Vijender, Jitender and Akhil at their best

Well frankly speaking, when the Olympics began I was as usual cynical about performance of Indian contingent. But I was proved wrong, and I am happy that was the case. When these three pugilists began their journey to glory I was busy sipping away coffee at the CCD. Then the first news of our boys entering the tantalizing zone of medals, my eyes were lit with hope. The way Akhil smacked his opponent towards no contest showed the courage of Indians at the big stage. I had tears in my eyes because I know how they must have achieved this. Probably without any help from our thankless agencies, they had only one thing in mind - "The Indian Flag". It should always fly high. Abhinav's feat must have started the frenzy to its maximum, but these boys had shown what others couldn't over these many years.

Olympics is a big stage, and success at this stage boosts the morale of our countrymen. Perhaps it is time that we join hands and show our younger generations the path to glory for India.

"Bharat Maata ki Jai!!!!"

Let the tricolor be at the helm...

Sorry state of affairs

I must admit that I was once a great admirer of Delhi and its adjoint areas for all its goodness. But lately things are changing and the change is in a negative slide. I was particularly happy the day I got selected in a premier MNC at Gurgaon as a management trainee. Finally it seems I will be out of Kharagpur :). No offenses, but Kharagpur in particular has a very slow paced life, which is not meant for a guy who is from Delhi. I have seen good and bad days of Delhi from past 25 years of my life here in this great city. But the degradation and massive destruction of local infrastructure has led me to think otherwise. Jolting around in the city I see everything so blurry and "creatively" damaged. Places which were once revered have now vanished in rubbles of mindless construction. Construction, when it all began, was seen as a great step towards development. But as things go haywire, they leave behind nothing but more and more anguish.

So let me begin with the frustrated bashing of Delhi and specially Gurgaon...

The myth of millennium city "Gurgaon"

"These are not potholes on roads, but roads in potholes"
If you see the roads in Gurgaon you will say that this is hell on earth. Electronic City is where I work and this place is the most badly hit. There were roads which have converted into ditches of death. Not a single day goes without an accident because of these roads. I gather some old opinions about these roads and found that when these roads were made a year back they were shining jewels of the city. But I guess all that glitters is not gold. The roads have vanished and all that is left are potholes.
The road in front of Maruti Udyog is particularly the one in discussion. When it rains, the roads get waterlogged till waist height. Think how cars could drive into these and forget about the bikers. The roads are non existent. Only one rainy season has exposed how the Govt. of Haryana has scandalized the construction of these roads. Perhaps it is time that we put forth an RTI regarding this.

"Water water everywhere, and if you don't know swimming, how can you survive here?"
Delhi or Gurgaon are particularly dry places in India, so how come we have floods here. Answer is simple. "Failed civic amenities!". The drains are clogged and civic authorities do not care to clean or open them up. So much construction at all places has made the matter even worse. Take for example the straight road from TCS, ASF Center towards the toll road. Every rain brings out the watery chasm of Gurgaon. Cars, bikes, buses and life comes to a standstill. And every time you will wonder "why in this whole world I came to this place?". Now even I wonder why these corporate houses have chosen Gurgaon. To be truthful, this place is worst for any corporate house. It is extremely bad in its civic amenities. And think about the corporate clients who come in. What would they think, after seeing all this?

"Insensitive people with their vehicles of doom!"
Traffic... Ha... it is something that every Delhiwaala cries foul about. But when it comes to driving on wrong side and blocking of traffic, no one lags behind. Guys, we are responsible for all this mess and we should take responsibility and act in a better way. It seems in this city everyone is in a hurry... But the good old saying "Jaldi ka kaam shaitan ka! Aur shaitan ka hasr hamesha bura!" holds true. These are the same people who end up being late themselves and end up creating havoc on roads. Inexistent traffic policing adds to the woes. The traffic policemen are the most inefficient and ineffective people handling the traffic flow. They are ill-trained and have no idea about controlling traffic.

I shall continue with this bashing...

10 Days of Complete Madness

Ten Days of Complete Madness

Well I look back to year 2000-2004, the rat race years of my life and then I look to three years of bliss 2004-2007, I am just astonished with the amount of madness in the way. Well, sleepless nights and cram-out days are just a part of this 12 month MBA at VGSOM. Well, everybody seems to be counting days and finally the day on which they will move out of here. But there is just one little problem. There is an exam in between which perhaps everyone overlooked. Running on an overdose of caffeine it seems that this has become a norm altogether. But none the less, it is fructifying into a successful career. The nights at the night canteen and the cursing if it is closed and then blaming the system altogether. Then picking up our bicycles to go to LLR or the Veggies to get a cup of tea to survive the night, well it has become a daily duty. Then pushing up the laptop lids to find out what music we used to hear, and it seems a long time back that the music hit our ears. The back breaking schedule is actually rewinding my thoughts back to the years in which I was a part of the student community. Soon we will be out of it. I guess it happens, I'll miss these sleepless days in coming years.

Two Steps Behind.........

Two Steps Behind

This is one song that I am very fond of. In fact this was the same song that brought the one I love a lot closer to me because she understood that this fool is actually a guy who is able to make out even the smallest of tears that rolls down her cheek, the smallest smile she gives in anticipation, the smallest word she speaks in hope of trust and the smallest touch she expects from me. I say that I'll always be two steps behind, but now I'll be just beside her, I know I have earned that place beside her. I am happy that after days now, she has started trusting me. "But we still have a long way to go", she says, but at the same time, she dreams of the beautiful days that are ahead of us. She leaned onto my shoulder and made me the happiest man in this world. She smiled when I said "I Love You!", and she made me feel the world in all its beauty. She translated her feeling onto a beautiful card and compiled all my thoughts and made it straight to my heart. She is my sweet chocolate pudding. She is the one I love, and now jaan, I won't be two steps behind anymore, I am there beside you and you shall she that this fool will never leave that spot, it is something I got after a long wait.

Ashes

About Her - A Bit in Detail

Never in my dreams I had thought that I would meet someone so perfectly made for me. She is perfect because she is made to be perfect. All these years, where was she hiding, I am just wondering that. Well now since I have described her physically and also described a bit of her inner emotions, I shall go ahead with a bit more than the usual. All these days of talking to her has made me realize a few things, which are nothing out of the box but they are bound to be important. So here we go...

=> She is someone who loves attention but hates too much attention. She likes to be the centerstage of a discussion, but if it goes overhead she makes for the exit door immediately. Sort of nice idea isn't it. She is typically different from other girls because she can make out when someone is flattering her and when someone is actually telling a truth. In fact she has been catching my flattering perfectly (:P)

=> She likes hearing me, and I am surprised. She is a patient listener and quite patient with the overtalker like me. I speak too much when I am on phone because I am too impatient. But in front of her I just go mum because I cannot take my eyes off her. She is so beautiful.

=> She loves being with few people who give her full attention and specially people who do not wander away. Jaan, I might have been a wanderer, but I am like you only, if I have come close to you, I will never ever leave you, neither I am going to let you wander off.

=> She is a wanderer herself, always in look out for the wackiest things and loveliest times.

=> She is impatient ("Well Sorry Jaan" -> You'll say this is an easy guess (:P) )

=> She waits for people to say that they love her, but will not wait if she feels that this is the right guy. She held me tightly and I, in my all dreams wanted someone to do that.

=> She can really make people comfortable with her, but if they do not understand her completely, she might get turned off and remain turned off to these people for long time.

=> She depends for things and decisions, somehow thinks collectively about decisions. Jaan I ask you to take decisions for me, but I too will make it a collective decision in the end.

=> She doesn't like being bossed around and likes doing the work her way.

=> She is dedicated and if something is assigned to her it goes till the end with her dedication. Also if someone criticizes she might be perturbed but she goes back and gives that criticism a second thought almost always. I mean to say - "Why is this guy/gal criticizing me? Is he right? If he is wrong shall I confront him or let him go? Shall I ask Ashish about this? I will ask Ashish and then we both will take a decision..." Correct me if I am wrong jaan.

=> She loves whatever she possesses and hates it when it goes missing or if it is broken.

=> She can be really very possessive about me and I can be really possessive about her. I am made for her only and I know she is for my love and my life.

=> She hates it when I go onto tangents and loves my weird, stupid self... Well she is taking time, but soon will realize that "Ashish" has to be treated as a kid many times, and he can treat her like a kid also. You also like being treated like a kid. You want to be naughty at times, fidgety at times, and really very kiddish at times. And you take your opportunities to do that. You are not always kiddy, but you seek the opportunity.

I'll write more about her ...

I Love You... Love You a Lot... Love You my Life...

Ashes

Tak Bisakah

The Lyrics that really touch your heart - Hats off to Peterpan

Tak Bisakah Hatiku bimbang namun tetap pikirkanmu Selalu s'lalu dalam hatiku Ku melangkah sejauh apapun itu Selalu kau didalam hatiku Ku berjalan berjalan memutar waktu Berharap temukan sisa hatimu Mengertilah ku ingin engkau begitu Mengerti kau didalam hatiku Tak bisakah kau menungguku Hingga nanti tetap menunggu Tak bisakah kau menuntunku Menemani dalam hidupku Ku berjalan-berjalan memutar waktu Berharap temukan sisa hatimu Mengertilah ku ingin engkau begitu Mengerti kau didalam hatiku Dara kau menjadi hidupku Kemana kau tau isi hatiku Tunggu sejenak aku disitu Jalanku jalan menemukanmu Tak bisakah kau menungguku Hingga nanti tetap menunggu Tak bisakah kau menuntunku Menemani dalam hidupku

Can't you? My heart is unsure, yet I still think of you Always always in my heart No matter how far I walk Always, you're in my heart I took a stroll, turns back the time Hoping to find the remains of your heart Please understand that I want you Understand that you're in my heart Can't you wait for me Until later on still waiting Can’t you be my guide Accompany me in my life I took a stroll, turning back the time Hoping to find the remains of your heart Please understand that I want you Understand that you're in my heart Girl, you have become my life Where, you know what's in my heart Wait for me for a moment there The path I walk will lead me to you Can't you wait for me Until later on still waiting Can’t you be my guide Accompany me in my life

The Lyrics above by Peterpan as an OST for the movie "Alexandria" touched my heart. Though badly plagiarized for the hindi song "Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai", the original lyrics are much more beautiful and Peterpan immortalizes the same with his excellent string work and an amazing voice.

The movie's sequence reminds me of my older days when I used to be so introverted to express my feelings that every time I fell into the trap of my own heart to realize that the roses in my hands have turned into dust and fallen into the grave of my own feelings. I have lived with this ever since. Time after time, day after day and year after year, the stories got repeated and I grew tired of my own emotions and thought of burying them altogether. But perhaps it was not to happen. I found love in the most unusual way. Unusual because I am never like this. It took me 15 minutes to understand my feelings and just 2 days to express them and not 2 years like before. I am happy I did it. It hurts if you keep things to yourself. Let the emotions flow like a river, don't contain it. Containing it hurts and becomes a stinking pool of water of no use. Water you cannot even throw away. The reality is that this time I wanted the roses in my hands to remain roses and not turn into dust. I could have sung this song 2 years back, but I believe that the happiness in my life today, doesn't ask for it.

So my suggestion to all you guys and gals in love -- "Do not waste time in making your mind if you are really in love, time slips very quickly, so make the person in front of you realize your emotions as soon as possible!"

Girls cannot explain, it is a guys job to take the first step. So guys make sure you do not let the girl you love fly away and later regret for it....

And here is the Hindi Version "Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai!" - Somehow Enjoyable

Ashes

Raju Guide Explored

The 1960s classic movie "Guide" starring Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman is by far my all time best movie. The movie in itself is a masterpiece by Vijay Anand. They immortalized the relationship between a man and a woman beyond marriage and social obligations, which is a big thing in India still today. The movie setting is very charming, the choice of colors and the locations. In 1965 Bollywood was not that rich as today. But they still managed to dramaticize the whole sequence in the most pristine way. Ahead of its time and can still be watched by millions and these millions will be glued to their seats.

The movie starts with Raju Guide coming out of jail and sees a sign post towards Anjanpur "his city" and the song "Wahan Kaun hai Tera" (Who is there for you?) plays. It sets the mode of the movie.

Watch the song on Youtube

This takes our hero out on a journey. The journey of Raju Guide Begins...

I shall write in subsequent posts. --> do watch the movie....