Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Marriage Obsession

Today I went to attend the reception of my good friend. While I was at this ceremony, I managed to meet many people. Most of them had only 1 thing in their mind. When shall my elder brother get married? Everyone had at least 2 good contacts for my brother. Well, I don't have issues with people being interested in playing Cupid. I as just wondering how our society is obsessed with marriage...

All I shall do in this blog is post 10 things that aunties had to say in that function

1. Son, now you have got all settled...When will you get married?
2. Do you already like some one?
3. You will not get good girls!
4. Your x cousin's y's Aunt's Son-in-lAW's father-in-law has a beautiful daughter...
5. Your hair is getting white!
6. If you dodge these things you may end up being bachelor
7. Your parents are so tense about you
8. It's ok to be nervous...even your uncle was nervous..
9. You need to start somewhere...why not start in this shaadi itself!

Supremely Hypothetical

10. Are you gay???


I shall end this blog on just one note...
An idle mind is a devil's workshop but an idle aunty's mind is a marriage bureau.
- Jay

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Childhood

Childhood
Of frocks, ribbons,
Tooth fairies and toy guns.
Of times when smiling was easy.
Carefree!

This was actually an Akanksha assignment. They gave us the word 'childhood' and asked us to write a few (5 obvi) lines in the Cinquain form. Hope you guys like it!
Love
Sangeetha



Tuesday, October 20, 2009

What would it be like?

To be someone else for a change…
To meet yourself for the first time and see what kind of first impression you make on people.
To befriend yourself and see how much fun you are to be with.
To see your own name on the chat list, ping yourself and see how well you converse.
To call yourself, listen to your caller tune and hear how your voice sounds on the other side.
To be the person who comes to you in crisis and see how much you can comfort others.
To be the person you go to when you are low and experience how silly you can get.

Just one lifetime… and you can only be one person. I don’t know why the thought freaks me out. If you could switch souls life would be damn entertaining and we could also learn a lot and be better people right?

Sangeetha

Monday, September 28, 2009

Song

Song
--Jay

A few days ago, while coming from office in my car, I was listening to a song. I generally keep the volume medium. I don’t like the blaring speakers, nor do I like the noise of blaring horns. So, I have to maintain the right balance. It was 8 p.m. and traffic was usual when the radio station started playing IKTARA. This is a song from a new RANBIR KAPOOR movie. I was blown away by the song. I cannot describe how cool the song is. Though I am not a great musician, nor the greatest music critic, I can just sense that this song is going to touch the hearts of many people. It may be unusual for many that I am restarting my writing by taking up an off-beat topic like a song. However, the song is so compelling that it has pushed me into writing again.

I often think about what makes a song a great song. I have a few of my parameters. I assume that many of the people from my generation will agree with my parameters. If I can listen to same song for more than 3- 4 hours on the trot, then I believe that the song has something in it. Many a times the lyrics touch you so much, that the next song you hum while you are in the restroom, mall, office cafeteria, lift and stairs is this great song.

Many songs have a property of connection. What I mean is that whenever you listen to this song, a series of events start running through your mind. These events may be pleasant or harsh memories of past or an imaginative episode of things expected in future. When you are in love, the first half decent romantic song shall remind you of your partner. When you are angry, the first song of RGV movie will remind you of your anger. When you break up the first PANKAJ UDHAS song you listen, shall remind you of your ex. Songs are terrific mnemonics of remembering events.

Song is one of the most accessible artistic pieces. Not everyday you are going to view a terrific painting. Not everyday you are going to see a dance being performed. But there is a high probability that every day at least for 5-10 minutes you may get a chance to listen to some song. Many a times in our hectic lives when we do not get too much time to relax, reflect or appreciate some form of art, songs come as a breathe of fresh air. I have come across so many colleagues of mine who daily exchange the songs via the Bluetooth. Songs always have this feeling of novelty. If nothing else, it represents some kind of change.

I have discussed a few things about the impact of the songs in our lives। However, the cycle of thought brings me back to very first song which had the power to refill the ink in my dry pen। IKTARA is a soulful song to say the least. While I can say a lot about how calm and peaceful the song is, I shall just want to sing off by pasting these 4 amazing lines of the song;

“Sun rahi hoon sudh budh khoke koi main kahani
Poori kahani hai kya kise hai pata
Main to kisiki hoke yeh bhi na jaani
Ruth hai ye do pal ki ya rehgi sada
(kise hai pata… kise hai pata)”


Thursday, August 27, 2009

Midnight Prayers

My eyes are closed. For you, I lie alone.

Won’t you come and make me your own?


You close your eyes and see him only.

Why should I come and bear this infamy?


I will read for you, my favorite stories.

Won’t you come and relieve my worries?


The stories you read, all talk about him

I have no place, he’s in every fantasy, every whim.


I will play you music, the most wonderful songs

O! Please come to help me forget my wrongs!


Those tunes, those beats, those steps you matched.

When I hold you, will you let go what you had?


I have searched for you, I have looked everywhere,

Why don’t you come and show me that you care?


You looked everywhere, your mind and heart, except

How can I help you, you Insomniac Juliet?


Love

Sangeetha


Sunday, March 22, 2009

You’ll be ok…



Today your boyfriend has told you a NO.

Rivers of salty water will continue to flow.

Questions like WHY ME will slowly drain you.

You’ll listen to Akon’s Lonely as life will pain you.

Then a stage shall come when you whine or move on.

Watch Roadies, Dance-India-Dance or quietly moan.

One day while seeing JOEY you will laugh out aloud.

Then you will go for a Bond movie with the crowd.

A day will come when you will forgive and forget.

You will smile a bit at your not-so-tragic fate.

After sometime you will meet someone nice.

You will be tempted to once again roll the dice.

Today you may be gripped by the helpless unrest

But Jay G believes, whatever happens happens for the…

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Chance

I went to my regular saloon today for a hair-cut where I found a new barber amongst the bunch of experienced campaigners. I was intrigued to see a new face. I mean most of the time the hair-cutting experience is a typical routine for me. Today I decided that I should allow the new trainee to cut my hair. Initially I was a bit apprehensive. But once the barber got started with his job, I realized that the new guy certainly had a lot of style sense, a smart head on his shoulders and a good understanding of my requirement. He cut my hair in 20 minutes and he also added a little style to my hair which he felt would suit me. Overall I was happy with the output and he was smiling when I left the place.

While coming home, I realized that accidently I may have given the new trainee his first break. May be it was his first genuine chance to showcase his talent and skill. While washing my hair I felt a rush of déjà vu. Many years ago, a website named www.emergingpoets.net had given me my first chance to write some poetry and get it reviewed by expert poets. That break helped me a lot since it improved my confidence. Similarly, when I got into my company, I was given a freedom to come up with a web application using my skills and understanding. If I start thinking, I will come up with n number of instances when people put their faith in me. This faith may or may not have always paid dividends to my Godfathers but this faith certainly has helped me come a long way.

Many times we all come up with superb ideas. Ideas which may even beat the IDEA cell phone ads hands down. But people mock at our ideas. Few people feel our ideas are non-practical. Few people feel that our ideas are superb but doubt if ideas will get executed. However, a very few people will be ready to give us a chance to implement our ideas. This bunch of a very few people are the real risk-takers. The new barber might have really messed up my hair. But I had a gut feeling that he won’t.

Today, there are so many reality shows running on TV. Though a skeptic lot of people may feel that reality show makers are selling real emotions to make money, I have no issues because at least they are giving a chance to the needy person. What my intention of writing this article is that there will be a great lot of people around you and you can make a difference by just giving someone an opportunity or by creating a chance for them. Read different blogs, follow different news channels, watch different kind of movies, try different foods for you may never know, you may be somewhere in someway giving someone their first breaks. You may or may not enjoy the experience but at least you tried to make some positive impact in someone else’s life.

-Jay

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(I would like to take this opportunity and thank my friend Sneha Nayak, who has come up with this new look and feel for our blog. According to her, the previous look and feel of this blog made her felt that writers were in mid-fifties...Lol. Thanks Sneha for assisting us in our reverse aging process!!)

Friday, February 13, 2009

Feeling Right...

“Ooow! Everything here is soooo pretty and colourful!” I said.

“These rides are so silly.” Rohan said. “Look at that stupid train… I can walk faster than that.”

“Ahan? Look at that one. That doesn’t look silly! It’s one of the craziest rides I have seen in a fair. Wanna try that one?” I suggested.

He shrugged and went in to get the tickets. “You girls get excited about such kiddish things. You really wanna do this? I am sure you are gonna be freaked out.” he asked.

I just pulled his hand and walked him to the ride. The ride was as wild as I had expected it to be. How can you explain to someone the rush these small things give ya?

We came out with our hair all messy and cheeks all red but with broad grins on our faces. Rohan smiled at me and said “You are the bravest girlfriend ever!” I just rolled my eyes but inside me there was this whole orchestra playing a super happy song.

“I can hear music.” he said turning his head in all directions trying to figure out the source.

I was alarmed… How did he know? “What?” I asked.

“I can hear music.” He repeated. “I think there’s some band playing somewhere nearby. Come let’s find out.”

He walked in the direction of the music and we saw this huge crowd gathered around the stage. I couldn’t see a thing… The band was playing ‘Walk of Life’ and I thought it was doing a pretty decent job. The crowd was enjoying it. I saw a twinkle in Rohan’s eyes. He was loving it. I couldn’t help smiling at the excitement on his face. We stood there waving and hooting with the crowd and completely enjoying the music.

It started raining. I thought this might make them wrap it up but the band did not stop. The crowd started dispersing a little bit and we could actually see the band. That was when we realized that it was an all-vocal band. It was a treat to watch them perform. It was unbelievable that 7 human voices could replace an entire rock band! I couldn’t take my eyes of their vocal drummer who kept the beat coming out of his mouth throughout their own five minute version of ‘Harder to breathe’ by Maroon 5.

The next song was ‘25 minutes’ by MLTR and Rohan held out his hand and said “Babes! Shall we dance?” I took his hand and we danced unaware of who was watching us. It felt like the band was playing only for us… We moved with each other as though we had practiced this many times before… It felt like time had stopped… As if somebody had pressed a pause button or taken a moving snapshot. We had managed to trap eternity in a few minutes! The song ended and we suddenly came back to the real world and found that the crowd had formed a circle around us and were clapping. I hugged Rohan and we kissed. We forgot about the band, we forgot about the large audience… it seemed just right and the rain fell as if silently agreeing with me.

But I knew he had to go. Like the song said it was too late... I tried to hold back the tears and we stood there clutching each other’s hand as the band played their last song…

‘And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
there will be an answer, let it be…
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see,
there will be an answer, let it be!’

Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone!
Loads of love
Sangeetha

Friday, February 6, 2009

If I had it my way

If I had it my way
If I had it my way, I would become a published poet and Oracle (PL/SQL) champ. I would like to become a teacher so that I can somehow play some role in making winners, shaping the future of kids who may do the nation proud. I believe its my responsibility to help people who are less luckier than me. I would like to get into a steady relationship with a girl. I need a girl whom I can understand and relate to. I need a girl who can support me and somehow appreciate the foolish gutsiness in me. If I had my way...Sangeetha would come to India in MAY-JUNE and take up teaching for 1 year. I want Sagar to get into a B-school, Shiv into IIM, Vinay to become a Java champ, Jimmy to get into NM, Sonia to get into schools of her dreams, my TL to succeed in his every sojourn, Jinal to get married, Neha to become a famous painter, Samyukta to take Aarambh places, Ketki to become successful, Hardik to get a good job, my dad to consistently support me, my mom to continually remain happy and my brother to earn a lot of name, fame, respect and success . If I can in anyway play even a 1 pc role in their successes, then I believe I will be successful. If I am able to get selected into TEACH FOR INDIA, I would be satisfied. If I manage to convince my company to take me back after 2 years I will consider myself as a skilled negotiator. If I manage to get into B School in 2011, with more than 75 pc scholarship than I would consider that all my plans worked. If I have my way I would find the right girl by the end of the year. By the end of the year my bro would get married and would have settled well.
I would consider myself happy..successful and satisfied when I manage to change the cynic perception of a few people that one man cannot make a difference.

My journey has started...Game is on...Wish me luck..Pray for me....

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Why?

This post is inspired by another poem by a friend who writes amazing Hindi poetry. This is the first time I am writing anything in Hindi. Hope it is readable :)

चंद पलों के लिए,
ज़िंदगी मिल गई।
सारी उमर अब अकेले
बिताना क्यों?

संग संग चले,
और मंज़िलें मिल गई।
दोराहें पर अब
बिछड जाना क्यों?

खुदा कि रहमत से
दिल मिल गए।
ज़मानेके डरसे अब
हाथ छुडाना क्यों?

-संगीता

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Materialism

---
Are you single or do you have a girlfriend?
Which party shall you attend this weekend?
How many calories in a week do you burn?
Hmm…by the way… how much do you earn?

How do you travel towards your workplace?
How often do you work on happening Saturdays?
What is the latest thing that you’ve got to learn?
Never mind; just tell me how much do you earn?

Do people respect you for the person who you are?
Do people consider you an ethical superstar?
How much output have you managed to churn?
Brushing all things aside… how much do you earn?

Are you a cricketer, poet or a software engineer?
Are you a writer, singer or a trivial ALTO driver?
Are you happy, satisfied….Are you having fun?
Only thing that matters is how much do you earn?
--Jay

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

No work

No work…

-Jay

Five months ago, three young and enthusiastic people joined my project. They had just finished their initial training program in the company and were really looking forward to work in our project. They had graduated just a few months ago. When they joined, they had dreams in their eyes which were eager to prove their mettle in this world. They were energetic and raw… ready to be molded. I was in the same scenario a year ago. I could really see the will to excel in them. However, they weren’t as lucky as I was.

When I joined the project, I practised my technology and within no time, I was doing work for the project. In effect, I was never on the bench. However, the current batch has no work. I have been pushing them to learn new things, work on mock applications, come up with new ideas…but I cannot create work. Somehow, I cannot become the client. All the tactics worked till a certain period of time but now these people are tired. I could see their transition from restlessness to frustration and now they are in a state of helplessness.
Somehow, I can’t say anything to cheer them up. I have a really big fear that due to their inactiveness, as and when they do get work, they may be low on confidence. I know multi-nationals always operate in this way. But seeing ineffective utilization of national resources makes me sick. No matter how much ever money one may be paid, but a feeling of being on the job but still not having the work can really make people irritable.

Recession has crept in. I can see recession eroding the new batch of people who have joined the company. In fact, even the massively experienced people are feeling insecure. Today, I read through the news of SATYAM computers. Howsoever I may try to neutralize the fact that recession is harsh by saying that recession will separate the men from the boys, I have to admit that recession has the potential to eliminate millions of visions if it stays for a few more years. The world is fighting hard. Yet again we have an opportunity to unite and weather the storm…for I am extremely optimistic that one day sun will shine. One day the newly joined people will get a lot of work and loads of opportunities to prove themselves in this practical world…