Day 48 - Why this Kolaveri

The title of this blog was decided after such long thought. Long thought which was so long that it was longer than the longest thought I ever had. The intent was to try to come up with something really good since I am blogging after long. So long that it is longer than the longest gap between any two posts in my blog. Looking at it deeply, so deep that it is deeper than the deepest I have ever looked, I understand one thing - this long gap has made a big difference in my life. Big difference that it is bigger than the biggest difference ever in my life. I can probably say that I have changed a lot. So big a change that it is bigger………. I mean…. I hope you would understand what I am trying to convey…… I mean…. I have become so crazier that I am now crazier than the most craziest I ever was. And that is true – literally for those who know me personally :)

1273 days since I blogged. So what do I blog? Decided to blog the most trending thing with the minor hope that some of you would come back and visit my blog.

So, why this “kolaveri”? As in, why is the term kolaveri in this blog? For those of who don’t understand Tamil, kolaveri means “Which f*****g planet are you in?”. For those who don’t understand Tamil and still reading inspite of the insult, thinking that I am going to explain kolaveri - “Which f*****g planet are you in? && Go and f*****g google” If you are going to leave this blog now thinking that I am actually insulting you, for heaven’s sake please understand one thing - you are actually insulting youtube, facebook, Dhanush, IIM Bangalore and the Gujaratis – every one of them. If still it does not mean anything to you, just wait for the Oxford list of words added for the next year. And also understand that the ****’s above are dedicated to Kapil Sibal. Seriously sir - you can do it yourself.

Back to the topic. Here is the reason why this blog is named kolaveri. Inspired from the Chennai City traffic police’s advertisement on driving safe captioned Why this kolaveri?, here goes a list of things that create a kolaveri in me in increasing order of kolaveri. This list does not contain sappa matters like girlfriend suspecting you, you suspecting girlfriend, both of these, girlfriend breaking up, friend picking up girlfriend, both of these, your reportees talking behind your back, you boss talking in front of you, both of these, villain raping the heroine, hero doing the same in the next song, both of these and all similar sappa both of theses. Btw, I have not checked if sappa is googleable and an adjoint question that comes to my mind is how ponnambalam can keep on failing in raping every time – absolutely no strategy and no effort put in proper L&D. Ok - all rambling done. Now to the main matter. In increasing order of kolaveri generation (generation not as in 3G and not as in Baby boomer and not as in Star Trek)…

Sorry - this time seriously I am done with the rambling . To the main matter. In increasing order of kolaveri generation (10 being the highest) the events are -

1. When an IT guy who can spend 500 bucks for a dinner, haggles for 10 rupees with a good auto driver. He might not actually spend it on drinks sir. Sometimes believe. Start giving rom tomorrow. You won’t feel bad at all.


2. When the retail shop guy keeps walking behind you instead of installing a camera.


3. Mullaiperiyar dam supporters on facebook. For all states of the matter.


4. When you see people who fake rent receipts but have the guts to talk about the Tiharians. Shut up - Dot


5. When someone tells you that ‘Seventh Sense’ is better than ‘Velayudham’. Really makes you think about their sixth.


6. Sachin getting out in the nineties (both as an year and as a score - when he was our only hope then and when we are still are waiting for the 100th now)


7. When somebody shares Rajnikanth jokes. Like youtube Hitler says - you guys have no creativity and you are simply copy cats. For reference, check Chuck Norris facts. This is excluding the guy who made Chitti carry G.One. He would have been the "God of Creativity" if Rajnikanth did not exist.


8. Whenever Arnab Goswami talks. Whenever. Whatever. However. I am not sure about wherever though – will have to check.


9. When the church makes you think that the God would cleanse your sins with four Hail Mary’s and two Our father in Heaven’s. When you think people can believe that. The whole concept of Confession.


10. When the roads are filled with idiots. Signals. Horns. Horns before signals. U turns. One ways. Buses. Autos. Left turns from right. Right turns from left. A whole lot of things that happen on roads.

Please add. There are still more, lot more. I wish I can give each one of these guys 14 million hits.

Day 47 - Run, rabbit run!!!

In history you can see that some poets were not appreciated in their present but in the future. You have created history!!! Future history would tell that you were neither appreciated in your present nor in your future but only if there were a past!!!

Leo da Mirci after reading Run, rabbit run!!! - my first attempt in English poetry.

Run, rabbit run!!!
The world is now asleep - this is the time to run!!
Run, rabbit run!!!

Simple is complex; Eyes are always shut
Movie in the clouds; Stars are in the sky
Let the end be dead; On the muddy bed
You Run, rabbit run!!!

Four is only four - Five is always better
Time is in the soul - Experiences bitter
Listen to the heart - no better art
And you Run, rabbit run!!!

Pie is what you want; not an end to it
Chuckle in the dark; leave behind a mark
Funny is thy name; Life is all a game
You Run, rabbit run.

Thanks Satin Gates for inspiring me with the title!!

Day 46 - The Ashes!!!

“Be clever about what you tell others. You interpretation is always different from theirs. It is important to make sure that your words follow their dictionary” - Leo da Mirci in his famous “Goback Address” to King Alexander in 326 BC (when Alexander started to Greece after giving back Porus his kingdom).

Let us come to the story of the Ashes.

If I don’t want to brag about that day, I should say “I was just a celebrity”. One out of 100 odd in the country who were selected to carry the Olympic torch for India. I was lucky - but I believed that I deserved it - I did something that many people would want to do but would convince themselves saying “I do not have time”. Anyways, this story is not about that. This is about the Ashes(Ash as I was named and Ash as India knows).

I saw her first in the hotel – the night before the Olympic torch relay. Aishwarya Rai was staying in the same hotel as mine - Maurya Sheraton. Similar suite as mine - they said. She passed us into the lift and I just got a glimpse of her. A bunch of 4 kids who were torch bearers were literally begging the organizers to arrange a meeting with her. My ego said “You are in no ways less than her. They are kids and you are 22”. At that time the Oberoi guy was the temporary variable assigned to her and they were supposed to be the star attraction of the function organized after the relay. So I told myself - “She would be with the Oberoi guy and would have no time for visitors”. I convinced myself and went back to sleep. I did not have a good one.

My God!!! I forgot to tell you something. She was a little beautiful. Like the angels I had imagined during my childhood. Like what would define beauty and grace in my dictionary. Like the queen of any fairy land. And yes I did not have a good sleep that night.

Next day once I finished my leg of the relay, I was taken directly to the stadium where the function was to happen. The front rows were occupied by us alone – the torch bearers. Around 30-40 of us were there already. It was around 3.45 p.m I think. I had just finished talking to Mandira Bedi about her role in Manmathan (She asked me to 'Wait and Watch' without describing it – what else would she say about that stunning performance).

It was around 4 p.m I think. It happened. She came. In white and blue Torch bearer’s uniform - perfectly matching with her eyes. She smiled at everyone. The synonym for beauty in India smiling at us!!! That smile was worth a crore. Kids ran towards her. And I too did.

I went close to her. A lot of kids shook hands with her. I was in wonderland. In joy; my heart was enjoying the moment like a child who is eating his favorite icecream. I extended my hand and involuntarily - read again involuntarily - shook hers. Just like any kid would do. She turned towards me and probably saw a 22 year old guy. She gave me a harsh look and her blue eyes said it all - she did not like it. I turned back like a child who just dropped his favorite icecream. The happiness of the moment was gone. I went back to my seat.

The next day I was back to Chennai. Everyone asked me how the experience was. The first thing I said was “Aishwarya Raikae kai kuduthomla!!!” (“I shook hands with Aishwarya, you know!!!”). And it will be written so in history.

Day 45 - Sophisticated Englees

I wont be able to help if this blog is boring. I want to update my blog and I have nothing else to publish now. So here it goes – the boring blog of the month.

I am attractive uninterested. Usually when I am uninterested I mark a blog. Not for the history few months. Oh!!! That has become fake now. Am script…

I sense awful that I had not on paper no matter which. Seems like I am organization absent of thoughts for my blog. Every one the originality I had is left. Every one the cleverness I had is left. (Aren’t you thoughts how a great deal self-pride this &^%!# has!!!)

Inside some container, gravely – labor plunders you. The primary six months I wrote not anything. I haven’t been doing no matter which for the previous 2 weeks apart from analyzing a small piece of information – to be known to my chief executive (clearly from side to side my boss). Still throughout December when I was very full of activity I did not write and I felt that my aptitude to believe had left downward radically. At the present I am doing not anything. Motionless I be able to not believe. I believe the cause is since of labor force. I denote the information that I got to go to labor is spoiling me. I am almost certainly doing amazing that I don’t feel affection for. I will almost certainly be doing the similar till the finish of my existence. Allow us observe how belongings labor as occasion goes by. They speak occasion has the reply to every one question. Allow us observe. -Fad Labyrinth

Wondering what this is??? I typed the post below – wanted to make it a bit sophisticated and so started replacing all the words with the first synonym that Microsoft Word suggests. Check it yourself. It is a decent translation I guess.

I am pretty bored. Generally when I am bored I write a blog. Not for the past few months. Oh!!! that has become false now. Am writing…

I feel bad that I had not written anything. Seems like I am running out of ideas for my blog. All the creativity I had is gone. All the intelligence I had is gone. (Aren’t you thinking how much self-pride this &^%!# has!!!)

In any case, seriously – work spoils you. The first six months I wrote nothing. I haven’t been doing anything for the last 2 weeks except analyzing a bit of data – to be given to my CEO (obviously through my manager). Even during December when I was extremely busy I did not write and I felt that my ability to think had gone down drastically. Now I am doing nothing. Still I can not think. I think the reason is because of work pressure. I mean the fact that I got to go to work is spoiling me. I am probably doing something that I don’t love. I will probably be doing the same till the end of my life. Let us see how things work as time goes buy. They say time has the answer to all questions. Let us see. - Craze Maze

Leo da Mirci told me that Bill Gates tried this out once in his presence.

“Bill Gates… Is intelligent!!!” He typed.

After correcting the last two words Winword told him “Bill Gates… be clever!!!”

Day 44 - Fun with Tears!

My friend recently cried when his marriage got into trouble. A long time since I have seen someone cry. I cry very often. Though the frequency has reduced a lot now. I cry even now - at odd times when I am stressed or when I watch a movie. But then – in the past, it was like almost for everything. At the drop of a hat (or a bat, cat or a mat - whatever) I could simply cry. I cried when I wanted to take piano classes, when I did not want to take Bharathanatyam classes or when I did not want to go to class. Or simply whenever I felt like it was too long since I cried. I have always been looked down by my friends for this reason. My dad makes fun of me every time I cry. Every time I come out of a cinema, there will be at least one friend who tells me "I don’t cry for such silly things. See (here he shows his eyes wide open)!!!" - as if he is some sort of a genius who can control his emotions as strong as the BCCI controls the ICC. I always felt like kicking these guys like a donkey. (Just for the heck of it I wanted to use the word monkey here – but then it would amount to self-racism).

I cried even while watching Lagey Raho Munna Bhai. Agreed… It is a comedy movie. So what!! I am not ashamed of it. Crying is fun. Real fun. I know. All the intelligent human beings in this world who cry a lot know this. The unfortunate lot that does not know this – makes fun of us. This blog is dedicated to all the criers in the world - who cry for each and everything.

Obviously this is how I have to start. I mean - everyone started when they entered this world. I believe that one’s soul is purified and his sins are cleansed once for all when one cries. The more you cry the purer you become. I see tears as sins and dirty thoughts from the heart flowing away from the body. I see tears as drops of guilt vapourised into thin air. I see tears as ears which could listen to our sorrow. I see tears as Parotta and Mutton Curry you get in Anjappar. John, in his writings to the people of the Earth said - “CRY, BABY CRY” (John is the Beatles guy; not the Baptist guy).

It needs a lot of effort to make the world realize the importance of tears. This world should understand what crying has to offer. Having hurt a lot by “After the movie remarks”, I feel that we should start with movies. I heard that Satyam Theaters, here in Chennai used mops to clean the hall after every show of Taare Zameen Par. We should have a lot of such good tear jerkers. On the other end of the spectrum (the Red end), we should also start making more movies like Aag which make people cry throughout the movie ruining their decision to watch a Ramgopal Varma flick. The best option would be to make a full length tragedy movie - featuring all the Meri Maas and Ammaas of the world.

In recent times, I see a lot of old aged intelligentsia daily in beaches laughing together as a group believing that they are going to live a day more if they keep laughing like this everyday. I am telling you guys(old aged)!! - you have been misled. Seriously!!! You guys should be crying out there. Get a group of friends, sit on the beach – talk about stories of how you daughter-in-law is hurting you with her words and how your son is planning to move you to an old age home. And then cry at frequent intervals. Cry with others. Everyone will have similar stories. Cry at least for half an hour daily at the beach. People will laugh at you. Don’t worry – they never cried when you were laughing there. They were laughing even then – they are just a bunch of fools who don’t understand “Crier therapy”.

Liek movies, we should change the way TV is watched as well. Instead of “Kalakka povathu yaaru” or “The Great Laughter Challenge”, we should have programs like “Azha povathu yaaru” or “The Great Crying Challenge”. You should share on TV, the saddest of stories that make the audience cry. The more you make them cry, the more their life gets pure, the more SMSs you get and the more Airtel’s revenues are. It would be really funny (I am sorry...really tragic) to watch Uma Riaz or Navjot Singh Siddhu crying as if the sky had fallen on them - even for the most tragic stories like missing tiffin boxes and students failing in their Second grade Hindi exam. Anyways, these hosts are used to it. It would be a good idea to have Mega Serial lead ladies preside over these programs. In case someone in the Studio fails to cry on hearing these stories the producres can gag them till they cry. This could even be commercially telecasted as a separated program Titled “Just for Cries: Gags”.

Every software company should have Tear Jerker sessions with all employees telling them how their jobs are at risk (just because TCS asked 500 employees to leave) so that they cry at least once a day. Variety Entertainement shows should give way to Variety Sadatainment shows in Colleges. All mobile ring tones should be changed to that old Crying baby tone – the one where the baby cries non stop.

And now coming to the last part(Ok!!! I hear it....Last but not the least). Deaths!!! Nowadays only the kith and kin bereaves on the death of a person. I say that this is stupid. We should start inviting friends, distant relatives (upto 470 kms by road) and most importantly enemies for deaths. We should book death halls and play songs like “Ponaal pogattum poda” and "Yaen piranthaai maganae" throughout the day. Everyone should sit down and narrate the saddest events that happened in their buddy, the deadie’s life. Finally someone should end the gathering by saying – “Such a good person. He always made people cry”. In this context, most importantly, people should not forget to call up music channels to wish others on their death. Be shrewd. Wishes in advance always carry more weight than belated ones.

Leo da Mirci also feels that crying is a great thing to do. But for a change he was a bit serious about it. This is what he says in his book “The Tragedy of Errors” –

“Crying is the purest form of expression. Expressing one’s feelings. You cry only when you really are attached to something. Only when you really feel for it. The pure heart cries. Only the pure. That is why a baby keeps on crying - it has got the purest heart in the world. As you grow up you avoid crying - try to stop doing it. Your heart is no more pure. Only when you are old - when you realize the mistakes you made in your life, that you cant correct them anymore - you are back to crying. You heart starts searching for purity again. And you end your life with the purest heart”

Isn’t he true? And do you know the purest irony in the world invloves crying? Here it is:

“The mother's laugh when her child cries for the first time”.

So here is “Three Tears” to all criers. Go ahead and cry. Don’t worry about what others think. From now onwards, at least I wont.

Day 43 - Love Today

It’s true that things have changed a lot across times. For the better? I don’t know. Should we stop changing? I am not sure. But some changes do affect you. Don’t they? You accept them as they are. You can’t argue against them because you don’t have any rights to. But still they affect you.

It happened around 3 months ago. It was a Saturday. I was traveling in a local electric train from Chetpet to Tambaram. I think it was in Guindy they got in. A guy and a girl; should be around 19 or 20. The girl looked beautiful and rich. The guy looked otherwise. Like someone who earned daily wages. Probably he was dark, uncombed and had some metal chain around his neck - that is why my mind thought so. I have to change a lot, I thought.

I got a seat near the window. It was able to get a perfect view of them from there. It was a great experience to see them communicate. Silently, sometimes in gestures, sometimes only with their eyes. There was some kind of emotional feeling within me. "Love is a beautiful creation", I thought.

The girl had her notebooks with her. Probably she was in her Extra Classes now. The guy – did not seem like he had studied at all. How come!!! I thought. Screeech....The train came to a halt. My thoughts too... The family sitting opposite to me vacated their seat. As if they were waiting for it, the guy and the girl sat there – the girl near the window, directly opposite to me and the guy on her right.

He sat close to her. His dress touching hers. He took the notebook from her and said "Studying well illa?". She said "Give it back" and took it back from him. He said "Study well da" - with real concern. She smiled - with real happiness over the concern. I was looking outside - my eyes still watching them. It was time for something interesting to happen, I thought. It happened. He moved closer to her. Their shoulders touching, now. Uncultured fellow? Probably no or probably yes... everyone is... when it comes to this!!! She slowly moved to her left - giving a proper angry look at him. And then she turned her eyes towards me. Indicating him that I was watching. She knew that I was. I saw him give a sheepish smile and move back a bit. Still their dresses were in touch.

I thought about our culture for a second. Why they behaved so. A stranger is still invasion of privacy for us. Privacy is where no one is. I turned my eyes to the other side and looking outside, I smiled. How sweet the feeling of love is!!! I had great respect for her. Only a bit for him. But, I really wished they could be together for life. I was enjoying every bit of my journey with them.

Foul smell emanated through the windows. "Chromepet", I thought. People got down. Now, there werent many people in our coach. That is when it happened. Spoiling the entire experience...

"So tomorrow book at Mahabalipuram", she said. He said, "No we are not going there anymore". My heart stopped for a moment. She looked at him. That was an angrier look than the previous one – when their shoulders had met. She said "I shall tell my parents that I am going for combined study tomorrow night. Nee book pannu". And she was loud this time. Not worrying that I would hear them. He was strong this time - "No we are not going anywhere again till you finish this year. Study well" – with genuine concern again. She looked at him – with genuine frustration over his concern. He kept talking – as if he was advising a little child on what was right and what was wrong. I was looking at them – directly, now. She was still angry. "I wont talk to you again. You don’t understand. We won’t get another chance", she told him. And then she turned her eyes to me, and gave that angry look direct into my eyes as if she was asking me "Does it bother you, you *******". I immediately stood up, looked sharp into her eyes as if I was telling her "Yes!!! And it is not me, but you who is a *****". I moved to a different seat.

I talked to Leo da Mirci the same day regarding this. And what he told me – still lingers in my mind. And I will never forget them.

It is up to oneself to decide what he/she does. What they did – I don’t want to get into whether it is right or wrong. But for you, my friend; there is a bigger learning. Never ever evaluate a person by the way they look. Goodness does not lie in how you look, how you dress or how you carry yourself. It lies only in the way you live your life. You really owe an apology to that guy.

Wherever you are I am sorry my friend.

Day 42 - Veeraachaami's Milion Dollar Questions!!!

This post introduces to you "Village Veeraachaami" a humble character from the Southern Frontiers of India. Unlike our genius Leo da Mirci, "Village Veerachami" is deeply ingrained in ignorance and believes that "Ignorance is bliss".

However Village Veerachaami asks too many questions. Yesterday Leo da Mirci was fed up with his questions since he was unable to answer them and asked me to redirect him to the concerned people. If any of you guys know their contacts please forward this to them.

The Million Dollar Questions!!!


To Kamal Hassan:
யுனிவெர்சல் ஹீரோ நீங்க தானே, அப்புறம் ஏன் மாதவன் வர்றாரு யுனிவெர்சல் Advertisementல?

To Karunanidhi:
நீங்க துண்டே போடாம இருந்தா நீங்க போடுற பட்ஜெட்ல துண்டு விழாதாமே, அப்படியா?

To Doctor Ramadoss:
உங்களுக்கு Degreeல Doctor பட்டம் குடுத்தாங்களா இல்ல மருத்துவர் பட்டம் குடுத்தாங்களா?

To Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss:
Doctor புள்ளைங்க நல்லா படிக்கணும்கற உங்க பாசத்த பாத்து, உங்கள Lovebell ராமதாஸ்னு கூப்பிட்டா கோவிச்சுப்பீங்களா சார்?

To Sachin Tendulkar:
World's most 100s மாதிரி, World's most 99s-World's most 98s எல்லாம் அடிக்க try பண்றீங்களாமே, மெய்யாலுமாவா?

To DMK:

கலர் TV குடுத்த மாதிரி அடுத்த தேர்தல்ல Fridge குடுக்கும் போதும் கலரா குடுங்களேன் please!!

To Vijaya TRajendar:

கடல்ல இல்லாத உப்பா
ஊறுகாய் இல்லாம மப்பா
Romanticaa நான் நடிச்சா தப்பா
சிம்பு தான் அடுத்த படத்துல எனக்கு அப்பா

அப்படின்னு statement உட்டீங்களாமே. Sema தில்லு சார் உங்களுக்கு.

To Shreya:

அந்த இடுப்பு எப்பவுமே ஆடுறத பாத்தா உங்களுக்கே கடுப்பா இல்ல?

To SUN TV:
Vijay TV Logoவ ஒரு நாள் மறந்து காப்பி அடிச்சுட்டீங்களாமே, நிசமாவா?

To Jayalalitha:
நீங்க resign பண்ணனும்னு சொல்றவங்கெல்லாம் resign பண்ண ஆரம்பிச்சா நாட்டுல யாருமே வேலைல இருக்க மாட்டாங்களாமே, Really??

To Sarathkumar:
தமிழ்நாட்டுல உங்க கட்சி மட்டும் தான் ஜாதி சார்பற்ற கட்சின்னு சொன்னீங்களாமே....எப்படிங்க தலைவா உங்களால மட்டும் முடியுது?


Hmm... I cant answer any of these questions. As Leo da Mirci believes in "Even the most foolish person in the world can ask a question that the most intelligent person in the world cant answer" Even I think that it's true.

Day 41 - Reservation (The Name Game)

It’s time we talk about some serious political issue in this blog. I was damn surprised when I heard that the TN Govt. is planning to pass an ordinance providing 3.5% reservation for Muslims/Christians in Educational institutions and Government jobs. I hear that this reservation falls within the 30% reservation for BCs so that we still don’t go above the 69%. Whatever!!!

With its wide & broadminded outlook to develop the state probably the Government can next look at the reservation based on Names. I mean, the names of people.

It would really be a great idea to provide reservations for people with Tamil Names (like the Entertainment Tax exemption for movies with Tamil names). We already have found out from pure Tamil movie names like ‘Kettavan’, ‘Pokkiri’ and ‘Udambu Eppadiyirukku’ that this is one of the greatest ways to improve the usage of Tamil in the State. I am serious. Would ever you ever otherwise see a Church Park babe use pure Tamil words like “Pokkiri” or probably ever hear an oxymoron in the future like “Kettavan is good da”.

Coming to the reservation scheme - this is how it would probably work - Thenmozhiyaal, Poonguzhali or Iniyaal would get a 10% reservation among whatever category they are in. For example, if Thenmozhiyaal happens to be a BC, she would get reservation under the BC-Tamil category and like wise. All BC guys with non-Tamil names would have to compete in the BC-General category.

But this raises a big question – what are non-Tamil names? How will the Government decide on non-Tamil names. A discussion that went through my mind.

1) Simplest of things first. Peter or Stephen is a non-Tamil name and would definitely not get reservation…………. Jesus Christ!!! What did I just say? How will that happen in our Government? So probably all religious names would be considered Tamil Names from now on. John, Peter and Thomas will become Tamil names since they would have been found in some 2000 years old inscription somewhere in the state. I cant think of any other reasoning for categorizing John/Peter/Thomas as Tamil names. At a later point in time we can state that “Tamil names are found in inscriptions that are 2000 years old and hence Tamil is 2000 years old).

2) We have solved the cases of Johns and even Mohammads - based on such inspirational - sorry inscriptional - proof. But what about the Murugans? Obviously Murugan is a Tamil name because Murugan is a Tamil god. But What did I just say!!! Ente Palaniyaandavaa!!! There are no Gods. So Murugan is not God and hence a non-Tamil name. But not fine – since there are lots of inscriptions on Murugan…So if point 1 has to be valid Murugan has to be included. So we will have to include Murugans and may be Iyyappans as well.

3) Let us come to the case of Kannan. Kannan as far as I know is a proper noun describing God Krishna – probably can be termed as a North Indian person since he fought that final battle in Kurukshetra instead of the vast plain lands of Cauvery. We are supposed to hate North Indians. So non-Tamil name - Kannan is. But Kannan also means “someone who has an eye” (as in Senthamaraikannan - the red lotus eyed person). Hence the decision on Kannan would purely be based on the reason behind naming the person – peyarkaaranam. No parent is now foolish to believe in God when reservation comes against religion. We are in a country where we preferred being called backward classes if it benefits us reservationally. Hence all Kannans would be eyed boys and all henceforth all Kannans would fall under the Tamil-Names category.

4) What about people like Goldman – Goldman can be seen as an English name. But isn’t it a proper noun as well? I don’t get it. Where would Goldman fall under? Would Stalin - a Russian name get reservation? Definitely Vijaykanth wouldn’t but what about Rajnikanth? Will reservation be provided to colleges like Madras Medical college - since it has not changed its name to Chennai Medical College? Too many confusions...

Finally another important loophole- what if people change their names in the gazette to get this benefit? But that is ok. Even movie names were changed to avail this benefit and that is the whole purpose of introducing such incentives – to improve Tamil. To avoid issues in the future, people might start naming their children in Tamil. Like, instead of naming someone Williamson and Peterson(son being Inglees), we would name them “Peter petraan” or “Williamkupiranthaan”. Actualla amarnthu yosithu paarthaal Williamsonku pathilaaha Williamkupiranthaan endrazhaikkumpothu Tamil oru one secondaavathu valarhirathallavaa.

Another interesting controversial political thing I came across - Was just hearing “June Ponaal July Kaatre” from the movie Unnale Unnale – Here is how one of the lines in the song goes – “Intha ulagathil evarumae Raamar illai”(meaning No Ram in this world). How come the BJP missed this – they should have made a big issue out of it – the bare minimum of throwing stones at theaters. It would have become another fighting point to be used in the Ramar-Sethu row. These politicians you know – are becoming less intelligent day by day.

This is what Leo da Mirci says about reservation based on caste, religion and names -

“I am being rationalistic. Very rationalistic. They say there is nothing in names, caste or religion. A bunch of fools. Who said there is nothing in names? Who said there is nothing in religions? Who said there is nothing in castes? Who said there is nothing in status? There is nothing only in nothing. Everything else they say has a different spelling. I always hated people who say that there should be no reservation. Think how unplanned train travel would be, if this happens?” - Such a clear stand point with clearly put arguments…Correct?

I just heard that “Correct” in your mind. So considering that as an agreement with what Leo da Mirci says – am ending this post.

Day 20+20: The genius who knew it 10 years back!

"Less interesting stuff like test matches - they only create very interesting stuff like T20. If you want to see interesting things in your life, you will have to also have to see all the less interesting stuff. That is why I saw this stupid movie" – Leo da Mirci after watching the movie “Aag”.

Day 40 is on Day 20-20(the day we won it)

He knew it!!! Long before we all knew it – he knew it in his mind: “India would win the 20-20”. Of course he is a genius. No doubt about it.

I was waiting on the edge of my seat when the ball went in the air. Oh god!!! It is going to be a boundary. India is going to lose. Not only India is going to lose, but this guy, the guy I adore a lot; his words are going to be almost falsified - there might not be a better chance to prove his words; there might not be a better chance to prove that he predicts things long before its time.

But here!!! We are losing. No…Wait… What is happening!!! It took only 2 seconds for me to get my blood pressure to normal. Sreeshant caught it. We have done it!!! And what this guy said around 10 years ago has become true!! This puts him in the same league as Nostradamus - this guy told us that this would happen long before.

I came to know that he had predicted this only after I joined my engineering college. He was a Professor in my college - they said. Even then, I had seen him very close to me only once. My friends told me that he was a leader and stuff like that. After he spoke to me (us) for the first time, even I believed so – he was a great leader. He said the same words in his speech to us!!! Only, we did not realize that this is what he meant!!

I was almost 10 years now, in 1998 I think… he had predicted this. In 1998,
who knew that there was a similar format of cricket happening somewhere in the world??
who knew that this format would be given international status??
who knew that there would be a world cup in this format??

This guy did… That is why he is a genius. That is why he is a great leader. A visionary they say!!

I have not read his book till now. I am waiting to read it. All I know is that; all I have heard is that; all my friends have today me is that this guy said that “India would become a Superpower in 20-20”!!! Hail Dr. Abdul Kalam. His vision 20-20 has fructified even before its time.

Day 39 - The Stars of Cricket

My God!!! I love Star Cricket…. One good thing about being in Noida is that I can enjoy my evening watching Star Cricket in an AC guest house (bill paid by the company). One bad thing is that I will have to try hard to make people in Noida understand that 1) I am speaking in Hindi & 2) Make them understand whatever I want to tell in Hindi.

Anyways, after a long time I had the opportunity to watch TV daily evening. It is good to see that cricket has shifted back from the boring Set Max to Star Cricket. With Harsha, Sunny and Ravi, things get a lot more interesting.

Watched some excellent moments in the third test match.

Sourav Ganguly lifting Sachin Tendulkar after he got Pieterson out on his first ball. Camarderie back?? Anwyays, I love Sachin’s leg spinners. The slip catches, the LBWs off his googlies and the catches he takes off his own bowling…He does everything with style. One of the few players who still reminds us that cricket is an intelligent game and not a power game…

Without a doubt, the entire Indian team’s joy was evident when Kumble hit his hundred. Watching Sourav jump(literally) as if he had got a hundred!!! And everyone in the dressing room behaving as if he himself has achieved something great – No words to describe that moment. Rahul finally said “We were more nervous than Anil during his 90s”. After Sourav's exit as captain I never could accept Rahul as the captain even though he is my all time favorite sportsman. But now I am seeing my hero as a role model again.

The “Chak De…. Chak De India” package they show at the end of the game. Whoever makes that, Kudo to you!! It is a very good compilation.

Most importantly the commentary team - Professional & Excellent.

A sample…

Towards the end of the 3rd day, Chris Tremlett was batting with Monty Panesar - the last wicket for england. Tremlett had scored zeroes in both innings of the first test, his debut test. Now, he started scoring a few runs. So the other commentator said “He has started playing well, Chris Tremlett. He has become better now”. Harsha quipped - “I guess he can only get better after that performance”.

I adore you Harsha…Without you, cricket for the last 10 years would have been a lot less interesting…

Day 38 - The Intelligent Buyer

The top class discounts were on offer!!!

Place: Lifestyle - Atta Market - Sector 18 - Noida
Time: 1 p.m

If you are the guy who hates Operations as a subject do not read this. If you are the guy who spends an hour and having fun calculating which Postpaid plan to choose based on your past bills' inputs; Not because you would gain Rs. 10 out of the exercise, but because you feel happy that "I did it" when your bill gets reduced by Rs. 10....... go ahead and read this blog…

I am telling you these guys will definitely succeed!!! Because they have fun at work and success is just an ancillary output which they get when they have fun. - Leo da Mirci

Yes... The top class discounts were on offer!!!

Place: Place: Lifestyle - Atta Market - Sector 18 - Noida
Time: Time to execute "Operation Intelligent Buy"

Seeing the discounts I decided to go shopping and "Operation Intelligent Buy” started at Noida. I was so sure that I should never buy anything out of temptation. Have learnt somewhere that most of the retail chains succeed because people are tempted to buy after looking at the products. So I made some intelligent decisions.

1) Check out all possible stores before getting the items. The same item might be available at a better price in a different store.
2) Don’t yield to temptations.

Operation Started

Target 1 Globus: Disliked all items
Target 2 Lifestyle: Disliked all items

Target 3 Pantaloons:

Good. Right Place. Shirts were available at the following denominations 500,600,700,800,900. Buy 2 Get 2 free. You can pick up 4 shirts and the 2 costliest ones will be charged. I got 4 shirts which were priced 900, 800, 500 and 500. So I will have to pay for 2 shirts only (worth Rs. 1700) and get the other 2 shirts free (worth Rs. 1000 free) Pay only 1700 for 2700!!! Good deal. But that is not the end... Temptation starts here.

By getting 4 more of the similar denominations I would have the following options
900, 900, 800, 800, 500, 500, 500, 500. Clubbing the first 4 and the last 4 together you will have to pay for only 900+ 900 & 500 +500. So that is Rs. 2800 and you would get shirts worth Rs.5400!!!

For the first 4 shirts I would pay 1700 and get shirts worth 2700 at an average of Rs. 425 per shirts!! If I get 8 shirts, I would pay 2800 and get shirts worth 5400 at an average of Rs. 350 per shirt!!

Basically the additional 1100 Rs is worth 2700 Rs!! Yielded to temptation…. Finally.

Ok. Got the 8 shirts for Rs. 2800 and a few trousers of Indigo Nation at Pantaloons (for Rs. 1500 after a whopping 40% discount on trousers). The total cost was Rs. 4300 including the trousers.

Operation Error 1:

Paid the bill by cash. And then found that if I had used my recently got SBI credit I would have got a 10% cash back!!!

Operation Error 2:

Then the lady at the counter called me back and gave me a Pantaloon Green Card and a gift voucher worth Rs. 150 since my purchase was more than Rs. 2500. But error bhagwan strikes again. Had I split the bill as 2800 and 1500 and got a green card using the first bill of Rs. 2800, I could have immediately used the gift voucher for Rs. 150 with the other bill of Rs.1500 and would have got a green card holder discount of 7.5% on the bill!!! How much did I lose there??... Hmm...Let me calculate..

Operation Error 3:

Came downstairs. Only to find that Indigo Nation’s showroom had a flat 50% off on the same trousers I had got in Pantaloons!!! So that is a loss of Rs... hmm.. Let me calculate..

So when would I become that intelligent buyer!!! My God…

Day 37 - Tips on Taps

“For girls and children, comfort comes before safety!!! Stupids!!! This is the most ridiculous law I have seen in my 120 years of public service” - Leo da Mirci told me recently (after the Govt. announced that pillion riders who happen to be women or children need not wear helmets). A female and child chauvinistic law!!

Btw, after a recent debacle where my shirt was drenched with water from a tap, I thought it would be a great service to help the public by writing some tips on opening taps.

There are different types of taps. They are made up of different materials, the fluids that flow out of them are of different salinity, density and purity but our concern is none of these. Our concern is that there are different methods/ways/techniques/types of opening taps. If you don’t know every one of them, you are bound be ashamed in front of your colleagues or your boss. You might even lose your job in case it is your boss whose trousers get drenched (shouldnt be a trouble if you have just heard from naukri.com). For others who havent heard from naukri.com here are some tips on types of taps.

Some taps have tops. Some don’t. The don’t types are called naked taps or naked tops (those knobs I mean).

Let us come to the taps which have tops first.

Top Yes Type 1: These are the simplest form of taps. They have a cylindrical knob at the top. Turn the top in one direction and water flows. I am confused as to whether it is a clockwise turn or an anticlockwise turn. Anyways it is a turn in the direction in which the top turns. If water still does not flow after a complete turn then you make a complete turn and go back. There is no water available in that area where that tap is situated (situated ha ha)…

Top Yes Type 2: These types are similar to Top Yes Type 1 but have a vertical tube with a horizontal turner on the top. (Basically a T-shaped knob). They function absolutely similar to the Top Yes Type 1. But they are considered inferior to Top Yes Type 1 taps.

Top Yes Type 3: These types have a cylindrical/horizontal tube with press/release concentric cylinder towards you. You have to press the tap in the horizontal direction with your thumb for water to flow. However water flows out in the vertical direction (Newton’s theory of gravity and Leo da Mirci’s theory of transformation of energy vectors - the horizontal push to vertical fall) are involved here. Though the user manual would say that you have to use your thumb to push you will often have to use you palm and exert enormous pressure to succeed. These taps are often found in schools, marriage halls or local cinema theatres. They have high affinity for each other. The distance between two taps is often not more than 15 cms. These taps rarely work. Their average functioning period is 3 months and are never repaired.

Top Yes Type 4: These types are similar to Top Yes Type 1 but have a slim semi-cylindrical or elliptical metallic structure instead of the cylindrical knob. For water to flow, you will have to stretch your hands with your nails facing the sky and press the metallic structure towards the ground floor of the building you are in. If you are already in the ground floor press it towards the basement parking. If you do not have a basement parking then just press it towards the floor of the same floor where you are standing. You can find these types of taps at hand washes in hotels/restaurants. These taps carry good water a la the arteries which carry pure blood (ha ha.. subject of interest of the subject I am interested in).

Top Yes Type 5: Except the opening mechanism all characteristics of these taps are similar to Top Yes Type 4 taps. In this case you will have to stretch your hands with the palms facing the sky and then pull the metallic structure towards the top floor of the building you are in. If you are in the top floor you will have to pull it towards the top (ceiling) of the top floor you are in.

Top Yes Type 6: Then there are taps which are found in Star hotels’ washrooms. These taps have a similar look and feel as those of Type 4 and 5. But unfortunately the “Press down to the ground floor” or “Pull up to the top floor” techniques will not work in this case. It seems that some of the guys who stay in Star hotels use only hot water for brushing. So these wash taps carry hot water as well as cold/normal temperature water. A certain degree turn to the right will give you water of certain degree and a certain degree turn to the left gives you water at a different degree temperature. Here too you will have confusion as to which one is a hot turn and which one is a cold turn. Trial and error is the best possible way out.

Top Yes Type 7:

We are sophisticated – these taps told me once. They are found in washrooms of good hotels. They are a combination of Type 6 and any one of Type 5 and Type 4. The opening mechanism is also simple. Here there are 4 opening options.

• Right turn, Press down to the ground floor


• Right turn, Pull up to the top floor


• Left turn, Press down to the ground floor


• Left turn, Pull up to the top floor

Sometimes a center Pull up or Press down option is also available where you get mixture of hot and cold water. Type 7s are Visionaries according some great Management Guru!!!

Top Yes Type 8:

Type 8s are found in bathrooms of Star hotels. They are called the Matrix types. There are three knobs connected to a single water outlet. Hot water knob (red color coded), cold water knob (blue color coded) and a water outlet knob(have never noticed the color).

You are Neo. The water outlet knob is the path. The Hot Water and Cold Water knobs are the pills. Morpheus has given you both the pills. He indirectly tells you “You take the blue pill, you will get cold water. You take the red pill, you will get hot water. I can only tell you the path (through which water flows). You will have to open the knob.” Trinity is a part of he matrix (the three knobs are otherwise called the trinity of these water taps). The difference between the Screen version and the bathroom version of “The Matrix” is that you can take both the pills to get water at normal temperature in the bathroom version. Anyways, you can always find that hot water flows out of the blue tap. No plumber has ever got the colors right.

Topless Types:

I am referring to the automatic sensor taps here. These do not have a knob at all. The idea of installing(??) these taps is to reduce the effort of an individual to create a water fall. But unfortunately most individuals who have used these taps claim that these taps require more effort to create a water fall. I saw one such person recently in a restaurant. This is what he did…..

• Mr.Intelligent walks out to the tap. Keeps his hand below the outlet. No water.


• He waves his hand here and there across the basin below the tap. No signs of water.


• Mr.Intelligent now bends down and tries to locate the sensor. Couldn’t find any signs of it. He then tries step 2 again.


• He looks at the guy next to him. He is happily washing his hands. How come in that tap alone water flows!!!


• Mr.Intelligent’s ego does not allow him to go to the next tap.


• Mr.Intelligent now blocks all sides of the basin with his hands. Wherever is the sensor now his hands will be recognized – that is the idea!!! Still no signs of water.


• Mr.Intelligent looks if anyone is watching him. Moves slowly to the next tap. It works now…


• He walks out as if he has achieved something!!!


• The guy in the cash counter calls up two servers watching the whole drama and says “Evlo kashtapattaaru paatheengalla. Yaaravathu antha tap work aagalannu solla vendiyathu thaanaedaa”. Actually that tap did not work!!!

So be careful with these types of taps.

You may also look for some beautiful taps here.

http://www.bathroomheaven.com/sp_brochure/main_taps
http://www.tapshop.net/tapstypes/index.html

I only have this much to say about taps. As Leo da Mirci says “There are many types of taps. There are many tips for using taps. There are many tops on taps. There are even tapes on taps which leak. All taps have their own tops, tips, types and tapes. It is up to you to decide which taps, tops, tips and tapes to use. Good decisions come with experience. There are is lot of management to learn from these taps. A simple management learning is “Tip (incentivize) your employees with a good top (brain) and tap the talent of these types of guys so that they make it to the top.”

Day 36 - Improving your orkut performance

"You know that you orkut because you want to be something with somebody. You say that you orkut because you want to be something else with somebody else."

- Leo da Mirci in his book "How to win friends and orkut with people!!"

One of the most frequent reasons I have heard for people being on orkut is “Looking for friends who studied with me in primary school", "To catch up with old friends" "Orkut is the best thing that happened to friends” and all that crap.

Come on guys, we all know that when you sign into orkut the first thing you see is whether the number of fans/friends has increased or whether any girl has scrapped you (if at all it happens). We know that you go search girls school/ college communities looking for some girl whom you might have known. Soon you get frustrated and quit orkut saying “You know what, I am spending too much time on orkut and it is affecting my job performace”. Yes we understand even that. You are no longer able to compete with your friends in the number of fans, scraps or the number of girls he has connected with. You tried, tried and tried but you could not improve your performance. So you planned to quit. But see, the good news is that you have company - a lot of people are quitting orkut nowadays.

For such poor souls who are thinking of quitting orkut because their performance is not good enough, here are a few tips to increase your orkut performance.

Let us start with the Profile

Name: Names should always be stylish. If you still have things like Raamasaamy, Supppramanian, Asokan, Santhaanam, Jayaramakrishnan in your profile immediately go change them. A Rams, Subra, Ash, Santa or Jay Kris is what you should have.

About me: Typically an about me column would contain super smart statements like “You know me or you don’t know me”, “Read my profile if you really want to know” “I am not someone who cant be easily understood” “Buzz me on yahoo” etc.. Sometimes you can see a bunch of characters scattered all over the place and when you scroll down – Voila! What a surprise !!! You can see a devil’s face or the word FRIENDS! What an imaginative guy he is!! The most recent addition to this phenomenon is to have a poem describing you.. Something like
Want to get into a passionate mire?
I am always on fire
I took an auto on hire
I stood on an electric wire
I will soon burn on a wooden pyre
(for the benefit of the public the lines ending in dire, tyre, sire and gyre have been removed).

Come on guys…. these are stuff Raja Raja Chozhan’s great grandfather had in his profile. It is enough you have a simple about me column which is actually something about you.

Gender: Men are always proud to claim that they are men. However, DC Nielsen’s survey says that there are more men who own feminine ids than women.

Relationship Status: Give some respect to the male community. Give some respect to how God wanted men to behave. Don’t be an outcast. Even if you are married/committed say single.

Birthday: Birthday is the only occasion when girls wish you profusely. The day when they suddenly realize that you exist in this world. That is the day you get the most number of scraps in the year. So, have at least 5 birthdays in a year. Change it every now and then so that you get wishes from girls every now and then. You can have an actual birthday, one each for your star, the sun and the nine planets. (Don’t act too smart and tell me that Pluto is no more a planet. Then you get to lose a few scraps).

City/State: Nothing much. For heaven’s sake do not write the name of your village. Guys from pattis (Kovilpatti, Vadipatti) have a big disadvantage here. You guys might get a list of US cities from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population and use them.

Zip/Postal code: After using an U.S city’s name please don’t show your intelligence by coming up with a 6 digit Pincode (like 624218 for Vaidpatti). U.S cities have 5 digit pin codes (I think he he).

Interested in: Choose any damn thing except dating men/dating men and women.

Children: Remember two things. You are single. Single men are not supposed to have children.

Ethnicity, Political view, Humor, Fashion: Does not matter. No girl is going to search for a Multi-ethnic, very left-liberal trendy fashioned guy with a quick-witted or slapstick humor. Orkut does not have a provision for such searches.

Language: As a true patriotic Indian accept one thing first. We use neither English(U.S) nor English(U.K). We use an Indian language which is similar to English in many ways. Don’t debate on that. The only reason we choose one of the two is because an English(Indian) option does not exist. In addition to your mother tongue you can also choose French, German, Spanish or Mandarin etc. I am sure they are also languages.

Sexual orientation: Avoid the no answer choice here. People should know that you are oriented. (There is a choice called bi-curious here, what the hell is that?)

Smoking, drinking: The girls community is divided in their preference. So no answer is the best answer.

Living: As long as you don’t check all the options it is fine. Girls sometimes read between the lines. For example from a check all entry they would get the idea that you are living alone with your parents and a partner who has kids with friends who visit you often and roommates who party every night with your pets.

Passions: If you are passionate about the discovery channel control your instincts to announce it to the world. See below(Sports) would be the best option…Girls like that.

Sports: F1, Football, Cricket(?) or anything that is associated with speed. Writing Carrom board here would reduce the number of potential scraps by 72%.

Activities: Don’t write your daily activities like checking out girls. Equivalent phrases like Nature watching(considering girls to be an integral part of nature) , Sky watching(when girls are studying in the terrace) etc. can be used.

The five habits of highly effective orkut people: Books, Movies, TV Shows, Music, Cuisines. This is a very important part of your profile. This is the first thing girls check in your profile after your sexual orientation. If you haven’t started reading, watching, eating or listening to anything non Indian, the following tips might be helpful.

Books: You could use names such as Ayn Rand, Frederick Forsyth, Arthur Hailey, Paulo Coelho or Ken Follet. Don’t use Jeffrey Archer or Sidney Sheldon. They are supposedly not so favorite among girls. Girls are jealous that they are the favorite authors of every Bollywood or Kollywood actress. Btw, don’t try typing and pronouncing Paulo Coelho at the same time. It produces disastrous results.

Music: Use names like MLTR, Beatles, Beethoven, Mozart, Elton John, Bryan Adams, Enrique Iglesias, Beyonce Knowles etc… If this list does not contain AR Rahman you are bound to lose fans.

Movies: You should have one movie for each genre. If you don’t know the different genres check IMDB(at http://imdb.com/) . If you don’t know what the word genre means check the dictionary(at http://dictionary.com/). As a basic criteria, minimum two movies should be from IMBD 250 (at http://www.imdb.com/chart/top). Any two from this list is enough but a Godfather or Citizen Kane would prove more effective. Instead of giving the names of movies if you give the names of the directors you will be considered as an avid movie watcher. Say for ex. Roman Polanski movies, Akira Kurosawa movies, Martin Scorsese movies…Also add a few foreign movies French, Japanese etc. You dont need to search for them. Get them at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Foreign_Language_Film. Use the original name(like La vita labonski murra) within brackets. In an Indian’s profile, the term Spielberg movies is always followed by Maniratnam movies. For Tamil guys Kaaka Kaaka is a must. That is the only Tamil movie that the North Indians love. Any other movie which has Surya in it is an added advantage. Even Surya’s TVS Star ads might help getting a few fans.

TV Shows: Friends is universal. Here, you should be very careful. Even if you are, please do not mention that you would be eagerly waiting in your living room for Desperate Housewives every Thursday night.

Cuisine: Simple formula. You like the people of Italy? Then say Italian. You like Mexico. Say Mexican. You love South India. Say South Indian. You like China. Say Chinese. You love all continents. Say Continental.

Now we are done with the profile part of it. Let us get into how to improve your popularity among the girls.

Profile picture: Don’t think that putting in a picture of Brad Pitt will help you in any way. First, everybody knows Brad Pitt. Second everybody will come to know that you are one poor soul who could not look like Brad Pitt and so gets vicarious satisfaction by putting in his picture.

Recent Visitors: The recent visitors list should never have a name like Jambulingam or Senthoorapaandi. We cant suffer because these idiots did not change their names to Jammy or Sandy. We have a way out. Basic logic: When you visit any arbit person’s orkut profile they visit yours. So go ahead and visit profiles of girls with names like Helen, Jenifer, Anna, Catherine or Isabel. Your recent visitors list will always look colorful.

Scraps: Scrap all girls. “Hi how are you. Didn’t know that you were on orkut”. She will reply saying “Do I know you?”. Orkut will tell you how you know her. A->B-> C ->D->E. Tell her the link. Soon you would probably reach A->E. Wait for a day when she scraps you saying “why no reply da?”. Immediately scrap all friends you have (right from LKG to post graduation) saying “Long time no see da”. They will come visit your page and see the girl’s scrap. They will be envious all day about the “Why no reply da” scrap.

Fans: Except a few morons everybody else becomes your fan when you become theirs. It is an universal obligation. To take revenge of these morons, you can reveal secrets of these morons in their scraps and damage their image. Alternatively, if any girl scraps these morons you can scrap the guy asking “What da… what is happening? Does she know about your affairs?” etc.. and do a proper image damage operation.

Testimonials: You can draft your testimonials yourselves and ask your friends to post them. Treats do magic. You can even return them the favor. Or create a few orkut profiles under some good girls’ names and write testimonials for you from those profiles. Nothing can match the happiness of writing your own testimonial.

Communities: Join some intelligent communities like Puzzles, Sudoku, History of India, Maniratnam fans etc. If you studied in a co-education school start a community for it. But please don’t play games like “Favourite miss in the school, Favourite aaya in the school, Favourite place in the school, Favourite bench in the classroom,” etc. It will be real fun for your friends when a lot of girls reply to your favourites saying “Anna that bench was my favourite too”. The entire purpose would be lost. So, just add the girls as friends and orkut, orkut and orkut. That is the sole purpose of these communities, not playing such useless games.

If anyone has any other ideas please do comment. It will help fellow orkutters.

Long live Orkut & all guys who orkut for girls.

Day 35 - Drink hot - feel cold

For me everything should be under control. Not under control leads to frustration. Helpless or Powerless => More frustration.

Yesterday I was not frustrated. Point is I was not under control too. Enjoyment. Too much. Last Feb drank 2 sips. This Feb drank heavily. First time experience. Excellent. Definitely the last time experience. but still too good. Conscious decision to drink. Taken few months back. ‘At least once in college’ theme. So nobody to blame.

Implications follow today. Lost good image about self. Depressed? don’t know. Some feeling. Not understandable. Lost an important bullet point in my life CV - “I don’t drink”. “I don’t drink” pride no more. Serious damage to self-image. Same feeling comes back again. Don’t know what it is. Yes. Past memories back. 15 year resolution over. Voices. Dialogues. Everything back. Comparing myself with…? No. Don’t. Stop. Afraid. Don’t want to be there. Enough. Divert mind. Tactics? Watch movie. Songs. What else. Talk to …? Afraid again. Don’t talk to anyone. Got it. Friends. Or 7G songs? Somebody is asking for the movie Minnale. Vaseegara. No. Not there. Don’t open that gate again. One is more than enough. Problem = I don’t think of me as good any more. No. You are making a hill out of a mole. You are always like that. Tomorrow it will be all right. Watch Kaadhal, TVS scooty and the school uniform. Smile. Will bring good memories. Ok tomorrow. Blog stop. Watch Kaadhal. Cant.

Think of good things that happened… Yesterday I was afraid of hangovers. Today no headache. Nothing. Be proud. You don’t have a hangover. Or is this? Yes…Yes..it is!!! 2 paragraphs of unnecessary nonsense. Thinking too much. The perfect hangover for me you know.

Day 34 - Why Chennai?

“In touch with reality, decisions are meant to be rational. But some decisions don’t have any rationale. They are not the best. But for a few people they might make a difference. So they become the right decisions.” – Leo da Mirci.

Why did you choose?

Almost every interview I attend has a similar question.

Why Engineering? Why Cognizant? Why MBA? Why HR? etc. etc… I never thought much about these questions. I don’t have the answers to these questions. I had doubts regarding every one of these choices. I still have. But there is one question I have clear answers to. Might not be understandable to others. Might be childish to a few and I might even be a fool to many for making this decision. But let it be so. I know that this is the least I could do.

Why Chennai?

I remember walking down into this institute around 2 years back. I was 23. Still my entire family accompanied me. With pride. Around 20 years back when they were married they would never even have imagined that their son would do an engineering in one of the top institutes in Tamilnadu, leave alone an MBA. They were proud, but I am not sure whether they were happy.
“It was a few months after you joined your first standard. One evening I came to your school to pick you up. I entered, You were waiting for me and you ran towards me holding your report card shouting ‘Amma, I am the first in class’. That was the most happiest moment in my life.”, my mother often says. My father’s is so easy to predict. “The moment I first saw you. They gave you to me and I was holding you in my hands. I can never forget that”. But my happiest moment - it does not involve them. I don’t think anybody’s happiest moment involves their parents. It is either getting into an institute, getting placed in a company or getting a girl friend or something that you got.

When I receive a call from my home, I look at the number and tell myself “Ok. I have something to do now. I am busy. Let me talk to them later”. They never asked me why I did not pick up. They always assumed that I would have, if I had time. But then, even my father is busy. Busier than me. But, I have never waited for more than three rings when I call my father. My call comes before any job for him. Not for me. I know I take them for granted.

My mother often tells me “Nowadays, you can’t expect your son to stay with you after he gets married. At least once in a while, if you are able to see him parents should should be happy. I can understand that. But you know, many of my colleagues are not like that”. I tell myself “Amma, I know you want me to be with you.” - But still it is not going to happen. They would never come out to live in a city and unluckily my education says that I am overqualified to get a job in my hometown.

Three years back, I decided to resign my job and go for an MBA. I had to take a break for an year to prepare. I called up my father and said “I am going to resign my job”. The first thing he said was “Take your own decision. Anyways, me or you mother don’t know anything an MBA. So you do whatever you like. But never worry about money. Whatever you want to study you go ahead. I will somehow arrange for it”. It has always been like that. Money they earned was not meant for their future. It was for their children. If I call my father for money any time, it would be there in my bank account within two hours. I never had any problems with anything….anything. Even, if I had, I would always find them by my side.

One thing is surprising. That they have never asked me anything. At least I can’t remember them asking me for anything. But, two weeks back when I told my father that I am going to attend interviews for a job after much of hesitation he told me in a low tone as if he was requesting, “Ashok , Chennaila job irunthaa paaru. Vera engayum venaam” (Look for a job in Chennai, nowhere else).” Two things were different. One he never called me by name. Two, he never requested me and it was not followed by the typical 'Anyways if you feel that somethin else is better go ahead with it' that comes after every suggestion.

I could have told him that Bangalore was as easily accessible as Chennai and is almost the same distance from my hometown. I could have told him that I could shift to Chennai after working somewhere else for a year… or another umpteen number of reasons. I could have asked him whether it was Chennai that he meant, or any place that is as near as Cehnnai. But, I could not tell him anything. I mean, I did not.

And that’s the answer for Why Chennai?
My parents want me to be in Chennai.
Could be an irrational decision for others. Not for me.

Day 33 - Engum Ta Mil Ethilum Ta Mil - 1

After the entertainment tax relief for Tamil films, the Tamilnadu Government might even announce tax relief to all Corporates who get their employees to talk only in Tamil. If this happens, a typical conversation between two software engineers who meet after a long time would be…

ஏ, நண்பா எப்படி செய்து கொண்டிருக்கிறாய்?

நான் நன்றாக இருக்கிறேன் மானிடா.

அதனால், மேலே என்ன இருக்கிறது மானிடா?

ஒன்றுமே இல்லயடா மனிதா. எதுவுமே நடக்க மாட்டேன் என்கிறது மானிடா.

நீளமான நேரம். இல்லை பார்வை.

ஆமாம் நண்பா… நிறைய அலுவலடா, உனக்கு தெரியும்.

அதனால என்ன நடக்கிறது, உன் காதல் முன்னாடியில்?

முன்னேற்றமே இல்லை. நேற்று கூட ஒரு பெண்ணிற்காக விழுந்தேன். அவளை அடிக்க பார்த்தேன். அவள் என்னை அறைந்தாள். அதனால் இப்பொது மீண்டும் முதல் சதுரத்திற்கே வந்துவிட்டேன்.

ஓ என் கடவுளே! ஓரு பெண்ணால் அடிக்கப்பட்டாயா!! சரி போன வருடம் நீ ஒரு பெண்ணுடன் வெளியே போய் கொண்டிருந்தாயே, சரியா, என்னாச்சு?

நாங்கள் மேல் உடைத்து ஒரு வருடம் ஆகி விட்டது.

மாட்டு சாணமே!! நீ உன் மனதுக்கு வெளியே இருக்கிறாய். இதையே தொடர்ந்தாயென்றால், எனக்கு என்ன சொல்வதென்றே தெரியவில்லை.

வாடா மானிடா!!! நானே இதை எளிதாக எடுத்து கொண்டிருக்கிறேன், நீ ஏன் வருந்துகிறாய்? அதை மறந்து விடு. சரி ஒரு முக்கியமான குழு சந்திப்பு இருக்கிறது எனக்கு. இடத்தின் மேல் இருக்கும் ஆண்கள் கூப்பிடுவார்கள். சாவுக்கோடுகளை சந்திக்க வேண்டும். எனவே செல்ல வேண்டியது அவசியமாகிறது. சென்று வருகிறேன்.

கடலா!!

கடலா மானிடா!! தொட்டுக்கொண்டே இரு.

(For the English translation, go to the end of this post)

For those who cant read Tamil,

Yae nanbaa, eppadi seithu kondirukkiraai?
Naan nandraaha irukkiren maanidaa.
Athanaal, Melae enna irukkirathu maanidaa?
Ondrumae illayada maanidaa. Ethuvumae nadakka maataen engirathu maanidaa.
Neezhamaana neram. Illai paarvai.
Aamaam nanbaa… Niraya aluvalada, unakku theriyum.
Athanaala enna nadakkirathu, un kaadhal munnadiyil?
Munnetramae illai. Netru kooda oru pennirkaaha vizhunthaen. Avalai adikka parthen. Aval ennai adithuvittaal. Athanaal ippothu meendum muthal sathurathirkae vanthuvittaen.
O yen kadavulae! Oru pennaal adikkappattayaa!! Sari pona varudam nee oru pennudan veliyae poi kondirunthayaae, sariyaa, ennaachu?
Naangal mael udaithu oru varudam aahi vittathu.
Maattu Saanamae!! Nee un manathukku veliyae irukkiraai. Ithayae thodarthaayendraal, enakku enna solvathendrae theriyavillai.
Vaadaa maanida!!! Naanae ithai ezhithaaha eduthu kondirukkiraen, nee yaen varunthugiraai? Adhai maranthu vidu. Sari oru mukkiyamaana kuzhu santhippu irukkirathu enakku. Idathin mael irukkum aangal koopiduvaargal. Chaavukkodugalai santhikka vaendum. Enavae sella vendiyathu avasiyamaagirathu. Sendru varugiraen.
Kadalaaa!!

Kadalaaa Maanida!! Thottukondae iru.

The English translation would be,

Hey buddy, How are you doing?
I am fine, man.
So, whats up man?
Nothing man. Nothing’s happening.
Long time. No see.
Yes yaar! lots of work, you know!
So whats happening on your love front?
No improvement. Even yesterday I fell for a girl. I tried hitting on her. She slapped me. So now back to square one.
Oh my God! Got slapped by a girl!! Ok, last year you were going around with a girl right, what happened?
It has been one year since we broke up.
Bull shit!! You are out of your mind. If you continue this, I don’t know what to say..
Common man!! Even I am taking it easy, why are you worrying? Forget it. Ok, I have to go for an important meeting. Onsite guys will call. Have to meet deadlines. So, Got to go. Bye.
Cyaa..
Cyaa. Man. Be in touch.

Day 32 - Deewana Bana De

For life to be interesting, you should make fun of others. You should be made fun of. Else life becomes too bland.

- Leo da Mirci in his book “ A recipe to failure - how to make bland dishes”.

A small imagination of what would happen if cricketers enter into Bollywood. A bit long. Forgive me if it is boring.

Pre-Script:

Sony Set Max’s viewership increased by a huge number during the ICC Champions trophy. Sony Max feels that its Extraa Innings featuring Rohit Roy, Shonali Nagrani and Mandira Bedi (who till a few days back thought that 20-20 is a game played with 20 players on each side) was a huge hit across the country. The channel claims that adding Filmi Flavour to cricket was one of the most important reasons for this increase in viewership (another important reason being Mandira Bedi’s costume designer). “The channel has plans to add cricket to entertainment too”, says Charu Sharma on behalf of Sony Max.

Current Scenario - The Background: (too much of B-School pressure => headings)

After the recent defeat in the ICC Champions trophy, the dismal performance in ODIs in South Africa, and the bashing it is getting from all quarters the entire Indian team is dejected. The Board of Sony thinks that this is the right time to get the cricketers into the entertainment domain. Sony plans to produce a movie with the Cricketers as the main cast. It sends a team (of a few cricketers dropped for the SA series) headed by Charu Sharma to South Africa to talk to the captain, Rahul Dravid & the current players regarding the new venture. Rahul after a bit of convincing, agrees to talk to the team about the new venture. Most of the team members feel that their ad revenues will drop after the South African tour. They think that the only other way to earn revenues would be to be a part of Bollywood (they never think of practicing). So the team agrees to be a part of the movie. A meeting of the Indian team members is convened to discuss and decide upon the plot and the actors.

Venue: The Indian dressing room South Africa

The entire team (with Greg Chappell) enters the dressing room..

Rahul Dravid: Welcome gentlemen!!!

Munaf Patel to RP Singh: Isnt he the gentleman?

Rahul Dravid(hearing some murmuring): Who is that talking? You know guys. I want perfect discipline here. This is a crucial meeting for all of us. Please stop talking.
Gentlemen, we are all here to discuss about the plot of the movie and the roles we will be taking up. You know guys, I have got good news for you. Steven Spielberg has agreed to direct the movie. Chappell will be the Assistant Director. It will be fun, don’t you think so?

Harbhajan: Captain, Pehle yeh bolo, yeh Steapen Spealebergu kaun hai?(first tell me!! who is this Steapen Spealebergu?)

Rahul Dravid(to Bhajji): Bhajji pehle yeh bolo. Why haven’t you tied your hair? First tie you hair... The SGPC is waiting for you!!! This happens always, have Royal whisky at night, forget to tie your hair and get into controversies!!!

Rahul Dravid(to the team): Ok guys. Lets first decide on the hero. Whoever wants to be a hero please raise your hands.
(All hands raise)

Rahul Dravid(to himself): Now raise you hands , when I call for practice switch off your mobiles.
Rahul Dravid(to the team): See not everybody can be the hero, you know. Please tell me one by one, why you should be the hero. Lets do it in the batting order… Sehwag start!

RP Singh to Munaf Patel: Arre this is unfair!! Humko chance nahi milega (We will not get a chance)
Munaf Patel to RP Singh: Abey chup. Yeh batting order jalti collapse ho jayega. (Dude, shut up. You don’t know about our batting order. They will all collapse soon. We will get more time to speak than the entire top order put together.)

Sehwag(ready for his speech): Guys, with my new funky hair style(?) I’ll become a heartthrob among the girls.. Aarthi often says that I look too good. Moreover, people have seen me as a hero in the Hero Honda Ad. So that would help too. The number of fans I have is increasing you know!

Munaf Patel to RP Singh: Yes even his size keeps on increasing day by day… The only thing that is decreasing is his average!!! By the way he has no hair on his head... Why does he call it a hairstyle?
RP Singh to Munaf Patel: Ha ha!! You’re right!! Munaf, tell me - how can he become a hearththrob among girls?
Munaf Patel to RP Singh: Arre yaar, Kenya mein Odumbe bhi Hero hai!!! (Hey dude in Kenya, even Odumbe is a hero)
(Both laugh silently)

Rahul Dravid: Ok. Sehwag thanks. Now Sachin… start!!!
(Everybody turns towards Sachin and find him sleeping)

Rahul Dravid(in a loud voice): Sachin.. stop sleeping and say something.
(Pathan wakes Sachin up)

Sachin(half asleep – hears only the words “say something”): Thanks Ravi, the pitch was flat and the ball was coming on to the bat. I thought if I could stay till the end overs, it would be good for the team. I might waste hundred balls to move from 99 to 100 but still I consider myself playing for the team and nobody should criticize me. Because I am Sachin. Main kaun hoon? Mera tennis elbow kahan hai?

Rahul Dravid(shouts): Sachin!! Sachin wake up!!! Tell me why you want to be a hero…

Sachin(awake now): Oh!!! Sorry Dravid… Had a bad dream. Coming to the hero point, you can see that even if I don’t play well I will be in the team and people come to watch me. Similarly, I thought even if I don’t act well everybody will watch my films. I thought I have more fans than anybody else in the country (excluding Thalaivar Rajnikanth, of course). I have acted in more ad films than all of you put together. So given my past experience ….

Chappell (interrupts): Sachin… stop talking about your past experience. Only current performance will be taken into account in my film. What do you say Rahul?

Rahul Dravid: Whatever you say sir!!! (to himself - Why would I risk saying something? I know your proficiency in writing letters to the BCCI. There are people waiting in the BCCI office to leak the letters to the press. I am a gentleman, Mr. Chappell; but a clever gentleman, you *&^%$#)
(Suddenly there is a loud noise in the room; Sourav, Azhar, Jadeja and Sidhu enter into the room shouting “Ooh aah India Aaya India!!”)

Charu Sharma: Why are you people late for the meeting?? Hey, Sidhu!!! I read that you are in jail…

Sidhu: No, Charu. I was on bail. Not in jail. The difference between jail and bail is as good as the difference between the poor and the rich. All that makes the difference is a bit of money!!! Anyways, Hi everybody… It is good to be here for the meeting! This place is excellent!!! The feeling of being in the dressing room is as good as a vegetarian having chicken pox. You have chicken in you and you don’t have to eat it. And what more!!! You still remain a vegetarian.

RP Singh to Munaf Patel: What does that mean?
Munaf Patel to RP Singh: I am sure even he does not understand what he says!! Don’t ever try to ask him.. He will reply with another one of his Sidhuisms!!

Azhar: Hi boys!!(I love calling you so) It has been a long time since I met you. I have been busy in my gym… Boys, I want to be frank. I hate the movie world. Because Sangeeta hates it. But boys, I can book tickets for any movie for you people. I have lot of bookie contacts you know!!! One more thing boys…I wanted to meet Gibbs in South Africa… I heard that he has been avoiding me. Boys if you can find him please tell him that...

Sourav(interrupting Azhar): Azzu!! Enough!! lets not call them boys any more…They are all grown ups now..(in a low voice - I helped these *$%^& grow up in the team and look at my fate now) Hey guys, how are you!! It is your Dada… I missed you so much. And you know what? In my leisure time at home I prepared a plot for the movie (instead of playing the Ranji trophy). I have got a very good story for the movie. Let me narrate to you the story.

Charu Sharma: Make it short, Dada. We are already short of time.

Sourav(angry): How dare you use the word short in my presence? You know how much I hate short ones. I have even stopped wearing shorts!! Ok leave that. Let me tell you the crux of the plot in detail (??)

This is the story of a guy who is the king..hmm….let us say the Prince of Bollywood!!! All the movies he acts in as the hero are big hits. Many new actors get a chance to act because of him. He forms his own team, and uses the same cast/crew in all his movies; even the director and producer are the same. Once on a foreign shooting schedule, the hero fights against a few Englishmen. Half way through the fight the hero gets out injured. Believing that nothing can save his team, start his prayers at the Lords; somehow, his friends display lots of courage, fight till the end and defeat the Englishmen. Charu, you know, here we can have a song with my shirts off…just like Salman does in all his movies!!! Everybody in the country is now a fan of the hero.

And then comes the tragic part of the movie - this winning combination does not last for long. One day, his director Mr. Right falls ill and leaves India. The producer Dalmiya also loses money and power. The new producer comes in and he selects a new director. Problems crop up between our hero and the new director. A few movies flop and the director wants the hero to be replaced. He does not want to give him even a small role in the movie. As usual, the people of West Bengal (who oppose anything that is good for the country) oppose our hero’s removal too. They want him back as the hero; or at least in a small role in the movie. But nobody listens to what they say, as usual. Our Prince now sits down in his house watching old movies he has acted in.

Let us end it here, with a note saying how great people are ill treated in India!!! We in Bengal love tragic endings. Lets spread this phenomenon across the world. What do you say Charu? How is my story?

RP Singh to Munaf Patel: May be at the end of the movie we can have Sourav in a Pepsi ad saying “Mera naam Sourav Ganguly hai. Bole tho nahi…Jo hua, kyun hua, kaise hua. Yeh sab soch ke dhukh bhi hotha thaa; ghussaa bhi aatha thaa. Par ab nahi. Main bollywood mae vaapous aane keliyae bahut bahut (dance) practice kar raha hoon. Kya maalum… heronies ke saath shirtless dance karne kaa mujhe aur ek moka mil jaaya. Jo bhi ho… bollywood ka andhar ya baahar..main chup bhaitnawaala nahi.. ooh aah..ouch.. iodex!!! aa yaa iodex. bollywood ke har movie ka fight scene mae main aise hi chill aaongaa. Aap bhi chillaayaengae.. mere team ko iodex zaroori hai… mere team ko acha lagaega… apni dada ki baat suneginaa?”
(Munaf Patel laughs out loud and everybody turns back)

Sidhu: Look!!! this kid is laughing when the Prince is speaking. This is what the Indian team lacks. Dsicipline!! I am telling you.. (Sign board for adults below adult level - Censored Sidhuism ahead) This is like a married couple playing handball. The guy doesn’t end up screwing his wife unless he first gets his hands on the ball. (Puritanists who just read the above line can now go see your Parish priest)

Jadeja (in a low voice to Sidhu): Sherry, see Sonali Chander is the only person in the world who can understand what we both speak…and nobody else cares about our comments!!! So shut up..

Rahul Dravid: Ok ok.. You know guys. This is not taking us anywhere.. Let us decide the heroine first…
(Voices heard) Sangeeta, Nagma, Kim Sharma, Sania Mirza, Shilpa Shetty, Dimple Kapadia, Yuvraj Singh!!!

Charu(interrupts): No No No!!! Peace people...Shanthi Shanthi...The heroine is already decided. Anything with Sony & cricket it will always be Mandira who is the heroine. We have even decided on a few promotions with Mandira’s champions trophy clips..

Munaf Patel to RP Singh: May be they should use the clip where Mandira asked Tony Grieg “Tony!!! now that Gilchrist is injured, whom do you think will open the fielding for South Africa?” Can you believe it? Mandria is the heroine!!! Yeh comedy movie hai kya??

Charu(continues): And we would better have our captain as the hero. Sony Max has a plot. Since the team cannot come to a conclusion we will go with our own plot.…

The movie revolves around the India-Pakistan rivalry. Pakistan plans to destroy India. Since they cant win anything face to face, they use one more of their cheap tactics. They send drug dealers to India. Pakistan wants to create a huge drug market in India and supply drugs to the Indian Army. They come up with an intelligent plan(by Pakistan’s standards) that they would attack India when the Indian soldiers are all on drugs (???). They send their main drug dealer to India. You know, with his knowledge of drugs, Shoaib would be perfect for this role. Against him is the captain of the Indian Army, Rahul.

Rahul consults the eternal captain of India, Vijaykanth to find out where the terrorists hide. Vijaykanth with his widespread experience in this area(14 films, 2 guest roles & a terrorist capture count of 149) helps Rahul identify and gun down all the terrorist drug dealers. Somehow Shoaib escapes with a few others.

In the climax Shoaib comes down running all the way from Pakistan to hit Rahul. Rahul stops him with one finger and Shoaib falls down right under Dravid’s feet. There he lies under Dravid’s feet, unable to move just like a cricket ball. Shoaib loses all his energy and returns back to Pakistan and starts running again. Meanwhile Rahul beats all other drug dealers, the first man, second man, third man etc.. one by one..As he usually does, Rahul hits their balls (towards the point area), pulls them, lifts them over the head and flicks them finally, making sure that all these guys reach the ropes!!! By that time, Shoaib reaches India. However, he is unable to fight against Rahul as he gets injured because of running too much…You know, Shoaib would be the best choice for this role… He even has the experience of acting injured!!!

(The door opens and somebody in a Sony SET Max T-shirt gives Charu a note)…

Charu(after reading the note - in a sad voice): Sorry friends…Maa Prem Ritambhara, our official tarot card reader has predicted that this movie would be a super hit. So the Sony Executive Board is pretty sure that this movie will be a big flop. They are no longer financing the movie…..(after a pause) It has been dropped. I am extremely sorry friends..The meeting has to end now..

(All cricketers are so dejected and start moving)

Sidhu(shouts at the top of his voice): I cant believe this!!! Sony Max is behaving like a pizza delivery guy who loves his job. Even if his wife gets pregnant he would want to deliver the baby!!! And you know what…If you push Geoffrey Botcott into a pool of....

(All cricketers start running as Sidhu starts one more of his Sidhuisms.)

The end.

Day 31 - Friends are not forever...

Writing this blog made me realize how much I miss my friends; I mean those really close ones!!!

We all have friends…. At all levels, kinder garden, middle school, high school, graduation, post graduation and so on….But why do you still want to go back home and have a look at the small playground where you played cricket?

At 25, at post graduation level – you have friends who are close but they are still far… Here there are very few people who are so close to you, very few people whom you can trust and very few people you prefer to be with. You smile at everybody, laugh with everyone, seem to have a good time with everyone but still there is always this nagging feeling that if you were given a choice you would have chosen someone else. The competition is tough(not so tough though) that there is every possibility that everyone’s true self will be revealed some time or the other. And it hurts when it is revealed. You do not want it to be… There are always some truths that better remain hidden… But you still cannot avoid knowing that your friend thinks that you are competition and that there is the other friend who speaks behind your back. You stop speaking out your heart for the sake of being diplomatic. You put a mask to your face and smile at them everyday, justifying it by saying that life at the corporate level is going to be the same… A line is drawn with friends, even with close friends… It says what questions can be asked, how one should behave and the rules involved in the friendship. It becomes a kind of a contract, a contract which gives benefits to both the parties…

But, but only a few years ago it was so nice…..

Just think of those days, when you just thrashed out the guy who made fun of you and the friend who supported you immediately without even thinking for a moment. There were no stakes involved and there was nothing to lose. You could just tell anybody on their face that he was committing a mistake. You were allowed to hate people and announce it to everybody. You always had the feeling that there were friends with you and they are going to be with you till the end of life. Think of the number of times you told your heart, “Why are my parents controlling me.. One day I will stay with my friends”. You planned to open a shop together and live happily… There were people who were actually close to you… You can still remember those places you had gone together, the girls you followed daily, the bus which took you back to school, the first day film shows and parotta stalls where you never went Dutch…The kuttichuvar which was yours, the place where you go back and sit atleast once and watch the small boys playing during your holidays… Remember you were all divided into teams, played cricket among yourselves daily and then suddenly one day you realized the bonding among yourselves when you played together against another team…There are these people whom you actually care for…Those people whom you first call when you are trying not to cry… call them up and start crying but still do not feel ashamed about…Those people whose voice would bring you instant energy… Those people whose “sorry “ really meant something…The only ones whom you called up the day your itinerary back home is decided and said, “Makka I am coming home in December..Come da”. Those people who are the first ones you call when you go home for your holidays and say “Makka, let us go somewhere da. Oor suthi evlo naalachu”. Those people with whom you can share the darkest secrets…Those people who were with you when money was not a factor… Those friends whose salaries never made you jealous…Those whom you are reminded of when you watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Those people who were really close… Missing them all…

Those times with those friends were all happy moments. All this happiness was in school and college when I did not earn anything , when I did not have money…Now I don’t have that happiness. I do not feel that real sense of happiness even though people think that I am…Is it all because I started earning money? Is it because I have money? No, that is just an excuse. It is not because I have money. It is because I think that it is important for life.