Saturday Unplugged

Sometimes there comes along a day that you could rewind it again and again whenever required. Last Saturday was one of those.
The day started of so dull as I discovered my music classes were cancelled for that weekend. It sounded even more boring for I had no plans made for the weekend. I regret this – our lifestyle has forced us to even plan our weekends with execution of great strategies. People do say Planning makes things better but I have my reservations on this statement when it comes to planning for “Sweet Nothings” – like catching up with a friend after a long time, going for a movie. Do we have to plan for such things in advance - which are dearer to us?
Coming back to my Saturday – I was doing few regular routine – weekend washing, late breakfast and little cleaning of my room. There I heard my mobile ringing. I happily picked it up as it was not an office call. That was my friend who was leaving to US in a couple of weeks. We guys thought we shall catch up in an hour for it had been a long time since we met. She then came to my place and we started riding in the OMR road with absolutely no clue of what we wanted to do. We got into a shopping mall with a plan of window shopping only. For the first time it also ended up as window shopping only:-) When we came out it was drizzling and looked like gonna rain heavily. We stayed for 10 minutes there telling each other – lets not get wet – though we actually thought of getting drenched.
Then with all the zeal of getting drenched started riding towards my place again. It was such a refreshing ride I had in my Chennai life. I was actually feeling the lines of Vairamuthu “Andha megham suranda paalil en nanaiya marukirai – nee vazha vandha vazhvil oru pagudhi izhakirai – Nee kangal moodi karaiyum bodhu mannil sorgam eidhuvai” from the song Chinna Chinna Mazhai Thuli. (Eng version: You would really miss an episode in your life if you fail to get drenched in rain and you would feel the heaven on earth when you get drenched). No….I should have not translated those lines. Language is beautiful when u interpret the meaning / essence in the same language only.
It was evening and we had a good hot chai at my place and we were pretending to watch some show on TV so seriously. Then smiled at each other and got ready for another ride in the rain towards my friends’ place.
This Saturday unplugged was the best and above all our pedicure cost was saved, free wash of the bike and loads and loads of fun to recall – I had to repeat my weekend washing though :-(

9-1-1

This was an experience way back in 2007 which I wanted to write about. Going abroad or ONSITE (in corporate terms) remained an aspiration for anybody sometime back – though it is’nt that fascinating these days as it has become a way of life today. I was no exception to this dream of flying abroad.
With all that excitement I boarded the British Airways. In spite of being one of the best international airways – flying in British Airways was damn boring as I had to put some extra efforts to make new friends on my way for I was travelling all alone. When I checked in the suite at New Jersey was quite tired with a little pressure of figuring out things by myself in a new place. Then I took this reliance calling card to call back home to convey my safe landing. Here goes the no. which I had to dial. 9-1-1-4-5……………… I dialled and then realized I dialed something wrong – mid way. I disconnected the call and thought will phone a little later.
Right after 5 minutes – there was somebody at the door. Ah man – There was a COP at my door. He asked “did u dial 9-1-1?” – I was blinking. He stressed on the same line again. I said “may be – yes – I don’t know – any problem?” .
Did you guys know 9-1-1?. I never knew – till this incident.
He asked my name, citizenship etc. I asked him – what was the matter. He said “that was an emergency number – and did you dial it”. I said “M sorry – by mistake”. Then the phone rang. The suite receptionist – she said “Mam did U dial 9-1-1 – There might be a COP at your door”.
9-1-1 was indeed a 9-11 experience for me – with all the tiredness and pressure I landed there. Today I laugh aloud when I recall it.

Tangible is INTangible

“Two States” was on my Books to Read list for quite sometime. I was glad to receive an e- version of it from my friend. The reason is quite simple – It is ECONOMICAL (word is complicated though in the so called management terms). I am not a voracious reader but off late books also keep me occupied. I quickly e-mailed the soft copy to my office id so that I can read it at breaks between which I work and then started to read the e-version in my DELL. Hmm… It was interesting to read for the tinge of humor in Chetan's narration of the cross cultures and of course, the inquisitiveness to know the personal life of one of the popular writers of India today. But I could not continue to read for some reason. I din't have the same pleasure that I do when I hold the book in my hand and read. My mind travels from Murugan Idli kadai’s jigardanda to the client presentation scheduled in the following week – having my e -book window opened. I was wondering what is it that SO appealing having the hard copy in the hand!!! – Too many things –
The paper aroma,
the pride of holding “My Own Book” in my hand,
feeling the book when I turn on pages,
scribbling with pencil on the book amidst reading,
the feeling of looking back the books I have read in my book shelf after some days,
and the most important thing – I can avoid the embarrassment of minimizing my e-book window when my boss suddenly invades my cubicle

The total experience of holding the book in hand and reading it – isn’t the tangible - intangible?

It is also one of reasons which stopped me from writing blogs as they are “E” versions. The joy of penning it in a paper is more wonderful than writing an e-ersion. I do appreciate the e-versions for I am able to share it easily with you though the intangibles are close to my heart.

Feels Heaven in the Company of Fools..

Am I disguising myself when I step into my office cubicle everyday? I am forced to maintain a difference between the Professional I and the Personal I or atleast I’m in the transition phase of trying hard to reduce this gap. Very often people in corporate say “Y don’t you think logically?”. I certainly get lost when I’m beaten up by this weapon “logic” all the time. For a change – why don’t we be foolish at times?
Days in college never demands you to be logical / sensible all the time. Even if it does – we are surrounded by a gang of fools OUR FRIENDS who never let that happen. It feels like heaven, feels at home in the company of these fools. Believe me – the fun you get in doing foolish things, then smiling at each other – fills the heart. I still remember the 10 minutes - when I ran with my pal around 10.00 pm in a heavy rain – just to buy a newly released audio CD. We ran, got drenched fully and finally laughed when we found the shop was closed and then ran back again in the rain. May be this is the essence of inner tranquility – Being foolish!!!
I ‘m trying to locate these fools and their company as much as possible wherever I am. I have a few in offices too. We try to bunk the good for nothing discussions, try to work in between breaks some days. All the craziness culminates within us in a small gang that we start singing merrily the sad songs of Isaignani…..(like “Oora therinjukkiten Ulagam purinjukitten”)