The bitch is back! It was almost like a resurrection which took everyone by surprise.
Sounds a bit derogatory but then umm.......ahh....she is a bitch after all.
No bashed skull, no injury, healthier then ever before. The bark is there, so is the bite.
The guards had chased her out of the staff quarters, that's all.
This is what you get when you listen to a Krazy Krackpot like Kakes!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Water Ways
I always had a thing for water.
As a baby I was petrified of bathing or so my Nani used to tell.
When I was 10 or 11 I got obsessed with swimming. I swam and swam and swam and then swam some more through the summer days.
Rains fascinate me. Mountain rapids have a hypnotic effect on me and I can sit and stare into the torrents for hours. Of all the water bodies it's only the sea which somehow leaves me cold and bored. Big waves, small waves, high tide, low tide. Big deal. Boring.
I drink a glass of water before stepping out of the house and there is an unspoken law that there should be a glass of water at my table when I reach my chamber in the college. There is a glass waiting when I go to attend a department seminar. I have it in the canteen, CCD, restaurant.....everywhere. I drink a copious amounts during the day, specially if I am working. I have had an issue with having some form of drinkable water with me while sleeping also. Its almost like my teddy bear. I hardly ever get up at night to drink water but I need to have it by my side every night or I just can not sleep!
I once even drank the water of my co-passenger in a train when I was unable to purchase a bottle for myself due to shortage of time. I just woke up with a start, early in the morning and just the thought that there was no water made my throat all parched like a dried up leaf! Although I was in an air conditioned compartment, by my condition you might imagine as if I was stranded in the middle of a desert. Contemplated the different options I had before me; there was no station coming anytime soon, drinking water from the tap in the loo was highly unappealing, so I was left with no choice but to "borrow" some from the person sleeping in the berth above. Wanted to drink a sip but by the time I finished I had drank half the bottle!
As a baby I was petrified of bathing or so my Nani used to tell.
When I was 10 or 11 I got obsessed with swimming. I swam and swam and swam and then swam some more through the summer days.
Rains fascinate me. Mountain rapids have a hypnotic effect on me and I can sit and stare into the torrents for hours. Of all the water bodies it's only the sea which somehow leaves me cold and bored. Big waves, small waves, high tide, low tide. Big deal. Boring.
I drink a glass of water before stepping out of the house and there is an unspoken law that there should be a glass of water at my table when I reach my chamber in the college. There is a glass waiting when I go to attend a department seminar. I have it in the canteen, CCD, restaurant.....everywhere. I drink a copious amounts during the day, specially if I am working. I have had an issue with having some form of drinkable water with me while sleeping also. Its almost like my teddy bear. I hardly ever get up at night to drink water but I need to have it by my side every night or I just can not sleep!
I once even drank the water of my co-passenger in a train when I was unable to purchase a bottle for myself due to shortage of time. I just woke up with a start, early in the morning and just the thought that there was no water made my throat all parched like a dried up leaf! Although I was in an air conditioned compartment, by my condition you might imagine as if I was stranded in the middle of a desert. Contemplated the different options I had before me; there was no station coming anytime soon, drinking water from the tap in the loo was highly unappealing, so I was left with no choice but to "borrow" some from the person sleeping in the berth above. Wanted to drink a sip but by the time I finished I had drank half the bottle!
Slept off satiated.
In the morning the poor guy whose water I drank gave dirty glances to the rest three passengers in the compartment. 7am I was on the station and bade him adieu and thanked him in my heart.
Maybe I am a bit like water myself. Going with the flow. Adapting to circumstances. Fast to boil, easy to cool down. Palatble. Rejuvenating(?). Blue - as in the colour it's depicted in paintings. Transparent is the only thing I am not.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Viva galore.
I had to take viva for the 1st year and 2nd year Oral Histology the other day. Today it is Oral Histology for the 2nd years and Oral Pathology for the 3rd year. God! I am so fed up with all this. This viva thing has been going on since the past one week. Right now I have to take viva for around 30 more students and there is just another 80 minutes to go.
Academics really sucks at such times.
Waise it would help if I could pay more attention to the viva being answered then to writing this blog but then my mind has already stopped working so what the hell!
Academics really sucks at such times.
Waise it would help if I could pay more attention to the viva being answered then to writing this blog but then my mind has already stopped working so what the hell!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Benjamin Button..........a recap.
I think that it must be after ages that an english movie affected me so much. A movie which I can put in a similar genre is Forest Gump. That again was a movie which took you along American history from a personal viewpoint. I personally had not expected much from this movie. Specially because it did not have that much a presence in the Oscars though it was nominated in a number of categories. And after watching "Milk", a pretty ordinary movie, which fetched an Oscar for best actor for Sean Penn, I was all the more pessimistic.
Then this movie came along in the theaters, thanks to the strike called by film producers association resulting in the blockade of release of hindi movies this Friday.
I was blown away by the picturisation/special effects/make up. The improbable story line which seemed so believable. The unusual love story which went deep into the core of your heart. And the human, genuine and touching performances by both Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt.
Some dialogues, though not that impressive when read away from the scene, still left an everlasting impression.
Like the voice over when Benjamin takes his father to the lakeside for the last time....
You can be mad as a mad dog at the way things went.
You can swear and curse fate.
But when it comes to the end, you have to let go.
The exchange between Benjamin and Daisy.....
What? What is it?
Nothing. I wish I could make some things last. What a shame that is.
Some things last.
And the finale of the movie......
Some people were born to sit by a river.
Some get stuck by lightening.
Some have ear for music.
Some are artist.
Some swim.
Some know Shakespeare.
Some know buttons.
Some are mothers.
And Some people dance......
Then this movie came along in the theaters, thanks to the strike called by film producers association resulting in the blockade of release of hindi movies this Friday.
I was blown away by the picturisation/special effects/make up. The improbable story line which seemed so believable. The unusual love story which went deep into the core of your heart. And the human, genuine and touching performances by both Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt.
Some dialogues, though not that impressive when read away from the scene, still left an everlasting impression.
Like the voice over when Benjamin takes his father to the lakeside for the last time....
You can be mad as a mad dog at the way things went.
You can swear and curse fate.
But when it comes to the end, you have to let go.
The exchange between Benjamin and Daisy.....
What? What is it?
Nothing. I wish I could make some things last. What a shame that is.
Some things last.
And the finale of the movie......
Some people were born to sit by a river.
Some get stuck by lightening.
Some have ear for music.
Some are artist.
Some swim.
Some know Shakespeare.
Some know buttons.
Some are mothers.
And Some people dance......
Friday, April 10, 2009
Brownie.
In a nutshell the story is pretty plain and simple.
There was this brown colour bitch in Sardar Patel Staff Quarters called Brownie (what else?). She was fed by the families residing there and in return she would protect them from the monkey menace. A lean animal who seemed to be so meek and docile. She would lie down with her belly exposed whenever any inmate would pass and people used to hold her in their lap and make her jump- that was how gentle she was with them. Now this would have been a pretty simple story except for the fact that this bitch was class conscious. What I mean by "class conscious" was that she had a habit of barking at and biting the Class III and IV employees. Namely the workers and the guards. There had been a spate of robberies in the flats so the inmates were fine with the extra alert nature of this bitch. If any worker had to come to work in the flats he would have to be personally escorted by one of the inmates of the quarters.
Today in the morning she was beaten to death by around 10-12 guards and workers while all the staff members were in the college.
On the front this sounds like a pretty simple case of elimination of a pest, as they perceived her to be. But then if you look around the campus you would find multitude of pests roaming around with no one bothering about eliminating them.
The reason for this as I see it is that they did not take kindly to the bias expressed by Brownie towards them. The bitch despite being an animal was associating herself with the upper class. The lower class, despite the simmering resentment they must feel about the privileges and priority given to the staff were unable to protest. The death of the dog was a symbolic message. An outpouring of collective frustration culminating in the savage, barbaric and inhuman killing of that poor soul.
This is the story of Uttar Pardesh. This is what Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party are all about. This is the story portrayed in that Booker prize winning book, The White Tiger. This is the fate which is going to befall all of us if things do not change.
God bless her soul.
There was this brown colour bitch in Sardar Patel Staff Quarters called Brownie (what else?). She was fed by the families residing there and in return she would protect them from the monkey menace. A lean animal who seemed to be so meek and docile. She would lie down with her belly exposed whenever any inmate would pass and people used to hold her in their lap and make her jump- that was how gentle she was with them. Now this would have been a pretty simple story except for the fact that this bitch was class conscious. What I mean by "class conscious" was that she had a habit of barking at and biting the Class III and IV employees. Namely the workers and the guards. There had been a spate of robberies in the flats so the inmates were fine with the extra alert nature of this bitch. If any worker had to come to work in the flats he would have to be personally escorted by one of the inmates of the quarters.
Today in the morning she was beaten to death by around 10-12 guards and workers while all the staff members were in the college.
On the front this sounds like a pretty simple case of elimination of a pest, as they perceived her to be. But then if you look around the campus you would find multitude of pests roaming around with no one bothering about eliminating them.
The reason for this as I see it is that they did not take kindly to the bias expressed by Brownie towards them. The bitch despite being an animal was associating herself with the upper class. The lower class, despite the simmering resentment they must feel about the privileges and priority given to the staff were unable to protest. The death of the dog was a symbolic message. An outpouring of collective frustration culminating in the savage, barbaric and inhuman killing of that poor soul.
This is the story of Uttar Pardesh. This is what Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party are all about. This is the story portrayed in that Booker prize winning book, The White Tiger. This is the fate which is going to befall all of us if things do not change.
God bless her soul.
Blankety-blank-blank.......
Today is a Blankety-Blank-Blank day.
Actually it's Friday the 10th and Good Friday for that matter, but as far as I am concerned it's a Blankety-Blank-Blank day.
These are the days when till the time I do not make an effort to think my mind is absolutely blank. Like a blackboard erased of all chalk marks or a plain piece of paper. I have absolutely nothing to think about, there is no work pending, nothing as such is bothering me and everything is moving like a clockwork. The sun rose as expected, the department is running smoothly and everything that had to be tackled has been tackled.
I love such days.
I won't say that these days are far and few in between but all the same they are a blessing, specially after a hard week or a turbulent time. Even writing a simple blog like this takes an effort as my mind simply refuses to work.
If I had to compare it to a real life situation, I would say that right now my mental condition is similar to a mountain top with a green meadow, surrounded by tall pine trees. There is a bright blue sky on top with a few whiffs of clouds floating by. A cool wind is blowing through the trees with a soothing, hushing sound. I am lying down on the grass looking up towards the sky through the branches of the pine trees. The earth below is cool and the sun rays a bit warm.
Total and complete nirvana.
Actually it's Friday the 10th and Good Friday for that matter, but as far as I am concerned it's a Blankety-Blank-Blank day.
These are the days when till the time I do not make an effort to think my mind is absolutely blank. Like a blackboard erased of all chalk marks or a plain piece of paper. I have absolutely nothing to think about, there is no work pending, nothing as such is bothering me and everything is moving like a clockwork. The sun rose as expected, the department is running smoothly and everything that had to be tackled has been tackled.
I love such days.
I won't say that these days are far and few in between but all the same they are a blessing, specially after a hard week or a turbulent time. Even writing a simple blog like this takes an effort as my mind simply refuses to work.
If I had to compare it to a real life situation, I would say that right now my mental condition is similar to a mountain top with a green meadow, surrounded by tall pine trees. There is a bright blue sky on top with a few whiffs of clouds floating by. A cool wind is blowing through the trees with a soothing, hushing sound. I am lying down on the grass looking up towards the sky through the branches of the pine trees. The earth below is cool and the sun rays a bit warm.
Total and complete nirvana.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
What are the odds?.............(iii)
Yesterday evening I was on my way to Delhi from Jaipur by Shatabdi Express, it was 7pm or around about that time. My neighbouring seat was empty so I had plenty of space to spread my self and my luggage. I was practically sprawled across the two seats.
Was deep into a book, A Wild Sheep Chase when I came across the following lines........
"Having read that far, I shut the book, opened another beer, and pulled a box lunch of salmon roe out of my pack.
She sat across from me with folded arms, fast asleep. The autumn morning sun, slanting in through the train window, spread a thin blanket of light over her lap. A tiny moth blew in from somewhere and fluttered about like a scrap of paper. The moth ended up on her breast and stayed there before flying off again. Once the moth had flown off, she looked the slightest bit older."
.........now at this very moment a "moth" flies right across my face.
I must have jumped a foot!
I am in an A/C Chair Car in which all the windows are sealed. That, almost one inch long, moth flies across my face at that very moment, hovers around for 10 seconds and then disappears into oblivion. How did it enter, where did it go, and why me? I am bang in the middle of the coach.
What are the odds of such a collision of the imaginary and real world?
Was deep into a book, A Wild Sheep Chase when I came across the following lines........
"Having read that far, I shut the book, opened another beer, and pulled a box lunch of salmon roe out of my pack.
She sat across from me with folded arms, fast asleep. The autumn morning sun, slanting in through the train window, spread a thin blanket of light over her lap. A tiny moth blew in from somewhere and fluttered about like a scrap of paper. The moth ended up on her breast and stayed there before flying off again. Once the moth had flown off, she looked the slightest bit older."
.........now at this very moment a "moth" flies right across my face.
I must have jumped a foot!
I am in an A/C Chair Car in which all the windows are sealed. That, almost one inch long, moth flies across my face at that very moment, hovers around for 10 seconds and then disappears into oblivion. How did it enter, where did it go, and why me? I am bang in the middle of the coach.
What are the odds of such a collision of the imaginary and real world?
The Truth is Out There.
"Speaking frankly and speaking the truth are two different things entirely. Honesty is to truth as prow is to stern. Honesty appears first and truth appears last. The interval between varies in direct proportion to the size of the ship. With anything of size, truth takes a long time in coming. Sometimes it only manifests itself posthumously. Therefore, should I impart you with no truth at this juncture, that is through no fault of mine. Nor yours."
How was one to respond to this? He acknowledged my silence and continued to speak.
"You are probably wondering why I called you all this way here. It was to set the ship in forward motion. You and I shall move it forward motion. By discussing the matters in all honesty, we shall proceed one step at a time closer to truth."
At that point he coughed and glanced over at his hand resting on the arm of the sofa.
Came across these lines in A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami. What was intriguing was that I was struggling with the basis of truth at that point of time.
These lines came like a revelation.
I could not have put my thoughts in words any better.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
The Bride.
So here I am at 7:45pm. Travelling by Shatabdi yet again. This train is going from bad to worse. Torn curtains, cracked and dirty windows, broken foot rests, dirty toilets and even the quality of food is going down. Where is my freaking soup and bread sticks? Damn that Laloo!
Well that is not why I am writing this so let me get to the point.
I am intrigued. There’s this female sitting diagonally to me. Around three rows to my right.
Newly married with bangles, sindoor, bindi, a foot long mangalsutra, make up and stuff which proclaims look at me I am freshly (can this be used?) married. All that was missing was a neon sign on her blinking "I'm married FINALLY". Total behenji. North Delhi-Subzi Mandi-Govindpuri stuff. Around 28 to 32. Which is rather late if you are not a professional.
What amazes me is that I can’t make out if she’s amazingly good looking or rather plain to look at.
She has all the desi criteria for a fresh bride. Fair, reasonably tall, slim. Perfect lips, glossed and lined. Heavy duty eyeliner on the eyes, top and bottom.
Now her eyes are something else. They are either bewitching or extremely cold. Cold enough to see a person die without flinching at all.
There is this plump guy sitting next to her, around late thirties-early forties, who seems extremely bored. A bored person sitting next to a reasonably attractive woman can only be her husband. Or maybe a relative. Or maybe gay.
But now what puzzles me that since the start of journey, a good 5 hours back they have not talked at all. Which also points towards the fact that I am observing her a bit too closely.
Coming back to the eyes. They are black, round (what else they could be) and like two black stones.
When I say stones what I mean to denote is not only the lack of emotions but also the absence of any personality per se. She could be a humanoid, an android, a troubled soul. Or mentally deranged.
She intimidates me at some level I confess. Not the type of person you would want to cross path with. Cunning, cold and could cut you to pieces if she so desired.
God! Why am I being so harsh to her? Is it because of my inability to communicate with her and discover what makes her tick?
Maybe.
Conclusion: (ITS, Ghaziabad. 11pm)
P.S.(1): That guy wasn't known to her and jumped one seat as soon as it got empty. Majorly intimidated. The only thing he didn't cross was his eyes. Kept on giving shy/sly glances every 15-20 minutes or so to her.
P.S.(2): She got off at Ghaziabad. So I rest my case & pat my back.
P.S.(3): I got bored eventually, couldn't care less once I had my dinner and was satiated.
P.S.(4): The Bride was the name of the first scene in Kill Bill and Black Mumba (Uma Thurman) was the bride.
Well that is not why I am writing this so let me get to the point.
I am intrigued. There’s this female sitting diagonally to me. Around three rows to my right.
Newly married with bangles, sindoor, bindi, a foot long mangalsutra, make up and stuff which proclaims look at me I am freshly (can this be used?) married. All that was missing was a neon sign on her blinking "I'm married FINALLY". Total behenji. North Delhi-Subzi Mandi-Govindpuri stuff. Around 28 to 32. Which is rather late if you are not a professional.
What amazes me is that I can’t make out if she’s amazingly good looking or rather plain to look at.
She has all the desi criteria for a fresh bride. Fair, reasonably tall, slim. Perfect lips, glossed and lined. Heavy duty eyeliner on the eyes, top and bottom.
Now her eyes are something else. They are either bewitching or extremely cold. Cold enough to see a person die without flinching at all.
There is this plump guy sitting next to her, around late thirties-early forties, who seems extremely bored. A bored person sitting next to a reasonably attractive woman can only be her husband. Or maybe a relative. Or maybe gay.
But now what puzzles me that since the start of journey, a good 5 hours back they have not talked at all. Which also points towards the fact that I am observing her a bit too closely.
Coming back to the eyes. They are black, round (what else they could be) and like two black stones.
When I say stones what I mean to denote is not only the lack of emotions but also the absence of any personality per se. She could be a humanoid, an android, a troubled soul. Or mentally deranged.
She intimidates me at some level I confess. Not the type of person you would want to cross path with. Cunning, cold and could cut you to pieces if she so desired.
God! Why am I being so harsh to her? Is it because of my inability to communicate with her and discover what makes her tick?
Maybe.
Conclusion: (ITS, Ghaziabad. 11pm)
P.S.(1): That guy wasn't known to her and jumped one seat as soon as it got empty. Majorly intimidated. The only thing he didn't cross was his eyes. Kept on giving shy/sly glances every 15-20 minutes or so to her.
P.S.(2): She got off at Ghaziabad. So I rest my case & pat my back.
P.S.(3): I got bored eventually, couldn't care less once I had my dinner and was satiated.
P.S.(4): The Bride was the name of the first scene in Kill Bill and Black Mumba (Uma Thurman) was the bride.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
-
What do TTEs talk about when they gang up on a train? I had a whole gang of 8 with me alongwith their chief. They talk about trains and trai... -
Yesterday evening I was on my way to Delhi from Jaipur by Shatabdi Express, it was 7pm or around about that time. My neighbouring seat was...
-
Spring in the plains are a short affair. Maybe a couple of weeks or 10 days max, before the full onslaught of harsh, cruel summers. This ti...