Family

My friend stands solemnly in the middle of the room, readying for his speech. It's a difficult thing this; doing what he has to do now, but do he has to. And so, he clears his throat, and calls upon all. "Dear mates. I know you all have been living comfortably in the pitiful surroundings I've made. With great regret in my heart, I have to ask you to pack your belongings and leave. The act I am going to embark upon now, is something that's not wanted by me, nevertheless, I presume it's for the good of all." And so saying, he starts cleaning the room. No sooner he does the first sweep, that lizards and roaches run hither-and-thither from-and-to every nook and corner of the room. "Bloody d***heads... Didn't I ask you all to leave?"

After 3 years of our stay here; dunno what's got into our owner's head. All of a sudden, the bathroom floors are being tiled; the leaking faucets are being fixed; the floors are being scrubbed; the house is being painted, and we have been burdened with the task of cleaning up after them. No one will need a landmark to reach our house anymore. It itself has become a landmark. "Oh.. The house where the 4 sweet boys stay? Its the one that's painted flourescent yellow, with dashes of orange... You won't miss it even if you have your eyes wide shut..." I sometimes stand in our balcony, and the girls from the PG opposite, keep staring at me gawky-eyed. It took a while for me to register that they weren't admiring me, but the way our house stood out amongst the rest. Like bold dashes of paint on a clean canvas.

It's been close to 7 years that I have been living with my friends. They have been my family outside home; and have come to become an integral part of me. One left to the US today; and the other will journey to London in a couple of days. And as I ready myself to disembark from this stage and step into another, I find myself becoming a loner. Someone told me once, "I think your friends make you so complete that you have never found the necessity for a companion in your life." Maybe its rightly so... That I should journey these few days alone. Maybe its rightly so... That I should learn to live a life without them... to give up this life of noncommitance...

As I part, I have this memory of us sitting on the stone steps of the stadium; eyeing the doe-eyed high-jumper. Its twilight and the moon is bright, glistening on our sweaty foreheads... There is a calm breeze, that feels like the touch of an angel... Everyone laughs... and I have a wide smile on my face... wide as the valley of Leh.

The Beauty and The Beast

Nay... This isn't a fairy tale or something... though some do indeed believe that am pretty good at spinning a yarn... ;o) This is about reality... How an irresponsible, druggy-eye-looking, tongue-wagging, sweating, wild-beast is moving into a social relationship.

Someone please save her !!!!!

*knock* *knock*
Who's there???
It's I... Rithish... It's my birthday... You asked me to remind you... remember???
oh.. well.. yeah... thanks bub... now lose yourself...
*slam*

Well !!! In stark contrast to most years, there is an overwhelming wealth of wishes flowing in this time. It could be 'cos -

1. my friends-list has grown in number.
2. my old friends have somehow managed to remember my birthday this year.
3. everyone is using the latest in birthday reminders (aka orkut).

I will force myself to believe it's the former two, and not the latter as it goes well in pumping my ego. ;o) I am one shy of thirty now (I know.. I know.. But I look and act as if am just outta college), but somehow can't get myself to believe that I will be entering middle-age next year. geez... Isn't there any difference? Maybe there is... Maybe not... I will tell you in a decade... I will know by then...

There is another who shares a birthday with me... none other than my vroomer... My bike turns two today (I know॥ I know.. But he looks brand new)। Guess his secret is that he likes taking women for a ride.. **pun unintended**

Today is one of those days in the year, that I contemplate the days gone by... and myriad thoughts flow... remember the people who have helped me be effervescent... and those whom I would love kicking in the face (I know॥ I know.. am a sadist)। Today is one of those days that come what may, you will not be able to wipe that silly grin off my face... :o)

Mate... How will I wish you, if you don't remind me about your birthday??? And how can I congratulate you, if I don't know where you are joining???

I am joining MPhasis next month and this is going to be my last week in Tally (I know.. I know.. you feel like ramming a brick down my throat). I completed four years in Tally on the 17th of March... four years... four wonderful years... It has been a great journey till now... the wind is in the sails... the sea is calm ahead... the horizon beckons... and so I continue...

I have six honest serving men, who taught me all I know. they are - Who, What, When, Why, Where and How.

My blogs usually dwell on stuff like what the-girl-next-door-wore-for-the-party-tonight or how-much-I-enjoyed-kicking-the-9-out-of-her-boyfriend... Real sadistic stuff that most of my sadistic friends enjoy much reading about... ;o) This time however, I will not tread the trodden path... Hence, my friends, be forewarned that you may be in danger of sleeping off in front of the monitor... Continue at your own peril...

I list down some of the notions that the world in general has, and what I think of them...

1. Most people quit companies because of their managers...
   
   Is that the right way to perceive it? No... I definitely don't think so... Let us do a simple analysis... If you quit, who is going to lose?
   
   (A) Definitely your company... It would take them much time and money to replace any individual.
   (B) Definitely you... You have built yourself, built your contacts, gathered respect in the company brick-by-brick... To rise to that level again, in a new company, from scratch, is a tall task indeed...
   (C) Definitely NOT your manager... Your manager is as much an employee of this company, as you are... Today, he is managing you... Tomorrow, there will be another...
   
   Bottomline : Is it worth risking the loss 'cos of your manager? For Chrissakes, Do Something... Talk to your manager... Change your team... Shift to a different project... Do something... But don't QUIT with that reason...
   
   
2. People want to join the military force 'cos they want to serve the country...
   
   One can serve the country better by becoming a teacher... The noblest profession in this planet...
   
   Bottomline : Sheer nonsense...
   
   
3. Bips looks hotter than Ash in DHOOM-2...
   
   Bottomline : I absolutely concur...
   

Well!!! The last one did have a sadistic touch... ;o)

2222 days... since I started my bachelor days away from home... 2222 days.... since I came down to Bengalooru... 2222 days.... six years and odd.... since I passed out of college... I am growing old... old... is something that my friend likes growing... he isn't getting promoted 'cos he does not look old enough... that cracks me up... really... he is growing other things now... not carrots and tomatoes in the backyard... but on his face, neck and chest... a lot of hair... like King Kong... kings get invited to dance a lot... once I got invited too... not that I am a king... I had to politely decline... 'cos I dance like an elephant... little does she know that... would have trampled her feet to glory... but I dance better than I cook... now you know how good my cooking is... that should dissuade you from accepting my invitations... if I ever invite you that is... I only cook sumptuous food... lots of carbos... and nutrients... and minerals... and what-not... the easiest food a bachelor can make... and have... Maggi of course...

I must be cracking up... that too you must have gathered by now... and concur...