Sleep-Blog !

Some sleep-walk, some sleep-talk, and some..sleep-blog.  The thought of getting to write excites me, and I succumb to the excitement. What better time than this, away from the grind and in silence. I guess I won’t be getting time for this once I start working again, which I am planning to, from next month.

And for the next month to arrive, we still have ten days to go. So, Delhi bound again, this time a friend’s wedding. I got the invitation three months back but I wasn’t sure that I was going to make it, keeping in mind, the troublesome period I was going through in regard of my admissions. But everything is settled now and it’s a good time to catch up with friends again. There are also plans for extending our trip to Mussoorie , Hrishikesh and other adjoining places to visit.

Coming back to the decision I mentioned in one of my previous blog, the ‘picture’ of MBA from India is dropped, IMT is out and I have already taken back my admission. Aiming for a year of work experience and then moving out for the ‘bigger picture’. I have got another six months, and I hope everything sets as plan.

Enough of the bygone and the expected.

We either dwell in the past or deem about the future. Do we really live in the present? Do we relish the moment of now?  An ex colleague of mine says that it all depends on the way we breath. A few breathing techniques can get us to live in the present, at around three thousand bucks per week, that’s all it takes.  Does it make sense?  Let’s not go there. It’s a sleep-blog anyway, not meant to make sense. I mean do the sleepwalkers know what they are up to?

Likewise..

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- By Chetan Bhagat

Another sleepless night! Thought of catching a bit of sunrise as I get little opportunitiy to do so. Sun rises every day and sets, but we seldom enjoy the beauty of the process. Thought of going out for a drive. Thought of getting to Juhu beach and take some photographs of ‘MV Wisdom’ (huge cargo vessel which is stranded for the past week within hands reach from the beach). Attempts are being made to pull it or push it or cut it or maybe lift it, which seems highly unlikely. The tug of war is going on nevertheless. Well, these were the things which I thought of, yes, only that. The key to the car is not accessible at the moment. So I dropped the plan(s). Instead switched on my computer again and here I am spreading my loneliness to no one.

This Thrusday was eventful. Met someone I admire. Everything said by him makes sense to me. The youth icon, Chetan Bhagat. He has a team which takes care of the business part of him. To promote and market the brand Chetan Bhagat, and to make him reach out to the far stretched youth and of course to the corporates who in turn pay him money, which is the business part I was talking about. I had applied to break into his team, and thus I was called for the interview. I thought it would be an office, but as it turned out, the address I was called upon was his home and he was the one at the door to welcome us.  A big surprise. He briefed about the profile and about himself (as if we didn’t know). About his next book coming up around Diwali this year. It’s a dark love story and the protagonists are ‘gopal’ and ‘arti’. That’s all he said about the book. Asked me to wait in the kids room and also allowed me to play with the toys while I waited. Two round interview was conducted, one by the CB team and one by CB himself. It was pretty relaxed. I have little hope to get through since I my answers were pretty honest. Yes, it’s complicated. Plus my profile does not suit their requirements. He told me that I would be getting a call next day if I was selected. And the day just passed L. Which makes it safe to assume that I haven’t made the cut. And that’s the reason I am writing about the experience with him on my blog. If I got through, I wouldn’t have.

All said and done. The point I would like to make is that. When we see someone on the TV or newspaper or anywhere as a celeb. It seems distant and we assume that those people are different and that’s the reason they are there. But they are just as normal as we are. And we can be them too, no big deal. Luck remains a big factor. What I mean is, it’s not that every talented or every hard working person makes it large in life. If everyone is a CEO, the work would not be done. The fish has to be killed to maintain the balance of life. And not everyone can be the hunter, someone has to be the huntee.

However, meeting with the celeb himself hasn’t sunk in yet. It was a wonderful experience. This is more like a diary page to me which I would love to go through somewhere later in life.  

The sun will raise, and with it I’ll prepare to set. 

Have a good day..

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An un-nec-es-sar-y explanation

I wouldn't let my blog pass away to annihilation. I hope.

Oh! what a cynic I am, the blog is just a month old and I am talking in these terms!

Everybody has their reasons to be busy. We always have time to 'drive' or be in a 'meeting' even if its off office hours. My cohort at HDFC Securities would understand this better. But I was busy doing something else. 

For some admission related documents to be collected from my college, I had to visit the city where I spent three years of my life while completing my graduation. New Delhi. I never liked the city when I was there, but I like it now, I miss it now. Hard to explain this. The capital has its own spell. With this, I also believe that its not the place which is good or bad, its the people who make it so. If you are surrounded by dead people in the most happening place..it its a waste. Fortunately, it wasn't the case with me.

The work for which I went there was done. Caught up with some memories from the past, and pals for the future (read life). I preferred not to waste time there and thus remained keen. On the flight back I met a young lady (elder than me), who asked me for a favor to which I obliged, and thus I was given a coffee treat and even meal on board. In return, I tried to show my expertise in the stock market and suggested her a few shares to buy, when she showed some inclination towards it. 

Back in Mumbai, the interviews got me occupied for the next day. Next, due to the renovation going on, we had to shift to a new flat temporarily. Which we did, and that kept me busy again, settling down.

It was dad's birthday yesterday, he asked us if we wanted to go for the movie 'Ready' to which we readily agreed. Had a good day out. Learnt to eat with chopsticks at the dinner.

This, in brief explains my absence from the web world for quite sometime. Though I know I am not a celeb that you would want any explanation for that matter. 

The days coming up might be the most important ones in shaping up my career and future. I have to watch my steps, but still a decision has to be taken, don't have much time on my side. Watch this space for that decision.

Be the light...

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Wallowed in the mire..

Well, the topic isn't so poetic as it sounds.

The space below would describe the seven deadly sins..

Here we go..

Envy

We are all emotional creatures. Lets face it.

Being envious of someone or something is a strong emotional feeling.

When we start comparing ourself with others, may it be our friends,
our relatives, our colleagues, our so and so.. we become susceptible
to one of the seven deadly sins.We can afford to be jealous but not
envious. Both have a slightly different meaning mind you.

Right now, I am envious of someone writting a better blog than me.

I have commited my first deady sin.

Gluttony

Over indulgence in food and drink, overeating, snacking untimely,
all these account to gluttony, another sin i.e.(now they don't want
us even to eat as we please). Actually its not only food we are
talking about, but also over indulgence in anything for that matter.

I just finished my bag of chips (which lasted for about 12 mins)
and its 4 AM, which is untimely I guess.

Sorry, I have committed my second deadly sin.

Greed

A person who is content with whatever he has got is almost impossible
to find. And there is always a gulf between what people say they want,
and what they actually want. We might say that we are content with what
we have, but deep down we know that we are not.That is greed and
its commonly found all over. Greed of power, status or wealth.

I fall in the category who says that I am satisfied with how much
or how less I have, but I know its not true.

Yes, I admit I am greedy, thus I am a sinner, the third deadly sin.

Lust

Well, I am a guy, and I am 22. Need I say more?

My 4th deadly sin.

Pride

The desire of an individual to self proclaim himself as the greatest.
Shunning the work or value of others. The boastful desire, the ego,
all harps into the definition of pride.

I am 'proud' of my indian cricket team, for bringing home the world cup.

Dun tell me! Is that a sin too?

Have i committed my 5th deadly sin?

Sloth 

Sloth in simple words refers to the laziness or the carelessness of
the people. Failure to do something which we are capable of,
due to our 'slothy' nature, if I may put it that way. Some other
examples might include leaving work incomplete, not giving a
proper maintenance to our car, etc.

I am going to wake up tomorrow around 2-3 PM, miss my guitar
session again because of my laziness.No wonder i feel like one of the
t-shirt which says 'lazy and proud of it'. This, actually covers pride and sloth together.

My 6th deadly sin, on the cards.

Wrath 

Anger or the violent outburst on others or on ourself which might also
result in a suicide. (which would be the ultimate sin, which I agree to for a change)

C'mon shut up and sleep now!! Its late! 

It really is, but why am I shouting at myself in wrath?

Damn!! My 7th deadly sin!

I am a sinner.. and its going to be somber in hell.

Terrified..

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The gist of your life

It was yesternight when I was at the same page trying to write something, nothing substantial knocked me. So, I shut the computer down and tried to sleep. It was only then a swarm of ideas and topics started to clout my mind. So here I am, trying again.

It actually always happens to me. In case of an interview, in a discussion, in conversation and every possible way of communication.We ponder about the situations in life where we could have made a difference in the approach of the people toward us, made them laugh, vented our frustration, proved a point by speaking a little differently at the crunch time.  

Does it happen with you too?

I am going to narrate a small story of mine.

Few days back I went for the admission interview at K J Somaiya Institute of Management for my MBA program. After the case study and discussion round a personal interview happened. 

Two men in the panel, they went through my academic background and other qualifications for precisely about 5 mins. They said nothing. I don't know if it was to test the nerves.

"Tell me about yourself."

I told them whatever little I knew about myself.

"What is standard deviation?"

"err..average" I said.

"What?" the second interviewer kinda freaked out.

"Sir, its one of the methods of finding out an average."

"What is progression?" he asked not convinced with my previous answer.

I knew it was coming, don't know why they pick up the areas which you are weak at, in an interview.

I even thought of emulating the advertisement that keeps popping up on tv, and saying 'sir, are you conducting this interview to ask what I know, or what I don't know? and walk off in style'

"1 0 1 0 1 0" I said instead.

"Can you explain?" said the freaked out one.

"The next no. in that series would be 1 by the method of progression" I said, struggling to give them the proper definition.

"What are your hobbies?" the chilled out one asked sensing my struggle.

"I like to play all kinda outdoor sports, follow music, I am learning to play guitar, and I love reading." no nonsense here.

"What was the last book you read?"

"The Alchemist"

"By?"

"Paulo Coelho"

"Tell me the gist of the book"

"The story is about a shepherd, who goes on a journey in Egypt to find hidden treasure. It is spiritual in a way"

"I am asking you the gist of the story, not the story"

"Its about chasing your dream, wandering all over, but eventually finding it in your own backyard" I said confidently.

Again a pause of a few minutes, they discussed something within themselves.

"You have a problem in mathematics since school we see. What can be done about it?" they asked.

"I agree I am weak in numbers sir, but I am doing my best to tackle it and improve on it. The only reason I opted for a job in financial markets and not marketing was to improve the area I am weak in" I said confidently again trying to make up for the loss earlier.

"Okay Preeteesh, thank you" the interviewer said.

"Before leaving I would like to say that whatever I got to know about you in this short interview, I can say that your strength lies somewhere else, find out." he continued "We wish you luck" and concluded.

"Thank you" I said with a smile and shook hands wondering what my strength was.

And I am still wondering...

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Is he really dead?

11/09/2001 the day when Osama shook America. 1/05/2011 the day when Osama bin Laden was dead.

Find it hard to believe that the world's most wanted terrorist could actually sustain for 10 yrs under the nose of US FBI, CIA and other terror fighting agencies. It is also quiet evident that there was indeed a support system which was working in Pakistan providing shelter to Osama. 

well, not sounding like a news reporter anymore, you guys must have already heard enough.

But, am I the only one who has certain questions? 

Why wasn't he caught alive when they had a chance to? 

Why the burial of the body in a haste? 

The answer to these questions may be, America din want him alive because that would mean a series of interrogation, lengthy case in the judiciary, which would allow Osama to put forward his statements in front of the world and become a hero for the terrorists and upcoming terrorists all over. Leave alone the media coverage he would get.

Personally, I would have liked  to see him alive for sometime. Sheer curiosity, how he looks and all, minus the videos we have been watching of him threatening the world over these ten years. 

On second thought, Barak Obama's tenure as the US President will surely get a strong boost here. This was timed to perfection keeping in mind the elections and his second stint. Was it planned?  

About us, we all know that the culprits behind the Mumbai attacks are all sitting in Pakistan, still we are pleading to hand them over, and thats what we'll do till the next  5-10 yrs, maybe more. Why cant we do a 'America'? Why not find them out and do a 'Navy SEAL' (our NSG) to them, and bury them according to 'Islamic traditions'? That would not happen, because we don't have the power to invade any country and do the needful (or not so needful) like the Americans do. I guess, even if we had that power, we wouldn't have done it.

The founder of Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden is finally killed by the US troops.

But will Al-Qaeda stop functioning? Will the terrorist activities stop now? 

If they will, only then I would call Osama dead.

Peace

P.S.- One of the jokes doing rounds..

"Osama killed. Wife captured. the Yankees will never change!!!" :)

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