Triple Weekend

The inertia of not having written anything for such a long time has prevented me to post despite the fact that I have a lot to write.

A triple weekend (for the uninitiated, it is when you have an additional day off with the weekend. This time it was Monday due to Independence Day) just went by. We planned a trek to Rajgadh on Saturday which was ditched after some advice from Prady which went like "people, especially teenagers are known to have suffered losses in the area. Losses including life" of course he did add "but its safe if u take care". Being a sat with two days off to follow it was absolutely unacceptable that we go nowhere, hence a bike trek to Matheran was agreed upon. Six of us (Harki, Viren, PC, Mukesh, Gajbhiye and me) on three bikes. The departure time was fixed at 5:00 AM. Needless to say that it was ridiculous, we managed to get out of the hostel at 8:30 AM :D

The ride up to the base of Matheran was swift (about 100 km in less than 2 hrs) and scenic. The rains made trekking impossible so the bikes were taken all the way to the top. Absolutely exhausted and totally drenched nobody had the enthu to go to all the points. Managed a few and were contented. The lake (Chharlott Lake which is the only source of water here in Matheran) was awesome. All of us were almost shivering due to the low temperature and the fact that we were wet to the core. Ate bhutta near the lake; was just too good :D By the time we came down it was about 5:00 in the evening.

The cloud cover at the top was so dense that we could hardly see anything below. This pic was taken on our way down once we were under the clouds.

After the ride back which involved a stop at BTC Vashi for dinner we reached IIT at 9 and each one of us was tired enough to fall asleep within an hour. All in all a very satisfying day!!

More pics

Writing from the class

Wrote this in class today while I was supposed to be writing Laplace transforms :(

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Been really long since I put an entry here. Not that I haven't had the time, nor is it because things haven't been happening. Have set out to write a number of times but never posted those thoughts that run through the mind. Having completed such an entry and going through it makes me feel that those thoughts would better be forgotten and not be permanently put down to be read time and again.

Classes have been on all the time (no! we didn't have an off even when the city was flooded because iitb was NOT). Am ensuring my physical presence in all the lectures to meet the institute requirements but am finding it increasingly tough to comprehend the words of wisdom uttered by the professors.

The Summers

Completed the practical training and reached home last Wednesday evening. Now for an account of it all. This one is gonna be a long entry....

The Training. 60 days, 35 in Bangkok and 25 in Rayong (port city about 200 km SE of Bangkok. Houses the countries biggest industrial estate).

2 plants, Thai Organic Chemical Company (TOCC) and Thai epoxide and Allied Products Company (TEC). Six days a week, about eleven hours a day. Lots of work.

Learning, CFD, life in a chemical plant and life outside India. A little bit of Thai as well ;)

Friends, loads of them. A wide spectrum of people ranging in age, nationality, sex and religion.

The officers in both the plants were mostly Indians, the operators and others, all Thais. The Thai people worship the king as if he were God and the first thing I was told was never to utter a word against the king. Other than that Thais are cool and easygoing people. I understood that when I was told by a shopkeeper to go look at some other store for the mobile sim card that I wanted to buy as he was ‘busy’ having lunch then.

So lemme start from the very beginning. Was not given a filmi farewell with a pooja ki thali, tilak and all at the airport but yes mummy was apprehensive about the entire 'internship in Thailand' thing. Bangkok airport, baggage nowhere to be found and am not being able to locate a single official at the airport who could converse in English (yes, English is not at all popular in Thailand :O, language is an issue) After a lot of panicking a sweet old english lady helped me find my way to the lost and found counter where much to my relief some officials understood English. It took them more than two hours to locate my bags with the ones that were unloaded from a Swiss aircraft that had landed at just the same time as mine. Much to my amazement (and more to relief) the driver who had come to pick me up had the patience to wait all this time for me outside the terminal (easy going Thais). Now this driver (Boonjit) went on be a friend of mine, owner of a BMW, a major in archaeology, inspired by 'The Transporter' he is a regular transporter for the Aditya Birla Group. Owns a nice flat in Bangkok, plans to marry his girlfriend this July and join the archaeology department subsequently.

<a href="http://itspiyush.blogspot.com/2005/07/summers.html">Read more...a>

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:(

Low? am I, I think yes.

Am feeling quite low today and like most such times, I have no clue as to what’s wrong. Have no work to do in a long time now, I should love this but I am not. May be I am missing home but that is so almost always so that should not make a difference, missing IIT/friends? Can't be, I never do. Can't comprehend what’s troubling me which is further adding to my irritation.

Had a dream last morning, made me extremely happy while I was asleep and made me scream and sulk after I woke up. Made me wish I could choose what dreams I have or at least what dreams I shouldn't. I thought I had left some good times behind and never cared to revisit them but yesterday the times were brought back to life while all life ought to be asleep. Not that I felt those times and longed for them but the memories did make me happy. What's wrong about sticking to memories that make you happy?!! May be its to avoid the realization of what has been lost that I want to get rid of memories.

Ah, I hate it when I fail to think clearly. Let me put this down straight: Going down the memory lane makes you happy but when you come back to your present the absence of the beautiful past makes you sad. Dilemma... dilemma....

An empty mind, the devil's workshop. I need to do some work, give me some work to do......... :O :O that’s the last thing I ought to be saying. Gosh! something is surely wrong with me :P

Internship

Sitting here in the office located in the industrial estate near Bangkok this is the first time that I find myself lukkha enough to be writing a blog :) Boy I have been working the past three weeks phew!!! About ten hours a day, 6 days a week, and have no cribs so far.

A foreginer here, am pretty much enjoying it. And for once chemical engineering does not suck. Can pretty well understand what Harki meant when he said "try it once before you reject it".

Looking out through the window I can see lots of towers, reactors, chimneys... good lot of trees as well and a clear blue sea :) The view can hardly be described as anything less than breathtaking.

The place surely deserves further description but I also need to write about life after office ;)

The night life is extremely colourful, except for the thai rock that most places here play, puts a limit on the places one can go to. Have even started appreciating the quite melodious 'non-rock' thai music. The dazzlingly lit roads at night seem to energize people who venture out after a days tiring work. Have got some company as well now for night time adventures :D Arti, Gayatri, Jyoti, Dow, Saman, Bunjit, Annan quite a lot of new freinds :)

Hah, good days!! So far so good. Hope I continue to have the terrific time I am having and so does everyone doing PTs :)

hee haaa!!!

Third year, Chemical Engineering. Finished.

Ha ha!!

Finally finished the book "Da Vinci Code", back to back.

Some lines worth reiterating:

History is always written by the winners. When two cultures clash, the loser is obliterated, and the winner writes the history books - books that glorify their own cause and disparage the conquered foe. As Napolean once said, "What is history, but a fable agreed upon?"
By its very nature history is a one sided account.......
which always makes it worth the effort to uncover the other side of the story.

Every faith in the world is based on fabrication. That is the definition of faith - acceptance of that which we imagine to be true, that which we cannot prove. Every religion describes God thorough metaphor, allegory, and exaggeration, from the early Egyptians to the modern Sunday school. Metaphors are a way to help our minds process the unprocessible. The problems arise when we begin to believe literally in our own metaphors.
Those who truly understand their faiths understand the stories are metaphorical.
Religious allegory has become a part of the fabric of reality. And living in that reality helps millions of people cope and be better people.
"But it appears their reality is false."
No more false than that of a mathematical cryptographer who believes in the imaginary number 'i' because it helps her break codes.

Ha ha, I love this kind of intellectual crap that is so very right and thought provoking, yet is useless. Provides for a good topic of discussion and some conversation where you can show off your intellectual prowess.

Akash had called today just before he was about to leave for Delhi X-(. Said he was going to Corbett with flatmates, must be awesome!! I have never been out with freinds on any such adventure, lets see if that happens in the forthcoming year with a hell lot of lukkhas all around me. Was also a bit nervous about what would he be doing now that his three years of Economics Honours are over and he is a Graduate. One of those times when I feel thankful for being in a five-year course :D. Two more years to go before I have to worry about what would happen to me now.

Pursha, Shweta and a lot of other people must have flown today. Off to Germany!!! Must be a tragic flight, so many IITians on the same plane :P.

Well....

Two days of utter nothingness now. All I have done is slept, read, ate; slept, read and ate some more.... Am reading Da Vinci Code and have reached half way through which is where I abandoned the book twice. Would be completing this time mostly.

Haven't met any freinds yet. Infact haven't even spoken to any. Just called Shikha who is utterly busy studying all the time, she has changed and I am glad for her. Continues to be dumb as before but that is how I like her. Hope she finds some time to meet me, am looking forward to meeting her after such a long time.

Wonder why am I not enthusiastic about meeting school freinds this time. Had great plans the night I was travelling but nothing now. Come to think of it, most people are busy still. Shilpi, Bhargava and Purva: exams. Nila, yet to finish her project. Akash, enjoying in Delhi having finished his final year exams. A Good lot of my classmates have finished their graduation :O!! Most others busy doing nothing X-(. Essentially the regular lukkha company is all tied up and me in no mood to try new company to hang out with.

But the best part of it all is I am not at all bored. Spend the morning looking at newspapers, bathing and lounging around. Once Nishu is back from school he keeps me busy jumping all over me with all his energy. Its fun to be a kid :). After BulBul returns its time for everybody home for a nice little afternoon nap while I entertain myself reading. Evening, chat with mummy sitting in the balcony enjoying the cool breeze, which is a welcome relief from the hot winds that ought to be blowing this time of the summers. And before you know it the day is almost over. Dinner at 7:30 and some night time TV and pre-goodnight masti with BulBul and Nishu followed by bedtime chit chat and everybody goes to sleep and I listen to some music, check mail, spam and read some more. Sleep around midnight, which is pretty late given everyone else is asleep for almost two hours now.

Nothing eventful happening. Everything is so cool, calm and peaceful. Seems like its all happening on its own with no effort at all. I like it this way. Life just flows, ah!! may be this is what they call living with the flow.

ps: ya ya, I know its the effort behind the scenes that I am too carefree to see. But hey common! at times one can afford the luxury of ignorance.

Home Sweet Home

Okay, back into the home mode. But the nocturnal behaviour keeps me awake. Everyone is asleep and me online.

The Train Journey (Arghhh):

The train was late by 3 hours to begin with. It started at 6:30 when the scheduled departure was at 3:15. We spent the time at the Barista near National College. And to our surprise they didn't accept cards, just managed to scrape sufficient money for me Rathi and Harki to have a coffee each. The last coffee with Rathi in a long time to come.

Me and Harki were the only ones in the compartment till Borivali and had a good time dicussing the tactics of CS :D. At Borivali our co-passengers boarded. Two families, with a kid each; talk of 'good company'!! The next four hours were spent with me and Harki critically observing and commenting on everything our companions in the compartment did. The mobile phone girl who kept moving in and out of the A/C speaking on the phone also got her share of comments. Except for the ultra bad voice she was good looking. The foreigners in the coach also seemed to be enjoying the antics around them and were discussing stuff amongst them pretty much the way we were. Though I doubt if they were as critical about things as us. No conversation amounted to a meaningful and good timepaas primarily because none of what we talked of shaped into a discussion as Harki rightly put. It has become a habit of ours that only when things become discussions that they become entertaining else it is all, trivial talk.

Home (Finally):

We reached Jaipur at 3:30 more than 24 hrs after we left hostel and about four hours late. Home in another 15 mins.

Nothing changes at home, it is always the same. It makes me feel strange and relaxed at the same time, the unchanged and ever so familiar atmo at home. Same old activity early in the morning with BulBul and Nishu going to school, daddy returning from the morning walk, mummy and bhabhiji preparing for the days work ahead. The kaamwali moving around switching off the fans to disturb the sleep >:P, bhaiya reading the newspaper with his morning tea. Lunch and TV soaps when the bacchaas get back from school, the afternoon lull and lack of activity followed by sitting on the verandah on cane chairs in the evening while the kids go around with friends in the colony. All of this makes me feel relaxed because it gives me a hope that says living like this is still possible in today's world, the relaxed and easy paced life that I so much love. Strange, as I wonder at how I have changed since I went to Bombay that it makes me marvel and feel elated at the simple, straight forward ways of everyday life that were so much a part of my own life some three years back.

Am Back!

Hah, been reeealy long since I wrote something. EXAMS. Finished now :) As for "kaise hue?" Like I tell everyone, "Finished and forgotten".

Have played CS (Counter Strike) for about eighteen hours in the last thirty. You bet its fun, especially when I have a sniper, am damn good with it :D. Its fun when the entire wing is playing and you can discuss what a brilliant shot you took at someone while you have dinner during a break.

Would be homeward bound in about 24hrs from now. Home.... after a long long time. Thinking of it, I have stayed here in Bombay for almost 700 days in two years now. :O. Would be home finally, much to the pleasure of mummy, daddy and everyone else back home and of course, mine. Have got a confirmed ticket because PP has to do some project and can't go, ha ha. Have also bought Zishaan's bike after much negotiation and just before he got a better offer, ha ha again. They call me a 'Lucky Bastard', I don't mind ;)

Going home is different this time in terms of the fact that things would have greatly changed by the time I return. Am talking of the changes in the wing. Rathi, Inani and Hinger would be gone. Harki and PP would be 5th year Dual Degree students while Viren, Nillu, PC, Gangal, Bharti, Rohit Singh... all would be final yearites. Basically each and every person would be totaal lukkha and me a fighting DD student in his fourth year. Boy is it gonna be fun, you bet!!! Am already talking of times when I return, abhi to gaya bhi nahi hoon :P. I just hope the train is on time and more importantly we have good company.

Wanted to meet a friend today before I go home but I don't think this friend is interested enugh, am wondering whether I should pester or just let it be. Mostly I'll go with my let it be attitude and not bother anyone. Have lots more to write about this but I doubt how private is this blog??!

Exams

They are here!!!
Just 10 days of true hard work and i'll be through happily. But that hasn't happened the last five endsems I wrote.
I desparately hope I make it happen this time. God help me this one time please [-O<

Why guys like gals?

Read this at some restaurant, reasons why guys like gals:

1.They will always smell good even if its just shampoo

2.The way their heads always find the right spot on our shoulder

3.How cute they look when they sleep

4.The ease in which they fit into our arms

5.The way they kiss you and all of a sudden everything is right in the world

6.How cute they are when they eat

7.The way they take hours to get dressed but in the end it makes it all worth while

8.Because they are always warm even when its minus 30 outside

9.The way they look good no matter what they wear

10.The way they fish for compliments even though you both know that you think she's the most beautiful thing on this earth

11.How cute they are when they argue

12.The way her hand always finds yours

13.The way they smile

14.The way you feel when you see their name on the call ID after you just had a big fight

15.The way she says "lets not fight anymore" even though you know that an hour later....

16.The way they kiss when you do something nice for them

17.The way they kiss you when you say "I love you"

18.Actually ... just the way they kiss you...

19.The way they fall into your arms when they cry

20.Then the way they apologize for crying over something hat silly

21.The way they hit you and expect it to hurt

22.Then the way they apologize when it does hurt. (even though we don't admit it)!

23.The way they say "I miss you"

24.The way you miss them

25.The way their tears make you want to change the world so that it doesn't hurt her anymore.....

:D

Confusion :-/

Am not too sure of what I am thinking and not at all about what I am about to write. Nevertheless I have started writing, might say a lot not knowing where to stop and yet manage to say nothing of consequence.

There was some talk in class about success and respect and stuff that one aims for in life and the achievement of what makes one happy. It was in the lecture that followed that I could very well associate a seniors doubts.

Sometimes in life we get serious, and realize we should have been serious long way back. But I wonder, should anyone get serious at all ? Afterall, it seems we tend not to enjoy the little things which one should in everyday life. Or am I overdoing things? Overdoing the enjoying or being seroius, what? (maybe overdoing the thinking ;)) What is the secret to happiness? Aspire, aim and achieve, or be happy with what one has got? What do we live for? What is the final aim? Is there any? Is it the satisfaction in cherishing every moment of your life? Then why cry for something you couldn't achieve instead of being happy within? Is it so simple? Or is it out of our comprehension?

Here is how Ralph Waldo answered "How do you define success?"
To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!

Sounds impressive eh? But the questions don't seem to stop. Do I want Ralph Waldo to define success for me? Can't I have my own definition of success? My own criterion. Or may be have no criterion at all. Is that possible, to know if you succeeded without something to compare with? But why is it important to know if I am successful if I am happy anyways? I guess happiness is associated with the knowledge of being successful???!!!

Huh!!!! :))

Quizzes

Quizzes are an integral part of life at IIT Bombay.

Traditionally the term implies some funfilled event where a few supposedly brainy guys are being grilled with questions that seem to be picked up from the most unheard of texts that were published by even more unheard of people, while you can sit back and thank the Lord Almighty for sparing you the trouble.

IIT Bombay gives a whole new dimension to the word "Quiz", which here means a mini test. Its a collection of few questions on a very small part of the course syllabus that needs to be solved in hardly any time and handed over for evaluation. Generally a low key affair that everyone encounters now and then. Thought of by most students as an affair small enough not to study for and important enough to score well in if one wants to score a good grade at the end of the semester. At times a series of such not so important tests (quizzes) also provide a reason for celebration to some, celebration that involves eating out or a beer/vodka for the alcohol lovers, esseentially an excuse to get away from the mess they call "Mess" here at IIT. I'll talk about the mess sometime later :D

For those who haven't guessed the reason for this post yet, well I had a quiz today. Technically speaking, post traumatic stress disorder syndrome.

Weekend

The weekend just flew by, friday evening immediately after finishing lab I left for Pune with Chawla and Pursha. Reached Pursha's place at around 10:00PM, had dinner at some misc. restraurant followed by the worst cold coffee ever, at Apache.
Saturday was good with me and Pursha dropping Chawla at VIT and then indulging in some terrific lukkha :D. Two hours at Barista, two hours at E-Square and then another two hours watching 'The Forgotten'(good beginning and build up till the climax and then an absolutely disastrous finish) at E-Square. More than six hours after we left Chawla alone, he joined us for some food at McDonald's and more lukkha at CCD next to Pursha's house. After all this TP we got back home and had some more food watching movies and in bed. Saw The Leauge of extraordinary Gentlemen and Charlie's Angels, and I remember almost nothing of what happened in either.
Sunday we started leaving for Bombay at 2:00 PM and managed to leave only at 5:30 thanks to some commitments that Chawla and Pursha had one after the other; must say though, both of them kept me well entertained throughout for me not to notice the time. Somewhere during those extra incidental hours we spent in the city of Pune I learnt that India won the Kolkata Test against Pakistan :) and that Schumi lost at Sepang as well :( . Mixed Feelings.
And hence the weekend ended.
Back in my room at 9:30 with the entire hostel empty having gone to watch PAF (Performing Arts Festival) . But no more PAF talk. Have found out about the assignments to be submitted tomorrow and also have to study for the quiz on wednesday.

I feel like crying(for no reason that I can put in words) with lots of tears but the damned tears would just not flow :((

Word of caution

This is it, from now on I am not going to let anyone affect me to such an extent that it makes me do things that I know are wrong, spoil my mood and in the process spoil the mood of people around as well.

Bikers of the night...

After six hrs of lectures I was more than happy to join the gang when Torka asked me if I wanted to come for a ride at night. Chaman, Chawla, Torka and me; two bikes. We left with no idea as to where were we headed to.
Started at 10:00 PM.
10:30 Bandra Mocha, courtesy Chaman's 100 Kmph tryst with some guys on the Wester Express (needless to say we came out victorious with Chaman riding). No good crowd at Mocha.
Went to Bandstand to find no place at the Barista there. Chaman attempting wheelie with Chawla feeling happy about being behind Torka.
Reached Ghetto (Breach Candy) to discover only couples entry :P
10:50 Ice-cream at Bachelors on Marine Drive. Wheelie attemp successful, much to my horror.
11:00 VT Cafe' Mondegar. Nice place, few good faces but bad service and rude waiters.
12:00 Headed back but someone came up with the brilliant idea of going to Lonavala. Got the bikes fuelled and we were off. Fundoo and chilling ride with sudden rushes of adrenaline every time someone speeded past us and Chaman taking it as a challenge without fail on every occasion.
1:40 Lonavala. The nigth time valley was a beauty :) Thought of some special pepople for a moment, U-turn and back towards IIT.
3:30 Back in my room tired like hell and very dirty.
Thank God... No encounter with any cops.

Slept through the first two lectures in my room and the other two in the classroom. The prof. didn't even take attendance X-(

Now to do some work.... phew!!!

A long long day ends!!!!

No time to write any details but its been a very long day..... details tomorrow :D

Is someone listening

Got mumma's letter today. Reading just two lines "Happy b'day beta. And study well from now on". All her letters end that way "Study well", makes me feel real bad for not listening to her at times and at other times fills me with a sense of resentment. Why is that studying is so very important, doesn't she realise that there can be more to one's life than studying.... I want her to know that I miss her like hell and tell her about times when I need her near. The thought that it might trouble her prevents me from doing so.
I need someone whom I can trust and vent out all my rage and grudges. Lost those someones somewhere down the road not realising when it happened and now that I look back I see myself all on my own. I want to go back and cuddle up with them once again but I doubt if they would understand..... may be I'll just let things happen by themselves. Change they say happens all the time. May be these are the days when these people around me are changing and I am halfway through of letting go of them and admitting myself to the ones waiting for me ahead.

Jobless!!!

With Techfest the past ten months flew by keeping me involved throughout. I never had time to sit down and indulge in questions that never lead to any answers..... it saved me a lot of trouble, I never had to sit down in my room and wonder what to do, always had something or the other to do and if I were free I knew I better study.
Now that Techfest is history and I once again have a lot of free time I am distressed and scrambling to find something that would keep me occupied and away from the guilt of not utilising time properly. Must say doing nothing ought to be more fun than its turning out to be :(
Have bought a new comp but that is not helping me much, just providing more ways of spending time away from people and in not very fruitful ways. Seriously I feel utterly blank when I try thinking of somehting I'd like to do and wouldn't mind doing all the time.... just can't think of even one such thing, makes me feel pathetic at times. All I do is build castles in the air being absolutely clueless as to where to start in order to make those dreams come true or may be I'm just too laid back and lazy to embark upon any new venture.
Thinking of what made me work the days that have gone by leads me to believe that may be I need a reason that goes beyond myself to work. I was not the only one doing Techfest and my being lax in my work would have hurt the dreams and expectations of twentyone other guys and that was a risk I just couldn't have afforded. Something like how I ride a bike very safe with someone sitting behind me and much more freely and carelessly when riding alone. I like the freedom of riding alone/doing/not doing things as per my will but am a better rider/sensible person with someone behind me.