Melodious eh???
Well, this has something to do with the events of today evening. The was cloudy since morning, and I LOVE that. Impending rain was stamped on every shadow that the clouds cast on Pune. And it did rain, in the afternoon, and I wasn't there to see it (Not like I'm supposed to, nevertheless).
As I stepped out of office at about 6PM, the weather was PERFECT. It was mildly drizzling, a balmy breeze was blowing, and the exterior of the office made for a perfect setting for all this. So as such, I was in a rare good mood :)
The bus ride back home was uneventful, me stuck to i-pod, and the bus stuck in the jam. As I was to get off the bus, I carried my airbag, clutched my cap, and jumped off the bus. At that very point, as the breeze hit my face, as the pleasantness of the place struck me numb, I had just one reaction.
My face just broke into this broad smile, and a smile of absolutely pure joy, one that I hardly break into these days. There was this girl behind a guy on a scooter on my side of the road. I think she must've seen this, and I saw her spout a wonderful smile too :) I mean, the reaction was so spontaneous!!! I would give anything to have seen my face as I got off, and maybe, it was mirrored in her smile. Its really amazing, how some natural circumstances (the weather in this instance) can spruce you out of the all-pervasive gloom in your life, and how one persons joy, can bring a smile to another, absolute stranger...
And trust me, these small incidents can lift your own spirits... :) It reminded me of these lines...
" Yeah, she caught my eye,
As we walked on by.
She could see from my face that I was,
Fucking high,
And I don't think that I'll see her again,
But we shared a moment that will last till the end."
Monday, May 28, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
RAIN!!!
The heavens have answered our prayers!!!
And they burst open today for the first time... oh how I love the rains!!! :)
And they burst open today for the first time... oh how I love the rains!!! :)
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Rise and Fall
Been a hectic week at office, which clearly shows from the reduced frequency in posting.
The thing is I am working on 2 projects simultaneously. And both are critical, time-consuming and require a lot of time and effort. The perfect recipe for a disaster, ain't it??? Anyway, I am somehow managing till now :)
And doing a good job at it. Did well to complete my set of tasks on the new project, and some more. Also had to interview some new joinees, a first for me!!! I am now a 'senior' here, you see :) And also had to solve some issues regarding my old project. And as such, feeling rather good about myself at work. The thing is, the new acquisition project coming up, is tough... Damn tough!!! With 3 of our most experienced people out of it, and two more fresh joinees to be trained, the entire onus is now on me, Nimish and Brijesh. And to top it all, I plan to leave the company. Thus, I am quite valuable to the project, and I have to do some critical tasks and transfer my knowledge and expertise to the others, before I leave.
Hey, that makes me feel good :) Good about myself. So much so, that when Brijesh was wondering whether we could successfully execute this one, I confidently said that we would, and do a good job of it! I was amazed at my own confidence! This is new, coming from me. But you see, I was feeling good about myself :)
Later today evening, I was with Brijesh and Pranav Vyas (he's my Project Lead) going over some issue that was recently unearthed. It turned out that there was a problem in the client system, which might have far reaching consequences. By the time I could read the mail, and even attempt to figure out what the hell had happened, Pranav and Brijesh were already off looking for solutions. And before I could say, "Hey, wait a minute...", they had already found it. Pranav, though not a technical person anymore, has the entire system in his head. He knows it like a clock knows time. So also Brijesh. And that's when it hit me like a thunderbolt...
Unknowingly, and yes it was unknowingly, I was getting a tad carried away. The good work done by me and the appreciation received was getting to me!!! This realisation came as a shock, cause I am really not too egoistic a person. And this really got me thinking. I hardly believed that experience is of great importance, and that a genuinely good person can do well even without it. But I just saw how wrong I was. It does count for a LOT!
This entire incident was such a great leveller; it brought me right down to Terra firma. Only when you look at people like Pranav, that one realises that there are miles to go before I can sit back and say what I told Brijesh, this time with genuine confidence... "Yeah, we'll do it. And do it well"
The thing is I am working on 2 projects simultaneously. And both are critical, time-consuming and require a lot of time and effort. The perfect recipe for a disaster, ain't it??? Anyway, I am somehow managing till now :)
And doing a good job at it. Did well to complete my set of tasks on the new project, and some more. Also had to interview some new joinees, a first for me!!! I am now a 'senior' here, you see :) And also had to solve some issues regarding my old project. And as such, feeling rather good about myself at work. The thing is, the new acquisition project coming up, is tough... Damn tough!!! With 3 of our most experienced people out of it, and two more fresh joinees to be trained, the entire onus is now on me, Nimish and Brijesh. And to top it all, I plan to leave the company. Thus, I am quite valuable to the project, and I have to do some critical tasks and transfer my knowledge and expertise to the others, before I leave.
Hey, that makes me feel good :) Good about myself. So much so, that when Brijesh was wondering whether we could successfully execute this one, I confidently said that we would, and do a good job of it! I was amazed at my own confidence! This is new, coming from me. But you see, I was feeling good about myself :)
Later today evening, I was with Brijesh and Pranav Vyas (he's my Project Lead) going over some issue that was recently unearthed. It turned out that there was a problem in the client system, which might have far reaching consequences. By the time I could read the mail, and even attempt to figure out what the hell had happened, Pranav and Brijesh were already off looking for solutions. And before I could say, "Hey, wait a minute...", they had already found it. Pranav, though not a technical person anymore, has the entire system in his head. He knows it like a clock knows time. So also Brijesh. And that's when it hit me like a thunderbolt...
Unknowingly, and yes it was unknowingly, I was getting a tad carried away. The good work done by me and the appreciation received was getting to me!!! This realisation came as a shock, cause I am really not too egoistic a person. And this really got me thinking. I hardly believed that experience is of great importance, and that a genuinely good person can do well even without it. But I just saw how wrong I was. It does count for a LOT!
This entire incident was such a great leveller; it brought me right down to Terra firma. Only when you look at people like Pranav, that one realises that there are miles to go before I can sit back and say what I told Brijesh, this time with genuine confidence... "Yeah, we'll do it. And do it well"
Friday, May 18, 2007
I have something for the sunset... maybe... I do!
Folks say I have something for the sunset... at least Nimish and Priya think so. And that's because of the innumerable sunset snaps I have on my various digital media (the two of them think I'm a bit unhinged when it comes to capturing the sunset on my camera).
But what neither knows is how correct they are. I do enjoy the sunset, maybe more than the sunrise, especially if I am on a beach or on a mountain/hill. Like the one below...
Well, this was taken today evening while on my way to tekdi. It was interesting to have the two electric power cables superimpose over the setting sun, a contrast of two vital sources of energy. One keeps Pune ticking, and the other keeps this very earth ticking!
Btw, I found that a friend was actually painting a sunset herself!!! I guess she likes sunsets too (I have to ask her that)... So, I'm not the only crazy one... :)
But what neither knows is how correct they are. I do enjoy the sunset, maybe more than the sunrise, especially if I am on a beach or on a mountain/hill. Like the one below...
Well, this was taken today evening while on my way to tekdi. It was interesting to have the two electric power cables superimpose over the setting sun, a contrast of two vital sources of energy. One keeps Pune ticking, and the other keeps this very earth ticking!Btw, I found that a friend was actually painting a sunset herself!!! I guess she likes sunsets too (I have to ask her that)... So, I'm not the only crazy one... :)
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Liberating, is'nt it?
I've never felt all too liberated in my life... There is always something tying you down, something holding me back. Too many strings attached, you see.
So, today I was out on MG Road. And today being a Sunday, the road is converted into what they like to call a 'Walking Plaza', by blocking all vehicular traffic. So thats a road where you can only walk, and walk all you want.
Its tiring, I agree. But you see, I arribed there after a back wrenching drive on the Scooty over Pune's infamous roads, and had walked almost 2km on naroow and traffic infested bylanes before reaching here. So, naturaly, this was like heaven.
And, in the middle of my walk in the middle of the road, I had this brainwave, just like that! It feels awesomely liberating, to walk in the middle, BANG in the middle, right on the dividing white line, of a usually crowded main street, with not a care in the world, about traffic or anything else.
See, the gaity and colourfulness of the place is infectious, it has this continental charm to it. You jus get mobbed by it. Its a great feeling, even if it is for a moment only...
So, today I was out on MG Road. And today being a Sunday, the road is converted into what they like to call a 'Walking Plaza', by blocking all vehicular traffic. So thats a road where you can only walk, and walk all you want.
Its tiring, I agree. But you see, I arribed there after a back wrenching drive on the Scooty over Pune's infamous roads, and had walked almost 2km on naroow and traffic infested bylanes before reaching here. So, naturaly, this was like heaven.
And, in the middle of my walk in the middle of the road, I had this brainwave, just like that! It feels awesomely liberating, to walk in the middle, BANG in the middle, right on the dividing white line, of a usually crowded main street, with not a care in the world, about traffic or anything else.
See, the gaity and colourfulness of the place is infectious, it has this continental charm to it. You jus get mobbed by it. Its a great feeling, even if it is for a moment only...
Restaurant Review 2
Place: Marz-o-rin
Cuisine: Mostly baked products, puffs, burgers, pastries etc.
Ambience: 6/10 (cause the seating is sparse, and not the most comfrtable)
If your a Punekar, u'v probably heard of it, even beem there (so there is no real point of this review). Nevertheless, looks small, but is deceptively bigger, serves some excellent pastries, burgers and sandwich fare and has the most desirable location.
Situated right on M.G. Road, it is bang in the middle of the 'it' place of Pune. Sporting the biggest and trendiest malls and stores in Pune, the MG Rd- Camp area is for the swish set. Maarz-o-rin is this bawa-esque joint, spanning the ground and 1st floor of a 1 storey building. The bakery is at the back.
Recommend you go there a bit late on Sundays, so you can revel in the 'Walking Plaza' below and window shop around a lil' bit. And then when you're tired, reach in here and hog on some pastries. The milkshakes are also popular, besides the usual burgers, pizza, sandwiches and cakes. Make it a point to sit in the balcony section. It is extremely cozy, seating for 2 an 4 people. It gives you a view onto MG Road underneath. And if its a sunday, then it's only pedestrians below. Makes a great view to look at the world in all its colour and gaeity pass underneat, while you sit back and watch with someone special, (and a delicious pastry) :)
Cuisine: Mostly baked products, puffs, burgers, pastries etc.
Ambience: 6/10 (cause the seating is sparse, and not the most comfrtable)
If your a Punekar, u'v probably heard of it, even beem there (so there is no real point of this review). Nevertheless, looks small, but is deceptively bigger, serves some excellent pastries, burgers and sandwich fare and has the most desirable location.
Situated right on M.G. Road, it is bang in the middle of the 'it' place of Pune. Sporting the biggest and trendiest malls and stores in Pune, the MG Rd- Camp area is for the swish set. Maarz-o-rin is this bawa-esque joint, spanning the ground and 1st floor of a 1 storey building. The bakery is at the back.
Recommend you go there a bit late on Sundays, so you can revel in the 'Walking Plaza' below and window shop around a lil' bit. And then when you're tired, reach in here and hog on some pastries. The milkshakes are also popular, besides the usual burgers, pizza, sandwiches and cakes. Make it a point to sit in the balcony section. It is extremely cozy, seating for 2 an 4 people. It gives you a view onto MG Road underneath. And if its a sunday, then it's only pedestrians below. Makes a great view to look at the world in all its colour and gaeity pass underneat, while you sit back and watch with someone special, (and a delicious pastry) :)
Friday, May 11, 2007
It Happens only in India... part 1
I am starting this section titled - "It happens only in India". I intend to chronicle day-to-day, mundane events, that (though mundane) are rather remarkable. And oh so remarkable, becuse they cudn't happen in good 'ol Queen's England, or in Yankee land. They happen, only because, "eee toh hamaar bharat des hai".
At the outset, I'll make some things clear. This is no, ABSOLUTELY NO, reflection on India's greatness or its heritage. I am NOT anti-national. On the contrary my friends would attest that I am a die-hard patriot. So please, see this in the correct light. Remember, it is not just fun, it is fun from which we can hopefully derive some lessons, for our betterment of course.
So, here goes...
It Happens only in India... part 1
1. Major traffic snarls on a rather lesser known road, at 11.30 PM!!!
Beat this, today I was stuck for atleast 15-20 mins behind 4 large red buses, and numerous cars and bikes at the Golibar Maidan junction. And this traffic snarl occurred at 11.30 in the night!!! Now that's a time one would expect to record one's top speed. But not here.
At the outset, I'll make some things clear. This is no, ABSOLUTELY NO, reflection on India's greatness or its heritage. I am NOT anti-national. On the contrary my friends would attest that I am a die-hard patriot. So please, see this in the correct light. Remember, it is not just fun, it is fun from which we can hopefully derive some lessons, for our betterment of course.
So, here goes...
It Happens only in India... part 1
1. Major traffic snarls on a rather lesser known road, at 11.30 PM!!!
Beat this, today I was stuck for atleast 15-20 mins behind 4 large red buses, and numerous cars and bikes at the Golibar Maidan junction. And this traffic snarl occurred at 11.30 in the night!!! Now that's a time one would expect to record one's top speed. But not here.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Two weeks back was a 'long' weekend. That means anything more than 2 days at home. And after meeting truckloads of people for the first 3 days, I found myself quite lonely on the 4th. Didn't come as a surprize though, cause Anvay was busy the whole day and I knew Mihir had his vivas the next day.
So I set out all alone, for a walk on bandstand. Dad finds it 'out of the ordinary' and mom gets 'annoyed' when I say I'm going for a walk alone. True, i've rarely done that before. But this is one thing that I have come to do, and even enjoy, off late. It's not a circus tight-rope act OK. I just put on something, jack the i-pod into my ears, and off I go, preferably to Bandstand or the Sea-link area. In fact, any place would do, sole criteria being that I am left to myself.
So there I was, evening, 5.30 PM, walking on bandstand. Bandstand, as folklore goes, is a 'happening' place. Especially in the evenings. There is the Taj Land's End, Cafe Sea Side, the Bandra Fort, the sea facing promenade, bungalows and highrises (the fact that Mumbais rich and famous live in them, only adds to the aura). Moreover, it traditionaly was the only place for Bandra's couple's to enjoy an evening outdoors.
And most of all, is the sea. The Arabian Sea. Stretches 'as far as the eye can see'. The sun setting behind the ocean casts a multitude of hues across the sky. This is a treat for an amateur photographer like me :) But I must confess, that those hues also make me think, think deep, real deep, philosophical even. And I was sitting in the amphitheatre, with 20 odd people of various ages and sizes around me, yet all alone. Thats when I though all this, and put it down in an SMS to Akshay... this is the SMS.
"Hey man, m at bandstand right now. Was walking here alone listening to music. It really is quite pretty in the evening. Took a few nice pics. Looking around, was remembering the old days... In front of me is the sea and the setting sun, And behind me are the tall posh high-rises. One is like the past, all memories and happy and sad moments setting like the sun. And the other is the future one wishes for... And here I am, sitting between these two sides, unable to decide where i belong..."
So I set out all alone, for a walk on bandstand. Dad finds it 'out of the ordinary' and mom gets 'annoyed' when I say I'm going for a walk alone. True, i've rarely done that before. But this is one thing that I have come to do, and even enjoy, off late. It's not a circus tight-rope act OK. I just put on something, jack the i-pod into my ears, and off I go, preferably to Bandstand or the Sea-link area. In fact, any place would do, sole criteria being that I am left to myself.
So there I was, evening, 5.30 PM, walking on bandstand. Bandstand, as folklore goes, is a 'happening' place. Especially in the evenings. There is the Taj Land's End, Cafe Sea Side, the Bandra Fort, the sea facing promenade, bungalows and highrises (the fact that Mumbais rich and famous live in them, only adds to the aura). Moreover, it traditionaly was the only place for Bandra's couple's to enjoy an evening outdoors.
And most of all, is the sea. The Arabian Sea. Stretches 'as far as the eye can see'. The sun setting behind the ocean casts a multitude of hues across the sky. This is a treat for an amateur photographer like me :) But I must confess, that those hues also make me think, think deep, real deep, philosophical even. And I was sitting in the amphitheatre, with 20 odd people of various ages and sizes around me, yet all alone. Thats when I though all this, and put it down in an SMS to Akshay... this is the SMS.
"Hey man, m at bandstand right now. Was walking here alone listening to music. It really is quite pretty in the evening. Took a few nice pics. Looking around, was remembering the old days... In front of me is the sea and the setting sun, And behind me are the tall posh high-rises. One is like the past, all memories and happy and sad moments setting like the sun. And the other is the future one wishes for... And here I am, sitting between these two sides, unable to decide where i belong..."
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