Few more months!!

In continuation to one of my post (Just 2 more years) when i was waiting for the MCA to get over...Now its all here....... Few more months!!
There are no weekend classes, no assignments, no lab sessions...no cribbing about the condition of elevators, no complaints on canteen.... This sounds good to some extent coz now we spend the days on earth with some kind of peace :)

And now am finally in the final sem of Master’s degree...which sounds really good for many reasons.. :) Now, I can go out with my loved one….try hard to open my eyelids at 10am on weekends…feel the warmth of sunlight which tries hard to wake me (mom being generous by not disturbing)….. wake up to the fresh smell of breakfast which mom cooks… meet relatives/cousins…..etc, the lengthy list of what not we can do in weekends goes on…

Until I find some new activity to fill my time, I quietly wonder about the 2.5yrs of hectic weekend schedule which just passed on to the fully-free weekends…. Will catch up with my hobbies soon though… :)

While parting on the last day of 5th sem, my friend said, "Don’t know when we will meet again".. … and without giving a second thought, I gladly said, "Soon"...and luckily the luck turned in our favor... She joined the same company as mine :)
I am getting suspicious coz things turned out true on what I said :) (I regret for the moment when I dint utter “We are going to onsite together”) :p

Back to the happy mood :) I met her as a stranger when both of us started our career in the same company and on the same day…Soon we became batch mates-> colleagues -> friends -> classmates -> best friends :)
Just the places flipped, Instead of the deserted 5th or 7th floor classrooms, we now have food together at office cafeteria.. Chat.. gossip.. discuss...etc over the office communicator instead of classrooms and corridors :)

Life is a mixture of moments filled with happy hours…sad moments…scary at times…surprising when least expected… but all in all, a rollercoaster ride :) and I am enjoying it :)


PS: Hey rabbit looks…….. I owe this post to you :)

Pursuit of time . . .

Its was a Wednesday morning at 7am when I was in the office bus looking outside the window, the pleasant Bangalore winter... Everyone had shut their windows tight to avoid the cold breeze in the speeding bus.... As always, my affinity towards window seat made me look outside... The view wasn’t clear coz our breath was warmer and it made the window glasses appear blur.. I opened the window for a moment as i was feeling suffocated inside… and the other reason is I wanted the view through the window to be clear :)

The misty air just blew on my face and my mood completely changed.... Aah, what a feel it was!! Commendable:)
I remembered my college days when i was traveling in the local BMTC bus without caring if I would catch cold... It was nice... My good old days. . . .

I was lost in those thoughts with my headphones tucked in my ears and was enjoying the songs... I was listening to James Blunt's- You're beautiful.. its true... Then the next song was - Tum itna jo muskurarahe ho, kya ghum hai jisko chupa rahe ho.... I was moved by this song... I felt as though the cosmic force around me were questioning me.... I surely dint want to answer!! I quickly shuffled the songs and played the next song...
It was the KK's Pal song - Hum rahe ya na rahe kal.. kal.. yaad aayenge yeh pal... pal.. yeh hai pyaar ke pal.. chal aa mere sang chal.. chal soche kya... choti si hai zindagi..... kal mil jaaye toh hogi khushnaseeb hi.. That song almost made my eyes wet!! I remember singing that song for my dear friend Ayesha..... I had sung it just for her on the last day of our college... I had told her that whenever we hear that song, it would remind us about each other... And the song just did that!! Its never too late to tell anyone that we truly miss them..
Finally with my heart filled with emotions... it was time for me to get down as we had reached office... I walked to my block in the cool breeze and then to the AC hit cubicle!! I gave her a call on mobile, but I guess the she was still sleeping, so I messaged her on cell waiting for her prompt reply (after she wakes up) and I silently went out for a cup a coffee and later got back to work. . . . I wish I could go back to my good old days… when I never bothered to see my schedule if my friends called me out…
Remembered the time when we always said “Lets meet and then plan something” and now we land up saying, “Lets plan and meet someday”… Friends are the same….. It’s just the priorities which have changed… :(

Experience with doctors :)

Today morning my colleague was narrating her experience with doctors… she said me abt the strange phobia that she has…. She is scared of medicines coz she always feels that it will get stuck in her throat!! Even worse what I heard from her was, she grinds the tablets and mixes with sugar and swallows!!! Yakkk shackkkkks…….!!!

I learnt that she is scared abt anything that doctors give and use – syringe for example…. No doubt most of them(girls) are scared of syringes...

Then all of a sudden I remembered my blood donation experience in my 1st yr graduation.. I was in the 2nd sem when there was a blood donation camp in our college.
It was when me and my friend were coming back from lunch that I saw the crowd in the college cellar and was curious to know abt it……
My friend, Ayesha said me that it’s a free medical camp from BKF (Bangalore Kidney Foundation).. So, after learning that it’s one of the reputed hospitals of the city, I decided to go for it…
Though I dint like the mere smell of medicines, I decided to go.
After the doctor checked my BP, heart beats, weight etc and she declared I am normal and I assumed that it was the routine check up… Then the next doctor asked me to show my nails which was neatly painted, so he couldn’t do any calcium test :) and he held my finger.. I dint know for what good reason… He said blood test… Then I realized that it was a blood donation camp in my college!!
For a moment I thought I can run away saying I am feeling dizzy….. But the next thought which I got was, it’s a noble deed to donate blood….. Frankly telling, That was just the last thought that I got……I donated blood coz it was my first time blood donation… Secondly till that day, I dint know my blood group, so I was happy that I would know.. Thirdly, the slogan stuck in my mind was “Was it you who saved my life? Help save another, give blood”…:)

I donated my blood with ease and no rona-dhona after the syringe was injected in my veins!! I was abt to take a quick nap there when the doctor came rushing to chk if I fainted… I was fit and fine…. and by then the blood bag was filled with my holy blood..
Then doctor offered me lot of stuff to eat and advised me not to climb the stairs…
As always, I love breaking rules… so, I went happily to attend classes in 1st floor…

The class, 2-3 session was really boring and suddenly I felt dizzy… The lecturer saw me sleeping on the desk and came near me (out of concern or to scold me) .. I almost fainted there and the lecturer was in panic… She called the doctor while I was still lying on the desk.. The doctor held my face and sprinkled or rather poured water on my face!! Sick fellow!! All my face powder gone in a minute!! He tapped my face or rather it was kind of slap for me.. Till date no one had dared to touch my cheeks… and the day someone touched, it was a kind of slap!!!! I will never forgive that doctor!!!
Anyway, I got my conscious back with the doctors grace and I saw everyone around me… After the doctor left, Ayesha whispered, “thanks for suspending the class” :)..

I removed the band-aid on my hand after 3 days when someone sarcastically asked me if I was donating blood daily!!! Gosh… sick question!!!!

Confusing revelations

I was popular in college for having friends in almost all the branches… In fact I had friends from other colleges too whom I met in bus stop:).. Most times people knew me as the bubbly happy and easy going girl... I carried the same attire and attitude when I happened to visit my college recently, just to refresh my sweet memories.. It wasn’t a surprise to me to see few known faces as I had friends from the junior sections too :)..

I met a girl with a broad smile on my face... I said “Hi, How are u??” Quickly she responded “I am fine. How abt u?” I was happy that she too remembered me…still I could see a muddled look on her face… For a moment I thought she is unable to recollect my name, so I said “U don’t remember my name right?” She said NO!! I dint feel bad… I replied in kannada “Nanna hesru Prathima… Ninna senior… Nenpaitha?” (*Myself Prathima… Ur senior.. remember?)
What!! She was flabbergasted and said “Can u speak in English or Hindi”..
I again confirmed from her, if she doesn’t recognize me… She asked me, "Who are u?".. With a grin on my face I blasted her telling, “Jab meri practical record ya notes chahiye tha.. tab toh badi yaad aa rahi thi meri… U ppl are sick to the core!! Just shoo off from my way now!!”
Later I went to meet my HoD… On my way back from CS department, I again met that girl… This time I seriously had no mood to talk to her… But she interrupted me and asked “Tell me what’s my name” !!
I politely asked her with strong words – Lady… have u gone nuts?? Do u want me to confirm ur name with the HoD or the college register?
This time she pulled my hands and said “Tell me my name!!”
I was shocked at her reaction… I had no clue if she was a psychic patient or if she has escaped from the rehabilitation camp!! I just knew that she was one among my college juniors who wanted inputs to get selected in campus interview!! All thanks to the HoD who had popularized our names to the juniors... Back then I also enjoyed my status for being the person who had 3 companies offer letter:)
My HoD came to my rescue and said to her, “What are u doing here in the class hours!! Y aren’t u in class Archana?”
Archana!!!! Now that was the shock of my life… Is she not Reshma!! I had a sinking feeling for blasting her for no fault.. May be she bunked her class just to meet me again:( May be she really dint understand kannada:(
She dint speak anything much later… She dint dare to turn back also….. I quickly bid bye to my lecturer and went in search of her…
I had to confront my mistake… I finally found her in college canteen… She was sitting with her head bent down… It was my turn to console her and I just did that…. She was fine after sometime :) I dint want to buy anything in our canteen coz I am too skeptical abt the food there, so I took her to the lassi center opposite to our college… I took a lassi for myself and she preferred a chocolate milk shake…
She said me that she is from Assam and she doesn’t understand kannad.. (This is how she pronounced Kannada).. We spoke for sometime and then left from there…

I got a new friend that day:) It was Archana… After reaching home, I thought abt the whole incident for sometime and then finally fell asleep… Hope to meet her someday again and meet her as a friend and not as a stranger :)

Unleashing honey from beehive

Wow..... I saw few people who were looking like ruffians, trying to pull down the bees nest from the roof of our college..... Pheew!!! I felt like whistling when i saw him standing on the bars of the corridor in 6th floor, with the knife in his hand.... For a moment I imagined him like a deity who kills the sinners!!! My very next thought was, “are the bees Sinners”!!! :( Definitely no!!!

The ruffians killed their larvae, their food, and their shelter!! In fact, they killed few bees to by setting fire, to get them away from beehive!!!! I closed my eyes for a moment and remained silent as though showing my condolence :(
For a moment I looked like an animal rights activist who was condemning the effort made by people to kill the bees…
But soon the look faded off from my face when I got to c the honeycomb closely coz the analytical side of my brain was working more than a merciful heart..
I must say that the bees had a beautiful signature in the honey pot. Every cell in the honeycomb is a perfect example of symmetry in nature.. I was amazed to c the hexagonal structure filled with honey in every cell…
Luckily I got the chance to touch the honeycomb after confirming that the bees are not going to harm us… Later one of beekeepers said that the bees are poisoned and that’s the reason they will not harm us as they had lost conscious!!! It sounded disgusting!! This time my mind and heart were forcing me to hit those beekeepers and tell them how painful it is when livings beings are poisoned!!
The beekeepers kept the honeycomb on a platter and patted on it to extract honey out of it.. Finally they poured the extracted honey into the cans..
The staff of the college came flooding to a small room to get honey in their water bottles… They paid Rs. 100/ litre to the beekeepers and still argued that the beekeepers had mixed sugar syrup in their cans before pouring honey into it…
Those ruffians were showing some kind of demo to prove that the honey was pure…
Myself and my friend, came out silently and saw the dead bees on the floor:( Few were struggling with their life as most were already dead:(
I thought to myself, is this what the people valued life of the creatures who lived serving the purpose of their lives… I understand that the death is certain to every living being, but this kind of terrifying death was least expected :( !!!

Just 2 more years

As a student of correspondence MCA in IGNOU, I have to attend the classes every weekend... After long working hours in weekdays at office, weekends are the only Sabbath....

Till the 3rd week of February, everything went on fine coz the classes had not started :) So, I got lot of time for shopping, roaming around and pampering myself.. As the saying goes, “All good things comes to an end”… My good days also came to an end in the last week of February when the classes actually kicked off :(

So, Saturday afternoon I picked up my bag and rushed to college as a sincere student.. By the way, I don’t bunk classes…the reason for which u will find out as u read on.... Classes got over early on the 1st day coz the lecturer was on leave… So, I happily went out to celebrate my friend's birthday :) Sunday morning I woke up late so I was late to college. After the lunch break we had lab session... & I must tell u that it was the most bugging time.
I noticed that it was not only me who had got irritated with the classes.. Everyone were frustrated.. It was the 1st lab session of the semester.. Generally practical sessions are supposed to be interesting, but on the very 2nd day where we don’t even know the syllabus properly and we were in the lab, sitting clueless!!
While there is nothing for us to practice, what the heck we are supposed to do was the question of the day!!
We were all waiting for only one thing in the lab… & that was attendance sheet :)

Yes, many might be thinking, why we wait for attendance sheet… The reason is simple. Attendance is compulsory (Lab – 75% and theory – 60%) Any student who has attendance shortage has to either pay the fine to the university or bribe the assistant in charge for each subject… bribe amount nothing less than Rs.1500…

So, there are many feel-good and feel-bad factors about the classes.. Let me mention a few..

Reasons why I get irritated:
1. The elevators don’t work on weekends.
2. The classes are conducted in 5th and 6th floor (I look like a wheezing patient by the time I reach class room)
(1st and 2nd are the major reasons why I don’t bunk classes in mid of the day once i'm in class)
3. Sunday’s schedule is from morning 9 to night 8!!
4. Poor hygiene in wash room…
5. Cafeteria next to the mortuary!!! As the college shares the campus with the hospital…
6. Busy bees buzzing busily around 2 huge beehives in the corridor of 6th floor, which is just opposite to the entrance of the lab rooms....
7. Even when there is nothing much to practice in lab sessions, students are made to wait till the attendance sheet is given... (A signature on attendance sheet is considered as end of the class)

Few feel good factors:
1. Classes are conducted regularly as per the schedule.
2. Justice is done to viva and the exams.
3. Internet in the systems in lab which doesn’t block gmail, orkut, yahoo etc…;)
4. College is close to the VV puram chat street.. So, anytime you feel like having something good, just hop on the bikes with your friends and go around ;)

These are few of my opinions. I’m sure if I ask others opinion, I would get few more reasons to exaggerate this post. Moreover I have to spend 2 more years of my weekends in the same college.. So, don’t want to point out any more reasons… After 2 years I will proudly come out of that place with master’s degree – MCA..
Like my friend who always reminds me to have a positive approach towards life, I finally decided; let me not think 2 yrs as 208 weekends rather let me think 2 yrs as “Just 2 yrs” :) and finish it off without much perplexity.....

I keep waiting. . . .

Its 6.44 a.m. and I stand here in the bus stop waiting for the office bus to arrive. I stand here in the same manner as I did a few years back waiting for BMTC bus in the bus stop. Back then i used to always see many office buses going right in front of our stop with good velocity and i dreamt that there would be days when i would also travel in one of those office bus comfortably seated, which was contrasting the BMTC bus travel in all the ways..
When the dream came true, little did I know then that things would change so much in 2 years; Sky is perhaps the only thing that has acted as a witness.. Watching the transformation of casuals to formals, loud and bubbly girl into a quiet professional...
I wouldn't blame the professionalism for the change though. It is destiny, or may be you could call it life. Yes Life, mysterious in the true sense, for one does not understand why you meet hundreds of people everyday, work with so many, and still remain lonely...
I am now in one of the corner seats in the bus, looking out of the window watching people trying to catch up with "life".. It's an hour's journey in the morning and two hours in the evening due to traffic, and the only company that I generally have is the chatter of the RJ. I seldom notice the person sitting next to me, for its going to be yet another stranger or may be you could say another acquaintance. It is annoying at times when the radio is switched off, not because I am cut off from the melody but because I would now be thrust with thoughts of the solitary journey ahead for 32kms.
I can't help thinking about the short bus journeys to college... well it's a paradox to call a 15-20 kms journey "short", but that is how it always seemed. A typical college day always begins in the bus with all the familiar faces; you look forward for all your friends to get in from the various stops, the reasonless giggles, the loud laughter that was enough to disturb the senior citizens and other fellow travellers in the bus, yet never not bothered to remain silent...well as I said it was a different life then... Recollecting the sight of trying to escape from few lecturers when they called us to attend seminars!! Hoping & praying for some strike in the nearby area so that the internals get postponed; Eating the sliced mango, bhel puri, outside the campus... .The pleasant memories of college are in itself good enough to save me from the misery of the bus journey...
I notice that it is time for me to get down and flash my smile of acknowledgement to all the known strangers that I see as I approach my cubicle. A few of my colleagues greet me with their morning wishes and as always, we exchange our pleasantries. Discussions jump to the weekend plans and I wonder what I'd do over the weekend... It would be just another day staring at the mobile, wishing it would ring and bring back some wonderful moments that are now missing in life or may be the safer option would be to come to office or attend classes, for it's my new founded asylum these days..
A few years back, weekends or weekdays didn't matter to me, I was always busy. I always stood doubting the authenticity of the wall clock that seemed to be in running too fast to perceive its movement. Now, it seems as though my clock is suffering from some kind of paralytic attack. There is a time in life, where one needs to go ahead, leaving behind your friends and carrying along only memories. You do make new friends, but then you never get the old close ones... You do meet people who'd be so good to you that you could tell them anything and everything, but you do not find a person to whom you needn't say things... friends who just know you.
Occasional calls from such friends, have been the only thing that I seem to look forward to... However, I cant help but notice the uneasy pause that lingers around the conversation.. A pause not because of the relationship, but because it is too short duration to say everything, and of course you cannot completely rule out the paucity of words!
As I sip coffee from the coffee mug, watching the drops of rain, trickling down the tinted glass panes, hiding the scenic beauty outside, I tell myself, may be there will be a day when things will change, when life will offer a rewind, a recap of all the events and I just have to wait. Unpredictable are the ways of life, for I know there would be many who'd be able to empathize with me, ironically, even the dear ones that I miss this moment, waiting perhaps...!! And I continue waiting..........