2011 was not just a year.

True, it was not just a year, it was a milestone. Sure every year is a milestone we come across and we have no choice otherwise. For every person there is that one special year he/she would treasure for a lifetime. So, here are some of my experiences from 2011 which made this year my treasure forever.

Let’s start from January, oh yeah I had the best dinner ever with my best friend. Been to the same hotel before and after but it was never as good as it felt on dat one day. On the same day I got my call letter from my company. I had my training in Pune so I went by flight, first flight and it was out of the world. Pune was awesome. Cold place, in complete contrast with Chennai in every way.

February, first time in 22years I had a surprise birthday cake from my Patni Pune training batch mates. My best friend didn't wish me on my birthday. 12 people, who I never talked to before wished me on that day. Interesting birthday this year.

Next 2 months, March and April were filled with fun and laughter. Met new people from my batch, learnt a lot about the India I never knew before. Well my batch had 32 people from 16different states, what an opportunity to learn right? Tried a few things, some worked out and some didn't. Misunderstandings, friendship, different people, different cultures, love and a lot more. Patni Pune training was the best thing that ever happened to me so far.

May month I got my posting to Chennai. Back to my hometown after 3 full months of complete freedom. Was a little hard to digest dat I’m gonna lose all the freedom I had in Pune, but its Chennai, well u can sacrifice anything to be in Chennai. Best place in the whole world. My farewell was at Mumbai. Yes, almost the whole batch traveled to Mumbai, the city of dreams. Right from the start of the journey it was an adventure. But the fun lasted only for a day. Oh and I got a proposal too (can't miss dat out). Then my second flight, after a whole day of hugs, tears and farewells, I started back with a bar of Bournville.

June, I bought my first car. It’s not much but it still is my first car and the thrill can never be explained. Gifted the car to my dad, after all he was the one who taught me how to drive (and I’ve been told dat I’m very good at it). July, bought my first DSLR camera. When you're a photographer, buying a DSLR is way more exciting than buying a car. Had a team outing, made new friends, good friends.

Did I write about my team yet?? The best team to grow with, not because it’s always fun to be @Ecom, (it IS a lot fun to be here) but because, a year spent in Ecom would shape me for my whole career. No matter where I go, with the experience I’ve had at Ecom I can survive anywhere, even if I quit IT industry. So, Mr. Bear Grylls, next time you wanna get yourself in a tough situation and survive, try Ecom Run.

So the next 4 months I spend them with my team, surviving. Rich experience, rich learning opportunity and the best way to start a career in IT industry. I'm sure anyone from my team reading this blog will agree with me. Finally, December, office cubicle decoration, exchanging gifts with each other, Christmas and I buy my first business phone (well technically, it’s not here yet, but I’ll be getting it soon). 

So that’s it, a whole year passed away in the wink of an eye. Made new friends, broke few hearts and laughed like hell for the whole 365 days. It was a year filled with love, laughter and blessings. I thank God, the Almighty for giving me this year, no one can ask for more and I never asked for this, which proves, yet again, God is good.

2011 was not just a year, it was a beautiful experience. @22 I don't think the year can get any better. Now it’s New Year, 2012. I'll be 23 and a new journey awaits. New hopes, new dreams. As excited as a kid near the gates of a chocolate factory, waiting for the gates to open. Hoping for the best. May God bless everyone and lets all have a wonderful new year 2012. 

Cheers..!!

False Identities

I see people smile all the time. Sometimes I wonder, are they really happy, how can they be so happy when we're stuck with this work that makes us so tired and exhausted. When we have so much work to do, so many questions to answer, so many people to get to, what gives them the right to be so happy? I used to think, life is unfair, some are always happy and some always struggle.

What I fail to notice is that, there were times when I was happy, smiling, laughing and having fun, the others who I envied were watching me and thinking exactly the same thing "Why the hell is he so happy". This is what I want to talk about. Not just the misconception, but also the veil we put on sometimes, for others to think we're fine, we're happy, like we don’t have any worries in life at all.

In the morning hours I get a chance to watch all the people in my cafeteria. Some discuss politics, some talk work, some talk men (yes they do) and some talk women (well, don't we all know dat). But some people are really alone, like, me for instance; I buy a tea or coffee, stand in a place with a good view of the whole cafe, and look at all the people around me, study them, their behavior, gestures, body language and stuff.

I’ve seen a girl who always sits alone with her breakfast and her coffee, talking on the phone for the whole breakfast hour. There’s this guy who gets his food and sits alone in a table and moments later he is surrounded by people who like to have their breakfast with him. Can’t say if he cares about them, but they feel dat if they spend their breakfast time with him, it'll be all the more interesting. Not just them, there are hundreds of people in my cafe each morning and all of them giving me a hundred different examples to learn the way of life.

So y did I put "false identities" on the top when it’s just about my breakfast and morning tea (it’s actually at every break I get to have, from bf to lunch, evening tea and dinner later). What I’m saying is that most of us are hiding, either behind our laughter or behind a straight face. One who laughs hard, has something inside of him dat makes him worry (stands for a 'her' as well). The one who always keeps a straight face, will be the most enjoyable company, he just needs the right situation and the right, exact amount of push.

Consider the cops for example, or men in power generally, they all have a straight face, army men (oh whenever I say men, can read woman as well). They all have a straight face in their work place, among their juniors, but when it comes to fun and enjoyment, they're on the front line and they make the whole party come alive. All we have to do is catch them when their defense is at its weakest best (which translates to, an excuse to party)

This doesn't just stand for the people in power alone, it stands true for everyone. The random boy, who bitches about everyone and everything, is maybe just afraid that people might think he's weak. The girl, who is always laughing and making others laugh, is hiding some bigger sorrow in her. Each person has a story behind their every gesture, whether it is a smile or a tear. And they all have a "false identity" to cover themselves up, in front of the society.

Read people, try to understand each other's emotions (not each other's minds, which is impossible btw). Talk to people without any hindrance or hesitation, u have no idea what each one has to offer, experience wise and morality wise as well. The mind of a human being is the most complex puzzle in the world to crack, and, as Occam's razor says, the solution is often very simple. Talk to each other, love each other, never have any hard feelings on any person, life is short to be angry on anyone or anything. Life's good. Love it while u Live it (and I think I’ve already said that once)

Cheers!!!