Mazaaa Nahi aa raha hai…

The 7 year itch : The inclination to become unfaithful after seven years of marriage Source

Now now, don't worry. Its not about the marriage. That's been hardly 7 weeks now and if you don't count the vacation,  hardly 7 days of a married mans life has been lived.

This is about something else. Sometime in August 2006, i joined a firm engaged in market research and consulting. Till then, my career was just drifting. Even this move could have backfired. I was hired as a, what it was then called, Temp. (Now of course we have a fancy sounding term for people hired in that manner – Research Associate). I was to work  on 1 project, roughly for 3 months and depending on my performance, i might be confirmed. The friend who recommended me, thought  i was perfect for the job. The guy who interviewed me was thinking short term – i could do the job at hand. For me, it was a nothing to lose situation. Worst case, i update my resume in 3 months!

In any event, it worked out well. I took to research like fish to water. Long travels, meeting people, gathering info, setting it out, learning tricks of the trade, giving “inputs”, team work so and so forth. Loved every part of it. Loved the way i grew into roles. From a researcher to anchor and project manager. Loved the interactions with clients, vendors,other stakeholders. Loved the chance to understand how businessmen think. How having money and/or power to impact things affects the way you look at the same scenario – you got to see those VCs or Management types rip apart your report. Loved the money i got. Loved the chance to see places i probably wouldn't have gone otherwise (Rural UP/ Uttarakhand/ Istanbul etc.) And the people i met and friends i made. It was good first 6 years.

And yet, now everything has changed. Everyday is Monday. Hate work related travel, even if it a couple of days. Hate having to go out and meet people. Hate client requests. Hate the futility of the entire effort in many cases. Hate the very idea of going out and meeting people and seeking information. For the past year or so, most work has been mechanically done. The phrase i used other day keeps coming back to my mind…cannot exactly pinpoint the reason though…….

Seeking a solution to the situation would have been easier if i knew what exactly the problem or possible solution is! Plus its no longer 2006 or 2010 where i had nothing to lose. Moving on as an experiment of on an impulse will not be the best course of action. and move on where? to what? Liabilities,responsibilities have to be factored in for decision making. Add to it the nawabi lifestyle.

Its going to be an interesting next few months – as i come to terms with the new and the old! Though one part is fun, doosre main mazaa nahi aa raha!

Twitter gyaan...

RT @SexCigarsBooze: Life is hard for those willing to do only what is easy.

2012: Life impacting year…

KS keeps saying that if you can’t remember what you did for the last New Year’s eve, you have had a good year.

Well i remember the last many years, and considering they have been better than many years before, that theory can be contested. Also,since last 2 New years were welcomed at G-Adlabs, it wasn't difficult  to remember.

And so, like the last few years, this one was also over in a jiffy. Albeit, unlike the last few, life changing events took place this year.

First and foremost, after a lot of thought, deliberation, balancing self respect (or ego if you please) with pragmatic decision,  i re-joined Feedback and completed a year. Peace of mind has been exchanged with petrol money. and other expenses. Though, as much as i earn, it never seems enough. But my car is happy, gets a lot of attention! Driving down to office must be the best part of the day on almost all days. Life is a challenge every day, some of it needless, frustrating as well.  There is chaos, confusion, insecurity and low self esteem to deal with. As someone said, i was nicely relaxing in a sauna bath, now i am bathing in a gutter. But at the end of the day, there is a sense of accomplishment (however small). Exactly what was being sought. And the habits picked up during the stay in Frost & Sullivan, when implemented here, help find a work life balance (or something like that). How i manage 2013 with this same setup will very well decide where my life goes.

As mentioned earlier, my faith in the Indian cricket team is being tested severely. But not so much that it can be called life changing -that would need death or destruction of  the world! To most people this will seem stupid, but the ODI retirement of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is one such thing. Because the ODI retirement points at the fact that the day when he will not step on the field to play is not far off. For someone who started following cricket in early 90s, he has been like the Queen. Always been there. A habit, as Harsha Bhogle said. For all his exploits in the Test Cricket, Sachin is an ODI great, nah, greatest of the greats! While he has been playing ODI on and off for some time, i really wasn't prepared for him to retire one day. To add to it, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman also retired this year. Will the next set of players deliver even half of what these stalwarts did? 2013 will tell.

And finally, i am now committed, engaged, whatever you call it. One fine day, i was single, next day i had a fiancée. Even with my normal decision making  speed, this was a surprise. Maybe her decision making speed added up. Maybe its all destined. Fact is, as the year is about to end, a new chapter in my life begins. 2013 promises to be interesting.

Happy New Year everyone!

Hazaaron khwashien aisi……

(Must have started this post about 2 years back. Wanted to list out 50 things to do before i die. But this really is a wish list…in no particular order……lets see how many are fulfilled…..) 

Wish…..

1. i could dance properly

2. also sing

3. to have a good handwriting

4. be in the cockpit of a plane of at least one flight

5. actually, own a plane someday

6. A fit body. chest out, stomach in. not sculpted, but fit

7. Dinner date with Katrina kaif. 

8. bungee jumping - though i chickened out when i had the chance at Pattaya...

9. Watch a test match live at all the best venues (MCG, Lords etc.)

10. a meeting with Federer

11. visit brazil

12. London of course.

13. own a SUV

14. and a few looong sedans. 

15. want to drive cross country, especially leh laddhak area

16. drive in Australia

17. actually, stay there for some time

18. own a mansion on Princes' Island

19. own a yatch too

20. run a marathon

21. deep sea diving

22. develop a taste for wine

23. have a butler

24. whack some people and they shouldn’t know 

25. Be someone from the past - what would have happened had i been the position Hitler was?

26. be someone from a fictional character - Micheal Corloene 

27. Make friends with foreigners. friends, not acquaintances

28. improve my voice, diction, presentation skills

29. home in matunga

30. a test century to my name

31. killing kasab was on the list, but GOI seems to have taken care of that

32. learn swimming

33. watch all the good movies ever made

34. and plays

35. do away with clients

36. always travel business class or above

37. a harley or a triumph bike

38. visit our neighbouring countries once

39. earn loads of money

40. play golf

41. Fly out to someplace on whim - feel like having a Thai massage, let’s go to Bangkok!

42. never have to worry how much money has come in

43. never have to worry about how much money has gone out

44. A trip to north east India (can u believe i have never been to east of India. the only time i flew east, i landed at Bangkok!)

45. Be able to draw. Not engineering drawing, creative.

46. understand all religions in the world, starting with Hinduism

47. Switch career. become a cricket journalist

48. trip to both the poles

49. Donate half my fortune to charity when i die. 

50. sue McDonalds, Dominoes , and others for making me fat

51. Become a bowler. i just can’t think as a bowler

52. never have to clean my house

53. own a Vanquish

54. be James bond for a day, all those gadgets

55. Walk around central park London, whenever i wish!

56. have a pet tiger

57. Sit on the edge of a cliff and drink. Check my luck and balance getting up then!

58. hot water shower always, whatever location, whatever season

59. have a say in the politics of our country

60. Clean up the system.

61. run 8-10 mms a day (heehaw)

62. jump down a skyscraper like in movies and open a parachute

63. bathe in the ganga (it takes balls - mostly dirty and cold)

64. write a book - thriller

65. poetry as well

66. a full member TA meet once a month, spouse and all

67. take out crime esp. rape 

68. participate in a F1 race as a driver

69. and also as pit crew member

70. Have my own gym. hate public gyms

Random: London, Bangalore, Istanbul...

That was a good London Olympics 2012. Now now, lets not dwell on what could have been..... :P

Though i got to admit, i found the visuals of Indian fans cheering on the athletes and dancing and celebrating all medals a bit irritating..... But then i just open the Thailand folder snaps before going on a drive and all is well.....

But that doesnt mean i did not have a blast for my 30th birthday.... Just that i did not go as per the plan i had made one evening many years back, to welcome it on the London Eye (maybe alone, maybe with someone).... Khair, TGIF in Bangalore with one of your closest buddies aint a bad way too! And considering the birthday went on to be something like a extended weekend party with CC, MP, MK, RR and ST involved - i'd say it all helped to soften the '30 complete' blow!

As i said earlier, whoever set out the close by 11 rule in Bangalore must have been a momma's boy......bought up on a 'do what you want to, be home by 11' instruction....otherwise a place that has some really cool places (like Khaja Chowk,Toit, most of Indiranagar actually, Kormangala is going to be checked out on next trip) to be out with friends and family, becomes like a ghost town by 9.30. By 11 it is a ghost town.... Now there are some benefits of it - empty roads where i drove MP's car, and the nice chilled discussions you can have with friends. (btw, is it just me or everyone starts hating places with loud music with age?). But still, except for 4th night, i was home by 11.30 max...... On 4th, i was home by 12.30!!

Spent most of my birthday wondering what Bangaloreans would make of Istanbul. Families are out there at 1.30, at parks, restaurants, market places on weekdays!!!! Plus thier airports are quite close to the city on both sides, unlike Bangalore which doesnt have its own airport and uses the one at Devanhalli village! Seriously, insomniacs would go, and do go to sleep on the way to that place! Most locals in Bangalore have an exxagerrated sense of distance - Brookfields 8km away was described as if its on other end of the world. By that logic, the airport is definitely at Hyderabad.

Bangalore definitely has better roads, atleast the main ones. And i love apartments that i saw there, ample space, balconies, and all quite breezy if you stay at the right place....

Same old, insomniac rants....

Its 1.30am. I am far from sleeping. Have to get up at 4am. But considering the plan for tommorow, i am likely to sleep soundly tomorrow night. Will have to, got to work on saturday as well. I am now truly back - 2 briefing meetings, 2 new project plans, 2 travel plans, one pending report and too little time. Song on mind - Somewhere i belong! Sadly, the CR will have to wait. Thats fine i guess, in theory its waited 12 years already :P

It was A's last day in the company today, she had started her work (and by extension, her career) with me on a project. She went out right after completing a project with me. ( no no,she didnt blame me, cited personal reasons). The company wanted me to ask her to stop, they didnt realise she was here for over 2 years cos i was asking her to stop. Hmmmm. Well, people move on.

The Turkey trip coincided nicely with the break in Indian Cricket. Its only when i came back that i realised, except for stray articles, i hardly followed cricket over the stay duration. Always believed i will die if i do not get cricket updates, but i guess i was wrong. Good work, Euro 2012 and a lovely place were good enough distractions to move on to.

I also survived living without paneer ( as we know it).

I wonder why Sachin just doesnt retire from ODIs. But since people far more qualified are struggling to find an answer, i wont even try to find.

Anyone excited about God's Particle? As a follower of applied Phyics, i am not. And trying to mix science and religion is irritating. ("Have we seen a glimpse of God??" asked Sagarika Ghose.)

Once in a while, very rarely, on a certain need based occasion, i do miss my bike. But then i go on a drive and the world is a nice place to be in.

I have a feeling i'll sleep in the meeting tommorow. And its chemicals :( second study in a row on chemicals, one more and i'll resign (again!).

Remember that medical test thing i had told you about. The only problem with me is extra weight it seems.

Blah blah and some more…….

Yes yes, i am mean cynical arrogant and all that, and so i hate Satyameve Jayate. I should be appreciating Aamir Khan is at least doing something compared to me who is doing nothing!!! So I am a bad guy. Apparently doing something, useless or not, is better than doing nothing. Even if the facts are questionable (53% kids in India have suffered sexual abuse, as per SMJ. So, 1 in every 2 persons reading this post? Any cross checks? No).This is where Aamir Khan's marketing wins. Raise alarm, bring in emotional angle, a song, pocket 3 crs, go home. I hope you are all crying buckets. What's the cause this week?

My bike is sold. That doesn't mean I'll feeling like God.Its a permanently installed feature. Inshallah, someday in the future I'll own a Triumph – Bonneville is good, but Rocket III Roadster pe dil aaya hai. Hmmmmm, that future is far away though.

Its the immediate future that is a bigger problem. But they tell me its normal when you are closer to 30.

IPL this year was simply amazing. Took up most of my last 2 months evenings. If someone tells me tomorrow, he fixed the entire thing, I'll congratulate him on the beauty of his script and implementation. Some people say the last few games were fixed in order to allow Chennai Super Kings win IPL again. So that means DD, MI and RCB all lost on purpose?? Which is plain stupid, considering MI can buy entire IPL, ICL and also SLC, WICB and PCB for that matter. Why wouldn't they fix and win if that option is available. You know, as a gift to Sachin Tendulkar.

Anyone found it funny that 2 married TA members went on a bike trip and the others sitting at home??

I haven't seen a movie since March. Once upon a time i could just walk upto a theatre and watch a movie alone. Not any longer. And now that all are busy or away, no company for movies. At least need to catch Vicky Donor, Ishaqzaade, Avengers maybe. Any others?

Any new books? I was thinking of the book by B.Raman on Indian intelligence agencies. No cricket books coming up, expect Rahul Dravid to come up with something. When is the 3rd Meluha book expected? Hope it doesn't disappoint, these series books run that risk. Ashok Banker's Ramayana series was like that, after a promising start, it was as if he was bored to death to write more.

In my last company,  I used to feel a bit lethargic and attributed it to weight gain. Haven't lost much since then, but i can confirm this –body and mind are not lethargic anymore. Nice work, good clients, interesting studies, challenging stuff at times, better time – work load management and life's good actually.

Plus the car is about to reach 10k kms. She seems to be a loud nowadays so i just stopped at the local garage, the guy says "normal awaaz hain, sound proofing check karalo". I say, "aisa kharab to nahi hona chahiye, pehle to itni awaz nahi aati thi." He says, "sahab nai biwi awaz nahi karti, poorani hone pe jaan kha jaati hain!"

Long time back, a bike mechanic had made a similar comparison – how behaviour changes once we are past the virgin stage! (was it Doc who said this? Don't remember. Getting old)

Anyway, old men need to sleep. At least try to. Important day tomorrow. IPL 5 final.

Moving on …….

Its overrated.

Honestly, people give a lot of talk about how miserable one is, how they keep thinking of the good times spent together, how you are missed in certain situations, look back fondly at the fights and all that. But believe me,  it all blah blah.

Once you decide that you have to move on, and you clear about the reasons of why you have to move on, its pretty easy actually.

Look at me, i have seamlessly moved from loving my bike to loving my car :)

Once i realised i am spending more on service than petrol, how am unlikely to use the bike for long distances and durations and someone could actually use the bike which is fairly well maintained (and i could always do with the money), it was an easy decision to sell the bike off.

Sure we had a good run, good fun, quick, efficient and at times gave the “Feel like God” feeling. Sure we had some fights too. All documented here, here, here, here,here & here. If you read all that, you may noticed not much happened in last couple of years, more so ever since she came into my life. 

Anyway, anyone wants to buy an Avenger? or know anyone who might be interested? Check Ad

On an unrelated note maybe, how do the XUV 500 and Fortuner compare? "

Woh mera tha, yeh batana ajeeb lagta hain….

tha jis ka hath hamesha hamaray hathon mein ....

abh us say hath milana ajeeb lagta hai ...!!!

Rare Pic of 'Taj Mahal' and its Garden, 1880's

Look at the bloody symmetry !!!!! 

Serendipity.....

Neeta Volvo did not do it.

Nor did Indian Railways.

Nor did ay hotels, restaurants, offices or places where people get upgrades for no extra effort or cost.

Well, Kingfisher sending me to Delhi in business class, at ticket cost of 4k!

And i get something i have always desired, leg room!!!!!

Serendipity - a pleasant surprise that you come across by accident, or something to that effect.

Whatever it is, feels good. (Though the accident in this case has some other victim - Kingfisher!)

Doesn't take much to make me happy, does it?

Stuff i worry about at night....

Early this week, Indian Express printed a report saying the government was spooked because some units of the army headed towards Delhi one night a few months back. Alarmist and stupid are some words that have been used to describe the report. Highlights mistrust and lack of communication between government and armed forces and all that. (I can only hope no one gets spooked when i head to Delhi next week. If at all, i hope there is co-operation, free flow of information, analysis and report writing!!)

But it is just plain politics. I tend to agree with a DNA article other day that implied its MMS making his chair safe with such leaks and like. A very good profile of MMS in Caravan magazine presents you the facts of how he has behaved under different leaders and times - Indira Gandhi, Emergency, Narsimha Rao, Sikh riots, Rajiv Gandhi, Janta Government, Nationalisation, Globalisation and all that. And it lets you decide about him. Read. (Read Caravan anyway, good stuff)

My dental treatment is postponed because of this Delhi trip. So i'll be seen with a broken tooth at Akash's wedding. But having done the full payment in advance, i am sure i'll get it completed. Unlike last time, when i told the dentist "shaam ko aata hu" and showed up last friday, a good 2 years later.

I have been thinking what gifts i have recieved from family, friends, colleagues, clients and relatives over the years. Not much. On an unrelated note, i quite liked the black Nokia Lumia 710 that Baba has bought...good bargain at 15k. Despite the touchscreen.

I was telling someone other day, between the core 5 TA members, we have now covered most of the world. Me - India. Akash - Africa. Clinton - Europe, Australia, US. Silky - Middle East. All of us have been to SE Asia. And Baba lords over Thane now!

How expensive will Brazil be? Looks like a place worth going. (not just the beaches, loads of other things too shown on TV).

Just no good movies nowadays. And no company either.

I am considering selling of bike. Poor thing just stands for many days and battery is discharged. No kick start is a pain. Might as well have someone use it properly. Know anyone intrested? Good condition, needs usage.

I say project management is same as people management. Some disagree.

Why do people look at cricket as Test/ODI/T20. Its bat v/s ball. Skill set v/s skill set. Equal fun in any format.

Been trying to put together a list of 50 things to do before i die. 7 of the 13 listed so far are cricket related. 3 cars related. 3 travel related.

I think one of the things i ought to add is a non-medicinal, non-harmful, non-addictive solution to insomnia.

Dard baantne se kam hota hain…..

I am pretty sure all of us have, at some point of time, pulled out a nail from wood.

Not always with the right tools as well.Rulers, pens bare hands, compass? Same old method. Dig out a bit of it. Dig out some wood around the nail. Scratch the surface around, hold on tightly from one side. Give some leverage and pull!!

Tooth extraction is exactly like that.

Thank god for local anaesthesia (and maybe the little prayer i said before the procedure started), i did not really feel much of it. But i heard it all. The digging, the scratching, the leverage, the pull. And then i saw the tooth being discarded.

But once the anaesthesia wore off, the injections in the jaw to administer the anaesthesia started hurting. And has been hurting since. And now, next step would be to put in a replacement tooth……

Something like hammering a nail into wood……

Not exactly. But you get the point. And once that is done, the other tooth root canal will start. My teeth are so screwed!

And what's worse is that the teeth trouble came at a lousy point of time. March. Taxes. On Saturday, i couldn't make out what hurt more – tooth or taxes!

Anyway, sad part is, both these things have combined and taken my economic situation back to square one 1 – in the RED! So camera and /or phone plans shelved. Vo to door ki baat hain, some books i had to buy have been postponed.

On, what may or may not be, a related note, i heard the original of “I’ll survive” the other day. Nice song.

I’ll survive. Guess all do.

Copy pasting draft posts.....

(All these are draft posts that i have collected over the last 3 - 4 weeks. Some started and stalled, some stalled at the heading stage and some stalled at the thought stage. I hate keeping drafts. So clearing those out)

A 5 year relation,or rather, this 5 year relation is gonna be very special for me. I think i can go ahead and have any number of sweethearts in my life, but time spent in this one, the comfort level, the joy, the fun, the milestones, the breaks, the 'others', the the kms clocked, all special, very special. Dear Tata Indigo LS (a.k.a Pappu!), its been a great 5 years!

The Indian team is in trouble in Aus and in Eng. No shame in losing, but being arrogant about its sucks. You will be back soon, i am sure.

I would be very surprised if the muslims in UP vote for Congress. Its the same bloody con act again and again. And they fall for it everytime. So, either they are too dumb or their votes are sold for some cash or other short term incentives. There doesnt seem to be any long term benefits for these guys.

Porngate - stupid people to be caught. It seems 40 other ppl were watching the same clips. But i would love to see how the moral high ground people would have reacted had the ministers been watching, say, a cricket match or TV soap. Because the issue isnt them watching porn, its them not paying attention to proceedings. And the manner in which our media went ballistic (the main stream media are anti BJP, pro Congress anyway,need an excuse), you would think thats a worse crime than murdering nurses or multi crore scams.

Rahul Gandhi for PM? Bullshit. There are many guesses about his intellingence, but i am sure he is smart enough (and well advised ) not to go down that path. Momma has shown the right way - head the NAC, let someone else be PM. You take credit, they take blame. And i'll reiterate - Priyanka Gandhi is going to be leading it for a long long time.... She is the real power....

Was a bit surprised to know other day that a newly married friend's wife has access to his FB account and cellphone. Was about to take that as a norm for married people, but second opinion from Silky stopped me. I think i have another pre-condition....., 'Thou shall not touch....'

Man, went shopping for kids stuff with Silky. Fatherhood's expensive in more ways than one! 7-10k for cradles! Baby seats for cars, 6-7k! Baby clothes, pregnant women clothes,this pump, that pump, what not! Phew! ( Silky is right, the rest of us will gain from his experience. The rate at which he is moving, he will have ample experience!)

5k tales is now 6k tales already.

(Thats all. Look like mini posts.)

i think with age, my attention spans are getting shorter.

Meaningless post

Being insomniac after a long time. Maybe something to do with Mumbai heat being on its way back.

Been meaning to post a lot over the last days – 5k tales, break-ups, hangovers, marriage, movies, cricket and new job.

Avoid Agneepath. I could have been a good movie. But for Karan Johar. kheeeeeeeechhhhhhhhhhhhkkkkkkkkkkeeeee   choda hain….

Welcomed back to Feedback finally – spent 26th Jan working in office…… though i am thankful for the 3 week honeymoon period…..

Where the F is Anna Hazare nowadays…..

I wish i could be in UP around this time….. election time!

Ah, that reminds me, Uttaranchal. Well, udhar bhi election hain. But its beautiful. Regret not uploading the snaps on picassa, may have lost most of them in a hard drive issue.

As i was saying, beautiful.

TA has decided i need to get married ASAP. Silky will be very busy with daughter soon, Doc with wife. Horny Dog and MK also moving out. Clint may not travel to Mumbai as frequently now,with his parents shifting to stay with him (all the best mate!), and that leaves me Baba and NK. Now, if long winded stories is all i had to listen to……

Like this bit below……. From the movie Up In The Air

Ryan Bingham: If you think about it, your favorite memories, the most important moments in your life... were you alone?
Jim Miller: No, I guess not.
Ryan Bingham: Hey, come to think of it, last night, the night before your wedding, when all this shit is swirling around in your head, weren't you guys sleeping in separate bedrooms?
Jim Miller: Yeah, Julie went back to the apartment, and I was just by myself in the honeymoon suite.
Ryan Bingham: Kind of lonely, huh?
Jim Miller: Yes, it was pretty lonely.
Ryan Bingham: Life's better with company.
Jim Miller: Yeah. 

Got this from Bhaiya’s ‘i am so shit scared’ blog post just before marriage….. read, if you have to!

For the first time in my life,i am glad an official trip has been cancelled. or rather postponed. As it turns out, all for the good! A much more interesting project came my way now!

One for the label 'Random'.....

So, i left for office today morning. And walked down to auto stand, with the auto standing right outside the Hanuman Temple. The auto guys know me, so i just get into the first ric.

This another guy came from the opposite direction. Like many Indians, he has this habit of spitting. And he did just that. Right in the space between the auto and the temple parapet. The auto guy was livid about the fact that how can one spit in front of a temple. (though i think he was more upset about the other guy spitting so close to the auto). Got out and started yelling

"arey tumko dikhta nahi kya, bhagwaan hai idhar..... Blah blah....."
"arey dada nighuya kai, ushir hotoy"
"arey saaheb asa kasa ha vaagtoy, thobadit dyachi hyaala"
The other auto guys converge.
"arey ka yevda arda orda. Dev kuthe nahi aahe saanga maala??"

Silence.

Then one of the older auto guys told this young man to get on with his job and the spitter walked away.

"Tumhi hota saaheb, mhanun to vachla. Shikshe cha parinaam aahe ha, mhanun mhantaat, shikshit lokkanchya ayushyat aaram asto, vichar karun vaaghtaat"

"Hmmmm. Jau dya aata, tension gheu naka, yeda hota to."

(This thing did not happen. As in, the spitting bit happened, It irritated me a bit and the auto just moved on. But i was just wondering, what would have happened if an alternate future existed from that point. Can i spin a yarn around a theme? What if the spitter was muslim? And so on. Not a successful attempt. Will make another one, like Run Lola Run. Needs imagination.)

Sleepless in Pattaya.....

No no, sleepless here only. No more Thailand stories....

It seems i have bored most of the world in the last few weeks with my Thailand stories. Can't help. I have told everyone who cared to listen about my adventures in Hyderabad, so you can very well understand the excitement in telling and retelling the stories of Thailand trip...

But i guess now is the time to close that story (and hope a new one starts soon!)

Most of you must have seen the snaps. But they dont tell you the full story! And if you want to hear the full story, meet me over a drink! (hot or cold, take your pick)

In the meantime,i'll try and keep myself busy with job hunt (top priority), dental procedures (its reaching that stage where it HAS to be done), gymming and jogging ( guys, dont laff) and so on.

TA also just had a nice little vacation. Next such thing may possibly happen in December, because as usual with TA things did not go as per plan (the whole world conspires for that!). Actually, if you believe that " Is shiddat se maine tumhe paane ki koshish ki hain, ki poorani kaynat ne hame milane ki saazish ki hai" logic, then maybe TA is getting what they wanted? Hmmmm..... Concerned people may introspect and confirm....

My Punto has reached 3300 kms. In the 3 TA cars purchased in the last few months, i think i am second highest user, close to Silky and faar faar away from Clinton's 700 kms! But then he will make one road trip and......

Chamak Challo is good! Despite Kareena....

Why do i seem to be the only one who thinks 'Mausam' will be a good movie..... And thats a sad sign cos i had thought 'That girl in Yellow Boots' will also be good.... It isnt. But having made half hearted attempts and made lousy presentations myself, i understand. Better luck next time.

Bored of typing.

Minutes of the meeting......

Occasion : TA meet
Date : Sometime in 2003, 2004
Members : Any 2,3,4 or 5 of the TA members.
Topics discussed :
kahan baithe, paise hain na?
saali bhatta kutti ne sab barbaad kar diya, Thale mast tha....
dude, make sure you get all the writeups from Megha, we can copy then....
congratulations dude, placement ho gaya!
Kya sab ko bike pe aana hain kya, someone will have to take a ric!
Saala, hamara first class sunke uski shakal hi utar gayi.....
Yahan wahaan apply kia hai, dekho ab....
Ab bas MBA ki planning hain.....
Where will be in 5 years from now?
Dude, take up something, better than sitting at home, i hav started doing something with this company that sells sim cards.....

Occasion : TA meet
Date : Sometime in 2005, 2006
Members : Any 2,3,4 or 5 of the TA members.
Topics discussed :
aaj gaya tha interview ke liye, dekho lya hota hain.....
Arey silky jaa raha Doha, usko kuch gift dete hain, TA ka group photo.....
Arey public interview leti hain ki saale sadistic pleasure.....
How is your CAT training coming along....
Dude, i am off for MBA....
Bhaisaab, udhar apply to kar do....
They have sent an offer letter, accept kar lunga.....
Isko shayad ghar tak chod ke aana padega.....
Arey mera boss kya dimaag ko shot hain.....
Ghar pe baithoe to shot hain, TP ke liye bahar niklo to shot hain......
Its a small company, but still better than nothing yaar.....
Kal ek interview hain, lets hope it works out, its into market research and all.....


Occasion : TA meet
Date : Sometime in 2007, 2008, 2009
Members : Any 2,3,4 or 5 of the TA members.
Topics discussed :
Saala din raat kaam chalta hain,....... 11 baje ghar pahuch raha hu...... yeh koi life hain?
Kuch kuch naya seekhne ko mil raha hain...........
Bas bhai, ab MBA vagera ho gaya..... ab to tu shaadi market main hain,......
How is it working out with ...... ghar pe baat huyi?
Chal koi nahi, aur kahin ho jayega.....
I will also go abroad and do, arey agar utna investment main kar raha hu, to return bhi to hona chahiye na, aur fir yeh to ek saal main ho jayega, aur fir mere ek dost ne.........
Bhai, promotion huya to kaam bhi bad gaya ab bahut......
Chalo yaar, paav aaaya hain mil lete hain.....
Man, she talks, i listen..... same story everywhere mate....
Bhaisaab, hum bhi MBA ka dekhlete hain.....executive to kar hi lete hain.....
Saala yeh mast hain, bike meri aa rahi hain, test drive Akash kar raha hai.....
Chaila job vagera ka problem hi ho raha hai......
See you cannot always go against your family yaar, one has to be responsible.....i am sure its the same story at your place .. (yes)


Occasion : TA meet
Date : Sometime in 2010, 2011
Members : Any 2,3,4 or 5 of the TA members.
Topics discussed :
TA is a global entity now……
Kaunsi gaadi se chale……
Its not working out dude, tera kya chal raha hai........
Bas yaar meeting, talking with ppl....lets see,parents ke haath main hain ab to.....
I was telling someone the other day, TA has 4 cars, 5 bikes and most of them are hardly used nowadays…..
Yaar vo ab tak settle nahi hua hain....
Man, we are indulging ourselves……
Somehow, there is no fun, go to office come back, go to office......
Apna business start karna hain yaar...... I want to be my own boss!
Bhaisaab, ye log to ready ho gaye......
Man, one wicket down, Silky getting married in December......
Man, its ending. TA will not be the same again....
Chaila, kuch to problem ho gaya...... same story , ego....
Yeh megamaaz hain, 2 petrol cars from Airoli and Koparkhairane traveling till Belapur to meet up….!!
Think where we were 5 years back…


Snaps from the last full member TA meet…….







Times change, topics change……. People don’t!!! Still as much fun!

The end of the twenties....

Actually, depends on the way you look at it. Some people say the 30th year has started so you are 30 for all practical purposes and some say you are 29 till your next birthday. I, being a realist (tending to cynical) would say i am closer to 30. This is also comes from a habit i picked when working in Feedback - roundoff any number to the nearest whole number.

Anyway, what does that mean? Some people say this is a nice year to reassess what you wat from life. Some say this is the time you learn from the experiences of last few years, comparing what i got to what i wanted 5 or 10 years back. And have more realistic goals for the future.

I say, cant we just get up and go to office like the previous years. Thats a good enough goal, no? Thats gonna be my plan for the thirties.... Wake up and go to office. But for that I need to sleep......

Testing my luck....

Ok, we know about TA luck, my luck and so on. (No, this is not about the Thailand trip,that is happening, expect for number of participants, rest all is as per plan).

Do not laugh, because it is not funny. I am serious. Today, i did the unthinkable. I have registered myself for the 2012 Mumbai Marathon, to be held in January 2012. 21 kms. The idea is not so much to win the marathon as it is to participate and compete. (IOA and Dhoni's spirit of cricket zindabad!). The idea is also to make myself getup and go ahead and prepare for the marathon. By doing that, i might just to do my body and soul a favour in terms of fitness. As my 20 minute brisk evening walk ( ok, ok, stroll) showed, i am far from fit to walk the 21 km, let alone run. (I think, after Thailand, i'll join a gym in some distant place like mulund or koparkhairane. That way, i'll put my car and bike to better use as well.)

Now, you may wonder how does my luck get tested here. Its simple - i have registered, but it seems my participation will be confirmed by the organisers on the basis of a lottery system. Historically, i have never been a beneficiary of any lottery system. So I shouldnt expect to be selected here as well. But, we know, in my case, if anything that can cause some trouble is likely to happen, it will. And what would cause me greater trouble - being selected and working out OR being rejected and same lazy life?

Its funny, i would infer my luck has improved, if the lesser of 2 sad things happen!