hua khyab ko haqiqat banane ka..!!!

Feeling Before First Class

Today if everything goes fine I would be attending my first MBA class. The day, for which I waited for so long, the day I have dreamed of in my sleeps, the day I have experienced through the eyes of my friends. Looking back I realize I haven’t told anyone why I want to do an MBA though I have contemplated several nights thinking of this answer however when I found one I didn’t get a chance to speak of my mind, but I have decided this time I won’t lie, may be because this time nothing is at stake. At least for once in coming two years I will tell my professors the rationale of me doing MBA. Like every student I have my expectation, I have my aspirations, I want to live again, I want to be free again. My experienced friends told me MBA is very unlike Engineering where you meet people as strangers and took them as friends. Here people come mature and its ‘I’ that precede ‘WE’, it’s ‘ME’ that precede ‘US’.

Two days is very little time to understand and know people specially for people like me who disagree with the statement that “First Impression is The Last Impression”, and going by the experience of last two days it will to be too early and too naive to comment about others. Three things that I want to take from my coming stay at IIT would be Friends, average level in all sports and Placement (in given order only as someone has rightly said that our friendship will outlast our fame). I am still somewhat jittery writing about my aspirations and expectations may be because I am still confused about what exactly is MBA and why I am here. So its better I should end it here. Good Night.!!!!

Seating alone........

Seating alone in a gusty night,
With stars shinning all bright.
I asked myself what I am searching for?
Stars are there; is this moon I am looking for?

Peeping through my window, pushing curtain aside,
I feel the blowing wind beside,
Breeze was cool enough to make oneself mad,
But I guess it was Rain that I was missing bad.

Looking around in the lonely skies,
The serenity captured in my eyes.
I could see the firefly twinkling, bees whispering too,
However, I felt it was the Silence I was listening to.

Cloud disappeared and out come the Sun fresh
Startled, I stood up from my window desk
I was able to see my life looking back,
May be it was the future that I was looking at.
May be it was the future that I was looking at.

Back to Life

It’s vacation time, remember when we were kids our parents used to take us somewhere during June-July and after coming back we used to miss the place and slowly we used to come BACK to LIFE.
Well I still remember it was 2 A.M in the morning and I was not able to sleep, twisting and turning in my bed I was only thinking about my upcoming trip to Valley. I had to wake up at 4 to pick my friend from Railway station; he was coming from Jammu just to join us. Despite trying hard I barely managed to get my eyes of. His train arrived at 4.30 and we were back home at 5. We still had 45 minutes, as our Cab was scheduled to arrive at 5.45. We grab a cup of tea and do some chit chatting, Cab arrived at 6.15 and after picking Ankur and Rahul we started our journey, journey to Rishikesh and Mussoorie.
Till two days back I always had a grudge to no one but myself that in spite of born and brought up in Saharanpur I have never been to Dehradoon and Mussoorie. As soon as I returned home from Bangalore I had one thing in my mind that these vacations I have to visit these two places, I don’t know if I was so adamant or it was sheer desperation that I was ready to visit these places alone also (May be I wouldn’t have done this, still this thought touched my mind once). Few days back I had a routine visit to my school friend Rahul where plan was finalized, and after initial set of differences about places Rishikesh and Mussoorie were stamped, we contacted Lucky (school friend) and he agreed. Bingo I was so happy, we all agreed to back a cab down there so that we would be at our ease. We booked the Cab and just one day before I came to know that Ankur is also in Saharanpur. In no time he was persuaded to join us.
We even hadn’t started and clouds surrounded us, followed by tornado and rain. We felt cheated and started thinking about options as Rafting appeared impossible in that conditions. It was 10 in the morning and we were at Haridwar, it was still raining, we called some people in Rishikesh and got confirm news that Rafts are going up and we can do rafting though from Brahmpuri (10 Km stretch) only.

We felt relived, if not delighted, as something is always better than nothing. I also knew that my friends have never done rafting before so they will enjoy the most be it from Brahmpuri or Shivpuri. After breaking our fast we reached Rishikesh around 11 and after initial enquiries and bar gaining we finalized a deal with Exotic Himalayas for Rs 350 per person (if we are only 4 people) or Rs 300 per person (if they manage to get any more client). Fortunately they didn’t managed to get any client and we started at 1.30 from Brahmpuri. It was a repeat for me still I was enjoying each and every notch of rafting as someone has said, “human heart is pleased more with company than places and things”. We crossed three rapids in between, jumped from 30 ft high cliff, and guides also flipped our Raft upside down in between, this was certainly amazing with Rahul and Lucky stuck under the Raft, Ankur and me were far away from Raft in mid of Ganga, Ankur feared initially but he quickly realized that he can’t drown with life jacket, he quickly gain his senses and started to feel the water and People around and on Lakshman Jhula were thinking as some incident has happened. We ended our rafting at Lakshman Jhula.

It was 4.30 by then and without wasting any more time we quickly started for Mussoorie, in between we had snacks at KFC – Dehradoon. We reached Mussoorie at 7 in the evening and sooner we realized that all the Hotels were jam-packed, we managed to get a decent enough room by 8.30. We roamed at Mall Road; truly speaking I didn’t like it much. It was over crowded, I had a different picture of Hill Stations in my mind where there are less people and more trees, where people come far away from intricacies of life to relax, where people prefer silence and it is only nature that talks and only wind that shouts, where people feel the weather and leave themselves free, where people do not plan any activities for enjoyment still they feel occupied. Anyways we got our dinner packed and left for room around 11. It felt good to be in that room, I loved the fool moon night and I loved the way clouds were encompassing that moon, it was a like a turf going on and on between dark clouds and lovely moon light. I cannot say who was defeated but certainly I felt winner. However icing on the cake was the view from our balcony, we could see entire valley and Dehradoon looked mesmerizing in lights. It was like seating in a private auditorium and musicians playing for you. I felt trapped in the beauty and listened the silence till 3 in the morning.
Next morning we wake up at 8 and without wasting the time on bathing etc we left the Hotel and had quick breakfast. We planned to visit Gun Hill by trolley but there was 3 hours waiting time for that. We dropped the plan and started for Campty Water Fall at 1 in afternoon. Just 2 kms away from destination we were stuck in jam, nearly 800 vehicles were already parked in and around Campty fall area. We left the cab and started to walk. We reached Campty, put our camera and cell phones in Locker and went below the fall.

I was un-reactive for initial 5 minutes then I realized that I do not like it; there were around 300 people in the small pool meant only for 50 people. No later than 10 minutes I left the pool, I took the camera out and took some shots of my friends who said they were enjoying there. Still I cannot fathom that fact. We left Campty around 3 and were back to Mussoorie at 4 in evening, just at that time clouds started to cover Mussoorie, needless to say that view was breathtaking. We had lunch there, and I was bewildered once more to feel the clouds around me. Finally we left Mussoorie around 8 in evening I was at home at 11.30 seating with MOM with a cup of tea. I just went in the balcony and listened a motorbike whistling. That was the time when I realized that I am BACK to so call LIFE.

What an Idea (it was)

I did my Engineering from a government college in Lucknow, one thing that was in abundance all the four years was TIME, we were never short of time, because there were no classes to go, no lectures to attend, no assignments to submit, no deadlines to meet. It won’t be an exaggeration to say I did my Engineering from my hostel. College life comprises Hostel life but for me College life comprised only Hostel Life.
Every other day we (friends) used to have discussions. Discussions from Indo–Pak issue to Britney Spears and this was the case with everyone there. One such fine evening three friends were discussing what else they could do. Here goes the conversation…………………

Satyam “I cant just sit ideal doing nothing I think we should start to be in some business, at least we can try to earn something, look at the guys from IIT’s, they always get themselves busy even there are guys having their own IT companies and we even struggle to compile a simple C program”
Rohan “so what if we are learning a and b of fuc###g ‘C’, instead of comparing with others we should see our strengths and should work on things at which we are good, I want to be an entrepreneur and I don’t know how but I know I will be one day ”
Satyam ”Yah, but we can’t allow the time to just skip form our hands, we have the time and potential to do something and I have decided am I m going to join any call center in Lucknow.”
Shanky “Call center are you mad, how will you manage and what about the classes”
Satyam “You know that there are hardly any classes and moreover after the exams their will be holidays fir 15 days and what’s the big deal if we face any difficulty we can leave that in between as there is no bond”
Rohan “ okay, agree but why call center”.
Satyam “its not only about money, we all want to take admission in good B-schools for that we require good communication skills and call center will enhance our personality and boost our confidence in English speaking”.
“Both of you have gone mad, I am not joining you in this foolish idea of yours”, said Shanky and left the room.

Rohan became excited and ask Satyam about different call centers in Lucknow, they both searched on internet regarding shifts and salary, one thing was for sure as fresher in Lucknow you can’t get more than 8,000 in any call center, be it international or domestic. At night at LKD* after having parathas when Rohan lit a cigarette a thought arose in his mind, he proposed Satyam that they can give interviews in different call centers during the time of examinations so that they can join just after the exams are over, Shanky laughed at this idea and rated this as an insane idea but Satyam knew that Rohan was not joking and moreover he thought that its only the night time when they study so during the day they can manage their time to give interviews. So the next day, day before the compiler exam they managed to give two interviews and they were selected in both but were having their joining after 3 weeks. Both of them were exhausted by night so they didn’t study much but were able to get passing marks in the examination. Though they were quiet eager to join call canter but were not able to join any due to late joining.

* LKD (Lambu Ka Dhabba) :: Daily eating cum hanging place at Night.

!!! One Week without ___!!!!

Its 8.35 in evening and I am not playing Squash or Tennis, neither did I used Swimming Pool or Steam-Sauna facility for last week. Life has completely changed in last week-since I returned home from Bangalore. One thing is for sure; I have definitely gained 2-3 kgs of weight. Sometimes I am just seating idle and doing nothing, though thanks to big IT company where I worked previously that now I know how to do this (NOTHING). No friends here, No Kobe’s or Mac-D, BSNL Internet is also not working, electricity is like distant dream and most important thing is climate, WOW! Only 40 degree Celsius, isn’t it amazing? Chilled liquid diet is the preferable mode of living for me now. Most of my time is occupied in thinking, thinking about Symphony. I thought to cook daily and spend some time in kitchen but it’s nearly impossible to stand without Fan, so idea dropped. No multiplex or mall here. This is what happens when you return from Metropolitan City to small town. First week I enjoyed a lot, I enjoyed roads without traffic signals, enjoy seeing monkeys on my terrace, enjoyed the chanting of sparrow, enjoyed the shadow of Old Banyan Tree in front of my house, enjoyed lying down and doing nothing, enjoyed half day sleep, enjoyed night without Internet even enjoyed speaking very less for entire day, but now I am loosing interest in all this. I have more than a month to spend in my small home town, I am not saying I don’t like this place I am just missing the activities and fun that I use to do in Bangalore, anyways that is past now and someone has rightly said that earlier you forget past, better it is for you. Every morning I wake up at around 10 but comes out of bed only around 11, an hour is spend thinking what to do next. I am planning to visit several places, though I leave very near to Doon valley but never been there, this time I am planning a trip there but their lies a gap between planning and execution, let’s see when I will cover that gap. I am also planning a trip to Shimla and who know I might return to Bangalore via Mumbai anyways it’s all planning and believe me an empty mind can do the best planning.

I have to study for coming two years otherwise, may be I would have thought in that area, nobody would provide me job for one month.
And the Irony is I am doing nothing but feeling like I am doing a heavy work, that too without any salary. Lets see if I can grab one more cup of tea, my true companion who is with me be it Bangalore, Flight to Delhi, Train back Home or Home sweet Home.

Shades...!!!!!

Some days back i was looking at my college pics, i was able to recall what all fun we used to have there, then suddenly my mind diverted from college to early school life however i was not able to recall much.
I realized that Life Cycle is like Day cycle, our shadow start diminishing with Sun Set, same way as we grow older our memories(Shadow) starts weaning. Then i went deep into gray and separated white from Black.

This post is very much related to my life at IET. If you are not related to IET then you may find this post as boring as you are not aware of characters also. This is not a fiction and all the characters are real, just some of the names are changed. The I.E.T – Place where we spent 4 wonderful years of our life, those 4 years would be remembered always, not only remembered, cherished also. Those 4 years saw the transformation,for most of us,from boys to men. We fought, enjoyed sleepless nights, bunked classes, had crushes and did everything under the sun that could be thought of.

Most of the time everyday was same, outside person could easily term our life there at I.E.T as monotonous however only we know how the enjoyment was there in each minute of every hour for all the days of every month for all 4 years.
I will try to narrate my one such day of final year at I.E.T – Lucknow(or should i say C – Block).



== Day Wednesday
== Time 03.30 hours GMT
== Place C – Block

Ramesh on door – Dude, do you have cigarette?
Me – No, by the way what were you doing and where are Manav and Mayank.
Ramesh – Manav is talking to Pooja and i don't know abt Mayank, may be sleeping. What about you, where were you, i couldn't find you in the room earlier.
Me – Yah we were playing lakdi at Jaine's room.
Ramesh – Who all?
Me – Same Mangal, Jaine, Galot and me. Raja,Laksh Jauhri were also there. They were spectator.
Ramesh – ohh Mr Yoo was also there, that asshole must be chatting with someone on Internet.
Me – No yaar, i guess now a days Yoo brothers have changed the role, Laksh was chatting and Jauhri was observing his bi-seeps in mirror.
Ramesh – Assess remain asses.
Me – Obviously, see yours had they changed to 100 watt bulbs?
Ramesh – come time to go out.
Me – BC it was 1 when we came from LKD now again you want to see Chauani.
Ramesh – At that time i was not feeling very hungry, now also i am feeling acidity, i will drink cold Limca there.
Me – Hmm, no point in arguing with you, what about money, this time if we go with cash Lambu will demand our ass.
Ramesh – I have some change let me count – 3, 7 ,11. I have eleven rupees. How much you have.
Me – 11, great today we can give heavy tip also after food. Let me check my wallet. I have 20.
Ramesh – 31 is enough, 2 parathes 12, 2 teas 6, 3 ciggrate 15, total 33, we need just 2 more rupees.
Me – let me ask Backchod, may be we can have sumptuous meal.
(we both towards Backchod's room)

## We used to be broke most of the time. Though that's a different matter altogether how we used to arrange money for booze. To lend money from people around was also a part of our life there, be it Galot – The universal lender or Paltan or Sawtantr. One thing is sure that we can survive in toughest time of recession or inflation as at I.E.T we learned the art of managing finance crunch. The way we used to arrange 20-30 rupees just for a cup of tea and 2 cigarettes was remarkable.

Ramesh – Paltan, what are you doing.
Paltan – Nothing, was playing lakdi with Ishlaq Sir, then Pandey sir came we watched Mahabharat and now i was watching Blue Film in Ranjit's PC. What about you, how was your class today, i have heard that you got failed in CT and one more thing Siipu was saying that you drunk so much last night. Drinking 100 pipers must be fun. Huhh you are gaining reputation day be day.
Me (interferring in between) – Mr Question Mark, can we update you after coming back from LKD, can you lend me 50 rupees ?
Paltan – I have a 100 rupee note you can take that and what about Shubham, what was the last time he went home and how is your dholl group.
Ramesh – Paltam thanks, we will catch you later.
Ramesh - I don't know how he got all the news he should work in a news agency.
Me - Yaah he will be a great help to Pravesh, together they have more information than wikipedia.
Ramesh – Hmm, Bike do you have key ?
Me – Shanoo took the bike in evening, room must be in the room.
Ramesh – Oki in room or with Galot.
Me – And total expense now is Rs 43 , 33 + 10 for Petrol.
Ramesh – i hope bike has petrol till petrol pump.

== 04.20 hours
== LKD

Ramesh – Chauani, what all do you have.
Chauani – (MC daily same question)allu matar, matar paneer, egg curry, dal fry.
Me – (interrupting in between) Baigan ka Bharta nahi hai kya?
Chauani – No, tell fast i do not have time.
Ramesh – first bring fresh cutted onions with lemons, 2 special teas, and 2 aalu pyaz paratha.
Me – Hey chotu bring one ultra mild.
Ramesh – pehla
Me – who else is here to claim the ciggarate.
Ramesh – i thought of practicing. Do you have any problem? God knows when we will ge our first salary when we can afford to buy complete pack of cigarettes.
Me – It would have been wonderful if we were placed in same company. Anyways leave, today i watched Anwar, i must say, such a horrible movie, we came out after first half only.
Ramesh – Where did you watch ? With complete group or with Anamika.
Me – we all were there Anamika, Mayuri, Galoti and me..
Ramesh – So, today what's the plan, no point in going class i am planning to sleep after breakfast. It's wednesday so there would be poori-aallu.
Me – ohh Yes, wednesday. Ummm when you will go for breakfast say shanno to bring 2 plates in C – 401.
Ramesh – Ass, be awake, we will have together.
Me – No Pal, 10 A.M morning i have plan with Anamika.
Ramesh – What's new in this. You guys have roamed entire Lucknow. You people are such freak.
Chotu – Sir cigarettes.
Me – Bring Matchbox also.
Ramesh – I have.
(Ramesh lighting the matchbox and i lighting the cigarette)
Me – We started with Navy cut, then Regular and now Ultramild seemed final.
Ramesh – Hmmm.

(cigarette passed to Ramesh)
## Chauani bringing food##

== 05.15 hours
== Back to Hostel

Me - I am going to Jaine's room. Are you coming ?
Ramesh – What will i do. Laksh will again say so double standard thing and then he will get scolding from me.
Me – Oki, see you in some time.
Ramesh – Umm, oki, i should also visit their room, it's long time since i meet Yoo Brothers.
Me – And i know exactly, why you want to meet them.

## We, both laughing ##
## @ Jaine's Room ##

Laksh – Hey mote bhai, how are you, you are always so busy, try to visit us poor at least once a day.
Ramesh – BC if you are so desperate to meet me, can't you come upstairs.
Jauhri – Laksh Bhai i agree with Mota.
Ramesh – And you Jauhri, last week i was not able to had chicken even i was in mess @ 1.30 A.M. You know why ? Misterejii told me that Jauhri ate 7 leg pieces and added to that their was also a bet between Panchu Sir and Pandey Sir that who will eat more. As a result acute shortage of food in C-block Mess.
(all laughing)

##Ramesh left after that##

Me – Where are Mangal and Galot?
Jaine – They are good children, not like us, they have slept.
Laksh – So means that Galot is better than you ? Remember your words in future.
Jaine – La##a, I was just giving an example.
Me – So who all will have breakfast today.
##Jaine and Laksh together said YES##
Jauhri – We will also awake Nimbu Raja and Galot.
Me – this awake word brings so enthusiasm in me, How are we supposed to awake them.
Laksh – (cunning smile) we will knock at their doors. What else we can do.
Jaine – What are you doing, lets start our game of Black Queen.
Jauhri – No, i am in if we are playing lakdi else i am also going for sleep.
Me – Oki, no worries, let us play Lakdi.
Jaine – Fine, let me male score card.
##and Lakdi continued till 7.15 in between there were of course 3-4 cigarettes with numbering.


== 07.15 hours
== C – Block

Jauhri – who is shouting outside and this loud music, who has gone mad.
Laksh – Look brothers, Jauhri is saying this as he is a new entry to hostel. Mota is enjoying his Sunrise with fear of the dark.
Jauhri – you don't know Laksh, this dark fear comes out of Mota and made us feraful.
## knock knock ##
## Mota at door ##
Jaine – Come Mota, you will leave 100 years.
Mota – No buddy, with this much alcohol in my blood even 45 years are more, moreover someone has said that Life should be large not long. You agree Mr Gandhi.
Me – Umm, depends Yaar.
Mota – Mr skeptical shed your philosophy and be specific, anyways i came to fag, i know you people must be having so First.
Jaine – Second
Laksh – Third
Me – Zero, and lighting the cigarette.
## after some time we all went to Mess, i can still feel the way we used to awake Raja and other slept people, the way Ramesh used to act like underworld Don and the way he used to bully Jauhri. Ramesh was the one who was always excited about the breakfast. We used to go together to C-block Mess and Shanno was the single point of contact for us. In his unavailability Ram Kumar or even Kanhayi ji used to serve us . No need to remind you all that Ramesh and we all used to eat havily in breakfast. With all these fun and cherished moments one thing more that i feel is the humbleness of C-block Mess workers. We used to order in Mess like anything and they never said No to us. C-block Mess is also an unforgettable part of our Hostel Life. Getting room delivery or ordering special pakodas for our Daru Parties. Misteri ji never said No to us. They even kept food plates reserved for us in our absense.

== 08.45 hours
== 3rd floor C-block

== usual encounter with Prakhar
== Prkhar coming out of washroom in his sports lower with toothbrush in one hand and tooth paste in other hand.

Prakhar – What's there in breakfast.
Ramesh – Poori allu.
Prakhar – Ohh and how come you people awake so early. You didn't slept. Correct ?
Me – You are always right. Even Shipra says so. In the class she always look for you, today we have her class you should go.
Prakhar – Yes, i will go, wnd what about your safia she always make you stand. Like other people are dead in our class.
Me – Because all smart people are dead.
Prakhar – BC, anyways talk to you later , now i am going for breakfast.
Ramesh – When did you sleep last night ?
Prakhar – 3, i was enjoying with Dr then at 2 Lankesh came, we chatted for half n hour, then i came to my room.
Ramesh – And what was Dr downloading last night, speed was so bad.
Prakhar – Porn, what else can he download, now he has a collection of 480 GB.
Ramesh – Great, i will use it before sleeping. Oki, (lighting cigarette) you go for breakfast and in afternoon tell me what happened in class.
Prakhar – oki, sure, bye, good night to both of you.

== 09.00 hrs – off to sleep.
== 13.00 hrs
== phone ringing.

Me – Good Morning
Anamika – Where the hell were you, i am calling since 9 A.M. We were supposed to go out at 10.
Me – I was sleeping baby.
Anamika – sleeping, so late. Why ? What were you doing in night.
Me – ohh, you don't know, last night i was sleeping with Malika, so didn't get the proper sleep. Now could you let me sleep for half -n- hour more.
Anamika – Oki, go, i am not talking to you.
Me – Hey sweetheart i was joking. You were asking as if you don't know what happen in C-block every night, same routine yaar. Lakdi, Lkd etc.
Anamika – Oki, Whatever. Now get ready we have to go to Waves or Fun.
Me – Why? Movie again, yesterday only we watched Anwar yaar, and that was horrible.
Anamika – oki, leave movie i have to do shopping.
Me – Shopping Why ?
Anamika – What why. I am feeling like shopping. Moreover it's a long time since i shopped.
Me – Yes, complete 10 days.
Anamika - Leave yaar, get ready and call me in 15 minutes.
Me – oki and what about other people, should i ask shubham, sachin.
Anamika – yah, you can ask them but i don't think they will come now. If they are not coming now tell them to meet in evening at Angaan.
Me – hmm, good idea.
Anamika – Oki, then bye.
Me – Bye.
Me – Hey one more thing. What about Lunch ? Should we do outside or you already had it in hostel.
Anamika – I had a bit. You also have something however we will have something outside also.
Me – i will not have only something, today is special, if chicken is good then i will have proper meal.
Anamika – oki but know keep the phone and get ready.
Me – Oki, bye.
Anamika – bye.

## A typical morning time in C-Block, not only for me, Ramesh or Manav but for most of the people. I still remeber the way i used to move outside my room at this time and someone could be found saying “Gandhi, morning ho gayi”.
The first thing was to look at second floor who all are standing and just a look downside you can easily find Lemon king and Company discussing about any girl, faculty, Anni, Seema or anything possible under the sun.
So precisely my first sentence after morning was to say Hii to them and to ask about Shubham, “Hey Jauhri, where is shubham”.
And somebody will reply that he is at Mangal's room.
Then my second work of the morning was to visit Ramesh's room and that used to happen like this.

Me – BC, wake up.
Ramesh – Asshole, let me sleep. You go, i will wake after half-n-hour.
Me – So you mean that you are missing special.
Ramesh – Ohh, chicken. No i don't want to miss i know you will go for lunch. Tell Shanno to reserve one plate for me.
Me – Yaah, I am planning to go, however i will go with you, c'mon get up. It's good to eat hot out there.
Me – (pulling his bed-sheet) Come, wake up.
Ramesh – Gandhi leave, what are you doing, if you do this way i will catch cold-hot, already i am not feeling well, feeling like cold and cough. Give me 10 minutes i will wake up.
Me – 10 minutes everything will be over.
Ramesh – (saying Ba Yaar dhaann bo diye tune to / didn't find the ennglish translation) Oki, i am ready. Let's start.
Me – and where are Manav and Machar.
Ramesh – How do i know, i was sleeping, Manav might in Machar's room.
Me – oki, you get up, i will call them.
Ramesh – Ass, at least give me a fag.
Me – Sorry buddy. I don't have.
Ramesh – Asshole.
Me – same to you.

## After taking Manav and sometimes Machar we used to left for lunch, mind this that this is wednesday, otherwise Manav and Ramesh used to go to VKD to have butter Maggi and Bread Malai and it was unfortunate for Jauhri if Ramesh encountered him between. After a sound sleep for 6-7 hours Ramesh was like a hungry tiger who required anyone to harass. Then we used to give further problems to Shanno/Ramkumar with extra demands. This was not the end, we used to disturb Misterjii also by demanding extra extra large piece of that Butter Scotch Ice-cream.
So this was the end of lunch. Needles to mention that cigarettes used to compliment every meal big or small. After this if i am going out immediately then i used to brush my teethes and if the occasion was very special i used to take a call on bathing.
I can say it used to be around 14.20 hours when it was the time for second call from Anamika.
Anamika – Are you Ready.
Me- Yah, sort of. Just 5 minutes, i will call you, bye.
Anamika – Oki, call me fast. I am waiting.
Me – Oki, bye.
It was the time when i used to get ready in 10 minutes, actually what was required, some water splashing on mouth and hairs and to change clothes. That's it. I was ready to move out. One thing good was i didn't like to wear shoes, sleepers were my best companion and then Nescafe was the place where she used to come on her scotty. Where we used to meet. Nescafe was the place where driver used to turn into pillion driver and i used to drive scotty. WOW, the only imagination of Anamika seating beside me on scotty filled my heart with Nostalgia.
Weathers changed, Climate changed, Places changed, Location changed, sometimes vehicles also changed but the common thing was the that afternoon time and our meeting.

== 14.45 hours
== Nescafe (Academic Block).

Me – So where to go ?
Anamika – How dumb, i told you already WAVES.
Me – Oki.
Anamika – And what about Sachin Shubham Mangal. Will they be coming in evening for coffee at Angaan.
Me – I don't know. I communicated this to Galot. Let's see.
Anamika – Hmm, if they are not coming we will go, i want to drink coffee at Angaan.
Me – Oki Boss.

## Then 15.00 hours to 19.45 hours used to pass with Anamika, here i am not writing that stuff for two reasons. First it needs an entire chapter to describe that. I won't be able to compress those lovely movements, so maybe i will cover them sometime next-time and secondly i don't know how much interest will that conversation fetch, might be boring for most of you.

== 19.50 hours
== Nescaffe again (Departure)
Me – Oki then bye, see you tomorrow.
Anamika – Bye.

== 19.55 hours
== VKD
Me – Pehla (first).
Ramesh – I don’t know how much you people can roam, Gandhi you have got huge capacity- in roaming.
Me – Vijendra Bhaiya ek chaiy (One Tea Please).
Me – So ? What about dinner today?
Ramesh – You came without dinner, I have not decided yet, was sleeping just wake up at 7 and now I am here.
Me – Good, sleeping this much. Now you will be awake for night long, I pitty these C block people.
Ramesh – You are one of them.
Me – Unfortunately.
Ramesh – Vijendra, what happened ? give me my maggi, you are taking too much time.

After that we used to spend half and hour at VKD (Vijendra ka Dhabba), our mess, canteen whatever. I am ending the above described day here only, so that you can take your time and go in past and think about remaining quarter of the day.

Jab We Went – Midnight trek to Skandgiri !!

P.S This is not my original Creation however i am one of those fantastic five(discussed bellow). Credit goes to Sayan Pal for writing this beautiful travelogue..

Thwarted by rain in the previous two occasions, I almost gave up my long cherished dream of midnight tryst with Skandgiri. But my ever-enthusiastic roomies forced me to give it a last try. Immediately the group was formed (which I call “Fantastic Five”) and off we went to Skandgiri , the mysterious hill.

After completing our regular TT and pool sessions, we started around 11:45 PM from Hosur Road in our own vehicle. It was really refreshing to see silent Bangalore roads where one can easily drive at 80 km/hr. With no proper map or GPRS we somehow reached NH 7 and zoomed past new airport to reach Nandi Hills road. The real journey begins!!

Around 1 AM, we took a tea-break at a road side stall and picked up important road direction to Skandgiri from the shop owner. However, despite of losing our directions on few occasions, we did manage to reach the foothill at around 2:00 am. As soon as our car entered the parking, some local lads popped up from darkness and offered their services as guide. After completing a round of bargain we started our trek around 2:30 AM.

My meeting with Skandgiri can’t be a smooth one and I was correct. The guide wanted to finish the trip as early as possible (to catch the next party) and guided us into an ever stiff and untraced trail. Not knowing that there exists a relatively easier path, we took the challenge and started following our guide with lots of determination and enthusiasm. But gradually it become increasingly difficult to meet guide’s pace and we forced him to take it easy. We took snaps in between and enjoyed the nocturnal beauty of the pristine mountain. A faint melodious music from nearby temple set the perfect background score to our journey to uncertainty. Slowly but steadily we entered into the realm of cloud as we reached the halfway mark. (As per our guide 55% ).

We started feeling the chilly wind and it became really difficult to move ahead steadily. Once into the cloud, the visibility suddenly dropped down to threatening magnitude and we could not even see each other. Only hope was light emanating from torch and constant vocal-tonic from my teammates. The most difficult part of the trek was to climb up those wet stones without any support from either side. After a certain point, we realized that this cannot be the normal route as we could not figure out a single trekker nearby. Although the fear of climbing down this trail creped in to our mind yet we enjoyed every step of this adventurous trail. Our constant fight with gusty wind, stiff climb, pitch-black darkness and freezing cold continued till we reached the hilltop.

Around 5 AM we reached our destination i.e. the bread-omlette shop at the topic. Being hungry and cold we instantly ordered for tea, bread-omlette and maggi. The shop owner also cross-soled his campfire service to us. But later we realized that it was only the heat generated from the campfire saved us from strong and chilly wind. We circled around the campfire and started taking snaps. It was complete dark. Around 6 AM we saw faint ray of light in the horizon which signaled sunrise. We woke from our semi-sleepy stage and hurried on to the top to watch the much awaited sunrise. We heard so much about the beautiful sunrise in Skadgiri that we could easily brave the gusty winds and cold.
But alas! God of rain (or cloud) took the revenge with vengeance in the morning and our wait got extended. A thick layer of cloud prevented us from watching the heavenly sunrise. As the sun started accepting the defeat, wind speed peaked up to unbearable magnitude and forced us to take shelter in a small temple. The comfort we experienced inside the shelter was relieving. Whenever there was a shout outside we rushed out of the shelter to watch sunrise but without any success. At around 7:30 AM we finally gave up and prepared to climb down. As our guide had already left us we had no choice but to follow the crowd. This time crowd intelligence worked and we took the normal path.This trail is less frightening (or you may say less-adventurous) but equally beautiful. We took snaps at regular breaks and slowly climb down to foothill around 9. It took another one and half hours to locate our car as we reached the other side of the hill while climbing down.

Finally we started our journey back to Bangalore around 10:30 AM and reached our sweet nest at 1 PM. It was my first mid night trek and a lifetime experience. The sheer joy of adventure, thrill of moving through darkness, ecstasy of stumbling on the clouds …. the memory is unforgettable and will remain etched to my heart forever.

Giving Back (Self Realisation)

Lot of things are being said, and little done on, how to save mother earth from human greed. People always coming up with problems India is facing, from electricity shortage to farmer’s suicide, from lack of sanitation facilities to poor education. Newspaper articles, facebook, youtube is full of problems people are facing. But where is the Remedy? Ohh, yaah I read one article last week that suggested how government is responsible and how politicians and bur crates should work. Com on how many government officials read that? Truth is stranger than fiction and the truth is we feel good when we blame government and governance inside India for all the wrong things happenings. We like comments stating those ugly things and author feel delighted. However it is equally important to know what we can do. I believe there are some little ways in which we can Give Back to Society. I am not against luxury, I am not saying to compromise your comforts, and I do not expect this to happen at this early age. We youth are in our favorite phase of life. Obviously first concern should be to live a wonderful life. However we can avoid WASTAGE. I am not asking to cut short your cell phone bills; neither am I asking to leave your car or motorbike next time. If we can cooperate in just three ways, yes three ways (Electricity, Food and Paper) I believe society would be thankful to us. Wastage of money, luxury and necessity defines social status of upper class, upper middle class and lower middle class respectively (I do not have word for lower class). And let me say here bachelors working in MNC’s (who do not have to support family) are also leaving little more than a luxury life.

Someone said “Money is yours but Resources belongs to Society”. Very rightly said and let me elaborate this. In 1982 per unit electricity in India was Rs. 2 per unit. Now in Delhi it is around Rs 6.50 per unit. Leave aside lower class, lower middle class finds it difficult to cope up with increasing Electricity Bill. Actually in 1982 rich people though that they can easily pay whatever electricity board billed them but they forgot that due to their over consumption there was general price rise in electricity price. From 2 per unit it touched 3 per unit in 1990. Still it didn’t have any impact on their pocket it was a miserable farmer who was feeling the heat as his annual income didn’t rise so much. There are numerous problems like this and answer lies in just basic understanding.

We are not getting any utility by wasting expensive food so why are we wasting it? Just because we have the money to waste, I am not against hangouts and daily eating out. Please go and enjoy as long as you can afford but what’s the point of wasting food in expensive restaurants. I hope now you understand how this indirectly affects food supply to lower class and why there is so much food inflation. So I can expect from us that next time we will order whatever we can consume.

Thirdly think something about papers. People please do not think office printer as free, believe me you will realize the cost when you will have to pay for your child’s stationary (may be 5 years down the line), show some responsibility and at least print on both sides. I have seen people taking two or three print outs of tickets, I do not know what purpose does it serve, I have also seen people taking paper receipt from ATM during cash withdrawal and without even looking at that small 4 inch white slip they will tear it and through in dustbin. When machine asks us do we need the print of transaction, can’t we say NO?

Relationship

One of my friend asked me, in fact questioned me about Relationships. She asked why boys are less understanding and why sometimes they do not feel the same what girl feels. Why it is that the girls expect more than boys do. Last few days I was trying to think of relationships of not only lovers but also of family and friends. Apart from blood relations what makes a relationship stronger is Attachment and Bonding. Every one thinks different and has different perspective towards life. You find your life partner, your soul mate however do not try to make assumption of thinking her or him as ditto like you. He or she should complete you rather than replicate you. To understand other’s prospective it is first important to shed your ego, behave rationally and always keep in mind that human do make mistakes or other people can also be saying right. The base of any relationship is the willingness to listen to others and trust on their judgments. It holds good for every relationship. Here I do not want to compare and outcast similarities and differences between boys and girls thinking in a relationship still I would like to state a very important point. “Next time you find a fault with some of your friend think of his or her qualities, the negative feeling will go away and you will be able to embrace him or her”. Life is just some thousands of weekends only; please do not waste it. How many times it has happened to you that you have first ruined a planned and later realized that your anger and frustration was useless. You should feel proud that there is someone special who loves you so much so instead of living Black and White live a colorful life with your loved ones. Enjoy and live every moment before these colors get fade. So nest time if you have a turf with your beloved don’t wait for him or her to say something to you, go and just tell her what is your love for her or him. Think of your good moments together. Believe me it will help. Think life as a present and try to enjoy it in present. It will be wonderful always then.

Live Silently

Silence – one small word but when you dig inside this word is nothing short of an ocean. In this occupied life where is the time for absolute silence, even when we are alone our mind is continuously thinking about some or other thing. When was the last time when you were free and was just relaxing with nothing in your mind? Truly speaking do you have control over your mind? Can it remain idle at your wish? Do you have command over your mind? Lately when have you smelled the fragrance of air or when you felt that wind around is quite strong. Sometimes we just need nothing but ourselves. We have forgotten that there is also one sole of ours that never leaves us; we can bank on that sole. Sometimes we need to commune with our sole because it is our sole that understand us best. No friend No pal No relative is the answer to yourself but your sole is. Let the voice of sole prevails, give time to you. Learn to accompany your sole in silence. Next time do not complain when you have nothing to do, at least for once admire silence then only words and world will seem beautiful. Sometimes do not do anything just LIVE SILENTLY.

Memories

Well it was a desired weekend. Ambika’s birthday and that too on weekend, what else could we have desired for and icing on cake was that Swati was here however excitement reached its peak when we get to know that Pallavi is also joining us. Consciously, sub-consciously or unconsciously we all started to plan surprise for Ambika.
Without any much fuss jam-packed plan for entire 60 hours was finalized. We started with Athena. So called house music, it was not great but who cares about music when friends are around to accompany you on Dance floor. We drank, danced, and drenched ourselves in memories. For a moment it appeared that we are back in college at enjoying somewhere down there only. Well we danced for 2-3 hours and came back. It was at home where local road-side dance started. Nobody was ready to sleep though everybody knew that we have to wake up at 7 as we had plan for WonderLa next morning. It was nothing less than some sort a festival and everyone was thinking that:-

This night should last long,
For us to do some ding dong,
This time should stay here.
To celebrate these moments rare.

Then next morning we were in Wonderla. From free fall to Maverick to Insanity we enjoyed each and every ride. Enjoying a ride was a different thing but to have your dear ones near and to do all the fun tamasha in ride with them is a different feeling all together. From wave pool to play pool to Rain Disco we were drenched in water, same way now we are drenched with the same MEMORIES.

To Start With

I was going through a blog, suddenly I realized that I also needed one, question arose in my mind that why do people blog or why to people write. People writing diaries or personal stuff is fine, people writing to earn livelihood is also fine but why do people like me write. I asked myself but didn’t get the answer, next thought in my mind was to write and ask other people. It was like to find answer to a question by asking a question again.
When you write deep down there is a sense of satisfaction. You feel delighted, and joy is added to it when the stuff got appreciated. We all need love, we all love appreciation, we all appreciate quality and when some known person/friend comes up with a average stuff it looks quality as that is the time when you can feel yourself in other person shoes. You don’t only read you feel the reading, this is the time when mind and heart synchronizes and produces trance that takes your inner self into control, you feel lighted, and you feel touched.