Nostalgia...

When: Today
Still..When: The hot afternoon of around 1ish
Where: Naturals’, In Orbit, Malad.
What: Malai Vanilla with yummm Mango Pieces!

Yeah, this is what I call bliss. After Cricket that is! Costs 70 bucks, but each penny spent is worth it. One and a half scoops of Malai Vanilla, which a lot of us do not enjoy, but add some pieces of Alphonso Mangoes, and believe you me, it’s a different ball game altogether. The taste is unmatchable, unless, of course you have had been on a staple diet of Strawberry and Cream at Wimbledon. It comes close. Really close to the same.

Got addicted to this, some years back, if I remember correctly, at the Shivaji Park Branch of Naturals’. The evenings spent at Shivaji Park, with a “Tibbs’ Chicken Frankie” in my hand followed by the above variety of bliss, was all too much to handle. Even discounting the real reason for going to Shivaji Park, which was something very different (Not the right forum to be discussing that!). Wanted to fall in love with someone else then, fell in love with this instead!

In fact even as I type this, I remember that I almost had this very combo. at In Orbit Mall with NP and Deepshikha. Chicken Frankie followed by a visit to Naturals’. The only thing that was missing was the “Mango Pieces” which the Naturals’ guy did not have. The mangoes it seems had not been available that day!

Life has come a big circle since. Visits to Shivaji Park and consequently to it’s Naturals’ Branch have reduced significantly. So have the people I went there for. Unfortunately. Wouldn’t mind getting there again though. To sit there with the Frankie in my hand. Watch the guys jog it out. Some exercising in the open air gym. Some strolling arm-in-arm with their better halves. To watch the kids cycle. To watch the changes that the place has undergone. And how nothing has changed. To experience the surreal atmosphere. To pray that I bump into someone I know.

To relive those days.

The Summer of ’99. Certainly the best days of my life.

Please wake me up at 7.00 am tomorrow. I am too lazy to wake up. Please.

Sometimes I think. Only Sometimes. Rest of the time, I am too lazy to do so. Thoughts try to push me down by their sheer gravity. Like the Gravity did to Newton’s apple. I do not react. Because I am too lethargic. I am too bored to think how to react to the thoughts.

I sat next to this beautiful looking girl in the bus. Does not happen all the time. She had a hundred rupee note, and the BEST conductor, unsurprisingly did not have any change to return. Wonder where all their change goes? Think there’s a black hole in their “purse”. (There, I “thought” again. Thanks to the Conductor.) Anyways. I was talking about the girl without the change. I had about 25 ten-ners in my wallet. Could have easily given her the change. In fact, one look at her, and one would end up buying her a ticket for free. Probably even buying her two. Or dinner. I did not do any of the aforesaid things. Neither did I offer her any change. Was too lazy to dig into my pockets, get the wallet out, fish out for some change, and exchange. Too much pain. Was too bored. Looked out of the window at the Mumbai Roads instead.

That’s why I do not even want to be Spiderman. Changing into that Blue and Red Uniform every time is the most boring thing. That’s why I even hate Changing Rooms in Shopping Malls. Makes people want to try new clothes all the time. And then, such jumping around. Fighting all those bad guys. Killing them. What effort, what pain. And to top it all, I may just have to clean up the messy cobwebs that I would be leaving behind while hanging from them. Wonder whether Spidey would be cleaning up his belongings? Else, city would be in mess, ain’t it? Too lazy to be doing that as well.

Picture this. I go about shooting my web everywhere. Catch the bad guy. Hand him over to the Police. And I am asked to cough up a fine because some old monument gets a "handful" of my web. Or worse, asks me to clean up the city. Naah, too bored.

Probably it is Inertia. Newton’s First Law of Motion that most of us learnt in High School. It goes like this. Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it. Or in a state of rest! Just want to prove to my 8th grade professor that she was right when she spoke about this Law. She was also right in saying that everything needs to be proved. That’s what I am trying to do.

That unfortunately means that people practice Newton’s Third Law of Motion with me, which says, For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Loads of similar, equal reactions. Too lazy to react to my presence. It goes into a loop. Both, me and them. Both practice the third law. Yawwnnnnn. Vehemently.

It’s already 9.30 p.m. Too late in the night to continue. Too lazy to continue. Please wake me up in the morning. Don't want to miss office.

Spiderman III - A Film "Review"

I watched Spiderman III in English today. The "in English" portion of the statement is very important here. It actually seemed that the movie was a Bollywood creation, dubbed in English. Serious. No Jokes.

Picture this. One Hero. One Heroine. Three Villains. One Confused Soul who couldn't decide whether he was a Hero or a Villain. One convoluted plot. Many Jerky chase sequences. Kidnapping. Rescue Attempt by Hero. The confused soul turns Hero-like. Saves the Hero from the Villains. Sacrifices his own life. Villains die. Hero gets the Heroine. A typical Bollywood pot boiler.

Now replace Hero by Spiderman. Heroine by MJ. Villains by Black Man, Sand Man, and a third, whose name I don't recollect. Doesn't matter as well. The plot, as I have already explained.
Spiderman makes out with the Heroine. Upsets the confused Soul, who's also in love with the Heroine. He wears some funny Villain Uniform that allows him to fly on his roller skates. Confused Soul tries to kill Spidey. Loses memory in the process. We yawn.

Enter Villain 2. Sand-man. He tries to kill Spidey. Our Spidey is smart. He pours water over his aspirations and his head. Sand man dissolves his sorrow and himself in it.

Villain 3. Here the plot gets confusing. A Black spooky substance sticks to Spiderman. He becomes Black Spidey. Or so I call him. Behaves irrationally. Slaps Heroine. Heroine distressed. Spidey realises mistake and throws his Black Uniform away. Some snore.

Gets his original Blue and Red Unifrom washed, ironed and properly primmed. Gets back to his normal self. But the black spook sticks to another guy, who assumes the new role of villain 3. Sand Man returns. Sand man and Black Spidey become friends. Blackie says, "Dushman ka Dushman, Dost hota hai". Or some thing to that effect. Both kidnap heroine. Spidey gets help from confused soul, who is a changed man now. Black Spidey tries to kill real Spidey. Confused Soul comes in way. Gets killed. Spidey angry. Kills everyone bad around him. We get ready to leave.

Then Spidey and Heroine live happily thereafter. And we are filled with sadness.

I haven't added the jerky chase sequences where we could not guess who was chasing whom. Or, what was chasing what? And the same question with "why". Also, there was a small part when Spidey kisses another gal. A White Haired Witch. Heroine upset. Dunno why. Probably, it's bad for the image of Spidey to be kissing Witches. Just guessing. And to add the final icing to the cake, there was a song in the end as well. At least I imagined there was.

The hot dog costed 60 bucks. Too much mustard. The caramel popcorn was good. And there was a couple behind us, who did their best to prove that they are going to help India qualify for the next Soccer World Cup. Couldn't do their stuff in peace. Maradonna and his Madonna. Ok, bad joke. Such was the movie, and it's effect on us.

Moral: Never spend 150 bucks on any movie. Especially if it is a Hollywood Movie that lasts for a minute more than 90. Hollywood has yet to emulate us in making "good, long" movies!

Will I be able to do a 'Vivek'?

I read a Vivek Oberoi interview today, where he was asked something to the effect of "Do you still remember Aish?"

He replied, "Relationships come with an expiry date, love doesn't"

Profound, ain't it? But, the question here is, can you still love someone (who's a someone close), who's walked out of ur life like the way it petered out in the above case? Or was it the case of saying something that was supposed to create some sensation and evoke a little sympathy?

I wonder how would I have reacted. The immediate reaction is that of sadness. Shock. Questions. And then Anger. In exactly that order.

When the Anger would cool down, it would be Rationale. But, would I be able to still love the person. Would I be able to love the person again? Very very doubtful.

Is it ego? Naaah, don't think so. Is it retribution? Not me.

Then?

I think it is simple plain Logic. It is the total breakdown of Trust. A trust that was built over the period of time. Almost to the extent of Blindness. And then this happens. What's the guarantee that the same would not get repeated with the same person.

Forgive I could. Forget I wouldn't.
Remember I would. Love her again, difficult.

No, I will be true here, I would never be able to love the person again. Too much to expect from me. Not a thing for lesser mortals like me.

In this day and age, it is difficult to find love that comes without an "Expiry Date". And if Vivek really means what he just said, I doff my Hat to him.

Errr...

Dravid comes to bat against Bangladesh in the 2nd ODI.
His One Day statistics shown on screen. Neo Sports.

Matches - 314
Runs - 10000 odd
Average - good enough

Commentator says, "oh look at Dravid's FIGURE. Awesome! I mean, figures."

It was Arun Lal.

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Mumbai's at 34 degree celcius. Around 80% humidity. Walking from home to bus stop only means having to bathe again. Bus stop's just 10 mins. away.

Bangladesh is around 38 degree celcius. 98% humidity. And these guys are playing cricket. Serious Cricket at that.(especially after their pay has become performance based). God help them.

For Mumbaikars, imagine standing in this weather at 12.00 noon outside home. For around 5 hours. If that is not enough, start running. Run for around an hour out of the 5. Think about the wicket keepers. Do some sit ups. At least 100 of them. Before you forget again, all this under 38 degree celcius, and 98% humidity.

Even if you are paid a minimum of 1.5 lakh rupees for doing this. Feel for 'em.

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So now he also plays the Piano.

Newspaper Reports say that Shreeshanth got hold of a Piano in his Hotel in Bangladesh and started to play the Title song of Baazigar on it. He is also a Brake Dancer. He is a good singer.
Some say he's learnt some karate as well. Or Kick Boxing. And is a Good Cook(strange that he does not have all gals falling for him yet!)

And he bowls as well. Some times bats.

Sledges. As can be seen in the video here . Sledges a character like Andre Nel.

Talk about being a True All Rounder!

The Day at M&M - Part II

New day. Things change. For the worse!

And I thought that it couldn't get worse.

But it did. Yesterday, I was shuttling. From one building to another. It did not change much today. I was still shuttling. From one part of the city to another.

Started with home to Kandivili. This is like an hour away. At the expense of repeating myself, the journey sucks. The back still hurts! Then at 1.00 pm, I am told to report to a meeting at Worli. This is half an hour from my home, and around one and a half from Kandivili. Told that the meeting is at 2.00. I reach by 2.30 pm. Meeting is over. Pack-up. I sit in front of the PC and type this crap. Discussions are now on, whether I should be send to Kandivili again. Today. For a meeting. Someone tell me how does one hire a Hovercraft. Or a private jet. At a reasonable cost.

Apart from this, I am wondering whether I have taken up Systems as my specialisation? I have already learnt more about Supply Chain Management and "Operations" in the last 3 days, than I learnt in my whole life. And this is thanks to my boss. Hats off to him. He has more patience than ten Buddhas meditating together. Or, better still ten Rahul Dravids batting in a Test match for India. I have also been travelling from one location to another trying to "Market" myself to the people who can give me an overview. An overview of everything on SCM of the company. I have been talking to people like how an "HR" professional would. Showing extreme patience with million and one people that I have met.

But, where is Systems?!!

I think, I am worried and happy at the same time. Happy, that it's a part of the learning curve. Learning a lot in the process. But worried that somewhere down the line, I may be asked to review the Balance Sheets of the Supply Chain. Alrite alrite, there's nothing like Balance Sheets of SCM, but still, you get the point, right? That is something I could do without. Finance.

And even as I write this, India lose the wicket of Rahul Dravid to one of those three, irritating, but highly effective slow, left arm bowlers. Despair for Team India! I should be happy. At least, my house does not get painted black if I dont succeed, thank God for small mercies!

The Day at M&M...

My worst fears came true today. I had to report to the Kandivili office. Such a pain. Not only figuratively, literally as well. In all parts of the body. Back was the first to go. Thighs followed next. I am so creaky from the train journey I had, that feel like taking a 2 month sabbatical. Well, if wishes were horses, I would definitely be riding on one 'em!

Actually Kandivili by itself, wasn't that bad. Travelling is a pain, but not as big a pain as when you gotto report to 2 offices at the same time. Yeah, that is what happened. Reported to the Blue Gate. Then was taken to the now-famous Yellow gate. Spent some time gathering requirements. Then waiting. Then talking to another guy. Then waiting. Then lunch and back to the Green Gate..sorry, Blue Gate. Then to the Yellow gate for another session. Then had to call up a guy for an appointment. He had no time for dibbly-dobbly summer trainees like me. No appointment. Then back to Green Gate.
A Bag on my shoulder. Sun on the head. Heat around. Humidity omnipresent and omnipotent.
Fortunate part: Bag was without a laptop.
Unfortunate part: It weighs as much as my laptop.
Result: Broken Back. Exhaustion. Fatigue. And all those words that you can think of. Better knowledge about Supply Chain Management.

The day ended with another meeting. But, this time, it was a better one. Much better than the previous ones. Met up with the NMIMS guys, starters at MacDonalds, dinner attempt at Urban Tadka, dinner at Moghul Sarai, ice creams at Saaranch! In the end, catching up with ol' times (7 day old as well!), is an awesome feeling. Especially at the end of an exhausting day.

Tomorrow will be another day. Another visit to Yonderland (read, Kandivili), without my boss, or neone else. Would be on field. Alone.
Sounds fun. Yeah rite.

A Marriage made in Heaven...for us!

Another one bites the dust. In fact a couple of them bit it together yesterday, and it was one of the more memorable dusts that they would have tasted. Two of my friends, Maulik and Pranjal got married, thus becoming the first from the Mastek group to do so! Congratulations to the couple, whose relationship through the dusty, winding roads of Goa, is only well chronicled!! Something about Goa, that not only makes people fall in love, but also makes them directionally challenged, especially when they are on bikes. Especially, with their soon-to-be better halves! Tanmay and Deep would concur. So would Maulik and PJ. Unfortunately I don’t have the license to bike; else I would have agreed as well!

Coming back to yesterday, it was one helluva occasion for not only them, but also for all of us. We all met, again. The notable absentee was obviously Reena, but apart from her, we were all there. And once we reached the Marriage Hall, all hell broke loose. The photographers stopped clicking and turned towards us. Alrite, that’s a bit of an exaggeration obviously, but this is what happened. The couple was at one end of the hall. We were at the other. The photographers clicked away at the guests wanting to wish the couple. We had our own cameras, for ourselves and we merrily clicked ourselves to glory. 3 cameras. 150 snaps in all. No jokes! Began with the normal poses, and then went on to become more weird and whacky. More innovative. More stupid. But more fun!
Some things never change, do they? And people criticize me for being camera-happy!!!

The photo session was followed by dinner. And sweets. There was this one sumptuous, lip-smacking and delicious sweet dish, that made me refill my plate more than once. Didn’t quite get it’s name, so need to remind myself to ask Maulik once he’s back from honeymoon. Man, I am still licking my lips at the thought of the dish. Suffice to say, that the “Kulfi” that followed tasted bitter in it’s comparison!

But the best treat was yet to arrive. Teen Patti at Mayur’s. Though we didn’t play for long, it was something that made my day a fruitful one after a not-so-good start to it.(had bid a farewell to a close, close person in the morning!).

Home coming happened, well past midnight, and the sleep was a content one, with an anticipation of good things to come next day at M&M. Yeah, the good things came. Got my work station. That’s why I am able to write this. That’s why I haven’t yet dozed off.

With so much fun associated with it, the marriage truly made in heaven for all us!

Shopping....Salaam-e-Ishq...and all that!

A very, and I mean it, very tiring day comes to an end. But before I am bashed up by somone, it was one of the most enjoyable ones. Did loads of shopping. For me and for others. Well, shopping is definitely not some hobby I am terribly proud of, not the least to write about. But, it’s not daily that I shop for almost 6 hours in a day. So…you know….! Heartfelt Thanks to that Someone!

Let me talk about my shopping List. A Wrist Watch. Some thing I had been planning on for a long, long time. Fast Track. And as the name suggests, it happened really fast. Took me 5 minutes to choose and another 5 to buy it. The reason was a simple one, had already spent 3 days in tossing and turning this one on my wrists some months back. And this was one was the best amongst the Fast Tracks. And the most economical. Alrite, that’s two more reasons than what I actually thought why I bought it. Happens!

Then, I also bought a Shirt. My first Brown one. Followed it up with a Cargo, or so they say. Or is it a pair of Cargos? (Need to google up it’s exact usage.) And then bought a tight, body hugging T-Shirt. I don’t know how I will fit into it. At 60 bucks, I can afford to not wear it...guess will need to reduce by a couple of dozen kilograms. But it is alrite, may just help me motivate myself to exercise. Basically if this does not, then nothing else would!

Shopping was followed by some more shopping. For the others this time. And this was followed by shopping. Lunch and Dinner were mere formalities between the Shoppings, where as, “Mr. Bean Holidays” that happened at 10.30 in the morning was long forgotten. There was a Bandstand that followed late in the evening, which was the other highlight (because it allowed me to keep the million and one shopping bags at one place!), to be followed by more shopping! Have almost got nauseous of the word “Shopping”! In the meantime, the Mumbai Sun and Heat also played it’s part to the fullest, draining and sapping the last ounces of the energy left, and without joking, it took us a couple of bottles of “Energee” to re-hydrate ourselves.

Another surprise was the setting up of Brio’s inside the Bandra Shoppers’ Stop, where I ended up having a Chocolate Pastry (Bliss I tell you!), and this was followed by the pouching of 2 John Grishams and 1 Jeffrey Archer, all for a sum total of 180 bucks!

Reaching home, I realized that however tiring it seemed, the pleasure of reaching home and relaxing after a 12 hour marathon like this, is an awesome feeling. Second to none. Not even to feeling one gets when the chocolate inside the crusty part of Eclairs comes out. (There is a one word for this feeling that I could have used, but Family Blog and all, you see!).

However, and for this I solely blame myself, I ended up “trying to watch” Saalam-e-Ishq after coming back home. 20 minutes. 20 minutes was all what it took me to pull the plug. Many questions/thought arose in my mind.
1. Really wondered if the Director himself saw the movie after it was made.
Or even if he did, did he try some damage control.
2. If this was the “Damage Control” Version, what was the original one? Shiver and Shudder to think about it!
3. What was Juhi Chawla doing there? I really miss watching her, but for heaven sake, I would prefer not watching her than see her “brand value” deteriorate like this!
4. How more fake could you possibly smile than what John Abraham tried to in the movie? Was it a Dimple Showing-off competition Jon Baba??? Or was it "Bada Plastic Kaun?" competition with Aishwarya Rai?
5. Isn’t Govinda an MP? Or has he resigned? And when does he resign from Bollywood?
6. And what about Sohail Khan? Had it not been for the anatomy of his body, I would have almost called him Pamela Anderson. Or probably Anna Nicole Smith. Or whatever. Earnest request to act. Please.

There were some more, which I don’t want to put here, but remember, this was just 20 minutes of the whole thing. Wonder what my reaction would be if I were to be forced into watching the whole movie. Think it is beyond the realms of reality. Too Hypothetical a situation!

Look forward to more of such days!

The Summers Begin (in Mumbai and in Mahindra!)

2 days of Induction and it’s already so exhausting. Probably it is the Mumbai Summer. Probably it is just because it is Induction. Probably things will be better when the Project actually begins. Hope floats.

Tiring it may be, for whatever reasons, this has been one of the better inductions I have attended. Better than the previous two jobs. I don’t exactly know the reason why, but what I am guessing here is, that I had some background with the domain. And have worked on a Mahindra Project earlier. Probably.

So, it began yesterday with a sweet HR-in-charge giving us a brief overview on what’s to follow (cannot afford to not put that “sweet”!!). Won’t bore you with too many details, just that MM is a huge conglomerate of around 60 companies, and there were around 5 people talking about their core businesses. Most of ‘em made sense. Or to put it the other way around, I understood what most of them said. Fortunately, I was not that sleepy as I am in the classroom. Probably, because there were many biscuits offered along with the tea (which incidentally I did not have!).

Some of my “colleagues” are from NMIMS itself. Some are from IMT and others from IIT. (I forget some other colleges). Surprisingly no one from the Big Institutes so far. None from the IIMs. Sad! All in all, a nice motley of people, would love to know ‘em better. Unfortunately, MM has too many buildings, and there is a huge tendency to get lost, even when you are in one building. Don’t really know whether I would meet them again. Wish I do!

Coming back to my induction process of yesterday, the best session was undoubtedly on Mahindra Real Estate, or Mahindra Gesco as they call it. Could relate to many of the speakings of the man-in-charge, one Mr. Vijayan, and the way he delivered it, was simple and lucid as well. I got a couple of real estate stocks in my portfolio, and the insights that I got from that session were wonderful. Very, very helpful.

It ended with me meeting my Project Guide, Mr. Suhas, and our super senior, Ms. Taj, and discussing my project with them. The profile seems good, the job description would be something of a Business Analyst. Should be good work, should be tough work. I hope I am not lost on the same, but the rustiness would definitely be there, need to get the cobwebs off as soon as possible. Overall, it sounded interesting. Waiting for Monday. Eagerly!

Today was another story. A Plant visit to Kandivili at 2 p.m. Grrrrrrr!!! Why Kandivili? Which is like a million light years away from home. And to top it all, 2 p.m.? 36 degree celcius and almost 100% humidity does not make for loads of fun while traveling. And to add to all of this, I did what I am so famous(???) for. Got to the wrong Mahindra office. As I had already mentioned, it many offices in Kandivili itself, and I got to the one which had a yellow gate, rather the one that should have had a green gate! (whatever that is!) Not that it’s not happened before, but this time, it wasn’t my fault. Actually, it wasn’t totally my fault. Just a little, the auto guy took me to the wrong building! Probably the Mumbai heat got to him as well. Anyways, panted my way to the “real” office, jut at the nick of time. And then began the Plant visit. One word to describe it. Tiring! And another one, Noisy! So even as I write this, I almost feel like dozing off. Which I will. Soon. Just to end this, am not going in with any mind sets or pre conceived notions. Just want to do my job, and enjoy it. Bottom line is the enjoyment part. Never really understood the concept of “Work Hard, Party Harder”. May try to understand it this time. If not “harder”, at least hard enough for it to be drilled into me!