It-happens-only-with-me mania

While I was on the brink of job-LESS-ness, an invite for a campus day fun at Wipro held at EC campus was a huge solace. Off we went from M3 (the branch from where we work) to EC. Less said the better about the ordeal that finally put us in EC. The shuttle never came in time, the normal why-it-happens-with-me scene. The trouble we took to just be a part of the entertainment is better undisclosed.Nevertheless, hopes of fun at the gathering soothed the annoyance of the resistance put forth by the road- less-gravel-more Hosur road.

The game there "Housie-the game of chance" had just taken off. Late-comers very often get special treatment (reminded of Politicians? ) in the form of ‘requests’ to join the bandwagon. Join did we.Until some time, I suspected if the numbers called out were complementing the numbers on my Housie ticket (Again ……. Why-it-happens-with-me syndrome) .Suddenly, the person calling out the number said ‘ Now it is one and three……. That is thirteen… unlucky for some, and lucky for the others’. Well, with my not being the one to believe in superstitions ( at least, that’s how I make my mind believe) , was brimming with smile to see 13 on my ticket. ‘How can thirteen be unlucky?....... not at least for me’, I mumbled.‘Anyone calling for 13?’…….. came the call from the dais….. Off I ran to the dais anticipating a surprise gift for 13 is not a number very easy to get , right? ( so did think so many sitting next to me who encouraged me to run harder).
It was so sheepish to go all the way to the dais to get clarified that they were not looking for a specific number to give away a surprise gift.They were just curious to know if there were any ‘lucky’ ones to get 13. Although I am not the one to feel ashamed very easily, they were moments of embarrassment, mind you, in front of a huge crowd! Hmm…….. had I also not associated so much significance to 13, I would never have done that……
‘Number 13……. You are unlucky, unlucky and unlucky……. That’s it’. Did I say I wasn’t superstitious?....... I don’t know. But, one thing I know is such- things-happen-only-with-me!

Saurav........ leads from the middle!

Kudos saurav! You did it again....( I mean, u r still doing it ....Touch wood! ).... Not out, yet! To and fro to 6th flr cafeteria to see one of the very rare scenes only a lucky few can witness.... you at the crease .... more so for a long time after a long time, more so for having survived the so-called first-hour lethal attack by the Rawalpindi express ...... was worth the effort. For one who has survived the deadliest attack from the puppeteers of cricket, Shoaib’s can be very measly. All in all, more than one reason to watch you back in action.

I can't believe it, you are still going strong at 33..... Touch wood ! Touch wood!......... I am still touching wood ........I'll do my best to keep you at crease! Not sure if it's enough to defy Mr.Greg, but now at least…….

The spirit in you and your fans has enlivened...... The mental agony that you have been put through, which I believe could never have happened in any sensible country , has been given vent in style..... Your unaltered determination and unmatched style has always carved a niche in your fans' hearts.Raring to see your going strong........I wrote a paragraph and still you are at crease.... cool!

I know, you are craving to see some pieces of praise and applause ( not seen any in the recent past …. Who says the pot-boiler Media can back anyone in need ? ) . This sure is one to praise your calibre....... but, don't get tempted to come and read it right away.... I want you to bat for some more time ( You can always read it later! ).... Don't forget I am touching wood still..... Rushing for the cafeteria now....... with the only hope of seeing you at the crease.....

Dada ki jai!

All great men think alike (!!??)

“All great men think alike” is an age-old proverb which always puts me into a lot of disarray. Sometimes, I feel that the adage is absolutely right when I get to see some parliamentary sessions happening …….. more often than not, no two people seem to think alike there!!
But then, when two answer booklets looked alike ( presumably, for the reason that the students thought alike) in college, the repercussions on the students for their fault of being great and hence thinking alike, have always been horrible….
If all the big shots thought alike, wouldn’t we have a single discovery or a single invention or a single thesis or a single this or single that?....... Ooops! things just add to my confusion.
Utterly confused!!
Although, there is no mention of women in the adage, I thought it applied to women too. Or is it only for men?..... Don’t tell me that women don’t think!!! ......
Is anyone also confused and thinking alike ? … Asking out of desperation to consider myself also great!!

A lot can happen over coffee!!

My day seemed to end the moment it started off, or at least I felt so after all the fatigue I experienced.The cough, cold and headache indeed had bogged me down. It could have, of course,served as a good excuse to escape from office on some other day. I staggered to office against my will as it was required for me to be present to complete my work. I thought, folks could read my face and figure out that I am sick and spare me from work. My speculation failed again. But for the person suffering from cold, everyone very easily concludes that cold is a very trivial disorder ( Thank God! people consider it one, at least) to alter the schedule.Out of concern, some people did advise me to have a cup of coffee for some relief. I am, basically, not habituated to drinking coffee and hence didn't take that advice seriously until the same prescription came from a lot more mouths although I wondered what can really happen over coffee.It worked! A sip or two and I was comparatively a renascent soul. Thanks to that miraculous potion.... A lot did happen over coffee!

Sleepless Nights

Rashmi


The whole world slept in
Silence roared, thoughts whirled,
Night after night, I awoke
To sleep in your arms one day.


You were near, yet far
Less did I vanish in darkness
Her presence eclipsed to hide me
I could see you still, you couldn’t.


I called you, time and again,
Less did the breeze mute my voice
Her song deafened your ears
Her laughs dampened my cry.


I’d care less to get my heart broken
But, in there dwells, beloved, yours
I beg of you, do not break mine
For it would hurt the heart of my heart.


I’d never come in your way,
Don’t know where the hope springs from,
I am awake to sleep in your arms
I’ll wait for all the nights to come.

Iron Jawed Angels

I guess, in the backdrop of an argument with a friend on when American women were granted suffrage, the right to vote, in such a powerful democracy with a history dating back to 18th century, the movie I saw over the weekend " Iron Jawed Angels" had a great impact.

Coming back to the debate on the topic, this issue crept in when we were discussing on some related issue and it was a shock to the other person when I said that in a robust democracy like America too , women had to struggle for years ( close to a century and a half) before they were granted to have their say in August 1920. Thanks to the efforts of Alice Paul, a great legend in the history of America who strengthed the struggle, not to forget the efforts of lots of like-minded women constituting the National Women's Party (NWP). The hardship they went through for seeking their right is inexplicable. The government headed by Woodrow Wilson didn't seem to heed even after witnessing years of struggle by the women.At last, the government inevitably gave in , failing to bear the effect of all the hunger protests, silent protests and prison sentences, brought an amendment in the constitution granting the veto power to women.

I still remember how elated I was when I voted for the first time since I had my say in the mandate. I am sure, I, like other fellow-beings, would also have been deprived of that opportunity had the brave women not awakened the world.

Some links throwing light on Alice Paul and the revolution:

http://www.lkwdpl.org/wihohio/paul-ali.htm

http://pbskids.org/wayback/civilrights/features_suffrage.html

However, "Iron Jawed Angels" is a movie that brings the picture of the struggle and it indeed is worthy of watching. Here I go to add that movie to my favourites list.

Patient Papyrus

There's one friend of mine, who prefers giving offline comments on the posts in my blog. One of the critical critics, I can say. At the end of it all, he makes me feel that the post could have been put forth in any other way but definitely not in the current form ......just kidding. Actually, substantial observance and will to help me improve has led him to do that. When I go wild, I say that I'll write something on him too....... well, that's indeed scary, right?He had warned me against it saying "Don't you dare.........." . Let me call that friend Mr.X , to keep his indentity confidential.

He had called up some days back and some excerpts on how the conversation went on:

Rashmi : Hello
Mr.X :Hello
Rashmi : Hey Mr.X, how u doin?
Mr.X : Doin fine.
Rashmi : What's up?
Mr.X : Nothing really, by the way I read this xyz post of urs
Rashmi : How did u like it?
Mr.X : Crap!......
Rashmi :Hmm..... I knew you wud say this.
Mr.X : Don't you think that xyz line in xyz post must not have been there?
Rashmi : Oh! is it? u know what, once I have posted it, I never read it , so not so meticulous.
Mr.X : Now I got it ! The reason for your still blogging is that u don't read ur posts !!!
Rashmi: ???????!!!!!!!!!!

Instance 2 :
Talking of the deadliest critic on earth,my brother!

I guess, I can reveal his name, Ravi it is. I don't remember when we have agreed on something. When sometime back, I got a very small article of mine published in the paper, for lack of space, it was edited to cut short and fit the space. On the day it was published , I showed him both the published and the full version of the article, this was how he reacted :

Ravi : Dumbo!, why are u waking me up so early ?

( It was not before 8.30 a.m ,I guess)
Rashmi : Get up buddy ( buttering him to read it, u know! ). Look at this article.
Ravi : Keep it on the table, I'll see if I can spare some time for that .
( Within, I mumbled ..... overacting, huh?? )
Rashmi : Please read it .Please, please, please!
Ravi : Hmm...... ok. But, a condition, u should help me fill that application form.
( Some form that had to be filled)
Rashmi : Of course buddy.
( He takes a while to read them both )
Ravi : Rashmi, let me tell u one thing, had you got the full version published, folks would have pelted stones at you!!!
Rashmi : ???????!!!!!!!!!!

Instance 3 :

In 2005, I started writing diary for the first time in my life. Honestly, I had started it quite some years back and left on the third or maximum, forth day.This time, I managed to write it for the whole year ( coz I had to win the bet my brother had put that I would give up soon!!! )
At last I won!..... To me the bet was more important,I wouldn't mind keeping a full stop even without writing a sentence!....... In fact, I have done that quite some times coz what I wrote was immaterial to win.

But, everyday the moment he saw me jotting something in the diary, his satirical comment would be something like this :
Ravi : Rashmi, I'll see how long it'll go on!
Rashmi : Hmm.... wait and watch!
Ravi : Tell me one thing, added to wasting the whole day, u also waste time in writing how u wasted the day, rite? Needless to say, wasting paper too!
Rashmi : ???????!!!!!!!!!!
Just wondered if paper could express how much it disliked my writing something, how I would react.I read recently in the paper, someone( I can't recollect who) said, "Paper is more patient than man"......That's why one should write.

Papyrus........... u are indeed patient. Hail u!

Come of age

The year slid through
Leaving memories few
I recall…..
I limped and limped
Tread when was a plight
I jumped and jumped
When it was but a delight

Today, I set to pace the flight
Hoping things would go straight
For once, my heart breaks the muzzles
Come of age, it strongly rustles
Face with grit, strike any hassles
Hold with calm, all that dazzles,
For, you have no chance to stop,
Got to glide until you are at the top

Days come and go by,
Who says years don’t roll by?
Time flies, not to hear your call,
Even when you have had the biggest fall,
Don’t you seek in ' Time' , a friend
But, in the morals you comprehend.