tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138406662011-07-29T11:28:48.278+05:30Yet another blogger and his blomits!Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.comBlogger561100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-476603480085248652011-07-09T23:44:00.003+05:302011-07-09T23:52:38.266+05:30<meta equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Hunger struck, I fumbled and stumbled with a medium pan pizza, which had a double layered cheese. One may say, that happens, buddy! Had you known me you would have empathized in a different way...</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Rewind back … 20 odd yrs …</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">I am eating a snack, my sister is eating a snack... 10 minutes later because of me watching her eat … I would end up eating both of ours.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Few days later …</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">I am eating an ice cream, my sister too is eating or about to eat an ice cream, 10 minutes later because of me watching her eat … I would end up eating both of ours.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Few months later …</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">I am eating a favourite meal, my sister is eating a not so favourite meal, but 10 minutes later I started to eat what she had, well after completing what was mine.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">So, you see, I was born to eat and enjoy food unfortunately (or fortunately for the animal kingdom) the only thing I always ate was clean vegetarian food. And my vegetarian occasionally had eggs in some other form – cakes or mayonnaise.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">I was known for what and how I eat. Everyone used to give importance to <strike>me and</strike> my food when I am around, they would normally make sure that there's plenty enough when I pay them a visit. And I am usually preferential, I do not eat everywhere I go, unless instinct tells me that food would be good.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">I am not a connoisseur but I am known for appreciating good food. This made a sort of good cook, I am allowed to say that because I liked what I usually made – but, there are instances when others did not. ;-) For example I made a <i>special stuffed chilli bhajji</i> once, which came out very very spicy and did not go well with the samplers – I stuffed these special long chillies with our normal green chillies – that unfortunately made many stomachs upset and did not go very well with my repertoire!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Anyways, I have my reservations too in the dishes I eat or drink. I usually prefer large meals, and grande drinks. I am totally averse to anything small in food! Well, you could say that it was an adapted one from my family – when I am usually told about how people eat and grow big and not to see food wasted – so I chose everything big when I eat out. Even ice creams – once when we hung out at Movenpick, Chennai for my friend's birthday bash – I ordered the largest available on their menu. :-P</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Thus was my reputation that I ended up in completing most of the remainders that people usually, happily, pushover to my side of the table. I do not like to see people waste food.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">I would, most of the times, shock and surprise people who would watch me with awe by devouring a two 12 inch pizzas back to back with out a break and would still end up asking for more. This incident happened on a foreign land – all people gathered for a night and dined together. I ordered a soup from a Chinese place, blimey they must have known or spied on me – they gave a litre of soup!!! Well, that vanished without a trace only to reappear, after being processed, the next day. This followed with a medium pizza which my colleague couldn't complete, then my own 12inch pizza and finally someone else's 12 inch pizza and couple of glasses of coke in between. You should have seen the expression on people who were gaping at me while I was eating … Hehehehe … My mom would have aptly snapped at people saying <i>not put eyes on her son!</i> ;-) No standing ovation, nothing, they were just spell bound – possibly of the thought I am one of the mythical characters who had descended to earth to wipe the earth of food and make the rest of the humanity starve.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Word spread so quickly after this incident I believe and most of the airlines started charging for two seats if one was over-weight. I would have also ended up as the Gluttony victim in Se7en.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Then came Bangalore – the one I did not properly hunt around prior to my landing in a foreign country. If you are a foodie – Bangalore it is! Let me list out all the places that would have been approved by me (around Basavanagudi) …</p><ol><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Sanman hotel – The first hotel that I food when we (naang motham 7 peru … ;-)) landed in Bangalore. Food was OK. I loathed it first for it was sweet on many items.</p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Vaibhava/Vyabhava – Free the name. 2 Idlies and 1 Vada and cuppa of coffee is all what you need to get started for the day from this place. You should also try out their <i>baths</i><span style="font-style: normal; "> – it changes for every day -</span></p></li></ol><ul><ul><ul><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Pudina</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Pulav</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Vaangy</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Tomato</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">etc …</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">One must not miss out their set dosa, but the saagu does not please you …</span></p></li></ul></ul></ul><ol start="3"><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Ever dreaded <i>Imperial</i><span style="font-style: normal; "> – I had been to this too. Some say they usually dogs go missing aroung this hotel.</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">UD – Upahara Darshini – Good coffee, Semiya bath, </span><span style="font-style: normal; ">Malanad Kadubu</span><span style="font-style: normal; ">, aalu bonda …</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Ever favourite – Davengiri Benne (Butter) Dosa – Mind blowing Benna Dosa which is accompanied with spicy chutney and mashed aalu. Slurrp! Then a round of Paddus, then another round with open dosa.</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Uttar Karnataka Meals – the one that should not be missed during lunch time. For 50 something we used to get sumptuous meal! As names points out – it is speciality of Uttar Karnataka. Brilliant!</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">SLV next to KSRTC booking centre – offers good chutney – not the watery kind – the solid ones – no double meaning here.</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">There's also this Cane juice centre that I am unable to recollect – not cane-o-la.</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">The Grape juice at Kabab Magic is god level</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">For non-veggies – It is Meghna biryani, Koli Mane …</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Gopi Manchurian near the crowded market of NR Colony is also heavenly</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Juice center on the same road as </span><span style="font-style: normal; ">Davengiri Benne (Butter) Dosa –</span><span style="font-style: normal; "> Masala thumbs up!</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Then there's Shanti Sagar and Jayanthi Sagar (that existed a long ago, which was duly purchased by mighty Vaibhav)</span></p></li></ol><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Banashankari has amazing places to eat as well …</p><ol><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">The BDA at Banashankari 2</span>^{<span style="font-style: normal; ">nd</span>}<span style="font-style: normal; "> stage is the place for evening snacks.</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">There's also the place that was previously called as Lepakshi – the Andhra full meals! ;-)</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Then Uphara Sagar – nice lassi and Gobi manchurian!</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Venkateswara Coffee Bar – a good place to have nice coffee – right opposite to the park.</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Ganesh Juice centre – cheap and best! Try the solid mosumbi</span></p></li></ol><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Now comes Jayanagar … Yes, I know what you all are saying … I would anyways list out …</p><ol><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">For Andhra full meals – Nagarjuna and Nandini compete</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">For coffee – Cothas coffee centre next to Cool Joint</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Cool Joint – the ever crowded Rs. 15 Sandwich centre. Prices may have increased, but the crowd is not directly proportional. One used to get soups for Rs. 5. The variety of juice and ice cream they offer is also good.</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">There's used to be this Udupi hotel – Home Meals – in one of the crosses, which to my disappointment closed itself – amazing udupi rasam! Seriously I go there to have meals – only to drink the rasam.</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Then there's the Jelebi and Kachori center next to Canton Chinese hotel</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Dosa Corner – For good coffee and variety of dosas.</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Opposite of Dosa corner towards Nandini hotel is a chaat shop known for his pani puris. Superb puris! Bliss!</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Then there's the Kulfi place </span><span style="font-style: normal; ">(Sreeraj Lassi Bar)</span><span style="font-style: normal; "> – you get good Mango shakes and lassis and beautiful Kulfis.</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">There's this juice shop opposite to the ladies college on the ICICI (Elephant rock branch) road – nice juices – cheap and very good! Try their sizzler.</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">All the road side eateries!</span></p></li></ol><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Others -</p><ol><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">VV Puram – Street filled with food on both sides – you get everything!!!</span></p></li></ol><ul><ul><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Delhi Doodh center offering Chiroti and Pheni</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Holige</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Thatte idlies</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Masala Thumbs up</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Dosas</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Chinese</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Gulkund with Fruit salad ice cream</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Big Amla/Gooseberry soaked in Honey and sprinkled with pepper/jal jeera</span></p></li></ul></ul><ol start="2"><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Malleswaram -</span></p></li></ol><ul><ul><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Gulkund with Fruit salad ice cream</span></p></li></ul></ul><ol start="3"><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Koramangala – Sri Krishna Cafe – Nice Coimbatore style lunch in a huge Banana Leaf. Unlimited supply. Their tiifin too is good.</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">The Pongal in JP Nagar offers amazing TN style dosa/Idly/parotta! Spicy and super!</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">Then all the modern food joints – Barbecue Nation, Coffee Days, Inchara …</span></p></li></ol><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">There are many more that I would have missed. I put them all as reminiscence for the time I spent in Bangalore – A place I loathed to stay, a place now I miss a lot. I am from Chennai, but have never explored the food joints as I have done in Bangalore, may be my partiality arises out of this.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">A foodie I am … That </span><span style="font-style: normal; ">even </span><span style="font-style: normal; ">during my wedding, my wife-to-be made sure that she arranged the best caterers </span><span style="font-style: normal; ">for me to enjoy</span><span style="font-style: normal; ">. I love to eat different styles of food. I do not restrict myself in that way.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">All along my stomach played well – until recently – when he showed signs of aging! The aging was so sudden and heart breaking... It was bad too! The last time I had been to Barbecue Nation, I ate a little too much of Cajun Potato. What it made to and my stomach will remain etched forever … It made me fart through my mouth!!! Disgusting it was! Yes, my burps were unbearable - the taste it left behind on every burp made me to loath food for couple of days. From then on, I am forever reminded every time to eat less and be contended with that. Thanks to my wife, who, always make sure that I do not over-eat. I don't diet, but have restricted <i>in number of times a food item goes in</i>.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Not so long ago, just before wedding I was able to gobble a 12 inch pizza with ease! :-(</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">Finally today when I struggled to complete my medium pizza, I realized that my bag will take no more …</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; ">My stomach silently (not silent to all - it was violent most of the times ;-)) showed his discontent in my dumping.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-47660348008524865?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-15274381052683658382010-05-16T08:25:00.009+05:302010-05-16T09:58:23.355+05:30<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p></p></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-1527438105268365838?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-3119930105927228562009-11-10T15:05:00.003+05:302010-04-19T15:19:10.607+05:30<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yes, the topic says so. I thought I'll relax a bit and write about these amazing instruments after forgetting how to hold them and write on a paper. Today, I completed five long years (and some days) of working/existing in one company, right after college. While in college, I wasted less paper, but more notebooks – shabbily put marks on papers. Well, I am talking about the notes that were vomited out of my lecturer's mouth – yes, the same slimy thing. I knew how to write. Write fast - almost like shorthand language which the journalists prefer.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I switched between pens (ballpoint pens and fountain pens and sometimes ball-less as well ;)) and sometimes fell in love with pencils. These switches happened after first year, until then I was still a school kid and wasn't unshackled from the rope around my neck to be disobedient. Not disobedient, but a little subtler.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Five years! I tried in-between to write - with anything - but failed. I type, though. Got used to it! Not long back, I was a dropout in typing. I searched for keys and alphabets on QWERTY and typed only using my index finger. I am not proficient now, either. I still search for letters on the keyboard, but a little faster and use all the fingers! ;)</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">OK… Deviated from the topic I wanted to talk about – Penpencils. Hell! Microsoft’s Word does not recognize this word! Long ago, to begin with - there were pencils, and then came pens. With the advent of pens and complex minds came penpencils. Well reserved only for upper class people, penpencils often were luxurious item to be possessed by any school-goer under 5th ishtandard.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">With those decades looming around the lower-middle class, middle class and the upper-middle class (This is equivalent to categorizing a cup of coffee as very light, light, medium light, strong, medium strong and very strong). Both this and the analogy do not have a demarcation. It is up to oneself to convince that it is. In such categories of middle class, pencils are such a huge investment! Your parents would decide what you should carry and what you should not. This includes the lubber (local pronunciation from a fellow who does not have the front two teeth) as well. The pencils became novel. We used to have a pencil which had a lubber (I will not use the r-word as we have grown up to know the meaning of it), pencils with caps, pencils with different-animated-characters-at-the-other-end, long pencils with a hand cap (this is often used to scratch unreachable back body parts), pencils that were coloured with two shades at either ends, to end it were the soft-plastic pencil which can be sharpened like a wooden one.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Now you know why I told the pencils became novel. It did not stop there, the novel became luxurious – penpencils. Variations galore in this category. Variety1: (Popular) We had those transparent 24 cartridges filled penpencils which had a white cylindrical eraser at the other end. You can switch between them whenever the hook (lead) went blunt. Variety2: (Short-lived by its modern cousin) Then came the thick leaded pen-type penpencils – this would require you to insert a thick, long, lead from the back side. Covering the back will be a sharpener which also serves as the press-point to push the lead out through the other side. Variety3: (Famous and most popular) This one was a modified version of his cousin (Variety2), without a sharpener at the back, but with long thin needle-like leads (you can stuff in more than one from the other end). This became popular with higher secondary folks. Who flaunt with it along with their textbooks, in which all the texts will be underlined from page-1 to page-last.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Gandhi’s pencil story had influenced quite a lot of people - Many parents (and indeed from middle class). I would always carry either a half or a quarter of the full pencil. For one, my parents – my dad to be specific - hated the way I lose a pencil. For two, you’ll have to use the quarter-pencil till it became to a size that your dad considers another quarter-pencil for you – mind it – it is not you who makes that decision. Or they could be environment friendly, did not like the way you wasted a pencil by repeatedly sharpening it, just so you can get a new pencil (intention being that the chap sitting next to you is a proud owner of a Staedtler pencil and it is nearly impossible to exchange your Camelin or a Nataraj with his German ones!). At the end of it, you get a Nataraj or Camelin for the ones you had reduced to a wood dust, after you were belted, kicked and run-over by your dad/mom.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Coming to think of it, the Staedtler instruments were frig’n expensive. In today’s living, a Staedtler eraser (lubber to those who know it better ;)) costs a swelling 60bucks! Apsara – the nearest contender (in bigger categories) - from India, costs as less as 10bucks. See the difference? I did not notice until I was man enough to spend money from my wallet. I think during 1995 to 2000, my dad had sent around 5 dozen Staedtler pencils and erasers. These erasers, I would cut them into pieces (though I went in my dad’s direction) as I was still a school-goer – and at school we would play cricket! Criminal waste! Spare the rod for a second – I was unaware and a kid. For the Staedtler pencils I would it give it away to anyone who asks and never bother to ask back. Filthy rich! I was Karna - Proudly giving away things my dad bought with sweat and blood. I can only be ashamed for what I had done, I cannot change the past, but I can acknowledge these and know what must be done for future.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Pencils craze never ended till you catch a fountain pen for the first time. You would do all the stunts you can do. You would use your dad’s razor blade (7 ‘O’ Clock) –new or old- to sharpen your wooden pencils, in the process you would shave off your skin and ooze out the blood. Then came the blades with handles, another craze! How can one forget the cranked sharpeners?! These new type of sharpener was huge and you got put your pencil in to it and start rotating a lever on the other end. Then there were long/short/normal sharpeners. </span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Now there are electronic and mechanical sharpeners floating around, but how many kids hold a pencil now-a-days? Apart from drawing, carpentry, underlining (replaced by highlighter) texts in books, kids are into serious computing - I mean computer. There are born with A for Adobe, B for Bing and C for Computer and so on…</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Good old days when we housed all these instruments in different pencil boxes! Well a variety there as well, double-decker, double side, magnetic ones and list goes on. To this nostalgia add your own narration about the geometry box how we used with no clue about how to use the Set Square and Protractor!</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Adieu till I write again!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-311993010592722856?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-75519629035901425482007-02-05T10:27:00.000+05:302007-02-05T10:39:43.567+05:30<p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Episode 1 –<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p>It is late evening and you and your nephew (a 4 or 5 yr old kid) are on a crowded road. The kid is the most dreaded kid known ever, known for his adamancy! Let’s call the nephew as S. S spots a road side shop and the seller of it sells <i>choppu saman</i> – basically it is the stuff which is kind of a kitchen set for kids. As they approach the shop, S turns to his uncle <o:p></o:p></u1:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p>S: Mama, I need it. </u1:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Mama (knows about the kid, but still tries his luck): No, S. We can buy that later, we have already bought enough. Your mom would have already bought you this, and I think I have seen it as well.<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">S: Yes, I do have one, but you see it is old, and the set here has many more that I do not have.<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Mama: No, S. Not today. Let’s leave. Sometime later.<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">S: No, I need it. And I need it now.<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Mama: Sorry, not possible.<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">S: Mummy! I need it, I need it, I need it! (Sits on the road next to the pavement where the shop has spread out)<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Mama: You can do whatever you want it, but the answer is “No” (Oops! He chose the wrong words and asked for it)<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">S starts to roll on the road and creates the biggest scene as though Mama is a kidnapper. <o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The seller sees this for some time and thinks its time and a necessity to clear. <o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p>Seller: <b>Dai!</b> If you are not going to leave now, I would throw you into the dungeon at my home.<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p>S takes a look at the seller (Massively built with a big mush) and thinks “<i>Namma batcha edupadathu pola irukku</i>” – My tricks are not helping me and cannot be sold to this seller. <i>Gup chup</i>, S wipes his tears away and takes his Mama’s hand and departs. Mama would have had a very big “Thank you” expression on his face for the seller for saving his pride!<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Episode 2 –<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p>There was always those good old days when you can see temple elephants roaming on our streets to get alms for the mahout. It was a perfect Sunday afternoon and S was sitting outside and waiting for his day to end (The last day of the weekend and you have the homework to complete, repeat the tables to your dad – all these yes, after 1800hrs. And it was still 1700hrs. With dad yet to arrive from his overtime work on a Sunday, you are the king in the house.) S spots a big black object at the end of street (far far away). As the object nears, he recognizes it – the elephant. Damn excited about it, he runs inside the house pesters his mom, grandma to com outside and watch (little did they know scene next!) Elephant comes nears the house, S goes nears it (totally fascinated) and places the 25 paisa (big money that time – you get a chocolate/bubblegum) on the elephant’s trunk. The elephant passes the money to the mahout. S is thrilled – imagines how would it be if he goes to school in this rather on a torn down rickshaw. He would be the best amongst his friends. Adrenaline pumps!<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p>S: Amma, I need that elephant. Ask him to leave it here and leave.<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Amma (perplexed – what the?): No, S. The mahout earns a living with that so, we cannot just ask him to leave it here.<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">S: In that case, give him the money for the elephant and ask him to leave it.<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Amma (aahaa! Tries the next trick): Look S, maintaining the elephant is a big problem. Where do you think we can keep him? (Tries to put into S’s head that they are a middle class family). We have just enough space to keep your dad’s motor cycle. Moreover we have your sister to take care of. (Not that she’s trying to equate my new born sis to the maintenance of an elephant).<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p>Finally the family is saved. Thanks to S’s dad timely entrance. S (bugger became very silent even as his mom started her last conversation. He heard the sound of the motorcycle – <i>chalaak!</i>) hides behind his mom.<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p>S was the most notorious kid as well, he had kept (along with his friends) fire to a stacked up (many) dried plants in his play ground and never accepted that he did it!<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p>He had literally threatened his mom a million times (imagine this: what would you do if your kid stands on an edge of the terrace or a place that is a storey high and threatens that he would jump because you were against his wishes on something?) I would have actually taken the privilege of pushing him and get done with it!<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p>So, life moves on, his adamancy reduces and he becomes a normal guy. Still he never appreciated things. Like have you ever complemented on the food your mom makes? He never did it. Realization always occurs very late, don’t they? He realized all these when he lived alone away from family, when shouldered the responsibility of undertaking the ownership of the well being of his family.<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p>Yes, all this while I was talking about myself. I’m alone, away and on my own, but still owning the responsibility. All this time how many times have I missed to say “Amma, food tastes awesome!” – million times – Everyday! I realized when someone fails to appreciate my effort. If even a small task, a right amount of motivation and complement would actually boost the complemented to do more.<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p>My mom has done lots, just like everyone else’s. Getting up early, cook for an entire family, get ready to work, slog there and come back make coffee, prepare tiffin for her kids and then do some homework from her office, serve food in the night and sleep last. <o:p></o:p></u1:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p>After work I used crave for that cup of coffee kept ready and steaming hot, has she ever wanted it that way? Someone making her day by making coffee, massage her legs and hands for the hard work she has done? Nope, I failed many times.<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p>The same applies to your dad or sis, yes, but on a lesser extent than what deserves for your mom!<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p>You would have scolded her, been cross with her, but she always knows that it is not for long. (I would actually be pissed if someone does that to me). <o:p></o:p></u1:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p>THANKS AMMA! I would have missed this many times, but never forget!<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p>All these years alone has actually made me think on appreciating things. Made sure people are very comfortable moving with me. Never to put anyone in a spot.<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p>I’m the Bad Kid! I was like the kid in the video -<br /></u1:p></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=nojWJ6-XmeQ&mode=related&amp;search">http://youtube.com/watch?v=nojWJ6-XmeQ&mode=related&amp;search</a>=</p><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nojWJ6-XmeQ"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nojWJ6-XmeQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></object><br /><br />You are right, my parents must have felt the same!<br /></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-7551962903590142548?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-10112766623034813842007-01-15T10:59:00.000+05:302007-01-15T11:02:53.663+05:30<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">What are the odds of betting “God Exist!” against “There’s no God!” well there might be the other odds which says “God exists, but he does not have influence on our lives!” or wait, “He exists and we are the coins on his chess board!”?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>I always liked to debate on His existence. I liked the topic very much – GOD! And when I started to read about “The Blind Watchmaker” by Richard Dawkins, the stir started again! <i>Anbe Sivam</i> emphasizes on the concept of God in a different meaning. Now, there’s always the point when the atheist and the theist are cornered and on the similar question – <o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>Atheist: Can you prove the existence of God?<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Theist: Can you prove not His existence?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>It is the similar to the forward “Dialogue between the Prof and a student”. It is not necessary that if you cannot see it, it does not exist. Though the thought here is, we can always prove its existence, can’t we?<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>Life started from where? It was not a just like that! It was not by chance, it was continuous evolution. Makes sense. Yes, I’m quoting Richard here. Yes and for all there must be a starting point, or there’s never a starting point, but only a circle.<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>It is always to link, Humans from Ape, Apes from Chimps, Chimps from Monkeys and Monkeys from Partial Amphibians (or some sorts), and they from Aquatic species and Aquatic species from lesser known ones… Yes, they from where? Micro organisms, and they from something else, may be chemical compounds. Earth was because of solar system and solar system from Big Bang. Now, how did Big Bang occur? I do not know the answer; a scientist would have the possible, correct, explanation. The questioning continues until you hit upon saying God would be the starting point. And next question would be: How was he created? You cannot have something that comes up by itself! Well, you would say “That’s God!” Yeah, talk to me! Or “God was created from another God!”<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>This goes on, and I believe it is just a circle or cycle! But how did this cycle result? From where? I’m sure there must be a starting point, but that contradicts as that starting point needs an initiator and which in turn requires to be made! Who made it? Confusion! I hope I’m clear on my confusion – an Oxymoron. Clarified Confusion!<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">OK, well. There’s no God, no Super Power, no Supreme, no Creator. Tell me how it all started? A point or a cycle? If cycle, how?</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-1011276662303481384?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1164343879376694812006-11-24T10:14:00.000+05:302006-11-24T10:34:58.796+05:30<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Been a while since I had inked my experiences as a blog. Now is the chance to do it, sitting in a hotel called StudioPLUS, using their broadband wireless cable connection. Yes, I’m in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">land</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> of <st1:placename st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Americans</st1:PlaceName></st1:PlaceName></st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. My assignment: On-site coordinator, to operate from <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Charlotte</st1:City></st1:place>, <st1:state st="on"><st1:state st="on">North Carolina</st1:State></st1:State></st1:City></st1:place>. (By the time I completed this, I have moved into an apartment. I took exactly 21 days to finish this!)<u2:p></u2:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><u2:p>I was informed about my travel well in advance, but the confirmation on the surety was done a day before I’m to leave. This left just a day to be with my folks – a day – less than 12hrs. I traveled to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Madras</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City>, the day before the travel, packed and left! A sentence to finish the entire trauma is very unjust! There was lot of emotional stuffs, physical tiredness and everything, even as I re-collect, it is very painful.<u2:p></u2:p></u2:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><u2:p>I couldn’t express it, but everyone else did.<u2:p></u2:p></u2:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><u2:p>Reached Airport to take a flight to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bombay</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City>, flight got delayed by an hour, which helped me in staying close with my family for some more time… Clock ticked and the time called me to depart. Took the Jet Airways plane to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bombay</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City> (Maddy was in the Business class – No one bothered to talk to him!). With him on the plane, every time I went to the loo, I used to recollect his comic sequence in the plane – “<i>Jacuzzi? no no kakku^&*</i>” – from the movie “<i>Naladamayanthi</i>”, and I use to giggle within myself. – Credit to NB for reminding me about this!<u2:p></u2:p></u2:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><u2:p>With the mobile phone switched on till the time I boarded the plane and hope of making my people in the viewing tower to see me was a great trauma. Gash! Finally, they got the glimpse of the plane and not me standing next to it – whom am I kidding? It was dark and no way possible to notice.<u2:p></u2:p></u2:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><u2:p>Reached <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bombay</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City> around 2100hrs – lots of air traffic, so the pilot circled the city once and finally landed. God bless him… Finance capital of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region></st1:place></st1:country-region> has the busiest airport and a huge one as well! To go from the Domestic terminal to the International terminal, took 15mins in the shuttle. Sigh!<u2:p></u2:p></u2:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><u2:p>Once in the International terminal I noticed a big queue – for the Delta Airlines to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Atlanta</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City>. Well, there came a nicely dressed woman officer to inform us that the fight is delayed – just – by 3hrs! Wackow! During that process the customs was cleared and I used that time to speak to all people before I can board the plane… My bill should have gone for a SIX! Let’s see how much it comes up to?!<u2:p></u2:p></u2:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><u2:p>I finally boarded the plane at 0245hrs on Nov 5^th, from <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bombay</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City>. The feeling of leaving the place which saw me grow up weighed on me along with the pressure built during take-off – well not mine, the pressure inside the plane, you perverts … IO IO!<u2:p></u2:p></u2:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><u2:p>Dinner was served at around 0400hrs, quite a time to have it… It was tasty and I was tired, three in a seat and I’m in the middle, you can imagine… There were lots of people from Jimmy Carter’s Habitat program in the plane, like the person sitting next to me, near the window. His name was Al. On the other side was an old lady! Plight – miserable. Air hostess – very miserable, but their service was good. ;-)<u2:p></u2:p></u2:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><u2:p>Each of us had viewer before us and it played 12 channels with one channel dedicated to the course of the plane, statistics of altitude, pressure, speed (measuring > 800odd mph), temperature (-52F) and time for destination. The rest were Video, Music and some more. The video channel played the same 6 movies over and over, again and again! The only watchable movie was Cars!<u2:p></u2:p></u2:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">It could have taken the staright route over the Arabian sea through the Sahara and over the <st1:place st="on">Atlantic</st1:place>... But it went over Afghan, over Dubai, Over England and touched Green Land and then touched NY, and Al explained that it may be due to the reason “If we are suppose to crash, we would better do it on the land than in the water!” Immigration/Security was done at <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:State></st1:place></st1:State>; </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><u2:p>it took about 2hours, there. And the next stop was <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Atlanta</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City> – The world’s biggest Airport! I met the GM of Delta Airways, Swiss, in the train (used to travel across terminals = huge terminal!), he is an Indian from Goa, was GM in Swiss, then went to Belfast, now settled in Atlanta for the past 6yrs…<u2:p></u2:p></u2:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><u2:p>I had to wait at the <st1:city st="on"><st1:city st="on">Atlanta</st1:City></st1:City> airport to get my next plane to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Charlotte</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City>. And it was almost 1600hrs when I reached <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Charlotte</st1:City></st1:place></st1:place></st1:City>.<u2:p></u2:p></u2:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><u2:p>All throughout the journey, my stomach grumbled many times, not for food – but for other reasons. I refrained myself only for… Not because I was afraid of the heights (<i>Just like what Lodukku Pandi says in Vasool Raja MBBS – “Illa na, khonjham height-a irukku-a, slip aiyduveno-nu oru bayam, namakkku height oththukkathu! 40000feet above sea level</i>) Nay! That was not the reason; it was the paper that scared me. Silly Indian, you might think, yes I’m. Had grown up there and old habits die hard!<u2:p></u2:p></u2:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-116434387937669481?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1160411290209655212006-10-09T21:55:00.000+05:302006-10-09T22:15:43.436+05:30<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'll Do Anything for Love, by Meat Loaf -</span><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/1600/I%27ll_Do_Anything_For_Love.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/320/I%27ll_Do_Anything_For_Love.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">And I would do anything for love<br />I'd run right into hell and back<br />I would do anything for love<br />I'll never lie to you and that's a fact<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">But I'll never forget the way you feel right now--<br />Oh no--no way--<br />I would do anything for love<br />But I won't do that<br />I won't do that<br />Anything for love<br />I would do anything for love<br />I would do anything for love<br />But I won't do that<br />I won't do that<br /><br />Some days it don't come easy<br />Some days it don't come hard<br />Some days it don't come at all<br />and these are the days that never end<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">Maybe I'm crazy<br />But it's crazy and it's true<br />I know you can save me<br />No one else can save me but you<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">As long as the planets are turning<br />As long as the stars are burning<br />As long as your dreams are comming true--<br />You better believe it!--<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">That I would to anything for love<br />And I'll be there until the final act--<br />I would do anything for love!<br />And I'll take a vow and seal a pact--<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">But I'll never forgive myself if we don't go all the way--<br />Tonight--<br />I would do anything for love!<br />I would do anything for love<br />I would do anything for love<br />But I won't do that<br />I won't do that...<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">I would do anything for love<br />Anything you've been dreaming of<br />But I just won't do that...<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">Somedays I pray for silence<br />Somedays I pray for sould<br />Somedays I just pray to the God of Sex and Drums and Rock'N Roll<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">Some night I lose the feeling<br />Some nights I lose control<br />Some night I just lose it all when I watch you dance and the thunder rolls<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">Maybe I'm lonely<br />And that's all I'm qualified to be<br />There's just one and only<br />The one and only promise I can keep<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">As long as the wheels are turning<br />As long as the fires are burning<br />As long as your prayers are coming true--<br />You better believe it--!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">That I would do anything for love!<br />And you know it's true and that's a face<br />I would do anything for love!<br />And there'll never be no turning back--<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">But I'll never do it better than I do it with you<br />So long--<br />So long--<br />I would do anything for love<br />I would do anything for love<br />I would do anything for love<br />But I won't do that<br />I won't do that<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">I would do anything for love<br />Anything you've been dreaming of<br />But I won't do that...<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">But I'll never stop dreaming of you<br />Every night of my life--<br />No way--<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">I would do anything for love<br />I would do anything for love<br />I would do anything for love<br />But I won't do that<br />I won't do that!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">Girl:<br />Will you raise me up?<br />Will you help me down?<br />Will you get me right out if this Godforsaken town?<br />Will you make it all a little less cold?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">Boy:<br />I can do that!<br />I can do that!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">Girl:<br />Will you hold me sacred?<br />Will you hold me tight?<br />Can you colorize my life I'm so sick of black and white?<br />Can you make it all a little less old?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">Boy:<br />I can do that!<br />I can do that!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">Girl:<br />Will you make me some magic<br />With your own two hands?<br />Can you build an emerald city with these grains of sand?<br />Can you give me something I can take home?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">Boy:<br />I can do that!<br />I can do that!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">Girl:<br />Will you cater to every fantasy I got?<br />Will ya hose me down with holy water--if I get to hot--?<br />Will ya take me to places I've never known?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">Boy:<br />I can do that!<br />I can do that!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">Girl:<br />After a while you'll forget everything<br />It was a brief interlude<br />And a midsummer night's fling<br />And you'll see that it's time to move on<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">Boy:<br />I won't do that!<br />I won't do that!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Video Link - </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na77B00nDgo">Meat Loaf - I'll Do Anything For Love</a><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-116041129020965521?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1160408074745651732006-10-09T21:01:00.000+05:302006-10-09T21:04:34.816+05:30<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">According to my room-mate’s suggestion, I came up with this. These are purely his ideas.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>Your position: You are an onsite coordinator for an Indian Software company with whom lies many projects out-sourced from the US of A.<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>Situation: Explain the concept of Bandh to your peers, there. All are Americans.<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p><o:p> </o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Over the phone –<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Off-shore team: ONC, there’s a bandh declared here tomorrow, and the company is closed tomorrow. Can you please tell our Architect that our deliverables will be postponed by a day? Please talk to our client about this as well.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>ONC: What? Why is the bandh?<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>Off-shore: Bandh was called to protest against the Centre's decision to change its affidavit in the Supreme Court on the Maharashtra Government's writ petition demanding the merger of <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Belgaum</st1:place></st1:City></st1:City></st1:place> and other Marathi-speaking areas with that State. That’s it.<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>ONC: Oh OK! Will talk to them and let them know about it.<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p><o:p> </o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">At onsite – <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">ONC: Architect, off-shore will not be working tomorrow. And thus, their deliverables will be delayed by a day.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>Architect: Oh! What seems to be the problem? Is it a public holiday for the country?<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>ONC: No, the holiday is for the state only. They have declared a bandh!<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>Architect: What was that? Come again… A WHAT? What’s the reason?<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>ONC: Bandh is more commonly is performed to protest. There’s some border problem.<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>Architect: Damn! Again you guys are fighting for border? I thought the PM of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region></st1:place></st1:country-region> and President of Pakistan had agreed upon some factor benefiting both. You guys are still fighting for it?<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>ONC: Oh no no no… It is not the cross-country border, but within the country – Across the states. <span style="font-weight: bold;">*BLSUH*</span>. Different lingual borders fighting for their neighbouring state’s portion which speaks the same language.<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>Architect: Ridiculous! Sigh! And you guys are fighting over inter-country border.<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>ONC: <span style="font-weight: bold;">*BLSUH* *BLSUH* *BLSUH* *BLSUH*</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>With this rate… io!<o:p></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-116040807474565173?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1159261611470322772006-09-26T14:35:00.000+05:302006-09-26T14:36:51.486+05:30<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Something to think, I guess. Yes, yesterday's stuff. Is it that I have not grown yet, or He has? He had always tolerated jokes on him, and all of us had tolerated other's nag. Quite alarming, that I cannot sense other's comfy factor. Or not realised that times have changed, and everyone has and I've to as well! I am yet to, as my manager quotes "Show maturity", show signs of it.</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><u1:p>All these years, I thought I had known people enough, but yesterday’s incident was revelation that I was wrong. Little devastating, it was for me! I think, I was roaming around with wrong ideas about people and their attitude towards me. I was wrong in taking people for granted. Yes, that is the mistake. Like the Old English folks, I should address people with respect and never should expect in return. Never take anything for granted, respect other’s opinion, give room to their emotions, respecting every bit of it. Distance – something that needs to maintained even with your folks, closest kin, friends and others. Never, ever do the mistake of giving less than what you can.</u1:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><u1:p>I vividly remember my friend quoting me “clumsy” – the first time I had ever heard that word – from school. Do not know whether he remembers it, but surely, I do and now, I still believe that I have not changed, for him to say, “You are not clumsy”. Never had I realised how many of them felt awkward, irked, displeased, ill at ease, poignant, and finally just-like-Brendan-Fraser-in-Bedazzled in my company. What a character?! Never have I felt bad before, for committing such an act. Now more dubious is that, do my folks back home, feel this way? Holy shit! They could.</u1:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><u1:p>It is time to grow-up and show some maturity, responsibility and above all be a human. Yes, I know what you people think I am going to sum it up as. Nope, I am not going to end saying “It is common to make mistakes.” It is, but to learn is more talking towards evolution. I am yet to evolve, and I am wilfully going to put myself to be this way, forever. Should I still be a child, crack silly jokes and fool around hurting people?</u1:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><u1:p>Pity, I do not even know how to end this. May be only <i>kala-chakkara</i> can answer this. For all you folks out there, I seek no pardon for what I have done unto you. However, I am really sorry for what happened and may be in the future I’ll avert such things.</u1:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><u1:p>I will never grow-up, look at the mess I had written up. I’m actually complaining. Childish!</u1:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><u1:p>My friends tried to console me as the child in me is what keeps me going and that is what I should not lose. Being a child I have lost what I could have got if I could have acted as a man, I have lost, yes, aplenty of beautiful things!</u1:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><u1:p>I have lost you!</u1:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-115926161147032277?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1158433883944239212006-09-17T00:36:00.000+05:302006-09-17T00:41:23.960+05:30<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Where do I start? Hmmm… Yes, Surya – Jyothika combo’s much awaited movie. Well, let us watch it (despite the bad reviews posted everywhere), was the general feeling in the air. Reasons aplenty – Rehman, Rehman, Rehman… and eventually the much-awaited Surya and Jyothika’s marriage. Date decided and tickets booked in advance in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Madras</st1:City></st1:place></st1:place></st1:City>’s most premier theatre group – Satyam Cinemas!<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>Neatly guided to our seats by the hosts, we sat and gaped at the screen for the entertainment to begin. It began well. An hour into the movie, it was beautifully done and well handled. Then, came the tragedy in the name of ‘flashback’!<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>Illogically introduced and pathetically misfit into the mainstream of the theme, it spoilt the whole show. The film showed a bad implementation of a good theme. Logic was absent at every aspect of flashback. And finally, Jo’s idea of re-uniting the lost loves stole the limelight! With all doors tightly shut, dogs!, including the ‘Emergency Exits’ sealed from outside, we were made to stay in the theatre – similar to the old-movie-type’s-poison-gas-chamber. We were tricked!<i> Saachuputtaya saachuputtaya! io! Enagala veliya vittudunga! </i>BANG BANG BANG BANG – Jalianwalah Bagh Massacre is a perfect analogy. RDB’s scene (Madhavan –> Audience and Defence Minister –> Director) can be satirically associated with the director laughing away hysterically watching our plight! Is this what they call sweet revenge?<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>Resemblance of scenes from many movie’s famous clips were combined to give a wholesome CRAP – Mouna Raagam, Ghajini and Kaaka Kaaka. Rightly pointed by <a href="http://prabhukrish.net/2006/09/15/sports-redefined">Prabhu </a>–<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p>Some movies follow all the below, or just a few.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p>1. In cine football, there is no concept of defender, midfield player or striker. All 20 players (except the goal keepers) will run after the ball at the same time.<br />2. The heroine will watch the game from stands<br />2a. If the hero and heroine havent fallen in love yet, then she will be impressed with the hero’s game and that will be a catalyst for the love.<br />2b. If they are already in love, then the hero will be hurt during the game. Or there will be a dream song in which the hero will be playing football<br />3. Cine hero MUST score a goal, even if he is a goal keeper! - HIGHLIGHT <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>Hero was portrayed to be a sportsman and Heroine instantly falling in love with him for – Looks, style, percentage of funkiness, sportsmanship, vagabondism, and of course – ability to be winner (Later: goes on to present a paper on torque, shafts and engine in New York) albeit having plenty arrears! Santhanam’s cameo of making us laugh repeatedly proves that he is the next best to Vivek. Vadivelu was average in his performance – an unnecessary addition to elongate an already worn out rubber band.<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>Overall, my friend’s money went waste! I’ll have to ask him to pay the money back! A much awaited ‘sweet’ revenge is waiting for him in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bangalore</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City>. Rehman’s music was misused all throughout the movie, I guess thalai would have refused to do the BGM after watching the movie and would have asked his servants to go ahead and show their hand at it. <st1:place st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ob</st1:place></st1:place> guys, dude would have seriously been disappointed.<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>Plus points – Rehman, Santhanam, Surya – Jo and their kid.</u1:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Minus points – Bhumika, Dialogues, Badly shot movie/songs and scenes. <o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>Summary – Apple Pie presented without apples!<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>Their marriage had sparked the hype for the movie and it would sell is a hard stone to digest. Rumours go around saying that Surya produced the movie and presented it as a gift to Jo. Well, I’m starting another – Rehman foresaw this and made it as a gift for Surya so that he gets what he had put. With all the stills of thalai posing for the movie should have put around a warning sign, but who cared?! It was Surya Jo all the way.<o:p></o:p></u1:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-115843388394423921?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1155999332397759752006-08-19T20:22:00.000+05:302006-08-20T17:26:11.516+05:30<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-GB" >Remember the time when we used to wear different costumes to the “Fancy Dress” competition conducted in our school/other’s? Golden times – Fun filled and totally mind-boggling!</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-GB" ><u1:p>Guess, I was a born actor and may be talented as well, look at my profile, for the roles I’ve played – I once dressed up as <st1:place st="on"><st1:place st="on">Krishna</st1:place></st1:place> and yes, there was a girl who dressed up as Radha and we both stood against a wall and stood and stood and it goes on…! Cute, she was. Childhood crushes – die-hard. (Have you ever watched a movie <i>Little Rascals</i>? If not, do watch or place an order to me and I’ll pass across a copy by borrowing it from my friend – We had girl hater’s gang as well!) Next à Played a role as an elephant in ‘Snow White and the seven Dwarves’ with my friend playing Wabbit. Talent à Went around the girl (Snow White) ‘<span style="font-style: italic;">Ynaaaaaaa…</span>’. RAW Talent! Then chance beckoned up on for, to play a role of ‘Hanuman’, and this time went around ‘Sai Baba’ like a champ (read it as chimp?!) – people actually said I topped and also added afterwards that they noticed a monkey on the wall turning red (It was hard to convince them that the being on the wall wasn’t me! Also, had to put up with the neighbours – feeding their kids telling “Eat or he’ll come and take it away”. Sigh! Hmmm… No wonder those monkeys in ShivGange respected me. (Thoughts of ‘evil’ colleagues’ mind! Cool!)). Years passed, school changed and reached higher secondary and there was a different kind of Fancy Dress competition, where we used to mimic Lallu and other great Mahans. My talent, by this time was world-renowned and I was begged not to showcase my talent anymore, so I backed out and left the amateurs to play it. Those beautiful years.</u1:p></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-GB" ><u1:p>Time changed and now I’m a Software Engineer in a not-so-respectable company (people would say “What was the name again?” and I would blush! Sigh!). We play Fancy Dress competition in a different way, but it is the same in most of the way. Wearing different costume during working day of School is always some fun, likewise in our company – we call it Ethnic Day! No idea whether it is done in other S/W companies as well, but we have it here. My usual costume is Dhoti and a Kurta/Shirt. My comfort factor wearing a dhoti is virtually nil. The last time I wore, I resembled like a <i>Rickshaw</i> <i>karan</i> – reason: the dhoti I wore came until my ankles only! Moreover, I tried hard this time to make it come until my feet, but gash! I was made a <i>kaka</i> again! It took me almost 90 minutes to come in terms with the costume; it never held its position. Well, to the rescue came my belt! Well, he was the saviour for the entire day albeit I frequented to the restroom many times. Tying it is one mayhem but then came the next – walking. Man!, guess, I would’ve learnt how to walk quickly when I was 3, but blimey! with this, it was miserable. Ask my colleagues, they know it better. I do not how our woman folks wear a saree and roam around! Should be an art, I guess! Salute, folks!</u1:p></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-GB" >Finally, when the clock ticked 1745hrs I rushed home to change to any normal attire that actually stood wrapped around me instead of slipping away. People/ on-lookers on the roads actually found that I was wearing dhoti for the first time – judging by the way I walked. Terrible, to been 'seen through'!</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-GB" >Sianara folks!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-115599933239775975?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1155816866857440842006-08-17T17:36:00.000+05:302006-08-17T17:44:26.863+05:30<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><b>At the Station-</b><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>With a bad network by Hutch, I was unable to contact anyone. Only messages! At the station we found our usual spot and settled there. We had a good conversation going on to keep ourselves away from the jaws of boredom. With a colleague (a woman) I and my college mate were not at ease, we had lots to check out and lots to see and couldn’t do the men’s stuff, so we resorted to SMS.<u2:p></u2:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>“Check out the girl opposite to us.”</u1:p><br />“Machi! Awesome babe!” was my reply.<u3:p></u3:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>Thus, started the discussion of college stories, IITs and so on. I always was of the belief that girls are always behind IIT guys – intellectuals, geeks, high income and always high standards.<u3:p></u3:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>But our company had different plans, she was not interested in the above mentioned category (Later she proved wrong; she is finally marrying an IITian!). Hmmm… So what do women want? As I was told – “… someone who understands me and appreciates me for what I’m…” And the night went on till the train arrived!<u3:p></u3:p></u1:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile there was an SMS waiting to be read, and it was from my close friend which went as below-<u3:p></u3:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>“Sundar, I hate all men da. Why can’t the world be just women?”<u3:p></u3:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p>What the? What category do I belong to? And how did such confusion set in? Lost in such a thought, I boarded the train! Damage complete!</u1:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Jumping thoughts – IIT – For everyone aspiring to be an Engineer!<u3:p> </u3:p></b><br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Every father wants his son/daughter to make him proud by entering into IIT, India’s/World’s premier institute, where not one just learns to be an engineer, but also is recognized to be one of the top creams of India’s brain.<u3:p> <br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></u3:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The process of preparation to enter the institute starts approximately when the student enters 8^th grade and continues till he ‘cracks’ the paper.<u3:p> <br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></u3:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Every dad says to his son “Son, you have to work really hard to reap the benefits in the future. The benefits of completing the degree from IIT is not known till you complete”<u3:p> <br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></u3:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I never realized the seriousness of this until I came to a college (a dumb one) and started attending culturals organized by different colleges and also IIT. Sarang, an important, must-attend cultural fest is the biggest crowd puller of all the culturals. Spanning across a week, it showcases not just talent (Concerts, Rock Shows, dumb charades, skit, fashion parade, Crosswords, Quizzes and all the available brain-bytes) but also beauty – awesome babes from IIT.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u3:p></u3:p><i><span style="" lang="DE">Appa ippadi “Paadi da padi! Anga padicha kai neraya sambathikkalam…” sollarathukku bathila enna intha mathiri ettavathu padikkumbothey kootikittu vanthirunthana, ithu ellathayum pathuttu padikka arambichirrupenula! io,io!</span></i><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Midnight Masala-</b><u3:p> </u3:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u3:p></u3:p>Folks from our country are very innovative. Wherever you go, you will notice their handicraft. The places of display are the most important. For a frequent traveler who shunts from the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:country-region>’s <st1:place st="on"><st1:place st="on">Silicon Valley</st1:place></st1:place> to the place of establishment of East India Company, I try to notice and if not appreciative, try to rebuke their clumsy fantasies exhibited in the Train toilets. These were their first show halls with inscriptions “Sunil, Play boy – 9873437287”, “Ramiz, call boy – 2117312982”. It doesn’t end with that, they become more artistic by exhibiting their sketch of every pose available in KS. Showing dimensions of the important places.<u3:p> <br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></u3:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Well, because of them I slept with a nude girl at a very reasonable price – the cost of a train ticket. My berth had a profile sketch of a voluptuous nude woman! <i>Onnum sollarathukku illa!</i><u3:p> <br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></u3:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">But, these guys had no brains. In one of my recent outing to a place called Shivanasamudra, our return journey had a dinner break at a restaurant. Before dinner I wanted to relieve myself so, headed directly to the rest room. There ‘our artists’ had written the whole of the details available on their business card on to the four walls of the room. What do I say? It was a men’s rest room!!! I do not believe that they were gays! It is just that their brains had popped out, and they were totally insane. And I do not believe that woman folks use men’s rest room either!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-115581686685744084?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1155815841001183112006-08-17T17:22:00.000+05:302006-08-17T17:28:32.663+05:30<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">On one of the regular trips to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Madras</st1:place></st1:city></st1:place></st1:city>, we had a company – a young lady – colleague. She too was from <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Madras</st1:place></st1:city></st1:place></st1:city> and we had booked our tickets together. The basic idea was to give an assurance and be with her as her guard.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u2:p>The weekend went fine and on the return journey we met at the railway station with the lady accompanied by her dad. As the train departed, we settled down and started to chat. As time went the lady revealed a conversation she had with her dad, and it goes as below-<o:p></o:p></u2:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u2:p>Lady: <span style="font-style: italic;">Dad, that’s the person who is coming along and he’s my colleague.</span> (It was already conveyed to dad that this is </u2:p>Mr. Dependable <u2:p>and trustable)<o:p></o:p></u2:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u2:p>Dad (Looks around and spots someone): <span style="font-style: italic;">Is that the person, the shaven head?</span><o:p></o:p></u2:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u2:p>Lady: <span style="font-style: italic;">Yes, he’s the one.</span><o:p></o:p></u2:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u2:p>Dad (Thinks for a while – lost in thought): <span style="font-style: italic;">Be careful, do call once you reach!</span><o:p></o:p></u2:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u2:p>I was flattered! Everyone else was in splits.<o:p></o:p></u2:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u2:p><o:p> </o:p></u2:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Another incident where I wasn’t the COA-</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u2:p>The scene: I and my Colleague at a hotel to have our breakfast. Waiter arrives.<o:p></o:p></u2:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u2:p>Waiter: <span style="font-style: italic;">What sir?</span><o:p></o:p></u2:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u2:p>Colleague (Sleepy and almost tired, who always orders “<i>Poori Alu”</i> orders the same thing, but…): <i>Aaahhh… One plate “<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Poo-lu Ari</span>”</span><u2:p></u2:p></i><o:p></o:p></u2:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u2:p>I (Was in splits): <span style="font-style: italic;">Ha ha ha ha ha ha…</span><o:p></o:p></u2:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u2:p>Good thing is that the waiter didn’t get what was said – Golden Words.<o:p></o:p></u2:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u2:p> </u2:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u2:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">This time a college mate-</span><o:p></o:p></u2:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u2:p>Working in software company with colleagues in the same age group (always fun), but not when the formula is on you.<o:p></o:p></u2:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u2:p>PL calls for a meeting with the team (10 or so), to discuss about various issues. He addresses all issues and finally calls our man and…<o:p></o:p></u2:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u2:p>PL: <span style="font-style: italic;">Tester (Let’s call him this way), I always considered you as the star performer.</span><o:p></o:p></u2:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u2:p>What happened next was something that was never expected, all of us would have expected applauses and accolades from the rest, but the rest of the team tooted, well just like the college, when we would be applauded by the teacher and the rest goes boo…<o:p></o:p></u2:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The situation was the same as the <span style="font-style: italic;">Senthil-Koundamani.</span> Where Senthil says <span style="font-style: italic;">"Anney! Neenga evvalvu nallavaru..."</span> And the backgorund erupts by keeping the hand on the mouth and <span style="font-style: italic;">"Prrr..."</span><br /><u2:p></u2:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-115581584100118311?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1155550562842895612006-08-14T15:43:00.000+05:302006-08-14T15:46:42.416+05:30<div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css">It's a good thing I use my powers for good and not evil, because quite frankly, I could get away with murder. I'm clever, tricky, and charming. I know how to make you laugh with one hand and pick your pocket with the other. Not that I'd ever DO that, of course...</span><br /><br /><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css"><center><img style="width: 101px; height: 100px;" src="http://www.howtobeahero.com/images/type/rogue.gif" alt="I'm a Rogue!" /></center></span><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css">Character Stats:</span><br /><br /><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css">Rogue (13)</span><br /><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css">Warrior (13)</span><br /><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css">Wizard (12)</span><br /><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css">Paladin (5)</span><br /><br /><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css">Your Profile:</span><br /><br /><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css">You're clever, funny, and full of surprises. If you're still in school, you're probably the class clown. If you work, you're probably on the verge of being fired - but who cares? Your job's boring anyway. When it comes to leisure, you'd rather watch cartoons, crash a wild party, or stage a practical joke than have an elegant tea with your grandma. You're not big on being "civilized" or following "rules" such as that pesky "speed limit."</span><br /><br /><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css">Above all, you're a trendsetter and a force of chaos. You see tradition as something to be questioned, structure as something to be toppled. You're popular, charming, and entertaining to be around. You'd make a great actor, comedian, or a rock musician. Everyone loves having you at parties, because with you there, no one has a chance of getting bored.</span><br /><br /><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css">Your Mission:</span><br /><br /><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css">You were put on this earth to humble people. They will be easy victims, because they're attracted to your charm and wit, and they're too slow to see what you're doing behind their backs. You are the one who has to pull the rug out from under the big guy, because let's face it - you're the only one who can get away with it.</span><br /><br /><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css">Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to Get Away With Something. Something small, or something big (but please, something legal). Make your boss laugh at himself. Get money for a homeless shelter by posing as a panhandler. Do coin tricks for kids. Get away with an awful pun. Run for governor of California. Get away with SOMETHING.</span><br /><br /><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css">And don't think you can get away with not doing it. The Famous Adventurer of Silmaria has eyes everywhere.</span><br /><br /><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css">A Warning:</span><br /><br /><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css">IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Famous Adventurer of Silmaria ONLY condones Rogue-like activity when it harms none, and conforms to the laws of your local barony, state, duchy, kingdom, republic, city, township, etc. Any behavior violating these laws is NOT supported, suggested, or encouraged and will be punished by the miscreant losing all rights, privileges, and title of Hero. As the Famous Adventurer says, "Rogues break the rules - not the law!"</span><br /><br /><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css">Also, try to remember: life isn't a game. Sure, you feel like you have a thousand friends, but sooner or later you're going to run into trouble, and you'll find that people disappear pretty fast when times get tough. It's a good idea to make friends with a Paladin who will stand by you when you mess it all up, and also give you a clue about the Bigger Things. Without the influence of a Paladin in your life, you could very well end up being charming and clever from behind bars.</span><br /><br /><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css">Sometimes you're so used to thinking on your feet that you forget how to plan ahead. If you're going to attempt anything really spectacular, such as overthrowing a dictatorship or stealing secrets from a rival fraternity, you might want to enlist a Wizard to help you prepare. You're not always QUITE as smart as you think you are.</span><br /><br /><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css">What Next:</span><br /><br /><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css">Don't know a Paladin or a Wizard? Maybe you do, but just haven't ferreted out their secret identities yet.</span><br /><br /><span id="heroprofile_dom" name="heroprofile_dom" class="heroprofile_css"> How about you? <a href="http://www.howtobeahero.com/" target="_blank">Click here to find your own inner hero</a>.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-115555056284289561?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1155534030536895472006-08-14T11:09:00.000+05:302006-08-14T11:10:30.540+05:30<div style="text-align: justify;">Candle light dinners are a common sight, if you hail from Madras. Almost every other night you’ll be having one and that too not in a restaurant but in your house itself. With everything laid and spread out on the dinner table we would sit and pray “God! Please not today, please! Do not bring in that infamous Power cuts again.” And that’s when odds do not happen and neither the miracles, the Power happily dims and dies. And we are left at the mercy of candle lights and mosquitoes. Yes, we do own an emergency lamp, but it works only for sometime as it needs constant power supply to get charged. Once gone, we need to constantly pester the Madras Electricity Supply to send in their Engineer to look into the issue (in house Engineers will not look into it, even though he has a degree in Electrical Engineering, his ideas are elsewhere; in a dream land and a duet with a dream girl - <span style="font-style: italic;">Machi! Kalakkara, yengayo poita po! Orey the Goosebumps!</span>) Power never returns until the mid-day or the evening of the next day!<br /><br />And today after a long time I was invited for a Candle Light dinner. Perfect date and day! The place – <span style="font-style: italic;">Inchara</span>. Situated in JP Nagar, it was a rickety travel to that place and I had been there but never for dinner! Thatched roofs with King type trusses, it was beautiful. Hotels are great income makers in Bangalore – people seldom cook here because either they are lazy or they never get time as most of the occupants are Software Engineers. Can be pardoned!<br /><br />Driven by cheese craze, I was into Continental foods. With a starter of “<span style="font-style: italic;">Cheese balls with Black forest Potato Salad</span>” (whose side-effects are a part of dinner-thereafter) and <span style="font-style: italic;">Litchi Delight</span>, I was rapacious. Devouring the whole plate of cheese stuff was quite a task, but that too passed, then came the main course, a lime soda and finally finishing off with a “<span style="font-style: italic;">Cold Coffee with Ice Cream</span>”. I really pity the girl whom I might go on a date with or dinner (<span style="font-style: italic;">Uncle’s age and do I need to have these ideas? Mummyyyyyyyyy!</span>); I would find her dozing off to glory after seeing how I’m when I see food. What a blighter?! Side by side I had SMS session with my friend in Madras ending with an autobiography called <span style="font-style: italic;">Sundaraghandom</span> with a King in it called <span style="font-style: italic;">Bandaghondom</span>.<br /><br />It was a treat and involved alcohol as well… For an Appy Fizz I will become high so, refrained from touching alcohol. Our roomy was high after two and quarter of Beer bottles and that’s when the entire fun session began. He went on ranting, well absolutely hilarious! Quite interesting what alcohol can do to you…<br /><br />By now, it is concluded that 3 guys were at the Candle Light Dinner and it is no more "<span style="font-style: italic;">How Romantic?!</span>"<br /><br />We had fun-ride in the auto and then session back home – fantabulous! Then an hour on the phone with a friend ended what was to be a very fruitful day… The hour went like seconds as we discussed everything from life to what not! Phew!<br /><br />After typing one travelogue and one experience bed called me with a voice that was of an angel.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sianara Folks! </span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-115553403053689547?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1155533529714740572006-08-14T11:01:00.000+05:302006-08-14T11:08:47.990+05:30<div style="text-align: justify;">Kerala – God’s own country!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Agriculture:</span> Lush green fields, Tea & Coffee plantations, Rubber &amp; Eucalyptus trees, Bamboo shoots… That’s not all!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Makkal and Costume:</span> Men – <span style="font-style: italic;">Lungies</span> are a compulsory wear; Women – Watch mallu movies… ;-). Most of their father, brother, uncle, grandpa or sometimes mommy might be in Dubai.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food:</span> All the items that are available in Tamil Nadu are available here; well after all it is part of South India. But the catch is “Item + Coconut Oil”.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Common:</span> Arrack shops, Toddy bars, Brandy shops and finally – <span style="font-style: italic;">Tea-kadai</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">Chayya</span> shops. Four benches outside the shop and men folks (with their lungies folded till their inner-wear is shown) saying, lazily, “<span style="font-style: italic;">yedo, a valliya penn-kutty…</span>” This is a common site after ‘another <span style="font-style: italic;">tea-kadai</span>’. That explains it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Munnar-</span><br /><br />That’s where we all headed to – Munnar, a hill station (rightly explained by Alok – a station where a hill is located) in Kerala.<br /><br />After 48 hours of sleepless days, rejuvenation came in the form of a trip – Munnar. Till the last minute, i.e., when the driver stepped on the gas pedal, our team wasn’t sure on the count of Engineers who would make it to the trip organized for the 50% of the Finance Vertical.<br /><br />Well, we did depart at 2015hrs from our campus and reached Hotel Saravana Bhavan, Hosur, for our dinner. Two onion oothappams made my night, well for most of them! With few cassettes rolling on the tape player in our Tempo Traveler, we rocked hard! Fun-unlimited – was the motto. We kept our eyes open almost the whole journey (except me at few places). The other 3 Tempos weren’t keeping pace with our ambience. They were only ahead of us in travel.<br /><br />We reached Munnar at 1030hrs and straight to the rooms. We cleansed, broke-fast then tea’d our souls to energise for the tiresome trip scheduled for the day. First on the agenda (we drove in van that was assigned to some other project, yup, we stole it! Thereafter named as Tempo Thieves...) was a fall which was a private property used for drinking purpose. Without giving a second thought we lifted the fence under the board which read ‘Trespassers will be prosecuted’ and headed directly to the falls to cleanse – again. Then we headed back for lunch, after which we headed to a Tea estate and then to a boat ride. The best part of trip started and ended, here. Powered by Yamaha 450CC, the boat’s man drove like a pro – a champ! Made 8, 0 and swirled it bringing our heart to our mouth. Whatever, it was beautiful. Nature soared to her maximum beauty! No gorgeous babe can beat this kind of beauty! Women, huh!, would go un-noticed, carrying a feel of jealousy before her… <span style="font-style: italic;">Chayas</span> here, there and everywhere was the best drink for that cold climate.<br /><br />Day was wounded by 1930hrs, dinner call. Our camp fire had to be booted due to the police restriction and also hmmm… answer this “How can anyone campfire on a rooftop which has a roof?” Pretty difficult, ain’t it? Hmmm… Even I thought as much. After dinner we had a little ganging about the next day’s schedule. It was decided we head to Rajmalai National Park, a place famous for… Yes, a wild goat – <span style="font-style: italic;">Nilgiri Tahr</span> and a flower – <span style="font-style: italic;">Kurunji</span>, a flower that blooms once in 12 years. We headed to respective rooms after dinner, made <span style="font-style: italic;">maa-naadu</span> (meetings) at the rooms available. Few of us made it to the massage parlour at the 2nd floor. Perverts! It was run by a man (an ayurvedic doc). Gosh! OMG! Do not think otherwise…<br /><br />Next day we checked out and left to the National Park. We stood in queue to get an entry ticket for the darshan of a goat (Nope! Not the same you see outside your house every day or the one you feed upon…)<br /><br />With no food to feed upon we left Munnar around 1500hrs. To feed, we stopped before a bakery and later realized that some good hotel would actually do good, so further down, we hit a small hotel and for the hunger struck souls who were ready to part with everything they possessed, guess what?! We were advised to have small quantities of food so that we can feast, 70kms later. Grrr! Food cannot be separated from me!<br /><br />Virtually with trip nearing its end, sadness shrouded everyone’s heart not because we were leaving a beauty behind but because we will be making it to office, the next day in time!<br /><br />That night’s journey was un-forgettable as the game “MAFIA” was introduced and played by the occupants of the Van. That’s it, 3 games and people were actually craving for “Give me more!”<br /><br />We reached back by 0515hrs… and back to work!<br /><br />NOTE: Schedule of events was not as exactly as written. Author is not responsible for the bad event timing recognition owing to his bad memory and re-collections.<br /><br />Hmmm… There’s wasn’t much to be written about this, was there?<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-115553352971474057?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1155533177951123562006-08-14T10:54:00.000+05:302006-08-14T11:06:57.420+05:30<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Time to break shackles-</span><br /><br />The final statement revealed by anyone who visits this heaven ‘<span style="font-style: italic;">Shivanasamudram</span>’ at this time of the year, if one gets lucky!<br /><br />After a month’s break and sweating it out on the cubicles of a darned company, we thought that the time has arrived to hit a place where we can rejuvenate our lost youth during that one month’s break. We had two places on our paper – <span style="font-style: italic;">Shivanasamudram</span> and the other, <span style="font-style: italic;">Gopalaswamy Betta</span> (whose scenic picture later became my program’s input for testing).<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Time to Beg?-</span><br /><br />The decider was voted on the basis of time, distance and money (simple math/physics). And <span style="font-style: italic;">Shivanasamudram</span> came out as a clear winner (considering the month-end bankruptcy – <span style="font-style: italic;">I’m living a life of a beggar now-a-days (Guess what?! The total beggars (30lacs) in Mumbai earn upto 180Cr a year. I’m of to a thought of giving my job the boot))</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The journey and the talks-</span><br /><br />We hired a Toyota Qualis for the get-a-way. This time equipped with a good dashboard, an OK player and the gadgets that were needed to record these golden-moments-of-life.<br /><br />The drive included gyan on Jaggery making, Silk-worm making by Murali and some office matters. Well, I would be doing injustice if I do not talk about the rolled out roads. Maan! it was a beautifully leveled road. Well, a place to burn the rubber (<span style="font-style: italic;">Perverts! I was referring the tyres!</span>)<br /><br />We broke-fast at one the Kamat outlets. This requires a special mention, as they gave me idlies, wrapped nicely in some-kind-of-leaf. @Gulshan: Coffee was bad!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Destination - infinity minus one-</span><br /><br />We reached the first of the two falls – <span style="font-style: italic;">Gaganchukki</span>. As pointed by Google powered Wikimapia, we couldn’t find a short route to the stream/falls. This falls branched and fell as two massive falls. God bless, you should have seen the enormity at which it came down. The video/picture captured is just a restricted view of its gigantism. Imagination can take you there. <span style="font-style: italic;">What happens if God appears before you? Well, won’t you be dragged towards him? Well, every one of us there was yearning to join hands with the Nature and jump with her. There surely existed chemistry between us!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Mightiness would be a humble word to describe her and her descent. Ripping everything in her path and making mincemeat of – showing her arrogance. Arrogance, hmmm… She was ecstatic.</span> All these from one angle – from the viewpoint.<br /><br />On the way to the other part, we pulled over at the banks of river Cauvery. We went near to it and realized that there was no shore but an abyss. You dip in it and well, we would have called it off for the search of your shattered body, found elsewhere. <span style="font-style: italic;">We heard a passerby hobnobbing to his friend about someone who ended their life, well, by mistake.</span><br /><br />We drove to the other angle, where we had a close encounter with her. A distance which was neither too near nor too far, but safe enough to shake hands.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nature at her best-</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This place, blimey!, raised goosebumps all over the body. I would like to play God for a day. Magnificent creation and I’m all praise for him. Or did it form by itself. Anyways, I’ll prostrate before anything/anyone who owns up Nature and its creations.</span><br /><br />We could see the sprayed water (seen as a mist formed over the water from the viewpoint) hitting a huge rock. Anyone who stands there would feel the bliss I’m trying to be at/imagine. I captured those glorious moments on camera – both static and motion pictures.<br /><br />Subbu’s picture on the rock came out really well. I had an idea to shoot as though there’s a huge flood appearing behind him and engulfing everyone/everything in its path and well, Shwetha did the trick of shooting it for me. Thanks!<br /><br />No praise for the pictures I’d taken, please. Well, think about it – you have a beauty/gorgeous running before you and you take a capturing device and press the button and the next moment you have a Boolean version of her. Nothing much! No skills and no stunts! Praise the beauty. Scold me, for the picture may not be shown with full clarity.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Quite overwhelming, she makes her own path, filled with curves, splits only to re-join and later point. Block her, well though cannot be achieved, she’ll show you how to free yourself – Perseverance. Cared to notice it? Well, please do the next time. Same applies to life form. Life continues to exist in form or the other. There’s no stopping – Evolution.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Infinity-</span><br /><br />Well, watches ticked showing it is time for the next falls – <span style="font-style: italic;">Barachukki</span>. <span style="font-style: italic;">Barachukki</span> was made of many falls. One falling here, one there and quite a lot before you realise what if all of them combined to fall at one single place – quite a bit of exaggerative mind may say that water might drill and appear on the other side of the globe. What force!<br /><br />Don’t know how many of you had watched “<span style="font-style: italic;">The Beach, casting Leonardo De Caprio</span>”. That beach was shown to be un-inhabited and a mesmerizing one. Well, to be at such a place can be quite interesting and amusing. There was one spot in this place which, if not fully, matched the description.<br /><br />Atomised water kept falling everywhere on this secluded place. Kept spraying till we became wet till skin and the time taken for one to get wet was two minutes. Get mesmerized by the beauty and you’ll hardly realise that you are wet albeit not getting inside the water.<br /><br />We noticed a swan catching thick, long leaches for its supper. Life survives everywhere.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The end-</span><br /><br />After this we lazed around at various places, and hit the vehicle (not before our folks were satisfied playing in the water). I retired early and returned to the top. While climbing those stairs, you would have to occasionally take break and catch breath (not necessary if you are not as old as me). During this time, I stood frozen when while taking those breaths, you can actually hear the sound of the falls amplify and settle for every breath you take in and exhale out. Quite exhilarating it would be when you get a chance to camp near it and cherish it forever.<br /><br />Reaching top, we went around and found the place and origin of froth makers. People were actually taking bath on top.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The bridge, the walk and the gyan?-</span><br /><br />While returning, we walked on a dilapidated bridge, which was no more used for common transports. It was once used for, during raja’s time, bullock-cart and horse ridden carts. An engineer with brains constructed it. He firmed up the pillars on one side only, as the current will always be one direction only. We also noticed iron coracles near the bridge.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I can finally conclude with this revelation that I lately realized that one can live, fight and die for something that is as massive as Cauvery or any Nature who can be as big as what we Human’s can imagine and heartily agree to people who worship it as God. Life is really wonderful. Enjoy it, as it is short.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">It is not the destination that counts but, the journey that matters.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-115553317795112356?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1151782154821395222006-07-02T00:56:00.000+05:302006-07-02T00:59:14.823+05:30<span style="font-family: arial;">The link below is very hailarious and as usual it is our hero - Dilip. </span><br /><br /><h3 style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" class="post-title"><a href="http://backbytes.blogspot.com/2006/06/scandal-placement-officer-bags-highest.html"> SCANDAL: PLacement officer bags the highest pay!!</a></h3><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-115178215482139522?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1151781744988972292006-07-02T00:51:00.000+05:302006-07-02T00:54:11.986+05:30<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>At the outset-</b><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">A picturesque green field on the banks of a river with a farm house and a windmill rustling beside the house… This followed by an island, totally deserted and newly discovered on the corner of the earth with no inhabitants other than us…<br /><br /><b>Really?</b><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">This wasn’t the idea behind the masterminds of Saturday’s day makers. It was a solid trip to a hill 55kms from Bangalore. A trip bound to be written and recorded, lest to be forgotten without a trace.<br /><br /><b>Who we really are-</b><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Aided by a 22 seating capacity Swaraj Mazda we (10 of us) left the office premises at 0815hrs – delayed departure. With one more pick-up spot to be cleared (3 more), we headed with full <i>josh</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> . With no higher managements, we were let lose as though like a raging bull – <i>jallikattu?</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Try catching us rodeos, and face the music – was the attitude!<br /><br /><b>Fast, Broken-</b><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">With full steam ahead our penultimate stop was for the grub – idlys, dosas, vadas and duplicate Fanta, 7up (I'm sounding more like the '<i> kaapi, tea, chaya, garama garam moofali</i><i> '</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> )</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> and finally the welcome <i>relief</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> . With Dumb-C rolling on the rickety mazda for a roller-coaster ride on a bumpy road, our enthu got pumped more as the destination was just around the corner.<br /><br /><b>San-gap-py-</b><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">All time around it was only riding poor San-gap-py around. He was made the COA for the entire journey, never given breather from one puller to another; it was a hard day for him.<br /><br /><b>Pilgrimage?</b><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Though the place had to be given the due reverence, it was never done. All the talks and jokes and behaviour showed only the non-pious nature of ours – genNex (How did the <i>ghee</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> turn to butter?). This was shattered when the first temple was in the vicinity, all duly removed their sandals and shoes and went inside for the <i>darshan</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> (theirs or gods?). Then started the trek of a life, for many. Only 450mts above sea-level, it was one good task up the hill, with virtual stairs carved out to indicate that these can be used as steps. It tested every pilgrim and his belief. Hmmm… Pilgrimage, it was. Though defined as a journey to sanctum destination, we believe it was a pilgrimage for the un-happened life of ours. To define a place as sanctum, it must be qualified to give peace. It was one reliever and breather. And it was well respected by all.<br /><br /><b>Supreme-</b><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Pit-stops ruling the journey, it was heavily competed by the unknowingly-cheeky remarks from Reddy-<i> garu</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> . Gyans, marvels and jaw openers also constituted the entire travel. What do we call the architect of this world? With nature showing how beautiful she can be, an atheist can almost convince himself of the existence of the Supreme. Words are mere descriptions of the arrogance, marvels, charisma – she can be. These need to be seen and felt and well, I respect all the pagan (?) worshipers.<br /><br /><b>Awe struck!</b><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Well, let me try to word-play what we saw, first there was Sun peeking threw a largely grayish cloud threatening to unleash droplets of water which can drill a hole through head to feet only to be saved by gas medium providing the necessary friction to slow down. “Enough of your look at the meekly Earth!” says the clouds to the Sun and starts with warning of drizzle and then pours. By this time we were near the second pit-stop (first one – a sugar cane juice stall) – a lemon juice/<i> churmuri</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> (hope I’m right!). The view from behind this stall can only make your jaw drop (remember the fox/wolf in Droopy and Dripple?) to the ground (just one of the large numbers to follow), with the blanket of cloud till the horizon, isolated showers hither and thither and with one huge shower approaching us, Oh My GOD! I’m loss at words to describe how it was. Pardon me! I’m dumbstruck to even imagine it or recollect, to pen them down.<br /><br /><b>Someone’s watching-</b><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">This was the last stop before the final climb to the summit. With announced warnings from the returners about the Monkey-Menace, we climbed bravely after hiding our bags under our jackets. The climb became more treacherous and reached vertical limits at few places. With un-reliable rusty railings running at the sides of the carved stairs, bags and bottles to hold on and many pairs of eyes watching our every step forward, we were dangerously moving to the source of the trouble. This is when the next force showed his power – Wind. Making everything in its way to whistle and dance to its tune, maan! we were heading strong.<br /><br /><b><i>Koothula-Komali-</i></b><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Few more metres above, we would have had a touch down and relaxed a bit. But, the pairs of eyes that were following us finally appeared before us and the first thing it does, tries to attack (by climbing on the victim to snatch the hand-bag) the meekest of the lot – Shilpa, the ever Animal-Lover. Well, that particular incident would have made her to doubt on her animal loving habits. And who comes to rescue? Me! Clueless on how to deal with the situation, all I could manage was few ‘<i> shoos</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> ’ albeit a stick in my hand (I couldn’t do more). Maan! That scared the hell out of me. And from then on to be mocked as a Monkey-Slayer. (Still wondering whether that was to be an insult or a pat on my back; I’ll take it be the former). <i>Koothula-komali?!</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> (translates to a clown in the show: circus).<br /><br /><b>Nandy (A stylish Remo uttering the same?!)</b><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">We finally reached the <i>Nandi</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> and people climbed the remaining stairs to reach the <i>Nandi</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> and circumnavigate it once or how many ever times their caste asked to do. The view from there was spectacular and the sound would be deafening with the wind reaching its top speed.<br /><br /><b>Man on top-</b><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Then few more feet above was a cliff shaped like the hull of a ship. This was when the hilarious part started: there was a group with a foreigner with them. At the very end of the cliff were two pillars and on one of them was a <i>thing</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> to light the <i>deepam</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> , one of the people from group climbed the pillar and posed for a few shoots. With another person carrying a back-pack in their group, what was to follow was tension gripped and finally ended in a comic note. Seeing the man with back-pack, herds of monkey came on to attack (‘avalanche of monkeys’ would be an appropriate statement) and everyone tried to either <i>shoo</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> them or tried to defend themselves with sticks. All this while, the man on top (Sweekrath’s question on 360deg?) was still on top. And right at the bottom of the pillar were the herds of monkeys inquisitively searching the contents of the plastic that was thrown away to distract their attention. The poor fellow was able to get down only when the herd dispersed.<br /><br /><b>Descend-</b><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">We then stayed there for a while (How will it be to lie on your back in that place during the night with starry night, which would resemble a diamond studded black velvet?) and then moved on to the drop-zone, used by the king to slaughter or throw off their prisoners. It was one heck of a view down. With that it was time to leave; a downward journey with no monkeys was a relieving site. One more pit stop for drinks and then it was all the way down with ‘wait’ at few places.<br /><br /><b>Feast-</b><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">The next destination which was planned had to be ditched as we were already running out of time. We directly went to nearest food court (A Reliance venture) and gobbled up as much as we can, and started on the Jaw-Breaking Choco bars.<br /><br /><b>BANG and Subbu-</b><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">The booing, hooing and howling continued for the return journey as well. None were spared! We put a ‘O’ for our driver and one for Shwetha ‘aunty’ and then, disaster struck – BANG – the van ripped off the bumper of a Maruti 800. We had a long wait there. And the Public-<i> Aapiser</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> arrived from no where and explained that he saw the whole incident, and our hero appeared – Subbu! Maan! you need to be like him on these grounds!!! Well, there was chaos everywhere and Sanjay came in and explained that I need to escort the girls to home as it may be longer before the issue is resolved, but hmmm… we thought we’ll wait for some more time before deciding. So finally all ended after a vigorous exchange of words and a police man visiting and waiting no longer as it was petty and of no concern to him even though we were actually causing a nuisance on the middle of the road!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">We finally reached office and dispersed.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Three cheers to all those masterminds and entertainers (It’s addressed at all, as without you orchestrating the show it would have ended up in a dull note, thanks for the symphony, guys!). Let’s make the next one more memorable. Guys, you really rock!<br /><br /><b>Pictures-</b><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">All of them are 640X480 VGA resolution, please bear!<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;" >Disclaimer: No one was intentionally insulted or pinned down in the whole journey. Also no animals were hurt during the entire episode.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-115178174498897229?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1148276865339698932006-05-22T11:13:00.000+05:302006-05-22T11:24:13.473+05:30A class settled between lower and upper class, the class of people befits its definition. Neither are they rich nor are they poor. Neither do they know how to show as poor nor do they know how to show rich. Caught in this clumsy link, they are what they stand for.<br /><br />For them it had always been as a family (joint), <span style="font-style: italic;">thundu vizhatha</span> budget- Economic simplicity and <span style="font-style: italic;">maanam</span>! We used to maintain a small book, the size of a visiting card. This book would hold a mathematical formulas and numericals that describe how much the family spent the last month and how should this month’s salary be spent efficiently so that the debts are met and we break even.<br /><br />This class forms a majority in India. Well, if I’m not wrong, taking a census might prove that they form the biggest community in the whole world.<br /><br /><br /><br />Generally known for their stingy nature, these people are not stingy, but they know how to spend what they have earned and when. A scene from a movie <span style="font-style: italic;">Nerukku Naer</span>, where Karan, the villain, quotes this amazing example of what middle class is all about-<br /><br />“<span style="font-style: italic;">Era nooru rubai eduthukittu chattai vanganum-nu kadaikku poveenga, ana anga Era nooru rubai-ku nalla chattai irukkum, neenga atha vittutu rendu chattai nooru nooru rubaiku vangittu varu veenga, athu orey masathila sayam poidum</span>!”<br /><br />Quickly, the translated version of the above quote – You would take two hundred rupees and go to a shop to buy a good shirt, there would be one, but you would instead take two shirts which are hundred each, which would eventually lose its colour in a month’s time!<br /><br />So that’s what we are – Middle Class living with dignity…<br /><br /><br /><br />Our aim has always been that half ground plot outside the city, painted in yellow colour. And every morning you would take the “The Hindu” or “Indian Express” and settle on the EC chair (I forgot to mention the steaming cup of coffee on the stool), against those who would settle down in the western commode with the paper/milk.<br /><br />A bike like Rajdoot (old Indian bike) or a Bajaj scooter, which would be useful to carry the entire family of four on it. You ride, with your wife as the pillion (sitting on one side) and your two kids sitting on the petrol tank or in the compartment on the front (or the trolley like attachment on the side). Oh yeah, the eldest is a son and the youngest is the daughter.<br /><br />The weekend outing will be the beach or a park in (Thiru. V. Ka or Annanagar Tower). And that night’s dinner would be the stuff made that day morning (relaxation given to the wife).<br /><br />When it comes to the major outings or trip it would always be VGP, Mahabalipuram, Zoo or at the most some district inside the state – sometimes inter state.<br /><br /><br /><br />Life was simple. I once remember my dad saving petrol in a 20ltr can, as from the next day onwards there was a steep hike in the fuel price. We were this way!<br /><br />With a colour TV, no-telephone and no-VCR, we sustained our life with the channels- DD1 and DD2 that used to show how to sow saplings and plough rice or wheat from the <span style="font-style: italic;">vayakkadu </span>(fields) or the Friday special <span style="font-style: italic;">olhiyum oliyum</span> (Translates to Light Sound), Sunday special movies or cartoons. There are people who still do not have cable TV.<br /><br />Gone are those days, when we used to sleep on the <span style="font-style: italic;">mottai maadi</span> (terrace), after having <span style="font-style: italic;">nila choru</span> (Moon food). It used to be this way: My mom would prepare food for all the four of us in a big vessel and, we by then water the terrace (to get the cool feeling) spread mats and blankets and eagerly wait for her to arrive. She would place a urundai (ball of food (the size of a TT ball)) in our hand and we would gobble it immediately and extend the hand for the next one (though your sister would still be waiting for the previous turn).<br /><br />Life was just perfect! Beautiful, snail paced and awesome!<br /><br /><br /><br />Next day your dad would wake you for the drag called school (back then, it was always a loathsome stuff, but at later stages school was nothing less than paradise!). Get ready and you would be dropped off at the school campus by your dad. You would be proud boasting off to your friends that your dad owns two wheeler, until you see another friend getting dropped by his dad in a Premier Padmini or a Contessa. [Just like <span style="font-style: italic;">Boys</span>, your nose breaks]<br /><br />We never knew what birthday parties were, we were used to go to other’s parties eat and ask for more (an eye would be following you till the party ends) the stuffs we like. The eyes that followed belongs to the male parent, he would belt you once you reach home. Serious belting! You end up crying and try to be watchful next time when you embark on your favourite stuff in the next party (360 degree rotation on the XY plane and jump to see whether a tall figure could be spotted along the Z plane).<br /><br />Dad teaching you how to ride the BSA champ, a game of scrabble with the family, or a game of carom. Or the occasional trip to your grandparents’ place.<br /><br /><br /><br />It’s all over and now I’m a grown up dumb moron - Software Engineer - who may not be able to bring up a family in that way! I guess it’s all over, pity that they may not experience such beautiful things that we had come across, excepting our memories.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-114827686533969893?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1148214092030032372006-05-21T17:49:00.000+05:302006-05-21T17:53:02.496+05:30<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >As my project manager approached me with a problem that was so complex that it could be only solved by the top cream of an engineering or a 12^th standard student, I left the place and sat to think over the issue and how to solve it.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >The thought process immediately took me to the most important question, after this </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Answer_to_Life,_the_Universe,_and_Everything"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >The_Answer_to_Life,_the_Universe,_and_Everything</span></a><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >So, there I was thinking “Which would be the best place for a man to think soundly? Where do all great men get those thoughts, which others think is the best ever and beautiful?”<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >Pondering over it I realized that a man needs his own space to initiate the start of thought process. What is this? Why do all people talk about this all the time? Over a period of time from the late 19^th century there has been a million inventions. All great men!<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >To much pressure, I'm sitting on a million dollar question and also the problem on my sholuder given by my project manager! Hmmm…<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >BANG BANG BANG!<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ></span><i><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ></span></i><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><b>*FLUSH*<br /><br /></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><u1:p></u1:p>There goes the next Einstein!</span> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-114821409203003237?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1144996253474310072006-04-14T11:55:00.000+05:302006-04-14T12:00:53.476+05:30What do I say and where do I start? Rajkumar’s death has sparked huge riots all over the city of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bangalore</st1:place></st1:City>. 3 buses till now have been reduced to ashes, one theatre has been stoned, a hotel torched, one of the TATA showrooms have been torched as well. 6 policeman injured, one person has lost is life (reportedly due to stone pelting in the Kanteveera Stadium).<o:p><br /></o:p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Two days state mourning had been declared and an un-declared bandh as well. No schools, colleges, public/private companies will open. My office declared a holiday with compensation on the next Saturday. So, the sun rose at 11am for us. And as usual we hit the TV sets to find the latest news about the procession. To our dismay none of the channels other than Udaya and some NEWS channels were telecasted! A compulsory mourning had been enforced on all people without their consent. So, confined to these channels we saw what and how the proceedings of the funeral are going on. It was mob everywhere, angry fans beating the police and setting buses on fire, destroying ‘our’ property all the way. Why buses? <a href="http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1704/17040400.htm">The last time, where a bus was set on fire with people (girls) in Tamil Nadu, the whole of the state erupted! Pathetic work in the name of Fanatics. Shameful act.</a><o:p><a href="http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1704/17040400.htm"> </a><br /></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">“We want to know what really happened!”<br />Arrey! Watch the news and you’ll get to know what happened, he died of cardiac arrest!</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>“The govt. is to be blamed for his death”<br />Balls! No answers!</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">“Look what the govt. is doing. They are still keeping his body on the road.”<br />Sir! Look around, it is us who are blocking the procession. Side akkappa!<o:p><br /></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Finally I realized that once a public’s ‘favourite’ figure; you are at public’s disposal. Even at your death, the public decides what has to be done to you! “No family indulgence please!”<o:p><br /></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Yes, it is a great loss for the state. Legendary actor – priceless contribution for Karnataka and Kannada, but is this the way you all pay tribute and last respects?<o:p><br /></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><i style="">Ennamo pongappa!</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Politics shouldn't be played this way. Can the IITs pull it? Let's wait and watch!<i style=""><br /></i></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-114499625347431007?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1144995863184675182006-04-14T11:39:00.000+05:302006-04-14T12:40:21.206+05:30<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Compared with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wayne">John Wayne</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajkumar">Dr. Rajkumar</a> has acted in over 200 films (Stats might be wrong, tolerance!) is now dead. He was 77. Rajkumar who was born in a village in Erode became one of Karnataka’s gems! I never had a see his movie, but today I came across some of his best clips (telecasted in the TV quoting it that way; showed almost all the movies in 2 days), one of which was a scene that was a total rip from a Thamizh movie <span style="font-style: italic;">Thiruvilayadal</span>, acted by one of the greatest legend and GOD of acting – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sivaji_Ganesan">Shivaji Ganesan</a>!<o:p><br /></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Shivaji, perfected the art of acting. The song<span style=""> </span><i style="">Paatum Nane bavamum nane </i>is the best (well, there’s <i style="">Thillana Moganambal</i> as well) where he plays the instruments Flute, Veena and Mrudangam. The way it was played, it was as though he played them for real. That’s acting, where you do not know how to tell fake from real! Beautifully done. Rajkumar did the same thing (as quoted above) and I do not have words for them! Another instance was when Rajkumar played the Shenai and an actress dances for it and finally falls, which Rajkumar doesn’t realize as he’s totally immersed in the <i style="">kalai. </i>Shivaji in <i style="">Thillana Moganambal</i> played the Nadhaswaram and he played it. Yes, you cannot tell it apart! You can never compare them!<o:p><br /></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">When it comes to acting none can beat Shivaji. Man! <span style="font-style: italic;">Veera Pandiya Kattabomman, Raja Raja Chozhan and Karnan</span> and the list goes on! See them and you’ll know what I’m trying to say.<o:p><br /></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Times Of <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place> released an information in a small column which had high values, it had the payment some of the Bollywood actors receives for their part in the movie<o:p><br /></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Shah Rukh Khan – 12 crores (Cannot digest it!)<br />Aamir Khan – 7 crores<br />Mallika Sherawat – 80lacs to 1crore (For stripping?)<o:p><br /></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Shivaji would have only got anywhere around 25K to 1lac (could be exaggerated!).<br /><i style="">Enna koduma Saravanan ithy?!</i><o:p><br /></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Oh! I forgot to mention about the riots that happened following the announcement of Dr. Rajkumar's death – One Police Qualis, One Ambassador, Two Mini Lorries were burnt, few cars and bikes were broken down. This never occurred unless the person is a politician! I do not know whether it happened for MGR or Shivaji! What if Shivaji was in place of Rajkumar? I think they would have burned down the whole state!<o:p><br /></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Fanatics… Hmmm…!<o:p><br /></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">One thing must be appreciated, being a stalwart and not entering a politics is great thing. Not giving vents to temptations? But my idea is that if you are popular and there are masses following and respecting you, it is best you do a return favour by entering politics, it is not a bad option. If I were him/Rajni/Big B, I would have stepped in and showed the way!</p>He was a good man! [Rajni's style]<br /><br />At last all these people are there to entertain us! God bless them!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-114499586318467518?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1144994970632398852006-04-14T11:31:00.000+05:302006-04-14T11:39:30.646+05:30<p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">If Ganguly’s treatment was to be taste of what bad form and poor performance will lead to then two other Indian players need to be treated with the same style. Virendra Sehwag and Mohammad Kaif. Two batsman of amazing caliber! Past performance can never be taken as testimonials for them to hang on, then Ganguly should be the Indian captain as long as India plays cricket!<o:p><br /></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">If the quote for Sachin “He can take the game away from the opponents!” is valid then the same can be quoted for these two STARS “They can take game away from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>!”<o:p><br /></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Well played Gentlemen! If anyone is to be blamed it is the selectors… Such poor stuffs! Pathetic!<o:p><br /></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">And today we lost the game to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region>. With 8 games won on the trot, we couldn’t continue to break the record set by the Aussies! Yeah, accepted the fact that we had won 15 games chasing and set a record but why couldn’t we break the other one? Was it the Rotation policy? Partly, but not fully, two players are still continuing play without a break as the general belief is that they might improve atleast in the next game – one more chance please! Sehwag today quoted that he and Kaif might be rested and given a break for the next game against the English, so that they can revive and play as they had played (Guys! Dravid never needed one!!!)! I would rather say they might be dropped rather being rested, let them play the county and Ranjis and then prove that they are worthy for the selection!<o:p><br /></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">But all went wrong and these two are still being retained for the last one dayer. Dravid has brought back himself and Dinesh Karthik instead of Dhoni, which is understandable.<o:p><br /></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">What is going to happen? <i style="">Andavanukku than velicham!!!</i></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-114499497063239885?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1144648109765831692006-04-10T11:13:00.000+05:302006-04-10T11:28:37.230+05:30<span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/1600/kalyanam.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/400/kalyanam.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></span> <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">A few days back, a friend of mine called from <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">UK</st1:country-region></st1:place> to inform us that one of our friends has become DAD, i.e. his wife got conceived! Hearing it we were in splits!<o:p> </o:p><br /></span></p> <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">“Nothing amusing about it”, is what you all will say, well the fact is that they got married two and a half months back! And the title of this post has nothing to do with the information I’d provided… One more information: It was a love marriage. Won’t their Mom and Dad feel bad? Or rather won’t THE FRIEND feel a little embarrassed? Though, I seem to be proud that (sarcasm) our friend has become dad at the age of 23, I cannot announce this, with the same pride, to my parents! Can I? I would feel embarrassed; my wicked smile will surely let it out. IO!<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>What is it about Love and Marriages? Is it all about S3X or for something that ‘seems’ to be eternal?<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>I and my friends had a discussion on a topic that is debatable at anytime – What are marriages? And why do you marry?<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>The final agreement came on this statement “As long as you have a company to live with till end, marriage is not necessary, it is only love, interest and the enthu that bonds people for sometime or for eternity!”<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>Talking about love, I’m reminded of another conversation about the right age to love – At school we believe it is too premature and think that “…well nothing happens but hallucination.” At college level “our aim is to get a job and settle” is what we are advised. It was <i style="">padips</i> all the way… When this is over the next stage is when we are settled in a job and then start noticing that we are called <i style="">mamas and uncle</i>. Standing straight and looking down to see (perverts) our legs, but something obstructs that view – we have a huge paunch – pot belly is what the local lingo says (<i style="">thoppai thoppai thoppai</i>…)!<span style=""> </span>Then standing before the mirror we also notice (having a comb in our hand) that there is a huge <i style="">porampokku</i> land (Waste land – <i style="">vazhukkai - Sottai</i>) on our head – Balding (leave me out of this – I have a big foot ball field, none gets a chance to stand near me)! At this stage we can say ‘<i style="">Ellam mudinju pochu</i>’. <a href="http://nashwini.blogspot.com/2006/02/favorite-pastime-for-guys-in-college.html">After this we all will never look at a girl the way we used to</a>. And when it comes to marriage (at this point, you’ll decide that arranged marriages are the best! One such incident is that when one of my friend’s dad was approached with such a question from our friend, his dad said “Son, do not have high hopes. I cannot marry you someone who is better and good looking than you. It would be a sacrifice!”)… So, when it comes to marriages it is very much like a sacrifice – Innocent girl getting fooled or what Cyrus quotes in ‘Being Cyrus’ when </span>Farokh Sethna marries Tina<span style="font-size:100%;">. And I’m not up for such a disaster in anyone’s life!</span></p> <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>This post is not for Madhavans, Aamir Khans, and John Abrahams! It is for someone who suffers very much like <i style="">Vadivelu</i> (where he never gets married and <i style="">Parthibhan</i> tortures him in his dreams…) </span></p> <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p><i style="">Kalyanam than Kattikittu odi polama?</i><span style=""> </span>IO! Police-u! Escape!</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-114464810976583169?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1143988241590546862006-04-02T19:56:00.000+05:302006-04-02T20:05:25.673+05:30<p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">After a long wait (almost 23yrs), we decided that it is time to learn the art of mastering ‘Walk on Water’. For me it was so, but for my friend (let’s call him Shortso…) it was more than that, he had to show that while on treats-given-by-others at a resort, he too can swim (even though two feet is deep for him!), or to do a soft song such as ‘<span style="font-style: italic;">Pen onru kandaen, pen angu illai…</span>’!<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Kick-off for the same occurred yesterday (By this time next week we would have a Mile Stone Party for successfully completing one week!!!). There were almost 30 of us (all freshers).</span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Induction was given to all people on what it is all about and how we should approach as a team by obligeing our Team Lead (instructor).</span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">It was a huge team and thus was divided to three parts, each having their TLs.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The whole stretch of the project (pool) varied, depth wise, from 4feet to 16feet.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">All the worried were advised not to as none will ever lose their life (Important of the whole training).</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p><br /> </o:p></span></li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">We had been waiting for this moment for a long time. The new swim trunks that were bought and never worn before (Liar! It was worn once to check the feel of it. WOW! Feels like heaven… Raymonds?! No no no… The feel was similar to our school days, when we would buy the new uniform, shoes, bag, pencil box and other stuffs and we would do a rehearsal of going-to-school-act by dressing up; arranging the pencils, eraser, sharpener, and ruler in our pencil box; neatly juxtaposing the books in our bag…). The idea of swimming made me think of perfect tutorials to master it – Google – Teach Yourself Swimming in 21 days, Swimming and beyond, O Reilly’s Series on Swimming, Strokes and Strokes++ and Finally, Swimming for Dummies!<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Just like any other subject we were thought and made to practice the basics – blobbing and floating. Blobbing, hmmm… that term was impressed in my mind when I was 5yrs old (First swimming coaching. I had to discontinue it due to epilepsy!), I do not know whether the word is correct or not! Blobbing is at art of holding breathe under water or releasing them properly?<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">That went sooth, next came the art of keep-your-body-afloat, which too went OK. Next was lean-against-the-wall-with-one-leg-down-and-the-other-ready-to-give-you<br />-a-thrust-forward tutorial. I tried, but could not get enough momentum, which ultimately put me into imagination of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Frog">Crazy-Frog</a>. He gets a thrust because of the Forward Acceleration Ricochet-less Technique in simple terms F.A.R.T!<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Next one was a variation of the above (No! Not the F.A.R.T!!!), this time we shouldn’t lean on wall but should reach the wall from a distance. Well, everyone could have used Crazy-Frog technique, but restricted themselves as they might embed themselves on to the wall due to excessive thrust generated, a side effect of that days ‘<span style="font-style: italic;">Dum Alu Biriyani</span>’! This meant only a gentle push using legs. Our friend, Shortso, entertained us with his outstanding ability to frantically move both, his legs and hands and desperately trying to make an effort to stay put the same place where he had started (Sadly, he realized it only after lifting his head from water, but I noticed a guy who was standing next to him all the time suddenly disappearing, catching his groin? Man down! F1 F1 F1).<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Allotted one hour duration came to an end and we left pool, warming it. I leave it to you to think on the number of ways of how you can make a pool of water warm! No nasty thoughts!<br /></span></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Finally ending with this ancient saying (Some great saint!)...<br /></span></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Namma thanni-la irunthalum, thanni</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">namma ulla irunthalum, thalladrathu namma than!</span><br /></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-114398824159054686?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1143725038479219122006-03-30T18:50:00.000+05:302006-03-30T19:02:34.153+05:30<h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >It has been a long time that I had sat down to write a post. This post <a href="http://mexican-sambar.blogspot.com/2006/03/childhood-and-those-slow-paced-days.html"><i>Childhood and those Slow paced days</i></a> was written a long time back, but I had no time to publish it! Yeah, I know it is too much, but that’s how it was.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >C# training kept me busy all the time and in between my mom was not doing well. And most important of all was - we started to cook at home! At last we re-defined what cooking was. <u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >Our instruments were simple-</span></h3> <ul> <li> <h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >One electric rice cooker</span></h3> </li> <li> <h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >One burner LPG stove (We are planning to book for a gas connection and purchase a proper stove – two burners!)<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></h3> </li> </ul> <h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >With this, till now we had cooked many items-<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <ul style="font-family:arial;"> <li> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >Vathakozhambu (Vendakai and Murungakai)<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></h3> </li> <li> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >Sambar (All varities – Murungakai, Kathrikai, and the list goes on…)<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></h3> </li> <li> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >Urula kezhangu roast, Vendakai, Podalangai varuval…<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></h3> </li> <li> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >Dosa sometimes! (We buy the instant mixes)<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></h3> </li> <li> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >Podis (Courtesy – Grand Sweets): Poondu, Paruppu, Karu veppilai<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></h3> </li> <li> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >Paste: Vengayam, Vathakozhambu, Thakkali, Pepper Rasam, Gongra<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></h3> </li> <li> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >And finally Vegetable Fried Rice!<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></h3> </li> </ul> <h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >One month has gone by and we are still cooking. I thought the temptation would die down, but guess what we are going on to make new dishes (Aray vekkadu – Half boils; kozhanja soru – over cooked rice – <i>kanji</i>; Kozhmbu becoming Sambar!) These dishes doesn’t happen everyday, only when we invite someone over dinner or lunch. It has started to become specialities for the guests! [<span style="font-style: italic;">Thana varuthu... hu hu hu</span>]<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >We spend half the time of cooking on phone to converse with the experts, who are based in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Madras</st1:place></st1:city></st1:city></st1:place> (Our Mom). Their opinion matters a lot for the outcome of the stuff, else it would head directly to the dustbin [Or we might as well keep it till guests arrive]! We owe them a lot. Just imagine- It takes huge amount of time to prepare, cut, wash and cook. Three of us combine together to keep one sambar, but our mom wakes early, does all the dishes [we never had the tendency to wash our plates after a sumptuous meal nor had the courtesy to thank them for the wonderful delicious food]. Here, we just cook during the night. <u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >What happens to those moms who wakes early, cooks, and then leaves for work?! Trust me it is difficult to wake early and to top it – cook without anyone’s help?! It is next to impossible!<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >Amma, this is for you! You just rock! Salaam! No words… [<i>Amma enru azhaikatha…</i>]<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >Apart from the cooking, we watched huge no of movies. C# was also played, but only during night shows; ASP.NET was such a horror movie that I saw the movie closing my eyes! Terrified, I’m still sweating!</span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >As a whole, I had become too good a resource for any girl to resist. <i>[Nenaippu than pozhappa kedukkuthu… Sigh!]</i></span></h3><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-114372503847921912?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1143646851534242362006-03-29T21:07:00.000+05:302006-03-29T21:12:40.266+05:30<a href="http://sidin.blogspot.com/2006/02/sidins-guide-to-greatest-indian.html">Venkatesh Prasad, Venakatapathy Raju, Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shasthri</a> and the list goes on...<br /><br />Definitely read Venky and Raju! ROFLOL!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-114364685153424236?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1143646161485114202006-03-29T20:56:00.000+05:302006-03-30T18:36:09.190+05:30<div style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><span style="font-style: italic;">First, kadavul vaazthu - </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://pravunplugged.blogspot.com/2006/03/sudhesi-must-watch.html">Sudhesi</a><o:p style="font-style: italic;"> </o:p> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Time and again when you do something or when something unfolds before you, we tend to relate it to the past of our lives-<br /><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">How it would have been back then?<br /></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">What was it then? (Cheran's<span style="font-style: italic;"> Nyabagam varuthey nyabagam varuthey... </span>Playing behind!<span style="font-style: italic;">)</span><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Today’s fast paced life is too fast for me to cope up, and thus many a times I get blamed as <i style="">tube light</i>. I can never think on the fly or make decisions instantly. I need my own time and energy to do stuffs. And now I realize that life back then was the perfect place for me to be myself.<br /><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">School was a paradise and it continued even after the specified era, but on different notions.<br /><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">When was the last time you were enchanted-</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li>To see a pink coloured trio device consisting of an eraser, sharpener and a brush?!</li> <li>To see a Big Sized Pencil that has a Hand as its cover/cap?!</li> <li>To see a long plastic stuff that wraps around your wrist when you bang it on the wrist?!</li> <li>To have a diary as your rough note book, while the others had a bound notebook made out of the empty sheets of their previous year’s CW, HW and Test Notebook?!</li> <li>To see your mate using a pen-pencil that had a transparent plastic body and was filled with cartridges of pencil hooks or a thick-leaded (With a steel thing to sharp the lead) pen pencil/thin leaded pen-pencil?!</li> <li>To see yourself being the COA (Centre of Attraction) on your birthday (With the coloured_non_uniform dress), with the rest of the class hanging behind you for the chocolates you are about to offer?! <i style="">Yei yei… Oru chocolate kudupa…</i></li> <li>To buy you a WWF/Cars/Bike trump cards? Or the stickers of WWF/Cars/Bike or the glowing ones?!</li> <li>To see your neighbour’s son/daughter showing off with his remote controlled car/Glow-worms/Barbie Doll (Dai/Di! This is a <span style="">gender</span>-<span style="">neutral post)</span>?!</li> <li>To see a multi compartment school bag and pencil boxes?!</li> <li>To see your mate wearing the Disney Character capped watch?!</li> <li>To see your mate owning a BSA Champ or a Street Cat with Rock-Shocks?!</li> <li>To go in the open type rickshaws?! (Nowadays it is autos, vans and matadors! Slow disappearance of those beautiful three wheelers, we had either with motors attached or those ordinary pedaling stuff!)</li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Or the dreading moments-</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">When you had to face your dad to <i style="">oppuchify</i> the 7/8/9 tables? Appa! Anything other than those… Dangu! Oru kottu!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li>Or you had to <i style="">oppuchify</i> series of long answers to your mom/dad and you go on to say “Just tell me the first word, I shall continue then!”</li> <li>Or you had to bring in that day’s question paper to tell your parents where you had gone wrong and why?</li> <li>Or you had to show the answer paper which you had done miserably!</li> <li>Or you need to get the signature on you _RED_FILLED_ report card and you are ranked almost last or cannot be ranked at all!</li> <li>Or the beatings and lashes you get when the next house kid (studying in the same class) performs better than you!</li><li>Or getting whacked for losing the pencil that was the size which Gandhi says in his Autobiography, yeah yeah... that small one which cannot be held in one hand and requires the help of another to hold it!<br /></li> <li>Or your sibling doing better than you and they doubt whether you’d born to them and planning to put you in a hostel or make you bread and rear cows!</li> <li>Or the PTA meeting!</li> <li>Or getting black and blued for uttering one of the ‘bad-words-u’ like <i style=""><span style=""> </span>bloody fool, stupid, idiot, donkey </i>and sometimes<i style=""> arivu-kettavan!</i> </li> <li>Or getting near to the end of that day’s playtime, cycling time and it is going to hit six ‘O’ clock and by which time you should have been to study a chapter from which your dad will ask questions (If you answer wrongly you might have your dinner delayed (Hey! No worries, you’ll be finally fed as no parents want their kids to starve to death, but we always believed that they are our first enemies!!!))!</li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">We were innocent then and never thought of places out of our house/school and the street we lived in. Don’t know about you guys! Once I was black and blued for taking my BSA Champ to the main road which was three lanes away from my place. Funny, I was given everyday some hours to play (after coming from school) and in that I can ride my cycle, and it should be around the park, my house faced!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">I was also mischievous, but not clever. [<span style="font-weight: bold;">*BLUSH*</span>]</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><vadivelu>[Vadivelu Ishtyle] Appo, enakku oru pathu vayasu irukkama… <vadivelu><br /></vadivelu></vadivelu></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">There was once this incident which involved a tri-cycle (yeah it was bought for me and then passed on to my sister). Me and my sister went to the park (The same, opposite to my house) carrying the tricycle. In the park I sat on the cycle and made her push it… This went on for sometime till someone (A boy, a year older than me…) came and stopped by advising me-</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">He: <span style="font-style: italic;">Dai! Unn thangaiya vachu nee thallama, nee ukkanthukittu unn thangaiya thalla sollara? Asingama illa?</span></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Me: <span style="font-style: italic;">Hmmm… </span><font>(<font>Got up and gave the tri-cycle to her!<font> <span style="font-style: italic;">Namma ellam appadi than, yaara paathalum oru bayem! Hay hay... chingam-la! Achingam aiyuduvom!</span>)</span></span></span></p><font><font><font> </span></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></p><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font></span><font></span></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><fo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</span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font>He made me small before my sister and I wanted to have my revenge, so I along with friends from the neighbourhood made a plan… Every now and then, in the park, they would stack all the dried leaves, plants and branches. On one such day I, with the street friends and along with _OLDER_GUY_, kept fire to it. And when the question of owning up came, we put the blame on him! <</span><span style="font-style: italic;">Nambiar style evil laugh</span>> After that we never saw him around our place!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-114364616148511420?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1138993569539649502006-02-04T00:35:00.000+05:302006-02-04T01:01:59.156+05:30<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Marriage is always fun. Be it relative’s or friend’s or someone whom you had been acquainted and long forgotten his/her existence!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>What makes it very interesting? <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>Marriage is interesting because… No! This is not a SST/ENG/EVS class.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>Gossips rule the whole party!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">She1: Aye! Paathiyaadi avavla? Evvalavu nagai potturukka! <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">She2: Paathundu than irukken, ava husband-u Dubai-la velai seiaraanam! (Now the situation has changed. It is more like “Ava husband-u America-la Software-la velai seiranama…”)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">She1: Ye Archana inga vayen. Ennadi athu kathula? Puthu model-a?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Archana: Amam maami! LKS-la puthusa oru model vanthuthu. Avar kitten ketten, ethu venumo vangikko appadinu sollittu avroda card koduthu-tu poittaru. (Archana leaves after that.)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">She1: Koduthu vechava. Hmmm! Yenoda athukkararum irukkara! Seriyana oru asamanjam!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">She2: Amam amam!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">She1: ?! <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">She1: Atha vidungo! Avvala parungalen, eppadi dress pottundu vanthirukka-nu?! <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">She2: Eva?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">She1: Athan, tight-a oru sattaiyum, chinna size skirt. Kalyanathukku vanthirukka mathiriya vara, iva-ellam?! Paathi theriyarthu! Cha! (As though, they are doing a favour of entertaining the rest with their informative and humourous talks!)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">She2: Amam di. Bad dressing sense. Pottathu than potta oru Green top-um, black skirt-um poturukkalam!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">She1: ?!<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>And they go on describing every lady who enters the hall. They have something to comment upon every woman who comes and goes. No one is spared. Sometimes even the bride and her mother are not spared.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>There would be nalangu after lunch. This is the time for the periyavals to relax. You get caught with them; you’ll die a slow death. Seriyana mokkai sometimes. But, for people with big ears and a thookam-sokkara-types, it is an aradhana.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>This is the time almost everyone surrounds you and asks zillion questions (Of course with beeda in their mouth)-<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>If you are un-employed or forget at that stage, if you are lowest in grades, you are dead meat! (A meat is actually dead stuff!)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Periyava1: Enna pannara pa nee? Exam ozhunga ezhuthiniya?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Ambi1: Ummm… Pannen... Ippo summa than irukken, unnum velai thenindu irukken.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Periyava2: Enna sollara? Pona velai yen vitta?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Ambi1: io! Illa, nan unnum velai seiya arambikka vey illai. Rendu masathukku munnala than exam mudinjuthu!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Periyava3: Enna da un college-la campus ethuvum varalaya? Un vayasau than da namma Shrikanthu-kku! Campus-la place anan. Ippo America-la irukkan. Orey masathla nalla velai panninanu <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region></st1:place></st1:country-region> anuppichittangalam! (Shrikanth is actually Periyava’s grandson…)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Ambi1: Err… (Appa, <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">unna</st1:place></st1:city></st1:city></st1:place>! <st1:place st="on"><st1:place st="on">Nan</st1:place></st1:place> appovey sonnen engineering-lam vendamnu… Ketiya? Cha!)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Periyava4 (Meanwhile our hero dreams about next birth and his dad should be born as his son and all other stuffs): Enna da Ramamnujam sollavey illa?! Shrikanth eppo ponan? (Ambi1 silently elopes…)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Periyava3: Ambi1 engey ponan? Hmmm… Nalla padichi irutha ippadi iruppana avan?<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Periyava1: Dai! Ambi2… Inga va!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>Ambi2: Sollungo mama. Ethavathu saapida venuma?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Periyava1: Illa da. Nee enna pannara, engey velai seiyara?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Ambi2: Mannaar and mannaar company, formerly known as ABC…<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Periyava2: Yennathu athu? Kelvi patta mathiriye theriyalaiye?!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Ambi2: Ummm…<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Periyava3 (The same guy who tormented Ambi1): Enna da US-kku lam poliya? <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Unna</st1:place></st1:city></st1:city></st1:place> vida 3 varusham chinna van da namma Shrikanth-u. Ippo US-la irukkan.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Ambi2 (Smart guy!): Hello? Enna ma? Sorry, nan appaorama vanthu pakkaren mama. Amma etho avasarama koopidra. (He should teach that to all! BTW, he never came back to talk to them. He did, when he was about to leave.)<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>Mom introduces her son to someone revered.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Sir: So, you have grown big and strong! Hmmm… What is your age?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Son: Yeah! Come December, I’ll turn 24.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Sir: Athu ennada hair style-a? Illa mudi kottaratha?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Son: Illa mama, hair style ellam illa! Mudi avvalavu than valanthathu! Hereditary problem, I’m balding!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Sir: Intha chinna vayasulaya?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Son: Hmmm… (io! Ellarukkum theiryum. Uyira edukkatheenga! Apppaaaa! Ellam unnala than!)<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p><span style=""></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>Next comes the 2^nd best thing in marriages- Food!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>The menu contains at least 15 items – minimum!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Two curries</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Three different rice varities (No make that four to five; including fried rice and kalantha saatham viz. a viz. Lemon rice or thengaai saatham)</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Chips </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Appalam</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Jangri/milk sweet</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Payasam/Seeroti/Kheer</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Cutlet/Vadas</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Avial</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Kootu</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Fruit salad</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Ice Cream</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">And finally Beeda…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>In a north Indian wedding reception they even kept snacks (Check out <a href="http://mexican-sambar.blogspot.com/2006/01/chottus.html">Chottu’s</a>)!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>It has become a fashion to organize buffet and bring in a beeda wala. So people can ask for their choices.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>And finally bird watching. Nice looking girl all around the place. Iyer or Iyengar aathu kalyanam always rules!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>Time flies. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Warning: If you cannot find anything of the above, then my friend, it is better to commit suicide as slow death is always very very painful. Trust me: Use a gun!</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113899356953964950?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1138993524295254462006-02-04T00:33:00.000+05:302006-02-10T11:59:51.000+05:30<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Due to heavy requests I'm removing the associated picture from this post.</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Few days back, as I was sitting in my cubicle and trying to figure out a way to while away my valuable working time, a colleague (my team-mate) showed me a picture of a bride and bridegroom at their wedding. The bride was wearing a <i style="">haaram </i>(A necklace) that started from her chest and went on till her abdomen. It was thick and it was made out of gold! She was decorated like a goddess (No, goddess are never decorated that way! They are simpler than us. I can compare this way: Kuber maharaj wouldn’t have had anything like that!!!) I made a sarcastic remark on my colleague’s jealousy!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">And yesterday I got the same forward, from my schoolmate, with a different subject “Is the Aejaz?” This bloke was my school mate. When I looked at the picture, I noticed that it was indeed Aejaz standing next to the just-like-prince-jewellery-ad-in-theatre or a-saravana-stores-model. (I never saw the bridegroom last time when I saw the picture.) </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Look at the picture and you’ll know what I’m trying to say. WTF?! Yeah!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The forward was aptly named ‘Goldmine found!’ He struck gold.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">A picture is worth a thousand words, perhaps looking at this, like the Worldspace ad you can say “A picture is worth a thousand words and few million more!”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Now we know how Kolar Gold Field ran empty!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113899352429525446?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1138992721899076262006-02-04T00:18:00.000+05:302006-02-04T00:46:54.966+05:30<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The end <i style="">margazhi</i> <i style="">maasam</i> and <i style="">kari naals</i>, marks the season (It continues till July and a break and then starts from mid August to mid December, then again a break till January end) of wedding, and related happenings. Basically, the start of anything during this time should end in a good way. And yesterday happened to be a wedding reception of my mom’s relative’s (Yeah, I too am related! What a dumb statement!) daughter! I was very adamant to not attend it, even if god comes down and rages a war against me, but you know one can never win their mom. The retinue of my mom was me and my mom’s cousin. My mom’s cousin is about 10yrs elder to me and we have good rapport.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">So, I and my mom went ahead to my cousin’s place to pick him. I waited outside his house and mom went inside. As I was waiting, (There’s a ladies tailor shop adjacent to the place) one of the tailor came out and started a conversation. My mobile had zero signal, and I was little annoyed. He noticed and said that the signal near his shop was always bad and blah blah blah… Since we had acquainted before, he started talking about his daughter working in Oracle and the place where it was located. He said that to emphasize that his daughter was really working in that place. Then came the scrutiny-</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">He: Son, Where are you working?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Me: <i style="">Mannaar and Mannaar</i> company, formerly known as ABC solutions…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">He: Oh, where is it?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Me: XYZ road…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">He: Is it also MNC? You know like Oracle, Wipro, Infosys and TCS…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Me: Yeah…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">He: Do they have office in US of A?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">Me: Yeah…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">From a distance, I heard a voice of my rescuer “Kanna polama?” A sigh of relief, as I was sure to know the next obvious question… “Yabba! Great escape!”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">That was just round 1, round 2 was supposed to be more gruesome than the previous one. There are always millions of unknown relatives asking the same set of questions. (Will write a blog on marriage related gossips and questions)</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The crowd in the hall was total strangers or barely acquainted, except a few.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I found a corner place (where the density was relatively less!). I and my cousin went there as my mom entered the maze (Similar to the one Abhimanu went and got killed!). After sometime, I settled down with the routine-grape-juice and my mobile snooker game. In the middle of the game I saw my cousin’s number flashing on my mobile. I thought “Adapaavi!” I went in search of him and there! He was standing next to my mom and a set of relatives. These relatives were so very remotely connected to me (Not by blood line, but by distance!) All these makkal were <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> kootam! The bride was somehow related to me and the entire mom side population has formed a base, networked themselves in US. They had come down from there to conduct marriage for the sake of relatives in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Romba than karisanam! (The last time such a marriage that had happened was way back in July 2000, it was one of the best I had seen in my life (Apart from my mom’s friend’s son with Hosur’s ex-MLA’s daughter’s marriage! That rocked!!!)) Marriages are usually good for many reasons- For food, for meeting makkal and have good laughs! The funda- break from routine work and good time pass.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">At this marriage neither the food was good nor did I have good time with all the makkal there!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">But today I had gone to engagement at the city outskirts; there the food was worth mentioning. It was not extravagant and distasteful as yesterday. The food was simple and magnificent. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">For the past two days I had been in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Madras</st1:place></st1:city> and I had home food only once and it was today’s lunch. Gash! I hate these marriages which is making me slip home food.</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Too much US-ism makes me go blue! io!<br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113899272189907626?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1138797318833661802006-02-01T17:56:00.000+05:302006-02-01T18:13:35.920+05:30It was 2330hrs... And a car went vrrroooommm and stopped at a place. Walking towards it I found it pretty odd.<br /><br />I took sometime to find the oddity - On the windshield. It was at the top of the glass and alligned centred and stood out in bold letters (Well a Software Engineer stressed excessively to documentation, will see his world this way!).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">BALANAGAMMA</span><br /><br />I had no clue what that meant. I read it-<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">'B' 'A' 'L' 'A' 'N' 'A' </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">'G' 'A' 'M' 'M' 'A'</span><br /><br />What could be it? I was thinking physics Gama with a spelling mistake!<br /><br />Finally realising my idiocy, I re-read it BALA NAGAMMA! Eureka! I laughed all the way till a dog started to bark and came chasing me...<br /><br />People, do not confuse an Engineer! Why do not you all make his life easier. Give a space between words!<br /><br />io io io!<br /><br />Stop laughing and return to work!<br /><br />Enough is enough...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113879731883366180?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1138708690002236012006-01-31T17:26:00.000+05:302006-01-31T18:30:45.156+05:30<p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">There’s this episode in <a href="http://calm.homeip.net/beat/Fun/Pictures/Dilbert/">Dilbert</a> show where an axiom was revealed that Engineers never can get the girls from the management, for that matter any good looking girls! It is either those management gurus, marketing dudes or those converts, who call themselves Technocrats! For Engineers it is always either the next house <i>Kannama, Rakkamma, pinky or some-one</i>; or desperate to know who has taken the seat next to yours in the bus or train (Chart always helps you know who sits in the whole coach!). All you find is <span style="font-style: italic;">Vijayalakshmi</span><i> F56</i> or <i>Bhagyalakshmi F75 (Damn!)</i>. If you do find <i>F23</i>, then she’s always accompanied by her husband/Boy Friend, who sits right opposite to her and next to you! Or you may find <i>M63</i> (What the?!) asking you take the upper berth and snores away to glory making you and other such miserable creatures to burn the midnight oil with a laptop and thinking of the next post in the blog! There are the others who walk the entire stretch of the train to find where the <span style="font-style: italic;">figures </span>are! And label the walk as an excercise as they just had their food!<br /><br />Life is always like looking down the barrel of gun– Engineers.<br /><br />“…Engineers are not-cool, badly dressed and do not carry the right attitude, work late - return home at odd time, and do not know how to carry themselves (What?! Are we over-weight? Damn! I should not be eating Curd-rice every time…) and dumb! Where as the management gurus, marketing-dude and technocrats are so hip…” says <i>Vadivammal</i> (Who at present works in a Top IT company in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bangalore</st1:place></st1:city>!) from <i>Arakampatti</i>!<br /><br /><i>Kadavule!</i> (I’m not calling ‘<i>Saravanan</i>’ from ‘<i>Chandramukhi</i>’, again!)<br /><br />Here I present a gist of answers when few of the Engineers were questioned about Feb-14^th-</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Manager: What’s up for Feb 14^th?<br />Engineer: What? Do we have another deadline to meet? Don’t tell me, I just finished a delivery yesterday. Give me a break!<br />Manager: What a jackass?! (Mumbles)</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br />Friend (A Marketting dude): What are you plans for Feb 14^th?<br />Our Engg: Well, nothing much, taking the day off!<br />Friend: WOW! That’s cool! Then?<br />Our Engg: What ‘then’? Mom will be away as well…<br />Friend: You are rocking (Totally hyped and almost goes crazy…)!!!<br />Our Engg: <i>Poda DOG</i>! That’s the worst part, no idea as to who is going to cook the lunch and dinner?! I’ll be going to <a href="http://www.anjaneyaswami.com/location.asp"><i>Nanganallur</i> </a>temple, amma told me to, in the evening to tie thread and will be late and thus think I’ve to eat outside! Anyways what’s up on 14^th? Is it your birthday?<br />Friend: Oh! Gash! Never mind, it is some old bugger’s birthday! Nothing important to you… (Feels pity for ‘Our Engg’)<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">You can always make out the difference between a college student, an engineer and a marketing-dude!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Yeah! The look at his eyes can say! Drowsy over-worked. Talking about philosophy and life after death… definitely is an Engineer.</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The college student and our-enemy (marketing-dude) looks like a stud and one cannot be made out from another!<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Even by any luck, you do find a young girl sitting next to your seat in the bus (which was not a dream, but a hard-core reality!), it ends up with the engineer shouting on top of his voice “<i>io! Enna vittudunga!</i>” Let me narrate an incident that happened to our <a href="http://mexican-sambar.blogspot.com/2006/01/io-soru-aka-pongal-pandey.html"><i>Pongal Pandey - PP</i></a>, he’s the same guy from the previous post!<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">This engineer (PP) boarded a bus to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Madras</st1:place></st1:city> and God bestowed upon him a girl (Obviously an IT company TL) in the adjacent seat (PP mumbles “Yes! Yahoo!” and dreams about boasting to his fellow engineers after returning back!). All was well, they had good discussion and as night fell, our engineer slept away to glory! And around 0200hrs, the girl wakes up the ‘sleeping engg’ and asks “What did you do?”</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br />PP (Wakes up and half drowsy, think he’s still sane enough to revert back, checks his position- legs far away from her, hands tightly held close to his chest and there was at least 6 inches gap between him and her; opens his mouth to say): What happened? And what did I do?<br />Girl: Did you do anything?<br />PP: NO! (He’s terrified, one more time she says that, he’s sure to have a nervous breakdown and will go to Coma. He’s already thinking about – eve teasing, police station and <i>kudumba gowravam</i>!)<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Time goes… the girl speaks (Our Engg who has closed his eyes, but could not sleep has maintained a 12inch gap in that cannot-be-done-in-KSRTC-bus, was about to shout “No not me! I promise to GOD!”) “The guys behind me are doing this. Can you help?”<br />PP (Cold and thinking “Thank GOD, I’ll break 100 coconuts) Gets up and thinks himself as the Hero saving the Heroine from the villain, heaves a sigh of relief: Let me talk to the conductor…<br />Conductor (Switches the light and shouts…): <i>Yaaru adhu</i>?<br />Conductor (Looks at the guys behind the girl’s seat): What are you doing and blah blah blah…<br />Guys from behind (should be the anti-engineers, I do not want to specify the category!): How could you conclude that it could be us? It could be the person (Our Engg) sitting next to her!<br /><br />By this time PP was shivering with cold, even though the bus has reached Chittoor and is almost touched TN border and everyone could feel the heat!<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Girl: He’s not the one, I know him and it is not him…<br />PP relaxes and tries to increase the gap between them and falls into deep sleep…<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Next day morning, PP puts a big <i>salam</i> and wishes that from the next time onwards he wants the old-loud-snoring-bugger as the next seat passenger!</p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->Will he ever think about dating women (Now, do not fall into the other side of the spectrum, he'll never chose MEN!)? He would probably stick to what his mom choses for him- <span style="font-style: italic;">Neela, mala or some Karuppayee</span>!<br /><!--[endif]--></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Every step we take towards crossing the bridge we end up waiting, till the bridge breaks-down, to arrive at a decision!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">So a conglomeration of engineers, technology geeks and other abandoned groups will be held on Feb 13^th to discuss various issues that needs immediate attention. It will mainly focus on strategizing and planning to flatter the opposite sex (Engineers does include women as well…) so that there’s engineering style of everything including the candle light dinner... Seems a good idea, but will it work? We need to wait and watch!<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">I believe the discussion will waterfall onto the next day, and these engineers will never realize that they have to arrive at a decision. God bless them! Being an engineer is just good to solve issues. We never have the time or thought for the softer emotions! We’ll be like this forever, always lagging behind the hunks – marketing dudes, technocrats and the management gurus.<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">></span></span><a href="http://www.ilga.info/Information/Legal_survey/Asia_Pacific/india.htm#*Laws">Section 377 of IPC prohibits the other opportunities. I have no explanations for them!</a><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style=""><</span></span><br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Do we get them? Nay! (I’m not talking about gays, now!)</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Wake up it is time to work? What day is this?<br />February the 14^th! Rings any bell?!<br />Oh My GOD! Shucks! Oh no… I’m late for the meeting at 0900. And I have delivery by 1900hrs…</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">You see, the fate of Engineers is already sealed!<br /></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">At all Women and Men - <a href="http://vetti-apisers.blogspot.com/2006/01/new-job-aka-nanba-un-velai-kku-vetu.html">Give Engineers all the chances</a>... They'll improve some day!<br /><o:p></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113870869000223601?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1138707278556446562006-01-31T17:03:00.000+05:302006-01-31T17:38:12.206+05:30<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/1600/P1200005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/200/P1200005.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/1600/P1200003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/200/P1200003.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/1600/P1200006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/200/P1200006.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><o:p style="font-weight: bold;">E for </o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Engagement...</span> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">20^th January was the D-day that was imbibed into everyone’s mind. Reason – Prem finally deciding that he has grown old enough to take the first step towards wedlock, with Vinu, the first step towards joining the elite club, constituting Anand, Arun and Lathish. He has finally given thought about his graying hair and other aging materials (Yeah, I’m balding too, but have no concern as to what happens to my hair and me as I age, I’m giving no room for anyone to take me down! Be it <span style="font-style: italic;">malapaambu </span>as well!)</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Vaday and I duly arrived at 1630hrs, even though we had promised a bit earlier – 1530hrs. Reaching only to notice the rest of the party has not yet started from their respective places. Bob and Muthu were the only dudes working their life out! We both pitched in and helped them a bit.</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Makkal started to flow in as time tended towards the <i style="">muhurtham!</i> All <i style="">periya thalais </i>were in by the time. And there comes the greatest shock (Should I have to call it a surprise?) – Ash was <i style="">kulukkifying</i> hands with people (Struck by lightning would be the nearest measure of current that went through me!). <span style=""> </span>Jaw dropped, eyes were rubbed to check my eyesight… everything were indeed proper. It was Ash! Blistering Barnacles!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Then all the fun began – Prem comes near to us and narrates his embarrassing moment</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Prem: Guys! Hear this; I’d the greatest embarrassment in my lfe!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">All: Enna sollara?!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Prem: I was walking down the aisle and all of a sudden a stranger at some distance says “Hi” and starts walking towards me with his hands stretched to greet me! I was in a fix as my thought was debating between ‘Whether I had never seen him before or I have, but have long forgotten’. I gave it a boot and stood there with my hands stretched to reciprocate. Then the biggest hit! He just walked past me and greeted the person right behind me! While going past me he says “Sorry!” I was like WTF?!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">All: ROFLOL!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Then there was the incident involving Bob and Aditi at the <i style="">Naladamayanthi’s</i> place!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">We got to know that Aditi had a dog called Bob. Need I say more on how the discussions went after the above disclosure? It was <i style="">Bow wow Bob bob</i> <i style="">Err… bow wow</i> all the way!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Throughout the whole function I was in mixed emotions. As, at once side is the happy stuff that was happening and on the other side was that my Mom’s cousin was admitted in the hospital and was in need of Platelets (One of the ingredients that makes up blood). My mom was in the hospital along with the other cousins… Deeptha helped by asking some of her friends to come forward to donate blood. Vinitha aired it in Radio Mirchi, Bob was ready to come next day to donate, and well I was overwhelmed! I’m glad to have them! They rock!!!<br /></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">We all played Mafia for some time...<br /></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">All ended well, I got the info that the Platelet counts (In an adult, a normal count is about 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter (x 10^–6/Liter) of blood.) had increased from 28,000 to 42, 000. I was more than happy!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">F for Funeral…</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">21^st morning was shocking; I was awakened by mom’s shout! She told me that her cousin passed away at 0630hrs (Excessive internal bleeding) and we are to head directly to his place. He was a bachelor and was bed ridden for the past 10 years or so. He had the same syndrome as my uncle - MD (<a href="http://mexican-sambar.blogspot.com/2006/01/five-days-in-madras-part-ii-day-1.html">Click here to know more</a>)! It was a bit of a shock for my uncle.</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">I and mom were in his place in five minutes (It was in the adjacent street). I waited outside for the freezer van to arrive. It was not a pleasant sight to see some one motionless whom you had known for years. I and other cousins carried the freezer box to his place. </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Suddenly I was entrusted with loads of responsibilities. Till then I was considered the youngest of the lot and was never allowed or given huge responsibilities! I was nominated as one of the four to lift the body. It is not a proud feeling, but suddenly I was made to grow, the thought that I had to start thinking in a matured way was slightly… (Don’t know what to put there!)</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">I had a guilt running in me - I never wanted to see him in the hospital, I tried to push it until he came home fully recovered. It was not the feeling of fright or bad. I don’t like to see someone suffer; who till that time was doing well! It too passed, finally I saw him at his place but he’ll never be able to see me! He had suffered a lot and it was time for him to rest in peace…</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">That whole day, I ran here and there, did loads of work. Went to <span style="font-style: italic;">Kannamapettai </span>booked the 1200hrs electrical crematorium. Then rushed back in time for the final proceedings, lifted him and went directly to cemetery. A ceremony over there and it was time to push him into the bowels of fire! We all saw it: The trolley moved in slowly until it was fully inside the furnace. It caught fire instantly and the gates were closed. 1.5 hrs we got his ashes, meanwhile some more ceremonies, settling dues. From there I took his brother, who did the whole <span style="font-style: italic;">kaarium</span>, to Besant nagar beach to immerse the ashes. It was 1600hrs.<br /></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">All was over! </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Headed home for food.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113870727855644656?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1137483444231996882006-01-17T12:50:00.000+05:302006-01-17T15:45:48.930+05:30<div style="text-align: justify;">Soru - One of the basic necessities to sustain the sojourn on this planet! To earn it I must work! How? Robbery – Out of the way, that’s because either I’m not smart enough (Think! Why else should I be a Software Engineer?) or not bold enough to face this society as a proclaimed robber. I could have chosen to hunt, but you see I was brought up as Brahmin ambi (No, not amby!), so that too ruled out. Thus finally ended up being an Engineering (Present continuous…) graduate, which put me into this (No, never am I going to address the IT field as ocean) Maattu santhai – IT industry. Yeah, you guys are right we all celebrated Maattu pongal yesterday (15th January).<br /><br />Between maadu, pongal and S/W engineer-<br /><br /><ul> <li>They have horns that are painted with different colours, we have our arse painted in RED-u (Ajith way of saying) due to our sitting posture OR black and blued by our higher ups, clients and employers (Who knows where to aim for when something gets screwed up (Hit here – Bum beating and Calcium Coating.)!)</li> <li>A friend of mine who participated in his office Antakshari competition, made it through to the finals (along with his teammates) whose contributin till then was nil, made a surprising move by singing “Mangalu mangalu mangalu mangalu…” . His team mates were elated and so were others, when others were waiting for him to sing the next two lines, he sang “Mangalu mangalu mangalu mangalu…” again (This chap eats Pongal as his breakfast daily) and from that day onwards he is addressed as <span style="font-style: italic;">Pongal Pandey</span><span style="font-style: italic;">!</span></li> <li>A colleague of mine got a stomach upset due to excessive oorvalam and the bananas they fed him when they took him for rounds, and thus was unable to attend Monday’s office, but surely attended nature’s call!</li> </ul><br />A baadu, err… slip of the finger, maadu gets a better treatment than us. Ah! Finally I’m returning to the topic – Food!<br /><br />Maattu pongal was a memorable one. Mid-day meal was at the routine place. Guess what he served us? Verkadalai Sambar! Machan! Athukku bathula punnakum thavudum (As Satyaraj says <span style="font-style: italic;">Thavudu thavudu</span>) vechiruntha <span style="font-style: italic;">maa maa maa –nu</span> kathitti poiruppom! io! As Prabhu says io! <span style="font-style: italic;">Enna koduma sir ithu</span>! (Chandramukhi)<br /><br />That was atleast OK. Dinner was even worse; we spent almost an hour and a half to spot a hotel or any eatery! All we could find were cows everywhere, decorated with – Balloons! (<span style="font-style: italic;">Vitta rendu kombu-la-yum vazha thaaru kaati panthal pottudu vanga pollirukku!</span> The Hindu’s Monday’s issue showed a Bull walking on fire – Poor creatures tormented!). We roamed around our part of the town to find a place to sit and eat. All we could find is crowd everywhere (<span style="font-style: italic;">Orey janam mama!</span>). Saachu-putanga da! None cooks here, all come outside to eat. io! Finally we decided to finish our dinner at <span style="font-style: italic;">Sri Krishna Sweets</span> – We had <font><span style="font-style: italic;">4 Mysore paaku, 2 Rasa Malai, 1 Basundhi and 50gms Paal Kova</span> (80 bucks)! And to finish it off, we needed something hot – Masala Puri! Went to the road side Kai yenthi bhavan and had 2 Masala Puris. It costed only 10 bucks (Yup! Reminds the kakka biryani joke), well nothing of that sort happened.<br /><br />Only slight stomach damage!<br /><br />So rephrasing the sentence – <span style="font-style: italic;">naai mathiri alaya viduranga</span> to <span style="font-style: italic;">Maadu mathiri alaya vittanga</span> da!<br /><br />To be a software engineer is one thing, but to be alone and living away from home, where there’s none to care for you is an issue (Of course there are your roomies, your college mates and other well wishers, but will it come like your loved ones and the special place called home?).<br /><br />Ellam mudinju pochu!<br /><br />Ammmaaaaa… Enakku azhugachi azhugachi-ya varuthu!<br /><br />BOOOHOOO!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113748344423199688?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1137416158118460922006-01-16T18:24:00.000+05:302006-01-16T19:08:23.350+05:30<p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">As I sit and ponder as to how to fill this post, I went through the previous ones and found that I have an incomplete post- “<i>Enna ma Gay3?!</i>” part. Yup, the post is going to be on the good ol’ tuition days! </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">@Gayathri: If you chance upon this post in the future, please do not take me wrong! I’m not defaming your image, that’s a promise. And please do not sue me for not consulting you for posting on your name!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">@Kicha: The above applies to you as well!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Sorry, guys!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">@All: All characters portrayed in the post are not imaginary or fictitious, and nothing is coincidence! </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Tuition and Tuition Masters, without them it would have been difficult to cope-up with what was taught at school!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">First let’s us attack CSR! Or shall I take him at last? Hmmm… on second thoughts, will save him for the last!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><b>KND<br /><br /></b>He was our Math tuition master. The initials expand to K.N.Desikachari. Yup! You guessed right: he’s from the old times, strict, fundu and what not?! The process started (as in everyone’s life) when we entered 10^th standard and continued till we completed our entrance exams. But, my relation with him started a long time back. He tutored my mom, uncle, then me and finally my sister. Yes, he was, as the professionals say, in the <i>field </i>for a very long time. Life went great under him. We had good times, apart from the small duration at tuition (compared to the time before and after the drill!). </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Gani’s brother (Late) Gangaram, who was living in the parallel street, coming in with reasons for his absence in the previous classes. </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> One such example-<br /><br />Sir: “Yenda pona class varala?”<br />Gangaram: “Vootanda malai, sir!” </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Every one of us was on the floor, hearing it! It was just a drizzle…</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Another one involving Sir and Ramki-</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Ramki (Had the tendency to shake his legs (Hmmm… how do I explain this? Imagine sitting on a chair in a relaxed posture, and moving your legs this way: Spread your legs and then bring it closer (repetitive)))</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Sir (Notices this… and says this epic dialogue!): </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="FR">“Appadiye aatikitte iruntha na, <i>sombu</i> mathiri aiyudum!”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">We fall again! That was <i>the</i> dialogue of the century!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Then comes Shri Hari’s favourite dialogue-</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Shri Hari, always, cracks the question in a matter of seconds! And on one such occasion sir noticed that he had missed few steps and had arrived at the answer in an alternate way, and says </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">“Arusi-a nalla thanni-la vadichalum sadham aagum, sewage water-la pannalum sadham aagum!”</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The best times were after/before tuition. We played cricket (Had named it Roof Top Club) on most of the days and on other times it may be… (There other times were so small in magnitude that they can be ignored!) Cricket was where all the fun happened, as in the other <a href="http://mexican-sambar.blogspot.com/2005/12/kids-why-should-they-grow-up.html">post</a>, Jayanth shouts after getting out “Pitch-u da!” Those were jolly good days!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><b>Now on to the next page, Chemistry tuition - P. O. Johnson Pattery </b></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">This <i>mallu</i> dude, worked in a famous school in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Madras</st1:place></st1:city>, was the happening Chemistry tutor in town. The money he got out of tuitions was so huge that the salary he got from the school can be matched with the pocket money given to kids! At present his main job is tuitions, well, he finally realized that spending 8 hours in the classroom can fetch him only peanuts. </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The best part about this page was his accent, his pronunciations and his way of accepting and dumping the monthly tuition fees into his pocket! Two pockets with flap on them. Well, imagine this: He talks and is unaware of the flap and tries to shove the money into the pocket. Well, the whole act is hilarious! </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Rajesh Rathod (Thanks maan for the contributions!) has dedicated a diary to preserve the chap’s dialogues. Here, I present those dialogues from his diary, </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br />Johnny: You write, ‘Properties of acetic acid is dhe dhe dhe…’ yeah, you write… </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br />Johnny: Shri Hari, any problem?<br />Johnny: Yeah, yeah, very very simple…</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br />Shri Hari forgets his pen or it is not writing…<br />Johnny: Shri Hari, is the pen writing?<br />Shri Hari: No, sir!<br />Johnny takes the whole pen stand and passes it over!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br />On a Sunday morning class…<br />Unknown (Yawns)<br />Johnny: Is water Acid or Base?<br />Unknown (Sleepy): Acid?!<br />Johnny: (Mallu accent) Yeah, Morning morning you drink acid?!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br />Johnny: How much is 1calorie?<br />Amit Shah: 1000 Kcal, sir…<br />Class rolls over!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br />Johnny notices that Jayanth has almost hit dreamland leaning on the wall<br />Johnny: Jayanth, tell me ozonalysis.<br />Jayanth blurts out something (Other words I do not remember… LN has the best memory, probably I should ask him to write a blog on the same again!) and class rolls.</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br />The way he drinks his tea…</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><b>Finally, CSR </b></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">C.S.Ravi Shankar, profession: Tutoring Physics [because he is the best in it! Unbeatable! Any questions?]. The post’s title was after his infamous dialogue “<i>Enna ma Gayathri?!</i>” </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">How and where do I start? </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">It all started with Vaday telling me about him. And I spread the info to other guys! Before Vaday could realize what had happened, there were half the science students in his tuition! Let me list them out-</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal">Vaday</li><li class="MsoNormal">Myself</li><li class="MsoNormal">Manu</li><li class="MsoNormal">Dilip</li><li class="MsoNormal">Shri Hari</li><li class="MsoNormal">Kicha</li><li class="MsoNormal">Gani (Went to Pillai as well!)</li><li class="MsoNormal">Rathod</li><li class="MsoNormal">Sooraj</li><li class="MsoNormal">Karthik</li><li class="MsoNormal">Jayanth</li><li class="MsoNormal">LN</li><li class="MsoNormal">Rajesh alias Kalia</li><li class="MsoNormal">Golan</li><li class="MsoNormal">Deeptha<br /> </li> <li class="MsoNormal">And Gayathri!</li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The count is 15 (did I miss anyone?), which is 3/4^th of the total science population!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The first thing you’ll think after seeing him “Is he a sir?” Well, not that way (Capable?). For his appearance you are sure to mistake him for a student than for a master (Is this what is so advantageous for him?!)</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Next on to the centre stage-</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">I’m just jotting the moments I remember!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Sir is yet to arrive…<br />Gani and someone are having a friendly quarrel and Gani says “The video boy” (Hey! Do not ask me what it means. Find it out yourself… All I can hint is: It is a <i>Thamizh ketta vaarthai!</i>) at him! Sir arrives exactly at this point and says “Ganeshram, do not use such languages here. If you need to, please leave!” </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The day when Kalia and LN acted as CSR and student and sir happened to come in the middle of their act!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Karthik getting caught while copying a <i>bit</i>! Chases him out of the class asked him to bring his parents… After that Karthik never liked him (Or even before that?!)</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The numerous photo copies which he used to issue at the end of class (I collected everything and thought of something useful for it, but gash! It did not fetch any money at all!)</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The famous incident-<br />Gayathri arrives…<br /><span style="" lang="FR">Sir: Enna ma Gayathriiii?! Eppadi vantha?<br /></span>Gayathri: Car.<br />Sir: Yaaru ottara?<br />This went on for sometime and there was confusion amongst us, finally LN popping with a question: <i>Driver than Appavaaaaaa? Apppooo?</i></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Another one, but this time it is his favourite topic – <i>Vekters</i><br />Near his board, keeps his closed fist on the board in such a way that the thumb points at you, and he is trying to explain the direction of the resultant vekter… Forget it. It is hard to explain this part (I’ve completely forgotten to spell vekter! Calling the experts: Vaday, Manu, Shri Hari or Dilip please help!) and says “<i>Puriyalaya pa? Enna pa neenga! io… Feel pannunga!</i>” </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br />Quotes-<br /><i>Anga yaaru pa satham pannrathu… Sollikittey irukken apporam asingma thittiduven… Vagabonds-u, street urchins-u nu thittiduven pa! (Romba periya kettavartha, yebba! Gani-ya minjitarey!)</i></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Jayanth correcting sir by saying "Two equal halves?!"</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">CSR’s dog - Arjun!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The days we used ottify Vaday with Priya? When all of us went to Suraj's place to watch In Vs. Zim...</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The days we used travel in cycle to all these places and hit bed rather sit and revise!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><b>English tuition – Dedicated to Kicha and Adi!</b></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Oh yes! We did go when we were in 9^th and 10^th. It was not exactly tuition, but more fun than that!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">There were </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Adi<br />Dilip<br />Kicha<br />Myself and<br />Shri Hari </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">And the tutor was Shri Hari’s mom! </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">We had rocking time! After and before class we use to play Cricket on the terrace…</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Or there used to be Adi pulling Kicha’s legs (During 9^th and 10^th, Kicha never had his upper jaw’s front teeth, remember? (Kicha do not curse or plan to take my arse off! We are just making people laugh, yes at your cost!)) by saying “Thoddi”! That was not all that happened between them, they literally fought everyday! One day Kicha or Adi got so pissed off that he showed _|_ to other, Nivi (Shri Hari’s younger bro was watching the whole stuff) was curious to know its meaning, and Shri Hari came in to blast both of them for corrupting Nivi! </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Once we wrote a mock exam at her place and the next day at school, the same paper was issued (Actually it was some old question paper given to our senior, and the lazy ma’am never took an effort to change it.). We were all delighted and did well!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">As narrated by Adi to us-<br />Kicha goes to buy some groceries at the famous Ayyanar stores, and the fellow over there returns a torn 100 note, which Kicha happily accepts it (not knowing it is torn), finally he returns again in the evening to return the 100 back. But the dude disagrees to accept it, and what does our Kicha say? Nope, not that! He says “The Video Boy” right on his face and returns home! The bloke at the stores never understood what Kicha said (we all guessed). Otherwise we would have never seen Kicha alive!<br /><br />Well, that’s about it guys! Have a nice time. </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">I’m not going to have any, waiting for Kicha and Gayathri to take me down!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113741615811846092?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1137164862379828362006-01-13T20:27:00.000+05:302006-01-14T11:01:54.826+05:30<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/1600/Vasu.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/320/Vasu.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Caution: What had happend was not to be mistaken for a Child Marriage!<br /></div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">I totally forgot to write about Chottu’s marriage and his reception! Oops! Chottu got married, so no more calling him Chottu!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Chottu’s, nope Vasu’s, marriage, if my memory has the retaining capacity (I’m sort of a Ghajini!), took place on Nov 16^th. I was supposed to attend it and finally had to ditch it as I could not allow myself to extend my leave (which had already touched four) to another week!).</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>For the sake of friends and other relatives, he had arranged a reception in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Madras</st1:place></st1:city>. And right away I thought this would be the best way to have a school get-together. So, the D-day arrived and the invitees were flowing in to the hall.</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>We had bought him a gift – A night lamp with clock!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>When we reached there, we were unsure whether the function had started or not, as there were makkal standing outside the hall. So, we too decided to stand and wait for others to arrive.</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>First to come was Adi, then MD, Manu (Long time no seeing), Bhaiyya and finally Avi and Ranga!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Thus at the reception a small get-together was arranged, the makkal-</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <ol style="text-align: justify;"> <li>Dilip</li> <li>Prem</li> <li>Adi</li> <li>MD</li> <li>Manu</li> <li>Bhaiyya</li> <li>Avi</li> <li>Ranga</li> <li>And then me!</li> </ol> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Well, including Vasu we were 10 of us there! Shri Hari arrived after I’d left! Bad luck, I left without meeting him!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Vasu’s cousin Vinay was there, some of us (including me) called him and started to talk to him, he had no idea of who we were! He then says “Sorry, I do not know who you guys are!” The bulb was glowing big-time behind all those who had asked for it!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>We all went to the <i style="">Medai</i>, wished and gave him the gift! Vasu had become tall and thin! Whereas MD had grown fat, Manu had one of his upper part of the earlobe pierced (Orey the style than!), Ranga had gone thin, Adi had lost his body, and I was balding! Well, no more school kids! Time was surely racing!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>The next was the dinner that was served at 1930hrs itself! We were on it in no time; there was akki-roti, Cashew nut pakodas, Paneer pakodas, Pani Puri, and Noodles! After having them we went for another round of juice.<br /></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">All of us assembled and had good time together - cracked jokes (mostly on Gani!).<br /></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>I was getting late for my bus, so bid adieu to all people and then went to Vasu to ask for my leave! He wanted to make sure that I’d my dinner; I assured him that I’d had it!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Well, when I was about to leave, Vinay approached me and asks the same question Vasu had asked me, I answered pointing to the place! Well, he returns by saying this “That was not dinner, it was just a snack, and the dinner is served on the first floor!”</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>I thought <i style="">adapaavingala! </i>Ellam mudinja apporam vanthu sollaraney! I had already gobbled up enough pakkodas!<br /></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">BOOOHOOO!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113716486237982836?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1137158884660483002006-01-13T18:57:00.000+05:302006-01-13T19:17:18.083+05:30<p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Day was dull and the holiday was coming to an end! Went and got the 120Gig hard drive which Bala had sent across to me as my birthday gift! Mounted it, installed OS and did the data transfer, but not fully completed! Mean while arranged a meet with <st1:place st="on">Dee</st1:place> at school. So, went again to the paradise to have good chat with her! Maan, school rocks!<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">By the time I’d returned NB had arrived and we were doing the remaining data transfer from the old hard disk to the new one. But, it hung and gave an error! So we have postponed the copying to a later date!<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Dinner: Cauliflower Manchurian! Rest couldn’t end better!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Finally departed to railway station to return the land of work!<br /></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Night breaks; Day five over!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113715888466048300?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1137158822521268222006-01-13T18:52:00.000+05:302006-01-13T19:17:46.886+05:30<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/1600/At_Beach.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/320/At_Beach.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/1600/Diesel-I.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/320/Diesel-I.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/1600/Diesel-II.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/320/Diesel-II.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Today was another special day- It was my Paati’s Devasam! Devasam is always the best, since it deals with food. In their name we have a feast. Till now you have never found out whether the feast is to mourn their death or to give a sigh of relief that they are gone for good! Think about this: When will you feast? It would be when you are happy about something, but on Devasam?! Oh! Never mind! The day was good!<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Mom had prepared <span style="font-style: italic;">cheppang kezhangu roast (mild), Sarkarai pongal, Sambar, Vada and Melagu rasam (Mulagu Thanni = Mulligatawany???) and Vada finally soaked in rasam!<br /></span>Well, yes, it is mouth watering!<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">After which, the plan to Besant Nagar beach was on.</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>My first thing was a walk to Adi’s place where every one was to assemble and start. And there I finally met Diesel after 6 months, he has grown big and strong! Had nice fun playing with him! One hack of a Rottweiler!<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">On the way Karthik told me about his experiences in the US of A! Being hit by an Afro-American (that’s the way we have address them), chased by two whites from his college to his home (1.5 mile run for his life) and other various exciting things! Talked generally about others and their whereabouts!<br /></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Day went great!<br /></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Night breaks; Day four over!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113715882252126822?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1137158532834284532006-01-13T18:49:00.000+05:302006-01-13T19:18:21.596+05:30<p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Off the bed by afternoon and then watched Mind Your Language Vol. 1. Evening’s beach plan was cancelled. But prior to that there was another plan of going to Bala’s place to rectify the problem in his computer! But later in the day Prem had called to say that there was a beach plan (Me, Karthik, Prem and Adi).<u1:p> </u1:p><o:p></o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Finally it was called off, and I headed to Bala’s place and fixed his comp. It froze after any application was started and was unable to do multi tasking. So, I first installed the service Pack 2 and then went about uninstalling all the big and unwanted softwares. Well, it solved the problem of freezing, but it took a hell of a time to load! NB asked me to check with the hard disk’s pin (Slave or Master) and also to change the BIOS to suppress the Intel stuff! I need to do that…<u1:p> </u1:p><o:p></o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Meantime Fatso had called and informed me that he’s in the Airport and was on his way to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region></st1:place></st1:country-region>! I was lost as I’d assumed that he was to leave only during the end of month! Somewhere I’d mistaken!<u1:p> </u1:p><o:p></o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Met Karthik after 2 long years!<u1:p> </u1:p><o:p></o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li>He had long hair, hadn’t gone for a hair cut since March.</li> <li>Did not have water until he came here – <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region></st1:place></st1:country-region> (Water was costlier than Coke and Pepsi)</li> <li>Came here to fix Dental problems!</li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p></u1:p>That’s the gist of the whole conversation!<br /></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Night breaks; Day three over!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113715853283428453?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1137158302688404222006-01-13T18:47:00.000+05:302006-01-13T19:19:39.720+05:30<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/1600/FriedRice.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/320/FriedRice.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Yeah! The day was special for two reasons- Mom’s birthday and next I'd cooked Fried Rice after 2 years!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Everything was great, neatly cut vegetables, Gravy prepared separately and side by side (mom) preparing rice with aid from our neighbour (Since rice had to be <span style="font-style: italic;">vadichifyied</span>) I had requested help from my neighbour. If the rice is boiled to perfect temperature it would be soft and easy to be chewed.<o:p></o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Everything went well, I mixed rice and the gravy and the smell was awesome. I also let myself taste it. It was perfect [<span style="font-style: italic;">Oru pana sorukku oru soru patham</span>]! </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>But as it became cold, I noticed it was going worse! Wait till I explain it-</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Everyone sat for lunch [My sis played a delaying factor], and when I started to chew the food, I could not stop chewing as the rice was half baked! Everything was ruined [My mom who had already had the food gave a wry smile]! The process some what resembles what a cow does, but we never followed the process of <span style="font-style: italic;">asay podrathu!</span> Orey gulp, food and water [side by side]. Matter over…</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Day ended with helping my uncle to finish his office works, from there me and NB went to Villi to repair the comp over there! It was almost twelve before I could hit the bed!<br /></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Night breaks; Day two over!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113715830268840422?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1137154399660347072006-01-13T17:40:00.000+05:302006-01-13T19:02:39.296+05:30<p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Unlike the last off, this time everything went at peace, well almost!<u1:p> </u1:p><o:p></o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">First day was dramatic and will stay memorable for years to come. Well, my uncle who is suffering from Muscular Dystrophy, well a form is <a href="http://www.beckermusculardystrophy.org/">BMD</a>, which I believe is the one that has affected him. Links-<u1:p></u1:p><br /><br /><a href="http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/bone/muscular_dystrophy.html">http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/bone/muscular_dystrophy.html</a><o:p></o:p><br /><a href="http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/md/md.htm">http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/md/md.htm</a><o:p></o:p><br /><a href="http://www.mda.org.au/specific/mdadmd.html">http://www.mda.org.au/specific/mdadmd.html</a><o:p></o:p><br /><a href="http://www.mdausa.org/publications/fa-dmdbmd-what.html">http://www.mdausa.org/publications/fa-dmdbmd-what.html</a><o:p></o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p></u1:p>Yeah that day belonged to him. He has difficulty in getting up, so others assist him to get up. That day his uncle (yeah <i>mama thatha </i>for me) helped him to sit and all of a sudden my uncle fell backward (Domal!) and started to moan my name, I came rushing to find my uncle in total drowsiness. I gave him some water and made him lie down again! Time went on and after half an hour I went to check him again. He turned towards to me and asked “When did you come?” I was <i>appadiye</i> shocked to hear such a statement. I was there with him from the time I reached home; we had a long talk on investments and the gift to be bought for my Mom on her birthday (the following day!)! I was tensed and I called my sis, who was leaving for her class, to come over and help me. When she arrived my uncle turned towards her and asked “Where are you going?” she first couldn’t understand, then I explained what had happened! She got tensed and called up mom, who was in school.<o:p></o:p><u1:p></u1:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p></u1:p>This went on for some time, we tried to explain how he fell (Well, he had forgotten that too!). He recollected everything. It was a big relief, machi! Very big burden thrown off! <o:p></o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p> </u1:p><o:p></o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">I was beginning to think on how we are going to survive such a massive blow- He was our think-tank, financier and everything! He has an amazing will power that every one of us lacks! He is the MAN!<o:p></o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><u1:p> </u1:p><o:p></o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">That night we were out to buy a gift to my mom, as thought before it was supposed to be a Gold Chain funded by my Uncle! We set out (Me, my sis, NB and Eswar) to Tanishq, but dashed it as it was getting late and headed directly to NAC. There we bought a necklace and headed home and hid it (luckily power was off! Well, it was a necessary evil as I’d also bought Ice Creams).<u1:p><br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></u1:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Cut vegetables and hit bed at 0140hrs! Sis gift wrapped the chain, and I asked her to place the gift next to my mom’s pillow [who now was snoring away to glory]. Next day...<br /></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Night breaks; Day one over!<br /></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><night><end></end></night></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113715439966034707?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1137150287706787302006-01-13T16:31:00.000+05:302006-01-13T17:18:32.303+05:30<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/1600/ClassXII-I.1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/200/ClassXII-I.1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/1600/ClassXII-II.1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/200/ClassXII-II.1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The post carries the memories, though jumbled, of my days at school. This post is after a two short visits, consecutive weekends, to school! The first time it was a planned event and Vaday was supposed to accompany us and bugger ditched us at the last minute. Finally, it was just Dee and I who were left to enjoy the reminiscence and carry home nostalgia of our good days at school!<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]-->School at night time sure looks better than at the morning hours, or was it just the silent night that did the magic?! No idea, but it was beautiful. It was like the scene from DCH where Aamir Khan sees himself and the others having a good time at their college. I was seeing myself doing that, there and this, here (well, guys picture it yourself!). I'm getting all senti now!<br /><br />They have connected our Higher Secondary block (some '_KV_ Iyer') with the Middle School by a path from the flight of stairs which leads to Physics lab to the newly constructed block. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">That path, and the walk through it was amazing! (What an understatement!) With the shades of the trees from either sides of the path, well I'm not that articulate or poetic to describe the beauty! Probably need a pro's help to write it (<st1:place st="on">Dee</st1:place>?)!<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What do I write about?<br /><br />Should I write about-<br /><br /></p> <ul> <li> Vaday sitting at the last bench during Suchi's class to solve IIT problems and never give a damn to what she teaches?</li> <li>Or SVLN (LaRa or LN) counting the number of 'follow' and shouting "Century!" when Giri says (in her hollow voice) "<span style="font-style: italic;">Do you follow?</span>"?</li> <li>Or we go begging for PT to Ajith sir?</li> <li>Or LN shouting "Amma" when they play the <span style="font-style: italic;">Mari-atha's</span> from the nearby slums! (This I actually do not remember, since <st1:place st="on">Dee</st1:place> reminded, I've put it down!)?</li> <li>Or Gani blowing the polythene cover and bursting it during the English period and we all unite to say "The sound came from nearby construction area", and ma'am deserts the class, leaves to staff room to cry?</li> <li>Or the bet between (10th?) LN, Gani and Hari with Bharathi ma'am on jumping out of the window. (Here comes the funny part…) Two of them jump from the shade, but one hangs from the shade and gets caught with commerce ma'am or who was it?</li> <li>Or Ajith sir giving the famous clichés – <span style="font-style: italic;">troubled waters, when I spoke to Mr. Gupta…, since because…and much more</span> (I do not remember...!)?</li> <li>Or playing Badminton inside the class room and breaking the tube light? (Gani?)</li> <li>Or Adi pushing Aejaz onto the window pane, breaking both Aejaz's head and the glass?</li> <li>Or getting suspended because we bunked GS or GVC class and went for PT?</li> <li>Or switching classes during our 10th std's workshop (Learning Experience?)- Mridangam, Art and (?) as we never brought the materials for the Art class?</li> <li>Or Manu being mistook for a 'thug' by the a replacement-temporary-physics-ma'am who goes by this name Su(<span style="font-weight: bold;">Zoo</span>)jatha (this ma'am is not from the middle school, but was specially inducted to replace Suchi during her maternity leave (wonder how many such leaves she took?! Hmmm…)?</li> <li>Or Hari and Aejaz's spittle, family damaging (demeaning) fights? For that matter any fight including Gani always ends up with our family being totally damaged!<span style=""> </span></li> <li>Or flicking Kit-Kat from Mummy Daddy or Stickers from the road-side sticker shops (Gani?)?</li> <li>Or (this is the best) LN shouting "<span style="font-style: italic;">Suchi, I love you?!</span>" during one of the lab classes when she was teaching the Spectrometer (Is this the one which deals with Prism?) or something like that?</li> <li>Or Dili's <span style="font-style: italic;">Thayir Saadham</span>, Rathod's <span style="font-style: italic;">Dhokla</span>, MD's <span style="font-style: italic;">Briyani</span>, Vasu's <span style="font-style: italic;">Chappathis</span>?</li> <li>Or Sooraj's Volley ball services?!</li> <li>Or me cursing Karna house (I actually went and broke a coconut at the Iyappan temple so that Karna house loses the volley ball match against the Abhimanu house?!<span style="">)</span></li> <li>Or makkal roaring when Swetha wore an Adidas T-shirt and came to class, straight after practicing?!</li> <li>Or Shri Hari and his cashew nut actions (<span style="font-style: italic;">Mundri kotta</span>)?<span style=""> </span></li> <li>Or Jayanth and his stupidities?</li> <li>Or Rathod or Karthik (I do not remember!) drawing a _|_ as part of greeting card design competition and Gita ma'am having a look at it?</li> <li>Or me dropping the catch of Madhukar at the Cricket match between Bhishma and the Arjun house?</li> <li>Or Bhaiyya's lunch at his home?</li> <li>Or Varun's Basha style at the culturals?</li> <li>Or the salt analysis days?</li> <li>Or Bheeshma beating Karna by 2.5 points (Who were the clear winners?) and taking away the Patabhiraman shield?</li> <li>Or Manu taking the prestigious "Best Captain" award (in memory of our senior - Avinash)?</li> <li>Or the rumours, gossips and ottifying that constantly went around our class (which I was unaware until I graduated from college)?</li> <li>Or those march past days?</li> <li>Or Midterm, Quarterly, Half-yearly, Annual, Topper's Exam, APSE, Board exams? </li> <li>Or running around the ground for coming late/wearing untidy or not-polished shoes? </li> <li>Or (How can I forget this?) vandalizing the physics and chemistry labs just before the 10th practical exams? </li> <li>Or Karthik's lunch getting over as soon as he enters the classroom? </li> <li>Or Gautham getting ragged as whiskey boy, he then complains about it? </li> <li>Or MD slapping Koshy? </li> <li>Or changing 3 uniforms in 3years- 10th, 11th, and 12th? </li> <li>Or Suchi and AIMS coaching classes? </li> <li>Or Arjun house's Basketball talents? </li> <li>Or Bheeshma losing the triples Volley Ball match? </li> <li>Or the number of sessions with princi?</li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><br />This is all I can remember, if anyone can think of more, please do add them as comments [below] or <a href="http://www.shoutmix.com/box/radnus/" onclick="window.open('http://www.shoutmix.com/box/radnus/','radnus','resizable=yes,status=yes,scrollbars=yes,width=160,height=400'); return false;">Shout!</a> I want to treasure this memento! I tried looking for anything that we'd left behind. Well, I couldn't find any. This is all I could collect, a picture of the classroom! <script> <!-- D(["mb"," Though\nnot an active participant in all the fun, I thoroughly enjoyed those\nwonderful days with all you guys! Thanks a million for everything, hats\noff! ",1] ); D(["mb","<font><br />-- <br\>Sundar </span>",1] ); D(["mb","</span>\n",0] ); D(["ce"]); D(["ms","76a"] ); //--> </script><br /><br />Though not an active participant in all the fun, I thoroughly enjoyed those wonderful days with all you guys! Thanks a million for everything, hats off!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113715028770678730?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1136014302467959932005-12-31T13:00:00.000+05:302005-12-31T16:34:59.946+05:30<p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"> Dec 30^th</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style=""><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Bangalore/Bengaluru*</span><br /> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Yes, I had become one (NO! Not self proclaimed, but was made into one!).</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">After a hectic jobless week in the office, Friday was a welcome relief (Mmmm). It was the last working day of the year and Sunday would welcome New Year and I was on my way to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Madras</st1:city></st1:place> to celebrate it.</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Life couldn’t be better- I was on time to the railway station to catch my train, tickets booked months in advance, I’d bought all the items my mom had asked me to, the activities for the weekend were perfectly scheduled. Well, just like my LG laptop, Life’s Good!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Everything became hazy or feel good factor waned away when a handicapped beggar arrived (The bugger who cleans the floor for alms). I was in no mood to donate or rather remained aloof about the whole issue of giving alms (Well, the debate of whether to contribute or not was being conducted within myself was never over… I used to be the guy, who used to do it, but sometime back when the debate started, I never did give alms, as the debate was never won conclusively!). </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">And by the way I forgot to mention that the coach I boarded also had my college senior (meeting him after 4years) with his fiancé and their relatives. To my surprise there was also another girl (when am I going to stop the practice of addressing woman as ‘girl’ instead of ‘lady’?) seated near the window whom I never recognized as my office colleague (I finally did, when I asked her to switch on the fan, but she stared at and kept nodding at me. I thought what the crap?! Then finally realised I played stupid!).<br /></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The stage was set, and the conversation began, I had to maintain a conversation with the senior and my colleague (It was after a long time that I’d met her!). All was smooth till the beggar arrived to our part!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">He kept begging and no one ever had the slightest intention of stopping his cribbing! And there came the biggest shock! It was over in a flash. (As the famous quote goes: Vini, Vidi, Vici) He came, He begged and He spat on me and sped! I was clueless or rather dumbstruck and so were the others!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">It was not the embarrassment (partly), but ‘why me?’ was the question! Like the Matrix, I was the chosen one! Yeah, the bugger beggar chose me as though it was written all over me “<i style="">Inge thuppum idam!</i>” (spit here)! I was at the time thinking of Physics- The angle, trajectory and the initial velocity were near to perfection that I was bathed in his saliva and I became, thereafter, Saliva Collector!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">On analysis with all the others near me, I think I started when it was <i style="">Yemakandam</i> time! <i style="">Enna partha yellorukkum kenai mathiri theriyuthu</i>! What to do?!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Further thinking on various stuffs, I recalled a conversation with my mom over the phone (It was after the shoot out at the Bangalore IISc, a prof was killed) </p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">She calls and says “Kanna… Have a shave and go out tomorrow”. Well, how do I interpret it? I had a beard and I (assumed) looked like a scientist, but when my mom called, I was not sure whether she does not want me to be mistaken for a scientist or a terrorist?! Thus I spate!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Of all he people, why did the beggar chose me as the porikki? Meanwhile there were police entering every coach. Two escorts in each. And the fun began, people started to pull my leg- They started to advise me to be in good behaviour even though my appearance was not at all pleasing thus, I can be mistook for a terrorist (Oh I forgot to say this: I was having a hair style which looked like <i style="">a week after tonsure!</i> It added more spice to the appearance. Perfect!)</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Everyone had a very good time, I enjoyed entertaining these people, but the thing does not vanish out my mind, why and how I became one (<span style="font-style: italic;">Koothula Komali?! Nope, Saliva Collector...</span>). Perhaps I made a mistake, as soon as I’d entered the coach I should have climbed onto the upper berth, that way he never would have had a chance to reach me. Either, thanks to gravity, it would have sprayed on him or onto others, who would have been the potential target! Blimey! Wait a sec, God could have played a foul game and his saliva would still have reached me, after all it was never my day! I was destined to be <span style="font-style: italic;">Yaecha Porikki</span>!</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">And finally when I reached <st1:city st="on">Madras</st1:city>, I received a message on my mobile (Hutch, Karnataka) – “Please be informed that <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Bangalore</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place> has been peaceful today. All <span style="" lang="EN-GB">rumours</span> of armed persons in the city are baseless. Commissioner of Police, <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Bangalore</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>”.<br /></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">A friend of mine recieved a message in his mobile (Airtel, Madras) "Commissioner of Police - Help us to protect you. Wish you a happy, safe and prosperous 2006" - Damage complete!<br /></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p><span style="">* <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Oxford</st1:place></st1:city> dictionary should alter the word Bangalored to Bengalurudu!</span><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113601430246795993?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1134395213427041872005-12-12T19:16:00.000+05:302005-12-12T19:16:53.430+05:30<p class="MsoNormal" style="">I'm not attaching any pictures; it would make the post awful!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">When I was a kid, my mom always insisted on using the ‘<i>thengaai ennai</i>’ to keep my hair healthy and neatly combed, but heroes never used them, so why should I? Always fascinated with long hairs, I thought I should grow too and have them bouncy kinda stuff! Well, it was only a thought and remained so forever! Our bram-families always advise to have long hairs, but you notice them only among <i>kovil gurukals, </i>and it always used to be tied and neatly combed using thengaai ennai. Also they would shave their front part of their head (or are they bald?). No idea why they do that! Guess, I’m deviating from the topic. If I’d to grow hair, I should be like them (similar to <i>Ambi</i>) and not like <i>Remo!</i> All set thought I can manage and started growing, but after few weeks I noticed that I couldn’t style it! Reasons: Certain areas were not-dense, curling and OMG! I was balding! <o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal">People can never come in terms to associate me with hair, let alone hair style! But, I too had dreams!<u1:p></u1:p> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">What more do I need than getting stung by seeing every other guy here in Bangalore having such lengthy hair that it becomes little difficult to know to which gender they fall into! And you keep starring at them for either reason (thinking that they are of opposite gender or you know it is a ‘he’ but admire his hair style), but other people notices that you are showing the signs of becoming GAY! Sigh! What a world?!<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><u1:p></u1:p>Meanwhile, my thoughts wandered to implant artificial hair, may be try out some hair growing cream or some magical potion that can instantly change you for good! Thus, I, along with my uncle’s friend, went to Dr. Bhatra’s Clinic to check out their treatment on hair loss. Well, it was a costly affair and I ended up in ditching it. They wanted 12G for it! <i>Mayira pochu! </i>(forgive my slang) I left gasping… Much ado about something that we normally used to rebuke others with!<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><u1:p></u1:p>As time went on, I had become immune to all these ideas, notions and thoughts!<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><u1:p></u1:p>And now, sitting and rambling, ranting, not about everything, but HAIR! My present hair style is similar to the 5-days-after-tonsure look! It is not that by this way I can at least prolong the <i>permanent hair loss</i>, but I do not like this hair falling everywhere! I hate it!<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><u1:p></u1:p>On other thoughts: Life I too good to be spent worrying, and that too on Hair, is worthless!<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><u1:p></u1:p>What would you do seeing a bald man going past you? Would you,<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><u1:p></u1:p>1. Never notice him?<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">2. Have little laugh inside you?<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">3. Mock him with your friend?<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">4. Slide your hand through your hair, feeling the same might happen to you?<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><u1:p></u1:p>Till a year back I used to stick with options 2 and 3. But now I’m stuck with option 4 forever!<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113439521342704187?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1134026950191453972005-12-08T12:49:00.000+05:302005-12-08T14:24:07.060+05:30About a month ago, we moved to a newly built apartment-kind-of house (The previous one was a godown!). It was new to-be finished with almost 90% complete. And in that street there were lots of kids with a passion for <a href="http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/12100/street_cricket2.jpg"><span style="font-style: italic;">gully</span> </a>(and not <a href="http://cricket.indiatimes.com/photo.cms?msid=782308">this</a>) cricket, like all of us had. On a Sunday when I was up at the terrace washing clothes, I chanced upon eyeing the game they were playing. The whole preparation and executing reminded me of my school cricket days!<br /><br />Preparation:<br /><br />One of the hunks goes from house to house, in a cycle, pulling out each kid. At one such instance, one of the kids emerged from the balcony and mimed that he'll not be able to make it (Remember those days when we used to say the same thing, with our mom/dad at our back and seeing whether we'd completed our homework(s) before we ventured onto the streets with a bat?!). He was miming that (It is a disadvantage/pity that I could not show the whole process. Hope you can run an imaginary video in your head or reminiscence of a similar incident) his mom is inside and he cannot step out today. To which the hunk returned miming "Why don't you sneak out?" The kid on the balcony replies back that it is next to impossible and will join the next day's game! The hunk leaves disappointed!<br /><br />The game:<br /><br />With everyone around, the teams made and the game begins. For sometime it went on well before the usual happened: One hits the ball into the <span style="font-style: italic;">forbidden house</span>! At once, everyone huddles together (like the Indian team, BTW what do you think of Ganguly's dismissal in the Chennai test match? Does he have a chance? There's a general feeling the even Sachin must be dropped! Back to the topic.) As always, a unanimous decision is taken at the huddle "Dai, nee than antha balla veetukkulla adicha, athu nala neeye poi kelu!" (You hit the ball, so it is you who has to get it back!). Batsman keeps the bat down and goes to the house and asks for the ball from the aunty who is at the gate who is refusing to give it back, and complains to the neighbour "Eppothum ippadi thanga en veetukkalaye adikaranaga!" (These kids always hits the ball into my house!), to which the neighbour nods and says the same thing!<br /><br />Good ol' school days!<br /><br />I still remember <a href="http://onlycerebralswimming.blogspot.com/2005/12/aaah-what-memories-i-have-of-school.html">the good old school days</a> (Not with the teachers, but with the Cricket we played!) Adi running away with the stumps when he was pissed off, and the next one when Dilip hit a six of Karthik's delivery and shouted "Fetch it!" To which furious Karthik says, showing the middle finger "Dilip, F***er, don't you ever come here again for playing!" And what happens, next week all of us play the next game!<br /><br />What a wonderful life we had! There used to be Street Cricket, Terrace Cricket. We have played everything!!! I still will not forget Jayanth's answer, when he hit a ball, straight off the bat, to outside the terrace, which went all the way down and he was declraed OUT!, "Machi, pitchu da!" That was ultimate! Too good! Also couple of times when I was hit striaght on my D*** by Dilip (What the hell? Do not laugh, it was painful!). Also when Adi, while playing a knock-out (Or Nakku-outu as Shri Hari used to call it!) Volley Ball shouted (at the same time caught his stuff below the abdomen) "Machan! Something fell da!" And left the ball (but caught his! Afraid that it fell!) ROFLOL!!!<br /><br />We had nice time, no question about that!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113402695019145397?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1134026208113446862005-12-08T12:45:00.000+05:302005-12-08T12:48:07.326+05:30<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/1600/Image%28321%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/320/Image%28321%29.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Destination: Planet Fashion, Jayanagar 4th Block, Bangalore, India<br /><br />As a routine of a regular walk to Jayanagar (for a cup of coffee), me and another colleague headed to Jayanagar Cotha's Coffee Shop. After a steaming, refreshing cup, we headed to, main part of the journey, Planet Fashion. My colleagues who is leaving to US this weekend, was in need of a apparels.<br /><br />The hunt was on, but I found a place to sit at the corner of the showroom and after a few minutes on the mobile, I heard someone speaking in Bram-Thamizh and it was a kid's voice! For sometime I sat there listening, intently, to what she was saying. She was talking about selecting some particular colours which her mom was picking for the kid's dad. From another end I heard an old lady, talking in Bram-Thamizh accent. She was pleading to the child to stop roaming and have the food which she was carrying around - "Konthey (Not <span style="font-style: italic;">kozhanthey</span>!), vaadi vanthu saapudu di. Vaadi konthey!" (Child, come here and have your food) This went for sometime. Curious, I stood up and searched hither and thither for the kid. To my surprise I saw a kid, who was barely 3yrs! I was expecting her to be around 5 or 6. To some the figure hardly makes a difference, but for me it makes a lot. Yeah, accepted that today's kids are really smart! And I found the revelation pretty hard to digest!<br /><br />The kid was on her own - identifying colours, which I learnt only when I was in the middle school! She went on "Amma, appakku ithu vangalama? Intha colour (_____, fill the colour)) romba nanna irukku." (Mom, can we buy this colour for dad?) And her paatti shouts backs asking her to come back for the next turn of intake. Well, she was so hyper active, as every kid could be, she went skating on the mirror like reflecting floors and kept falling intentionally. She was enjoying it. Paatti gets frustrated and yells back "Konthey paathu, kai kall ellam azhukku pannrey, vanthu saappudu diiii!" (Child, be careful, you may fall and make your hands and legs dirty, come and have your food), she continues "Ippo nee varala na, nan itha vera yaar kittayavathu koduthurven. Illa na naney saattuduven!" (If you do not come now, I'll pass this across to someone else, or might have it myself!) Kid, thinks for sometime and stops roaming and innocently says "Paati, enakku athu pidikkala, neeye sattudu." (Grandma, I do not like it, you can have it!) I was about to fall flat on my stomach and start laughing for the <span style="font-style: italic;">mokkai</span> which the kid had, so innocently, returned back to her paati! But refrained myself only for an uncontrollable laugh! That was an ultimate answer, with a superb timing.<br /><br />After this, she went in search of her mom, who was at the T-Shirt section (quite a nut, I went following as though I was following the lifetime babe!!! ;-), but it just a baby!) Yeah, I followed where-ever she went. And so, off to the T-Shirt section. There she was advising her mom, "Amma intha <span style="font-style: italic;">T-Shirt</span> vaangu ma!" (Mom, buy this T-Shirt!) What's with that sentence? It is a normal one, but not for kid of 3! At 3, I hardly knew a difference between - <span style="font-style: italic;">Sokka</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">sattai </span>and a 'Shirt'! (Sattai and sokka are tamil equivalent for Shirt (I presume!))<br /><br />Exposure, grasping-power, and of all - a mind to be moulded! Today's kids are, well I'm dumbstruck with awe. As Vadivelu says: No talkings!<br /><br />For those non-Tamil speakers: The translation may not be appealing as it would have lost its essence of pun!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113402620811344686?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1130255110390562662005-10-25T20:55:00.000+05:302005-10-26T13:43:33.830+05:30<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/1600/South_indian_filter_coffee2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/200/South_indian_filter_coffee2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/1600/Bajji_M2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/200/Bajji_M2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/1600/groundnuts2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/200/groundnuts2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />It has been raining badly, here, for the past few days! Guess what?! These are the times I miss so many stuffs. Apart from worrying about the <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?template=Monsoon&slug=Heavy+rains+lash+south+India&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;id=18036&callid=0&amp;category=National">millions rendered homeless</a> and floods <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2005/10/13/stories/2005101303090500.htm">havoc crops</a> and <a href="http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/aug252005/index2038192005824.asp">submerging places</a>, I wander into more heavenly pleasures.<br /><br />It is always customary that during days like these you tend to have hot stuffs to munch. Feel Good Factor!<br /><br />Imagine this:<br /><br />It is raining constantly and steadily and you are too lazy to get off the bed after an evening nap (A long Nap!!!). And there comes an angel with a cup in her hand, which is steaming hot (You can see the <a href="http://www.drivingambition.info/images/News%20Pix/halloween%20more%20scary%20ghosts2.jpg"><span style="font-style: italic;">aavi</span></a><span style="font-style: italic;">!</span>), containing that coffee you were longing to have from the moment you opened your eyes!<br /><br />You are reluctant to even step down and feel the chill of the floor! But get off and wash your face in the cold water (would have been happier if it was hot, so that you'll never get that sleep off your face!) from the tap. Then, as you walk, you notice the cooker is giving a whistle to indicate that the contents is cooked (you sigh as it is the routine food - rice!). You march on and couch on the chair in the dining table and there (WOW!!!) you find hot bhajjis fresh from the <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.pritchettcartoons.com/illustrations/pan.gif">vanaai</a><span style="font-style: italic;">!!!</span> The Feel Good Factor! What more can you ask for, it is raining, <a href="http://www.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/8/83/South_indian_filter_coffee.jpg">Coffee</a> in one hand, <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://sifyimg.speedera.net/sify.com/cmsimages/Sify%20Food/Bajji_M.jpg">Bhajjis</a> </span>in the other and before you believe this is life, there comes much more, baked <a href="http://www.arc.agric.za/institutes/gci/main/divisions/plantbreeding/images/groundnuta.jpg"><span style="font-style: italic;">Kadalai</span></a> (Hot, tinge of salty water). And now you know why the Pressure Cooker whistled!<br /><br />Well, what do I say more? Life's perfect till... One knock and you realise that you are still sitting before the monitor, not coding, but hallucinating. Your PM gives that snarled sound and you realise that you are caught red-handed! Wretched life, what am I doing still in the office?!<br /><br />I want my Coffee, Bhajjis and Kadalai from the angel.<br /><br />Angel - Can be your mom, sis, wife or anyone!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113025511039056266?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1130136119612189342005-10-24T11:57:00.000+05:302005-10-26T12:39:07.903+05:30<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/1600/property_tolet2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/200/property_tolet2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/1600/0316200514a2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/200/0316200514a2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Yet again, the torments faced by the XY S/W Engineers<br /><br />After the last weekend's encounters, I'm writing this.<br /><br />Its been a month now and we are yet to find a house to move in. Everywhere, we are either not interested the way the house is built:<br /><br /><ul> <li>With less ventilation</li> <li>With no big rooms</li> <li>With only one loo (or No western style) and bath</li> <li>Very far away from work place</li> </ul><br />Or how the house owner:<br /><br /><ul> <li>Looks like an <a href="http://www.ursulascostumes.com/Masks/THUG.jpg">A<span style="font-style: italic;">diyaal</span>!</a></li> <li>Is not good in body language (very reluctant!). Looks at us as though we are some disgusting thing (Imagine me with all those fancy beards)!</li> <li>Is a <a href="http://www.geocities.com/pocketmoonmachine/art2/IMG_3694.jpg"><span style="font-style: italic;">Kezha boltu</span></a>! And not ready to talk!</li> </ul><br />Apart from the above there's always this common get-away statement "<span style="font-style: italic;">No house for Bachelors!!!</span>" (<span style="font-style: italic;">What if a group of Bachelorettes</span>?!) (Tell him that we are S/W engineers he'll start thinking about our salaries and day dreams of raising the rent!!!)<br /><br />What did the men community do, for earning such-a-good-name?!<br /><br />The below para in an anguish of a mad maan!<br /><br />They are always ready to rent a portion to the opposite gender! Why is this? Is this because-<br /><br /><ul> <li>They can keep the house and other stuffs clean? (Ask my previous house's owner how we had maintained his house!).</li> <li>Maintain good relations?</li> <li>Always has that caring smile.</li> </ul> <div style="text-align: center;">(We can do the above as well!)<br /></div><br />I've seen many (point to be noted: <span style="font-style: italic;">NOT ALL</span>) XX chromosomes- drink (OH! For god's sake! You know I'm not talking about H2O!!), smoke, careless, lethargic and totally disgusting (Never Clean). But they always get away with it and win makkal's heart. What if a shabbily dressed with a huge bearded XY walks into a house seeing a to-let board - He would be mistaken for a beggar/rag-picker! This is cruel world, guys!<br /><br />Listed below are few among million one-liners given out by the house owners:<br /><br /><ul> <li>No house for Bachelors</li> <li>No Smoking or Drinking</li> <li>Never raise your voice, no sound from your floor, there are others living around! (Literally, he means no FUN!)</li> <li>No more than the allowed persons can stay.</li> <li>No friends allowed.</li> <li>Do not stand in the balcony (Well, for what is the Balcony built!)</li> <li>Do not stand near the gate and chat!</li> <li>Do you cook? We do not want Non-Veg to be cooked in our house!</li> <li>Paint the whole house while vacating (WTF?!)</li> <li>If bachelors, we do not want to see young women coming around! (He looks at us and then at his 55 year old wife! We were totally speechless!!!)</li> <li>Do not come late at night. We'll lock the gate. (Boss! Give me a break. I'm S/W Engineer and these are bound to happen!)</li> <li>And BTW I've a "No Parking" for my tenants (He smiles happily!!!)</li> </ul><br />As they always say in Tamil "<a href="http://www.marienagel.com/2004%20-%20Unipeg%20horse%20with%20horn%20that%20flies%20by%20Naiya%20Lee%20Tsang.JPG"><span style="font-style: italic;">Kuduray Kombu</span></a>!". Finding a house is like finding a horse with a horn!<br /><br />I always ponder "What needs to be done to win the heart of the people who owns a house and has a portion to be rented out?!" Well, I'm yet to find an answer.<br /><br />The XY chromosome always run into ill-luck. Everytime, we live with so much of great expectations that we fail to attain them. Move into apartments hoping that you'll find one beautiful XX, but you'll never! Fate!<br /><br />Shucks! I'm deviating from the topic.<br /><br />At present the house we live in, is of the below, dilapidated, state:<br /><br /><ul> <li>Roof leaks, when sky opens up (Forget a downpour, even for a trickle!). </li> <li>Slightest drizzle, power shuts off</li> <li>Motor breaks down every other day</li> <li>House owner is a rakshasi</li> <li>One floor- red-oxide, other mosaic, and the other tiles.</li> </ul><br />The house perfectly matches the description of the ones that comes in the regional movies, four friends living in a dilapidated house (<span style="font-style: italic;">Puthu Vasantham</span>?!)<br /><br />My friend says "I'll build a big house only for Bachelors and let them do what they want to!"<br /><br />Our President APJ (He's a bachelor) gets a house to live, but we do not! Why? Where is the problem?!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-113013611961218934?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1129559426588371192005-10-17T19:33:00.000+05:302005-10-17T20:00:26.596+05:30It was 11th of October, and the next five days were to be the best days for the last 1.5 years! That's because of the below reasons<br /><ol> <li>Long Weekend</li> <li>13th was my sister's birthday</li> <li>Chennaiyil oru azhagiya mazhai kaalam---> Yes, it was raining cats and dogs in Madras!</li> </ol> How was that to be starter? There were several other good things that was special and to-be-celebrated!<br /><br />Madras will always be my first love. Best place to be in (everyone will disagree!!!).<br /><br />It was <span style="font-style: italic;">Vijayadasami </span>and company gave a vacation (3 week days!!!) to all its employees.<br /><br />Highlights of day One-<br /><br />In the evening I accommpanied my sister to our Music Sir's place to get his blessings. The whole day we had to wait for the rain to stop, but finally around 6pm the rain reduced to a drizzle and we decided to start. Water was clogged up everywhere and to top it all <span style="font-style: italic;">Varna Bhagavan</span> showed up again, this time- Fiercer than ever! Maan, it was too good to get drenched (always a nice stuff)! We got drenched inspite of the rain-coat we were wearing! ;-) Finally we reached house around 730pm and got his blessings. Returned home around 930pm.<br /><br />Day Two-<br /><br />Sister's b'day. Went off well. Good food, Very Good Food (this was the highlight!). I did not have any gift to give her (but finally gave her a print of a collage on Sunday). Friends had come to my place, we had good time together!<br /><br />Also declined the idea of going to the movie- Ghajini!<br /><br />Day Three-<br /><br />Started to prepare the Collage and it went for the next two days! Cannot remember anything beyond the Collage!<br /><br />Day Four-<br /><br />Evening went off at my Music Sir's place (Me, Sister, Mom and two friends of mine) bullying my sister! From there we went to Nehru Stadium to see the rehearsal of Illayaraja's show, but never could make it inside!<br /><br />And finally that night we had a good fight! Off again in making the Collage!<br /><br />Day Five-<br /><br />Got up early and had to print the Collage. This happened almost at the end of day. Got it printed in a Chart Size Photo Glossy sheet and presented it to her. Do not know whether it really excited her! But, she was happy seeing it!<br /><br /><br />That's how the whole five day show ended! Or rather a test match!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-112955942658837119?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1128605924513465022005-10-06T19:01:00.000+05:302005-10-17T19:33:12.536+05:30For 25 odd years you had lived your life eating and munching the food and delicacies made by your mom or anyone in your house. You are like what is called <span style="font-style: italic;">Rusi Kanda Poonai</span>! That's just a starter for you. There are several other stuffs that's IN-HOUSE. You do not want those to change, do you? Yes, absoultely, no one wants to. But, force can make onself lose our likes and identity sometimes. Consider the <span style="font-style: italic;">mattu ponnu</span> who enters the new house of her new-relation: <span style="font-style: italic;">purusa purusa</span>! What can she expect? The same <span style="font-style: italic;">maruvathey</span> and stuff she got in her place? No ways! It's totally different ball game. As a <span style="font-style: italic;">purusa </span>will you be ready to eat what she cooked? Well, for somedays it would be tasty (Just like the new restaurant that was opened recently!). But after sometime it would be <span style="font-style: italic;">amma pasikuthu</span>! Yes, your mom. You wouldn't get the same <span style="font-style: italic;">kai vannam </span>everywhere! As a <span style="font-style: italic;">pondatti </span>you cannot eat what your <span style="font-style: italic;">purusa </span>cooks! <span style="font-style: italic;">Antha manga madayanukku onnume theriyaladi!!!</span><br /><br /><br />Living through all the travails, trauma of not just cancelling a ticket but something beyond that. You both agree on some and fall on the extremes of the spectrum on some issues. Can individualism be retained in a relation. Or sacrifice is the name of the game?!<br /><br /><br />Coming to think of it, you'll do it if you are one of the weak-hearted morons---> SACRIFICE. I was one. Enjoyed it to the greatest. It was great doing it. Liking what the others liked. But, when I thought again I lost something somewhere. I wanted someone to appreciate what I'd given them. To think and felt the way I did. I liked it <span style="font-style: italic;">that way!<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></span>The topic of the discussion was "When are you going to get married?"<br />The reluctant answer : 30yrs (I wanted give myself time before disposing the idea!).<br /><br /><br />All stupid rantings I do with all my close circle of friends.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-112860592451346502?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1127364875932850602005-09-22T10:03:00.000+05:302005-10-26T15:01:30.473+05:30Madras<br />Sept. 12th<br /><br />Government Office: Railways<br /><br />Have you ever cancelled tickets? A day after the train had departed? Well, if you have not. This will teach you the process, trauma, agony one has to go through before getting his refund back!<br /><br />The central railway owns 3 buildings in Madras (I got to know about this after this incident!).<br /><br />First - I filled in a regular reservation/cancellation form and stood in one of the zillion queues waiting for their trip approval from one of the counters. I took the one that had lesser queue strength. Stood there for forty-five minutes! and finally gave the man behind the counter the form and the ticket. He gave a strange look and returned it back, and added that I need to be at the second floor (this episode was in first floor) to do a cancellation of post-train-departure. On hearing this, I left to the first floor and there was a counter named Refund-blah-blah, I was also informed that I need to meet the Superintendent, to request for a refund. So, on reaching the second floor I directly went and met the Superintendent and asked him about the refund. (<em>Well, it wasn't over there, otherwise I wouldn't be writing this!</em>) He, on looking at the ticket asked me why I couldn't do this first in the morning around 9 or 10hrs (the time was 2pm), I gave him lame reasons. He diverted me to the main building Platform 6 and to a counter on that line: EFT.<br /><br />Right ho! Covered 100mts to reach the next red-building and went hunting for this EFT counter on the entire stretch of platform 6. My friend (I forgot to mention about this friend who accompanied, he's a close friend of mine from college) advised that it must be at the beginning and no dumbo will keep it at the end of the platform! So, we tottered back to the start and voila, found EFT. There, a TTR was standing and a lady seated beside him. We gave him the ticket, he gave a wry look and asked it to be forwarded to the lady. We did so and after a couple of minutes the lady returned a receipt kind of stuff, where I was to fill in the extra details. After doing so, I was directed to the next building. Blimey! All these for a refund of 85bucks (50% of the ticket!!!). I was to respect my uncle’s words and that was the only reason I was doing it. My friend and I were hunger struck: we were ready to spread blankets and beg our food! All these years I was under the impression or never cared to notice that railways was an empire and it owned 3 huge palaces. Well, it did!!!<br /><br />We reached the next building (Opposite to GH) under uncertainty. The next building was huge (that's not the perfect word! Too huge! (Hmmm... that's satisfying)). We made a smart move - we asked for guidance from one of the officers (as in for directions TO GET MY MONEY). He directed us and we found the place where it said colloquially: <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">FETCH YOUR MONEY HERE</span>! I was happy to see the sign (Imagine a dog seeing a bone!). Rushed in and gave the officer in-charge the form (the lady had handed over to us). He took in another form/receipt and a white sheet that was stamped in the right-bottom-corner and started to scribble.<br /><br />The plight:<br />Meanwhile I engaged myself looking at this huge hall that was hosting these many people, not working (<em>Boss, its govt. office!</em>). There were two ladies discussing on some-known-issues (<em>obviously not country or pak-ind problem, but about necklaces and sarees</em>). There was an officer who was uncontrollably yawning-away-to-glory, scratching his head (<em>and trying to figure out why he was having no-work on his desk or what his wife had asked him to bring home while returning! probably halwa</em>) A lady reading a novel. Old fans, which solved no purpose of what it was invented for. There were Godrej's worn-down-rusted-almirah's- no locks! And finally at the corner of the hall, towards the roof- there was attic-kinda stuff, where I believed all the forms which we had given are stored as food for termites and book-worms (literally)!<br /><br />Finally the officer returns me a ticket (the plain white sheet I was talking about!) and (this is the most important part of the whole process) I asked "The refund?". He answers "You'll get it in register post in a months time." I was speechless, flabbergasted. What should I say? Took the receipt, as it was an evidence to be given back to the postman when he hands over the register post. More than 2 hours and I end up getting my MONEY after a month! WTF?!<br /><br />Everywhere, it was like Vivek's comedy- <em>"Take Diversion!"</em><br /><br />My friend was giving away ideas of how this problem could be solved: Computerization! None of the back-end processes in railways are computerized. It would solve a problem in jiffy!<br /><br />Now these are the suggestions we must look into with some seriousness. We are looking into prospective business and a development towards a better, self-sufficient India. There was a forward on "Re. 1 is $ 45", Computerization of the Municpal. Silly and small they may be but they are an effective way to achieve what we need. An amazing, beautiful and a vibrant India, where everyone is happy!<br /><br />Cannot wait to see it happen. It’s the youth, the majority age group in India, who can make such a thing to happen. Small groups here and there contributing in small numbers but as the network grows, imagine we'll rock this world for good (<em>This was a part of a chain-mail discussion between a circle of friends, I'll be writing more on that later!</em>). Showing who is mightier!<br /><br />All said and seen through movies, but when are we going to think and pave and tread the way to realize this huge dream? Think Think Think...<br /><br />With these thoughts, we left to my home for food!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-112736487593285060?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1120060976560520592005-06-29T21:30:00.000+05:302005-10-04T19:20:22.816+05:30<em>Love is something that should be shared, with not just one person, but everyone! </em><br /><br />This was how it all started. He started it.<br /><br />Thus he continued, <em>"I'm not gonna marry anyone!" </em><br /><br />And with that he stated, he's not talking about any age limit, but as such no one. The line, he stated, is still reverberating in my ears.<br /><br /><em>"My mom is insisting to tie a knot. I want to live my life on my own!" </em><br /><br /><em>"If she wants her grand child, my brother is always there." </em><br /><br /><em>"Getting married at 23 or for that matter, any age and later realising that it was a grave mistake, no i don't wanna do this." </em><br /><br /><em>"Thus, imagine getting married at 23 and at 28 you/she realises that she/you are not the one, and BTW you've kid. What will you do?" </em><br /><br />Valid question - I pondered.<br /><br /><em>"You get married and you are, thus, forced to love her." </em><br /><br /><em>"And few years later, you have a kid and you are standing in a queue for his/her LKG admission. I don't think I'm ready for this, at any point of life!" </em><br /><br /><em>"I'll fall in love with everyone women, for their different traits." </em><br /><br /><em>"It is not that I'm against love/arranged marriages. You can't keep loving a person for a long </em><br /><em>time. True, you won't stop loving them, but there's something beyond that." </em><br /><br />Now, this is something to wonder about! What is love? For that matter, every description/definition is what you perceive.<br /><br />That takes us to some other level of philosophy: What is man's destiny? Is there anything specified? Is there a rule to be followed? Why?<br /><br />A man is an individual! And the society is by him and he's never to be defined by his society!<br /><br /><strong>Fundas of life are not knitted properly and are vague in explanation</strong>. Some say <em>i want to achieve perfection</em>, some say <em>i want to live life to its fullest</em> , and there are the others who are branded<em>: selfless and the rest selfish</em>. The difference between the two is not set by an individual, <em>but branded by the society.</em><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-112006097656052059?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1119689244570848672005-06-25T14:14:00.000+05:302005-10-04T19:20:48.503+05:30<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/1600/The%20Highway%20man.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1895/1233/400/The%20Highway%20man.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Yet another trip and yet another account.<br /><br />Vrooooooommmm.... No it's not the Honda that's speeding away, it's the josh-machine Ford's iKon. I was blessed to be on this mean machine to transport myself to the world's richest temple (Is there a contender?), Tirupati. The whole drive constituted 250kms or greater of wilderness, human habitation (former beating the latter), lakes, hills and what not? Blimey! It was on ammaaaazing start!!!<br /><br />Though there were several pit-stops, gash! the journey lasted only 4.5hrs. It was a pure ecstasy (return journey was something more than this and cannot be explained, should be felt!).<br /><br />Warm-air greeted us. We knew we reached Tirupati (that days forecast was hot). It was, if Calvin's dad was to answer, due to solar winds.<br /><br />We started on Friday at 1500hrs and reached the Tirupati at 1930hrs. Purpose: to attend our ex-team-member's (Nagendra, at present employed in iNautix) Marriage. We reached on-time for the reception, the time as you can note was the time when the dinner plates were ready and the buffet laid out. On reaching, we were met with the confusion, there were two mandabams and the buffet was laid on the lawn in-between these buildings, now how are we to decide to lay our hands or not? So, we hunted for the bride-groom to (this shows that we never met him on reaching, we directly went to the buffet!) get his consent but finally caught him red-handed on the podium in the adjacent lawn with his would-be wife and happily shaking hands with strangers-to-us. We followed the same ritual, went to the podium and shook hands and congratulated, and gave-him-no-gift, our presence was supposed to be his gift!<br /><br />Before reaching the hall, we went to get the tickets (only for two of us, the third person was there for the wedding only) to get our clearance and fix the appointment with Eduguntalawada, in English - God. We were awed by the techie advancement there, no more bands tied on your wrists, it was all-the-way bio-metrics ruling there. Yes, fingerprint recognition. We were mistaken when we noted the time for clearance to be 900pm on Sunday but finally cleared our vision and noted it to be 900am on Sunday. We were relieved to have the rendezvous at 0900hrs as our scheduled departure time on Sunday was fixed to 1400hrs.<br /><br />Of the seven team members only three (Naveen - my PL, Rajkumar - my TL and myself) of us made it to the marriage. Our groom was at his heights to see us. He greeted us and we stood with him and took a picture with him and his fiance.<br /><br />The food was great and I, if not the others, gobbled up enough as though I'm seeing food for the first time. Maan, the curd rice was good!<br /><br />After which it was time to say goodnight and good-bye to Rajkumar (that makes only two of us to enjoy the return journey). It was 2200hrs and people were still pouring in to great the couples. We were sitting idly and finally it ended at 2230hrs, the couple excused and went to dine. It was close to 2315hrs when our groom returned and we spoke freely. He informed us that he had booked an A/C room in the Srinivasam - Amenities for pilgrims, for us. We were demanding him about the Bachelor's party! All died down when the time was nearing midnight, so we took the key drove to the center. After roaming around for sometime we found our room. It was quite a big one for a cost of Rs. 600!!! It was a Suite!!!<br /><br />We rested our worn out souls and planned for Sri Kalahasti for the next day, Saturday! We finally slept dead men. And finally got up around 100hrs and cleansed before stepping out for the trip of 45kms to Sri Kalahasti.<br /><br />Apart from Kalahasti, the other plan for the evening was to climb up the hill and get back that night.<br /><br />Kalahasti, a Shiv temple, gets it crowd due to Tirupati, explains Naveen. The temple's lingam is made up of elephant, snake and a spider - also explained by Naveen. It was around noon when we reached the temple, took a special darshan ticket and waited for our turn to get a glimpse of the lingam . The temple was old and quite dilapidated. The Sun was at his highest and was burning. We made ourself almost-a-bakra when we or on the contrary a guide hired himself to us. He left us after we paid him 20bucks. We replenished ur body fluid with nimbu-soda .<br /><br />Reached room around 1400hrs had light lunch at a restaurant opposite to the Srinivasam . We were sound asleep when someone banged our doors, it was the service-boy, reminding that it was time to vacate the room. We explained that the stay had been extended to Sunday, and we were care-of S.C.V. Naidu, the local MLA and a close relative of Nagendra, groom. He left, smiling. We continued our sleep until there was another bang and it was Nagendra's relative saying that they've extended the room for one more day. We thanked them as they left, else we would've shoved them off!!! It was 1700hrs and we readied ourself for the up-hill task ;-)<br /><br />We started the climb at 1900hrs, Naveen smuggled his favourites in wallet ;-) The total climb covered seven hills, thus the other name to Venky - Ezhymalayan (meaning, lord of seven hills). Everytime I've an appointment with Venky, I climb and it usually takes me 6hrs to do so. Naveen was against this plan, and said that it must be covered in half the time. The first hill, as Naveen puts it was a-piece-of-cake . Well, it was a piece-of-cake, but the piece was usually in terms of the share Obelix has. It was a huge piece. But we finished the first hill in record time of 50mins. Boy, that was fast!!!<br /><br />The rest of the six were peanuts (they truly were ;-)) Whole of the journey was filled with Alpenliebe, orange candies, nimbu-soda, water, bajji, raw-mango and Telugu version of Munnah bhai MBBS. There were conversation on GOD, Philosophy, Nature and blah blah blah. Maan, it was a good trip.<br /><br />And guess what, we made up the hill in a record time of 3hrs. Every inch of our body was craving for rest. And we gave it to them at 0100hrs. We went hunting for a hotel at 0000hrs, and finally found one. Gobbled up two chapptis and left to anantha-sayanam.<br /><br />Next day, Sunday took the mean-machine - iKon up the hill. We reached the long waiting queue exactly at 0900hrs. All the way up i heard my favourite music channels from Madras - Radio mirchi and Suryan FM (the signals were good till Chitoor!!!)<br /><br />There were people from 1100hrs queue. We still made it. At 1000hrs the queue stopped moving. We finally learned the reason - Anil Ambani. I saw him going, in the adjacent queue, without hassles (Reliance split was publicly announced that day). That war-monger, nincompoop couldn't choose a better day to offer his prayers!? He almost ruined our schedule. The queue, finally, nudged at 1100hrs.<br /><br />Met Venky, cursed the people who shoved us out of the garbha-graha. Naveen got pissed off, cursed them violently! Went took the free prasadam (puliogore). And left to collect our, ever-famous-Tirupati-ladoos. It was over in 5 mins. A second with Venky and 299 secs to get out. Got out ladoos and had it as feast. Those ladoos have something special in them!!! Had another nimbu-soda and ran to the car as we were bare-footed.<br /><br />We descended, it was cool with many hair-pin turns.<br /><br />The return journey started at 1400hrs and lasted 4hrs only! The working speed was between 50kmph and 140kmph. The road and the machine is a driver's heaven - a paradise!!!<br /><br />Naveen was happy racing out a Scorpio and also thanked the Indian system. Stopped hither and thither and took pictures.<br /><br />Objective was finally achieved. It would have been better if there were more makkal!!! Anyway, all for good.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><em>"To cherish this trip forever, Booleans were changed, changes saved, and a copy has been sent to you all!" </em><br /></span><br />The Coorg trip write-up is still under process of completion!!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-111968924457084867?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840666.post-1119456588473638162005-06-22T21:18:00.001+05:302005-10-04T19:21:16.563+05:30The deisre to write about my home town never struck me. May be sometime in the future i'll be writing about it. May be it was beacuse i never stayed away from her for that long! I'll write...<br /><br />Bangalore -Thru my eyes.<br /><br />Am hardly a year old in this city, the account here is something "thru-my-eyes". I'm not criticizing the place but just laying out the pros and cons.<br /><br />If there's anything wrong, correct me.<br /><br />Bangalore, capital of Karnataka, a place known for its beautiful locations!<br /><br />I stay at Basavangudi, and a place near to it is Jayanagar. Jayanagar, Asia's largest colony - Divided into 'n' blocks (cannot find how many!!!). And a place for shoppers to stop is the Fourth block. Rest, n-1, is fully residential (so is Fourth block, but couldn't digest to say so!). At fourth block you'll find something called BDA (Bangalore Development Agency or something like that). These BDAs, you'll find them scattered all over the city. These are like the ones in Madras where it is rented for shops. I've been to this place a million times and they have hella lot of stuffs for making the shopper not just satisfactory, but make him delighted. On your request, i did some ground work of noticing what is available. There are, believe me, everything what mother Earth can hold and produce. You wanted footgears - they are there, books (though not satisfactory. M.G. Road rocks, when it is for books!!!), clothing, food joints, fruit shops, et-cetera et-cetera et-cetera --> infinity (read it like: <em>X tends to infinity</em>).<br /><br />Don't ask why I'm writing this! I just felt writing it and wanted someone to read it. And it was good that you are coming here and thus making me to give you a first hand info on this place (Bangalore). That, i guess should answer your question.<br /><br />Bangalore - One of the hip place in India, a silicon valley, and other prestigious names. People all over the world (not just India) are craving to have a look at this place (i could've added adjectives, but refrained from it. I don't want to!). Believe me, you can stay here for some time and not more than that (exceptions apart). Apart from the natives, like every other state, we never have attachment or rather our hearts never fell/will fall for other states (Though, we are still part of the same country!)<br /><br />There are several good/bad aspects about any state, and this place is no exception. I'll be specific: Bangalore<br /><br />Good - Climate, Fruits, Makkal (people), Trees, Cauveri, Autos, Adjoining districts (you'll never such a beauty!!!), Books, Apparels, Food joints, Cops, Houses (should appreciate their aesthetic skills).<br /><br />Bad - Cauveri, Roads, Traffic, Planning, No-hangouts (ESP. Beach), Pubs, Discotheque, Culture, Infrastructure, Robbery, <em>Bus-boards-written-in-Kannada</em>, <em>not-many-tea-kadai</em>. And like every other place, lunatics in the name of fanatics.<br /><br />Makkal here are caught between two cultures. As the Americans explain <em>ABCD - American Born Confused Desis</em>. Here too, it is the same. All can be blamed on the software, globalization and other techno-economic terms that can be related to.<br /><br />Bangalore, with a degree of certain accuracy, is the smallest city. And made bigger than Bombay or Delhi by its in-numerous one-ways (even my street is one such. Can you believe this?).<br />Bangalore is a shoppers haven! M.G.Road (also known for voluptuous women (don't take me wrong!!!)) tops Koramangala and Jayanagar following it closely. On a Saturday, if you don't have work (am a work-a-holic) it is suicidal. With nothing to do, no where to go and no company, people like me are confined to books. And during the evenings they can be found loitering on M.G.Road or The Forum (it has got a multi-plex with 11 theatres) in Koramangala or Jayanagar!<br /><br />Due to the richness of wealth prevailing amongst the people, there has never been a reluctance or stop-think-and-proceed attitude amongst the Vendors. For eg: Hutch in Madras provides free national SMS. Here you don't get it (forget about national you never get it for locals either), because people are fat with money and they can afford the Mt Everest! That's the silliest eg, but there are bigger and meaner stuffs like them! The multi-plex that was referred before has a starting ticket price of 130 or 150 bucks and the highest aptly called as gold class is 500 bucks a ticket. What the F*? Why this aristocracy, when you know your country is already in deep Sh* with its debts? Something to ponder about! Am no economist!<br /><br />The inhabitants, Kannadigas, constitute to something close to Forty percent, rest - Tamils (remember the saying: <em>Yaathum ooray Yavarum Kayleer?</em>) lead the Telugu so on and so forth.<br /><br />More to be added...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/13840666-111945658847363816?l=mexican-sambar.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Key Smasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258396837266863101noreply@blogger.com0