Episode 8: Exposed !!

Previous Episode

Hey, I never got your roll no. in student's list of UG1, found some other UG3 guy named Parth in the list! BTW, what is your roll no.?

Natasha scribbles me a note in the library the next night. This isn't good. Loopholes in my plan are showing. I scribble back.

Of course not. I joined in final counseling round, so my name and roll no. might not have been updated in student's list. Isn't name enough?

The Salsa workshop organizers asked for roll no. and name.

I smile. This is good. :)

After a few minutes, as if taking time to organize her thoughts, she scribbles.

I saw you teaching your batchmates C programming. Why would you teach them?

Okay now, looks like I'm exposed! :(

This may seem strange, but the professor asked me to teach the class what he was teaching. He was sitting in the last row, maybe you didn't get to see him there. It was a punishment!

Evening class?

Yup! Professors are strange people, isn't it? :)

Phew! She seems convinced because she smiles and nods in agreement.

A few days later after the morning lecture, as I walk out of the lecture hall, Anubhav pats me on my back and thumbs up me with a smile as he walks by!

Few girls of my batch look at me from a distance as if I had committed a crime.

I have no idea what is going on.

When I enter the mess during lunchtime, I see whispers starting in some groups while some others just look at me as I take food and sit in a corner. I don't bother because I am getting late for the afternoon lecture.

Arun comes to me and whispers, "She knows, everybody knows."
I look around and see people looking at me and smiling. This is definitely NOT good.

I walk into the library that night, excited as always, to meet Natasha. I reach our place and see Natasha reading a book holding it close to herself. I wave my hand in the air but get no response. I dance my fingers in front of her eyes, no response. :(

I sit and start reading Alice in Wonderland from where I had left it last time. I scribble a note and keep it beside her. The note stays there, reminds me of our first conversation. Feeling disappointed, I continue my reading.

I see her leaving after an hour. I reach out and hold her arm. She glares at me and I slowly release it. She goes back, scribbles something on the note I had kept for her.

"Our conversation is over, forever."

Apparently girls hate when guys whom they like, lie to them. I didn't know she liked me, learnt it later from her friend I met at the IMAX.

"She must really like you. In high school I've seen her slap guys for making a move at her or doing something stupid or nasty to her."

I sat across D at the coffee shop. I had to know the truth after my truth was leaked by Dilip in one of his casual conversations! :(

"I guess I've lost her. I had a plan, it failed."

"You had a what?!"

"Nothing stupid or nasty!" I smiled in disappointment.

I call her several times. Yes, she had given me her mobile no. during one of our conversations while returning to college from IMAX. Now she isn't picking up my call. I spend a fortune SMSing her, my fingers hurt as well. She doesn't come online on gtalk, or maybe she blocked me in gtalk. :(

The next two days I have the worst time of my life. I again start sleeping in lectures because missing her keeps me awake for most of the night. I write poems and play sad songs (Tanhayee, from Dil Chahta Hai).

After a couple of days, during lunch, I rush to computer lab where I work on my projects. As I walk out of my hostel gate and walk a little ahead, I see Natasha walking towards my hostel. It is drizzling and she is carrying an umbrella. I slow down and feel uncertain when our eyes meet. I look away and walk towards her.

"Hey, I'm sorry. Please let me explain. I know I shouldn't have lied to you. But I couldn't help myself. I had to talk to you, because I'm crazy about you. The first time I saw you ..."

She looks at me with a blank stare all this while. Suddenly she moves forward, wraps her arms around my neck. She gently pulls me towards her, her lips touch mine and she kisses me, stopping my confession speech midway. I feel her touch through my wet t-shirt. I wrap her in my arms, and kiss her, trying to do what I had seen hero and heroine do in movies. All this while everyone walking to their class or lab slow down and look at us.

I kiss someone for the first time in my life! :) :D YIPPEE !!

Next Episode

Episode 7: The IMAX experience

Previous Episode

Yawning heavily sitting on my bed after a long day, I write my diary entry.
While recalling our time in the IMAX, I remember meeting her batchmates and rest of the experience.

I went numb, I couldn't move my legs. She went to meet her batchmates, and beckoned me to follow. I smiled weakly and followed. She started introducing me to them, assuming that I didn't know them! I looked around and saw Arun and Dilip looking at us. I looked away, pretending not to notice them.

Suddenly, a girl from my section (supposedly) walked towards us, and Natasha introduced me to her.

"You must be knowing her, Parth, she's in your section."

"Yeah, I've seen her in the class," I said, trying to sound confident.

"But I haven't seen you around, never in the class atleast." She said, eyeing me suspiciously.

"Of course you wouldn't have! You sit in the front benches, I sit at the back ones!" I smiled.

That was a complete fluke, but I guess it worked because she behaved friendly after that. :) The seating arrangement is classrooms in our college is according to roll no.s and that girl's name starts with a 'D', and my name starts with 'P', so obviously she would be sitting in one of the front benches. But rotation between rows also takes place, she never thought of that. :)

The guys from their batch whispered something among themselves. One of them called me.

"Hey dude." One of them said and did the introductions.

"Is she your girlfriend?" Some other guy asked, pointing at Natasha. (bah, why would I remember their names!)

"No, nothing like that. I met her a couple of weeks ago in the library, we talked. We're friends." I said, almost sighing.

Booking tickets early helped. My batchmates and her batchmates were sitting in few benches in front of us, so I could keep an eye on them. I also knew that after dropping my plan for watching Avatar with them, I couldn't tell Arun and Dilip that they must have seen a lookalike of mine at IMAX and that I was at my room, watching some TV show! Because they won't believe me.

This must have been the first time I didn't pay attention to a movie I was watching. I looked at her (through those polarizer glasses!) once in a while with the excuse of picking up pop-corn. I observed her reaction and it amazed me how intently she watches a movie.

I beckoned her to leave as soon as the credits showed. She must have thought I had a plan, so she eagerly followed. She saw the climbing wall, with colorful holders and challenged me to it.

"But you're a girl, I don't like competing with girls in such activities." But this excuse didn't work. :(

She shrieked with laughter when I shouted in fear after my leg slipped while climbing the wall, and was suspended in air by a rope. Apparently she had won! Her friend D said to me that I had been a gentlemen to let her win and I said to myself, 'But my hand slipped!' :D

Her friends left but she stayed back with me for some more time at IMAX.

"You love arcade games, don't you?"

"Yup, and this is how its done." She said and gave my player a fatal blow in style.

"Touche!" I said. Her skills were quite impressive.

Ice-hockey, now this was where I expected to win. No, I wasn't being a gentleman! I grab an opportunity when I can, to win. But I guess my clumsy moves suggested otherwise.

"What are you waiting for, give everything you have!!" She was quite aggressive while playing.

"Hey, where are you going?" She asked as I silently started drifting away from her towards my lab when we reached college.

"Have a meeting with prof." I pointed at e-sagu lab, not sure what she would think of it. Couldn't tell her I am a Research Assistant there.

With the guilt of leaving her alone to walk till girl's hostel, I turned and started walking towards the lab.

"Hey Parth!" She said. I turned.

"Today was great!"

"Same here." I said and smiled.

I shut the diary close. I want to tell her the truth, and walk with her in public, and say to every pair of staring eyes, "O yeah, she's my girlfriend and I love her a lot." God almost always listens to my prayers! :) :(

"Guys, try and understand my situation. Please, please don't tell her or anyone else about me and my plans for Natasha. And Dilip, don't make it your subject for gossip! Try to keep a secret sometime!"

Apparently, Arun and Dilip feel betrayed that I didn't tell them about Natasha, and I try hard to control the situation. But eventually the flood gates were opened! :(

Next Episode

Episode 6: Exam days

Previous Episode

The following Saturday, I walk into the library after dinner, excited to meet Natasha. As I step into the library, I see all the tables in the library occupied. I leave the library, realizing that the UG1 students must be studying for their exams on Monday. I didn't want to blow up my cover, not just yet, not the wrong way. Besides, I had few courses to take care of myself!

I don't visit the library for next four nights. On Wednesday morning, as I walk out of the exam hall and walk alone, away from the crowd, I sense someone trying to catch up with me. I turn and see Natasha walking towards me. She smiles at me. OMG, why do I love that smile so much!

"How was your exam?"

This must be second or third time that I had heard her voice. The paper chat thing was working so well I didn't want to spoil it by asking for her phone no.! x(

"It was just fine, attempted all the questions."

"What about the fifth question, what do you think the answer should be?"

"Actually, you know, I don't really feel like discussing the answers after the exam. Don't feel bad, though. After exam I rush towards my room, trying not to allow anything related to the exam reach my ears."

Natasha grins broadly.

I sense some people looking at us. I take my mobile out and look at it.

"Hey got few miss calls, was on silent mode. Will catch up with you later."

"Sure thing!"

There were no miss calls, of course! Atleast now she knows I have a mobile. :)

That night when I visit the library, I see someone else sitting on the seat across Natasha, the seat that had apparently become my favorite seat. As I sit on the adjacent seat, I see her scribbling something on a paper and stretching it out to me. I beckon the person sitting adjacent to me to pass it to me. He obliges but his demeanor suggests he is a PhD student or M-tech student as he simply passes the paper from her to me, eager to get back to his book.

You are late today. So, Mr. Scared-of-exam-discussion, do you really spend your time in library the day exams end?!

Funny, it never occurs to me why she should be in the library. I visit the library because I meet Natasha at the same place, at the same time every night. And our rate of studying has reduced and rate of chatting has increased since last week! Did she also come to library because she expected to find me here?

But my thoughts were interrupted by her waving at me and making a question mark in the air with her hand. I scribble back.

This book, "Alice in Wonderland", I heard its really good. Will give it a try now.

Isn't it children's book?

I am still not an adult! Besides, this book has been liked by both kids and adults.

About the first thing, how old are you, then?!

:)

C'mon... You know what, forget it. Keep your age a secret!

18, Oct 10.

lol... she tells me her age as well. Don't freak out, in reality I'm 21 years old! :) Oct 10 is my real birth date though.

Only a few months older, big deal!

Main thing to observe here is, you are younger than me. Come to think of it, you are shorter than me as well! :D

She grins at the thought and at my troubled expression.

Oh no, that can't be!

But that is !

And she gets up from her seat, motions me to do the same. We stand side by side without footwear, ask the M-Tech guy (probably, guessing! Could be PhD guy, don't know.) to tell who is taller. He points at her!

Only a couple of centimeters. Why is that even important?!

But Natasha is so happy and blushing that I smile finally and feel happy about the whole thing.

Then, for next 10 minutes, I time and again look up from my book and see her reading (wow, she looks so cute when she reads intently!), and a few times we both look at each other at the same time from our books and laugh. After that I scribble to her.

Do you like watching a movie?

Who doesn't? :P

Would you like to go out for a movie with me? Avatar.

:) Sci-fi? I am not very fond of sci-fi.

Its in 3D. :)

I had got the tickets the day the booking started and got us best seats (i.e., at the back) for first day's show. Yes, I had got the tickets before asking her! But, as by Murphy's Law, "when something can go wrong, it will go wrong", it goes wrong.
As soon as Natasha and I reach IMAX, I see my friends Arun and Dilip sipping coke and strolling outside. I get tensed. My nervousness reaches a level of anxiety personally never reached by me, when I see Natasha wave at what looked like a familiar group of boys and girls, the UG1 students. :(

Next Episode

Episode 5: The C tutorial

Thank you Srirang for the 'plane flying below the moon' idea.

Previous episode

"Butterscotch Cornetto"
"Chocolate nuts Cornetto"
"Chocolate?"
"Yup! I love chocolate!"
"Girls like chocolate."
"Guys do too. BTW, what's great about butter scotch?"
"Its the best flavor for an ice-cream, haven't you tasted it?"
"Nope. As a kid I used to think the ice-cream had alcohol in it, butter with scotch! You see, I don't really want to get drunk and lose my senses."
Natasha laughed.
"That's so lame, Parth!"

We walked back on the road leading to the hostels while eating our ice-creams.
OMG, she looked so cute while eating the ice-cream.

"Hey, that's Venus over there." I pointed out to a lighted celestial object in the sky which didn't twinkle.
"Venus is visible just after sunset, its past 11 pm now." She said and smiled at me.
"I see. It must be Saturn then." I said and shrugged. Suddenly I saw an airplane approaching the moon and the line of trajectory it followed suggested me that it would come directly below the moon. I had seen this beautiful spectacle before!
"Hey Natasha, look up at the plane." I pointed at the dark silhouette of an airplane slowly approaching. She looked up and stopped, didn't move for a few seconds.
I saw the moonlight fall on her, after the plane had passed from below the moon. I felt the same way I felt when I saw her jogging, I felt I could live with that moment for the rest of my life. Before I could absorb her beauty in the moonlight, she looked at me and said, "That was lovely, Parth!"

"Parth, dude, class is over!" Arun pats me. I see all the students walking out of the class. I had spent the whole class thinking about my time with Natasha last night!

Today, all my efforts to avert the C tutorial session are in vain.
Plan A: I call in sick. The Professor doesn't accept the excuse, suggests I do a video-conference or take the tutorial the next day. :(
Plan B: To think of another plan.
A light bulb lights in my mind, I remember a chat done with an alumni a couple of weeks ago. And I have another plan.

Later that morning, at UG1 lab, which I visit as a volunteer to help some students with their PCs, I sense her walking towards me stealthily while I am installing Karmic Koala (latest Ubuntu OS) and feel her poke on my shoulder.
"Hi! You must be a labcom (a person from UG1 who has prior experience in handling PCs, and could help his batchmates who are new to PCs), could you please help me? I installed Linux, then I installed Windows and now I can't find the Linux I had installed." Her mannerism is completely formal, as if she is talking to me for the first time. But her tantalizing smile doesn't give me chance to think much about anything at all! I leave that guy's PC and go to help her!

At 4 pm, when I walk into Seminar Hall 2, the chattering ceases and murmurs start at some parts of the class, while others simply stare at me. With my body sweating profusely, I take a deep breath and in a harsher voice, I start the tutorial.

The moment I sit across her in the library, after dinner that night, she scribbles a note and passes it to me.

Hey, I didn't see you in the tutorial today.

Yeah, I missed it, slept off.

I scribble in short, and keep my reply to a minimum and don't look at her.
She scribbles real quick.

The tutor looked hilarious wearing a monkey cap and a jacket in the month of August. Oh and yeah, he wore black specs and also had spots on his face! He looked like a complete clown!

I look at her, she looks amused.

I want to know everything! :)

And as she narrates me her experience at the tutorial, I remember about the chat with the alumni. He asked for my suggestion for a disease that doesn't affect his health but renders him useless to work. After some discussion, he suggests conjunctivitis but finds something better! I use this one. Chicken pox easily conceals one's looks, so I used this one as well.

But honestly, people did stare at me while I walked from my hostel to Seminar Hall 2.

Next Episode

A Good Boy

The man in suit looks at the bald man with fear in his eyes.
The bald man calls his own mother and asks her, "Tell me ma, that I'm a good boy, that you'd love me, no matter what."
His mother replies in affirmative.
The bald man empties his loaded pistol into the man in suit.

Episode 4: She talked to me

Before starting the next episode:
Thank you Rahul and Sushanta, for discussion on name of characters.
Thank you Rahul, for discussion on character sketch.
Thank you Srirang for removing some unnecessary parts in the conversation and some valuable suggestions...

Previous Episode

Yawning heavily sitting on my bed after a long day, I write my diary entry.

Unlike Metallica and Linkin Park playing in my i-pod, today I play "Pehli baar mohabbat". It feels so right.
While recalling my conversation with Natasha, in the library, I remember that moment of anticipation when I take that note from her, and rest of the experience.

She returned the note to me, in the same nonchalant manner. It read:

Hi! I'm Parth (with an open palm gesture)! We're batchmates, just not in the same section.

ok, So?!

Well, I didn't know what to reply! Nonetheless I scribbled back, after about a minute.

That's quite an interesting book you're reading!

Honestly, I had no idea which book she was reading! :D :P

This worked I guess, because she smiled and promptly replied.

Maths! Really?!

You seem to be doing some intense work... not planning to sleep today here, are you?

I read the note, and smiled back. Deadline for my assignment was approaching, and she seemed to be starting a conversation. I had to choose...

Well, if I sleep, I know you'd wake me up! :-)

Wasn't it obvious I'd continue the conversation! :-)

Don't be too sure of that!

Wow, you write fast, and your writing is... legible! :D
So, do you go out anytime?

She didn't reply for a few minutes. I waited, trying to look busy to her by doing my assignment.

Nope!

I started to reply but realized that the sheet had filled. I tore another sheet from my copy. I could see her looking at the copy while I was tearing the page.

After a few minutes:

Ice-cream?!

What?!

Are you game for an ice-cream?

Not really!

And she resumed her study. And I thought girls like ice-creams! :-(

Since she ended the chat, the sheets stayed with me. I slipped it into my notebook.

While leaving the library, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Natasha was standing behind me, clutching her bag on her shoulder.

"Are you still game for an ice-cream?" She asked.

After finishing my diary entry, just when I close my eyes to sleep, I get an e-mail alert on my mobile.

Parth,

Take a combined tutorial for first years' on all the different data types in C.

Prof. R. G. V.

Next Episode

Episode 3: Doomsday 2012

Previous episode

With the first set of conversations ending in disaster, I decide to take a break and wait for a better opportunity.
Next morning while jogging back to hostel, I see her jogging along with other first years' as a part of morning session of Physical Training. Each and every passing moment feels like a lifetime as I impulsively slow down and stop, absorbing her beauty in morning freshness...
I feel a tap on my shoulder as the PT instructor asks me what the matter is.

After lunch, just like every other day, I check my gmail inbox, and viola! I get an unread mail:

'[Just Like That !] New comment on Undercover Lovers.'

and with the excitement of receiving yet another comment on my post, I open the mail.

Natasha has left a new comment on your post "Undercover Lovers"

Nice post. :)

This can't be a coincidence. These are signs, indications that I must not give up! :D
My sister pings me @ yahoo messenger that instant. During the course of our chat, she is surprised to learn that I don't have a girlfriend till now. She always suspects that I don't tell her everything, but today she believes me and advices me to get active in this course... the reason she gives is the coming of doomsday in 2012...

Due to some urgent work, i.e., meeting deadline of a procrastinated assignment, I pass on the movie 2012, and visit library after dinner. I sense her walk across the table to the other side, to her favorite seat.
Hold on... did she change her library timings? I wonder.
She glances around, a few seconds more at me, and settles down to study by placing her notebook, rough copy, textbook etc. in a desirable position.

She doesn't acknowledge anybody's presence while she's studying. And my mind vacillates between doing the assignment and trying to talk to her.

I decide: To hell with patience and manners, doomsday's coming ...

I scribble a note and hold it on top of her book, shaking it in front of her line of sight.

She looks at the note, then at me. Yes, she does recognize me the way she looks at me. She takes the note, opens it and scribbles something on it, while I look at her, waiting in anticipation.
She hands over the note back to me.

Next Episode

Episode 2: I talked to her.

Previous episode

Yawning heavily sitting on my bed after a long day, I write my diary entry.
While recalling my visit to the library, I remember her nonchalant look and my attempt to start a conversation, and rest of the experience.

Thinking on my feet had never been my forte, hence I relied on my snap judgments.
And I snapped, i.e., I lied to her, when she gave me a who-the-hell-are-you look. She's a fresher and I'm a senior, we're not in same batch.

"Ssshhh," she put her finger on her lips, beckoned me for silence. She pointed at the "Silence is Golden" written at one end of the library, behind me. BTW, we were the only ones in the inner part of the library.

I sat across the table, as she resumed her reading. I picked her notebook and tore a page from it, scribbled a note for her, and pushed it across to her. Seeing her engrossed in the C programming textbook, I got up and walked out. I returned with C programming textbook, just to brush up my fundamentals. I found my note still lying beside her hand, untouched.

While reading, with the corner of my eye, I looked at the note once in a while. Suddenly the next instant I found her tapping on my head with her pen.
"What?" I squinted my eyes, then rubbed my eyes, "Has the attendance been taken?"
"What?" She said.
Her voice flowed through my subconscious and I snapped out of sleepiness.
"I'm sorry, just one of my regular dreams."
She giggled.
Why did she giggle? I wondered... do I look funny in my just-woke-up looks? Maybe that's why everybody stares at me when I wake up in the middle of the lecture.

"By the way, could you help me out with this?" I asked her a problem from C programming textbook, as my final attempt to make a conversation, while she was leaving.

Her giggle kept on playing in my mind while writing the diary. A sudden thought shattered the good feeling of that memory and uncertainty set it. I wondered, "How would she react when she learns that I'm the TA for the C programming course?"

Next Episode

Episode 1: I saw her

I see her walking down those stairs. She is perfect. I stand there looking at her grace, bouncy hair, gentle smile, until a guy climbs down after her in haste and speaks in a charming voice, "Sorry I'm late." That must be her boyfriend, I think. :(
I walk towards them. While crossing them, I hear her say, "You're always late, bro!"

:) Good!

I see her again, this time at a shopping mall, with her brother. A certain guy walks to them, pleasantly greets her, and I think, "This must be her boyfriend!"
As it turns out, he walks beside her brother and holds his hand, as if they were a couple!

:) Good!

I see her yet again, this time in a pub, with some other guy I don't recognize. They are talking and laughing and I think, "This surely must be her boyfriend!"
Another girl, probably her friend meets them, and that guy and her friend kiss.

:) Good!

The next time I see her, she is alone, walking down the road towards library. I walk in the opposite direction, but change my mind and go to library instead, after a couple of minutes.
The library, as usual is occupied with a handful of students, most of them reading magazines. I scan the library for her and see her sitting at a corner seat in the inner part of the library with few books lying on the table space in front of her.
I think, this is it, talk to her; but what if she's busy?
"Excuse me, miss..." and I glance at her notebook, and don't find her name on it. :(
She looks up at me from the book.
"Hi," I raise my hand in an open palm gesture. Her nonchalant look isn't reassuring.
"I didn't mean to bother you, but I saw you reading this book and remembered you were in my batch but in other section, so..." I pause, look at her book, then look at her.

Next Episode

Diwali Sweets

I happily picked up the kaju katri mithai (cashewnut sweet) he offered me from a bowl.
"How did you take care of the ants? This is an open bowl, very vulnerable!" I was surprised.
He was prompt, as if it was obvious.
"I simply remove the ants feasting on the sweets in the bowl."

Wallet

I never used it until few days ago, actually never wanted to use it. Its like putting all your eggs in one basket. Wallet is convenient but if its lost, a lot is lost; identity card, cash, somebody's photo etc.
Why people continue to keep wallet in their back pocket, an area easily pickable. Front pockets could also carry the wallet.
How do people find comfort sitting with one butt on the wallet?! No wonder their wallets are thinner than mine, even though I hardly carry any cash.

P.S. - I keep my wallet in front pocket of my trousers.
P.S. - Wallet does have lots of pockets in it, like a shrunken version of a women's purse, to contain almost everything minus the makeup stuff.

Relativity

This week I visited my relatives' house and in almost every case, the relative who opened the door (was my aunts in all the cases), I found them staring at me for few seconds, then when I greeted them, they smiled at me and welcomed me. Rest everything went good and I had a great time.

Today I looked at the mirror while brushing my teeth and realized the reason:
I hadn't shaved for 3 weeks!

Blue film

My friend asks me, "Would you like to watch the Blue film this friday?"

I replied aloud, for others on the table with us, "The blue film! Would they show the blue film in cinema halls."

"Yes, starting this friday."

"Okay. So what's the name of the movie?"

The Comment

My good friend felt dejected because of lack of comments on his latest post. He devised a masterplan to cope with this. He commented on his post:

"Nice Post!!

Waiting for my next post :( "

Expansion

It is a well established scientific fact that the entropy of universe is increasing. This is true for Earth as well. Expansion at a rapid rate lesser physical and social space available. Perhaps the Sci-fi notion of colonies in moon and mars might be commonplace in the next few decades!

No. of people with pot-belly has increased in recent times, so has average size of breasts. Weight of school bags has increased, so has the marks students get in board exams! Internet is used by many new people every next day, content on the internet is increasing as well.

Expansion in human settlements is nothing new, but the expansion rate has increased manifold in recent times. While some own a lot of land, some others cringe and sleep due to scarcity of it.

Automation in most of our daily activities has in turn seen people taking part in many art forms, i.e., expansion in participation of people, be it as a participant or audience. Parents so happily send their kids to hobby classes, adult professionals form clubs or communities based on similar interests. Another reason for expansion in participation could be convenience due to technology, especially in case of writing (blogs) and photography (digicam & flickr).

Inflation, it is said is good for the growth of economy and has been there for a very long time.

Gas expands when given more space to occupy. Most of us are also like that, scattering things here and there if given a large space to stay. In a small room, all the scattering is done in a limited space. :D

While playing Age of Empires (AOE), I learnt that expansion of one's empire is very important for survival, especially if the enemy is stronger. The enemy takes longer time to hunt and kill when one has expanded one's empire, or vice-versa. Same is true for businesses and associated ventures as well! Expansion means growth.
Can it be said that diseases spread, or expand over a larger no. of people to sustain itself for a longer time!

There is no conclusion of this post, it'll be updated and expanded now and then.

Skeptical

My friend asks me, "What does skeptical mean?"
I hear his faint voice but am not sure if I should respond. He then nudges me.
I unplug my earphones, look at him.
He repeat his question, I ask, "where?"
He points at a comment on his post.
I say, "Not sure."

Okay (OK)

"Okay"
A ready response to any kind of conversation.

OK or Okay is quintessentially an American English word, one of the few, that has spread to other languages.
The story of origin of OK is quite interesting.

Okay is convenient, easy to use, short and suits almost anywhere and everywhere in the conversation, except as response to a question!

I remember reading "Horn O.K. Please" at the back of Indian trucks, but why O.K. written in between still perplexed me. Finally I found a satisfying answer:
"My logic to this 'Horn OK Please' is: Truck is informing the vehicle behind, 'Horn Please', if it has to overtake. In reply, the vehicle behind agrees and says,'OK'. That's why the fonts are different for these 2 terms." - K G Pawan Kumar, Mumbai.
So simple!
Okay?
Okay!
Okay. :)
Okay. :D
Okay. :(
Okay. X(
Okay. :O
It fits in everywhere !!
Okay, or OK has been shrunk to 'k' in online chats and SMSs. It can't get any shorter!

P.S. - Any other word with universal/widespread utility? Fuck.
To avoid using the F word, a person might forcefully use the O word, OK! :D

Cleanliness is goodliness

True. Not debatable... or maybe it is.
Clean living conditions, clean neighborhood act as good living conditions and keeps the dwellers in a pleasant mood in general. It also adds to one's good habits, helps keeping good health and gives good impression. Maintaining cleanliness does take a little extra effort but its worth it.
But as for everything, obsession spoils. A person obsessed with cleanliness can't and won't tolerate anything otherwise. Sometimes it does get difficult to stay in presence of such a person. The obsession with cleanliness takes away the goodliness factor.
Interestingly when I start cleaning up my room I enjoy it. Its quite a recreational activity, sweeping, cleaning up the cob webs from all the corners of the room, collecting empty packets and wrappers from under the table and under the bed etc.

Easiest and most convenient, which apparently looks inconvenient, way is to always keep things at their properly assigned place. A well organized space (in this case, a room) has maximum chances of remaining clean. A rack for clothes, for shoes, for books, a dustbin for garbage etc.

Making one's bed after waking up is a good habit and adds to cleanliness and goodliness.

Before arrival of guests, people sincerely tidy their room, spray perfume/deo in the air, spread clean bedsheet and maybe stuff the closets and cupboard with things, assign kids responsibility of tidying up their respective rooms etc.

P.S. - My mother cleaned up my room when she visited me this week in college... felt ashamed of myself. :(

I am "scientist".

Nicknames, or Petnames... everybody has one, right? They're short, amusing or hilarious at times, and almost everytime called out with a hint of affection and suggests a sense of familiarity.
The origin of Nicknames are the most interesting part, especially if the birth of the nickname was in a friends' circle... one of my batchmates got bald and friends started calling him ganja (bald), one of my friend's surname rhymes closely with DVD, so people call him DVD, which later changed to dude as well!
People often ask me why I was/am called "scientist" by my batchmates. Perhaps because of my style of cracking PJs or some of my unique responses during a group BC (or chat), mixing scientific facts with nuances of our daily lives or perhaps because I got highest marks in the first exam taken in IIIT for UG2K5.
Whatever the reason be, Nicknames or petnames make life interesting and evidently show the level of innovation people can be capable of!
Nicknames or petnames are generally shorter than the name or has a more appealing intonation or meaning, or is amusing! For example, my batchmate and friend Manish Kumar Sharma is called MKS or Mux! My batchmate and friend Mohit was called Muggles (borrowed from Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling) which was later changed to Mugglu by others, and it really suits him, such a cute name! :D

Bowing and Touching Feet

Bowing and touching feet of elders and teachers has been an integral part of Hindu culture. I believe that bowing and touching feet is the greatest gesture of respect one can show. Sadly, I don't feel like bowing and touching feet.
My parents, especially my father often make it a point that I touch feet of elders in our family. And its only for guys to do so, not for daughters, still don't know why! I forget to touch feet because I don't feel like, and prior to meeting the elders, my parents remind me that I have to touch their feet. :D
I have never touched feet of my parents, I don't know why, sometimes I feel guilty about it, other times I feel my parents understand me and I feel grateful about it. I don't have any problem with touching feet but it doesn't come naturally to me.
In a social gathering, I have to remind myself to touch feet of elders of the age of my grandparents, and shake hands with others, else I forget what to do! I become a dud in a social gathering, especially among strangers, and I hate that.
I somehow tend to respect those who touch feet of elders, because its the greatest gesture of respect one can show.
Bowing had been there in other cultures, but bowing and touching feet is a part of Hindu culture and its one of many things I love about Hindu culture!

P.S. - It is said in Hindu Culture that if someone touches your feet, you are obliged to bless that person! So beware, don't let anyone whom you don't wish to bless, touch your feet. :D Something of this sort happened in Mahabharata, but I can't seem to recall what!

My First Mobile Phone

is no more with me. I had to give it to my mother because she wanted a sturdy model, rather than an expensive and frilly one. Owing to my long time laziness, I didn't buy another mobile phone and now I am mobile phone less.
After my mother left, I missed my phone terribly. I missed the vibration it emanated while it rang, followed by the ring-tone which was self-designed. I missed rotating it between my thumb and middle finger, I missed calling anyone anytime of the day. It was always there with me and for me. It was quite efficient, even at low battery power, or in switched off state, it rung its alarm so that I wake up. It was my first mobile... Nokia 1100... efficient and sturdy.
But, now without a mobile phone, I do like it for some other reasons! I am not disturbed by the useless automatic calls with synthetic voice on the other side, I don't get useless SMSs, I don't get call from anywhere! :D It is I who can call others, so I am in control as to whom I would talk to!
Now I do have to buy a new mobile phone... my SIM card is getting bored! Any suggestions?!
Oh yes, I would like to have a camera (atleast 2 Megapixel), sturdy (i.e., water resistant and could withstand shock like hitting the concrete floor from bed or chair and surviving), FM and MP3 player not really compulsary, budget Rs. 5000/-

My Favorite Songs

"How to save a life" - The Fray
"What hurts the most" - Rascal Flatts
"The Man Who Sold The World" - Nirvana
"Brand New Day" - Ryan Star
"This Time (Acoustic)" - DJ Antonio
"Believe" - Bravery
"Eye of the Tiger" - Survivor
"Bubbly" - Colbie Caillat.
"Friend or Foe" - t.A.T.u
"Ever Dream" - Nightwish
"Still got the blues" - Gary Moore
"Out in the fields" - Gary Moore and Phil Lynott
"Broken Arrow" - Pixie Lott
"The Sound of Silence" - Simon and Garfunkel
"In the Shadows" - The Rasmus
"The Final Countdown" - Europe
"Enjoy the Silence" - Depeche Mode
"Butterfly Kisses" - Bob Carlisle and Randy Thomas
"Join me in death" - HIM
"Halleluja" - Rammstein
"Just give me a reason" - Pink.
"Sleepthief" - Eurydice feat. Jody Quine
"Need you now" - Lady Antebellum
"Till summer comes around" - Keith Urban
"The Way I Are" - Timbaland ft. Keri Hilson and D.O.E.
"Overkill" - Colin Hay
"Cheri Cheri lady" - Modern Talking
"Don't dream It's over" - Sixpence None The Richer
"Dracula From Houston" - Butthole Surfers
"Paparazzi" - Lady Gaga
"Fireflies" - Owl City
"Get busy" - Sean Paul
"Frozen" - Madonna
"Do you remember" - Jay Sean
"When I grow up" - Pussy Cat Dolls
"Stayin' Alive" - Bee Gees
"It's not my time" - 3 doors down
"Moon River" - Johnny Mercer (lyrics) and Henry Mancini (music)
"Dare you to move" - Switchfoot
"Fernando" - ABBA
"Real world" - The All American Rejects
"A walk in the rain" - Yanni
"Making love out nothing at all" - Air Supply
"Rumors" - Lindsay Lohan
"Fly" - Hilary Duff
"Flowers on the grave" - September
"Tattoo" - Jordin Sparks
"complicated" - Avril
"wish you were here" - Pink Floyd
"We didn't start the fire" - Billy Joel
"Hotel California" - Eagles
"Animal Instincts" - Cranberries
"Hanging by the moment" - Lifehouse
"Shine" - Collective Soul
"Ulysses" - Franz Ferdinand
"Beautiful" - Akon
"I gotta feeling" - Black Eyed Peas
"Brighter Than Sunshine" - Aqualung
"These Two Hands" - Hana Pestle
"Unbreak my heart" - Tony Braxton
"7 days" - Craig David
"Anybody seen my baby?" - The Rolling Stones
"Bodies" - Robbie Williams
"Drops of Jupiter" - Train
"Alive" - Pearl Jam.
"Losing my religion" - R.E.M.
"Love Hurts" - Incubus.
"When I dream at night" - Marc Anthony.
"Breathless" - The Corrs.
"Colorblind" - Darius.
"How you remind me" - Nickelback.
"Helpless when she smiles" - Backstreet Boys.
"Apologize" - One Republic.
"Walk On" - U2.
"Smack That" - Akon, with Eminem.
"Turn the page" - Metallica.
"Blood Brothers" - Iron Maiden.
"Its my life" - Bon Jovi.
"The Reason" - Hoobastank.
"Numb" - Linkin Park.
"Diary of Jane" - Breaking Benjamin.
"Carnival of Rust" - Poets of the Fall.
"These Two Hands" - Hana Pestle.
"Layla" - Derek and the Dominos (Eric Clapton).
"Right Round" - Flo Rida.

"Kal Ho Naa Ho" - Kal Ho Naa Ho.
"Aashayein" - Iqbal.
"Lakshya ko har haal mein paana hai" - Lakshya
"Aazaadiyan Pairon Ki Bediyan"- Amit Trivedi et al.

The list would be updated now and then!

Bathing

Bathing is one of the most vital human ritual and must be done regularly, or on regular basis. Cleansing one's body is very important. Apart from possibility of skin diseases and stinking after a few days, one starts feeling not so good and bathing at once refreshes one's body and mind.
Bathing in summers is fun, but bathing in winters can be a punishment for some (that includes me). Water has inherent quality of a coolant and even warm water can provide relief from cold for only some time.
Bathing should not be a compulsion as much as a fun activity. Many people sing fondly while bathing, and one might even get some useful ideas while bathing (personal experience). Also, since a person is alone while bathing, it could be added to the quality time spent with oneself. :D
Bathing under shower is best, as it requires minimum effort. Bathing under tube well in open is supposed to be exciting, haven't had the pleasure to do so.
Many people start their day with bathing, while some others don't bathe for days (including me). Whatever be the behavior towards bathing, an irregular bather also enjoys bathing.
Bathing is not a compulsory activity and life without bathing isn't much different. But like all the other good habits, bathing helps in maintaining healthy body and mind!

P.S. - Swimming doesn't count as bathing
P.S. - Dipping in holy waters polluted over the years might have reverse bathing effect. :D

Curiosity

Curiosity takes the better of everyone of us at some point of time in life. It took the better of Eve when she ate the apple.
Sometimes, and almost all of us must have observed this, while sitting in an organized group for a purpose, be it for listening to someone talk or sing or play, or maybe at mess during a meal, a voice/noise is heard from a certain direction and almost everyone turns towards that direction to see what happened... a few times I tried not to turn and look and felt uncomfortable, as if I was opposing my natural instincts.
Sometimes in movies I see a character, alone, walking in a dark alley or a corridor with a lantern, or a candle or a weapon maybe, looking for something/someone or following a noise/voice and I wonder, why does he/she have to be so inquisitive about it, he/she would definitely die, the ghost/killer would kill him/her too. Ghosts do use this technique of making sounds or voices to isolate a person and scare them in a lonely place and perhaps kill him/her in the process. :D
Curiosity made Newton wonder why the apple falls down, Galileo/Copernicus about the planetary motions, and Einstein about the nature of light. Curiosity propels progress, retains interest, and make life less boring, even if it means death in the process.
Getting attracted by sounds, light or other form of senses is a basic instinct found in almost all living species. Its a response to stimuli and but natural. Besides, one does discover wonderful things in the process. Moreover, being curious and asking questions is a part of growing. Nature teaches us some things before birth and other things are left for us to discover.

Don't give up

He tries very hard, tells himself not to give up. His body is aching, he is shivering, can barely sit up, but it has to be done. With shaky movements he walks to the loo, and back, feeling dizzy, quickly lies on bed, a blanket on himself. He feels thirsty, looks at his empty bottle,
"Not again!"

Non-sink spitters

Ewww... I hate them, no I loathe them, whichever is more intense, actually both !!
Imagine walking on the street, a moderately crowded one and suddenly you see a spurt of red spit out of the mouth of a person about to walk past you, and a red blotch on the street where you might have kept your next step.
I have, and I am really delighted and relieved to say this, never been a casualty under these circumstances. But I fear that someday, I or the spitter might decide to increase pace of walking, then... anyways, the spitters on a locomotive, mostly on a bike scare me more because their spit might fly in an undecided direction...
Use a sink, or toilet. Spitting in a dustbin is also disgusting.
I understand there's a need to spit, once in a while but as far as I can remember, the spitters I have seen casually spit on road while walking, as if spitting was like any other activity for them. No wonder Indian roads remain defaced.
At least think of those poor who sleep beside the road at night, think of the workers who clean the road and the pavements, think of that disgusting feeling you create in every onlooker's mind.
God is watching you non-sink spitters... and I'm sure He also doesn't like this behavior. :D

P.S. - Paan is the main reason for people to spit... have sweet paan, why to have tobacco paan and spit later! Get high on other drugs or smoke it instead! :P

Jai Mata Di

Few shops on the way to Vaishno Mata Shrine catch fire due to bursting of gas cylinder. People start chanting, "Jai Mata Di", "Jai Mata Di". In a few minutes, it downpours. The shops on fire burn down by that time but neighboring shops are saved.

Black Magic

I felt an eye-lash fall, I picked it from under my eyes, put it on my fist, made a wish, blew it away.
Few minutes later, in lab I found another eye-lash on my desk, wondered if it was a fresh eye-lash or somebody's rejected wish!

No, thanks

"Would you have some Garlic Breadsticks?" Arjun asks Abhishek. Abhishek sees Akshay standing beside Arjun, smiling sheepishly.
"No thanks, I'm good. Can't eat anymore tonight."
"Alright, truth is, I'm full too. Anyways, good night." Arjun says and leaves.
Abhishek closes the door, sits on his desk, tears open a pack of chips and munches them.

Pencil and Pen

When in 5th class I got my first pen to write, I was quite excited.
Looking at elders writing with pen made me wonder as to why kids have to write with pencil. A pencil felt kind of inferior in front of and in comparison to a pen. When asked, my mother replied as if she had an answer already prepared, "Anything written with a pencil can be rubbed off with an eraser", and she wrote something, then rubbed it with an eraser, "but something written with a pen can't be. You're learning to write and your handwriting is neither neat, nor stable.
My first pen was a fountain pen. Filling ink in a fountain ink pen was fun, I like(d) Chinese fountain pens. The older I grew, the less I felt the need to write with a pencil, as it had been replaced with a pen. All my daily writing work was now done in pen.
I wondered why did I had to write with a fountain ink pen and not ball-point pen, to which my mother replied, "to get a better grip on your handwriting." Later I tested ball point pen and realized that she was telling the truth. I felt like I could write faster with it but couldn't get a good grip.
At present I use Cello Technotip and it works best for me. I also tried Parker ballpoint and ink pens but didn't really like them much.
After writing for ballpoint pens for some years, writing once in a while with a fountain ink pen feels good, takes me back to those days in 5th class.
Pencil didn't leave my life completely. I used it to make drawings in subjects like biology, and underline in textbooks. I started appreciating pencil since my 9th class because I had lost the luxury of erasing the contents of my writing. Ink erasers are available, yes, and I have used the 'nondust' one, but they work best on ink pen writing and I use ballpoint pens. Besides they don't erase as neatly as a pencil mark can be erased.
Now you may argue in defense of pen that it can write on skin and pencil can't, and I might argue in defense of pencil that one can write keeping pencil upside down, but that can't happen while using a pen!
Well, in conclusion, I use both the pen and the pencil and their combination provides me with a fine range of services.

The unaware

Two guys were sifting through a collection of shorts, looking at the color, feeling the material. One of them said, this one is good for me.
The other guy looks at it, feels the material, finds it stretchable, and thinks, something ain't right, looks around, only to have his gaze land on a board:
"Ladies section"

Suicide

Suicide is a sin, so is the popular belief. We hold in contempt the idea of ending one's own life and look down upon the suicide attempters.

Talking to my friend tonight made me realize the depth of the shallowness of our beliefs. We assume that God doesn't allow one to end one's life, but how do we know for sure that it's not God himself who suggests the idea of a suicide. What if God himself induces this idea in a person's mind that he/she has to end his/her life, instead of God designing a plan of death for that person!

Its nothing wrong to end one's life if no hope is left in life. Of course there would be many who would say, where there's life there's hope, and some might only feel, whatever, or who cares! Only few who really care to put oneself in that person's position and understand that the decision to kill oneself is often not an extreme one but the only option left. It is not easy to build one's life all over again, so why not just end it instead of the slumber existence!

The only problem I have with the suicide attempters is that it is often the case that they're running away from one's responsibilities. Shouldering responsibility is never easy but if you're the only one who can do it or is supposed to do it, then you must do it. Suicide should not even be considered in such a case. Hence, for me suicide is not cowardice, running away from one's responsibilities is.

Often in computer science before deleting a node, the presence of in-links are checked and if none present, only the the node is allowed to be deleted. Same is the case with database systems where a value can be deleted only if it doesn't violate any constraints! Hence in one's life, if there's neither ambitions/dreams nor responsibilities, one can safely end one's life rather than living for no reason at all. Of course if you live and look for a reason, there are plenty of reasons to life.

So, instead of kissing death, hug life deeply and hold onto it if there's a reason to, else you may let go.

P.S. - Even Bhishma Pitamaha (in Mahabharata) committed suicide, although many won't agree on it.

I came, I saw, ...

I came, I saw, I squinted... darn, I had forgotten my specs.

I came, I saw, I screwed up. (by my dear friend Asrar)

I came, I saw and I forgot why I was there in the first place.

I came, I saw and it was beautiful.

I came, I saw and it wasn't what I was looking for.

I came, I saw and I was hypnotized.

I came, I saw, I slept.

I came, I saw, I left, I came back, I saw, it was still there.

There is always

There is always someone who is your first love.
There is always someone whose footsteps you follow.
There is always someone whose life you impact deeply.
There is always someone who is your first, who is your last.

There is always an enemy, there is always a friend.

There is always some place you call home.

There is always a dream in a young mind.
There is always something that keeps you interested.

There is always an addiction, good or bad.

There is always some hope in despair.
There is always some love in war.

And even after life ends, there is always a last good bye,
but only for some.

A Point

"9.5/100", he looked at his answer sheet. I failed, he thought, but how can that be.

"How much buddy?"
"9.5/100, I failed."
Curious, his friend takes a look at his answer sheet.
"Its 95/100, liar liar, ass on fire!"

He looks at his answer sheet again. The little point had disappeared.

Nature's Call

He tried to relax, get back to the dream while lying on bed but couldn't. He felt the pinch, and the more he ignored it, the more intense it grew. He turned sides but the sensation aggravated.
When he could take no more, he got up and went to pee.

Scare of Swine Flu

Today I started respecting life and dreading the thought of dying. I can now understand the fear people in Pune and in other cities live in. I was scared when I realized I might have swine flu.
It all started with a shiver. I felt it at 2 am I think. Maybe it was the sudden drop in temperature due to slight change of weather, but the thought that a shiver might be a symptom brought scary thoughts in my mind, getting admitted in a hospital, friend and family visiting me while I lay on the hospital (death, I felt so) bed. I even starting writing my will, i.e., to whom should I give passwords of which account on the internet. I realized I had to do a lot in life, my dreams crumbling to dust when I realized I would die soon. I met few of my friends whom I thought might be interested in the ideas I had in mind and the ones I have documented.
Another thought that crossed my mind was that I won't be allowed to eat in mess and I'd have to survive on biscuits and other packed food products... I would be kept in isolation during last days of my life...
I was so scared I didn't leave the bed to go for breakfast, lest I may shiver if I let go of the bedsheet I had wrapped around myself. Finally at 9:45 am I got up and did some exercise, felt good but weak. Lately I've been feeling sore in my throat.
The thought still lingers in my mind... do I have Swine Flu?
Time is too short and life too uncertain... the thought of a possibility of death scared me and still scares me. And with every news about deaths, be it of one person, concerns me deeply, for I have felt what it feels at the dawn of death.
I talked to my family and friends in Pune yesterday. Did the disease transmit through phone lines? Can it?
Would chatting on gtalk transmit the disease?

P.S. - Watching myself on deathbed suffering from Swine flu, I wondered which is more dreadful... being a victim of a terrorist attack or a deadly disease? I would go for the former one.

Birthday

My friend on her birthday last month got, what she calls, the best surprise party ever. She said she felt like a princess, and that her birthday means a lot to her. I'm sure one's birthday means a lot to everyone, because it does remind us of the day we came into existence. One's birthday also does mean a lot to one's family, friends, and maybe to some acquaintances, colleagues etc. Everyone related to the birthday person gather together to celebrate the day when the birthday person came into existence.
Now, a person, as skeptical as me would wonder, doesn't every next birthday makes a person a year older. Isn't it moving closer to death, having one year less to live?!
Birthday is all about optimism. From the age of 1, the older one gets, the broader one's life's horizons become. With every passing year, a person increments in his/her mind his/her age, he/she becomes more intelligent, mature, stronger, faster until the last days of youth, but becomes wiser with his/her every next birthday. Infancy, childhood, pre-teen, teenage, adulthood... as if with every next birthday, a person enters a new life, armed with previous experience and thrill to explore life ahead.

But certainly, birthday is the only individual festival that many celebrate. We celebrate birthdays of Mahatma Gandhi and few other famous historic figures, some mythological figures like Jesus Christ, Mohammad Prophet, Shri Krishna etc. and birthday of one's nation as well, called Independence day. Birthdays themselves give us so many holidays!

In conclusion, its birthday not bir-day, as sung by many while singing the famous birthday song. So, take a break, enjoy and have a ball on your birthday... and others... psst, don't forget to throw a great surprise party, filled with love and companionship.

P.S. - While blowing candles, why is one not supposed to speak his/her wish loud?
Because if one says it loud, others would know. :) It is supposed to be a secret.
P.S. - If I could somehow skip my birthday, i.e., jump over to the next day (a time travel thing), then would I not grow a year older, because its only on birthday that a person grows a year older, isn't it? :D Oops... forgot, it doesn't happen really... :( (people born on 29th Feb!)

Robbed in Mafia Wars

He robbed me five times. My casino, my hotels. I robbed him five times, failed everytime. I tried his casino first, then hotel, then house. I gave up. Later, I attacked him. I won!

Post Rakhi

He checked for his courier on the day of Rakhi.
None.
Two days later he checks his courier again and finds his name among others in the list for the couriers received on the day of Rakhi.
Funny, he didn't see his name there the last time.

The haunting

At night he is scared to go and pee after reading a horror story.
He turns up volume of music, keeps the door open, goes to pee, walks back, shuts the door behind him.
Feels like going again, too scared this time.
Finally he can't hold it anymore, opens the door and walks into dawn.

The Ant Story

"Stop harassing the ant. If it dies you'll fail in tomorrow's exam." Bhagirath warns Amit.
Amit grins broadly at Bhagirath, then looks at the limping ant trying to get away, stands up and squashes it under his shoes.
Next day, Amit fails in the exam.

The weekend Ice-cream

A multi-millionaire returns to his hometown, finds out his parents are no more. Once passes by the ice-cream shop where his mother treated him with savings from her meagre wage, every weekend. Under the feeling of nostalgia, he went in and had his favorite ice-cream.
Perhaps a tear trickled down his cheek.

Sweet Dream Broken

He looks into her eyes. She is most beautiful. He is in love and he feels it. He holds her hands, draws himself closer, his lips about to touch hers, when he feels a sudden pinch, strong enough to wake him up. With sleepy eyes he looks at his hand and a mosquito looks back.

Black Screen

A certain computer unaware, on someone's suggestion clicks MS-DOS mode shortcut icon on the desktop of a public computer and receives a black screen with a blinking cursor. Scared, he looks around. Unable to find that certain someone, he moves to another computer.

Mosquitoes - The sleep inhibitors

About our very dear companions from old times, mosquitoes, if there's anything that concerns me, perhaps more than being a malaria patient, is getting disturbed in my sleep.
Imagine watching a beautiful dream, and the verge of something incredible, you feel a bitter sting that pulls you away from the dream and into reality as drowsy yourself, only to discover a mosquito sucking your blood. Calling names and abusing won't help, so saving one's energy and efforts to plan and get rid of these sleep destroyers would be a better thing to do.
Mosquitoes have always been there and humans haven't been able to get rid of these vectors. Since the dawn of my life, I've noticed mosquitoes come out of their hideouts/abode during power cuts, or during late evening/night. Other times, they don't seem to exist at all. Hence, their work time coincides with our rest and sleep time. This is what makes their presence a serious problem for us.
Good Knight, All-Out etc. fail during power-cut. Tortoise, Mortein mosquito coils save the night, but their presence is more unhealthy than the former.
Mosquitoes are most vulnerable while sucking out blood or just after that when they start with a slow flight. So, be vigilant and attack, crush it. You might see your own blood flowing out from the mosquito.

P.S. - Mosquitoes are quite like vampires, only that they suck blood from anywhere, and are seldom instantly fatal.
P.S. - Would training mosquitoes to suck out human blood for blood donation camps work out?
P.S. - For each person there exists or existed one mosquito sharing the same blood. :D

66 WPM

As his fingers hit the keys, he felt my heartbeat increase.
"Typing takes much time, writing is better."
"Once you learn to type with all your fingers, writing would feel a sluggish activity."
And as he recalled that conversation with his computer teacher, he pressed "Enter", and saw "Speed: 66 WPM" flashing on his screen.

Natural Solace

To escape the cacophony and non-sensible blabbering going on in my room, I went for a stroll. The cool evening breeze provided some comfort. My eyes fell on a tree with yellow flowers and another one beside it with red flowers. I then found few dragonflies flying playfully. I felt peace within.

Its my room

I felt sense of relief as well as nostalgia when I saw my friend packing his stuff. Another of my friend asked me, "Can I move in after he leaves?"
Although he was in dire need of an abode, a flat NO was my reply.

Phone Call

He walked the corridors of his college, his leg feeling a pseudo vibration of his mobile phone in anticipation of her call. He walked through the dark alley of her neighborhood, longing to be with her. As soon as he knocked at her door, he got a call with her name flashing.

Online Chat

On gtalk, Mohit says to Abhishek, "She's definitely a guy, Atul maybe". Abhishek, who was chatting with cutiepie@gmail.com, realizes it could be true and types, "Hey I know its you Atul, stop pretending," and as he sends this message, Atul pats his back, and "_|_" flashes on the laptop screen.

The View Point

The view down below from a certain height looks so overwhelmingly magnificent that I once wondered why, and thought of three possible reasons.
First is that everything looks so small, which usually doesn't look small and isn't so small.
Second is that so many things can be seen at the same time that the large area suddenly becomes smaller.
Third is that it may make some interesting patterns, especially when seen as bird's eye view which is generally possible while sitting in an airplane.
Does seeing things which are usually bigger than us, as smaller make us unknowingly feel superior, or is it that such a view is not seen by us very often?

Zodiac Signs

Today I tried an application in facebook regarding All about Zodiac Personalities and Characteristics and I got the following results:

Dear Abhishek Sainani, below are All About Zodiac Characteristics and Personality for Zodiac Sign Gemini:

Gemini Characteristics and Profile
Gemini go everywhere together, hand-in-hand, symbolizing your dual nature. Our world comes in pairs: good and evil, male and female, in and out, yin and yang -- and you Geminis are living proof. Some might say Gemini are an entanglement of paradoxes, but the truth is that Gemini have an easy acceptance of opposites.

Element: Air
With active minds and a good command of language, the air signs are the natural born communicators. They can be light and breezy as the breath of spring, but their words can also carry the power of a gale force wind.

Third House: Communication
The Third House symbolizes all aspects of communication -- and most communication happens within our immediate environment. Therefore this is also the house of our surrounding.

Key Planet: Mercury
As the key planet of Gemini, Mercury is restless and changeable. It drives us to talk and to listen, but not necessarily to action.

Gemini Greatest Strength:
Your curiosity about a variety of interests

Gemini Possible Weakness:
Distracting yourself from what is most important

Interestingly enough, everything written in this is true for me, or is it that I'm just thinking that its true because its about my Zodiac Sign, Gemini?!
Well, certainly there's more to me and this is about all the Geminis in general. But if a group of people sharing same zodiac sign exhibit some common traits, what about inheritance and information coded in genes? A libran mother and a scorpion father give birth to a gemini son, then would he have qualities of a libran, a scorpion because of inheritance and a gemini due to his birthdate?!
Genetics has been well studied, so no dispute on that but seriously, does the date of one's birth really affect one's personality? Or is it also the mating date of the parents that also counts?
I see astrology and related studies as science which can be worked out to give accurate results, the only problem currently being that, I think, we don't take into consideration all the parameters. Once the time comes when we learn about all the required parameters, then only birth date and birth place would be enough to predict someone's future... something that always fascinates me...

Being Online

I might have used internet only few times before joining IIIT-H. Now I use internet for almost as much time as I am awake! Quite addictive it is. Even if internet doesn't serve any purpose for me at the moment, I make a purpose, by say reading some articles online or, just looking at people's updates in facebook and orkut!
My favorite passtime has become watching my gtalk list, to see who's online at present so that there's someone I could chat with !! :P
Recently I had a revelation that being online is like being in a city, lets call it onliner city, and facebook, gtalk (and now Twitter) etc. applications are the outlets like CCD or McD. Often we come across people saying, "If you come online, do tell me." Being online is like being on a common platform, a different dimension of communication. Now you can't chat with more than a person on phone, but you can do so by being online. :D
Sometimes people showed concern on my being online almost the whole day. They say, "hey don't you have anything else to do than be online whole day?", "what do you do online anyways?", "get a life! :P "
Last half month I wasn't online and was pleasantly surprised to find some messages later, saying, "where are you?", "why are you not online?" :D
Being online is rather convenient, it costs much less than phone bills and with google voice-chat, one can talk like on phone. Internet is available almost everywhere and text, images, videos can be easily shared, accessed... and blah blah blah... articles/stories/opinions can be easily published and one do gets many readers online and blah blah blah...
Finally, internet is a revolution that has not only helped me get in touch with my old lost friends, but also gives me a lot of information and a platform to post this post.
Being online Rocks !!!

The pot-belly club

In my experience, among the total no. of middle age people I have met, most of them happen to be pot-bellied. They carry that extra weight with them wherever they go, like a pregnant woman carrying a baby. :P It does take toll on one's knees to carry so much weight.
Now, some people are fat, but not pot-bellied which is because their fat is well distributed in their body.
Back at home, worried that I had grown weak during my stay in college, my parents kept me on a wholesome healthy diet. Within a week, I could touch my belly and find it protruding outwards.
Whether you're rich or command a lot of respect, a frown would definitely cross a person's face or his/her mind when he looks at you carrying a pot-belly! Pot-belly doesn't look good!
Besides, a pot-belly occupies unnecessary extra space and could be an obstruction while having sex.
Although I would be one of the laziest persons alive, the idea of carrying extra weight outweighs my laziness almost everytime! Neither am I physically fit, nor cool, so the only way I can present myself well is by not having a pot-belly.
Incidentally but as expected, many of my batchmates who joined a company as full-time employees who were in good shape now carry a pot-belly. During college days, many of them never ever did any physical exercise and had triangle meals, gained weight sometimes but never had a pot-belly, barring few exceptions.
Some of my batchmates got so much to eat during internship at a company that their tummy did swell, so did their cheeks and at first I wondered, who is this guy, looks familiar but who is he. It was only when he spoke something that I finally recognized him.
So, don't compromise on your triangle or square meals but also exercise at the same time, because I'm sure you won't want to join the pot-belly club.

Caution: By this post, all I want to say is, don't be lazy, some people can't help it because their body doesn't allow them to leave the pot-belly club because of some medical or genetic reason, but many unknowingly join it owing to laziness.

P.S. - A pot-belly enters a place before the person himself/herself has a chance to do so, a pot-belly leads.
P.S. - A gun-shot at a pot-belly may not prove fatal I guess!
P.S. - Sumo wrestlers don't have pot-bellies but they are generally fat.

Images in mind

Our thoughts run as images in mind, I think. Because whenever I try to read my thoughts, all I can see are random images. These images are those constructed by my mind based on previous images I've seen in my life till now. I listen to music, and I can feel an array of images running in my mind. While listening to rock music, I see myself either holding the guitar and strumming it hard, or singing while holding the mike... sometimes I see myself standing at the rocks at sea shore, and strumming the guitar while a wave of water rises high in the air behind me.
I love saxophone music, Kenny G especially. Listening to saxophone makes me see myself in a club, dimly lit, with a date, and ballroom dancing or simply enjoying the moment.
Rock music gives me flashes of speeding on fast bikes, martial arts kick ass fighting, teleportation, sometimes looking down from a tall building, sometimes breaking a glass glass in my hands... lots of images...
While reading a novel, I see blur images of characters, places, situations, sometimes emotional expressions as well. I feel standing among them, looking at them while conveniently invisible to them. Sometimes I look at other characters through the eyes of one particular character.
Dreams are only array of images running in fast motion. All I can remember when I wake up after sleep are only few images, using which I sometimes rebuilt the possible plot of my dream.
While watching movies, however, I don't see any images in my mind, rather I store the images I see in movies and these images later, perhaps, run in my mind while doing other things, especially listening to music.
But what if, that is what my friend says, the brain has some chemical reactions, which it does, and our mind sees them as images! :D

spectrophobia

Ghosts scare. That's their job description. And some people like to feel that scare. I am not one of them. But I did watch horror TV shows and horror movies and enjoyed them. But left alone at some place, especially at night scared the hell out of me. I didn't move from where I sat and kept on wishing that someone may come so that I feel safe. Eventually someone did come and when I saw that someone (be it my parents, or the helper) coming, for a fraction of a second this thought crossed my mind that the person walking towards me was not real but a ghost in disguise, and that this ghost uses this disguise to reach near me and scare me efficiently.
Loneliness is said to scare humans the most. Ghost also attack/scare when a person is alone. Now a days I can survive alone, but sometimes those visions of ghosts seen on TV/movies in my childhood, or imagined by listening to stories or reading stories, pop in my mind during late lonely night, especially when I walk alone to the urinal. I used to feel, and once in a while still feel that some ghostly figure follows me, ready to attack/scare or even hurt. As a grown up, I can fight that feeling, ignore it, make it feel feeble in presence of other thoughts, but as a kid it scared me a lot.
Ghostbusters was an interesting concept, but do ghosts really exist? Or are those stories about Peepal tree and eerie noises at night merely one's fear due to guilt and ignorance?
Somebody I was talking to said that being scared during day when alone makes more sense because during day one can see everything around us. What do you think?!

Music to satisfy hunger

Time for a crazy idea. Would you be able to digest it?
Tonight, I didn't call my friend (who is temporarily staying with me) for dinner in Yuktahaar, went straight from lab to have dinner, without him. When I returned to hostel, he hadn't had dinner, so I urged him to go have dinner, lest he might be late. He was drowsy while watching a movie. He then stopped the movie, went out and got a BIG packet of chips... I mean, WT_ ?!
Anyways, I took out my synthesizer and started playing it. He saw what I was doing and played Titanic theme song on his laptop. I felt like playing it on the synthesizer, so I started pushing keys in random order, hoping to recreate the Titanic music. After a few minutes, it did!
After he was done eating the BIG packet of chips, I asked him, dude what about food? Is that BIG packet of chips your food?
He responded impulsively, naturally, "no, this music is."
and BAM, I got this idea...
What if the music we hear, the movies we watch, something that do that's different from our daily life activities, something that overwhelms us, generates extreme emotions in us, can we channelize the rapid motions seen in the movie, the fast tempo, high pitch music heard in rock, metal to satisfy our hunger, to give us energy, to generate fat, nutrients... more than that, can we use emotions generated by our experiences to, in turn, satisfy our hunger. For example, anger generated can be used to fill our stomach. :D
P.S. - A parallel notion... if experience, emotions could be traded for health and energy, then perhaps a person would age at a slower rate, but would have lesser knowledge/wisdom... would you make such a trade?

Childhood Dreams

Do you still remember your childhood dreams, or have you been too occupied in your efforts to gain success in the real world?
I hardly bother about what happens in the real world, maybe that's why I still vaguely remember those days when I did want to become a lot of things, and amuse myself over it.
Randy Pausch talked about his Childhood Dreams and how he got to fulfill them, in his Last Lecture.
I think the first thing I wanted to be, was an astronaut. This might have been the direct consequence of watching TV and TV shows like I Dream of Jeannie.
Next I wanted to be a detective... Sherlock Holmes I guess influenced me!
Next was to be a scientist, not knowing how "mind blowing" subject science is.
Once I also had this urge to try voice-over for a character in an animated motion picture, especially after watching Mrs. Doubtfire in which Robin Williams's job is giving voice to a cartoon character. I actually started mimicking voices, and making faces and weird noises, but its only a pass-time now, couldn't materialize.
But, something that I always had at the back of my mind was to write stories, beautiful stories, loved by everyone, simple yet subtle and strong at theme, stories about possible and impossible things that may happen in life.
I wrote few pages for a "novel" in 6th class, found it silly when I read it in 8th class and threw it.
I extended a story in 9th class, which was an exercise at the back of the book but wasn't discussed in class, but I think I wrote it well...
Now a days I do try to write stories, but many times I fail to bring out the effect which leaves me unsatisfied and the story incomplete!
I've been trained to be an engineer, something I never thought I'd ever be, but I am. I am not sad about it, just amused and happy for some reasons.
But more than anything else, I'd like to write some beautiful stories... because beautiful things last forever!
P.S. - Recently too I had change of plans, I wanted to be a diagnosis specialist after watching House M.D., wanted to be a mentalist after watching Mentalist and later wanted to be a lawyer after watching Boston Legal.