"HAPPY", "INDEPENDENCE", "DAY"

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

It's India's 67th Independence Day today, and millions around the world will be greeting each other with the phrase above. Although they'll all be aware of the context this applies to, how many of them would have given a thought to each word, and its individual significance in forming the phrase to what it conveys?

HAPPY. Happiness is as much an emotive description, as it is a level of satisfaction. Going by this definition, how many residents of India are actually content with their day-to-day lives? At each step in the day's routine, people face challenges. Whether its countering crowds to get onto the local train, or ensuring that your hand bag is safely tucked under your arms to prevent being pick-pocketed, satisfaction in most cases hasn't yet reached levels that can be called "happy".

INDEPENDENCE. True independence is obtained from the clutches of all aspects intangible. While corruption is at its peak, the presence of age old caste issues and dowry problems have an adverse effect on people even today. And I haven't even mentioned what's clearly become a national issue over the past few years, women safety. During my recent travels in India, I sensed a genuine fear in everyone's minds for the safety of their female loved ones. Everyone takes that extra effort to ensure their mothers, sisters, and daughters are kept out of harm's way at all times. Wherefore rests our "independence" from fear thus?

DAY. Metaphorically speaking, the above reflects more the gloom of night, than the bright of day. Not only is corruption a rampant macro issue, its becoming even more prevalent on the ground level. And the law and order of the country ranges across states from bad to sheer pathetic. A person tends to be most vulnerable when asleep, which is why he works all his life towards having his own roof over his head, one which he can trust to protect him as mush as possible during that vulnerable state. When even that fails to provide protection and security, it highlights the graveness of the law and order situation. So is this what we call "Day"? Is there daylight of hope peeping across the horizon? Not just yet.

Don't get me wrong here, I am a patriot who is extremely proud of our achievements in the past, and hail all those who have dedicated themselves completely to the nation's progress. Perhaps it's the patriot in me which reminds me that that was in the past. Time has come for us youngsters to be inspired by the yesteryear heroes and set our own standards on where we want to see our beloved land progress to. If we blame the system, then time has come to be a part of it and change it from within, such that we mean each word on the 15th of August every year when we say, "Happy Independence Day!"

Royally Rajasthan

Indian Diary: Entry No. 2

05.08.2013: Day 4- From Pushkar en route to Jaipur

The lush green fields outside playfully tease me, mocking at my ignorance. When the trip of Rajasthan was finalised, the first images formed in my mind were of sand dunes, akin the iconic scenes from Sarfarosh and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Little did I imagine that I'd be seeing more greenery than I've ever seen in the more familiar northern parts of India.

This green adds another dynamism to the rather colourful state that Rajasthan already is. It is a state rich in tradition, but that isn't saying much given traditionality is hardly ever lacking at most places in India. Where it is significantly different is in the royal essence it boasts of. Right from the bright turbans sported on male heads complementing the dazzling traditional sarees of the women, to the awe-striking forts, royalty seems embedded in the very blood of the state. Now it may just be my attraction to royalty, but this aspect drew me closer to Rajasthan than it has to any other state in India.

Completing this package of the sites and sounds of Rajasthan is the typical classical music originating from the state. In more places than one, this music was heard being played by men clad in traditional Rajasthani attire, appealing to the senses of those around them, most of which were tourists. Tourists are as essential, if not more, than what the place has to offer. It works like an audience to a stage production, spectators to a match. Without tourists, there isn't anyone to appreciate the uniqueness of a place, without tourists there isn't anyone to soak in the atmosphere typifying that place. The mutual relationship of a destination and a tourist, is one that is often taken for granted. This is where Rajasthan scores a definitive point over some of the other destinations in India. It caters to people who come to appreciate it, it keeps them in the centre of what it offers. From transport to cleanliness, a lot of what I saw made me want to return. The tourist in me is amused, interested, and most importantly, impressed and eagerly anticipating the next few days.

Long-lost Friends & Timeless Beauty

Indian Diary: Entry No. 1

03.08.2013: Day 2- en route Agra

As I sit back munching on the McDonald's Happy Meal, peeping out the window of what will be our second home over the next few hundreds of kilometres, the previous day blends with the green fields outside, flying by as we move ahead in our excursion. Road trips outdo any other form of journey for me, and when these involve big groups comprising of family and friends, the charm is enhanced. The fact that this particular trip involves my beloved India, manouevering through roads to whom I am a stranger, takes the excitement to previously unheralded levels.

Having stayed abroad for a majority of my life thus far, making a few sporadic appearances in the past years, these roads now greet me like a long-lost friend. There's a tinge of recognition, mixed with a semblance of hesitation while both decide who makes the first move towards the other, whether they should lean in for their once trademark embrace, or settle with a formal handshake for the moment. With time that hesitation slowly fades away, only for me to leave my friend again for a few months, at times over a year.

This probably explains why I've been to one of the greatest wonders of the would only once in my entire life thus far, despite hailing from a city less than 500 kms from Taj Mahal. Now as I head towards the Taj for a second time, my excitement stems from the anticipation of admiring the known beauty. Beauty dazzles easily when first set sight upon, but true appreciation of beauty is reflected when a known marvel leaves you awestruck. Here's hoping to be dazzled once again by the timeless temple of love that has managed to do just that to millions of people over hundreds of years. Wah Taj!

Order Order!

"Kuch to log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna, chodo bekaar ki baaton mein kahin beet na jaaye raina"

Opinions, advise, judgement, presumptions, stereotype, assessments, impressions. There is a lot people have to say about various things. Usually it's about aspects which least concern them. And often it's unwanted or uncalled for. 

I find it mind-boggling how much we care about what others have to say about us. "Reputation" is the solace we use to explain this behaviour. But this reputation is the first to go into hiding come a time of need, during which you look around and find your hand held in support by the near and dear ones, not by those you've spent your time building an impression on. Not many would agree, but each one of us at times is guilty of behaving artificially, and letting the obsession with reputation come in way of us being ourselves. In the extreme scenario, entire lifetimes are spent living up to a certain reputation, and any effort to break free from that claustrophobic space proves futile.

Then again, our world today is filled with all sort of unwanted noise. Heck, a genius even used this innate human tendency, to create the most popular social networking site, one which has entirely transformed the complexion of social media. The reason behind its success is none other than the constant need for humans to form opinions and the urge to share them. Every Tom Dick and Harry is disillusioned into thinking they are sitting in a courtroom with a gavel in hand, and all eyes upon them as they pass a verdict.

Its time we take that gavel in our own hands, and lead life the way we want to. "Order order!"

It's a "SMART" world after all!

Recently, a friend of mine posted this question on her Facebook wall, "what did people do on their way to work before smartphones?" This got me thinking about myself. Even though it's just been three years since I've started owning a Smartphone, the world before that seems unnaturally distant. It may have been my brain protesting work early in the morning, but I was surprised at being unable to recall exactly what I did during journeys to school, college, or internship. Averaging an hour for each journey, I realised I've lost countless hours doing absolutely nothing (although I'm sure I wouldn't classify sleeping into that "wasted" category too often).

Startled, l made a mental note to myself to better utilize my hour-long journeys henceforth. And as is the case so often, just when it seems a thing of the past for me, the writer in me, "Paar-T" resurfaces. So I've turned to my trusted companion, the BLOG, hoping this will last longer than it did the last time this phase hit me.

Through all this, the irony remains. I saw the status on a Smartphone on my way to work, on a social networking site that didn't even exist 7 years back, and to top it all, I'm writing this on the latest addition to my "smart" world, the Samsung Note 10.1.

Some world eh?

Introduction to China - A Day in Transit

7th November 2012, Guangzhou Airport

So I've arrived in the country that makes almost everything you can touch these days, including probably the device on which you're reading this. The old cliche goes "first impression is the lasting impression", and if that's anything to go by, I think I'd want to come here more often. Mind you, this is not a statement made in awe of the infrastructure, technology, or sights here (I haven't even stepped out of the airport yet), but instead on the people.

Sometimes, you go to a new place with a blank slate in terms of what to expect. However, the human nature is such that, wherever bereft of any prior experience we tend to cling onto past knowledge, from random and varied sources of information, to form a preconceived notion which provides us the liberty of defining our comfort zones. This is where China thus far has pleasantly surprised me.

The people are so friendly you'd feel they are trying to impress you with their hospitality in each interaction. Despite an evident gap in communication due to the language, the efforts taken by the locals here stand out, especially through that ever-present smile that almost everyone seems to wear. Things taken for granted due to their perceived triviality in many other countries are taken seriously here. While transiting for eight hours at the huge Guangzhou airport, I got a response for my "thank you" at the end of each window-shopping excursion I took, something that becomes more noticeable particularly when you've gotten used to not expecting any response in a similar situation most of the times.

So as I finally board my second flight of the day to end the transit at Guangzhou, there's a sense of excitement at the prospect of further exploring this nation, and interacting with it's people.

Oh and before I forget, I did also manage to glimpse why the world comes to China for all the manufacturing. Sample this for greater value in your investments here: the exact same Subway meal which gets me a sub, a drink, and a cookie in Singapore, gives me all that PLUS an extra cookie here. Now that's what I'd like to call, Made in China!

Rediscovering myself - Day 1

So I now have a long weekend ahead of me with no one in the house, and an (innately futile) desire to cost-cut until I cover that amount lost in the failed long weekend getaway.

Sounds to me like the perfect opportunity to spend some quality time with myself. Even though we don't have to fix a convenient time or place for an appointment, it's strange how rarely we get to meet up with ourselves in today's world. Think of when was the last time you were all alone, not asleep and with nothing or nobody keeping some part of your mind occupied? In my case, I can't even remember the last time that happened. Could have been months back, perhaps even years ago.

So while I go spend some alone time with myself, and in the process hope to return having conjured an eternal couplet of my own along the lines of 'mai aur meri tanhayee, aksar baatein karte hain', let me leave you with the first fact I've rediscovered about myself.

1. I fail to understand my body clock - With there being no plans and an absolutely free day beckoning me to sleep through if possible, I found myself awake without an alarm, showered and ready for a blank day, all by 9.40am. In today's hashtag lingo, this is the apt definition that should be provided for #FacePalm

And the bird has taken wing

The chirping of the birds, excited and enthusiastic, commencing the day with a chatter every morning as they nibble on the bread crumbs in the balcony, seems distant despite its presence just this morning.

***********

The home here in Singapore has visitors every morning. Even before I open my eyes, I hear them outside, waiting with an eagerness matched by none. They return daily, with the trust that they will find what they are looking for, as they have done for all these days. She ensures that this trust of the birds remains unbroken, and they come back for those bread crumbs almost as a routine now.

Tomorrow though, will be different, and these birds will be among the first ones to sense the difference. The provider of these bread crumbs has taken wings herself; she has taken off on a flight that will now take her places. The flight which will build her future, and ensure she blossoms into one of those very beautiful birds that she herself provided crumbs to everyday. 

It won't be just those birds though that will feel different; there will be the others who'll realize whats missing. And despite the face of strength I have put on the last few weeks, as an elder brother in front of his sister, the moment I waved bye to her, I started missing her. Amidst the happiness of her moving successfully into a new phase of life, I realized that those small arguments, all the lecturing I've done, and the shouting here and there, will reduce in frequency now. So much so, that I will yearn to live them again. At times, the presence of someone is taken for granted, and somehow, this is ever so prevalent in the relationship between siblings.

The moment I stepped back into the house after dropping her off at the hostel where I have spent a good part of two years myself, the house whined in her absence. It came whispering in my ears that it misses the youngest and probably the liveliest member of the house. All it told me was, that along with the birds, along with the other family members, even it will miss my sister as she heads off into a direction that will take her a long way. The bird which I love more than I can ever tell her, has taken off, and I see her flying somewhere over the rainbow.

***********

I love you Ria, and I miss you already. Yet, I know the next time I see you, I will feign a show of brash "been-there-done-that". Just know, that deep inside, I miss you more than I can ever tell you.

A new entry to the list of "Firsts"

24th July 2011

Its 11.30pm, and I am in a place I do not usually associate with myself at that time of the day. The bed. Wrapped in the blanket, eyes closed, trying to count the sheep that lull me to sleep. However, there's a sense of anticipation tonight. An excitement felt only on an eve of a new beginning. I recall this fluttering feeling before the first day of a new grade in school; the expectations from a new class, new teachers, and a new stage to showcase all that you've got. After a long time such anticipation has resurfaced, finally making its way back, the night before I start the first day of my career.

**********

25th July 2011

As the morning set its sight on the day ahead, the nervous energy of last night had faded. Replacing it was the realization that, today would be one of those "once-in-a-lifetime" experiences that would warrant a special place down the years. Leaving home for my first day at work, it only seemed apt to look at the young ambitious youngster who had set foot in Singapore four years ago (almost to the date!). Determined to make the most of his time at the National University of Singapore, experiences taught the boy aspects of life; failure and troughs, making and losing friends, and most importantly, discovering what one wants from oneself. Now, equipped with a Bachelor's degree in an area which he's decided to bid adieu to, he set foot on his first ever journey to the job that would remain special to him. Like your first car, first bike, first crush, first relationship, your first job holds a place very special in your heart. No matter how many more come, you look back at it with some sense of fondness.

Giving me my share of fond memories, the day itself at work panned out like one which may seem nothing extraordinary to anyone else, but for those experiencing it. The faces of newly joined graduates, punctuated now with an expression of excitement, all looked ahead to a job they've worked hard to earn. The best part about the first day of a new job is the lack of any past to dwell upon and worry about. All that's there is the opportunity to make new incidents, and leave a mark. In everyone's mind, a picture perfect career has probably taken shape, one where they hope to go places, and continue the progress in the relay race that was once started by their elders. It is however, this very uncertainty of the future, and anticipation of experiencing the best, that makes this day special to everyone who has had the pleasure of experiencing it.

As far as first days go, I am glad I can say that at the end of it, I lived it and I loved it. And as with the many other firsts in life, this would acquire that very special spot which would be preserved, only to be rekindled in moments of deepest desire.

View from the coach of an Indian Rail

02.12.2010 - Day 5 - India Trip 2010, Coach HA1, Kashi Vishwanath Express

I think I am a mobile blogger. Most of my articles have been on the go. Sitting in front of the computer, staring at the screen doesn't seem to do the creative me as much good as a variety of random surroundings do.

Like now, I am on way from Delhi to Rampur to my grandparents' place, experiencing a collage of many firsts. First of those firsts being the AC First Class in the Indian railways. Having never been on such a coach before, this moment was one in the current trip I was eagerly looking forward to. After all, I wanted to know how different could AC First be to a normal AC Two tier or AC Three tier.

Well, as I found out, the first obvious difference is a red color base for the seats and berth, a step away from the blue colored berths in the other classes. And they are slightly bigger as well. Furthermore, facilities such as plug points are meant to add to the experience (although for some reason my phone started misbehaving as soon as I plugged it in and therefore had to remove it to write this). A little signboard indicating whether the toilet at the end of the coach is vacant or occupied adds to the list of things which are not necessities, but are present to make you feel important (and probably cater to the lazy you, lest you have to walk back from the toilet realizing it's occupied). In it's entirety though, it's a rather comfortable coach and my next few hours promise to be quite relaxing.

To top it off, my Bua gave me two packs of Uncle Chipps, among other things, to last the journey. The interesting part is for all the Uncle Chipps fans out there, who knew of just two of its oldest flavours - in the green and blue packets. A new packet now awaits you, of hot-pink color, and called "Chacha Ka Chinese" flavor. Now don't ask me why Chacha happens to be Chinese, or how hot-pink is related to either chacha or Chinese! The taste though happened to be quite likable. Perhaps a little chillier than the normal green colored pack which unfortunately doesn't seem to get the privilege of any endorsement from chacha,bua, or masi. Come to think of it, this new flavor should have ideally been named "Chacha Ka Chilly Chinese" flavor, thereby taking the alliteration to a level all too extreme.

*****

As I sit now content on a packet of Uncle Chipps, and look out the window to see a myriad of images in the evening sun, earphones blaring out songs, a thought strikes me.

The typical Indian rail is a perfect epitome of the country and it's people. Coaches range from Sleeper classes to Two tiers to AC chair cars, yet are all interconnected, pulled by the same engine. As are the people traveling in them, who all hail from backgrounds as diverse as these coaches, but are headed to the same destination.

And the railway station further reflects this, where while you have a woman attending to her barefooted kid, standing a few steps away is a man with a high-end suitcase, and sunglasses donned to protect even his eyes.

In spite of this, when it arrives on the platform, they all get onto the same train, and are linked in a way even they may be unaware of.

As I type this, and my compartment companion in front me turns his laptop on, I wonder how many in this very train even have the ability to write in the first place.

Yet, we all head into the same direction, with the same setting sun watching this blot of blue coaches moving throw the same green meadows.

No wonder they call this Incredible India.

A Moment of Childhood

01.12.2010 - Day 4 - India Trip 2010, On way to Bengaluru International Airport, Bangalore

Visiting relatives and friends is something all of us look forward to (well, almost all of us). Being a part of someones's lives for a few days, fitting your piece in their jigsaw of life, it all adds to the aura of a family visit.

What's added to that aura and made my trip to Bangalore even more memory-etching has been the effervescence of an 8-year old and a 4-year old, who I feel proud to mention, happen to dote on me. At times, their love is truly humbling. I personally love all kids; believing that their innocence is unmatched by any. Words said by them are the purest and most heartfelt. And without any malice or manipulation, they still manage to capture. Capture the imaginations of so many around them.

Seeing my cousins live their life, I was reminded of times I had spent in my childhood. While my uncle wakes my cousin brother up with songs played on the CD player, Papa used to awaken me with the lure of a cricket game on the terrace. The bustle of the morning when the washroom and dressing table become the most prized place in the house; the rush to finish off the remaining few chocos in the bowl; and the run to the bus with a sandwich in hand. The simple things that seem a bother at that age, including the sharing of that personal pizza with your sibling, are now lost in the maze of childhood, only to be replaced by worries bigger.

Now, as I sit reflecting in the bus, making my way to the Bengaluru International Airport to catch my flight to the northern part of India, a defining moment from the past few wonderful days in this equally lovable city, remains with me. Nothing before or since has seemed even remotely as touching as this gesture.

My 4-year old cousin brother came up to me, signaling he wanted to share a secret, and whispered softly in my ears, "Toshi Bhaiya, you know something. You are the best."

Bangalore or Bengaluru - gets to the best of us.

28.11.2010 - Day 1 - India Trip 2010, Purva Riviera Bangalore

A city so modern, yet traditional. Being the IT hub of India, and in many aspects, of the world, its people continues are still confused about calling it Bangalore or Bengaluru. Amidst all this, the city surges ahead into the modern world.

It so happened that after a time so long that it slips my mind, I entered India and did not touch down at the Indira Gandhi Internatinal Airport at New Delhi. The destination this time was different – it was Bangalore.

The sights and scenes of the city as such make for an intriguing watch. Even a by-lane would have a shop boasting of teaching you the skills of Java, Linux, or C++, which would apparently make you the ultimate software pundit. One would not be reprimanded for believing that every child born here had the pre-requisite knowledge of programming taught from the womb of his mother. The interesting bit though is the equally well interspersed presence of Kingfisher boards and its kind, pretty much all over the place.

*****

My first day here in this trip started with a visit to the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM-B) campus. Its funny how one needs to visit a place to realize its value. Approaching my last semester of undergraduate study, a visit to IIM-B showed me what there really is to achieve. The last seven semesters at NUS have been a stepping stone, but merely just that. What’s there to achieve was what lay in front of my eyes this morning. A kind of flame rekindled, a desire to keep yearning. A dream to study in the top management institute of India. A desire which I hope to write in this very space one day in the future, was fulfilled.

However, it has to be said the highlight of the day was taken by the dietary pleasures. Dinner at a place called Barbeque Nation. The entire concept is a winner. Have a grill on your table and ‘cook’ your own food - a formula for instant success. Throw in a live band, and the perfect ambience, and the dining experience makes for a completely unforgettable one.

Its just taken me one day and one night, and I think I am in love already. I think its Bangalore. It does that to the best of us.

Friendship?

Sometimes I wonder whether some of the friendships you have really are friendships. It so often happens that a third party informs you of some element that you overlooked in the purity of friendship, and the entire thought process changes drastically.

Why is it so difficult for a guy and a girl to be just friends? Why does a third angle always come into place? I was strictly of the view that such things are of days gone by, but it was a rude awakening for me that some skeptics still exist.

In fact, on second thoughts, the biggest skeptics of a pure friendship between a guy and a girl are the very two people involved in it.

And your "social network" leaves no stones unturned to turn that fledgling flame of doubt into a full blown fire. Your friendship is talked about behind your back, people are pretty darn convinced that either one is "trying" hard for the other. Basically, there is a talk about every aspect that can be used to find ulterior motives.

Such talks are all a little pointless, and often for gossip's sake. But what such ignorance doesn't realize is the harm it may be causing a pure friendship.

Get well people. Learn to accept a guy and a girl as just friends. You may be wiser of it.

And with that - I think I need some time of my "social network", what with exams and rather pointless discussions. Adios.

Analyze? Nah...over-analyze!

Human tendency is to over-analyze their things. It's interesting to note that this leaves our minds occupied for more than half the time we think we are doing 'nothing'. If this ability puts us at an advantage over other animals, well it also leads to time consumed, sometimes rather unnecessarily over things petty enough. The intuitive nature of animals puts them at a relative ease of making decisions, partially because they do not 'make' decisions.

Impulse is the name given to actions taken in a hurry, and the many proverbs in our languages caution us against these very actions. It's worth a thought though, how many of the decisions from history support this over-analysis procedure?

On the contrary, the over-analysis of actions may prevent something from progressing or materializing. 

Funnily though, I get a feeling that I may have just spent an entire blog entry explaining the cons of over-analysis, while doing exactly that over the entire length of this entry. Ah well, a case for an article on hypocrisy sometime soon perhaps?

Zest

They say the creative types need something to inspire their creativity. The last couple of months saw me lose that zest to write. And let me be honest with you, that left a gaping hole in me, which I had conveniently hidden somewhere in the dark corner of the inner self.

Last week however, I may have just found that willingness, that urge to write, be heard, be noticed perhaps. A few status message updates on facebook and a couple of tweets later, I realized it was time to blog again. And with this realization, it dawned on me that for some strange reason, I always feel this "zest" to write when I am about to bang head on into this barricade called "exams".

 *SIGH*

And then there was the Final Year...

"Baithe hain mil ke, sab yaar apne, sabke dillon mein armaan yeh hai..."

The above phrase originates from a few lines of one of my all-time favorite songs - "papa kehte hain". I fondly remember this song as the background score from the video of my first birthday. The funny thing though, is that it has taken me all of 20 years and a bit to begin understanding it.

As I enter the final year of university, the realization hits me, that each day from now on would be vastly different come the same time next year. And as is wont to human nature, the true value of something is realized only when it seems to be slowly slipping through our fingers. With the final year looming large, the time spent in university thus far comes back to mind, and lingers on slyly. The memory lane wants to be traveled in, and some memories tempt to be traversed again.

Every time I think of the last three years of university life, I find just one constant defining the roller-coaster ride of changes occurring in college. FRIENDS. Invariably, friends who have entered your life, who have remained with you throughout, and at times gone away only to come back closer; they are the ones making and breaking these memories. Oft it is said that the days spent in university are unforgettable; that they define who you are, and how you face life ahead. It would not be unfair then to attribute that to the people who come with their stories, and meet you, to become a part of your own story. That story which in itself has evolved over these three years.

Ponder upon your own life, and think of your friendships. Surely there would be some which have lasted the distance, and some which haven't. College epitomizes the change of friendships and interaction between people. And all this is what makes you smile when you look back on these formative years, fondly after a decade or two.

Having come from home, it was friends who provided the home away from home. Those whom we could be ourselves with, without bothering to care who thought what. Cooking food together, breaking glasses together (surely all of you remember that!), and driving the security guards mad at 12am at least 20 times a semester. These are the things that will define National University of Singapore, PGP, and in general university for me. Surely it will be similar for most of you too.

At the current point of time, there are some of us NUS Final Year Indian students, who have a secured job, those who are interning trying their level best to secure one, those who see a testing time with many job interviews and applications ahead, and those who have their eyes set on further education. Despite the seeming variation in career paths, all of us share the same feeling - that of being the senior most students in college now. And with this feeling comes the longing for more time, the hunger to make this last year the best of them all. That in essence, is what final year is all about.

Welcome friends, to Final Year! Let's make every day in the coming year a Friendships' Day special!

Address of Dreamland

That time of night, when you fall back on the comfort of your loving bed, sometimes leisurely reflecting on the day, at others letting yourself be devoured by that ever so tempting bed in a relaxed trance; that is the time when the address of dreamland is run through my head.

The semi asleep state provides the perfect mode for me to think of all things which barely cross my mind throughout the day. A reel, where I am the protagonist in various situations, is played in my head, and from this set of scenes, I get the address of my dream for that night.

Enhancing this further is soft background music which slowly lulls me into this dreamland, further taking me to that night's dream...

Given I wrote this post during one such time, I must be Shakespearean tonite. So long folks, thou shalt hear from me tomorrow then!

The Twist of the Lazy Sunday

Its amazing how a tiny little life can change the entire atmosphere of the house. The sense of anticipation following the birth of a new one, with the endeavour to care for it defines the way nature works. What makes it better is if there is a surprise element associated with it!

We have had an aquarium at home for over ten years now. Through the course of this journey, fish have come and unfortunately left us. A new fish from the aquarium market would always bring in excitement and add a new sense of dynamism at home. But the worst part of the entire aquarium-owning experience is removing a fish from the aquarium, and instead of hopping and jumping in the net, it remains still, with its fin drooped ever so softly on its body. A symbol of perfect serenity, but one that brings with it a tinge of pain. The death of a fish creates another change in the aquarium vibrancy, and with it moves on the cycle of the aquarium in the house.

This was what constituted the cycle of our aquarium. Till today that is.

This morning, amidst a lazy Sunday here in Singapore, I was having my favourite "Uncle Chips", and indulging in yet another rather hilarious episode of "Comedy Circus", when I get a call from Indonesia. And the message conveyed got my lazy Sunday lifting its head up from the drowsiness. The aquarium at home had been the birthplace of tens of fish - the two Angel Fish now had at least another 25 little lives with them in the fish tank!

Wow! Where from did this event enter the pre-existing cycle of the aquarium that we had been through thus far? The palpable excitement inherent in the tone of my family members there, brings with it a desire to take the next flight into Indonesia, and be a part of the new vibrancy. The entire home environment has taken an upswing, and my best friend Google must be rather surprised at being bugged with random phrases to the like of "newly born fish in aquarium", "how to care for new born fish", "new born angel fish". That too on a day that was, prior to this, looking as happening as a turtle race.

So now as I spur my brain engine to life from its Lazy Sunday mode, and along with my best friend ponder on the most pertinent question of the hour, of how to prevent the new school of fish from from the dark suction forces of the tank pump, I shall leave you with a photo which was the first thing I asked my sister for upon hearing the news!

The tiny black things are the little ones!

Excitement

For me, new equals excitement. Nothing seems to increase the excitement levels as much as a new beginning, a new venture, a new place, a new...well, you know what I mean.

So, given that logic, a new internship would suggest that the excitement levels are very high. On the back of a 24-week internship, this one brings with it new opportunity, and a renewed zest and enthusiasm. On the eve of this new internship, I remember the same evening the day before the previous internship that has just ended. The anticipation of the unknown; the anxiety of the uncertain - its the same mixture of feelings that seem to play kabaddi in the mind.

These new beginnings bring with them new expectations. Expectations from self, from others, and from the internship. What these expectations also bring is, perhaps the most important of all, the will to go on, use the opportunity, such that when I look back 10 weeks from now, reflecting back on the weeks would bring a content smile on the face.

The D-Day!

Its been a while, and again, apologies wont suffice. But it was THE DAY last week. Read on to experience a part of it yourself.

Monday it was, but the morning blues were conspicuous by their absence. As is often the case in movies, an unusual calm had prevailed the entire morning, indicative of the (potential) storm to follow. It was what is more commonly known amongst students as the D-day. Some want it to come soon and get over with. Others want it to come as late as possible. Yet others hope for miracles whereby the calendar manages to skip that day altogether. Given NUS's reputation, that was as likely as the NUS results' servers crashing and erasing all stored data. 

For all the claims of progress that mankind boasts of, it still is surprisingly susceptible to seemingly miniscule entities. The entire "results experience" emphasizes on this very fickle-minded human. Technology has made advances, and now students are saved the trouble of hopping over their classmates' shoulders in the hope of finding their names slotted in the preferred list at the notice board. Instead, one can be in the comforts of his chair, with conveniences such as music playing aloud, and the cold air of the AC, while checking his results on the laptop. But such is the selfishness of man, that if you listen closely, in some cases you may just realize that the music playing in the background actually happens to be a holy song, probably being played for the first time that semester. More often than nought, the room would also have the lingering smell of incense sticks, indicative of prayers having been offered a while before sitting to check the results.  

The machine human proudly show off during normal circumstances (laptop/computer), controls the mind during these dire times. Its status is elevated to that of the "know-all", about to reveal a few letters that can seal the fate for a few years to come at least. To counter this uncertainty of the "know-all", various ways have been employed, but somehow these are grouped into one label - Superstition! Those who are supposedly superstitious though, will never understand all the fuss about it. After all, if something works, why not try it again? No matter be it your favourite pose while checking the results, or the amount of force with which the mouse is clicked! 

Oh and while we are at it, why leave out the latest feature added to the D-day by NUS - The SMS service. It was told those subscribing for it would receive their grades before the release on the web. Now, I did not subscribe for this (and do I wonder why?), but those who did, had the privilege(?) of getting theirs at 7.20 am. What a start to the day! No wonder some people left a certain NUS SMS unread the entire morning! 

Such is the irony of life, the first six letters of the alphabet with a few mathematical operators inexplicably placed after them, can determine one's mood for an entire day, and sum up an entire semesters hardwork (or the lack of it) in a Short Messaging Service text!