Pinnacle Uprising - Episode II - Finding the Seed

It took me almost a year to come back to this story. With the desire to further my career prospects and the zeal to move to Canada taking up most of my time, the truth about the events of 2006 / 2007 lay rumbling, ready to explode like an ancient volcano. Now, once again the Truth shall set me free, I Hope!!

Merlin was an interesting character. He was both, an insider as well as an outsider. He had once been an integral part of the Western Frontier but had left the kingdom to seek greener pastures. But once the fall of the empire was inevitable, Lord Chandelier foresaw the future and knew that Merlin was the one who could hold it all together and once again put the kingdom on the path to success and help his subjects achieve the pinnacle.

Lured with money, booze but most importantly the respect that he commanded, Merlin reluctantly agreed to take on the task of building the core group he could rely upon. He spent six arduous months, waiting and watching. He knew he would find him one day for it had been prophesized eons ago, and find him he did, in the dark bowels of earth.

When Merlin first heard of the Creator, he – The Creator, was not called the creator at all. He was a simple boy who could create magic with his thoughts. He was not aware of his potential, just that he was meant to work for the Eastern colony of the Empire. Merlin ordered the Out-Lord of the Colony to let The Creator work for him. The Out-Lord, humbled by Merlin’s request, complied and the little unknown boy set to work, creating magical wands for Merlin. Soon the little boy was teaching others the intricacies of creating these wands and gained quite a fan following.

Impressed by the quality of wands, and realizing that the boy could lead his fellow wand makers, Merlin knew he had found his One. He christened the unknown boy ‘The Creator’ and once again ordered the Out-Lord – “The empire needs The Creator. Send him to us immediately.” The Out-Lord could only comply.

And thus began the journey we all know as the “Pinnacle Uprising”.

Pinnacle Uprising – Episode I – Planting the Seed

For the past 3 years, this story has been struggling to take shape. Though the seeds were sown way back in 2006 / 2007, I have finally found the courage to write again and with the guidance of my Mentor, Merlin – The Magician / The Court Jester, I believe the truth shall see the light of dawn.

It all began when The Creator was tricked into leading his team, along with several others, under the watchful eye of Merlin to the very summit of success. He had no Idea about the hurdles he would face and the knowledge he would gain on this journey to the peak. That he would rise and fall, that he would be remembered forever and forgotten as well, that he would change forever as a person for this was no ordinary journey.

After a long and arduous ordeal of flying on a low cost Broom Stick, The creator landed at the village of the Western Frontier. He was greeted by the Unicorn and shown his way around the village where he met Blazer – The Entertainer, Palin – The Damsel in Distress and Yoda – Who was “Like No Other”.

Having seen the usual, The Creator settled down for a glass of free, cheap wine. One followed the other and he started to wander around the wilderness with a feather in his cap, a bowl of wine in one hand and the bottle in the other. It was not long before he bumped into the Village Elder – Lord Hilton. Lord Hilton was pretty amused meeting the Creator. He looked nothing like what Merlin had told he was capable of achieving, but none the less, Lord Hilton did not care much for he knew that as long as his commands were followed, the Uprising would be achieved.

Content, the Lord Moved on while The Creator, humbled by the Lords’ presence, continued to seek out the others he had so often heard of and never met. He Met Vidhata – The Creator of everything, The Siren – who could lure anyone with his fatal song and not the Least, Sunshine – The Queen of Dark Arts without whose permission no creation could take life and whole brilliant smile could dazzle you and render you blind.

This was the Situation which The Creator found himself in when he moved to the Western Frontier to carry out the task that was bestowed upon him as his destiny. Unaware of the brewing political storm he had landed himself into, The Creator was determined to make it thru.

NOTE: Please do provide your feedback and suggestions for the development of this story.

The Winds of Change - Yet Again.

This is how Sam felt when he realized that he was not alone ...

I Had once vowed never to come back to the world of reality, and to wither away, a petal at a time till all that was left was a stem with thorns. Pretty Imaginative ain’t I? But Alas, wishes are not fulfilled so easily, and just like I had been pulled away from life, I got pulled back once again into the whirlwind called life and the realization hit me full in the face … I don’t Have a Choice, My Destiny is not Just Mine, Someone else is tied to me through an invisible thread.

With the temperature dropping, The harsh gale howling and lifting columns of dust and dirt in the air, The night seemed like a partner in crime, one which wanted to cloak all the doings of nature under the cover of darkness. Just like I desired to cloak the fire within and not let it out. I wished for the day not to dawn, I wished for the birds not to chirp, I wished for the hustle bustle of human life to stay asleep a little longer, I longed for the night to stay on…

And Stay on it did, for I wanted it to, I willed it to. With a plethora of emotions running thru me, I watched the red night sky lit up with flashes of lightning, break into a slow Jazz. A drop of rain splashed my forehead as I looked up, waiting ... Waiting for the outburst, both in the sky and within me. It started slowly as if it did not wish to but I knew, it did.

The Red in the Sky,

The Red in my Eye.

A Storm up there,

A Storm in here.

The Water in the Sky,

The Water in my Eye.

Broken Wings, Broken Heart;

A Dream within, tears me Apart.

A Will to Conquer, A Will to Be;

A Will I know, Might not Be.

The Night is Young,

But I am Not.

The Day Will Come,

But She may Not.

I Wish the Passion in the elements, becomes a passion in me ... But a passion so far away, might not be. I wonder when the life would reach out to me, once again. I wonder when they will blow, The Winds of Change - Yet Again.

InSomNiAc & DeLiRiOuS

A Comment Remains UnPublished, Till the one who left it feels strong enough to acknowledge that she can face it! :P But then again, a few words that came upon me so strong that they seem to have a mind of their own, A Passion to be expressed so strong that I had no control over what was being typed out. I don't regret it but I hope the world does not! Read on ...

When The Day Melds With The Night

When The Stars And Moon Alight

When Ghosts Whispr In The Trees

When The Fire Burns With A Glee

When The Soul Stirs An Emotion

When The God Becomes Thee

When World Seems To Shrink

When My Words Bring You To The Brink

When You Stay Up And Think Of Me

.................... Remember ....................

I Stand Atop The Cliff

And Wonder If The Winds

Will Ever Bring a Fragrance

A Fragrance That Reminds Me Of Thee

For All That Is Pure

Can Not Just Be Thee

As All That is ImPure

Is Not Just Me

A Walk Back to Reality!

7 Months, and thats what it took for me to recover from a setback! Well, to be Candid, not fully recovered though. Another year added to my life and I hardly noticed. The move back to India was not something to look forward to but then again, Maybe I was required. Home Sweet home lasted 3 weeks, The longest time I spent at home since 1999. And now it is back to the life in Bangalore, A City which is almost coming apart at it's seams with the influx of migrant technical labor!

Found some old old friends from School times and made some new ones. Learnt tons of new stuff about life! After all The World is not round. Been reading a Lot more and having loads of inspiring moments with my manager at work :P Read something really inspiring, which made me come Back to the world of Blogging! Thanks a Ton Miss New Jersey. :)

Well Enough Ravings and Rantings, I sign off with a Promise to return with much more, been having some fun times so it is apt that I write about them!

Cherio

Cruel

Why Am I Still Alive

I knew I had died, I Wish I Had. Cannot live like this, it hurts too much. But hey, death is too choosey, just like Life. So I woke up after 3 days of being in and out of an haze and realized I still breathe, still breathe for her. I have no one to turn to ... All I am left with is my words which I do not use judiciously anymore. And the Music -- I am gonna get my music back. I wonder how many of you really love music, and I mean love like crazy, who love to sing, to compose, to play. I do. And when she said Good Bye - It felt like my music of all these years turned her back to me sayin "You do not belong to me". But I decided, to get my music back, and I found Fabienne. When I touch her, I feel love. My fingers seem to move on her in a trance as they find the right chord everytime. Fabienne promised she would help me find my love again and that she would play while I sing. Here is the first song we both learnt to play together.

You could have a change of heart, if you would only change your mind
Instead of slamming down the phone girl, for the hundredth time
I got your number on my wall, but I aint gonna make that call
When divided we stand baby, united we fall
Got the time got a chance gonna make it
Got my hands on your heart gonna take it
All I know I cant fight this flame
You could have a change of heart, if you would only change your mind
Cause Im crazy bout you baby, time after time

Without you
One night alone
Is like a year without you baby
Do you have a heart of stone
Without you
Cant stop the hurt inside
When love and hate collide

I dont wanna fight no more, I dont know what were fighting for
When we treat each other baby, like an act of war
I could tell a million lies and it would come as no surprise
When the truth is like a stranger, hits you right between the eyes
Theres a time and a place and a reason
And I know I got a love to believe in
All I know got to win this time

You could have a change of heart, if you would only change your mind
Cause Im crazy bout you baby...crazy...crazy
Without you
One night alone
Is like a year without you baby
Do you have a heart of stone
Without you
One night alone
Is like a year without you baby
If you have a heart at all
Without you
Cant stop the hurt inside
When love and hate collide

Love You!

Before Sunset

It has been almost a month that I Wrote. A Lot has happened since then, A Life has been lived, A Life has been Lost, A Life has passed before my eyes, A feeling of dying has been learnt, A Love has been lost and A Love Found. All this Before Sunset.

I Wish I could write more, I wish I had the choice of opening up my Laptop and just sitting down with a Word Document and write my heart out, but I have learnt that I do not write, It happens, I am just a medium of expression and a trigger is needed every time something comes out and makes me feel Liberated. This time it was a simple movie, a beautiful yet sad one, something so refreshing and something so innate that I felt it was me. The simple talks, the walk, the song, the life. Something worth dying for, something worth living for.

Suddenly everything is so clear, I feel so strange that such an effect can be had with something so simple in life, that you are standing at your balcony and looking at a tropical storm and a bolt of lightning flashes before you and in that millisecond as you see the sword of fire and light strike a helpless tree, the whole world becomes clear to you. You understand things like the crystal waters of a stream born high in the mountains long before it is polluted by the existence of cities.

As the wind ruffled thru my hair and the thunder deafened the ears, I sipped on the Whiskey and looked at the lighted up night sky with flashes of lightning and a small glow of the dawn in the distance. Words of "Ordinary World" by Duran Duran keep me Sad, Keep me Happy. A Tear runs down my cheek after having cleared my vision. All I got running in my head right now are the words which have brought me back to life.... Like a phoenix rising from the Ashes.

Came in from a rainy Thursday on the avenue
Thought I heard you talking softly.
I turned on the lights, the tv and the radio
Still I cant escape the ghost of you
What has happened to it all?
Crazy, somed say,
Where is the life that I recognize?
Gone away...

But I wont cry for yesterday, theres an ordinary world,
Somehow I have to find.
And as I try to make my way, to the ordinary world...
I will learn to survive.

Passion or coincidence once prompted you to say
Pride will tear us both apart
Well now prides gone out the window cross the rooftops, run away,
Left me in the vacuum of my heart.
What is happening to me?
Crazy, somed say,
Where is my friend when I need you most?
Gone away...

The 13th Room...

The 13th Room…

13 is an UnLucky Number – For most of you – But for Jack and Daniel, here is when they got lucky.

Jack and Daniel were supposed to leave the country for furthering their prospects in life, so their friends decided to give them a big send off! And thus arrived Johnny and Walker. Johnny was Daniel’s Brother and Walker his cousin. Walker walked in with his girl Absinthe.

They decided to meet at The 13th Room one late evening. Though the room was as big as the floor, it was jam packed with almost no available space. But everyone knew that Jack and Daniel could not be denied, so off they went and were welcomed like princes, escorted to their favorite place right next to the drunk Germans. Stars illuminated the room and sky was the roof! J & D decided to get drunk as this would be their last night out in a long long time to come. Johnny joined them while Walker politely declined the offer under the glaring eyes of Absinthe.

They had just started when Walker got a call from a friend of his who wanted to be a part of the company and 5 minutes later in walked Bloody Mary with her intoxicating companion Sherry. Jack, with his long hair, short height, cute face and mysterious eyes, gave a casual glance at Mary and their eyes met. The world seemed to stop for the two, the glass of alcohol glued to Jacks lips as his hot breath formed vapors on the surface, rings of smoke rose from the smoldering cigarette in Mary’s hand as it burnt it’s way towards not just the end but also her heart.

While Jack and Mary had their moment and Walker and Absinthe had theirs, Johnny got drunk. Daniel was mesmerized by the beauty that sat across the table. The perfect lips and that look in the eye, the shadow of the falling hair and that smile that meant more than what met the eye. Our Jack, torn between the decision of leaving the country and following his heart, got drunk and left with a promise to meet again. Daniel, already in love, went home with the rest.

While Walker and Absinthe cuddled up in a corner, Johnny and Mary passed out in the other room. Daniel, as always, could not sleep after one too many a shots and sat thinking about Sherry. And though she slept as soundly as the others, he knew that she knew that he was watching her. He sat there the whole night thinking about her. Morning came, they all left, she gave him a hug promising she would meet him again that evening. But he knew and so did she ... The Evening Never Came

He Left the country after a few days and now Jack is leaving as well. Wonder if they would get together again, at The 13th Room, and get Lucky?

P.S. This one is after a high demand from a couple of close friends. Please beer with me if none of this makes any sense at all.

2 Years!

Well well... Here comes a little known Fact. A Fact that even I had forgotten about and had it not been for chance glance at my spam mails, I would have not come to know about it. And the Fact - It has been 2 years since I completed Graduation. April the 20th when I wrote my Last exam and set out to leave the world as I had known it to become a part of one as I know it now. Feels strange but hey, this is life.

Here is my List of Accomplishments and Failures, more for letting me know about them than to let you guys chuckle about it :-

• The First Post refers to this very day in 2005. So this is the day Principia Obnoxiousia was born.
• Lost most of my friends - so called friends, Left with a couple of gems.
• Saw the world in a way I had never seen before, in a way I would never see it again.
• Got a job and did pretty well with it, after messing it up initially of course.
• Met some great people and some not so great, Tricked em all :)
• Fell in love, Thought she was mine, Realized I belong to her.
• Had some of the best moments of my life with my closest friends in Bangalore.
• Got stabbed in the back by someone I trusted with my life, a friend for 2 years.
• Understood the true meaning of being Lonely and Walking Alone.
• I found I could count the number of people I could give my life for on my fingers. Happy about the fact that I can take a life as well for them.
• Lost the one person who had guided me all my life, who made me what I am today. Been almost an year and I still think of him everyday. Guess I love him the most. He can never die, I will live for him.
• Made some money, making some more.
• Left India.
• Finally got one of the very people who have ever known me the way I am, who can know something before I think about it, to join this Blog. Mr. Wordster - Rahul.

Some more rantings to come along this way, but feeling nice about this post. Something about my life after a very very long time.

Keep readng

Fire!

Swirls of rising smoke, engulf the lonely battered soul. The wrath of the smouldering fire mixing with the one within... Consuming, like burning fuel, consumed to the edge. The nascent rage begins from within and spreads it's wings, enveloping the soul, hidden by the screen of smoke... It grows within me, with me. The feeling of loss, the feeling of gain, the feeling of emptiness being fulfilled, the feeling of .. No Feeling!

Fire! - A fascination ... An element that I believe is the beginning and the end. But all my beginnings have been quiet and calm, and so have been my ends... But I still love to think of Fire as the nascence as well as the culmination. So obsessed have I been with this word as well as with the element that I used to light up fire and sit in silence watching it consume the wood, paper, rags and anything that could burn... Like a rage consumes a mad man! like a rage that has been building inside me. And then it used to die, and smoulder away into ashes as it was not there anymore and I used to believe that the fire was dead, finished. One part of me happy about the fact that it was not there anymore and another sad for the very reason.

Years later I realised that the fire never died, It just burnt everything away and gave me light and showed me the way. The fire never dies, it's we who are unable to fuel it for long. It just moves on to be fed by someone else.

Years later I realised that the love never died, It just burnt everything away and gave me darkness and showed me the way. The Love never dies, I was just unable to fuel it for long. She just chose to move on and not belong to Me.

One part of me happy about the fact that she is not there anymore and another sad for the very reason.

SEASONAL FEVER

With Introductions Over... Here is something from the Arsenal of Mr. Wordster. nJoi!

"A hostel in any engineering college. Sometime between late summer and early monsoon. The tension in the atmosphere is almost palpable. The air is saturated with humidity and anxiety. Every gust of wind is charged with rumours. It is the placement season.

The lanky boy next door with greasy hair and wearing spectacles of the size of portable television sets suddenly becomes a formidable competitor. Any lungi-clad guy with a book and a pen in his hand is no less intimidating than a gladiator carrying a shield and a sword. Preparations are done on war footing.

Interdepartmental rivalry corrupts simple minds. Everybody is intent on guarding the secret which everybody else already knows. Question papers are not allowed to leak, secret mock interviews are held and special groups of students (those who ‘know’) take up the responsibility of helping out those who ‘don’t know’.

Any person from any other department who smiles and tries to stimulate a friendly conversation is to be treated as a potential threat. He is ‘the spy’.

Conversations in vernaculars are peppered with phrases like quantitative aptitude (‘quants’), vocabulary ( ‘vocab’) and communication skills (no short form for this one). Bare bodied people waiting in a queue to take bath (which by the way is a biweekly ritual) try to converse in inglis. Snippets of this conversation filtering through to the person actually taking bath can lead to his cranial fracture caused by a fall which in turn is caused by uncontrollable laughter. It can be fatal. People occupying adjacent cubicles can be heard quizzing each other on freshly acquired vocabulary from the G.R.E. high frequency list.

The dining hall transforms into a conference hall for technical discussions. The clatter of utensils is punctuated by words such as diodes, gears, firewalls and other ingredients of intellectual chutney which kills the appetite. One has to contend with food for thought.

People who have been friends for almost three years can be seen introducing themselves to each other and discussing their hobbies (most of them very recently acquired) when they go out for a stroll or while sharing a fag.

This is a season when diseases like temporary insomnia and somnambulism become widespread. People can be seen walking in the corridors at unearthly hours practicing their ‘intro’ or mumbling answers to other expected HR questions which have been asked since Lord Ram recruited monkeys in his army.

On a cool morning, when groggy eyed people are zombie-marching to the tap with tooth brushes sticking out of their mouths like thermometers, the news arrives. After months of speculation (which began at the end of the previous year’s placement) the suspense is broken. The COMPANY is to arrive in five days time. The news spreads like a seismic wave jolting the students out of their beds and senses. People are caught in a turbulence of activities ranging from manipulating scores on their resumes to the procurement of ties to go with their formals. (However the ties go missing on the day and leads to the age old game of beg, borrow and steal.)

The preliminary tests are crucial. They aim at estimating the general awareness of the future employees of the COMPANY. To clear this all important test the candidates are required to go through every question that has been repeated with unflinching diligence for the past decade. People who have successfully feigned meticulousness and have been prudent enough not to get ‘over qualified’ are short listed for the interview.

The interview panel usually consists of two employees from the COMPANY. One of them grins incessantly. He is not retarded. It is only his way of making the candidate feel comfortable. The other member has his facial muscles contorted in a manner which beggars description. He is neither aggrieved by the loss of his cattle in the tsunami nor is he chronically constipated. He is only trying to stress the candidate out. Both put together provide a neutral environment for the interview.

Candidates wait for hours for their turn. By the time they are called in the starched shirts turn limp and damp. Faces which had been washed with soap for at least five times and plastered with Fair-n-Lovely for good measure now reflect the sorry state of a famished stomach. The candidate forces a painful smile. The interviewers are delighted.

The first question: Tell us something about yourself. This is easily answered. One and a half minutes flat. The interviewers are elated to find that the candidate is not dumb. They fire a volley of technical questions. The candidate does not know the answers to some. Some answers are on the tip of his tongue. But the tip has caged itself behind the incisors and refuses to budge. The throat turns dry. Palms perspire. A drop of sweat traces the length of his spine but he sits stiff. The first interviewer’s amiable grin now looks diabolic. Mount Rushmore fidgets with his pen. All is lost. No. Wait. Not yet.

The candidate is offered some water and a few words of encouragement. Realization dawns on his countenance. The interviewers again ask him questions to which he does not know the answers but answers confidently anyway. That is what matters. They encourage him to dole out theories which would make Sir Newton squirm in his grave. After making sure the candidate can ‘communicate what he is thinking’ he is allowed to go with the parting words,’ It was nice talking to you.’, or something on similar lines.

Then begins the agonizing wait for the results. A period where most people run the risk of chewing their nails to the very end and anxiety is not the only reason here. After what seems like forever the results are announced. Those who are placed grow an extra appendage called the cell phone for a few hours.

For those left behind swimming in uncertainty there are other leaky boats ready to take them on board."

---Wordster

The Beginning - Again !

It's a strange feeling of deja-vu as I start afresh. The similarities between this one and the last one are phenomenal and yet they are so strange, both had a sense of accomplishment at the onset. While the original was the euphoria of meeting life head on! this one is a much more mature approach, the approach of mind and the soul hardened by the teachings of life, the experience of meeting people in a professional environment where you are not treated as just a person for who you are but as a commodity for what you are.

Though I would have loved to continue this one and fight the war alone, the truth remains that you cannot win a war alone, so what started as the "Life of an Engineer, 6.9 Someone!" is joined by another force, someone with such enthusiasm and charm of writing that one needs to reckon with. So friends and foes, let me introduce you to my partner in Crime, My Friend - "Mr. Wordster". So while he takes you on a ride to the Oblivion, I'll post his latest piece of work in here for you to read while he prepares himself to join the bandwagon....

And I'll keep on coming back with more stuff as to how Engineers proceed with their life from the nascence at the womb to the shrewdness of C/C++.

Read On!
Adios Amigo....

Reunion -- The Year 2025!

Was just going thru some old memories and this one came along. A Friend from college had sent me this one and I believe that it deserves a place here. So here goes nothing in identifying how I might just feel in 18 years from now - My 20th College Reunion!

- -- --- Reunion! --- -- -

"Class of 2005 - Reunion", read the banner,
oh! the last 20 years has gone so sooner,
The great college days, I started remembering,
Seems like only yesterday I finished engineering.


Seeing my class mates, after 20 years,
My eyes were filled with tears,
Everyone has changed a lot,
No one escaped nature's plot.


Guys who were smart and handsome,
have become bald and buxom,
Girls who used to fill our dreams,
Almost brought out screams.


Saw the girl, whom once I thought as my life,
oops!, today she is somebody else's wife,
after years, talked to her for a little while,
learned she is happy, that made me smile.


Entered our class' Mr. Romeo,
Who has played many a cameo
We started teasing him together,
About what all he did to-get-her,


Project reviews to campus interviews,
Nicknames to last bench games,
Cultural rehearsals to love proposals,
Short term crushes to class room blushes.


Everything was fresh in our mind,
Wished life could rewind,
Laughed, played and rejoiced,
Once again we became girls and boys.


Chatting and laughing, we all were in elation,
Till the painful moment of separation,
It was time to part,
returned with a heavy heart.


Today life is full of commitments,
And too many worries,
But those cherished moments,
Will live forever in our memories..

UnBelong

- -- --- UnBelong --- -- -

The harsh gale, ruffling up more than just feathers and engulfing me like icicles piercing cheese, brings me back to the world of mortals. A world which I am supposed to be a part of but then I know that “I UnBelong!”

There has been so much to my life, just like there is to every one else’s, but some where deep down I know, but I can’t explain, that some thing is just not right. It is like a small hole in the prefect Architectural Design so that the building leaks - Taj Mahal, you know there is a flaw but you don’t know what and where.

I set out 8 years ago to build a life and got much more than I bargained for. I did build it but in the process I got a taste of what life might actually be and since then I have wanted to know and this want, this desire is driving me crazy. This desire to find out everything possible about everything there is and also what’s not.

I am a part of this world by the day - Get up in the morning, go to office, work, come back – I Belong – But then comes the night and I am left alone, to wander the streets at odd hours – Trying to find out the meaning in dark corners – I UnBelong. I love walking alone with the knowledge that I am not alone, that something is there which knows everything and it brings me to the edge – to the point where another step and I would get all my answers and then it puts across a curtain of yet another question and leaving me with another night to wander.

The Ruins are amazing, it is said that someone died in here… I wander around the desolated construction site… It is here that I find peace and my mind clears – clears enough to understand what I might have missed during the day. Life is beautiful, it’s got lot to offer and more. You can run and you can hide but you can’t escape. And then a picture of something I saw flashes before my eyes – It was a bloody mess with the words “But I Loved You” Sprawled on a wall with stains of blood giving them a life of their own.

I am Bruised, I am Battered, I am Broken – But I know I will come back to Life – For I UnBelong – Even to Death.

The House Hunt... (Part II)

The House Hunt ... (Part II)

Sorry people for not posting for this long (Not that many of you would have been eagerly waiting, but what the hell !.!) So not wasting any more time I shall continue with the Narration of the ordeal of the House Hunt which I had undergone.

The Saga Continues ...

I had been looking around various online forums to find a place ASAP, and after exhausting all the online channels, I went back to the traditional methods ... Bought the paper "AdMag" for 10 bucks and sat down at the dining table, leafing through the pink and white pages of the Classified. Man! this was going to be tough job. After shorlisting about 15 different Ads (Mind you, I was biased towards the happeneing areas of BLR and also gave preferance to Ads posted by the opposite sEx), my (traitor) friend and I started off the phase II of My House Hunt.

House 1. NandiDurga Road:- The house looked Ok from outside. The owner who I had spoken to earler, was a lady of around 27 but din stay in the same house. This three storyed building housed only Bachelors, one at each floor, but was currently Locked. Would come back to this one later.

House 2. JayaMahal:- The house we visited belonged to very old woman who lived with her even older Mother. I was being offered only a single room and the entrance was through a narrow passage which ran all around the house till it reached the courtyard at the Back. The rent was supposed to be around Rs. 3000/- (For a single Room MAN!). The old and the older lady seated My friend and me in the small room and thus began the interview.

She : Do you Drink?
My Friend : NO!
Me : yes.
She : Do you come home late at night? Say after 9 P.M. ?
My Friend : Sometimes.
Me : always!
She : Do you bring girls home?
My Friend : NO WAY!!!
Me : not often, I usually go to their places...
She : Actually I have no problems with all these but you see mom doesn't like all this...

Dude! this one was pathetic. I practically took off after her last statement. Next stop, Ulsoor.

House 3. Ulsoor:- This one was very promising as it had been chosen by roomate. Mr. Ashwin (The House Owner) from Ulsoor came to meet us. He sounded like a pure professional. 10 Minutes past the time we had agreed upon, he appeared, and how he appeared. It was like an elephant riding a tricycle. Motorists gave way as we followed him through a maze of in-roads and no-roads and came to stop in front of magnificient 7 story house. I was impressed but the impression did not last long as we climbed the stairs all the way to the terrace. There were 2 rooms 1 kitchen and 1 loo, each one in one corner of the terrace and could have easily been rented out as a separate room. We left, promising to return in an hour with the Advance!

House 4. Somewhere in Cox town:- The guy turned out to be a Broker, he came on a lumberetta (For thouse of you who don't know what it is, it as an antique scooter from the pre-Independence days) in a one way, and took us back the same way. Against the onslaught of the oncoming traffic, we came to an Array of houses. A room and a toilet each, they looked more like the pegion houses that you see in the old hindi movies. I was feeling hungry, we left.

House 5....
.
.
.
.
.
House 14....

Just din feel like looking anymore and to top it all, it started raining. While we chilled out at 11th Cross in Frazer Town the phone rang, owner of the First house was now available. So it was decided, the first house it was gonna be, looking around was just a formality, guess I was destined to stay there, alone. Wonder what else is in store for me?

It's been a month now... And I work more and stay at home less.
And you know why!

The House Hunt... (Part I)

The House Hunt... (Part I)

I had been sharing a house with this friend of mine for the past 1 Year and 3 Months when last Saturday he woke me up at 10 in the morning:- "Get up you lazy bum" he shouted. I baulked at his intrusion, Gosh! it was a Saturday, a day to relax; He poured water over my head, water chilled to the core. I got up, frustrated and started looking for something I could hit him with.

I : "What da Fuck man? WHY?"
He : "eH! We have to look for a new house."
I : "The owner got to know about his daughter??? Shit! Man."
He : "No, he has not... Yet!"
I : "eH, The Credit Card people came calling?"
He : "No.. They do not have this Address."
I : "Your Second girl friend got to know about your first and fifth?"
He : "No, But yourz did.."
I : "Shit! No issues. But what is the problem man? No, don't tell me. You are not moving out, are you?"
He : "No. But you are."
I : "I! But Why?"

Seems like his folks were moving in and I was being thrown out. So that left me with less than a week to look for a house, A house in Bangalore for a Bachelor who wanted to stay alone and not share a room/house with anyone (ok, maybe a sweet damsel who might read this can inquire). And thus began the journey of my ordeal. The first thing I did was to go online, and check out the forum of mah company... Just incase there was some Ad out there... Here is what I came across (Un-Edited)

"This is a moderately furnished one independent room, part of a big house. Readily available. Very good accessibility and very nice location with all the amenities in the vicinity. Welcome for a calm and quite person who would not cause headache for an old couple. Ideal for a lonely bachelor. Rent can be arbitrated and settled after seeing the location. Thank you. Contact : Veerabhadrappa (you can refer my name : gireesh)"

Man, this guy knew what he was looking for. "A Lonely Bachelor" eh? And the only restriction was that he should not cause a headache... all other kinds of aches permissible, or maybe even invited... he he. And the icing on the cake... The name of the advertiser. Man it was hilarious then but maybe I should have given this one a try. But then again, I did not fit the bill. So I checked out the next one...

"It is a 1 BHK House big enough to accomodate 3 person. I am lookin for 2 people to share the flat with me. It has a large bedrrom (big enough for 5 ppl), a large hall, 1 kitchen, 1 toilet and a terrace. I am paying Rs. 6600. The advance is yet to b paid since I shifted here only for a week. This place is for immediate acomodation. It is just 5 minutes from the Indiranagar CMH road Company bus stop. Its in a very centralized location."

Now the irony here was that the House was big enough for 3 people but the Bed Room was big enough for 5. I know, I know what you must be thinking. Yes I was thinking the same. How many people was the toilet big enough for? And what about the guy, could he be trusted? Man he moved in only for a week and he was already contemplating about overstaying. The location was centralized as well. I know about central locations but centralized? Maybe he was referring to the Air Conditioning.

Anyways, guess this was not going to be of much use. So I started looking for other Avenues...

To Be continued...

My Life???

I wonder why I keep on coming back to the Philosophy of Life? I was checking out some old mails and that's when I came across this particular one, which I had received some 2 years ago when I was very new to the Software Industry.... Din pay much attention to it then, but now that I read it all over again, it seems so familiar, the words, the feelings, the joy, the helplessness .... How I wish I could be a child again. Nonetheless, read on. Hope you like it.... But have a look at the pic first ....




" It was raining heavily outside. Dark clouds gathered in the sky and nature was in its ominous best. I took a break from my work and went to the pantry to grab a cup of coffee. I had a sip and went near the window to see the rain pouring down heavily outside the glass structure. I was inside our huge office building, unruffled by even the fierceness of the nature. Through the heavy transparent glass, I could see a small girl trying to hold on to her umbrella which the wind was snatching away from her. I felt sorry for the girl, and was happy that I was not in a similar pathetic situation. Yes. I take pride for the fact that I am a software engineer. I have everything which a common man would envy; money, status, respect, you name it and I have it. I always wanted to be software professional and here I am, working for one of the best firms in the world. But then, am I really happy? Now, I could see an imprint of my palm on the other glass window, through which I reminisced my past, basked in the warmth of the sun shine.
My childhood was so much fun. I vividly remember those rainy days, when I hugged my mother tightly during sleep, listening to all her stories. Now, I have a big house here, but then it is just a house, not a home. My parents are pretty far away from me now. I have a cell phone to talk to them everyday, but then I really miss those dinners which I had with my family everyday. I could easily afford to taste all the different cuisines these days, but the best of food there, lack the love and affection which is present in the food prepared by my mother.

I threw a lavish party for my colleagues for my birthday, but then they would never replace the birthdays when my friends secretly brought a cake and at the end, half of the cake would have ended up on my face. The couple of hundred bucks that u save for a long period just to give a treat to your friends in the road side chat shop can never give the pleasure even after spending a few thousand bucks these days.

The scene of me crying and refusing to have dinner on the day when I fought with my best friend came to my mind. Today, she has gone far away from me, taking away my love and with it my life, but I am sitting and coding here with a false smile on my face. Everyday I meet new people, but then I long ceased to make a new friend.

It’s true that I have a lot of things now. I have a nice bed, but no time to sleep. Lots of money, but no friends to spend it with. The latest designer clothes, but a worn out body. Quite a few to flirt, but no one to love. Awards for technical excellence, but no reward for the crave for peaceful ambience. A confident demeanor, but a reluctant and apathetic mind. Full of rain, but no sunshine even in the farthest distance.

Now, I could see the small girl on the road enjoying in the rain with her umbrella firmly in her grip. She might not have all the comforts which I have, but then she has the innocence and fun which I lost a long time back. I have decided to come out of this false fantasy, even if it is at the expense of losing the tap of the software engineer. I am going to again enjoy my life. I am going to go out in the rain and play with the small kid now. I removed my tie, and went near my computer to shut it down. Just then, I saw a new mail alert in my mail box. I slowly opened outlook and I found a message from my manager with an attachment saying that there was a critical defect in the code and I have to fix it soon. I convinced myself that I am not going to get bogged down again by these pressures and stick to my decision. I ignored the mail and went to the rest room. After a couple of minutes, the software engineer in me came out, his shirt tucked in with the perfect tie knot, sat before the computer, and started typing........
XYZ,

I am looking into the defect and will send the patch files before EOD.

Regards,
Me."

I wonder if all of us feel the same way???

The Polythene Bag Theory

The Polythene Bag Theory:

Now Now! Here is a question I would have loved someone else to answer, But no! It had to be me who had to answer it right? So here it goes…..

What does a normal person do when he/she sees a polythene bag (Read: non-recyclable waste) lying on the road?

(Now while you wrack your brains trying to answer that, here is my take on it:)

1.) 80% of the people (normal) would just ignore it, maybe look the other way and just walk away…. Isn’t it just normal for polythene to be lying around on the road? (This is what happens in the Indian scenario - International Audience: eH don't be surprised.)

2.) 12% of the people (still normal) would stop and take notice, shrug their shoulders, take pity on the deteriorating condition of the Country and be considerate enough to pick it up and throw it in the first garbage can that they can find.

3.) 7% of the people (ok little abnormal) would stop and take notice, shrug their shoulders, take pity on the deteriorating condition of the Country, think about the Green House Effect, and the technical and non-technical aspects of global warming and be considerate enough to pick it up and throw it in the garbage can marked “Non – Recyclable”.

4.) 1% of the people (Fine, agreed, ABNORMAL) would look around to see if someone is watching, pick it up and dust away the dirt, smile to themselves and blow air into the bag, blow it till the seams burst and then – BANG – They burst up the Bag, with a lot of noise, and then they laugh. Amazing! Isn’t it?

The Software Industry Theory:

Now let us compare the Software Industry to the World or Maybe the Universe. The Polythene Bag to the life in Software Industry.

If we analyze, almost everyone needs and uses software these days, just like the need and use the polythene bag. But what happens when someone is given a chance to live a life in the software industry? (Read as: What does a normal person do when he/she sees a polythene bag lying on the road?)

1.) 80% of the people (normal) just ignore and walk on. It is good enough for them to use the software and then throw it away when they don’t need it anymore, just like the polythene bag.

2.) 12% of the people (still normal) stop and take notice, shrug their shoulders, take pity on the deteriorating condition of the Software Industry, and take efforts to put the polythene bag where it belongs, in the garbage can. Thus they try and avoid using a computer too often and hence try the natural stuff, the paper bags or say taking a walk in the night.

3.) 7% of the people (ok little abnormal) stop and take notice, shrug their shoulders, take pity on the deteriorating condition of the Software Industry, think about the Early Aging Effect on the software professionals (Green House Effect), and the technical and non-technical aspects of going crazy (Global Warming) and be considerate enough to pick it up and throw it in the garbage can marked “Non – Recyclable”, i.e. nothing to do with software, live on the Himalayas, eat water and drink air. Be a pure vegetarian and Blah Blah!!

4.) 1% of the people (Read as: Software Engineers, and Fine, agreed, ABNORMAL) would look around to see if someone is watching, ignore all the late night meetings and strange working hours that come with such a life, smile to themselves and blow air into the bag (i.e. try to put life into their lives), blow it till the seams burst and then – BANG – They try to burst up the Bag, to hear a lot of noise, but alas, it can just be compared with a polythene bag but it is not a polythene bag. They fail to notice THE small hole (now you don want me to describe what all the small holes would be, do you?), and there is no BANG just a FIZZ as all their efforts in blowing it up just fizz away to nothing and then they can’t even laugh. Amazing! Isn’t it?

P.S: The author of this one is not demented and nor is he frustrated with his life. Just some experience he has gained while working in the Industry for past 2 years. He he, hope you liked this one. eN-Joi.

Tears Of 84

Tears Of 84

I woke up with a start, sweat covering my whole body like the black veil of a Muslim lady, hiding me from the world. My heart thudding hard against my chest, as if it didn’t want to be a part of me anymore, wanting to break free; a shiver of fear sending sparks up my spine. I wrapped the blanket closer still, hiding under the comfort that darkness provides.

It had been a tough life these past days. So many in our village had been slaughtered, no not the hens but people. First came the jihadis, and killed in the name of Allah, then came the Hindus, and killed in the name of Krishna, and now the police, still trying to figure out in whose name they killed. I was 6 before, now I am 19 (or at least I can think like a 19 year old). Just 10 days that we had been running taught me what I might have learned in the next 13 years. They taught me how to live, no, how to kill.

It was my turn to keep watch while my family slept, Dad, Brother and my darling sister. Sleep is such a powerful weapon, it makes all the difference between life and death, but I found this out after I had lost it all. I looked around, but could not see anything. Creeping up to the shed where they slept, I heard the muffled cries of my sister. So the bastards who still hadn’t found a reason for their killing spree had found us. They were 3 of them; one held my sister and the other two my brother. Dad, where was he?

Blood oozed faster than the tears that rolled down my eyes as one of them slowly slit my brothers’ throat. He just sat there, calm and peaceful. She screamed till her throat betrayed her, I cried till I could not anymore. They took her along, I went in to see my brother covered in the same red color as my dad. Consumed by rage but held by fear I sat next to them, the gravity of the situation had still not sunk in, they were dead, I would not be able to talk to them anymore, not play with my dad, nor fight with my brother. I was alone. I am alone.

And my sister, the fact that even she existed struck me like lightning. I had forgotten about her, how could I? Grabbing the knife from the sheath attached to my dads’ thigh, I ran the direction they had taken her. A mile towards the fields, I found one of them bent over her frail body. I sneaked up slowly and let the blade slide into his back. Once, twice, thrice, till his back was black with blood and my face sprayed with the same. He screamed like a wild boar, arching his back, tears streaming down his face he turned, and then fell. He died, next to her.

I never thought I could kill, but now I can, and I will again. Till I can no more. I wasn’t a born killer; neither did I choose to be one. I don’t know if I am right or wrong, but I know I was wronged. I’ll find the other two and more.

Kill me before I kill you.

Beyond The Oblivion…

Beyond The Oblivion…

It’s been 48 hours since He Left Me, and I still believe someone is playing a big joke on me. I keep on looking around my back, sometimes round the corners, Expecting Cyrus to jump out of one of these corners and shout “BAKRA”. But hold on, Take a Grip, The tickets are already booked… Even the return tickets. And I think…

What is it that lies Beyond The Oblivion, What is Left when nothing is Left. These random thoughts flood my mind as I try not to think about not thinking. Sitting in front of this bright source of light, my fingers play on the keyboard. Its music to my ears, just as it was last night when I plucked at those 6 strings that I have been plucking at for almost a year now. I almost lost the nails I had so meticulously grown to sound like a pro. My fingers hurt but this heart hurts more.

The wait is harder than the moment. I should have already been home, but here I am, performing the last rites at my office. After all, appraisal is due, I have to complete my forms, some coding is still left, but so has he. This is the second time I am writing without a clear head. I have been hurt, I have been bruised I have been broken but never at the mind. But I will continue, I have to. For this is what it is all about. Write so as to get to know yourself.

Let me get back to thinking about not thinking, let me get back to staring at the matrix of code. Let me go back to wait, wait for another 3 days before I can leave…