WHO ARE WE?

This incident might be very ridiculous but it touched my heart so I felt like penning it down in the blog..

I live in a huge apartment where there are 200 plus flats. There are around 8 watchmen who take their shift to provide us security 24*7.Whenever anyone goes in or out the security guard duly stands up and salutes. (I fancy that…Old men saluting me!!!! Wow!!)

On one such day I happened to take my bike out for a small ride, while passing the gate, there was a car coming in the opposite direction (The gate is not wide enough for both the car and bike to pass comfortably). Both me and the car driver halted at the entrance, made  way for each other and when I was about to accelerate my pace, the security guard (I hardly noticed him in this little commotion),Who was in saluting position apologized to me and to the car driver. I was taken aback (Why is he apologising to me!!!!! whatever mistake did he do!! Probably he thought saluting to me was wrong!!!).In the hurry to go out I failed to respond and did not enquire him about this.

 While returning back to home, at the same juncture the security guard made me halt abruptly in the mid of the entrance. I put aside my vehicle in a corner and waited for him to explain his sudden behaviour!!

He then explained why he apologized to me when I was going out. Trust me guys his explanation bewildered me...

He said…Before you came madam (MADAM who me??He he… That’s nice to hear!!), there were two cars each coming in opposite direction and halted at the entrance, one of the person in the car scolded me on why he did not warn or give signal beforehand that the other car is coming in the other direction. He blasted out at the poor guard saying that saluting alone is not his job and that he is not paid for that... He is supposed to see whether the vehicle is free to pass at the entrance or not... The guard sincerely asked for an apology but the car driver did not budge... he kept ranting out and finally he concluded that he will report this matter to the committee and will make sure that he does not get this month salary…

And this poor security guard was feeling so scared which resulted, he apologizing me when I was going out of the apartment (lest I don’t shout at him, resulting his two month pay cut!!!)Then the guard went on to say his life story on how he works as a tailor in day and security man at night since his only daughter is doing engineering (Engineering is very much expensive now a days I must add that!!).He then asked me why that man was so rude. Isn’t a security guard a human, shouldn’t he have any feelings? No job is little and he need not feel ashamed of being a guard.

I gave my sympathy and somehow consoled him and moved on...

This little incident might be of minuscule thing but it taught me an important lesson... We might have had a bad day. We might have thousand reasons to get irritated. But does that give us an excuse to vent out our anger on someone else. Spare a minute to think,  had we were in that position how embarrassed we would have felt.

So the next time before you get one of those horrible temper, think whether it is justifiable to pour it on others???(I would recommend, drinking a glass of water to cool the temper!!!!!!)

Someone gave me this beautiful advice which crosses my mind at this juncture…

Who are we, is not decided on how we behave always, its how we react during our difficult times. So decide Who Are You???

Early Bird Catches the Worm

Coming back to home after my night shift gives lot of joy not only because I can finally hug my pillow and fasten myself in bed, but also because of the journey I happen to cherish while going back home.

Its early morning and hardly there is traffic (for heaven s sake!!), to further delay my trip to bed. With cool breeze hitting my tired cheeks, with dim flickering street lights intimating that it will blow away soon unless any one bothers to look at it, birds chirping (as if singing lullaby for me), it brings a new sense of “gracing the nature with both the hands”.

I find that I am not alone out there at this wee hour. I find some handful of people waiting in the bus stand for buses (wonder where they want to go at this time of hour!!!!); few boys busy segregating the newspaper, so that they can deliver those, before the readers wake up!!! Few others, on their way with crates of milk to be delivered to the mom’s for "the making of hot coffee".

I see in the vicinity there are few shops which are being opened (getting ready for another tough day with customers!!),small tea shops swarmed by taxi drivers (they need to drain down the caffeine to keep  themselves awake!!) and their transistors blaring out latest  filmy songs.
As I whisk through the fast lanes I see few having their morning walks, walking briskly and cheerfully for a healthy way ahead!!
Finally I reach my home to see my neighbour, a young mother, putting the Kollam outside her home, she gently waves and says “good night” and trot I reply back “good morning for you”!!!!
As the sun rises I pull down my curtains to have a tight sleep into my “dreamy day” (wondering what if the early bird sleeps before catching the worm…..!!!)

 Good Night To ALL JJJ

THE MONSTER BUS

What do you think is the uniqueness of CHENNAI..its beaches (nah!! I dont think so)..its IT buildings huge towering up the scale and touching the clouds (not even that)..then you must be thinking about those metro rails.. well lets give it sum time to stand!!!
Its the Bus experience(read it as MONSTER GREEN BUS!!!!)..Yah..have you ever travelled in a full fledged monster bus(the MTC buses at peak hours)??
My day starts with these buses..(guyzz any buses around 8-10 in the mornin and 5-10 in the evening falls into this category)

We(Me n other office goers cum my co-passengers) await for these buses patiently and as we get a peek of the buses from as far as our visibility goes, we get ready for our BATTLE (yeah its a battle!!),to climb the bus first and try to locate a place where we can stand comfortably (seated passengers are kings..they catch the bus at the terminals unlike us in bus stands).As the bus comes closer we hurry up pulling and pushing others with all our might to get into the bus!!

After successfully entering the "Monster kingdom" we give a sigh of relief (oofffhhh) hang on guyzz the journey has just started..
There are lots of characters you can meet inside this small kingdom..
There are these old grannies who keep shouting at youngsters to get up and give them place to sit (if you resist then out comes the curses from their mouth,which you would have hardly heard of).

There are these grandpas who constantly chat about politics(this election I bet there is going to be change in parties..probably he is going to withdraw his support..blah blah..half of these stories bounces off my head).
There are these aunties who keep wailing at conductor.."Give back my change" ,"I need my 1re back".
There are these small kids whose shoulder burdens are much heavier than themselves!!(wonder how many subjects they have in school!!The whole library seems to be in the bag!!).
Then there are uncles(they are the adorables for they teach me a lot..),who keep discussing about latest stories cooking..from India winning the Sri-Lanka series to Saina Nehwal coming back home in "CHARIOT OF FIRE" everything you can hear (I don't have to regret for missing my morning headlines!!)..there are these young gals who are either busy in their calls or dozing off (yeah many do sleep..probably they are not morning birds I guess!!)
Apart from these commotions,fights,traffics,wicked roads there is a pleasantry...there is an unwritten culture ,to greet Good Morning (with a SMILE) to those unknown strangers but known faces (com'on, we are regulars in this bus route!!).
I never knew that a simple nod, a simple Good Morning, a simple smile, a simple Hi from strangers..can make MY DAY!! :):)
Guess Monster Bus is not that Monstrous!!!! :):)
Have a great day..from this stranger....  

FIRST GLIMPSE INTO A CORPORATE WORLD!

Being a "don't ever bother attitude" to being a responsible techie is a great deal of transformation!! (actually a little effort!!Trust me..not a big a deal!! :):))
so here I am entering in a corporate world.At first I had my eyes wide open!!

1. First and foremost, its a huge hugeee hugee building!! (and entirely air-conditioned, I can beat the heat now..bring it on!!)
2. It is a 10 storey building,each floor is exclusive to one department.
3. Yeah!! One floor is entirely dedicated to cafeteria!!(and my favorite space..to hang out with buddies).
4. No one is allowed access to the building with out a valid I-card(the security guys call it a I-card).
5. There are about 100 freshers along with me waiting to be trained (now thats some competition).
6. There is a coffee vending machine in each floor!!(this may not excite many..but a college student would definitely yell  with excitement seeing it!!)  
7. My colleagues(see I am getting used to corporate world) are from different states..each coming from different cultures (its a mini India actually).. so we can get an insight on varied languages and cultures.
8. My company HR s are amazing!! (they speak a lot.. make it another lot!! )They are talented guyz who know everything under the building (from organisations infrastrucuture to our rivals to our minute resources)
9. The food is delicious in canteen and chaat OMG!!! (I cant resist going there so often, and would definitely relish spending my entire office time provided my HR s allow me to do so)

Dont you think the above points are enough to make a college kid wide open in awe (thise is the place I am going to work!!awwww :) am excited..) of course that excludes my pay-slip , my position after trainee in the organization and working in one of the best organizations in the business market!!!
But apart from the excitement there is also a tweeny bit of pressure to perform and the responsbility.
Apart from these training,these frequent assessment tests,these pressure,these lectures from corporate bisses about what is expected from you as engineers, I have got lots of friends(and yeah I am trying to understand  different languages!!!).Friends with whom I laugh,chat ,giggle,while away time in cafeteria,I wonder how many will be together as the day passes..keeping fingers crossed as every one wishes me WELCOME TO THE CORPORATE WORLD!!!

Writing Hiccups

"So What do I write" I have read in most of the blogs..may it be an amateur writer or a full fledged novelist,every one at some point gets struck up on how to proceed..or rather how to start.

At certain stage it rather becomes convincing that we can't think of any thing fruitful and hence rest the case...at these dagger end what we need is an ounce of inspiration from something or someone..an inspiration can be anything..your favorite book in the kindle(kindle fire becoming more popular than the traditional book),your hobbies, your friends, or even a small kid..some thing which makes you think,(scratch your minds).. and i call it wag your tongue.. I let my tongue loose and let it wag!!!!

some of the best suggestion(I found these quite useful to pull up this one!!!) which you can follow on those scratchy moments when you feel you need to write some thing but come up with none!!...

* Remember always a writer improvises only when they are a good reader and good listeners, so try to make sometime to read something daily,be it a newspaper article or any novel.

* Try saving the draft when ever you feel some thing fascinating, later you can develop it when time suits the best.

* Look around,something is sure to captivate your mind.

* Try getting some suggestions from valuable person(They might not be useful yet still they may give you the hint for your next blog!!!)

* Prepare a wish list on what and all you wish to write(this is to be done when you are actually bored).

*Keep a deadline for yourself(like writing a blog every week).

* Set your mind to spare few minutes to sit and make necessary preparations(often we try to indulge in our favorite excuse of lack time!!)

* and if every thing else fails..go out..get some fresh air and pop in again to check your sanity.

what are your suggestions and have you ever got struck with what to write in or is it just a jinx ????

CHORUS CONCERT

Have you ever experienced a live concert..(no its not about the latest rock band!!!) its about BHAJANS..(you heard it right!!). I recently got a chance to attend a bhajan in a babas temple (Thankzz to one of my friend who forced me to attend!!)

I was dumbfound to see that all the members involved in bhajan were so young..There were some 7-8 members, all in their teens (most of them doing their engineering),wearing dhotis and adorned with rudraksha Mala and the sacred thread in their necks, chirpily chanting the bhajans.Soon the chanting captured the heart of the devotees and they started swaying to the tunes of the young guns.Devotees started to throng into the temple soon and the boys were successful in mesmerizing them.Few sat to listen to them while few offered their praying to the almighty!!
Along with listening to the bhajan I stole a glance on the surrounding.It was a serene temple having the babas deity in white marble stone.It is believed that any devotees prayer would be fulfilled whole heartedly.There was this lady nearing her 40's I guess who was performing her benediction by circling the deity on her knees.Few others were happy to offer annadhanam to the devotees.
I sitting in a corner of the hall started to sway and soon got captivated to the tune (its much better than the raps & rocks mind you!! :):) ) As the bhajan began to cease it reached its peak.. where the young boys started chanting more louder and more faster.. the audience (that is us) also followed the suit.. the entire hall was vibrating with the chants of Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Raja Ram Sita Ram mantras..It was a beautiful concord with every one striking in resonance and every heads swaying in unison.As the bhajan ended I thanked my friend (who was one of the bhajan member) for inviting to this special CONCERT and confessed that I had the time of my life hearing and involving in it!!!
What touched me the most was not the young boys (who still do bhajans along with hearing the rock bands) but a small 4 year old boy sitting in front row and clapping his hands.. and reciting exactly what the boys chanted (wonder whether the little boy understood the meaning!!).. its this small boy who touched me..it was as if the boy was saying "WE ARE THE NEXT GEN" and we will certainly not forget our roots, our values which have been imbibed into today's generation:):)

SPARE A THOUGHT!

I am often called as Nature!!
I am endless,seamless,boundless,
with out shape and indestructible,
you fancy me..adore me..enjoy me..then forget me,
But I am here To Teach you all a lesson or two...

No one is futile in this world,
Never stop fighting even if you lose..
keep marching forward!!
like my waves which keeps coming back at you.

Every one have a purpose of their own,
I may be vast,empty,salty yet still,
I am home to several lives...
So RESPECT others for what they will be, not for what they are!!

There is a proverb time and tide waits for none,
so snatch it ,grab it with all you have,
with open arms and fist so tight..
and when ever you visit me again...
SPARE A THOUGHT
coz I am here to teach you a lesson or two!!
and I Am THE OCEAN!!!!

To That Special Person In My Life

Attending these marriage reception's is such a bother and boring(specially when you don't have a single clue of who the Bride or Groom is!!)
One such event which I had to attend... and it was then I came to know such relatives exist in my family..(I still cant figure out how they are related!!!!! ooppsss...).What pesters a lot is I need to keep SMILING at every stranger( my relatives) when ever my mom gives a brief introduction about them(so that is how they are related to me!!) and trot comes their question what I am doing and where I got placed (mind you..every final year engineering student needs to get placed in some company in order to avoid this embarrassing moment!!) and after these brief intro about my well being..the gossip session starts(whose who is doing what now... currently!!!)..wonder how they while away their time in these minuscule talks!!
I felt horribly out of place for quite sum time..UNTIL I MET HER!!!!
Her smile..(as sweet as a vanilla ice-cream)..blows me down!!!
SHE came close to me..and chirpily laid her hands (which bore a set of beautiful golden bangles matching her Saree well) on my shoulder!! Her Eyes Sparkling With Happiness (its been days since we met each other)..Her Lips Struggling To Say My Name. Her Green Pastel Saree Glistened in her Smile...I quickly gave her a tight hug.. her face blushed..her cheeks went red... she managed to push me aside with her tender arms!!!(both were happy ever!!).. She was looking gorgeous (she is amazing when she smile.. almost looks twenty year younger than her age!!!!)
We soon went into OUR WORLD..a world which only we understand (my god.. the way her eyes twinkled!!)... She adores me.. and so do I.. But I think she loves me more than I do... Coz SHE IS MY GRANDMOTHER!!!

BEING A SPORT!!!

The kind of respect you get being an athlete is out of the world experience.. trust me I have never felt this contented as for the past couple of days (wearing those jerseys and roaming around, hundreds of eyes brewing around you and gossips lingering around us as we pass!!)... and calling ourselves proudly.. We are SPORTSPERSON (at last!!)

I am in my basket ball team as well as in throw ball team for my college.. which recently participated in state level tournament!!Yeah! We lost.. but still we played well (given the lack of practice.. we put up a great show!!)...Every one in the team put in best of their efforts(and we can say that again)!! As far as game is concerned The Better Team WON!!

Talking about team.. those petty moments when you pat each other when you score a point.. or give that ugly stare when your mate has lost one..are a boggy-wog!!!!There are rules.. unwritten rules.. which player starts understanding once they get starting..which does not require words.. just a glance.. just a nod.. and you get through their mind!!and the aftermath of the match is all the more effective than the match( as if our faults were not known during the play.. we have long sessions of omg!!!What Actually Went Wrong!!!).. We speak a lot.. during these constructive sessions.. celebrating the tiny happiness which we shared during the game...huge regret( on probably we should have changed our strategy.. probably it was not our day!! .. blah-blah).. and simultaneously draining in the hot coffee( only god knows how much caffeine went into our system!!) Meanwhile I learnt an important lesson to take back home.. its not about winning. its not losing.. its about playing!! (playing for passion is altogether different)...its about being in the team.. its about cheering ourselves when we are low.. its about co-ordination.. its about the respect which we have for our mates.. its about playing it clean...well its about BEING A SPORT!