Time for some change...

Well, nothing's permanent except change, they say and the latest to fall prey to (or prove the glorious certainty of, depending on your viewpoint) is the template for this blog. Black, while being very soothing and aptly moody, was getting a bit monotonous. So, yours truly decided to let the sun shine and opted for a bright, cheery look. The only bits to be added are the Fizbox comment link and favourites in the right-hand-side bar, which will be done pretty soon.

Lets hope a change of template will mean more frequent and better quality posts ;)

How do I tick???

Your Brain's Pattern

You're a simple thinker, and this is actually a very good thing. You don't complicate matters when you don't have to. You look for the simplest explanation or solution, and you go with that. As a result, your mind is uncluttered and free of stress.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

Enjoying the last few days of doing nothing...

As the title should make apparent, I am making the most of the last snatches of free time I have got with me. This is so because, starting August 8th, I will be a student once again (yipee...) for at least a year. I will be studying for the FPGDST (Full Time Post Graduate Diploma in Software Technology for those who have an acronym phobia) conducted by NCST at Kharghar.Yes, it does seem to be located at the other end of Planet Earth, but I know it will be worth it. Actually, changing fields from Civil Engineering to Software was never an easy decision but more about that in an upcoming post.For now, you can have a look at the portals that will be graced by the divine presence of yours truly.

I knew, I just knew...

You Are Strawberry Ice Cream

A bit shy and sensitive, you are sweet to the core. You often find yourself on the outside looking in. Insightful and pensive, you really understand how the world works. You are most compatible with chocolate chip ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

Any Chocolate Chip Icecream reading this, please get in touch ;)

Sapney...

Actually I had planned to do the next round of character sketches as promised to someone who was really desperate to see his mug over here. But in keeping with my current mood of flying off on a tangent every now and then, I will proceed to give you all a glimpse into the dark recesses of my mind – my dreams.
I have read somewhere that your dreams are that part of you which are truly you – unmodified by your surroundings, upbringing, values etc. If that holds true, I must be Darkness personified, judging by what goes on in my mind while the body seeks its daily quota of regeneration.
While there are countless dreams of mine, which if visualised on film, would not pass the scissors of even the most lenient censor board, over here I will stick to something which is not so gruesome, but nevertheless mysterious/interesting, depending on the way you look at it. Depending on feedback, more will follow. So, here we enter the dark side:
The scenario seen in the dream is somewhere about 4-5 years in the future; wherein I am living on the top floor of a multi-storey building with huge glass walls through which I can catch the sights and sounds of the city flowing below. (Something like Aamir Khan’s Sydney residence in Dil Chahta Hai; only with all walls of glass). One night, past midnight, I am watching the city skyline, trying to gather some sleep, albeit unsuccessfully, when suddenly there is a knock on the door. I am under the influence of incomplete sleep and ignore the sound. After what seems like ages, the knocking starts again. This time, it has an almost hypnotic rhythm to it. I am terrified but something pulls me towards the door. On opening the door, I find nobody outside. This scares me even more. I close the door, come inside and am about to settle my chair when the rhythm starts again. This time, I am terrified beyond reason and almost run towards the door in a fit of blind fury. Again, there’s no one outside but this time I find a straw basket lying outside my door, covered with a dirty little piece of rag. On removing the rag, I find a newborn baby inside the basket – blood on its body and the umbilical cord ominously dangling. Its face is contorted as if it were crying but no sound can be heard. Beside the baby is placed a piece of paper and a cell-phone. I pick up the phone and dial the number written on the paper. At first, nobody responds. I try again, when a deep baritone echoes at the other end. I explain the situation to him and ask what the hell is going on. All he says is “You don’t always get what you want; sometimes you have to be happy with what you get”. Saying so, he disconnects the line. Further attempts from my side to get in touch with him prove futile. I am left with the baby, whom I then pick up in my arms. As soon as I pick it up, it touches my face and lets out the most blood-curdling scream I ever heard (in a dream or otherwise). Surprisingly, instead of being terrified by the turn of events, tears start flowing from eyes and I start sobbing. This is where the dream ends, leaving me wide awake and drenched with sweat, no matter in what season this occurs and even if I am sleeping right under the fan.
Also what I have observed is that whenever this dream occurs, my life takes a significant turn in some manner or the other. It was there when I fell in love, when I decided to give up on it and also when I experienced my first academic failure. So, in a way it’s a harbinger of change for me.
It’s been a really long post till now. I just hope that you have not fallen asleep and are not watching dreams of your own ;)

What my heart desires??

You desire Love. You are in love. Perhaps you haven't quite figured with whom or what you're in love with, but you are. Good for you! You have what many strive forever to get! Love 75% Pain 75% Happiness 65% Sorrow 65% Depression 55% Confusion 55% What Hides Within Your Heart? created with QuizFarm.com

How to fall in (and out of) love in 37 minutes…

I have never believed in the concept of ‘love-at-first-sight’ (maybe ‘love-at-49th sight’; yes - that’s plausible). Strangely enough, I came REALLY close to falling prey to this phenomenon which has been done to death (and beyond) by our Bollywood Badshahs. In hindsight, it seems to be a silly experience but I must say I enjoyed it while it lasted ;)
It happened on the 18th of July when yours truly was browsing through some books at the British Library - the rain pouring in its entire glory outside. Suddenly, a cool breeze wafted through, a violin started playing in the background and in walked one of the finest specimens of beauty that I have witnessed in my (rather limited) existence on Planet Earth. Ok, so there was no violin around and the cool breeze turned out to be the A.C. outlet but that does not diminish the lyricism of the situation in any way. Dusky skin, big round honey-hued eyes (I am a sucker for them...), a shoulder-length boyish hair-cut…. “I was hooked” will be a gross understatement. A shy but honest smile and a pair of specs (another blow to my resistance) completed the package. Briefly put, she was poetry-on-legs. And she was sitting on the chair bang in front of me.
So what jolted yours truly of the enchanting reverie? Maybe my Emotion Control System went on auto-pilot launching Operation Damage Control but I think what ultimately did the trick was the looming presence of a 6.5 feet tall and 2.5 feet wide specimen belonging to the species of homo sapiens boyfriendus, which effectively put paid to any (unrealistic) hopes yours truly might have harboured.
I know this is the perfect anticlimax but honestly, that’s what transpired on that afternoon. In the end, I was left thinking as to what a heavy lunch, pouring rains and some good air-conditioning could lead to ;)

Quite true..

What type of classic movie am I?
Very true!!!

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Look what I found...

This is what I found while wandering through blogspace.
Amazingly true...
You can give it a spin here

Your Birthdate: April 19

Your birth on the 19th day of the month adds a tone of independence and extra energy to your life path. But at the same time, it poses a number of obstacles to overcome before you are able to be as independent as you would like. The number 1 energy suggests more executive ability and leadership qualities than your path may have indicated. A birthday on the 19th of any month gives greater will power and self-confidence, and very often a rather original approach. However, a somewhat self-centered approach to life that may be in conflict with some of the other influences in your life. This 1 energy may diminish your ability and desire to handle details, preferring instead to paint with a broad brush. You are sensitive, but your feeling stay somewhat repressed. You have a compelling manner that can be dominating in many situations. You do not tend to follow convention or take advice very well. Consequently, you tend to learn through experience; sometimes hard experiences. The 19/1 is a loner number and you may experience feelings of being alone even if you are married. You may take on a tendency to be nervous and angry.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Chased away the blues...

The joy of writing has returned to the building...
Expect something substantial very soon.
The blues of last week have been washed away and once again I look upto the clear sky, shining bright in all its glory!!!

The blues have struck again...

Inexpicably, after a long time, yours truly finds himself in a blue mood. Maybe, the exam on Sunday is casting its spell. Maybe, the subconscious has wandered down memory lane once again, who knows? The overall mood is of inexplicable and unidentifiable disappointment; that of putting more into your relationships than what you get out of them. It's similar to a performer who gets so engrossed with his performance that he doesn't realise that the audiwnce has long walked its own way, leaving him playing for himself. Jumbled up? Just reflects the state of my mind. What I am going through at this very moment can be better expressed thus:

Was touched by...

Came across this gem of a song while listening to FM yesterday night...
It never fails to moisten my eyes, never.
This particular couplet speaks of love that outlasts life itself, maybe too idealistic but nevertheless something which anybody would want to possess...

Jab hum naa honge, jab humaaree khaak pe tum rukoge chalate chalate
Ashkon se bheegee chaandanee mein ek sadaa see sunoge chalate chalate
Wahi pe kahi hum tum se milenge, ban ke kali,ban ke sabaa, baag-e-wafaa mein

Grey matter...

Today morning, I happened to notice the first glint of salt on my head. Signs of maturity & experience or simply premature aging?? Much as I would like to believe that the former holds true, I must say its a combination of both. Though I must say that my initial reaction was less than positive, its something that was inevitable after all that I have carried on my shoulders for so long. So, in addition to possessing some grey matter inside my head, I can also flaunt some on the outside.
Welcome to the grey side, Uncle Sam!!!

P.S: The next round of character sketches is due anytime soon. Keep watching this space...

Wonder People...

So people,
Here they come... as promised earlier!!!

Reuben D'Lima (RJD, Robinhood, Ru)

He really deserves the pride of place in this list. In all of my life, if there is one person with whom I feel at home totally, it's this man. We met for the first time nearly a decade back in FYJC (Sathaye College). When I consider the chain of events that led to this happening, it seems nothing short of a miracle. Have a look at this:- RJD takes admission into Sathaye with Marathi as a subject.I get into Patkar College(Goregaon).I change over to Sathaye the very next day with Hindi as a subject.RJD decides to change over to Hindi after finding Marathi a bit tough. At the same time,the guy with the roll number next to me takes a transfer to another division and RJD is put into his place.The rest, as they say so often..is history.

Since then, he has been by my side through thick and thin, ups and downs. We have spent some of the most wonderful times together. What perhaps makes us tick is that externally, we are as different as two people can get without belonging to different species but internally we share the same core values, aspirations and way of thinking. With him, you tend to relax instantly and I am sure I am not the only person who thinks so. But if you think of him as only a softie, you are in for some surprise. Behind that exterior lies a determined achiever who will do all he can once he has set his eyes on something. Currently, he is into his management studies. Mark my words, this man will go a real long distance in life...and we will proudly watch him do so.

Hazel D'Souza (Haze, Ms. No Time)

OK Haze, before you come charging at me, let me tell you that the credit (or otherwise) for the second nickname solely goes to RJD and I have got nothing to do with it.
We first met in the summer of '99 when I had accompanied RJD to the British Library. We happened to meet again that year when I used to accompany RJD to Xavier's for his T.Y.B.Sc. admissions. At first glance, I knew that this one was different from the pack. Usually, I am not a very good judge of people but in this case, I have been proved to be spot on. What sets her apart from the rest is perhaps a solid sensibility and the ability to make use of the stuff between the ears. Her maturity would suggest an age far more than her actual one.I had read somewhere that a Taurean female is the 'salt of the earth' - a collection of qualities a man looks for in a woman but never seems to find. Well, I couldn't have got better proof of the statement. The letters she used to write to me stand testimony to that. Of late, there is almost no snail-mail communication between us but nevertheless, I will always treasure them. Nowadays, she is enjoying her first job, having completed her Psycho post-grad.

Sagar Mantri (Sagar, Topper)

It's just about 7 years since I first met him, but it seems I have known him forever; such is the tuning between us. A genuine person in the truest sense of the word, there is nothing put-on or artificial about him. Though he does tend to give the impression of a bumbling idiot or a mannerless slob sometimes, he does that solely to keep you unawares. He is downright serious when it comes to studies, which explains the fact that he was the 4th ranker at the University level in the final year exams. He's the guy to have around whether you are having a blast at a function or discussing past failures, relationships, and heartaches from 11'o clock in the night to 4'o clock in the morning (yes, we have done that). He will be at home equally in both the situations, and admirably so. Apart from this, he has a great sense of humour and an ability to see the silver lining in every dark cloud, which is undoubtedly a vital asset in life. When you have to play a practical joke on someone, he is the one whom you can trust to come up with something really cool.
Over the years, the tuning between us has got better and better. There are very few things about each other that we don't know. Also, the fact that you can always depend on him to lend a helpful ear, if not some sensible advice makes our companionship even more special.

Sachin Jadhav (Jaadyaa)

Friend, close confidante, classmate, next door neighbour...the list of roles he has played in my life is really long. We were childhood friends but got to know each other really closely when we got into the same college to do our engineering. If people could be equated to food items, his counterpart would be surely a red hot mirchi. He's got a shortish fuse and it does not take much to send him flying off the handle, but he cools off just as quickly. When in college, he had the knack of getting into trouble with the profs by saying the right things at the wrong time (ie: when the profs were around)."HANDLE WITH CARE" would surely be an appropriate label to put on him. Has the habit of starting off a task with great fanfare, losing enthusiasm midway when things don't happen to his liking, and then completely struggling in the end to finish off the work. He will have to curb that tendency if he has to go a long distance, otherwise he's a great guy to know. He will be putting an end to his singleton status at the end of 2005. All I will say is...All The Best!!!

Deepak Nag (Deepu, Nagoba)

The archetypal Joker in the pack.But as any card game freak will tell you, the Joker is perhaps the most useful card in the pack, even more than the aces and queens. The same logic applies in his case too. He will keep you off guard by indulging in the silliest of antics and then catch you totally on the wrong foot with a sudden flash of brilliance.His comic exterior effectively hides a brain thats buzzing away in the background. We met for the first time during first year of engineering and barring one semester, have been virtually inseperable right through college and all the exams, especially the dreaded viva voce ones. He is perhaps my lucky mascot for the exams and some of my best vivas have been with him sitting in the next chair.
This guy got married in May 2K3 and is expecting an addition to the family, come September 2K5. He has the honour(?) of being the first of the pack to put an end to his singleton status, even before any of the girls could do so. All The Best, Buddy!!!

The "Grain of Wheat"

Again the credit for this nickname goes to RJD. I have not mentioned her name over here but those who know me closely will know who am I talking about. She is (or rather, was) my first true love. Unfortunately, she also happens to be my first true heartache. But, as always, I have no regrets. If she wasn't meant to be mine, there is no reason why I should strive to make it so. The origin behind the nickname is as follows: When I had decided to give up on her and concentrate more on my studies and career, RJD told me about a story from the Bible wherein a grain of wheat will remain just a grain if it doesn't fall to the ground. But when it does, it will give rise to a thousand blooms. Similarly if I happen to let go of my feelings for her, it will lead to many new friendships which were previously unimaginable. I can't vouch for that statement in entirety but I have to admit that it has changed my outlook towards people.
But that's not the only reason why she finds a mention here. This might sound like a fond reminiscence but I have to say I have learnt a lot from her. A good human being, always helpful, never afraid to take on somebody for a just cause - these are just a few of her qualities. Add to that intelligence, determination and perhaps the most beautiful pair of eyes I have ever seen and you will understand what makes her so irresistible. What can I say except that a corner of my heart will always be reserved for her!!

What's this all about??

Getting my hands dirty....
Hmm, it has been quite a long time ever since I visited blogland.
This blog will not have a single dominant theme as such.
I will start off with an ode to those individuals who made my wonder years... my friends!!!
What follows in these pages will be sketches of these individuals as I have percieved them.
In their own ways, these wonderful people have walked the walk of life along with me.
So guys, here goes...

*The order of names in this page is NOT an indication of your importance (or lack of it) to me!!