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?