I am loving it

Last few days had been really just too busy. Right from 8 am in the morning to 4 am events kept occurring keeping me right on to my foot. Not that I have never been on an edge, but this time it has been a little different. If I were to compare the past few days with my 3rd trimester days, I kept busy on both the occasions. During both the periods I seldom did sit casually in the mess and did talk on phone for long hours.
But the stark difference which I can feel is the things which are keeping me busy. Earlier, neither did I study a lot as much I should have, nor was there any kind of fun in my life. Or to put it more bluntly, I myself ran away from anything which could really make me happy. I have no reason to why I did so. And even if I have, I possibly won’t like to mention it anymore. All I did was to be melancholous about things around me and critically examine everything around me. Now before it seems that I am guilty about those days, I think I must stress, I am not. Probably those days were meant to be like that and what I did was the best course of action for me. Even if it was not, as some say, I disagree. Someone’s rightly said, “Believe in all that you decide and you shall come victorious even if the decision was not the best.” What I did learn was that sometimes even being sad about something can make you feel good and happy. It’s strange and I won’t be surprised if people mock at me because until now even I felt it to be stupid. But then the complexity of human mind and behaviour can make anything possible.
Coming back to the present day, I somehow am very happy about how things have been going around though nothing really has changed in the external environment. It seems like I have now learnt to take control of things happening to and around me rather than lamenting on the same inefficiencies and deficiencies of the system. If I were to take a look over the last one week, I have studied more than I generally do and that does satisfies me. I have attended all the meetings which I had to without any problem of time constraint and made sure it didn’t affect my life balance. I have been in touch with all my old friends and people who are close to my heart inspite of the hectic schedules we are forced to follow. I have been going out with my friends more than often. Most surprisingly I have not been involved in any kind of college bashing and society bashing. Last night I had an amazing time just getting soaked wet in rain and it did make me happy because that is what I have always loved to do but off late never did. I also feel back to what I was 2 years ago; someone who is pretty confident of what he does and gives a shit to what others talk behind his back; someone who loves interacting with new people and is never afraid to say what he believes in, even if that means going against the general perception of people.
It’s so amazing to find one’s own true self through acts which are regarded nothing more than insignificant. Probably so insignificant that people around me might not have even noticed the change in behavior and attitude. But, who cares! What is of the essence is I do realize and feel the change. I do understand what it means to me because seeing this change wasn’t so easy for me. Changes which I mentioned a few minutes back and changes which I did not. But for everything in this world I am loving it.

Press conference @ INTERCONTINENTAL

Probably its the first time a day has been so eventful that I have been compelled to write a 2nd post on my blog on the same day. Though its 1:15 am now and the post will appear as on July 2nd, the experiences are all of the first day of the 7th month.
My Roomie, has been doing a great job at MTV as an intern and probably it was because of his extra ordinary performance that he got a chance to work back stage on today’s press conference of the movie LUCK starring Imran Khan, Shruti Hassan, Sanjay Dutt and many more. And I being his roomie did have an advantage to attend the same which was strictly meant only for media people on invitation. And so did my other roomie too, who in a second got rid of his thick finance notes he was supposedly studying for his exams.
So both of reached the INTERCONTINENTAL, a 5 star hotel in Andheri. To be honest i was pretty excited like a kid as i had never got a chance to see one from inside. As we entered the hotel we could find rows of BMW and a few other luxury brands which made it evident that the crowd inside was meant to be real sophisticated. We walked in without being intrigued by any of the staff and while we found our way into the basement (where the event was supposed to take place) the interiors and the setup were worth appreciating. It isn’t one of the best hotels in Mumbai, but it certainly does have an enigma of its own. The soft music from the piano mingled with the air in the room and together with an aroma spread into the lobby, we really felt pleased. Right across the hall were 2 young beautiful ladies dressed elegantly in black sipping a cup of coffee. Their presence added another fragrance to the place and it was intoxicating enough for any young man to fall for it.
Anyways, we moved across the hall towards the basement where Imran Khan just arrived and was escorted with his men. Since he had already been to our college, it wasn’t a big deal in any case. We followed our way into the basement where the whole set up was just magnificent. Every tiny detail was taken care of and there wasn’t any stone unturned in managing the place to keep up the dignity of the people and the organizations involved. Finally we saw the whole event. Shruti Hassan indeed sand pretty well and there were a number of gorgeous reporters who were busy asking stupid questions. Yet, they were lovely and so we didn’t mind their naivety.
Then came the best part. FOOD !!! There were complete preparations to satisfy gourmets like me with all the veg delicacies. But what was more exciting was the variety of desserts and ice creams and pastries and moose. As soon as i kept it on the tip of my tongue, it just melted down and my roomie could utter just one line, “ this is what is heaven” . And yes, it certainly was!!!
With all the sweetness in our taste buds and heart, we came to what we call “SIMSR HOSTEL”
And here I sit still thinking about all those delicious stuff i savoured and yet lamenting why was our stomach so full that we had no scope of putting in even a single piece of anything more.
Whatever be it, we all three had a really gala time

First day in PG-Finance @ SIMSR

And finally the day came... A bunch of future finance barons assembled in room no 17 to attend the first class of their chosen coveted specialization. People call it finance. Since past few weeks there was only one thing common in all the conversations these people had. All of them including me had expected or had been forced to believe that this year is going to be a hell lot of work with classes scheduled 7 days a week. Oh the very sound of it makes it so cumbersome and demanding. Just like people assume MBA to be.
For the first time i was so very punctual that i woke up early in the morning at 6 am (i don’t remember the last time when i did this; probably during my school days.) Consequently a few of us were the first ones to reach the class well in time. But alas! Seems all the excitement was a mere act of stupidity and not being rational enough to understand the way things work.
We waited for our highly esteemed professor for nearly an hour after which we were finally informed with regret that we won’t have that class as if we hadn’t realized it till then. As a matter of fact it was only us who were sitting idle, gossiping and sharing the vacation we had in lieu of our summer internship. Rest all other people had their classes in full swing. Surprisingly HR department has student faculty ratio of 10:12. At this point i would rather keep my mouth shut regarding the ratios of the finance department.
Finally the time for the second lecture started after another wait of 20 minutes. It really didn’t bother us because we were satisfied that at least someone did come after all. The professor started by addressing us as “friends.” Now i sincerely wonder why? Did he really consider us friends knowing that he more than thrice the age of the youngest boy sitting in the class? Or was it an attempt to break the ice? Or possibly he did so because he is well versed with the fact that students no more consider their professors as their teachers. Whatever be it, he gave a really long and descriptive introduction of his stressing the fact more than once that he did his PhD in 1969. (That is how i remember the year). He then consequently proved that all of us sitting on the other side have poor knowledge in finance because none of knew when the IDBI bank was formulated. Probably it hurt him more because he was one of the founding members. He also constantly pressed the fact that he was very sad because he didn’t become an engineer. Finally his talks changed from financial to philosophical. After an hour he was more than happy to let us go to have our lunch.
And so this was our first day at college in the second year. Let’s see what the future has in store for us. I hope unlike last year we will have at least some classes to attend but i do sincerely hope we don’t have classes in the weekends. After all MBA ain’t just about classes.

Predicaments of an individual

Today I seem to be caught in a quandary with not just 2 unfavorable options to choose from, but a lot more wretched state of mind. On one hand when I look back and analyze the last 71 days I spent at home, I can visualize more than a score of beautiful moments lived after 4 long years. However, I do feel saddened by the thought that in spite of very good project I completed during the term, I couldn’t do exactly what I had wanted to. And today when I sit here on this same chair I have sat since I was in Class 9, I have a plethora of emotions overflowing from my heart making its way to my mind and hands making me write all that I feel. Rather, forcing me to express those simple moments of joy and sorrow which will seem trivial to everyone but me.
Being brought up in a joint family with 17 members living under the same roof and sharing the same kitchen, I was bestowed with an army of relatives spread all across the country with most of them concentrated in the neighboring states. However from the time I first went out to study I could rarely meet most of them. It isn’t that they never came or we never went, but of everyone I knew, it was just me who missed so many functions at home. Past 2 years, I couldn’t even meet all my family members also as most of them were too busy expanding the family business. Most of my cousins probably forgot the way I looked and owing to my weak memory I didn’t even remember all of them. I never missed not being at a function or a ceremony at home, but I did miss the fact that everyone but me was present and that it did make my mother a little sad. However this pseudo vacation I had gave me a chance to see all of them. Rather I could safely say that I met almost everyone I wanted to in all these years and no words could probably express my happiness and satisfaction. To emphasise, I met some 20 cousins of mine along with my 11 nephews and niece. The best part wasn’t just the fun I had with them talking about all the things which has happened in the recent past, but it was actually being scolded by my elder sister in the same way as like when I was a little kid. At least it gave me a feeling of belongingness and a reassurance that they still feel they have the right over me. In this age of breaking and distant relationships, these small facts make a big difference to someone like me.
To add I got a chance to see my school friends after a long time. Again the reason was the first time we all were all in the city at the same time. It never occurred earlier as I and my engineering friends never had a vacation at the same time. Probably meeting them once again brought a fresh flow of energy and enthusiasm as well as the real meaning of being friends. In all these days I once again got to hear the old jokes and habits of my friends, I once again got to hear those school time gossips and once again I got to share my thoughts with people who I know would respect never make fun of behind my back.
I got a chance to meet all my old school teachers who were teachers in the real sense and getting to be recognized and still remembered by the primary school teachers gave a feeling of joy which very few things in this world could ever give.
But all happy times are accompanied by worries and issues we need t resolve. All this time I kept on wondering if a little more efforts from my side would have helped me get even a better project which would have certainly aided my career and brought a little more security to it in times of the present crisis. Probably it did make me sad to know the fact that someone who is plans to take up finance is doing a summer project in marketing, however good it might be.
But when I weigh the 2 aspect where on one hand I had the time of my life with my extended family friends and teachers having a conversation which was both sophisticated and simple against the possibilities of a slightly better career option I gave up on my choice, I do now realize I am a good decision maker. Probably this was a very small step, rather unremarkable or unimportant in the bigger picture, but for me as an individual I got a firsthand experience of choosing between career and family. Rather living and making the most of it from the choices I made and not waste my time repenting on what could have been a possibility.
At least for now I am happy and excited with a slight shade of sadness. Happy because I had a good time at home; excited because there are once again going to be new set of challenges to face when back to Mumbai and sad because I will once again have to live on that pestiferous mess food and pesky college authorities.

There is something about a Hug

Men and women have so much of love to share
Every step of life; all for whom we care
Each one them feels for some or the other person
Whether he lives in a hut or she stays in a mansion

Centuries back people seldom expressed love
And later it was all done through a dove
What hasn’t changed is showing love by a simple hug
But today people write “I love you “and give it in a mug

Every form of expression is for a select few
A handshake is for friends; a kiss is for the beloved
A pat on back is by a teacher; a punch is for the enemy
A peck is for loved ones while a cuddle is for the intimate ones

But of all that one could think off
By all that one gets tuned on; or put off
There is a form of human expression
And shows the zenith of human compassion

A mother gives it to her baby
A father gives it to his graduation son
A brother gives it to his sister while she ties the knot of life time
A husband gives it to his wife as she falls into his arms

A man gives it to a lady with all his heart
A boy gives it to a girl when they are about to part
A friend gives it to a friend when they find happiness
A hero gives it to the enemy who just changed asking for forgiveness

A simple hug is what people call this act
I call it the life line of every human embrace
Biggest and the gravest problems of complex human relations
Can be set right with something as simple as a hug


Its funny how a little hug makes everyone feel good;
In every place and language it’s always understood.
It soothes a crying baby; pacifies an angry man
Precipitates emotions; disappears the melancholies

There's something in a hug that warms the heart;
It welcomes you back home and makes it easier to part.

Memoirs of past years

Whenever I open my closet

Moments later I find myself upset

And as I browse through the pages of years before

My heart pounds and aches all the more

Come 2005 and the month of February

I see a young couple madly in love

Exchanging cards and promises and a secret smile

To love even if they live seas apart or just a mile

Come 2009 and the month of February

I see the two of them so happy so intimate

And beside them I watch 2 new faces equally close

Each to the ones who were in love back into the wheels of time

I wondered what to think of or speak to them

Whether to be happy or to be envious of what they have

Or to be moron and mourn of what they possibly have not

I chose neither to think and nor to speak

Growing from when I was 16 to now when I am 22

Having experienced a variety of closeness

Some brought only happiness while some only sadness

Some were all about jokes while the rest were about flings

All of them seemed to be like a love to me

In one definition or the other or the ones created by me

But from all of it I could desire only a few

Ones which make me sad or unwanted

And then I asked myself a question!!!

Answer to which was neither hidden nor difficult

Still the irrationality of the human mind

Makes it impossible to accept; but now I do

Who did I love the most?

The one who brought tears to me while I earned smiles for her face

Who loved me the most?

The one who bought me only smiles for nothing in return.

Finally...

Today I am done with the first part of my summer internship. All the initial rounds of moving around in the market, meeting various types and kinds of dealers and trying to connect with them, even though, I sometimes couldn’t even speak their language! Past 2 weeks has been like a continuous war against the summer heat and the laid back attitudes of the small town dealers. I thought marketing is all about communication. But the thought needed a little specification. Communicating in a way, which your target customer understands, irrespective of whether I myself am any good at it. Earlier I was pretty much confident of my spoken English and thought it would be a cake walk talking to the cement dealers. Now I know it wasn’t. When you talk to a middle aged man who has been selling a particular brand of cement since last 2 decades you ought to have something in you. It was never like the usual classroom talking where every kind of bullshit is permissible.

If I were to sum it up in a few lines I can confidently claim I learnt more of marketing in last 2 weeks than what I did in 2 trimesters. And it wasn’t just because I got a chance to move out in fields but more so because my lucky stars got a chance to have a 1 to 1 interaction with the marketing officer of the region who happens to be the best in the entire eastern zone. Probably I might be unable to coin a word for every little aspect I understood but it has given me a kind of confidence which assures me of my capabilities.

The insights which I got about the cement industry and customer behaviour from people who haven’t even completed their graduation but have devoted their 30 years of life helping people to build home is just worth mentioning. I may not take marketing as my majors but there’s one thing I surely learnt. Marketing isn’t about thick fat heavy books by world renowned authors only. It’s more about on the field capability. I used to say this earlier too. But now I do realize its essence.

Now my project will all be about analysis and interpretations and suggestions. Probably here I might need to use all that I learnt in last 10 months.

I am now really happy to have taken up this project. I get to travel, I get to talk to intellectuals, I get to talk to not-so-intellectuals, and I get good food at home!!! After all this is all I need.