Shaastra comes once a year and takes your breath away. (There's hardly time to breathe) It brings purpose to life and a sense of fullfillness to the spirit of innovation left in you. It leaves your heart brimming with engineering pride.
To call it the annual technical festival of IIT Madras would be a simple way of putting it. Only, there's much more to it. I, a completely non-technical person actually spent an entire day going from Chemical X to The Ultimate Engineer to The Master Challenge to Shock (it was funnest of all) to math modelling, finally drawing a close with a lecture on why time can't go backwards. That did not surprise me. I do all sorts of weird stuff.
What surprised me was how much I enjoyed it. How much (though I didn't qualify) I "put fight" to solve the problems in math modelling. Trust me, two hours of doing nothing but concentrating on problems you are motivated to solve as though your life depends on it. Two hours of ecsatacy. It is so much fun to solve problems, pushing yourself every second to do it faster, work harder and tax your brains. Yep. My idea of bliss. If you think I'm a nerd, stop reading. You lack the spirit.
For those of you who know Saarang, (IIT's cultural festival) I thought I was capable of enjoying only that. Generally fool around and have fun. ;) But shaastra is fun in a completely different way. Somehow, it brings a wholesomeness to my existence. It brings out that part of me which I never knew existed. Basically, I always knew that engineering had a soul; that's why I'm here, at IIT trying to get a degree in it. What I didn't know and I realised this Shaastra was that my soul has engineering in it.
PS. Aah I feel good now. :)
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
The end of Honeymoon
When images of Sharav and the associated oat, library,tiff, ccd and gc started invading my dreams, I decided that it is time to blog.
The long vacation that seemed like eternity just a three months ago is drawing to a known abrupt end. Suddenly, I get scraps asking "Hey. When are you returning to insti?". Out of nowhere my mom reminds me of the suitcase in the loft and the dirty clothes pile. I get sweet calls from friends in town saying they'll miss me.
Getting back to insti not only means end of absolute laziness, but also means I can't blog too much. Well, you can't keep the cake as well as eat it. (sigh) I guess I'll conclude declaring this to be the last post of the summer :) so long take care and thanx for all the fish(y comments) ok bad joke but i'm touchy about the transition.
The long vacation that seemed like eternity just a three months ago is drawing to a known abrupt end. Suddenly, I get scraps asking "Hey. When are you returning to insti?". Out of nowhere my mom reminds me of the suitcase in the loft and the dirty clothes pile. I get sweet calls from friends in town saying they'll miss me.
Getting back to insti not only means end of absolute laziness, but also means I can't blog too much. Well, you can't keep the cake as well as eat it. (sigh) I guess I'll conclude declaring this to be the last post of the summer :) so long take care and thanx for all the fish(y comments) ok bad joke but i'm touchy about the transition.
Friday, June 20, 2008
IIT first hand
Scene 1
At MSB 256. A process calculation course in session. Prof. Basak is distributing quiz 1 papers to the chemical engineering batch of 2007.
Prof : The performance is good. Students have done well. The highest is....
(pause)
Prof : Well, can you guess??
(The paper was out of 15 comprising of a 7 mark question and an 8 mark question)
Prof : The highest is 13. Ok. You know the lowest?
(A deafening silence )
Prof : 3 . 3 is the lowest mark.
(Silence gets louder)
Prof : When I call out your number, you shall come forward. Tell me the mark you estimate to get. Then you shall collect your paper.
The atmosphere is so tense you couldn't breathe without feeling noisy. As for me, I knew I had done miserably and the prospect of "predicting my marks" was choking me.
Suddenly,
Prof : CH 04!! (That's me)
I walk up to face the prof.
Me : Sir.. Sir.. (Sweating) .. I ..I did badly. I..
Prof : 3.
It came to me like a sentence. I had actually come The LAST in a class. As I turned to face the class now, I couldn't see anyone. My eyes were teary. I stumbled as I reached for my desk. I couldn't wait to sit down and just bury my face.
Scene 2
At CRC 205. A thermodynamics course in session. Prof. Srinivasan is distributing quiz 1 papers.
Prof : CH 04!!
I walk up to the front, feeling highly tensed, take my paper. I glance at my marks. 25 on 40!! I hide my marks in flushed embarrassment. I had done decently. I should have gotten more.
After a while, everyone has received their papers.
Someone : Sir, what's the class average?
Prof : I think around 11 or 12.
I sit up!!! Wow.
Someone : What's the highest?
Prof : 25.
My head jerks up for the first time in the whole hour.
Prof : I think Akila got 25. (He looks at me)
I stare back at him and show my teeth.
I didn't know what to think. But you know what really made my day?? When my friends actually clapped. God, I could have sat there and cried. I was so moved.
Now as I look back, both incidents are just memories to remember my first year by. I learnt a lot from both of them
From the former, I learnt how it is possible that your worst nightmares come true. I had always thought that if you come last, it would be horrible. But God was too good to me and put me in a class that didn't care. Hard luck strikes the best of us sometimes. We just have to survive.
The latter was a special moment for me. It was the first quiz in the institute. The big, great institute to which I, a girl from a small town had come, with a notion that everyone is smarter than me. That small incident in a classroom there might sound trivial to one who reads it. But to me, it was significant. It ignited a spark of confidence in me that is to come a long way in my life..
At MSB 256. A process calculation course in session. Prof. Basak is distributing quiz 1 papers to the chemical engineering batch of 2007.
Prof : The performance is good. Students have done well. The highest is....
(pause)
Prof : Well, can you guess??
(The paper was out of 15 comprising of a 7 mark question and an 8 mark question)
Prof : The highest is 13. Ok. You know the lowest?
(A deafening silence )
Prof : 3 . 3 is the lowest mark.
(Silence gets louder)
Prof : When I call out your number, you shall come forward. Tell me the mark you estimate to get. Then you shall collect your paper.
The atmosphere is so tense you couldn't breathe without feeling noisy. As for me, I knew I had done miserably and the prospect of "predicting my marks" was choking me.
Suddenly,
Prof : CH 04!! (That's me)
I walk up to face the prof.
Me : Sir.. Sir.. (Sweating) .. I ..I did badly. I..
Prof : 3.
It came to me like a sentence. I had actually come The LAST in a class. As I turned to face the class now, I couldn't see anyone. My eyes were teary. I stumbled as I reached for my desk. I couldn't wait to sit down and just bury my face.
Scene 2
At CRC 205. A thermodynamics course in session. Prof. Srinivasan is distributing quiz 1 papers.
Prof : CH 04!!
I walk up to the front, feeling highly tensed, take my paper. I glance at my marks. 25 on 40!! I hide my marks in flushed embarrassment. I had done decently. I should have gotten more.
After a while, everyone has received their papers.
Someone : Sir, what's the class average?
Prof : I think around 11 or 12.
I sit up!!! Wow.
Someone : What's the highest?
Prof : 25.
My head jerks up for the first time in the whole hour.
Prof : I think Akila got 25. (He looks at me)
I stare back at him and show my teeth.
I didn't know what to think. But you know what really made my day?? When my friends actually clapped. God, I could have sat there and cried. I was so moved.
Now as I look back, both incidents are just memories to remember my first year by. I learnt a lot from both of them
From the former, I learnt how it is possible that your worst nightmares come true. I had always thought that if you come last, it would be horrible. But God was too good to me and put me in a class that didn't care. Hard luck strikes the best of us sometimes. We just have to survive.
The latter was a special moment for me. It was the first quiz in the institute. The big, great institute to which I, a girl from a small town had come, with a notion that everyone is smarter than me. That small incident in a classroom there might sound trivial to one who reads it. But to me, it was significant. It ignited a spark of confidence in me that is to come a long way in my life..
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Tagged
Job description : Open the 123rd page of any book and type out 5 lines starting from the 6th.
I've taken a liberty to repeat an entire exchange of telegrams which cover the 123rd page.
Aunt : Come at once. Travers.
Wooster: Perplexed. Explain. Bertie.
Aunt : What on Earth is there to be perplexed about, ass? Come at once. Travers.
Wooster : How do you mean come at once? Regards. Bertie.
Aunt : I mean come at once, you maddening half wit. What did you think I meant? Come at once or expect an aunt's curse first post tomorrow. Love. Travers.
Wooster : When you say 'Come' do you mean 'Come to Brinkley Court'? And when you say 'At once' do you mean 'at once'? Fogged. At a loss. All the best. Bertie.
Aunt : Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. It doesn't matter whether you understand or not. You just come at once, as I tell you, and for heaven's sake stop this back-chat. Stop being a fathead and come immediately. Love. Travers.
Wooster calls his butler Jeeves.
Wooster : Jeeves, What do you make of these telegrams.
Jeeves : I think your aunt wants you to go at once, sir.
Wooster : Do you get that feeling too?
I'm at a loss as to whom to tag coz i think noone will be as vetti as I am :P
But cheers to Lee , my inspiration to come up with arbit crap :)
I've taken a liberty to repeat an entire exchange of telegrams which cover the 123rd page.
Aunt : Come at once. Travers.
Wooster: Perplexed. Explain. Bertie.
Aunt : What on Earth is there to be perplexed about, ass? Come at once. Travers.
Wooster : How do you mean come at once? Regards. Bertie.
Aunt : I mean come at once, you maddening half wit. What did you think I meant? Come at once or expect an aunt's curse first post tomorrow. Love. Travers.
Wooster : When you say 'Come' do you mean 'Come to Brinkley Court'? And when you say 'At once' do you mean 'at once'? Fogged. At a loss. All the best. Bertie.
Aunt : Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. It doesn't matter whether you understand or not. You just come at once, as I tell you, and for heaven's sake stop this back-chat. Stop being a fathead and come immediately. Love. Travers.
Wooster calls his butler Jeeves.
Wooster : Jeeves, What do you make of these telegrams.
Jeeves : I think your aunt wants you to go at once, sir.
Wooster : Do you get that feeling too?
I'm at a loss as to whom to tag coz i think noone will be as vetti as I am :P
But cheers to Lee , my inspiration to come up with arbit crap :)
Friday, June 6, 2008
The only Law that sustains
Murphy's one liner
Smile; tomorrow will be worse.
Murphy's poem
I never had a slice of bread
clearly large and wide
that did not fall down spread
on the buttered side.
Murphy's proportions
Grades get worse in direct proportion to the number of credits of the course.
Murphy in relationships
The best ones are taken. You are single.
Check this out for hazar such laws :)
(I'm trying to keep my posts short because ppl crib they are too long. Er.. i'm out of ideas :P )
Saturday, May 24, 2008
JAMMED
You think; you blink. You stink; you sink. (Read 'you' as I)
I think a more apt title to Just a minute, (also called JAM since your jaws get jammed making you sound like a cacophony of croaking crows in most part of the 'game') would be (do) I exist?! You need to concentrate on making sure you are visible. Shady sounds, filthy faces and arbit actions are all in the game.
I "played" it. Once. Game.
If you are a beginner, here are a few rules that might help you. (They didn't do much good to me though)
1. No matter what anyone utters, push the buzzer. They are out of context and irrelevant. Not to mention stupid. (Except when the moderator speaks. You might be too busy swearing at him to press the buzzer)
2. This one is dangerous: But you might want to try impressing the moderator. Mostly he's just an ass who doesn't laugh. (Ours actually said he'll give 10 points to anyone who makes him laugh and spent rest of the 'game' making weird noises trying to suppress a laugh)
3. You suck at the game. Accept the fact. And laugh your head off. Just to irritate the one sitting next to you by not letting him listen or think. (rg :P )
I think I should mention now what the topic of "discussion" was. "My grandfather smokes grass. My parents smoke grass. I smoke grass. We are a joint family".
No clue what that meant? Join the club! I mean. I'm sitting there, 'playing' JAM for the first time and the topic is this. I understood every word of it. I got smoke. I got grass. I just didn't get the connection. I spent all my time from the mention of the topic thinking of good starters.
"My grandfather fed me on grass.."
"I chew gum, churn grass, but smoke cigar"
"Smoke in the lawn implies grass burning .." (What the hell ?? )
It never really actually matters what you are saying as long as they are words. Any will do. You just need to say something and cross your fingers, praying that someone would press the damn buzzer and release you of what can only be described as pain. The topic, (thanks to rule 1) is obviously least important and it doesn't matter whether you understand or not).
Something, I don't remember exactly what, made me think my buzzer wasn't looking right sometime midway and I thought of testing it out. I pressed it with all my macho (read as Milo) might. I heaved a sigh of relief. Yaiii!! My buzzer was working! Apparently, when I was fooling around with the buzzer, a chap had just raised an objection and switched on the mike to speak.
"Speaker No 4!!"(that is me, by the way), the moderator's voice boomed, "What's your objection?" I smiled at him. (Rule 2 in action) Then I patiently took the mike. Shit! Rule 1 ruled out; that guy hadn't uttered a word. Left with rule 3, I said, "Late start, sir". Yes, my conscience pricked me as I said it. But the moderator bought my objection (I think it was the sir he bought more or maybe the smile ;) ) anyway he said, "Ok, Speaker No 4. You are on!"
My mind : Say something. Remember the starters you came up with. Shoot one of them.
Me : Er...
My mind :Ok. Topic is irrelevant. Tell the moderator your name.
Me : Er...
My mind : Open your (censored words) mouth...
I open my mouth. Words don't come out. I'll rephrase that. Words don't come out. The speaker gives me a dirty expression and continues with the next speaker.
After what seemed like hours, the guy next to me stammered. I screamed "AA haa!!" and yanked for the buzzer. By the time it was my turn to speak, I gathered that the topic had been changed (I had no idea what it was) . "You are on!" That idiot boo(m)ed at me again. I cleared my throat and yelled "I wanna hit you!"
At that moment, the minute had ended. (Just a "minute" remember?? )
Now the best part of JAM rules. An additional 20 points is given to the person who completes the minute irrespective of how much he has spoken. Just to commend his not being interrupted by objections.
All's well that ends well. What say? :P
I think a more apt title to Just a minute, (also called JAM since your jaws get jammed making you sound like a cacophony of croaking crows in most part of the 'game') would be (do) I exist?! You need to concentrate on making sure you are visible. Shady sounds, filthy faces and arbit actions are all in the game.
I "played" it. Once. Game.
If you are a beginner, here are a few rules that might help you. (They didn't do much good to me though)
1. No matter what anyone utters, push the buzzer. They are out of context and irrelevant. Not to mention stupid. (Except when the moderator speaks. You might be too busy swearing at him to press the buzzer)
2. This one is dangerous: But you might want to try impressing the moderator. Mostly he's just an ass who doesn't laugh. (Ours actually said he'll give 10 points to anyone who makes him laugh and spent rest of the 'game' making weird noises trying to suppress a laugh)
3. You suck at the game. Accept the fact. And laugh your head off. Just to irritate the one sitting next to you by not letting him listen or think. (rg :P )
I think I should mention now what the topic of "discussion" was. "My grandfather smokes grass. My parents smoke grass. I smoke grass. We are a joint family".
No clue what that meant? Join the club! I mean. I'm sitting there, 'playing' JAM for the first time and the topic is this. I understood every word of it. I got smoke. I got grass. I just didn't get the connection. I spent all my time from the mention of the topic thinking of good starters.
"My grandfather fed me on grass.."
"I chew gum, churn grass, but smoke cigar"
"Smoke in the lawn implies grass burning .." (What the hell ?? )
It never really actually matters what you are saying as long as they are words. Any will do. You just need to say something and cross your fingers, praying that someone would press the damn buzzer and release you of what can only be described as pain. The topic, (thanks to rule 1) is obviously least important and it doesn't matter whether you understand or not).
Something, I don't remember exactly what, made me think my buzzer wasn't looking right sometime midway and I thought of testing it out. I pressed it with all my macho (read as Milo) might. I heaved a sigh of relief. Yaiii!! My buzzer was working! Apparently, when I was fooling around with the buzzer, a chap had just raised an objection and switched on the mike to speak.
"Speaker No 4!!"(that is me, by the way), the moderator's voice boomed, "What's your objection?" I smiled at him. (Rule 2 in action) Then I patiently took the mike. Shit! Rule 1 ruled out; that guy hadn't uttered a word. Left with rule 3, I said, "Late start, sir". Yes, my conscience pricked me as I said it. But the moderator bought my objection (I think it was the sir he bought more or maybe the smile ;) ) anyway he said, "Ok, Speaker No 4. You are on!"
My mind : Say something. Remember the starters you came up with. Shoot one of them.
Me : Er...
My mind :Ok. Topic is irrelevant. Tell the moderator your name.
Me : Er...
My mind : Open your (censored words) mouth...
I open my mouth. Words don't come out. I'll rephrase that. Words don't come out. The speaker gives me a dirty expression and continues with the next speaker.
After what seemed like hours, the guy next to me stammered. I screamed "AA haa!!" and yanked for the buzzer. By the time it was my turn to speak, I gathered that the topic had been changed (I had no idea what it was) . "You are on!" That idiot boo(m)ed at me again. I cleared my throat and yelled "I wanna hit you!"
At that moment, the minute had ended. (Just a "minute" remember?? )
Now the best part of JAM rules. An additional 20 points is given to the person who completes the minute irrespective of how much he has spoken. Just to commend his not being interrupted by objections.
All's well that ends well. What say? :P
Friday, May 16, 2008
YELP FOR HELP
Last night I was in ooty, taking its refuge from the scorching heat of Madras. It is really cool up there..Some place to relax your mind and breathe freely. No quizes to mug for, no profs to screw your system, no mess(y) food and no subtle classroom slumber. There was a gigantic bed, with a warm cosy mattress upon which yours truly curled around a soft cushion with my little head on a pillow that I snuggled into and clean cosy blankets made the icing on the cake.. (quite literally) :P
I was in a resonance tube. (It has water btw).. I was drowning in it.. I had to solve some problem and find out theeta. You would think my dreams would be more romantic, to say the least. I mean, given the circumstances described above you would rather be dreaming about something else. I mean the last thing you would want is to dream about resonance tube. Well, actually you'd want even less to be drowning. And trigonometry was never my cup of tea. Of all the... -frown- frown-frown-ponder-scratch head-think-dirty face-scratch head again- (I'm trying to get theeta)-complimentary angles?-The demon starts talking-SSS congruence-was it sss similarity? - hisssss-was that a snake??? -snakes hiss -snake??? SNAKE??? I get up with a jolt.
Something is wrong.. rub eyes.. look around... THE DOOR IS AJAR!!! Ok I'm not exactly a coward but I'm sure you'll understand this is not exactly good for my heart. The only noise I could hear was of my heart pounding.. I wished (too soon) that it wouldn't be so silent.. The deafening silence made my limbs crack but the sudden movement made it even worse. I would give anything to go back to theeta.. I grasped for the light by my bed .. (I'm not as stupid as I seem).. I scream. There is a limit to how much you can torture a poor kid before she starts screaming.
"SHUT UP!!!!!" he says. I shut up. I blink. I am actually taking instructions from a lizard!!!! Wait.. do lizards hiss? Apparently yes. Now I was getting angry.
"Did you open the door?" (Yes, I was takling to a lizard in the middle of the night, on my bed) It climbed on to me YUCK!!! "Wat the bloody.. What do u mean yuck?????" it screamed at me.. well, to be fair to it, noone likes to hear "Yuck" wen they touch someone.. fair enough.. "Sorry", I murmered.. "Wat do you want?"
"I want peace" it says to me. It takes all the effort from my side to keep myself from swearing. I was sleeping not so blissfully. But sleeping all the same. Cosily. This creature comes, wakes me up, and says it wants peace. Of all the...! I swallow and ask (politely) "What should I do?"
"Well", he says, " You were screaming in your sleep. And I couldn't sleep. Well the answer is 30."
"30??? " I ask, "What is 30?" It gives an exasperated nod and says "Theeta of course." I stare at him and then pluck him and throw him against the wall. He staggers to the ground. "Shut the door behind you" I yell after him.
I go back to sleep. I'm no longer in the resonance tube. I'm in the ocean and this time it's all the way from alpha to theeta that I have to solve. Everytime I manage to come up to the surface I'm gasping, looking for a particular lizard. Let me know if you find him, will you? I need to be grateful.
I was in a resonance tube. (It has water btw).. I was drowning in it.. I had to solve some problem and find out theeta. You would think my dreams would be more romantic, to say the least. I mean, given the circumstances described above you would rather be dreaming about something else. I mean the last thing you would want is to dream about resonance tube. Well, actually you'd want even less to be drowning. And trigonometry was never my cup of tea. Of all the... -frown- frown-frown-ponder-scratch head-think-dirty face-scratch head again- (I'm trying to get theeta)-complimentary angles?-The demon starts talking-SSS congruence-was it sss similarity? - hisssss-was that a snake??? -snakes hiss -snake??? SNAKE??? I get up with a jolt.
Something is wrong.. rub eyes.. look around... THE DOOR IS AJAR!!! Ok I'm not exactly a coward but I'm sure you'll understand this is not exactly good for my heart. The only noise I could hear was of my heart pounding.. I wished (too soon) that it wouldn't be so silent.. The deafening silence made my limbs crack but the sudden movement made it even worse. I would give anything to go back to theeta.. I grasped for the light by my bed .. (I'm not as stupid as I seem).. I scream. There is a limit to how much you can torture a poor kid before she starts screaming.
"SHUT UP!!!!!" he says. I shut up. I blink. I am actually taking instructions from a lizard!!!! Wait.. do lizards hiss? Apparently yes. Now I was getting angry.
"Did you open the door?" (Yes, I was takling to a lizard in the middle of the night, on my bed) It climbed on to me YUCK!!! "Wat the bloody.. What do u mean yuck?????" it screamed at me.. well, to be fair to it, noone likes to hear "Yuck" wen they touch someone.. fair enough.. "Sorry", I murmered.. "Wat do you want?"
"I want peace" it says to me. It takes all the effort from my side to keep myself from swearing. I was sleeping not so blissfully. But sleeping all the same. Cosily. This creature comes, wakes me up, and says it wants peace. Of all the...! I swallow and ask (politely) "What should I do?"
"Well", he says, " You were screaming in your sleep. And I couldn't sleep. Well the answer is 30."
"30??? " I ask, "What is 30?" It gives an exasperated nod and says "Theeta of course." I stare at him and then pluck him and throw him against the wall. He staggers to the ground. "Shut the door behind you" I yell after him.
I go back to sleep. I'm no longer in the resonance tube. I'm in the ocean and this time it's all the way from alpha to theeta that I have to solve. Everytime I manage to come up to the surface I'm gasping, looking for a particular lizard. Let me know if you find him, will you? I need to be grateful.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Celebrating life
This poem is dedicated to friendship (in general) and my friends (in particular). If you read this poem, you would just know if I meant it for you. And if it is, trust me... I mean every word of it. A toast! Cheers! :)
The waves of my life are sweeping past
And the tempest echoes through my heart
The terror, the despair, the lonliness
were all wiped out with your mere presence.
Your worldly words I wisely weighed
I'm sure this does sound cliched
I faltered, I stumbled, I slip, I fell
You lived through me; experienced my hell.
And much later, when spring brought light
Life was bright with joy and delight
You were a prism for the light from heaven
splitting white into a colorful seven
You lifted me to the azure sky
Hence, though it rained, I was dry
Then I snuggled into a feathery cloud
In a state of bliss, I whistled aloud.
The birds flew, the wind blew
I was on top of the world
With the mist of joy, my head swirled.
For this heaven, I thank you
My friend, this poem is for you
who stood by me when I was pained
From you, there's a lot I've gained
Life is magical with a miracle like you.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Adding color to life
I believe that I'm a disgrace to the blogging community (a black sheep more like). I neither blog regularly nor sincerely. Its been ages since I last blogged (The author aims to gather some pity here by self-insult. Its the oldest of her filthy tricks. Do not fall for it)
Firstly, there is practically nothing to blog about. So if you are looking for something exciting and happening, keep looking (elsewhere, dumbo!) coz I'm not here to please. (Ouch! That attitude does hurt especially when you have put you butt down to actually go through her crap)My life doesn't seem to be very happening and the self-centred goose that I am, I shall blog about nothing else. Somehow I feel I need to talk about the finer aspects of (my) life today. I shall narrate an incident (that inevitably makes the author look nice but I hope you can go a little beyond that and see that there are different kinds of happiness in the world and this is the greatest of them all and she sought greedily for it)
We had a course called ID 110 "Introduction to Design". Some arbitrary course in which we had "projects" to do. Projects in quote because they were neither illuminating nor entertaining. Mostly, they were just painful. (The author is set out to insult everyone under the sun today. Do not mind) Ramya, Kannu and I set out to mount road to get "stuff" for out project. We were stranded at a bus-stop, with no idea where to head. It was beginning to get dark (and frightening? The chicken...tch tch.. )
I was hungry (Yawn ! No surprises there) and so Ramya went to get pastries from a nearby bakery. Each costed just 12. (Just 12?? She put it into the project budget.) And as we hungrily ate them away to glory, I noticed this small girl about 3 years old, clinging on to whom I assume was her dad's arms. She was in rags. Her hair was brown and dirty. Her clothes were torn in places and her long skinny legs had bruises. But her eyes had all the beauty and love of the world. They were, at the moment, gazing longingly at us as we (greedily hungrily, selfishly) bit into our pastries. Guiltily, we gulped it down and with no further eye contact, we someow understood what we wanted to do.
I ran to the bakery, and got the same pastry. (All the time worrying about missing the bus! Gimme a break! ) I got back and told her dad that it was my birthday and asked him if he would let me buy her a pastry. The poor old man looked up and God! that moment was worth it all!
I never learnt her name. She was still licking out the last crumbs when we left the place waving at her madly. Its wierd how small things bring so much of delight to your life. Somehow we miss out on the subtle and yet beautiful colors of life in the constant effort to make it brighter. I look back to that day and the feeling of happiness always comes back to me. (Talk about selfishness. Its her happiness that matters to the author, not the little girl's)
In short proportions we just beauties see
And in short meausers life may perfect be
Firstly, there is practically nothing to blog about. So if you are looking for something exciting and happening, keep looking (elsewhere, dumbo!) coz I'm not here to please. (Ouch! That attitude does hurt especially when you have put you butt down to actually go through her crap)My life doesn't seem to be very happening and the self-centred goose that I am, I shall blog about nothing else. Somehow I feel I need to talk about the finer aspects of (my) life today. I shall narrate an incident (that inevitably makes the author look nice but I hope you can go a little beyond that and see that there are different kinds of happiness in the world and this is the greatest of them all and she sought greedily for it)
We had a course called ID 110 "Introduction to Design". Some arbitrary course in which we had "projects" to do. Projects in quote because they were neither illuminating nor entertaining. Mostly, they were just painful. (The author is set out to insult everyone under the sun today. Do not mind) Ramya, Kannu and I set out to mount road to get "stuff" for out project. We were stranded at a bus-stop, with no idea where to head. It was beginning to get dark (and frightening? The chicken...tch tch.. )
I was hungry (Yawn ! No surprises there) and so Ramya went to get pastries from a nearby bakery. Each costed just 12. (Just 12?? She put it into the project budget.) And as we hungrily ate them away to glory, I noticed this small girl about 3 years old, clinging on to whom I assume was her dad's arms. She was in rags. Her hair was brown and dirty. Her clothes were torn in places and her long skinny legs had bruises. But her eyes had all the beauty and love of the world. They were, at the moment, gazing longingly at us as we (greedily hungrily, selfishly) bit into our pastries. Guiltily, we gulped it down and with no further eye contact, we someow understood what we wanted to do.
I ran to the bakery, and got the same pastry. (All the time worrying about missing the bus! Gimme a break! ) I got back and told her dad that it was my birthday and asked him if he would let me buy her a pastry. The poor old man looked up and God! that moment was worth it all!
I never learnt her name. She was still licking out the last crumbs when we left the place waving at her madly. Its wierd how small things bring so much of delight to your life. Somehow we miss out on the subtle and yet beautiful colors of life in the constant effort to make it brighter. I look back to that day and the feeling of happiness always comes back to me. (Talk about selfishness. Its her happiness that matters to the author, not the little girl's)
In short proportions we just beauties see
And in short meausers life may perfect be
Friday, January 4, 2008
How I became Supandi
The best in man reveals itself in his despair...
History:
Went to bed the previous night at around 3 am having convinced myself that I had done nothing that could, in any way, be described as "useful" ..
THE day:
8.30 am
I hear distinct screaming. Hmmm.. Definitely not my dream.. Exert myself to pull my eyelids open.. I see amma (mom).. "Why (the hell) did you throw all the vegetables into the dustbin?" I blink. Then I reason. If I did throw all of them into the bin, her anger was budgeted for. But did I? I scratch my head, blinking more. I yawned, snuggled deeper into the blanket and said something that sounded like, "gum-na-shi-tu-zum" and went back to sleep. Peace.
Brief History: The previous day conversation with amma
Amma:
(sentence 1)Hey, two of the brinjals have insects in them.
(sentence 2)The vegetables are kept in the fridge.
(sentence 3)Throw them into the dustbin.
Me (in what I hoped was my most dutiful voice) : Yes, ma.
She had connected sentences 1 and 3. I connected 2 and 3. Result : I'm known as Supandi now.
10:30 am
Appa (dad) calls. "You have to leave home at 2.30 (to take a flight). I didn't wake you up because I know you were packing till 3 last night." I get up with a jerk. I blink (again?) at him and then at the clock. Cursing the world for not waking me up earlier, I go brush my teeth.. et.. (er.. all formalities..)..
Me (in a small voice) : Appa, I have some fees to pay.. if you could take a dd... I'll go online and get you the details from a friend.
Appa (no hint of sarcasm honestly) : Aah, what did you do online yesterday till 3 then?"
Me(putting on a very sad, innocent expression) : I was too sleepy. Dont' remember what I did.
11am - 12 noon
Cold refreshing, peaceful shower. (Packing not finished)
12 noon -
I go into the room. I hop across from one place to another. The room is full (read overflowing) of stuff. My packing is done! (yipeeee) must hav stuffed everything I needed into the suitcase last night. Appreciating myself for my responsibility at having finished everything the previous night, I begin to wonder why the suitcase seems so light. ..
...
...
Realisation dawns
There is a whole pile of unwashed clothes that HAVE to be taken to chennai. Oooops! Collected them, tiptoed across to the bathroom, flung them down the washing-machine. Switched it on, hoping my parents won't realise.. Aaagh.. Did it always make this much of noise? (For the record, it never occured to me that I could take the unwashed clothes and wash them in chennai)
1.00 pm
Appa: How do you plan to go to college from airport?
Me: (Blink)
Appa: Fine, I'll arrange. Her's your dd. Packing done? What's that noise? Your clothes in the washing machine?
Me: (gulp) hmm.. yes.
Confirmed Supandi.
By 2, my packing is still not completed. I have been on phone for about 20 minutes now. (Using "I-wont-be-here-for-4-months" as an (intelligent) retort.
2.30
Everything stuffed into 2 bags, ticket taken (id card lost), happily eaten (no compromise on food) I leave.
I guess the jonah day has the worst to come yet.. The evening was even more vague and obscure. But that I would describe some other time. I left home, tagged (forever) as Supandi.
History:
Went to bed the previous night at around 3 am having convinced myself that I had done nothing that could, in any way, be described as "useful" ..
THE day:
8.30 am
I hear distinct screaming. Hmmm.. Definitely not my dream.. Exert myself to pull my eyelids open.. I see amma (mom).. "Why (the hell) did you throw all the vegetables into the dustbin?" I blink. Then I reason. If I did throw all of them into the bin, her anger was budgeted for. But did I? I scratch my head, blinking more. I yawned, snuggled deeper into the blanket and said something that sounded like, "gum-na-shi-tu-zum" and went back to sleep. Peace.
Brief History: The previous day conversation with amma
Amma:
(sentence 1)Hey, two of the brinjals have insects in them.
(sentence 2)The vegetables are kept in the fridge.
(sentence 3)Throw them into the dustbin.
Me (in what I hoped was my most dutiful voice) : Yes, ma.
She had connected sentences 1 and 3. I connected 2 and 3. Result : I'm known as Supandi now.
10:30 am
Appa (dad) calls. "You have to leave home at 2.30 (to take a flight). I didn't wake you up because I know you were packing till 3 last night." I get up with a jerk. I blink (again?) at him and then at the clock. Cursing the world for not waking me up earlier, I go brush my teeth.. et.. (er.. all formalities..)..
Me (in a small voice) : Appa, I have some fees to pay.. if you could take a dd... I'll go online and get you the details from a friend.
Appa (no hint of sarcasm honestly) : Aah, what did you do online yesterday till 3 then?"
Me(putting on a very sad, innocent expression) : I was too sleepy. Dont' remember what I did.
11am - 12 noon
Cold refreshing, peaceful shower. (Packing not finished)
12 noon -
I go into the room. I hop across from one place to another. The room is full (read overflowing) of stuff. My packing is done! (yipeeee) must hav stuffed everything I needed into the suitcase last night. Appreciating myself for my responsibility at having finished everything the previous night, I begin to wonder why the suitcase seems so light. ..
...
...
Realisation dawns
There is a whole pile of unwashed clothes that HAVE to be taken to chennai. Oooops! Collected them, tiptoed across to the bathroom, flung them down the washing-machine. Switched it on, hoping my parents won't realise.. Aaagh.. Did it always make this much of noise? (For the record, it never occured to me that I could take the unwashed clothes and wash them in chennai)
1.00 pm
Appa: How do you plan to go to college from airport?
Me: (Blink)
Appa: Fine, I'll arrange. Her's your dd. Packing done? What's that noise? Your clothes in the washing machine?
Me: (gulp) hmm.. yes.
Confirmed Supandi.
By 2, my packing is still not completed. I have been on phone for about 20 minutes now. (Using "I-wont-be-here-for-4-months" as an (intelligent) retort.
2.30
Everything stuffed into 2 bags, ticket taken (id card lost), happily eaten (no compromise on food) I leave.
I guess the jonah day has the worst to come yet.. The evening was even more vague and obscure. But that I would describe some other time. I left home, tagged (forever) as Supandi.
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