Things Money Can't Buy

Strolling around malls in Delhi can be extremely depressing when you don’t have enough money to satisfy your desires. But still while you are bored…these seem to be the only getaway.

One such day…..amidst the glittering lights, shining floors and explicitly decorated shops I suddenly realized the importance of things which MONEY cannot buy. It was not because of the beauty of these malls that it is thronged my such a large number of people. It is the company and quality time spent with one’s near and dear ones which makes these hangouts so special.
So….after a long (really long!!!) hibernation…..I resume my blogging with a post on ‘Friends’ (obv not the TV series.)

Friends are of many kinds. There are those who are from your primary school. As you go along you keep making friends at each and every stage of your life. You also tend to lose some in the process, perhaps just by the passage of time. Friends in college also can be put under the same category. Then there are friends we talk to only on gtalk. Even better are friends we have never met….these are some of our beloved friends from Orkut and FB.

So what makes a friend just a friend or a good friend…a best friend or ‘just friends’ :P. Is it the shear amount of time spent together??or is it the interests we share with each other. Is there even a set parameter for this!!!
I consider myself to be a good observer of people and my experience with people has been memorable, that being an understatement. I must say that I have been lucky to have my best friends as my childhood friends (let’s call them chaddi yars :D). These are guys I have spent my entire life with considering the fact that we have been friends since class 2. Same school and society is what resulted in me spending time with them almost equal in amount compared to my family members. So this set is one wherein we spend the maximum time together, automatically sharing our views, success, failures blah blah….resulting in a max of all the available sane parameters.

But what about others. You might have spent a lot of time together but then haven’t spoken for years and do not feel a void. I seem to come across numerous people in this category…I have spent good amount of quality time with them but today I am indifferent towards their absence. On the contrary, as I had stated earlier, even after being with someone for a few hours that too on very few occasions might make you feel that person’s presence indispensible. Same can happen with our special gtalk friends. We might not talk to them in person or on phone but feel good talking to them by sharing our thoughts over the messenger.

I come back to the question I posted earlier……what makes/helps us categorise friends???
Well….I believe it is just about feeling good about the person. Being honest and shedding ones inhibition, both ways, is perhaps vital. Faith (which is predominantly based on inferences drawn from unintentional-continuous evaluation) and Fun then seem to be the mantra for friendship. Again…it is just a necessity…not a sufficient condition. Conditions such as interests, presence at the right place at the right time etc etc do create a huge impact in deciding which way the relationship goes.

To conclude…all I would say is friends are an integral and important part of our lives ( atleast mine) …so let’s not lose our good friends and remember Faith and Fun!!!

P.S.: Would have loved to name all my close friends but just did not want to get into trouble in case I forget to mention some ;)

Experience of a lifetime.

‘Next up are Venkatesh and Chaitanya ..............’ these are the words which still echo in my ears.

VENUE: THE SIRI FORT AUDITORIUM,NEW DELHI

EVENT: ESPN SCHOOL QUIZ DELHI ROUND

DATE: 22^ND OCTOBER,2003

The previous night I had a short sleep....partly due to the anxiousness and a bit because I had to report early at school.It was a good 1 hour my partner and I were made to wait before the school could arrange for a vehicle, something which was supposed to be done beforehand. So we already had a bad start,one doesn’t need them on such occations. Nevertheless the driver was a usual one ...went at an outrageous speed......and we were on time..:).

The atmosphere was electric to say the least.I had been to various quizzes before,but this was different. Schools had their cheering squads....and the auditorium resembled a sports arena...full of noise and enthusiasm. After about 15 mins,between which we interacted with some of the other teams,came the quiz master....the one...the only....Harsha Bhogle.Boy!!!The participants, teachers and the cheering squads all went beserk. The sound effects added a great deal to the already mindblowing environment.

First up was the written round to select a dozen teams from the capital, rest go back home. Though we did not think we had done the round well, we cleared the round with great ease and stepped into the first of the two semi finals.That was when the first line of this blog was said by Mr.Bhogle.....it was an amazing feeling to be called up in front of a huge audience.

I vividly remember our semi final......before it began,I was trembling with nervousness, a big stage and on top of that....we had Mr Bhogle as the quiz master. But as the show progressed I got sure of the fact that I performed my best when under pressure. I answered the crucial questions cementing a place for ourselves in the finale.

The finale was a long one. The top 6 teams battling it out to become the Delhi champions.I must say that it was quite a tiring finale....difficult questions.....several rounds...an ultimate test of concentration and knowledge. All the teams were going on well, untill the last few rounds,which started creating huge gaps. We messed up everything when I jumped the gun on an occation and before anyone’s reaction I myself knew I had made a big blunder.......we finished 4^th but more importantly...entered the TV round.

It was November 14^th,2003.

A typical November(cold) morning in Delhi.

Our wait was finally over. We were at the ESPN studios.

With our make-up done we were all ready for our TV round.I had faced the camera before, but that was Doordarshan......and there was a world of difference between the two channels.Right from the studio to the camera work to the instructions given to us....everything was so very professional here unlike our previous experience at DD.

So,here we were in front of Harsha Bhogle again .....all set for the cameras to roll. The first thing I realised is that the atmosphere there was totally different from home,where I had watched the previous editions of this quiz show and had becaome addicted to it . Every answer of mine was under scrutiny here, unlike home where if I was wrong....I was wrong, that’s it.

We started off quite well, were quick on the buzzer. The shoot went on very quickly.....we had our ups and downs, but eventually went down by a whisker. It was painfull to loose by a margin of one question....heart broken we came out.....dissapointment written all over our face. After we had a chat with the director,producers and Mr Bhogle.....we left the place.

Though we returned empty handed(apart from some goodies.) , this journey was perhaps my greatest learning experience. The highs and lows taught us a lot......

When I look back now......I wish I could turn back time.

Where's it going to end???

This morning I was revisiting my school life.All the time spent with friends,teachers and so many others.......time has ticked away quite quickly......didn't even realise it.

For many reasons I believe that my school life started from class 6.Perhaps it was after this stage that I got the opportunities to prove myself.Grabbed some with both my hands and some just slipped by.But life was cool or rather kool!!!

Confidence is something which can make a world of difference.I have seen myself performing much better when my self confidence is higher. It can turn the tables........which is exactly what happened.Class 6 was when I transformed from an average to a good student,and that too purely on confidence.Somehow I felt obtaining marks wasn't that herculean a task!!!

So life carried on..........'twas full of joys and sorrows,success and failures.

Quizzing was something I started loving in this period......made to couple of national quizzes as well..........just wish I could turn back time.

But one thing always puzzles me........when in class 10,we are told to study hard and are given the assurance that life would be great after that!!!
The same is said for all the exams there onwards......be it the class 12 boards or the IIT-JEE........
so where does it end???When do I really settle down.......or does anyone settle down???
Even after clearing the JEE,here I am not sure where life's taking me!!!The struggle still continues,with a different objective,comrades,environment.....

So what is it that we wish to obtain???Is it money??Fame??Respect??or something else..
and where does one stop??...coz there's absolutely no limit on the extent to which one wants to go....
As I pondered over the issue.....I kinda realised that it is all about the pursuit of happiness.....everything we do is to satisfy ourselves,our needs,aspirations,emotions and so on.

Oh God.....am I going too far ahead with life.......
is it better to take one step at a time???
Well after pondering over it for so long....I still have nothing concrete........apart from a blog which I share with you......
so the journey continues...the pursuit of happiness continues.....unless I find someone who could enlighten me on this phenomena.....

Bye

Uniquely Singapore!!!

So,here I am,in Singapore............uniquely Singapore.
It has about 15 days...and boy....I absolutely adore this place.Be it the roads,markets,people..........anything and everything here is lovely(apart from the food courts,which smell BAD.....esp for veggies like me!!!).
So this blog is dedicated all my activities in the land of the merlion.Be it the visit to various malls,travelling in the MRT(metro rail)...or my daily jog.

I landed at this place on the 2nd of June..........for my second trip here.
What is strikingly different here(compared to India) is the discipline and honesty which the people here posses.These qualities though sound simple.....but believe me....are extremely difficult to execute.And as a result life here is comfortable and extremely organised.Basic amenities aren't something you would have to long for.The public transport system is also makes travelling an enjoyable experience.

Oh ya.....I have to come to this before I forget.
I had the opportunity of visiting one of the libraries governed by the Singapore govt.
It was love at first sight for me.To see a public library have such a vast collection of books and disks was somethin I didn't expect.In addition you also have computers for usage and coffee joints which make the library a great place to be in.The return and issue of books is also extremely convenient.Above all,the membership is dirt cheap(for permanant residents and citizen).Oh man,I wish we had such libraries in India..!!!

Visit to malls is something which is a never ending task.There are so many malls all around and all of them sprawling several acres........and most of them being almost the same(my point of view,for those who love shopping-its heaven)!!!

and ya.......I have starting jogging vigorously these days in the morning.The track is awesome and seeing so many people,of all age groups,trying their best to be fit.....inspired me a great deal.

Well I can go on and on........but,all good things have to come to an end ;).
I'll be here for another 8-10 days,let's see how much more can I learn about this place.
Simply LOVE Singapore.
bye for now
Cheers.

IPL LEAGUE????

The IPL is back and with it.......the T20 fever.This year,the IPL marks the start of the T20  season(though it is supposed to be the end of a cricket season!!) .That is because it is followed by the T20 World Cup in June.

So......the team owners are again on a mission.Apart of keeping a close look at the players and their performance,they are also leaving no stone unturned to publicise their respective teams among the junta.Have a look at the malls.I had visited a few malls couple of days ago....and was surprised to find the Delhi Daredevils promotion going on.The publicity also seems to be more than last year,may be because of the events shift to SA.

But if you ask me,this year's IPL hasn't been up to the mark.To start with,the HOME-AWAY funda has vanished.I know that the arrangements were made in a hurry...but c'mon,where is the regional rivalry we expected from the IPL.

Another annoying aspect is the commentary.Though the MAX team does have esteemed commentators....but somehow they have been BAD..simple as that.For example........when there is a huge 6 hit....the guy shouts"that's a DLFer".I absolutely respect the fact that DLF has paid huge sums of money.......but does that mean a 6er would be called a DLFer????

The most annoying piece of commentary came from Ravi Shastri.....he always says"IPL league"..........why doesn't someone tell him that IPL is Indian Premier LEAGUE....and that he need not add a 'LEAGUE' to it again and again.GOD!!It is so very irritating.The same guy also called the Rajasthan Royals as "Kings Royals" at the toss!!!

Add to this the quality of fielding displayed by players from across the globe.....right from Sudeep Tyagi,a rookie from Ghaziabad playing for Chennai to Brendon McCullum,the KKR captain and an international star......all have dropped sitters.In fact many of my friends suggest that there ought to be a Yellow cap for dropping the maximum number of catches......

For all this....and perhaps more reasons(which I do not remember off hand!!) this year's IPL seems to be a bit dull than last year....and also because it was expected to  be better than the last edition.At least I thought so.......

I believe I might be a bit too harsh on the people I have criticised and perhaps I am exaggerating tiny loopholes,,,but I hope that after I have pointed out these you would feel the same pinch as I felt the first time around....

Untill I come up with my next post........ENJOY.............the IPL!!!!

ALAS,I GET THE TIME!!!!

Finally the exams are over and I can do the things i want to do....things which had to be done last summer........some ofcourse are fresh ideas evolving out from life her at IITK.
One of them.....which has been postponed for quite some time now is blogging.
So here I am!!!
For the past 4-5 hrs...i have thinking of topics which would apt for my first blog........topics which would make good read...infact great read..........but in vain.Then I saw the tagline of one my freinds on facebook.....about something which happened about 6-8 hrs bck........believe me....'twas worse than a nightmare.
Well what was it????
The one,theonly 'batti' endsem exam............goodness me.......not in my wildest of imaginations did I think that RKB(our prof.) would throw up somehting like this.It was a great sight.......IITians,considered to be the best brains in this country,being ripped apart.........the only regret though....I was one of them!!!

The exam though aptly potrayed my first year here at IITK.Wanted to do so much.....did very little...and to add to it........BAD acad records.Life here has not been great...especially compared to the kinnd of expectations one has after clearing JEE.
But nevertheless...........somewhere there has to be new beginning.....and hopefully this summer is the one.It would perhaps be the time when I would be able to gather that courage and confidence all over again.................

Hmmmmmm........I have written a lot which I shouldn't have....but still once written.....'let it be'.

Would surely write more in the vacations............
cya.