My First story

Sir, Passport please. The voice of the immigration officer jolted me back into the present.
I was feeling numb. Believing that your brain could be blank at any point of time was difficult earlier. But not anymore. It has been devoid of any thoughts for the past 2 months. I made my way into the flight supposed to fly me to a distant shore far enough from her. My thoughts raced back to the D-day.

December 29th 2008. Monday
The day would forever be etched in my memory. The day she rejected me and the day she said, I was not worthy enough. I had heard her reject me several times before. But this time it was different. I had convinced myself that this has to be the last time I am trying to win her. I can’t forever be trying to woo her.

Was thinking about how it all started…!!

Thoughts came, racing back to me. I was searching for a clean pair of socks to head for cricket practice, when I heard Pavan, my senior at college talk about this girl. He was telling a group of his friends, how a lot of people he knew tried to woo her and failed miserably. The list seemed to be full of the who’s who of my college.

I tried barging into the discussion telling him, no girl is unachievable. But being the dumb head he was, he did not listen to me. I thought wait till the day I, the Einstein Jr. show you my magic. No Girl is as unachievable as she seems. It’s just pure chemistry buddy, I boasted.

How was I to know that, I had selected the wrong role model to start with? Einstein was no Casanova. I forgot the incident pretty conveniently.

But she was destined to come into my life. This time it was a girl from my class who was relentlessly talking about her. She was telling us how her brother tried and is currently shattered by her rejection. Every one at her home was worried about how he would cope with the dejection.

The word unachievable was still ringing in my ears. I am from the achievers club and unattainable always aroused in me a desire to prove people wrong. Me being me, I was curious to find more about her. I talked to friends and gathered a lot of details about her. I started working towards my goal.
One morning our paths crossed for the first time. The college library was where I first met her. I said hi to her. She did not bother to reply. My male ego was hurt and I left the place fuming and vowing never to see her again in life. But destiny had its own plans in store for me.

Library was destined to be the most important place in my life and Pavan one of the most influential persons. Now when I recollect, it was this association that altered my path forever.
It was 2 weeks after our initial tiff and the location, college library.

She was with Pavan and I tried avoiding meeting them. But, Pavan called after me and I had to go say Hi.

Pavan went ahead with the introductions. Pleasantries were exchanged.
Hi she said and I replied with a curt Hi.

I kept talking to Pavan, who was trying to get her into the conversation. After a futile attempt at avoiding her..

“Did you feel bad the other day”, she asked?

“Why should I?”, I replied

“Friends??” Out of the blue she asked. Left with no better reason to say otherwise, I said yes.

The day I still remember was 30th December 2003, Tuesday.

This association surged ahead. In no time, I was completely enchanted by her. Thoughts about her drowned me in mire. Rest of the life took a back seat. It was she, she and she in my life. It was time for my exams. I had to pass the exams at any cost to be with her the next year. So, it was time for some serious study.

The night outs and those one day battings came to an end and the thought of staying without her for 2 months during the summer vacations bothered me. I wanted to spend the quality of my summer vacations with her. So, I requested my father to send me to join a crash course in Hyderabad. Little did he know of my devious intentions? My father relented. My sojourn in Hyderabad started.

Hyderabad.. One of her favorite cities. Most of her old friends stayed there.

I enjoyed my time with her and got pretty close to her. We spent a lot of tome together. I spoke to her about my ambitions in detail. I did not understand why she was so unattainable as projected.
Our story continued well after I came back.

The first time I proposed to her was on 21st November 2004. She listened to me but gave no response. I was scared shitless after I proposed. Finally some time passed by and I was still scared. I saw all possible dreams of her refusing me. But in one corner of my mind, I still had some hope. But all my fears turned true. When I repeatedly asked her, she said “can’t we stay friends for some more time?”. I had no answer. But I was not ready to take no.

The association continued. I got a job and joined a MNC with a good package. But, life did not seem very bright to me. Reason, I still had not got her. We kept in touch though. I still spent time with her. Time passed by and it was almost an year she had last said no.

I gathered courage and proposed. This time the response was positive and I was about to jump when she added, I am sure, you are one of the best guys I have come across and I would be happy if I say yes, but, I am not sure yet.

I was dumbfounded. I did almost cry. But, the fighter in me said, don’t give up. I took the rejection in my stride. Our friendship continued. Little did she say an outright no.

Time passed by and I gathered enough strength to say the dreaded three words to her. My manager at work called me and told me that I had to travel to Germany to night on a short term assignment. I had no choice and I travelled to night. I did not even get to say bye to her. My moods varied from time to time. One moment, I was this confident self and the second moment I was dead scared. I prayed night and day..Lord help me.. I had lost the chance to propose.

The assignment came to an end and with it my hopes of getting a yes from her. I came back. We did not lose touch. The association continued. By this time, all my family was aware of her existence. My father repeatedly kept on asking about her. He had a very good opinion and was satisfied with my choice. He went to the extent of saying this was the first sensible decision I had ever taken in the 23 years of my existence.

The association grew stronger. My confidence of getting her to say yes dwindled over time. But I did not let her off. In one corner of my mind, she was still there. My position in office grew stronger. With it, the number of opportunities also went up.

I frequently went on trips. Went to Spain, Austria, Brussels. Stayed in Germany. We lost touch frequently. But all the while she was a constant at one enclosed part of my mind.

I returned in Jan2008 and decided to stay back for good. There was only one goal now and it was her. Took a great deal of resistance to make my manager not send me back onsite. But, all this was nothing compared to the trade off…her. The truth was told and manager who was my well wisher finally gave her nod.

With the help of a couple of close confederates, sketched a plan to win her. She was happy that I came back and I was happy to be with her.

November 16th 2008, Sunday

One more of those fateful days which you would never want to remember but still would never leave your memory.

Got up early. Got dressed. Prayed to god..Lord, please please please…this is one gift I need badly. Grant me it and you would never see my face again. God was surprised to receive this request from one of his biggest non believers. He had his chance now and he paid back.

Met her at 10:00 AM and did the inevitable. I proposed. I tried convincing her with all my logic and hold on the vocabulary. She threw at me questions I was never prepared for. But, I put up a brave face.

I was sure the whole incident was a disaster. But she left the place without a word later. I waited for her response. With time, my hopes grew. She later sent an SMS saying she would give her answer on next Monday.

December 29th 2008. Monday

6:00 AM – Father called me and reminded me that this was the day. The wait started. I was waiting for her mail.

8:00 AM – No trace of her mail.

12:00 AM – One of my friends called me to enquire. But I was still waiting. Suddenly, the fateful email arrived. That was the last, my mates at office saw me. I walked dejected. I was not sure where I was heading to

11:00PM – Tankbund – 2 policemen came my way. Eyed me suspiciously for some time. But poor guys they don’t know I am afraid to take any drastic steps. They continued watching me with suspicion.
But I was not in a position to pay any attention to them. I was lost. My mind was blank. Future was bleak. As with the most, even I tried getting over her.

Next day at office, most of my colleagues had heard of the news. They tried consoling me. My PM called me. She asked me what I was going to do now. What would I reply.

I was not prepared for this eventuality. She suggested, I find some opportunity which would help me in my career and also take me to a far off shore.

She suggested one such opportunity and I had no reason to say no.
2 months had passed. I acted very normal. My parents, friends, colleagues were worried about me. But, I started on that journey.

March 1st 2009, Sunday
Newark International Airport
Ironically it was Pavan who came to take me home. He was surprised at my state. He asked me for reasons. I was in no mood to chat. Discussion went back to college days and finally came to her. I could not hold back anymore. All the reasons came out.

Pavan smiled. It was an “I said so” smile. Then we retired for the day. But while going to hit the sack, he said, “Buddy, I know some one who you would like to meet”. I asked him who?

“Good night”, he said and I was left with thoughts. Owing to jet lag was not able to sleep much. But, the next morning Pavan introduced me to the new girl on the block.

“Princeton review – GMAT”, the new book on the table said and Pavan followed saying, she is lot more achievable than her sister, CAT. Your work experience would definitely help you in impressing her.

I found a new love and we started our trails to woo her ;)

On selfdabba.com

Selfdabba.com is an initiative by the K himself to buy a new domain and start to blog as group. So initially K and myself had started to blog there.... But as fate has its way, am back here again because the account has been terminated with no intimation to K. So, just to fill the place here and increase the number of my posts, I am posting the two posts that I had earlier posted on selfdabba... The first post was the real self dabba by me... I have changed a couple of things here and there...but the rest of it is a copy paste from the prev post. Here I go...


Finally I find some time to just think about myself and type down a brief introduction about me. I am one of the zillion software engineers habiting the earth currently. I burn my ass staring blankly into a screen that shows me a lot that I don’t understand. But, as I am expected to solve a lot of things, I with the help of my most trusted companion Google try doing things. If you ask me if all this effort is worth the pain, you have fired a query to my mind’s processor that is gonna end in an infinite loop without an output.

After a word about the present, let me go down the memory lane just for a moment. This journey down into the origin of my existence might answer a couple of your doubts and questions. Being born in a small town in Andhra Pradesh, 25 years back, I have come a long way to be typing this from my office on an early Saturday morning here in Stuttgart, Germany. The school, the friends, the family and the teachers…every one do have a credit for the way I think, I react and the whole of my day to day existence. So, now that I am already thinking about them, why not just give a word of thanks. To all those who shaped me to be what I am, here is my big thanks.

All the confidence(over confidence might be the right word) I have in me is due to the fact that, I had the image of being intelligent and all that... In fact the arrongance I display today has its roots in my childhood. Being a sure shot contender for the quizzes, elocutions, science fairs etc had given me an iconic status in the school and in turn the not needed arrogance....They made me believe that I am a go getter and I can acheive anything in life...which is not entirely true. I am yet to come in terms with my limitations. I had tough time in accepting my faults. But, today I can honestly say that, I can accept my faults and am open to learning things from any one and everyone

My thoughts are quintessentially middle class. I love my friends. I love movies. I love good food. I love reading books. I love the security of home. I love my family and I love the run of the mill stuff :P. I am a bore. I love order. I am not much of the adventurous kinds. I almost hate being out from my routine. But, there are times when I surprise myself. I take the risks when no one really tries to go for them. I love to hold some power. One of my childhood dreams had been to be a doctor. All for being the one to have power over life and defy impending death.

One of the guys in my project, asked me if I am a taurean in our first meeting. So, if somebody could find those traits in first meetings, I might be one really. I am afraid about a lot of things. I have my reservations. I am not very good with people. I speak out at the wrong times and in the wrong tone. I wear my heart on the sleeve. But I am diplomatic to some extent. Over all of this, I try to be practical. But being the perfectionist I am, I tend to be more so. I have been accused of being heart less a lot of times before. But, cant help it... I am so... I have a lot of faith in my mind rather than the heart. But, I think a lot before making some decissions..to the point of making people think that I am fickle minded.


After reading Karteek’s post, I thought why not ask a couple of friends what they think about me. Me being me did not really expend any more energy on being creative. I love to do a copy paste…be it code or be it an idea. But then, I asked them in person what they think about me.

One guy thinks that “ I am a guy who always watches things from a distance being non committal, always advising what’s wrong, without trying to convince the person to do otherwise. In short he believes that my motto in life is one should learn by one self. The same guy tells me that I am the most obstinate person that he has ever come across and that he always feels that I would be there for him when the need arises. He told me I am pain in …you know where.” not that I understand much of what he said...but still...

One lady thinks that , “ I am rigid in my thought. I am dominating (these attributes being for both me and Karteek) but nonetheless a good friend.”

The other lady thinks that, ” I am one guy who she can turn to for anything without thinking twice. I talk a lot on topics that I like without noticing how well I am being received. She feels I am knowledgeable and practical. I am a no nonsense guy”

Karteek thinks that , “Sumanoj is yet another software guy who loves to do self-dabba. Passion for movies. Criminal intelligence. Innocent looks. Witty nature. Good discipline. Those are the hints I get if I’ve to write anything about him.”

What do I really think about myself? I never think much about. I am lazy. I am disciplined. I am a good friend. I am heavily biased. I am prejudiced. I am rigid. I learn from my mistakes. I live for myself. I do things at my own pace. I am slow in adapting. I love the security of my home. I enjoy arguing. I do boast a lot. I am technically weak. I most of the time am at extremes. I tend to be emotional at times. I take things personally when there is no reason to be personal. I have a hot temper.

Would keep adding more when I can think of. Would request all of you guys who know me to keep updating the list (the whole of the comments section is dedicated for you).

Look What am I posting on my Infy blog -2

11:05 am - Blabber bites/Bytes :-)There is a lot that needs to be penned..err..typed...First and foremost...RGV ka AAG/Aggi...Man that was an awesome picture..It is certainly one of the best movies I have watched off late[;P]...It proves me correct again...Ramu is obsessed with self and he is headed into an oblivion...Sooner or later am gonna get out an ad for the obituary of a now extinct entity called RGV's creative mind...The movie, termed to be a homage to an yester years classic called Sholay stops no less than being a sacrilege commited in the name of reverence. The real culprits being RGV and the MD Amit Mohile...The loud and ear barring BGM is more for people with impaired hearing...You end up getting a head ache

I first fell in love with RGV's movies when I was about a 7-8 year KID. Shiva with all of its new wave techniques and an excellent screenplay and power packed performances from Nag and Raghuvaran coupled with breath taking cinematography of S.Gopala reddy had me going mad over one engineer from Vijayawada and his movies...Kshana Kshanam with its great plot and style of narration coupled with Keeravani's music made me a film buff...You migh not believe if I say, there was a time when all that I wanted to do is get into films. I attribute this to RGV partially...The movie Gayam where the two geniuses RGV and Mani worked together for the first time taught me a couple of things about the screenplay, motages and the effect a great BGM has...Never thought Jagapathi babu could emote and can give such an effective performance...Though many of his movies or rather scenes in many movies are heavily inspired by the God Father had something new to offer...Be it a spoof, be it a comedy or be it a gangster movie, every RGV film had something or the other to offer...All these films had some points in common...Technical brilliance, tight, rather interesting and immersing screenplay and a zeal to experiment...RGV was a humble being surrounded by a lots of talented people who had a common point binding them together..passion for the cinema...Then Cinema was the ultimate motive and no single person was greater than that....

But down the line, the movies started being a bit pretentious. Some loose talk and comparisions with KJo and yashraj started. Mockery, making pun and references to what not...focus shifted gradually...A honest attempt would still be there underneath...but more as a memory to a glorious past rather than being the soul of the film...The factory...Movies taken aside and the passion replaced by the PR strategies... He started feeling that the name RGV would sell the film and the basic elements and plot just took a backseat...RGV got obsessed with tecnicality to a point where he forgot the art of story telling. There were some parts in the movies that followed that remind us of Vintage RGV...The total hospital scene in Sarkar and the scenes that follow KK's death...The end of razaq etc...Sriram Raghavan, Anurag Kashyap, Shimit started moving out. This might have nothing to do...but now the factory is more of the RGV of PR..The RGV of Marketing. People started talking about the statements and interviews rather than movies...

RGV please comeback to Hyderabad...Just start a video library just like the good old days...Just do a simple introspection of the movies that came out of your stable...Take a break and strike back...We want the RGV that inspired kids like me to develop a strong liking for movies... I want not to be a spectator for a genius in downfall but be a spectator for some revival..just like the phoenix from the ashes... It just takes you a moment to agree that the content that is coming out of you is more crap and bulsshit... A moment more to bring out the movie maker in you...Bury the factory mentality...

Now that I have ranted a lot about the debacle called Aag...wait did I? Yes all that was put in there is exactly what AAG does not have...no power packed performaces...no plot...no BGM...no soul on the whole...A review of AAG you might ask...I would say only onething...Reviews are given for movies and not for a snapshot of the movie...the 2.5 hours of torture does throw a couple of moments with all the performances and stuff which still remind us of the talent that has gone wayward...In short to summarise...AAG is a production of the Vizag unit of the Factory...(Vizag has one of the biggest mental Asylums in AP)...

Enough of movies... Read this book Shantaram recently...Man that is a very good book...Much similar to Pappilon...but still better... Try laying hands on it bookophiles...you will not regret...Books...Movies...what next??

Music...The latest albums am hearing to are Happy days, Hello - premistara, Chandamama and Chirutha... Happy days from Shekar kammula and Micky J. Meyer has some really good music and micky shows that he is one of the hopes for the next gen Tollywood music...but it would be too soon to comment...All the three films he has composed the music are the youth films...His next venture should tell us how diversified is his tune bank... Chakri surprises me with his new album Hello-Premistara...this has some pretty good numbers... I would recommend this...KM Radhakrishnan has given some pretty good tunes to Krishna Vamsi's next venture Chandamama... Chirutha has some okay numbers..they would sink well after we watch the video...Some foot tapping numbers... Eagerly waiting for All the 4 movies... Am sure that Shekar is gonna rock for the fourth consecutive time... KV..Man all the best..We want to see you back in your prime with this movie...

Lots happening in life...Not all of that is clear...I am now at a junction from where I have several different ways to take...Am confused about the right path...Till the next time...Cheers,Suman...

Look What am I posting on my Infy blog -1

05:21 pm - Random thoughts

There is this thought that has haunted me since long. The violence in life and the world...where are its roots? Insecurity? about what? The root cause is definitely Insecurity..how do I justify that statement I made? Hmm..thinking... Don't think can give a satisfactory reasoning or logic...

I tend to just form my opinions just like that...when I go back and brood over, I never ever get a satisfactory reasoning on why I have formed a certain opinion...May be my intution plays a big part here...

Whats intution? Is it just not a perception towards life and everything that you form over the years? All through your process of life? Did I say process? Why is life a process? Should it not have been an experience?

Am I living someones dream? I always feel that my actions are just the way I am enacting in some dream of someone. Yes, life is better off as a dream rather than a reality..that would make all the events that I witness just some play. Not everything that makes me feel bad is a truth then..But world does not move the way I want it to..All I can do is hope that it is a dream while it is the truth and I have to face it every morning I get up...

I sound a loser and yes I may be one..I am not ready to take the life headon...Am I lazy? Am I plain indifferent to all thats happening around me? Hmm.. wait ...why am I thinking about this at all???let me get back to my slumber and dream while the world and life moves on..

Touring Chronicles-3

But before all this, I forgot to mention about the stupid advice from Raghu. Did I? He advised me not to bother about getting a good jacket as Spain would be not so cold. So being the fool I am I started out on the journey with a couple of thermals, a sweater and a jerkin. I felt the stark contrast once I landed on the german shores. Cold winds hit me upon my face and I started shivering. It was like in an old refrigerator ad I had seen. I don’t know how many of you would be familiar with that. A set of artificial teeth put aside start I don’t know the right word…so will use the word shiver again…I know it is not the right word and would be grateful if somebody of you let me know…every time the door to the refrigerator is opened.

And after that went to the office straight from the airport. Met a lot of colleagues, I knew back in India and a lot of colleagues, I only know from the communication over phone and mails. As it was the first day and I was not supposed to work from Stuttgart, my PC was not configured in Stuttgart. To tell the truth it is still not configured to date. So, had no work except for the time, I worked on Ruchit’s lappie. It was a day after the system copy. So, I did a couple of post system copy activities on Ruchit’s lappie. Had no chance to check my mails. Why mention checking mails here. Is it so important? You will learn shortly.

Was not at all feeling hungry. But managed to have a bite of something called croceone or something like that. Should ask Ruchit to spell it next time around. The flight to Madrid was in the evening at 4:45 and we started of to the airport at around 3:45. Said bye to a couple of people. Before all this, KC called me to his chamber and gave me a few words of wisdom and instructed me on how to behave and how to draft mails and how to be careful etc. That was pretty informative and as people say, I came of my age that day(wink).

We started out( Me, Ruchit and Kesari) on our Journey to the airport and Madrid subsequently. Kesari anna was there in Madrid to attend some meeting with the client on workflows. We landed and parted ways as Kesari was staying in a different hotel. Checked in and got ready in sometime and called up Kesari anna and decided to meet at Diversia in Alcobendas. Went there and had food at an Italian restaurant. But my tryst with cold started again. So it was decided to get me a brand new thermal wear the next day.

Went to the office on Wednesday after roaming around for almost 45 minutes. Roaming, but why? The story is in here. We came down to the reception and asked her to arrange a cab for the location whose address we showed her. After seeing that she told us that the place is quite near by and we could walk. She even pulled out a map for us and gave a photo copy for our assistance. So, following the map, we asusual pursued a wrong path and started roaming around before we asked somebody for the directions. He helped us out to the correct street but unfortunately, we roamed around in the street for almost half an hour before we found the correct building. Now comes the funniest part. We found the building but not an entrance. So spent almost 10 minutes in finding the path before somebody had a chance to help us out.

Touring Chronicles -2

To continue from where I left…I headed towards the terminal A18 to catch my connecting flight to Stuttgart. After taking directions from a good number of people, I found my self running to make it to the terminal before my flight leaves. I some how made it there panting and puffing just to learn that the terminal has been changed and now I had go to A23 which is a bit at the further end. I had a good amount of physical exercise. I ran for almost about 2.5 km to 3km nonstop. This was my first taste of an international…oops sorry truly international airport.

So finally after all this was again welcomed by the cold German climate. German climate could come out very harsh upon somebody like me who never had to step out of the comforting southern India’s tropical climate. This was my first taste of cold climates. Thank god, I am not a part of Russian rollout or a Siberian rollout. I would have definitely died of the cold. After all this the true fun was the flight. This was an early morning flight and I had a pretty good chance of seeing out of the window. But this time it was just a 20 minute flight. It was more like a take off and landing for a test. But the feel itself is no less. The flight though not an international one, was more comfortable than my previous. It had a fair amount of leg space unlike my previous one.

But the best part of the flight was my first aerial view of Europe. Can’t say it is a love at first sight, it was even before that. Europe has a breath taking landscape. I decided, this was the place I will settle down and lead the rest of my life. How was I to know then that I was going to change that pretty soon? Landed out in the Stuttgart air port. Was really fascinated to see, the Daimler Chrysler Aviation hangar in the air port. Later I learned that DC was into aviation before. A sense of pride came in involuntarily. This was a dream come true. I always wanted to work for a company like DC. Though I am not directly working for them, in some indirect way or the other I am with them. So, one mission accomplished. A sense of satisfaction followed by some other feeling. What was it? My first sense of loneliness? May be…

Tried collecting my luggage at the baggage collection point and at the same time was looking around as to see if somebody had come to pick me up. KC had already informed me that as it was a working day, he would try to send someone but if I don’t find any one I had to make it to the office directly by hiring a taxi. After some 5 to 10 minutes of search, I was able to make out a familiar face. Mannu bhai was standing there and was waving his hand. Thank god and thank KC and thanks mommy. I felt relieved. Later I learned that Mannu bhai was here just by a chance. His flight to Amsterdam had got cancelled for some reason and he waited for some more time to pick me up as he knew I was coming. Thanks to Mannu bhai for that. So, reached office with nothing eventful. Had my first taste of an European Merc taxi ride. That was only my second time in a Merc and my first in a Merc taxi….

Touring Chronicles - Part-1

The 18th of December goes down as one of the most eventful days in my life. Eventful because I got a German business visa that was long evading me. Eventful because I was asked to travel to Spain via Germany at a short notice of 7 hours. Yeah, I do agree that I was preparing for this for more than about a week but 7 hours is very very less in any case. I had to run around collecting my Visa, collecting my travel tickets, collecting my Forex and every damn thing that is needed. Also had to inform my friends and family about this. Called up a couple of close confidantes to inform them the news, but I did not even have time to speak at length with my family members. Granpa and ma were right here in Hyderabad or else would have faced even more troubles.

Before all this I pleaded with my manager to give me an extra day, so that I could prepare myself better for the trip. So with all the futile efforts and rather a stupid advice from Raghu, I started on a journey to the far off lands with no knowledge of what life had in store for me. Deeps, Budds and Prasad came with me to the airport to see me off. Thanks to these guys, I started off with a smile. Met Kishore a fellow infoscion who was on his way to Philadelphia on the same flight. Got a couple of very valuable insights on travel and a lot of other things from him. Life is a great teacher. It throws avenues for learning at every end and shows larger avenues to pass for the willing. After a long long wait of almost 2 hours, came the call for boarding. Was almost dying for taking a first look as to what an airbus looked like from inside. Went in and was thoroughly disappointed at the way the flight looked like. The business class was good but the economy class was like a zammed up city bus with seats crammed up to fit in as many as possible.

For all they guys who are going to take an international flight for the first time, here goes my two cents. Do not even expect the flight to be comfortable, if you are taking a economy class. Ok…to move further…wait wait…did I mention before that, I was taking a Lufthansa flight? I was really surprised to see more than 90 percent of the people on the flight were parents going to visit their children in the US of A and students flying to the land of opportunities to pursue their higher education. Was questioned by many as to which university in the states was I headed to. Even the immigration officer was a bit surprised when I said that I am not headed to the states and rather was flying for some business meetings with the client. Lufth has become the best partner in taking out people to the far off shores.

Thanks to my stars that shone on me on this particular day…I did not have to share a three seater in the middle and rather was sitting in the two seater. Met Harsha one more fresh out of college engineer on his way to pursue his masters. After the initial jitters pleasantries were exchanged and we started talking. Slept for sometime and just got up to see what had really waken me up at that ungodly hour. The air hostesses were serving food and drink. Had a bite and went back to sleep. After that again woke up. This time got to see an edited version of Krishh…Great to see an edited version….Finally after flying over a lot of places, the flight was about to land in Frankfurt….. To be contd

Things that I fail to see

Things that I fail to understand
-------------------------------------

I have always wondered why I fail to see a couple of simple things that come to my notice. I can also give you a simple example. I have a friend and as usual I never ever keep my tongue in check. I always felt that people around me are really ok with my behaviour. I always was and always will be a very open person. I never believed in being something that I don’t feel or rather in short being a hypocrite. If I like I say I like it and if I don’t I am the first person to say I don’t. and I believe people around me to be in the same way. But that friend felt otherwise. As I understand now, she was never ever comfortable with me around and It took me an year to understand that. So Mr. Tentative grow up buddy grow up…and thanx sandy in making me see a couple of things….

My day started with waking up in the morning
To the bright sunshine shining upon my face
I am always a game for an innocent teasing
Leaving the day ahead with a happy trace

I expect the world around me
To see things the way I do

One fine day I started on a new phase in life
I started living
I made a couple of friends..or rather so I thought
But never was I to know, they never felt so…

I joked around and moved around in a frenzy
But I understand now, that was a dream.
No body around had ever liked being so
And I was there to end up in a tow

So for all the lives that I made miserable,
I offer my sincere apologies
Please do accept and let me settle the scores.

I am here not to leave any thing bitter behind
And I always believed in being a happy mind
So people to me just be kind
And let me move on in search of innocence I am yet to find

Thanks for being patient guys and gals
And in case our paths cross again
Just let a smile come to your face unforced
And let me leave feeling happy

I am off to live my life on terms I believe
Here I am to just take a leave….

Wise and Otherwise...

I was just whiling my time away at home reading the book “Wise and Otherwise” by Sudha Murthy. I got to spend my quality time on reading some great literature after long. Thanks to my fever. There are incidents from the author’s life put forth in beautiful language. Questioning your senses, answering long lasting questions that one carries forward in life and most of the times intriguing. Yes, and why did I call a simple book like this a part of great literature? It might be because, I have limited knowledge of literature. It might be because I don’t have a good taste. But I always have believed that any book that stimulates me and keeps me engrossed and at the same time leaves me thinking is a part of great literature.

Let me put forth my few cents on whatever I know about the author. The lady is one with a strong educational base and the first woman employee with the Tata’s on their shop floor. She co-founded Infosys with our chief mentor Mr. Murthy and is one of the richest women in the country now. She is involved with the Infosys foundation from the start go. Infosys foundation is very active in social work and believes in working out against the problems in the society from the grass root level. She is closely involved with driving away the problem of illiteracy prevailing in rural India. The other day at my yahoo 360 hangout, I was supporting the guys to have made life beautiful and simple. I cautiously sidestepped without going into the achievements by the ladies. But today here again I bow before all you ladies … madams you make the life we make simple most livable…yeah you heard me right.. you make life livable…Thanks and hats off to you all…mothers, sisters, friends, grannies, aunts and last but not the least wives…hey wait did I forget something? Yes, the Girl friends…(wink) even you make life livable( rather miserable…The Airtel, Hutch, Idea and all other private telecom operators are laughing away their way to the banks ( double wink))…

Why go on an expedition about Sudha Murthy now?? It is because in one of her anecdotes, she mentions about the need to establish libraries in the villages and she has also made that come true in some villages in Karnataka. I have very sweet memories on libraries from childhood. We had the district children’s library in our school compound..or rather our school was in its premises. Books opened avenues for my growth and got me do things that I would never have thought otherwise…they made me wise…ho ho…guys control…I already see a few of you rolling on the ground…But true…I am wise…Self proclaimed genius rather..

Sandeep, the other day, suggested our school gang to come up with a plan…preliminary sketches for paying back to the society…make us involved in making this place better…I have not been able to give any inputs till date…but buddy, why don’t we take up something on the lines of what Mrs. Murthy had taken up…Why not ctrl+c and ctrl+v that idea…what are we software engineers good at other than doing CC and CV….I still feel that it is not your money but your time that is the most precious thing that you have to offer. I had heard about a group of young guys and gals that are spending their weekends in serving the society… they are spending their weekends at slums…teaching children and making them become better…hats off to you people..You make me still believe in something called humanity…Don’t be surprised if I come to join hands one of these days. Recently, I got to know about one of my seniors from school, prashant who is closely associated with an orphanage in Chennai..They spent their day on the childrens day with children at an orphanage…I am proud of you boss…I will now brag about how I was your mate in all your endeavors at school…now that my friends are carving a niche for themselves.

Hey you might have wondered, what am I doing here??…nothing but bragging about achievements of people who I know or people I am not even remotely connected. But my whole point in doing this is to make at least a few people think about this..If I find atleast one positive response for this, I will be rather happy…K you listening…come let us do something…Please give me a chance to brag about you…not that I do anything less now…I always brag about you being the best with computers, that I have come across…(wink)

Signing off…
Bragging king….