Roomie, Where Art Thou?: Part-V

"C'est la vie, baby!", said Julianne, almost kid-like trying to cover-up what she'd just said. It wasn't that she hadn't called a girl a bitch before, it was just that she'd never meant it before. They knew she'd meant it, although she told them otherwise. Sometimes you just know when words are really meant and then sometimes, you don't. But anyway..
"Don't just say that just cause its French! Its for losers who can't do a bit about their life."
"Well, thanks a lot for calling me a loser!! But I know I am one - so tell me something I don't know."
"Jealousy doesn't become you, just as this new head-over-heals-guy doesn't become Kumar!"
"Yeah, seriously. I don't know where this jealousy stems from, but whatever it is it can't be true cause you're way better than Ms. Ana Dawson. Way Better!"
Julie fought back tears from her eyes, succeeding only partially. She'd never been complimented (No, eve-teasing doesn't count as a compliment). 22 years without a compliment is a long time! And it was one of the wonders of the modern world how everyone who knew her knew she was pretty but never thought she was pretty enough to fall for, when actually she was absolutely fall-able! C'est la vie, eh?
Julianne had had enough. She couldn't take it anymore. She lunged forward and gave Kumar a tight hug and said "Thanks Kumar, that meant a lot."
"Ok, Ok. Let's not get carried away. But I meant what I said and I'm sure everyone here feels the same way."
"Absolutely!", said everyone in unison.
"Thanks. I'll make coffee for each one of you..", said Julie jubilantly.
"Make mine a black.", said Matt with a wink. He'd acquired this weird (but totally cute) habit of giving her a wink each time he spoke to her. Or maybe it was just all the Jose Cuervo.
"I'll have two cubes of sugar and precisely 5.43 oz. of coffee in a cup with very little cream."
"You got Nescafe decaff? Cause any other brand is not my cup of tea. Ooops coffee!", ginned Kumar from ear to ear. He enjoyed his jokes almost as much as anyone else.
"...in the morning!", continued Julianne.
"Hey! What the f...!", said everyone in unison, again.
"Yeah. Yeah, thats right! What the f...!! I was just trying to get you guys back sober again."
"You mean, we're *not* sober now? That does it! I'm having more Johnnie Walker!"
"We don't have anymore of those! We got a bottle of Jose Cuervo though!", grinned Joseph.
"Nice!!"
"Care for a drink, Julie?"
"Ah, what the heck. Make mine a double. I'm in the mood for mischief!" It was her turn to grin now.
"You know what they do to mischievous chaps? They send them to the room!"
"Awwww man! Please!!"
"We only have enough for the four of us. If you're game for a single shot you have a deal"
"Yippieeeeeeeee!!"
"Welcome aboard sailor!
Oh. Welcome again, I mean!!", corrected Jose.
They all gulped shots of tequila, together. They'd had too much to drink. There are a few things that drinking does to people. Getting tipsy is one. Getting droopy and sleepy is another. They all fell asleep. It was quite a sight. Kumar, who looked like one of those people on the streets who're forced into changing their body structure with the kind of space nature lends them. Only this vegabond had a shiny new digital camera in his left hand, clutched to his chest. He kept making motions with his other hand, in his sleep, probably fighting ghosts who were after his camera.
Matt fell asleep sitting on his chair, with his head resting on the table, as was the case most of the times when he stayed online late and didn't have the vigor to get his bottom off the chair and put himself to bed.
Joseph, however clumsy in real-life (read daylight), was most comfortably placed. Two pillows - one under his head and the other clutched to his chest like some fairy he wouldn't let go off.
And then there was Julianne. Head back, arms wide open (as if expecting a prince charming to come give her a tight hug), legs hanging from the bed for she was only half-way up. All in all, the room would've been a pretty hilarious sight to anyone who would've laid eyes on it. Fortunately, there was no one around. You see, it is kinda tasking trying to get some sleep when people are laughing and giggling in the same room.

Roomie, Where Art Thou?: Part - IV

"Why do you hate her, Julie?"
"Hate? Who??", really surprised that that word was indeed used in conjunction with her name.
"Ana Dawson."
"That girl who kept flirting with you in the library that day?"
"Ummm... Yes. If you see it that way."
"I hardly know her to hate her. I was just got pissed off at her because she woke me up, figuratively."
"Oh! That way. I thought.."
"Holy Crap! So, you're thinking now?"
"Shut up!"
Kumar bend over and gave her a light hug. "Thank you!"
"What was that for?"
"For saying you don't hate her even though we know you do. Thanks!"

Roomie, Where Art Thou?: Part - III

Night turned to morn sooner than anyone had expected. Julianne had fallen asleep while the guys were still talking about how Kumar's new camera could get 15 times closer to its subject without him having to move an inch. She'd just about managed not to fall asleep while they (read Matt!) talked about his music collection. Of course, most of it was courtesy the internet. All right, all right - Kumar had to help her in the ordeal she'd made it look. That of course meant, Kumar was no longer helping when they started talking about his camera, cause he was too busy showing it off!
"She's a great girl! Funny, classy, intelligent, you name it. She is definitely my type!!"
"Who're you referring to, Ku?"
"Ana."
"Anna?"
"Ana. Ana Dawson."
"Yeah, right. Your type. Hah!"
"What is that suppose to mean?"
"A Cut Above!"
"That is some cheap cigarette brand back home, you dimwit!"
"Cheap? You get cigarettes cheap back home? Really??"
"Oh! Shut Up!!!"
"Relax, Kumar! Thats not becoming you. You're atop all this, remember?"
"Atop? Well, I'd really appreciate if I were on top of her right now!"
"Excuse Moi?". Julie was harshly woken up by the furious hand movements (and furious table-banging) that Kumar had resorted to, to emphasize the 'right now!'
"French dreams, eh?", winked Matt
"You stay out of this. And why would you care?", sneered Julie
Matt left without a word. Nothing much was said after he left. It was like a 10 week vacation coming to an abrupt end.
"Whats the matter? Anybody dead that we know?", said Matt cheerfully as soon as he got back.
"Where had you gone, man?"
"To the loo, you looby!"
"Hah Hah Hah! And here we were thinking you had taken offense at Julie's outburst!"
"I'm sorry, I snapped at you. Didn't mean to."
"I know what you meant. Its ok. I suppose it was a French nightmare, huh?", winked Matt
Julie couldn't help but fall in love all over again. It was one of the things she admired about Matt the most. His you-don't-hurt-me-try-as-you-might attitude.
"You're ok, man?"
"Ana..........!!!", he sighed. For the fourteenth time in five minutes.
"Dawson?", asked Julie with some concern. And genuine too.
"What now, honey?", half expecting a biography on the life and times of Miss. Ana Dawson.
"I hate that bitch!", she blurted out in an accent that no one would've associated with her. But such is life. Unpredictable.

Update..!!

Long time since this thing got an update...
Actually, I've been keeping pretty busy these days - I can only get the time to breathe. Just about.
Thankfully, am not *that* busy for the next couple of days (Hopefully) so this thing might get populated once again! :-)

A & K Syndicate {AKS. (AKS-74U if you like it that way)}

One by one..!!

One by one, the casements catch;
Her beams beneath the silvery thatch.
Couch in his kennel like a log,
With paws of silver sleeps the dog.
From her shadowy coat, the white breasts peep.

Something about the poem. Something about it that I never seem to remember words after the breast-peeping! Maybe its just a filthy mind. Or a filthier mindset. Whatever it is - this is the only part of the poem I recollect. Silver by Walter de la Mare, I'm guessing! Fourth Standard. I remember other poems from the same grade in totality, but this one has been on my mind all day today!
Why, you ask. Why not?
One by one - thats the thing that keeps me reminding of the current situation. One by one.
What, you ask. Thats none of your business.

Long Live..

Just had my complete C&H delivered to me!
Yayyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!
One of the best days *ever*!!
Long Live Amazon! :D
Oh, Calvin & Hobbes too!! :)

Roomie, Where Art Thou?: Part - II

"Joseph!" He never liked his name. It started with a 'J'. 'Jobless', 'Jobseeker', 'Jocasta' and all the words that sent a shudder down his spine usually started with the alphabet 'J'. And then there was Julianne. The light in his life. The dark light.
She was a dark light as far as he was concerned for he was too timid to shed some light on his fancy for her. And she, was too short-sighted to see the light herself. But that was fine with Good Ol' Jose. He wasn't finicky as far as his options in life were concerned. He had lowered his needs to such abysmal depths that they were met to begin with. One such need was the urge to smoke. He smoked when he was not asleep. Matt put the cigarette butt in his mouth one day while he was asleep. That, of course made him wake up. The fact that he'd been dreaming about Julie upset him, but that was soon puffed-off with Benson & Hedges. Cigarettes are better than women, he tried convincing himself.
"Yeah, Right!"
Jose, by nature, was the sequacious kind. He owed his sorry state of affairs to the people he tried to emulate. There was nothing wrong with the people he tried to follow. It was something inherent. Joseph, as it turned out, was pretty bad at following suit too.
"You're supposed to play Spade, Jose!"
"Oh! Am I?"
"And call a Spade a spade for chrissake!"
"Was that a pun?"
"No. That was just plain stupid!!"
"Relax, Kumar! Why're you getting all worked up, man?"
"Because, you're getting on my nerves!"
"You not feeling well?"
"That's it, I'm outta here. I don't intend to stay at a place where my jokes aren't appreciated. You're out of order!!"
"All That Glitters Is Not Gold, John!"
"Who the hell's John?"
"John Woo!"
"Who?"
"The movie man!"
"The movie man?"
"Yes. The famous movie maker!"
"Whatever, Whoever! I'm outta here!"
"You can't just leave in the middle of the game. That so doesn't do it!"
"Et tu, Jul(ie)?"
"What did I say? Just said you shouldn't leave in the middle of the game! Is that a bad thing to say?"
"Not a bad thing, but definitely not a tactful thing to say!"
Kumar was that way. He spoke things he didn't really mean. And he didn't always say what he meant. Not that he was unable to express himself. It was just his discretion that he be who he wasn't. Ethan Hunt. His life was Mission: Impossible. He wanted it that way because Mission: Possible, never raised enough eye-brows and wasn't a flick either! He'd never heard anyone ever say, "But that is possible!" Although he'd heard people say, "But that's impossible!" almost all his life. Impossibility always brings with it, its own charm. He'd wanted to be a charmer all his life - & he was. Chicks would dig him. Yearn for him tragically. But the real irony of life was - he getting together with someone was impossible. That was his mission in life, after all.
Of course, he finished the game that day. Won hands down. The usual. The prize money? Date-Your-Fate!
Each one had written his/her secret date on a piece of paper and kept it in a bowl. The winner got to go out on a date with someone he/she wished to go out with. Kumar hadn't mentioned a nominee. He wanted to go out with all of them. Mission: Impossible, huh? Well, not really! They did go out with him that evening. Turned out pretty good. Julie got to spend the evening with Matt, Jose with Julie, Matt with Kumar (don't read between the lines, please! They're just good buddies and Kumar is straight. So is Matt!)
On their way back, Kumar insisted they play Hindi songs on the tape - which of course was totally fine with the folks. Songs don't make a dime's difference when you're sloshed silly.
"Will someone turn this thing off!". Julie wasn't too tipsy to tell the words of the song. This song didn't have words. At least not words she could comprehend.
"Hey, this *is* good stuff, okay!"
"Totally!"
"You're impossible!"
"Watch it, Kum. Watch it!", Kumar told himself. She's drunk and so are you.
"Oh, my God! Who's driving?", he screamed as soon as reality dawned on him.
"Relax. Joe is!"
"And she tells me to relax!"
"He's a good driver, Ku!"
"And I'm gay, Jul!"
"Wow, really?"
Kumar, now stabbing himself with a mock-dagger and apparently, very furious.
"Hell, no! Phhhhhtttb!!"
And they all got to their apartment. All but Kumar. But it was okay cause he was spending the night with Matt (again, don't get any ideas, please)

Some Day This..!!

It started off like any other day. Well thats kinda misleading cause none of my days start off like the previous one. Strangely enough, my day, celestially speaking, started off with me coming back from work! Strange for people who're not accustomed to working in shifts, like I. I got back at around half past six, changed into something comfortable (am not telling what it was). Then I went online, as usual, to check on my inbox and meet friends willing to check on me. Met a few of them, as I usually do. This friend from college was online and she insisted that I show her the photos I'd taken in the marriage concluded recently. Marriage of my sister. There wasn't much in the inbox, which was kinda good cause I was feeling sleepy by then. Most of the sleep I get nowadays is artificially induced. Music soothes, propitiates and mollifies. Same goes for grass. Wary that I had to leave for work at half past 1 in the afternoon, I reset the alarm for noon. Sleep came easy. But then again, that is what grass is supposed to do to people.

The Lunatic Is On The Grass
Remembering Games, And Daisy-chains
And Laughs
Got To Keep The Lunies On The Path
- Pink Floyd, by the way.

It was nearly half past 7 by then. I don't remember what happened thereafter. Until I woke up that is. It was 11 then. Not 11 in the evening, thankfully. Couldn't get any sleep thereafter. Decided to wake up and get on with it. It was half past 1 in no time. Work was calling already.
The weather outside was Hot. (Careful attention needs to be paid at the H in the word hot). The mercury would well have been somewhere near the mid 40s. It wasn't as bad as it looked though. It was worse. The heat made the eyes dry, if that is biologically possible. And with the glasses that rest over my nose perennially, it told of quite a sorry tale.
Work was tiring as usual. Heat made it all the more so. Monkeying on a column at half past two in the afternoon is not my idea of work. Sadly, it doesn't matter what my ideas tell me - they mislead me often :). The measly lube-oil level in the ammonia refrigeration package didn't make things any better. Of course there was tea and snacks in between the two 'heated' chores. Welcome break :). There was also a itsy-bitsy beverage party, courtesy me. Am anything but a pinchpenny.
The compressor was run, eventually. The evening progressed. It usually does that every now and then. Only sometimes it catches me unawares. Heh Heh. Although I was *really* tired by now, I still had quite some work left to do. Time flies when you don't wait for it. I was, unfortunately. And then, I wasn't. So it started flying again. Of course, I was too preoccupied to notice :)
It was 10 PM already. I could see lightning and thunder through the dark glass of my office. Pitter-patter suggested the Rain Gods had had enough prayers not to answer. Of course that meant, mere mortals got drenched on their way back from work. A welcome relief from the heat nonetheless.
Its nearly quarter past 12 and I have to work morning tomorrow. Day starts at half past 4 then. :-s
Good Night!

One word is too often profaned
For me to profane it;
One feeling too falsely disdained
For thee to disdain it.

- P. B. Shelley

"Not to admire is all the art I know
(Plain truth, dear Murray, needs few flowers of speech)
To make men happy, or to keep them so"
... but had none admired,
Would Pope have sung, or Horace been inspired.

- Lord Byron

I came across this poem and have been captivated by its simplicity and that 'X' factor (cause I can't imagine what it is). Thought it would be a good idea to post it here :)
The lines are not complete and they shall be all the more incomplete if I don't mention the name of the person who's put in all the effort in penning this one down!

Ian Bowen


I no longer sit
in the glamour
of your eye;
laugh as if happy,
smile halfway sad.

No longer ride the
snow -haired charger….
unworthy to capture
lust, desire and want.
I lie armour rusty
with lanced libido lost

Wait There!

Kāsid Ke Āte Āte, Khat Ek Aur Likh Rakhūn
Main Jāntā Hoon Jo Woh Likhéngé Jawāb Mein

Kabsé Hoon Kya Batāun Jahān-é-Kharāb Mein

Tāfir Na Intezār Mein Nēnd Āye Umr Bhar
Āne Kā Ahed Kar Gayé Aayé Jo Khaab Mein

Obviously another Ghalib. In fact the "intoxicated" post is just another verse of this one. Very profound and at the same time very accessible lyrics. When I say accessible, I mean once you get the gist of it, its not very hard to imagine (this is not a Samsung, by the way) and given a good amount of ill-luck you might just relate to it. Heh Heh.

Roomie, Where Art Thou?: Part - I

Mathew Planc was an agreeable, 25 year old chap whos idea of a good time was sitting around in the house doing nothing at all! He was agreeable because he inevitably made people agree at how big a jack-ass he was. Julianne, the first of his room-mates was totally in love with him.
"That rat-bastard! What does he think of himself? He can go to hell all right!", said Julie to herself after Matt had gone into one of his 'i'll-stay-in-my-room' shells and refused to go out with her. "I'd rather go to hell Julianne! Than go out with you, really!"
Julianne Smith was a sweet girl, all of 22 - although she had the knack of make-believing she was a teen, which she had been once upon a time. She loved country music as much as she liked her assets. In fact it was greatly bemusing as to how a girl as pretty as her would end up falling head over heels for a mediocre guy like Matt. It was just there for all to see. All but Joseph.
Jose, was an old man. He'd been born old. But the good thing about his being born old was that he didn't age much. Or even if he did, his birth certificate said otherwise. And of course, his birth certificate like every other of his belongings was immaculate and spoke of the truth at all times. He was a 24 year old guy who thought he'd outgrown his age 24 years back. Good Ol' Jose, as he was affectionately called by his friends and roomies, was well-read. Being well read is a good thing if you read all the right things. A practical joke that nature had played on him. And a hilarious one at that! Of course, like every other serious book-worms, the humour eluded him perennially. He often felt the urge to feel sorry for himself. "Why me?", he'd say when it rained on him. When the sun shone on him. When the wind blew his hair - which, by the way, was a sorry sight for he didn't have a lot of shoots popping outta his scalp, which was just okay with him as long as the wind Gods didn't play foul. Of course that was at the God's discretion.
Anyway. Joseph was apparently the only person who knew Julianne and didn't realise her love for Mathew. That ignorance stemmed from the fact that he thought he was way better than him. This, like all his other thoughts, was essentially a figment of his imagination. A wild imagination like his teachers used to say. And often too.
Julie, by now, had had enough rejections. 34 and quarter to be precise. She knew, she kept a diary. Although she often misplaced it and in an apartment with snoopy guys around - Not A Good Thing To Do! Maintaining a diary is a good thing. Every good thing in life is relative, for it attracts a lot of relatives. In her case though, she didn't have many. She'd been brought up by her uncle. Thomas Smith, was a well-to-do industrialist. & he was well at doing, for his wife had passed away more than a decade ago. With death comes relative freedom. You are set free of your relatives and you have a larger degree of freedom. He didn't have kids of his own, which was just about perfect for him, for that meant he could splurge all he wanted to on himself and his mates. And after his wife's death, he sent Julianne off to a boarding school because he knew he'd cut a sorry figure if he did have to play dad to her. He wasn't averse to play. He played fore- and back. He was the talk of the town. No sane person would want to live his life of debauchery and lechery.
"I envy her uncle, really! I wish I had a life like his." James was a common friend to the three roomies. Julie had come to know him for being the most sane person around.
"It drove me insane with the kind of pleasures he's indulged in. And still does.", he confided in Matt.
"Who gives a f***!" Mathew was hardly impressed. He was, by nature, pretty fastidious. He had a keen sense of humour. Almost all his jokes had something to do with his gold-chain that adorned his scarred neck. "All that glitters is not gold, John!", he'd humour others without realising he was talking to Kumar and not John. Of course, this was the joke, but as nature would have it everyone but Matt would get it. And the laughter and gaiety could all be attributed to Matt's clumsy mannerisms, which he himself was oblivious to, much to the dismay and mirth of people around him. His gawkiness had been the prime builder in his life. It had made him as much enemies as it had befriended. James was one such chap who found his goofy mannerisms pretty cool. James was an agreeable man too. He agreed that almost everything under the sun, everything but his belongings, were cool. Although he found Matt a decent guy, he'd lately started sullying Matt's unblemished character for he'd realised his attraction for Julie and her love for Matt. The realisation had been thrust on him by Julie herself. It was strange then, that they were on a date that day - out for a movie and dinner. The date had been the offspring (or the illegitimate child) of jealousy that Julie hoped would make Matt come closer to her.
"I'm sorry the place is closed!", said the bouncer of the night-club. "But its only ten?"
"I can tell the time, sir. I can also tell when a place is closed!"
"It was your idea, you freak!", Julie blurted out as soon as they'd walked five paces. "This day was just a mistake! Mea Culpa. Should have never asked you out."
She'd said more than she'd actually spoken, for it was crystal clear to James now.
He dropped her at the apartment and left. Without a word. Silence is noisy and confusing sometimes. Specially when you have lots of things going in your head. But such is life. James' perfect day ended up being not so perfect. Even he had been a privy to Julie's diaries, but like Jose, he'd presumed it was a mere trick to throw them off-track! Now that the truth had dawned on him, it was hurting his eyes a little too much for comfort.
Julianne got back to her room, sneaked, and peaked, around Matt's room to see what he was up to. She was disappointed in her savoir-faire, but acutely impressed with her knack of knowing what Matt was up to. There wasn't much know-how needed to know what Matt was up to most of the times. He was there in his room totally marooned and oblivious to the rest of the world's happenings. His laptop was his favourite companion. He had friends he cared about. His laptop was his best friend, for it didn't demand anything in return from him. It was happy just the way it was.
"Whats the matter with you?!" he screamed, infuriated for his laptop had been acting sluggish lately.
"What do you mean? I can't go to my room now??", Julie retorted for she was unaware as to who the recipient of the bellow was.
"Mind your own beeswax for God sake!"
"Another request turned down, huh?" Julie knew where it hurt Matt the most. Well, not really most, but next to most anyway!
Matt thrust his hand out. He knew when to thrust his hand out and when to shove fingers. He quickly amended his folly and showed her his finger much to the wrath of Julie.
She walked away in mute protest. The mute protest generally lasted fifteen minutes at best. This one broke all previous records. It lasted a full thirty seconds longer than her previous. Of course that wasn't easy to figure out given the fact that her diary never contained timings of incidents (and accidents, alike). They displayed the date as a mute reminder to an otherwise hopelessly stupid day for most of her days were stupid and hopeless. Hopeless for she had given up all hope of winning Matt's attention, let alone his love. The days were merely stupid cause the adjective often swapped locations. It described her day when it ought to have described her.
"Where were you?", inquired Joseph the moment he set his eyes on Julie expecting a reply in return. He didn't get a reply. Instead he got an apologetic hand thrust at him.
"Bad Day!" he told himself. He knew Julie inside out. That was really simple for there was more to her outside than her inside!

Intoxicated..!!

Ghālib Chhuti Sharāb Par Ab Bhi Kabhi Kabhi
Pēta Hoon Róz Abr Shab-e-Māhtāb Mein

When Jack Met Emma..!! (Or Angels Don't Lie): Part - V

Jack waited there impatiently. He felt like that ripe mango hinged to the tree by its slender neck waiting to fall off or be prematurely bumped off by some sudden gush of wind or a nasty stone hurled its way by some impatient kid. The moment of truth was here. And for his sake he hoped it was 'now' not 'never'.
There she was in all her beauty and splendor. Appropriately dressed in a white gown accompanied by her father as the mellifluous wedding song was being played in the background by the band that she'd given her thumbs up to. He'd never heard of the band and given a choice, he'd excuse himself from the agony. If it hadn't been the song's charm, the band would've sound pretty bland. But then again most of the bands in contemporary world he found bland and mildly disgusting! They were the not-so-mute-reminder to the fact that even Emma had her cons, but he'd known of them before he'd popped the question 8 months ago. Funny feeling rain can bring out. He put all the onus of his going down on his knee to the romantic weather and not his bravado. But then Emma had known him for 4 years so it didn't come as a surprise to her. In fact, he'd let her entertain the idea quite a few times.
It was taking ages for her to walk down the aisle. He felt a strong urge to go and shoot the band members in cold-blood. And without second thoughts at that. They'd made the tempo of the song a tad slow. Of course tad is a relative word and Jack knew relativity better than most. Here Comes The Bride, Here Comes The Bride!
"Yeah, well she's been coming for hours now!", he said to himself, loud enough for the Best-Man to hear it. Ralph was dressed smartly in his black tux. He found marriages very boring. When he wasn't standing at the altar waiting for his to-be-wife that is. He'd been married four times and was now seeing a brunette. A beautiful brunette at that. She looked much younger than she was. First look and only an insane would say she was 32. Ralph, of course, was insane. They struck a chord right away. It was hard not to see his charm and her beauty. They looked good together. They'd stay together for how long only time would tell.
"Really?? You're The Man!!!", Ralph quipped.
"Quiet You! This is a Church for God-sake!!"
"And I've seen it from the inside more than you have, you evil minded bull!"
"Bull-Shit"
"Quiet You! This is a Church for God-sake!!"
"Ralph! I appreciate your cheering me up, but SHUT-UP!"
"Excuse Me? But I've hardly said a word!"
"Not you Father! I'm sorry"
The crowd was having a good time by now. The crowd always had a good time for crowds are supposed to be sadists in their own right.
"Do we begin, son?"
"Yes, Father! As soon as you're ready"
"Very well then"
"We gather here to bless this....."
Jack was lost in his own world. He had never imagined in his wildest of dreams that he would fall so hopelessly in love with this really strange girl. She was a decently attractive girl, nothing much to write home about though. But such are circumstances. Men fall where men ought to rise and men rise where they ought to fall. For Jack, the descent had been listless at first and then it plummeted to the unthinkable depths so fast, it made him dizzy. Thankfully for him, Emma was there to hold him just when he was about to crash to the ground.
"Heh Heh"
He realised he'd laughed out too loud. Loud enough for others to hear. Now they were looking at him funny. It was funny, really. The priest had just about managed to ask him what he'd been waiting for to hear ever since he'd popped the Q 8 months ago.
"I, Jack Nicholas, take you, Emma McDonnell, for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part."
The answer the priest had been expecting was far more serious than the 'heh heh' that he got instead.
He knew he'd goofed up and Emma would be furious, but he had to cover up. "Heh Heh, I've to actually say all that?" He tried to laugh it off. Of course that made the solemn affair all the more frivolous and trivial which didn't go down well with Emma.
"Of course, I Do!"
Emma had had enough of mockery for a day.
"Go to hell, you swine!", she blurted out as she resisted slapping him hard but failed miserably.
"She went away. Twice as fast as she'd appeared"
"No!!!! You can't run away from me! Bull-Shit!"
"Whats the matter honey? Are you all right? Bad Dream, was it?"
He startled himself and her by leaping straight to her arms.
"Yeah, was. Pretty Bad. Which is why I was wondering if I'd *really* known you for 4 years"
"How bad can it be Jack? I've been here with you all night! It can't get any worse than that, can it?"
He looked at her in the eyes and then kissed her gently.
Actions speak louder than words.

Past Revisited..!! (Or Alma Mater Revisited)

Funny thing memory is!

It can be good or bad and sometimes both simultaneously depending on how you want to remember it. And sometimes it can just be simply forgetful (not to be confused with forgettable, cause nothing here ought to be forgettable)!

I glanced at the big gate everytime I passed the impressive structure that was once my school. "This time I'll go see it from the inside!", I promised myself like I had a million times. Promises we make to ourselves are the ones that we break more often. But then Orkut Fortune did it for me. Orkut - one of those things in life that is just there for the heck of it. It serves no purpose and it's fortunes don't make much sense most of the times and when they do make sense - they're hardly accurate, but then again they're hardly supposed to make sense. There is no free lunch in the Universe. There are no free prophecies either for everything has its price. But lets not get side-tracked. Its hard not to get side-tracked, but we do our bit not to! "Promise Only What You Can Deliver!" it said. It had told that to me on occassions before this one too, but this one seemed appropriately time (and about time too!)

The day before yesterday, there was this occassion when my nephew was crying for his wishes weren't being fulfilled. So I took him for a walk. It was about 6 in the evening, but unusually dark for this time of the day. Not unusual for this place though, a little unusual for me. It was dark at this time of the day here for the sun set early here. First rays of the sunlight hit the horizon early too (about 5 O'clock)! And because he was still sobbing, I decided to take his mind off of his worries (no matter how trivial - worries are worries afterall)

"देखो बेटा, मैं यहाँ पढता था बचपन में। बहुत साल पहले।"

"Hmmm.."

I didn't take him inside then. I just promised him I'd take him there the next day. The marriage had been officially over, although a few rituals still remained but I had enough idle time at hand to do this stuff. In fact, I had nothing to do at all, barring a few chores here and there - I was officially the "Indian Idle"

I did take him inside the school yesterday in the evening at about quarter to 9. Told him a few anecdotes. Some funny and some not so funny, but he enjoyed all of them. Or atleast I hope he did.

Will share them here some other time.

Gotta go bathe now.

**corrections impending**

Childhood Is Short (Maturity Is Forever)

"Shouldn't you be going to see the people who've just come to pay us a visit?", expecting an answer in the affirmative or an explanation at length.
"No."
The reply was terse and prompt. It summed up the way a little girl perceived things. Life is very simple and uncomplicated when you're young and naive. It has been very aptly put in the line, "Childhood is Short. Maturity is forever."
I think most of us realise this for a fact when we're at the threshold of maturity or unluckily for some, when they're well past it. Life has a funny way of teaching stuff. Some learn it the hard way and some the easy.

What do you call a person who doesn't learn his lessons no matter how many times life teaches him one?

Keep Walking..!!

"Late, late, late!!"

"Aapko Aapka Boss Pittayee Lagayega!", came the prompt response. All He could do was wince in pain at the prospect of it.

He rushed out of his room after having shut-down his laptop, like his tail was on fire. He didn't have the time to drink a glass of water that he thought he'd drink before he left for work. He stood in front of his niece and said, "Am leaving for work, Baby!"

"Yeah, go! Quick! You don't wanna piss your Boss off, do you?"

"No, I don't wish to!" He smiled.

"Hug?"

She squeezed him as hard as she could. He said, "I Love you, Beta. Love you sooooooooooooo much!"

He held his arms open as wide as they'd go.

"Theek Hai. I Love you a little too" She giggled.

She's already grown up, he thought and broke into laughter.

"Now go, go. go!!"

"Bye."

He rushed towards his aquarium, kissed his fishes goodbye and got outside, closing the door behind him. Once outside, he always felt unleashed. He quickened his pace. People always thought he was "going some place", for he always walked briskly. Slowing down his pace cramped his legs, or so he claimed for there had been instances when he'd strolled on the curb with dead slow pace (or so it felt) without cramping them up! In no time he was at the bus-stop. "Namaste, Sir!", he said as he shook hands all around. One of the few things that this job had tought him was being social. He never considered himself a social person. Recluse was the word he'd use often to describe himself. The wait was short, for he'd just about made it in time to catch the bus. Once on the bus, he felt bored. For sitting in the bus was as boring as sitting anywhere else with nothing to do. He slid the glass open to let fresh air gush inside. He usually did that for two particular reasons. The first, was to alleviate himself of all the sweating that might otherwise make his shirt soggy right from the start - not his idea of a good day. The second reason was to check the degree of his hair's cleaniness. The better washed they were, the more they fluttered in the breeze. He adored his hair, especially when they'd been soaked in conditioner for minutes that he wished were hours. Hair was the one thing that could decide his mood for the day. A bad hair-day invariably meant a bad work-day. It hardly took 15 minutes to reach his workplace, for the driver was in a hurry. They were generally in a hurry during that time of the day for that meant a really quick start to nap-time! CISF jawan got in the bus to check for people's identities. He thrust out his I-Card without looking at him, continuing to gaze outside at a particularly strange bird. This bird was just a normal bird, strange for it was nearly 10 in the evening and it apparently was still out. This one won't catch worms, unless it deprives itself of sleep. The bus moved languidly to the 2nd gate where everyone got down. He got down last and walked to the ACS turnstile. He put his card near the sensor which turned a bright red from its usual green. He put his finger on the finger-print reader and after a 2 second delay the sensor turned a bright green. He turned the thing over as he walked through it. As soon as he was on the other side of the turnstile, he waved to his friend, had a quick glance at the flare burning in the distance and quickened his pace as he now headed straight for his Control Room. He saw no one ahead of him. Made him feel better for he wouldn't have to slow down for them and offer a smile. More the people, the more time he'd take to reach his destination. Today was one of those days when he saw no one in front of him. He felt today was gonna be a good work-day.

He kept walking.

What Goes Around, Comes Around. But Why..?

There are pros and cons to everthing in life. For every good thing that can be associated with something, there's at least one bad that goes along with. God's/Nature's way of making things even. For his existence exists on the basis that He's fair! How much success He's enjoyed is another matter that can be discussed ad infinitum, ad nauseam for generations to come - and if you got generations doing all the work, we might as well not bring that debate here. For the moment we stick to the pros and cons of everything there is to life!

Lets say you're travelling to some far off place. You have a lot of choices as far as reaching that place is concerned because, like it or not, you have alternatives!! (Most of the times thats a bad thing - coz it only ends up confusing you all the more). Let's say I take a flight to that 'far off place'. I'm greeted well on-board. I'm catered to very efficiently. Beauty & Service. Now thats a combination that seems to appeal to everyone of us. You make-up your mind! From now on you're flying to every possible place that is accessible by flight.

The next time you take a flight and you hit nadir, rock-bottom, abyss. Its like falling off a cliff with no parachute. The service is paltry, the air-conditioning doesn't work, the flight is delayed because some stupid, loser, politician has to take that very 'fateful' flight. The thing is delayed beyond your wildest of imaginations. You lose your power to comprehend. You don't know whats going on around you. The flight doesn't even have air-hostesses. Air-stewards don't even come close to an air-hostess, unless you have queer inclinations.

Life's a leveller, you say? But who's keeping track of all this stuff? Surely he must have something more interesting to do! Why can't he just blog instead?? Does he really have to keep account of everything so he *levels* it all?

Thank God for nightmares!

When Jack Met Emma..!! (Or Angels Don't Lie): Part - IV

"Hey Jack! I'm sorry I had to rush, but you know how irritable kids can be when they wake up from sleep at mid-night!"
"Oh My God! I didn't realise it was mid-night! I'm sorry. Really am!"
"Oh, don't be ridiculous Jack! You know a call from you is always welcome. And I wasn't sleeping anyway"
"And what was it that you were doing?"
"Well, I was trying to pour some ideas into this cauldron that should eventually help me design this 'shopping complex', but apparently the pot isn't hot yet - lack of hot ideas!"
"Hot ideas, eh?"
"Oh, shut-up Jack! You have a one-track mind!"
"Well, I'm just glad you think I have a mind! The girl who left me 5 years ago thought I had none."
"It's ok J. We know who's loss that was."
"Yeah, I think I know better than you!"
"No Jack, really! I mean it. She must have been short-sighted!"
"You don't have to be nice to me just because you're my friend. You might as well be frank!"
"No, I'd rather be Emma McDonnell than be Frank McDonnell. Frank was the name of the guy I was betrothed to a month ago!"
"What? You never told me that?"
"Yeah, its something I try to forget."
"Why? What happened? You thought he was frivolous and bland?"
"It was the other way round J. He asked me if I was a virgin. I couldn't just lie to him - so I told him the truth"
"Yeah? And what did he have to say?"
"And you know what they say about being honest? They drum in this vagary that Honesty Is The Best Policy and all that crap! But I've learnt honesty just screws things up for you."
"Yeah, I know! There was this teacher in my school. Everyday at school she'd say - "Everyone who hasn't done their homeworks - please stand up!" And no one would stand. Then she'd keep yapping about the whole honesty and the best policy line over and over again and she'd eventually 'convince' the guys to stand up. Then she'd beat them up like crazy!"
"It's a pity, Jackie. It is such a pity!"
"Anyway, Em.... your story, please?"
"Are you sure you wanna know?"
"If you intend to tell me, why not!"
"So he asked me how did that losing my virginity come about and I had to tell him I'd been sexually abused once when I was a teen."
"Huh? I don't know what to say!"
"Its ok J, you don't have to say much. He said enough already." She stifled a sob.
"M? Are you all right?"
"Hmmm.." Her voice was now a lot heavier than it had been when he heard her first.
"I'm sorry I brought this up. I didn't know you'd feel badly about it"
"It's ok. Am all right now!" She wiped her tears away and it just showed in the way she spoke now.
"But tell me Jack, is telling the truth a bad thing?", she asked as she now moved to the kitchen to get her something to munch. Sobbing always made her feel hungry. It was no surprise then that she'd put on a few pounds in the past month.
"No, honey! How can it be? It's just the way people perceive the truth. Some just suck it up when others seem to throw up!"
"Well, a month or so with you and I might just get back to shape, Jack! I was just gonna get me something to munch and now I've lost all my appetite!"
"Awww, I'm sorry. Just a figure of speech!"
"Heh heh"
"I'll talk to you later Emma! I've got a friend waiting on the other line, ok?"
"Yes, Jack. I'll be waiting for your call. Apparently only three things can hog my thinking today!"
"Yeah, Right! Bbye M!"
"Bye Jack, Take Care"

When Jack Met Emma..!! (Or Angels Don't Lie): Part - III

"Hello?"
"Hi!"
"Jack? Hiiiiiiii!!!"
"So, angels do use phones!!"
"Heh heh. How've you been, Jackie?"
"Decent, I suppose!"
"You Suppose? Why? What's the matter?"
"I don't know, Em. I really don't. Wish I did though!"
"Yeah, I suppose thats a real let-down. When you don't know whats pulling you down and it just keeps doing it!"
"Hmmm. But anyway, tell me about you? Whats up with you? You've been out of touch for *some* time now!"
"Yeah, Jack. Have been keeping really busy. There's this project coming up. I'm designing a Shopping Complex at this really posh location!"
"All Right!! So when is this Mall coming up?"
"It's not a Mall, Jack. Its a 'Shopping Complex'."
"And there's a difference?"
"No, not really. But I like to call mine a shopping complex anyway."
"Hehehe!"
"What's up with you?"
"Nothing much, M. Same old same old!"
"No!! Don't say that. Life's always got to get better. How can it be same old?"
"Yeah, I suppose life has got to change. For the better or for the worse is another matter though."
"I'll call you later Jack, my daughter's up! Will get her to sleep. You Take Care, Jackie!"
"Yeah, I'll...."
"Jack?"
(beep, beep, beep)

It'll Take A Minute

"I'll take a minute. You guys carry on!", B smiled and held his index finger up for added emphasis just as he was about to answer the phone.
(And the minute became minutes, for he didn't realise - Time & Tide Waited For No Man)
"I wonder whats wrong!", said his companion - C, seriously worried as to what was keeping him busy for so long!
"No, he's fine! It's just that girl who keeps calling him every now and then", assured N.
"Really? A Girl?? Awww Man!! I can't believe we're being ignored for a girl.", protested C.
"Its Ok Boy! She's not *just* a girl", N winked playfully.
"Ooooh!! Is It", excited at the prospect of getting to tease B as soon as he'd heard the words N spoke.
"Excusez-Moi! Are you guys conspiring against me?", enquired B, feeling awful at being stabbed in the back by friends he held in high regard.
"No, Not yet!"
"Let Down is what I feel", said B mockingly. "Whats the big idea of talking to a girl if I'm not even going to be teased about it! This just doesn't cut it!! Goddammit. All good work has come undone."
"Oh, knock it off! Just shut-up and keep walking!", said S, agitated now.
"I can hear ice break. Do you hear it too? Do you, do you, do you??"
"Oh, Shut-Up!!"
"I can feel it"
(Peeep-peeep-peeep - bike honking its horns in the distance)
"& There's confirmation! See, I told you, didn't I?"
"So? You've found your girl, huh?"
"Found? Found?? Is that a trick question??"
"No. Why?"
"You mean to say I have to find one?"
"Yeah, we all have to. Eventually!"
"But why do I have to look for her? Thats like working hard for something that I'm going to be stuck with for the rest of my life!! It's like telling me I'm not worthy of it. That I don't deserve it."
"Oh, shut-up!"
"No, really! Why can't she just have a light-bulb on her face that glows each time I talk to her, so I know *she* is the *one*!"
"But think of it this way - Everytime you get a call on your phone, 'she glows', right?"
"Oh, Crap!! She's not even close to the *one*."
"And that will explain why you're on the phone more often than not, won't it?"
B looked at the pavement on the other side of the road and scratched his forehead. He kept walking, nonetheless. Kept walking until his phone rang again!
"I'll take a minute. You guys carry on!"
(And the minute became minutes, for he didn't realise - Time & Tide Waited For No Man)

Panem et Circences..!!

It was just about half past five in the evening and I had just come back from college. Of course this was the summer of 2000. Although it seems like it was yesterday, but we know it wasn't.
The weather had been really pleasant all afternoon. Light dust-storm, and a drizzle followed. It was the most wonderful sight specially because our college had this really huge ground right in front of it. The ground wasn't levelled all over, so it kinda gave it the mountainous feel, only without rocks or greenery. But because this particular evening had had a drizzle, the dust that usually swirled 15-20 meters high, was hardly there although the breeze that caused the tornado like scenes wes very much still there. The adventure-loving people that me and my best pal were (are), we couldn't resist the open arms of the weather and what it had in store for us, apparently.
We walked together talking very little as we basked in the beauty of this thing we call nature! And how!! I still recollect he was wearing his dark-blue T-shirt and I was in my (the then) favourite blue shirt. And strangely enough some portions of the ground was still dry (I still wonder why) causing localised dust-storms hardly as big as we'd become used to, but even then it made a great sight. It was, I recall, the afternoon which saw us appear for the Chemistry-II exams in the 1st Year of Engineering (reason why it felt all the more beautiful). So we meandered across the ground like a cloud over some mountain, not knowing which way to go! Only in our case, we weren't sure which way to go first!
Then after about an hour and a half of mooching around, we went to the nearby juice-bar. There I had my favourite "Cold-Coffee" (like only those guys made). We got back and strangely enough I don't recall anything about the conversation we had, but whatever little of it there was - I must have enjoyed for I still recall the day! & was definitely one of the best 'talks' I've had with anyone ever! :D

When Jack Met Emma..!! (Or Angels Don't Lie): Part - II

"Emma? You promised you'd be there for me!"
"You never called, my dear! And its 'Em' for you!"
"Yknow, Em, I was thinking.."
"Yeah, one must do that too, once in a while!"
"Shut-up and listen to me. Ummm...what was I saying? Dang it, I forgot!!"
"You were wondering how different people perceive things in a different way. And yet..."
"You're an Angel, aren't you?"
"Perception, my love! My neighbour thinks I'm just another girl next door. My milkmaid thinks I'm just an ordinary miserly lady. To someone I don't know, I'm just one of those dime-a-dozen people that you bump into every day, every walk of your life and not think even once that I might be someone they know, for I'm not someone they know anyway."
"Don't be such a smart-ass! You know what I meant!"
"No, am not an Angel. Far from it."
"How do you know *every* thing? You're not just one of those dime-a-dozen people that you say you are!"
"Do we really want to talk about this?"
"Not if you don't want me to!"
"Good. Then we will talk about it"
"Then let me correct you. I don't know *every* thing. I just know a lot about *you*. You're Jack McDonald. You turned 25 last December. You've been working at this place for a little over two years now - although you're already getting a feel you should be working elsewhere! You have two really good pals that you can count on any day, any moment! One of them I've known for 9 years now."
She'd been noticing Jack (and virtually stalking him) for almost 4 years now! She was studying architecture back then. And he was a student of Engineering in the same college.
"No!! Don't tell me!"
"What?"
"You're not Emma McDonnell, are you?"
"Mmmm... Yes, that would be me!"
"Always wanted to know you! Heard so much about your histrionic prowess.."
"All good I hope!", she grinned. Her teeth were the perfect pearly whites Jack had ever seen. Although her grin made her nose stoop a little to the left, but she looked better when she grinned. And she looked awesome when she didn't!
"You played Juliet in the college play, didn't you?"
"As a matter of fact, I did"
"Its a pity I was sick for a month then. Pox, you know!"
"Well, good thing you were sick. Or all that illusion about my histrionic prowess would've been shattered that very day!", she managed a giggle.
"I'm sure it wouldn't have been that way", he remarked matter of factly. She blushed and her pink cheeks turned a shade deeper.
"But I'm still a little confused! How can you know when I'm calling you?"
"Oh! I can. I'm gifted."
"Hmmm!" He didn't know what she meant, but he didn't want to. If it was anything important, she'd tell her if she felt like it anyway.
She gazed at her watch and winced. "Ouch! Its nearly half past nine. I'll need to rush!"
"Can I drop you off at your place?"
"Yeah, why not!"
They walked to her place enjoying each others company like they had ever since they'd met 3 days, 16 hours, 45 minutes and 38 seconds ago!

When Jack Met Emma..!! (Or Angels Don't Lie)

"And she would be?"
"Oh! Am terribly sorry. Jack, meet Emma! Em, this is Jack!"
"Hey Emma!"
"Please, call me Em! My friends call me that, and something tells me you're going to be one."
Her smile was truly genuine. It had a sparkle to it that a solitaire would've been proud of. She was a true gem.
Fair, smart, apparently of the verbose sort and definitely weird in a wonderfully unique way!
"So, Em. You're a..?"
"An Architect. I've been one for what, three years now?"
Her voice had that peculiar feel to it. It felt familiar. A familiar voice is the best voice there is!
"Oooh!! An architect, eh?" Suddenly a little depressed after having let the feeling sink. "You know, I always wanted to be a Pilot. Architect would've been my second choice. Instead I'm stuck doing *this*!"
"And what is this *this*?"
"Oh, let's not even talk about it!", he said shrugging it off like a really bad dream.
"Emma?"
"Yes, Jack?"
"Why does life treat us with such indifference?"
He was reminded of all his prayers that weren't answered.
"Our prayers are not all answered Jack, so we're glad when they *are*!"
Contemplating now, for he feared his emotions were totally obvious to all.
"No, no, Jack! They're not. Relax"
Totally freaked out now, but choosing to ignore - "But Em! Wouldn't we be a lot happier if all are prayers were answered?"
"It's not that simple, Jack. Sometimes your prayers, although unknowingly, can be detrimental to someone else's prayers. Although that doesn't make you a bad person, it kinda puts The Almighty in a fix."
"So, that's what its all about? A toss of the coin?? You mean my prayers are answered if i call a head a head?? You know how ridiculous that sounds?"
"Relax, Jack! Take it easy." She smiled. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her, now!
"I didn't mean to be all excited, Em. I'm sorry."
"No, no. Don't be apologetic. Thats what humans are here for. They make mistakes and they ought to be forgotten. Its something as natural as animals wanting to eat, or vegetables rotting eventually! So its okay."
"But still, am sorry!" He really meant it this time. And she knew, he did.
"I was saying its not the right call that decides if your prayers are answered. Its just the right intentions."
"But, I've never had bad intentions! Really I mean it!"
"Yes, I know darling. I do!" Her smile assured him, she knew.
"Who are you?" Jack couldn't help himself from asking.
"I thought we'd been introduced a while back", she retorted.
"Not in totality, I think"
"Hehehe. Very funny"
"But you know what I wanted to say, right?"
"Not really!" He still wasn't sure why all his prayers were not being answered.
"You see, if all your prayers were to be answered, you *think* you'd be happy. But would you really be?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"You know, its human tendency to always want things he doesn't have."
"You want a decent school, decent college. You want a good workplace when you work, you expect a charming life-partner when you're looking for one. Cutest kids and smart ones too! You name it, you want it."
"But whats your point?"
"The point is - after a while, the charm's all gone. Your friend is just a friend, your job is just another job, your wife is a pain in the ass most of the times, your kids get on your nerves too often for your liking!"
He became visibly sad. He knew she was making some sense.
"So, no matter how good a life you have - you invariably spoil it yourself by wanting more! Other people's wives are always more attractive, their kids are more well-behaved, their job offers more satisfaction and all that jazz."
"So you're trying to say, I shouldn't be expecting happiness?"
"No, Jack. You don't see the point, do you? The trick is to be happy with what you have!"
"But that is absurd! How I can just learn to be happy with what I have? Its like accepting what I'm being given, no matter how petty it is. And surely, the world would just stagnate if that were the case."
"Thats the trick, boy! The lesser you expect, the more you're given. The more you expect, the more you're given."
"Eh? And how is it different then?"
"Because you don't expect much, you're given a lot. Meaning - you think you're being given a *lot*, cause you never expect it in the first place! And because you expect more out of life, your prayers *are* answered."
"So, I win regardless of whether its a 'head' or a 'tail'?"
"Not, really Jack. Not really!! You see, when your expectations are high, no matter what you're given - you feel its meager and thats why you're not satisfied."
"Ahaan!"
"You know how it is? Your wife and other women!"
"I'm not married, Em!"
"Oh, I know. I Know Everything, Jack. Everything About You!"
He tried not to look in her eyes for he didn't want to see that truthfulness in her eyes. He *knew* she knew everything about him. How?
"It's getting late, Jack. I've to go someplace else too. And don't worry. All your secrets are safe with me, I Promise!"
"But..."
"No, Jack. Can't tell you who I am. But I can give you my number so you can call me whenever you feel like it"
"Oh, please do!"
He stood patiently, wondering if she'd been the victim of the foot-in-one's-mouth-syndrome!
"All you have to do, is call, Jack! Just Call Me!"
He stood there, speechless, not knowing what to say for he'd never seen an Angel before. She went away.

Who Are You, Anyway?

There's A Cockroach In My Coffee
There's A Needle In My Arm
Take Me To The Farm (Or Bhutan) :D

Nothing like making fresh plans with your friends! Even if it is making 'em all over again, with a new one! :-)
"Let's go someplace, man! I'm so fuckin' bored here!", he whined. He knew at once, I was really feeling the heat! Although I swore often, but never on the phone or over a chat!!
"You know, I had this really weird nightmare yesterday!"
"Ahaan? What about the nightmare?", he felt the need to pursue the truth (which at the moment was more anguish and sorrow!)
"You know how it is! Work-pressure and all. How you're *expected* to *do* things *just like that*!"

I was standing near the DCS Panel (Distributed Control System Panel for the ignorant). Looking funny at the CRT for the Queen (the Recycle Gas Compressor, Elliott-Ebara make for the lesser known mortals) wouldn't go to her rated rpm inspite of repeated trials! And an idle rpm isn't our idea of a running compressor anyway! A 1000 rpm is no good to someone who's *just about* comfortable with a little over 5800. He saw a barrage of men barging in with little respect for the sanctity of the moment! Little know-how, even less regard for the situation was not what He could gulp (even with all the glasses of water the world had to offer)
"Say, who the fuck are you guys, anyway?" He knew who they were, for their helmet resting agitatedly on their heads said that quite distinctly! Two letters that spelt doom to most in the control room - "ED", "GM(T)", "DGM(TS)" (Okay, more than two letters - but hey! I'm not thinking straight!!). People who were both unaware and aware of what was going on were only too timid to intervene!
"Yes, I'm talking to you, you nitwit!! What the hell are you doing here? You know there are *other* things that need your attention more than a plant start-up! Just get outta here, NOW!!" The Executive Director stood there motionless for exactly an eon (thank you, Celestial Clock!). Then he left without a word.
(*knock, knock!* Who is it? Its Sanity. Missed me??)
"Sir! I'm sorry! It's just the gravity of the situation that seems to bring out the devil in all of us. I am, regretfully, just one of those men who seem to have been effected by it. I suppose you, you'll not only forgive my folly, but also forget all about it!"
"Forget? Yeah, Right!", he sneered. I'll See You Around.
He felt his heart sink abysmally to something that could be likened to Challenger Deep!
Am up shit-creek. Without a paddle, man!
Next I find himself on top of my Regenerator for no apparent reason. Oh, but there was! I was soon to fall off of it.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
It must have been real! (The shriek, for its reverberations were heard a little after he found himself staring at the laptop's blue lights. He had dozed off without turning it off. But that was the least of his problems! A pounding heart was worse than a sinking heart, he thought. Further musing made him wince!
His nightmares did come true, almost without an exception!
He got up from his bed. Took a bath right away!

"Take me to Bhutan, boy! Take me to Bhutan this very moment!!"
"Yeah, why not buddy! Why Not!!!", he chuckled vociferously.

I relaxed. For even if the plan were to materialise a hundred million years after mankind had ceased to be - we would still be on!

People & Tea..!!

He sipped his tea and smiled in smug satisfaction. He knew he'd done a good job making it. Well begun is half the job done (Or a good lather is half the shave). The rest of it seemed trouble-free and uncomplicated. No adding a tea-spoonful of this and another of that. All that was left to do now was sit back and savor the taste that was!
He had known that feeling before. It was unlike any other. Tea didn't demand his attention at all times - it merely sat there on this laptop-board watching him type ravenously, not wondering for once if he was casting aspersions on its flavor. It just sat there admiring its luciferous self as the light from the fluorescent tube caste vivid and lucid patterns on its surface that merely reflected on his face. It was not for once, perturbed that he paid no attention to it, for he was busy punching keys on his keyboard, merely glancing toward it every now and then, just to be sure its still there and not spilling all over the place in ire, for it has been ignored for too long.
He'd known people who were that way. He'd been one. That's the thing with people. They're pretty unsure of things in life, unlike a cuppa' tea. He wished he were a cup of tea, for a cup of tea was always enjoyed, no matter what! It did not have mood-swings that made it unpleasant. It didn't taste funny when it was all grumpy. It had a degree of tranquility even when it was turbulent outside, a taste even when bitterness outgrew everything else around it. It had a feeling of solidarity with the person who devoured it, no matter how bad the his mannerisms. People slurping it without much gratitude meant little to him, for it was fair to all. Its heart (and mind) was free of all malice, unlike people who tended to change their stance from maleficence to benignity depending on who they were dealing with and the rapport they shared with them. Tea was like his laptop who let everyone punch in on the keys without ever complaining. It was like the fishes in his Aquarium, who got all excited at the sight of any human being walking by with anticipation of imminent food-frenzy!
And like his tea, he loved his fishes for they didn't discriminate people based on caprice and hearsay.

Melancholy

"Bang! Bang! Bang!!"
He'd made up his mind.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!!"
No matter how despondent and dejected he was, he wouldn't let despair get the better off him! Even if it meant banging on helpless pipelines that refused to carry the waste water through them, spilling them over the funnel instead. Funny thing, frustration is!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!!"
'Take that! And That!!', he said out loud. He hated water spilling over the funnel on the hapless cemented floor of the compressor house. He had a thing for the compressor house. This is where he spent most of his time, when he was down, when he was elated, when he was indifferent to what was going on around him. This place gave him solace like no other, barring only his home! 'How dare you refuse to carry away all the water?' he demanded and he banged the pipeline some more. The pipe gave in allowing a little more water to flow through it this time, but not enough to impress him! He eyed the funnel with contempt. 'And that goes for you too!!'
"Bang! Bang! Bang!!"
They'd had enough. The water level in the funnel began its steady demise. 'You better watch-out, boy! Really!!'
He felt sorry for he had been rude to the pipe that carried all the waste to where it belonged. 'They gave me no choice!', he explained. Spare the rod and spoil the child, he thought. He managed a flicker of a smile on his face this time.
He inspected all the pumps as he walked right below the pipe-rack, checking lube-oil and quench-steam of some, increasing cooling-water flow in the others. Or just giving them a pat on their back motor for they'd been good all morning.
But there was something about the morning that had been worrying him. Something about the day before that kept vexing him even as he tried his best to pay full attention to the pumps, for he knew it didn't take much for them to start throwing a tantrum or two every now and then. He been a sorry witness to it a few days back. He winced as he tried not to let morbid thoughts bog him down at the start of the day itself. He contemplated the way things could have been the day before. He stared aimlessly at the bare patch of the bottom-pump discharge pipeline, gazing at the heat-waves that he saw emanating from it.
He shook himself off of his trance and started to walk towards the furnace. He tapped on each draught-gauge to check if it would show any other reading. He'd known they were fickle from bitter experience. He ascended the stairs leading to the second of the three furnaces that lay close by. The others were a stone's throw away from there and he knew he'd be paying them a visit too! He did that everyday. But today was just not like 'everyday'. Today was different and dull and depressing. He walked right to the peephole glass and saw his face on the glass just as he was about to pull the shutter-ropes to make the heaters' internals visible to his eluding eyes. 'How apt!', he said to himself. For he knew he'd been burning with indignation all the while he was there. He didn't feel sorry for himself. He was just sorry things turned out the way they did. He pulled the rope and saw the flames of the heater, more beautiful than he'd ever seen. He knew he couldn't enjoy the sight, but he tried nonetheless. And succeeded, although he felt like a cheapskate right away. They were all at their best today. He came down and walked towards the phosphate dosing area checking the level in the dosing drum and running the mixer for a while to allow the settled phosphate to mix thoroughly, for 'why should a chemical suffer the injustices that life has to offer', he mused. He glanced at his Timex and knew at once that he'd have to quicken things up, for it was nearly 8.
He quickened his pace and was among the furnaces again. Only these were 'Non-IFP' heaters and pretty small when compared to the furnace which he'd inspected only minutes ago. He was weary of small things. For he knew, small things were often overlooked. He tapped on their draught-gauges too. It had become a habit. -10mmWC. He knew it was too high a draught. He knew what was needed to be done, but he wasn't up to it. Not today. He decided he'd ask his operator to do the needful.
On his way back from the furnace he heard abnormal noises coming from the Compressor House-2. Not the ideal place to be hearing abnormal noises from, he knew. He knew what the matter was. This time, though, he did the needful himself for he knew the consequences. Draining Delayed, Is Draining Denied! He was ready to upset anything but his compressors. He had 17 and he took pride in taking care of each one of them. He spotted an Operator nearby. He admonished him for not being careful enough. He walked away feeling really silly for having given him a earful, but he knew, that it would serve the purpose.
Such is life, he thought. He'd made himself adept at laughing at the face of desperation, but all he could manage today was a bleak smile.
Life & Its Bite-In-The-Bum Syndrome!!

Full Circle..!! (Or Poetry In Pang)

'Let's not even talk about', I said, down in the mouth and all .

'Too hoppin' mad to talk I am. I sooooo knew it!' She complained furiously. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, they said. It shall never be my endeavor to seek proficiency first hand, in this particular matter, for Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread

'Well, I didn't. Which is why it hurts all the more!', was all I could come up with, totally dejected at the way Life had played its evil game over again for the umpteenth time.

Somethings in life do deserve a special mention. This one could do without it.

Life can be that way - always the leveler that He claims He is! But seriously, do we even need things to be fair? Will it just not be good enough if it had to be a little unfair in our favor? And although explaining our failures that way would be wayyyyyyy to difficult - come to think of it - who would encounter failures if He was on our side?
Happenstances, they say, have their own significance. No matter how trivial or how crucial!
(Yeah, Right! And I was born yesterday!)
I think people come up with such lines to give solace to their sorry souls - for how can you explain people pardoning the way Life treats them?

Life! Death To Thee!!
I Shall
Set Thee Free.
(One Of These Days)
I Shall

To be or not to be is the question!

'I'd rather be than not be! For being is better than not being!" (Said I)
"Ummm...me too, My Lord?", said Gloom.
"Oh, what the heck! Yes, you too!", totally sorry as soon as I heard those sound waves travel to the distant corners of the Garden Of Eden
"But do remember! We're legally separated now. I still have that Restraining Order and I wouldn't mind sending you back to jail!!' I sneered, not sorry for one lousy moment that it might hurt my (once) soul-mate.

Gloom! Death To Thee!!
I Shall
Set Thee Free.
(One Of These Days)
I Shall

I looked in their eyes. They were sorry. For they had done what was humanly possible - and I couldn't have asked for more, for they were only mortals. Tears rolled down their cheeks for they had been hurt as much as I. Only they had been hurt all the more (knew not I). All the more you say? Aye! Easy to shatter the hopes of billions, you say? Nay! Takes some doing. Specially after you've carried the hopes to such lofty heights.
'Forgiveness, is what you deserve', I wish I'd said
But I didn't, for I didn't get the chance.

But I wish to let them know
I'm ready to forgive and let go!
No point hanging on to something
that'll only feelings of distress, forego!

Oh Men! Pardon To Thee!
I Shall
Set Thee Free
(On This Very Day)
I Shall
(Set Thee Free)

We Will Survive! (I just wish some of us wouldn't >:P)

We survive everything life throws at us. And I mean everything!! Its not even funny. Come to think of it it must be a miracle that we survive as long as we do (sadly, for some). Thats like the understatement of the century. With all the imminent diseases, fires, syndromes, accidents, calamities, ammonia leaks just waiting to happen, we might consider ourselves really lucky to have been alive for this long!
And quite frankly, If I were God (how I wish I was!) I would've liquidated people by the dozen!! Yeah, yeah I know - I'm over-reacting a little, you think. But you should get to know the people that I have to deal with all day!! Ok, ok lets not get side-tracked.
It gets kinda scary sometimes with the kind of danger that shrouds us all around. There are a hundred million ways one can die or be killed - and just one to live! Now the mathematician in me says thats pretty unfair, if probability is anything to go by. But then again its hard to believe probability when *some* people live so they can keep vexing you like all the time! Sometimes i feel there is no God - but then I'm reminded of all the good things life has to offer and I quickly eschew all agnostic feelings for God like I abjure solving mathematics problems!
Its really strange that sometimes prudence should emanate from reading stuff that seem pretty frolicsome in the first instance. I'm particularly reminded of this Calvin & Hobbes strip that had Calvin musing on how arduous it is to have faith in Lightning (& in a way - God himself) when there aren't enough well placed lightnings to eliminate jerks (for good).
At the end of it all, I think we'll all survive the deluge of numbskulls and their weird ways like the insurmountable protagonist in just about every movie we lay our eyes on (barring a few exceptions). And who knows, we might even dance our way around bushes too! (I hope not - am a lousy dancer and I wouldn't want *her* to start hating me the moment she fell in love) :p

Bloggin' It Off..!

Ever wondered what the limit to boredom is?
Seriously, every time you think you've had your share of boredom and that nothing can take this new found peak [or abyss - as you like to call it] to greater heights [or depths] - you just simply go out there & prove to yourself that given a challenge you can attain greatness from mediocrity!!
But have you ever thought [and i come back to my point] what the true limit to boredom is? Coz we never seem to know - and quite frankly no one even seems to care now, apparently! We just seem to have accepted it as a part of our lives. For the better or worse, is another matter. Like that time when you were so bored - you couldn't even find sleep (that, by the way, is one of the worst ways of getting bored, second only to night-shifts) or when you got nothing to do and your friend's phone is busy, which like leaves you with one less thing that can be done!
So, what is it about tedium that makes it so unsolicited? I mean for all we know, it might be in vogue in some other planetary system unlike ours? Maybe the 'people' there think exhilaration is just forthright abysmal or ghastly or whatever else they're supposed to think of it. Maybe 'they' look forward to night-shifts too! Na, that's too much to ask actually! :p
Have you ever felt that boredom gets you more boredom? Like one of those sale gimmicks that promise you two free things for everything you purchase - and that's kinda stupid coz that thing is totally hopeless in the first place! (But then again - that's life for you - if you didn't know already :p)

I seriously feel sorry for Taj Mahal. I mean imagine sitting there all day watching people watch you and not a thing in the world that you can do to change it! I think we should all be glad we're not some monument (although we do feel like it sometimes :p) But come to think of it, boredom is just there!! And try as you might - there's not one darn thing you can do to eliminate it (which is a SSOA)

There's Boredom Everywhere - some just blog it off! ;-)