Art of Acceptance & Appreciation

I aimed to soar high in the sky; I realized I had no wings. I learnt the Art of acceptance.
I looked forward to walk; today I can run. I learnt the art of appreciation.

I wanted to dive deep down in the sea and swim; I realized I was not a fish. I learnt the art of acceptance.
I started to read for amusement, today I read for knowledge. I learnt the art of appreciation.

I dreamt of toy house and ginger bread house, I realized life is not a fairy tale. I learnt the art of acceptance.
I longed for a happy family; I was blessed with compassionate family. I learnt the art of appreciation.

I dreamt of cruising the world, I realized I was no captain. I learnt the art of acceptance.
I feared the stage; today I face the crowd. I learnt the art of appreciation.

I solved math to be an engineer, I realized it was too complex. I learnt the art of acceptance.
I took up business administration; I became a successful HR. I learnt the art of appreciation.

I dreamt of making life in a country far, I realized it is beyond reach. I learnt the art of acceptance.
I dreamt for a home, I live under parents’ care and family of comforts. I learnt the art of appreciation.

I called for a long holiday on a distant Island; I realized it was too far. I learnt the art of acceptance.
I sought indulgence; I enjoy the comfort. I learnt the art of appreciation.

I feared wrong decisions,I made many. I learnt the art of acceptance.
I set out to become a strong individual, I gathered courage to face the world. I learnt the art of appreciation.

I wished for un-compromised friendships, I found new, but I lost many good. I learnt the art of acceptance.
I looked for love, found it bountiful. I learnt the art of appreciation.

I longed for friendship; in him I found love. I learnt the art of appreciation.


I hope to forget the past of life’s experiences that taught me as the art of acceptance.
I wish to cherish the moments which life brings in the form of appreciations.

Life is not a bed of Roses. While it taught me the art of acceptance, it also made me realize the value of appreciation.

Me and My cooking experience

Culinary art I suppose is one of the god’s gifts to all those great cooks of the world. The list surely would top with my mothers name followed by my whole array of aunts, uncles and cousins, who are not only experts in getting the authentic Iyengar Cusine right for those perfect taste buds, who are all well versed with those buttery Panneer butter masala and those crispy gobi manchuriens.

Well for someone like me, cooking is not only an art but rocket science if I may term it. I would prefer more into analysis as to why hp/Compaq merger did not work or rather understand the market behavior during the slowdown, may be to do a little more justice to my profession I prefer to exercise my brain on how to train cross functional teams.

Well now that my wedding is planned for late February, there is enough pressure for the D day, to add a little more spice to this is, one hell a statement from all “Learn Cooking” This source of statement comes from all possible channels right from my mother to my fiancé who knows my culinary expertise is an absolute zilch. Well every time I hear that I feel like yelling to the sky “Why me??” Every time I try to ponder for an answer through various source I get to hear various hilarious response in my head ( my opinion)

Girls should know cooking; - My brain is already questioning “What about the opposite sex?” They sit and eat??? Well I love to as well.

It’s important that every Indian woman know cooking so husbands are happy- the next I can imagine is a TV ad where a happy family is portrayed while newly wed wife is serving her husband and mother in law eating in all silence, while husband gives some hard core exercise to his taste buds and tries to break the silence while saying “ Tumahara Kaana , Maa ke haath ke Kaana se accha hain” ( Your cooking is more tastier then mom cooking) While the Wife blushes and mom all shocked the camera rolls to the oil she uses.
I try to relate this, and then I get horrified, I can never do this! I say to myself “Hey I don’t need a certificate for being a good cook!” I'm not a foodie by nature, but I certainly would need an edible stubance for food.

Well before I lose the essence of this blog let me share my most awaited sought after experience of the day. The day could not have started more perfect rather imperfect after the aftermath of my experience. I wake up to the call of the milk man, get my self a sizzling hot cuppa well brewed coffee( I did my own) and sit back and relax savoring the aroma. Then my phone rings, mom on the other end, we exchange quick talks and few important stuff, later goes the instructions “ Keep the Rava Idly Batter ready by the time I am back home” Well I know this is my chance to learn the great skill and I readily agree and pounce on it.
Once I am done with my daily routine, I realize I have ample time to even make my breakfast and follow this instruction from mom; I set my self to make the most basic south Indian breakfast the great good old upma. And my upma is ready in straight 4 mins thanks to the makers of microwave and MTR for coming up with instant dishes.
Well fortunately for me the Upma is not only edible but also good to taste, my sister gobbles up the entire chunk on my pestering and dashes out… alas now I am left with no breakfast.

The speed of my learning adds to the motivation and I say to myself, why wait for amma to make the idly, I can bake them myself while I set my self to do it. After the entire process is complete I go back and open my book on “ How to Manage Cross Functional Teams”, while on the stove my Idlys are getting baked ( I assume) 15 mins up, I go, turn down the stove and carefully place the cooker on the all polished granite slab! My Fiance calls in to check how the day is faring, I answer the call with all excitement to update him on my new initiative he calls me responsible and flowers all the good praises on me !
All is fine till here, I am happy, my mood is good; I know I can survive the tales of married life.
Then there is big horror in store for me, I open the lid only to find my last two trays are no longer idlys, my last try is a watery idly soup while my second tray is a full fledged idly cake while only my top tray appears like what looks like Idly’s…. as I clean up the mess. I think on how to get the damn thing right and what went wrong, while I fail to hit the answer, my mom shows up at the door and say’s I was all right except that the water level in the stem container was a little high. Now this is something to learn.

I go back to my book on cross functional teams, as I flip the pages( I know I am not able to concentrate) I think back on all that happened, horrors grip me, I am totally flabbergasted.. .“How will I manage the great iyengar cuisine? Will I be ever able to mix the pulliyogere in its right proportions, I question myself. At this rate I wouldn’t even come anywhere close to making stuff like koolambu, kootu and keraiamdu my daily basic food which involves list of masalas and hard core processes.

Management processes are a lot more simpler then the cooking process you can be assured of that.

Then I wonder how women manage both cooking and work. There are series of unrelated question hitting my mind, without waiting for a minute I go back and put the book on the shelf while I pull out the book on Authentic Iyengar Cuisine…..I know lot of effort has to be built- in for me to achieve the level of mastery that my folks have been tagged with. With detered hope I enter the world of kitchen… invoking the blessing of Nala know for his culinary expertise.

Stock Taking!!! Its been a month ....

Its been a month since I last updated the blog

Its been a month since my old boss left and new one came!

Its been a month since I dedicated some time for myself

Its been a month of crazy travelling

Its been a month , I flew to Bangalore from Madurai booking my tickets at half past twelve in the midnight on the day of travel

Its been a month since I spoke some nice words to people who love me!

Its been a month since I learned something new

Its been a month of un-upgraded knowledge

Its been a month of hard work

Its been a month of peace and tranquility

Its been a month , my brother flew out and flew into the country

Its been a month of fights, misunderstandings and makeups

Its been a month of good and healthy discussions

Its been a month since I watched a good movie

Its been a month since my loved ones visited me

Its been a month of good shopping

Its been a month of spending good money on things essential and things unimportant

Its been a month of some search which i know not

Its been a month of mixed emotions, mixed feelings

Its been a month and now I am waiting for my payslip!

Days have passed with hopes of tomorrow dawning, there has been a mix of good and unpleasant things but hope still lies in these eyes to see a better tomorrow!

Beyond Imperfection

** Thoughts have just been spilt! There is utter randomness in this piece of write up, you may choose to ignore this post. Its my sheer frustration taking absurd shape.

Well, Its been quiet a while since I last posted! Is it that I am too busy with work that I have no time to post?, Is that i am tied up with life that I have no time for self or is it sheer laziness?

Well I still don't have an answer... While I ponder , there are bubbles of unconnected thoughts that strike the mind.

No! Its not the related answers for the question I started looking for!

Randomly I hit many thoughts,

Why is earth such a beautiful place to live in? Who created it?

God!? Science says Big Bang! but hold on!

Whats the reason for Big Bang? Who or what was behind Big Bang?

Well where did the concept of God come in? We have been all the while in total faith and belief that the person up above does exist in same existence as ours!

Well why is that we cant see him/her? Whats the power?... now its goes unconnected!

What is power? electricity? no! more than that? Qualitative? Quantitative? who was responsible, well we all know how it gets generated! Thanks to the human mind we know how to measure.... May be not completely!

who can define infinity?

I suddenly spurge to India... What about it? Well I am an Indian! So what ?...there are 1 billion+ fellow Indians... No Its not about that...

Its about the people who live in the country and still and not satisfied!

A mode of frustration sets in now! my heart just wants to spill all of those thoughts into words with no connectivity but sheer randomness I start!

I cannot sit through the conversations! - The lunch/dinner/coffee table where people rant about the country they belong to, they live, they survive, still see the sun , moon and the stars! breathe the same air as others...

Well what is that they complain about?

It starts at a very basic level of roads in India, the potholes in the roads?

I now wonder to think, have they ever for once thought how as children they must have enjoyed the joy of seeing a filled pothole after heavy rain?

if we never had potholes we would have never known what a puddle is? We could have never enjoyed our childhood splashing rain water accounted in the puddle, sailing the paper boats made from newspapers and pamphlets!...

so why is potholes and narrow roads such a big issue today and not yesterday, when we grew up in the same lanes playing galli cricket! Lagori! didn't they at that time wonder the roads and by lanes to be narrow? why are they complaing now? Because they have grown up? seen the greener pasture of other lands ? I still don't seem to get answer!

Their next latent crib is issue about infrastructure!

one say over the coffee table " Our cities infrastructure is so bad! There is absolutely no quality of work! See "XYZ" country. Boy , the city is so clean, pure and neat! and our CM says he would transform our city like XYZ! Does he even know what it takes to reach there? even in another 50 yrs we cant!"

So I wonder what is stopping you to try? and what the hell does this person want?

Well ! I know XYZ country is clean, neat and pollution free! what about it now? Does this person know what it takes to build a country which has a heritage of 5000+ years? ruled by thousands of kings and queens and how much it takes to stand together as a country and brave the odds??? Does this person have the faintest idea how many muliticultures exist within this one country? how many ethnic groups we have? Number of existing tribes in our forest? Well so what if the rest of the world think we are snake charmers? still we do earn our bread butter! we still do lead a happy life! we still do have families who care! we still have the same sun, moon and the air! We see day just the way rest of the world see it!

Yea, now the conversation slowly drifts to power! I mean Electricity! The next person now picks up this new idea of electricity! and here goes the rant " hey guys. know what there was no power yesterday evening! its so frustrating to have no power"

Yea! seconds the other! " all the work gets pending, u know i missed the sass bi serial yesterday because of it!"

Now its my turn to think... So what if there is no power? did we not eat because there was no power? did we forget to sleep? so what is the whole issue here? my thoughts jog backward how as a kid i really enjoyed these unscheduled power cuts! it only meant long chats with appa, amma, cousins, aunts and uncles till the power was restored, we sang our way to glory with antakashri's, word buildings, GK quiz... I didn't miss any fun, I was part of it all through!

why is that a power cut today such a big issue? are we so dependent on electricity? cant we survive?

Well answer is we certainly can! Just imagine how people survived centuries back with no power all day and night! I am certain we still can do it if need arises.

Is sass bi serials so important in one's life that you really forget to look beyond it??

Well these rant continues with political carnage, pollution, weather etc etc, I already know I am choking myself and cant afford to sit there any longer! Not that I didn't air my opinion! its only that people fail to look beyond!

Folks, all I want to convey is simple! " To find true happiness, look beyond imperfections! , you will certainly find it!" True Happiness does not exist in Luxury, State of Art Technology... It exist in each heart bundled as moments of bliss, experience it everyday, all through!

Just see and count all the good things we already have!

Instead of being happy and blessed, we rant and crib....Can you do something about it? change the system! Please go ahead and do! we support your cause!

Else if you are helpless like me, at least please don't turn down my country! Remember you still live here, you still breathe here! its your country, Its our country!

We certainly owe quiet a lot to existence and nature!Lets stay blissful!

Life in Earthly Paradise---

Warning
*** Read it at your own risk, the Blog can get really boring!
*** Its just some life experiences and no high intentioned meanings, take away or gyans!
*** It’s a tribute to all those who have made my life beautiful while I know this blog is just not a substitute to feel grateful.
*** Thoughts don’t emerge in order, the flow of writing may not be logical.

There are some memories that cannot be described in words, some that are too trivial to waste words for, some that are too precious to be put to words and some that are so limitless that they cannot be bound by words.

Memoirs from College Days quiet seem to qualify for all these types. Just 3 hours in the College campus had all the memories gushing back with tremendous force. Hitting hard on life’s experiences in the past!
Memories which are invaluable to those which are worthless filled the space, while I enjoyed every bit of Kalayani ( Raga) as it evolved from the singer, so did the past ,once in glory!

As a student I dreaded going to college, the Graduation program. As a reader you might think that “I must be insane to have disliked College Days”, whatever you may want to think, this was a nightmarish phases for me not till I met the eight most beautiful souls. For all I am today I owe due credits to them for making that phase of my life sail smooth through the turbulent waters.

For some strange reason, I opted to pursue pure science (Don’t ask me why, for I don’t know the answer). The very first week in the course I realized the blunder which for no reason at that point could be undone.

The only familiarity at this point to me was the college itself from my stay in past years , its strong grey walls, the sturdy wooden benches while all faced the black board exclusive two benches faced the either sides towards the right or left depending on the class room alignment ( I am not too certain if this tradition of side benches still décor the class rooms in the college),the corridor -in which I had stood barely few months backs flipping through the pages of the text in a vain attempt towards the final preparations either for the lab test or board exams were the only familiar things except a few known faces of college staff.

While the entire janta proceeded either to covet the famous Engineering Degree or Doctors’ I stayed back with hardly any motivation to move on.
The moments only taught me the true meaning and feeling of failure despite clearing the board papers with fairly good grades!
The only solace was the good afternoon siesta which I could get after the classes closed at 12:30 pm.

While few known faces now were my final resort to kill the loneliness which lingered right from the day the course began. The once known faces are now a part life anchoring the bonds of friendship to what it truly means.
They were not from the same class as mine, nor were they from the same department, they were cradled in a completely different streams, came in from a different interest group with different career objective still something clearly bound us together and then started the journey for life time, the winds of north finally changed its direction, for the life became more vibrant, more lively. As they welcomed me to the nest which was built on sheer happiness, fun and love.

Time now seemed to move at a fast pace for me, as I now recall the good old days while each of us would stand by the other in a group, chit chat our heart, while we named every other person in the college be it seniors, juniors, classmates with none to spare from weirdest of names we named for our very own identification purpose from Intro to patch up , from Coffee pudi to Jeans from Sonu to kid namkarana (Naming Ceremony)became part and parcel of our group activity while each one would try to get as creative and logical with the name we could get.
This did not stop just to name others we went a little beyond to name our own would-be families it topped with Nana, nina, avana, ivana and so went on the list of our naming gimmicks.

Each class break would only mean dash to the nearest class just to catch up on the quick talks. The long breaks were always welcome while we shared the breakfast which the mothers would earnestly cook religiously every morning, while we ate the assortment of food from each dabba and shared jokes and each persons days must share tales, time would surpass the allotted hour while each of us dashed to be just in time for the attendance call in our respective class, or just in time before the Prof. came in and closed the door barring entry to the late comers.
Energy levels would be high over the Wall journals with creativity flowing from all the ignited minds in the making of “Minds Eye”.

Bunking class was another classic activity for us. As I managed to bunk the Physics or Math’s lecture with differentiation and integration sounding absolute gibberish to me, while I made it a point to attend Psychology or Journalism during those hours just to have some class room fun. These Prof’s had actually assumed that I belonged to their department and how baffled they were to realize one day I was actually from a totally alien department!

The girls would unanimously choose to bunk any hour if I had a free hour or I would bunk just to stay with them during their free hour.

Everyday routine of dashing to chitra’s house waking her up at 7:00 am and hurriedly carrying ourselves at super jet speed to cover distance of 1 km in record time of 7 mins just to be in time for the first hour class at 7:30 is something I wonder to this day, on the level of commitment we had, to get up at that earthly hour and rush to college religiously.

Our balcony sightings - excitements created post sighting the popular people in the quadrangle would just add on to fun while I raised both my hands in appreciation and the rest of them keenly followed the moments of the wanna bees.

The excitement in getting to know the true/actual name of people and how enthusiastic we would be to announce the actual name of the person in the quick talk breaks is something nostalgic. (I can still vividly remember how I was introduced to one of my fellow seniors whom the girls had named and the moment I got some news how eager I was to share that with the girls and the speed at which I had dashed out while a totally different surprise was in store as the girls gave in the name before even I could open my mouth)

Our walks to our very own adda which we named SL while we sat on the katte and spoke tales and shared stories around the world. Many of the life meaningful experiences seemed to evolve then- In short the Gyan sessions!

Our short walks to the Heritage before we all departed for the day, as we gobbled a samosa or managed to lay the hands to tempting brownies or least if the month end was round the corner all we could afford were the Bowring Kulfis and the chillness which it would be shared rest of the girls as each one of us called out “taste maddae!”.

As the girls spoke of Freud, or discussed Tempest and enlightened me on Child Psychology to Educational Psychology while sharing the concept of cognitive behaviors virtually prepared me to be their subject of study for practical exam.
Little tit bits I shared with them were only related to Astro physics and nothing beyond it for they felt no need to know how the earth revolved in orbit, their only statement was “As long as its in orbit we don’t have to worry, let it mind its job” would always fascinate me at the level of coolness each one had.

The way Chits and me would wake up every year-end with realization on the existence of an entity called library only get our NOC’s from the librarian to pay the our exam fee is something which still intrigues me at the level of indifference we carried for the entity all along our stay in college!

The way my senior friend would try hard to motivate me to study. He would insist I prove those dreadful theorems, he would sit there with a Math text coaching me on how to apply those dreadful theorems while teaching me the shortcuts to arrive at the solution and my playful nature to just gossip with all around while he solved all my problems, later with a realization on the worldly happenings encompassed with all irritation he would yell “You can look at guys later, you have your whole life for that! Now will you please concentrate here?” and me being me would combat the harsh statements and yell back saying I was not too keen to learn.
Apologizing and realizing my nature and reason for those spontaneous outbursts, he would try to motivate and cajole me saying I really had the potential in me but had no drive and If I did put in a little hard work I would go places in my career and alas all these motivation would finally fall on dead ears!

The time for record submission, the way I would stealthily approach my friend and ask if I could borrow his previous years records just for reference purpose and he realizing the underlying intention would give it to me after some good amount of persuation , with a familiar statement for the next two years being “ Don’t copy the values, you will not get the correct output in the exam if you copy them, just keep it as a reference only” with immediate reply being, I wish you had not submitted , I would have used the same copy and saved my self 2 hrs of laborious writing every week! Invariably both of us would crackle with the roars of laughter!

Memories are now flowing like a river of thoughts.
The way chits and Anu had pulled me out from Physics lab with a strange reason that I was a key member in the Psychology fest Transcend this incident left my prof with perplexed emotion on the role of a physics student in the psychology festival.

Our adventures in rain also have left with other fellow students with baffled looks, the MTR Ice cream in Cee-gees is what I still remember to this date. Competition between Anu and Chits on highest number of Ice cream which they could gulp in the rain is something which still lingers down the memory lane.

Our sudden outburst of excitement to watch some Hindi hip hop movies and our only resort being either the Abhinay Theater or Cauvery theater which played movies exclusively for the our college tailored timings @10:30 am and how we would sneak out of the college building and feel safe inside the movie hall while we commented and critiqued the movie in and out and later come back to adda just to sit on the katte and continue our tales.

The fast approaching exams only meant heaps and heaps of photocopies the girls had to make to prepare themselves for the exams, while I was saved this trouble of photocopying, I grappled with all the theorems in analytical geometry and tried to mug the Fourier theorem trying to relate how I could use all of them in the future and the very thought would send chill vibes to the spine on the complexity of usage of baseless theorems in my life!
I am very grateful and happy that I really haven’t used a single theorem for application in the last 8 yrs.

Memories like these can bring in a tear or two with a fragile smile. I fail to understand the frequency of thoughts connected to multiple variables like smiles, tears and goads of emotion. There seems to be multiple effects from just these passing thoughts …..

For all those who have managed to read till this line. “ With a bow Thank you very much, you really have high patience levels”

Special Thanks to all those people who have been a part of this life to have tailored these blissful moments in my life.

VSCAN-K - Jai Ho!

The Day- It was!

Birthdays are meant to feel special, pampered and above all celebrate with grandeur. This year’s birthday had all these fragments neatly intertwined in a day! ( I thank god for all the good things I have)

As a young girl, I would always look forward for the month of April for it always meant beginning of summer vacations! No School, No studies, No home work but only 2 full months of fun and frolic.

Nestled in the month of April is the day for which I would make big plans as child, young girl and now a lady, for It is time to celebrate and mark the presence of yet another passed year on the homely planet!.

The D- Day usually started with a warm hug from my sister and wishing from all my uncles and aunts in the family.

As a little child I wore the most prettiest dress which amma would carefully pick for the occasion and I would also decide the dress which I would wear to the temple, at home and for the party in the evening.

If somebody walked past the home in the early morning hours of the D- day, they would surely realize that celebrations in the family was round the corner for aroma from specially prepared mysore pak with lots of ghee, sugar and love would attract everyone right from the Tharkari amma ( Vegetable vendor) to helper at home. They would eagerly wish me with love and care for the little girl growing up in the neighbourhood. With the most brilliant smile I would reply" Thank you" while I adored the dress and showed them the intricate lace work or embroidery on the frocks and skirts they would delicately feel the lace work with nervous hands not to dirty the priced possession of the child!

The day would be packed with excitement right from visiting the temple, seeking the blessing of the almighty& elders, distributing the chocolates & sweets specially prepared for the occasion by amma, inviting extended family members to join the dinner party @ night, chatting with cousins and jabbering unlimitedly with friends on the phone always assured a sense of warmth and feeling of belonging. I secretly smiled in the heart of hearts for all the care they showered .

I would crash for a siesta with a great longing for the evening to arrive.

Before even I could realize it would be time to feel like a princess. Dressed in the best attires with amma's permission and direction I would step out to invite kids in the neighbourhood for the party @ 7.

While I felt like a princess, frisked and danced the whole day, amma would be busy in the kitchen preparing the mouth watering delicacies for the evening. While I always had a condition that every delicacy be different from the previous year, amma would have a tough time comprehending to these demands, she would convince me on some and agreed on the rest ensuring that they are the best and her guests always left a remark for such a good meal.

Appa would come early from work just to be in time for the party while he carried home the fresh cream cake from Nilgiris which I would long for, always keen to know the shape of the cake ,how it looked, the colour of it and number of cherries and gems it was adored with ! He would advise me to stay away. I cherish these moments, a total bliss in itself.

As the clock ticked 7, the air would be filled with bursting of balloons, screeching for whistles and Birthday song, every time somebody in the choir would miss a line and the whole bunch of kids would crackle with laughter!

Gifts were given and taken with gratitude. With utmost curiosity all the kids would sit around the gifts and me being the proud owner would command which gift to be opened next with the curiosity of what the pack contained. While I played LIDO, Snake and Ladder and more games with the family and friends it would be time for curtains down on the day!

..........and Days have passed by and now for random thoughts flashes yet again… For there are such beautiful and blissful memories I can cherish for all through my life, live the childhood every single day and every moment is special .

This birthday rekindled all these lovely memories from my childhood, with a feeling of being special, showered with love and care, I think back on all the happiness that is around and how as mortals we seem to miss these little sacred fragments of happiness in search of the "Unknown..........."

A note before you leave this page.

Enjoy everyday for it is blissful in its own way! Lets try to appreciate little happiness and thank all those who make a difference to add to this happiness.

A big "Thank You" to all of you who have been a reason behind this happiness in my life and for making it vibrant and blissful!

A Tribute To God's Master Peice!

She came to the world with utmost innocence spreading the moments of joy for everyone around. The cribs latent in most Indian families with the mercy of the almighty was away. Compassion and love were the only two things evident to her being. As she grew in her father’s love, mother’s care, sister’s concern, brother’s security moments of laughter and bliss filled her life. She grew into a little girl transformed into a beautiful lady. Success touched her with its wand. As the days passed she turned into an individual with strong individuality. High sense of Independence and freedom were evident. The being was gifted with abundant happiness and bliss; though the hidden fear was evident she shared them with none.

A day dawned when the prince charming took her to different world all together.

She left behind her self for the sense of the young man and his new world. Ensured she played her role well, a role of courteous wife, role of a respecting daughter in law, role of good co sister, role of compassionate mother, role of a humble neighbor, role of a friend. In all these roles were the hidden feelings of the true being! Her true self never expressed or exposed to the new world.

Little did people realize she is an individual, too full of dreams just the way they had, a person who had left behind herself for the roles she was to play, a person who is unconditionally loved by parents, friends, near and dear ones, just as they were!

Mediocrity was very evident in her new world. With self centered beings just there to seek the attention of the world and point the imperfectness through the nose! Even with this she never complained, never mentioned her thoughts, just smiled and moved on!

She had heart full of emotions, she was told never to showcase to the world. For the world would never appreciate it! She carried with her all through her goodness, humbleness and kindness. Little were these appreciated, but she cared for none and played her role.

World woke up one day to realize the godliness of this true being! Was it too late?

No it is never too late to pay tribute to god’s creation of this wonderful human being! As I pay my tribute to god creation of the master piece- “ The Woman” I take the privilege to quote what the veda’s has to say about this being!

“Karyeshu mantri,

Karuneshu dasi,

Roopeshu Lakshmi,

Kshameshu dharitri,

Sneheshu matha,

Shayaneshu Rambha,

Shatkarma nari,

Kuladharma pathni”

A complete being with totality! I bow to the almighty for this wonderful creation. An embodiment of love,compassion,peace and natural divine instincts!

Experience With The University!

February started with a loud bang… As the hectic week started with PLP workshop, It gave me a break from the monotony of home office home and role reversed to Home –Resort –Home, as the mid week approached I started feeling sick of the food in the resort. As I yearned for amma’s curd rice and pickles , uppma, and rasam the week had already passed and I was back in the week-end den.

Cultural difference within the country cannot be more evident in this context then other. My friend being a Chinese, raised in North India with education from South qualifies herself to be epitome of cultural understanding.
As my friend called in and asked if I could accompany her for the University for Official Transcripts, I readily agreed to ease the language complexities which people face with the government bodies.
As we approached the university campus we were greeted by a guard who guided us to “The Stone Building” what they called. It read “Student Grievance Center”, the first thought that struck me on seeing the interiors of the office only reminded me the old movies which portrayed central jail in all glory. Coming back to senses and reminding my self I was in India’s Reputed University and not any central Jail was a reliving enough. As I scanned the place to check on the formalities and procedure I was lured to more confusing thoughts. Except a print copy pasted on a wooden separator ( which acted as a separating wall from one division to other) on the cost for various applications with hardly enough information was visible. To get a better understanding we approached the person with a grim face (it appeared to me as though I was taking the grievance). Thus began the conversation in the native language.
The jist of the entire conversation was I wanted to know more details on the process for filling an application for the official transcripts. While the representative just asked me to pay 180 RS per required transcripts in the Bank at the other corner of the road without sharing no further details in spite of using the probing technique in interviews!

As both me and my friend dashed just to be in time before the bank closed for transaction little did we realize we had to walk close to 1 km to reach the bank. As the February sun soared high up as the temperatures raised, my patience level dripped every step I took

The only conversation that filled the air between us was how backward we still are in the current era which dominates the software’s and applications. We were dazed that there is not a single web application format in the university website. Our conversations revolved on how bureaucratic we still are as a society.

As we reached the bank filled the formalities of manual transactions of which we have almost lost the ground on when the banks have opted for core banking and Internet and mobile banking is now the trend and style. We doodled a bit on the challan and submitted the copies while depositing the cash in the counter.
As we tracked our way back to the Stone Building, I was just wondering what more the day could have in store.
Then the Rep gave me a familiar smile this time, only that I had a curt smile to return back for having made me walk 2 kms in the treacherous sun!
As we submitted the challan we were asked to produce the photocopies of mark sheet with one set in a paper cover which we were advise to carry from some acquaintance . It was then our representative sparked out that one had to attach even the copy of degree certificate.

As I rushed to get the certificate photocopied checking with the students where the photocopy center was I was baffled to know that I had to go to some court complex for photocopies. As I walked past the vendors on the lane, selling groundnuts, mints and bananas, I was only wondering if I were in a University Campus or just another government organization. University without a Photo copy center was beyond me ability of imagination! As I conjectured the state and plight of the students around the area a sense of pity struck to those gullible.

I hurried my way past back to the Stone building just be in time before our officials took their long earned break for lunch. We worked our way together to put the copies in the covers and as my friend submitted the Challan copies and cover containing the most treasured mark sheets and Degree Certificate for the day, the good old representative shot back “ Where is the application form?” both of us were stunned for a moment with no words flowing and as our empty stomach made noise for resources to be supplied to all the back up energy were being utilized in running up and down the university lane! Rather quizzed by the question we exchanged perplexed stares at each other. Now this was the limit of my patience zone it had long crossed the negative line of control! With all temper I shot back “ Now what is this application about? Will you please let me know” Slowly but steadily the rep replied “you need to fill in an application and get it stamped and signed by your college authorities!” and beyond this not a word was said!
While I pondered over how else I could get the situation under control as the clock ticked close to 1:00 pm, I hastily took the application and helped my friend fill it, we dashed back to her college hoping that the Admin office would still be open. Thankfully for the security guards eye we still looked like young college girls, as we barged in to the Admin area we managed to get the application stamped and signed. We stopped on our way back for lunch discussions backtracked to all the events of the day.

We finally managed to submit the request for official transcripts for B.com while we have one more pending for the Master program which we target to complete early March.

There are far too many questions that hit my thoughts. We are supposed to the second largest country in terms of population and contribute to largest pool of IT and ITES operations. Infact Bangalore is called the silicon valley of India. I am perplexed at the rate at which our basic infrastructures and process are in place. In this experience of mine, the renowned university does not even have an option in there website where such basic transactions can be easily automated with little effort. We still run the grumpy grievance cells manned by people who assume the roles of gods’ moment they have a visitor, forgetting all basics of customer services approach. There is hardly any mention of various processes for such transactional operations for student in the website or any clear guidelines in the office;
We are on close standards for producing the best in class engineers with high talent output ratio, we talk a lot about core banking operations, still we stand in the long queues just to fill a challan. Do the agencies and institutions even realize that the coming generations are going to be highly tech savvy, those student which the university themselves has produced with high standard of education, to which they would cater to? When India is on high agenda for the next milestone to be crossed, add yet another feather to its culturally diverse hat. Our universities are still surviving in the era of last century of dark, dumpy grievance cells while the world itself has moved to another continuum of technology bound by the immensity of speed and time.
India no doubt is making its presence felt in this era of globalization but these ground realities do strike hard!

The Journey.........

She pushed opened the majestic doors of the auditorium, there he saw her for the first time while he stood in the corner of the hallway with the group of boys. There was an instant flash in his heart and hit him hard enough. With all the chaos pervading he could barely concentrate on the talks and conversations, which was on. She scanned the auditorium with eyes, which spoke nothing but innocence; she looked around to join her group. She found her friends and then she was lost in her world of talks.
As they all waited for the program to begin he could barely lift his gaze of her, her smile, her laughter, her voice, her tone were the only senses which reverberated all through his soul and heart.

The program ended, a friend of hers took her around and then there they met. He was pleased to meet her, while there was a new feeling which shook him and captivated him, little did he express. Surely the cupid had struck!
He came in every morning, he always took the seat beside her, always felt her presence. They spoke of things known and unknown, happenings of the world and beyond ,they met everyday spoke everyday, argued their way as he got to know her better, more deeper the feelings got nurtured .A respect set out for her. Days passed, turned to months imbibed and nurtured the feelings of love, care and respect.
They always argued, agreed on few while they disagreed on many. Many a times egos dominated.
But She always cared for him and trusted, not realizing the inner meaning, she always felt light at heart and comfortable with him being around. Little did she realize! Her friends teased her for always arguing and still being around with him, she cared not.

One fine morning he called her and said he had something to share, as they met in the most unusual and crowded place he confessed his heart to her with heavy breathing and high hope he said " I love you dear". She fluttered like a confused butterfly, she didn’t expect this from him .she said a NO and walked away! They met everyday spoke and more often then not, argued considerably, still he had hopes high, he proposed for next 10,000 time they met and she kept pushing him away. Friends tried to convince she pushed them back; he tried to convince little did she consider.

Her only fear " We always argue, our wavelengths are a mismatch" was one thing she held high. Days rolled now to years and she kept saying no, every time she did, she wept to her heart, which yearned for him, for his care, for the love he showed. She realized it were these arguments and disagreements that had brought them closer to each other, respect follies in each other to accept things the way they are, appreciate difference in thoughts.
He backtracked and left her alone.

They now met once in a while, hardly spoke to one another eventually she now realized how it feels to miss him, his arguments, his love and care, respect, more importantly the way he treasured her.

A day dawned a group of friends set out on a picnic both of them were invited and agreed to join the group.
The journey was not conducive, egos ruled them. Little did they talk, hardly looked at each other still they were seated next to each other felt the presence.
Cool breeze set in, with a ting of warm day light they sat in a group by the side of the river and he confessed yet again in a whisper and she held his hand tight. While he reciprocated with a tighter grip!

Friends applauded and they set out to embark on a new journey in life.

Arguments continued, disagreements continued, still in their hearts they cared for the other, respected other, and yearned for more love! They realized relationships are not built on the moulds of ego but on that of love, care, campanionship and joy of being together and staying together.

This is an attempt to bring series of emotions . An attempt to write a simple short story.

Search for the lost glory!

Life, it seems is a journey filled with colors bold. I am told without these colors the journey is incomplete.

The journey started with a cry to mark the presence in the world, moments then filled with smiles looking at the stars, wanting to play with the moon, mumbles of unknown words with unidentified meaning while the heart yearned for nothing, with confidence abundant, as the familiarity set of known and unknown the days passed while the moments spread joy around for people, it expected nothing in return.

There were bright sunny days, some cloudy days while a few dull days nothing but the routine set it, heart which once spread happiness, bliss and love; now longer spread these through the presences- it felt!

Deep down in the heart still the moments of bliss is fresh and  confined to the space, while it loves, adores, respects through all these shades of life , it makes every attempt to share the shades with the known, unknown of human race.

It secretly cries while it makes a colossal attempt not to share with the world known the reason for those warm tears, those it is told are not meant to be showcased to the world.

It questions the nature “ Why Me always?” While it seeks a response, it gets none.

Deep down all it yearns is unconditional love and happiness, it cries out aloud to the nature “when I came to your world, I spread happiness, love and bliss, I brought instant smiles on all those charming faces which looked at me, Where has all this gone?”  Can you please return them to me?

With a hope to get lost glory it beats at a normal pace thud-thud-dud-dud...

Random Thoughts

I thought hard today, the harder I thought pleasant things filled the flow of thoughts.

Life-

The Past was beautiful

Present an experience of reality

Future a wonderful dream I would love to experience over and over ………

I am told that angels are not fantasy and they exist in real, they come as a passing cloud spread their charm and elegance and off they disappear. I experienced the charm, you appeared spread the divine message showed me the path of bliss…

I do not know how I met you in this journey of life, nor do I know the why’s! All I know is you appeared like a flash in the starry sky, made this life a beautiful journey to pass, an experience to cherish, taught me the art of hope, filled these eyes with wonderful dreams to accomplish and to see through the world!

You have always been there for me

You respect me, my ideas, my thoughts!

You adore me as an individual

You trust in me and my abilities

You pamper me like a child,

You protect me like a mother

You care for me as a friend

You are my pillar of support, my ray of hope, my confidant.

Life is a complete journey!

The deep-rooted secret “ Angel- Really?” is still unanswered. Yet the experience teaches me not to question the nature! For it is said "all that happens, is for good! ". I now know all that is coming is for good to build a beautiful tomorrow from all those wonderful dreams these eyes have just seen.

An Experience ... It Was!

Day dawned with surprises which I least expected even in the rarest of my nightmares.

As I stepped in for work the waters that were smooth for a while had become turbulent, as I set my pace pacifying the waters of change, the day had long passed noon and the evening sun was happily setting in the west with a ting of mockery on me!

“ Jashne – E- Bahaara ….” A ring tone for a while took me unguarded by surprise, as I thought the call must be from amma to pick up a some grocery on my way was dulled with Minal’s( My sister) photo on the flash screen. With random thoughts for the reason of the call I quipped “ hello! Tell me if its urgent, I am too busy @ work”.
I was taken aback by the panic stricken voice on the other end “Jini” it went...While my heart pounded hard to get to the core of the matter with shaky voice she added “Can you tell me the our vehicle number” As I went blank for second wondering why I was posed with such a weird question of all while I answered her and gave her the details I expected a reasonable justification for the question. As my sister explained the situation I was rather stunned at the turn of the events. My sister had parked my 2 yr old Scooty Pep in parking area by the time she returned from her appointment of 15 mins, the bike was gone…..
With weird random thoughts gushing in I asked her to relax and check if the vehicle has been taken by the cops for any parking violation. She immediately quipped “ No, I have checked that”
Well this was something to worry about. Just as the worry was setting in all hurry. It struck to me the number I gave her was of my old scooty! Hmm

“Ranj, I think you should learn the new number of your vehicle. You never know when you need it. I am surprised you can’t remember this when you can remember all silly things in life” Echoed from the memories of what my friend had said when I first showed the new bike a month after its purchase in Jan 07. Well the echo now seemed to be instant mockery on my memory power for which I have always been complemented for.

Bah "how can I forget the registration number? "

As I dialed home to get the details ,amma’s ability to digest the fact took longer then I expected while I convinced her daughters were safe and sound. She broke yet another surprise. “Do you know what? There are no original documents in the folder! She exclaimed. Just the Riders Manual and the original copy of the Purchase Bill” Geeks as I screeched Realization from within on how fool hardy I am, hammered the moment.

We managed to fish the number from the Purchase bill, with all of my uncles reassuring me not to worry and keep my cool,I hurriedly rushed from the office building not to miss the shuttle back in all the commotion that had filled the day. As I took my seat I said to myself “Now be done with this, enough is enough! I put the music with a deliberate attempt to rejuvenate the long lost peace of the day!

Generating good revenues to the Airtel’s and Vodofone’s of the world. With marginal contribution to BSNL’s also, the course of action was being discussed over the mobile networks. As one uncle said “First File the FIR no matter what immediately! ” My active thought process was “Immediately??? How can I?? I am still on bus more importantly I am not driving it, for heaven sake its peak hour traffic how can I do it immediately?”
While I checked again to ascertain if I heard right “Yes” came the prompt response. “I will try “I said knowing it cannot happen immediately!

I dashed home picked up the leftovers of documents, dashed out rushing to the police station where my sister had been waiting for over an hour with all the gyan coming from the cops on the do’ and don’ts (Gyan when given free of cost can be very frustrating) As she tried to smile warily at me, I tried to return back a assuring smile “Don’t worry” while it meant, "If Its gone, Its Is gone! No point thinking about it”

Thanks to the media, my assumptions on the cops were rather strong and wrong. I thought they would be people all together from an alien planet with no concern for kindness. I thought hard how to tackle the situation and the aliens, yet another surprise lay in store. Thankfully, good one for its kind in the day.
The cops who were at the station were courteous and kind enough to patiently listen to the incident. While they assured they would trace the vehicle they were amicable and friendly. This created a sense of warmth and security in me while also assuring me that they would seriously launch a search for this lost vehicle.
As they completed the formalities in just an hour, a sense of respect for them had taken its root in me.
As promised they traced my lost vehicle and safely handed that to me.

A good civilian also couriered the orginal documents found in some construction Site ( I thank Mr Yogesh M who took all pains to courier the documents amidst his busy schedule)
While I am bustling with other formalities to set the gadi back to normal shape. Here I share some key insights and learnings from this experience of mine

Key learning this particular day had in store for me are far too many,

*Never keep your original documents in the vehicle no matter what it takes!
*Never lose your cool, ( This is real test for stress, This can be used for Best Manager event if any)
*Tune the mind to senses and presence of mind is very important .
*Always remember to remember the Vehicle number (Thanks to those mocking moments from the memories, I now know why I was asked to remember the Registration number)
*Never take your friends lightly! (They know you better than yourself)
*All the more never Assume (cops are also of the same human race as ours, respect them and they will respect you)
*Beware there are thieves around!

* Trust in god, If its meant to be yours it will be yours anyways!

Life a Perfect Bliss @ MPBIM

Some moments though have long passed in the sail of time still remain immortal in the depth of heart and soul. Yea, these memories bring instant smile on the radiant face.
Those were the days when Fun was a part and parcel of Academic Life.

As I recall the first semester , It dates back to the day I entered the college with the students waiting for the Art of Living session, I was looking for at least one familiar face in the crowd and how happy I was to find Deepika there amidst a group of girls when she first introduced me to the rest. As I stood trying to understand what the girls were discussing, Ranjani, Called out yet another familiar voice, and apparently he turned out to be my friend from last school, college and now even the masters I wondered??!! Well a little dazed little surprised we spoke a few nice words. Little did I know many students had already noticed me in the Pink /Purple Salwar and had already come to know me by name! And instantly clicked as friends .From then there has been no looking back.

A small group of 60 odd students in the orientation bubbling with energy, bustling all along the day was something which I seem to miss a lot. There were days when we made presentations on the weird topics of the earth, when we danced to the tunes of sounds n silence, while we gelled together as one family, dropping all our inhibitions while embracing the warmth of togetherness, little did I realize the actual course had started.

How fast the Semester passed introducing me to totally new field of management. As I tried hard to cope up with the syllabus flipping the pages of OB text, understanding what Eco’s and Nomo’s meant, mugging the Accounting Principles Uff !!that drained me out completely. How I had silently cried when my first presentation on Accounting Principles -13 was a major flop while I still tried to sit straight and managed to put a brave face while reminding myself that there was also a second chance. As the internals approached how the efforts had doubled just to stay on in the race which I knew nothing of! When the D day came as we all worked through the day and night for the exams, how I had cried on the day of economics paper for my mind had blacked out, how supportive my friends were to help me revive the lost memory and how grateful I am to them. To this day I cannot forget the day I gave the Economics paper!

The little gossips we used to have during lunch breaks, the round table lunch time discussions on failure of CANCUN summit, The TRAI Regulations, the daily stock market watch, news updated from sharekhan.com, the snippets and reviews from ET (Economic Times) and preparations for Business quizzes and Presentations would fill the day with little surprises here and there. As we worked on different case studies from the world of corporate while stretching our thinking ability to think “Out of the Box” finally ending our day with a small dose of Who Moved My Cheese, of Fish

Visits to Kanija Bhavan Canteen for lunch, how a friend of mine freaked out “Do you really come here for lunch?” ( Expression on the face was worth a million $, I wish i had a insatant Cam) on seeing the famous Garage Canteen of Kanjia Bhavan as we stepped in for a dose of strong coffee is something I cherish to this day.

The excitement of results from I sem , How Swami Rao sir had verbally announced the results as Pass… Pass… Fail… Pass …kept my heart pounding with anticipation to hear Pass called against my name sounding heavily like thump thump.. thud thud! The process which was so new to me once which I gradually got used with passing months!

My dream to participate in at least one Management Fest while I shared this with none for all the reticence I carried in the depth of heart and the day it was realized with Esperanto – a Bangalore University fest with combined effort of Manu (Manasa) and me just to make to the second level while we grappled in the first level and the beaming faces of both as we made to the Final Level. With the Case Study Presentation in the Finals and how both of us had stretched out limits just to put up 7 slides of the 40 page case on the night before the Presentation and how dispirited we were to know that ours was the only presentation of 7 slides while we competed with our own seniors and top colleges who had more to share, with all dismayed hopes of winning the event we sat for the final verdict. As Hareesh Bijjoor addressed and started the Award ceremony both of us were lost in our thoughts on how two days had passed and just as we were realizing the abundance of good surprises in store our results were announced. How foolishly each of us forgot and ignored our own names till our team finally patted us hard and pushed us on the dais to collect our Award! Those were the shining and glowing moments for both Manu and me to cherish all through.

As we kept moving ahead from one fest to another while adding many such colorful feathers to our hat.
We prepared hard for the Second year with Major courses setting in while the momentum on course front diluted, accustomed to life of stress with clear evidence in presentation preparation time which had reduced from 1 Week to 1 hr before presentation was strong indication of us mastering the tricks in MBA!

Days rolled… one sem after another with last minute exam preparations and exchange of sms’s on most expected questions. With late night calls to friends “Hey, I am done with this chapter, are you through too?” While each exam came in and went the moments remained the same

While we managed the interns, apprehension on question posed by the external in Viva Voce ruled us for a while.
Our preparations to host Paradigm, while we formed committees and teams with ongoing meetings and updates for planning event, remind us how happy we were as a family. The feeling of oneness and success of the event was vibrant in the air.

As we moved to fourth sem, with placement pressures setting in while I tried to cope up with research projects and manage majors while I still had my share of fun with usual lunches in Kanija or the college canteen. Terrace garden chit chats and exchange of forwards, little fights and compromises, crackling laughter and dazzling days filled my life.

A day dawned and I realized that Golden days I enjoyed had already become a golden era.
The two years of my life had suddenly come to an abrupt end, without any fore warning.
The days have sailed past over four years, but the memories still live fresh
Each passing day I think of the golden era, while each passing day I shed a tear here and there just to remind myself on what a wonderful life enjoyed.
With hope setting for passing more such days with the all the lovely people who made my life so vibrant and clourful ……….

I wish life had a rewind button that I would want to replay Aug 2003- Aug 2005……….

Friends Of Autumn

Forwards are one of the best way to stay together and also a good pill for distress! On a fine Monday morning ,among heap of official mails to action in one corner of the mail box was a mail from my best friend who was completely lost in the bounds of time..... The mail had a little poem, and it read

I was thinking of old friends today
And how many of them have slipped away.
Moved, got married, or stopped calling so much,
Found new friends, got busy, and just lost touch.
It reminded me of falling leaves.
Every autumn the leaves fall from the trees.
Some stay longer than others,
but eventually - Each leaf must fall, I’m told,
Leaving the tree alone to face the cold.
Why is it that in the time of utmost need
The leaves would seek to leave the tree?
And when we need our friends around
We look and they can not be found?
Of course these friendships come and go
And in the spring new leaves will grow.
But I prefer autumn friends of old
With crackling laughter and colors bold.
It saddens me now I must admit
How somehow, someway,
I did forget Laughing with old friends of mine
During summers when the sun would shine.
And then I thought of you.
That one stubborn leaf that won’t let go.
That clings despite the winds that blow.
Fighting ice, and snow, and winter’s stings
Hanging on right through till spring.
So I guess that’s what you are to me -
The very last leaf to leave the tree.
I know it seems silly, but it’s true.
When I see that last leaf…
…I think of you.

With series of emotions running in me, I called my friend while making a collosal attempt to control my swelling eyes , Just managed to say " Thanks"

I Spy ( Hide and Seek, Kanna Muchale)

Kanna Muche Kade Gude Uppina Moote Orle Hoyothu, Namma Hakki Nimma Hakki Bitte Bitte.....

I Spy ?? How many times have I played this game as little girl with the neighbour's kid ........

While returning from our very own Cauveri theater ( which Veena would happily agree for calling it very own, as this is our hot spot hangout right from college days just to catch the glimpse of Bollywood badshaas in there Hit-Flop ventures!) we decided to drop in Chits new home , as we went in admired her new home and compared with Veena old house and stepped out to walk back home we saw a bunch of kids must be in the age group of 10- 14 yrs playing one of the oldest most popular outdoor game I SPY as its called. Immediate reaction from three of us was " Yesthu dina agide alve navu Ice pice addi?"- ( Hasn't it be so long since we played I Spy ?)

Ahhh well yes probably this is the first time in many years that I saw kids play the outdoor game in locality where I stay , I wonder what technology has done to the generations to come by? glued to Internet, TV and Video Games that most kids today would prefer a social network on Orkut / Facebook ( may be with Fake Age) or chat on Gtalk with classmates or the good old Video game to spend their leisure.

Gone are the days when we rushed back from school , eagerly waited for vacations to begin just to play with the kids in the neighbourhood the most popular games I Spy, Lagori, Kalla Police, Kunte Balle (played with box drawn on the land, while the player called "Rightaa ?"( Is it Right/Correct ?) School-School ,Cricket,Badminton and the list never ends.

When the rain disrupted our normal schedules we would all scream in chorus the old little jingle " Rain Rain Go Away...." to our disappointment if the rains didn't stop our last resort to stay together was assemble in a house with a huge court yard and start playing LIDO, Scramble, Snake and Ladder yes the option were many....

As the kids went on vacation to visit the grandparents and relatives when we were just a handful of kids we would sit with my granny to play the pagade ( believe me this is one best way to learn Math with all addition, subtraction multiplication... not to mention the strategy!), gulli mane and more such things.

What has become to all these games? Have we all forgotten our childhood so fast? are we so lost in the appreciating the software and technology that these little fun we had as children are close to extinction ?Don't we want the Gen Y to also enjoy the same childhood our parents once gave us?

Pondering with all these thoughts and with feeling of nostalgia setting in ....

Closing remark Next venture of RVSCAN is to play Kanne Muche Kade Gude... I hope the day is not too far!

As I Tread Past The Memory Lane

> 2009 II---------->>Rewind>> --------->Play>

I was thinking of my School days today, how fast the once present is now a past. Those were the moments of colors bold when amma would whisk me away from bed to get me set for a every new day in school, with huge sack on my back waiting for the Van uncle to pick me, the morning assembly in school seeking the blessings of the almighty and as I sang in chorus “Guru Brahma Guru Vishno Gurur Devo Maheshwara….. “ As I dashed to the class soon after the morning assembly just to escape the eyes of the PT Master ready to catch his prey for unpolished shoes. Appa’s time to polish the shoe in the morning were all in vain as they bore traces leg fights I had with the bunch of kids in the School Van.

As I sat in the class learning English, solving the profit and loss problems, trying to understand the difference between a solar eclipse and lunar eclipse, the umbra and the penumbra, always wondering how Deccan plateau and Peninsular India made sense? Waiting eagerly for the Physical Education training to stay fit and do some warm ups.

Free periods due to teachers absence compensated time to catch up with the friends of mine and chit chat on latest crushes the girls had and have most important discussion of the day “what makes Aamir look so adorable in Joo Jeetha Wohi Sikkandar”?.

As the Art and Craft sessions approached I always wondered why girls should do all the stitching while boys happily escaped with reading those books and comics in the library. While I turned green with the “J” attitude and softer side of me yearning to set hands on those Nancy Drews , Hardy Boys, Tintin and Astrix while the boys enjoyed the break from monotony . How thankful I was on that day when the school announced that I could make a choice between Arts & Craft and Computer Science. How happy I was to be relived of the stitching and knitting business which other girls were glad and keen to work on!

With day ending with the last assembly as I sang in chorus the National Anthem “ Jana Gana Mana…..” reminding that patriotic vibes were pretty evident in me with all the goose bumps bursting on my skin as I ended the anthem with Jai Hind!

Rushing out from the school gates and forming groups to catch up the missed gossips, buying those ice candies and pineapple coated with Chilli powder and salt, and the taste of raw mangoes in the drizzle are now a thing of past.

As I sit to write this first blog I am tinted with the memories gushing at the same time on all the things I once did as kid , a little girl… those were the days of fun and frolic time has passed by leaps and bounds ………. Let me wind up and get back to some SERIOUS work for what I am paid for… Memories of School days still lingering in the backdrop I set on new task to design the next module for training.. .

Here I go Google….