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!!!

A Few (Face it) Facts

These are a few facts about boys and girls, the misconceptions and misunderstandings between them. Well someone has to talk about it and it better be me (i like advice from others only as much as the person next to me). I'm just laying out some points that i've encountered in my life so far, but the judgement and decision is totally at the reader's risk :P

Boy, every girl wears makeup, whether you like it or not, even the ones you perceive to be ugly. There’s no way around it. Girl, most of us know that you wear makeup so there’s no point denying it and fyi, we luv the subtle makeup u do and all the techniques you use to try and hide it afterwards, when its still pretty obvious ;)

Girl, boys like their space, every man needs his own space. We let u in doesn’t mean u can tamper with it. Just let us have it, we’ll just luv u more for the space you give us (oh and the boy who says he likes to be always checked upon, he’s lying, soon he’l get tired of it). An occasional “hi, what are you doing” is fine, just don’t keep doing it every other hour ;)

Boy, girls are possessive whether you want it or not. They’re insecure, jealous and possessive, just the intensity varies from girl to girl, some are just enough some just go over their limit dats all. If you don’t like a girl being possessive on you, don’t be subtle about it. Just tell dat to her face and convince her (atleast try) that u’re hers and nobody else’s (well dats kind of your job when u’re in a relationship right? to give her the assurance) (and being honest does score some points)

Boy, a girl you like, well has a lot of expectations but lets not talk about dat. A girl who likes you, wants you to sweep her off her feet, to literally lift her up (either develop your body to lift stuff, or choose a suitable girl and impress her, don’t end up impressing the wrong one). This expectation is true for all girls (no matter how much they deny it, they’l luv it when u do). Well, there’s a reason to use the “sweep her off her feet” phrase so often right? :P

Girl, a boy tries to figure you out (yes he does). When he fails he just gets angry (our animal instincts act up, can’t help it). He’s always trying to understand what you want, constantly, sometimes u’re just not helping us by not telling us wht you want and that can cause a whole chain of prblms in a relationship. Not ur fault though, this aspect of a girl I can never understand, why won’t u just let us know wht you want so that both of us can be happy, always above me.

Well, end now. A boy always wants to explore, let him explore ur mind so dat he’s always finding out something new (and u’re safe until u slave us with marriage :P). Don’t let him get bored of you, by which u don’t always have to do something new to keep him to urself (surprise gifts can help make him happy though :D), just let him be wht he wants to be and he’l luv u for dat. A guy likes his freedom; let him have it, everyone’s happy :)
 
A girl is emotional; everything about her is in her emotions. She lives in a world of fantasy. Understand this fact alone and u won’t even have to try and understand her any other way. I’m not telling boys to always respect a girl's emotions, but if u do and give in to it, u get to be the gentleman she always wanted :)

Among all the facts I can talk about physical intimacy, I thought this time around I'll stick with perception (don't wanna let all the secrets out at the same time :P). Kind of hard to decide now, right? Well that’s wht a relationship is all about, always hard to make a decision (for good or for bad :P). And these are just SOME points, there’s a lot we can discuss about this, I mean, a LOT. :D

There are no signs !!

Nope, absolutely not. We've been fed with the wrong information over signs and signals for long. But, ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you, over the past few years, i have learnt there is no signal, there are no signs. None!!

Please don't have the wrong notion that this is a rant becoz of my failure to read signals. Oh i read them very well and thats why this blog. The reason i'm saying ther's no such thing is becoz, it can change any minute. They say "the future changes, everytime you see it. Its becoz u see it and that changes the future", yes its from a movie, no its not an Indian movie.

Now back to the point. There must have been a lot of encounters, with these so called, signals, from the people you admire, sometimes from a distance, sometimes a bit close. But, no matter whatsoever, there is no such thing called a signal or a sign (yes i'm saying the same thing again)

Let me elaborate. I have seen boys who go crazy becoz the girl (while gazing into a crowd of 100) saw him once. I have seen girls who sit and drool, just becoz that guy she likes, smiled at her in the queue (of over a 50 people, atleast) at the counter. What we perceive here is, "maybe he/she likes me as well" but the fact is "he/she don't even care about you unless u man up (help me out here, i don't know the word for women) and actually start talking with the person".

No, i don't wanna deviate from my topic. Where were we, oh yeah! no signals. So, we misinterpret these random gestures of courtesy. I strongly suggest that we don't. Its not gonna work, sitting and dreaming.

Okay, now, lets say they were even true. So what, when you go tell him/her that you have read their signal right, do u seriously think they're gonna say "wow, u did???" (well they do in movies, out of question, in real life people have real ego :P ). In real life they wudn't dare accept that you have caught their signal right. So whats the point of even trying to interpret it. Just think of this, if u get it wrong, its wrong; if you get it right, still its gonna be wrong. Come on!!

Now, the end. If u want to sit and read signals and signs, u'l end up single forever, and get caught in the Indian arranged marriage market. If u decide that u've met ur man/woman already, and u think they send out a signal for you to reach out to them, then do it. Reach out and start talking (never mention sh*t about their signals, makes them look weak). This way, if they like you they're gonna continue talking wit you, and if they don't they'l just give u BS and ignore you. Either way, u have a result in your hand (so you can start searching for ur next soulmate :P) and u've still kept your dignity (thanks to, not mentioning your misinterpretation of signals, phew!)

Signals, they might be genuine, they might be for you and you only. But unless u reach out to the person and talk, u're never gonna get along with them. So, instead of sitting and dreaming, walk over and talk (oh btw!! boys, beware of eve-teasing cases and harassment lawsuits :P ) Cheers..!!!

Chetan Bhagat - An Indian to be proud of

Well despite his best of efforts, Al Pacino couldn't pocket the most coveted "5 Diamond Award" thanks to the Ocean's 13, but my favorite author did it again and I feel honored to present him the "5 Diamond Award" (just in theory of course)

I just don't understand, how can this author give 5 good books in a row. From his debut "Five Point Someone" to his "Revolution 2020" in '11. But he has done it. 5 books so far and all 5 feel good to read, give a sense of greatness (kindof) once i get past the last page and close the cover of the book (pretty good cover designs, on all 5 of them).

I was in college when i started reading his books. With the limited money, i could only borrow the "Five Point Someone". Same goes for the "One Night @ the Call Center". Amazing love stories in both of them.

I was in my final year when i bought "The 3Mistakes of My Life", a cheaper second hand version from  a road side vendor (i had a generous pocket money flow, thanks to my final year project :P ).

2 states cost Rs.95 if i'm right, and that was as soon as i finished my college and was waiting for my call letter. I bought 3 copies. 1 as a gift, 1 for myself and 1 to lend (anyways ended up lending them both, and haven't got em back yet :/ ) (planning to buy another one for my shelf :( )

Revolutions 2020 cost me Rs.140 (started working so i can easily afford it now :D ). Bought 2, 1 for myself, 1 as a gift. (Trust me, it does feel good when u gift someone with a nice book such as this one, especially when u gift it already and later find out it was not a wrong choice for a gift)

I know this blog does not talk much about the author, but i had to give such a vague lead story for this punch line that follows this dot. "To my future generations, I can proudly say that I saw this author grow, that i was there when he published his first book and he didn't disappoint me in his successive books".

Yes, I do feel proud to say that i grew up along with Chetan (the writer, not the person himself, he's elder) and he was my inspiration, to write (i mean, this blog) and to my courage to express whats on my mind in an (almost) witty, non-offensive way. I would like to say this again, "Chetan Bhagat is an Indian to be proud of".

And i must admit this, i fell in love with the lead girl characters from all his books, within the first few lines that describe them as a person, but in this book, (apart from falling in love with Aarti) i respect Gopal (never felt so much respect for a character in a book).

P.S.:- I think its good that they have included the new symbol for Rupee on the back cover for the book's price. Don't know if the author had his hand in this, or it was mandatory to use it, but i appreciate the thought to include it, given the ideas expressed in the book. (i know, i notice a lot, another potential advantage of reading, Chetan Bhagat :P )

People i wud like to have a coffee with

With the 4 other people of our 5 member gang (boy do i miss dat)

With the 31 other people from my Pune Training Batch (who gave me wht i missed in college, a good time)

A soldier from the Indian Army (had the chance to talk with and army man once, not over coffee though. He was a good man, a proud one for that matter)

A pilot from the Indian Air Force

A Sailor from the Indian Navy

Joel Osteen (he preaches life and its practicality)

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam (a beautiful mind)

Dr. Irai Anbu IAS (one of my role models growing up)

Anchor Gopinath (the one person i know, who really understands his "freedom of speech")

Periyardasan (the expertise in his field and the way he's expressing it, mesmerizing)

Bastian Babu (such profound thoughts and a very practical man)

A. R. Rahman (if photography changed my view of the world through my eyes, i'm sure one coffee with him will change the way i listen to the world through my ears :) )

Hans Zimmer (the only person who can give me peaceful sleep (his music) after a bad day at office, which is, well, quite often :P )

Enya (guess she's the only woman on this list (if dats her real name), except if the soldier, sailor and pilot are all men :P )
(hopefully, the pilot wud be a girl, i wud luv to sit and chat with a woman pilot from the IAF :) )

Sachin Tendulkar (a man who knows how to learn, knows how to teach. And i wud like to learn that frm him)

Barack Obama (the one person i see, as the definition of "change")

Rajinikanth (I have one question for him, just one :) )

Jim Carry (a man who wud fall, fight, cry, even die, just to make us laugh)

Al Pacino (the one and only Godfather. Still going strong)

Hugo Weaving (the second reason for my lov for English as a language, first being The Bible :) )

Gautham Vasudev Menon (the only movie director that made this list??)

Vincent Versace (understanding natural light, he changed my view of the world through my lens, the whole perspective)

Micheal Jordan (definitely need a photograph, standing beside him :P )

William Henry Gates (who wouldn't)

Larry Page & Sergey Brin (ditto :D )

Mark Zuckerberg (well, after watching social network, if not a coffee, couple beers will do  :P )

The Bucket-List (when I was 22)

1. To find one more perfect girl and fall in love with her (don't even try to guess who the first one was, and its definitely not my mom, don't take me for a sentimental BS'er :P )
2. To have my photograph featured in any one of the world's top 10 photography magazines (preferably on the cover or the middle page..)
3. To have one of my photographs of my city hanging in any of the city's top cafes' "wall of fame"
4. To write a book. (yeah exactly like him, even if i'm not gonna get so famous :P )
5. To have tasted all that is edible in this world. (process already started actually, must get there soon)
6. To wear my favorite pair of jeans again (its a size 28, as if dats ever gonna happen.. :/ )
7. To fly.
8. To drive through the streets of Barcelona.
9. To spend a month on the Fiji islands. (without my cell phone)
10. To die of a heart attack. (i don't have the looks already, whtever i currently have, won't survive a cancer or even an accident :D )