And thus it ends

Dilip Kalra is finally bidding adieu to US. Atleast for now that is! After completing 3 years in Auburn Hills, he has decided that India is the place to be for the time being. His reasons are both professional and personal, but the post is not about that.

I have a few very close friends, but in the workplace Dilip is definitely the closest. It has taken us few years to reach a level where I can understand what he means when he messages 'iwbti2m'. And it would take years to reach that level with someone else, if at all that happens. Anyway, so why so much fuss about Dilip? Well, here's something about him - he is a kind of guy you want to be around. The qoute 'Ek anaar aur so bimaar' was made for him I guess. He is funny, enthusiastic, smart and caring. All of us have one or more of these qualities, but it is rare to see all of them in one person.

Ofcourse we had our share of fights. But as per my philosophy, you fight with people who are close to you. And the closer you are, the worse the fights. Anyway this is not about the fights either. It is about how over time you can get close to someone, and give them a special place in your lives. In these relations, distance doesn't matter. You can meet them years later in a third country and feel the same closeness as you once had.

So Dilip, just wishing you all the best. Hope you get all that you wanted .It can be a tough call as the things you wanted changed every day - from being a local neta, to open a business, to develop a village, to quit working and start teaching and what not. Wishing that you achieve anything you desire and more.

Something something...

I had been thinking about writing a post for sometime now.. but nothing came to mind.. So i will just jot down whats happening in life..

We had our quarterly project party on Saturday.. It was fun.. DJ Amri hosted the party... Participated in some games, antakshari, ate food etc. Also got a medal for best sportsman in tennis (surprise!).. anyway all in all, nicely done. The food didnt impress me though..

The work on MBA is still STUCK.. If anyone of you reads this, please kick my a** and get me moving!! The time is running out like crazy.. But did do one good thing. Went to visit Ross school on Thursday. Was there for the whole day, even attended a class. That was nice experience. Also gave a tip to the professor for his next class :-)

I have been shopping a lot more frequently the past 1 year.. I guess I am making up for the lost time! My taste is getting better and better.

Almost forgot.. I am getting kicked out of my present apartment. Somehow bedbugs ended up here, and the management has decided that they dont want us here. So looking at a new place now. It is much better than the present one. Don't know why we stuck with shi**y Bloomfield Villas for so long. It really sucks!! Good riddance in a way :-)

Something funny...

One of my friend recently recounted the following story to me... I had to share this one :-)

Just for the records, this actually took place!! One desi guy was in the restroom when he saw his client there. He asked the client 'How you doing?'. To which the client replied - 'The same way you are'.

Sweet victory

Yesterday me and Ganesh completed our q-final match against Suchit/Pai the veterans.. It was very windy, not very ideal conditions to play tennis. But still there was no other go as Ganesh is all set to leave for India this Saturday. Anyhow, we won our doubles encounter!!

To be fair, it was expected of us as we were already leading 6-3, 5-7, 3-1. Still finishing the match actually was a relief. We had couple of match points at 5-1 itself with Suchit serving at 15-40.. But we failed to capitalize on that, with both me and Ganesh making some mistakes. Anyhow, we finally broke Pai at 5-3 and we are now into semi-finals!! And now the fun begins :-).. Ganesh won't be here so organizers have to decide what to do next. Either a by to the semi-finalist team, or one more chance to Suchit/Pai, or get some other team to play, or allow me to have another partner. In any case I am happy. Reaching semi-final is pretty good in itself.

You can follow the tennis news @ http://infytennis.googlepages.com

Then and Now

I was washing clothes yesterday. By washing I mean I put the clothes in washing machine, then put in the detergent and switched on the machine. Later put the clothes in drier, and I was done.

This lead me to think of how I used to get clothes washed in Trichy. Those were some fun times!! Had to wash a bunch of clothes myself as we couldn't afford BHEL rates for them. So we used to pick up the clothes, detergent, bucket and a mug and start the manual process of washing the clothes. It used to be quite an effort. Then put them on a wire to dry them. Clip them so that they don't fly away!! Even when giving the clothes to BHEL, we had to sort out the clothes to be given. Walk all the way to the bus-stand outside the college (used to be quite a trek!). Then wait for bus in ths sun. While coming back too get in some bus crowded with people of all kinds. Then experience the strange mix of smells of liqour/sweat/vegetables etc that was bound to open any closed nose :-).. Anyway fight with the conductor to stop the bus at REC. Sometimes jump from the running bus. Then go back to BHEL once again to get the clothes back. Wow!! I had never imagined at that time that life could get as easy as it is now. But then, whats the fun in easy?

Life happens

So many things are going on in life, but still sometimes I wonder that nothing has happened. Maybe because there is no progression. I am the same person I was say an year ago, with nothing significant to show for the time spent. Except ofcourse all the fun times.

Tennis season is not going that well. I am out of the singles. Upendra defeated me in quarterfinals in a 3 setter. Hmm, I think I should have won, but he won, so he must have played better than me. I am happy with the way I am playing though. Tennis court is one place where time just flies for me. Playing tennis is maybe the thing I enjoy doing the most.

It is raining almost daily now. Sometimes it causes elation, but generally the weather looks gloomy. This is surprising as I love rains! Maybe the gloom has to do with something other than weather. I have been setting goals for myself relating to my MBA. And I have been failing miserably. At this rate I don't know what is in store for me. This is the rootcause for all the worry I guess.

Bhaai has given his MLE part 2. Finally :-).. I am happy for him. Hope the result comes soon and he scores well. We both are pretty stationary careerwise. But atleast he is working hard to move. I need to start too.

Lost in thought...

He was wandering aimless in a strange desert. It was beautiful but something was missing. He was looking for an oasis. Just when he least expected it, he saw it. He ran hard. He ran like a madman. And before he realized he had left everyone behind and was all alone. Even the oasis was left behind. But for some reason he decided to keep running, now away from it. But his eyes were still fixed on it. So he fell down pretty hard.

He immediately got transported to some other world. This world was scary. It was like a big black cage with no walls. Once inside all you see is yourself. It was as if he was in midst of a dark storm. The only way to get out was a tiny hole in a dark cloud way up in the sky. A single ray of light was barely making through it. He had to transform himself into a thought to get out. So he focussed hard. It took him a month but finally he was able to come out.

He was back in the desert at the same place where he fell. The oasis was not visible anymore though he could swear at the place where he last saw it. But he was not alone anymore. Everyone was walking just a couple of steps ahead of him. He decided to keep the distance. He was just glad to be back.

The Movie of my Life

The Movie Of Your Life Is An Indie Flick

You do things your own way - and it's made for colorful times. Your life hasn't turned out how anyone expected, thank goodness! Your best movie matches: Clerks, Garden State, Napoleon Dynamite

If Your Life Was a Movie, What Genre Would It Be?

The cricket of marriage

Venkat: Did you hear? Parag's marriage got fixed?
Jeevan: Oh, is it? Including Suchit, Deepan and Shash, this is the 4th wicket that we have lost.

Venkat: Yeah, Bachelor team is losing wickets left and right.
Jeevan: So when are you planning to get out?
Venkat: Oh, I will play a long innings man. Don't worry!

Jeevan: Take care, dont get out in the nervous nighties!
Venkat: What do you mean?
Jeevan: Dont get excited after watching your brother's marriage.
Venkat: Oh! No man, I am safe from that. I am playing good defense :-)
Jeevan: Good.

Venkat: What about you? When is your wicket falling?
Jeevan: Match fixing is going on man. Lets see what happens.
Venkat: Oh so bookies are playing their part. Good :-) But in the end, it's all a matter of a good ball. A single good ball is all it takes to end a nice innings.

Jeevan: Very true!! As of now I have not played any good balls.
Venkat: Yeah, but sometimes you can get out even when the ball is not good.

Jeevan: Yeah? How can that happen?
Venkat: Benefit of doubt factor!
Jeevan: Care to explain more?
Venkat: With pleasure! You know in these kind of matches, parents appeal after each and every ball! If the batsman gets benefit of doubt, your wicket is safe. But if that doesn't happen, you might fall even for a mediocre ball that doesnt deserve your wicket!!

Jeevan: Satya vachan :-)
Venkat: So guard your wicket closely for those balls. And when good ball comes, step away and leave the stumps wide open :-)

IMDB Rank 3 - Godfather II

This movie is a classic and won 6 oscars ! The acting of Al Pacino is great, and he looks in full control. Thats why you would expect of a Godfather! Even the flashbacks to Don Vito's life are nicely done, and Robert DeNiro has given a great performance. The movie also touches a emotional vein. It tries to depict how broken Don Michael really is from the inside. The very family he is protecting, is slipping from his hands. And he is not able to do anything about it. He must do what he sees is correct and honorable. The acting of other actors such as Robert Duvall (Tom Hagen), Diane Keaton (Kay) is also a very balanced one. Good movie all in all, but it wont be anywhere near No. 3 in my list :-)

Best dialogue? Michael says 'There are many things my father taught me here in this room. He taught me: keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.'
Also his dialogue to Senator Geary - 'My offer to you is this. Nothing.'

IMDB Rank 2 - Godfather

I love this movie!! I had read the novel prior to watching the movie. So it was not a great experience the first time I saw the movie. But then I saw it a couple of times more, and I could see why it is all time Number 1. Coppola has really put in a lot of effort and one can appreciate that he has tried his level best to do justice to the novel. You gotta give it to the man :-)

One scene I liked best? Al Pacino is standing outside the hospital after his father was attacked. His hands are not trembling at all when he lights the cigarette for Enzo, the baker's son in law.

IMDB Rank 1 - The Shawshank Redemption

Before I review this movie, just wanted to clear that the rankings are not mine. If I have to rank the movies then it would be a somewhat different list. The rankings are arrived at by averaging the general rating given by viewers (over 2 lakh votes!)

Now back to Shawshank Redemption. I have seen this movie many times now, and I still dont get tired of it. Wow, what a movie!! This movie ranks in "my" top 5!! Director Frank Darabont has directed a classic!! And Tim Robbins ad Morgan Freeman have given performance of a lifetime!! The USP of this movie are its dialogues. They are just awesome. Who can ever forget Red's dialogue -
"I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend, and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope."

Scene I liked best? - Oh God, there are so many! Still this one stands out. Lawyer accuses Andy on how "conveniently" the gun couldnot be found. To this Andy replies "Since I am innocent of this crime, sir, I find it decidedly *inconvenient* that the gun was never found."

Mission: IMDB Top 100

I am embarking on a new mission :-).. I have seen tons of movies, so decided why not go for some Top 100 list. As IMDB is my favorite site for checking the movie rarings, I decided to see Top 100 movies as given by IMDB. To this end, I have even taken a netflix account. Only thing left is to see how far I can go! Will keep you updated :-)